Updated on March 6, 2024
The concept of being 'healthy' transcends mere physical well-being, embedding itself as a crucial aspect of cultural integrity and personal identity across the globe. This multifaceted word captures not only the absence of illness but also a holistic state of physical, mental, and social well-being. Understanding healthy in different languages opens a window into how cultures prioritize health, revealing fascinating historical contexts and societal values. For instance, in Spanish, 'saludable' often connotes a broader sense of well-being, while the Japanese '健康' (kenkō) ties closely to balance and harmony, reflecting traditional Eastern philosophies. Why seek the translations of healthy? Grasping this term in various languages enhances cross-cultural communication, enriches travel experiences, and deepens our appreciation of global health perspectives. As we delve into the translations of 'healthy,' prepare to embark on a linguistic journey that highlights the universal quest for well-being.
Afrikaans | gesond | ||
The word "gesond" in Afrikaans is derived from the Old High German word "gisunt", meaning "hale" or "whole". | |||
Amharic | ጤናማ | ||
The word ጤናማ (healthy) is derived from the root verb ጤነ (to be well), and is related to the word ጤና (health), which is also derived from the same root. | |||
Hausa | lafiya | ||
"Lafiya," meaning "healthy" in Hausa, also means "peace, safety, well-being." | |||
Igbo | gbasiri ike | ||
The word "gbasiri ike" in Igbo can also mean "strong" or "powerful". | |||
Malagasy | ara-pahasalamana | ||
The word "ara-pahasalamana" in Malagasy is derived from "ara" meaning "not" and "pahasalamana" meaning "sickness". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wathanzi | ||
The word "wathanzi" can also mean "healing" or "a state of balance and harmony within the body" in Nyanja (Chichewa). | |||
Shona | hutano | ||
The word "hutano" is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "*tunda" meaning "to give birth" and is also related to the Shona word "mwana" meaning "child". | |||
Somali | caafimaad qaba | ||
Sesotho | phetse hantle | ||
The word "phetse hantle" can also mean "to be alive" or "to be well". | |||
Swahili | afya | ||
The Swahili word 'afya' meaning 'health' derives from Arabic 'afiya' meaning 'wholeness' or 'well-being'. | |||
Xhosa | isempilweni | ||
Isempilweni derives from the root '-mpilo', meaning 'life' and refers to a state of wholesome being. | |||
Yoruba | ni ilera | ||
The word 'ni ilera' is a compound word in Yoruba, with 'ni' meaning 'have' and 'ilera' meaning 'wellbeing, ease or comfort'. | |||
Zulu | uphilile | ||
The Zulu word "uphilile" is cognate with the Xhosa word "impilo," both meaning "health". Additionally, "uphilile" can refer to "wellness" or "well-being". | |||
Bambara | kɛnɛman | ||
Ewe | le lãmesẽ me | ||
Kinyarwanda | ubuzima bwiza | ||
Lingala | kolongono | ||
Luganda | bulamu | ||
Sepedi | phelegile | ||
Twi (Akan) | te apɔ | ||
Arabic | صحي | ||
The Arabic word "صحي" (healthy) is also used to refer to the medical profession, such as a physician or nurse. | |||
Hebrew | בָּרִיא | ||
Originally used to describe a physical condition and only later used figuratively. | |||
Pashto | روغ | ||
The word "روغ" in Pashto can also refer to a person's physical appearance, meaning "handsome" or "beautiful". | |||
Arabic | صحي | ||
The Arabic word "صحي" (healthy) is also used to refer to the medical profession, such as a physician or nurse. |
Albanian | të shëndetshëm | ||
The Albanian word "të shëndetshëm" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*swed-", meaning "sound", "whole", or "healthy". This root is also the origin of the English word "sound". | |||
Basque | osasuntsu | ||
