Attractive in Different Languages
Discover 'Attractive' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'attractive' carries a significant weight in our daily lives, as it describes the quality of being appealing or interesting to the senses or mind. This cultural importance goes beyond aesthetics, as it encompasses charm, allure, and fascination, making it a crucial concept in various aspects of human interaction.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'attractive' in different languages can provide valuable insights into cultural perspectives and nuances. For instance, the Spanish translation, 'atractivo,' not only refers to physical beauty but also to the power of persuasion and charisma. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'akarui' (明るい) translates to 'attractive' but also implies brightness, light, and positivity.
With that in mind, let's explore how 'attractive' translates in various languages, shedding light on the fascinating world of cultural differences and similarities.
Attractive
Attractive in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | aantreklik | ||
| The word "aantreklik" derives from the root "trek," which means "pull" or "attract," and ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *drew-. | |||
| Amharic | ማራኪ | ||
| The word 'ማራኪ' in Amharic has other meanings, such as 'cute' and 'charming', and it is derived from a root word meaning 'to shine' or 'to glitter'. | |||
| Hausa | m | ||
| Hausa "m" can also mean "good" or "to be good" | |||
| Igbo | mara mma | ||
| Mara mma is a compound word that means 'beautiful' or 'good-looking' in Igbo; it is made up of the words 'mara,' which means 'to know,' and 'mma,' which means 'good' or 'beautiful'. | |||
| Malagasy | tsara tarehy | ||
| "Tsara tarehy" can also mean "good to do" or "good to take" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wokongola | ||
| "Wokongola" can also mean "beautiful," "nice," or "lovely." | |||
| Shona | anoyevedza | ||
| The word 'anoyevedza' in Shona has the alternate meaning of 'impressive' or 'admirable'. | |||
| Somali | soo jiidasho leh | ||
| Soo jiidasho leh literally means "very charming" in Somali, originating from the Arabic root word "جَذَبَ" (jadhaba), meaning "to attract". | |||
| Sesotho | hohela | ||
| The word "hohela" in Sesotho is etymologically related to the word "ho helela," meaning "to walk gracefully." | |||
| Swahili | kuvutia | ||
| The word "kuvutia" also means "to attract" or "to draw attention". | |||
| Xhosa | enomtsalane | ||
| The word "enomtsalane" in Xhosa may also refer to something that is "sweet" or "nice". | |||
| Yoruba | wuni | ||
| The word "wuni" can also mean "to love" or "to be in love" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ekhangayo | ||
| The word "ekhangayo" can also mean "beautiful" or "handsome" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | min bɛ mɔgɔ sama | ||
| Ewe | si hea ame | ||
| Kinyarwanda | birashimishije | ||
| Lingala | kitoko | ||
| Luganda | okusikiriza | ||
| Sepedi | maatlakgogedi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | akɔnnɔ | ||
Attractive in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | ملفت للانتباه | ||
| The word "ملفت للانتباه" literally means "attention-grabbing" and is often used to describe something visually appealing or noteworthy. | |||
| Hebrew | מוֹשֵׁך | ||
| The word "מוֹשֵׁך" also has the alternate meaning of "to pull" or "to draw". | |||
| Pashto | کشش | ||
| In addition to meaning "attractive," the Pashto word "کشش" also means "pull" or "tension." | |||
| Arabic | ملفت للانتباه | ||
| The word "ملفت للانتباه" literally means "attention-grabbing" and is often used to describe something visually appealing or noteworthy. | |||
Attractive in Western European Languages
| Albanian | tërheqëse | ||
| "Tërheqëse" derives from the verb "tërheq" (to pull) and signifies a person or thing that draws attention or affection. | |||
| Basque | erakargarria | ||
| The Basque word "erakargarria" is derived from the verb "erakarri," meaning "to attract, allure, or charm." | |||
| Catalan | atractiu | ||
