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"contest, competition" in seven languages

Meaningcontest, competition

Spanish

concurso

/konˈkuɾso/

masc.learned

Also a TV game show: un concurso de la tele.

French

concours

/kɔ̃kuʁ/

masc.learned

Also a competitive entrance exam for schools and civil service.

Italian

concorso

/konˈkorso/

masc.learned

Also a public competitive exam for state jobs.

Portuguese

concurso

/kõˈkuhsu/

masc.learned

Romanian

concurs

/konˈkurs/

neut.borrowed · French concours

Catalan

concurs

/kuŋˈkurs/

masc.learned

English

contest

/ˈkɑntɛst/

other source · French contester, from Latin CONTESTĀRĪ 'to call to witness'

English → Italiancontest, competitionconcorsoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: concourse, concur, current, course.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

CONCURSUM‘a running together (CON + CURRERE)’

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

The story

The sisters picture a contest as people 'running together'. English contest comes from a different Latin verb, CONTESTĀRĪ 'to call witnesses', built on TESTIS 'witness' like testify and protest.

English relatives: concourse, concur, current, course

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In a sentence

  • esGanó un concurso de canto.
  • frElle a gagné un concours de chant.
  • itHa vinto un concorso di canto.
  • ptEla ganhou um concurso de canto.
  • roA câștigat un concurs de canto.
  • caVa guanyar un concurs de cant.
  • enShe won a singing contest.

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