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"strike (labour)" in seven languages

Meaningstrike (labour)

Spanish

huelga

/ˈwelga/

fem.other source · Spanish holgar 'to rest', from Late Latin FOLLICĀRE 'to puff, breathe'

French

grève

/gʁɛv/

fem.other source · the Place de Grève in Paris, a gravelly riverbank (pre-Latin *grava 'gravel')

Italian

sciopero

/ˈʃɔpero/

masc.other source · Italian scioperare, from Late Latin *EXOPERĀRE 'to be out of work'

Portuguese

greve

/ˈɡɾɛvi/

fem.other source · French grève (named after the Place de Grève in Paris)

Romanian

grevă

/ˈɡrevə/

fem.other source · French grève (named after the Place de Grève in Paris)

Catalan

vaga

/ˈbaɡə/

fem.other source · Catalan vagar 'to be idle', from Latin VACĀRE 'to be empty, free'

English

strike

/stɹaɪk/

native English · Old English strīcan

English → Italianstrike (labour)scioperoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

The story

Three unrelated words with three stories: Spanish 'taking a breather', French named after the Paris square where idle workers gathered to be hired, Italian 'un-working'.

Sound laws at work

Spanish initial F- becomes h- (silent)

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In a sentence

  • esMañana hay huelga de trenes.
  • frDemain, il y a une grève des trains.
  • itDomani c'è sciopero dei treni.
  • ptAmanhã tem greve de trens.
  • roMâine e grevă la căile ferate.
  • caDemà hi ha vaga de trens.
  • enThere is a train strike tomorrow.

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