Appropriate in Different Languages
Discover 'Appropriate' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'appropriate' is a small but powerful term, signifying something that is right or fitting for a particular situation. Its significance goes beyond mere semantics, as it carries with it a sense of responsibility, cultural awareness, and social etiquette. Choosing the right word or action in different contexts can make a world of difference, and 'appropriate' is a key concept to keep in mind when navigating the complexities of language and culture.
Throughout history, the concept of appropriateness has played a crucial role in shaping societies and influencing social norms. From ancient philosophers to modern-day linguists, the idea of what is 'appropriate' has been debated, analyzed, and scrutinized, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of language and culture. In fact, the very word 'appropriate' has roots in Latin, meaning 'to make one's own', highlighting the importance of context and perspective in determining what is considered 'right' or 'fitting'.
As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, understanding the nuances of language and culture has never been more important. Knowing the translation of 'appropriate' in different languages can help bridge cultural divides, foster understanding, and promote effective communication. Here are a few examples of how 'appropriate' is translated around the world:
Appropriate
Appropriate in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | gepas | ||
| The Afrikaans word "gepas" is derived from the Dutch word "gepast", which also means "fitting" or "suitable". In addition to its literal meaning, "gepas" can also be used figuratively to describe something that is appropriate or fitting for a particular situation or occasion. | |||
| Amharic | ተገቢ | ||
| "ተገቢ" is derived from the root "ገባ" meaning to enter or join. | |||
| Hausa | dace | ||
| The word 'dace' has multiple meanings, all related to appropriation or taking something without permission. | |||
| Igbo | kwesịrị ekwesị | ||
| Kwesịrị ekwesị, also means 'it befits' or 'it is fitting' or 'it is right' | |||
| Malagasy | mety | ||
| The Malagasy word "mety" is also used to refer to a "portion of food" or "a share of something". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zoyenera | ||
| "Zoyenera" can also mean "suitable" or "befitting". | |||
| Shona | zvakakodzera | ||
| The Shona word for "appropriate" comes from the root word "kudhera", which means "to fit" or "to be in harmony with". | |||
| Somali | ku habboon | ||
| Ku habboon can also refer to something that is suitable or fitting. | |||
| Sesotho | loketseng | ||
| The word "loketseng" comes from the root word "loka," meaning "to fit or be suitable" | |||
| Swahili | sahihi | ||
| "Sahihi" in Swahili can also mean "valid", "correct", or "accurate". | |||
| Xhosa | kufanelekile | ||
| The word `kufanelekile` is an adjective derived from the verb `kufaneleka` which means `to be suitable` or `to be fit` or `to deserve` | |||
| Yoruba | yẹ | ||
| The word "yẹ" is also used colloquially to mean "to befit" | |||
| Zulu | efanelekile | ||
| In Zulu, "efanelekile" derives from the word "ifaneleka," which means "to deserve, to be suitable". | |||
| Bambara | bɛrɛbɛnnen | ||
| Ewe | si dze | ||
| Kinyarwanda | bikwiye | ||
| Lingala | ebongi | ||
| Luganda | ekisaanidde | ||
| Sepedi | maleba | ||
| Twi (Akan) | deɛ ɛdi mu | ||
Appropriate in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مناسب | ||
| The Arabic word "مناسب" can also mean "fit" or "suitable" depending on context | |||
| Hebrew | מתאים | ||
| מתאים is a Hebrew word meaning 'appropriate,' but also has the alternate meaning of 'fit' or 'suitable' in certain contexts. | |||
| Pashto | مناسب | ||
| The word "مناسب" in Pashto, deriving from Arabic, also means "timely" and "suitable" in addition to "appropriate." | |||
| Arabic | مناسب | ||
| The Arabic word "مناسب" can also mean "fit" or "suitable" depending on context | |||
Appropriate in Western European Languages
