Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'directly' is a common term in English, meaning 'in a straight line' or 'without any intervening agency, circumstance, or person.' It's a word that signifies straightforwardness, efficiency, and a lack of detours. This concept is culturally important across the globe, as it represents a direct path to success, progress, and achievement.
Moreover, the word 'directly' has a rich historical context. In Old English, the word 'dirrect' meant 'straight, direct, or right.' Over time, the word evolved into its modern form, 'directly,' which has taken on various connotations in different cultures and languages.
Understanding the translation of 'directly' in different languages can be beneficial for those looking to expand their linguistic and cultural knowledge. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | direk | ||
Although "direk" is a borrowed word from Dutch, meaning "directly", it can also be understood in some instances as meaning "very" or "extreme" | |||
Amharic | በቀጥታ | ||
'በቀጥታ' can also be translated as "in the first instance," "firstly," or "as a first step." | |||
Hausa | kai tsaye | ||
While “kai tsaye” primarily means “directly” in Hausa, it can also function as an adverb of emphasis to convey “of course” or “undoubtedly.” | |||
Igbo | ozugbo | ||
The Igbo word "ozugbo" can also mean "immediately," "forthwith," or "instantly." | |||
Malagasy | mivantana | ||
"Mivantana" in Malagasy can also mean "face-to-face". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | molunjika | ||
The word "molunjika" is related to the word "lunjika" which means "to cut short". | |||
Shona | zvakananga | ||
Zvakananga can also mean 'in person' or 'in close proximity' | |||
Somali | toos ah | ||
The word "toos ah" can also mean "on the spot" or "in person." | |||
Sesotho | ka kotloloho | ||
The word "ka kotloloho" in Sesotho can also be interpreted as "in the right direction" or "straight ahead." | |||
Swahili | moja kwa moja | ||
Moja kwa moja is derived from the root 'moja' (one) and implies a singular, uninterrupted path. | |||
Xhosa | ngqo | ||
The word "ngqo" in Xhosa can also mean "immediately" or "without delay". The word likely comes from the verb "ngqa", meaning "to rush". The word "ngqo" can also be used to describe something straightforward, or something that is done without hesitation or delay. | |||
Yoruba | taara | ||
"Taara" can also mean "to look directly at" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | ngqo | ||
The word "ngqo" can also mean "immediately" or "without delay" in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | ka ɲɛsin a ma | ||
Ewe | tẽe | ||
Kinyarwanda | mu buryo butaziguye | ||
Lingala | mbala moko | ||
Luganda | butereevu | ||
Sepedi | ka go lebanya | ||
Twi (Akan) | tẽẽ | ||
Arabic | مباشرة | ||
The word "مباشرة" ("directly") in Arabic also has the meaning of "intercourse". | |||
Hebrew | ישירות | ||
The root of the word ישירות in Hebrew can be found in the word ישר, meaning 'straight' or 'upright'. | |||
Pashto | مستقیم | ||
The word "مستقیم" is derived from the Arabic word "مستقیم" which means "straight" or "direct." | |||
Arabic | مباشرة | ||
The word "مباشرة" ("directly") in Arabic also has the meaning of "intercourse". |
Albanian | drejtpërdrejt | ||
The word "drejtpërdrejt" is of Latin origin, coming from the phrase "directus per directum", which means "straight through". | |||
Basque | zuzenean | ||
The word "zuzenean" has a second, rarer meaning as "continuously, uninterruptedly, without ceasing." | |||
Catalan | directament | ||
"Directament" in Catalan can also mean "truthfully" or "frankly". | |||
Croatian | direktno | ||
The adverb "direktno" derives from the Proto-Slavic adverb "direktьnь", which is cognate with the Latin adverb "directe" and the Old Church Slavonic adverb "директьни". | |||
Danish | direkte | ||
Direkte also means 'directly' in Norwegian and Swedish, and 'directly towards' or 'straight ahead' in German. | |||
Dutch | direct | ||
In Dutch, the word "direct" and "directelijk" both mean "directly", but "direct" can also mean "frank" or "upright". | |||
English | directly | ||
The word "directly" can also mean "honestly" or "frankly". | |||
French | directement | ||
"Directement" in French can also mean "in the manner of" or "as". | |||
Frisian | direkt | ||
The Frisian word "direkt" has the same origin and meaning as the English word "direct". | |||
Galician | directamente | ||
"Directamente" also means "directly", and is related to "directitude" and "erect" in English. | |||
German | direkt | ||
In German, the word "direkt" also has the meaning of "express" or "straightforward". | |||
Icelandic | beint | ||
In Icelandic, 'beint' can also mean 'straight leg.' | |||
Irish | go díreach | ||
The Irish word "go díreach" also means "immediately" or "precisely". | |||
Italian | direttamente | ||
"Direttamente" also means "live", particularly in the context of a television broadcast. | |||
