Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'formula' holds immense significance in various fields, from mathematics and science to nutrition and beauty. A formula is a set of instructions or a specific arrangement of values that, when followed or applied, yields a predictable result. This concept has been culturally important for centuries, as it allows us to understand and manipulate the world around us.
Throughout history, formulas have been used to create everything from medicines to architectural marvels. For instance, the ancient Egyptians used a formula to create their iconic eye makeup, while the famous E=mc^2 equation is a formula that revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
Understanding the translation of the word 'formula' in different languages can provide insight into how various cultures approach problem-solving and innovation. Here are a few sample translations:
Stay tuned for a more comprehensive list of translations, as well as interesting cultural contexts and historical facts associated with the word 'formula' in different languages.
Afrikaans | formule | ||
The Afrikaans word "formule" is derived from the French word "formule", which in turn comes from the Latin word "formula". The Latin word originally meant "a legal document or a prescribed form of words", and it is related to the verb "formare", which means "to form". | |||
Amharic | ቀመር | ||
Although the Amharic word ቀመር (qämer) commonly refers to a formula, it can also mean a rule, law, or principle. | |||
Hausa | dabara | ||
"Dabara" in Hausa can mean a written talisman with magic signs inscribed, which is worn or displayed to ward off evil or promote good fortune. | |||
Igbo | usoro | ||
In Old Igbo, “usoro” also meant “secret.” | |||
Malagasy | raikipohy | ||
The word "raikipohy" also refers to traditional medicinal potions and magical charms. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chilinganizo | ||
"Chilinganizo" is a derivative of the verb "chilinga" which means "to plan" or "to calculate". | |||
Shona | fomura | ||
In Shona, "fomura" has other meanings, including an expression of a plan, recipe, system, process, or law, and it can be used in a wide range of contexts. | |||
Somali | formula | ||
Somali term 'foomulo' also means 'to become a person' or 'to be a person' | |||
Sesotho | foromo | ||
Foromo derives from the infinitive "ho foma" (to create) and thus conveys the meaning "principle of creation". | |||
Swahili | fomula | ||
The Swahili word "fomula" also means "prescription". | |||
Xhosa | ifomula | ||
The Xhosa word 'ifomula' shares its root with 'fomoza', meaning 'to create'. | |||
Yoruba | agbekalẹ | ||
The Yoruba word "agbekalẹ" can also mean "the act of prescribing". | |||
Zulu | ifomula | ||
"I-ifomula" can refer specifically to a scientific formula but also more generally to any secret recipe that is used to treat a specific disease. | |||
Bambara | formula | ||
Ewe | formula | ||
Kinyarwanda | formula | ||
Lingala | formule | ||
Luganda | enkola ya formula | ||
Sepedi | fomula | ||
Twi (Akan) | formula a wɔde yɛ aduan | ||
Arabic | معادلة | ||
The word "معادلة" in Arabic can also mean "equation" in mathematics or "comparison" in a general sense. | |||
Hebrew | נוּסחָה | ||
The Hebrew word "נוּסחָה" (formula) comes from the root word "סוּג" (kind, type), indicating a set of rules or instructions that defines a particular type of thing or process. | |||
Pashto | فورمول | ||
The Pashto word "فورمول" comes from the Arabic word "فرمول" which means "to arrange" or "to classify". | |||
Arabic | معادلة | ||
The word "معادلة" in Arabic can also mean "equation" in mathematics or "comparison" in a general sense. |
Albanian | formulë | ||
The word "formulë" in Albanian also means "recipe" or "prescription". | |||
Basque | formula | ||
