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"basis" in seven languages

Meaningbasis

Spanish

base

/ˈbase/

fem.learned

French

base

/baz/

fem.learned

Italian

base

/ˈbaze/

fem.learned

Portuguese

base

/ˈbazi/

fem.learned

Romanian

bază

/ˈbazə/

fem.learned

Catalan

base

/ˈbazə/

fem.learned

English

basis

/ˈbeɪsɪs/

from Latin/French · Latin, from Greek

plural: bases

English → ItalianbasisbaseCognateSame source — inherited, learned or borrowed. You can recognize it.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

BASIM (from Greek básis)‘step, pedestal’

All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.

The story

English keeps two forms, basis for ideas and base (via French) for things; the sisters use base for both. Latin had it from Greek básis 'a step'.

English relatives: base, basic, basement

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • esLa confianza es la base de toda amistad.
  • frLa confiance est la base de toute amitié.
  • itLa fiducia è la base di ogni amicizia.
  • ptA confiança é a base de toda amizade.
  • roÎncrederea este baza oricărei prietenii.
  • caLa confiança és la base de tota amistat.
  • enTrust is the basis of every friendship.

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