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
| Afrikaans | krities | ||
| The word "krities" in Afrikaans can also refer to a type of small, sweet biscuit. | |||
| Amharic | ወሳኝ | ||
| The word "ወሳኝ" also means "important" and "essential" and derives from a root meaning "to cut" or "to discern". | |||
| Hausa | m | ||
| The Hausa word "m" also means "to be in a state of extreme hunger". | |||
| Igbo | nkatọ | ||
| The word 'nkatọ' (critical) has a secondary form, 'nkotọ', which is a plural noun for 'knot' | |||
| Malagasy | manakiana | ||
| 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. | |||
| Shona | kutsoropodza | ||
| 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" | |||
| Somali | muhiim ah | ||
| The word "muhiim ah" has alternate meanings such as "important" and "necessary" in Somali | |||
| Sesotho | tse 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". | |||
| Swahili | muhimu | ||
| The term 'muhimu' also refers to 'substance,' indicating why something matters. | |||
| Xhosa | ebalulekileyo | ||
| 'Ebalulekileyo,' meaning 'critical,' shares a common origin with the word 'balance'. | |||
| Yoruba | lominu 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. | |||
| Zulu | okubucayi | ||
| The Zulu word "okubucayi" can also mean "to judge" or "to condemn". | |||
| Bambara | kìsɛ | ||
| Ewe | nye nu sesẽ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kunegura | ||
| Lingala | ntina | ||
| Luganda | okwetegereza | ||
| Sepedi | bohlokwa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | emu yɛ den | ||
Critical in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | حرج | ||
| The word 'حرج' is also used in Arabic to describe a situation in which a person is faced with a difficult choice or decision. | |||
| Hebrew | קריטי | ||
| The Hebrew word "קריטי" also means "decisive" or "fateful". | |||
| Pashto | جدي | ||
| The Pashto word "جدي" also has historical meanings like "great, noble, or respectable". | |||
| Arabic | حرج | ||
| 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
| Albanian | kritike | ||
| The word 'kritike' derives from the Greek 'kritikos', which means 'able to judge' or 'discriminate'. | |||
| Basque | kritikoa | ||
| The Basque word 'kritikoa' derives from the Greek word 'kritikos', meaning 'able to judge' or 'discerning'. | |||
| Catalan | crític | ||
| "Crìtic" in Catalan can also mean "servant" or "domestic". | |||
| Croatian | kritično | ||
| The word "kritično" also means "fatally" or "extremely" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | kritisk | ||
| Danish "kritisk" derives from Greek "kritikos", meaning both "judge" or "distinguish", while critical in English has the connotation "fault finding". | |||
| Dutch | kritiek | ||
| "Kritiek" comes from the Greek "krites," meaning "judge," and is related to "crisis," "critic," and "criteria." | |||
| English | critical | ||
| The word "critical" derives from the Greek word "krinein", which means "to separate" or "to judge". | |||
| French | critique | ||
| The French word 'critique' can also refer to literary or artistic criticism, or to a detailed analysis of something. | |||
| Frisian | kritysk | ||
| The word "kritysk" in Frisian also means "sensitive" or "touchy". | |||
| Galician | crítico | ||
| German | kritisch | ||
| The word "kritisch" derives from the Ancient Greek word "kritikos" meaning "capable of discerning". | |||
| Icelandic | gagnrýninn | ||
| "Gagnrýninn" also means an old-man in Icelandic. | |||
| Irish | criticiúil | ||
| In Irish, the word 'criticiúil' can also mean 'perilous' or 'dangerous' | |||
| Italian | critico | ||
| "Critico" in Italian can also mean "pertaining to a crisis" or "pertaining to judgment, opinion, or decision-making." | |||
| Luxembourgish | kritesch | ||
| Maltese | kritiku | ||
| The Maltese word "kritiku" is derived from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to judge." | |||
| Norwegian | kritisk | ||
