Handful in Different Languages
Discover 'Handful' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A 'handful' is a small quantity or number, often referred to in terms of what can be held in one's hand. This simple yet significant word has found its way into various cultures and languages, each with its own unique translation. The concept of a 'handful' is not only a measurement of quantity but also a reflection of cultural norms and societal values.
For instance, in Spanish, a 'handful' is 'una mano llena' - a direct translation that beautifully captures the essence of the word. Meanwhile, in Japanese, the term 'te-gawari' is used, which means 'about the size of a hand.' These translations not only bridge linguistic gaps but also provide fascinating insights into the cultural contexts of different languages.
Delving into the translations of 'handful' in various languages offers a unique perspective on how different cultures perceive and quantify this term. Join us as we explore the intriguing world of language and culture through the lens of this humble yet meaningful word.
Handful
Handful in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | handvol | ||
| In Afrikaans, "handvol" also refers to a small group of people or animals. | |||
| Amharic | እፍኝ | ||
| The word "እፍኝ" can also refer to "a small portion of something" or "a token of appreciation." | |||
| Hausa | hannu | ||
| The Hausa word "hannu" for "a handful" is also the word for a type of soup. | |||
| Igbo | aka | ||
| The word "aka" also means "claw" or "hoof" in Igbo. | |||
| Malagasy | vitsivitsy | ||
| There is no alternative meaning for this word. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | ochepa | ||
| The word "ochepa" can also be used figuratively to refer to a small amount or quantity of something. | |||
| Shona | chitsama | ||
| The word chit(sa)ma can also mean "bundle" or "parcel" and is related to the word chik(um)bu "to hold or carry something in an outstretched hand or other support". | |||
| Somali | sacab | ||
| The word 'sacab' is derived from the Arabic word 'saqaba', meaning to grasp or take hold of, and can also refer to a measure of weight or the space between the thumb and forefinger. | |||
| Sesotho | tse mmalwa | ||
| The word 'tse mmalwa' can also refer to a small group or a small amount of something. | |||
| Swahili | wachache | ||
| The Swahili word "wachache" also alludes to a small or limited quantity, like "a few" | |||
| Xhosa | zandla | ||
| The word "zandla" in Xhosa can also refer to a "hand" or a "paw." | |||
| Yoruba | ọwọ | ||
| The Yoruba word "ọwọ" primarily means "handful" but can also refer to a "grip", "handle", or "authority." | |||
| Zulu | idlanzana | ||
| "Idlanzana" (handful) also refers to a portion of a person's body (e.g. arm, leg) or a specified unit of measurement. | |||
| Bambara | bololabaarakɛlaw | ||
| Ewe | asiʋlo ɖeka | ||
| Kinyarwanda | intoki | ||
| Lingala | loboko moke | ||
| Luganda | engalo entono | ||
| Sepedi | ka seatla se se tletšego | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nsa kakraa bi | ||
Handful in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | حفنة | ||
| حفنة is derived from the root حفـن, which can also mean 'to seize' or 'to clench'. | |||
| Hebrew | קוֹמֶץ | ||
| From the same root as קְמָץ (kamatz) – the vowel pronounced like “ah” in English | |||
| Pashto | ځیرک | ||
| The Pashto word ځیرک "handful" can also refer to a small amount, or a little bit of something. | |||
| Arabic | حفنة | ||
| حفنة is derived from the root حفـن, which can also mean 'to seize' or 'to clench'. | |||
Handful in Western European Languages
| Albanian | grusht | ||
| The word "grusht" also means "fist" in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | eskukada | ||
| (In Basque) 'Eskukada' literally means 'a blow with the hand', but is also used to describe a small amount of something that can be held in one hand. | |||
| Catalan | grapat | ||
| The Catalan word "grapat" comes from the verb "agafar" (to take) and ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *kap- (to seize). | |||
| Croatian | pregršt | ||
