Dirty in different languages

Dirty in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'dirty' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, signifying something unclean or morally impure. Its cultural importance is evident in various forms of art, literature, and media, where the concept of dirt and grime is often used metaphorically to convey deeper meanings. For instance, the phrase 'dirty hands' is often used to describe someone involved in questionable activities, while 'dirty dancing' has become a popular cultural phenomenon.

Moreover, the word 'dirty' has fascinating historical contexts. During the Victorian era, for example, the word was used to describe anything that was considered taboo or vulgar. Today, the word continues to evolve, taking on new meanings in different cultures and contexts.

Understanding the translation of 'dirty' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other cultures perceive and interpret this concept. Here are a few sample translations to pique your curiosity:

  • Dirty (English) - Schmutzig (German)
  • Dirty (English) - Sucio (Spanish)
  • Dirty (English) - Sale (French)

Dirty


Dirty in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansvuil
The Afrikaans word "vuil" derives from the Proto-West Germanic word "*wuljaz", meaning "dirty, polluted".
Amharicቆሻሻ
The word "ቆሻሻ" can also mean "worthless" or "useless" in Amharic.
Hausadatti
Hausa has multiple words that translate to 'dirty' in English: 'datti', 'kazami', and 'mai ƙazanta'. 'Datti' is often used to describe physical dirtiness, while 'kazami' suggests moral impurity and 'mai ƙazanta' is less common.
Igbounyi
In Igbo, "unyi" is often used to refer to a state of ritual impurity, as distinct from physical uncleanliness.
Malagasymaloto
The Malagasy word 'maloto' can also refer to a type of traditional Malagasy dance or to the act of cleaning oneself.
Nyanja (Chichewa)zauve
The word "zauve" also means "bad" or "filthy" in Nyanja (Chichewa).
Shonatsvina
The word "tsvina" in Shona can also refer to a type of wild pumpkin.
Somaliwasakh ah
The word "wasakh ah" can also be used to describe the smell of unwashed clothes or the dirt on a person's hands.
Sesothoditshila
The word ditshila can also mean 'bad luck', 'evil', or 'curse' in Sesotho.
Swahilichafu
The word "chafu" also means "mixed" or "impure" in Swahili.
Xhosaemdaka
The word 'emdaka' is also used to refer to a type of traditional dance performed by women in Xhosa culture.
Yorubaidọti
The Yoruba word "idọti" can also refer to "filth" or "pollution".
Zulukungcolile
"Kungcolile" can also mean "filthy," "soiled," or "polluted" in Zulu.
Bambaranɔgɔlen
Eweƒo ɖi
Kinyarwandaumwanda
Lingalambindo
Luganda-kyaafu
Sepediditqhila
Twi (Akan)fi

Dirty in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicقذر
The word "قذر" (dirty) is derived from the verb "قذر" (to be dirty), which in turn comes from the root "ق د ر" (to be dirty, impure, or stained).
Hebrewמְלוּכלָך
מְלוּכלָך derives from the root 'לכלך' ('to soil') and may also refer to something 'stained' or 'soiled'.
Pashtoچټل
The word "چټل" can also refer to "unfit" or "useless", and its feminine form "چټله" means "ugly".
Arabicقذر
The word "قذر" (dirty) is derived from the verb "قذر" (to be dirty), which in turn comes from the root "ق د ر" (to be dirty, impure, or stained).

