brânză
Romanian
Alternative forms
Etymology
Compare Megleno-Romanian brǫndză and Aromanian brãndzã. Of uncertain origin:
- Often considered to be a substrate word.
- Other theories suggest, on the basis of what is used to make cheese, a derivation from Latin brandeum (originally meaning a linen covering, later a thin cloth for relic storage) through an intermediate Vulgar Latin root *brandea; for the development of the meaning, compare Spanish manteca, Portuguese manteiga (probably from Latin mantica, “sack”), Italian formaggio and French fromage (from Latin fōrmāticum from fōrma, “shape; mould”).[1]
- Alternatively it was possibly borrowed from Albanian brëndës (“intestines”), originally referred to cheeses prepared in a sheep's stomach by reacting with the rennet inside;[2] likewise, rânză (“tripe”) might have come from Albanian rrëndës (“rennet”). Displaced caș, which now refers to a specific type of cheese.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈbrɨn.zə/
Audio: (file) Audio: (file) - Hyphenation: brân‧ză
Noun
brânză f (plural brânzeturi)
- (uncountable) cheese
- (countable) type of cheese
Usage notes
The singular form is usually used for white cheeses, while cașcaval is used for yellow cheeses. The plural form is used for both.
Declension
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | ||
| nominative-accusative | brânză | brânza | brânzeturi | brânzeturile | |
| genitive-dative | brânze | brânzei | brânzeturi | brânzeturilor | |
Derived terms
- brânzar
- brânzăreasă
- brânzărie
- brânză bună în burduf de câine
- zgârie-brânză
Descendants
- → Austrian German: Brimsen
- → Czech: brynza
- → Russian: брынза (brynza)
- → Serbo-Croatian: брeнцa, brenca
- → Old Slovak: bryndza
See also
References
- ^ “brânză”, in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language) (in Romanian), 2004–2025
- ^ Orel, Vladimir (1998) “brenda”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden: Brill, page 35.