| Albanian | të përshtatshme | ||
| The word "të përshtatshme" can also refer to the suitability of an object to its environment or context. | |||
| Basque | egokia | ||
| In Proto-Basque, "*egia" meant "right" and "*k-" was a causative prefix, resulting in the meaning of "to make right". | |||
| Catalan | adequat | ||
| "Adecuar" (to make something appropriate) comes from the Latin "ad-quadrare" (literally, "to square off") | |||
| Croatian | prikladno | ||
| The word "prikladno" in Croatian can also mean "applied" or "practical". | |||
| Danish | passende | ||
| In Danish, "passende" can also mean "fitting", "suitable", or "correct size". | |||
| Dutch | passend | ||
| The term "passend" is used in Dutch not only in the general sense of "conforming to expectations or the situation" which would be most likely to correspond closely to English use of 'appropriate', but, more generally, means "fitting with its function or its place; suitable (in general)"} | |||
| English | appropriate | ||
| The word 'appropriate' comes from the Latin 'appropriare', meaning 'to make one's own'. | |||
| French | approprié | ||
| In French, "approprié" can also mean "suitable" or "convenient". | |||
| Frisian | gaadlik | ||
| "Gaadlik" in Frisian also refers to something reasonable or suitable. | |||
| Galician | apropiado | ||
| In Galician, "apropiado" can also mean "suitable" or "fitting". | |||
| German | angemessen | ||
| The word "angemessen" is derived from the Middle High German word "anemâzen", meaning "to measure against". | |||
| Icelandic | viðeigandi | ||
| It derives from Old Norse 'viðeigendr', meaning 'proper, becoming' | |||
| Irish | oiriúnach | ||
| Italian | adeguata | ||
| The word "adeguata" is derived from the Latin word "adaequatus" meaning "equal" or "fitting". | |||
| Luxembourgish | passend | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "passend" can also refer to something that is "fashionable" or "stylish". | |||
| Maltese | xieraq | ||
| "Xieraq" is also used to refer to a person who takes more than their share of something. | |||
| Norwegian | passende | ||
| The word "passende" in Norwegian has its roots in the Old Norse word "passa," meaning "to fit" or "to be suitable." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | apropriado | ||
| The Portuguese word "apropriado" can also mean "suitable" or "convenient" in both Portugal and Brazil. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | iomchaidh | ||
| The word "iomchaidh" is thought to stem from the Old Gaelic word "comchoimhéad," meaning "equal or equivalent." | |||
| Spanish | apropiado | ||
| In Spanish, "apropiado" can also mean "adequate" or "suitable" when referring to a thing or a person. | |||
| Swedish | lämplig | ||
| Lämplig shares its origins with the word "lämplig," which means "to patch." | |||
| Welsh | priodol | ||
| The Welsh word "priodol" ("appropriate") derives from the Latin "proprius" ("one's own"). | |||
Appropriate in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | мэтазгодна | ||
| Metazgodna is an antonym of the word ‘nezgodna’, which means ‘inappropriate’. | |||
| Bosnian | prikladno | ||
| "Prikladno" is borrowed from Russian which borrowed the word from the Old Church Slavonic "прикладъ" (prikladъ), derived from the Proto-Slavic root *prikładъ. | |||
| Bulgarian | подходящо | ||
| подходящо has two Bulgarian roots: под (similar to English "sub") and ходя (which means "to move"). Hence the word can also mean "moving under," as in the case of the foundation of a building. | |||
| Czech | odpovídající | ||
| In Czech, "odpovídající" also has a meaning of "equal" or "matching" | |||
| Estonian | asjakohane | ||
| The word "asjakohane" comes from the Estonian words "asja" (thing) and "kohane" (suitable) and literally means "thing-suitable". | |||
| Finnish | sopiva | ||
| Originally a nautical term meaning 'in the middle' | |||
| Hungarian | megfelelő | ||
| Megfelelő has a similar meaning to the German word | |||
| Latvian | piemērots | ||
| "Piemērots" is a borrowed term from Russian, "подходящiй" (“podkhodyashtiy”), which in its original language has a wider range of usage. | |||
