Deserve in different languages

Deserve in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'deserve' carries significant weight in our vocabulary, indicating a person's actions, behavior, or qualities merit a particular reward or punishment. Its cultural importance is undeniable, shaping our understanding of fairness, justice, and respect. Understanding the translation of 'deserve' in different languages can provide valuable insights into cultural nuances and societal values.

For instance, in Spanish, 'deserve' is 'merecer', while in German, it's 'verdienen'. These translations not only bridge linguistic gaps but also offer a glimpse into how different cultures perceive and express the concept of merit. In French, 'deserve' is 'mériter', and in Italian, it's 'meritare'. Each translation subtly reflects cultural attitudes towards earned recognition and reward.

Exploring the translations of 'deserve' is more than just a language lesson. It's a journey into the heart of cultural identity, a testament to our shared human experience, and a celebration of our unique cultural differences.

Deserve


Deserve in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansverdien
Afrikaans "verdienen" can also mean "to earn" or "to be worthy of", reflecting its Dutch etymology.
Amharicይገባቸዋል
The Amharic word 'ይገባቸዋል' also means 'ought to'.
Hausacancanci
The word "cancanci" in Hausa shares its root word with "cancanta," meaning "to become accustomed to," indicating that deserving something implies a familiarity or habit.
Igbokwesịrị
The word "kwesịrị" in Igbo literally means "to be right or fit" and can also be used to express "justice" or "fairness."
Malagasymendrika
The Malagasy word "mendrika" can also mean "be right for" or "be appropriate for".
Nyanja (Chichewa)woyenera
The Nyanja word "woyenera" can also mean "to be able to" or "to have the means to accomplish something."
Shonavakakodzera
Shona 'vakakodzera' also denotes 'being worthy', 'being responsible', or 'being adequate'
Somalimudan
The word "mudan" can also mean "a right" or "a claim".
Sesothotšoaneloa
The word "tšoaneloa" in Sesotho has an alternate meaning of "to be worthy of something" or "having a valid claim to something".
Swahilistahili
The word "stahili" can also refer to a person's worth or importance.
Xhosakufanelekile
The word "kufanelekile" can also mean "to be worthy of" or "to be suitable for" in Xhosa.
Yorubayẹ
The word "yẹ" can also mean "to be fit for" or "to be worthy of" in Yoruba.
Zulubafanelwe
From '*-fanelwa*, v. tr. be fit, becoming or suitable' (Doke & Vilakazi, 1972), a derivative of *-fanela*, v. intr. 'fit, be fitting' (1st ed., 1948).
Bambaraka kan ni ... ye
Ewedze na
Kinyarwandabikwiye
Lingalakobonga
Lugandaokusaana
Sepediswanelwa ke
Twi (Akan)

Deserve in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicاستحق
The word "استحق" has the additional meaning of "to be due" or "to have a right to something" in Arabic.
Hebrewמגיע
מגיע in Hebrew can also mean "to arrive".
Pashtoمستحق
The Pashto word "مستحق" has an etymological link to the Arabic word "استحق" and can also refer to "entitlement" in addition to "deserving".
Arabicاستحق
The word "استحق" has the additional meaning of "to be due" or "to have a right to something" in Arabic.

Deserve in Western European Languages

Albanianmeritojnë
"Meritojnë" derives from Latin "mereor," meaning "earn" or "merit."
Basquemerezi
The Basque word 'merezi' can also mean 'to be worthy', 'to merit', or 'to be worth'
Catalanmereix
"Mereix" derives from the Latin "mereō," meaning "earn money," and has also been used in Catalan to refer to the earnings of a doctor or priest.
Croatianzaslužuju
The Croatian word "zaslužuju" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*zaslužiti", which means "to earn" or "to merit."
Danishfortjener
The word "fortjener" comes from the Old Norse word "forþjena", meaning "to earn" or "to merit".
Dutchverdienen
In Dutch, "verdienen" can also mean "to earn" or "to make money".
Englishdeserve
A secondary meaning of "deserve" is "merit as a reward or punishment."
Frenchmériter
The word "mériter" comes from the Latin "merēre," meaning "to earn" or "to deserve," and can also mean "to win" or "to be worthy of" in French.
Frisianfertsjinje
The word "fertsjinje" originates from the Old Frisian word "ferskina", meaning "to obtain" or "to gain".
Galicianmerecer
Galician 'merecer' is derived from Latin 'merere' meaning 'to earn by service', unlike Spanish 'merecer' from 'merx' meaning 'merchandise'.
Germanverdienen
In Middle High German, "verdienen" also meant "to earn wages".
Icelandiceiga skilið
The Icelandic word "eiga skilið" literally means "have understood" but is used to mean "deserve".
Irishtuillte
The word "tuillte" is also related to the word "tuille" (advantage, benefit), indicating that deserving is connected to gaining or possessing an advantage.
Italianmeritano
Originally, "meritare" meant "to earn one's keep as a soldier".
Luxembourgishverdéngt
Maltesejixirqilhom
The Maltese word "jixirqilhom" derives from the Arabic word "jizah" meaning "recompense" or "punishment".
Norwegianfortjene
The verb "fortjene" likely developed from the Old Norse "forþiena", which refers to service in exchange for goods.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)merecer
In Portuguese, "merecer" can also mean "earn", "be worthy of", or "be entitled to".
Scots Gaelicairidh air
Air comes from the Gaelic for "time" or "season," so "airidh air" means "comes its time" or "becomes the season."
Spanishmerecer
The noun "merecer" originally meant "market place" or "exchange". This meaning is preserved in the French word "marché" and the English word "merchant".
Swedishförtjänar
The Swedish word "förtjänar" originally meant "to earn" or "to deserve one's wages".
Welshhaeddu
The Welsh word "haeddu" is cognate with the English word "owed" and the Indo-European root "*h₁ey- " "to go, move"

