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"to wash" in seven languages

Meaningto wash

Spanish

lavar

/laˈbaɾ/

inherited

Lavarse for washing oneself: me lavo las manos.

French

laver

/lave/

inherited

Se laver for washing oneself.

Italian

lavare

/laˈvare/

inherited

Lavarsi for washing oneself.

Portuguese

lavar

/laˈvah/

inherited

Romanian

spăla

/spəˈla/

other source · a prefixed spoken-Latin form of LAVĀRE (exact shape disputed)

LAVĀRE is still hidden inside, worn down under two prefixes.

Catalan

rentar

/rənˈta/

other source · Latin *RECENTĀRE 'to freshen' (from RECENS 'fresh')

Valencian and Balearic say llavar, the inherited LAVĀRE.

English

wash

/wɑʃ/

native English · Old English wascan

English → Italianto washlavareNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: lavatory, laundry.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

LAVĀRE‘to wash’

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

The story

An easy one: LAVĀRE barely changed. For your own hands or face all three use the reflexive with the article, not 'my': lávate las manos, lave-toi les mains, lavati le mani.

English relatives: lavatory, laundry

Sound laws at work

B and V merge in SpanishFinal vowels

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In a sentence

  • esLávate las manos antes de comer.
  • frLave-toi les mains avant de manger.
  • itLavati le mani prima di mangiare.
  • ptLave as mãos antes de comer.
  • roSpală-te pe mâini înainte să mănânci.
  • caRenta't les mans abans de menjar.
  • enWash your hands before eating.

More in Core verbs

All Core verbs words