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"environment (nature)" in seven languages

Meaningenvironment (nature)

Spanish

medio ambiente

/ˈmedjo amˈbjente/

masc.learned

Also written medioambiente; ambiente alone is 'atmosphere, mood'.

French

environnement

/ɑ̃viʁɔnmɑ̃/

masc.other source · French environ 'around'

Italian

ambiente

/amˈbjɛnte/

masc.learned

Portuguese

meio ambiente

/ˈmeju ɐ̃biˈẽtʃi/

masc.learned

Romanian

mediu

/ˈmedju/

neut.other source · Latin MEDIUM 'middle' (learned)

In full mediul înconjurător, 'the surrounding medium'.

Catalan

medi ambient

/ˈmɛdi əmbiˈen/

masc.learned

English

environment

/ɪnˈvaɪɹənmənt/

other source · French environ 'around' + -ment

English → Italianenvironment (nature)ambienteNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: ambient, ambience.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

AMBIENTEM‘going around, surrounding (AMBĪRE)’

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

The story

Spanish and Italian call nature 'what goes around us' with learned AMBIENS; French and English say 'what is around' with environ. One idea, two words.

English relatives: ambient, ambience

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In a sentence

  • esTenemos que proteger el medio ambiente.
  • frNous devons protéger l'environnement.
  • itDobbiamo proteggere l'ambiente.
  • ptPrecisamos proteger o meio ambiente.
  • roTrebuie să protejăm mediul.
  • caHem de protegir el medi ambient.
  • enWe must protect the environment.

More words from the same Latin

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