Appearance in different languages

Appearance in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Appearance, the way someone or something looks, is a concept that transcends language and culture. It holds great significance in our daily lives, influencing our perceptions, judgments, and interactions. From physical attributes to demeanor, our appearance can communicate much before we even utter a word.

Throughout history, appearance has played a pivotal role in various cultural contexts. In the world of fashion, for instance, appearance is a form of self-expression and identity. In the professional sphere, it can impact how we are perceived by our peers and superiors. Moreover, the study of appearance, known as physiognomy, has been practiced since ancient times, suggesting that humans have always been intrigued by this aspect of identity.

Given its importance, you might want to know how to say 'appearance' in different languages. Here are a few translations to get you started:

  • French: apparence
  • Spanish: apariencia
  • German: Erscheinung
  • Mandarin: 外貌 (wài mào)
  • Japanese: 外観 (gaikei)

Appearance


Appearance in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansvoorkoms
Voorkoms has an additional meaning of "occurrence".
Amharicመልክ
"መልክ" also means "beauty" or "good looks".
Hausabayyanuwa
The word ''bayyanuwa'' also means ''clear'' in Hausa.
Igbompụta
"Mpụta" in Igbo also refers to the "manner" in which something appears or is presented.
Malagasyfijery
Malagasy fijery is cognate with fijery 'thing to be looked at,' Fijian viriviri "show," and Malay firir "view."
Nyanja (Chichewa)maonekedwe
Maonekedwe also means "face" and is derived from the root "oneka," meaning "to see"
Shonachitarisiko
The word "chitarisiko" is derived from the word "tara", which means "to look."
Somalimuuqaalka
'Muuqaalka' is derived from the Arabic root 'muqal' and has the same meaning of 'face' or 'image' in Arabic.
Sesothoponahalo
The word "ponahalo" in Sesotho is also used in the context of clothing, indicating someone's clothing or dressing style.
Swahilimwonekano
Xhosaimbonakalo
Ibonakalo is also a verb meaning "to reveal" or "to show something".
Yorubahihan
"Hihan" can also mean "to look at" or "to see".
Zuluukubukeka
The term "ukubukeka" in Zulu can also signify an "impression" or a "feeling" towards something.
Bambarayecogo
Ewedzedzeme
Kinyarwandaisura
Lingalakomonana
Lugandaendabika
Sepediponagalo
Twi (Akan)mmaeɛ

Appearance in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمظهر خارجي
The word مظهر خارجي is derived from the root ظَهَرَ, which means "to appear" or "to become visible."
Hebrewמראה חיצוני
The Hebrew word "מראה חיצוני" ("appearance") is derived from the root "ראה" ("to see") and literally means "what is seen".
Pashtoب appearanceه
In Pashto, it also refers to a person's reputation or character.
Arabicمظهر خارجي
The word مظهر خارجي is derived from the root ظَهَرَ, which means "to appear" or "to become visible."

Appearance in Western European Languages

Albanianpamja e jashtme
'Pamja e jashtme' literally translates to 'the look from the outside' in Albanian
Basqueitxura
In some contexts, "itxura" can mean "form", "shape", "way", "manner" or even "nature".
Catalanaparença
In Catalan, "aparença" can also mean "likeness" or "resemblance".
Croatianizgled
The word "izgled" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*izъględъ", which also means "appearance" or "look".
Danishudseende
The word "udseende" comes from the Danish word "se" meaning "to see" and "ud" meaning "out", implying an outward appearance.
Dutchverschijning
The word "verschijning" can also refer to a ghost or apparition.
Englishappearance
The word 'appearance' is derived from the Latin verb 'apparere', which means 'to become visible' or 'to come to light'.
Frenchapparence
The French word "apparence" is derived from the Latin word "apparere", meaning "to become visible".
Frisianferskining
"Ferskining" is derived from the Old Frisian word "fersk" (form) and the suffix "-ing" (action or process), and originally referred to the act of shaping or forming something.
Galicianaspecto
The Galician word "aspecto" comes from the Latin word "aspectus" which means "sight" or "look".
Germanaussehen
Aussehen, etymologically derived from 'ausschauen,' meaning 'to look out' or 'to gaze,' implies the observation of an outward appearance or characteristics.
Icelandicútlit
The word 'útlit' in Icelandic also means 'aspect' or 'viewpoint'.
Irishcuma
The Irish word "cuma" can also mean "aspect" or "semblance".
Italianaspetto
"Aspetto" can also mean "to wait" or "to expect".
Luxembourgisherscheinung
In Luxembourgish, "Erscheinung" can also refer to a supernatural being, apparition or ghost.
Maltesedehra
The word "dehra" in Maltese can also mean "character" or "nature".
Norwegianutseende
"Utseende" derives from the Old Norse word "útsýn," meaning "outside" or "appearance."
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)aparência
In Portuguese, "aparência" can also mean "seemingly" or "semblance".
Scots Gaeliccoltas
The Gaelic word "coltas" also has the alternate meaning of "disguise"
Spanishapariencia
The word "apariencia" also means "resemblance" or "similitude" in Spanish.
Swedishutseende
"Utseende" is derived from the Old Swedish word "útsiændi", meaning "distinctive characteristic or appearance".
Welshymddangosiad
The Welsh word "ymddangosiad" also can mean "coming into view after being lost"}

