forma

See also: a-form, formà, formá, formă, fôrma, formą, förmå, and -forma

Languages (30)

Asturian • Azerbaijani • Basque • Catalan • Czech • French • Galician • Hungarian • Icelandic • Indonesian • Ingrian • Interlingua • Italian • Ladin • Latin • Lithuanian • Maltese • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Old Czech • Old English • Old Polish • Polish • Portuguese • Romanian • Serbo-Croatian • Silesian • Spanish • Swedish • Turkish

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Page categories

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin fōrma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfoɾma/ [ˈfoɾ.ma]
• Rhymes: -oɾma
• Syllabification: for‧ma

Noun

forma m (plural formes)

1. shape, form

Further reading

• Xosé Lluis García Arias (2002–2004), “forma”, in Diccionario general de la lengua asturiana [General Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Spanish), Editorial Prensa Asturiana, →ISBN
• “forma”, in Diccionariu de la llingua asturiana [Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Asturian), 1ª edición, Academia de la Llingua Asturiana, 2000, →ISBN

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin fōrma.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

forma (definite accusative formanı, plural formalar)

1. shape, form

   Synonym: şəkil

2. uniform (especially of school uniform)

   məktəb forması ― school uniform

3. (grammar) mood

Declension

Declension of forma

	singular	plural
nominative	forma	formalar
definite accusative	formanı	formaları
dative	formaya	formalara
locative	formada	formalarda
ablative	formadan	formalardan
definite genitive	formanın	formaların

Possessive forms of forma

	nominative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	formam	formalarım
sənin (“your”)	forman	formaların
onun (“his/her/its”)	forması	formaları
bizim (“our”)	formamız	formalarımız
sizin (“your”)	formanız	formalarınız
onların (“their”)	forması or formaları	formaları
	accusative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	formamı	formalarımı
sənin (“your”)	formanı	formalarını
onun (“his/her/its”)	formasını	formalarını
bizim (“our”)	formamızı	formalarımızı
sizin (“your”)	formanızı	formalarınızı
onların (“their”)	formasını or formalarını	formalarını
	dative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	formama	formalarıma
sənin (“your”)	formana	formalarına
onun (“his/her/its”)	formasına	formalarına
bizim (“our”)	formamıza	formalarımıza
sizin (“your”)	formanıza	formalarınıza
onların (“their”)	formasına or formalarına	formalarına
	locative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	formamda	formalarımda
sənin (“your”)	formanda	formalarında
onun (“his/her/its”)	formasında	formalarında
bizim (“our”)	formamızda	formalarımızda
sizin (“your”)	formanızda	formalarınızda
onların (“their”)	formasında or formalarında	formalarında
	ablative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	formamdan	formalarımdan
sənin (“your”)	formandan	formalarından
onun (“his/her/its”)	formasından	formalarından
bizim (“our”)	formamızdan	formalarımızdan
sizin (“your”)	formanızdan	formalarınızdan
onların (“their”)	formasından or formalarından	formalarından
	genitive
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	formamın	formalarımın
sənin (“your”)	formanın	formalarının
onun (“his/her/its”)	formasının	formalarının
bizim (“our”)	formamızın	formalarımızın
sizin (“your”)	formanızın	formalarınızın
onların (“their”)	formasının or formalarının	formalarının

Further reading

• “forma” in Obastan.com.

Basque

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish forma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /forma/ [for.ma]
• Rhymes: -orma, -a
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma inan

1. form, shape

Declension

Declension of forma (inan a-stem)

	indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive	forma	forma	formak	formok
ergative	formak	formak	formek	formok
dative	formari	formari	formei	formoi
genitive	formaren	formaren	formen	formon
comitative	formarekin	formarekin	formekin	formokin
causative	formarengatik	formarengatik	formengatik	formongatik
benefactive	formarentzat	formarentzat	formentzat	formontzat
instrumental	formaz	formaz	formez	formotaz
innesive	formatan	forman	formetan	formotan
locative	formatako	formako	formetako	formotako
allative	formatara	formara	formetara	formotara
terminative	formataraino	formaraino	formetaraino	formotaraino
directive	formatarantz	formarantz	formetarantz	formotarantz
destinative	formatarako	formarako	formetarako	formotarako
ablative	formatatik	formatik	formetatik	formotatik
partitive	formarik	—	—	—
prolative	formatzat	—	—	—

Further reading

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

Catalan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈfor.mə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈfoɾ.ma]

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -oɾma
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin fōrma.

