lau

See also: Appendix:Variations of "lau"

Translingual

Symbol

lau

1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Laba.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Laba terms

English

Verb

lau (third-person singular simple present laus, present participle lauing, simple past and past participle laued)

1. (Polari) To place upon; to put down onto.

Anagrams

• Ula, Lua, Aul, UAL, aul, -ual, ULA, LUA, ALU, alu

Aromanian

Alternative forms

• alau

Etymology

From Latin lavō. Compare Romanian la, lau.

Verb

lau first-singular present indicative (third-person singular present indicative la, past participle latã)

1. to wash
2. (reflexive, mi-lau) to wash oneself

Synonyms

• spel, aspel

Related terms

• lari/lare
• lat
• spel

See also

• ascaldu
• culimbisescu

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lau̯/ [lau̯]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -au̯
• Hyphenation: lau

Etymology 1

From Proto-Basque *lanu, from Latin plānum.

Adjective

lau (comparative lauago, superlative lauen, excessive lauegi)

1. flat, level
2. plain, simple

Declension

Declension of lau (adjective V-stem)

		indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive		lau	laua	lauak	lauok
ergative		lauk	lauak	lauek	lauok
dative		lauri	lauari	lauei	lauoi
genitive		lauren	lauaren	lauen	lauon
comitative		laurekin	lauarekin	lauekin	lauokin
causative		laurengatik	lauarengatik	lauengatik	lauongatik
benefactive		laurentzat	lauarentzat	lauentzat	lauontzat
instrumental		lauz	lauaz	lauez	lauotaz
innesive	anim.	laurengan	lauarengan	lauengan	lauongan
	inan.	lautan	lauan	lauetan	lauotan
locative	anim.	—	—	—	—
	inan.	lautako	lauko	lauetako	lauotako
allative	anim.	laurengana	lauarengana	lauengana	lauongana
	inan.	lautara	laura	lauetara	lauotara
terminative	anim.	laurenganaino	lauarenganaino	lauenganaino	lauonganaino
	inan.	lautaraino	lauraino	lauetaraino	lauotaraino
directive	anim.	laurenganantz	lauarenganantz	lauenganantz	lauonganantz
	inan.	lautarantz	laurantz	lauetarantz	lauotarantz
destinative	anim.	laurenganako	lauarenganako	lauenganako	lauonganako
	inan.	lautarako	laurako	lauetarako	lauotarako
ablative	anim.	laurengandik	lauarengandik	lauengandik	lauongandik
	inan.	lautatik	lautik	lauetatik	lauotatik
partitive		laurik	—	—	—
prolative		lautzat	—	—	—

Adverb

lau (comparative lauago, superlative lauen, excessive lauegi)

1. simply

Noun

lau inan

1. plain (an open, grassy, mostly treeless land)

Declension

Declension of lau (inan V-stem)

	indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive	lau	laua	lauak	lauok
ergative	lauk	lauak	lauek	lauok
dative	lauri	lauari	lauei	lauoi
genitive	lauren	lauaren	lauen	lauon
comitative	laurekin	lauarekin	lauekin	lauokin
causative	laurengatik	lauarengatik	lauengatik	lauongatik
benefactive	laurentzat	lauarentzat	lauentzat	lauontzat
instrumental	lauz	lauaz	lauez	lauotaz
innesive	lautan	lauan	lauetan	lauotan
locative	lautako	lauko	lauetako	lauotako
allative	lautara	laura	lauetara	lauotara
terminative	lautaraino	lauraino	lauetaraino	lauotaraino
directive	lautarantz	laurantz	lauetarantz	lauotarantz
destinative	lautarako	laurako	lauetarako	lauotarako
ablative	lautatik	lautik	lauetatik	lauotatik
partitive	laurik	—	—	—
prolative	lautzat	—	—	—

Etymology 2

Basque numbers ^(edit)

	40
←  3	4	5  →
Cardinal: lau     Ordinal: laugarren     Multiplier: laukoitz     Distributive: launa     Collective: laukote     Fractional: laurden

From Proto-Basque *lauR (“four”). Often compared with Iberian laur (“four”) and Aquitanian *laur-, present in numerous compounds, such as *laurco, *laurina and in the toponym *Laureiereta (“Four Mills”). Possibly related to labur.

