Beauty in different languages

Beauty in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Beauty is a concept that has captivated the human spirit for centuries. It transcends cultural boundaries and language barriers, yet is often defined and understood in different ways across the globe. The significance of beauty is far-reaching, as it has the power to inspire, motivate, and bring people together. From the stunning landscapes of the natural world to the intricate details of human-made art, beauty can be found in every corner of our lives.

The cultural importance of beauty is undeniable. In many societies, beauty is closely tied to notions of purity, goodness, and desirability. However, interpretations of beauty can vary widely, with some cultures valuing physical attributes while others place greater emphasis on inner beauty, such as kindness, compassion, and wisdom. Understanding these cultural nuances can help us appreciate the rich diversity of the human experience and deepen our connections with people from different backgrounds.

For those interested in language and culture, exploring the translation of beauty in different languages can be a fascinating journey. For example, in Spanish, beauty is translated as 'belleza,' while in French, it is 'beauté.' In Mandarin Chinese, the word for beauty is '美,' and in Japanese, it is '美しい' (utsukushii).

Beauty


Beauty in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansskoonheid
The Afrikaans word "skoonheid" is etymologically linked to the Dutch word "schoon", meaning "clean" or "pure", reflecting the connection between beauty and cleanliness in traditional aesthetics.
Amharicውበት
The word "ውበት" also means "goodness" or "grace" in Amharic.
Hausakyau
The Hausa word “kyau” means “beauty”, but also refers to the act of “making something beautiful”.
Igbomma
The Igbo word "mma" can also mean "mother," "owner" and "wealth".
Malagasybeauty
The word "hatsaranana" is a compound of the words "hatsara" (good) and "anana" (face).
Nyanja (Chichewa)kukongola
The word "kukongola" can also mean "to blossom" or "to flourish".
Shonarunako
The word "runako" in Shona also denotes elegance, symmetry, and harmony.
Somaliqurux
The Somali word "qurux" also denotes harmony, pleasingness, and radiance.
Sesothobotle
The Sesotho word "botle" not only means "beauty," but also "goodness" and "kindness."
Swahiliuzuri
The word "uzuri" in Swahili also means "goodness" or "virtue."
Xhosaubuhle
The word 'ubuhle' in Xhosa is derived from the root 'uhle', which can also mean 'goodness', 'virtue', or 'excellence'.
Yorubaẹwa
The word 'ẹwa' can also mean 'good' or 'pleasant' in Yoruba.
Zuluubuhle
Ubuhle, derived from the stem -hle meaning 'to be good', denotes not only physical but also moral and spiritual attractiveness.
Bambaracɛɲɛ
Ewetugbedzedze
Kinyarwandaubwiza
Lingalabonzenga
Lugandaobulungi
Sepedibobotse
Twi (Akan)ahoɔfɛ

Beauty in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicجمال
جمال is derived from the root "جم-ل " which means "to gather, to collect".
Hebrewיוֹפִי
"יוֹפִי" comes from the root "יפ" which means "to shine" or "to be radiant."
Pashtoښکلا
The Pashto word "ښکلا" also connotes concepts of radiance, joy, and enchantment in addition to physical beauty.
Arabicجمال
جمال is derived from the root "جم-ل " which means "to gather, to collect".

