Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'distinct' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting something that is clearly defined or distinguishable from others. Its cultural importance is evident in various fields, including art, literature, and science, where identifying unique elements is crucial. For instance, a distinct pattern on a piece of fabric or a distinct voice in a literary work can make all the difference.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'distinct' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights. For example, in Spanish, 'distinct' translates to 'distinto,' which also means 'different' or 'unequal.' Meanwhile, in German, 'distinct' becomes 'deutlich,' which can also mean 'clear' or 'obvious.'
These translations not only help us appreciate the nuances of different languages but also allow us to better understand and connect with diverse cultures around the world.
So, whether you're a linguist, a cultural enthusiast, or simply curious, exploring the translation of 'distinct' in various languages can be a fascinating journey. Here are some translations to get you started:
Afrikaans | onderskeidelik | ||
The Afrikaans word "onderskeidelik" traces its roots to the Dutch cognate "onderscheiden" which also carries the meaning of "distinguished". | |||
Amharic | የተለየ | ||
Hausa | rarrabe | ||
The word "rarrabe" in Hausa is also used to describe the state of being unique or uncommon. | |||
Igbo | iche | ||
"Iche" can also mean "clear" or "clean". | |||
Malagasy | miavaka | ||
"Miavaka" in Malagasy also means "unique" or "one of a kind". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | zosiyana | ||
Nyanja "zosiyana" also carries the meanings "different", "other", and "varied". | |||
Shona | zvakasiyana | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "distinct," "zvakasiyana" can also mean "different" or "various" in Shona. | |||
Somali | kala duwan | ||
The word "kala duwan" can also mean "different" or "strange" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | khetholla | ||
The Sesotho word "khetholla" also means "to choose" or "to select." | |||
Swahili | tofauti | ||
The Swahili word 'tofauti' shares the same etymology with the Arabic word 'tafawutu,' meaning 'difference' or 'variation.' | |||
Xhosa | eyahlukileyo | ||
The word "eyahlukileyo" in Xhosa is derived from the verb "ahlula", which means "to separate" or "to divide". | |||
Yoruba | yàtọ | ||
The word "yàtọ" is an antonym of "dúdú" in the Yoruba language, but both are adjectives that can be translated to "dark" in English. | |||
Zulu | ehlukile | ||
The Zulu word "ehlukile" refers to both distinction and exceptionality, indicating something that is different from the norm. | |||
Bambara | kelen | ||
Ewe | to vovo | ||
Kinyarwanda | zitandukanye | ||
Lingala | ya kokesena | ||
Luganda | kyanjawulo | ||
Sepedi | go itlhaola | ||
Twi (Akan) | nso | ||
Arabic | خامد | ||
خامد refers to something that is clear or evident, and can also be used to describe something that is dull or extinguished. | |||
Hebrew | מוּבהָק | ||
The word "מוּבהָק" is derived from the Arabic word "مُبْهَق" (mubhaq), meaning "white" or "bright". | |||
Pashto | جدا | ||
The Pashto word "جدا" can also mean "apart" or "separate". | |||
Arabic | خامد | ||
خامد refers to something that is clear or evident, and can also be used to describe something that is dull or extinguished. |
Albanian | të dallueshme | ||
The Albanian word "të dallueshme" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *delh-, meaning "to separate, to distinguish". | |||
Basque | bereiz | ||
The word "bereiz" is a compound of "bere" meaning "alone" or "apart" and "-iz" a suffix indicating a passive state. | |||
Catalan | diferent | ||
Catalan "diferent" comes from the Latin "differens," also meaning "different," but it only describes two things while "distint" denotes more than two. | |||
Croatian | različit | ||
The Croatian word "različit" derives from the Proto-Slavic verb "različiti" meaning "to distinguish". | |||
Danish | tydelig | ||
The word "tydelig" is derived from the Old Norse word "tyðligr," meaning "clear" or "visible." | |||
Dutch | onderscheiden | ||
The word "onderscheiden" in Dutch can also mean "to distinguish" or "to discern". | |||
English | distinct | ||
'Distinct' derives from Latin 'distinguere,' meaning to mark apart, separate, or set apart. | |||
French | distinct | ||
In French, distinct can also mean "separate". | |||
Frisian | ûnderskiede | ||
"ûnderskiede" comes from the Proto-West-Germanic word "*undarskeidjan" and is likely related to the Sanskrit word "kṣipati" (to throw, hurl)" | |||
Galician | distinta | ||
The etymology of **distinta** (distinct) in Galician is from Latin **distincta** (distinct), from the verb **distinguere** (to distinguish). | |||
German | deutlich | ||
"Deutlich" comes from the Proto-Germanic word "teuta" meaning "people" and shares an etymological root with "Deutsch" (German). | |||
