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"to scratch (an itch)" in seven languages

Meaningto scratch (an itch)

Spanish

rascar

/rasˈkaɾ/

other source · spoken Latin *RĀSICĀRE, from RĀDERE 'to scrape'

Mostly reflexive: rascarse. To scratch a surface is rayar; a cat scratches (araña).

French

gratter

/ɡʁate/

inherited

Also to scrape; a cat's scratch is griffer.

Italian

grattare

/ɡratˈtare/

inherited

Grattarsi for an itch; a cat graffia.

Portuguese

coçar

/koˈsah/

other source · of uncertain origin

To scratch a surface, or with claws, is arranhar.

Romanian

scărpina

/skərpiˈna/

other source · probably Latin SCALPERE 'to scratch' (through a derived verb)

To scratch a surface is zgâria.

Catalan

gratar

/ɡɾəˈta/

inherited

Mostly gratar-se for an itch.

English

scratch

/skɹætʃ/

other source · Middle English, of uncertain origin

English → Italianto scratch (an itch)grattareNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: grate, grater (via Old French grater).What English and Italian share

The ancestor

Frankish *krattōn‘to scratch’

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

The story

A Germanic verb that spoken Latin picked up: gratter, grattare, gratar — and English grate, borrowed back from Old French. Spanish rascar is Latin, a 'scraping' (RĀDERE, as in erase).

English relatives: grate, grater (via Old French grater)

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In a sentence

  • esNo te rasques la picadura de mosquito.
  • frNe gratte pas la piqûre de moustique.
  • itNon grattare la puntura di zanzara.
  • ptNão coce a picada de mosquito.
  • roNu te scărpina pe înțepătura de țânțar.
  • caNo et gratis la picada de mosquit.
  • enDon't scratch the mosquito bite.

More in Core verbs

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