The word "formula" comes from the Latin word "formulare", which means "to give form to". | |||
Catalan | fórmula | ||
La palabra "fórmula" en catalán deriva del latín "formula", que significa "prescripción" o "regla". | |||
Croatian | formula | ||
Riječ "formula" potječe od latinske riječi "formula", koja znači "oblik" ili "obrazac". | |||
Danish | formel | ||
The Danish word "formel" also refers to a "scientific theory" or "scientific theorem". | |||
Dutch | formule | ||
The Dutch word "formule" can also mean "spell" or "incantation". | |||
English | formula | ||
The word 'formula' comes from the Latin word 'formula', meaning 'rule' or 'prescription'. | |||
French | formule | ||
The word "formule" comes from the Latin word "formulare", meaning "to prescribe". | |||
Frisian | formule | ||
Frisian formúle also means 'form' as in 'shape' and 'kind' | |||
Galician | fórmula | ||
German | formel | ||
The word "Formel" comes from the Latin word "forma," meaning "shape" or "pattern." | |||
Icelandic | uppskrift | ||
The Icelandic word "uppskrift" not only means "formula," but also "recipe," likely due to the influence of Danish. | |||
Irish | foirmle | ||
In the Irish language, foirmle is also a form of a type of poem which celebrates a famous ancestor or event. | |||
Italian | formula | ||
In Italian, the term “formula” also refers to a legal or contractual agreement or a mathematical expression. | |||
Luxembourgish | formel | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Formel" derives from the Middle Latin "formula", which originally meant "little form". | |||
Maltese | formula | ||
The Maltese word 'formula' is derived from the Latin word 'formula', meaning 'a form or mold' and 'a prescribed or set form of words'. | |||
Norwegian | formel | ||
The word "formel" can also mean "form", "shape", or "pattern" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | fórmula | ||
In Portuguese, the word "Fórmula" can also mean a recipe or a prescription. | |||
Scots Gaelic | foirmle | ||
The Scottish Gaelic word "foirmle" is also used to describe a religious creed or belief system. | |||
Spanish | fórmula | ||
The word "fórmula" refers not only to a specific expression but also to a recipe or a legal document. | |||
Swedish | formel | ||
Formel derives from Latin formula meaning "little form" or "prescription" and is cognate with other Germanic words for formula, including Middle Dutch vormel, German Formel, Dutch vormel, and English formula. | |||
Welsh | fformiwla | ||
The word "fformiwla" is derived from the Latin word "formula", meaning "rule" or "prescription". |
Belarusian | формула | ||
The word "формула" in Belarusian is derived from the Latin word "formula", meaning “prescription”. | |||
Bosnian | formula | ||
U Bosanskom jeziku, izvedenica od riječi formula je formular, sa značenjem obrasca. | |||
Bulgarian | формула | ||
"Формула" в переносном смысле означает "изречение, краткое по объёму, но глубокое по содержанию" | |||
Czech | vzorec | ||
The word "vzorec" derives from the Old Slavic root "*vorъ", meaning "enclosure" or "pattern". | |||
Estonian | valem | ||
The word "valem" in Estonian also means "motto". | |||
Finnish | kaava | ||
The word 'kaava' has various meanings including a 'formula', a 'pattern', a 'plan', a 'map', or a 'mold'. | |||
Hungarian | képlet | ||
The Hungarian word "képlet" has alternate meanings such as "equation" and "recipe". | |||
Latvian | formula | ||
The word "formula" comes from the Latin word "formulare", meaning "to prescribe or set down in writing" and it is related to the word "form". | |||
Lithuanian | formulė | ||
"Formulė" also means "regulation" or "order" in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | формула | ||
In Macedonian, "формула" can also refer to a chemical formula or a mathematical expression. | |||
Polish | formuła | ||
