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
| Afrikaans | geleidelik | ||
| The Afrikaans word "geleidelik" comes from the Dutch "geleidelijk", which in turn is derived from Middle Dutch "geleiden" (to lead) and "-lijk" (like). | |||
| Amharic | ቀስ በቀስ | ||
| "ቀስ በቀስ" is a reduplication of "ቀስ" which means "slowly" or "gently." | |||
| Hausa | a hankali | ||
| The word "a hankali" in Hausa, meaning "gradually", likely derives from the Arabic word "hankalī", which means "prudent" or "wise". | |||
| Igbo | nke nta nke nta | ||
| The phrase 'nke nta nke nta' derives from the concept of gradual accumulation, each small increment contributing to the final outcome. | |||
| Malagasy | tsikelikely | ||
| 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'. | |||
| Shona | zvishoma 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". | |||
| Somali | tartiib tartiib ah | ||
| The phrase "tartiib tartiib ah" can also be used to describe something "smooth" or "gently sloping." | |||
| Sesotho | butle-butle | ||
| The word "butle-butle" can also mean "little by little" or "slowly but surely" in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | hatua kwa hatua | ||
| "Hatuakwa" derives from the root "-twa-" to spread and "hatua" a step. | |||
| Xhosa | ngokuthe ngcembe | ||
| In an alternate meaning, "ngokuthe ngcembe" could refer to "little by little with determination". | |||
| Yoruba | diẹdiẹ | ||
| The word "diẹdiẹ" is derived from the Yoruba word "dì" meaning "to eat" and "ẹdiẹ" meaning "a little bit". | |||
| Zulu | kancane kancane | ||
| The Zulu phrase "kancane kancane" literally means "little by little," emphasizing the incremental nature of the process. | |||
| Bambara | dɔɔni dɔɔni | ||
| Ewe | blewu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | buhoro buhoro | ||
| Lingala | malembemalembe | ||
| Luganda | mpolampola | ||
| Sepedi | gabotsana | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nkakrankakra | ||
Gradually in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تدريجيا | ||
| The word "تدريجيا" derives from the root "درج" meaning "to ascend" or "to climb in stages." | |||
| Hebrew | באופן הדרגתי | ||
| באופן הדרגתי means 'gradually' but can also be a legal term, 'progressively'. | |||
| Pashto | په تدریج سره | ||
| په تدریج سره has no alternate meanings in Pashto, and is literally translated to “gradually” in English. | |||
| Arabic | تدريجيا | ||
| The word "تدريجيا" derives from the root "درج" meaning "to ascend" or "to climb in stages." | |||
Gradually in Western European Languages
| Albanian | gradualisht | ||
| The word "gradualisht" is derived from the Latin word "gradatim", meaning "step by step". | |||
| Basque | pixkanaka | ||
| The Basque word 'pixkanaka' also means 'little by little' or 'slowly'. | |||
| Catalan | gradualment | ||
| The term "gradualment" is often used in Catalan to express the idea of "by degrees". | |||
| Croatian | postepeno | ||
| In 18th-century Dubrovnik, the word 'postepeno' meant 'immediately, without delay'. | |||
| Danish | gradvist | ||
| The word "gradvist" is derived from the Latin word "gradus", meaning "step". | |||
| Dutch | geleidelijk | ||
| The word "geleidelijk" is derived from the Old Saxon word "geladik", meaning "gentle" or "calm". | |||
| English | gradually | ||
| The word "gradually" originates from the Latin word "gradus", meaning "step", reflecting the sense of a gradual progression or change. | |||
| French | progressivement | ||
| "Progressivement" derives from the Latin "progressus" meaning "to move forward". | |||
| Frisian | stadichoan | ||
| Frisian "stadichoan" comes ultimately from the Proto-Germanic adjective *stadagaz meaning "fixed" or "firm" and is related to the English word "steadfast". | |||
| Galician | gradualmente | ||
| The word "gradualmente" also refers to the stages of a disease or process. | |||
| German | allmählich | ||
| "Allmählich" derives from “alle Male” (“every time”) | |||
| Icelandic | smám saman | ||
| Possibly related to “smá” meaning “slowly” or “softly”. | |||
| Irish | de réir a chéile | ||
| Italian | gradualmente | ||