Noun

forma f (plural formes)

1. form; shape

Related terms

• formar
• -forme

References

• “forma”, 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
• “forma”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026
• “forma” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “forma” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Etymology 2

Verb

forma

1. inflection of formar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Czech

Etymology

Inherited from Old Czech forma, from Latin fōrma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈforma]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -orma
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma f

1. form, shape
2. mold/mould (for shaping a fluid or plastic substance)

Declension

Declension of forma (hard feminine reducible)

	singular	plural
nominative	forma	formy
genitive	formy	forem
dative	formě	formám
accusative	formu	formy
vocative	formo	formy
locative	formě	formách
instrumental	formou	formami

Derived terms

• formička

Related terms

• deformace
• deformovat
• dezinformace
• dezinformátor
• dezinformovat
• formace
• formalismus
• formalista
• formalistický
• formativní
• formální
• formovat
• formulace
• formulář
• formule
• formulka
• formulovat
• informace
• informant
• informatik
• informatika
• informátor
• informovat
• konformismus
• konformista
• konformní
• reforma
• reformace
• reformátor
• reformovat
• transformace
• transformátor
• transformovat
• uniforma
• uniformita
• uniformní
• uniformovaný

Further reading

• “forma”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “forma”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “forma”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2026

Anagrams

• morfa

French

Verb

forma

1. third-person singular past historic of former

Galician

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese forma (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Latin fōrma. Cognate with Portuguese forma and Spanish horma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfoɾma/ [ˈfoɾ.mɐ]
• Rhymes: -oɾma
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma f (plural formas)

1. form, shape
2. mold, cast
3. cake tin
4. button

   Synonym: botón

5. shoe tree

Related terms

• formal
• formar

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “forma”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Barreiro, Xavier Varela; Guinovart, Xavier Gómez (2006–2018), “forma”, in Corpus Xelmírez: corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval [Corpus Xelmírez: linguistic corpus of Medieval Galicia] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “forma”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “forma”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “forma”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Hungarian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin forma, perhaps from Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “shape, figure”), via Etruscan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈformɒ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: for‧ma
• Rhymes: -mɒ

Noun

forma (plural formák)

1. form
2. shape

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)

	singular	plural
nominative	forma	formák
accusative	formát	formákat
dative	formának	formáknak
instrumental	formával	formákkal
causal-final	formáért	formákért
translative	formává	formákká
terminative	formáig	formákig
essive-formal	formaként	formákként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	formában	formákban
superessive	formán	formákon
adessive	formánál	formáknál
illative	formába	formákba
sublative	formára	formákra
allative	formához	formákhoz
elative	formából	formákból
delative	formáról	formákról
ablative	formától	formáktól
non-attributive possessive – singular	formáé	formáké
non-attributive possessive – plural	formáéi	formákéi

Possessive forms of forma

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	formám	formáim
2nd person sing.	formád	formáid
3rd person sing.	formája	formái
1st person plural	formánk	formáink
2nd person plural	formátok	formáitok
3rd person plural	formájuk	formáik

Synonyms

• alak

Derived terms

• formai
• formaság
• formájú
• formál
• formás
• formátlan
• formáz

Compound words

• egyforma
• életforma
• formabontó
• formatervezés
• formatervező
• süteményforma

Further reading

• forma in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.

Icelandic

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɔrma/
• Rhymes: -ɔrma

Verb

forma (weak verb, third-person singular past indicative formaði, supine formað)

1. to form, to shape [with accusative]

Conjugation

forma – active voice (germynd)

infinitive nafnháttur		að forma
supine sagnbót		formað
present participle lýsingarháttur nútíðar		formandi
		indicative framsöguháttur			subjunctive viðtengingarháttur
		present nútíð	past þátíð		present nútíð	past þátíð
singular	ég	forma	formaði		formi	formaði
	þú	formar	formaðir		formir	formaðir
	hann, hún, það	formar	formaði		formi	formaði
plural	við	formum	formuðum		formum	formuðum
	þið	formið	formuðuð		formið	formuðuð
	þeir, þær, þau	forma	formuðu		formi	formuðu
		imperative boðháttur
singular	þú	forma (þú), formaðu
plural	þið	formið (þið), formiði1

¹ Spoken form, usually not written; in writing, the unappended plural form (optionally followed by the full pronoun) is preferred.

formast – mediopassive voice (miðmynd)

infinitive nafnháttur		að formast
supine sagnbót		formast
present participle lýsingarháttur nútíðar		formandist (rare; see appendix)
		indicative framsöguháttur			subjunctive viðtengingarháttur
		present nútíð	past þátíð		present nútíð	past þátíð
singular	ég	formast	formaðist		formist	formaðist
	þú	formast	formaðist		formist	formaðist
	hann, hún, það	formast	formaðist		formist	formaðist
plural	við	formumst	formuðumst		formumst	formuðumst
	þið	formist	formuðust		formist	formuðust
	þeir, þær, þau	formast	formuðust		formist	formuðust
		imperative boðháttur
singular	þú	formast (þú), formastu
plural	þið	formist (þið), formisti1

¹ Spoken form, usually not written; in writing, the unappended plural form (optionally followed by the full pronoun) is preferred.

