Clue in Different Languages
Discover 'Clue' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'clue' holds immense significance in many contexts, often referring to something that helps uncover a mystery or solve a problem. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, film, and games, where clues guide protagonists and audiences alike through intriguing narratives. For instance, in the classic board game Clue, players gather and interpret clues to identify a culprit. But what about those who speak languages other than English? Knowing the translation of 'clue' in different languages can open up new experiences and understanding for language learners and enthusiasts worldwide.
Consider the French word 'indice,' which, like 'clue,' can help solve a puzzle or crime. Or the Italian 'indizio,' which might lead a detective to a long-sought answer. In German, 'Spur' can mean a track, trail, or clue, while in Spanish, 'pista' refers to a clue or tip. These translations not only help us navigate linguistic landscapes but also reveal cultural nuances and historical contexts associated with the concept of a 'clue.'
Clue
Clue in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | leidraad | ||
| In German, "Leitfaden" is the leading thread in a labyrinth, while "draad" is "thread" in Afrikaans, hence " | |||
| Amharic | ፍንጭ | ||
| The word | |||
| Hausa | ra'ayi | ||
| "Ra'ayi" derives from the Arabic word "رأي" (opinion, judgment), as clues often guide opinions and judgments. | |||
| Igbo | ihe ngosi | ||
| The Igbo term 'ihe ngosi' (literally, 'thing of showing') also refers to evidence that helps prove the guilt or innocence of an accused party in traditional Igbo courts. | |||
| Malagasy | vakio ny | ||
| Vakio ny is Malagasy for 'clue', however it also has the connotation of something 'found'. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | yankho | ||
| The word "yankho" is also used to refer to a "solution" or "answer". | |||
| Shona | clue | ||
| The Shona word "rufu" originally meant "path" or "trace" but now also means "clue". | |||
| Somali | tilmaam | ||
| The word "tilmaam" can also refer to a secret or a riddle. | |||
| Sesotho | leseli | ||
| The word can also refer to an animal that leads others to water or to a place with good grazing. | |||
| Swahili | kidokezo | ||
| Kidokezo is cognate with kitendawili (riddle) and tendo (puzzle). | |||
| Xhosa | umkhondo | ||
| The Xhosa word "umkhondo" can also mean "a path" or "a track". | |||
| Yoruba | olobo | ||
| The word "olobo" also means "thief" in Yoruba, which could be a reference to the sneaky nature of clues. | |||
| Zulu | umkhondo | ||
| The word "umkhondo" can also refer to a path or trail in Zulu, further emphasizing its connection to the process of solving a mystery or puzzle. | |||
| Bambara | ekuru | ||
| Ewe | dzesi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ibimenyetso | ||
| Lingala | eloko ezosalisa na koyeba | ||
| Luganda | ekikundi | ||
| Sepedi | sekgomaretši | ||
| Twi (Akan) | adwene | ||
Clue in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | فكرة | ||
| The word 'فكرة' is derived from the Proto-Semitic root *FKR, meaning 'to think' or 'to remember'. | |||
| Hebrew | רֶמֶז | ||
| רֶמֶז, which means "clue," is a feminine noun that comes from the root ר-מ-ז and can also mean "hint" or "suggestion". | |||
| Pashto | نښې | ||
| The word "نښې" in Pashto is derived from the Persian word "نشان" (nishān), meaning "sign" or "mark." | |||
| Arabic | فكرة | ||
| The word 'فكرة' is derived from the Proto-Semitic root *FKR, meaning 'to think' or 'to remember'. | |||
Clue in Western European Languages
| Albanian | çelës | ||
| The Albanian word "çelës" (clue) derives from the Greek word "kleis" (key), indicating its use as a means to unlock information or secrets. | |||
| Basque | arrastoa | ||
| In modern Basque, "arrastoa" refers to a "clue" or "hint", while in Old Basque it meant "step" or "stride." | |||
| Catalan | pista | ||
