Empty in different languages

Empty in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'empty' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, signifying a lack of contents or substance. It's a term we use daily, yet its cultural importance extends far beyond our vernacular. From empty nests in birdwatching to the Buddhist concept of emptiness, this word has woven itself into the fabric of our global cultures.

Moreover, understanding the translation of 'empty' in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how various cultures perceive and express this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'empty' translates to 'vacío,' which also means 'void' or 'hollow.' Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'empty' becomes '空' (suki), a character that also signifies 'sky' or 'air,' emphasizing the positive connotations of 'emptiness' in Eastern philosophies.

So, why should you learn the translations of 'empty' in various languages? Not only will it enrich your linguistic abilities, but it will also offer a window into the unique ways different cultures view and value this concept.

Empty


Empty in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansleeg
The word "leeg" in Afrikaans can also mean "vacant" or "unoccupied", analogous to the English word "vacant" deriving from Latin "vacans" (empty).
Amharicባዶ
The word "ባዶ" ("empty") in Amharic can also mean "void" or "in vain".
Hausafanko
The word "fanko" in Hausa also means "unoccupied" or "vacant".
Igboefu
The Igbo word 'efu' can also refer to a type of small antelope known as a bushbuck.
Malagasyhanaisotra
The word "hanaisotra" in Malagasy has an alternate meaning of "to be vacant or unoccupied".
Nyanja (Chichewa)chopanda kanthu
The compound word "chopanda kanthu" is derived from the verb "kuchopana" (to empty) and the noun "kanthu" (thing).
Shonaisina chinhu
Somalifaaruq
The word "faaruq" in Somali can also refer to a place that is barren or desolate.
Sesotholefeela
Swahilitupu
The word "tupu" in Swahili derives from the Bantu root "*-tufu-*", meaning "to be hollow" or "to be empty inside".
Xhosaakunanto
The word "akunanto" can also refer to something that is not useful or of value, or to a person who is not doing anything productive.
Yorubaṣofo
Ṣofo is a Yoruba word meaning "empty," and has alternate senses as "barren" or "vacant," and, more abstractly, as "unfulfilled."
Zuluakunalutho
The word 'akunalutho' also refers to a hollow gourd that is used as a container.
Bambaralankolon
Eweƒuƒlu
Kinyarwandaubusa
Lingalampamba
Lugandaobukalu
Sepedise nago selo
Twi (Akan)hunu

Empty in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicفارغة
The word "فارغة" has similar roots as the word "فراغ" which means "vacuum", and it can be used to refer to a time when something is absent instead of just a physical space.
Hebrewריק
The word 'ריק' can also refer to 'futile' or 'vain'
Pashtoخالي
The word "خالي" in Pashto can also refer to a place that is uninhabited or deserted.
Arabicفارغة
The word "فارغة" has similar roots as the word "فراغ" which means "vacuum", and it can be used to refer to a time when something is absent instead of just a physical space.

Empty in Western European Languages

Albanianbosh
The Albanian word "bosh" likely originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰoǵʰ-, meaning "to be empty, to gape," also found in English "bog" and "bag."
Basquehutsik
The Basque word "hutsik" shares its root with the word "huts," meaning "naked" or "bare."
Catalanbuit
The Catalan word "buit" can also refer to void, gap, cavity, hole, abyss, or chasm.
Croatianprazan
The etymology of the Croatian word "prazan" is uncertain but could be related to the Slavic root *prah-*, meaning "dust".
Danishtom
The word "tom" also refers to a measurement equal to 12 tønner, which is about 1,150 liters.
Dutchleeg
The word "leeg" derives from Proto-Germanic *laigijaz, from the root *legh-, meaning "to lie".
Englishempty
"Empty" derives from the Middle English word "emti," meaning "at leisure" or "without occupation."
Frenchvide
The French word "vide" is derived from the Latin word "vacuus" meaning "empty or devoid."
Frisianleech
In Frisian, "leech" can also mean "to leak" or "to ooze out of an opening", reflecting its original meaning of "a hole or gap".
Galicianbaleiro
Baleiro, the Galician word for empty, comes from the Latin vacivus, meaning vacant or unoccupied.
Germanleer
The German word 'leer' can also mean 'vacant', 'unoccupied', or 'without contents'.
Icelandictómt
The word 'tómt' can also refer to an uncultivated field or a deserted place.
Irishfolamh
The Old Irish word folamh also had the meaning "ready" or "prepared."
Italianvuoto
The Italian word "vuoto" was originally an adjective that meant "empty", but it also developed other meanings through time, such as "uninhabited" and "vacuous".
Luxembourgisheidel
The word "eidel" in Luxembourgish originated from Old High German and also refers to "vacant" and "worthless" as well as "hollow".
Maltesevojta
The word "vojta" can also refer to a void or absence of something
Norwegiantømme
The verb "tømme" can also mean to "drain" or "to discharge".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)vazio
"Vazio" (empty) in Portuguese originates from the Vulgar Latin word "vacivus", meaning "empty" or "not full".
Scots Gaelicfalamh
Falamh in Scots Gaelic can also mean 'idle', 'inactive', or 'unoccupied'.
Spanishvacío
The Spanish word "vacío" also means "leisure time" or "a void".
Swedishtömma
The word 'tömma' in Swedish also means 'to empty' and 'to void'.
Welshgwag
In Middle Welsh, 'gwag' could describe a hollow or cavernous place, such as an empty house or a cave.

