Absolute in different languages

Absolute in Different Languages

Discover 'Absolute' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'absolute' carries with it a sense of completeness, finality, and inherent power. It is often used to describe something that is not dependent on any other thing for its existence or value. This concept has been explored and valued across various cultures and disciplines, from philosophy to mathematics, making it a significant term with a wide range of applications.

Throughout history, the idea of 'absolutes' has been a subject of debate among philosophers and scholars. In the 17th century, French philosopher René Descartes argued for the existence of 'clear and distinct' ideals, which he believed were absolute truths. Meanwhile, in mathematics, the concept of 'absolute value' allows us to quantify the distance between two numbers, regardless of their position on the number line.

Given the term's cultural importance and historical context, understanding the translation of 'absolute' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures have approached and understood this concept. Here are a few examples:

  • French: absolu
  • Spanish: absoluto
  • German: absolut
  • Italian: assoluto
  • Chinese: 绝对 (jiéduì)
  • Japanese: 絶対 (zettai)

Absolute


Absolute in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansabsoluut
"Absolute" came to Afrikaans via Dutch, and is originally from Latin where it means "untied, loose," hence the second meaning in Afrikaans of "completely drunk, plastered, sloshed".
Amharicፍፁም
The Amharic word "ፍፁም" (absolute) originated as a noun meaning "separation" and also means "entire".
Hausacikakke
"Cikakke" is a Hausa word that has multiple meanings, including "complete", "entire", and "perfect."
Igbozuru oke
The Igbo phrase 'zuru oke' can also refer to an apex or the highest point.
Malagasytanteraka
The word "tanteraka" originates from the Proto-Austronesian root "*tanəq", meaning complete or finished.
Nyanja (Chichewa)mtheradi
The word "mtheradi" can also refer to a person who is very stubborn or uncompromising.
Shonamhedziso
The word 'mhedziso' in Shona is also used to refer to the act of finalizing or completing something.
Somaliwaadax ah
The word "waadax ah" can also mean "perfect" or "complete" in this context.
Sesothofeletseng
The word "feletseng" in Sesotho can also mean "a person who is highly respected and held in high regard"
Swahilikabisa
The word "kabisa" in Swahili can also mean "completely" or "thoroughly".
Xhosangokupheleleyo
The word "ngokupheleleyo" can also mean "thoroughly" or "completely" in Xhosa.
Yorubaidi
The word "idi" in Yoruba also means "a person who is very stubborn or inflexible."
Zulungokuphelele
"Ngqongqophelele," meaning "absolute" in Zulu, also means "perfectly complete" or "without exception."
Bambaraabsolute (dafalen) ye
Ewebliboe
Kinyarwandabyuzuye
Lingalaabsolu
Lugandaekituukiridde
Sepedie feletšego
Twi (Akan)koraa

Absolute in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمطلق
In Arabic, "مطلق" (pronounced "mutlaq") can mean not only "absolute", but also "unconditional" and "unlimited".
Hebrewמוּחלָט
In Hebrew, "מוּחלָט" (absolute) also means "forgiven".
Pashtoمطلق
The word "مطلق" (absolute) in Pashto also means "divorced" or "freed from obligations."
Arabicمطلق
In Arabic, "مطلق" (pronounced "mutlaq") can mean not only "absolute", but also "unconditional" and "unlimited".

Absolute in Western European Languages

Albanianabsolute
In Albanian, "absolute" is often used to express totality or completeness.
Basqueabsolutua
The Basque absolute is cognate to the Latin absolutus and related to absolution, absolve and absorb, all having the sense of 'freeing' or 'releasing'.
Catalanabsolut
In Catalan, "absolut" does not only mean "absolute", but also "completely", "wholly", or "totally".
Croatianapsolutni
The word 'apsolutni' is derived from the Latin word 'absolutus', meaning 'freed from' or 'unrestricted'.
Danishabsolut
The Danish word "absolut" comes from the Latin word "absolutus", meaning "freed" or "completed; also can mean "pure" in the sense of "free from impurities".
Dutchabsoluut
In Dutch, "absoluut" can also mean "completely" or "undoubtedly".
Englishabsolute
"Absolute" derives from the Latin "absolutus," meaning "freed, distinct, or perfect."
Frenchabsolu
In French, "absolu" is derived from the Latin "absolutus", meaning "unconditional" or "unrestricted".
Frisianabsolút
The word "absolút" also means "definitely" or "completely" in Frisian.
Galicianabsoluto
"Absoluto" (absolute) in Galician comes from Latin "absolutus" (freed, acquitted), not from Latin "absolutus" (absolute), so its meaning is closer to "free" than "absolute".
Germanabsolut
In addition to its meaning as "absolute," "absolut" can also mean "pure" or "distilled" in German, when used in reference to alcohol.
Icelandicalger
This word is used in Icelandic to describe something that is both absolute and necessary.
Irishiomlán
The root "iom" appears in iomad, which means "many," and lán, which means "full".
Italianassoluto
In music and grammar, 'assoluto' can refer to an independent or self-standing quality or construction.
Luxembourgishabsolut
In the Luxembourgish language, "absolut" is derived from French and can also have the meaning of "very", "completely".
Malteseassoluta
The word "assoluta" is derived from the Latin word "absolutus", meaning "freed from" or "unbound".
Norwegianabsolutt
The word "absolutt" can also mean "completely" or "utterly" in Norwegian.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)absoluto
The word "absoluto" can also mean "straight" or "pure" in Portuguese.
Scots Gaeliciomlan
"Iomlan" also means "perfect" or "complete" in Gaelic.
Spanishabsoluto
In Spanish, the word "absoluto" can also refer to distilled spirits like vodka or brandy.
Swedishabsolut
Absolut in Swedish also means vodka, from the brand Absolut Vodka.
Welshabsoliwt
The Welsh word "absoliwt" is derived from the Latin "absolutus", meaning "freed, released, or finished".

