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in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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Translingual
Symbol
la
( international standards ) ISO 639-1 language code for Latin .
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Glover's solmization , from Middle English la ( “ sixth degree or note of Guido of Arezzo's hexachordal scales ” ) , Italian la in the solmization of Guido of Arezzo, from the first syllable of Latin labiī ( “ lip's ” ) in the lyrics of the scale-ascending hymn Ut queant laxis by Paulus Deacon.
Noun
la (plural las )
( music ) A syllable used in solfège to represent the sixth note of a major scale .
1749 , Henry Fielding , The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling , volume (please specify |volume=I to VI) , London: A Millar , , →OCLC :And now Mrs Waters (for we must confess she was in the same bed), being, I suppose, awakened from her sleep, and seeing two men fighting in her bedchamber, began to scream in the most violent manner, crying out murder! robbery! and more frequently rape! which last, some, perhaps, may wonder she should mention, who do not consider that these words of exclamation are used by ladies in a fright, as fa, la , la, ra, da, &c., are in music, only as the vehicles of sound, and without any fixed ideas.
Coordinate terms
Translations
Etymology 2
Sound used to form meaningless song refrains. Of imitative origin. Compare Old English lā ( a common exclamation ) , Ancient Greek λαλαγε ( lalage , “ babble ” ) , German lallen ( “ to babble ” ) .
Interjection
la
Represents the sound of music or singing .
"La la la la , I can't hear you!" Jimmy said, sticking his fingers in his ears.
2019 , Keira Brown, Between the Lines: Never in Plain Sight :The only part Lucy had to sing was the interlude, which was a bunch of la la la's , and the last verse of the song, which was only four lines, and the chorus, which was just as short.
Etymology 3
From Middle English la , from Old English lā . More at lo .
Interjection
la
( obsolete ) Used to introduce a statement with emphatic or intensive effect.
( archaic ) Expressing surprise, anger. etc.
1749 , Henry Fielding , The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling , volume (please specify |volume=I to VI) , London: A Millar , , →OCLC :La , ma'am, what doth your la'ship think? the girl that your la'ship saw at church on Sunday, whom you thought so handsome; though you would not have thought her so handsome neither, if you had seen her nearer, but to be sure she hath been carried before the justice for being big with child.
1811 , [Jane Austen ], chapter 2, in Sense and Sensibility , volume III, London: C Roworth, , and published by T Egerton , , →OCLC :“Oh, la ! here come the Richardsons. I had a vast deal more to say to you, but I must not stay away from them any longer.”
Etymology 4
From French la , Italian la .
Adjective
la (not comparable )
Prefixed to the name of a woman , with ironic effect (as though an opera prima donna ).
2007 November 22, Kate Carter, The Guardian :Following lukewarm on the heels of an article a few weeks ago, where (I paraphrase due to having filed the relevant copy in the recycling bin) Victoria Beckham made a "well-meaning" remark that the other Spice Girls might want to lose a few pounds, we now have a new incidence of La Beckham's scintillating and entirely well-meaning humour.
2010 , Christopher Hitchens , Hitch-22 , Atlantic, published 2011 , page 232 :By judicious leaking, he also managed to make la Kirkpatrick and her associates look rather unsavory.
Etymology 5
Possibly a shortened form of lad .
Noun
la (plural las )
( Liverpool ) lad , kid
Etymology 6
From Cantonese 啦 ( laa1 ) . Doublet of lah .
Pronunciation
Particle
la ( Hong Kong , colloquial )
Placed at the end of a sentence in imperatives making it sound more like a request than an order.
Sleep la ! ― go to bed.
Eat shit la you! ― You're going to hell! (calque of 食屎 啦 你 ! )
Used to tone down comments.
ok la ― not bad; good enough
See also
Etymology 7
Particle
la
( Singlish , Manglish ) Alternative form of lah
Anagrams
Afrikaans
Pronunciation
Noun
la (plural )
( music ) la ( solfège )
References
Ama
Pronunciation
Noun
la
fish
Anguthimri
Noun
la
( Mpakwithi ) black snake
References
Terry Crowley, The Mpakwithi dialect of Anguthimri (1981), page 186
Aragonese
Etymology
From Latin illa ( “ that one ” ) .
Pronoun
la
her ( direct object )
Aromanian
Etymology
From Latin illac . Compare Romanian la .
Preposition
la
at
by
Asturian
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) .
Article
la f sg (masculine el , neuter lo , masculine plural los , feminine plural les )
( definite ) the
Usage notes
The article la contracts to l' before a word beginning with a or ha : l'asturiana (the Asturian), l'habitación (the habitation), because it ends with an A already
Pronoun
la
her (third-person singular feminine direct pronoun)
Bambara
Postposition
la
postposition marking location
Catalan
Etymology 1
Inherited from Old Catalan la , from Latin illa ( demonstrative ) via apheresis.
