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"building" in seven languages

Meaningbuilding

Spanish

edificio

/ediˈfiθjo/

masc.learned

French

bâtiment

/batimɑ̃/

masc.other source · derived from bâtir 'to build', probably Frankish *bastjan 'to tie with bast'

An apartment block is un immeuble.

Italian

edificio

/ediˈfitʃo/

masc.learned

Also palazzo for any large block.

Portuguese

prédio

/ˈpɾɛdʒju/

masc.other source · Latin PRAEDIUM 'landed estate'

Edifício exists but is more formal.

Romanian

clădire

/kləˈdire/

fem.other source · from clădi 'to build', of Slavic origin

plural: clădiri

Catalan

edifici

/ədiˈfisi/

masc.learned

English

building

/ˈbɪldɪŋ/

native English · Old English byldan 'to build'

English → ItalianbuildingedificioNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: edifice, edify.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

AEDIFICIUM‘building (AEDĒS 'dwelling' + FACERE 'to make')’

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

The story

Spanish and Italian spell it identically but say ˈfiθjo and ˈfitʃo. French builds with a Germanic verb first used for tying things together.

English relatives: edifice, edify

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • esNuestra oficina está en ese edificio.
  • frNotre bureau est dans ce bâtiment.
  • itIl nostro ufficio è in quell'edificio.
  • ptNosso escritório fica naquele prédio.
  • roBiroul nostru e în clădirea aceea.
  • caLa nostra oficina és en aquell edifici.
  • enOur office is in that building.

More in Town & city

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