Updated on March 6, 2024
Criticizing, or the act of evaluating and expressing opinions or judgments about the merits and faults of something or someone, is a significant aspect of human communication and development. It allows for growth, improvement, and the sharing of diverse perspectives. The significance of criticizing is evident in various cultural contexts, as it encourages critical thinking and constructive dialogue. Moreover, understanding the translation of criticize in different languages can help bridge cultural gaps and foster global understanding.
For instance, in Spanish, criticize is 'criticar,' while in French, it's 'critiquer.' In German, it's 'kritisieren,' and in Mandarin Chinese, it's '批评 (pī píng).' These translations not only reflect linguistic diversity but also highlight cultural nuances in how criticism is expressed and received.
In this article, we delve into the translations of criticize in various languages, shedding light on the cultural importance of criticizing and encouraging a global appreciation for language and culture. So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural critic, or simply curious, read on to discover the fascinating world of criticizing in different languages.
Afrikaans | kritiseer | ||
The word "kritiseer" in Afrikaans also has the meaning of "review" or "analyze". | |||
Amharic | መተቸት | ||
The Amharic word "መተቸት" can also mean "to break" or "to shatter" when used in the context of physical objects. | |||
Hausa | soki | ||
In Hausa, "soki" also signifies "to accuse" or "to blame" and derives from the Middle English word "soquen." | |||
Igbo | katọọ | ||
The Igbo word 'katọọ' can also mean 'to rebuke' or 'to find fault with'. | |||
Malagasy | manakiana | ||
The noun 'manakiana' is cognate with the adjective 'tsy manana' meaning 'not having', thus suggesting the meaning of a 'lack' or a 'shortcoming'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | tsutsa | ||
In Nyanja, the verb "tsutsa" can also mean "to rebuke", "to scold", or "to reprove". | |||
Shona | tsoropodza | ||
The word "tsoropodza" derives from "tsoro" (fear) and "podza" (hide), implying "to criticize out of fear of showing one's true feelings." | |||
Somali | dhaliil | ||
The Somali word 'dhaliil' originates from the Arabic root word 'dhali', meaning 'fault' or 'defect' | |||
Sesotho | nyatsa | ||
The Sesotho word 'nyatsa' can also mean to inspect or scrutinize something carefully. | |||
Swahili | kukosoa | ||
The verb 'kukosoa' is derived from the noun 'ukosoaji', which means 'criticism' or 'reproach'. | |||
Xhosa | gxeka | ||
In Xhosa, the word 'gxeka' also means 'to scold' or 'to rebuke'. | |||
Yoruba | ṣofintoto | ||
Ṣofíntótó is a reduplicated form of the verb ṣofín, which means to mock, ridicule, or criticize. | |||
Zulu | gxeka | ||
The Zulu word 'gxeka' is also used to describe the act of 'squeezing' or 'pressing' something. | |||
Bambara | kɔrɔfɔli kɛ | ||
Ewe | ɖe ɖeklemi ame | ||
Kinyarwanda | kunegura | ||
Lingala | kotyola | ||
Luganda | okunenya | ||
Sepedi | go sola | ||
Twi (Akan) | kasa tia | ||
Arabic | ينتقد | ||
"ينتقد" can also mean "to examine in a fault-finding way" in Arabic. | |||
Hebrew | לְבַקֵר | ||
The Hebrew word "לְבַקֵר" (l'vaker) can also mean "to visit" or "to inspect". | |||
Pashto | انتقاد کول | ||
The word "انتقاد کول" could also mean "review" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | ينتقد | ||
"ينتقد" can also mean "to examine in a fault-finding way" in Arabic. |
Albanian | kritikoj | ||
Basque | kritikatu | ||
The Basque word "kritikatu" originates from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "judge" or "ability to discern." | |||
Catalan | criticar | ||
"Criticar" in Catalan can also mean "to check" (for errors), "to examine", or "to review". | |||
Croatian | kritizirati | ||
The verb "kritizirati" is derived from the Greek word "kritikos" meaning "able to discern" or "judge". | |||