Absolute in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianабсалютны
Bosnianapsolutni
The word "apsolutni" is borrowed from Latin "absolutus" meaning "freed" or "untied."
Bulgarianабсолютен
The Bulgarian word "абсолютен" is derived from the Latin word "absolutus", meaning "loosened" or "freed".
Czechabsolutní
The root word "solut-" is linked etymologically to both "to loosen up, untie." and "to finish, make whole."
Estonianabsoluutne
"Absoluutne" (absolute) can also mean "perfect" in Estonian.
Finnishehdoton
Ehdoton's alternate meanings include 'inevitable' and its etymology derives from 'ehto', meaning 'condition'.
Hungarianabszolút
The Hungarian word "abszolút" can also mean "unconditional", "positive" or "in all respects."
Latvianabsolūts
The word "absolūts" in Latvian is derived from the German word "absolut" and the Latin word "absolutus," both meaning "absolute."
Lithuanianabsoliutus
"Absoliutus" derives from the Latin "ab solutus". Thus, it can also mean "separated" or "freed from".
Macedonianапсолутно
The word "апсолутно" can also mean "completely" or "totally" in Macedonian.
Polishabsolutny
The Polish word "absolutny" can also mean "pure", an archaic form in English.
Romanianabsolut
In Romanian, "absolut" can also mean "perfect" or "unconditional".
Russianабсолютный
The Russian word "абсолютный" can also be used figuratively to mean "perfect" or "ideal".
Serbianапсолутни
The Serbian word for "absolute" derives from Latin and is cognate to the English "absolution," with meanings that range from the philosophical "unconditioned" to the colloquial "complete or utter"
Slovakabsolútna
"Absolútna" is derived from Latin "absolutus," meaning "freed, released," or "complete, perfect," and also means "completely true" or "unconditional" in Slovak.
Slovenianabsolutno
The word "absolutno" can also mean "absolutely" or "certainly" in Slovenian.
Ukrainianабсолютний
The word "абсолютний" derives from the Latin "absolutus," meaning "freed from," and can also convey the meanings of "independent," "autonomous," or "unconditional."

Absolute in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপরম
In Bengali, "পরম" can also mean "the highest or supreme," "the ultimate," or "the best possible."
Gujaratiસંપૂર્ણ
The word "સંપૂર્ણ" can also mean "complete" or "perfect" in Gujarati.
Hindiपूर्ण
The word "पूर्ण" (absolute) also implies completeness, wholeness, or totality in Sanskrit and Hindi.
Kannadaಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ
The word "ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ" (sampUrNa) also means "complete", "perfect", or "whole" in Kannada.
Malayalamകേവല
In Sanskrit, the term "kevala" refers to a state of isolation and detachment, while in Malayalam it connotes the notion of absoluteness.
Marathiपरिपूर्ण
The Marathi word "परिपूर्ण" shares the same Sanskrit etymology as the Hindi and Nepali terms, and also has the alternate meaning of "full".
Nepaliनिरपेक्ष
The word निरपेक्ष has its roots in the Sanskrit words 'निर्' (without) and 'पेक्ष' (depend), denoting 'independence' or 'being self-contained'.
Punjabiਅਸੀਮ
The word 'ਅਸੀਮ' comes from the Sanskrit word 'असीम' (asim), meaning 'unbounded' or 'infinite'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)නිරපේක්ෂ
The word "නිරපේක්ෂ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "निरापेक्ष" (nirāpekṣa), meaning "independent" or "not dependent on anything else".
Tamilஅறுதி
‘அறுதி’ means ‘final’ in Tamil and can also be an adverb meaning ‘totally’, ‘completely’ or ‘thoroughly’.
Teluguసంపూర్ణ
The word "సంపూర్ణ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sampurna", meaning "complete" or "perfect".
Urduمطلق
The Urdu word "مطلق" can also mean "divorced" or "unconditional".