| The word ‘atractiu’ in Catalan shares the same Latin root, ‘trahere,’ as ‘tractor’ in English | |||
| Croatian | atraktivan | ||
| The word 'atraktivan' also means 'attractive' in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | tiltrækkende | ||
| The word "tiltrækkende" is derived from the Danish word "trække" (to pull), and it literally means "that which pulls or attracts." | |||
| Dutch | aantrekkelijk | ||
| The word "aantrekkelijk" derives from the Dutch "aantrekken," meaning "to draw on" or "to put on." | |||
| English | attractive | ||
| The word "attractive" originally meant "able to attract or draw something towards itself", from the Latin "attrahere" meaning "to draw towards". | |||
| French | attrayant | ||
| In French, the word "attrayant" also means "drawing attention". | |||
| Frisian | oantreklik | ||
| The Frisian word "oantreklik" is derived from the Old Frisian word "oentrika," which meant "agreeable" or "pleasant." | |||
| Galician | atractivo | ||
| The Galician word "atractivo" derives from the Latin "trahere" (to draw) and can also mean "alluring" or "seductive". | |||
| German | attraktiv | ||
| "Attraktiv" derives etymologically from the Latin word "trahere" (to pull, drag), which has also evolved semantically into the word "traction". | |||
| Icelandic | aðlaðandi | ||
| The Icelandic word "aðlaðandi" is derived from the verb "aðla" (to ennoble) and originally meant "worthy of respect or admiration" | |||
| Irish | tarraingteach | ||
| "Tarraingteach" can also mean "drawing force" or "pull". "Tarraing" translates directly to "pull" or "draw". | |||
| Italian | attraente | ||
| The Italian word 'attraente' derives from the Latin word 'attrahere,' meaning 'to draw to' or 'to allure,' and shares its root with the English word 'attract.' | |||
| Luxembourgish | attraktiv | ||
| The word "attraktiv" in Luxembourgish can also mean "attractive" in the sense of being physically appealing. | |||
| Maltese | attraenti | ||
| The Maltese word "attraenti" is derived from the Italian word "attraente", which means "attractive" or "appealing." | |||
| Norwegian | attraktiv | ||
| The word “attraktiv” can also mean “available” in Norwegian, highlighting the connection between attractiveness and accessibility. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | atraente | ||
| The word 'atraente' can also mean 'charming' or 'alluring'. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | tarraingeach | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word 'tarraingeach' also means 'compelling', 'captivating' and 'fascinating'. | |||
| Spanish | atractivo | ||
| In addition to 'attractive', "atractivo" can also mean 'attraction' (as in a tourist attraction) or 'enticement'. | |||
| Swedish | attraktiv | ||
| The Swedish word "attraktiv" is not only used to describe physical beauty, but also to describe something that is interesting, appealing, or desirable. | |||
| Welsh | deniadol | ||
| Deniadol (attractive) derives from the verb "denu" (to make, to do), and it can also mean "artificially made" or "imitative" | |||
Attractive in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | прывабны | ||
| Bosnian | atraktivan | ||
| The word "atraktivan" in Bosnian derives from the Turkish "çekici", meaning "magnetic" or "seductive". | |||
| Bulgarian | атрактивен | ||
| The word "атрактивен" in Bulgarian is also used to describe something "eye-catching" or "appealing". | |||
| Czech | přitažlivý | ||
| Czech "přitažlivý" means not only "attractive" but also can mean "forceful" as in "gravity". | |||
| Estonian | atraktiivne | ||
| The Estonian word "atraktiivne" is derived from the French word "attractif", which means "attractive" or "appealing". | |||
| Finnish | viehättävä | ||
| "Viehättävä" also means "pleasant," "agreeable," "enjoyable"; a "pleasant place"; "lovely" and "charming". | |||
| Hungarian | vonzó | ||
| The word "vonzó" is derived from the verb "vonz" (to attract), and its initial meaning was "tending to attract" | |||
| Latvian | pievilcīgs | ||
| The original meaning of "pievilcīgs" was "appealing" | |||
| Lithuanian | patrauklus | ||
| The word "patrauklus" in Lithuanian comes from the verb "traukti", meaning "to pull" or "to attract". | |||
| Macedonian | привлечен | ||
| The word "привлечен" in Macedonian can also mean "involved" or "participating". | |||
| Polish | atrakcyjny | ||
| "Atrakcyjny" comes from the word "atrakcja" (attraction), which is ultimately derived from the Latin word "trahere" (to draw, to pull), via the French word "attraction" (attraction). In modern Polish, "atrakcyjny" can also be used to describe a person who is physically attractive. | |||
| Romanian | atractiv | ||
| The Romanian word "atractiv" comes from the Latin "attrahere," meaning "to draw to". It can also have the alternate meaning of "appealing". | |||
| Russian | привлекательный | ||
| "Привлекательный" also means "arresting" or "taking" in the sense of gaining someone's attention. | |||
| Serbian | атрактиван | ||
| The word "атрактиван" (attractive) in Serbian can also mean "unattractive" or "boring". | |||
| Slovak | atraktívny | ||
| The origin of the word "atraktívny" can be traced back to the Latin word "attrahere," meaning "to draw to" or "to attract." | |||
| Slovenian | privlačna | ||
| The word "privlačna" in Slovenian also means "inviting" or "congenial". | |||
| Ukrainian | привабливий | ||
| The word "привабливий" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *privabьlivъ, which means "agreeable" or "pleasing". It is also related to the Russian word "привлекательный" (privlekatel'nyy), which means "attractive" or "appealing". | |||
Attractive in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আকর্ষণীয় | ||
| আকর্ষণীয় is derived from the Sanskrit word 'akarshana' meaning 'drawing', 'pulling', or 'attraction'. | |||
| Gujarati | આકર્ષક | ||
| The Gujarati word "આકર્ષક" comes from the Sanskrit root "karsh" meaning "to pull" or "to attract". | |||
| Hindi | मोह लेने वाला | ||
| The Hindi word "मोह लेने वाला" can also mean "enchanting" or "spellbinding" in English. | |||
| Kannada | ಆಕರ್ಷಕ | ||
| The word "ಆಕರ್ಷಕ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "आकृष्ट", meaning "drawn to" or "attracted". | |||
| Malayalam | ആകർഷകമായ | ||
| The word ആകർഷകമായ originates from the Sanskrit word "aakarshan" meaning "attraction" or "allurement". | |||
| Marathi | आकर्षक | ||
| The Marathi word "आकर्षक" (Aakarshan) also means "a person who attracts" or "a magnet". | |||
| Nepali | आकर्षक | ||
| Derived from Sanskrit, 'आकर्षक' (aakarshak) also means "magnetic" in Hindi and Urdu. | |||
| Punjabi | ਆਕਰਸ਼ਕ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආකර්ෂණීය | ||
| Tamil | கவர்ச்சிகரமான | ||
| The Tamil word “கவர்ச்சிகரமான” (“attractive”) refers to a person's appearance, but also applies to objects, places, and even ideas. | |||
| Telugu | ఆకర్షణీయమైన | ||
| "ఆకర్షణీయమైన" is a Telugu word for "attractive" that comes from the Sanskrit root "akarsha," which means "to draw or attract." | |||
| Urdu | پر کشش | ||
| The word "پر کشش" (pronounced "par-ka-shish") is derived from Persian, where it means both "attractive" and "full of movement". | |||
Attractive in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 有魅力 | ||
| The term 有魅力 can also refer to a particular quality of someone or something that attracts others, such as a charming or alluring nature. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 有魅力 | ||
| The Chinese character "有魅力" can also refer to "magnetic", or "charming". | |||
| Japanese | 魅力的 | ||
| "魅力的" also means "magical," "mysterious," or "alluring." | |||
| Korean | 매력 | ||
| "매력" originally meant "power to bewitch or fascinate," and is also used to describe someone who is charming or captivating. | |||
| Mongolian | сэтгэл татам | ||
| The word "сэтгэл татам" can also mean "pleasing to the mind" or "agreeable". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဆွဲဆောင်မှုရှိသည် | ||
Attractive in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | menarik | ||
| "Menarik" can also mean "to pull" or "to yank" in Indonesian. | |||
| Javanese | nengsemake | ||
| "Nengsemake" in Javanese also means "enticing" and "alluring." | |||