Deserve in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзаслугоўваюць
Bosnianzaslužuju
The word "zaslužuju" may also mean "have a right to".
Bulgarianзаслужават
The Slavic root of заслужават "deserve" also exists in Polish (zasłużyć), Ukrainian (заслужити), Belarusian (заслугоўваць), Czech (zasloužit), Slovak (zaslúžiť), and Russian (заслужить), but in Serbo-Croatian the verb for "deserve" is zaslužiti.
Czechzasloužit si
The verb "zasloužit" can also mean "to earn".
Estonianväärima
The Estonian word "väärima" is thought to be related to the word for "worth" or "value" in other Finno-Ugric languages, suggesting a meaning of "to have value" or "to be worthy".
Finnishansaitsevat
"Ansaitsevat" comes from "ansa","portion", referring initially to a specific share due to someone.
Hungarianmegérdemlik
The word "megérdemlik" comes from the verb "érdemel," which means "to merit" or "to be worthy of."
Latvianpelnījuši
The noun "pelni" can refer to "service", "merit", "worth", or "desert".
Lithuaniannusipelno
"Nusipelnyti" is a compound of the Slavic root slu (meaning "to become") and the Balto-Slavic verb pelnyti (meaning "to make").
Macedonianзаслужуваат
The word "заслужуваат" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *zaslužiti which is derived from the suffix *-(o)služiti and the Proto-Indo-European root *kwer-, meaning "to turn".
Polishzasłużyć
"Zasłużyć" is a Polish word meaning "to deserve" which is related to the words "talent" and "quality."
Romanianmerita
In Hungarian, "merita" means "to have".
Russianзаслужить
"Заслужить" derives from "слуга" (servant); to "deserve" is literally to become worthy of servitude.
Serbianзаслужују
The verb "заслужују" in Serbian is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb *zaslužiti, which is composed of the prefix *za- ("for, because of") and the root *služiti ("to serve").
Slovakzaslúžiť si
In Slovak the word "zaslúžiť si" used to mean "take back your merit".
Slovenianzaslužijo
The verb "zaslužiti" can also mean "to earn".
Ukrainianзаслуговують
The word "заслуговують" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root "*zorgъ", meaning "to care for" or "to value".

Deserve in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপ্রাপ্য
The word "প্রাপ্য" derives from Sanskrit and has the alternate meanings "eligible" and "fit"
Gujaratiલાયક
"લાયક" is derived from Sanskrit "लायक" meaning "competent, qualified, fit"
Hindiलायक
"लायक" comes from the word "लय" ("rhythm"), suggesting that to deserve something, one's actions must be in harmony with the principles of justice and fairness.
Kannadaಅರ್ಹರು
ಅರ್ಹರು originates from the root word 'ಅರ್ಹ' meaning 'worthy' or 'suitable' and has alternate meanings like 'worthy of receiving something' or 'qualified for a particular position or task'.
Malayalamഅർഹത
The original usage refers to one who has acquired the fruits from good deeds
Marathiपात्र
The word 'पात्र' (deserve) in Marathi also refers to a utensil used for drinking or serving liquids.
Nepaliपाउन योग्य
The word 'पाउन योग्य' ('deserve') comes from 'पाउन' ('to get') which means that if someone 'deserves' something, they should be able to 'get' it.
Punjabiਲਾਇਕ
The Punjabi word "ਲਾਇਕ" additionally signifies "worthy" and "appropriate".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)සුදුසුයි
Tamilதகுதி
The Tamil word "தகுதி" is also used in the context of being worthy or qualified for a task or position.
Teluguఅర్హత
The Sanskrit word "arha" means "worthy, deserving" and is the root of the Telugu word "arhata"
Urduمستحق
The word "مستحق" also means "poor" or "needy" in Urdu, indicating that those who are worthy of something are often those who are in need.