Pronunciation
Article
la f (masculine el , masculine plural els , feminine plural les )
the ; feminine singular definite article
Usage notes
The article la is contracted to l' before a vowel or h , except before a following unstressed I or U sounds, as in la universitat, la idea, and la oliva. Note: Unstressed O sounds like a U .
Pronoun
la (enclitic and proclitic , contracted proclitic l' )
her (direct object)
Usage notes
-la is the full (plena ) form of the pronoun. It is normally used after verbs.
Mira-la . ― Look at her.
Declension
Catalan personal pronouns and clitics
strong/subject
weak (direct object)
weak (indirect object)
possessive
singular
proclitic
enclitic
proclitic
enclitic
1st person
jo , mi 3
em , m’
-me , ’m
em , m’
-me , ’m
meu
1st person majestic 1
nós
ens
-nos , ’ns
ens
-nos , ’ns
nostre
2nd person
tu
et , t’
-te , ’t
et , t’
-te , ’t
teu
2nd person formal 1
vós
us
-vos , -us
us
-vos , -us
vostre
2nd person very formal 2
vostè
el , l’
-lo , ’l
li
-li
seu
3rd person masculine
ell
el , l’
-lo , ’l
li
-li
seu
3rd person feminine
ella
la , l’ 4
-la
li
-li
seu
3rd person neuter
ho
-ho
li
-li
seu
3rd person reflexive
si
es , s’
-se , ’s
es , s’
-se , ’s
seu
plural
1st person
nosaltres
ens
-nos , ’ns
ens
-nos , ’ns
nostre
2nd person
vosaltres
us
-vos , -us
us
-vos , -us
vostre
2nd person formal 2
vostès
els
-los , ’ls
els
-los , ’ls
seu
3rd person masculine
ells
els
-los , ’ls
els
-los , ’ls
seu
3rd person feminine
elles
les
-les
els
-los , ’ls
seu
3rd person reflexive
si
es , s’
-se , ’s
es , s’
-se , ’s
seu
adverbial
ablative /genitive
en , n’
-ne , ’n
locative
hi
-hi
1) Behaves grammatically as plural.2) Behaves grammatically as third person.
3) Only as object of a preposition.4) Not before unstressed (h)i-, (h)u-.
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
Noun
la m (plural las )
( music ) la ( sixth note of a diatonic scale )
Further reading
Chickasaw
Pronoun
la
I ( first-person singular pronoun )
Corsican
Etymology
From Latin illa , feminine form of ille ( “ that ” ) , from Old Latin olle . Cognates include Italian la and French la .
Pronunciation
Article
la
Archaic form of a .
Pronoun
la
Archaic form of a .
References
Dalmatian
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) .
Article
la
the ; feminine singular definite article
Dutch
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From earlier lade through regular syncope of intervocalic -d- (compare weer , blij , broer ), from Middle Dutch lāde , from Old Dutch *latha , from Proto-Germanic *hlaþō .
Noun
la f (plural laden or la's , diminutive laatje n )
drawer
Derived terms
Descendants
Afrikaans: laai
→ Caribbean Hindustani: láh
→ Caribbean Javanese: latye ( from the diminutive form )
→ Papiamentu: lachi , laadsje ( from lade )
Etymology 2
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium .)
Noun
la f (plural la's , diminutive laatje n )
la ( music )
Anagrams
Emilian
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) , feminine form of ille .
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /la/
Hyphenation: la
Article
la f sg (plural al or el or li )
the
Pronoun
la (personal )
( nominative case ) she
( accusative case ) her
Becomes l’ before a vowel.
Becomes -la when acting as an enclitic.
Emilian personal pronouns (strong forms)
Esperanto
Etymology
Borrowed from French la , Italian la , Spanish la , all ultimately from Medieval Latin ille .
Pronunciation
Article
la
the
la libro — the book
la libroj — the books
la angla lingvo — the English language
la angla — (the ) English (language) ( clipped form )
Finnish
Noun
la
Abbreviation of lauantai ( “ Saturday ” ) .
Franco-Provençal
Etymology
Inherited from Latin illam .