formaður — past participle (lýsingarháttur þátíðar)

strong declension (sterk beyging)	singular (eintala)			plural (fleirtala)
	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)
nominative (nefnifall)	formaður	formuð	formað	formaðir	formaðar	formuð
accusative (þolfall)	formaðan	formaða	formað	formaða	formaðar	formuð
dative (þágufall)	formuðum	formaðri	formuðu	formuðum	formuðum	formuðum
genitive (eignarfall)	formaðs	formaðrar	formaðs	formaðra	formaðra	formaðra
weak declension (veik beyging)	singular (eintala)			plural (fleirtala)
	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)
nominative (nefnifall)	formaði	formaða	formaða	formuðu	formuðu	formuðu
accusative (þolfall)	formaða	formuðu	formaða	formuðu	formuðu	formuðu
dative (þágufall)	formaða	formuðu	formaða	formuðu	formuðu	formuðu
genitive (eignarfall)	formaða	formuðu	formaða	formuðu	formuðu	formuðu

Indonesian

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin fōrma (“form”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈfɔrma]
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma (plural forma-forma)

1. (biology, taxonomy) form: an infraspecific rank

Further reading

• “forma”, 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

Ingrian

Etymology

Borrowed from Russian форма (forma).

Pronunciation

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /ˈformɑ/, [ˈfo̞rm]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /ˈformɑ/, [ˈfo̞rmɑ]
• Rhymes: -orm, -ormɑ
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma

1. form, shape
   • 1936, L. G. Terehova, V. G. Erdeli, translated by Mihailov and P. I. Maksimov, Geografia: oppikirja iƶoroin alkușkoulun kolmatta klaassaa vart (ensimäine osa) [Geography: textbook for Ingrian elementary school third grade (first part)], Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-Pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 3:

     Töö saatta tiitä kuin suur ono maa, millaist hää ono formaa ja mitä ono hänen pääl.

     You will get to know how the earth is big, what kind of shape it is and what is on top of it.

2. (grammar) form
   • 1936, V. I. Junus, Iƶoran Keelen Grammatikka‎^[3], Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 31:

     Forma "metsääs" vastajaa kysymyksee mis? kus?

     The form "metsääs" answers the question where?

Declension

Declension of forma (type 3/kana, no gradation)
	singular	plural
nominative	forma	format
genitive	forman	formoin
partitive	formaa	formoja
illative	formaa	formoi
inessive	formaas	formois
elative	formast	formoist
allative	formalle	formoille
adessive	formaal	formoil
ablative	formalt	formoilt
translative	formaks	formoiks
essive	formanna, formaan	formoinna, formoin
exessive1)	formant	formoint
1) obsolete *) the accusative corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl) **) the comitative is formed by adding the suffix -ka? or -kä? to the genitive.

Derived terms

• formain
• kysymysforma
• käskyforma
• partitivaforma

References

• Ruben E. Nirvi (1971), Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 39

Interlingua

Noun

forma (plural formas)

1. form

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfor.ma/
• Rhymes: -orma
• Hyphenation: fór‧ma

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin fōrma.

Noun

forma f (plural forme)

1. form
2. shape
3. mould/mold

Related terms

• formaggio
• formale
• formare
• formula
• in forma

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

forma

1. inflection of formare:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Ladin

Etymology

From Latin fōrma.

Noun

forma f (plural formes)

1. form
2. shape

Latin

Alternative forms

• fōrm. (abbreviation)

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps from an Etruscan *morma, from Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “shape, fashion, appearance, outward form, contour, figure”), with dissimilation *m-m > *f-m, as seen in formīca (“ant”) and formīdō (“ghost, scarecrow”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈfoːr.ma]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈfɔr.ma]

Noun

fōrma f (genitive fōrmae); first declension

1. form; figure, shape, appearance

   Synonyms: habitus, faciēs, species, frons

   • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Virgil, Aeneid 1.71–72:

     “Sunt mihi bis septem praestantī corpore nymphae,
     quārum quae fōrmā pulcherrima Dēiopēa.”

     “I have twice-seven nymphs, [each] with a gorgeous body, of whom [the nymph] who [has] the most beautiful figure [is] Deiopea.”
     (Juno attempts to bribe Aeolus with an arranged marriage. Notes: The dative of possession “sunt mihi” means “they are for me” or simply “I have.” The ablative of quality “praestanti corpore” here is singular despite the plural “nymphae.” The ablative of specification “forma” here means “with respect to appearance.”)

2. fine form; beauty
   • 2 CE, Ovid, The Art of Love 2.113:

     Fōrma bonum fragile est, quantumque accēdit ad annōs […]

     A frail advantage is beauty, that grows less as time draws on.

