Familiar in Different Languages
Discover 'Familiar' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'familiar' holds a special significance in our daily lives, as it often refers to something or someone that is known and recognizable. This concept is universal, and it transcends cultural boundaries, making it a familiar term in many languages around the world.
Throughout history, the idea of familiarity has played a crucial role in shaping our relationships, communities, and cultures. It is the foundation of trust, comfort, and belonging, and it allows us to connect with one another on a deeper level.
For language enthusiasts and cultural explorers, understanding the translation of 'familiar' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the nuances of different cultures and the ways in which people around the world perceive and interact with their surroundings.
For example, in Spanish, 'familiar' translates to 'familiar,' while in French, it is 'familier.' In German, the word for 'familiar' is 'vertraut,' and in Japanese, it is 'しつubre' (shitsu bare).
Familiar
Familiar in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | bekend | ||
| The Afrikaans word "bekend" also has the secondary meaning of "well-known", particularly in the sense of being famous or notorious. | |||
| Amharic | የሚታወቅ | ||
| The root of the Amharic word for "familiar" (የሚታወቅ) also connotes "knowing", while an alternate definition refers to something known throughout a community. | |||
| Hausa | saba | ||
| In Hausa, "saba" can also refer to a group or number of seven. | |||
| Igbo | maara | ||
| The word 'maara' in Igbo can also mean 'known', 'recognized', or 'well-acquainted' depending on the context. | |||
| Malagasy | mahazatra | ||
| The Malagasy word "mahazatra" also means "accustomed to", "used to", or "familiar with". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zodziwika | ||
| The word 'zodziwika' in Nyanja (Chichewa) also means 'to be well-known or famous' or 'to be accustomed to' something. | |||
| Shona | kujairira | ||
| The word 'kujairira' can also mean 'to be accustomed to' or 'to be used to'. | |||
| Somali | yaqaan | ||
| Somali "yaqaan" has an additional meaning: "recognition", which is cognate with Oromo "yaqqe" meaning "to recognize, to know through experience, to be aware of". | |||
| Sesotho | tloaetse | ||
| The word "tloaetse" can also refer to someone who is well-known or popular. | |||
| Swahili | ukoo | ||
| The word 'ukoo' in Swahili also means 'lineage', 'clan', or 'tribe'. | |||
| Xhosa | eziqhelekileyo | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning, the word "eziqhelekileyo" in Xhosa can also be used to describe something that is "ordinary" or "commonplace." | |||
| Yoruba | faramọ | ||
| In Yoruba, the word 'faramọ' can also refer to a close friend or associate. | |||
| Zulu | ajwayelekile | ||
| In Zulu, the word 'ajwayelekile' refers to 'a state of being used to or accustomed to something' as well as being 'friendly and close'. | |||
| Bambara | delina | ||
| Ewe | si wonya | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umenyereye | ||
| Lingala | eyebana | ||
| Luganda | okamanyiiro | ||
| Sepedi | tlwaelegilego | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nim | ||
Familiar in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مألوف | ||
| The word "مألوف" (familiar) originates from the root "ألف" (to repeat) and implies recurrence and hence familiarity. | |||
| Hebrew | מוּכָּר | ||
| "מוּכָּר" can also mean "sold" or "recognized", depending on the context. | |||
| Pashto | آشنا | ||
| Pashto word آشنا derives from Proto-Indo-European *h₂nǵʰn̥- meaning “to get to know” and is the ancestor of English cognate “cognizant”. | |||
| Arabic | مألوف | ||
| The word "مألوف" (familiar) originates from the root "ألف" (to repeat) and implies recurrence and hence familiarity. | |||
Familiar in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i njohur | ||
| Albanian "i njohur" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵneh₂, meaning "to know". | |||
| Basque | ezaguna | ||
| The word "ezaguna" can also refer to a relative or acquaintance. | |||
| Catalan | familiar | ||
| The word "familiar" in Catalan can also refer to a close friend or acquaintance. | |||
| Croatian | poznati | ||
| The word 'poznati' in Croatian has cognates in other Slavic languages, such as the Russian word 'znat' or the Polish word 'znać'. | |||
| Danish | velkendt | ||
| The word `velkendt` can also mean `well-known` or `renowned`. | |||
| Dutch | vertrouwd | ||
| In Belgian Dutch "vertrouwd" can also mean "engaged to marry". | |||
| English | familiar | ||
| The Latin origin of "familiar" means both "family" and "household spirit." | |||
| French | familier | ||
| In French, "familier" can also mean "informal" or "closely acquainted" | |||
| Frisian | bekend | ||
| The word "bekend" can also mean "famous" or "well-known" in Frisian. | |||
| Galician | familiar | ||
| "Familiar" in Galician can also mean "ghost, specter". | |||
| German | familiär | ||
| The German word "familiär" can also refer to a "close or intimate" relationship, or to something "typical" of a particular family. | |||
| Icelandic | kunnuglegt | ||