Danish | kritisere | ||
The word "kritisere" in Danish comes from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to judge." | |||
Dutch | bekritiseren | ||
The word "bekritiseren" can also be used to describe the process of reviewing or critiquing a work of art or literature. | |||
English | criticize | ||
The word "criticize" comes from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to discern or judge." | |||
French | critiquer | ||
In French, « critiquer » can also mean to analyze, judge, or review something. | |||
Frisian | kritisearje | ||
The word "kritisearje" is derived from the Greek word "kritikos", meaning "able to discern or judge." | |||
Galician | criticar | ||
'Critica' is also a popular literary genre, especially in Galicia, and has given Galician the verb 'criticar,' which can mean either 'to write a literary critique' or 'to criticize' in general. | |||
German | kritisieren | ||
The word "kritisieren" is derived from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to discern" or "judge." | |||
Icelandic | gagnrýna | ||
The word gagnrýna is likely derived from the Old Norse word 'gagn', meaning 'advantage' or 'benefit'. | |||
Irish | cáineadh | ||
Cáineadh also means a "lament", likely due to the Irish tradition of keeners or paid mourners. | |||
Italian | criticare | ||
The verb "criticare" also means "to select by critical judgment". | |||
Luxembourgish | kritiséieren | ||
Kritiséieren is derived from French critiquer, which originated from Greek "κριτής" (kritès) meaning "judge". It also denotes "to evaluate", "to judge", and even "to criticize". | |||
Maltese | jikkritika | ||
The Maltese word "jikkritika" (criticize) is derived from the Italian "criticare" and ultimately from the Greek "kritikos" meaning "able to judge". | |||
Norwegian | kritisere | ||
"Kritikere" in Norwegian can also refer to the noun "a critic". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | criticar | ||
The word "criticar" in Portuguese can also refer to the process of examining or analyzing something in a critical way. | |||
Scots Gaelic | càineadh | ||
The Scots Gaelic "càineadh" (criticize) originates from the Indo-European root *kwei-, meaning "to blame", "to punish", or "to curse". | |||
Spanish | criticar | ||
The word "criticar" in Spanish can also mean "to discern" or "to distinguish". | |||
Swedish | klandra | ||
"Klandra" originates from the Proto-Germanic word "*klandrōn", meaning "to gossip" or "to tell tales". | |||
Welsh | beirniadu | ||
The word 'beirniadu' can also mean 'to judge' or 'to give an opinion'. |
Belarusian | крытыкаваць | ||
The word "крытыкаваць" can also mean "to analyze" or "to evaluate". | |||
Bosnian | kritikovati | ||
The word "kritikovati" (criticize in English) comes from the Latin "criticus" meaning "judge" or "critic" | |||
Bulgarian | критикувам | ||
The word "критикувам" can also mean "to review" or "to examine" in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | kritizovat | ||
The Czech word "kritizovat" is derived from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to discern or judge."} | |||
Estonian | kritiseerida | ||
"Kritiseerida" is a verb in Estonian that means "to criticize" and derives from the Greek word "krinein," meaning "to separate," "to discriminate," and "to judge." | |||
Finnish | arvostella | ||
The word "arvostella" derives from the word "arvo" (value), and means to assess the value or worth of something. | |||
Hungarian | kritizálni | ||
The word „kritizálni” in Hungarian derives from Greek and originally meant „to judge”. | |||
Latvian | kritizēt | ||
Kritizēt (criticize) in Latvian may also mean to analyze or evaluate in a non-judgmental way. | |||
Lithuanian | kritikuoti | ||
The word "kritikuoti" in Lithuanian originates from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "of or for judging or criticizing." | |||
Macedonian | критикуваат | ||
"Критикуваат" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to discern or judge." | |||
Polish | krytykować | ||
The word "krytykować" comes from the Greek word "kritikos", meaning "able to judge". | |||
Romanian | a critica | ||
The Romanian word "a critica" originates from the Greek word "kritikos", meaning "able to judge" or "skilled in judging." | |||
Russian | критиковать | ||
The word "критиковать" comes from the Greek word "κριτικός," meaning "able to judge" or "skilled in judging." | |||
Serbian | критиковати | ||
The verb "критиковати" is derived from the Greek word "κριτικός", meaning "judge". It can also mean "to examine" or "to evaluate". | |||
Slovak | kritizovať | ||
The word "kritizovať" comes from the Ancient Greek word "kritikos", meaning "judge" or "one who discerns". | |||
Slovenian | kritizirati | ||
The Slovenian word "kritizirati" (criticize) derives from the Greek word "kritikos," meaning "able to judge." | |||
Ukrainian | критикувати | ||
The Ukrainian word "критикувати" can be traced back to the Greek word "κριτική", meaning "the art of judging or criticizing." |
Bengali | সমালোচনা | ||
The Bengali word "সমালোচনা" is derived from Sanskrit "समीक्षा" meaning to review. | |||
Gujarati | ટીકા કરો | ||
Hindi | आलोचना करना | ||
The word "आलोचना करना" is derived from the Sanskrit root "आलोच्" meaning "to consider" or "to examine". | |||
Kannada | ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ | ||
"ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ" (vimarshe) in Kannada also means 'analysis' or 'evaluation', highlighting its broader context beyond criticism alone. | |||
Malayalam | വിമർശിക്കുക | ||
The Malayalam word "വിമർശിക്കുക" comes from the Sanskrit word "विमृश्" (vimṛś), which means "to consider carefully, to examine, to investigate, to analyze, to ponder, to deliberate, to reflect upon". | |||
Marathi | टीका | ||
The Marathi word "टीका" can also mean a commentary or annotation on a text, often religious. | |||
Nepali | आलोचना | ||
The word "आलोचना" originates from the Sanskrit word "आलोकन" which means "to examine" or "to inspect" | |||
Punjabi | ਆਲੋਚਨਾ | ||
आलोचना (ālōcanā) is a Sanskrit word with roots in "वि+लूच+ना" (meaning "to see again"), suggesting examining or evaluating something critically. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විවේචනය කරන්න | ||
Tamil | விமர்சிக்கவும் | ||
The word 'விமர்சிக்கவும்' comes from the root word 'வி' which means 'against' or 'opposite', and the suffix 'மர்ச்' which means 'to seek' or 'to inquire' therefore, it means 'to examine something carefully and find the faults in it', or 'to look for the opposite or contrasting views'. | |||
Telugu | విమర్శించండి | ||
The word is derived from 'vichara', and can be used with the prefix 'vi', meaning 'bad' or 'away'. Hence, it can also mean 'to dismiss' or 'to reject' something. | |||
Urdu | تنقید کرنا | ||
The word 'تنقید کرنا' originally meant 'to examine' or 'to test', but over time it has come to mean 'to criticize'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 批评 | ||
批评 (pīpíng) has a longer history than 批判 (pīpàn), originally meaning “record” of the events in court. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 批評 | ||
批評 in Chinese can also mean 'to evaluate' or 'to comment on'. | |||
Japanese | 批判する | ||
批判する can also refer to reviewing a piece of writing to identify its errors and make suggestions on how it could be improved. | |||
Korean | 흠잡다 | ||
"흠" means a flaw or blemish, and "잡다" means to pick up or hold onto something. So, "흠잡다" literally means to pick out a flaw or blemish in something. | |||
Mongolian | шүүмжлэх | ||
The word "шүүмжлэх" also means "to judge" or "to appraise". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ဝေဖန် | ||
The word "ဝေဖန်" can also mean "to analyze" or "to evaluate" in Myanmar. |
Indonesian | mengkritik | ||
"Mengkritik" in Indonesian literally means "to separate rice" (mengirik). | |||
Javanese | ngritik | ||
The Javanese word "ngritik" is derived from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root ‘ũkrẻ͡tŋ͡Ź’, meaning "to bite" or "to cut", implying a sharp and often negative form of criticism. | |||
Khmer | រិះគន់ | ||
The word "រិះគន់" can also mean "to find fault with" or "to blame". | |||
Lao | ວິພາກວິຈານ | ||
Malay | mengecam | ||
The word "mengecam" can also mean "to censure" or "to denounce" in Malay. | |||
Thai | วิจารณ์ | ||
"วิจารณ์" is not only means "criticize" but also means "to look thoroughly", "to make clear", and "to distinguish". | |||
Vietnamese | chỉ trích | ||
It derives from Sino-Vietnamese "trích" meaning "to extract" and "chỉ" meaning "to point at or pinpoint". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pumuna | ||
Azerbaijani | tənqid etmək | ||
The word 'tənqid etmək' in Azerbaijani also carries the meaning of 'to examine' or 'to review' | |||
Kazakh | сын айту | ||
The verb "сын айту" can also mean "to advise" or "to warn" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | сындоо | ||
The Kyrgyz word "сындоо" can also mean "to judge" or "to blame." | |||
Tajik | танқид кардан | ||
The word "танқид кардан" in Tajik has a root "танқид", meaning "criticism" in Arabic, and can also mean "to blame" or "to reprove". | |||
Turkmen | tankyt et | ||
Uzbek | tanqid qilmoq | ||
The word "tanqid qilmoq" can also mean "to point out" or "to analyze" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | تەنقىد | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻohewa | ||
The word "hoʻohewa" in Hawaiian, while primarily meaning "criticize," can also refer to the act of finding fault or blaming someone or something. | |||
Maori | whakahe | ||
The word "whakahe" also means "to find fault with" or "to blame". | |||
Samoan | faitio | ||
"Faitio" is also the name of a Samoan goddess associated with criticism. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pumuna | ||
In Philippine politics, "pumuna" has also been used as an alternate form of "puna" and "punit" (punishment). |
Aymara | k’umiña | ||
Guarani | otaky | ||
Esperanto | kritiki | ||
"Kritiko" comes from the Greek word for "judge." | |||
Latin | detrahere | ||
The Latin word 'detrahere' also means 'to drag down' or 'to pull away'. |
Greek | κριτικάρω | ||
The word "κριτικάρω" (criticize) comes from the Greek word "κριτικός" (kritikos), meaning "able to judge" or "discerning." | |||
Hmong | thuam | ||
The word "thuam" in Hmong is derived from the word "tua," which means "to scold or criticize harshly." | |||
Kurdish | rexnekirin | ||
In Kurdish, "rexnekirin" (criticize) shares the same root as "re" (way, manner), connecting criticism to the act of finding the correct path. | |||
Turkish | eleştirmek | ||
The word "eleştirmek" comes from the Arabic word "el-naqida"," which means "to sift" or "to examine". | |||
Xhosa | gxeka | ||
In Xhosa, the word 'gxeka' also means 'to scold' or 'to rebuke'. | |||
Yiddish | קריטיקירן | ||
Zulu | gxeka | ||
The Zulu word 'gxeka' is also used to describe the act of 'squeezing' or 'pressing' something. | |||
Assamese | সমালোচনা কৰা | ||
Aymara | k’umiña | ||
Bhojpuri | आलोचना करे के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ފާޑުކިޔުން | ||
Dogri | आलोचना करदे | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pumuna | ||
Guarani | otaky | ||
Ilocano | babalawen | ||
Krio | fɔ kɔrɛkt pɔsin | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕەخنە بگرن | ||
Maithili | आलोचना करब | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀ꯭ꯔꯤꯇꯤꯀꯦꯜ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | sawisel rawh | ||
Oromo | qeeqa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସମାଲୋଚନା କର | | ||
Quechua | k’amiy | ||
Sanskrit | आलोचनां कुर्वन्ति | ||
Tatar | тәнкыйтьләү | ||
Tigrinya | ይነቅፍ | ||
Tsonga | ku sola | ||