Osasuntsu is also used figuratively to refer to being morally or spiritually well. | |||
Catalan | saludable | ||
While written in a similar way, "saludable" in Catalan means "healthy" while "salubre" is the translation for "wholesome". | |||
Croatian | zdrav | ||
The word "zdrav" in Croatian is cognate with the English word "sound" and the Greek word "hygieinos" (healthy), and also has the connotation of "uninjured" or "intact". | |||
Danish | sund og rask | ||
The Danish word sund originally meant a narrow stretch of water, later became 'sound' as in 'sound body' and eventually 'healthy'. | |||
Dutch | gezond | ||
"Gezond" in Dutch also means "sound" in English, as in "a sound investment". | |||
English | healthy | ||
"Healthy" derives from the Middle English "hale," meaning "well-being" or "strength," which in turn comes from the Old English "hāl," meaning "whole" or "sound." | |||
French | en bonne santé | ||
In Old French, the word "santé" (from which "en bonne santé" derives) originally meant "sacredness, holiness, religious well-being". | |||
Frisian | sûn | ||
The word "sûn" in Frisian derives from the Proto-Germanic root *sunþoz, also related to the English word "sound". | |||
Galician | saudable | ||
The word "saudable" is a derivative of the Latin "salutare", meaning "to greet". This is because in ancient times, a greeting was considered a sign of good health. | |||
German | gesund | ||
The word "gesund" in German can also mean "whole" or "sound". | |||
Icelandic | heilbrigt | ||
Heilbrigt in Icelandic can also mean "lucky," "auspicious," or "felicitous," with cognates in other Germanic languages with similar meanings. | |||
Irish | sláintiúil | ||
Italian | salutare | ||
The word "salutare" also means "to greet" in Italian, which is where the word "salutation" comes from. | |||
Luxembourgish | gesond | ||
The word "gesond" in Luxembourgish is derived from the Old High German word "gisund" meaning "sound" or "whole". | |||
Maltese | b'saħħtu | ||
The word "b'saħħtu" in Maltese also means "in good luck" or "well-being." | |||
Norwegian | sunn | ||
The word "sunn" can also mean "sound" or "true". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | saudável | ||
The Portuguese word "saudável" derives from the Latin "salvus", meaning "safe" or "in good health". | |||
Scots Gaelic | fallain | ||
Fallain means "healthy" and "concealed" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
Spanish | sano | ||
In Spanish, 'sano' can also mean 'sound' in the sense of 'free from error or defect'. | |||
Swedish | hälsosam | ||
The word 'hälsosam' in Swedish can also mean 'wholesome', 'salubrious', 'nutritious', 'healthful', 'sound', 'hygienic', 'sanitary', or 'clean' | |||
Welsh | iach | ||
The Welsh word "iach" is also used to mean "prosperous", "fertile", or "fruitful". |
Belarusian | здаровы | ||
The Belarusian word "здаровы" (healthy) is cognate with the Russian word "здоровый" and the Polish word "zdrowy", all of which are derived from the Proto-Slavic *zdorъvъ, meaning "whole, sound, healthy." | |||
Bosnian | zdravo | ||
The word "zdravo" also means "hello" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | здрави | ||
The word "здрави" might derive from the Proto-Slavic root *drъvъ, meaning "tree", suggesting a connection between health and vitality. | |||
Czech | zdravý | ||
The word "zdravý" can also mean "logical" or "sound" in Czech, hinting at the connection between physical and mental well-being in the language. | |||
Estonian | tervislik | ||
"Tervis" comes from the Proto-Finnic root *terve, "whole", "sound"."} | |||
Finnish | terveellistä | ||
The word 'terveellistä' derives from the Proto-Finnic 'terve', meaning 'sound, healthy, unbroken', and could also mean 'good' or 'complete'. | |||
