Critical in different languages

Critical in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'critical' holds immense significance in our daily lives, often used to describe situations or things that are of great importance or at a turning point. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, film, and art, where 'critical' moments shape the narrative and drive the plot forward. Understanding the translation of 'critical' in different languages can open up new perspectives and insights into how other cultures view and express importance and urgency.

For instance, in Spanish, 'critical' translates to 'crítico', while in French, it becomes 'critique'. In German, 'critical' is 'kritisch', and in Japanese, it is 'критический' or 'kritikku shi'. These translations not only help us communicate effectively across languages and cultures but also provide a glimpse into the unique linguistic and cultural nuances of different societies.

So, whether you're a global citizen, a language learner, or a cultural enthusiast, exploring the translations of 'critical' can be a fascinating journey of discovery. Keep reading to learn more about the different translations of this important word.

Critical


Critical in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanskrities
The word "krities" in Afrikaans can also refer to a type of small, sweet biscuit.
Amharicወሳኝ
The word "ወሳኝ" also means "important" and "essential" and derives from a root meaning "to cut" or "to discern".
Hausam
The Hausa word "m" also means "to be in a state of extreme hunger".
Igbonkatọ
The word 'nkatọ' (critical) has a secondary form, 'nkotọ', which is a plural noun for 'knot'
Malagasymanakiana
The Malagasy word "manakiana" is likely derived from the Proto-Austronesian word '*kana', meaning "to eat" or "to taste".
Nyanja (Chichewa)yovuta
The word "yovuta" also means "to sharpen" in Nyanja, referring to the act of making something more precise or effective.
Shonakutsoropodza
The word "kutsoropodza" shares the same root with the word "tsitsipodzo" which means "to be sharp". This suggests a semantic connection between "critical" and "sharpness"
Somalimuhiim ah
The word "muhiim ah" has alternate meanings such as "important" and "necessary" in Somali
Sesothotse mahlonoko
The Sesotho word "tse mahlonoko" has an alternate connotation of being "sensitive" and can also refer to a "tender spot" or an "area of concern".
Swahilimuhimu
The term 'muhimu' also refers to 'substance,' indicating why something matters.
Xhosaebalulekileyo
'Ebalulekileyo,' meaning 'critical,' shares a common origin with the word 'balance'.
Yorubalominu ni
The Yoruba word `lominu ni` has its roots in the word `lona` which means `error`, implying that a critique aims to point out mistakes.
Zuluokubucayi
The Zulu word "okubucayi" can also mean "to judge" or "to condemn".
Bambarakìsɛ
Ewenye nu sesẽ
Kinyarwandakunegura
Lingalantina
Lugandaokwetegereza
Sepedibohlokwa
Twi (Akan)emu yɛ den

Critical in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicحرج
The word 'حرج' is also used in Arabic to describe a situation in which a person is faced with a difficult choice or decision.
Hebrewקריטי
The Hebrew word "קריטי" also means "decisive" or "fateful".
Pashtoجدي
The Pashto word "جدي" also has historical meanings like "great, noble, or respectable".
Arabicحرج
The word 'حرج' is also used in Arabic to describe a situation in which a person is faced with a difficult choice or decision.

Critical in Western European Languages

Albaniankritike
The word 'kritike' derives from the Greek 'kritikos', which means 'able to judge' or 'discriminate'.
Basquekritikoa
The Basque word 'kritikoa' derives from the Greek word 'kritikos', meaning 'able to judge' or 'discerning'.
Catalancrític
"Crìtic" in Catalan can also mean "servant" or "domestic".
Croatiankritično
The word "kritično" also means "fatally" or "extremely" in Croatian.
Danishkritisk
Danish "kritisk" derives from Greek "kritikos", meaning both "judge" or "distinguish", while critical in English has the connotation "fault finding".
Dutchkritiek
"Kritiek" comes from the Greek "krites," meaning "judge," and is related to "crisis," "critic," and "criteria."
Englishcritical
The word "critical" derives from the Greek word "krinein", which means "to separate" or "to judge".
Frenchcritique
The French word 'critique' can also refer to literary or artistic criticism, or to a detailed analysis of something.
Frisiankritysk
The word "kritysk" in Frisian also means "sensitive" or "touchy".
Galiciancrítico
Germankritisch
The word "kritisch" derives from the Ancient Greek word "kritikos" meaning "capable of discerning".
Icelandicgagnrýninn
"Gagnrýninn" also means an old-man in Icelandic.
Irishcriticiúil
In Irish, the word 'criticiúil' can also mean 'perilous' or 'dangerous'
Italiancritico
"Critico" in Italian can also mean "pertaining to a crisis" or "pertaining to judgment, opinion, or decision-making."
Luxembourgishkritesch
Maltesekritiku
The Maltese word "kritiku" is derived from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to judge."
Norwegiankritisk
"Kritisk" is derived from Greek "krinein," meaning to judge or decide.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)crítico
In Portuguese, crítico can also mean "critic" or "reviewer", while in English it mainly means "containing or expressing criticism".
Scots Gaelicèiginneach
"Èiginneach" can also mean "stingy", "picky", or "demanding".
Spanishcrítico
The word 'crítico' derives from the Greek 'kritikos,' meaning 'able to discern,' and relates to the medical sense of 'crisis' as a decisive point in a disease's progress.
Swedishkritisk
In modern Swedish, "kritisk" has two main meanings: "critical" in the sense of "fault-finding", and "critical" in the sense of "decisive" or "important".
Welshbeirniadol
The word "beirniadol" in Welsh shares the same root as "briw," meaning "judgment" or "opinion."