Determiner
la f (prevocalic l' )
feminine singular of lo ( “ the ” )
Pronoun
la f (prevocalic l' ) ( ORB, broad )
her ( third-person singular feminine accusative )
See also
Franco-Provençal personal pronouns
singular
nominative
accusative
dative
tonic1
possessive2
1st person
jo
mè
min
2nd person
te
tè
tin
3rd person masculine
il
lo / le
lui
sin
3rd person feminine
el
la
lyé
3rd person neuter
o
y
—
3rd person reflexive
—
sè
plural
nominative
accusative
dative
tonic1
possessive2
1st person
nos
noutro
2nd person
vos
voutro
3rd person masculine
ils
los / les
lor
lor
3rd person feminine
els
les
lor / lyés
3rd person reflexive
—
sè
1 Disjunctive or object of a preposition.
2 Generally preceded by a definite article.
References
French
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle French la , from Old French la , from Latin illam , which is the accusative singular feminine of ille .[ 1]
Article
la f sg
feminine of le : the
Usage notes
la becomes l’ before a vowel or an unaspirated h.
l’ amitié ― the friendship
l’ île ― the island
l’ oasis ― the oasis
Derived terms
Descendants
Pronoun
la f sg
her , it ( direct object )
Où est Judith ? Je ne la vois pas. Where is Judith? I don't see her .
Prends cette boîte et mets-la dans le coin. Take that box and put it in the corner.
French personal pronouns
1 Also used as the first person plural.
2 Also used as the polite singular form.
3 Also used when a group has both men and women.
4 Also used as third person plural reflexive.
Etymology 2
Noun
la m (plural la )
( music ) la , the note 'A'
Derived terms
Descendants
See also
References
^ Dauzat, Albert with Jean Dubois, Henri Mitterand (1964 ) “le, la, les”, in Nouveau dictionnaire étymologique (in French), Paris: Librairie Larousse
Further reading
Friulian
Friulian Definite Articles
singular
plural
masculine
il l'
i
feminine
la l'
lis
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) .
Article
la f sg (plural lis )
the
See also
Galician
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Pronoun
la f (accusative )
Alternative form of a ( “ her ” )
Usage notes
The l- forms of accusative third-person pronouns are used when the preceding word ends in -r or -s , and is suffixed to the preceding word
Pronunciation
Etymology 2
Noun
la m (plural las )
( music ) la (sixth note of the scale)
( music ) A (the musical note or key)
See also
Etymology 3
From Old Galician-Portuguese lãa , from Latin lāna .
Pronunciation
Noun
la f (uncountable )
wool
Guinea-Bissau Creole
Etymology
From Portuguese lá . Cognate with Kabuverdianu la .
Adverb
la
there
Haitian Creole
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From French l’art .
Noun
la
art
Etymology 2
Article
la
the (definite article )
Usage notes
This article is used only after a word that ends with an oral (non-nasal ) vowel and an oral consonant, in that order, and when it modifies a singular noun.
See also
Etymology 3
From French là ( “ there ” ) .
Adverb
la
there
Hungarian
Pronunciation
Interjection
la
( archaic ) used in dialects at the end of an exclamatory sentence as an emphasis
ott van la ! ― there it is!
a syllable used when singing a tune without lyrics
Further reading
( for emphasis ) : la in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh . A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz. ). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
( syllable used when singing ) : la in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh . A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz. ). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
( alternative form of lá , used in solfège ) : la in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh . A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz. ). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
( used in à la , cf. à ) : la in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh . A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz. ). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
Ido
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Esperanto la , from French la , Italian la , Spanish la .
Article
la (plural le )
the
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Borrowed from English la , French la , Italian la , Spanish la , Portuguese lá , German A , Russian ля ( lja ) .
Noun
la (plural le la or lai )
( music ) la
Interlingua
Pronoun
la
( accusative ) her
( dative ) to her
Istriot
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) , feminine of ille .
Article
la f sg (masculine el )
feminine singular definite article the
1877 , Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno , volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 29 :Ti son la manduleîna inzucherada. You are the sugared almond.
Italian
Etymology 1
From Latin illa(m) , feminine form of ille .[ 1]
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /la/
Rhymes: -a
Hyphenation: la
Article
la f sg (plural le )
the
Usage notes
The article la elides with words that begin with a vowel, becoming l' .
Pronoun
la f sg (plural le , masculine lo )
( accusative ) her , it
La vedo. ― I see her .
a. 1975 , Pier Paolo Pasolini :
[ …] una improvvisa timidezza però la immobilizza [ …] a sudden timidity immobilized her though
( accusative, formal ) you ( term of respect )
La vedo. ― I see you .
Scusi se la disturbo. ― Sorry to bother you .
