Dear in different languages

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

Afrikaansgeagte
The word 'Geagte' can refer to a person or a thing, and is often used in formal letters or communication.
Amharicውድ
The word "ውድ" can also mean "expensive," "precious," or "beloved."}
Hausamasoyi
"Masoyi" also means "my beloved" and is a term of endearment used between spouses and lovers.
Igboezigbo
The Igbo word "ezigbo" can also mean "very good" or "excellent."
Malagasyry
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.
Shonamudiwa
"Mudiwa" can also refer to a type of porridge made from finger millet.
Somaligacaliye
The word "gacaliye" in Somali can also mean "beloved" or "lover".
Sesothomoratuoa
The Sesotho word "moratuoa" also means "beloved" or "my dear one."
Swahilimpendwa
The term comes from the verb "kupenda" (to love) and has a deeper emotional connotation compared to the English "dear".
Xhosasithandwa
"Sithandwa" is the Xhosa word for "dear one". It's related to the word "thanda", "to love", and implies a feeling of deep affection.
Yorubaọwọn
Ọwọn is also a euphemism for money derived from a metaphor referring to precious beads.
Zuluothandekayo
The word "othandekayo" comes from the Zulu words "othanda" (lover) and "kayo" (small), suggesting a beloved or cherished person.
Bambaran balima
Ewelɔlɔ̃tɔ
Kinyarwandanshuti
Lingalamolingami
Lugandamwattu
Sepedirategago
Twi (Akan)onua

Dear in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالعزيز
The word "العزيز" ("al-Aziz") in Arabic is also a title given to the Mamluk sultan.
Hebrewיָקָר
The Hebrew word "יָקָר" can also mean "precious", "valuable", or "costly".
Pashtoګرانه
The word ګرانه in Pashto can also mean 'expensive' or 'costly'.
Arabicالعزيز
The word "العزيز" ("al-Aziz") in Arabic is also a title given to the Mamluk sultan.

Dear in Western European Languages

Albaniani dashur
The word "i dashur" has a second meaning, "the heart", like its counterpart in Italian, "il cuore".
Basquemaitea
In the Lapurdian and Zuberoan dialects, the word "maite" also means "to love".
Catalanestimat
The word "estimat" in Catalan is derived from the Latin word "aestimatus", meaning "valued" or "esteemed."
Croatiandraga
"Draga" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "dragu" meaning "precious, beloved" and has cognates in many other Slavic languages such as Russian and Polish.
Danishkære
The word "Kære" has many different meanings, with some relating to the word "care".
Dutchgeachte
Geachte, a Dutch word for "dear," derives from the Middle Dutch "geacht" (esteemed) and "-e" (diminutive), suggesting a sense of familiarity and respect.
Englishdear
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.
Frenchchère
The word "chère" in French can also be used to refer to a female sweetheart, close female friend, or a beloved person.
Frisianleave
The Frisian word "leave" also has the meanings "allow", "let", and "leave alone".
Galicianquerido
Galician "querido" (dear) comes from the Latin "quaere" (to seek), implying the idea of someone who is sought or desired.
Germansehr geehrter
"Sehr" means "very" (akin to "sore" and "sermon"), whereas "geehrt" means "honoured", so it literally means "very honoured."
Icelandickæra
The word "kæra" can also mean "to complain" in Icelandic.
Irishfaraor
The word 'faraor' originates from the French 'faraud' or 'faorair' meaning 'to brag' or 'to show off'.
Italiancaro
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.
Luxembourgishléif
The word "léif" is related to "live" or "dear life" and signifies the bond between the speaker and listener.
Maltesegħażiż
Norwegiankjære
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 Gaelicghràdhaich
Spanishquerido
"Querido" in Spanish evolved from the Latin word "carum", meaning love or affection.
Swedishkära
"Kära" is related to "care" or "cherish", but it can also mean "strong-minded" in old Swedish contexts.
Welshannwyl
The Welsh word "annwyl" is also used to describe a beloved person, a sweetheart, or a lover.

Dear in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдарагая
While 'дарагая' in Belarusian is often translated to 'dear,' it can also mean 'expensive' or 'valuable.'
Bosniandraga
The word "draga" in Bosnian is likely derived from the Proto-Slavic word for "darling."
Bulgarianскъпа
The Bulgarian word "скъпа" also means "precious" in the sense of not costly, but loved and highly valued.
Czechmilý
In Czech, "milý" also has a historical meaning of "merciful" and is used in greetings or farewells, similar to "gracious" in English.
Estoniankallis
The word "kallis" also refers to "expensive" in Estonian, similar to the French "cher".
Finnishrakas
While the word "rakas" is most well-known for meaning "dearest" in English, it derives from the Proto-Finnic word meaning "lovely".
Hungariankedves
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."
Latviandārgs
The Latvian word "dārgs" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *derg-, meaning "to hold dear".
Lithuanianbrangusis
The word "brangusis" can also refer to a "valuable" or "precious" object.
Macedonianмил
The Slavic root of "мил" ("mil") also means "kind" and "nice" in Russian, Polish, and Czech.
Polishdrogi
Drogi (доро́ги) is a Polish word meaning “dear” that derives from the Proto-Slavic word *dorъgъ, meaning “costly, valuable, expensive, precious”.
Romaniandragă
The Romanian word "dragă" is most likely derived from the Slavic word "dragъ", meaning "beloved" or "precious".
Russianдорогой
"Дорогой" (adjective) can also mean "expensive" and "valuable" and is derived from the Old Slavic word "dorog"
Serbianдрага
The word "драга" is also used in Serbia as an informal and affectionate term for one's significant other, particularly a woman.
Slovakdrahá
The word "drahá" in Slovak comes from the Proto-Slavic word "dorga", meaning "road" or "path".
Sloveniandragi
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).
Ukrainianшановний
Шановний comes from Old Church Slavonic 'čьstьnъ', meaning 'honorable' or 'glorious'.

Dear in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপ্রিয়
The word "প্রিয়" can also mean "favorite" or "beloved" in various contexts.
Gujaratiપ્રિય
"પ્રિય" means "dear," but it also means "beloved," "favorite," or "special."
Hindiप्रिय
The word "प्रिय" in Hindi originally meant "beloved", but in modern usage it can also refer to "expensive".
Kannadaಪ್ರೀತಿಯ
"ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ" is also used as a term of endearment towards children, as it has a sense of affection and love embedded in its meaning.
Malayalamപ്രിയ
The word "പ്രിയ" (priya) can also mean 'beloved' in Vedic Sanskrit, and it is related to the Latin word "carus".
Marathiप्रिय
The Marathi word "प्रिय" (priya) is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रिय" (priya), which means "beloved," "darling," or "favorite."
Nepaliप्रिय
The word “प्रिय” (prya) in Nepali can also mean “beloved,” “favorite,” or “agreeable.”
Punjabiਪਿਆਰੇ
"ਪਿਆਰੇ" can also refer to someone who is close or intimate in a non-romantic way.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ආදරණීය
Tamilஅன்பே
"அன்பே" can also be used to address a person one loves or cares about, like a spouse or a close family member.
Teluguప్రియమైన
The word "ప్రియమైన" can also refer to a loved one or a close friend.
Urduپیارے
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).
Korean소중한
"소중한" is the Korean adjective form of the word "소중" which means precious, valuable, important or worthy."
Mongolianхайрт 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

Indonesianterhormat
The word "terhormat" also means "esteemed" or "honorable" in Indonesian.
Javanesesayang
In Javanese, the term "sayang" not only means "dear," but can also refer to a sweetheart, a person who is loved and cherished.
Khmerជាទីស្រឡាញ់
Laoທີ່ຮັກແພງ
Malaysayang
"Sayang" can also mean "pity" or "too bad" in Malay, expressing a sense of sympathy or regret.
Thaiที่รัก
Thai "ที่รัก" (dear) can also refer to a lover, a close friend, or a child.
Vietnamesekính 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

Azerbaijaniəziz
The word 'Əziz' can also refer to a saint or a noble person in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhқымбаттым
The word "қымбаттым" can also be used as a term of endearment or respect.
Kyrgyzкымбаттуу
The word "кымбаттуу" in Kyrgyz is derived from the Persian word "qimatbədə" meaning "valuable" or "precious".
Tajikазизам
The term “азизам” is also employed to describe the beloved one or a close person, as in “азизи мо” (“my dear”).
Turkmenezizim
Uzbekazizim
The word "azizim" is derived from the Arabic word "aziz," meaning "precious," and denotes endearment and respect in Uzbek.
Uyghurقەدىرلىك

Dear in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianaloha
The word "aloha" in Hawaiian also means "love" and can be used as a farewell greeting.
Maoriaroha
'Aroha' in Māori can also mean mercy, pity, compassion, love, kindness, sympathy, empathy, or affection.
Samoanpele
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

Aymaramunata
Guaranimi

Dear in International Languages

Esperantokara
The Esperanto word "kara" is borrowed from the Russian word "дорога" (doroga), which means "road" or "pathway".
Latincara
The Latin word "cara" can also mean "face".

Dear in Others Languages

Greekαγαπητός
The word αγαπητός (agapētos) in Greek originally meant "beloved" or "esteemed," particularly in a religious context, and is still used in this sense today.
Hmongnyob zoo
The Hmong word "Nyob zoo" has several other meanings, including "to live well" and "to be in good health."
Kurdishezîz
The Kurdish word "ezîz" is cognate with the Persian word "aziz" and the Arabic word "ʿazīz", all of which mean "precious" or "honored".
Turkishsayın
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.
Xhosasithandwa
"Sithandwa" is the Xhosa word for "dear one". It's related to the word "thanda", "to love", and implies a feeling of deep affection.
Yiddishטייַער
טייַער can also mean "expensive" or "valuable" in Yiddish.
Zuluothandekayo
The word "othandekayo" comes from the Zulu words "othanda" (lover) and "kayo" (small), suggesting a beloved or cherished person.
Assameseমৰমৰ
Aymaramunata
Bhojpuriप्रिय
Dhivehiލޮބުވެތި
Dogriजिगरी
Filipino (Tagalog)mahal
Guaranimi
Ilocanopatpatgen
Kriovalyu
Kurdish (Sorani)بەڕێز
Maithiliप्रिय
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯅꯨꯡꯁꯤꯔꯕ
Mizoduhtak
Oromokabajamoo
Odia (Oriya)ପ୍ରିୟ
Quechuakuyasqa
Sanskritप्रियः
Tatarкадерлем
Tigrinyaፍትውቲ
Tsongaeka

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