"down, downstairs" in seven languages
Meaningdown, downstairs
Spanish
abajo
/aˈbaxo/
inherited
a + bajo 'low'.
French
en bas
/ɑ̃ ba/
inherited
Italian
giù
/dʒu/
other source · spoken Latin *IŪSUM, from DĒORSUM 'downwards'
Portuguese
embaixo
/ẽˈbajʃu/
inherited
Romanian
jos
/ʒos/
other source · Latin DĒORSUM 'downwards' (spoken *IŌSUM)
The same source as Italian giù.
Catalan
a baix
/ə baʃ/
inherited
English
down
/daʊn/
native English · Old English of dūne 'off the hill'
English → Italiandown, downstairsgiùNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: base, bass, basement.What English and Italian share
The Latin ancestor
BASSUM‘low, squat (Late Latin)’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
Late Latin BASSUS 'squat' gave Spanish bajo and French bas — 'down' is just 'to the low part'. Italian has basso too, but says giù, the worn-down remnant of DĒORSUM.
English relatives: base, bass, basement
Learn it
In a sentence
- esEstá abajo.
- frIl est en bas.
- itÈ giù.
- ptEle está lá embaixo.
- roE jos.
- caÉs a baix.
- enHe's downstairs.
More words from the same Latin
More in Little words
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