"per, a (each)" in seven languages
Meaningper, a (each)
Spanish
/poɾ/
other source · Latin PRŌ, crossed with PER
Also al: dos veces al día 'twice a day'.
French
/paʁ/
inherited
Deux fois par jour, dix euros par personne.
Italian
/per/
inherited
With time, Italian prefers a + the article: due volte al giorno.
Portuguese
/poh/
other source · Latin PRŌ, crossed with PER
Romanian
/pe/
inherited
Old Romanian pre, from PER. De is just as common: zece euro de persoană.
Catalan
/pəɾ/
inherited
English
/pɝ/
from Latin/French · Latin PER
The Latin ancestor
PER‘through, by’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
English borrowed Latin PER straight from the page (per cent, per head); the sisters inherited it. Spanish por blends PER with PRŌ, so it shows two Latin words in one.
English relatives: per cent, per capita
Learn it
In a sentence
- esCuesta diez euros por persona.
- frÇa coûte dix euros par personne.
- itCosta dieci euro per persona.
- ptCusta dez euros por pessoa.
- roCostă zece euro pe persoană.
- caCosta deu euros per persona.
- enIt costs ten euros per person.