vaixell

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Old Catalan vaxell, from Late Latin vāscellum, diminutive of vās (“vessel”). Compare Occitan vaissèl, French vaisseau. It was an old-fashioned word until about 1990, when it was used to replace barco, which was felt to be too Castilian-sounding.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [bəˈʃeʎ]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [vəˈʃeʎ]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [vajˈʃeʎ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eʎ

Noun

vaixell m (plural vaixells)

1. vessel, boat, ship

   Synonym: barco

   Hyponyms: nau, barca

Usage notes

• Considered to be a learned word, mostly used in written form or formal speeches. General colloquial usage is Castilianism barco.

Related terms

• vaixella

References

• “vaixell” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “vaixell”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2024
• “vaixell” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “vaixell” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.