| "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 Gaelic | èiginneach | ||
| "Èiginneach" can also mean "stingy", "picky", or "demanding". | |||
| Spanish | crítico | ||
| 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. | |||
| Swedish | kritisk | ||
| In modern Swedish, "kritisk" has two main meanings: "critical" in the sense of "fault-finding", and "critical" in the sense of "decisive" or "important". | |||
| Welsh | beirniadol | ||
| The word "beirniadol" in Welsh shares the same root as "briw," meaning "judgment" or "opinion." | |||
Critical in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | крытычны | ||
| Bosnian | kritično | ||
| The word "kritično" derives from the Greek word "kritikos", meaning "able to discern or judge" | |||
| Bulgarian | критичен | ||
| Its original meaning was only in connection with judgment and decision making. | |||
| Czech | kritický | ||
| The Czech word "kritický" comes from the Greek "kritikos", meaning "able to judge." | |||
| Estonian | kriitiline | ||
| In Estonian, “kriitiline” may refer to a crucial moment in a process, an urgent situation, or even something essential and crucial. | |||
| Finnish | kriittinen | ||
| The Finnish word "kriittinen" also means "essential" or "vital". | |||
| Hungarian | kritikai | ||
| The word "kritikai" can also mean "judge" or "judgement" in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | kritisks | ||
| "Kritisks" can also mean "crucial" in Latvian. | |||
| Lithuanian | kritinis | ||
| 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. | |||
| Macedonian | критично | ||
| The word "критично" can also mean "important" or "essential" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | krytyczny | ||
| In Polish, "krytyczny" means both "critical" and "decisive". | |||
| Romanian | critic | ||
| The Romanian word "critic" (or "critică") also has the meanings of "assessment" or "review". | |||
| Russian | критический | ||
| The Russian word критический derives from the Ancient Greek κριτικός, meaning “able to discern” or “judge”. | |||
| Serbian | критичан | ||
| In Serbian, the word "критичан" (kritican) also has a second meaning: demanding and rigorous. | |||
| Slovak | kritický | ||
| The word "kritický" also means "decisive" or "important". | |||
| Slovenian | kritično | ||
| In Slovenian, "kritično" can also refer to a critical illness or a situation requiring urgent attention. | |||
| Ukrainian | критичний | ||
| In Ukrainian, “критичний” can also refer to “important” or “decisive”. | |||
Critical in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সমালোচক | ||
| The Bengali word "সমালোচক" derives from the Sanskrit word "समालोचक" (samĀlochaka), meaning "one who examines or criticizes". | |||
| Gujarati | જટિલ | ||
| The word 'જટિલ' also means 'complex' or 'difficult' in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | नाजुक | ||
| The word "नाजुक" can also mean delicate or sensitive in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ | ||
| "ನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ" can also be literally translated to "determining" or "deciding" | |||
| Malayalam | ഗുരുതരമാണ് | ||
| ഗുരുതരമാണ് (gurutaramāṇ) literally means 'heaviness' in Sanskrit, but in Malayalam, it is used to describe a situation that is serious or dangerous. | |||
| Marathi | गंभीर | ||
| "गंभीर" can also mean 'grave' or 'serious' in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | आलोचनात्मक | ||
| "आलोचनात्मक" can also mean 'discerning' or 'analytical' in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਨਾਜ਼ੁਕ | ||
| "ਨਾਜ਼ੁਕ" comes from the Persian word "nazuk" meaning "delicate, fragile" or "sensitive". It can also refer to "difficult" or "serious" situations. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විවේචනාත්මක | ||
| Tamil | முக்கியமான | ||
| In addition to the common meaning, "முக்கியமான" also means "important" or "essential" in some contexts. | |||
