"severe (strict, harsh)" in seven languages
Meaningsevere (strict, harsh)
Spanish
severo
/seˈbeɾo/
learned
French
sévère
/sevɛʁ/
learned
Italian
severo
/seˈvɛro/
learned
Portuguese
severo
/seˈvɛɾu/
learned
Romanian
sever
/seˈver/
learned
Catalan
sever
/səˈbɛɾ/
learned
English
severe
/səˈvɪɹ/
from Latin/French · Old French severe / Latin SEVĒRUS
English → Italiansevere (strict, harsh)severoCognateSame source — inherited, learned or borrowed. You can recognize it.What English and Italian share
The Latin ancestor
SEVĒRUM‘strict, serious’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
In the Romance languages severo/sévère is first of all a strict person or punishment. For a severe illness or injury, all three usually say grave.
English relatives: severity, persevere
Learn it
In a sentence
- esEl juez impuso una pena severa.
- frLe juge a prononcé une peine sévère.
- itIl giudice ha inflitto una pena severa.
- ptO juiz deu uma pena severa.
- roJudecătorul a dat o pedeapsă severă.
- caEl jutge va imposar una pena severa.
- enThe judge handed down a severe sentence.
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