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"tip (gratuity)" in seven languages

Meaningtip (gratuity)

Spanish

propina

/pɾoˈpina/

fem.other source · Medieval Latin PROPĪNA, from Greek propínein 'to drink to someone's health'

French

pourboire

/puʁbwaʁ/

masc.other source · pour boire 'for drinking'

Italian

mancia

/ˈmantʃa/

fem.other source · of debated origin, usually traced to French manche 'sleeve'

Portuguese

gorjeta

/gohˈʒetɐ/

fem.other source · Portuguese gorja 'throat' + -eta: something to wet the throat

Romanian

bacșiș

/bakˈʃiʃ/

neut.other source · Turkish bahşiş, from Persian

Catalan

propina

/pɾuˈpinə/

fem.other source · Medieval Latin PROPĪNA, from Greek propínein 'to drink to someone's health'

English

tip

/tɪp/

other source · of uncertain origin

English → Italiantip (gratuity)manciaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

Watch out: false friends

  • propina (Portuguese) means “bribe (Brazil)” · propina (Spanish) means “tip, gratuity”

    Both from Latin PROPĪNĀRE 'to drink to someone's health' (from Greek): money given 'for a drink'. Spanish kept the tip; in Brazil it slid to a bribe, and in Portugal it is a university fee. Never offer a Brazilian waiter uma propina.

All false friends

The story

Spanish and French both tip 'for a drink': French says it outright (pour boire), Spanish through a Greek toast. In Italy and France service is often included, so a mancia or pourboire is a small extra.

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In a sentence

  • es¿Has dejado propina?
  • frTu as laissé un pourboire ?
  • itHai lasciato la mancia?
  • ptVocê deixou gorjeta?
  • roAi lăsat bacșiș?
  • caHas deixat propina?
  • enDid you leave a tip?

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