Numeral

lau

1. four

Declension

Declension of lau (numeral V-stem¹)

		indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive		lau	laua	lauak, laurak	lauok, laurok
ergative		lauk	lauak	lauek, laurek	lauok, laurok
dative		lauri	lauari	lauei, laurei	lauoi, lauroi
genitive		lauren	lauaren	lauen, lauren	lauon, lauron
comitative		laurekin	lauarekin	lauekin, laurekin	lauokin, laurokin
causative		laurengatik	lauarengatik	lauengatik, laurengatik	lauongatik, laurongatik
benefactive		laurentzat	lauarentzat	lauentzat, laurentzat	lauontzat, laurontzat
instrumental		lauz	lauaz	lauez, laurez	lauotaz, laurotaz
innesive	anim.	laurengan	lauarengan	lauengan, laurengan	lauongan, laurongan
	inan.	lautan	lauan	lauetan, lauretan	lauotan, laurotan
locative	anim.	—	—	—	—
	inan.	lautako	lauko	lauetako, lauretako	lauotako, laurotako
allative	anim.	laurengana	lauarengana	lauengana, laurengana	lauongana, laurongana
	inan.	lautara	laura	lauetara, lauretara	lauotara, laurotara
terminative	anim.	laurenganaino	lauarenganaino	lauenganaino, laurenganaino	lauonganaino, lauronganaino
	inan.	lautaraino	lauraino	lauetaraino, lauretaraino	lauotaraino, laurotaraino
directive	anim.	laurenganantz	lauarenganantz	lauenganantz, laurenganantz	lauonganantz, lauronganantz
	inan.	lautarantz	laurantz	lauetarantz, lauretarantz	lauotarantz, laurotarantz
destinative	anim.	laurenganako	lauarenganako	lauenganako, laurenganako	lauonganako, lauronganako
	inan.	lautarako	laurako	lauetarako, lauretarako	lauotarako, laurotarako
ablative	anim.	laurengandik	lauarengandik	lauengandik, laurengandik	lauongandik, laurongandik
	inan.	lautatik	lautik	lauetatik, lauretatik	lauotatik, laurotatik
partitive		laurik	—	—	—
prolative		lautzat	—	—	—

1. Plural forms in the first column are used when the numeral functions as a noun, while those in the second are used when it functions as a pronoun.

Further reading

• “lau”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language]
• “lau”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Esperanto

Preposition

lau

1. H-system spelling of laŭ

Fijian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Oceanic *laur, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lahud, from Proto-Austronesian *lahud.

Noun

lau

1. (obsolete) east

   Synonym: tokalau

Franco-Provençal

Noun

lau (Old Bressan, Old Dauphinois)

1. alternative form of lèc (“lake”)

References

• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002), “lacus”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volume 5: J L, page 126

Gedaged

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Oceanic *laur, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lahud, from Proto-Austronesian *lahud.

Noun

lau

1. the high sea, an open unenclosed portion of the sea

   Launen demadodime.

   They are on the high sea.

References

• Gleason, H. A. (1955). Gedaged-English Dictionary, by J. F. Mager. Language, 31(1), p. 166

German

Etymology

From Middle High German lā (inflected lāwe), from Old High German lāo, from Proto-West Germanic *hlāu, from Proto-Germanic *hlēwaz. Cognate with Dutch lauw. Also related to English lukewarm.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /laʊ̯/
• Rhymes: -aʊ̯

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Adjective

lau (strong nominative masculine singular lauer, comparative lauer, superlative am lauesten or am lausten)

1. synonym of lauwarm (“lukewarm, tepid”)
2. (often of wind or the night) mild; especially in the sense that it is pleasantly cool after a period of heat

   Synonym: mild

   Es war eine laue Sommernacht. ― It was a mild summer night. [i.e. one that is warm, but bringing welcome cooling after a hot day]

3. cushy, easy

   ein lauer Job ― a cushy job

Derived terms

• für lau
• lauer Lenz (“period of idleness”)

sich einen lauen Lenz machen ― to get on a gravy train, to ride the gravy train

Further reading

• “lau” in Duden online
• “lau” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Hawaiian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlau̯/, [ˈlɐw], [ˈlɔw] (rapid speech)

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Eastern Polynesian *lau, from Proto-Polynesian *rau, from Proto-Central Pacific *rau, from Proto-Oceanic *raun, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *raun, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *daun, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dahun (“leaf”) (compare with Malay daun, Tagalog dahon).

Noun

lau

1. leaf; frond; greens

Derived terms

• hoʻolau
• lauoho

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *rau (“hundred”).

