"leaf" in seven languages
Meaningleaf
Spanish
hoja
/ˈoxa/
fem.inherited
Also a sheet of paper: una hoja de papel.
French
feuille
/fœj/
fem.inherited
Italian
foglia
/ˈfɔʎʎa/
fem.inherited
A sheet of paper is a foglio (m), from the singular FOLIUM.
Portuguese
folha
/ˈfoʎɐ/
fem.inherited
Romanian
frunză
/ˈfrunzə/
fem.other source · Latin FRONDEM 'foliage' (inherited)
Catalan
fulla
/ˈfuʎə/
fem.inherited
English
leaf
/lif/
native English · Old English lēaf
plural: leaves
English → ItalianleaffogliaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: foliage, folio, portfolio, foil.What English and Italian share
The Latin ancestor
FOLIA (pl. of FOLIUM)‘leaves’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
The Latin neuter plural FOLIA 'leaves' was reheard as a feminine singular. Then LI + vowel gave Spanish j, French ill, Italian gli — and Spanish F- became a silent h.
English relatives: foliage, folio, portfolio, foil
Sound laws at work
Learn it
In a sentence
- esLas hojas caen en otoño.
- frLes feuilles tombent en automne.
- itLe foglie cadono in autunno.
- ptAs folhas caem no outono.
- roFrunzele cad toamna.
- caLes fulles cauen a la tardor.
- enThe leaves fall in autumn.