Updated on March 6, 2024
Historic refers to something that has a significant past, is associated with history, or has great cultural importance. This term is often used to describe places, events, or figures that have shaped the course of history and left a lasting impact on society. Understanding the historical context of a place or event can provide valuable insights into its cultural significance and help us appreciate its importance in shaping the world we live in today.
For example, the Great Wall of China is a historic site that has stood for over 2,000 years and is a symbol of China's rich history and cultural heritage. Similarly, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States was a historic event that brought about significant social and political change and helped to shape the country's future.
Moreover, knowing the translation of historic in different languages can be useful for global travelers, language learners, and cultural enthusiasts. Here are some translations of historic in various languages:
Afrikaans | historiese | ||
The Afrikaans word "historiese" derives from the Dutch "historie", which means "story". It can also refer to a type of historical novel. | |||
Amharic | ታሪካዊ | ||
The word "ታሪካዊ" (historic) in Amharic comes from the Ge'ez word "ታሪክ" (history). | |||
Hausa | mai tarihi | ||
The word 'mai tarihi' literally means 'owner of history' in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | akụkọ ihe mere eme | ||
The word "akụkọ ihe mere eme" can also refer to a story or account of past events in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | manan-tantara | ||
The word "manan-tantara" is derived from the Malay word "menantang" meaning "to challenge". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mbiri | ||
The Nyanja word for "historic" is "mbiri," which can also refer to the "past," the "era of the ancients," or a "legendary epoch." | |||
Shona | nhoroondo | ||
The word 'nhoroondo' is derived from the verb 'kunhoroonda,' which means 'to remember.' | |||
Somali | taariikhi ah | ||
The name 'taariikhi ah' (historical) was borrowed from Arabic 'ta'rīkh' (history), which in turn is derived from the Greek word 'historia' (investigation, narrative). | |||
Sesotho | ea nalane | ||
The Sesotho word "ea nalane" can also refer to something that is old-fashioned or outdated. | |||
Swahili | kihistoria | ||
The Swahili word 'kihistoria' is derived from the Arabic word 'kisah', meaning 'a story' or 'history'. | |||
Xhosa | yimbali | ||
Yimbali also refers to a type of beadwork used to create colorful designs on traditional Xhosa clothing and crafts. | |||
Yoruba | itan | ||
In some dialects, "itan" also means "story" or "folklore". | |||
Zulu | umlando | ||
"Umlando" also refers to the traditional knowledge, beliefs, and practices of Indigenous and marginalized communities. | |||
Bambara | tariku kɔnɔ | ||
Ewe | ŋutinya me nya | ||
Kinyarwanda | amateka | ||
Lingala | ya lisolo ya kala | ||
Luganda | ebyafaayo | ||
Sepedi | ya histori | ||
Twi (Akan) | abakɔsɛm mu nsɛm | ||
Arabic | تاريخي | ||
The root of 'تاريخي' means something that was narrated and transmitted through time, leading to its use for 'history' and in reference to anything old | |||
Hebrew | הִיסטוֹרִי | ||
Pashto | تاریخي | ||
The Pashto word "تاريخي" also refers to events, documents and periods in the history of the Pashtun people, which may not necessarily be considered "historic" in a broader sense. | |||
Arabic | تاريخي | ||
The root of 'تاريخي' means something that was narrated and transmitted through time, leading to its use for 'history' and in reference to anything old |
Albanian | historike | ||
Although written as "historike" in Albanian, the word derives from the Greek word "istorico" which denotes "relating to the knowledge of past events" in English. | |||
Basque | historikoa | ||
The Basque word "historikoa" derives from the Greek word "historia," meaning "inquiry" or "investigation." | |||
Catalan | històric | ||
In Catalan, "històric" can also refer to historical heritage of great value that must be protected due to its cultural interest. | |||
Croatian | povijesne | ||
The Croatian word "povijesne" can also mean "historical" or "past". | |||
Danish | historisk | ||
The word "historisk" in Danish also means "of great historical importance.". | |||
Dutch | historisch | ||
In Dutch "historisch" can also mean "theatrical". | |||
English | historic | ||
Originally referring to the telling of stories and events from history, "historic" has come to mean significant or important in a general sense. | |||
French | historique | ||
In French, the word “historique” can refer to either historical facts or the narrative of such facts, hence its use as “chronicle” or “story.” | |||
Frisian | histoarysk | ||
The word "histoarysk" in Frisian shares its root with the English word "story" and originally meant "written down". | |||
Galician | histórico | ||
"Histórico" en gallego también puede referirse a una persona que se dedica a la historia. | |||
German | historisch | ||
Apart from "historic", the German word "historisch" can also mean "historical" or "historicist", or be used in a figurative sense, e.g. "historische Chance" = "a historic chance". | |||
Icelandic | sögulegt | ||
