Clean in different languages

Clean in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'clean' holds a significant place in our daily lives, often representing purity, order, and hygiene. It transcends cultural boundaries, appearing in various forms in different languages, reflecting its universal importance. For instance, in Spanish, 'clean' is 'limpio' or 'limpia', while in German, it's 'sauber' or 'rein'. In Japanese, the word for 'clean' is 'きれい' (kirei), which also means 'beautiful'. This linguistic connection between cleanliness and beauty is particularly intriguing, suggesting a deep-seated cultural association.

Moreover, the concept of 'clean' has historical contexts too. In ancient times, cleanliness was often associated with spiritual purity. Today, it's a symbol of health and well-being. Given its multifaceted significance, one might wonder, 'how is the word 'clean' translated in other languages?'

Clean

Clean in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansskoon
In Afrikaans, the word "skoon" comes from the Dutch word "schoon", meaning "clean, pure, or beautiful"
Amharicንፁህ
In Amharic, "ንፁህ" (clean) originates from the root "ንጽ" (to wash) and also means "pure" or "innocent".
Hausamai tsabta
The Hausa word for 'clean,' 'mai tsabta,' can also mean 'free of witchcraft' or 'pure.'
Igbodị ọcha
The Igbo word "dị ọcha" also means "to be pure" or "to be innocent".
Malagasymadio
The word "MADIO" also means "clear" or "transparent" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)woyera
"Wo" in "woyera" relates to a place of honor
Shonayakachena
Yakachena, in Shona, can refer to the ritual cleansing after the death of a loved one.
Somalinadiif ah
In Somali, the word "nadiif ah" can also be used to describe someone who is well-mannered or behaves respectfully.
Sesothohlwekile
'Hlwêkile' has the connotation of someone or something that is pure, free from dirt or taint.
Swahilisafi
The word "safi" in Swahili can also refer to purity, innocence, or clarity.
Xhosaucocekile
The word 'ucocekile' also means 'holy' in Xhosa.
Yorubamimọ
The Yoruba word "mimọ" also means "holy" and relates to purification, rituals, and the sacred sphere.
Zulukuhlanzekile
The Zulu word "kuhlanzekile" can also refer to a person who is morally upright and free from blame.
Bambaraka jɔsi
Ewedzadzɛ
Kinyarwandaisuku
Lingalapeto
Lugandabuyonjo
Sepedihlwekile
Twi (Akan)ho te

Clean in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicنظيف
Apart from its main meaning of cleanliness, 'نظيف' (naḍīf) also means 'healthy' in Arabic.
Hebrewלְנַקוֹת
The word "לְנַקוֹת" in Hebrew can also be used figuratively to mean "to purify" or "to atone for sins."
Pashtoپاک
The Pashto word پاک ultimately comes from the Persian word پاک (
Arabicنظيف
Apart from its main meaning of cleanliness, 'نظيف' (naḍīf) also means 'healthy' in Arabic.

Clean in Western European Languages

Albaniani pastër
While in other Indo-European languages “paster” is used with the meaning “shepherd”, in Albanian it became “clean”.
Basquegarbi
The Basque word "garbi" can also refer to "pure", "sacred", or "holy" in some contexts.
Catalannet
"Net" in Catalan also means "grandchild"
Croatiančist
In Croatian, the word "čist" also means "pure" or "unadulterated".
Danishren
The Danish word "ren" can also refer to innocence or purity.
Dutchschoon
The Dutch word "schoon" can also mean "beautiful" or "pure".
Englishclean
The word 'clean' has roots in the Old English 'clæne' meaning 'pure' or 'unstained', as well as the Latin 'mundus' signifying 'clean or neat'.
Frenchnettoyer
"Nettoyer" means "to clean" in French, but it also has other meanings, such as "to purify" or "to cleanse."
Frisianskjin
The word "skjin" in Frisian is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*skainaz" meaning "bright" or "clear".
Galicianlimpar
"Limpar" is a Portuguese verb that also has the meaning of "to file" in Galician.
Germansauber
The German word "sauber" also means "tidy", "clear", or "correct".
Icelandichreint
In Icelandic, hreint can also refer to purity or clarity, particularly in a spiritual or moral sense.
Irishglan
The Irish word "glan" is a homograph, also meaning "bright" or "pure".
Italianpulito
"Pulito" comes from the Latin word "politus", meaning "smoothed, polished, refined".
Luxembourgishpropper
Propper's alternate meaning, 'proper', derives from the French word 'propre' meaning 'one's own, individual'
Maltesenadif
The Maltese word "nadif" ultimately derives from the Arabic "naḍīf," meaning both "clean" and "pure," and is related to the Hebrew term "nāqî," meaning "clean," "innocent," or "guileless."
Norwegianren
The Norwegian word "ren" not only means "clean", but also "pure", "innocent", or "chaste".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)limpar \ limpo
'Limpar' and 'limpo' both originate from the Latin word 'limpidus', meaning 'clear,' 'bright,' or 'transparent'.
Scots Gaelicglan
In Scots Gaelic, the word "glan" can also mean "pure" or "innocent".
Spanishlimpiar
The verb "limpiar" derives from the Latin "limpiare" meaning "to make clear or bright".
Swedishrena
"Rena" (clean) comes from the Old Norse word "hreinn," which also means "pure" or "unblemished."
Welshyn lân
Yn lân may also be used to mean holy, pure or innocent in various Welsh contexts

