"worm" in seven languages
Meaningworm
Spanish
/ɡuˈsano/
masc.other source · of uncertain origin
An earthworm is a lombriz (from LUMBRĪCUM).
French
/vɛʁ/
masc.inherited
An earthworm is a ver de terre.
Italian
/ˈvɛrme/
masc.inherited
An earthworm is a lombrico.
Portuguese
/miˈɲɔkɐ/
fem.other source · of uncertain origin
An earthworm; a parasitic worm is a verme.
Romanian
/ˈvjerme/
masc.inherited
plural: viermi
An earthworm is a râmă.
Catalan
/kuk/
masc.other source · of uncertain origin
English
/wɝm/
Indo-European kin · PIE *wr̥mi-
The Latin ancestor
VERMEM‘worm’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
VERMIS and English worm are Indo-European cousins. Vermicelli are 'little worms', and vermilion was a red dye made from a 'little worm', the kermes insect. Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan took other words.
English relatives: vermin, vermicelli, vermilion
Sound laws at work
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In a sentence
- esEl pescador usó gusanos como cebo.
- frLe pêcheur a utilisé des vers comme appât.
- itIl pescatore ha usato dei vermi come esca.
- ptO pescador usou minhocas como isca.
- roPescarul a folosit viermi ca momeală.
- caEl pescador va fer servir cucs com a esquer.
- enThe fisherman used worms as bait.