Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'easy' is a common English term that signifies simplicity and lack of effort. It's a word we use daily, from describing a task that requires little effort to expressing admiration for someone who makes things look effortless. But have you ever wondered how to say 'easy' in different languages?
Understanding the translation of 'easy' in various languages can provide valuable insights into different cultures and ways of thinking. For instance, the Spanish translation of 'easy' is 'fácil,' which rolls off the tongue with a soft, lilting sound, reflecting the musicality of the Spanish language. Meanwhile, the Chinese translation of 'easy,' '易,' is a single character that represents simplicity and ease, reflecting the importance of brevity and efficiency in Chinese culture.
By learning the translation of 'easy' in different languages, you can not only expand your vocabulary but also gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural nuances and linguistic diversity of the world around us.
Afrikaans | maklik | ||
In Afrikaans, "maklik" also means "easy," or "to deceive". | |||
Amharic | ቀላል | ||
The word "ቀላል" also means "simple" or "light" in weight or importance. | |||
Hausa | sauki | ||
The Hausa word 'sauki' can also mean 'convenient', 'comfortable', or 'without stress'. | |||
Igbo | mfe | ||
"Mfe" in Igbo can also mean "without difficulty" or "in a straightforward manner". | |||
Malagasy | tsotra | ||
"Tsotra" has connotations of simplicity, artlessness, and innocence, and can also refer to something that is done quickly or without much effort. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | zosavuta | ||
The word "zosavuta" can also mean "convenient" or "simple" in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | nyore | ||
The word "nyore" in Shona is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "-yor-", meaning "to be light" or "to be free from burden." | |||
Somali | fudud | ||
Somali "fudud" also carries the meaning "convenient" and might be related to the word "fudud" in Arabic meaning "leftovers." | |||
Sesotho | bonolo | ||
The word "bonolo" is also used as a noun to refer to a situation or time of ease or comfort. | |||
Swahili | rahisi | ||
Rahisi, meaning 'easy' in Swahili, likely originated from the word 'rahi' which means 'comfortable or at ease'. | |||
Xhosa | lula | ||
Xhosa word 'lula' also means 'to glide' or 'to flow'. | |||
Yoruba | rọrun | ||
The word **'rọrun'** is a Yoruba word with a second meaning, **'simple'**, and may have derived from either 'roro' ('relax') or the obsolete noun, 'ẹru' ('strength/might'). | |||
Zulu | kulula | ||
The word 'kulula' can also mean 'to be light' or 'to be quick' in Zulu, reflecting its multiple dimensions of ease and effortlessness. | |||
Bambara | nɔgɔnman | ||
Ewe | bᴐbᴐe | ||
Kinyarwanda | byoroshye | ||
Lingala | pete | ||
Luganda | -angu | ||
Sepedi | bonolo | ||
Twi (Akan) | mrɛ | ||
Arabic | سهل | ||
'سهل' means 'plain' in topography, and is the basis of the name of the 'easy' chapter of the Quran: the 'Surat as-Saaffat' (Chapter 37). | |||
Hebrew | קַל | ||
"קל" in Hebrew can also mean "fast" or "light" in weight, as its origin in the Proto-Semitic "qll" refers to the motion of something that is agile and quick. | |||
Pashto | اسانه | ||
The Pashto word "اسانه" (easy) is cognate with "asan" in Sanskrit and "asanah" in Farsi, all derived from the Sanskrit root "as" (to be), suggesting a shared origin and semantic connection. | |||
Arabic | سهل | ||
'سهل' means 'plain' in topography, and is the basis of the name of the 'easy' chapter of the Quran: the 'Surat as-Saaffat' (Chapter 37). |
Albanian | e lehtë | ||
The Albanian word "e lehtë" has different origins: from the Proto-Albanian "*lëv-ta," related to flight, and from the Proto-Indo-European "*wel-," meaning "to turn, rotate." | |||
Basque | erraza | ||
