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"cheek" in seven languages

Meaningcheek

Spanish

mejilla

/meˈxiʝa/

fem.other source · Latin MAXILLAM 'jaw'

French

joue

/ʒu/

fem.other source · of uncertain, probably pre-Latin origin

Italian

guancia

/ˈgwantʃa/

fem.other source · Lombard *wankja 'cheek'

Portuguese

bochecha

/boˈʃeʃɐ/

fem.other source · of uncertain origin, probably related to boca (Latin BUCCAM)

Romanian

obraz

/oˈbraz/

masc.other source · Old Church Slavonic obrazŭ 'form, face'

plural: obraji

Catalan

galta

/ˈgaltə/

fem.other source · of uncertain origin

English

cheek

/tʃik/

native English · Old English cēace

English → ItaliancheekguanciaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: maxilla (es).What English and Italian share

The story

A true trio of unrelated words: Spanish mejilla is Latin MAXILLA 'jaw', French joue is of uncertain pre-Latin origin, and Italian guancia is Lombard, its w- turned gu- by the Germanic-w law.

English relatives: maxilla (es)

Sound laws at work

Germanic W- becomes gu- / g-

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In a sentence

  • esEl bebé tiene las mejillas rosadas.
  • frLe bébé a les joues roses.
  • itIl bambino ha le guance rosa.
  • ptO bebê tem as bochechas rosadas.
  • roBebelușul are obrajii rumeni.
  • caEl nadó té les galtes rosades.
  • enThe baby has pink cheeks.

More in The body

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