universal

English

Etymology

From Middle English universal, from Old French universal (modern French universel), from Latin ūniversālis, equivalent to universe +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl̩/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌjunəˈvɜɹs(ə)l/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)səl
• Hyphenation: uni‧vers‧al

Adjective

universal (comparative more universal, superlative most universal)

1. Of or pertaining to the universe.
2. Common to all members of a group or class.
   • 1911, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Bunyan, John”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica‎^[1]:

     In Logic, the letter A is used as a symbol for the universal affirmative proposition in the general form "all x is y."

   • 1922, Henry Ford, Samuel Crowther, chapter 4, in My Life and Work, Garden City, New York: Garden City Publishing Company, Inc., →OCLC:

     I had been planning every day through these years toward a universal car.

   • 1955 January, Charles E. Lee, “The Glasgow Underground Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 24:

     Eventually, the railway opened on Monday, December 14, 1896, with a universal fare of 1d. collected at the turnstiles, and conditions were immediately chaotic, as many passengers travelled round and round, and refused to leave the cars.

   • 2022 January 30, Steve Slevinski, “Formal SignWriting”, in IETF‎^[2], archived from the original on 30 April 2024:

     Sutton SignWriting is the universal and complete solution for written sign language, ISO 15924 script code "Sgnw".

3. Common to all society; worldwide, global.

   She achieved universal fame.

   • a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Life of John Dryden, Esq.”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume I, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page xiii:

     [John] Dryden's univerſal genius, his firmly eſtablished reputation, and the glory his memory muſt always reflect upon the nation that gave him birth, make us ardently wiſh for a more accurate life of him than any which has hitherto appeared: […]

   • 2026 August, Shea Alexander, “Basic Relief Carving Techniques”, in Popular Woodworking, volume 290, number 4, page 27:

     First there is no universal sizing system for carving tools. Seemingly every brand and country of manufacture uses a different system.

4. Unlimited; vast; infinite.
   • 1983, Wendy Griswold, “The Devil's Techniques: Cultural Legitimation and Social Change”, in American Sociological Review‎^[3], volume 48, number 5, page 670a of 668–680:

     Playwrights have recognized the usefulness of this archetype and used him in many dramatic contexts, for the Trickster's freedom from determination gives him a universal fascination.

5. Useful for many purposes; all-purpose.

   universal wrench

Synonyms

• (common to all members of a group or class): general; see also Thesaurus:generic
• (unlimited): see also Thesaurus:infinite
• (useful for many purposes): general-purpose, multi-purpose

Antonyms

• nonuniversal

Derived terms

• abstract universal
• angloversal
• areoversal
• interuniversal
• inter-universal Teichmüller theory
• last universal ancestor
• last universal common ancestor
• quasiuniversal
• Saybolt universal second
• subuniversal
• superuniversal
• universal algebra
• universal arithmetic
• universal bank
• universal banking
• universal basic income
• universal cabinet key
• universal chuck
• universal credit
• universal design
• universal design for instruction
• universal donor
• Universalglot
• universal grammar
• universal grinder
• Universalian
• universal instrument
• universalise, universalize
• universalism
• universalist
• universalistic
• universal joint
• universal jurisdiction
• universal language
• universal lever
• universal logic gate
• universally
• universal masking
• universal mind
• universal morphism
• universalness
• universal opportunity
• universal packager
• universal product code
• universal property
• universal quantifier
• universal set
• universal shunt
• universal solvent
• universal sorter
• universal suffrage
• universal Turing machine
• universal value
• universal veil
• universanimous
• varioversal

Related terms

• universe
• university
• universality

Translations

of or pertaining to the universe

• Bulgarian: вселенски (vselenski), всеми́рен (bg) (vsemíren)
• Catalan: universal (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 宇宙的 (yǔzhòu de)

• Esperanto: universa
• Finnish: yleismaailmallinen (fi), universaali (fi), kosminen (fi)
• French: universel (fr)
• Galician: universal (gl)
• Greek: παγκόσμιος (el) (pagkósmios)
• Ido: universala (io)
• Indonesian: universal (id)
• Japanese: 宇宙の (uchū no)
• Korean: 우주(宇宙)의 (uju-ui), 우주적(宇宙的) (ujujeok)
• Kurdish:

  Central Kurdish: گەردوونی (gerdûnî)

• Malayalam: ലോക (ml) (lōka), വിശ്വ (ml) (viśva)
• Occitan: universal (oc)
• Persian: جهانی (fa)
• Polish: kosmiczny (pl)
• Portuguese: universal (pt)
• Russian: вселе́нский (ru) (vselénskij), косми́ческий (ru) (kosmíčeskij)
• Slovene: vesoljski
• Spanish: universal (es)
• Swedish: universell (sv)
• Tagalog: sansinukbin
• Thai: จักรวาล (th) (jàk-grà-waan)

common to all members of a group or class

• Armenian: համամարդկային (hy) (hamamardkayin)
• Belarusian: агу́льны (be) (ahúlʹny)
• Bulgarian: универсален (bg) (universalen)
• Catalan: universal (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 普遍 (zh) (pǔbiàn), 全體的 / 全体的 (quántǐ de)

• Dutch: algemeen (nl)
• Finnish: yleinen (fi), yleis-; yleispätevä
• French: universel (fr)
• German: allgemein (de), Allgemein-, universell (de)
• Greek: παγκόσμιος (el) (pagkósmios)

  Ancient Greek: καθολικός (katholikós), οἰκουμενῐκός (oikoumenĭkós)

• Irish: comhchoiteann
• Japanese: 普遍的 (ja) (fuhen-teki)
• Korean: 보편적(普遍的) (ko) (bopyeonjeok)
• Latin: ūniversālis
• Polish: ogólny (pl), powszechny (pl), uniwersalny (pl)
• Portuguese: universal (pt)
• Russian: всео́бщий (ru) (vseóbščij)
• Slovene: univerzalen
• Spanish: universal (es)
• Thai: สากล (th) (sǎa-gon)
• Turkish: evrensel (tr)

common to all society, world-wide

• Armenian: համամարդկային (hy) (hamamardkayin), համընդհանուր (hy) (haməndhanur)
• Belarusian: агу́льны (be) (ahúlʹny)
• Bulgarian: всео́бщ (bg) (vseóbšt)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 全世界的 (quánshìjiè de)

• Dutch: universeel (nl), wereldwijd (nl)
• Esperanto: universala
• Finnish: maailmanlaajuinen (fi)
• French: universel (fr)
• Galician: universal (gl)
• German: weltweit (de), Welt-, universell (de)
• Greek: παγκόσμιος (el) (pagkósmios)

  Ancient Greek: καθολικός (katholikós), οἰκουμενῐκός (oikoumenĭkós)

• Haitian Creole: inivèsèl
• Hebrew: עולמי
• Icelandic: algildur
• Irish: uilechoiteann
• Japanese: 世界的 (ja) (sekai teki)
• Korean: 세계적(世界的) (ko) (segyejeok), 전세계적(全世界的) (jeonsegyejeok), 전지구적(全地球的) (jeonjigujeok)
• Latin: ūniversālis
• Malay: sejagat, universal
• Portuguese: universal (pt)
• Russian: всео́бщий (ru) (vseóbščij), глоба́льный (ru) (globálʹnyj), всесторо́нний (ru) (vsestorónnij), всеми́рный (ru) (vsemírnyj), общечелове́ческий (ru) (obščečelovéčeskij)
• Slovak: všeľudský
• Slovene: univerzalen
• Spanish: universal (es)
• Swedish: universell (sv)
• Thai: สากล (th) (sǎa-gon)
• Turkish: evrensel (tr)
• Yiddish: אַלוועלטלעך (alveltlekh)

cosmic, unlimited

• Bulgarian: космически (bg) (kosmičeski)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 無限 / 无限 (zh) (wúxiàn), 無窮 / 无穷 (zh) (wúqióng)

• Finnish: rajaton (fi), ääretön (fi)
• German: kosmisch (de)
• Japanese: 無限 (ja) (mugen)
• Korean: 무한(無限)한 (muhan-han)
• Portuguese: universal (pt)
• Russian: вселе́нский (ru) (vselénskij), косми́ческий (ru) (kosmíčeskij)
• Spanish: universal (es)
• Thai: ครอบจักรวาล

useful for many purposes

• Bulgarian: универсален (bg) (universalen)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 萬用 / 万用 (zh) (wànyòng), 萬能 / 万能 (zh) (wànnéng)

• Czech: všestranný (cs), univerzální (cs)
• Dutch: universeel (nl)
• Finnish: yleis-, yleiskäyttöinen (fi)
• German: universell (de), Universal-, All-
• Greek: παγκόσμιος (el) (pagkósmios)
• Hungarian: univerzális (hu)
• Icelandic: alhliða
• Japanese: 万能 (ja) (bannō)
• Korean: 범용(汎用) (ko) (beomyong)
• Polish: uniwersalny (pl)
• Portuguese: universal (pt)
• Russian: универса́льный (ru) (universálʹnyj), всесторо́нний (ru) (vsestorónnij)
• Slovene: univerzalen
• Spanish: universal (es)
• Swedish: omfattande (sv)
• Thai: อเนกประสงค์ (à-nêek-bprà-sǒng)
• Turkish: evrensel (tr), çok amaçlı
• Ukrainian: універса́льний (universálʹnyj)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Arabic: ^{(please verify)} عَالَمِيّ (ʕālamiyy)
• Esperanto: ^{(please verify)} universala
• French: ^{(please verify)} universel (fr)
• German: ^{(please verify)} allgemein (de), ^{(please verify)} Universal-, ^{(please verify)} universell (de)
• Hungarian: ^{(please verify)} egyetemes (hu)
• Ido: ^{(please verify)} universala (io)
• Italian: ^{(please verify)} universale (it)
• Japanese: ^{(please verify)} 全世界の (ぜんせかいの, zensekai no)
• Latin: ^{(please verify)} universalis
• Spanish: ^{(please verify)} universal (es)
• Swedish: ^{(please verify)} universell (sv) (2), ^{(please verify)} universal- (sv) (3)

See also

• general
• global

Noun

universal (plural universals)

2. (philosophy, often in the plural) A characteristic or property that particular things have in common.
   • 1912, Bertrand Russel, The Problems of Philosophy, Chapter 9:

     When we examine common words, we find that, broadly speaking, proper names stand for particulars, while other substantives, adjectives, prepositions, and verbs stand for universals.

   • 1942, Robert Frost, “The Lesson for Today”, in The Poems of Robert Frost: […], New York, N.Y.: The Modern Library, published 1946, →OCLC, page 406:

     But these are universals, not confined / To any one time, place, or human kind.

   • 1970, John R. Searle, Speech acts‎^[4]:

     We might also distinguish those expressions which are used to refer to individuals or particulars from those which are used to refer to what philosophers have called universals: e.g., to distinguish such expressions as "Everest" and "this chair" from "the number three", "the color red" and "drunkenness".

   • 2021, Meghan O'Gieblyn, chapter 11, in God, Human, Animal, Machine […] , →ISBN:

     Empiricism was similarly a response to this loss of universals—a radically contingent world with no underlying order must constantly be studied and tested—and made God himself unnecessary: divine spirit and human spirit were alien enough to each other that they could function without taking each other into account.

3. (linguistics) A pattern that occurs systematically across natural languages.

Translations

A property that particular things have in common.

• Arabic: كُلِّيَّة f (kulliyya)
• Finnish: universaali (fi), yleiskäsite
• German: Universalie (de) f
• Russian: всео́бщее n (vseóbščeje)

Further reading

• “universal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “universal”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• C. G. Herbermann, editor (1913), “Universals”, in The Catholic Encyclopedia […] , New York City: Robert Appleton Company
• The Medieval Problem of Universals - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Catalan

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin ūniversālis. First attested in c. 1400.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Central) [u.ni.βərˈsal], [u.ni.βərˈzal]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [u.ni.vərˈsal], [u.ni.vərˈzal]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [u.ni.veɾˈsal], [u.ni.veɾˈzal]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [u.ni.βerˈsal], [u.ni.βerˈzal]

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

Adjective

universal m or f (masculine and feminine plural universals)

1. universal

Derived terms

• universalisme
• universalista
• universalment

Related terms

• univers
• universalitat

Further reading

• “universal”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “universal” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “universal”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Crimean Tatar

Adjective

universal

1. universal

References

• “universal”, in Luğatçıq (in Russian)

Danish

Adjective

universal

1. alternative spelling of universel

Inflection

Inflection of universal

	positive	comparative	superlative
indefinite common singular	universal	—	—2
indefinite neuter singular	universalt	—	—2
plural	universale	—	—2
definite attributive1	universale	—	—

¹ When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite,
the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
² The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

References

• “universal” in Den Danske Ordbog

Galician

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ís?

Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos

Proto-Italic *oinos

Archaic Latin oinos

Latin ūnus

Proto-Indo-European *wert-

Proto-Indo-European *-tós

Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós

Proto-Italic *worssosder.

Latin vorsus

Latin versus

Latin ūniversus

Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?