The word 'erraza' also means 'flat' in Basque, referring to a terrain with no slopes. | |||
Catalan | fàcil | ||
"Fàcil" derives from Latin "facilis," which also gives the English "facile" and "feasible." | |||
Croatian | lako | ||
The word "lako" in Croatian comes from the Proto-Slavic word "legъkъ", which also means "light" in weight. | |||
Danish | let | ||
"Let" comes from Old Norse "léttr" meaning "free from hindrance". | |||
Dutch | gemakkelijk | ||
The word 'gemakkelijk' comes from the Middle Dutch 'gemake', meaning 'ease' or 'comfort' and is related to the English word 'make'. | |||
English | easy | ||
The word 'easy' derives from the Old French word 'aisié,' meaning 'at ease' or 'comfortable,' and is related to the Latin word 'otium,' meaning 'leisure' or 'rest.' | |||
French | facile | ||
In French, "facile" not only means "easy" but also "easygoing" or "gullible." | |||
Frisian | maklik | ||
The word "maklik" in Frisian is derived from the Old Frisian word "maklic", which could also mean "easy" or "appropriate". | |||
Galician | fácil | ||
The Galician word "fácil" derives from the Latin "facilis," also meaning "easy," and shares a similar etymology with the English word "facile," which carries connotations of being overly simple or effortless. | |||
German | einfach | ||
"Einfach" also means "naive" or "simple-minded". | |||
Icelandic | auðvelt | ||
Auðvelt, meaning "easy", comes from auðr (wealth) + vinna (labor), suggesting that something that requires less labor is more effortless. | |||
Irish | éasca | ||
The word 'éasca' can also be used to mean 'free', 'leisurely', or 'carefree'. | |||
Italian | facile | ||
In Italian, "facile" can also mean "superficial" or "too easy" | |||
Luxembourgish | einfach | ||
Maltese | faċli | ||
The Maltese word "faċli" is derived from the Italian "facile" which itself probably derives from the Latin "facilis" meaning “easily done, light, unimportant, compliant". | |||
Norwegian | lett | ||
"Lett" also means "search" or "look for" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | fácil | ||
The word "fácil" ("easy") in Portuguese derives from the Latin word "facilis", which has the additional meanings of "affable" and "gentle" among its cognates in other languages. | |||
Scots Gaelic | furasta | ||
The Gaelic word 'furasta' has been borrowed from English and is a cognate of the Low German word 'fuur'. The English word 'forest', however is not cognate and is related to the Italian word 'forestiera' meaning 'foreign'. | |||
Spanish | fácil | ||
The Spanish word "fácil" ultimately derives from the Latin word "facilis," meaning "easy," and also relates to the words "facere" (to do) and "factum" (a deed). | |||
Swedish | lätt | ||
In the context of food, "lätt" means "light", as in low-fat or reduced-calorie. | |||
Welsh | hawdd | ||
The word "hawdd" also means "left" in Welsh, and is cognate with the English word "haunt" meaning "a place of shelter". |
Belarusian | лёгка | ||
The word also means "easy" in Russian and "light" in some Slavic languages | |||
Bosnian | lako | ||
The word "lako" in Bosnian originates from the Proto-Slavic *lьgъkъ, which also meant "light" in weight. | |||
Bulgarian | лесно | ||
The word "лесно" (easy) in Bulgarian also has the alternate meaning of "lightly or gently", as in "to speak lightly of something". | |||
Czech | snadný | ||
The word "snadný" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *snędъ, which also means "fast" or "agile". | |||
Estonian | lihtne | ||
"Lihtne" originates from Old Estonian "liht" (simple) and "n" (suffix to form adjectives). | |||
Finnish | helppo | ||
The word "helppo" is also related to the word "helpottaa", which means "to make easy" or "to relieve". | |||
Hungarian | könnyen | ||
The word "könnyen" also means "easily" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | viegli | ||
Despite the different spelling and pronunciation, "viegli" is related to the Russian word "весело" (veselo), which means "fun". | |||
Lithuanian | lengva | ||
The word "lengva" also means "lung" in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | лесно | ||
"Лесно" is cognate with the Bulgarian "лесен", which is further derived from the Proto-Slavic root *legъkъ, itself stemming from the Proto-Indo-European *leghus meaning "light". | |||
Polish | łatwy | ||
Łatwy shares a root with **łać** - to patch up clothes. This is why in Polish a **łatka** means both 'patch' and 'an easy problem'. | |||
Romanian | uşor | ||
"Uşor" has an alternate meaning of "slightly, somewhat". | |||
Russian | легко | ||
The word "легко" in Russian also means "lightly" and "without effort". | |||
Serbian | лако | ||
The word "лако" comes from Proto-Slavic *lъgъkъ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *legʰu-. It is cognate with various words for "light" in Slavic, Baltic, Germanic, and Indo-Iranian languages. | |||
Slovak | ľahké | ||
Ľahké is a Slovak adjective meaning "easy", but it also has the meanings "light" and "small". | |||
Slovenian | enostavno | ||
"Enostavno" is derived from "eno" (one) and "stavno" (to bet), and its alternate meaning is "simple". | |||
Ukrainian | легко | ||
The word "легко" in Ukrainian can also mean "light", "soft", or "fluffy", reflecting its Indo-European root *legh-/*leng-, meaning "to lie, stretch, or bend over". |
Bengali | সহজ | ||
In Middle Bengali, the word "সহজ" had spiritual connotations of "accessible to all" and "unobstructed". | |||
Gujarati | સરળ | ||
"સરળ" is an adjective which can also mean simple, uncomplicated, clear, plain | |||
Hindi | आसान | ||
The word "आसान" comes from the Persian word "آسان" which means "simple". In addition, it can also mean "restful" or "comfortable". | |||
Kannada | ಸುಲಭ | ||
The word "ಸುಲಭ" can also mean "plain" or "simple" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | എളുപ്പമാണ് | ||
In Sanskrit, the word "sulabha" means "easy to obtain" and is the origin of the Malayalam word "എളുപ്പമാണ്". | |||
Marathi | सोपे | ||
The word "सोपे" in Marathi originates from the Sanskrit word "सु-पथ" meaning "easy path". | |||
Nepali | सजिलो | ||
The word "सजिलो" can refer to both physical and emotional states of ease or simplicity. | |||
Punjabi | ਆਸਾਨ | ||
The word "ਆਸਾਨ" also means "lazy" in Punjabi, indicating that something is not difficult but rather requires little effort. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පහසු | ||
In Sinhala, "පහසු" is also used to describe something that is convenient or feasible. | |||
Tamil | சுலபம் | ||
The word "சுலபம்" (easy) is derived from the Sanskrit word "sulabha", meaning "easily obtainable". In Tamil, it also has the connotation of being "convenient" or "without difficulty". | |||
Telugu | సులభం | ||
The word "సులభం" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sulaabha," meaning "easily obtained" or "convenient." | |||
Urdu | آسان | ||
The word "آسان" in Urdu can also mean "comfortable" or "suitable". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 简单 | ||
The word "简单" can also mean basic, ordinary, or uncomplicated. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 簡單 | ||
The character "簡" in "簡單" originally meant "bamboo slips," and later came to mean "simple" as they were used to write messages on, while "單" meant "a piece of cloth," and later came to mean "simple" as it was used to make simple clothing. | |||
Japanese | 簡単 | ||
"簡単" is also a term used in Japanese martial arts to describe a technique that is simple and straightforward. | |||
Korean | 쉬운 | ||
쉬운 is derived from the Chinese word '순' (shun) meaning 'following in order' or 'according to order' and implies effortless or natural progress. | |||
Mongolian | хялбар | ||
The word "хялбар" in Mongolian is derived from the verb "хялах" (to stretch), which figuratively conveys the idea of something being effortless or straightforward. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လွယ်တယ် | ||