Icelandic | greinilegur | ||
The word 'greinilegur' is derived from the Icelandic word 'greina' meaning 'distinguish' or 'make distinct' and the suffix '-legur' which indicates an agent, performer, or doer. | |||
Irish | ar leith | ||
The word "ar leith" in Irish can also refer to being separate or apart. | |||
Italian | distinto | ||
"Distinto" can also mean "invoice" in Italian. | |||
Luxembourgish | ënnerscheet | ||
Maltese | distinti | ||
The Maltese word "distinti" comes from the Italian word "distinto", which means "distinct" or "markedly different from one another". | |||
Norwegian | tydelig | ||
The Norwegian word 'tydelig' originates from the old Norse word 'tyðiligr', meaning 'clear' or 'evident'. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | distinto | ||
"Distinto" in Portuguese is related to the Latin word "distinguere" (to distinguish), which also gave rise to the English word "distinctive". | |||
Scots Gaelic | àraid | ||
Àraid, meaning 'distinct', derives from the Old Irish word 'araid' meaning 'noble, illustrious or excellent'. | |||
Spanish | distinto | ||
In Spanish, "distinto" can also mean "different", "separate", or "diverse". | |||
Swedish | distinkt | ||
"Distinkt" is a loanword from French "distinct" which means not only "distinct" but also "vague" or "blurry" in Swedish. | |||
Welsh | gwahanol | ||
"Gwahanol" is derived from the Middle Welsh "gwahanu" meaning "to separate or divide." |
Belarusian | выразна | ||
The Belarusian word "выразна" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*vyrāznъ", meaning "clear" or "distinct", and is related to the Old Church Slavonic word "възразити" meaning “to declare.” | |||
Bosnian | različit | ||
"Različit" can also mean "discern" or "recognize" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | отличителен | ||
The word "отличителен" can also mean "distinctive" or "peculiar" in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | odlišný | ||
The word "odlišný" has another meaning of different or contrasting. | |||
Estonian | eristatav | ||
Eristata also denotes the ability to discern or distinguish. | |||
Finnish | erillinen | ||
The word "erillinen" derives from the Proto-Finnic *erilline, which also means "separate". | |||
Hungarian | különböző | ||
The word "különböző" can also mean "miscellaneous" or "several" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | atšķirīgs | ||
The Latvian word "atšķirīgs" is derived from the verb "šķirt" meaning "to separate". | |||
Lithuanian | ryškus | ||
From Proto-Baltic *rīk- (**see** *rykus**), from Proto-Indo-European *wrik-os (**see** Sanskrit vṛ́kas 'wolf', Avestan vərəka-, Latin lupus). | |||
Macedonian | различни | ||
The word "различни" can also mean "different" or "various" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | odrębny | ||
In Polish, "odrębny" can also mean private or separate. | |||
Romanian | distinct | ||
In Romanian, "distinct" means both "different" and "clear" or "precise." | |||
Russian | отчетливый | ||
The Russian word «отчетливый» is cognate with the Serbian «очитати», «појачати» and means both «distinct» and «intensive». | |||
Serbian | различит | ||
The word "различит" can also mean "to distinguish" or "to differentiate". | |||
Slovak | odlišný | ||
The Slovak word "odlišný" also means "different" or "separate". | |||
Slovenian | izrazit | ||
Izrazit is the past active participle of the verb 'izraziti' (to express), which in turn comes from the Proto-Slavic word *izraziti, meaning 'to show forth'. | |||
Ukrainian | виразний | ||
The Ukrainian word "виразний" can also mean "expressive" or "articulate". |
Bengali | স্বতন্ত্র | ||
The Sanskrit origin "su- + tanu" means "well drawn", reflecting the word's literal meaning: having lines or borders that differentiate an object from its surrounds. | |||
Gujarati | અલગ | ||
"અલગ" comes from Sanskrit "अलगः" which means "other" and also shares a root with the English word "alone" | |||
Hindi | अलग | ||
The word "अलग" has evolved from the Sanskrit word "अलगच्" (alagach), meaning "separate, not joined, apart". | |||
Kannada | ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ | ||
The word 'ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ' (distinct) in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word 'विशिष्ट' (specific, particular) and also means 'special', 'unique', or 'extraordinary' in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | വ്യത്യസ്തരായ | ||
Marathi | वेगळे | ||
The word "वेगळे" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *welg-, which also gave rise to the English word "walk". | |||
Nepali | भिन्न | ||
The word "भिन्न" in Nepali can also mean "fraction" or "broken". | |||
Punjabi | ਵੱਖਰਾ | ||
The word "ਵੱਖਰਾ" derives from the Sanskrit word "विश्रांत" meaning "rest" or "relaxation". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වෙනස් | ||
The word "වෙනස්" has a broader use in Sinhala, it can also be used to refer to differences in quality, quantity, or degree. | |||
