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"homework" in seven languages

Meaninghomework

Spanish

deberes

/deˈbeɾes/

masc.inherited

Plural. Latin America says la tarea.

French

devoirs

/dəvwaʁ/

masc.inherited

Plural: faire ses devoirs.

Italian

compiti

/ˈkompiti/

masc.other source · Italian compito 'task', from compitare / compiere (debated)

Plural: fare i compiti.

Portuguese

dever de casa

/deˈveh dʒi ˈkazɐ/

masc.inherited

São Paulo says lição de casa; Portugal says trabalhos de casa.

Romanian

temă

/ˈtemə/

fem.other source · French thème, from Greek théma

Usually plural: temele, teme pentru acasă.

Catalan

deures

/ˈdɛwɾəs/

masc.inherited

Plural only, like Spanish deberes.

English

homework

/ˈhoʊmwɝk/

native English · home + work (Old English)

English → ItalianhomeworkcompitiNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: debt, due, duty.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

DĒBĒRE‘to owe’

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

The story

Spanish and French homework is literally 'duties' — the noun use of the verb 'to owe'. Italian calls them 'tasks'.

English relatives: debt, due, duty

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In a sentence

  • es¿Has hecho los deberes?
  • frTu as fait tes devoirs ?
  • itHai fatto i compiti?
  • ptVocê já fez o dever de casa?
  • roȚi-ai făcut temele?
  • caHas fet els deures?
  • enHave you done your homework?

More words from the same Latin

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