Habit in Different Languages
Discover 'Habit' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Habit
Afrikaans gewoonte | ||
Albanian zakon | ||
Amharic ልማድ | ||
Arabic عادة | ||
Armenian սովորություն | ||
Assamese অভ্যাস | ||
Aymara ukhampuniña | ||
Azerbaijani vərdiş | ||
Bambara fini | ||
Basque ohitura | ||
Belarusian звычка | ||
Bengali অভ্যাস | ||
Bhojpuri आदत | ||
Bosnian navika | ||
Bulgarian навик | ||
Catalan hàbit | ||
Cebuano naandan | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 习惯 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 習慣 | ||
Corsican abitudine | ||
Croatian navika | ||
Czech zvyk | ||
Danish vane | ||
Dhivehi އާދަ | ||
Dogri आदत | ||
Dutch gewoonte | ||
English habit | ||
Esperanto kutimo | ||
Estonian harjumus | ||
Ewe numame | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) ugali | ||
Finnish tottumus | ||
French habitude | ||
Frisian gewoante | ||
Galician hábito | ||
Georgian ჩვევა | ||
German gewohnheit | ||
Greek συνήθεια | ||
Guarani jepokuaa | ||
Gujarati આદત | ||
Haitian Creole abitid | ||
Hausa al'ada | ||
Hawaiian maʻa | ||
Hebrew הֶרגֵל | ||
Hindi आदत | ||
Hmong cwj pwm | ||
Hungarian szokás | ||
Icelandic venja | ||
Igbo omume | ||
Ilocano kababalin | ||
Indonesian kebiasaan | ||
Irish nós | ||
Italian abitudine | ||
Japanese 習慣 | ||
Javanese pakulinan | ||
Kannada ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ | ||
Kazakh әдет | ||
Khmer ទំលាប់ | ||
Kinyarwanda ingeso | ||
Konkani संवय | ||
Korean 습관 | ||
Krio abit | ||
Kurdish hînbûnî | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) خوو | ||
Kyrgyz адат | ||
Lao ນິໄສ | ||
Latin habitus | ||
Latvian ieradums | ||
Lingala ezaleli | ||
Lithuanian įpročio | ||
Luganda empisa | ||
Luxembourgish gewunnecht | ||
Macedonian навика | ||
Maithili आदति | ||
Malagasy fahazarana | ||
Malay kebiasaan | ||
Malayalam ശീലം | ||
Maltese drawwa | ||
Maori tikanga | ||
Marathi सवय | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯍꯩꯅꯕꯤ | ||
Mizo tihdanphung | ||
Mongolian зуршил | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) အလေ့အထ | ||
Nepali बानी | ||
Norwegian vane | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) chizolowezi | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଅଭ୍ୟାସ | ||
Oromo amala | ||
Pashto عادت | ||
Persian عادت داشتن | ||
Polish nawyk | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) hábito | ||
Punjabi ਆਦਤ | ||
Quechua costumbre | ||
Romanian obicei | ||
Russian привычка | ||
Samoan mausa | ||
Sanskrit अभ्यास | ||
Scots Gaelic chleachdadh | ||
Sepedi setlwaedi | ||
Serbian навика | ||
Sesotho tloaelo | ||
Shona tsika | ||
Sindhi عادت | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) පුරුද්ද | ||
Slovak zvyk | ||
Slovenian navada | ||
Somali caado | ||
Spanish hábito | ||
Sundanese kabiasaan | ||
Swahili tabia | ||
Swedish vana | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) ugali | ||
Tajik одат | ||
Tamil பழக்கம் | ||
Tatar гадәт | ||
Telugu అలవాటు | ||
Thai นิสัย | ||
Tigrinya ልምዲ | ||
Tsonga ntolovelo | ||
Turkish alışkanlık | ||
Turkmen endigi | ||
Twi (Akan) suban | ||
Ukrainian звичка | ||
Urdu عادت | ||
Uyghur ئادەت | ||
Uzbek odat | ||
Vietnamese thói quen | ||
Welsh arfer | ||
Xhosa umkhwa | ||
Yiddish מידע | ||
Yoruba iwa | ||
Zulu umkhuba |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The word gewoonte comes from the Middle Dutch word "ghewoonte" meaning "custom" or "usage". |
| Albanian | The Albanian word 'zakon' derives from the Proto-Albanian root '*zak-' meaning 'custom, tradition'. |
| Amharic | In Amharic, "ልማድ" also means "custom" or "tradition." |
| Arabic | In Arabic, the word "عادة" (habit) also refers to "norm" or "convention". |
| Armenian | The word "սովորություն" also means "education" in Armenian, reflecting the idea that habits are formed through learning and repetition. |
