Extreme in Different Languages
Discover 'Extreme' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Extreme, a word that signifies the outer limits, the utmost reach of something. It's a term that encapsulates the very essence of intensity and power. In our culture, we often use 'extreme' to describe activities that push the boundaries of what is considered normal or safe. From extreme sports like skydiving and base jumping, to extreme weather conditions like hurricanes and blizzards, this word never fails to capture our imagination.
But did you know that the concept of 'extreme' is not limited to the English language? In fact, every language has its own way of expressing this idea. For example, in Spanish, 'extreme' is 'extremo', while in French, it's 'extrême'. In German, it's 'extrem' and in Italian, it's 'estremo'. These translations not only give us a glimpse into the linguistic diversity of our world, but also reveal the cultural importance of pushing boundaries and seeking intensity.
So why should you care about the translation of 'extreme' in different languages? Well, for one, it can help you better understand and connect with people from different cultures. And two, it's just plain fascinating to see how different languages express the same concept in their own unique way.
Without further ado, here are some translations of 'extreme' in different languages:
Extreme
Extreme in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | uiterste | ||
| Uiterste can also mean "the last" or "the end". | |||
| Amharic | ጽንፍ | ||
| "ጽንፍ" means "extreme" in Amharic and is related to the word "ጽንፍር" which means "edge" or "boundary". This likely stems from the original meaning of "ጽንፍ" referring to the extreme end or limit of something. | |||
| Hausa | matsananci | ||
| The word "matsananci" also means "champion" or "victor" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | gabiga ókè | ||
| Despite its literal meaning of 'climb above', 'gabiga ókè' also denotes exaggeration, implausibility, or the improbable. | |||
| Malagasy | tena | ||
| The Malagasy word "tena" not only means "extreme," but also refers to both the beginning and completion of an action. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | monyanyira | ||
| "Monyanyira" is a Nyanja word meaning "extreme" and can also refer to "very" or "greatly." | |||
| Shona | zvakanyanyisa | ||
| 'Zvakanyanyisa' means either 'very hot', 'very cold', or even 'very beautiful' in Shona, depending on context. | |||
| Somali | xad dhaaf ah | ||
| The word "xad dhaaf ah" can refer to both excessive amounts or behavior as well as the concept of being beyond limits. | |||
| Sesotho | feteletseng | ||
| The word 'feteletseng' in Sesotho has a literal translation meaning 'being at the tip' which figuratively relates to 'extreme'. | |||
| Swahili | uliokithiri | ||
| Uliokithiri ultimately stems from the word "uli" to stretch out or to spread out, and also can mean "in the open" or "out in the open." | |||
| Xhosa | ngokugqithisileyo | ||
| "Ngqithisileyo" is also used to describe an exaggerated, over-the-top person. | |||
| Yoruba | iwọn | ||
| "Iwọn" has meanings of "excessive" and "very". | |||
| Zulu | ngokweqile | ||
| The Zulu word "ngokweqile" also means "excessively", "overly", and "beyond measure." | |||
| Bambara | damatɛmɛ | ||
| Ewe | si gbɔ eme | ||
| Kinyarwanda | bikabije | ||
| Lingala | makasi | ||
| Luganda | nyo | ||
| Sepedi | kudukudu | ||
| Twi (Akan) | boro so | ||
Extreme in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | أقصى | ||
| The word "أقصى" also means "the farthest part" or "the utmost end of something". | |||
| Hebrew | קיצוני | ||
| The word 'קיצוני' ('extreme') is also used in Hebrew to describe someone who is radical or extremist in their religious or political views, often with negative connotations. | |||
| Pashto | ډیر | ||
| In Pashto, "ډیر" can also mean "very" or "much". | |||
| Arabic | أقصى | ||
