Hot in different languages

Hot in Different Languages

Discover 'Hot' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'hot' is simple, yet holds a world of meaning. It signifies high temperature, spicy food, and even popularity or allure. From a cultural perspective, 'hot' has been celebrated in various ways - be it the sizzling hot dishes of Mexico, the scorching deserts of the Sahara, or the red-hot fashion trends of Milan. But what does 'hot' mean in other languages? Understanding this can open up a treasure trove of cultural insights.

For instance, in Spanish, 'hot' is 'caliente', which is derived from the Latin 'calidus'. In Japanese, 'hot' is 'atsui', a word that also means 'intense' or 'passionate'. In Russian, 'hot' is 'жаркий' (zharkiy), which shares roots with the word for 'fire'. These translations not only satiate our linguistic curiosity but also provide a glimpse into the unique cultural perspectives of different nations.

Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of 'hot' in various languages. Dive in and explore the diverse ways different cultures express this universal concept.

Hot


Hot in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanswarm
The Afrikaans word "warm" is cognate to the English word "warm", but it can also mean "comfortable" or "cozy".
Amharicሞቃት
The Amharic term "ሞቃት" is also employed to refer to a spicy or piquant flavor profile.
Hausazafi
Hausa word "zafi" is also used as a superlative, for example "cold" is "sanyi", while "very cold" is "zafi sanyi"
Igbona-ekpo ọkụ
In the context of pepper soup or other soups, 'na-ekpo ọkụ' can mean either 'it's hot' or 'it has peppers'.
Malagasymafana
"Mafana" also means "spicy" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)kutentha
The word "kutentha" can also mean "to boil" or "to cook".
Shonakupisa
The word 'kupisa' in Shona is also used to mean 'to heat up' or 'to boil'.
Somalikulul
Kulul is used in various contexts, including as a greeting during the hot season.
Sesothochesa
The word 'chesa' (hot) is said to have originated from the word 'chesela', meaning 'to warm something up'.
Swahilimoto
The word "moto" can also mean "fierce" or "passionate" in Swahili.
Xhosakushushu
The word 'kushushu' has its origin in a fire-making stick that produces flames and sparks.
Yorubagbona
Gbona has a secondary meaning, 'to be fierce or intense', as in 'gbona ira' for 'intense anger'.
Zulukushisa
The word 'kushisa' is also used to describe something that is intense or strong in Xhosa.
Bambarakalanman
Ewexᴐ dzo
Kinyarwandaashyushye
Lingalamolunge
Lugandaokwookya
Sepedifiša
Twi (Akan)hye

Hot in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالحار
The word "الحار" can also refer to spicy or pungent tastes or a burning sensation in the body.
Hebrewחַם
The word 'חַם' also means 'sour' or 'spicy' in Hebrew, and is related to the Arabic word 'حامض' (hāmiḍ), meaning 'acid'.
Pashtoګرم
The word "ګرم" in Pashto also means "heavy" or "serious".
Arabicالحار
The word "الحار" can also refer to spicy or pungent tastes or a burning sensation in the body.

Hot in Western European Languages

Albaniannxehtë
Nxehtë derives from Proto-Indo-European *nekʷ- 'to roast, burn'.
Basqueberoa
The word "bero" in Basque has other meanings such as "great" or "good".
Catalancalent
Calent does not technically mean "hot" as an adjective, but an action that is "to heat" something.
Croatianvruće
The Croatian word "vruće" is related to the word "vreti", meaning to boil, and can also mean "fiery" or "passionate".
Danishhed
The word "hed" also means "to improve" and derives from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to burn".
Dutchheet
The Dutch word "heet" can also refer to the process of heating or making something hot.
Englishhot
The word 'hot' also refers to something that is stolen or acquired illegally.
Frenchchaud
The French word "chaud" comes from the Latin word "calidus", meaning "hot" or "warm", but can also be used figuratively to describe strong emotions or situations.
Frisianhyt
The word "hyt" in the Frisian language comes from the Old English "hāt", which also means "hot".
Galicianquente
In Galician the word "quente" also refers to a type of traditional soup.
Germanheiß
In German, "heiß" is cognate with the English "heath" and originally meant "wild and barren landscape"
Icelandicheitt
The Icelandic word 'heitt' can also refer to 'spicy' foods or drinks.
Irishte
The Gaelic word "te" is also used to refer to something that is exciting or stimulating
Italiancaldo
The Italian word "caldo" comes from the Latin "calidus", meaning "warm" or "hot", and can also refer to a type of broth or soup.
Luxembourgishwaarm
"Waarm" can come from the Proto-Germanic "*waarmas" or Old High German "*waram"," which also gave origin to the word "warm" in other Germanic languages.
Maltesejaħraq
The word "jaħraq" is also used to describe something that is very spicy or pungent.
Norwegianvarmt
The word "varmt" also means "loving" or "affectionate" in Norwegian.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)quente
"Quente" can also mean "spicy" or "warm" in Portuguese (Portugal).
Scots Gaelicteth
"Teth" may derive from Old Norse teitr ("cheerful, pleasant"), which in turn derives from Proto-Germanic teitaz ("joy, pleasure").
Spanishcaliente
Swedishvarm
The Swedish word "varm" can also mean "friendly", a nuance that the English "hot" lacks.
Welshpoeth
The Welsh word 'poeth' comes from the Proto-Celtic root *tep-, meaning 'warm' or 'hot'