"Formuła" is also used in Polish to refer to a kind of legal or official document, like a contract or a prescription | |||
Romanian | formulă | ||
In Romanian, the word "formulă" can also refer to a prescription or a legal document. | |||
Russian | формула | ||
The term "формула" can refer to a recipe and is of Latin origin. | |||
Serbian | формула | ||
In the automotive context, the word "формула" can refer to the Formula 1 racing series. | |||
Slovak | vzorec | ||
The Slovak word "vzorec" derives from the Proto-Slavic word *vorъ, meaning "law" or "rule," suggesting its historical association with establishing and following rules or procedures. | |||
Slovenian | formula | ||
The word formula can refer to a mathematical expression, a chemical formula, or a set of instructions. | |||
Ukrainian | формула | ||
The word "формула" can also refer to a prescription, rule, or regulation. |
Bengali | সূত্র | ||
The word "সূত্র" (formula) is derived from the Sanskrit word "sūtra", which means "thread" or "rule". | |||
Gujarati | સૂત્ર | ||
સૂત્ર (sūtra) can also mean 'string', 'thread', or 'rule' in Gujarati, alluding to its original meaning as a collection of oral teachings or aphorisms. | |||
Hindi | सूत्र | ||
The Hindi word "सूत्र" is derived from the Sanskrit word "सूत्र" meaning "thread", referring to the underlying thread or pattern in a formula. | |||
Kannada | ಸೂತ್ರ | ||
"ಸೂತ್ರ" is a Sanskrit word meaning any thread or string, especially as used in sewing, weaving, etc. | |||
Malayalam | സമവാക്യം | ||
The word "സമവാക്യം" can also mean "equality" or "equation" in mathematics. | |||
Marathi | सुत्र | ||
The word 'सुत्र' in Marathi comes from the Sanskrit word 'सूत्र' meaning 'thread', 'guideline' or 'rule'. Hence, in Marathi it also means 'axiom', 'law' or 'theory'. In some literary contexts, it can also mean a 'parable' or an 'anecdote'. | |||
Nepali | सूत्र | ||
The word 'सूत्र' ('formula' in Nepali) is a common term in Buddhism, especially in the Mahayana tradition, and refers to the essential teachings of Buddha which are believed to lead to enlightenment. | |||
Punjabi | ਫਾਰਮੂਲਾ | ||
The term "ਫਾਰਮੂਲਾ" can also refer to a prescription used in traditional Indian medicine, or a magical ritual or formula. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සූත්රය | ||
"සූත්රය" (soothraya) in Sinhala also refers to a collection of teachings, principles, or instructions. | |||
Tamil | சூத்திரம் | ||
The word "சூத்திரம்" (sūtram) in Tamil can also mean "an aphorism," "a brief statement of a principle," "a guideline" or "a rule of conduct". | |||
Telugu | సూత్రం | ||
The word "సూత్రం" also signifies the thread used in sewing, derived from the Sanskrit root "syū" meaning "to sew". | |||
Urdu | فارمولہ | ||
The Urdu word "فارمولہ" derives from the Latin word "formula," meaning "prescription" or "rule." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 式 | ||
"式" can also mean "type" or "system". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 式 | ||
The Chinese character 式 (shì) can also mean 'ceremony', 'rite', or 'model'. | |||
Japanese | 式 | ||
The character 式 can also mean 'style', 'ceremony' or 'equation', and it is used in words such as 'etiketto' (etiquette) and 'keisiki' (a ceremony). | |||
Korean | 공식 | ||
"공식"의 한자어 "公式"은 "공(公)"과 "식(式)"의 합성어로, "공통적으로 사용하는 규정이나 원리"라는 뜻을 가진다. | |||
Mongolian | томъёо | ||
The word "томъёо" in Mongolian can also mean "rule", "law", or "pattern." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပုံသေနည်း | ||
The word ပုံသေနည်း (pronounced [pòʊn θè nɛ́]) derives from the words ပုံ (pronounced [pòʊn], meaning "a model, a form") and သေ (pronounced [θè], meaning "fixed, definite"), so it literally means "a fixed model, a set form". It has the same meaning as the English word "formula". |
Indonesian | rumus | ||
The word "rumus" can also mean "secret" in Indonesian. | |||
Javanese | rumus | ||