Hungarian | egészséges | ||
The word "egészséges" comes from the Old Turkic word "eges" meaning "whole" or "complete". | |||
Latvian | veselīgi | ||
The word "veselīgi" derives from the Latvian word "vesels" meaning "whole" or "complete". | |||
Lithuanian | sveika | ||
The word "sveika" can also mean "hello" in Lithuanian, a form of greeting typically used when someone is sick or not feeling well. | |||
Macedonian | здрав | ||
The word “здрав” in Macedonian is derived from the Old Slavic root *zdravъ, which means “whole, safe, well-being” and is related to the word “здравье” in Russian and “здоров’я” in Ukrainian. | |||
Polish | zdrowy | ||
The Polish word 'zdrowy' comes from the Proto-Slavic word '*dorvъ', meaning 'sound, whole, strong,' and can also refer to mental and spiritual well-being. | |||
Romanian | sănătos | ||
The Romanian word "sănătos" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "sъnъ", meaning "sound" or "whole", and is related to the Russian word "здоровый" (zdorovy), both meaning "healthy". | |||
Russian | здоровый | ||
The word "здоровый" in Russian also means "big" or "strong". | |||
Serbian | здрав | ||
The word "здрав" is also used to denote a toast or a greeting, derived from the Old Church Slavonic "съ здравьемъ" meaning "in good health". | |||
Slovak | zdravé | ||
The word "zdravé" also means "sound" as in "of good quality". | |||
Slovenian | zdravo | ||
Zdravo in Slovenian has another meaning besides "healthy": "hello". | |||
Ukrainian | здоровий | ||
The word "здоровий" can also mean "large" or "strong" in Ukrainian. |
Bengali | সুস্থ | ||
সুস্থ (healthy) comes from 'সু' (good) and 'স্থ' (place); figuratively 'a place of goodness' or 'where one can flourish' | |||
Gujarati | તંદુરસ્ત | ||
"તંદુરસ્ત" is derived from Persian and originally meant "body warming", reflecting the importance of warmth in traditional medicine. | |||
Hindi | स्वस्थ | ||
"स्वस्थ" also means "of the same caste" in Hindi, suggesting a connection between health and social belonging. | |||
Kannada | ಆರೋಗ್ಯಕರ | ||
ಆರೋಗ್ಯಕರ (aarogyakara) comes from the Sanskrit word "arogya", meaning "free from disease" or "sound health". | |||
Malayalam | ആരോഗ്യമുള്ള | ||
Marathi | निरोगी | ||
The word 'निरोगी' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'निरोग', meaning 'free from disease' or 'healthy'. | |||
Nepali | स्वस्थ | ||
The word "स्वस्थ" is derived from the Sanskrit root "svasth", meaning "well-being" or "wholeness". | |||
Punjabi | ਸਿਹਤਮੰਦ | ||
The word "ਸਿਹਤਮੰਦ" (sihatmand) is derived from the Arabic word "صحة" (sihhah), meaning "well-being". It can also refer to "soundness" or "good condition" in a general sense. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සෞඛ්ය සම්පන්න | ||
Used to refer to a person who enjoys good health and wellbeing, and often carries a respectful connotation. | |||
Tamil | ஆரோக்கியமான | ||
Telugu | ఆరోగ్యకరమైన | ||
Urdu | صحت مند | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 健康 | ||
The word "健康" can also mean "normal" or "safe" in Chinese. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 健康 | ||
In Japanese, 健康 (“healthy”) originally meant “having a good day.” | |||
Japanese | 元気 | ||
元気 (genki) can also mean "spirited" or "lively" and is often used as a greeting or farewell. | |||
Korean | 건강한 | ||
{"text": "건강 is a Sino-Korean compound comprising 健 (건, "power, strength") and 康 (강, "peace, happiness")."} | |||
Mongolian | эрүүл | ||
The word | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကျန်းမာ | ||
Indonesian | sehat | ||
The word "sehat" in Indonesian originally meant "calm" or "peaceful". | |||
Javanese | sehat | ||
The Javanese word | |||
Khmer | មានសុខភាពល្អ | ||
It can also be spelled without the final vowel; "មានសុខ". | |||
Lao | ມີສຸຂະພາບແຂງແຮງ | ||