Appearance in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзнешні выгляд
The word "знешні выгляд" can also refer to the external appearance of a person or thing, or to the way in which something is presented to the public.
Bosnianizgled
The word "izgled" can also be used to mean "appearance" or "looks".
Bulgarianвъншен вид
The Bulgarian word "външен вид" can be translated as "physical appearance," but its root "вън" also refers to being external or foreign.
Czechvzhled
Vzhled, a Czech word for appearance, has the alternate meaning of gaze.
Estonianvälimus
The word "välimus" in Estonian also relates to "view" or "sight".
Finnishulkomuoto
The word 'ulkomuoto' is derived from the words 'ulko' (outside) and 'muoto' (form), suggesting that it refers to the external or visible aspect of something.
Hungarianmegjelenés
Megjelenés (appearance) is a Hungarian word with an additional meaning of "publication".
Latvianizskats
Izskats also means "looks, gaze, aspect, glance, looks, view, face, aspect".
Lithuanianišvaizda
The word "išvaizda" also means "outward appearance" and "form" in Lithuanian.
Macedonianизглед
In Bulgarian, "изглед" also means "view", as of a landscape.
Polishwygląd
Wygląd, wyglądanie, wyglądać are all connected to the verb 'widzieć' (to see) and mean 'something that can be seen'.
Romanianaspect
In Romanian, "aspect" means both "appearance" and "tense" (i.e. past or future) of a verb, or "view" or "direction" (north/south/etc).
Russianвнешность
The root of the word "внешность" is "вн-", which means "outward" or "external". It is related to the word "вне", which means "outside".
Serbianизглед
The word "изглед" can also refer to a view or a prospect.
Slovakvzhľad
In Slovak, the word "vzhľad" has alternate meanings including "gaze", "look", and "sight".
Slovenianvidez
The word "videz" can also refer to a person's stature or bearing.
Ukrainianзовнішній вигляд
The word "зовнішній вигляд" (appearance) is derived from the Old Slavic root *vidъ-, meaning "to see".

Appearance in South Asian Languages

Bengaliচেহারা
"চেহারা" derives from Sanskrit/Vedic Sanskrit "छविः" (chavi), meaning "beauty", "luster", or "grace."
Gujaratiદેખાવ
"દેખાવ" is also used to describe the external form of a deity, a particular manifestation of a deity in the material world.
Hindiदिखावट
दिखावट comes from the Sanskrit word 'दृश्य', meaning 'that which is seen'. It can also refer to the 'act of showing' or 'pretense'.
Kannadaನೋಟ
The word "ನೋಟ" can also refer to a bill of exchange or a promissory note.
Malayalamരൂപം
രൂപം also means 'form', 'shape', or 'figure'.
Marathiदेखावा
The word 'देखावा' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'दृश्य' ('dṛśya'), meaning 'something that can be seen'. It also has a secondary meaning of 'pretense' or 'display'.
Nepaliउपस्थिति
The word "उपस्थिति" also means "presence" or "attendance" in Nepali.
Punjabiਦਿੱਖ
The word 'ਦਿੱਖ' ('appearance' in Punjabi) is derived from Sanskrit 'दिष्ट' ('sight'), which also means 'vision' or 'view'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පෙනුම
Also means 'a view' or 'a spectacle'. The word may be related to 'pehena' (to be visible) but this is uncertain
Tamilதோற்றம்
The word "தோற்றம்" also means "semblance" or "defeat" in Tamil.
Teluguప్రదర్శన
The word "ప్రదర్శన" derives from Sanskrit and can also mean a "demonstration, exhibition, show, display, spectacle, parade, procession, or performance".
Urduظہور
ظہور (Ẓuhūr) has additional meanings in Urdu such as "manifestation" or "revelation" and is often used to refer to the first physical manifestation of the divine to prophets.