| The word "pista" in Catalan comes from the Latin "spica", meaning "ear of corn", and also refers to a narrow path or road. | |||
| Croatian | trag | ||
| In Old Church Slavonic, the word "trag" also referred to a "path" or "route"} | |||
| Danish | nøgle | ||
| "Nøgle" in Danish also means "key". | |||
| Dutch | aanwijzing | ||
| The word "aanwijzing" in Dutch can also refer to an instruction or a direction. | |||
| English | clue | ||
| Etymology: Middle English clue, from Old English cleowen, meaning "ball of thread". | |||
| French | indice | ||
| In French, the word "indice" derives from the Latin word "index," meaning "pointer" or "indicator." | |||
| Frisian | oanwizing | ||
| The origin of the word "oanwizing" is obscure, but it may be related to the Old Saxon word "anwisien," meaning "to show". It is also possible that it is derived from the Middle Dutch word "oanwisen," meaning "to point out". The word "oanwizing" also has the alternate meaning of "evidence" or "proof". | |||
| Galician | pista | ||
| The word "pista" in Galician also refers to a racetrack or runway, and can carry the alternate meaning of "trail" or "path" in certain contexts. | |||
| German | hinweis | ||
| The etymology is obscure although the word is sometimes thought to be a loan from Slavic, ultimately related to "hint." | |||
| Icelandic | vísbending | ||
| Vísbending relates to 'bent' (bendinga), indicating something that leads astray or causes error | |||
| Irish | leid | ||
| The Irish word "leid" can also mean track or trail, suggesting a connection to the pursuit of knowledge and the unraveling of mysteries. | |||
| Italian | traccia | ||
| "Traccia" also means "track" and derives from the Latin "tractiare," meaning "to drag" or "to pull". This implies that a clue is something that leads you along a path. | |||
| Luxembourgish | hiweis | ||
| The word "Hiweis" likely originates from the Proto-Germanic language branch. | |||
| Maltese | ħjiel | ||
| The word "ħjiel" ultimately derives from the Italian "guida", meaning "guide" or "sign", and is semantically related to "gwida" (guide), "ħajt" (route) and "hija" (it is). | |||
| Norwegian | ledetråd | ||
| In Swedish, "ledetråd" refers specifically to a clue in a crime investigation. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | pista | ||
| 'Pista' can also mean 'slope' or 'dance floor' in Portuguese, derived from the Italian word 'pista' ('race-track'). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | boillsgeadh | ||
| The word "boillsgeadh" in Scots Gaelic can also mean "a knot" or "a swelling or boil". | |||
| Spanish | pista | ||
| The word 'pista' in Spanish can also refer to a race track or an airport runway. | |||
| Swedish | ledtråd | ||
| Ledtråd, meaning "clue" in Swedish, can also refer to a "life line" in a lake or to metal wire. | |||
| Welsh | cliw | ||
| Cliw, "clue," also means "crag," or "precipice" in Welsh. | |||
Clue in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | падказка | ||
| The word 'падказка' is derived from the verb 'казаць' meaning 'to say', indicating a piece of information that is said in secret or whispered. | |||
| Bosnian | trag | ||
| The Bosnian word "trag" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "trgъ", meaning "path" or "road". | |||
| Bulgarian | улика | ||
| In Bulgarian, "улика" can also mean "evidence" or "proof". | |||
| Czech | vodítko | ||
| The word "vodítko" is cognate with the word "vodič" which means "driver" and can also refer to "a leash for a dog". | |||
| Estonian | aimugi | ||
| The word "aimugi" also means "a thought" or "an idea" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | vihje | ||
| The word "vihje" may also refer to a "hint" or a "tip" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | nyom | ||
| Nyom "clue" comes from the verb *nyom*, "to press" (e.g. nyomtatni "to print") or "to follow a track" (e.g. nyomkövetni "to trace"). | |||
| Latvian | pavediens | ||
| The word "pavediens" comes from the Latin word "pavens" meaning "one who trembles or fears". | |||