| Khmer | គួរឱ្យទាក់ទាញ | ||
| Lao | ດຶງດູດໃຈ | ||
| Malay | menarik | ||
| Menarik also means 'interesting' in both Indonesian and Malay, with the root 'tarik' meaning 'to pull'. | |||
| Thai | น่าสนใจ | ||
| "น่าสนใจ" has a negative meaning in Thai, which is the opposite of its positive English translation. | |||
| Vietnamese | hấp dẫn | ||
| The word "hấp dẫn" can also mean "gravitation", "enticement", or "allure". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kaakit-akit | ||
Attractive in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | cəlbedici | ||
| The word "cəlbedici" was derived from the Persian word "جالب" in the 18th century, which also means "attractive, interesting". | |||
| Kazakh | тартымды | ||
| The Kazakh term "тартымды" also refers to a kind of traditional bread baked with meat and onions. | |||
| Kyrgyz | жагымдуу | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "жагымдуу" has its roots in the Turkic word "jak", which means "good" or "beautiful". | |||
| Tajik | ҷолиб | ||
| The word "ҷолиб" in Tajik, derived from Arabic, can also mean "bringing water" or "causing something to flow". | |||
| Turkmen | özüne çekiji | ||
| Uzbek | jozibali | ||
| The term "jozibali" derives from the Persian root -جذب - (jazb), denoting the concept of attraction and beauty. | |||
| Uyghur | جەلپ قىلارلىق | ||
Attractive in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | uʻi | ||
| "Uʻi" can be derived from the Proto-Polynesian word *tagi meaning "to smell". It can also mean "sweet" in Tahitian and "to stink" in Samoan. | |||
| Maori | ataahua | ||
| In Maori, "ataahua" derives from "ata" (dawn) and "ahua" (form), signifying "the beauty of the form at dawn". | |||
| Samoan | aulelei | ||
| The word "aulelei" in Samoan can also mean "beautiful" or "handsome." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kaakit-akit | ||
Attractive in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | musparkaya | ||
| Guarani | oporopy'ara'ãva | ||
Attractive in International Languages
| Esperanto | alloga | ||
| The word “alloga” originally meant “to call out” but it later acquired the meaning of attracting. | |||
| Latin | gratus | ||
| The word "gratus" can also mean "pleasing" or "acceptable". | |||
Attractive in Others Languages
| Greek | ελκυστικός | ||
| The term 'ελκυστικός' originates from the verb 'ελκύω,' meaning 'to pull' or 'to attract,' highlighting its inherent connection to a force that draws or attracts one toward something. | |||
| Hmong | txaus nyiam | ||
| The Hmong word "txaus nyiam" means both "attractive" and "beautiful," with "txaus" meaning "pretty, handsome, good looking", and "nyiam" adding emphasis. | |||
| Kurdish | balkêş | ||
| The word "balkêş" in Kurdish originally meant "honey-puller", referring to the irresistible force of honey's sweetness. | |||
| Turkish | çekici | ||
| "Çekici" means "hammer" in Turkish, but it also means "attractive" because a hammer draws people to it. | |||
| Xhosa | enomtsalane | ||
| The word "enomtsalane" in Xhosa may also refer to something that is "sweet" or "nice". | |||
| Yiddish | אַטראַקטיוו | ||
| The Yiddish word "אַטראַקטיוו" ultimately derives from the Latin "attrahere," meaning "to draw to." | |||
| Zulu | ekhangayo | ||
| The word "ekhangayo" can also mean "beautiful" or "handsome" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | আকৰ্ষণীয় | ||
| Aymara | musparkaya | ||
| Bhojpuri | मन मोह लेबे वाला | ||
| Dhivehi | ހިތްކިޔުން | ||
| Dogri | रौंसला | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kaakit-akit | ||
| Guarani | oporopy'ara'ãva | ||
| Ilocano | napintas | ||
| Krio | fayn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سەرنج ڕاکێش | ||
| Maithili | आकर्षक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯨꯛꯅꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯤꯟꯕ | ||
| Mizo | hipna | ||
| Oromo | kan qalbii namaa hawwatu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆକର୍ଷଣୀୟ | | ||
| Quechua | sumaq | ||
| Sanskrit | आकर्षक | ||
| Tatar | җәлеп итүчән | ||
| Tigrinya | ዝስሕብ | ||
| Tsonga | naveta | ||