Skip to content

"engine, motor" in seven languages

Meaningengine, motor

Spanish

motor

/moˈtoɾ/

masc.learned

French

moteur

/mɔtœʁ/

masc.learned

Italian

motore

/moˈtore/

masc.learned

Portuguese

motor

/moˈtoh/

masc.learned

Romanian

motor

/moˈtor/

neut.learned

Catalan

motor

/muˈto/

masc.learned

English

engine

/ˈɛndʒən/

other source · Old French engin, from Latin INGENIUM 'cleverness, device'

Motor, the sisters' word, is also English.

English → Italianengine, motormotoreNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: motor, motion, move, motive.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

MŌTŌREM‘mover (MOVĒRE 'to move')’

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

The story

The sisters call it 'the mover'. English engine is a clever contraption: French engin still means a machine or gadget, Spanish ingenio and Italian ingegno 'wit'.

English relatives: motor, motion, move, motive

Learn it

Practice the Travel deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • esEl motor no arranca.
  • frLe moteur ne démarre pas.
  • itIl motore non parte.
  • ptO motor não pega.
  • roMotorul nu pornește.
  • caEl motor no arrenca.
  • enThe engine won't start.

More in Travel

All Travel words