Clean in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianчысты
"Чысты" (clean) in Belarusian also refers to something that wasn't used before.
Bosniančist
The word "čist" in Bosnian also has the meaning of "pure", "unmixed", or "genuine".
Bulgarianчисти
Bulgarian word 'чисти' can also mean 'plain', 'blank' or 'clear', and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'čistъ', meaning 'pure' or 'unadulterated'.
Czechčistý
The Czech word "čistý" shares its root with "čest" ("honor"), suggesting a deeper connection between purity and integrity in Czech culture.
Estonianpuhas
"Puhas" is a cognate of Finnish "puhdas" and derives from Proto-Uralic “puhta”, meaning "to sprinkle, spray".
Finnishpuhdas
"Puhdas" in Finnish means "undefiled" or "pure" in Old Norse and "unadulterated" in Gothic.
Hungariantiszta
The noun form of "tiszta" is "tisztaság" which means "purity".
Latviantīrs
The word "tīrs" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱei- or *ḱi-, meaning to cut or purify.
Lithuanianšvarus
"Švarus" shares a root with Sanskrit "çuci" and Old Irish "suirge," both meaning "pure."
Macedonianчист
The Macedonian word 'чист' is related to the Slavic word 'cistь', meaning 'purity' or 'honesty'.
Polishczysty
"Czysty" can also mean "pure" or "innocent" in Polish.
Romaniancurat
The word "curat" in Romanian also means "pure" and "genuine"
Russianчистый
The word "чистый" also means "pure", "unadulterated", or "sincere" in Russian.
Serbianчист
The Serbian word 'чист' meaning 'clean' is related to the Sanskrit word 'शुचि' (śuci) meaning 'pure'.
Slovakčistý
The word 'čistý' in Slovak can also mean 'pure' or 'unadulterated'.
Sloveniančisto
The word "čisto" also has the alternate meaning of "almost" or "nearly" in Slovenian.
Ukrainianчистий
The word “чистий” derives from the Proto-Slavic word “čistъ”, meaning “clear” or “transparent”.

Clean in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপরিষ্কার
The word "পরিষ্কার" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्र (pra)" meaning "forth" and "छंद (chhanda)" meaning "to cut" or "separate".
Gujaratiચોખ્ખો
ચોખ્ખો is also used in Gujarati to describe someone or something as honest or pure.
Hindiस्वच्छ
The Hindi word "स्वच्छ" comes from the Sanskrit word "शुच" meaning "to purify" or "to cleanse".
Kannadaಸ್ವಚ್ .ಗೊಳಿಸಿ
The word "ಸ್ವಚ್ .ಗೊಳಿಸಿ" literally translates to "to make self-luminous or shiny" in Kannada.
Malayalamവൃത്തിയായി
The term 'വൃത്തിയായി' in Malayalam also refers to good health, hygiene, and proper conduct.
Marathiस्वच्छ
The Sanskrit word 'swochchh' (स्वच्छ) is the etymological origin of 'swachchh' (स्वच्छ) in Marathi. In Hindi, the word also means 'good' and in Telugu it means 'true'.
Nepaliसफा
In Nepali, "सफा" also refers to a turban, a headdress traditionally worn by men
Punjabiਸਾਫ
The word 'ਸਾਫ' ('clean') in Punjabi can also mean 'clear' or 'transparent'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පිරිසිදුයි
The term derives from the Sanskrit root 'शुच' , meaning pure which also gave rise to the words ''शु' (su-)'' - meaning ''good-'' and '''शुक्ल' (''sukla '') - meaning ''white,'' which both signify ''pure.'' In this sense, ''Pi-risidu'' carries an association with ''pallor and whiteness as symbolic of purity''.
Tamilசுத்தமான
Teluguశుభ్రంగా
The word శుభ్రంగా (clean) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word शुभ्र (clean, white), which also means 'beautiful' or 'auspicious'.
Urduصاف
صاف is also used to refer to a clear or pure substance, such as صاف پانی (clean water).