The word "sögulegt" is derived from the Old Norse word "saga", which means "story" or "history". | |||
Irish | stairiúil | ||
The word "stairiúil" originally meant "pertaining to a way" or "long-standing customs". | |||
Italian | storico | ||
The Italian word "storico" can also refer to a type of bread or a literary genre. | |||
Luxembourgish | historesch | ||
The word "historesch" is derived from the Greek word "historia", meaning "inquiry" or "investigation". | |||
Maltese | storiku | ||
The Maltese word "storiku" likely descends from the Italian word "storico" and has the alternate meaning of "historian" in Maltese. | |||
Norwegian | historisk | ||
The word "historisk" in Norwegian can also mean "historical" or "historicist". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | histórico | ||
In Portuguese, "histórico" can also refer to a person's medical or academic record. | |||
Scots Gaelic | eachdraidheil | ||
The word "eachdraidheil" is also used to describe something as being 'notable' or 'remarkable', or to describe someone as being a 'historian'. | |||
Spanish | histórico | ||
The Spanish word "histórico" derives from the Greek word "historia", meaning "investigation"} | |||
Swedish | historisk | ||
In Swedish, "historisk" can also refer to something that is unprecedented or remarkable, not necessarily related to the past. | |||
Welsh | hanesyddol | ||
The word 'hanesyddol' is derived from the Welsh word 'hanes', meaning 'history'. |
Belarusian | гістарычны | ||
Bosnian | istorijski | ||
In Bosnian, "istorijski" also means "true" or "genuine" and is used in phrases like "istorijska priča" ("a true story"). | |||
Bulgarian | исторически | ||
The word "исторически" can also mean "historically" or "on a historical basis". | |||
Czech | historický | ||
Originally related to "story" and often used in compounds or idioms conveying this etymological link (e.g. in *zemĕpis dějepisný* "-geography historical-"). | |||
Estonian | ajalooline | ||
Despite its modern meaning, "ajalooline" initially referred to a narrative of past events written in Old Estonian Livonian or German. | |||
Finnish | historiallinen | ||
Historiallinen also means 'historical' or 'relating to history' | |||
Hungarian | történelmi | ||
"Történelmi" in Hungarian comes from the word "történet", which means "story", so the word literally means "from a story". | |||
Latvian | vēsturiski | ||
The word vēsturiski is cognate to the Lithuanian word istórija meaning narrative or account and was adopted in the 18th century during the Enlightenment. | |||
Lithuanian | istorinis | ||
The Lithuanian word "istorinis" derives from the Greek word "historein," meaning "to search for, to know, or to examine." | |||
Macedonian | историски | ||
The Macedonian word "историски" can also refer to "related to an event in the life of a country" or "connected with history". | |||
Polish | historyczny | ||
The Polish word 'historyczny' can also mean 'fictional' or 'legendary'. | |||
Romanian | istoric | ||
The Romanian "istoric" also means "historian" and "historical". | |||
Russian | исторический | ||
The word "исторический" in Russian can also mean "fictional". | |||
Serbian | историјски | ||
In Serbian, the word "историјски" ("historic") also refers to something that is of historical importance or of a historical nature. | |||
Slovak | historický | ||
The word "historický" has a broader meaning in Slovak, encompassing events or objects that are significant, valuable, or memorable in addition to those related to history. | |||
Slovenian | zgodovinsko | ||
Zgodovinsko is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *istъ, meaning 'true' or 'real'. It can also refer to something that has happened in the past or is related to history. | |||
Ukrainian | історичний | ||
The word “історичний” also has a secondary meaning of “historical-materialistic” in the context of Marxist philosophy. |
Bengali | .তিহাসিক | ||
তিহাসিক ("historic") derives from the Sanskrit word "itihaas," meaning "so it was" or "past events." | |||
Gujarati | .તિહાસિક | ||
The word "તિહાસિક" in Gujarati is borrowed from the Hindi-Urdu word "tārīḵī", which is derived from the Arabic word "tārīkh", meaning "history" or "date". | |||
Hindi | ऐतिहासिक | ||
The word ऐतिहासिक (ऐति+ हास+ इक) is derived from the Sanskrit words: 'ऐति' (legend/tradition), 'हास' (laugh/smile), and 'इक' (a suffix denoting possession). | |||
Kannada | ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ | ||
The word "ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ" ("historic") also means "ancient" or "traditional" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | ചരിത്രപരമായ | ||
The Malayalam word | |||
Marathi | ऐतिहासिक | ||
ऐतिहासिक ( ऐतिहास: ऐह 'history' + आस (लिंगा): प्रत्यय '-ic' 'related of, concerning') | |||
Nepali | ऐतिहासिक | ||
ऐतिहासिक is the Nepali equivalent of "historic" in English. | |||
Punjabi | ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ | ||
The word "ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ" ("historic") in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word "इतिहास" ("itihāsa"), which literally means "that which has happened". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඓතිහාසික | ||
The Sinhala word "ඓතිහාසික" (itihasika) derives from the Sanskrit word "इतिहास" (itihasa), meaning "that which has happened." | |||