3. outline, plan, design
4. model, pattern, stamp, mold

   Synonyms: charta, tabula

5. (figurative) manner, kind, sort

Declension

First-declension noun.

	singular	plural
nominative	fōrma	fōrmae
genitive	fōrmae	fōrmārum
dative	fōrmae	fōrmīs
accusative	fōrmam	fōrmās
ablative	fōrmā	fōrmīs
vocative	fōrma	fōrmae

Derived terms

• cōnfōrmis
• dēfōrmis
• fōrmāceus
• fōrmālis
• fōrmaster
• fōrmāticum
• fōrmella
• fōrmō
• fōrmōsus
• fōrmula
• īnfōrmis
• prō fōrmā

Descendants

• Catalan: forma
• Dalmatian: fuorma
• Friulian: forme
• Italian: forma
• Occitan: forma
  • → French: fourme
• Old Galician-Portuguese: forma
  • Galician: forma
  • Portuguese: forma (ety. 2)
• Sardinian: forma
• Sicilian: furma
• Romansh: furma, fuorma
• Spanish: horma
• → Danish: form
• → Irish: foirm
• → Old Czech: forma (learned) (see there for further descendants)
• → Old Norse: form
  • Norwegian Bokmål: form
• → Old Polish: forma (learned) (see there for further descendants)
• → Proto-Brythonic: *fʉrβ̃
  • Middle Welsh: ffuruf, ffuryf
    • Welsh: ffurf
  • Old Cornish: furf
    • Cornish: furv
• → Old French: forme, fourme, furme
  • Middle French: forme
    • French: forme
  • Norman: forme
  • → Middle English: forme
    • English: form
    • Middle Scots: forme, fourme, furme
      • Scots: form; furm
• → Portuguese: forma (ety. 1)
• → Romanian: formă
• → Spanish: forma
  • → Cebuano: hulma
• → Swedish: form

References

• “forma”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “forma”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• "forma", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “forma”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• “forma”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper’s Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• "forma" in Ramminger, Johann (16 July 2016 (last accessed)), Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎^[4], pre-publication website, 2005-2016
• "forma", in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin
• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002), “forma”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volume 3: D–F, page 713
• Palmer, L.R. (1906) The Latin Language, London, Faber and Faber

Lithuanian

Alternative forms

• f. (abbreviation)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin forma.

Noun

fòrma f (plural fòrmos) stress pattern 1

1. form

Declension

Declension of fòrma

	singular (vienaskaita)	plural (daugiskaita)
nominative (vardininkas)	fòrma	fòrmos
genitive (kilmininkas)	fòrmos	fòrmų
dative (naudininkas)	fòrmai	fòrmoms
accusative (galininkas)	fòrmą	fòrmas
instrumental (įnagininkas)	fòrma	fòrmomis
locative (vietininkas)	fòrmoje	fòrmose
vocative (šauksmininkas)	fòrma	fòrmos

Maltese

Etymology

Borrowed from Sicilian furma and/or Italian forma, both from Latin forma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɔr.ma/
• Rhymes: -ɔrma

Noun

forma f (plural forom)

1. form, shape

   Synonym: għamla

2. mould

Derived terms

• formali

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• formen m (of noun)
• formet (of verb)

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

forma f

1. definite feminine singular of form

Verb

forma

1. inflection of forme:
   1. simple past
   2. past participle

Anagrams

• a-form, amorf, omfar

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

forma f

1. definite singular of form

Old Czech

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin fōrma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (13^th CE) /ˈforma/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /ˈforma/

Noun

forma f

1. form; appearance
2. form; shape
3. former, creator
4. form (state of some event)
5. form, template, pattern
6. form, model
7. mandatory procedure, fixed succession of individual parts
8. (religion) formula (set phrasing)
9. (religion) spiritual essence
10. (philosophy) image in the mind, ideal mental image

Declension

Declension of forma (hard a-stem reducible)

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	forma	formě	formy
genitive	formy	formú	forem
dative	formě	formama	formám
accusative	formu	formě	formy
vocative	formo	formě	formy
locative	formě	formú	formách
instrumental	formú	formama	formami

This table shows the most common forms around the 13th century.

Descendants

• Czech: forma

Further reading

• Jan Gebauer (1903–1916), “forma”, in Slovník staročeský (in Czech), Prague: Česká grafická společnost "unie", Česká akademie císaře Františka Josefa pro vědy, slovesnost a umění

Old English

Old English numbers ^(edit)

		10
		1	2  →	10  →
Cardinal: ān     Ordinal: forma     Adverbial: ǣne     Age: ānwintre     Multiplier: ānfeald

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *frumô. Cognate with Old Saxon formo and Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌰 (fruma).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfor.mɑ/, [ˈforˠ.mɑ]

Numeral

forma

1. first

Adjective

forma

1. first
   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

     ⁊ hē [Pirrus] hæfde XX elpenda tō þǣm ġefeohte mid him, þe Rōmane ǣr na ne ne ġesawon: hē wæs sē forma mon þe hīe ǣrest on Italium brōhte.

     And he [Pyrrhus] had twenty elephants with him in battle, which the Romans had never seen before; he was the first man to bring them to Italy.

