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"straight" in seven languages

Meaningstraight

Spanish

recto

/ˈrekto/

other source · Latin RECTUM 'straight' (learned), the simple form behind DĪRĒCTUM

Derecho, the inherited form of DĪRĒCTUM, also means straight — and right, and law.

French

droit

/dʁwa/

inherited

Italian

dritto

/ˈdritto/

inherited

Also diritto, which as a noun means 'a right, law'.

Portuguese

reto

/ˈhɛtu/

other source · Latin RECTUM 'straight' (learned), the simple form behind DĪRĒCTUM

Inherited direito means 'right' (side, law) and also 'properly'.

Romanian

drept

/drept/

inherited

Romanian turned Latin -CT- into -pt-: DĪRĒCTUM → drept, as NOCTEM → noapte.

Catalan

dret

/drɛt/

inherited

English

straight

/stɹeɪt/

native English · Old English streht

English → ItalianstraightdrittoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: direct, direction, address, dress.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

DĪRĒCTUM (spoken *DRECTUM)‘set straight, directed’

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

The story

Speech squeezed DĪRĒCTUM to *DRECTUM, and ct went its usual ways: French droit, Italian dritto (Spanish derecho). The same word gives 'right' and 'law' in all three.

English relatives: direct, direction, address, dress

Sound laws at work

CT

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In a sentence

  • esMantén la espalda recta.
  • frGarde le dos droit.
  • itTieni la schiena dritta.
  • ptMantenha as costas retas.
  • roȚine-ți spatele drept.
  • caMantén l'esquena dreta.
  • enKeep your back straight.

More in Describing words

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