Beauty in Western European Languages

Albanianbukuria
The Albanian word "bukuria" shares a root with the Sanskrit word "punarāga" meaning "fullness."
Basqueedertasuna
The word "edertasuna" in Basque is derived from the Proto-Basque root "*eder-", meaning "beautiful" or "pleasant".
Catalanbellesa
The word "bellesa" in Catalan derives from the Latin word "bellus", meaning "beautiful", and is also related to the English word "belle", meaning "beautiful woman".
Croatianljepota
The word 'ljepota' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'lepъ', meaning 'nice' or 'good', and it is related to the words 'ljubav' ('love') and 'ljeto' ('summer').
Danishskønhed
'Skøn' (beautiful, in Danish) derives from Proto-Germanic *skauni, meaning 'shining'.
Dutchschoonheid
The word "schoonheid" is derived from the Proto-West-Germanic "skono", meaning originally "brightness."
Englishbeauty
Derived from Old French biaute, ultimately from Latin bellus, the word "beauty" also refers to a particular standard of physical attractiveness.
Frenchbeauté
"Beauté" is derived from the Latin "bellitas", meaning "loveliness" or "charm", as opposed to pulchritude, which is more related to the physical appearance.
Frisianskientme
In the word 'skientme' ('beauty') in Saterland Frisian, the /iː/ is thought to be a relic of the Old Frisian diphthong /iə/.
Galicianbeleza
Galician "beleza" stems from the Latin "bellus" and its diminutive "bellulus", meaning "beautiful", implying a certain level of grace or charm.
Germanschönheit
The German word "Schönheit" evolved from the Old High German word "scōnî", meaning "pleasant" or "radiant".
Icelandicfegurð
In Norse mythology, "fegurð" also designates the goddess of beauty, Gefjun
Irisháilleacht
"Áilleacht" is derived from the Proto-Celtic root "*ali-/*ela-/", meaning "to cause to shine, to be radiant", and is used in Irish to refer to both 'beauty' and 'radiance'"
Italianbellezza
"Bellezza" comes from the Latin "bellitas", meaning "pleasantness".
Luxembourgishschéinheet
Maltesesbuħija
The Maltese word "sbuħija" ultimately derives from the Arabic word "ṣubḥ", meaning "morning". In Arabic, "ṣubḥ" is associated with concepts of freshness, new beginnings, and radiance, which are also reflected in the Maltese word "sbuħija".
Norwegianskjønnhet
"Skjønnhet" is a feminine noun that also translates as "beautiful woman"
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)beleza
Beleza means "beauty" in Portuguese, but it can also mean "goodness", "kindness" or "grace".
Scots Gaelicbòidhchead
The Gaelic word "bòidhchead" can also refer to "pleasure" or "joy".
Spanishbelleza
"Belleza" derives from the Latin "bellus" (fine, beautiful) and "beatitudo" (blessedness, happiness).
Swedishskönhet
Skönhet shares its root with 'skön', which means 'fair', and 'skona', which means 'to spare' or 'to preserve'.
Welshharddwch
The word "harddwch" is also used to refer to the "quality of being pleasing to the eye or mind", which can include physical beauty, intellectual beauty, or moral beauty.

Beauty in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпрыгажосць
Прыгажосць is derived from the Proto-Slavic *prigъ, meaning "handsome" or "comely".
Bosnianljepota
The word 'ljepota' can also refer to the aesthetic of an object, idea, or emotion, beyond just physical appearance.
Bulgarianкрасота
The word "красота" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *krasa, meaning "ornament" or "adornment."
Czechkrása
The word "krása" is derived from the Proto-Slavic *krasa, meaning "adornment, decoration"
Estonianilu
Ilu has been used in Estonian folklore to refer to supernatural spirits of nature, particularly those of the underworld.
Finnishkauneus
"Kauneus" is also a name for a female in the Kalevala, a Finnish epic.
Hungarianszépség
"Szépség" is derived from the Proto-Uralic word *šeβe "beautiful, good".
Latvianskaistums
The word "skaistums" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *skei-, meaning "to shine" or "to glitter".
Lithuaniangrožis
"Grožis" in Lithuanian comes from the Old Lithuanian word "grażus," meaning "agreeable," and is related to the Latin "gratia," meaning "favor".
Macedonianубавина
"Убавина" comes from the Slavic stem "ubh-" meaning "good, well".
Polishpiękno
Its synonyms include: wdzięk (gracefulness, charm), uroda (attractiveness, loveliness), krasna (splendid, magnificent) and powab (allure, fascination).
Romanianfrumuseţe
The Romanian word "frumuseţe" (beauty) is derived from the Latin "frūmōsus" (handsome, beautiful), which in turn derives from "frūs" (the fruit of a tree, fruit).
Russianкрасота
The word "красота" is also used to describe the beauty of nature and art.
Serbianлепота
The word "лепота" can also refer to "goodness" or "excellence" in Serbian.
Slovakkráska
The word "kráska" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "krasa" meaning "beautiful object" or "ornament."
Slovenianlepota
The word can also have the secondary meanings of "kindness" or "mercy."
Ukrainianкраса
The word "краса" can also mean "adornment" or "embellishment".

Beauty in South Asian Languages

Bengaliসৌন্দর্য
The word "সৌন্দর্য" is derived from the Sanskrit word "सुन्दर" (sundara), which means "beautiful" or "pleasing to the eye".
Gujaratiસુંદરતા
The word 'સુંદરતા' has its roots in the Sanskrit word 'sundara', which means 'beautiful, charming, or pleasing to the senses'.
Hindiसुंदरता
The word 'सुंदरता' ('beauty') in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'सुन्दर' ('beautiful'), which means 'pleasing to the eye or the mind'.
Kannadaಸೌಂದರ್ಯ
The word "ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ" in Kannada also denotes grace, charm, and elegance.
Malayalamസൗന്ദര്യം
The word "സൗന്ദര്യം" ("beauty") in Malayalam, is derived from the Sanskrit word "सौंदर्य" ("saundarya"), which means "beautiful appearance, grace, or charm".
Marathiसौंदर्य
The word "सौंदर्य" in Marathi ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "सुंदरी" (sundari), meaning "beautiful woman" or "goddess."
Nepaliसुन्दरता
The word "सुन्दरता" also means "handsome" or "fine" in Hindi and other languages.
Punjabiਸੁੰਦਰਤਾ
The Punjabi word 'ਸੁੰਦਰਤਾ' ('beauty') derives from the Sanskrit word 'सुन्दर' ('beautiful'). It also refers to a woman's physical attractiveness.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අලංකාරය
The word "අලංකාරය" in Sinhala can also refer to ornamentation, embellishment, or decoration.
Tamilஅழகு
The Tamil word "அழகு" (azhagu) is also used to refer to handsomeness, loveliness, grace, pulchritude, charm, comeliness, attractiveness, and fairness, among other meanings.
Teluguఅందం
The word "అందం" in Telugu is a cognate of the Sanskrit word "आनন্দ" (ananda), meaning bliss or joy.
Urduخوبصورتی
The word "خوبصورتی" can also mean "goodness" or "excellence" in Urdu.

Beauty in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)美女
The term "美女" carries connotations of physical attractiveness, elegance, and feminine charm, often associated with graceful movements and refined speech.
Chinese (Traditional)美女
The word "美女" (beauty) is derived from the Chinese characters "女" (woman) and "美" (beautiful) and can also refer to a woman who is pleasing to the eye.
Japanese美しさ
The word has a double meaning that is a play on words in Japanese: “utsukushi” and “utsukushii,” which means “sorrow” and “sorrowful” in the former and “beautiful” and “beautiful thing” in the latter.
Korean아름다움
The word '아름다움' can also refer to the concept of 'grace' or 'elegance' in Korean.
Mongolianгоо сайхан
The Mongolian term "гоо сайхан" (beauty) can also refer to a woman's face or appearance.
Myanmar (Burmese)အလှတရား
အလှတရား can refer to the abstract nature of beauty or the specific details that make a person or object aesthetically pleasing