Empty in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпусты
"Пусты" also means "empty" in Ukrainian.
Bosnianprazno
The word "prazno" can also mean "vain" or "futile" in Bosnian, highlighting its association with the absence of purpose or substance.
Bulgarianпразен
"Празен" also means "foolish" in Bulgarian.
Czechprázdný
The word "prázdný" in Czech also means "hollow" or "vacuous."
Estoniantühi
The Estonian word "tühi" is also used figuratively to mean "senseless" or "unimportant."}
Finnishtyhjä
The word "tyhjä" originally referred to a space devoid of air, but its meaning has since expanded to include the absence of anything.
Hungarianüres
The word 'üres' shares an etymology with 'űr', 'űrlény', 'üreg', 'ürügy' and 'üröm', all of which contain the archaic root 'űr-', meaning "hole" or "void."
Latviantukšs
The Latvian word "tukšs" can also mean "vain" or "worthless".
Lithuaniantuščia
The word "tuščia" is a cognate with "puisto" (empty) in Finnish and "pustoy" (empty) in Russian, sharing a common Proto-Balto-Slavic root.
Macedonianпразни
The verb form (празнити) may also include connotations of "cleaning": not just eliminating the contents of a space, but also removing waste material from it — i.e. leaving it pure, whole, renewed: in a sense, full.
Polishpusty
"Pusty" derives from Proto-Slavic "pъstъ", meaning "wasteland", and is also a synonym for "idle" and "vacuous".
Romaniangol
In the Balkan region, the word "gol" has also been used to refer to a type of open woodland or meadow.
Russianпустой
Пустой comes from the verb пустить, meaning “to let loose,” “to release,” and hence “to make empty”.
Serbianпразна
'Празна' comes from the Proto-Slavic word 'prazdьnъ', meaning 'vacant' or 'free'. It is related to the English word 'free' and the German word 'frei'.
Slovakprázdny
The Slovak word "prázdny" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *prázdinъ, which means "void" or "unfilled".
Slovenianprazno
The word 'prazno' might also mean 'hollow', 'idle', 'futile', 'vain', or 'unoccupied' depending on the context.
Ukrainianпорожній
The Ukrainian word "порожній" originates from the Proto-Slavic word *porъgъ, which means "empty" or "hollow".

Empty in South Asian Languages

Bengaliখালি
In 10th century Sanskrit, "Khali" meant "space" or "wide-open area," a meaning preserved in the word "akhali" in Magadhi, Maithili and Bengali.
Gujaratiખાલી
The word "ખાલી" can also mean "only" or "simply" in Gujarati.
Hindiखाली
In some contexts, 'खाली' can also refer to a person with little to no social connections or influence.
Kannadaಖಾಲಿ
The Kannada word "ಖಾಲಿ" has been borrowed into Marathi and Tulu.
Malayalamശൂന്യമാണ്
The word "ശൂന്യമാണ്" in Malayalam can also refer to a sense of emptiness or lack of fulfilment, despite physical fullness.
Marathiरिक्त
रिक्त (rikta) is a Sanskrit word that also means 'void' or 'zero' in mathematics.
Nepaliखाली
The Nepali word "खाली" can also mean "vacant" or "available".
Punjabiਖਾਲੀ
The Punjabi word "ਖਾਲੀ" is also used to refer to a space or area that is devoid of anything, or a person who is inactive or without purpose.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)හිස්
'හිස්' can be used to describe the absence of something or the lack of substance.
Tamilகாலியாக
The word 'காலியாக' can also mean 'to be free' or 'to be available' in Tamil.
Teluguఖాళీ
The word "ఖాళీ" can also refer to a space or interval between two objects.
Urduخالی
The word "خالی" in Urdu is ultimately derived from the Persian word "خالی" meaning "free, vacant", which in turn comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *kelh₂- meaning "to cover, to hide".