| The word "أقصى" also means "the farthest part" or "the utmost end of something". | |||
Extreme in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ekstreme | ||
| The Albanian word "ekstreme" comes from the Latin word "extremus" meaning "outermost" or "farthest". It can also mean "very intense" or "of the highest degree". | |||
| Basque | muturrekoa | ||
| "Muturrekoa" is an extreme version of something or someone. The word literally translates to "head of the edge." | |||
| Catalan | extrem | ||
| In Catalan, the word "extrem" can also mean "far away" or "distant". | |||
| Croatian | ekstremno | ||
| "Ekstremno" is used as an alternative for "veoma" in the meaning of "very" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | ekstrem | ||
| Ekstrem (Danish) and extreme (English) derive from the same Latin word extremus, meaning "furthest" or "utmost." | |||
| Dutch | extreem | ||
| In Dutch, 'extreem' can also mean 'rare' or 'special'. | |||
| English | extreme | ||
| "Extreme" derives from the Latin "extremus", meaning "the outermost end". It can also refer to "great intensity" or "an outlier". | |||
| French | extrême | ||
| The word "extrême" also means "last" or "ultimate" in French, as in "l'extrême onction" (the last rites). | |||
| Frisian | ekstreem | ||
| The Frisian word "ekstreem" can also be used to describe something as very good or bad. | |||
| Galician | extremo | ||
| In Galician, the word "extremo" can also mean "handrail". | |||
| German | extrem | ||
| The German word "extrem" also refers to a person who is very focused or passionate about a particular topic or activity. | |||
| Icelandic | öfgakenndur | ||
| "Öfgakenndur" also means very drunk, especially in a party context. | |||
| Irish | mhór | ||
| "Mhór" is cognate with "much" from Old English meaning "big" | |||
| Italian | estremo | ||
| The Italian word "estremo" can also mean "last" or "utmost". | |||
| Luxembourgish | extrem | ||
| The Luxembourgish word 'extrem' can also mean 'very' or 'quite'. | |||
| Maltese | estrem | ||
| The word "estrem" in Maltese means both "extreme" and "last" | |||
| Norwegian | ekstrem | ||
| The word "ekstrem" is cognate with the English word "extreme" and comes from the Latin word "extremus", meaning "outmost" or "farthest out." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | extremo | ||
| The word "extremo" is derived from the Latin "extrēmus", meaning "furthest out" or "outermost". In Portuguese, it can also refer to the "end" or "limit" of something. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | anabarrach | ||
| The word "anabarrach" can be broken down into "ana" (very) and "barrach" (top), providing a literal meaning of "very top". | |||
| Spanish | extremo | ||
| Extremo originates from the Latin adjective "extrēmus" with the meaning "the very last or outermost end" and is related to the modern Spanish terms "exterior" (exterior) and "frontera" (border). | |||
| Swedish | extrem | ||
| "Extrem" is a Swedish word that comes from the Latin "extremus" meaning "the outermost". | |||
| Welsh | eithafol | ||
| The spelling "eithafol" likely derives from the Old Welsh word "eithaf" meaning "extreme end, boundary". | |||
Extreme in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | экстрэмальны | ||
| The word “экстрэмальны” may also mean “very” or “much” in a general sense of a high degree of something. | |||
| Bosnian | ekstremno | ||
| The word "ekstremno" can also be used to describe a dangerous or risky situation. | |||
| Bulgarian | екстремни | ||
| Екстремни (extreme) can also mean "last" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | extrémní | ||
| "Extrémní" can refer to anything that is on the edge of a spectrum, even in a positive way, like "extrémně hezká" (extremely beautiful). | |||
| Estonian | äärmuslik | ||
| Äärmuslik is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *ärämä, meaning "wild" or "furious". | |||
| Finnish | äärimmäinen | ||
