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"to shout" in seven languages

Meaningto shout

Spanish

gritar

/ɡɾiˈtaɾ/

inherited

French

crier

/kʁije/

inherited

Italian

gridare

/ɡriˈdare/

inherited

Also urlare.

Portuguese

gritar

/ɡɾiˈtah/

inherited

Romanian

striga

/striˈɡa/

other source · of debated origin, perhaps Latin STRĪGA 'witch, screech owl'

Catalan

cridar

/kɾiˈda/

inherited

Also 'to call': et crido demà.

English

shout

/ʃaʊt/

native English · Middle English shouten (origin uncertain)

Cry is the shared word, from Old French crier.

English → Italianto shoutgridareNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: cry, decry, outcry.What English and Italian share

Watch out: false friends

  • criar (Spanish) means “to raise, bring up” · crier (French) means “to shout”

    Coincidence. French crier comes from spoken Latin *CRĪTĀRE (classical QUIRĪTĀRE 'to cry out') — the source of Spanish gritar too; Spanish criar is CREĀRE 'to create, beget'.

All false friends

The Latin ancestor

QUIRĪTĀRE (VL *CRĪTĀRE)‘to cry out (for help)’

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

The story

Probably QUIRĪTĀRE, to call on the Quirites (the Roman citizens) for help, worn to *CRĪTĀRE. English cry is the French form; Spanish and Portuguese voiced the first c (gritar), Italian and Catalan the t (gridare, cridar).

English relatives: cry, decry, outcry

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • esNo grites, que el bebé está durmiendo.
  • frNe crie pas, le bébé dort.
  • itNon gridare, il bambino dorme.
  • ptNão grite, o bebê está dormindo.
  • roNu striga, doarme copilul.
  • caNo cridis, que el nadó dorm.
  • enDon't shout, the baby is sleeping.

More in Core verbs

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