| Azerbaijani | "Vərdiş" may be rooted in the word "vird" in Arabic, which means "a prescribed form of worship," implying a repeated action that becomes habitual. |
| Basque | The Basque word "ohitura" (habit) is derived from the verb "ohitu" (to become accustomed) and is related to the Latin word "consuetudo" (custom). |
| Belarusian | The word “звычка” also means 'custom' and goes back to the Slavic root *svykъ, from which “связь” ('connection') also originates. |
| Bengali | The word "অভ্যাস" (abhyas) is derived from the Sanskrit root "abhi" (towards) and "yas" (to go), meaning "to go towards" or "to approach". |
| Bosnian | The word "navika" also means "seafarer" in Croatian. |
| Bulgarian | The word "навик" in Bulgarian also means "skill" or "ability" and comes from the Proto-Slavic root *navьkъ, meaning "to become accustomed to". |
| Catalan | The word "hàbit" in Catalan is derived from the Latin "habitus," meaning "condition" or "state," and can also refer to a person's usual behaviour or clothing. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 习惯 originated from "the custom of a bird" in the Han Dynasty. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The Chinese word 習慣 (xíguàn) is derived from the word 習 (xí), meaning "to learn" or "to practice," and 慣 (guàn), meaning "to be accustomed to" or "to be used to." |
| Corsican | "Abitudine" in Corsican can also refer to "habitual behavior" or an "established custom". |
| Croatian | There is also a word 'naviknuti se', which means 'to get into the habit of doing something'. |
| Czech | In Old Czech, "zvyk" also meant "law" or "custom". |
| Danish | In Danish, "vane" can also refer to a weather vane or a windmill. |
| Dutch | The word "gewoonte" in Dutch originally meant "dwelling" or "place of residence". |
| Esperanto | The word "kutimo" is derived from the verb "kuti", meaning "to do repeatedly" or "to be accustomed to," and it carries the same meaning in Esperanto. |
| Estonian | "Harjumus" can also refer to a regular customer in Estonian slang. |
| Finnish | Tottomus can also be used to refer to a child who has trouble sleeping, a 'fretful child', or an 'imp'. |
| French | Habitude derives from the Latin habitudo, which means "condition," also related to the verb habere, which means "to have". |
| Frisian | The Frisian word "gewoante" can also refer to "custom", "tradition", or "usage". |
| Galician | "Hábito" en gallego también puede referirse a un tipo de vestimenta tradicional o a un comportamiento repetido. |
| Georgian | The Georgian word “ჩვევა” (“habit”) is also used to refer to a tax imposed on the use of roads or bridges. |
| German | Gewohnheit, a German word for "habit," also historically referred to a toll, fee, or customary tax. |
| Greek | "Συνήθεια" in Greek can also mean "custom" or "convention". |
| Gujarati | The Gujarati word "આદત" (aadət) has roots in the same Indo-Aryan word as the English word "addiction" and can likewise refer to negative and habitual behaviors. |
| Haitian Creole | Haitian Creole abitid, “habit,” shares a root with abitye, “ability,” and abiye, “skill.” |
| Hausa | In Hausa, the word "al'ada" derives from the Arabic word "ada", meaning "norm" or "practice". |
| Hawaiian | "Maʻa" may also mean "custom," "practice," "tradition," "culture," "law," or even "right." |
| Hebrew | The word "הֶרגֵל" in Hebrew derives from the verb "להורג" (la-horag), meaning "to kill", and originally referred to the habitual slaying of animals for food. |
| Hindi | The Hindi word "आदत" (habit) comes from the Sanskrit word "आदत" (nature, character) or "आदर" (respect). |
| Hmong | The Hmong word "cwj pwm" can also refer to a person's demeanor, personality, or character. |
| Hungarian | "Szokás" derives from the Turkic "saqın-", meaning "to beware of" or "to be careful". |
