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"to prevent (stop from happening)" in seven languages

Meaningto prevent (stop from happening)

Spanish

impedir

/impeˈdiɾ/

learned

Prevenir also means 'to prevent', of illness or accidents.

French

empêcher

/ɑ̃peʃe/

other source · Late Latin IMPEDICĀRE 'to shackle', from PEDICA 'fetter'

Prévenir means 'to warn, let know' — a classic trap.

Italian

impedire

/impeˈdire/

learned

Portuguese

impedir

/ĩpeˈdʒih/

learned

Romanian

împiedica

/ɨmpjediˈka/

other source · Latin IMPEDICĀRE 'to shackle', like French empêcher

Catalan

impedir

/impəˈdi/

learned

English

prevent

/pɹɪˈvɛnt/

other source · Latin PRAEVENĪRE 'to come before'

English → Italianto prevent (stop from happening)impedireNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: impede, impediment; impeach (from the French cousin).What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

IMPEDĪRE‘to shackle the feet, hinder’

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

The story

To prevent was to tie someone's feet (PĒS, PEDIS). Spanish and Italian took IMPEDĪRE from books; French inherited a relative, IMPEDICĀRE, worn down to empêcher — the word English borrowed as impeach.

English relatives: impede, impediment; impeach (from the French cousin)

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In a sentence

  • esLa lluvia nos impidió salir.
  • frLa pluie nous a empêchés de sortir.
  • itLa pioggia ci ha impedito di uscire.
  • ptA chuva nos impediu de sair.
  • roPloaia ne-a împiedicat să ieșim.
  • caLa pluja ens va impedir sortir.
  • enThe rain prevented us from going out.

More in Core verbs

All Core verbs words