Dirty in Western European Languages

Albaniani ndyrë
The Albanian word "i ndyrë" also signifies "indecent" or "disgusting" in a non-literal sense.
Basquezikina
The word "zikina" also has the alternate meaning of "miserly" or "stingy" in Basque.
Catalanbrut
The word "brut" in Catalan also means "crude oil"}
Croatianprljav
Prljav shares the same root as "prlina", which is a Slavic word for "soot".
Danishsnavset
The word 'snavset' is of Middle Low German origin, and its original meaning was 'to cut or tear'.
Dutchvuil
The word "vuil" in Dutch also means "foul" or "mean".
Englishdirty
The word 'dirty' can also refer to something that is morally wrong or impure.
Frenchsale
In French, "sale" also means "room" or "hall", and in that sense derives from the Latin "sala".
Frisiansmoarch
The word 'smoarch' in Frisian, meaning 'dirty', is related to the Dutch word 'smerig', and originally meant 'painful' or 'smarting'.
Galiciansucio
In Galician, "sucio" also means "stingy".
Germandreckig
Dreckig can also mean 'poor' or 'miserly' in some German dialects.
Icelandicskítugur
Skítugur also means 'naughty' or 'mischievous'.
Irishsalach
The word 'salach' has an alternate meaning of 'filthy'.
Italiansporco
Sporco, from the Late Latin spurcus meaning both "dirty" and "disgusting", is related to English "spurn" and "sparrow", whose names derive from its unappealing qualities.
Luxembourgishdreckeg
It is derived from the Westphalian word 'dreckig' meaning 'dirty'
Maltesemaħmuġ
The word "maħmuġ" in Maltese is derived from the Arabic word "maḥmūd" meaning "praised" and has the archaic sense of "precious".
Norwegianskitten
The word "skitten" can also be used to describe a person who is unpleasant or untidy.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)sujo
The word 'sujo' can also mean 'ugly', 'unclean', 'bad', 'unpleasant', 'unhealthy', 'sickly', or 'disgusting'
Scots Gaelicsalach
The word 'salach' also means 'dirty linen' or 'rags' in Gaelic.
Spanishsucio
"Sucio" derives from Latin "sordido", meaning "defiled" or "polluted."
Swedishsmutsig
In the 17th century, 'smutsig' was considered a slang word for 'drunk' rather than 'dirty'.
Welshbudr
"Budr" comes from "buidr", meaning "rotten", "corrupt", and "worthless". The plural "bydrau" refers to "rotten things".

Dirty in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianбрудны
The word "брудны" can also refer to "dishonest" or "unfair".
Bosnianprljav
The word "prljav" in Bosnian can also mean "indecent" or "obscene" in a more abstract sense.
Bulgarianмръсен
In Bulgarian, the word "мръсен" also has connotations of "naughty" or "vulgar."
Czechšpinavý
The word "špinavý" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "spina", meaning "dirt" or "grime."
Estonianräpane
The word 'räpane' is derived from the Proto-Finnic word 'räpänä', which means 'rotten' or 'decayed'.
Finnishlikainen
The word "likainen" can also refer to something that is stained or contaminated.
Hungarianpiszkos
It can also be an adjective to describe someone who is mean or dishonest, perhaps originating from a person with unwashed hands handling food making it dirty.
Latviannetīrs
The Latvian word "netīrs" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *ney-, meaning "to wash, to cleanse" and is cognate with the English word "neat".
Lithuanianpurvinas
The word "purvinas" in Lithuanian derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "peu-" meaning "to rot", and it can also mean "nasty" or "disgusting".
Macedonianвалкани
The word "валкани" in Macedonian is of Proto-Slavic origin and is related to the word "валя" (to roll).
Polishbrudny
The etymology of "brudny" is related to a Proto-Slavic root that also means "to boil".
Romanianmurdar
The Romanian word "murdar" may derive from the Persian "murdār", meaning "corpse", or from the Latin "mordere", meaning "to bite".
Russianгрязный
In Russian, грязный can be used to describe someone who is morally or spiritually impure.
Serbianпрљав
"Прљав" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *porlъ, meaning both "dirty" and "ashamed."
Slovakšpinavý
The Slovak word "špinavý" can also mean "stained" or "muddy".
Slovenianumazan
Umazan, meaning "dirty" in Slovenian, can also refer to a state of chaos or confusion, similar to the English phrase "a mess".
Ukrainianбрудний
The word "брудний" (brudnyy) in Ukrainian can also mean "unfavorable" or "unpleasant".

Dirty in South Asian Languages

Bengaliনোংরা
"নোংরা" is also used to describe something that is impure or not clean, such as “tainted food”
Gujaratiગંદા
The Gujarati word "ગંદા" can also mean "foul-smelling" or "unclean".
Hindiगंदा
"गंदा" (gandā) is a Hindi word that can also mean 'unwholesome' or 'evil', derived from the Sanskrit word 'gandha' (scent) or 'gandha' (fragrance), and is related to the English word 'stink'.
Kannadaಕೊಳಕು
The word "ಕೊಳಕು" can also mean "muddy" or "cloudy" in Kannada.
Malayalamഅഴുക്കായ
The word 'അഴുക്കായ' can also mean 'unclean' or 'impure' in Malayalam.
Marathiगलिच्छ
"गलिच्छ" can also mean "disgusting" or "offensive".
Nepaliफोहोर
The word 'फोहोर' in Nepali can also refer to waste or trash.
Punjabiਗੰਦਾ
The word "ਗੰਦਾ" can also mean "unclean", "impure", or "contaminated" in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අපිරිසිදු
The word "අපිරිසිදු" ("dirty") in Sinhala (Sinhalese) originally meant "unclean" or "impure" in a religious context.
Tamilஅழுக்கு
The word 'அழுக்கு' also refers to 'lack of clarity' or 'confusion' in Tamil.
Teluguమురికి
The word "మురికి" can also refer to "impure" or "impurity".
Urduگندا
The word "گندا" can also mean "unclean", "impure", or "indecent".