| Icelandic | The word "venja" in Icelandic can also mean "to teach" or "to practice" something. |
| Igbo | The Igbo word 'omume' can also refer to a custom, ritual, or traditional practice. |
| Indonesian | The word "kebiasaan" also means "custom" or "tradition". |
| Irish | The Irish term 'nós' ('habit') is of Latin origin and also means 'us' and 'we' in the same language and is cognate with the English word 'nose', derived from the Proto-Indo-European base *nas 'nose'. |
| Italian | In Italian, "abitudine" also means "custom," "usage," or "practice." |
| Japanese | "習慣" can mean "habit" or a "custom" as well as "addiction" or "obsession". |
| Javanese | In Javanese, 'pakulinan' not only means 'habit', but also refers to a garment worn by children. |
| Kannada | The word 'ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ' can also refer to the practice or repetition of something to acquire proficiency. |
| Kazakh | The word "әдет" in Kazakh can also refer to "ritual", "custom" or "tradition". |
| Khmer | The word "ទំលាប់" also refers to a form of traditional Khmer song and dance. |
| Korean | '습관' can also mean 'to moisten' or 'to become moist.' |
| Kurdish | The Kurdish word "hînbûnî" means "habit" in English and also refers to a "customary practice or behavior.". |
| Kyrgyz | The Kyrgyz word "адат" also has the alternate meaning of "tradition" and is related to the Arabic word "عادة". |
| Lao | The Lao word for "habit" has a broader meaning than the English word, encompassing both physical actions and mental processes, and is also used to describe the general characteristics or behavior of a person or animal. |
| Latin | Habit derives from the Latin 'habitus', meaning 'condition', 'manner', or 'nature' |
| Latvian | The word 'ieradums' also refers to a custom, practice, or tradition. |
| Lithuanian | "Įprotis" is derived from the Lithuanian word "pratusti," meaning "to get used to." It can also refer to a custom or tradition. |
| Luxembourgish | The word 'Gewunnecht' is derived from the Middle High German word 'gewoneheit', which means 'custom' or 'tradition'. |
| Macedonian | The word "навика" in Macedonian also means "device" or "machine". |
| Malagasy | The word 'fahazarana' is also used to describe the customary beliefs and practices passed down from one generation to another. |
| Malay | In Javanese the word also means 'law' or 'customary law', which is related to its use in Malay as customary law or practice. |
| Malayalam | The Malayalam word "ശീലം" has alternate meanings such as "practice" or "custom", and is cognate with the Sanskrit term "शील". |
| Maltese | Maltese 'drawwa' comes from Middle Arabic 'drawahah' and was also once used to mean 'training' or 'education'. |
| Maori | Tikanga may also refer to Maori traditions, customs or protocols. |
| Marathi | The word "सवय" in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word "स्वभाव" (swabhava), which means "nature" or "disposition." |
| Mongolian | Зуршил is a derivative of the verbs |
| Nepali | The word “बानी” originates from the Sanskrit word “वृत्ति” (vritti), which means "attitude, behavior, or way of life". |
| Norwegian | The word "vane" is also used to describe the weathercock on a church steeple. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | "Chizolowezi" is also used to refer to the clothes a priest or nun wears specifically for their calling. |
| Pashto | The Pashto word "عادت" can also refer to a "custom" or "tradition" in addition to "habit". |
| Persian | In Persian, the word "عادت داشتن" ("habit") can also refer to addiction or custom. |
| Polish | The Polish word 'nawyk' comes from an Old Slavic root that means 'to accustom' and is related to other Slavic words such as 'navyka' (skill) and 'navyk' (habit). |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Portuguese "hábito" can also mean costume or usual behavior. |