| Lithuanian | tinkamas | ||
| The word "tinkamas" can also refer to a person or thing that is suited or fit for a particular purpose or situation. | |||
| Macedonian | соодветно | ||
| The word "соодветно" has Russian roots and can also mean "relatively" or "corresponding to". | |||
| Polish | właściwy | ||
| In Polish, "właściwy" comes from the word "własc," meaning property, possession, or estate. | |||
| Romanian | potrivit | ||
| The word "potrivit" in Romanian is derived from the Latin word "propositum", meaning "intention", and originally referred to something that was "designed for a particular purpose". | |||
| Russian | подходящее | ||
| The word "подходящее" can also mean "suitable" or "fitting". | |||
| Serbian | прикладан | ||
| "Прикладан" is also used in the sense of "usable" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | vhodné | ||
| The word "vhodné" can also mean "suitable" or "proper" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | primerno | ||
| The word 'primerno' can also mean 'in relation to' or 'with respect to' in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | доречно | ||
| The word "доречно" ("appropriate") in Ukrainian derives from the word "час" ("time"), suggesting that something appropriate is well-timed. | |||
Appropriate in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | যথাযথ | ||
| যথাযথ is an adjective in Bengali, which can also mean 'correct', 'fitting', 'appropriate' depending on the context. | |||
| Gujarati | યોગ્ય | ||
| યોગ્ય comes from the Sanskrit word 'yukta', which means 'joined' or 'fit' | |||
| Hindi | उचित | ||
| उचित is derived from the Sanskrit word "चित्र" meaning "to paint" or "to mark", indicating that something is suitable or correct in the given context. | |||
| Kannada | ಸೂಕ್ತ | ||
| ಸೂಕ್ತ is derived from the Sanskrit word 'sucya' meaning 'proper' or 'fitting'. It also means 'beautiful' and 'pleasant' in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | ഉചിതമായത് | ||
| In Malayalam, 'ഉചിതമായത്' comes from the Sanskrit word 'उचित' meaning 'fit' or 'deserving'. It also refers to something that is 'suitable' or 'proper' for a particular context. | |||
| Marathi | योग्य | ||
| The Marathi word “योग्य” (“appropriate”) can also mean “worthy” or “eligible”. | |||
| Nepali | उपयुक्त | ||
| The word "उपयुक्त" is derived from the Sanskrit word "उप" (near) and "योज्य" (to join), meaning "to bring together" or "to apply." | |||
| Punjabi | ਉਚਿਤ | ||
| The word "उचित" (uchit) is derived from the Sanskrit word "उपचित" (upacit), which means "gathered together", "collected", or "assembled". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සුදුසු | ||
| The word "සුදුසු" in Sinhala can also mean "suitable", "fit", "proper", or "becoming". | |||
| Tamil | பொருத்தமானது | ||
| Telugu | తగినది | ||
| తగినది also means 'proper' or 'suitable' and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'yathā' , meaning 'right' or 'proper'. | |||
| Urdu | مناسب | ||
| The Urdu word "مناسب" also has a connotation of "fitting" or "suitable". | |||
Appropriate in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 适当 | ||
| In Chinese, "适当" also means "moderate" and "reasonable". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 適當 | ||
| 適當 is commonly used to mean suitable or proper, but it can also mean to adapt or to adjust to circumstances. | |||
| Japanese | 適切な | ||
| 適切な is often used to refer to something suitable or appropriate, but it can also mean "fitting" or "proper." | |||
| Korean | 적당한 | ||
| In addition to "appropriate," "적당한" can mean "moderate," "proper," or "suitable." | |||
| Mongolian | тохиромжтой | ||
| Etymology unknown, but possibly connected to Mongolian "tohiomol" (correct). | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သင့်လျော်သော | ||
Appropriate in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | sesuai | ||
| "Sesuai" is derived from the Sanskrit word "svāsthi," meaning "well-being" or "good fortune." | |||
| Javanese | cocog | ||
