Bright in Different Languages
Discover 'Bright' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'bright' holds a special significance in many languages and cultures around the world. It is often used to describe something that is full of light, radiant, or intelligently clever. From a cultural perspective, bright colors and lights have been used in various traditions and ceremonies to symbolize positivity, happiness, and good fortune.
Moreover, knowing the translation of 'bright' in different languages can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. For instance, if you're traveling to a foreign country, being able to use the word 'bright' in the local language can help you communicate more effectively and immerse yourself in the culture. Additionally, learning the translations of 'bright' can also enhance your vocabulary and language skills, making you a more well-rounded and culturally aware individual.
Here are some translations of 'bright' in different languages: English: bright; Spanish: brillante; French: lumineux; German: hell; Italian: luminoso; Japanese: 明るい (akarui); Chinese: 亮晶晶 (liàng jīng jīng); and Korean: 밝은 (bakkeun).
Bright
Bright in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | helder | ||
| The Afrikaans word "helder" is cognate with the English word "clear" and can also refer to something that is transparent, distinct or lucid. | |||
| Amharic | ብሩህ | ||
| The word 'ብሩህ' ('bright') in Amharic can also mean 'sharp' or 'clear.' | |||
| Hausa | mai haske | ||
| "Mai haske" in Hausa comes from the phrase "mai kiwo haske" meaning "giver of light" and can also refer to the Moon. | |||
| Igbo | enwu | ||
| In addition to its meaning as "bright," "enwu" in Igbo can also refer to the sun or light, and is often used as a personal name. | |||
| Malagasy | mamirapiratra | ||
| The Malagasy word "mamirapiratra" literally translates to "mother of the sun". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | yowala | ||
| Yowala means 'bright' in Nyanja and derives from an extinct root that also yields a term for 'day'. The cognate 'yawira' remains current in other Bantu languages. | |||
| Shona | kupenya | ||
| 'Kupenya' also means 'to be open' as in 'open to suggestion'. | |||
| Somali | dhalaalaya | ||
| The word "dhalaalaya" can also mean "clear" or "white". | |||
| Sesotho | khanyang | ||
| The word 'khanyang' (bright) in Sesotho also has an alternative meaning of 'whiteness'. | |||
| Swahili | mkali | ||
| Mkali, meaning 'bright,' derives from the Proto-Bantu root *-tali, shared with the Teso word for 'torch' (etaali). | |||
| Xhosa | eqaqambileyo | ||
| The word eqaqambileyo also refers to someone who is happy. | |||
| Yoruba | didan | ||
| "Didan" can also be the Yoruba name of a young female deer. | |||
| Zulu | kukhanya | ||
| The Zulu word "kukhanya" shares a possible root with the Swazi "kukanya," meaning "to laugh." | |||
| Bambara | manamanalen | ||
| Ewe | klẽ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umucyo | ||
| Lingala | pole | ||
| Luganda | kitangaala | ||
| Sepedi | phadimago | ||
| Twi (Akan) | hann | ||
Bright in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مشرق | ||
| مشرق is also the name of a city in Iraq, and the word can refer to "east" as a direction. | |||
| Hebrew | בָּהִיר | ||
| The Hebrew word בָּהִיר (bahir) not only means 'bright' but can also refer to a 'chosen' or 'select' person. | |||
| Pashto | روښانه | ||
| The Pashto word "روښانه" (rawshana) also refers to "light" or "illumination". | |||
| Arabic | مشرق | ||
| مشرق is also the name of a city in Iraq, and the word can refer to "east" as a direction. | |||
Bright in Western European Languages
| Albanian | e ndritshme | ||
| The word "e ndritshme" derives from the Proto-Albanian word "*dritmë," meaning "light" or "shine." | |||
| Basque | argitsua | ||
| Argi is used as a prefix meaning "bright", such as in "argitsua" (bright). | |||
| Catalan | brillant | ||
| In Catalan, "brillant" can also mean "magnificent" or "superb", adding an extra layer of admiration to its primary meaning of "bright". | |||
| Croatian | svijetao | ||
| Cognate of Slavic words meaning 'the world', 'light', and 'shine'. The word 'svijet' also appears in the Croatian word 'svemir' ('universe'), which is formed from the roots 'svijet' ('light') and 'mir' ('peace'). | |||
| Danish | lyse | ||
| In Danish, "lyse" can also mean happy, pleasant, or cheerful, as well as bright illumination. | |||
| Dutch | helder | ||
| The Dutch word "helder" is shared with Old Norse, Old English, German, and Sanskrit and likely goes back to an Indo-European root meaning "bright" or "clear". | |||
| English | bright | ||
| The word "bright" derives from the Proto-Indo-European word *bherǵʰ-, meaning "gleaming" or "white". | |||
| French | brillant | ||
| The French word 'brillant' comes from the Latin 'beryl,' referring to the mineral beryl, known for its transparency and luster. | |||
| Frisian | helder | ||
| The Frisian word "helder" is related to the English word "clear" and the German word "klar". | |||
| Galician | brillante | ||
| The word "brillante" was originally Galician-Portuguese in the 13th century, meaning only "crystal" and "diamond". | |||