Tamil | தனித்துவமானது | ||
Telugu | విభిన్న | ||
"విభిన్న" means "distinct" in Telugu, and can also mean "different" or "diverse". | |||
Urdu | واضح | ||
The word "واضح" (distinct) is derived from the Arabic root "وضح", meaning "to become clear or manifest". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 不同 | ||
"不同" can refer to a difference in views, opinions, or concepts. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 不同 | ||
不同 (bùtóng) can also mean "different," "disagree," or "disparate." | |||
Japanese | 明確な | ||
In addition to "distinct", the Japanese word "明確な" can mean "definite", "unambiguous", or "precise"} | |||
Korean | 뚜렷한 | ||
The word "뚜렷한" also means "clear" or "evident" in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | ялгаатай | ||
The word ялгаатай is derived from the Mongolian word ялга, which means 'to distinguish' or 'to differentiate'. The suffix -тай added to this word creates an adjective meaning 'having the quality of being distinguished' or 'being different'. The word can also have the meaning of 'being special' or 'being unique'. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ထူးခြားသည် | ||
Indonesian | berbeda | ||
The Indonesian word "berbeda" also has the connotation of "being different" or "varying" in quantity, quality, or nature. | |||
Javanese | beda | ||
The word "beda" in Javanese can also mean "different" or "not the same". | |||
Khmer | ខុសគ្នា | ||
The word "ខុសគ្នា" ("distinct") in Khmer can also be used to mean "different" or "dissimilar". | |||
Lao | ແຕກຕ່າງ | ||
Malay | berbeza | ||
A more literal use of the word "berbeza" is "to be cut off or separated", where "beza" refers to the act of cutting or separating. | |||
Thai | ชัดเจน | ||
The Thai word "ชัดเจน" (distinct) is also used informally as a slang word to describe something as "clear" or "obvious". | |||
Vietnamese | khác biệt | ||
In Vietnamese, "khác biệt" can also mean "difference" or "variety". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | naiiba | ||
Azerbaijani | fərqli | ||
"Fərqli" can be traced back to the Iranian word "Fark" (divide, discriminate) and is synonymous with "fərqli" (different, divergent, disparate, dissimilar, divergent, unlike, unrelated, unidentical). | |||
Kazakh | айқын | ||
Айқын in Kazakh can also mean 'clear', 'obvious', or 'prominent'. | |||
Kyrgyz | айырмаланган | ||
The word “айырмаланган” can refer to both a noun and an adjective in Kyrgyz, meaning "difference" and "distinct" respectively. | |||
Tajik | равшан | ||
The word "равшан" (pronounced "ravshan") in Tajik is also used as a male name. | |||
Turkmen | tapawutly | ||
Uzbek | aniq | ||
The word "aniq" can also mean "clear", "evident", or "plain" | |||
Uyghur | روشەن | ||
Hawaiian | ʻokoʻa | ||
ʻokoʻa also means 'different', 'separate', 'apart', 'strange', 'foreign', and 'other'. | |||
Maori | motuhake | ||
The word "motuhake" in Maori can also refer to an isolated or remote place. | |||
Samoan | manino | ||
In Samoan, the word "manino" can also mean "single", "only", or "unique". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | naiiba | ||
"Naiiba" is cognate with the Malay "lain", meaning "other, different". |
Aymara | mayja | ||
Guarani | ojoavýva | ||
Esperanto | klara | ||
The word "klara" comes from the Latin word "clarus", meaning "bright" or "clear". | |||
Latin | distincta | ||
Latin "distincta" (or "distincte") also means "by intervals" or "in detail." |
Greek | διακριτή | ||
The adjective διακριτή is derived from the verb διακρίνω, meaning "to distinguish" or "to discern". | |||
Hmong | txawv | ||
The word "txawv" in Hmong can also mean "different" or "unlike." | |||
Kurdish | diyar | ||
The word "diyar" is derived from the old Persian word "dīr" or "dež" meaning "land" or "country". | |||
Turkish | farklı | ||
"Farklı" also means "crazy" in Turkish slang. | |||
Xhosa | eyahlukileyo | ||
The word "eyahlukileyo" in Xhosa is derived from the verb "ahlula", which means "to separate" or "to divide". | |||
Yiddish | בוילעט | ||
Some speculate "בוילעט" originates from the Yiddish term "בולעט" or "בולט" which means "a protrusion". | |||
Zulu | ehlukile | ||
The Zulu word "ehlukile" refers to both distinction and exceptionality, indicating something that is different from the norm. | |||
Assamese | নিৰ্দিষ্ট | ||
Aymara | mayja | ||
Bhojpuri | अलग | ||
Dhivehi | ވަކި ޚާއްސަ | ||
Dogri | नमायां | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | naiiba | ||
Guarani | ojoavýva | ||
Ilocano | naidumduma | ||
Krio | spɛshal | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | جیا | ||
Maithili | विशिष्ट | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯣꯉꯥꯟꯅ ꯇꯥꯕ | ||
Mizo | danglam | ||
Oromo | adda | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପୃଥକ | ||
Quechua | huk niraq | ||
Sanskrit | व्ययवच्छिन्नम् | ||
Tatar | аерылып тора | ||
Tigrinya | ዝጠፈአ | ||
Tsonga | hambana | ||