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"clean" in seven languages

Meaningclean

Spanish

limpio

/ˈlimpjo/

inherited

French

propre

/pʁɔpʁ/

other source · Latin PROPRIUM 'one's own'

After the noun 'clean' (une chemise propre); before it 'own' (ma propre chemise).

Italian

pulito

/puˈlito/

other source · past participle of pulire ← Latin POLĪRE 'to polish'

Portuguese

limpo

/ˈlĩpu/

inherited

Romanian

curat

/kuˈrat/

other source · Latin CŪRĀTUM 'cared for'

Catalan

net

/net/

other source · Latin NITIDUM 'shining, neat'

English

clean

/klin/

native English · Old English clǣne

English → ItaliancleanpulitoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: limpid (LIMPIDUM); proper, property (PROPRIUM); polish, polite (POLĪRE).What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

LIMPIDUM‘clear, transparent’

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

The story

Three unrelated words: Spanish 'clean' is 'clear' (limpid), French is 'proper', Italian is 'polished' — and English polite once meant just that.

English relatives: limpid (LIMPIDUM); proper, property (PROPRIUM); polish, polite (POLĪRE)

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In a sentence

  • esLa cocina está limpia.
  • frLa cuisine est propre.
  • itLa cucina è pulita.
  • ptA cozinha está limpa.
  • roBucătăria e curată.
  • caLa cuina està neta.
  • enThe kitchen is clean.

More in Describing words

All Describing words words