Critical in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianкрытычны
Bosniankritično
The word "kritično" derives from the Greek word "kritikos", meaning "able to discern or judge"
Bulgarianкритичен
Its original meaning was only in connection with judgment and decision making.
Czechkritický
The Czech word "kritický" comes from the Greek "kritikos", meaning "able to judge."
Estoniankriitiline
In Estonian, “kriitiline” may refer to a crucial moment in a process, an urgent situation, or even something essential and crucial.
Finnishkriittinen
The Finnish word "kriittinen" also means "essential" or "vital".
Hungariankritikai
The word "kritikai" can also mean "judge" or "judgement" in Hungarian.
Latviankritisks
"Kritisks" can also mean "crucial" in Latvian.
Lithuaniankritinis
The Lithuanian word "kritinis" comes from the Greek word "κρίνειν" (krinein = to judge), and it also has the connotations of "selective" or "distinctive" in Lithuanian.
Macedonianкритично
The word "критично" can also mean "important" or "essential" in Macedonian.
Polishkrytyczny
In Polish, "krytyczny" means both "critical" and "decisive".
Romaniancritic
The Romanian word "critic" (or "critică") also has the meanings of "assessment" or "review".
Russianкритический
The Russian word критический derives from the Ancient Greek κριτικός, meaning “able to discern” or “judge”.
Serbianкритичан
In Serbian, the word "критичан" (kritican) also has a second meaning: demanding and rigorous.
Slovakkritický
The word "kritický" also means "decisive" or "important".
Sloveniankritično
In Slovenian, "kritično" can also refer to a critical illness or a situation requiring urgent attention.
Ukrainianкритичний
In Ukrainian, “критичний” can also refer to “important” or “decisive”.

Critical in South Asian Languages

Bengaliসমালোচক
The Bengali word "সমালোচক" derives from the Sanskrit word "समालोचक" (samĀlochaka), meaning "one who examines or criticizes".
Gujaratiજટિલ
The word 'જટિલ' also means 'complex' or 'difficult' in Gujarati.
Hindiनाजुक
The word "नाजुक" can also mean delicate or sensitive in Hindi.
Kannadaನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ
"ನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ" can also be literally translated to "determining" or "deciding"
Malayalamഗുരുതരമാണ്
ഗുരുതരമാണ് (gurutaramāṇ) literally means 'heaviness' in Sanskrit, but in Malayalam, it is used to describe a situation that is serious or dangerous.
Marathiगंभीर
"गंभीर" can also mean 'grave' or 'serious' in Marathi.
Nepaliआलोचनात्मक
"आलोचनात्मक" can also mean 'discerning' or 'analytical' in Nepali.
Punjabiਨਾਜ਼ੁਕ
"ਨਾਜ਼ੁਕ" comes from the Persian word "nazuk" meaning "delicate, fragile" or "sensitive". It can also refer to "difficult" or "serious" situations.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)විවේචනාත්මක
Tamilமுக்கியமான
In addition to the common meaning, "முக்கியமான" also means "important" or "essential" in some contexts.
Teluguక్లిష్టమైనది
The word "క్లిష్టమైనది" ("critical") in Telugu also means "difficult" or "serious" depending on the context.
Urduتنقیدی
The word "تنقیدی" ("critical") in Urdu can also mean "discriminating" or "evaluative."