| Punjabi | The word "ਆਦਤ" (habit) in Punjabi also means "custom" or "routine behavior". |
| Romanian | The word "obicei" in Romanian is derived from the Latin word "consuetudo", meaning "custom" or "tradition". |
| Russian | "Привычка" (habit) comes from the verb "привыкнуть" (to get used to), which is related to "выкать" (to use the formal "you"). So "привычка" literally means "what you get used to" |
| Samoan | The word "mausa" can also mean "custom," "ritual," or "practice" in Samoan. |
| Scots Gaelic | In Gaelic, the word "chleachdadh" has connotations of "practice" or "usage" beyond its primary meaning of "habit." |
| Serbian | The Serbian word "навика" can also refer to a skill, ability, or custom. |
| Sesotho | The word "tloaelo" can also refer to a practice, routine, custom, way of doing something, or an idiom. |
| Shona | The word "tsika" also means "culture" and is related to the word "tsitsiko", which means "custom" or "tradition". |
| Sindhi | The Sindhi word 'عادت' ('habit') is derived from the Arabic word 'عادة' ('custom, practice'), and is cognate with the Persian word 'عادت' ('habit'). |
| Slovak | Zvyk's original meaning derives from the Old Church Slavonic "zъvyknǫti", meaning "to learn". |
| Slovenian | The word "navada" can also refer to a groove worn into a surface. |
| Somali | The word "caado" in Somali also refers to a customary practice or a rule of conduct. |
| Spanish | The Spanish word "hábito" comes from the Latin "habitus," which means "appearance" or "outward form. |
| Sundanese | The term "kabiasaan" in the Sundanese language is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "to repeat" and also has the connotations of tradition or custom in Indonesian. |
| Swahili | The Swahili word "tabia" also means "nature" or "temperament" and is cognate with the Arabic word "tabi'a" meaning "nature". |
| Swedish | The word "vana" originated from the Proto-Germanic "*wanian", meaning "to accustom". |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | Ugali can also mean "characteristic," "nature," "disposition," or "temperament". |
| Tajik | The word "одат" (habit) in Tajik shares its root with the English word "custom." |
| Tamil | The word 'பழக்கம்' can also mean 'tradition' or 'practice', and is cognate with the Sanskrit word 'prajakta', meaning 'custom' or 'habit'. |
| Telugu | The Telugu word "అలవాటు" (alavaatu) is derived from the Sanskrit word "आलवण" (aalavan), meaning "to adhere to" or "to practice regularly" |
| Thai | นิสัย can also refer to one's demeanor or behavior. |
| Turkish | "Alışkanlık" comes from "alışmak," which means "to become accustomed" and "-lık," a suffix indicating a state or condition. |
| Ukrainian | "Звичка" also refers to a kind of ritual or custom. |
| Urdu | In Urdu, "عادت" also refers to a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. |
| Uzbek | The word "odat" in Uzbek also refers to a religious practice or a custom. |
| Vietnamese | Thói quen may derive from two Old Chinese morphemes, “habit, custom” (𡽔 thói, Mandarin suì) and “usual” (慣 quán, Mandarin guàn), though the etymology remains contested. |
| Welsh | The word "arfer" in Welsh originally referred to a form of monastic clothing worn by religious orders, but is now used more generally to refer to any habit or custom. |
| Xhosa | The word 'umkhwa' has multiple meanings, including 'habit,' 'way of being,' and 'law or regulation.' |
| Yiddish | מידע is also a Yiddish word for "knowledge" or "information." |
| Yoruba | "Iwa" also refers to a person's character, conduct, or disposition. |
| Zulu | The name 'umkhuba' is shared with a type of beer, as well as, a type of mushroom. |
| English | The word "habit" derives from the Latin word "habere," meaning "to have" or "to hold." |