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"test (trial, check)" in seven languages

Meaningtest (trial, check)

Spanish

prueba

/ˈpɾweba/

fem.other source · Spanish probar, from Latin PROBĀRE 'to test'

Test is also used, especially for multiple-choice exams.

French

test

/tɛst/

masc.borrowed · English test

Italian

test

/tɛst/

masc.borrowed · English test

Also prova, from PROBĀRE like Spanish prueba.

Portuguese

teste

/ˈtɛstʃi/

masc.borrowed · English test

Romanian

test

/test/

neut.borrowed · English test

Catalan

prova

/ˈpɾɔbə/

fem.other source · Catalan provar (Latin PROBĀRE 'to test')

English

test

/tɛst/

from Latin/French · Old French test 'pot for assaying metal', from Latin testum

English → Italiantest (trial, check)testCognateSame source — inherited, learned or borrowed. You can recognize it.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

TESTUM‘earthenware pot or lid’

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

The story

An earthen pot (Latin TESTUM) gave Old French test, the vessel for assaying gold; English made it 'a trial', and French and Italian borrowed it back. Spanish says prueba, from PROBĀRE (English proof, probe).

English relatives: test; tête, testa 'head' (from TESTA)

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In a sentence

  • esLa prueba de embarazo dio positivo.
  • frLe test de grossesse était positif.
  • itIl test di gravidanza era positivo.
  • ptO teste de gravidez deu positivo.
  • roTestul de sarcină a ieșit pozitiv.
  • caLa prova d'embaràs ha donat positiu.
  • enThe pregnancy test was positive.

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