"wallet" in seven languages
Meaningwallet
Spanish
/kaɾˈteɾa/
fem.other source · carta 'paper, letter' (Latin CHARTAM) + -era
In much of Latin America billetera; there a cartera is a handbag.
French
/pɔʁtəfœj/
masc.inherited
Also a minister's portfolio and an investment portfolio.
Italian
/portaˈfɔʎʎo/
masc.inherited
Also portafogli; built from portare + foglio, perhaps on the French model.
Portuguese
/kaɾˈtejɾɐ/
fem.other source · carta 'paper, letter' (Latin CHARTAM) + -eira
Also a school desk and an ID card (carteira de identidade).
Romanian
/portoˈfel/
neut.borrowed · French portefeuille
Catalan
/kəɾˈteɾə/
fem.other source · carta 'paper, letter' (Latin CHARTAM) + -era
English
/ˈwɑlɪt/
native English · Middle English walet (origin uncertain)
The Latin ancestor
PORTĀRE + FOLIUM‘to carry + leaf (of paper)’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
A wallet was a 'leaf-carrier' for papers and banknotes: portefeuille, portafoglio (English portfolio is the Italian), with the LI of FOLIUM as ill and gli. Iberia named it after the paper itself, carta plus the -ĀRIA suffix.
English relatives: portfolio, foliage, folio
Sound laws at work
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In a sentence
- esMe he dejado la cartera en casa.
- frJ'ai oublié mon portefeuille à la maison.
- itHo lasciato il portafoglio a casa.
- ptEsqueci a carteira em casa.
- roMi-am uitat portofelul acasă.
- caM'he deixat la cartera a casa.
- enI left my wallet at home.