"boy" in seven languages
Meaningboy
Spanish
chico
/ˈtʃiko/
masc.other source · probably Latin CICCUM 'a trifle'
Also the adjective 'small'.
French
garçon
/gaʁsɔ̃/
masc.other source · Frankish *wrakjo 'lad, servant'
Italian
ragazzo
/raˈgattso/
masc.other source · of disputed origin
Portuguese
menino
/meˈninu/
masc.other source · an expressive nursery word, of uncertain origin
Romanian
băiat
/bəˈjat/
masc.other source · of uncertain origin
Catalan
noi
/nɔj/
masc.other source · of disputed origin
English
boy
/bɔɪ/
native English · Middle English boie (origin uncertain)
English → ItalianboyragazzoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share
The story
Unrelated all round: Spanish chico is literally 'the small one', French garçon began as a Frankish word for a servant (hence its old use for waiters), and Italian ragazzo is of disputed origin — an Arabic word for a courier is one proposal.
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In a sentence
- esEl chico tiene diez años.
- frLe garçon a dix ans.
- itIl ragazzo ha dieci anni.
- ptO menino tem dez anos.
- roBăiatul are zece ani.
- caEl noi té deu anys.
- enThe boy is ten years old.