Contrast in different languages

Contrast in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Contrast, a simple word that carries a world of meaning within it. It signifies the difference between two things, be it in color, texture, opinion, or ideas. This concept has been a fundamental part of human perception and communication, shaping our understanding of the world around us.

Throughout history, contrast has played a crucial role in various cultural movements and artistic expressions. From the bold contrasts in the paintings of the Baroque period to the striking juxtapositions in modern architecture, contrast has been a powerful tool for creating visual interest and conveying complex ideas.

Moreover, understanding the translation of contrast in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how different cultures perceive and express this concept. For instance, in Spanish, contrast is 'contraste', while in French, it's 'contraste' as well. In German, it's 'Kontrast', and in Japanese, it's 'コントラスト (kontrasto)'.

Exploring the translations of contrast in various languages is not just a linguistic exercise, but a journey through the rich tapestry of human culture and perception. So, let's delve into this journey and discover the beauty of contrast in different languages.

Contrast


Contrast in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanskontras
In Afrikaans, "kontras" comes from the Dutch "contrast" and also means "argument", "dispute", or "debate".
Amharicንፅፅር
Hausabambanci
The word "bambanci" can also mean "difference" or "distinction" in Hausa.
Igboiche
}Iche’, meaning ‘contrast’ in Igbo, also refers to a situation where something is both good and bad.
Malagasymifanohitra
The word "mifanohitra" is also used to refer to a confrontation or disagreement between two people or groups.
Nyanja (Chichewa)kusiyana
The word "kusiyana" in Nyanja can also mean "to compare" or "to be different".
Shonakusiyana
"Kusiyana" derives from the root word "kusaya," meaning "to differ."
Somalikala duwanaansho
Sesothophapano
In Sesotho, the word "phapano" not only means "contrast" but also carries the additional meanings of "difference" and "distinction".
Swahilitofauti
The word 'tofauti' is derived from the Arabic word 'tafawuta', which means 'to be different'. It can also refer to 'disagreement' or 'quarrel'.
Xhosaumahluko
Xhosa "umahluko" is also used to describe the process of reconciliation and the act of returning to balance.
Yorubaitansan
"Itansan" in Yoruba originates from the word "tan", meaning "measure", with the addition of the prefix "i" and the suffix "san", indicating "the act of". Thus, "itansan" literally means "the act of measuring against" or "comparison".
Zuluumehluko
Umehluko is derived from the Zulu word "mehluko" meaning "difference".
Bambarakɔnɔnafilila
Ewede vovototo
Kinyarwandaitandukaniro
Lingalabokeseni
Lugandaokwawula
Sepedipharologanyo
Twi (Akan)abirabɔ

Contrast in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالتباين
In Arabic, "التباين" can also mean "deviation" or "difference".
Hebrewבניגוד
The word "בניגוד" also means "in contrast to" when referring to two different things or ideas.
Pashtoبرعکس
برعکس is also used to mean "inverse" or "reverse" in mathematical and scientific contexts.
Arabicالتباين
In Arabic, "التباين" can also mean "deviation" or "difference".

Contrast in Western European Languages

Albaniankontrast
In Albanian, “kontrast” may also refer to the act of contrasting someone or something, not simply the state of contrast.
Basquekontrastatu
In Basque, it can also refer to someone of mixed heritage or culture.
Catalancontrast
Contrast, from the Latin contrasting, present participle of contrasto, from contra, against, and stare, to stand.
Croatiankontrast
The word "kontrast" in Croatian can also refer to "counterpoint" in music.
Danishkontrast
The Danish word "kontrast" can also refer to the contrast between two colours or between light and shadow.
Dutchcontrast
The word "contrast" comes from the Latin word "contrastare", meaning "to resist" or "to oppose".
Englishcontrast
In the 1500s, "contrast" also meant a "counterpoint in music".
Frenchcontraste
En ancien français, contraste désignait aussi une « blessure par instrument tranchant ».
Frisiankontrast
"Kontrast" comes from the Greek "kontra", which means "against," and "stasis," which means "position."
Galiciancontraste
Contrastes also means "disputes" or "conflicts" in Galician.
Germankontrast
The German word "Kontrast" is derived from the Latin "contra" (against) and "stare" (to stand), hence its meaning of "opposition" or "difference".
Icelandicandstæða
The Icelandic word "andstæða" (contrast) is cognate with the German "anderst" (different), and the English "other".
Irishcodarsnacht
‘Codarsnacht', the Irish word for contrast, may perhaps come from an older Irish word ‘codhur' meaning ‘strange, outlandish, queer', or ‘codharsnach' meaning ‘odd' or ‘queer'.
Italiancontrasto
The Italian word 'contrasto' also refers to the medieval tradition of poetic debate and performance.
Luxembourgishkontrast
The Luxembourgish word "Kontrast" originates from the French word "contraste" and also means "disagreement".
Maltesekuntrast
Kuntrast also means 'difference' or 'disagreement' in Maltese.
Norwegiankontrast
The word "kontrast" in Norwegian also refers to a contrast stitch.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)contraste
In Portuguese, "contraste" can also refer to a musical counterpoint, or the contrast between different skin colors.
Scots Gaeliciomsgaradh
Spanishcontraste
The noun "contraste" derives from the Latin verb "contrastare", which means "to oppose" or "to resist."
Swedishkontrast
Swedish "kontrast" originates from Italian "contrasto" via French "contraste" and Latin "contrastus" meaning disagreement or opposition.
Welshcyferbyniad
The word 'cyferbyniad' also means 'antagonism', coming from the Middle English word 'contrarien', which derives from the Old French word 'contrarier', meaning 'oppose'

