Broad in Different Languages
Discover 'Broad' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'broad' is a versatile and culturally significant term with a variety of meanings and uses. In its most basic sense, 'broad' is an adjective that describes something or someone of wide extent, scope, or impact. However, 'broad' can also be used as a noun, referring to a woman in a derogatory or affectionate way, depending on the context. This usage is most commonly found in certain English dialects and in older literature.
Beyond its linguistic importance, the word 'broad' has also played a role in popular culture. For example, the phrase 'broadsides' refers to the sudden, forceful delivery of information or criticism, much like the side of a ship that would be hit by cannon fire during naval battles. Moreover, the term 'broad' has been used in various forms of media, including film, television, and literature, to convey a sense of strength, resilience, and independence.
Given its significance and cultural importance, it's no wonder that someone might want to know the translation of 'broad' in different languages. Below is a list of translations of 'broad' in various languages, showcasing the diversity and richness of global linguistic traditions.
Broad
Broad in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | breed | ||
| Afrikaans "breed" comes from Dutch "breed" which is an antiquated spelling of modern "breed" meaning "wide". | |||
| Amharic | ሰፊ | ||
| Amharic ሰፊ may also mean "a broad-shouldered person". | |||
| Hausa | m | ||
| In Hausa, the word "m" can also mean "wide" or "large". | |||
| Igbo | sara mbara | ||
| The word "sara mbara" also loosely translates to "very big" in the Igbo language. | |||
| Malagasy | malalaka | ||
| The Malagasy word "malalaka" can also mean "vast" or "spacious". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | yotakata | ||
| In Nyanja, 'yotakata' means 'broad' and it also denotes 'unpredictable'. | |||
| Shona | yakafara | ||
| The word 'yakafara' can also mean 'flat' or 'wide' in Shona. | |||
| Somali | ballaaran | ||
| The word "ballaaran" in Somali derives from the Proto-Somali root (b-l-r) meaning "to spread out" or "to expand". | |||
| Sesotho | e sephara | ||
| Swahili | pana | ||
| The word "pana" can also mean "flat" or "level" in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | ububanzi | ||
| The Xhosa word "ububanzi" can also refer to the width of a river or the span of a bridge. | |||
| Yoruba | gbooro | ||
| In ancient times, "gbooro" was used to describe a man's strength to carry a large load, hence the phrase "o gbooro agbara" (he's a strong man). | |||
| Zulu | ububanzi | ||
| The word "ububanzi" can also refer to a lack of focus or attention, or to a state of being overwhelmed. | |||
| Bambara | belebeleba | ||
| Ewe | keketa | ||
| Kinyarwanda | mugari | ||
| Lingala | monene | ||
| Luganda | obunene | ||
| Sepedi | petleke | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tɛtrɛɛ | ||
Broad in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | عريض | ||
| The word عريض in Arabic can also mean generous, wide, or copious. | |||
| Hebrew | רָחָב | ||
| The name Rahab in the Bible comes from the Hebrew word for "broad" (רָחָב) but could also mean "strong" or "wide". | |||
| Pashto | پراخه | ||
| The word "پراخه" (broad) in Pashto shares etymology with the Sanskrit word "प्रथ (prath)" meaning "forward" or "east", indicating its original association with space and direction. | |||
| Arabic | عريض | ||
| The word عريض in Arabic can also mean generous, wide, or copious. | |||
Broad in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i gjerë | ||
| The word "i gjerë" also means "wide" or "open" in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | zabala | ||
| "Zabala" can also refer to a large flat open space or a grassy meadowland. | |||
| Catalan | ampli | ||
| Catalan noun "l'ample" comes from Latin adjective "amplus" referring to "space", "freedom of movement", "generosity" or even "abundant wealth" and is related to the verb "amplectere", "to embrace" in Latin. | |||
| Croatian | široko | ||
| "Široko" also has a slang meaning of “well endowed” and is often euphemistically used in the phrase “širom zakoračiti” which means “to stride confidently”. | |||
| Danish | bred | ||
| In Danish 'bred' also refers to the width of a boat's hull or to a person's shoulders. | |||
| Dutch | breed | ||
| In Dutch, "breed" also means wide, as in "breed-geschouderde" meaning "broad-shouldered." | |||
| English | broad | ||
| "Broad" can also mean "unrestricted" or "comprehensive". | |||
| French | vaste | ||
| The word "vaste" in French, in addition to meaning "broad," also has the meaning of "empty" or "uninhabited". | |||
| Frisian | breed | ||
| In Frisian, "breed" can also refer to the rim of a wheel. | |||
| Galician | amplo | ||
| The Galician word "amplo" derives from the Latin word "amplus", used to refer to size, capacity and scope. | |||
| German | breit | ||
| The German word "breit" can also mean "wide" or "tall," and is related to the English word "broad," as well as the Dutch word "breed." | |||
| Icelandic | breið | ||
| "Breid" also means "letter" in Icelandic, likely because of the broad strokes used to write runic letters. | |||
| Irish | leathan | ||
| "Leathan" derives from the Proto-Celtic *platis, also giving rise to the Irish "leath" (side) and Welsh "lled" (slope). | |||
| Italian | ampio | ||
| The word 'ampio' comes from the Latin 'amplus' meaning 'large' or 'wide', and is also related to the English word 'ample'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | breet | ||
| The verb "breeten" can mean to spread out, make wider, or grow broader. | |||
| Maltese | wiesgħa | ||
| The term "wiesgħa" is said to originate from the Arabic "wasa" referring to spaciousness or amplitude. | |||
| Norwegian | bred | ||
| "Bred" in Norwegian can also mean "sheet" or "letter". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | amplo | ||
| The word "amplo" in Portuguese can also mean "generous" or "spacious". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | leathann | ||
| The word "leathann" in Scots Gaelic is cognate with other Celtic languages, such as Welsh "lledan" and Irish "leathan," all derived from the Common Celtic root *pletho-. | |||
| Spanish | ancho | ||
| The Spanish word 'ancho' derives from the Latin 'amplus' and can also refer to an area or expanse. | |||
| Swedish | bred | ||
| In Swedish, "bred" has the same etymology as the English "bread", and an archaic meaning of "breadth" still exists in many Swedish dialects. | |||
| Welsh | eang | ||
| The Welsh word "eang" can also refer to a "bay" or "an opening of the sea". | |||
Broad in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | шырокі | ||
| The word "шырокі" (broad) is also related to a number of other Belarusian words that mean "to expand" or "to spread." | |||
| Bosnian | široko | ||
| "Široko" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*širъ", meaning "wide, spacious". | |||
| Bulgarian | широк | ||
| The Bulgarian word "широк" (broad) can also mean "generous, liberal, or tolerant in one's views or behavior." | |||
| Czech | široký | ||
| The word "široký" also means "wide" or "spacious" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | lai | ||
| The word "lai" can also mean "wide, spacious, roomy, ample, vast, extensive, or generous." | |||
| Finnish | laaja | ||
| The word "laaja" can also refer to something that is spacious, vast, or extensive. | |||
| Hungarian | széles | ||
| In architecture, 'széles' can refer to the facade of a building, especially its width or front elevation. | |||
| Latvian | plašs | ||
| The word "plašs" also refers to "large" in area, or "abundant" in quantity. | |||
| Lithuanian | platus | ||
| The Lithuanian word "platus" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*pleth₂-", which also gives rise to the English word "flat". | |||
| Macedonian | широк | ||
| Широк is also used in the context of open spaces or open vistas, as in the phrase "широк поглед" (a broad view). | |||
| Polish | szeroki | ||
| The word "szeroki" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*širъ", which also meant "strong" or "powerful". | |||
| Romanian | larg | ||
| Larg (broad) may come from Proto-Indo-European *legh- (“to lay, stretch out”) and it also denotes “comfortable, ample, rich, generous”. | |||
| Russian | широкий | ||
| The adjective "широкий" can also mean "generous" or "open-minded". | |||
| Serbian | широк | ||
| In the 11th century, "широк" also meant "loud" and "clear". | |||
| Slovak | široký | ||
| The Slovak word "široký" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *širъ meaning "wide" or "broad". | |||
| Slovenian | široko | ||
| The word 'široko' is also used to describe someone who is generous or hospitable. | |||
| Ukrainian | широкий | ||
| The word "широкий" (broad) in Ukrainian can also mean "wide", "large", or "vast". | |||
Broad in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিস্তৃত | ||
| The word "বিস্তৃত" is derived from the Sanskrit word "विस्तृत", which means "spread out" and can also refer to "detailed" or "elaborate" in some contexts. | |||
| Gujarati | વ્યાપક | ||
| વ્યાપક is also used to refer to something that affects a large area or a significant number of people. | |||
| Hindi | ब्रॉड | ||
| The Hindi word 'ब्रॉड' originates from the English word 'broad', meaning 'wide' or 'extensive'. | |||
| Kannada | ವಿಶಾಲ | ||
| The word "ವಿಶಾಲ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "विशाल" meaning "wide" or "large." | |||
| Malayalam | വിശാലമായ | ||
| The Sanskrit word 'vishāla' also means 'spacious,' 'extensive,' or 'expansive'. | |||
| Marathi | व्यापक | ||
| The word "व्यापक" can also mean "comprehensive" or "extensive" in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | फराकिलो | ||
| The word फराकिलो is derived from the Sanskrit word | |||
| Punjabi | ਵਿਆਪਕ | ||
| The word "ਵਿਆਪਕ" in Punjabi has alternate meanings such as "extensive" and "comprehensive". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පුළුල් | ||
| The word 'පුළුල්' (broad) in Sinhala (Sinhalese) is also used to mean 'wide' or 'extensive'. | |||
| Tamil | பரந்த | ||