See also
Italian personal pronouns
Number
Person
Gender
Nominative
Reflexive
Accusative
Dative
Combined
Disjunctive
Locative
Partitive
Singular
first
—
io
mi , m' , -mi
me
me
—
second
—
tu
ti , t' , -ti
te
te
third
m
lui
si 2 , s' , -si
lo , l' , -lo
gli , -gli
glie , se 2
lui , sé
ci , c' ,vi , v' ( formal )
ne , n'
f
lei , Lei 1
la , La 1 , l' , L' 1 , -la , -La 1
le 3 , Le 1 , -le 3 , -Le 1
lei , Lei 1 , sé
Plural
first
—
noi
ci , c' , -ci
ce
noi
—
second
—
voi , Voi 4
vi , Vi 4 , v' , V' 4 , -vi , -Vi 4
ve
voi , Voi 4
third
m
loro , Loro 1
si , s' , -si
li , Li 1 , -li , -Li 1
gli , -gli , loro ( formal ) ,Loro 1
glie , se
loro , Loro 1 , sé
ci , c' ,vi , v' ( formal )
ne , n'
f
le , Le 1 , -le , -Le 1
1
Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead.
2
Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive.
3
Often replaced by gli , -gli in informal language.
4
Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous ).
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /ˈla/ ° , /ˈla/ *
Rhymes: -a
Hyphenation: là
Noun
la m (invariable )
( music ) la (musical note)
( music ) A (musical note and scale)
Derived terms
References
^ Patota, Giuseppe (2002 ) Lineamenti di grammatica storica dell'italiano (in Italian), Bologna: il Mulino, →ISBN , page 127
Further reading
Anagrams
Japanese
Romanization
la
Rōmaji transcription of ら゚
Rōmaji transcription of ラ゚
Jingpho
Etymology
Borrowed from Burmese လ ( la. ) .
Noun
la
month
References
Kurabe, Keita (2016 December 31) “Phonology of Burmese loanwords in Jinghpaw”, in Kyoto University Linguistic Research , volume 35 , →DOI , →ISSN , pages 91–128
Kabuverdianu
Etymology
From Portuguese lá .
Adverb
la
there
Kambera
Preposition
la
in
Ni -nja la wawa -mu .They are below you. (literally, “They are in below you ”)
References
Marian Klamer (1998 ) A Grammar of Kambera , Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter, →ISBN , page 127
Kilivila
Verb
-la- [ 1]
to leave , to go
kula - thou goest
kulosi - ye go
bala - I will go
Idioms
See also
References
^ Gunter Senft (1986 ), Kilivila: the Language of the Trobriand Islanders . Berlin • New York • Amsterdam: Mouton de Gruyter , p. 303. →ISBN
Ladin
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) .
Article
la f (singular )
the
Usage notes
The article la elides with words that begin with a vowel, becoming l' .
See also
Ladino
Article
la (Hebrew spelling לה , plural las , masculine el )
the ( feminine singular )
Leonese
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) , feminine singular of ille .
Article
la f sg (masculine el , neuter lu , masculine plural los , feminine plural les )
the ( definite article )
Usage notes
The prepositions cun , en and pur contract with la , unless la is part of a proper noun.
cun + la → cula
en + la → na
pur + la → pula
The article la becomes l' before a word beginning with a a or ha :
l'aviespa ― the wasp
Malay
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Pronunciation spelling of lah .
Particle
la
( nonstandard ) Alternative form of lah .
Etymology 2
Clipping of la ni , itself a clipping of kala ini , making la a clipping of kala .
Adverb
la (Jawi spelling لا )
( dialectal , Kedah , Kelantan-Pattani , Terengganu ) At the present time or moment; now .
Synonyms: sekarang , la ni , ini
Further reading
Maltese
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /laː/
Usually unstressed and then automatically shortened to /la/ .
Etymology 1
From Arabic لَا ( lā ) . Doublet of le ( “ no ” ) .
Adverb
la
Used—optionally—with a negated second-person imperfect verb to express the negated imperative.
Used to express negative intention.
Conjunction
la
neither , nor
La jiekol u la jixrob. ― He doesn't eat nor drink.
( obsolete ) except
Synonym: ħlief
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Probably from Arabic لَمَّا ( lammā ) .
Conjunction
la
when
since
Derived terms
Mandarin
Pronunciation
Romanization
la (la5 / la0 , Zhuyin ˙ㄌㄚ )
Hanyu Pinyin reading of 啦
Hanyu Pinyin reading of 嚹
Hanyu Pinyin reading of 鞡
Hanyu Pinyin reading of 𤷟
Hanyu Pinyin reading of 𩋷
la
Nonstandard spelling of lā .
Nonstandard spelling of lá .
Nonstandard spelling of lǎ .
Nonstandard spelling of là .
Usage notes
Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.