| The word "pregršt" in Croatian is cognate with the Polish word "garść" and the Old Church Slavonic word "gьrstь", all meaning "handful". It can also refer to a small amount of something, such as a pinch of salt or a handful of flour. | |||
| Danish | håndfuld | ||
| The word "håndfuld" is literally "mouthful" in Danish and is often used figuratively to mean "a lot". | |||
| Dutch | handvol | ||
| In Dutch, "handvol" originally meant "fistful" and could have referred to anything from a small amount to a large handful. | |||
| English | handful | ||
| The etymology of "handful" is obscure, but it may derive from the Old English "handfull", meaning a quantity that can be held in one hand. | |||
| French | poignée | ||
| In French, "poignée" also means "handle" or "grip". | |||
| Frisian | hânfol | ||
| The Frisian word "hânfol" is cognates with the English "handful" from Middle English "handeful". | |||
| Galician | puñado | ||
| Puñado can also mean "a small amount of something" or "a group of people" in Galician. | |||
| German | hand voll | ||
| The German word "Handvoll" not only means "handful" but is also a measure of volume for bulk goods, roughly equivalent to a US pint. | |||
| Icelandic | handfylli | ||
| A "handful" is also an old measurement in Iceland, equivalent to 1200 fathoms or 1800 meters. | |||
| Irish | dornán | ||
| The word "dornán" also refers to a small bird, and is related to the Irish word for "fist", "dorn". | |||
| Italian | manciata | ||
| In the 14th century, "manciata" meant "a sum of money that could be held in one hand". | |||
| Luxembourgish | handvoll | ||
| The word "handvoll" in Luxembourgish can also mean "a lot" or "a large amount". | |||
| Maltese | ftit | ||
| The word 'ftit', originating from the Semitic root 'FTT', conveys not only 'handful' but also 'bit', 'piece', and 'fragment'. | |||
| Norwegian | håndfull | ||
| The word "håndfull" also means "amount" or "group" in Norwegian, as in "en håndfull mennesker" (a group of people). | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | punhado | ||
| In Portuguese, "punhado" can also refer to something small or meager or to a small group or number. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | dòrlach | ||
| The word dòrlach can also mean "gathering" or "group of people" | |||
| Spanish | puñado | ||
| The word "puñado" can also mean "a small group or quantity" or "a difficult or unpleasant situation."} | |||
| Swedish | handfull | ||
| "Handfull" can also refer to a small group of people ("en handfull människor") or a small amount of something abstract (e.g. "en handfull förhoppningar"). | |||
| Welsh | llond llaw | ||
| The Welsh word "llond llaw" literally means "full hand" and can also refer to a generous portion or a group of people. | |||
Handful in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | жменька | ||
| In other Slavic languages жменя can mean something that you can grab in one hand (like a горсть), a skein of thread, or a small object. | |||
| Bosnian | pregršt | ||
| The word "pregršt" in Bosnian, meaning "handful," is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "pьr̥stь" meaning "finger." | |||
| Bulgarian | шепа | ||
| The word "шепа" in Bulgarian also has the colloquial meaning of a small amount of something, such as a "pinch" of salt. | |||
| Czech | hrst | ||
| "Hrst" can also describe a small group of people or something in a small quantity that can fit in your hand. | |||
| Estonian | käputäis | ||
| The word "käputäis" can also refer to a small amount of something, or to a group of people who are close-knit. | |||
| Finnish | kourallinen | ||
| The word "kourallinen" can also mean "a small amount" or "a few". Its etymology is uncertain but it may be derived from the word "kouru" ("trough"). | |||
| Hungarian | maréknyi | ||
| "maréknyi" also means "a few, several" in Hungarian, like "maréknyi ember" = "a few people" | |||
| Latvian | sauja | ||
| The word "sauja" originated from an old Indo-European word meaning "to grab" and is closely related to the Latin "manus" - hand. | |||
| Lithuanian | sauja | ||
| In Latvian, the cognate 'sauja' denotes 'a fist' with the derived verb 'saut' meaning 'to grasp'. | |||
| Macedonian | грст | ||