Dirty in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character "脏" can also mean "viscera" or "internal organs" in Chinese traditional medicine.
Chinese (Traditional)
In Traditional Chinese, 臟 (zàng) also means "inner organs".
Japanese汚れた
The word "汚れた" has a secondary meaning of "corrupted" or "tainted".
Korean더러운
The word 더러운 (dirty) can also mean "impure" or "unclean" in Korean.
Mongolianбохир
The word "бохир" can also mean "unclean" or "impure" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)ညစ်ပတ်တယ်

Dirty in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankotor
The word "kotor" can also mean "filthy", "unclean", or "polluted".
Javanesereged
The word "reged" in Javanese can also mean "grimy" or "soiled."
Khmerកខ្វក់
The word 'កខ្វក់' is also used to describe something or someone that is unpleasant or disgusting.
Laoເປື້ອນ
The word ເປື້ອນ (dirty) originates from the word ປື້ອນ (to throw or fling), implying the act of throwing or getting something dirty on oneself.}
Malaykotor
The word "kotor" can also mean "impure", "unclean", or "filthy".
Thaiสกปรก
สกปรก in Thai also refers to something untidy, messy, or out of place
Vietnamesedơ bẩn
The word "dơ bẩn" can also mean "unclean" or "polluted" in other contexts.
Filipino (Tagalog)marumi

Dirty in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniçirkli
The word "çirkli" in Azerbaijani also means "ugly" or "unattractive".
Kazakhлас
The word "лас" in Kazakh can also mean "to smear" or "to rub".
Kyrgyzкир
The word "кир" also means "pollution" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikифлос
The word "ифлос" can also mean "unclean" or "impure". It originates from the Persian word "ифлос".
Turkmenhapa
Uzbekiflos
"Iflos" may also mean "worthless" or "unfortunate" and has a colloquial alternate form, "iflosa"
Uyghurمەينەت

Dirty in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianlepo
The word 'lepo' can also mean 'slippery' or 'oily' in Hawaiian.
Maoriparu
The Māori word 'paru' means 'brownish black', but can also refer to 'dirt' or 'soot', due to its association with dark colors.
Samoanpalapala
The word 'palapala' in Samoan can also refer to something that is not clear or distinct.
Tagalog (Filipino)marumi
"Marumi" is a euphemism for pregnancy that's rarely used nowadays but can still be heard in the countryside.

Dirty in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraq'añu
Guaraniky'a

Dirty in International Languages

Esperantomalpura
"Malpura" in Esperanto is etymologically based on "malpuri" (to purify) indicating the act of removing impurities.
Latinsordidum
The Latin 'sordidum' (dirty) could also refer to 'a poor man' or 'a miserly man'.

Dirty in Others Languages

Greekβρώμικος
βρώμικος has the same root with βρώμα, meaning food, thus, in some older texts, it may mean 'smelly' or 'having a strong odor', which may be pleasant.
Hmongqias neeg
"Qias neeg" literally means "to not wash" in Hmong
Kurdishqirêjî
The word "qirêjî" in Kurdish also means "unclean" or "impure", and is related to the Arabic word "qirāj" meaning "filth" or "impurity".
Turkishkirli
The Turkish word 'kirli' originally meant 'dark', but later took on the meaning of 'dirty' due to the association between darkness and uncleanliness.
Xhosaemdaka
The word 'emdaka' is also used to refer to a type of traditional dance performed by women in Xhosa culture.
Yiddishגראָב
The etymology of "grayb" is likely to be from West Yiddish via Central Yiddish "grebe." However, this might have been associated with Slavic words meaning "to rake together" and with Modern Yiddish "greyben" or "greybn" meaning "to dig."
Zulukungcolile
"Kungcolile" can also mean "filthy," "soiled," or "polluted" in Zulu.
Assameseলেতেৰা
Aymaraq'añu
Bhojpuriगंदा
Dhivehiހުތުރު
Dogriगंदा
Filipino (Tagalog)marumi
Guaraniky'a
Ilocanonarugit
Kriodɔti
Kurdish (Sorani)پیس
Maithiliगंदा
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯃꯣꯠꯄ
Mizobal
Oromoxuraa'aa
Odia (Oriya)ମଇଳା
Quechuaqanra
Sanskritमलिनम्‌
Tatarпычрак
Tigrinyaረሳሕ
Tsongathyakile

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter