Skip to content

"of course" in seven languages

Meaningof course

Spanish

claro

/ˈklaɾo/

other source · Latin CLĀRUM 'clear' (its CL- kept by learned influence)

French

bien sûr

/bjɛ̃ syʁ/

other source · Latin SĒCŪRUM 'free from care'

Italian

certo

/ˈtʃɛrto/

other source · Latin CERTUM 'decided, sure'

Portuguese

claro

/ˈklaɾu/

other source · Latin CLĀRUM 'clear'

Romanian

sigur

/ˈsigur/

other source · Latin SĒCŪRUM 'free from care'

Catalan

és clar

/ɛs kla/

other source · Latin CLĀRUM 'clear'

English

of course

/əv ˈkɔɹs/

other source · Old French cours (Latin CURSUM)

English → Italianof coursecertoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: clear, clarity; secure, sure; certain.What English and Italian share

The story

Spanish says 'clear!', French 'well sure', Italian 'certain'. Spanish claro keeps the CL- that inherited llamar (CLĀMĀRE) lost — a sign of learned influence.

English relatives: clear, clarity; secure, sure; certain

Learn it

Practice the Greetings & courtesy deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • es—¿Puedo ir yo también? —¡Claro!
  • fr— Je peux venir aussi ? — Bien sûr !
  • it— Posso venire anch'io? — Certo!
  • pt— Posso ir também? — Claro!
  • ro— Pot să vin și eu? — Sigur!
  • ca— Puc venir jo també? — És clar!
  • en— Can I come too? — Of course!

More in Greetings & courtesy

All Greetings & courtesy words