Malay | sihat | ||
"sihat" comes from Proto-Austronesian *qasehat, meaning "well-being, health." | |||
Thai | สุขภาพแข็งแรง | ||
สุขภาพแข็งแรง (สุขภาพ - physical health, แข็งแรง - strong) together literally mean "strong health". | |||
Vietnamese | khỏe mạnh | ||
"Khỏe mạnh" comes from the Proto-Mon-Khmer word for "sound" or "whole," and is related to the Lao word "khoey" and the Khmer word "khoem." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | malusog | ||
Azerbaijani | sağlam | ||
"Sağlam" shares its etymology with the word "sağ" (right) and has the additional meaning of "correct" or "true" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | сау | ||
The Kazakh word "сау" originally meant "good" or "auspicious" and is related to the Arabic word "صحيح" (sahih), meaning "correct" or "valid." | |||
Kyrgyz | ден-соолук | ||
The word "ден-соолук" in Kyrgyz also means "well-being" and "prosperity." | |||
Tajik | солим | ||
The word "солим" can also be used to refer to a healthy lifestyle or to good health in general. | |||
Turkmen | sagdyn | ||
Uzbek | sog'lom | ||
In Uzbek, "sog'lom" originally meant "intact, undamaged". In 13th century Central Asian Turkic, it meant "to bear". In Old Turkic, it meant "to beget, give birth". | |||
Uyghur | ساغلام | ||
Hawaiian | olakino | ||
The word 'olakino' also means 'well-being,' 'prosperity,' or 'to be in good shape'. | |||
Maori | hauora | ||
"Hauora" in Māori encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, and is often translated as "health" but carries a broader meaning incorporating harmony and balance. | |||
Samoan | maloloina | ||
In mythology, maloloina can refer to a healthy woman or handsome man. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | malusog | ||
"Malusog" is derived from the Proto-Austronesian *malu:sog, which also means "to heal" or "to cure". |
Aymara | muxsa | ||
Guarani | hesãi | ||
Esperanto | sana | ||
The Esperanto word "sana" is derived from the Latin "sanus" and also means "sound" or "of good quality." | |||
Latin | sanus | ||
Sanus (healthy) is related to the Latin verb sanare (to heal), which suggests a state of soundness or repair. |
Greek | υγιής | ||
The word 'υγιής' derives from the Proto-Indo-European root '*weǵʰ-'/'*wóǵʰ-' meaning 'strong' or 'healthy'. | |||
Hmong | noj qab nyob zoo | ||
The Hmong word "noj qab nyob zoo" (healthy) literally translates to "body, soul, and life are all good." | |||
Kurdish | sax | ||
The word "sax" is also used as an adjective to mean "hale", "sound" or "vigorous". | |||
Turkish | sağlıklı | ||
"Sağlıklı" means "healthy". However, it also has alternate meanings like "reasonable", "moderate" and "well-balanced". | |||
Xhosa | isempilweni | ||
Isempilweni derives from the root '-mpilo', meaning 'life' and refers to a state of wholesome being. | |||
Yiddish | געזונט | ||
The Yiddish word "געזונט" (gezunt) comes from the German "gesund," meaning "sound" or "well-being." | |||
Zulu | uphilile | ||
The Zulu word "uphilile" is cognate with the Xhosa word "impilo," both meaning "health". Additionally, "uphilile" can refer to "wellness" or "well-being". | |||
Assamese | স্বাস্থ্যকৰ | ||
Aymara | muxsa | ||
Bhojpuri | भला चंगा | ||
Dhivehi | ދުޅަހެޔޮ ސިއްޙަތެއް | ||
Dogri | नरोआ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | malusog | ||
Guarani | hesãi | ||
Ilocano | nasalun-at | ||
Krio | gɛt wɛlbɔdi | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | تەندروست | ||
Maithili | स्वस्थ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯁꯥ ꯃꯎ ꯐꯕ | ||
Mizo | hrisel | ||
Oromo | fayya-buleessa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସୁସ୍ଥ | ||
Quechua | qali kay | ||
Sanskrit | स्वस्थः | ||
Tatar | сәламәт | ||
Tigrinya | ጥዑይ | ||
Tsonga | hanyile | ||