Proto-Italic *-ālis

Latin -ālis

Latin ūniversālis

Galician universal

From Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /unibeɾˈsal/ [u.ni.β̞eɾˈs̺ɑɫ]
• Rhymes: -al
• Hyphenation: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

Adjective

universal m or f (plural universais)

1. of or pertaining to the universe
2. world-wide, universal, common to all cultures

   Synonym: mundial

Derived terms

• universalmente

Related terms

• universalidade
• universo

Further reading

• “universal”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026
• “universal”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /univɛʁˈzaːl/
• Rhymes: -aːl

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Adjective

universal (strong nominative masculine singular universaler, comparative universaler, superlative am universalsten)

1. universal

Declension

Positive forms of universal number & gender singular plural masculine feminine neuter predicative er ist universal sie ist universal es ist universal sie sind universal strong declension (without article) nominative universaler universale universales universale genitive universalen universaler universalen universaler dative universalem universaler universalem universalen accusative universalen universale universales universale weak declension (with definite article) nominative der universale die universale das universale die universalen genitive des universalen der universalen des universalen der universalen dative dem universalen der universalen dem universalen den universalen accusative den universalen die universale das universale die universalen mixed declension (with indefinite article) nominative ein universaler eine universale ein universales (keine) universalen genitive eines universalen einer universalen eines universalen (keiner) universalen dative einem universalen einer universalen einem universalen (keinen) universalen accusative einen universalen eine universale ein universales (keine) universalen Comparative forms of universal number & gender singular plural masculine feminine neuter predicative er ist universaler sie ist universaler es ist universaler sie sind universaler strong declension (without article) nominative universalerer universalere universaleres universalere genitive universaleren universalerer universaleren universalerer dative universalerem universalerer universalerem universaleren accusative universaleren universalere universaleres universalere weak declension (with definite article) nominative der universalere die universalere das universalere die universaleren genitive des universaleren der universaleren des universaleren der universaleren dative dem universaleren der universaleren dem universaleren den universaleren accusative den universaleren die universalere das universalere die universaleren mixed declension (with indefinite article) nominative ein universalerer eine universalere ein universaleres (keine) universaleren genitive eines universaleren einer universaleren eines universaleren (keiner) universaleren dative einem universaleren einer universaleren einem universaleren (keinen) universaleren accusative einen universaleren eine universalere ein universaleres (keine) universaleren Superlative forms of universal number & gender singular plural masculine feminine neuter predicative er ist am universalsten sie ist am universalsten es ist am universalsten sie sind am universalsten strong declension (without article) nominative universalster universalste universalstes universalste genitive universalsten universalster universalsten universalster dative universalstem universalster universalstem universalsten accusative universalsten universalste universalstes universalste weak declension (with definite article) nominative der universalste die universalste das universalste die universalsten genitive des universalsten der universalsten des universalsten der universalsten dative dem universalsten der universalsten dem universalsten den universalsten accusative den universalsten die universalste das universalste die universalsten mixed declension (with indefinite article) nominative ein universalster eine universalste ein universalstes (keine) universalsten genitive eines universalsten einer universalsten eines universalsten (keiner) universalsten dative einem universalsten einer universalsten einem universalsten (keinen) universalsten accusative einen universalsten eine universalste ein universalstes (keine) universalsten

Related terms

• Universalie

Further reading

• “universal” in Duden online
• “universal”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎^[5] (in German)

Indonesian

Etymology

Internationalism, from Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /univərˈsal/ [u.ni.fərˈsal]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

Adjective

universal (comparative lebih universal, superlative paling universal)

1. universal:
   1. of or pertaining to the universe
   2. common to all members of a group or class

      Synonym: umum

   3. common to all society; worldwide
   4. unlimited; vast; infinite
   5. useful for many purposes; all-purpose

Noun

universal (plural universal-universal)

1. universal

Derived terms

• diuniversalkan
• keuniversalan
• menguniversalkan
• universalis
• universalisme
• universalitas

Related terms

• universum

Further reading

• “universal”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Middle English

Alternative forms

• universall, universalle, universel, universele, uniyversale, universell, unyversal

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French universel, and its etymon Latin ūniversālis; equivalent to universe +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iu̯ˌnivɛrˈsal/, /iu̯ˈnivɛrsal/, (by analogy to universe) /iu̯niˈvɛrsal/

Adjective

universal (especially Late Middle English)

1. all-encompassing, subject to everything and everyone; having universal significance.
2. absolute, subject to everything in a given area or subject (e.g. a settlement; a person)
3. frequently practiced, usual, customary.
4. (rare) Given total leeway and control; with universal power.
5. (rare) unbiased, unprejudiced, nonpolitical
6. (rare) general, non-specific, generic
7. (philosophy, rare) unformed, uncreated, unmade.
8. (philosophy, rare) theoretical, abstract, general.