| The word "kunnuglegt" ("familiar") in Icelandic stems from the Old Norse word "kunnigr" ("known") and has the alternate meaning of "informed" or "knowledgeable". | |||
| Irish | eolach | ||
| The word "eolach" also means "knowing" or "acquainted with" in Irish. | |||
| Italian | familiare | ||
| The word 'familiare' in Italian also means 'member of a religious order'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | vertraut | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "vertraut" is also used for "confidence", "trust", and "confidant". | |||
| Maltese | familjari | ||
| The Maltese word "familjari" is cognate to the Sicilian and Italian word "famigliari", originally referring to household servants. | |||
| Norwegian | velkjent | ||
| "Velkjent" is etymologically rooted in "vel," meaning "well" or "good," and "kjent," meaning "known" or "familiar." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | familiar | ||
| In Portuguese, 'familiar' can also refer to a spirit or ghost that haunts a specific place or person. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | eòlach | ||
| Etymology: from Old Norse "eðli". Alternate meaning: "native". | |||
| Spanish | familiar | ||
| "Familiar" also means "evil spirit" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | bekant | ||
| Bekant can also mean 'acquaintance' in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | cyfarwydd | ||
| The word 'cyfarwydd' has alternate meanings in Welsh, including 'storyteller' and 'a person well-acquainted with someone' | |||
Familiar in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | знаёмы | ||
| The Belarusian word “знаёмы” originated from the Proto-Slavic word “znati,” which means to know. Therefore, the word may also carry the meaning of “known.” | |||
| Bosnian | poznat | ||
| The word "poznat" in Bosnian can also mean "to recognize" or "to know". | |||
| Bulgarian | познати | ||
| The word "познати" also means "relatives" or "acquaintances" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | známý | ||
| The adjective, 'známý' ('familiar'), stems from the Czech verb, 'znát' ('to know'), and thusly has the second, literal translation, of 'that which is known'. | |||
| Estonian | tuttav | ||
| In Finnish, the word "tuttava" also means "familiar person" or "acquaintance". | |||
| Finnish | tuttu | ||
| The word "tuttu" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*tewte-", which means "to be swollen or puffed up." | |||
| Hungarian | ismerős | ||
| "Ismerős" comes from the Hungarian word "ismer" (to know), and it can also mean "acquaintance" or "friend." | |||
| Latvian | pazīstams | ||
| The Latvian word "pazīstams" originates from the verb "pazīt," which means "to know." It can also mean "well-known" or "famous." | |||
| Lithuanian | pažįstamas | ||
| The word ''pažįstamas'' also translates to ''acquaintance''. | |||
| Macedonian | познат | ||
| The word "познат" in Macedonian can also refer to an acquaintance or a familiar person. | |||
| Polish | znajomy | ||
| The Polish word "znajomy" also has the meaning of "acquaintance" and is related to the word "znać," which means "to know." | |||
| Romanian | familiar | ||
| In Romanian, "familiar" also has a meaning of "demon" or "spirit", and it can be used to denote a supernatural entity that is believed to be attached to a person or family. | |||
| Russian | знакомый | ||
| The Russian word “знакомый” not only means someone you know, but also "familiar" in the sense of "well known" or "well acquainted with." | |||
| Serbian | познат | ||
| The word 'познат' can also mean 'acquaintance' or 'friend' depending on the context. | |||
| Slovak | známe | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "familiar," "známe" can also mean "female acquaintance" or "lover." | |||
| Slovenian | znano | ||
| Znano is the past participle of the verb “znati”, which means “to know”. | |||
| Ukrainian | знайомий | ||
| The Proto-Slavic root *znati ('to know') underlies the Ukrainian word "знайомий" 'familiar' and can also take on the related meanings 'acquaintance' and 'friend'. | |||
Familiar in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | পরিচিত | ||
| পরিচিত derives from the root **-চিত** meaning "to perceive, to mark, to observe" and the prefix **পর-" which means "again, back, over," implying a sense of re-observation or re-cognition. | |||
| Gujarati | પરિચિત | ||
| The word "परिचित" (parichit) comes from the Sanskrit word "pari-chitta," meaning "known to the mind". | |||
| Hindi | परिचित | ||
| The Hindi word "परिचित" ultimately derives from the Sanskrit root "चित्" ("to know") and could also mean "well informed" or "renowned." | |||
| Kannada | ಪರಿಚಿತ | ||
| The word "ಪರಿಚಿತ" in Kannada also means "renowned", "famous", or "well-known". | |||
| Malayalam | പരിചിതമായ | ||
| In Sanskrit, "paricita" means "thoroughly known." | |||
| Marathi | परिचित | ||
| The Marathi word "परिचित" ultimately comes from the Sanskrit word "परि-चितः" meaning "known to all" or "widely known." | |||
| Nepali | परिचित | ||
| "परिचित" is thought to have derived from the Sanskrit word "परिज्ञात" meaning "known or recognized." | |||
| Punjabi | ਜਾਣੂ | ||
| The word "ਜਾਣੂ" in Punjabi can also refer to a person who is well-acquainted with or close to someone else. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | හුරුපුරුදු | ||
| Tamil | பழக்கமான | ||
| Telugu | తెలిసిన | ||
| The Telugu word "తెలిసిన" can also refer to an acquaintance, a well-known person, or an understanding. | |||
| Urdu | واقف | ||
| The term 'واقف' can also be used to refer to a person who is learned and knowledgeable in a particular field. | |||
Familiar in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 熟悉的 | ||
| 熟习的(shúxí de) can additionally mean "experienced" or "adept" | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 熟悉的 | ||
| 熟悉的 (shú xī de)—meaning "acquainted"—is a compound of "熟" (shú) or "熟識" (shú shí) and "的" (de) | |||
| Japanese | おなじみ | ||
| The kanji of "おなじみ" (familiar) are the same as those of "同じ" (same), but they are read differently because they are used in a compound word. | |||
| Korean | 익숙한 | ||
| The Korean word "익숙한" can also refer to a person's familiarity with a language, subject, or situation. | |||
| Mongolian | танил | ||
| The word "танил" in Mongolian can also mean "known" or "acquaintance". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အကျွမ်းတဝင် | ||
Familiar in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | akrab | ||
| "Akarab" has a Sanskrit origin from the word "sakrab" meaning close or beloved. | |||
| Javanese | menowo | ||
| In Old Javanese, menowo meant 'familiar', 'acquaintance', and 'husband'. | |||
| Khmer | ស្គាល់ | ||
| The word "ស្គាល់" can also mean "to know" or "to recognize" in Khmer. | |||
| Lao | ຄຸ້ນເຄີຍ | ||
| The word "ຄູນເຄີຍ" (familiar) is also used to refer to someone who is close to you or someone you are related to. | |||
| Malay | biasa | ||
| The word "biasa" in Malay can also mean "common", "ordinary", or "usual". | |||
| Thai | คุ้นเคย | ||
| The word 'คุ้นเคย' can also mean 'to be accustomed to' or 'to be well-acquainted with' something or someone. | |||
| Vietnamese | quen biết | ||
| The word "Quen biết" literally means "to know each other," but it is also used to describe a person who is well-acquainted with something or someone. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pamilyar | ||
Familiar in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | tanış | ||
| The word “tanış” comes from Persian and its original meaning is “knowledge or awareness. | |||
| Kazakh | таныс | ||
| "Таныс" may also refer to a meeting or a person with whom one has an acquaintance. | |||
| Kyrgyz | тааныш | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "тааныш" has various connotations including "acquaintance" and "knowledge" in addition to its primary meaning of "familiarity". | |||
| Tajik | шинос | ||
| The word "шинос" can also mean "companion" or "associate" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | tanyş | ||
| Uzbek | tanish | ||
| The Uzbek word "tanish" is also used to refer to "acquaintances" or "friends". | |||
| Uyghur | تونۇش | ||
Familiar in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kamaʻāina | ||
| "Kamaʻāina" also means local, native, and long-term resident in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | waia | ||
| One alternate meaning for "waia" is "to be in accord with". | |||
| Samoan | masani | ||
| The word "masani" can also mean "custom" or "tradition" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pamilyar | ||
| The word "pamilyar" in Tagalog is derived from the Spanish word "familiar" which means "servant of the household". | |||
Familiar in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | wila masi | ||
| Guarani | ogayguáva | ||
Familiar in International Languages
| Esperanto | konata | ||
| The word 'konata' is also used in the sense of 'here', 'this side', or 'near'. | |||
| Latin | nota | ||
| **Nota** is cognate with the English word **known**. | |||
Familiar in Others Languages
| Greek | οικείος | ||
| "Οικείος" also means "related" or "akin" in Greek. | |||
| Hmong | me ntsis txog cov | ||
| The Hmong word "me ntsis txog cov" can also mean "to be acquainted with" or "to be on speaking terms with." | |||
| Kurdish | nas | ||
| The Kurdish word "nas" (familiar) is derived from the Proto-Indo-European suffix *-no-, which denotes a person's relationship to something. | |||
| Turkish | tanıdık | ||
| The word "tanıdık" can also refer to a relative or acquaintance. | |||
| Xhosa | eziqhelekileyo | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning, the word "eziqhelekileyo" in Xhosa can also be used to describe something that is "ordinary" or "commonplace." | |||
| Yiddish | קענטלעך | ||
| The Yiddish word "קענטלעך" can also mean "recognizable" or "commonplace". | |||
| Zulu | ajwayelekile | ||
| In Zulu, the word 'ajwayelekile' refers to 'a state of being used to or accustomed to something' as well as being 'friendly and close'. | |||
| Assamese | চিনাকি | ||
| Aymara | wila masi | ||
| Bhojpuri | परिचित | ||
| Dhivehi | ދަންނަ | ||
| Dogri | पंछानू | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pamilyar | ||
| Guarani | ogayguáva | ||
| Ilocano | naikaruaman | ||
| Krio | sabi | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاشنا | ||
| Maithili | परिचित | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯣꯏꯗꯕ | ||
| Mizo | hrebel | ||
| Oromo | beekamaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପରିଚିତ | ||
| Quechua | ayllu | ||
| Sanskrit | परिचित | ||
| Tatar | таныш | ||
| Tigrinya | ልሙድ | ||
| Tsonga | toloveleka | ||