Luxembourgish | direkt | ||
Direkt in Luxembourgish can also mean "immediately" or "now". | |||
Maltese | direttament | ||
The word "direttament" in Maltese also means "completely" or "wholly". | |||
Norwegian | direkte | ||
The Norwegian word "direkte" can also mean "live" when referring to a broadcast. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | diretamente | ||
The Portuguese verb "direitar" (to straighten, to adjust) derives from the Latin verb "dirigere" (to make straight, to direct). | |||
Scots Gaelic | gu dìreach | ||
The Scots Gaelic word "gu dìreach" derives from the Scottish Gaelic phrase "go díreach" meaning "in a straight line" or "by the most direct route." | |||
Spanish | directamente | ||
The Spanish word "directamente" also means "frankly" or "without beating around the bush". | |||
Swedish | direkt | ||
"Direkt" in Swedish can also mean "direct" as in "going directly from one place to another" or as an adjective meaning "straightforward". | |||
Welsh | yn uniongyrchol | ||
The word "yn uniongyrchol" can also mean "immediately" or "without delay". |
Belarusian | непасрэдна | ||
The word "непасрэдна" in Belarusian comes from the Proto-Slavic root *neposrědb, meaning "immediately, without delay". | |||
Bosnian | direktno | ||
The word 'direktno' in Bosnian can also be used adverbially (to indicate direction). | |||
Bulgarian | директно | ||
The word "директно" also has the meaning of "in person". | |||
Czech | přímo | ||
The word "přímo" also means "frankly" or "openly" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | otse | ||
"Otse" originally meant "in front", a meaning preserved in several derived words and idioms | |||
Finnish | suoraan | ||
The word 'suoraan' can also mean 'frankly' or 'openly', and is derived from the word 'suora' meaning 'straight'. | |||
Hungarian | közvetlenül | ||
The Hungarian word "közvetlenül" originally meant "straight to the middle," referring to the shortest path between two points. | |||
Latvian | tieši | ||
The word "tieši" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *tek-, meaning "to run" or "to flow straight". It is cognate with the English word "direct" and the German word "direkt". | |||
Lithuanian | tiesiogiai | ||
The word "tiesiogiai" in Lithuanian can also mean "straightforwardly" or "precisely". | |||
Macedonian | директно | ||
The word "директно" derives from the French and Italian "diretto", and the Latin "directus", both meaning "straight" or "not crooked". | |||
Polish | bezpośrednio | ||
The word 'bezpośrednio' derives from 'bez' (without) and 'pośrednio' (mediatedly), implying a direct and unmediated connection. | |||
Romanian | direct | ||
«Direct» is a Romanian word of Latin origin, meaning «straight», «direct», but also «fair», «honest», and «straightforward». | |||
Russian | прямо | ||
In Russian, прямо can also mean "right now" or "immediately". | |||
Serbian | директно | ||
The word "директно" can also mean "straightforwardly" or "explicitly" in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | priamo | ||
"Priamo" can also mean "exactly" or "straightforward" in Slovak. | |||
Slovenian | neposredno | ||
The word "neposredno" in Slovenian derives from the Latin word "nepos" meaning "grandson" and later came to mean "descendant," "heir," or "successor." The word's modern meaning of "directly" developed from its sense of "through an intermediary" or "without mediation." | |||
Ukrainian | безпосередньо | ||
The word “безпосередньо” is derived from the Proto-Slavic “*bezъ posrědъ”, meaning “without an intermediary” or “face to face”. |
Bengali | সরাসরি | ||
The word "সরাসরি" can also mean "straight", "direct", or "straightforward" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | સીધા | ||
In Gujarati, the word "સીધા" can also mean "truthful" or "upright". | |||
Hindi | सीधे | ||
The word 'सीधे' can also mean 'straight' or 'honest'. | |||
Kannada | ನೇರವಾಗಿ | ||
The word "ನೇರವಾಗಿ" can also mean "straight" or "forward" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | നേരിട്ട് | ||
The word "നേരിട്ട്" in Malayalam can also mean "face-to-face" or "in person". | |||
Marathi | थेट | ||
The word "थेट" is derived from the Sanskrit word "तिष्ठति," meaning "to stand," and is cognate with the Persian word "رست," meaning "straight." | |||
Nepali | सिधा | ||
सिधा is originally derived from the Indo-Aryan word "सिदध" ('success' or 'attainment'), suggesting 'the shortest or most successful path'. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਿੱਧਾ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කෙලින්ම | ||
Tamil | நேரடியாக | ||
The word "நேரடியாக" can also mean "face to face" or "in person". | |||
Telugu | నేరుగా | ||
నేరుగా comes from the Sanskrit word 'Nirvikalpah' meaning 'without alternative' | |||
Urdu | براہ راست | ||
In Urdu, "براہ راست" has an alternate meaning of "immediately" or "without delay". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 直 | ||
