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"polite" in seven languages

Meaningpolite

Spanish

educado

/eduˈkado/

learned

False friend: educado is 'polite'; 'educated' is culto or instruido.

French

poli

/pɔli/

other source · Latin POLĪTUM 'polished' (polir)

Also literally 'polished'.

Italian

educato

/eduˈkato/

learned

Also gentile, cortese.

Portuguese

educado

/eduˈkadu/

learned

Romanian

politicos

/politiˈkos/

other source · Modern Greek politikós 'civil, urbane'

Catalan

educat

/əduˈkat/

learned

Also cortès.

English

polite

/pəˈlaɪt/

other source · Latin POLĪTUM 'polished'

English → ItalianpoliteeducatoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: educated, education.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

ĒDUCĀTUM‘brought up, reared’

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

The story

Spain, Italy, Portugal and Catalonia call good manners 'well brought up' (educado, educato, educat) — a trap for English speakers; French and English call them 'polished' (poli, polite, both from POLĪRE).

English relatives: educated, education

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • esSé educado con tu abuela.
  • frSois poli avec ta grand-mère.
  • itSii educato con la nonna.
  • ptSeja educado com a sua avó.
  • roFii politicos cu bunica.
  • caSigues educat amb l'àvia.
  • enBe polite to your grandmother.

More in Describing words

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