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"elite" in seven languages

Meaningelite

Spanish

élite

/ˈelite/

fem.borrowed · French élite

Also spelled elite, stressed e-LI-te.

French

élite

/elit/

fem.inherited

Old feminine participle of élire 'to elect': 'the chosen (part)'.

Italian

élite

/eˈlit/

fem.borrowed · French élite

Pronounced as in French; the plural is unchanged.

Portuguese

elite

/eˈlitʃi/

fem.borrowed · French élite

Romanian

elită

/eˈlitə/

fem.borrowed · French élite

Catalan

elit

/əˈlit/

fem.borrowed · French élite

English

elite

/eɪˈlit/

from Latin/French · French élite

English → ItalianeliteéliteCognateSame source — inherited, learned or borrowed. You can recognize it.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

*EXLIGERE (classical ĒLIGERE)‘to pick out, choose’

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

The story

The elite are 'the chosen': élite is the old participle of French élire. Spanish, Italian and English all took it from French, which is why it keeps its French accent and spelling.

English relatives: elect, election, eligible

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In a sentence

  • esSolo la élite podía permitírselo.
  • frSeule l'élite pouvait se le permettre.
  • itSolo l'élite poteva permetterselo.
  • ptSó a elite podia pagar por isso.
  • roDoar elita își permitea asta.
  • caNomés l'elit s'ho podia permetre.
  • enOnly the elite could afford it.

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