Declension

Declension of forma — Weak only

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	forma	forme	forme
Accusative	forman	forman	forme
Genitive	forman	forman	forman
Dative	forman	forman	forman
Instrumental	forman	forman	forman
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	forman	forman	forman
Accusative	forman	forman	forman
Genitive	formra, formena	formra, formena	formra, formena
Dative	formum	formum	formum
Instrumental	formum	formum	formum

Descendants

• Middle English: forme, form, forrme (Ormulum)

Old Polish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ)der.?

Latin fōrmalbor.

Old Polish forma

Learned borrowing from Latin fōrma. First attested in the end of the 14th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /fɔrma/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /fɔrma/

Noun

forma f

1. form (external shape)
   • 1922 [XIV ex.], Jan Łoś, editor, Początki piśmiennictwa polskiego. (Przegląd zabytków językowych)‎^[5], page 232:

     [S]wyrzchowanego boga laska, gensze […] koneczna moc vszmerzil gesc, w forme […] obynyono gesc. Druga rzecz gesc, isze […] [obi]nyony wszistki rzeczi w formø sluszeb[ną]

     [[Z]wirzchowanego Boga łaska, jenże […] konieczną moc uśmierzył jeść, w formie […] obiniono jeść. Druga rzecz jeść, iże […] [obi]niony wszystki rzeczi w formę służeb[ną]]

   • 1922 [XIV ex.], Jan Łoś, editor, Początki piśmiennictwa polskiego. (Przegląd zabytków językowych)‎^[6], page 232:

     Trzecze naleszona […] [p]rzeszmerna miloscz i wyszmenyta forma

     [Trzecie, naleziona [jeść] […] [p]rzezmierna miłość i wyśmienita forma]

   • Middle of the 15th century, Rozmyślanie o żywocie Pana Jezusa‎^[7], page 198:

     Pokazal szye byl ve czlovyeczym vyobrazenyv […] Vyerzycz tesch temv mamy, yze byl przyąl czlovyeka formą na szye, v ktorey by mogl boga vznacz albo szye s nym vmovycz

     [Pokazał sie był we człowieczym wyobrażeniu... Wierzyć też temu mamy, iże był przyjął człowieka formę na sie, w ktorej by mogł Boga uznać albo sie s nim umowić]

2. (attested in Masovia) verbal formula (set way of saying something)
   • 1895 [1448–1450], Mikołaj Suled, edited by Franciszek Piekosiński, Tłumaczenia polskie statutów ziemskich, Kodeks Świętosławów, Warka, page 5:

     Gdze skazanye stolcza papyeszkego bi bilo, gemvsz mi zakonv albo obelszenya dacz nye mozemi, chczemi, abi forma przekazanya […] pylnye chowana

     [Gdzie skazanie stolca papieskiego by było, jemuż my zakonu albo obelżenia dać nie możemy, chcemy, aby forma przekazania […] pilnie chowana]

   • 1895 [1448–1450], Mikołaj Suled, edited by Franciszek Piekosiński, Tłumaczenia polskie statutów ziemskich, Kodeks Świętosławów, Warka, page 99:

     Zlem obiczayem bilo trzimano, ze gdi nyektori […] przissyangal […] przes syąn […] , yakoli s pelna forma, […] *vsrzaas albo slowye forma przissyąngi yemu […] przes pyssarza […] powyedzyani albo powy[e]dzyana dostatecznye vymowyl […] , tako wszdi przes wschitky, gysch przi they przissyąndze syedzeli […] , milczano bywalo

     [Złem obyczajem było trzymano, że gdy niektory […] przysięgał […] przez się […] , jakoli z pełna formę, […] wzraz, albo słowie formę przysięgi jemu […] przez pisarza […] powiedziany albo powiedzianą dostatecznie wymowił […] , tako wżdy przez wszytki, jiż przy tej przysiędze siedzieli […] , milczano bywało]

   • 1895 [1448–1450], Mikołaj Suled, edited by Franciszek Piekosiński, Tłumaczenia polskie statutów ziemskich, Kodeks Świętosławów, Warka, page 99:

     Paklibi w formye albo obiczayu przissyangy zblandzyl, ma bycz mylczano

     [Pakliby w formie albo obyczaju przysięi zbłądził, ma być milczano]

   • 1895 [1448–1450], Mikołaj Suled, edited by Franciszek Piekosiński, Tłumaczenia polskie statutów ziemskich, Kodeks Świętosławów, Warka, page 106:

     Vstawyami czlonky nyzey popyssane pot thąn formąn, yako sąn nyzey

     [Ustawiamy członki niżej popisane pod tą formą, jako są niżej]

Declension

Declension of forma

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	forma	—	—
genitive	—	—	—
dative	—	—	—
accusative	formę	—	—
instrumental	formą	—	—
locative	formie	—	—
vocative	—	—	—

