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"trick, knack" in seven languages

Meaningtrick, knack

Spanish

truco

/ˈtɾuko/

masc.borrowed · Catalan or Occitan truc

French

truc

/tʁyk/

masc.borrowed · Occitan truc 'knock, blow'

Also the everyday 'thingy, whatsit'; a magic trick is un tour.

Italian

trucco

/ˈtrukko/

masc.borrowed · French truc

Also 'make-up': il trucco, truccarsi.

Portuguese

truque

/ˈtɾuki/

masc.borrowed · French truc or Spanish truco

Romanian

truc

/truk/

neut.borrowed · French truc

Catalan

truc

/truk/

masc.inherited

Catalan is one of the homes of the word: truc is also 'a knock' (on a door) here.

English

trick

/tɹɪk/

other source · Old North French trique 'deceit' (trikier 'to cheat')

English → Italiantrick, knacktruccoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

The ancestor

Occitan/Catalan truc‘knock, blow (of expressive origin)’

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

The story

Not Latin at all: a southern word for a knock, which became a move in a game and then a clever trick. English trick only looks similar — it comes from a different Norman French word.

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In a sentence

  • es¿Hay algún truco para abrir este bote?
  • frIl y a un truc pour ouvrir ce bocal ?
  • itC'è un trucco per aprire questo barattolo?
  • ptTem algum truque para abrir este pote?
  • roExistă vreun truc ca să deschid borcanul ăsta?
  • caHi ha algun truc per obrir aquest pot?
  • enIs there a trick to opening this jar?

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