| The word "грст" in Macedonian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *gъrstь, meaning "handful", and is related to the Russian word "горсть" (gorst), meaning "a handful". | |||
| Polish | garść | ||
| The word "garść" in Polish also shares the same Indo-European root with words meaning "hand" in German, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Irish, Welsh, Breton, Latin, Greek, Albanian and Armenian. | |||
| Romanian | mână | ||
| Mână also refers (archaic and poetic, mostly plural - mâini) to the whole quantity, the total sum, and also (poetic and figurative) to an unspecified amount or to an indefinite number. | |||
| Russian | горсть | ||
| Originally the word meant "to collect" and is related to the word "harvest"} | |||
| Serbian | прегршт | ||
| The word "прегршт" in Serbian can also refer to a measure of volume equal to the amount that can be held in a cupped hand. | |||
| Slovak | hrsť | ||
| "Hrsť" also means hour in Slovak (from the Proto-Slavic word *godъ, *godъ, the first originally meaning a time of the day, then an hour, and the second meaning a year). | |||
| Slovenian | peščica | ||
| The word "peščica" derives from the Slovene word "pestiti", meaning "to pestle" and originally denoting a pestle used for grinding grain into flour. | |||
| Ukrainian | жменька | ||
| The alternative meaning of "жменька" is "a small amount". | |||
Handful in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | থাবা | ||
| The word "থাবা" is derived from the Sanskrit word "stabdha", meaning "held firmly". | |||
| Gujarati | મુઠ્ઠીભર | ||
| મુઠ્ઠીભર (pronounced muthi-bhar) means 'a small amount' or 'a few' in Gujarati, and is an alternate meaning of the word 'handful'. | |||
| Hindi | मुट्ठी | ||
| The word "मुट्ठी" also refers to a clenched fist or a small group of people. | |||
| Kannada | ಕೈತುಂಬ | ||
| The word "ಕೈತುಂಬ" can also mean "a small amount or quantity" or "a large number or crowd" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | കൈ നിറയ | ||
| The Malayalam word കൈ നിറയ also means 'a handful of something' or 'a fair amount of something', akin to the English phrase 'a handful'. | |||
| Marathi | मूठभर | ||
| The term 'मुठभर' can also refer to a small quantity or group of something. | |||
| Nepali | मुठ्ठी | ||
| The word 'मुठ्ठी' has an alternate meaning of 'fist' in the Nepali language. | |||
| Punjabi | ਮੁੱਠੀ ਭਰ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਮੁੱਠੀ ਭਰ" (a handful) literally means "a fist full" and can also refer to a small or insignificant amount of something. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අතලොස්සක් | ||
| The term 'athalossak' (Sinhala: අතලොස්සක්), meaning 'a handful', originates from the Sanskrit word 'mushti' (मुष्टि), which also means 'a fist' or 'a handful'. | |||
| Tamil | கைப்பிடி | ||
| The Tamil word 'கைப்பிடி' ('handful') originally referred to the hilt or grip of a sword, and its literal meaning is 'that which is held in the hand'. | |||
| Telugu | కొన్ని | ||
| In ancient Telugu literature, 'kొన్ని' is often used as an adjective to mean 'small', 'tiny', or 'limited'. | |||
| Urdu | مٹھی بھر | ||
| The idiom 'مٹھی بھر' (a handful) is also used to figuratively convey 'a few or some' of a group of people | |||
Handful in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 少数 | ||
| "少数" means "a small number" in Chinese but can also refer to "an ethnic minority". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 少數 | ||
| In Chinese literature, 少數 has also been used metaphorically to mean "a select group" or "a few distinguished individuals". | |||
| Japanese | 一握り | ||
| "一握り" also means "a small group of people" or "a few". | |||
| Korean | 줌 | ||
| The word 줌 can also refer to a unit of measurement similar to a handful, but specifically for grains or other small particles. | |||
| Mongolian | цөөхөн | ||
| The Mongolian word "цөөхөн" also means "few", or "a small number". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လက်တဆုပ်စာ | ||
Handful in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | segenggam | ||
| The word "segenggam" can also mean "a small amount" or "a few". | |||
| Javanese | sakepel | ||
| The word | |||
| Khmer | ដៃ | ||
| ដៃ can also refer to handful (small quantity) or to a cluster or group of people, animals or things. | |||