Critical in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)危急
In Chinese the word 危急 can be used as adjective or noun, and is derived from the character 危 (wei) meaning "dangerous" and the character 急 (ji) meaning "urgent".
Chinese (Traditional)危急
In classical Chinese, the word 危急 could refer to any situation of imminent danger, while in modern Chinese, it commonly refers to imminent danger to life or health.
Japaneseクリティカル
クリティカル (critical) is often used in Japanese to describe something that is at a crucial or important stage or point.
Korean위독한
"위독한" in Korean not only means "critical" but also "extremely thin".
Mongolianчухал
The Mongolian word "чухал" can also mean "important" or "significant".
Myanmar (Burmese)ဝေဖန်
The word "ဝေဖန်" (critical) in Myanmar (Burmese) originally meant "to distinguish" or "to separate".

Critical in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankritis
The Indonesian word "kritis" derives from the Greek word "κριτικός," meaning both "relating to judgment" and "capable of judging."
Javanesekritis
The Javanese word "kritis" can also mean "to scold" or "to criticize".
Khmerសំខាន់
The word សំខាន់ (critical) is also used to describe something that is of great significance or importance in Khmer.
Laoທີ່ ສຳ ຄັນ
Malaykritikal
The Malay word "kritikal" comes from the Dutch "kritiek", also meaning "criticism".
Thaiวิกฤต
The word "วิกฤต" comes from the Pali word "วิกฤติ", which means "to be in a state of change".
Vietnamesebạo kích
The word "bạo kích" in Vietnamese can also mean "critical hit" in gaming contexts, especially in MMORPGs.
Filipino (Tagalog)mapanganib

Critical in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanikritik
"Kritik" can refer to both "critical" and "review" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhсыни
"Сыни" is also related to the word "сын" (son) in Kazakh, suggesting a critical evaluation of something as if it were one's own child.
Kyrgyzкритикалык
Слово "критикалык" происходит от греческого слова "κριτικός", что означает "способный судить" или "склонный к критике".
Tajikинтиқодӣ
The word "интиқодӣ" comes from the Persian word "انتقادی" meaning "critical, analytical, or judgmental."
Turkmentankydy
Uzbektanqidiy
The word "tanqidiy" in Uzbek can also refer to a person who is inclined to find fault or criticize.
Uyghurھالقىلىق

Critical in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankūpilikiʻi
The word "kūpilikiʻi" in Hawaiian is related to the verb "pili" meaning "to stick" or "to adhere."
Maoriarohaehae
"Arohaehae" is related to "aroha" (love) and also means "fault-finding" or "reproachful".
Samoanfaitio
The word "faitio" in Samoan can also mean "serious" or "important" depending on the context.
Tagalog (Filipino)mapanganib
The Tagalog word "mapanganib" originally meant "dangerous" or "risky".

Critical in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarak'umi
Guaranihemianduteĩva

Critical in International Languages

Esperantokritikaj
"Kritik" originated in Greek, passed into Latin and thence, in a somewhat weakened sense, entered the French, English and other tongues.
Latincritica
The Latin word "critica" derives from the Greek word "kritikē", meaning "the art of judging", and was initially used in Latin to refer to literary or artistic analysis.

Critical in Others Languages

Greekκρίσιμος
The word "κρίσιμος" in Greek originally referred to a time when a person was judged or made a decision
Hmongtseem ceeb
"Tseem ceeb" is a Hmong word that literally means "to sharpen" or "to whet", and it is used figuratively to describe something that is critical or sharp-tongued.
Kurdishrexneyan
It also refers to a state of being in a tight, difficult situation.
Turkishkritik
The Turkish word "kritik" comes from the Greek "kritikos," meaning "able to judge" or "to discern; and also derives an alternate meaning from its Persian root, "kärädän," meaning "to criticize".
Xhosaebalulekileyo
'Ebalulekileyo,' meaning 'critical,' shares a common origin with the word 'balance'.
Yiddishקריטיש
In Yiddish, "קריטיש" can also mean "picky" or "fault-finding."
Zuluokubucayi
The Zulu word "okubucayi" can also mean "to judge" or "to condemn".
Assameseজটিল অৱস্থা
Aymarak'umi
Bhojpuriसमालोचनात्मक
Dhivehiކްރިޓިކަލް
Dogriसंगीन
Filipino (Tagalog)mapanganib
Guaranihemianduteĩva
Ilocanokritikal
Kriotranga
Kurdish (Sorani)گرنگ
Maithiliआलोचनात्मक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯃꯔꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯕ
Mizokhirhkhan
Oromoxiyyeeffannoo kan barbaadu
Odia (Oriya)ଗୁରୁତର
Quechuacritico
Sanskritगंभीरः
Tatarкритик
Tigrinyaወሳኒ
Tsongankoka

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter