Dear in Different Languages
Discover 'Dear' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'dear' is a small but powerful term, often used to express affection, love, or respect towards someone. Its significance goes beyond mere semantics, as it reflects the cultural importance placed on interpersonal relationships and communication. Understanding the translation of 'dear' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the nuances of various cultures and their unique ways of expressing warmth and endearment.
For instance, in Spanish, the word 'dear' translates to 'querido/a', which is derived from the verb 'querer', meaning 'to love'. In German, it becomes 'lieber/liebe', which also means 'dear' or 'beloved', but is related to the word 'Liebe', or 'love'. In Japanese, the word 'dear' can be translated to 'dare' (ダレ) or 'anata' (貴方), both of which convey a sense of intimacy and affection.
In this article, we will explore the translations of 'dear' in various languages, shedding light on the fascinating cultural and historical contexts behind each one. Stay tuned for a deeper dive into the world of language and affection!
Dear
Dear in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | geagte | ||
| The word 'Geagte' can refer to a person or a thing, and is often used in formal letters or communication. | |||
| Amharic | ውድ | ||
| The word "ውድ" can also mean "expensive," "precious," or "beloved."} | |||
| Hausa | masoyi | ||
| "Masoyi" also means "my beloved" and is a term of endearment used between spouses and lovers. | |||
| Igbo | ezigbo | ||
| The Igbo word "ezigbo" can also mean "very good" or "excellent." | |||
| Malagasy | ry | ||
| Ry can also mean 'love' in Malagasy, or 'dear' when used in a romantic context. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wokondedwa | ||
| The word 'wokondedwa' also means 'precious' and 'beloved' in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | mudiwa | ||
| "Mudiwa" can also refer to a type of porridge made from finger millet. | |||
| Somali | gacaliye | ||
| The word "gacaliye" in Somali can also mean "beloved" or "lover". | |||
| Sesotho | moratuoa | ||
| The Sesotho word "moratuoa" also means "beloved" or "my dear one." | |||
| Swahili | mpendwa | ||
| The term comes from the verb "kupenda" (to love) and has a deeper emotional connotation compared to the English "dear". | |||
| Xhosa | sithandwa | ||
| "Sithandwa" is the Xhosa word for "dear one". It's related to the word "thanda", "to love", and implies a feeling of deep affection. | |||
| Yoruba | ọwọn | ||
| Ọwọn is also a euphemism for money derived from a metaphor referring to precious beads. | |||
| Zulu | othandekayo | ||
| The word "othandekayo" comes from the Zulu words "othanda" (lover) and "kayo" (small), suggesting a beloved or cherished person. | |||
| Bambara | n balima | ||
| Ewe | lɔlɔ̃tɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | nshuti | ||
| Lingala | molingami | ||
| Luganda | mwattu | ||
| Sepedi | rategago | ||
| Twi (Akan) | onua | ||
Dear in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | العزيز | ||
| The word "العزيز" ("al-Aziz") in Arabic is also a title given to the Mamluk sultan. | |||
| Hebrew | יָקָר | ||
| The Hebrew word "יָקָר" can also mean "precious", "valuable", or "costly". | |||
| Pashto | ګرانه | ||
| The word ګرانه in Pashto can also mean 'expensive' or 'costly'. | |||
| Arabic | العزيز | ||
| The word "العزيز" ("al-Aziz") in Arabic is also a title given to the Mamluk sultan. | |||
Dear in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i dashur | ||
| The word "i dashur" has a second meaning, "the heart", like its counterpart in Italian, "il cuore". | |||
| Basque | maitea | ||
| In the Lapurdian and Zuberoan dialects, the word "maite" also means "to love". | |||
| Catalan | estimat | ||
| The word "estimat" in Catalan is derived from the Latin word "aestimatus", meaning "valued" or "esteemed." | |||
| Croatian | draga | ||
| "Draga" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "dragu" meaning "precious, beloved" and has cognates in many other Slavic languages such as Russian and Polish. | |||
| Danish | kære | ||
| The word "Kære" has many different meanings, with some relating to the word "care". | |||
| Dutch | geachte | ||
| Geachte, a Dutch word for "dear," derives from the Middle Dutch "geacht" (esteemed) and "-e" (diminutive), suggesting a sense of familiarity and respect. | |||
| English | dear | ||
| The word 'dear' derives from Old English 'deore' meaning 'precious' and is related to words meaning 'harm' and 'wild animal' in other ancient Indo-European languages. | |||
| French | chère | ||
| The word "chère" in French can also be used to refer to a female sweetheart, close female friend, or a beloved person. | |||
| Frisian | leave | ||
| The Frisian word "leave" also has the meanings "allow", "let", and "leave alone". | |||
| Galician | querido | ||
| Galician "querido" (dear) comes from the Latin "quaere" (to seek), implying the idea of someone who is sought or desired. | |||
| German | sehr geehrter | ||
| "Sehr" means "very" (akin to "sore" and "sermon"), whereas "geehrt" means "honoured", so it literally means "very honoured." | |||
| Icelandic | kæra | ||
| The word "kæra" can also mean "to complain" in Icelandic. | |||
| Irish | faraor | ||
| The word 'faraor' originates from the French 'faraud' or 'faorair' meaning 'to brag' or 'to show off'. | |||
| Italian | caro | ||
| The word "caro" in Italian comes from the Latin word "carus", meaning "loved or precious". In Italian, it commonly refers to someone or something that one is attached to. | |||
| Luxembourgish | léif | ||
| The word "léif" is related to "live" or "dear life" and signifies the bond between the speaker and listener. | |||
| Maltese | għażiż | ||
| Norwegian | kjære | ||
| In Norwegian, "kjære" can also mean "sweet" or "beloved." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | querida | ||
| The word "querida" derives from the Latin word "carus" meaning "beloved" and can also be used to address a female lover. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | ghràdhaich | ||
| Spanish | querido | ||
| "Querido" in Spanish evolved from the Latin word "carum", meaning love or affection. | |||
| Swedish | kära | ||
| "Kära" is related to "care" or "cherish", but it can also mean "strong-minded" in old Swedish contexts. | |||
| Welsh | annwyl | ||
| The Welsh word "annwyl" is also used to describe a beloved person, a sweetheart, or a lover. | |||
Dear in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | дарагая | ||
| While 'дарагая' in Belarusian is often translated to 'dear,' it can also mean 'expensive' or 'valuable.' | |||
| Bosnian | draga | ||
| The word "draga" in Bosnian is likely derived from the Proto-Slavic word for "darling." | |||
| Bulgarian | скъпа | ||
| The Bulgarian word "скъпа" also means "precious" in the sense of not costly, but loved and highly valued. | |||
| Czech | milý | ||
| In Czech, "milý" also has a historical meaning of "merciful" and is used in greetings or farewells, similar to "gracious" in English. | |||
| Estonian | kallis | ||
| The word "kallis" also refers to "expensive" in Estonian, similar to the French "cher". | |||
| Finnish | rakas | ||
| While the word "rakas" is most well-known for meaning "dearest" in English, it derives from the Proto-Finnic word meaning "lovely". | |||
| Hungarian | kedves | ||
| The Hungarian word "kedves" has a unique etymology, derived from "kedv", meaning "mood" or "feeling," and ultimately tracing back to the Proto-Uralic root *kewɜ- meaning "good." | |||
| Latvian | dārgs | ||
| The Latvian word "dārgs" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *derg-, meaning "to hold dear". | |||
| Lithuanian | brangusis | ||
| The word "brangusis" can also refer to a "valuable" or "precious" object. | |||
| Macedonian | мил | ||
| The Slavic root of "мил" ("mil") also means "kind" and "nice" in Russian, Polish, and Czech. | |||
| Polish | drogi | ||
| Drogi (доро́ги) is a Polish word meaning “dear” that derives from the Proto-Slavic word *dorъgъ, meaning “costly, valuable, expensive, precious”. | |||
| Romanian | dragă | ||
| The Romanian word "dragă" is most likely derived from the Slavic word "dragъ", meaning "beloved" or "precious". | |||
| Russian | дорогой | ||
| "Дорогой" (adjective) can also mean "expensive" and "valuable" and is derived from the Old Slavic word "dorog" | |||
| Serbian | драга | ||
| The word "драга" is also used in Serbia as an informal and affectionate term for one's significant other, particularly a woman. | |||
| Slovak | drahá | ||
| The word "drahá" in Slovak comes from the Proto-Slavic word "dorga", meaning "road" or "path". | |||
| Slovenian | dragi | ||
| Did you know that "draga" is not only the name of a river? In fact, "draga" and "dragi" both come from Slavic times when a valley that provided safe drinking water and was good soil for farming or raising cattle (i.e., was good land) became "drage" (dragi - good, dear). | |||
| Ukrainian | шановний | ||
| Шановний comes from Old Church Slavonic 'čьstьnъ', meaning 'honorable' or 'glorious'. | |||
Dear in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রিয় | ||
| The word "প্রিয়" can also mean "favorite" or "beloved" in various contexts. | |||
| Gujarati | પ્રિય | ||
| "પ્રિય" means "dear," but it also means "beloved," "favorite," or "special." | |||
| Hindi | प्रिय | ||
| The word "प्रिय" in Hindi originally meant "beloved", but in modern usage it can also refer to "expensive". | |||
| Kannada | ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ | ||
| "ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ" is also used as a term of endearment towards children, as it has a sense of affection and love embedded in its meaning. | |||
| Malayalam | പ്രിയ | ||
| The word "പ്രിയ" (priya) can also mean 'beloved' in Vedic Sanskrit, and it is related to the Latin word "carus". | |||
| Marathi | प्रिय | ||
| The Marathi word "प्रिय" (priya) is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रिय" (priya), which means "beloved," "darling," or "favorite." | |||
| Nepali | प्रिय | ||
| The word “प्रिय” (prya) in Nepali can also mean “beloved,” “favorite,” or “agreeable.” | |||
| Punjabi | ਪਿਆਰੇ | ||
| "ਪਿਆਰੇ" can also refer to someone who is close or intimate in a non-romantic way. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආදරණීය | ||
| Tamil | அன்பே | ||
| "அன்பே" can also be used to address a person one loves or cares about, like a spouse or a close family member. | |||
| Telugu | ప్రియమైన | ||
| The word "ప్రియమైన" can also refer to a loved one or a close friend. | |||
| Urdu | پیارے | ||
| The Urdu word "پیارے" can also refer to a type of traditional South Asian sweet made with milk and sugar. | |||
Dear in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 亲 | ||
| "亲" is also a shortened way to write the word for "kiss" or "relative" (亲戚 qīnqi) in Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 親 | ||
| In its literal sense, 親 (dear) is split into 父母 (parents) and 子 (children), meaning a close familial relationship. | |||
| Japanese | 親愛な | ||
| The kanji characters that make up the word 親愛な (shinaide) have several meanings, including 'parent' (親), 'love' (愛), and 'dear' (な). | |||
| Korean | 소중한 | ||
| "소중한" is the Korean adjective form of the word "소중" which means precious, valuable, important or worthy." | |||
| Mongolian | хайрт минь | ||
| In the Seljuk Turkic language, 'hayir' means 'good' and 'min' is a possessive suffix, so 'hayir min' can also mean 'my good' or 'my dear'. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ချစ်သူ | ||
| The term “ချစ်သူ” in Myanmar language is often used as a term for a romantic partner, but can also refer to a beloved friend or family member. | |||
Dear in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | terhormat | ||
| The word "terhormat" also means "esteemed" or "honorable" in Indonesian. | |||
| Javanese | sayang | ||
| In Javanese, the term "sayang" not only means "dear," but can also refer to a sweetheart, a person who is loved and cherished. | |||