Empty in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)空的
"空的" also means "in vain" or "to no effect".
Chinese (Traditional)空的
空的 (kōng de) is also used to describe a person with a hollow or emotionless heart
Japanese空の
空の (kara no) can also mean 'of the sky' or 'sky-'.
Korean
The word "빈" also has the alternate meaning of "poor" or "needy" in Korean.
Mongolianхоосон
The word "хоосон" can also mean "vacant" or "void".
Myanmar (Burmese)ဗလာ
In the context of a room, "ဗလာ" (bala) can also mean "quiet".

Empty in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankosong
The word 'kosong' also means 'free', as in 'ruang kosong' ('free space').
Javanesekosong
"Kosong" could also mean "blank" or "unoccupied" in Javanese.
Khmerទទេ
"ទទេ" originates from "ទទ" meaning "to give a little of rice" from Sanskrit "datti" and is also related to the term "ទទូ" (to feed).
Laoຫວ່າງເປົ່າ
Malaykosong
The word "kosong" in Malay is also used to describe a sense of loneliness or emptiness.
Thaiว่างเปล่า
"ว่างเปล่า" can mean both "empty" and "available".
Vietnamesetrống
"Trống" can also mean a drum, a musical instrument that is hollow and often made of wood or metal.
Filipino (Tagalog)walang laman

Empty in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniboş
The Azerbaijani word "boş" also means "in vain" and "free".
Kazakhбос
Бос is a verb in the imperative form of the verb босау meaning to empty
Kyrgyzбош
In Kyrgyz, "бош" also means "free" or "idle".
Tajikхолӣ
The Tajik word "холӣ" (empty) is derived from the Persian word "khālī" (empty).
Turkmenboş
Uzbekbo'sh
The word "bo'sh" can also mean "vain" or "absurd" in Uzbek.
Uyghurقۇرۇق

Empty in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhakahaka
In the 1836 dictionary, “hakahaka” is translated as “empty,” with the alternate meaning of “clear, open, free, or unoccupied.”
Maoriputua
In Maori, "putua" also signifies a void or gap, or the absence of something expected.
Samoangaogao
In addition to mean "empty," "gaogao" can also describe a state similar to "numb" or "dispirited."
Tagalog (Filipino)walang laman
"Walang laman" can also refer to someone who is shallow or has no substance.

Empty in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarach'usa
Guaraninandi

Empty in International Languages

Esperantomalplena
The Esperanto word "malplena" originates from "mal" (bad) and "plena" (full), implying a state of incompleteness or deficiency.
Latineffundensque
Effundensque is often used to describe the pouring out of liquids, particularly in religious or ritual contexts, where it conveys the sense of abundance, generosity, and divine favor.

Empty in Others Languages

Greekαδειάζω
"Αδειάζω" is derived from the ancient Greek verb "αδάω" which means "to be thirsty" and can be used to describe the feeling of emptiness or deprivation.
Hmongkhoob
In addition to meaning 'empty', 'khoob' also means 'lacking' or 'missing' in Hmong.
Kurdishvala
The word "vala" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wel-, meaning "to turn, roll, or revolve".
Turkishboş
The word "boş" also means "worthless" or "useless" in Turkish, and is related to the word "boşluk", meaning "emptiness" or "vacuum".
Xhosaakunanto
The word "akunanto" can also refer to something that is not useful or of value, or to a person who is not doing anything productive.
Yiddishליידיק
The Yiddish word "ליידיק" (leydik) can also mean "free" or "idle", and is related to the German word "ledig", which has the same meanings.
Zuluakunalutho
The word 'akunalutho' also refers to a hollow gourd that is used as a container.
Assameseখালী
Aymarach'usa
Bhojpuriखाली
Dhivehiހުސްވެފަ
Dogriखा'ल्ली
Filipino (Tagalog)walang laman
Guaraninandi
Ilocanoubbaw
Krioɛmti
Kurdish (Sorani)بەتاڵ
Maithiliखाली
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯍꯥꯡꯕ
Mizoruak
Oromoduwwaa
Odia (Oriya)ଖାଲି
Quechuamana imayuq
Sanskritरिक्तम्‌
Tatarбуш
Tigrinyaባዶ
Tsongahalata

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