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"biological" in seven languages

Meaningbiological

Spanish

biológico

/bjoˈloxiko/

learned

French

biologique

/bjɔlɔʒik/

learned

Of food it means 'organic', usually clipped to bio.

Italian

biologico

/bjoˈlɔdʒiko/

learned

Of food it means 'organic' (also bio).

Portuguese

biológico

/bjoˈlɔʒiku/

learned

Romanian

biologic

/bioˈlodʒik/

learned

Catalan

biològic

/biuˈlɔʒik/

learned

English

biological

/baɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/

from Latin/French · modern coinage from Greek bíos 'life' + lógos

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

The ancestor

Greek bíos + lógos (modern coinage)‘life + study’

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

The story

Biology was coined from Greek around 1800 and spread to every European language. Watch the shopping aisle: French biologique and Italian biologico mean organic.

English relatives: biology, biography, antibiotic

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • esLas armas biológicas están prohibidas.
  • frLes armes biologiques sont interdites.
  • itLe armi biologiche sono vietate.
  • ptAs armas biológicas são proibidas.
  • roArmele biologice sunt interzise.
  • caLes armes biològiques estan prohibides.
  • enBiological weapons are banned.

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