| "Gradualmente" in Italian derives from the Latin "gradus" (meaning "step") and "-mente" (meaning "in a manner"), together meaning "step by step" or "by degrees". | |||
| Luxembourgish | no an no | ||
| The word "no an no" is derived from the German phrase "nach und nach" which means "little by little" or "by degrees". | |||
| Maltese | gradwalment | ||
| 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. | |||
| Norwegian | gradvis | ||
| 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 Gaelic | mean air mhean | ||
| The word "mean air mhean" also means "at the least" and "at the same time" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | gradualmente | ||
| "Gradualmente" ultimately derives from the Latin word "gradus" (step), which also gave rise to words like "grade" and "gradient" in English. | |||
| Swedish | gradvis | ||
| "Gradviss" is derived from the Latin word "gradus", meaning "step", and is often used in the context of progress made in small increments. | |||
| Welsh | yn raddol | ||
| The Welsh idiom 'yn raddol' literally means 'in a row', indicating a gradual progression. | |||
Gradually in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | паступова | ||
| The word "паступова" is derived from the word "ступень" (step), indicating a gradual process progressing step by step. | |||
| Bosnian | postepeno | ||
| "Postepeno" means "by steps" in Croatian | |||
| Bulgarian | постепенно | ||
| The word "постепенно" is derived from the Slavic root "post", meaning "after" or "behind", and signifies a gradual or successive process. | |||
| Czech | postupně | ||
| 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'. | |||
| Estonian | järk-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". | |||
| Finnish | vähitellen | ||
| The word "vähitellen" is derived from the Finnish word "vähitellen". It can also mean "little by little" or "by degrees". | |||
| Hungarian | fokozatosan | ||
| The word "fokozatosan" is related to the word "fok", which means "step" or "degree". | |||
| Latvian | pakāpeniski | ||
| The word "pakāpeniski" comes from "pakāpe" (step) and "-iski" (-ly), indicating a gradual process. | |||
| Lithuanian | palaipsniui | ||
| "Palaipsniui" derives from the Proto-Baltic word "*palaipsnis," meaning "one by one, gradually." | |||
| Macedonian | постепено | ||
| The word "постепено" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*postipenъ", which means "step by step". | |||
| Polish | stopniowo | ||
| The word "stopniowo" comes from the word "stopień" (step), and it originally meant "step by step". | |||
| Romanian | treptat | ||
| The word "treptat" comes from the Latin "trepidus" meaning "trembling" or "afraid". | |||
| Russian | постепенно | ||
| "Постепенно" can also mean "step by step" or "little by little" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | постепено | ||
| The word "постепено" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root "*po-stopъ", meaning "step by step". | |||
| Slovak | postupne | ||
| The word "postupne" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*postǫpati", meaning "to step after." | |||
| Slovenian | postopoma | ||
| The word 'postopoma' comes from the Proto-Slavic word 'Postupъ', which also means little by little or step by step. | |||
| Ukrainian | поступово | ||
| The word "поступово" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *postupъ, which means "step" or "stride". | |||
Gradually in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ধীরে ধীরে | ||
| The Bengali word "ধীরে ধীরে" comes from the Sanskrit words "धीरे" (slowly) and "धीरे" (gently). | |||
| Gujarati | ધીમે ધીમે | ||
| The Gujarati word "ધીમે ધીમે" can also mean "slowly", "gently", or "carefully" depending on the context. | |||
| Hindi | धीरे - धीरे | ||
| The word "धीरे - धीरे" is derived from the Sanskrit word "dhīra," meaning "slow" or "steady." | |||
| Kannada | ಕ್ರಮೇಣ | ||
| 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". | |||
| Malayalam | ക്രമേണ | ||
| 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. | |||
| Marathi | हळूहळू | ||
| 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"). | |||
| Nepali | बिस्तारै | ||
| The word "बिस्तारै" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "विस्तार" (vistāra), meaning "extension" or "expansion." | |||