| Khmer | ជាទីស្រឡាញ់ | ||
| Lao | ທີ່ຮັກແພງ | ||
| Malay | sayang | ||
| "Sayang" can also mean "pity" or "too bad" in Malay, expressing a sense of sympathy or regret. | |||
| Thai | ที่รัก | ||
| Thai "ที่รัก" (dear) can also refer to a lover, a close friend, or a child. | |||
| Vietnamese | kính thưa | ||
| The word "kính thưa" can also be used to express respect or gratitude, and is often used in formal settings or when addressing people who are older or in positions of authority. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mahal | ||
Dear in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | əziz | ||
| The word 'Əziz' can also refer to a saint or a noble person in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | қымбаттым | ||
| The word "қымбаттым" can also be used as a term of endearment or respect. | |||
| Kyrgyz | кымбаттуу | ||
| The word "кымбаттуу" in Kyrgyz is derived from the Persian word "qimatbədə" meaning "valuable" or "precious". | |||
| Tajik | азизам | ||
| The term “азизам” is also employed to describe the beloved one or a close person, as in “азизи мо” (“my dear”). | |||
| Turkmen | ezizim | ||
| Uzbek | azizim | ||
| The word "azizim" is derived from the Arabic word "aziz," meaning "precious," and denotes endearment and respect in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | قەدىرلىك | ||
Dear in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | aloha | ||
| The word "aloha" in Hawaiian also means "love" and can be used as a farewell greeting. | |||
| Maori | aroha | ||
| 'Aroha' in Māori can also mean mercy, pity, compassion, love, kindness, sympathy, empathy, or affection. | |||
| Samoan | pele | ||
| The word 'pele' also means 'to peel' in Samoan, so be careful when asking someone to remove a banana skin. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | mahal | ||
| "Mahal" can also mean "cost" or "price" in Tagalog. | |||
Dear in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | munata | ||
| Guarani | mi | ||
Dear in International Languages
| Esperanto | kara | ||
| The Esperanto word "kara" is borrowed from the Russian word "дорога" (doroga), which means "road" or "pathway". | |||
| Latin | cara | ||
| The Latin word "cara" can also mean "face". | |||
Dear in Others Languages
| Greek | αγαπητός | ||
| The word αγαπητός (agapētos) in Greek originally meant "beloved" or "esteemed," particularly in a religious context, and is still used in this sense today. | |||
| Hmong | nyob zoo | ||
| The Hmong word "Nyob zoo" has several other meanings, including "to live well" and "to be in good health." | |||
| Kurdish | ezîz | ||
| The Kurdish word "ezîz" is cognate with the Persian word "aziz" and the Arabic word "ʿazīz", all of which mean "precious" or "honored". | |||
| Turkish | sayın | ||
| The word "Sayın" is derived from the Arabic word "sayyid" which means "master" or "lord" and it can also be used as a term of respect for people of high status. | |||
| Xhosa | sithandwa | ||
| "Sithandwa" is the Xhosa word for "dear one". It's related to the word "thanda", "to love", and implies a feeling of deep affection. | |||
| Yiddish | טייַער | ||
| טייַער can also mean "expensive" or "valuable" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | othandekayo | ||
| The word "othandekayo" comes from the Zulu words "othanda" (lover) and "kayo" (small), suggesting a beloved or cherished person. | |||
| Assamese | মৰমৰ | ||
| Aymara | munata | ||
| Bhojpuri | प्रिय | ||
| Dhivehi | ލޮބުވެތި | ||
| Dogri | जिगरी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mahal | ||
| Guarani | mi | ||
| Ilocano | patpatgen | ||
| Krio | valyu | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بەڕێز | ||
| Maithili | प्रिय | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯅꯨꯡꯁꯤꯔꯕ | ||
| Mizo | duhtak | ||
| Oromo | kabajamoo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରିୟ | ||
| Quechua | kuyasqa | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रियः | ||
| Tatar | кадерлем | ||
| Tigrinya | ፍትውቲ | ||
| Tsonga | eka | ||