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"to compete" in seven languages

Meaningto compete

Spanish

competir

/kompeˈtiɾ/

learned

Conjugated like pedir: compito, compitió.

French

concourir

/kɔ̃kuʁiʁ/

other source · Latin CONCURRERE 'to run together'

Also être en compétition or rivaliser.

Italian

competere

/komˈpɛtere/

learned

Also gareggiare, for races and sport.

Portuguese

competir

/kõpeˈtʃih/

learned

Romanian

concura

/konkuˈra/

other source · French concourir, Latin CONCURRERE 'to run together'

Catalan

competir

/kumpəˈti/

learned

English

compete

/kəmˈpit/

from Latin/French · Latin COMPETERE

English → Italianto competecompetereCognateSame source — inherited, learned or borrowed. You can recognize it.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

COMPETERE‘to strive together; to be fitting’

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

The story

COMPETERE meant both 'to strive for the same thing' and 'to be fitting', hence competent. French prefers concourir 'to run together', the source of concours 'contest' and concurrent 'rival'.

English relatives: competition, competitor, competent

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • esVeinte equipos compiten por la copa.
  • frVingt équipes concourent pour la coupe.
  • itVenti squadre competono per la coppa.
  • ptVinte times competem pela taça.
  • roDouăzeci de echipe concurează pentru cupă.
  • caVint equips competeixen per la copa.
  • enTwenty teams compete for the cup.

More words from the same Latin

More in Core verbs

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