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"claw" in seven languages

Meaningclaw

Spanish

garra

/ˈɡara/

fem.other source · probably pre-Roman (Corominas)

A cat's claws are usually its uñas; tener garra is to have bite.

French

griffe

/ɡʁif/

fem.other source · griffer 'to claw', from Germanic (Old High German grīfan 'to grab')

A bird of prey's talons are ses serres.

Italian

artiglio

/arˈtiʎʎo/

masc.other source · probably Old Occitan artelh 'toe', from Latin ARTICULUM 'little joint'

Portuguese

garra

/ˈɡahɐ/

fem.other source · probably pre-Roman, shared with Spanish garra

Romanian

gheară

/ˈɡe̯arə/

fem.other source · of uncertain origin (perhaps pre-Roman)

plural: gheare

Catalan

urpa

/ˈurpə/

fem.other source · of uncertain origin

English

claw

/klɔ/

native English · Old English clawu

English → ItalianclawartiglioNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

The story

Claws vary more than any other body word: Spanish and Portuguese garra, French griffe, Italian artiglio, Romanian gheară and Catalan urpa come from at least five sources, several of them uncertain.

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In a sentence

  • esEl león tiene garras afiladas.
  • frLe lion a des griffes acérées.
  • itIl leone ha artigli affilati.
  • ptO leão tem garras afiadas.
  • roLeul are gheare ascuțite.
  • caEl lleó té urpes esmolades.
  • enThe lion has sharp claws.

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