| Telugu | క్లిష్టమైనది | ||
| The word "క్లిష్టమైనది" ("critical") in Telugu also means "difficult" or "serious" depending on the context. | |||
| Urdu | تنقیدی | ||
| 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. | |||
| Korean | 위독한 | ||
| "위독한" in Korean not only means "critical" but also "extremely thin". | |||
| Mongolian | чухал | ||
| 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
| Indonesian | kritis | ||
| The Indonesian word "kritis" derives from the Greek word "κριτικός," meaning both "relating to judgment" and "capable of judging." | |||
| Javanese | kritis | ||
| The Javanese word "kritis" can also mean "to scold" or "to criticize". | |||
| Khmer | សំខាន់ | ||
| The word សំខាន់ (critical) is also used to describe something that is of great significance or importance in Khmer. | |||
| Lao | ທີ່ ສຳ ຄັນ | ||
| Malay | kritikal | ||
| The Malay word "kritikal" comes from the Dutch "kritiek", also meaning "criticism". | |||
| Thai | วิกฤต | ||
| The word "วิกฤต" comes from the Pali word "วิกฤติ", which means "to be in a state of change". | |||
| Vietnamese | bạo 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
| Azerbaijani | kritik | ||
| "Kritik" can refer to both "critical" and "review" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | сыни | ||
| "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. | |||
| Kyrgyz | критикалык | ||
| Слово "критикалык" происходит от греческого слова "κριτικός", что означает "способный судить" или "склонный к критике". | |||
| Tajik | интиқодӣ | ||
| The word "интиқодӣ" comes from the Persian word "انتقادی" meaning "critical, analytical, or judgmental." | |||
| Turkmen | tankydy | ||
| Uzbek | tanqidiy | ||
| The word "tanqidiy" in Uzbek can also refer to a person who is inclined to find fault or criticize. | |||
| Uyghur | ھالقىلىق | ||
Critical in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kūpilikiʻi | ||
| The word "kūpilikiʻi" in Hawaiian is related to the verb "pili" meaning "to stick" or "to adhere." | |||
| Maori | arohaehae | ||
| "Arohaehae" is related to "aroha" (love) and also means "fault-finding" or "reproachful". | |||
| Samoan | faitio | ||
| 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
| Aymara | k'umi | ||
| Guarani | hemianduteĩva | ||
Critical in International Languages
| Esperanto | kritikaj | ||
| "Kritik" originated in Greek, passed into Latin and thence, in a somewhat weakened sense, entered the French, English and other tongues. | |||
| Latin | critica | ||
| 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
| Greek | κρίσιμος | ||
| The word "κρίσιμος" in Greek originally referred to a time when a person was judged or made a decision | |||
| Hmong | tseem 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. | |||
| Kurdish | rexneyan | ||
| It also refers to a state of being in a tight, difficult situation. | |||
| Turkish | kritik | ||
| 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". | |||
| Xhosa | ebalulekileyo | ||
| 'Ebalulekileyo,' meaning 'critical,' shares a common origin with the word 'balance'. | |||
| Yiddish | קריטיש | ||
| In Yiddish, "קריטיש" can also mean "picky" or "fault-finding." | |||
| Zulu | okubucayi | ||
| The Zulu word "okubucayi" can also mean "to judge" or "to condemn". | |||
| Assamese | জটিল অৱস্থা | ||
| Aymara | k'umi | ||
| Bhojpuri | समालोचनात्मक | ||
| Dhivehi | ކްރިޓިކަލް | ||
| Dogri | संगीन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mapanganib | ||
| Guarani | hemianduteĩva | ||
| Ilocano | kritikal | ||
| Krio | tranga | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | گرنگ | ||
| Maithili | आलोचनात्मक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯕ | ||
| Mizo | khirhkhan | ||
| Oromo | xiyyeeffannoo kan barbaadu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଗୁରୁତର | ||
| Quechua | critico | ||
| Sanskrit | गंभीरः | ||
| Tatar | критик | ||
| Tigrinya | ወሳኒ | ||
| Tsonga | nkoka | ||