Matal
Preposition
la
in
Kak la marabay, Səmon kona aŋa Yuhana, kà uwana dza asik à uwana apə̀hakala dziriga uwaga aw, ama Baba gulo uwana la zagəla la afik la uwana apə̀hakala uwaga.(Mata 16:17) [ 1] Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.(Matthew 16:17)
from
Ama ləv aŋatà kà kərkər la gi (Mata 15:8) [ 2] But their heart is far away from me. (Matthew 15:8)
References
Michif
Etymology
From French la .
Pronunciation
Article
la f (masculine li , masculine and feminine plural lii )
the
Middle French
Etymology 1
From Old French la , from Latin illam .
Article
la f (masculine le , masculine and feminine plural les )
the
Descendants
Etymology 2
From Old French la .
Adverb
la
there
Descendants
Mirandese
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) .
Article
la f (plural las , masculine l , masculine plural ls )
the
la lhéngua mirandesathe Mirandese language
Mwan
Noun
la
rain
Neapolitan
Pronoun
la
Alternative form of 'a
Norman
Norman Definite Articles
singular
plural
masculine
le / l'
les
feminine
la / l'
les
Etymology
From Old French la , from Latin illa(m) .
Pronunciation
Article
la f (plural les )
( Jersey ) the ( feminine singular definite article )
la beque ― the spade
la crôte ― the crust
la léçon ― the lesson
la tâsse ― the cup
Coordinate terms
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology 1
From the verb late .
Verb
la (imperative la , present tense lar , simple past lot , past participle latt )
to let
La sovende hunder ligge. ― Let sleeping dogs lie.
to leave ( in a given state )
la dem (være) i fred ― leave them alone
Etymology 2
From Old Norse hlaða .
Verb
la (imperative la , present tense lar , simple past ladde , past participle ladd )
alternative form of lade
Etymology 3
Verb
la
simple past of legge
Etymology 4
From French la ( “ the ” ) , from Middle French la ( “ the ” ) , from Old French la ( “ the ” ) , from Latin illam ( “ that, those ” ) , which is the accusative singular feminine of ille ( “ that, those ” ) , from Old Latin olle ( “ he, that ” ) , from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ol-no- or *h₂l̥-no- , from *h₂el- ( “ beyond, other ” ) .
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /la/
Rhymes: -a
Hyphenation: la
Article
la
(Used in certain expressions of French origin ) the
à la , à la carte , à la grecque , à la mode , à la maison , à la suite
References
“la” in The Bokmål Dictionary .
Norwegian Nynorsk
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Old Norse láta , from Proto-Germanic *lētaną . Akin to English let .
Verb
la (present tense lar or lèt , past tense lét , supine latt or late , past participle latt or laten , present participle latande , imperative la )
let , allow
La meg få gjera det.Let me do it.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Old Norse hlaða , a strong verb from Proto-Germanic *hlaþaną .
Verb
la (present tense lar , past tense ladde , supine ladd or ladt , past participle ladd , present participle ladande , imperative la )
( transitive , intransitive ) to load , charge
Synonym: laste
Derived terms
Etymology 3
From Latin labii , from the first word of the sixth line of Ut queant laxis , the medieval hymn on which solfège was based because its lines started on each note of the scale successively. Through Italian .
Noun
la m (definite singular la-en , indefinite plural la-ar , definite plural la-ane )
( music ) la , a syllable used in solfège to represent the second note of a major scale .
Coordinate terms
Etymology 4
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Verb
la
past of leggja and legga
References
“la” in The Nynorsk Dictionary .
Anagrams
Occitan
Etymology
From Old Occitan la , from Latin illa(m) .
Pronunciation
Article
la (masculine lo , feminine plural las , masculine plural los )
the ; feminine singular definite article
Old English
Etymology
Unknown. Probably onomatopoeic . Compare Polish ła .
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium .)
Pronunciation
Interjection
lā
lo !, oh !, ah !
Lā ! næddrena cyn.Oh ! generation of vipers.
Enclitic particle used to emphasise interrogation, exclamation, entreaty, affirmation, negation
Ðā cwæþ ic hwæt is ðæt lā ? then said I 'what then is that?'
Old French
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) .
Article
la
the (feminine singular oblique definite article)
the (feminine singular nominative definite article)
Inflection
Old French definite articles
Pronoun
la
it (feminine singular object pronoun)
Descendants
Old Irish
Etymology
From a form of Proto-Celtic *letos ( “ side ” ) , from which leth , which could be related to *ɸletos ( “ side ” ) . However, compare Latin latus . The sense “ in the language of ” is a semantic loan from Latin apud and is perhaps encountered only in glosses of the Latin construction.
