"grandchild, grandson" in seven languages
Meaninggrandchild, grandson
Spanish
/ˈnjeto/
masc.inherited
From Vulgar Latin *NEPTUM, remade on NEPTIS 'granddaughter'.
French
/pətifis/
masc.other source · petit 'little' + fils 'son'
Grandchildren: petits-enfants.
Italian
/niˈpote/
masc.inherited
Grandchild and nephew/niece, either sex.
Portuguese
/ˈnɛtu/
masc.inherited
From Vulgar Latin *NEPTUM, like Spanish nieto.
Romanian
/neˈpot/
masc.inherited
Grandson and nephew at once, as in Italian.
Catalan
/net/
masc.inherited
From Vulgar Latin *NEPTUM, like Spanish nieto.
English
/ˈgɹæntʃaɪld/
other source · Anglo-French grand- + Old English cild
plural: grandchildren
The Latin ancestor
NEPŌTEM‘grandson; later nephew’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
Latin NEPŌS meant grandson and later nephew too, and Italian nipote still covers both, boys and girls alike. Popes who favored their 'nephews' gave us nepotism.
English relatives: nepotism
Learn it
In a sentence
- esTiene cinco nietos.
- frElle a cinq petits-enfants.
- itHa cinque nipoti.
- ptEla tem cinco netos.
- roAre cinci nepoți.
- caTé cinc néts.
- enShe has five grandchildren.