Descendants

• Polish: forma
  • → Kashubian: fòrma
• Silesian: forma

References

• Mirosław Bańko; Lidia Wiśniakowska (2021), “forma”, in Wielki słownik wyrazów obcych, →ISBN
• Dubisz, Stanisław, editor (2003), “forma”, in Uniwersalny słownik języka polskiego [Universal Dictionary of the Polish Language]‎^[8] (in Polish), volumes 1–4, Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, →ISBN, →OCLC
• Bańkowski, Andrzej (2000), “forma”, in Etymologiczny słownik języka polskiego [Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language] (in Polish)
• Witold Doroszewski, editor (1958–1969), “forma”, in Słownik języka polskiego (in Polish), Warszawa: PWN
• Halina Zgółkowa, editor (1994–2005), “forma”, in Praktyczny słownik współczesnej polszczyzny, volumes 1–50, Poznań: Wydawnictwo Kurpisz, →ISBN
• K. Nitsch, editor (1958), “forma”, in Słownik staropolski (in Polish), volume 2, Wrocław, Kraków, Warsaw: Polish Academy of Sciences, page 365
• B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “forma”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN
• Ewa Deptuchowa, Mariusz Frodyma, Katarzyna Jasińska-Różycka, Magdalena Klapper, Tomasz Kolowca, Dorota Kołodziej, Mariusz Leńczuk, Joanna Duska, Maria Bugajska, Jan German, Beata Hejmo, Iwona Nobis, Dariusz Piwowarczyk, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, editors (2024), “forma”, in Baza Leksykalna Średniowiecznej Polszczyzny [Lexical Base of Medieval Polish] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk

Polish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ)der.?

Latin fōrmalbor.

Old Polish forma

Polish forma

Inherited from Old Polish forma.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɔr.ma/

• (Middle Polish) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔr.ma/
• (Masovia):
  • (Far Masovian) IPA^(key): [ˈfɔr.ma]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔrma
• Syllabification: for‧ma

Noun

forma f (diminutive foremka, related adjective foremny)

1. form (one of the ways in which something appears; appearance; manifestation)

   Synonyms: kształt, postać

2. (literary) form (way in which a work is constructed)
3. (literary) form (specific type of works of art perceived due to their external structure or structure and a set of typical artistic means)
4. cast, mold, cake tin (kitchenware used for shaping batter or something similar)

   Synonym: blacha

5. (textiles) pattern (paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling)

   Synonym: wykrój

6. (grammar) form (particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech)
7. (sciences) form (living organisms or products of nature characterized by a set of common features)
8. state, shape (physical or mental condition)

   Synonyms: kondycja, samopoczucie

9. shape (condition of personal health, especially muscular health)

   Synonym: kondycja

   w formie ― in shape

10. form (arrangement of coordinated elements)

    Synonyms: system, układ

11. mold (hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance)
12. (philosophy) form (inherent nature of an object; that which the mind itself contributes as the condition of knowing; that in which the essence of a thing consists)
13. (mathematics) uniform polynomial
14. (printing) template (set of printing elements prepared for printing)
15. (chiefly in the plural) form (manner of conduct and behavior resulting from social conventions)

    Synonym: etykieta

    1. (Middle Polish) prototype

       Synonym: prototyp

       1. (Middle Polish) type; kind

          Synonyms: gatunek, rodzaj

16. (Far Masovian) horn button
17. (obsolete) pretend, act (something done for show)
18. (obsolete) box placed in the focus on a bellows nozzle; opening in a furnace
19. (obsolete, crystallography) form (combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol)
20. (obsolete, Roman Catholicism) choirstall

    Synonym: stalle

21. (obsolete) formula; rite; ceremony; formality
22. (obsolete, Protestantism) form (collection of religious rites among Protestants)
23. (obsolete) template (device for printing canvases called malowanki)
24. (obsolete, metallurgy) form (box mounted in the hearth on a bellows nozzle, and/or ironwork; hole in the furnace into which the nozzle is inserted)
25. (obsolete, minerology) form (solid bounded by a certain number of planes)
26. (obsolete, music) form (structure, arrangement of a musical piece)

Declension

Declension of forma

	singular	plural
nominative	forma	formy
genitive	formy	form
dative	formie	formom
accusative	formę	formy
instrumental	formą	formami
locative	formie	formach
vocative	formo	formy

Derived terms

adverbs

• pro forma

verbs

• trafić z formą pf, trafiać z formą impf
• wyjść z formy pf, wychodzić z formy impf
• wypaść z formy pf, wypadać z formy impf

verbs

• formować impf

Descendants

• → Kashubian: fòrma

Trivia

According to Słownik frekwencyjny polszczyzny współczesnej (1990), forma is one of the most used words in Polish, appearing 49 times in scientific texts, 32 times in news, 71 times in essays, 7 times in fiction, and 5 times in plays, each out of a corpus of 100,000 words, totaling 164 times, making it the 349th most common word in a corpus of 500,000 words.