Beauty in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankecantikan
"Kecantikan" is a loan word from Sanskrit, "kanti," which means a beautiful woman or a goddess. In Javanese, it is "kinanti" or "kanti"}
Javanesekaendahan
"Kaendahan" also means "good or appropriate way of living" in Javanese
Khmerសម្រស់
This term is not derived from Sanskrit and the etymology is unknown.
Laoຄວາມງາມ
Malaykecantikan
The Malay word 'kecantikan' not only means 'physical beauty' but also 'goodness' or 'virtuousness'.
Thaiความงาม
The Thai word "ความงาม" also means "that which makes one happy".
Vietnamesesắc đẹp, vẻ đẹp
The term "sắc đẹp, vẻ đẹp" can also refer specifically to physical beauty, particularly that of a woman.
Filipino (Tagalog)kagandahan

Beauty in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanigözəllik
The word "gözəllik" in Azerbaijani originates from the Persian word "guzal," meaning "beautiful, lovely."
Kazakhсұлулық
The Kazakh word "сұлулық" is derived from the Proto-Turkic word *sylïg* meaning both "beauty" and "shining".
Kyrgyzсулуулук
The Kyrgyz term "сулуулук" has an extended meaning of "gracefulness" or "elegance".
Tajikзебоӣ
"Зебоӣ" (beauty) in Tajik has a Persian root meaning "adorned, ornamented."
Turkmengözellik
Uzbekgo'zallik
The Uzbek word "go'zallik" (beauty) may derive from the Mongolian word "gozel" (handsome or beautiful) and "lik" (suffix indicating quality).
Uyghurگۈزەللىك

Beauty in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiannani
The word 'nani' (beauty) in Hawaiian can also refer to the appearance or characteristics of a person or thing.
Maoriataahua
The Maori word "ataahua" can also refer to excellence, virtue, or attractiveness, and its root word is "ata", meaning "dawn" or "morning light."
Samoanlalelei
The Samoan word 'lalelei' derives from the Proto-Polynesian word 'lalelei', meaning 'beautiful'.
Tagalog (Filipino)kagandahan
The Tagalog word 'kagandahan' is derived from the root word 'ganda,' which means 'beautiful' or 'handsome'.

Beauty in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajiwaki
Guaraniporãngue

Beauty in International Languages

Esperantobeleco
"Beleco" also has alternate meanings in Esperanto: "cosmetic", "ornament", and "aesthetics".
Latinpulchritudo
The Latin word "pulchritudo" derives from "pulcher" (beautiful) and also means "comeliness, grace, refinement, or elegance."

Beauty in Others Languages

Greekομορφιά
The word "ομορφιά" derives from the verb "ὁράω" which means "to see" and implies "that which is pleasing to the eyes".
Hmongkev zoo nkauj
The term "kev zoo nkauj" can also refer to the act of beautifying oneself or something else.
Kurdishçelengî
The word 'çelengî' is also associated with the notions of 'good fortune' and 'auspiciousness' in Kurdish folklore.
Turkishgüzellik
The word "güzellik" is derived from the Persian word "güzel", meaning "beautiful", and the Turkish suffix "-lik", meaning "quality". It can also refer to "handsomeness" or "pulchritude".
Xhosaubuhle
The word 'ubuhle' in Xhosa is derived from the root 'uhle', which can also mean 'goodness', 'virtue', or 'excellence'.
Yiddishשיינקייט
Derived from the German word "Schönheit," "שיינקייט" not only means "beauty" but also "goodness" and "grace."
Zuluubuhle
Ubuhle, derived from the stem -hle meaning 'to be good', denotes not only physical but also moral and spiritual attractiveness.
Assameseসৌন্দৰ্য
Aymarajiwaki
Bhojpuriसुंदरता
Dhivehiރީތިކަން
Dogriशलैपा
Filipino (Tagalog)kagandahan
Guaraniporãngue
Ilocanopintas
Kriofayn
Kurdish (Sorani)جوانی
Maithiliसुन्नरता
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯐꯖꯕ
Mizomawina
Oromomiidhagina
Odia (Oriya)ସ beauty ନ୍ଦର୍ଯ୍ୟ
Quechuasumaq
Sanskritसुंदरं
Tatarматурлык
Tigrinyaመልክዕ
Tsongasaseka

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