Absolute in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)绝对
The character 绝 in "绝对" originally meant "to cut off".
Chinese (Traditional)絕對
In Chinese philosophy, "絕對" can also mean the "Ultimate Oneness" or the "Absolute Principle".
Japanese絶対の
"絶対の" is a Japanese word that can also mean "unconditional", "permanent", or "certain".
Korean순수한
The word 순수한 (absolute) is derived from the Chinese word 淳 (pure) and refers to the state of being unmixed or unadulterated.
Mongolianүнэмлэхүй
"Үнэмлэхүй" is derived from the verb "үнэмлэх," meaning "to believe" or "to confirm," and signifies something that is "true" or "certain."
Myanmar (Burmese)အကြွင်းမဲ့အာဏာ

Absolute in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmutlak
"Mutlak" is derived from the Arabic word "mṭlaqo" meaning "free" or "unbound". It has meanings like "certain", "real", "genuine", and more.
Javanesemutlak
The Javanese word "mutlak" can also mean "to be certain" or "to be undeniable".
Khmerដាច់ខាត
The word "ដាច់ខាត" ("absolute") is derived from the Sanskrit word "daśa", meaning "ten" or "complete", and "khāta", meaning "cut" or "ended".
Laoຢ່າງແທ້ຈິງ
Malaymutlak
In Malay, 'mutlak' means 'unchangeable,' but it can also indicate the absence of something: a state of 'nothingness.'
Thaiแน่นอน
The word "แน่นอน" can also mean "certain" or "sure"
Vietnamesetuyệt đối
The Vietnamese word "tuyệt đối" also means "completely" or "utterly".
Filipino (Tagalog)ganap

Absolute in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanimütləq
The word "mütləq" comes from the Arabic word "mutlaq", which means "unconditional" or "free of limitation". It can also mean "independent" or "unrestricted".
Kazakhабсолютті
"Абсолютті" (absolute) in Kazakh can also mean "perfect" or "unconditional".
Kyrgyzабсолюттук
The term "абсолюттук" is derived from the Latin "absolutus," meaning "unbound" or "free from restriction."
Tajikмутлақ
An ancient meaning of "мутлақ" is "divorced".
Turkmenmutlak
Uzbekmutlaq
In Uzbek, the word "mutlaq" can also mean "perfect" or "unconditioned".
Uyghurمۇتلەق

Absolute in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpaʻa loa
"Paʻa loa" is a Hawaiian compound word meaning "absolute" or "firmly established." The word "paʻa" means "firm, set, or stable," while "loa" implies something that is "long, extended, or continuous." Together, these two words convey the idea of something that is firmly fixed in place or unyielding.
Maoritino
Tino in Maori also means "core" or "root".
Samoanaʻiaʻi
The word "aʻiaʻi" in Samoan can also refer to the concept of "totality" or "completeness."
Tagalog (Filipino)ganap
The Tagalog word "ganap" may also refer to "complete" or "perfect".

Absolute in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraabsoluto ukaxa
Guaraniabsoluto rehegua

Absolute in International Languages

Esperantoabsoluta
Esperanto 'absoluta' derives from the Latin 'absolutus', meaning 'complete' or 'perfect'.
Latinabsoluta
In Latin, "absoluta" is also used to refer to a verdict or a judgment that has been reached without appeal.

Absolute in Others Languages

Greekαπόλυτος
The word "απόλυτος" originally meant "loosed from" or "released from bonds" in ancient Greek.
Hmongtsis
The word "tsis" can also refer to "completely" or "totally" in Hmong.
Kurdishmutleq
The Kurdish word "mutleq" also means "unconditional" and "universal".
Turkishmutlak
In Ottoman Turkish, "mutlak" also meant "necessary" and "free from defect."
Xhosangokupheleleyo
The word "ngokupheleleyo" can also mean "thoroughly" or "completely" in Xhosa.
Yiddishאַבסאָלוט
In Yiddish, the word "אַבסאָלוט" ("absolute") can also be used to describe something that is very good or complete.
Zulungokuphelele
"Ngqongqophelele," meaning "absolute" in Zulu, also means "perfectly complete" or "without exception."
Assameseabsolute
Aymaraabsoluto ukaxa
Bhojpuriनिरपेक्ष बा
Dhivehiމުޅިން މުޅިން
Dogriनिरपेक्ष
Filipino (Tagalog)ganap
Guaraniabsoluto rehegua
Ilocanoabsoluto nga
Krioabsɔlɔb wan
Kurdish (Sorani)ڕەها
Maithiliनिरपेक्ष
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯦꯕꯁꯣꯜꯌꯨꯇꯦꯗ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫
Mizoabsolute tih a ni
Oromoabsolute ta’e
Odia (Oriya)ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ
Quechuaabsoluto nisqa
Sanskritनिरपेक्षः
Tatarабсолют
Tigrinyaፍጹም ዝኾነ
Tsongaku hetiseka

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