Pronunciation
Preposition
la (with the accusative )
with
belonging to
among
in the language of
in the opinion of
by ( indicating the agent of a passive verb )
For quotations using this term, see Citations:la .
Inflection
Inflection of la
Person
Normal
Emphatic
1st person sing.
lem (m ), lim (m ), leim , lium (m )
lemsa , li (u )msa
2d person sing.
lat (t )
latso , latsu
3d sing. masc./neut., dative
3d sing. masc./neut., accusative
leiss , les (s ), lais (s ), letha
le (i )som , lessom , le (i )ssem , laisem
3d sing. fem., dative
3d sing. fem., accusative
l (a )ee , lǽ
lési
1st person pl.
li (u )nn , le (i )nn
linn (a )i
2d person pl.
lib
libsi
3d person pl., dative
3d person pl., accusative
leu , léu , leo , lethu
leusom , leosom
Derived terms
Combinations with a definite article:
Combinations with a possessive determiner:
lam ( “ with my ” )
lat ( “ with your sg ” )
lia ( “ with his/her/its/their ” )
liar ( “ with our ” )
Combinations with a relative pronoun:
Descendants
Irish: le
Manx: lesh
Scottish Gaelic: le
Further reading
Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019 ), “la ”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940 ) D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin , transl., A Grammar of Old Irish , Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN , pages 272–73, 523 ; reprinted 2017
Old Occitan
Etymology
From Latin illa(m) .
Article
la (masculine lo )
the ; feminine singular definite article
Descendants
Polish
Pronunciation
Preposition
la
( Central Greater Poland , Western Greater Poland ) Alternative form of dla
Further reading
Oskar Kolberg (1877 ) “la ”, in “Rzecz o mowie ludu wielkopolskiego”, in Zbiór wiadomości do antropologii krajowéj (in Polish), volume 1, III (Materyjały etnologiczne), page 19
Oskar Kolberg (1877 ) “la ”, in “Rzecz o mowie ludu wielkopolskiego”, in Zbiór wiadomości do antropologii krajowéj (in Polish), volume 1, III (Materyjały etnologiczne), page 27
Portuguese
Pronunciation
Pronoun
la
Alternative form of a ( third-person feminine singular objective pronoun) used as an enclitic and mesoclitic following a verb form ending in a consonant (-z, -r and -s, but not -m); the consonant is elided and the preceding vowel takes an accent if necessary
Romagnol
Article
la
feminine of e’ ( “ the ” )
Romanian
ла ( la ) ( Transnistria (Moldova) )
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Latin illac .
Preposition
la (+accusative )
at
Suntem la Paris. We're at Paris.
to , towards
Etymology 2
From Latin lavāre , present active infinitive of lavō , from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃- ( “ to wash ” ) .
Verb
a la (third-person singular present lă , past participle lăut ) 1st conj.
( uncommon ) to wash (especially the head)
Synonyms: se spăla , scălda , îmbăia
Conjugation
Derived terms
Samoan
Noun
la
sun
Santa Catarina Albarradas Zapotec
Noun
la
name
References
Sassarese
-lla ( pronoun, enclitic, used when previous syllable is stressed )
-ra ( pronoun, enclitic, used when previous syllable is unstressed )
Etymology
From Latin illa , feminine of ille ( “ that ” ) .
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /la/ , ( after a word ending in a vowel ) /ra/
Article
la f sg (plural li , masculine lu )
Sassarese definite articles
singular
plural
masculine
lu /l'
li /l'
feminine
la /l'
the ( feminine singular )
Usage notes
Becomes l' before a vowel.
Pronoun
la f (plural li , masculine lu )
( followed by chi ) that
her ( accusative )
it ( accusative )
References
Rubattu, Antoninu (2006 ) Dizionario universale della lingua di Sardegna , 2nd edition, Sassari: Edes
Sicilian
Etymology 1
From the apheresis of Vulgar Latin *illa , from Latin illam , from illa .
Pronunciation
Article
la f sg (m lu , plural li )
( feminine singular definite article ) the
Synonym: a
Usage notes
This article is nowadays an obsolete variant, unlike its illiquid counterpart a . It is currently used only in some restricted areas where it is still withheld in conversational communications.
Today it is mostly used in crystallized contexts, such as singing, poetry or sayings and proverbs. In all these cases this definite article is more euphonetic than the variants, now predominant, which have undergone the lenition of the initial liquid consonant.
Its use is however almost undisputed before nouns (or nominalized forms of other parts of speech, most often adjectives) that begin with vowels. In this case the form is an apocopic l' . Otherwise, illiquid definite articles are phonetically absorbed by the following noun. I.e: l'arancina (liquid) and ârancina (illiquid).
Inflection
Sicilian articles
Masculine singular definite article
Feminine singular definite article
Masculine and feminine plural definite article
Definite articles (liquid)
lu
la
li
Definite articles (illiquid)
u
a
i
Definite articles
nu (also: un ,'n )
na
Etymology 2
From the apheresis of Vulgar Latin *illa , from Latin illam , from illa .
-la ( enclitic )
a ( illiquid form )
Pronunciation
Pronoun
la f sg (plural li , masculine lu )
( accusative ) her
Synonym: a
La canusci? ― Do you know her ?
( accusative ) it , this or that thing
Synonym: a
Quannu ti la desi. ― When I gave it to you.
Usage notes
This pronoun is now an obsolete variant. It is currently used only in some restricted areas where it is still withheld in conversational communications.
Today it is mostly used in crystallized contexts, such as singing, poetry or sayings and proverbs. In all these cases this definite article is more euphonetic than the variants, now predominant, which have undergone the lenition of the initial liquid consonant.
Its use is however almost undisputed before words that begin with vowels. In this case the form is an apocopic l' .
Southern Ndebele
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium .)
Pronoun
la
these ; class 6 proximal demonstrative.
Spanish
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /la/
Rhymes: -a
Syllabification: la
Etymology 1
From Old Spanish ela , from Latin illa(m) , feminine singular of ille .
Article
la f sg (plural las , masculine el , masculine plural los )
feminine singular definite article ; the
Pronoun
la
accusative of ella , ello ( when the antecedent's implied gender is feminine ) , and usted ( when referring to a woman ) ; her , it , you (formal)
impersonal neuter pronoun (accusative) in certain colloquial phrases : it , this
La sabe toda.He/she knows everything (it all)
¿¡Dónde la viste!? Where did you see that !?
No te la creo. I don't believe you. (from, "I don't believe you this.")
Usage notes
Sometimes used where English would prefer a possessive: tengo algo en la bolsa ( literally “ I have something in the bag ” ) as opposed to tengo algo en mi bolsa ( “ I have something in my bag ” ) . This is especially true with body parts and with articles of clothing or similar accessories.
Where a feminine noun begins with stressed (h)a- , though not common, el is used instead: el alma , el águila , el hacha . (The article remains la where an adjective intervenes between the article and the noun: la majestuosa águila .) The plural remains las .
Derived terms
Spanish personal pronouns
Not used with con ; conmigo , contigo , and consigo are used instead, respectively
Like other masculine Spanish words, masculine Spanish pronouns can be used when the gender of the subject is unknown or when the subject is plural and of mixed gender.
Treated as if it were third-person for purposes of conjugation and reflexivity
If le or les precedes lo , la , los , or las in a clause, it is replaced with se (e.g., Se lo dije instead of Le lo dije )
Depending on the implicit gender of the object being referred to
Used primarily in Spain
Used only in rare circumstances
Descendants
Etymology 2
Noun
la m (plural las )
( music ) la ( sixth note of the scale )
( music ) A ( the musical note or key )
See also
Further reading
Anagrams
Sumerian
Romanization
la
Romanization of 𒆷 ( la )
Swahili
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Proto-Bantu *-dɪ́a .
Verb
-la (infinitive kula )
to eat
( by extension ) to consume , to eradicate
Conjugation
Conjugation of -la
Positive present
-na kula
Subjunctive
-le
Negative
-li
Imperative singular
kula
Infinitives
Imperatives
Tensed forms
Habitual
hula
Positive past
positive subject concord + -li kula
Negative past
negative subject concord + -ku la
Positive present (positive subject concord + -na kula)
Singular
Plural
1st person
ni nakula/na kula
tu nakula
2nd person
u nakula
m nakula
3rd person
m-wa(I/II)
a nakula
wa nakula
other classes
positive subject concord + -na kula
Negative present (negative subject concord + -li )
Singular
Plural
1st person
si li
hatu li
2nd person
hu li
ham li
3rd person
m-wa(I/II)
ha li
hawa li
other classes
negative subject concord + -li
Positive future
positive subject concord + -ta kula
Negative future
negative subject concord + -ta kula
Positive subjunctive (positive subject concord + -le )
Singular
Plural
1st person
ni le
tu le
2nd person
u le
m le
3rd person
m-wa(I/II)
a le
wa le
other classes
positive subject concord + -le
Negative subjunctive
positive subject concord + -si le
Positive present conditional
positive subject concord + -nge kula
Negative present conditional
positive subject concord + -singe kula
Positive past conditional
positive subject concord + -ngali kula
Negative past conditional
positive subject concord + -singali kula
Perfect
positive subject concord + -me kula
"Already"
positive subject concord + -mesha kula
"Not yet"
negative subject concord + -ja la
"If/When"
positive subject concord + -ki la
"If not"
positive subject concord + -sipo kula
Consecutive
kala / positive subject concord + -ka la
Consecutive subjunctive
positive subject concord + -ka le
Some forms not commonly seen in modern Standard Swahili are absent from the table. See Appendix:Swahili verbs for more information.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Arabic لَا ( lā ) .
Interjection
la
no
See also
Etymology 3
See -a .
Particle
la
Ji class inflected form of -a .
Swedish
Etymology 1
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Pronunciation
Verb
la
past indicative of lägga
Etymology 2
Clipping of earlier fälle and fuller . Listed in a dictionary from the 1800s, and believed to have existed for longer.[ 1]
Pronunciation
Adverb
la (not comparable )
( dialectal , Gothenburg, Västergötland) Synonym of väl
References
Anagrams
Tagalog
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Interjection
la (Baybayin spelling ᜎ )
used in directing an animal to stop, especially carabaos and cattle
See also
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Spanish la , from Latin labii .
Noun
la (Baybayin spelling ᜎ )
la ( the note 'A' )
Etymology 3
Influenced by Baybayin character ᜎ ( la ) .
Noun
la (Baybayin spelling ᜎ )
the name of the Latin-script letter L /l , in the Abakada alphabet
Synonyms: ( in the Filipino alphabet ) el , ( in the Abecedario ) ele
See also
Further reading
“la ”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph , Manila, 2018
Tetum
Adverb
la
not
Tsafiki
Pronoun
la
I ; the first-person singular masculine pronoun; the first-person singular pronoun used by adult men
Coordinate terms
čiʰké ( first-person singular feminine pronoun, first-person singular pronoun used by adult women )
če ( first-person singular pronoun used by children )
čiʰke-lá ( first-person plural pronoun )
References
The Languages of the Andes (2004, Willem F. H. Adelaar, Pieter C. Muysken)
Turkish
Interjection
la
( dialectal ) ulan
Vietnamese
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium . Particularly: “Opper (2017)'s Phonological Contrast in Bai cited Jiànchuān Bai la˦/⁴⁴ "to yell, to curse" from Xú & Zhào (1984).”
Verb
la • (羅 , 囉 )
to cry , to shout
( Central Vietnam , Southern Vietnam ) to reprimand , to scold
bị vợ la ― to be scolded by wife
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 騾 ( “ mule ” , SV : loa ) .
Noun
(classifier con ) la • (騾 )
a horse -donkey hybrid ; a mule or a hinny
See also
Votic
Etymology
From laskõa . Compare Estonian las .
Pronunciation
Particle
la
let ( with a verb )
Forms a first-person ot third-person imperative.
Usage notes
Usually used with the standard personal forms of verbs.
The third-person imperatives using la (e.g. la teeb ) are more common than the forms using -ko(d) (tehko ).
References
Hallap, V., Adler, E., Grünberg, S., Leppik, M. (2012 ) “la ”, in Vadja keele sõnaraamat [A dictionary of the Votic language ], 2nd edition, Tallinn
Walloon
Etymology
From Latin illac .
Pronunciation
Adverb
la
there
Synonyms
Antonyms
Wolof
Pronoun
la
you ( second-person singular object pronoun )
See also
Xhosa
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium .)
Pronoun
la
these ; class 6 proximal demonstrative.
Xokleng
Etymology
From Proto-Southern Jê *ra ( “ sun ” ) .
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) :
Noun
la
sun
Yatzachi Zapotec
Noun
la
name
Yoruba
Etymology 1
Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *lá . Possibly cognate with Proto-Bantu *-dáada
Pronunciation
Verb
lá
to dream
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *lá
Pronunciation
Verb
lá
to lick , including with one's finger
Synonym: pọ́n lá
to become worn out
Derived terms
Etymology 3
Pronunciation
Verb
là
to be wealthy ; to become wealthy , to become rich
Derived terms
Etymology 4
Pronunciation
Verb
là
to dilute a liquid
Synonym: fi omi lú
Derived terms
Etymology 5
Pronunciation
Verb
là
to shine like the moon/sun/light, to glow , to radiate
òòrùn-ún là ― The sun shone
Etymology 6
Pronunciation
Verb
là
to survive
Derived terms
Etymology 7
Pronunciation
Verb
là
to cut , to divide , to separate , to slice
Derived terms
Zulu
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium .)
Pronunciation
Pronoun
la
these ; class 6 proximal demonstrative.
Inflection
References