Contrast in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianкантраст
The word "кантраст" comes from the French "contraste", which itself is derived from the Latin "contra" meaning "against" and "stare" meaning "to stand."
Bosniankontrast
"Kontrast" means "contrast" in Bosnian. It derives from the Latin word "contra" meaning "against".
Bulgarianконтраст
The word "контраст" can also refer to a musical term for a musical texture that emphasizes contrasting rhythms, melodies, or harmonies.
Czechkontrast
In Czech, "kontrast" can also refer to the contrast stitch used in sewing, where two fabrics of different colors are stitched together with a contrasting thread.
Estoniankontrast
In Estonian, the word kontrast can also refer to a contrast or disagreement between things, ideas, or situations.
Finnishkontrasti
"Kontrasti" directly translates to "contrast" but it can also mean "contradiction" and "difference".
Hungariankontraszt
In Hungarian, "kontraszt" originally meant "counterbalance" and was borrowed from German "Kontrast" in the 18th century.
Latviankontrasts
The word "kontrasts" originally referred to "the opposite thing," and in music it can mean the "second violin" instead of a contrast.
Lithuaniankontrastas
The word "kontrastas" in Lithuanian is derived from the Latin word "contrastare", meaning "to oppose". It can also refer to the difference between two things in terms of appearance, character, or quality.
Macedonianконтраст
The word "контраст" in Macedonian is also used to refer to a sharp difference.
Polishkontrast
In Polish, 'kontrast' can also refer to the 'opposite of something'.
Romaniancontrast
''Contrast'' comes from the Latin ''contra'' ('against') and ''stare'' ('to stand'), and relates also to the Old English ''strife'' ('conflict') and ''strof'' ('a fight'), as well as the Greek ''strophos'' ('turning') and ''strephô'' ('to turn').
Russianконтраст
The word контраст was borrowed from French in the 18th century and initially meant 'strife', 'dispute' in Russian.
Serbianконтраст
Контраст derives from French "contraste" and Italian "contrasto", meaning opposition, and is related to the verbs "contrastare" (Lat.) and "contraster" (Fr.), meaning to resist, fight, or stand against.
Slovakkontrast
The word "kontrast" is also used to refer to a conflict or difference between two things.
Sloveniankontrast
The word “kontrast” is used in Slovene to refer to the effect of two colors when placed next to each other, the difference between two opinions, and to a certain extent, to describe situations in life.
Ukrainianконтраст
The word "контраст" derives from the Latin word "contrastare", meaning "to oppose".

Contrast in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবিপরীতে
"বিপরীতে" is the Sanskrit word for 'in reverse' or 'in opposition'.
Gujaratiવિરોધાભાસ
વિરોધાભાસ is also commonly used to denote a person who has contradictory or contrasting qualities or a situation that combines seemingly contradictory qualities.
Hindiइसके विपरीत
Originally "contrast" meant "strife"; this sense is now obsolete.
Kannadaಕಾಂಟ್ರಾಸ್ಟ್
The word "ಕಾಂಟ್ರಾಸ್ಟ್" comes from the Latin word "contrastare," which means "to oppose" or "to set against."
Malayalamദൃശ്യതീവ്രത
The Sanskrit word "drśyatīvra" is also used to refer to the difference in color intensity, brightness or tone between two adjacent colors.
Marathiकॉन्ट्रास्ट
The word "contrast" is often used in Marathi to refer to a contrast between two things.
Nepaliकन्ट्रास्ट
The word "contrast" comes from the Latin word "contrastare," meaning "to stand against."
Punjabiਇਸ ਦੇ ਉਲਟ
The word in Punjabi for 'contrast' is composed by the root 'contra', which shares its Latin origin with the English 'contrast', and 'star', which means 'opposite'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වෙනස
The Sinhala word "වෙනස" can also mean "change" or "difference".
Tamilமாறாக
The word "மாறாக" is derived from the verb "மாறல்" (to change), which also has meanings of "difference, contrast, contradiction".
Teluguవిరుద్ధంగా
విరుద్ధంగా (viruddhanga) shares its etymology with the Sanskrit word 'viruddh' (against), as well as the Kannada and Malayalam words 'virrudh' and 'viruddam', respectively.
Urduاس کے برعکس
The word “اس کے برعکس” is also used to introduce a counterpoint or opposing idea in a sentence.