Tamil | வரலாற்று | ||
In addition to its primary meaning, "historic" in Tamil can also refer to "celebrated", "famous", or "revered". | |||
Telugu | చారిత్రాత్మక | ||
Urdu | تاریخی | ||
The Urdu word "تاریخی" also means "out of date" and "traditional". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 历史性 | ||
历史性在中文中的含义除了指历史性的,还可以表示具有历史意义的、开创历史先河的或具有里程碑意义的事件、人物或事物。 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 歷史性 | ||
除了歷史之外,該字在中文裡也用於形容具有重大影響力或意義的事情,例如「歷史性的演講」指具有劃時代意義的演講。 | |||
Japanese | 歴史的 | ||
歴史的 is an adjective in Japanese that means 'historic' or 'historical', but is also used to describe something that is 'important' or 'significant'. | |||
Korean | 역사적인 | ||
While the Korean word '역사적인' directly translates to 'historic' in English, it can also refer to something that occurred a long time ago. | |||
Mongolian | түүхэн | ||
"Түүхэн" also means something that happened in the past | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | သမိုင်းဝင် | ||
Indonesian | bersejarah | ||
The word "bersejarah" originally meant "having a story", and its usage as "historic" is a comparatively recent development in Indonesian. | |||
Javanese | bersejarah | ||
The word "bersejarah" in Javanese can also mean "fateful" or "significant". | |||
Khmer | ជាប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ | ||
Lao | ປະຫວັດສາດ | ||
Malay | bersejarah | ||
"Bersejarah" is an Indonesian adjective which also means "having history" and "with historical significance". | |||
Thai | ประวัติศาสตร์ | ||
The word "ประวัติศาสตร์" is derived from the Sanskrit word "purva-vritta" meaning "ancient history". | |||
Vietnamese | mang tính lịch sử | ||
The word "mang tính lịch sử" in Vietnamese means "historic" and can also be used to mean "historical" or "of historical importance" | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | makasaysayan | ||
Azerbaijani | tarixi | ||
The Azerbaijani word “tarixi” derives from the Persian “tārīkh”, which refers to both “history” and a “date”. | |||
Kazakh | тарихи | ||
The word “тарихи” is related to “тарих”, which refers to the “creation”, “nature”, “essence” or “origin” of something. | |||
Kyrgyz | тарыхый | ||
In another meaning, this word means “history” or “historiography” (in the sense of a scientific discipline). | |||
Tajik | таърихӣ | ||
The word "таърихӣ" (historic) in Tajik is derived from the Arabic word "تَارِيخ" (history), which also means "fate" or "destiny". | |||
Turkmen | taryhy | ||
Uzbek | tarixiy | ||
The word "tarixiy" derives from the Persian "tareekh", meaning "history", and can also refer to a historical narrative or chronicle. | |||
Uyghur | تارىخى | ||
Hawaiian | mōʻaukala | ||
The word "mōʻaukala" shares the same root as "moʻo", the lineage of ancestors, and "'ōlelo", language or story. | |||
Maori | hītori | ||
The word "hītori" in Maori can also mean "story" or "tradition." | |||
Samoan | logologoa | ||
The Samoan word "logologoa" can also mean "a story", "a legend", or "a tale". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | makasaysayang | ||
Makasaysayang can also refer to something that is memorable, remarkable, or worth remembering. |
Aymara | histórico ukax mä jach’a uñacht’äwiwa | ||
Guarani | histórico rehegua | ||
Esperanto | historia | ||
The word "historia" in Esperanto can also mean "story" or "tale". | |||
Latin | historic | ||
The word "historic" originates from the Latin word "historia," meaning "account, narrative," and "inquiry." |
Greek | ιστορικός | ||
The word "ιστορικός" derives from the Greek word "ἱστορία", meaning "inquiry" or "investigation". | |||
Hmong | ua keeb kwm | ||
The Hmong word "ua keeb kwm" also means "something from ancient history" and "a long time in the future." | |||
Kurdish | dîrokî | ||
The word "dîrokî" can also mean "mythical" or "legendary" in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | tarihi | ||
The word "tarihi" can also refer to something that is old-fashioned or outdated. | |||
Xhosa | yimbali | ||
Yimbali also refers to a type of beadwork used to create colorful designs on traditional Xhosa clothing and crafts. | |||
Yiddish | היסטאריש | ||
The Yiddish word "histárish" is derived from the German word "historisch," meaning "historical," but it can also refer to something that is "hysterical" or "outrageous." | |||
Zulu | umlando | ||
"Umlando" also refers to the traditional knowledge, beliefs, and practices of Indigenous and marginalized communities. | |||
Assamese | ঐতিহাসিক | ||
Aymara | histórico ukax mä jach’a uñacht’äwiwa | ||
Bhojpuri | ऐतिहासिक बा | ||
Dhivehi | ތާރީހީ | ||
Dogri | ऐतिहासिक | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | makasaysayan | ||
Guarani | histórico rehegua | ||
Ilocano | historiko | ||
Krio | istri wan | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | مێژووییە | ||
Maithili | ऐतिहासिक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯨꯋꯥꯔꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯔꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | historic tak a ni | ||
Oromo | seena qabeessa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | histor ତିହାସିକ | ||
Quechua | histórico nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | ऐतिहासिक | ||
Tatar | тарихи | ||
Tigrinya | ታሪኻዊ እዩ። | ||
Tsonga | ya matimu | ||