Deserve in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)值得
值得 was originally used as a unit of weight, about 20 grams.
Chinese (Traditional)值得
"值得" comes from "值" 'worth' and "得" 'obtain', and thus may alternatively mean 'worth obtaining', 'be worthy of', or 'be of value'.
Japanese値する
The word "値する" (deserve) derives from the Sino-Japanese word 値う, which originally refers to the worth or exchange value and has an additional semantic element of being suitable.
Korean받을 만하다
받을 만하다 originally meant "to be able to receive (something)", but its meaning has shifted over time to also include "to be worthy of (something)".
Mongolianзохистой
The word "зохистой" is derived from the Mongolian word "зох", meaning "to be worthy or fit".
Myanmar (Burmese)ထိုက်သည်

Deserve in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpantas
"Pantas" is a versatile term that denotes not only "deserving" but also "fitting" and "appropriate" depending on the context.
Javanesepantes
The word "pantes" in Javanese can also mean "fitting" or "appropriate".
Khmerសមនឹងទទួលបាន
This verb also means to be worthy of something.
Laoສົມຄວນ
Malayberhak
The word “berhak” can also mean to have a right to something due to one's status or position.
Thaiสมควรได้รับ
สมควรได้รับ is also used to refer to a person who is worthy of respect or honor.
Vietnamesexứng đáng
Xứng đáng derives from Middle Chinese xiàngdàng, possibly originally meaning 'to be worth'.
Filipino (Tagalog)nararapat

Deserve in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanilayiq olmaq
The Azerbaijani word
Kazakhлайықты
The Kazakh word "лайықты" also means "worthy" or "fitting" and is cognate with the Kyrgyz word "лайык" with the same meaning.
Kyrgyzтатыктуу
The word "татыктуу" can also mean "worthy" or "suitable" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikсазовор
The word "сазовор" comes from Persian and also means a prize or trophy.
Turkmenmynasyp
Uzbekloyiq
The Uzbek word "loyiq" can also mean "worthy", "appropriate", or "suitable".
Uyghurلايىق

Deserve in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpono
Pono also means 'righteous,' 'fitting,' 'proper,' 'correct,' 'moral,' or 'upright.'
Maoritika
In Maori, the word "tika" also means "right, correct, proper, or just" and is related to the word "tikanga", meaning "custom, tradition, or norm".
Samoantatau
The noun form of 'tatau' also refers to an object's value or price. (Source: https://www.verbix.com/languages/samoa.shtml)
Tagalog (Filipino)karapat-dapat
The word "karapat-dapat" is derived from the root word "dapat" which means "to be fit or proper".

Deserve in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaramirisiña
Guaranimomba'eguasu

Deserve in International Languages

Esperantomeriti
"Meriti" derives from Esperanto words "merito" (merit) and "i" (to have)
Latindigna
The Latin word "digna" can also mean "worthy" or "suitable".

Deserve in Others Languages

Greekαξίζω
{"text": "The Ancient Greek verb "αξίζω" also meant "weigh" and "have weight or value," reflecting the original connotation of "worthiness."}"
Hmongtsim nyog
The word "tsim nyog" is derived from the Proto-Hmong-Mien word *tshim nyɔŋ, which also means "to get" or "to obtain."
Kurdishqezenckirin
The word "qezenckirin" in Kurdish can also mean "to be worthy" or "to be suitable".
Turkishhak etmek
"Hak etmek", as well as "hak", derives from the Arabic root "ḥaqq" meaning "right", "justice", "truth".
Xhosakufanelekile
The word "kufanelekile" can also mean "to be worthy of" or "to be suitable for" in Xhosa.
Yiddishפאַרדינען
The origin of "פאַרדינען" is "דינען," from the Middle High German verb "dienen." Besides "deserve" or "earn" its secondary Yiddish meaning is to "serve," as in a server at a restaurant.
Zulubafanelwe
From '*-fanelwa*, v. tr. be fit, becoming or suitable' (Doke & Vilakazi, 1972), a derivative of *-fanela*, v. intr. 'fit, be fitting' (1st ed., 1948).
Assameseপ্ৰাপ্য
Aymaramirisiña
Bhojpuriलायक
Dhivehiޙައްޤުވުން
Dogriचाहना
Filipino (Tagalog)nararapat
Guaranimomba'eguasu
Ilocanomaiparbeng
Kriofɔ gɛt
Kurdish (Sorani)شایستە
Maithiliयोग्यता
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯐꯪꯐꯝ ꯊꯣꯛꯄ
Mizophu
Oromokan malu
Odia (Oriya)ଯୋଗ୍ୟ
Quechuachaskikuy
Sanskritअर्हति
Tatarлаек
Tigrinyaምግባእ
Tsongafaneleke

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