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"to save (to rescue)" in seven languages

Meaningto save (to rescue)

Spanish

salvar

/salˈbaɾ/

inherited

French

sauver

/sove/

inherited

Italian

salvare

/salˈvare/

inherited

Also 'to save' a file on a computer.

Portuguese

salvar

/sawˈvah/

inherited

Romanian

salva

/salˈva/

learned

Catalan

salvar

/səlˈba/

inherited

English

save

/seɪv/

from Latin/French · Old French sauver

English → Italianto save (to rescue)salvareCognateSame source — inherited, learned or borrowed. You can recognize it.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

SALVĀRE (Late Latin)‘to make safe’

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

The story

French turned the l into u (salv- → sauv-). Saving money is a different verb in each: Spanish ahorrar (from Arabic ḥurr 'free'), French économiser or épargner and Italian risparmiare (both Germanic, like English spare).

English relatives: salvation, salvage, safe, savior

Sound laws at work

L before a consonant becomes uB and V merge in Spanish

Learn it

Practice the Core verbs deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • esLos bomberos salvaron al niño.
  • frLes pompiers ont sauvé l'enfant.
  • itI pompieri hanno salvato il bambino.
  • ptOs bombeiros salvaram a criança.
  • roPompierii au salvat copilul.
  • caEls bombers van salvar el nen.
  • enThe firefighters saved the child.

More in Core verbs

All Core verbs words