| Lao | ມື | ||
| The Lao word "ມື" can also refer to a small group of people, such as a family or a group of friends. | |||
| Malay | segelintir | ||
| The word "segelintir" also means "a small, scattered amount" and is derived from the words "segenggam" (a handful) and "lintir" (to twist or wring). | |||
| Thai | กำมือ | ||
| In Thai, "กำมือ" also means "to make a fist" and is related to the word "กำ" (to hold, grasp). | |||
| Vietnamese | một nắm đầy tay | ||
| The word "một nắm đầy tay" can also mean "a few". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | dakot | ||
Handful in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ovuc | ||
| The word "ovuc" is also used as a counting noun for certain objects, such as fruits and sweets. | |||
| Kazakh | уыс | ||
| The word "уыс" comes from the Kazakh word "уысқақ", meaning "little handful". | |||
| Kyrgyz | ууч | ||
| In Kyrgyz, "ууч" (handful) can also refer to the amount that can be held between the thumb and index finger. | |||
| Tajik | даст | ||
| The word “даст” in Tajik, which means “full palm”, is borrowed from the Persian language, in which it means “handle.” | |||
| Turkmen | elli | ||
| Uzbek | hovuch | ||
| "Hovuch" also means "bundle, bunch, heap, load, mass, quantity, roll, sheaf, stack, stock, wad" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | قولدا | ||
Handful in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | lima lima | ||
| "Lima lima" is also an idiomatic expression in Hawaiian, used to figuratively describe "a very small quantity". | |||
| Maori | ringa | ||
| "Ringa" also translates to "digit," "finger," or "toe" | |||
| Samoan | lima lima | ||
| "Lima lima" can also refer to the fingers, the space between the thumb and forefinger, or a pair of tweezers. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | dakot | ||
| "Dakot" in Tagalog, meaning "handful," is also used to count small bundles of bills or cigarettes. | |||
Handful in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | amparampi lurata | ||
| Guarani | po’a ryru | ||
Handful in International Languages
| Esperanto | manpleno | ||
| "Manpleno" literally means "man-full" in Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | handful | ||
| The Latin word “manipulus” (a handful) has also been used to name a Roman military unit of 120 to 160 men, who trained in groups of 30 to 40, each under the command of a centurion. | |||
Handful in Others Languages
| Greek | χούφτα | ||
| The word "χούφτα" in Greek also means "a small amount" or "a little bit". | |||
| Hmong | puv tes | ||
| The original meaning of puv tes was 'a quantity that would fit in the curved space between the first three toes and the palm of the hand'. | |||
| Kurdish | kûlmik | ||
| The Kurdish word "kûlmik" is a cognate to the Persian word "kaland" or "kalend", referring to a measurement related to a handful, typically of walnuts. | |||
| Turkish | avuç | ||
| "Avuç" kelimesi Farsça "avuş" (el ayası) sözcüğünden gelir ve aynı zamanda | |||
| Xhosa | zandla | ||
| The word "zandla" in Xhosa can also refer to a "hand" or a "paw." | |||
| Yiddish | האַנדפול | ||
| "האַנדפול" (handful) in Yiddish also means "a small group of people who work closely together". | |||
| Zulu | idlanzana | ||
| "Idlanzana" (handful) also refers to a portion of a person's body (e.g. arm, leg) or a specified unit of measurement. | |||
| Assamese | মুষ্টিমেয় | ||
| Aymara | amparampi lurata | ||
| Bhojpuri | मुट्ठी भर के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | އަތްތިލަބަޑިއެވެ | ||
| Dogri | मुट्ठी भर | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | dakot | ||
| Guarani | po’a ryru | ||
| Ilocano | dakulap ti dakulap | ||
| Krio | anful wan | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | مشتێک | ||
| Maithili | मुट्ठी भरि | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯠꯁꯥ ꯍꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | kut zungtang khat | ||
| Oromo | harka muraasa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ହାତଗଣତି | ||
| Quechua | makilla | ||
| Sanskrit | मुष्टिभ्यां | ||
| Tatar | усал | ||
| Tigrinya | ብኣጻብዕ ዝቑጸሩ | ||
| Tsonga | voko ra mavoko | ||