| In a different register, äärimmäinen can also translate to 'utmost'. | |||
| Hungarian | szélső | ||
| In the past, szélső meant "outer" or "extreme" in Hungarian but it could also be used to refer to a side, edge, or direction. | |||
| Latvian | ekstrēms | ||
| The word "ekstrēms" is derived from the Latin word "extremus", meaning "outmost" or "farthest"} | |||
| Lithuanian | kraštutinis | ||
| The word kraštutinis ultimately derives from the word kraštas, meaning "edge" or "border" | |||
| Macedonian | крајност | ||
| The word "крајност" can also mean "end" or "edge" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | skrajny | ||
| The word 'skrajny' also means 'outer' or 'side' in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | extrem | ||
| The Romanian word "extrem" comes from the Latin word "extremus", meaning "farthest" or "outermost". | |||
| Russian | крайний | ||
| "Крайний" также может означать "последний" или "очень плохой, крайний" | |||
| Serbian | екстремно | ||
| The Serbian word "екстремно" (extreme) can also mean "exceptional" or "outstanding". | |||
| Slovak | extrémne | ||
| Derived from Latin "extremus" meaning "furthest", "outermost" or "endmost". | |||
| Slovenian | ekstremno | ||
| The word "ekstremno" can also refer to a very high or low temperature or to a very loud or quiet sound. | |||
| Ukrainian | екстремальний | ||
| The word "екстремальний" derives from the Latin word "extremus", meaning "outermost" or "farthest". In Ukrainian, it also has the connotation of "exceptional" or "extraordinary". | |||
Extreme in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | চরম | ||
| The word 'চরম' ('extreme') in Bengali has alternate meanings such as 'final' and 'highest point'. | |||
| Gujarati | આત્યંતિક | ||
| The word "આત્યંતિક" can also mean "absolute" or "the highest degree of something." | |||
| Hindi | चरम | ||
| In Marathi, "चरम" also means "foot". | |||
| Kannada | ವಿಪರೀತ | ||
| ವಿಪರೀತ can also mean "inverted" or "abnormal" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | അങ്ങേയറ്റം | ||
| The word "അങ്ങേയറ്റം" in Malayalam can also refer to the outer surface or edge of something. | |||
| Marathi | अत्यंत | ||
| In Marathi, "अत्यंत" is not used as "extremely" but instead is used to express "very" or "beyond". | |||
| Nepali | चरम | ||
| चरम ("extreme" in Nepali) comes from the Sanskrit word "charma," meaning "skin," implying that beyond charma, or extreme, lies something else. | |||
| Punjabi | ਬਹੁਤ | ||
| The word "ਬਹੁਤ" can also mean "many" or "a lot". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අන්ත | ||
| In astrology, "අන්ත" is a term related to the Moon's movement in the sky during a particular day. | |||
| Tamil | தீவிர | ||
| தீவிர also means 'acute', 'intense', or 'severe', and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'tivra'. | |||
| Telugu | తీవ్ర | ||
| తీవ్ర also means 'violent' in the context of a storm or similar event. | |||
| Urdu | انتہائی | ||
| "انتہائی" is derived from Arabic and can also mean "final" or "utmost". | |||
Extreme in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 极端 | ||
| 极端一词在中古时期也曾有“终极，最后”之意 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 極端 | ||
| 「極端」源自北宋《集韻》的「急也」，指迅速、敏捷、急促的樣子。 | |||
| Japanese | エクストリーム | ||
| "エクストリーム" means "very great and especially strange," "very severe or serious," and "designed or adapted for very severe, demanding, or dangerous conditions, activities, or uses" in English. | |||
| Korean | 극단 | ||
| "극단" is also used in a neutral way to refer to theaters that specialize in a certain genre, such as drama theaters or comedy theaters. | |||
| Mongolian | туйлширсан | ||
| This Mongolian word's etymology is uncertain, but some think it means 'to break down into fine pieces' or 'to scatter'. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အစွန်းရောက် | ||
Extreme in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | ekstrim | ||