| Punjabi | ਹੌਲੀ ਹੌਲੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ක්රමයෙන් | ||
| Tamil | படிப்படியாக | ||
| Telugu | క్రమంగా | ||
| "క్రమంగా" is also used to refer to the process of arranging things in a specific order. | |||
| Urdu | آہستہ 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. | |||
| Korean | 차례로 | ||
| "차례로" has the alternate meaning of "in turn". | |||
| Mongolian | аажмаар | ||
| The word "аажмаар" in Mongolian can also mean "with difficulty", "with effort", "patiently", or "perseveringly." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | တဖြည်းဖြည်းနဲ့ | ||
Gradually in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | bertahap | ||
| The word "bertahap" is derived from the root word "tahap", which means "step" or "level". | |||
| Javanese | mbaka 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". | |||
| Khmer | បន្តិចម្តង | ||
| Lao | ຄ່ອຍໆ | ||
| Malay | secara beransur-ansur | ||
| The word "secara beransur-ansur" is derived from the Sanskrit word "ans" which means "slowly" and "ur" which means "to move". | |||
| Thai | ค่อยๆ | ||
| "ค่อยๆ" can also mean "slowly" or "by and by." | |||
| Vietnamese | dần 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
| Azerbaijani | tədricən | ||
| The word "tədricən" is derived from the Arabic word "تدريج" (tadrij), which means "step by step" or "little by little." | |||
| Kazakh | біртіндеп | ||
| The word "біртіндеп" comes from the Kazakh verb "бірту" meaning "to come together, to unite" and the suffix "-деп" indicating gradual or continuous action. | |||
| Kyrgyz | акырындык менен | ||
| Tajik | тадриҷан | ||
| Tadrijjan also refers to a Persian music genre known for its gradual increase in tempo and intensity. | |||
| Turkmen | kem-kemden | ||
| Uzbek | asta-sekin | ||
| The word "asta-sekin" can also mean "at last" or "in the end" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | بارا-بارا | ||
Gradually in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | lohi | ||
| "Lohi" can also mean "slightly" or "a little," a useful term to describe something that's barely perceptible. | |||
| Maori | āta haere | ||
| Samoan | faifai 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
| Aymara | juk'atjuk'aru | ||
| Guarani | mbeguekatúpe | ||
Gradually in International Languages
| Esperanto | iom post iom | ||
| The word "iom post iom" literally means "from time to time" in Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | paulatimque | ||
| The Latin word "paulatimque" is derived from "paulus" (small) and "atim" (at a time), meaning "little by little". | |||
Gradually in Others Languages
| Greek | σταδιακά | ||
| The word "σταδιακά" in Greek can also mean "by degrees" or "step by step". | |||
| Hmong | maj mam | ||
| The Hmong word "maj mam" also refers to "by steps". | |||
| Kurdish | hêdî hêdî | ||
| The word "hêdî hêdî" is composed of the words "hêd" (quiet) and "hêd" (slowly), and it can also mean "calmly" or "gently". | |||
| Turkish | yavaş yavaş | ||
| "Yavaş yavaş" also has the alternate meaning "step by step" in Turkish | |||
| Xhosa | ngokuthe ngcembe | ||
| In an alternate meaning, "ngokuthe ngcembe" could refer to "little by little with determination". | |||
| Yiddish | ביסלעכווייַז | ||
| 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." | |||
| Zulu | kancane kancane | ||
| The Zulu phrase "kancane kancane" literally means "little by little," emphasizing the incremental nature of the process. | |||
| Assamese | লাহে লাহে | ||
| Aymara | juk'atjuk'aru | ||
| Bhojpuri | धीरै-धीरै | ||
| Dhivehi | މަޑު މަޑުން | ||
| Dogri | बल्लें-बल्लें | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | unti-unti | ||
| Guarani | mbeguekatúpe | ||
| Ilocano | in-inut | ||
| Krio | smɔl smɔl | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پلە بە پلە | ||
| Maithili | धीरे-धीरे | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯞꯅ ꯇꯞꯅ | ||
| Mizo | zawi zawiin | ||
| Oromo | suuta suuta | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଧୀରେ ଧୀରେ | ||
| Quechua | as asmanta | ||
| Sanskrit | क्रमिकवार | ||
| Tatar | әкренләп | ||
| Tigrinya | ብኸይዲ | ||
| Tsonga | switsanana | ||