The word "rumus" in Javanese also has an alternate meaning of "instruction" or "order". | |||
Khmer | រូបមន្ត | ||
The Khmer word "រូបមន្ត" likely comes from Sanskrit, where it originally meant "a principle, law, or rule". | |||
Lao | ສູດ | ||
The Lao word ສູດ can also refer to a recipe or a method. | |||
Malay | formula | ||
In Malay, it also means 'charm' or 'incantation'. | |||
Thai | สูตร | ||
สูตร "สูต" (sutra) หมายถึง "สิ่งที่ได้ฟัง" หรือ "คำพูดที่สืบทอดมา" ในศาสนาพุทธ | |||
Vietnamese | công thức | ||
Công thức means 'recipe' as well and is sometimes used in that context. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pormula | ||
Azerbaijani | düstur | ||
The Azerbaijani word "düstur" originates from the Arabic word "dustūr", which has various meanings including "constitution", "principle", and "custom". | |||
Kazakh | формула | ||
Формула (formula) comes from the Latin word 'formula', which means 'prescription, rule'. | |||
Kyrgyz | формула | ||
The word "формула" is derived from Latin, where it meant "to prescribe", or "to fix". | |||
Tajik | формула | ||
In Tajik, the word «формула» can also mean «a set of rules or instructions». | |||
Turkmen | formula | ||
Uzbek | formula | ||
Uzbek word "formula" "формула" is derived from the Latin word "formula" meaning "fixed form, rule, or prescription". | |||
Uyghur | فورمۇلا | ||
Hawaiian | haʻilula | ||
The Hawaiian word "haʻilula" also refers to a chant that is used to memorize a genealogy. | |||
Maori | tātai | ||
'Tātai' has a dual meaning and can also refer to something that is a foundation or structure. | |||
Samoan | fuafaatatau | ||
The Samoan word "fuafaatatau" also means "recipe" or "method". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pormula | ||
The word 'pormula' is derived from the Spanish word 'fórmula', which in turn comes from the Latin 'formula' meaning 'prescription, rule'. |
Aymara | fórmula ukaxa | ||
Guarani | fórmula rehegua | ||
Esperanto | formulo | ||
The Esperanto word "formulo" also means "form, shape, figure, or pattern." | |||
Latin | formulae | ||
The Latin word "formulae" has different meanings, including the original concept of religious law, a general guideline, or a prescription. |
Greek | τύπος | ||
In ancient Greek, 'τύπος' originally meant 'impression, mark, or blow', deriving from PIE '*tup-'. The word 'τύπος' has a rich etymology and numerous meanings, including: type, model, pattern, form, character, and way or manner. | |||
Hmong | mis | ||
The word "mis" also means "measure" or "calculate" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | formîl | ||
The word "formîl" also means "model", "template", or "pattern" in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | formül | ||
In Turkish, "formül" can also mean "recipe" or "prescription". | |||
Xhosa | ifomula | ||
The Xhosa word 'ifomula' shares its root with 'fomoza', meaning 'to create'. | |||
Yiddish | פאָרמולע | ||
"פאָרמולע" can also mean "spell" or "charm" | |||
Zulu | ifomula | ||
"I-ifomula" can refer specifically to a scientific formula but also more generally to any secret recipe that is used to treat a specific disease. | |||
Assamese | সূত্ৰ | ||
Aymara | fórmula ukaxa | ||
Bhojpuri | फार्मूला के बारे में बतावल गइल बा | ||
Dhivehi | ފޯމިއުލާ އެވެ | ||
Dogri | सूत्र | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pormula | ||
Guarani | fórmula rehegua | ||
Ilocano | pormula | ||
Krio | fɔmula | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | فۆرمۆلەی | ||
Maithili | सूत्र | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯣꯔꯃꯨꯂꯥ ꯑꯁꯤ ꯑꯦꯟ.ꯗꯤ.ꯑꯦ | ||
Mizo | formula hmanga siam a ni | ||
Oromo | foormulaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସୂତ୍ର | ||
Quechua | fórmula nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | सूत्रम् | ||
Tatar | формула | ||
Tigrinya | ቀመር | ||
Tsonga | fomula | ||