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"bird" in seven languages

Meaningbird

Spanish

pájaro

/ˈpaxaɾo/

masc.other source · Latin PASSEREM 'sparrow'

Ave (from AVEM) is the word for birds in general, especially large ones.

French

oiseau

/wazo/

masc.inherited

plural: oiseaux

Italian

uccello

/utˈtʃɛllo/

masc.inherited

Portuguese

pássaro

/ˈpasaɾu/

masc.other source · Latin PASSEREM 'sparrow'

Ave is the general, more formal term.

Romanian

pasăre

/ˈpasəre/

fem.other source · Latin PASSEREM 'sparrow'

plural: păsări

Catalan

ocell

/uˈseʎ/

masc.inherited

English

bird

/bɝd/

native English · Old English brid 'young bird'

English → ItalianbirduccelloNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: aviation, aviary (AVIS); passerine (PASSER).What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

*AUCELLUM‘little bird (diminutive built on AVIS)’

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

The story

French and Italian kept a cosy 'birdie'; oiseau has worn it down so far that it contains every French vowel letter. Spanish promoted the sparrow to stand for all small birds.

English relatives: aviation, aviary (AVIS); passerine (PASSER)

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In a sentence

  • esLos pájaros cantan por la mañana.
  • frLes oiseaux chantent le matin.
  • itGli uccelli cantano la mattina.
  • ptOs pássaros cantam de manhã.
  • roPăsările cântă dimineața.
  • caEls ocells canten al matí.
  • enThe birds sing in the morning.

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