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"swing (in a playground)" in seven languages

Meaningswing (in a playground)

Spanish

columpio

/koˈlumpjo/

masc.other source · uncertain; perhaps Greek kolymbân 'to dive, swim'

French

balançoire

/balɑ̃swaʁ/

fem.other source · balancer 'to sway', from Latin BILANCEM 'two-pan scale'

Italian

altalena

/altaˈlena/

fem.other source · uncertain; perhaps Latin TOLLĒNŌNEM 'lifting beam', reshaped after alto 'high'

Portuguese

balanço

/baˈlɐ̃su/

masc.other source · balançar 'to sway', from Latin BILANCEM 'two-pan scale'

In Portugal the playground swing is a baloiço.

Romanian

leagăn

/ˈle̯agən/

neut.other source · of uncertain origin

Also 'cradle'.

Catalan

gronxador

/gɾunʃəˈdo/

masc.other source · gronxar 'to swing', of uncertain origin

English

swing

/swɪŋ/

native English · Old English swingan 'to beat, fling'

English → Italianswing (in a playground)altalenaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: balance (fr).What English and Italian share

The story

No shared word: each language named the swing its own way. French balançoire is the easy hook: it 'balances', from BILANX, the two-pan scale behind English balance.

English relatives: balance (fr)

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In a sentence

  • esLos niños juegan en el columpio.
  • frLes enfants jouent sur la balançoire.
  • itI bambini giocano sull'altalena.
  • ptAs crianças estão brincando no balanço.
  • roCopiii se joacă în leagăn.
  • caEls nens juguen al gronxador.
  • enThe kids are playing on the swing.

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