"map" in seven languages
Meaningmap
Spanish
/ˈmapa/
masc.learned
Masculine despite the -a: el mapa.
French
/kaʁt/
fem.other source · Latin CHARTAM 'papyrus sheet' (Greek khártēs)
A town map is un plan.
Italian
/karˈtina/
fem.other source · diminutive of carta 'paper' (Latin CHARTAM)
Also mappa and carta geografica.
Portuguese
/ˈmapɐ/
masc.learned
Romanian
/ˈhartə/
fem.other source · Modern Greek chártis 'paper, map' (ancient khártēs)
Catalan
/ˈmapə/
masc.learned
English
/mæp/
from Latin/French · Medieval Latin mappa (mundī)
The Latin ancestor
MAPPAM‘napkin, cloth (MAPPA MUNDĪ 'cloth of the world')’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
Medieval world maps were painted on cloth, the mappa mundi. French and Italian prefer 'the paper' (carte, cartina) — and French carte is also the menu.
English relatives: map, napkin and apron (via French nappe); chart, card (CHARTA)
Learn it
In a sentence
- es¿Me lo enseñas en el mapa?
- frTu peux me montrer sur la carte ?
- itMe lo fai vedere sulla cartina?
- ptVocê me mostra no mapa?
- roÎmi arăți pe hartă?
- caM'ho ensenyes al mapa?
- enCan you show me on the map?