| Lithuanian | užuomina | ||
| The Lithuanian word "užuomina" (clue) also means "hint" or "suggestion." | |||
| Macedonian | поим | ||
| In Old Church Slavonic, 'поим' refers to drinking, suggesting a link between finding solutions and refreshment. | |||
| Polish | wskazówka | ||
| The word "Wskazówka" also means "pointer", "hint", or "guide" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | cheie | ||
| Romanian word "cheie" has additional meanings like "key" or "main point" that suggest a connection to Latin "clavis" ("key") | |||
| Russian | ключ к разгадке | ||
| The Russian word "ключ к разгадке" (clue) is related to the word "ключ" (key), which can also mean "solution" or "explanation". | |||
| Serbian | траг | ||
| The word "траг" in Serbian also means a "trace" and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "tьrgъ", meaning "a rubbing, a mark". | |||
| Slovak | indícia | ||
| The word "indícia" is borrowed from Latin and originally meant "pointer, indication, sign". | |||
| Slovenian | namig | ||
| The word "namig" in Slovenian is a borrowing from German "Namen" meaning "name" or "designation". | |||
| Ukrainian | підказка | ||
| The Ukrainian word "підказка" also means "hint". | |||
Clue in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ক্লু | ||
| The word 'clue' is derived from the Middle English word 'clew', which means 'a ball of thread' or 'a guide'. | |||
| Gujarati | ચાવી | ||
| In Gujarati, "ચાવી" (chaavi) also means "key," potentially indicating its role as a tool for unlocking information or solving mysteries. | |||
| Hindi | संकेत | ||
| The Sanskrit origin of 'संकेत' ('clue') also implies a 'sign, gesture, or symbol'. | |||
| Kannada | ಸುಳಿವು | ||
| The word "ಸುಳಿವು" is also used to indicate a suggestion, a hint, or a piece of advice in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | സൂചന | ||
| The term “സൂചന” originates from the Sanskrit word “sūcana”, which means “indication or sign”. | |||
| Marathi | सुगावा | ||
| "सुगावा" (clue) in Marathi originally meant 'thread' and 'hint' | |||
| Nepali | सुराग | ||
| सुराग (Nepali) comes from the Sanskrit word 'sura', meaning 'alcohol', as it originally referred to a trail of alcohol left behind by a person or animal. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੁਰਾਗ | ||
| The word "ਸੁਰਾਗ" (clue) in Punjabi shares its etymology with the Persian "سر آگاه" (secret awareness or knowledge), suggesting its use as a means to uncover hidden information. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | හෝඩුවාව | ||
| Sinhala හෝඩුවාව comes from Tamil கூடு (kūṭu; "nest") implying a connection between the clues and hiding something. | |||
| Tamil | துப்பு | ||
| The Tamil word "துப்பு" (clue) also means "a point," "a hint," or "a sign." | |||
| Telugu | క్లూ | ||
| "క్లూ" is derived from the Middle English word "clew", meaning a ball of thread. | |||
| Urdu | اشارہ | ||
| The word "اشارہ" (clue) is derived from the Arabic word "اشار" (to point out, indicate), and can also mean "sign, indication, reference, or hint." | |||
Clue in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 线索 | ||
| The Chinese word “线索” means “clue” but can also mean “thread” or “guideline”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 線索 | ||
| 線索 is a calque of the English word "clue", and has the connotation of "evidence". | |||
| Japanese | 手がかり | ||
| The Japanese word "手がかり" (clue) originally referred to a "handhold" or "support". | |||
| Korean | 실마리 | ||
| 실마리는 '실'('thread')과 '마리'('end')가 합쳐져 '실의 끝'이라는 뜻으로, 길을 찾는 데에 비유적으로 쓰이게 되었습니다. | |||
| Mongolian | сэжүүр | ||
| The word "сэжүүр" in Mongolian comes from the verb "сэжүүх", which means "to guide" or "to lead." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သဲလွန်စ | ||
Clue in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | petunjuk | ||
| The word "petunjuk" in Indonesian can also mean "indication", "hint", or "instruction." | |||
| Javanese | pitunjuk | ||