Derived terms

• universalite
• universally

Descendants

• English: universal

References

• “ūniversā̆l, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 31 April 2018.

Noun

universal

1. (Late Middle English, philosophy, rare) A category, class, or classification.

Descendants

• English: universal

References

• “ūniversā̆l, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 31 April 2018.

Determiner

universal

1. (Late Middle English) The whole, all of, every portion of, all parts of.
2. (Late Middle English, rare) Every kind of; all sorts of

References

• “ūniversā̆l, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 31 April 2018.

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Languedoc):

  (file)

Adjective

universal m (feminine singular universala, masculine plural universals, feminine plural universalas)

1. universal

Derived terms

• universalament

Related terms

• univèrs
• universalitat

Old French

Etymology

Derived from Latin ūniversālis..

Adjective

universal m (feminine universale)

1. universal

Descendants

• French: universel
• → Middle English: universal, universall, universalle, universel, universele, uniyversale, universell, unyversal
  • English: universal

Piedmontese

Alternative forms

• üniversal

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ynivɛrˈsal/

Adjective

universal

1. universal

Portuguese

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ís?

Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos

Proto-Italic *oinos

Archaic Latin oinos

Latin ūnus

Proto-Indo-European *wert-

Proto-Indo-European *-tós

Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós

Proto-Italic *worssosder.

Latin vorsus

Latin versus

Latin ūniversus

Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?

Proto-Italic *-ālis

Latin -ālis

Latin ūniversālisder.

Portuguese universal

Derived from Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /u.ni.veʁˈsaw/ [u.ni.vehˈsaʊ̯]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /u.ni.veʁˈsaw/ [u.ni.vehˈsaʊ̯]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /u.ni.veɾˈsaw/ [u.ni.veɾˈsaʊ̯]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /u.ni.veʁˈsaw/ [u.ni.veχˈsaʊ̯]
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /u.ni.veɻˈsaw/ [u.ni.veɻˈsaʊ̯]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /u.ni.vɨɾˈsal/ [u.ni.vɨɾˈsaɫ]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /u.ni.vɨɾˈsal/ [u.ni.vɨɾˈsaɫ]
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /u.ni.bɨɾˈsal/ [u.ni.βɨɾˈsaɫ]
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /u.ni.vɨɾˈsa.li/

• Hyphenation: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

Adjective

universal m or f (plural universais, comparable, comparative mais universal, superlative o mais universal or universalíssimo)

1. (relational) universe; universal
2. common to all society; universal; world-wide
3. common to all members of a group or class; universal
   • 1999, Os pecados da língua: pequeno repertório de grandes erros de linguagem, Editora AGE Ltda., →ISBN, page 114:

     Símbolos
     ☞ Não se usa o ponto indicativo de abreviação: km, m l, kg.
     ☞ Têm formas iguais para singular e plural.
     ☞ São de uso universal e irrestrito.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Derived terms

• universalmente

Related terms

• universalidade
• universo

Further reading

• “universal”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “universal” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913
• “universal”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French universel, from Latin universalis. By surface analysis, univers +‎ -al.

Adjective

universal m or n (feminine singular universală, masculine plural universali, feminine/neuter plural universale)

1. universal

Declension

Declension of universal

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative- accusative	indefinite	universal		universală	universali	universale
	definite	universalul		universala	universalii	universalele
genitive- dative	indefinite	universal		universale	universali	universale
	definite	universalului		universalei	universalilor	universalelor

Related terms

• universalitate

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ís?

Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos

Proto-Italic *oinos

Archaic Latin oinos

Latin ūnus

Proto-Indo-European *wert-

Proto-Indo-European *-tós

Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós

Proto-Italic *worssosder.

Latin vorsus

Latin versus

Latin ūniversus

Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?

Proto-Italic *-ālis

Latin -ālis

Latin ūniversālisder.

Spanish universal

Derived from Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /unibeɾˈsal/ [u.ni.β̞eɾˈsal]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

Adjective

universal m or f (masculine and feminine plural universales)

1. universal

Derived terms

• alicates universales
• historia universal
• ley universal
• sufragio universal
• universalizar
• universalmente

Related terms

• universalidad
• universo

Further reading

• “universal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Anagrams

• vulneráis