Appearance in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)出现
In addition to its common meaning of "appearance," "出现" can also mean "to emerge, arise, or come into being."
Chinese (Traditional)出現
In ancient Chinese, 出現 also meant 'to produce' as in "出現金銀," while in oracle bone script it meant 'to come out.'
Japanese外観
The word "外観" (gaikan) can also refer to the "external form" or "outline" of something.
Korean외관
외관 can also mean "a public hall" or "a palace or temple".
Mongolianгадаад төрх
The Mongolian word "Гадаад төрх" is also a term used to refer to one's "face".
Myanmar (Burmese)အသွင်အပြင်

Appearance in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpenampilan
Penampilan comes from the word tampang "face". This suggests that in the past this word may have referred specifically to someone's face.
Javaneserupane
Rupane can also mean 'beauty' or 'good looks' in Javanese.
Khmerរូបរាង
The word "រូបរាង" is derived from the Sanskrit word "rūpa" meaning "form". It can also refer to the "contour" or "outline" of something.
Laoຮູບລັກສະນະ
Malaypenampilan
The root word 'penampa' means 'to appear', while the suffix '-an' indicates a noun or state, hence 'penampilan' means 'appearance'.
Thaiลักษณะ
The word "ลักษณะ" (appearance) in Thai can also refer to "characteristic" or "quality".
Vietnamesexuất hiện
The Sino-Vietnamese word "xuất hiện" also means "to emerge" or "to appear" and derives from Chinese "chuxian," which shares the same meanings in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)hitsura

Appearance in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanigörünüş
The word "görünüş" stems from the verb "görünmek" meaning "to be seen", implying an aspect or image that is presented to the observer.
Kazakhсыртқы түрі
Kyrgyzкөрүнүш
The Kyrgyz word "көрүнүш" can also mean "view", "spectacle", or "phenomenon".
Tajikнамуди зоҳирӣ
In English, "appearance" can also mean a manifestation of a deity or spirit.
Turkmendaşky görnüşi
Uzbektashqi ko'rinish
The word "tashqi ko'rinish" literally means "outside view" in Uzbek.
Uyghurتاشقى كۆرۈنۈشى

Appearance in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhelehelena
In Hawaiian, "helehelena" can also refer to a "reflection".
Maoriahua
The Maori word 'ahua' can also refer to a person's spirit or life force.
Samoanfoliga vaaia
The Samoan word "foliga vaaia" can also mean "to see" or "to look at".
Tagalog (Filipino)hitsura
“Hitsura” can also refer to someone’s behavior, character, or reputation.

Appearance in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraaparinsya
Guaraniojehechaháicha

Appearance in International Languages

Esperantoaspekto
The Esperanto word "aspekto" can also mean "aspect" in the sense of "a particular point of view" or "a particular way of considering something".
Latinspecies
The Latin word "species" also means "kind" or "sort" and is the root of the English word "special."

Appearance in Others Languages

Greekεμφάνιση
The word εμφάνιση also means 'manifestation' or 'revelation', and is related to the verbs 'φαίνω' ('to shine') and 'φαίνομαι' ('to appear').
Hmongtsos
Tsov is also used figuratively, in the sense of 'face', as in 'to lose face'.
Kurdishxuyabûnî
Xuyabûnî in Kurdish can also refer to the action of showing something to someone.
Turkishgörünüm
The word "görünüm" derives from the Turkish verb "görünmek" meaning "to be visible", ultimately from the Proto-Turkic root "kür-", meaning "to see".
Xhosaimbonakalo
Ibonakalo is also a verb meaning "to reveal" or "to show something".
Yiddishאויסזען
Yiddish word "אויסזען" (oyszen) likely derives from the German "aussehen" and also means "to look out".
Zuluukubukeka
The term "ukubukeka" in Zulu can also signify an "impression" or a "feeling" towards something.
Assameseৰূপ
Aymaraaparinsya
Bhojpuriभेख
Dhivehiމަލަމަތި
Dogriनुहार
Filipino (Tagalog)hitsura
Guaraniojehechaháicha
Ilocanolanga
Krioaw a luk
Kurdish (Sorani)ڕووخسار
Maithiliउपस्थिति
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯃꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯡꯗ ꯎꯕ
Mizolandan
Oromomul'ina
Odia (Oriya)ରୂପ
Quechuarikchaynin
Sanskritस्वरूपम्‌
Tatarтышкы кыяфәт
Tigrinyaቁመና
Tsongaxivumbeko

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