Gradually in different languages

Gradually in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'gradually' is a cornerstone of communication, signifying a steady and continuous progression over time. It's a word that transcends cultural boundaries and is universally understood, making it a vital addition to any global citizen's vocabulary. But have you ever wondered how 'gradually' is translated in different languages?

The significance of 'gradually' extends beyond mere semantics. It's a word that embodies the very nature of change, a concept that is central to countless cultural narratives and historical contexts. For instance, the slow and steady progression of social change is often described as 'gradual' in many languages, emphasizing the importance of patience and persistence in affecting meaningful change.

Understanding the translation of 'gradually' in different languages can provide unique insights into the cultural nuances and linguistic quirks of various societies. For example, in Spanish, 'gradually' is translated as 'poco a poco,' which literally means 'little by little,' reflecting the language's rich and vivid vocabulary.

Join us as we explore the translations of 'gradually' in various languages, from French to Mandarin, and gain a new appreciation for the richness and diversity of the world's cultures and languages.

Gradually


Gradually in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansgeleidelik
The Afrikaans word "geleidelik" comes from the Dutch "geleidelijk", which in turn is derived from Middle Dutch "geleiden" (to lead) and "-lijk" (like).
Amharicቀስ በቀስ
"ቀስ በቀስ" is a reduplication of "ቀስ" which means "slowly" or "gently."
Hausaa hankali
The word "a hankali" in Hausa, meaning "gradually", likely derives from the Arabic word "hankalī", which means "prudent" or "wise".
Igbonke nta nke nta
The phrase 'nke nta nke nta' derives from the concept of gradual accumulation, each small increment contributing to the final outcome.
Malagasytsikelikely
The word "tsikelikely" can also be used to mean "to creep" or "to sneak" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)pang'onopang'ono
The word 'pang'onopang'ono' is a reduplicated form of the word 'pang'ono', which means 'small'.
Shonazvishoma nezvishoma
The word "zvishoma nezvishoma" is derived from the verb "kushoma", meaning "to grow", and the prefix "ku", meaning "to". It literally means "to grow by growing". It can also mean "little by little" or "gradually".
Somalitartiib tartiib ah
The phrase "tartiib tartiib ah" can also be used to describe something "smooth" or "gently sloping."
Sesothobutle-butle
The word "butle-butle" can also mean "little by little" or "slowly but surely" in Sesotho.
Swahilihatua kwa hatua
"Hatuakwa" derives from the root "-twa-" to spread and "hatua" a step.
Xhosangokuthe ngcembe
In an alternate meaning, "ngokuthe ngcembe" could refer to "little by little with determination".
Yorubadiẹdiẹ
The word "diẹdiẹ" is derived from the Yoruba word "dì" meaning "to eat" and "ẹdiẹ" meaning "a little bit".
Zulukancane kancane
The Zulu phrase "kancane kancane" literally means "little by little," emphasizing the incremental nature of the process.
Bambaradɔɔni dɔɔni
Eweblewu
Kinyarwandabuhoro buhoro
Lingalamalembemalembe
Lugandampolampola
Sepedigabotsana
Twi (Akan)nkakrankakra

Gradually in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicتدريجيا
The word "تدريجيا" derives from the root "درج" meaning "to ascend" or "to climb in stages."
Hebrewבאופן הדרגתי
באופן הדרגתי means 'gradually' but can also be a legal term, 'progressively'.
Pashtoپه تدریج سره
په تدریج سره has no alternate meanings in Pashto, and is literally translated to “gradually” in English.
Arabicتدريجيا
The word "تدريجيا" derives from the root "درج" meaning "to ascend" or "to climb in stages."