| German | hell | ||
| The German word "hell" can also refer to a slope or hill, as well as a large covered space. | |||
| Icelandic | bjart | ||
| The Icelandic word "bjart" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "bhergh-," meaning "to shine, glare, glitter, be white." | |||
| Irish | geal | ||
| The word "geal" can also mean "white" or "shining," and is related to the Welsh word "gwyn" and the Breton word "gwenn." | |||
| Italian | luminoso | ||
| "Luminoso" can also mean "enlightened" or "informed" in Italian. | |||
| Luxembourgish | hell | ||
| In the Luxembourgish language, "hell" has the alternate meaning of "inclined," and is derived from the Middle High German word "helle," meaning "sloping." | |||
| Maltese | qawwi | ||
| The word "qawwi" can also be used to describe something sharp or intense. | |||
| Norwegian | lys | ||
| The Norwegian word "lys" also means "candle" and can be seen as a root in many words related to light, such as "lysekrone" (chandelier) and "lyspære" (light bulb). | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | brilhante | ||
| The word “brilhante” can mean both “bright” and “brilliant” in Portuguese. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | geal | ||
| The word "geal" can also mean "white", "fair", or "beautiful" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | brillante | ||
| The Spanish word "brillante" has Latin origins and shares its root with words meaning "sparkling" and "gleaming" in English. | |||
| Swedish | ljus | ||
| The word "ljus" in Swedish can also refer to a type of fabric, specifically a lightweight, sheer cloth. | |||
| Welsh | llachar | ||
| "Llachar" can also mean "splendid", "glorious", "radiant", "shiny", or "lustrous". | |||
Bright in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | яркі | ||
| The word "яркі" in Belarusian also means "clear, distinct, well-defined". | |||
| Bosnian | svijetao | ||
| "Svjetina" is a Serbian variant of "svijetao", the name of the Slavic moon god. | |||
| Bulgarian | ярък | ||
| The Bulgarian word "ярък" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₁eurǝg-", which also gave rise to the English word "argent". | |||
| Czech | jasný | ||
| The Czech word "jasný" can also mean "clear", "obvious" or "unclouded". | |||
| Estonian | särav | ||
| The word "särav" also means "sparkling" or "shiny" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | kirkas | ||
| The word "kirkas" comes from the Proto-Finnic word "*kirkas" or "*kirgas", which also means "shiny" or "glistening". | |||
| Hungarian | fényes | ||
| The word "fényes" in Hungarian also means "luxurious" and derives from the same root as "fény" (light), suggesting the association between brightness and opulence. | |||
| Latvian | spilgti | ||
| The word "spilgti" comes from Proto-Indo-European *bhelgh-, ultimately from the root *bhel-, meaning "to shine" or "to gleam". | |||
| Lithuanian | ryškus | ||
| "Ryškus" in Lithuanian is related to the Sanskrit word "ruci" meaning "light, shining," and the Latin word "lux" meaning "light." It also has the alternate meaning of "visible, conspicuous." | |||
| Macedonian | светла | ||
| In Russian, светлый translates to "light in color" and may also mean "fair-haired" or "unmarried" | |||
| Polish | jasny | ||
| The word "jasny" in Polish derives from the Proto-Slavic term "*jьsnъ" meaning "clear, bright, shiny" and is related to the word "jasny" in Russian, "jasný" in Czech, and "jasný" in Slovak. | |||
| Romanian | luminos | ||
| The word "luminos" in Romanian derives from the Latin word "lumen," meaning "light." | |||
| Russian | яркий | ||
| In the Russian language, the word “яркий” can also be used to mean “vivid,” “striking,” or “expressive.” | |||
| Serbian | светао | ||
| In Serbian, "светао" can also refer to a person who is optimistic or has a positive outlook on life. | |||
| Slovak | jasný | ||
| The word "jasný" in Slovak also has the meaning of "clear" or "distinct". | |||
| Slovenian | svetlo | ||
| The Slavic word 'svetlo' can also refer to "world" or "celebration" in many languages. | |||
| Ukrainian | яскравий | ||
| The Ukrainian word “яскравий” can also be used to describe something as vivid, intense, or striking. | |||
Bright in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | উজ্জ্বল | ||
| উজ্জ্বল can also mean 'distinguished', 'renowned', or 'splendid'. | |||
| Gujarati | તેજસ્વી | ||
| Hindi | उज्ज्वल | ||
| The word "उज्ज्वल" can also mean "illustrious" or "distinguished." | |||
| Kannada | ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನವಾದ | ||
| The word "ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನವಾದ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रकाश" (prakāśa), which means "light" or "brightness". | |||
| Malayalam | ശോഭയുള്ള | ||
| Marathi | तेजस्वी | ||
| The word "तेजस्वी" is also related to the words "तेज" (energy) and "तेजस" (radiance). | |||
| Nepali | चम्किलो | ||
| The word "चम्किलो" is derived from the Sanskrit word "चमत्कार", meaning "a miracle" or "a wonder". It can also refer to something that is "glittering" or "radiant". | |||
| Punjabi | ਚਮਕਦਾਰ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දීප්තිමත් | ||
| Tamil | பிரகாசமான | ||
| Telugu | ప్రకాశవంతమైన | ||
| Urdu | روشن | ||
| The word "روشن" can also mean "educated" or "informed" in Urdu, a usage derived from the metaphorical association of light with knowledge and enlightenment. | |||
Bright in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 亮 | ||
| As a verb, "亮" means to show or brandish something | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 亮 | ||
| The character “亮” also means “to appear” or “to make known” (e.g., 发表亮见，publish one’s opinion). | |||
| Japanese | 明るい | ||
| "明るい" is also used to describe a cheerful person or a happy occasion. | |||
| Korean | 선명한 | ||
| "선명한" can also mean "clear and sharp", or "distinct and vivid." | |||
| Mongolian | тод | ||
| In Mongolian | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | တောက်ပ | ||
Bright in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | terang | ||
| The word "terang" in Indonesian is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "*teRaŋ" meaning "sun". It can also mean "clear", "distinct", or "evident". | |||
| Javanese | padhang | ||
| "Padhang" also means "cleared field" in Javanese, suggesting a connection between brightness and open spaces. | |||
| Khmer | ភ្លឺ | ||
| The word "ភ្លឺ" (pronounced "phluer") also means "to illuminate" or "to make known" in Khmer. | |||
| Lao | ສົດໃສ | ||
| The Lao word "ສົດໃສ" can also refer to a lively disposition, a radiant appearance, or a clear and fresh state. | |||
| Malay | terang | ||
| In Old Javanese, 'terang' meant 'lamp' or 'torch', and in the Javanese language, which is closely related to Malay, 'terang' still has these meanings. | |||
| Thai | สดใส | ||
| In Thai, สดใส (sad-sai) also means "lively" or "cheerful". | |||
| Vietnamese | sáng | ||
| The Vietnamese word "sáng" also means "morning" or "light". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | maliwanag | ||
Bright in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | parlaq | ||
| The word "parlaq" in Azerbaijani is cognate with the word "parlak" in Turkish, both deriving from the Proto-Turkic root *parl- meaning "to shine". | |||
| Kazakh | жарқын | ||
| "Жарқын" also means "warm" in Kazakh, reflecting the warmth and comfort associated with brightness. | |||
| Kyrgyz | жаркын | ||
| The word "жаркын" also means "clear" or "transparent" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | дурахшон | ||
| дурахшон (Tajik) shares roots with the Persian loanword درخشنده (darakhshandeh) meaning "shining," | |||
| Turkmen | ýagty | ||
| Uzbek | yorqin | ||
| The word "yorqin" also means "clean" or "pure" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | يورۇق | ||
Bright in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻōlinolino | ||
| 'Ōlinolino' can also mean 'to illuminate' or 'to make clear' in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | kanapa | ||
| The word "kanapa" in Maori also means "to shine" or "to gleam". | |||
| Samoan | susulu | ||
| The word "susulu" can also mean "light" or "to shine" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | maliwanag | ||
| The word “maliwanag” can also mean "clear" and "obvious" in the context of communication or understanding. | |||
Bright in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | llijkiri | ||
| Guarani | overa | ||
Bright in International Languages
| Esperanto | hela | ||
| "Hela" has the same Old Norse root as "hell". | |||
| Latin | clara | ||
| Clara is also used as a female name, meaning 'clear' or 'famous' in Latin. | |||
Bright in Others Languages
| Greek | λαμπρός | ||
| In Greek mythology, ΛΑΜΠΡΟΣ is also the name of a minor god associated with the stars and constellations. | |||
| Hmong | kaj lug | ||
| The Hmong word "kaj lug" is also used to refer to "daylight" or "the sky". | |||
| Kurdish | ronî | ||
| "Ronî" also means "clear" and may have originated from the Persian word "ravan" with the same meaning. | |||
| Turkish | parlak | ||
| "Parlak" shares a root with "parlamak" meaning "to shine" or "to gleam" and can refer to various intensities of brightness. | |||
| Xhosa | eqaqambileyo | ||
| The word eqaqambileyo also refers to someone who is happy. | |||
| Yiddish | ליכטיק | ||
| The Yiddish word "ליכטיק" derives from the Middle High German "liuhtic" and ultimately the Proto-Germanic root "*leuhk-", shared with the English "light" and "luminous". | |||
| Zulu | kukhanya | ||
| The Zulu word "kukhanya" shares a possible root with the Swazi "kukanya," meaning "to laugh." | |||
| Assamese | উজ্বল | ||
| Aymara | llijkiri | ||
| Bhojpuri | चटक | ||
| Dhivehi | އަލިގަދަ | ||
| Dogri | चमकीला | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | maliwanag | ||
| Guarani | overa | ||
| Ilocano | naraniag | ||
| Krio | brayt | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕووناک | ||
| Maithili | चमकैत | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯉꯥꯟꯕ | ||
| Mizo | eng | ||
| Oromo | ifaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳ | ||
| Quechua | kanchay | ||
| Sanskrit | उज्ज्वलः | ||
| Tatar | якты | ||
| Tigrinya | ብሩህ | ||
| Tsonga | vangama | ||