Contrast in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)对比
"对" can also mean "to face or confront" and "比" can mean "to compare".
Chinese (Traditional)對比
"對比"本寫作"對披",意為對披衣裳,再引申為比較。
Japaneseコントラスト
コントラスト (kontorasuto) is a Japanese loanword from the English word "contrast".
Korean대조
The word "대조" (contrast) in Korean can also refer to "comparative study".
Mongolianялгаатай байдал
"Ялгаатай байдал" is also used to refer to the difference between two things, or the distinguishing features of something.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဆနျ့ကငျြ

Contrast in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankontras
The Indonesian word "kontras" derives from the Dutch "contrast", which in turn comes from the Latin "contra" (against) and "stare" (to stand).
Javanesekontras
In Javanese, the word "kontras" also refers to a type of shadow puppet play originating in the village of Kutoarjo in Purworejo Regency.
Khmerផ្ទុយ
The Khmer word "ផ្ទុយ" (contrast) is also used to mean "bad" or "opposite".
Laoກົງກັນຂ້າມ
Malaykontras
In Malay, 'kontras' also means 'compare'.
Thaiความคมชัด
Although "ความคมชัด" primarily translates as "contrast" in English, it also carries the meanings "resolution", "clarity" and "sharpness".
Vietnamesetương phản
The word "tương phản" also means "opposing" or "conflicting"
Filipino (Tagalog)kaibahan

Contrast in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniziddiyyət
Kazakhконтраст
The word "контраст" in Kazakh also means "opposition" and "difference".
Kyrgyzконтраст
The Kyrgyz word "контраст" is derived from the Persian word "کنتراست" (kontrast), which in turn comes from the French word "contraste".
Tajikмуқоиса
The Tajik word "муқоиса" is derived from the Persian word "مقایسه", ultimately stemming from the Arabic word "قاس" meaning "to judge".
Turkmentersine
Uzbekqarama-qarshilik
The Uzbek word "qarama-qarshilik" is a compound word derived from the words "qarama" (look) and "qarshilik" (opposition), and it originally meant "looking at each other" or "facing each other."
Uyghurسېلىشتۇرما

Contrast in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianʻokoʻa
'ʻOkoʻa' is also used in Hawaiian to mean differences between people or things.
Maorirerekētanga
In Maori, the word "rerekētanga" can also refer to the act of dissenting, or the state of disagreement.
Samoaneseesega
Eseeesega (contrast) comes from the word ese (difference) and the word esega (to divide).
Tagalog (Filipino)kaibahan
Despite the similar spelling, the Filipino word "kaibahan" is not etymologically related to the English word "difference".

Contrast in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaramayja
Guaranihesakãngue

Contrast in International Languages

Esperantokontrasto
The word "kontrasto" comes from the Italian word "contrasto," which means "opposition or conflict."
Latinsed
"Sed" comes from the Indo-European root "*sed-", meaning "to sit."

Contrast in Others Languages

Greekαντίθεση
In Ancient Greek, the word "αντίθεση" also meant "opposition" or "contradiction".
Hmongsib piv
The Hmong word "sib piv" comes from the root word "siv," which means "different" and "piv," which means "oppose," creating the idea of difference and opposition.
Kurdishdijîtî
The word "dijîtî" can also refer to "difference" or "distinction" in Kurdish.
Turkishkontrast
"Kontrast" comes from the Latin "contra" (against) + "stare" (to stand) and refers to the comparison of differences.
Xhosaumahluko
Xhosa "umahluko" is also used to describe the process of reconciliation and the act of returning to balance.
Yiddishקאַנטראַסט
In Yiddish, "קאַנטראַסט" ("contrast") can also refer to a difference of opinion or a disagreement
Zuluumehluko
Umehluko is derived from the Zulu word "mehluko" meaning "difference".
Assameseবিষমতা
Aymaramayja
Bhojpuriफरक देखावल
Dhivehiކޮންޓްރާސްޓް
Dogriउलटा
Filipino (Tagalog)kaibahan
Guaranihesakãngue
Ilocanokasupadi
Kriodifrɛn
Kurdish (Sorani)پێچەوانە
Maithiliविषमता
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯆꯨꯅꯗꯕ
Mizoin ep
Oromowaliin madaaluu
Odia (Oriya)ବିପରୀତ
Quechuakanchariy
Sanskritविप्रकर्ष
Tatarконтраст
Tigrinyaኣወዳደረ
Tsongatsotsovana

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