Further reading

• forma in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• formy in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• forma in Polish dictionaries at PWN
• Maria Renata Mayenowa; Stanisław Rospond; Witold Taszycki; Stefan Hrabec; Władysław Kuraszkiewicz (2010-2023), “forma”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]
• “FORMA”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century], 15.09.2008
• Samuel Bogumił Linde (1807–1814), “forma”, in Słownik języka polskiego
• Aleksander Zdanowicz (1861), “forma”, in Słownik języka polskiego, Wilno 1861
• J. Karłowicz, A. Kryński, W. Niedźwiedzki, editors (1900), “forma”, in Słownik języka polskiego (in Polish), volume 1, Warsaw, page 761
• Jan Karłowicz (1901), “forma”, in Słownik gwar polskich [Dictionary of Polish dialects] (in Polish), volume 2: F do K, Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności, page 24

Portuguese

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Latin fōrma. Doublet of etymology 2, which was inherited.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.mɐ/ [ˈfɔɦ.mɐ]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.mɐ/ [ˈfɔɦ.mɐ]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɾ.mɐ/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.mɐ/
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɻ.mɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.ma/ [ˈfɔɦ.ma]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɾ.mɐ/

• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma f (plural formas)

2. form; shape (the visible structure of a thing)

   Synonyms: estrutura, disposição

4. (geometry) shape; figure (a geometric object)

   Synonym: figura

6. form (a conventional method way of doing something)

   Synonyms: maneira, jeito

8. (grammar) form (each of the possible inflections of a lexeme)

   Synonym: flexão

10. (military) formation (alignment of troops)

    Synonym: formação

Derived terms

• de certa forma
• de forma alguma
• de forma nenhuma
• de qualquer forma
• em forma
• forma canónica
• forma de vida
• forma normal
• forma-pensamento
• forma-sonata
• formazinha (diminutive)
• forminha (diminutive)
• pública-forma

Related terms

• deformar
• formação
• formado
• formal
• formar
• formato
• formoso
• reforma
• reformar

Descendants

• →? Bengali: ফরম (phorom), ফর্ম (phormo)
• → Gujarati: ફરમો (pharmo)
• ⇒ Marathi: एकफरमा (ekpharmā)

Etymology 2

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese forma, from Latin fōrma. Doublet of etymology 1, a learned borrowing.

Alternative forms

• fôrma

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfoʁ.mɐ/ [ˈfoɦ.mɐ]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfoʁ.mɐ/ [ˈfoɦ.mɐ]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈfoɾ.mɐ/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈfoʁ.mɐ/
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /ˈfoɻ.mɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfoʁ.ma/ [ˈfoɦ.ma]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈfoɾ.mɐ/

• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma f (plural formas)

2. tin (metal pan used for baking)
3. mould (hollow object into which a liquid is poured so that it solidifies into a specific shape)
5. (typography) type; sort (block used to print a character)

   Synonym: tipo

Derived terms

• letra de forma

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.mɐ/ [ˈfɔɦ.mɐ]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.mɐ/ [ˈfɔɦ.mɐ]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɾ.mɐ/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.mɐ/
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɻ.mɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ.ma/ [ˈfɔɦ.ma]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɾ.mɐ/

• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Verb

forma

1. inflection of formar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

• “forma”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “forma”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Romanian

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French former, Latin formare.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [forˈma]

Verb

a forma (third-person singular present formează, past participle format) 1st conjugation

1. (transitive) to form, to create, to make
2. (transitive, of elements) to form, to make up

Conjugation

    conjugation of forma (first conjugation, -ez- infix)

infinitive			a forma
gerund			formând
past participle			format
number		singular			plural
person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		eu	tu	el/ea	noi	voi	ei/ele
	present	formez	formezi	formează	formăm	formați	formează
	imperfect	formam	formai	forma	formam	formați	formau
	simple perfect	formai	formași	formă	formarăm	formarăți	formară
	pluperfect	formasem	formaseși	formase	formaserăm	formaserăți	formaseră
subjunctive		eu	tu	el/ea	noi	voi	ei/ele
	present	să formez	să formezi	să formeze	să formăm	să formați	să formeze
imperative		—	tu	—	—	voi	—
	affirmative		formează			formați
	negative		nu forma			nu formați

Etymology 2

Forms of the above word.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [forˈma]

Verb

forma

1. third-person singular imperfect indicative of forma

Etymology 3

Forms of the noun formă.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈforma]

Noun

forma

1. definite nominative/accusative singular of formă

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fōrma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fôːrma/
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

fȏrma f (Cyrillic spelling фо̑рма)

1. form, shape
2. form, condition
3. formality

Declension

Declension of forma

	singular	plural
nominative	forma	forme
genitive	forme	fȏrmā / fȏrmī
dative	formi	formama
accusative	formu	forme
vocative	formo	forme
locative	formi	formama
instrumental	formom	formama

Silesian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ)der.?