Gradually in Western European Languages

Albaniangradualisht
The word "gradualisht" is derived from the Latin word "gradatim", meaning "step by step".
Basquepixkanaka
The Basque word 'pixkanaka' also means 'little by little' or 'slowly'.
Catalangradualment
The term "gradualment" is often used in Catalan to express the idea of "by degrees".
Croatianpostepeno
In 18th-century Dubrovnik, the word 'postepeno' meant 'immediately, without delay'.
Danishgradvist
The word "gradvist" is derived from the Latin word "gradus", meaning "step".
Dutchgeleidelijk
The word "geleidelijk" is derived from the Old Saxon word "geladik", meaning "gentle" or "calm".
Englishgradually
The word "gradually" originates from the Latin word "gradus", meaning "step", reflecting the sense of a gradual progression or change.
Frenchprogressivement
"Progressivement" derives from the Latin "progressus" meaning "to move forward".
Frisianstadichoan
Frisian "stadichoan" comes ultimately from the Proto-Germanic adjective *stadagaz meaning "fixed" or "firm" and is related to the English word "steadfast".
Galiciangradualmente
The word "gradualmente" also refers to the stages of a disease or process.
Germanallmählich
"Allmählich" derives from “alle Male” (“every time”)
Icelandicsmám saman
Possibly related to “smá” meaning “slowly” or “softly”.
Irishde réir a chéile
Italiangradualmente
"Gradualmente" in Italian derives from the Latin "gradus" (meaning "step") and "-mente" (meaning "in a manner"), together meaning "step by step" or "by degrees".
Luxembourgishno an no
The word "no an no" is derived from the German phrase "nach und nach" which means "little by little" or "by degrees".
Maltesegradwalment
The etymology of the Maltese word "gradwalment" ("gradually") is from the French word "graduellement". It can also be used as a noun to describe a religious book containing parts of the mass, typically used in the Catholic church.
Norwegiangradvis
The word "gradvis" is derived from the Latin word "gradus" meaning "step" and is cognate with the English word "grade"
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)gradualmente
The word "gradualmente" is derived from the Latin word "gradus", meaning "step".
Scots Gaelicmean air mhean
The word "mean air mhean" also means "at the least" and "at the same time" in Scots Gaelic.
Spanishgradualmente
"Gradualmente" ultimately derives from the Latin word "gradus" (step), which also gave rise to words like "grade" and "gradient" in English.
Swedishgradvis
"Gradviss" is derived from the Latin word "gradus", meaning "step", and is often used in the context of progress made in small increments.
Welshyn raddol
The Welsh idiom 'yn raddol' literally means 'in a row', indicating a gradual progression.

Gradually in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпаступова
The word "паступова" is derived from the word "ступень" (step), indicating a gradual process progressing step by step.
Bosnianpostepeno
"Postepeno" means "by steps" in Croatian
Bulgarianпостепенно
The word "постепенно" is derived from the Slavic root "post", meaning "after" or "behind", and signifies a gradual or successive process.
Czechpostupně
Postupně, meaning 'gradually', is a compound of two Czech words, 'postupem' and 'ně'. The word 'postupem' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'postupiti', meaning 'to follow in succession', while 'ně' is a negative particle used to negate the following word. Thus, 'postupně' literally means 'not in succession', i.e. 'gradually'.
Estonianjärk-järgult
The word "järk-järgult" is derived from the noun "järk" (step) and the adverb "järjest" (in order), and it originally meant "step by step".
Finnishvähitellen
The word "vähitellen" is derived from the Finnish word "vähitellen". It can also mean "little by little" or "by degrees".
Hungarianfokozatosan
The word "fokozatosan" is related to the word "fok", which means "step" or "degree".
Latvianpakāpeniski
The word "pakāpeniski" comes from "pakāpe" (step) and "-iski" (-ly), indicating a gradual process.
Lithuanianpalaipsniui
"Palaipsniui" derives from the Proto-Baltic word "*palaipsnis," meaning "one by one, gradually."
Macedonianпостепено
The word "постепено" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*postipenъ", which means "step by step".
Polishstopniowo
The word "stopniowo" comes from the word "stopień" (step), and it originally meant "step by step".
Romaniantreptat
The word "treptat" comes from the Latin "trepidus" meaning "trembling" or "afraid".
Russianпостепенно
"Постепенно" can also mean "step by step" or "little by little" in Russian.
Serbianпостепено
The word "постепено" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root "*po-stopъ", meaning "step by step".
Slovakpostupne
The word "postupne" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*postǫpati", meaning "to step after."
Slovenianpostopoma
The word 'postopoma' comes from the Proto-Slavic word 'Postupъ', which also means little by little or step by step.
Ukrainianпоступово
The word "поступово" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *postupъ, which means "step" or "stride".

Gradually in South Asian Languages

Bengaliধীরে ধীরে
The Bengali word "ধীরে ধীরে" comes from the Sanskrit words "धीरे" (slowly) and "धीरे" (gently).
Gujaratiધીમે ધીમે
The Gujarati word "ધીમે ધીમે" can also mean "slowly", "gently", or "carefully" depending on the context.
Hindiधीरे - धीरे
The word "धीरे - धीरे" is derived from the Sanskrit word "dhīra," meaning "slow" or "steady."
Kannadaಕ್ರಮೇಣ
The word "ಕ್ರಮೇಣ" (kramaṇa) is derived from the Sanskrit word "क्रम" (krama), meaning "step" or "order", and the suffix "-ēṇa", meaning "in a gradual manner".
Malayalamക്രമേണ
The word "ക്രമേണ" comes from the Sanskrit word "क्रम" (krama), which means "order" or "step", and the suffix "-േണ" (-ena), which means "in a certain manner". This implies a gradual or orderly progression.
Marathiहळूहळू
The word "हळूहळू" is also used as an adverb to describe something that is performed in a slow or leisurely manner, such as "हळूहळू चालत आहे" ("he is walking slowly").
Nepaliबिस्तारै
The word "बिस्तारै" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "विस्तार" (vistāra), meaning "extension" or "expansion."
Punjabiਹੌਲੀ ਹੌਲੀ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ක්‍රමයෙන්
Tamilபடிப்படியாக
Teluguక్రమంగా
"క్రమంగా" is also used to refer to the process of arranging things in a specific order.
Urduآہستہ آہستہ
In the Persian language, the word "آهستہ آهسته" literally means "slowly, slowly," emphasizing its gradual nature.

Gradually in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)逐渐
逐渐 originates from 逐步, meaning to proceed step by step.
Chinese (Traditional)逐漸
逐漸 originally meant "to pursue" or "to chase".
Japanese徐々に
"徐々に" refers to "by degrees" or "poco a poco" in music.
Korean차례로
"차례로" has the alternate meaning of "in turn".
Mongolianаажмаар
The word "аажмаар" in Mongolian can also mean "with difficulty", "with effort", "patiently", or "perseveringly."
Myanmar (Burmese)တဖြည်းဖြည်းနဲ့

Gradually in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbertahap
The word "bertahap" is derived from the root word "tahap", which means "step" or "level".
Javanesembaka sithik
"Mbaka sithik" is derived from the root words "mbaka" (to do something repeatedly) and "sithik" (a small insect, or a way of moving or doing something subtly or imperceptibly). In some contexts, "mbaka sithik" can also be taken to imply "stealthily, in a secretive or cunning way".
Khmerបន្តិចម្តង
Laoຄ່ອຍໆ
Malaysecara beransur-ansur
The word "secara beransur-ansur" is derived from the Sanskrit word "ans" which means "slowly" and "ur" which means "to move".
Thaiค่อยๆ
"ค่อยๆ" can also mean "slowly" or "by and by."
Vietnamesedần dần
"Dần dần" is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese phrase "循序漸進" (xún-xù-tiến-tấn), which literally means "following the order and making progress step by step."
Filipino (Tagalog)unti-unti

Gradually in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanitədricən
The word "tədricən" is derived from the Arabic word "تدريج" (tadrij), which means "step by step" or "little by little."
Kazakhбіртіндеп
The word "біртіндеп" comes from the Kazakh verb "бірту" meaning "to come together, to unite" and the suffix "-деп" indicating gradual or continuous action.
Kyrgyzакырындык менен
Tajikтадриҷан
Tadrijjan also refers to a Persian music genre known for its gradual increase in tempo and intensity.
Turkmenkem-kemden
Uzbekasta-sekin
The word "asta-sekin" can also mean "at last" or "in the end" in Uzbek.
Uyghurبارا-بارا

Gradually in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianlohi
"Lohi" can also mean "slightly" or "a little," a useful term to describe something that's barely perceptible.
Maoriāta haere
Samoanfaifai malie
The word "faifai" can also refer to the Samoan process of making tapa cloth with a wooden mallet or beater and a wooden anvil.
Tagalog (Filipino)unti-unti
"Unti-unti" literally means "one by one" in Tagalog, emphasizing the progression of small steps towards a larger outcome.

Gradually in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajuk'atjuk'aru
Guaranimbeguekatúpe

Gradually in International Languages

Esperantoiom post iom
The word "iom post iom" literally means "from time to time" in Esperanto.
Latinpaulatimque
The Latin word "paulatimque" is derived from "paulus" (small) and "atim" (at a time), meaning "little by little".

Gradually in Others Languages

Greekσταδιακά
The word "σταδιακά" in Greek can also mean "by degrees" or "step by step".
Hmongmaj mam
The Hmong word "maj mam" also refers to "by steps".
Kurdishhêdî hêdî
The word "hêdî hêdî" is composed of the words "hêd" (quiet) and "hêd" (slowly), and it can also mean "calmly" or "gently".
Turkishyavaş yavaş
"Yavaş yavaş" also has the alternate meaning "step by step" in Turkish
Xhosangokuthe ngcembe
In an alternate meaning, "ngokuthe ngcembe" could refer to "little by little with determination".
Yiddishביסלעכווייַז
The Yiddish word "ביסלעכווייַז" is derived from Slavic languages and is composed of the root "bisel", meaning "a little," and the suffix "-echvayz," meaning "in a gradual or incremental manner."
Zulukancane kancane
The Zulu phrase "kancane kancane" literally means "little by little," emphasizing the incremental nature of the process.
Assameseলাহে লাহে
Aymarajuk'atjuk'aru
Bhojpuriधीरै-धीरै
Dhivehiމަޑު މަޑުން
Dogriबल्लें-बल्लें
Filipino (Tagalog)unti-unti
Guaranimbeguekatúpe
Ilocanoin-inut
Kriosmɔl smɔl
Kurdish (Sorani)پلە بە پلە
Maithiliधीरे-धीरे
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯞꯅ ꯇꯞꯅ
Mizozawi zawiin
Oromosuuta suuta
Odia (Oriya)ଧୀରେ ଧୀରେ
Quechuaas asmanta
Sanskritक्रमिकवार
Tatarәкренләп
Tigrinyaብኸይዲ
Tsongaswitsanana

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