In Chinese, the character "直" (zhí) also means "upright" or "straight". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 直 | ||
The Traditional Chinese character 直 (directly) can also mean upright, honest, or straightforward. | |||
Japanese | 直接 | ||
The Japanese word "直接" is a compound of the words "直" and "接", which mean "straight" and "connect", respectively. | |||
Korean | 직접 | ||
직접 (jik jib) is a Korean word that can also mean 'personally' or 'in person'. | |||
Mongolian | шууд | ||
"Шууд" is derived from the verb "шуурах" (to pull), which also means "to go straight or directly." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တိုက်ရိုက် | ||
Indonesian | langsung | ||
The word "langsung" in Indonesian can also mean "straightforward" or "immediately". | |||
Javanese | langsung | ||
The word "langsung" in Javanese has alternate meanings such as "straight", "fast", or "quick". | |||
Khmer | ដោយផ្ទាល់ | ||
The Khmer word for 'directly' is ដោយផ្ទាល់, which can also mean 'explicitly' or 'personally' depending on the context. | |||
Lao | ໂດຍກົງ | ||
Lao "ໂດຍກົງ" (directly) originated from "โดยตรง" in Siamese (Thai) rather than Sanskrit like many other Lao words. | |||
Malay | secara langsung | ||
The word "secara langsung" can also mean "face to face" or "in person". | |||
Thai | โดยตรง | ||
"โดยตรง" (pronounced dɔɔŋ-dràŋ) can also mean "thoroughly". | |||
Vietnamese | trực tiếp | ||
"Trực tiếp" can also mean "live" or "on the spot." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | direkta | ||
Azerbaijani | birbaşa | ||
The word "birbaşa" in Azerbaijani can also mean "immediately" or "without delay". | |||
Kazakh | тікелей | ||
"Тікелей" can also mean "completely" or "thoroughly" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | түздөн-түз | ||
Tajik | мустақиман | ||
The term 'мустақиман' in Tajik is derived from the Arabic word 'مستقيم' meaning 'straight' or 'correct'. It can also refer to the path that leads directly to God in Islamic teachings. | |||
Turkmen | gönüden-göni | ||
Uzbek | to'g'ridan-to'g'ri | ||
The word "to'g'ridan-to'g'ri" is composed of "to'g'ri" ("correct") and the directional affix "-dan". Therefore, it literally means "from the correct (direction)". | |||
Uyghur | بىۋاسىتە | ||
Hawaiian | pololei | ||
"Pololei" can also refer to the front part of something or an area that is windward or exposed. | |||
Maori | tika | ||
"Tika" also means "correct, appropriate, or right" in Maori. | |||
Samoan | tuusao | ||
There is a different and very interesting version of the tuusao that is more or less the opposite but in a way related - the tuusao taualuga - an extended family, all the male cousins of this family are known and considered as your brothers as you are their brother | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | diretso | ||
"Diretso" can also mean "straight", "honesty", or "truthfulness" in Tagalog. |
Aymara | chiqapa | ||
Guarani | directamente | ||
Esperanto | rekte | ||
The word "rekte" in Esperanto is an adverb, that literally means "in a straight line", "in a straightforward way". | |||
Latin | protinus | ||
"Protensus" originated from "pro" (forward) and "tendere" (stretch), giving it the additional meaning of "stretched out". |
Greek | κατευθείαν | ||
The word "κατευθείαν" derives from the merger of the prefix "κατά" (toward) and the word "ευθείαν" (straight path), hence its meaning of "directly". | |||
Hmong | ncaj qha | ||
"Ncaj qha" can also mean "shortcut" or "right away" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | rasterast | ||
The word "rasterast" can also be used to refer to the act of going straight to a destination without stopping. | |||
Turkish | direkt olarak | ||
The word "direkt olarak" can also mean "immediately" or "straight away" in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | ngqo | ||
The word "ngqo" in Xhosa can also mean "immediately" or "without delay". The word likely comes from the verb "ngqa", meaning "to rush". The word "ngqo" can also be used to describe something straightforward, or something that is done without hesitation or delay. | |||
Yiddish | דירעקט | ||
The Yiddish word "דירעקט" can also mean "honest" or "straightforward". | |||
Zulu | ngqo | ||
The word "ngqo" can also mean "immediately" or "without delay" in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | প্ৰত্যক্ষভাৱে | ||
Aymara | chiqapa | ||
Bhojpuri | सीधे तौर पर दिहल गइल बा | ||
Dhivehi | ސީދާ | ||
Dogri | सीधे | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | direkta | ||
Guarani | directamente | ||
Ilocano | direkta | ||
Krio | dairekt wan | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕاستەوخۆ | ||
Maithili | सीधे | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯀꯊꯦꯡꯅꯅꯥ ꯄꯤꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | direct a ni | ||
Oromo | kallattiin | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସିଧାସଳଖ | | ||
Quechua | chiqanmanta | ||
Sanskrit | प्रत्यक्षम् | ||
Tatar | турыдан-туры | ||
Tigrinya | ብቐጥታ | ||
Tsonga | hi ku kongoma | ||