Indonesian | mudah | ||
The word "mudah" is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *ma-duha, meaning "two". | |||
Javanese | gampang | ||
In Javanese, "gampang" can also mean pliable, soft, and supple, suggesting an extended meaning of "ease" that encompasses both physical and figurative aspects. | |||
Khmer | ងាយស្រួល | ||
The word "ងាយស្រួល" ("easy") in Khmer also literally means "to untie" or "to make loose." | |||
Lao | ງ່າຍ | ||
It can also be an adjective to describe a beautiful woman. | |||
Malay | senang | ||
"Senang" can also mean "enjoyable" or "comfortable" in Malay. | |||
Thai | ง่าย | ||
"ง่าย" also means "shallow" in some contexts, like "น้ำง่าย" for shallow water. | |||
Vietnamese | dễ dàng | ||
The word dễ dàng (easy) comes from Chinese, where it meant "lazy" or "slow". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | madali | ||
Azerbaijani | asan | ||
The word "asan" also has the meaning of "convenient" or "comfortable" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | оңай | ||
'Оңай' means 'easy', but it also has the connotation of 'soft', 'gentle', 'tender', 'mild', 'moderate', 'tolerable', 'feasible', 'doable', 'possible', 'likely', and 'manageable'. | |||
Kyrgyz | оңой | ||
The word "оңой" also means "right" or "correct" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | осон | ||
Осон is sometimes used as a metaphor for "calm" or "relaxed". | |||
Turkmen | aňsat | ||
Uzbek | oson | ||
The word "oson" originally meant "free of difficulties" and is still used in this sense in the phrase "oson yul", meaning "an easy path". | |||
Uyghur | ئاسان | ||
Hawaiian | maʻalahi | ||
The root word 'ala means 'to go' when doubled as in Maʻalahi it means 'to go swiftly or easily' | |||
Maori | ngawari | ||
Ngāwari can also mean 'common,' 'usual,' 'unimportant,' or 'ordinary.' | |||
Samoan | faigofie | ||
The word "faigofie" can also refer to something that is effortless, requiring no difficulty. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | madali | ||
In old Tagalog, "madali" meant "quickly" or "immediately". It is related to the Tagalog words "dalian" (to hasten) and "dali" (quickly). |
Aymara | jasa | ||
Guarani | hasy'ỹ | ||
Esperanto | facila | ||
The Esperanto word "facila" derives from the Latin word "facilis", which means "easy" or "accessible". | |||
Latin | easy | ||
The Latin word 'facilis', from which 'easy' is derived, originally meant 'able to be done' or 'feasible', rather than simply 'not difficult'. |
Greek | ανετα | ||
The word "Ανετα" is derived from the verb "ανιημι" (to relax), which means to loosen or release. | |||
Hmong | yooj yim | ||
The word "yooj yim" in Hmong can also refer to someone who is gentle, kind, or mild-mannered. | |||
Kurdish | sivik | ||
The word 'sivik' is also used to describe something that is 'agreeable' or 'convenient'. | |||
Turkish | kolay | ||
The Turkish word "kolay" originates from the Arabic word "kalla", meaning "to be untied" or "to be relaxed". | |||
Xhosa | lula | ||
Xhosa word 'lula' also means 'to glide' or 'to flow'. | |||
Yiddish | לייַכט | ||
In Yiddish, 'לייַכט' can also refer to something that is light in weight or importance. | |||
Zulu | kulula | ||
The word 'kulula' can also mean 'to be light' or 'to be quick' in Zulu, reflecting its multiple dimensions of ease and effortlessness. | |||
Assamese | সহজ | ||
Aymara | jasa | ||
Bhojpuri | आसान | ||
Dhivehi | ފަސޭހަ | ||
Dogri | सखल्ला | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | madali | ||
Guarani | hasy'ỹ | ||
Ilocano | nalaka | ||
Krio | izi | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاسان | ||
Maithili | आसान | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯔꯥꯏꯕ | ||
Mizo | awlsam | ||
Oromo | salphaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସହଜ | ||
Quechua | mana sasa | ||
Sanskrit | सरलम् | ||
Tatar | җиңел | ||
Tigrinya | ቀሊል | ||
Tsonga | olova | ||