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"bell" in seven languages

Meaningbell

Spanish

campana

/kamˈpana/

fem.inherited

French

cloche

/klɔʃ/

fem.other source · Late Latin CLOCCA, of Celtic origin

Italian

campana

/kamˈpana/

fem.inherited

Portuguese

sino

/ˈsinu/

masc.other source · Latin SIGNUM 'sign, signal'

Campainha 'doorbell' is the CAMPĀNA word, made small.

Romanian

clopot

/ˈklopot/

neut.other source · Slavic klopotŭ

plural: clopote

Catalan

campana

/kəmˈpanə/

fem.inherited

English

bell

/bɛl/

native English · Old English belle

English → ItalianbellcampanaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: campanile, campanology; clock (from CLOCCA).What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

CAMPĀNAM‘bell (Late Latin)’

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

The story

Late Latin named the bell after Campania, a region famed for its bronze. French took the Celtic-rooted CLOCCA instead, the same word that gave English clock.

English relatives: campanile, campanology; clock (from CLOCCA)

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In a sentence

  • esSuenan las campanas de la iglesia.
  • frLes cloches de l'église sonnent.
  • itSuonano le campane della chiesa.
  • ptOs sinos da igreja estão tocando.
  • roBat clopotele bisericii.
  • caToquen les campanes de l'església.
  • enThe church bells are ringing.

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