Hot in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianгарачая
The word "гарачая" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *gъrъkъ, which also means "heat" or "fever".
Bosnianvruće
"Vruće" is an adjective used to describe something that is hot, such as a fire or a stove. It can also be used to describe the weather, or someone's temper.
Bulgarianгорещо
The word "горещо" can also mean "spicy" or "feverish" in Bulgarian.
Czechhorký
"Horký" also means "bitter" in Czech, and comes from the Proto-Slavic word "gorkъ", which had the same meaning.
Estoniankuum
"Kuuma" derives in some Baltic language from proto-Indo-European "keu", referring to something heated or burning
Finnishkuuma
In addition to 'hot', 'kuuma' also means 'fever' and 'sultry'. It can also be used figuratively to describe something passionate or intense.
Hungarianforró
Forró (meaning "fiery") in Hungarian also refers to a traditional style of pair dancing accompanied by music.
Latviankarsts
The Latvian word "karsts" not only means "hot", but also refers to a type of geological formation characterized by soluble rock and underground drainage.
Lithuaniankaršta
The word "karšta" in Lithuanian originates from the Proto-Indo-European root "*kers-," and is related to Sanskrit "gharma" and Latin "formus," both meaning "warm."
Macedonianжешко
The Old Church Slavonic word *žgъ*, the ancestor of Macedonian "жешко" and other cognate words in Slavic languages, also had the additional meaning “pain”
Polishgorąco
In Polish, "gorąco" can also mean "ardently", "fervently", or "enthusiastically."
Romanianfierbinte
Although it is not widely known, the name derives from the Turkish word "fırın" meaning "oven".
Russianгорячей
Горячей is an old word meaning "bitterly," which survives in idioms such as горькая судьба ("a bitter fate") or a hot-tempered person.
Serbianвруће
The Serbian word "вруће" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*vьrъ", which also means "boil" or "bubble".
Slovakhorúci
The word "horúci" can also mean "feverish" or "enthusiastic" in Slovak.
Slovenianvroče
The Slovene word 'vroče' derives from 'vreti', a verb meaning to 'boil', and can metaphorically mean 'fiery-tempered'.
Ukrainianгарячий
In Ukrainian, the word "гарячий" can also mean "eager" or "passionate".

Hot in South Asian Languages

Bengaliগরম
Gujaratiગરમ
The Gujarati word "ગરમ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "gharma" and can also mean "spicy" or "exciting".
Hindiगरम
In Punjabi the verb 'to heat up' is also spelled as 'गरमाना'
Kannadaಬಿಸಿ
The word "ಬಿಸಿ" can also mean "anger" or "enthusiasm" in Kannada.
Malayalamചൂടുള്ള
The word 'ചൂടുള്ള' in Malayalam is an example of a 'sandhi', a compound word, and is composed of the words 'ചൂട്' (heat) and 'ഉള്ള' (having).
Marathiगरम
'गरम' is connected to the Sanskrit word 'ghrama' which refers to a house or a homestead.
Nepaliतातो
The Nepali word 'तातो' is cognate with the Sanskrit word 'ताप', which means 'heat' or 'warmth'.
Punjabiਗਰਮ
The word 'ਗਰਮ' ('garam') is also used in Punjabi to refer to something spicy or stimulating.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)උණුසුම්
Tamilசூடான
சூடான (chutana) is also used to describe spicy food and weather.
Teluguవేడి
The Telugu word "వేడి" also means "fever" or "heat" in the context of an illness.
Urduگرم
Urdu "گرم" derives from Sanskrit "gharamā", meaning "heat" but also "affection" or "excitement".