| In Javanese, "pitunjuk" can also refer to a guide or signpost, indicating a path to follow or a direction to go. | |||
| Khmer | តម្រុយ | ||
| "តម្រុយ" is also a kind of game where one person hides something and gives the others clues to find it. | |||
| Lao | ຂໍ້ຄຶດ | ||
| Malay | petunjuk | ||
| The Malay word "petunjuk" can also refer to "guidance" or "instruction". | |||
| Thai | เบาะแส | ||
| "เบาะแส" (clue) comes from the Sanskrit word "bhedaśa," meaning "separation" or "difference." | |||
| Vietnamese | manh mối | ||
| The word "manh mối" also means "evidence" in Vietnamese, suggesting its connection to the idea of "finding" or "revealing" information. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bakas | ||
Clue in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ipucu | ||
| The word "ipucu" in Azerbaijani comes from the Persian word "ipuk", which means "thread" or "clue". | |||
| Kazakh | анықтама | ||
| "Анықтама" also refers to a certificate or attestation of education. | |||
| Kyrgyz | ачкыч | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "ачкыч" (clue) is derived from the Turkic root "açı-" meaning "to open". | |||
| Tajik | калид | ||
| The word "калид" also means "key" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | düşündiriş | ||
| Uzbek | maslahat | ||
| Uzbek “maslahat” is of Persian origin and can also mean 'policy' or 'expedience' depending on context. | |||
| Uyghur | يىپ ئۇچى | ||
Clue in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kuhi | ||
| "Kūhi" is also the Hawaiian word for "secret" and "mystery." | |||
| Maori | tohu | ||
| In Maori the word "tohu" can also mean "sign" or "indication." | |||
| Samoan | faʻailo | ||
| The term fa'ailo also refers to the stars that point the way to travellers at night. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bakas | ||
| The Tagalog word "bakas" also means "trace, mark, or scar." | |||
Clue in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | wakiskiri | ||
| Guarani | marandurendapy | ||
Clue in International Languages
| Esperanto | indico | ||
| "Indico" derives from the Latin "index," meaning "indicator" or "pointer." | |||
| Latin | clue | ||
| "Clue" originates from the Latin word "globus," meaning "ball of thread", as a clue was originally a ball of yarn used to find one's way back through a labyrinth. | |||
Clue in Others Languages
| Greek | ένδειξη | ||
| The Greek word "ένδειξη" also means "indication" or "evidence", and is related to the verb "ενδεικνύω" ("to indicate"). | |||
| Hmong | pov thawj | ||
| The Hmong word 'pov thawj' also means 'evidence' or 'proof'. | |||
| Kurdish | agah | ||
| The word could be traced from Persian (آگاه), which can have a broad sense in other contexts such as being “informed/conscious of” an object, person, place or general subject. | |||
| Turkish | ipucu | ||
| "İpucu" has also the meaning of "tip" or "money given as a tip". | |||
| Xhosa | umkhondo | ||
| The Xhosa word "umkhondo" can also mean "a path" or "a track". | |||
| Yiddish | קלו | ||
| The Yiddish word "קלו" (clue) is derived from the German word "klühe" (crack, crevice), suggesting a connection to solving puzzles or uncovering hidden information. | |||
| Zulu | umkhondo | ||
| The word "umkhondo" can also refer to a path or trail in Zulu, further emphasizing its connection to the process of solving a mystery or puzzle. | |||
| Assamese | সূত্ৰ | ||
| Aymara | wakiskiri | ||
| Bhojpuri | संकेत | ||
| Dhivehi | ކްލޫ | ||
| Dogri | सराग | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bakas | ||
| Guarani | marandurendapy | ||
| Ilocano | pagilasinan | ||
| Krio | ɛp | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بەڵگە | ||
| Maithili | संकेत | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯪꯂꯥ ꯂꯪꯖꯤꯟ | ||
| Mizo | sulhnu | ||
| Oromo | ragaa xiqqoo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସୂଚକ | ||
| Quechua | yupi | ||
| Sanskrit | सङ्केत | ||
| Tatar | аңлатма | ||
| Tigrinya | ፍንጪ | ||
| Tsonga | xikombiso | ||