Latin fōrmalbor.

Old Polish forma

Silesian forma

Inherited from Old Polish forma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɔr.ma/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔrma
• Syllabification: for‧ma

Noun

forma f

1. form (one of the ways in which something appears; appearance; manifestation)
   • 2019–2020, Waldemar Szymczyk, editor, Pōnbōczkowi Świyczka‎^[9], →ISBN, archived from the original on 12 November 2022, page 185:

     Nauka zdŏlnŏ – bydōncŏ wszeôbecnōm abo jedynōm na cołkim świecie formōm edukacyje – stŏwŏ sie niymożebnŏ.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. state, shape (physical or mental condition)

Further reading

• Henryk Jaroszewicz (2022), “forma”, in Zasady pisowni języka śląskiego (in Polish), Siedlce: Wydawnictwo Naukowe IKR[i]BL, page 77
• Eugeniusz Kosmała (2023), Dykcjōnôrz Polsko-Ślonskiy (in Silesian), f, page 66

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfoɾma/ [ˈfoɾ.ma]
• Rhymes: -oɾma
• Syllabification: for‧ma

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin fōrma. Compare the inherited doublet horma.

Noun

forma f (plural formas)

1. shape; form; figure
2. way; manner

   ¡Tiene que haber otra forma!

   There has to be another way!

3. basis; method

   Synonyms: base, método

Derived terms

• abrir la forma
• cobrar forma
• de cualquier forma
• de forma
• de forma que
• de ninguna forma
• de todas formas
• defecto de forma
• en debida forma
• en forma
• en tiempo y forma
• en toda forma
• forma de vida
• forma del sacramento
• forma farmacéutica
• forma no personal
• forma personal
• quebrantamiento de forma

Related terms

• formal
• formar

Etymology 2

Verb

forma

1. inflection of formar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

• “forma”, 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

Swedish

Etymology

form +‎ -a

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

forma (present formar, preterite formade, supine format, imperative forma)

1. to shape, give form

Conjugation

Conjugation of forma (weak)

	active		passive
infinitive	forma		formas
supine	format		formats
imperative	forma		—
imper. plural1	formen		—
	present	past	present	past
indicative	formar	formade	formas	formades
ind. plural1	forma	formade	formas	formades
subjunctive2	forme	formade	formes	formades
present participle		formande
past participle		formad

¹ Archaic. ² Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

Related terms

• formare
• formning
• utforma

Further reading

• forma in Svensk ordbok.

Anagrams

• amorf

Turkish

Etymology

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish فورمه (forma, “a compositor's form”), from Italian forma or French format.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /foɾˈma/
• Hyphenation: for‧ma

Noun

forma (definite accusative formayı, plural formalar)

1. form, shape

   Synonyms: biçim, şekil

2. Matching clothes worn to indicate affiliation to a group; uniform, jersey, livery.

   Synonym: üniforma

3. (printing) A 16-page section of a book printed on a single sheet of paper; a signature.

Declension

Declension of forma

singular plural nominative forma formalar definite accusative formayı formaları dative formaya formalara locative formada formalarda ablative formadan formalardan genitive formanın formaların Possessive forms nominative singular plural 1st singular formam formalarım 2nd singular forman formaların 3rd singular forması formaları 1st plural formamız formalarımız 2nd plural formanız formalarınız 3rd plural formaları formaları definite accusative singular plural 1st singular formamı formalarımı 2nd singular formanı formalarını 3rd singular formasını formalarını 1st plural formamızı formalarımızı 2nd plural formanızı formalarınızı 3rd plural formalarını formalarını dative singular plural 1st singular formama formalarıma 2nd singular formana formalarına 3rd singular formasına formalarına 1st plural formamıza formalarımıza 2nd plural formanıza formalarınıza 3rd plural formalarına formalarına locative singular plural 1st singular formamda formalarımda 2nd singular formanda formalarında 3rd singular formasında formalarında 1st plural formamızda formalarımızda 2nd plural formanızda formalarınızda 3rd plural formalarında formalarında ablative singular plural 1st singular formamdan formalarımdan 2nd singular formandan formalarından 3rd singular formasından formalarından 1st plural formamızdan formalarımızdan 2nd plural formanızdan formalarınızdan 3rd plural formalarından formalarından genitive singular plural 1st singular formamın formalarımın 2nd singular formanın formalarının 3rd singular formasının formalarının 1st plural formamızın formalarımızın 2nd plural formanızın formalarınızın 3rd plural formalarının formalarının

Derived terms

• forma başlık

Related terms

• kostüm
• takım

Further reading

• “forma”, in Turkish dictionaries, Türk Dil Kurumu
• Çağbayır, Yaşar (2007), “forma”, in Ötüken Türkçe Sözlük (in Turkish), Istanbul: Ötüken Neşriyat, page 1608