| The Indonesian word "ekstrim" can also refer to the "limit" or the "end" of a situation, or to something that goes "too far" beyond what is normal or acceptable. | |||
| Javanese | nemen | ||
| The word "nemen" in Javanese can also mean "very" or "too much." | |||
| Khmer | ខ្លាំង | ||
| The Khmer word "ខ្លាំង" can also mean "very" or "a lot" in some contexts. | |||
| Lao | ທີ່ສຸດ | ||
| Malay | melampau | ||
| The Malay word "melampau" is derived from the Sanskrit word "ati" meaning "exceeding". | |||
| Thai | สุดขีด | ||
| In Thai, the word "สุดขีด" also means "the best" or "the most extreme example of something." | |||
| Vietnamese | cực | ||
| "Cực" can also mean "pole" (like North or South Pole) and "very", as in "extremely". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sukdulan | ||
Extreme in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | həddindən artıq | ||
| The word "həddindən artıq" originates from the Arabic word "hadd" meaning "limit, boundary" and the Persian suffix "-indən" denoting "from". Thus, literally translated, it means "going beyond the limit." | |||
| Kazakh | экстремалды | ||
| The Kazakh word "экстремалды" has roots in the Latin "extremus," meaning "the outermost," and can also refer to extreme sports enthusiasts. | |||
| Kyrgyz | экстремалдуу | ||
| In addition to its main meaning of "extreme," "экстремалдуу" can also refer to a person who participates in extreme sports. | |||
| Tajik | шадид | ||
| The word "шадид" in Tajik derives from Arabic and also means "severe, harsh, strong, tough"} | |||
| Turkmen | aşa | ||
| Uzbek | haddan tashqari | ||
| The term "haddan tashqari" is also used figuratively to refer to something that is excessive or beyond the normal. | |||
| Uyghur | چېكىدىن ئاشقان | ||
Extreme in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻoi loa | ||
| ʻOi loa is also the name given to a legendary Hawaiian shark deity. | |||
| Maori | tino | ||
| Maori word 'tino' also means 'very' or 'completely' | |||
| Samoan | soona fai | ||
| "Soona fai" can also mean "the end" or "very much". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | matindi | ||
| The word "matindi" is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "*matid" meaning "death" or "perish". | |||
Extreme in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | k'uchu | ||
| Guarani | apýra | ||
Extreme in International Languages
| Esperanto | ekstrema | ||
| Latin | summa | ||
| The Latin word "summa" also means "highest point" or "total". | |||
Extreme in Others Languages
| Greek | άκρο | ||
| The word "άκρο" is also used in the context of geography to refer to headlands or capes (e.g. "Άκρο Ταίναρο") | |||
| Hmong | huab | ||
| Hmong ēũab also means "edge" or "verge". | |||
| Kurdish | bêfêhm zêde | ||
| The term "bêfêhm zêde" in Kurdish is a compound word that literally translates to "without sense more" and can also be used to mean "excessive" or "over the top". | |||
| Turkish | aşırı | ||
| "Aşırı" also refers to a type of fabric used to make socks and tights. | |||
| Xhosa | ngokugqithisileyo | ||
| "Ngqithisileyo" is also used to describe an exaggerated, over-the-top person. | |||
| Yiddish | עקסטרעם | ||
| The Yiddish word "עקסטרעם" can also mean "crazy" or "out of control". | |||
| Zulu | ngokweqile | ||
| The Zulu word "ngokweqile" also means "excessively", "overly", and "beyond measure." | |||
| Assamese | চৰম | ||
| Aymara | k'uchu | ||
| Bhojpuri | चरम | ||
| Dhivehi | ވަރަށް | ||
| Dogri | बे-ब्हा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sukdulan | ||
| Guarani | apýra | ||
| Ilocano | nakaro | ||
| Krio | rili | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تووند | ||
| Maithili | चरम | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯥꯊꯤꯕ | ||
| Mizo | nasa tak | ||
| Oromo | baay'ee darbaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଅତ୍ୟଧିକ | ||
| Quechua | piti | ||
| Sanskrit | अति | ||
| Tatar | экстремаль | ||
| Tigrinya | ጫፍ | ||
| Tsonga | xo tika | ||