Clean in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)清洁
Cleanliness in Chinese also has meanings of tidiness, order, neatness, and hygiene.
Chinese (Traditional)清潔
清潔 (clean) literally means to "cleanse oneself" and is also used to refer to cleanliness of heart or mind.
Japanese掃除
掃除 (そうじ) literally means 'removing dirt,' from the verb 'to scrape' and the noun 'soil'.
Korean깨끗한
The word 깨끗한 (kkaekktan) can also mean 'neat' or 'orderly'
Mongolianцэвэр
The word “tsver” originates from the word “tsaav” (water) and is related to Mongolian's perception of “clean” water as something pure from nature.
Myanmar (Burmese)သန့်ရှင်း

Clean in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbersih
The Indonesian word 'bersih' can also refer to purification rituals and ceremonies or to religious or ethical purity.
Javaneseresik
In Indonesian, "resik" also means "free from harm or injury", but in Javanese it additionally means "free from supernatural danger or impurity"
Khmerស្អាត
The Khmer word for “clean,” ស្អាត (s'at), also means “beautiful” or “neat.”
Laoສະອາດ
Malaybersih
The Malay word "bersih" also means "white" and can be used to describe someone who is innocent or pure.
Thaiสะอาด
The word ''สะอาด'' can also be used figuratively to describe something that is pure or uncorrupted.
Vietnamesedọn dẹp
The word 'dọn dẹp' means 'clear', 'straighten up', 'tidy up'.
Filipino (Tagalog)malinis

Clean in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanitəmiz
The word "təmiz" is also used metaphorically to mean "pure" or "uncontaminated".
Kazakhтаза
The Kazakh word "таза" can also refer to a ritual purification ceremony involving water or fire.
Kyrgyzтаза
The word "таза" can also mean "pure" or "fresh" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikтоза
In Tajik, "тоза" is also referred to as "пухта", meaning "completely clean".
Turkmenarassa
Uzbektoza
The word "toza" in Uzbek, meaning "cleanliness", is derived from the Proto-Turkic word "toza" with the same meaning.
Uyghurپاكىزە

Clean in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmaʻemaʻe
The word 'maʻemaʻe' also means 'pure,' 'innocent,' or 'holy' in Hawaiian.
Maorima
The Māori word
Samoanmamā
This word can mean either clean or to rub, the difference being the object that is being rubbed or cleaned.
Tagalog (Filipino)malinis
In Tagalog, malinis (clean) and malinis (smooth) are two separate words with different etymologies.

Clean in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraq'uma
Guaraniipotĩ

Clean in International Languages

Esperantopura
The Esperanto word "pura" comes from the Spanish word "puro", which means "pure" or "uncontaminated".
Latinclean
"Mundus," the Latin word for "clean," also means "world," suggesting a connection between cleanliness and order.

Clean in Others Languages

Greekκαθαρη
The word "ΚΑΘΑΡΗ" originates from the Greek word "καθαρός" and carries additional meanings such as "pure", "undefiled", or "uncontaminated".
Hmonghuv si
The word 'huv si' can also mean 'to wash', 'to scrub', or 'to tidy up'.
Kurdishpak
The word "pak" in Kurdish also means "pure" or "holy".
Turkishtemiz
"Temiz" also means "pure" or "unadulterated" in Turkish.
Xhosaucocekile
The word 'ucocekile' also means 'holy' in Xhosa.
Yiddishריין
The word "ריין" ("rain") in Yiddish can also refer to wine or a heavy downpour.
Zulukuhlanzekile
The Zulu word "kuhlanzekile" can also refer to a person who is morally upright and free from blame.
Assameseপৰিষ্কাৰ
Aymaraq'uma
Bhojpuriसाफ
Dhivehiސާފުތާހިރު
Dogriसाफ
Filipino (Tagalog)malinis
Guaraniipotĩ
Ilocanonadalus
Krioklin
Kurdish (Sorani)پاک
Maithiliसाफ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯁꯦꯡꯗꯣꯛꯄ
Mizofai
Oromoqulqulluu
Odia (Oriya)ପରିଷ୍କାର
Quechuapichay
Sanskritस्वच्छम्‌
Tatarчиста
Tigrinyaኣፅሪ
Tsongabasile

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