| As an alternate meaning, 'பரந்த' ('broad') in Tamil can mean to 'extend' or 'stretch'. | |||
| Telugu | విస్తృత | ||
| The word "విస్తృత" (broad) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "vistāra" meaning "expansion" or "extent." | |||
| Urdu | وسیع | ||
| The word 'وسیع' originates from the Arabic root 'وسع', which also means 'to expand' or 'to make roomy'. | |||
Broad in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 广阔 | ||
| The word "广阔" (broad) in Chinese is composed of the characters "广" (wide) and "阔" (large), which when combined convey the idea of ample space or expanse. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 廣闊 | ||
| 廣闊 also means "abundant" and "extensive". | |||
| Japanese | 広い | ||
| "広い" is also used as an adjunct to words like "心" (mind) to mean "magnanimous, generous." | |||
| Korean | 넓은 | ||
| "넓은" can also mean "generous" or "magnanimous" in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | өргөн | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "broad," "өргөн" can also refer to "generous" or "magnanimous" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကျယ်ပြန့် | ||
Broad in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | luas | ||
| Luas can also mean 'area' or 'extent' in Indonesian. | |||
| Javanese | jembar | ||
| The Javanese word "jembar" also means "spacious" or "extensive". | |||
| Khmer | ទូលំទូលាយ | ||
| Lao | ຢ່າງກວ້າງຂວາງ | ||
| This word is also used to mean "general" or "in general". | |||
| Malay | luas | ||
| The Malay word 'luas' derives from the Proto-Austronesian root '*lajaw', which also means 'broad' in other Austronesian languages, including Javanese, Balinese, and Tagalog. | |||
| Thai | กว้าง ๆ | ||
| The Thai word "กว้าง ๆ" (broad) is an onomatopoeia derived from the sound of a wide-open space. | |||
| Vietnamese | rộng lớn | ||
| In Vietnamese, "rộng lớn" can also mean "spacious" or "extensive"} | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | malawak | ||
Broad in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | geniş | ||
| The word "geniş" in Azerbaijani can also be used colloquially to mean 'generous' or 'kind'. | |||
| Kazakh | кең | ||
| "кең" (broad) in Kazakh also means "open" or "spacious" in some contexts. | |||
| Kyrgyz | кенен | ||
| In some dialects of the Kyrgyz language, "кенен" is also used to describe the breadth of a body of water. | |||
| Tajik | васеъ | ||
| The word "васеъ" can also mean "vast" or "spacious" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | giň | ||
| Uzbek | keng | ||
| "Keng" in Uzbek can also refer to the sides of the human body (e.g. keng qovurg'a - ribs) or the side of an object, and "keng" is originally a Persian word. | |||
| Uyghur | كەڭ | ||
Broad in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ākea | ||
| "Ākea" also means "clear" or "open" in Hawaiian, and is related to the word "ākeaka" meaning "to be clear" or "to be open." | |||
| Maori | whanui | ||
| Its other meanings include 'forehead' or the 'highest point of a person's body'. | |||
| Samoan | lautele | ||
| The Samoan word 'lautele' not only means 'broad' but also refers to a Samoan stringed musical instrument. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | malawak | ||
| The word "malawak" in Tagalog can also mean "spacious" or "wide-ranging". | |||
Broad in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jach'a | ||
| Guarani | pe | ||
Broad in International Languages
| Esperanto | larĝa | ||
| The word "larĝa" is based on the Latin "largus," meaning "copious, abundant." | |||
| Latin | lata | ||
| "Lata" can also refer to a broad, flat pan used for cooking or a small, shallow dish, both drawing on the idea of something "broad". | |||
Broad in Others Languages
| Greek | ευρύς | ||
| The word "ευρύς" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂er-," meaning "to separate, divide". | |||
| Hmong | dav | ||
| "Dav" is a Hmong word that can not only refer to a physical wideness, but an emotional wideness as well, or a wideness of experience. | |||
| Kurdish | fireh | ||
| The word "fireh" also means "a lot" or "abundant". | |||
| Turkish | kalın | ||
| In Turkish, "kalın" also means "thick" and "bold". | |||
| Xhosa | ububanzi | ||
| The Xhosa word "ububanzi" can also refer to the width of a river or the span of a bridge. | |||
| Yiddish | ברייט | ||
| Yiddish 'ברייט' can also mean 'clear,' like water | |||
| Zulu | ububanzi | ||
| The word "ububanzi" can also refer to a lack of focus or attention, or to a state of being overwhelmed. | |||
| Assamese | বহল | ||
| Aymara | jach'a | ||
| Bhojpuri | चौड़ा भाग | ||
| Dhivehi | ފުޅާ | ||
| Dogri | चैड़ा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | malawak | ||
| Guarani | pe | ||
| Ilocano | naakaba | ||
| Krio | big | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | فراوان | ||
| Maithili | चौड़ा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯥꯛꯄ | ||
| Mizo | zau | ||
| Oromo | bal'aa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରଶସ୍ତ | | ||
| Quechua | hatun | ||
| Sanskrit | विस्तीर्ण | ||
| Tatar | киң | ||
| Tigrinya | ሰፊሕ | ||
| Tsonga | anama | ||