Verb

lau

1. (stative) many, numerous

Numeral

lau

1. four hundred

References

• Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H. (1986), “lau”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN

Hiri Motu

Pronoun

lau

1. 1st-person singular pronoun: I, me

See also

Hiri Motu personal pronouns

			singular	plural
1st person			lau	ai (exclusive) ita (inclusive)
2nd person			oi	umui
3rd person			ia	idia

Kalo Finnish Romani

Noun

lau m (genitive laavesko, nominative plural laave, genitive plural laavengo)

1. word
2. talk

Derived terms

• bürjibosko laave
• džorjilbosko lau
• hoodibosko lau
• kuti laaveskiero
• laavengiiro
• laavesgiires
• laaveskiero
• laavesko liin
• pattijako lau
• xellibosko lau
• xluutibosko lau

Kapampangan

Alternative forms

• lauo (Spanish orthography, obsolete)
• lawu (Súlat Wáwâ)

Etymology

From Sanskrit राहु (rāhu, “Rāhu”). Compare Tagalog laho.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlauʔ/ [ˈläː.uʔ]
• Hyphenation: la‧u

Noun

láû

1. eclipse (usually of the moon)

   Synonyms: eklipsi, sisilim

2. sudden or mysterious disappearance
3. disappearance of one's emotion or feeling (of pain, tiredness, etc.)
4. (obsolete) lunar eclipse

   Coordinate term: lau bulan

5. (obsolete) very black cloud

   Synonyms: lulam, dulum

6. (folklore, obsolete) eclipse monster that devours the moon

Derived terms

• lau aldo
• lau bulan

Related terms

• Lau

Karo Batak

Noun

lau

1. water

References

• Ahmad Samin Siregar et al. (2001). Kamus Bahasa Karo–Indonesia. Medan: Balai Pustaka, p. 119.

Middle English

Noun

lau

1. alternative form of lawe

Mokilese

Noun

lau

1. tongue

Inflection

Possessive forms of lau (tightly inalienable)

singular possessor	first person		loawoaioa
	second person		loawoamwen
	third person		loawoa
dual possessors	first person inclusive		loawoasa
	first person exclusive		loawoama
	second person		loawoamwa
	third person		loawoara
plural possessors	first person inclusive		loawoasai
	first person exclusive		loawoamai
	second person		loawoamwai
	third person		loawoarai
remote plural possessors	first person inclusive		loawoahs
	first person exclusive		loawoami
	second person		loawoamwi
	third person		loawoahr
construct form			loawoan

Mota

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Oceanic *laur, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lahud, from Proto-Austronesian *lahud.

Noun

lau

1. seaside (as opposed to the inland)
2. beach (as approached from the land)

References

• Codrington, R. H. & Palmer, John. (1896). A dictionary of the language of Mota, Sugarloaf Island, Banks' Islands with a short grammar and index. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, p. 46

North Frisian

Alternative forms

• lööw (Föhr-Amrum, also Mooring variant)
• Lööv (Sylt)

Etymology

From Old Frisian *lewa, from Proto-West Germanic *lēwō. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Leeuwe.

Noun

lau m (plural laue)

1. (Mooring) lion

Old Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Brythonic *llọβ̃, from Proto-Celtic *ɸlāmā, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂meh₂ (“palm, hand”).

Noun

lau f

1. hand

Descendants

• Middle Welsh: llaw
  • Welsh: llaw

Rapa Nui

Adjective

lau

1. wide

Remontado Agta

Noun

laú

1. water

Romanian

Verb

lau

1. inflection of la:
   1. first-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. third-person plural present/imperfect indicative

Samoan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *rau (compare Maori rau), from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dahun (compare Malay daun).

Noun

lau

1. leaf

Numeral

lau

1. hundred

Derived terms

• lua lau (“two hundred”)

Tocharian B

Adverb

lau

1. away

   ṣañ wrat lau tärkanacer

   You are going to let your vow away. (literally)

   You are going to break your vow.

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [law˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [law˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [la(ː)w˧˧]

• Audio (Saigon):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Vietic *k-luː, cognate with Arem alaw.

Noun

(classifier cây) lau • (𣓿, 𦰤)

1. reed, arundinaceous cane

Etymology 2

Verb

lau

1. to clean by wiping or rubbing with a wet cloth

Derived terms

• lau dọn
• lau sạch

See also

• giặt
• rửa

Welsh

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /laɨ̯/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /lai̯/

Noun

lau

1. soft mutation of llau (“lice”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of llau

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
llau	lau	unchanged	unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

White Hmong

Alternative forms

• laug (for ruminant mammals)

Etymology

From Proto-Hmong *ʔljuwᴮ (“male”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lau̯˧/

Adjective

lau

1. (of birds) male

Derived terms

• lau qaib (“rooster”)

References

• Heimbach, Ernest E. (1979), White Hmong — English Dictionary‎^[2], SEAP Publications, →ISBN, page 105.