| "Cocog" in Javanese may also refer to the act of taking something without permission. | |||
| Khmer | សមរម្យ | ||
| The word "សមរម្យ" can also mean "suitable" or "fitting" in Khmer. | |||
| Lao | ທີ່ເຫມາະສົມ | ||
| Malay | sesuai | ||
| The word "sesuai" in Malay can also mean "fit" or "congruent". | |||
| Thai | เหมาะสม | ||
| The word 'เหมาะสม' is also used to describe something that is 'fitting' or 'suitable'. | |||
| Vietnamese | thích hợp | ||
| "Thích hợp" is often used to mean “suitable” or “right” in English, but its literal translation is “to like" or “to be suitable”. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nararapat | ||
Appropriate in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | uyğun | ||
| The word uyğun may also mean "concordant", "harmonious", or "agreeable". | |||
| Kazakh | қолайлы | ||
| "Қолайлы" can also mean "easy" or "convenient". | |||
| Kyrgyz | ылайыктуу | ||
| "Ылайыктуу" is also used as an adverb meaning "properly" or "suitably." | |||
| Tajik | мувофиқ | ||
| The word "мувофиқ" comes from the Arabic word "موافق" which means "agreeable, suitable, or proper." | |||
| Turkmen | laýyk gelýär | ||
| Uzbek | muvofiq | ||
| "Muvofiq" also means "suitable", "right", "proper", or "fitting" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | مۇۋاپىق | ||
Appropriate in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kūpono | ||
| "Kūpono" can also mean "righteous" or "correct" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | e tika ana | ||
| The word 'e tika ana' literally translates to 'it is right,' and implies that something is morally or ethically correct. | |||
| Samoan | talafeagai | ||
| Talafeagai can also mean 'suitable for the occasion' or 'befitting a particular group or circumstance', highlighting its diverse range of meanings. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | naaangkop | ||
| The word "naaangkop" is derived from the Spanish word "adaptar," meaning "to fit" or "to make suitable for a purpose." | |||
Appropriate in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ukarjama | ||
| Guarani | hekópe | ||
Appropriate in International Languages
| Esperanto | taŭga | ||
| In Esperanto, "taŭga" also means "suitable" or "adequate". | |||
| Latin | quodlibet | ||
| Quodlibet also means "what you will" in Latin, a reference to debates in which any topic could be discussed. | |||
Appropriate in Others Languages
| Greek | κατάλληλος | ||
| "Κατάλληλος" comes from the root word "κατα-", which means "down" or "completely," and the root word "αλληλος," which means "each other" or "reciprocal". Therefore, "κατάλληλος" originally meant "completely reciprocal" or "completely appropriate." | |||
| Hmong | tsim nyog | ||
| The Hmong word "tsim nyog" also means "to take what is needed". | |||
| Kurdish | maqûl | ||
| In some Kurdish dialects, "maqûl" also means "possible" or "attainable." | |||
| Turkish | uygun | ||
| The word "uygun" in Turkish can also mean "suitable", "convenient", or "favorable" | |||
| Xhosa | kufanelekile | ||
| The word `kufanelekile` is an adjective derived from the verb `kufaneleka` which means `to be suitable` or `to be fit` or `to deserve` | |||
| Yiddish | געהעריק | ||
| The Yiddish word "געהעריק" originated in German as "gehörig" meaning "to belong or be suitable for". | |||
| Zulu | efanelekile | ||
| In Zulu, "efanelekile" derives from the word "ifaneleka," which means "to deserve, to be suitable". | |||
| Assamese | যথাযথ | ||
| Aymara | ukarjama | ||
| Bhojpuri | ठीक | ||
| Dhivehi | މުނާސިބު | ||
| Dogri | मनासब | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nararapat | ||
| Guarani | hekópe | ||
| Ilocano | nakanada | ||
| Krio | fayn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | گونجاو | ||
| Maithili | उपयुक्त | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯨꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | inmil | ||
| Oromo | fudhatamaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ | ||
| Quechua | allin | ||
| Sanskrit | समीचीनः | ||
| Tatar | урынлы | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣግባብ | ||
| Tsonga | faneleke | ||