Hot in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
"热" in Chinese has various meanings, including temperature, passion, enthusiasm, and popularity.
Chinese (Traditional)
熱 is also used as a noun for food that is hot and spicy.
Japaneseホット
The word "hot" in Japanese, "ホット" (hotto), can also mean "fresh" or "new" in the context of food or drinks.
Korean뜨거운
The word "뜨거운" (hot) is also used to describe something spicy, such as a dish.
Mongolianхалуун
The word "халуун" can also refer to "warm" as a temperature, or "spicy" as a flavor.
Myanmar (Burmese)ပူတယ်
"ပူတယ်" shares the same root with the verb "to roast" and thus can also mean "fragrant".

Hot in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpanas
The word "panas" can also mean "expensive" or "difficult" in Indonesian.
Javanesepanas
In Javanese, "panas" also means "fever" or "warmth".
Khmerក្តៅ
ក្តៅ shares a root and can also carry the meaning of 'bitter.'
Laoຮ້ອນ
The Lao word 'ຮ້ອນ' ('hot') also refers to 'being angry' or 'having a fever'.
Malaypanas
The word "panas" in Malay can also mean "fever" or "anger".
Thaiร้อน
The term "ร้อน" can refer to physical sensations, as well as emotions, including anger and desire.
Vietnamesenóng bức
"Nóng bức" in Vietnamese not only means "hot" but also carries the connotation of discomfort and stuffiness.
Filipino (Tagalog)mainit

Hot in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniisti
"Isti" can also mean "feverish" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhыстық
The word ыстық also has the meaning of "steep", as in a steep incline.
Kyrgyzысык
'Ысык' also means 'sacred' in Kyrgyz, which is seen in the name of Lake Issyk-Kul, which translates to 'warm sacred lake'.
Tajikгарм
The Tajik word "гарм" not only means "hot" but also refers to a region in Tajikistan known for its warm climate and fertile lands.
Turkmenyssy
Uzbekissiq
"issiq" originates from the Old Turkic word "ysïk," meaning "warm," derived from Proto-Turkic "sïzïq" with a similar meaning.
Uyghurhot

Hot in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianwela
The Hawaiian word "wela" can also mean "to roast" or "to scorch".
Maoriwera
The word "wera" is cognate with the Proto-Polynesian word *wela, which also means "hot".
Samoanvevela
The Samoan word 'vevela' is related to the Proto-Polynesian word '*wewe', meaning 'to be warm' or 'to be cooked'.
Tagalog (Filipino)mainit
"Mainit" in Tagalog means "hot" but can also mean "friendly" or "excited".

Hot in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajunt'u
Guaranihaku

Hot in International Languages

Esperantovarma
The word "varma" also means "confident" and comes from the Slavic word for "warm".
Latincalidi
The Latin word "calidi" can also refer to "warmth," "fever" or "passion."

Hot in Others Languages

Greekζεστό
The word "ζεστό" not only means "hot" in Greek but can also refer to the warmth of a person or a friendly welcome.
Hmongkub
In addition to meaning "hot," "kub" can also mean "spicy," "fiery," or "aggressive."
Kurdishgerm
In Kurdish, the word 'germ' also means 'warm' and can be used in the context of temperature or emotions.
Turkishsıcak
Sıcak is also used as a noun in Turkish with the meaning of "warmth".
Xhosakushushu
The word 'kushushu' has its origin in a fire-making stick that produces flames and sparks.
Yiddishהייס
In Yiddish, 'הייס' can also refer to 'excited' or 'passionate'.
Zulukushisa
The word 'kushisa' is also used to describe something that is intense or strong in Xhosa.
Assameseগৰম
Aymarajunt'u
Bhojpuriगरम
Dhivehiހޫނު
Dogriतत्ता
Filipino (Tagalog)mainit
Guaranihaku
Ilocanonapudot
Krioɔt
Kurdish (Sorani)گەرم
Maithiliगर्म
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯁꯥꯕ
Mizosa
Oromoho'aa
Odia (Oriya)ଗରମ
Quechuaquñi
Sanskritउष्णः
Tatarкайнар
Tigrinyaምዉቅ
Tsongahisa

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