Updated on March 6, 2024
Improvement is a powerful word that carries significant weight in our personal and professional lives. It represents the journey of becoming better, growing, and making progress. This concept is universal and deeply ingrained in various cultures, making it a critical component of human development and achievement.
Throughout history, improvement has been a driving force behind many groundbreaking inventions and innovations. From the wheel to the internet, each improvement has shaped our world and the way we live. Moreover, the pursuit of improvement is a testament to human resilience, curiosity, and the relentless drive to push boundaries.
Understanding the translation of improvement in different languages can provide valuable insights into how diverse cultures perceive and value growth and progress. Here are a few examples:
Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of translations that will further explore the global significance of improvement in various cultures and languages.
Afrikaans | verbetering | ||
The word 'verbetering' can also mean 'amputation' in Afrikaans, derived from the Dutch word 'verbeteren' ('to improve') through the process of euphemism. | |||
Amharic | መሻሻል | ||
The root ሻሻል (shashal) in "መሻሻል" (improvement) also means "to stir", "to move frequently", or "to be busy with trivial matters". | |||
Hausa | kyautatawa | ||
Kyautatawa can also mean "upgrading" or "developing". | |||
Igbo | mmelite | ||
Mmelite can also mean 'to make a situation better' or 'to ameliorate'. | |||
Malagasy | fanatsarana | ||
The Malagasy word 'fanatsarana' can also refer to the act of making something look more beautiful. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kusintha | ||
Kusintha derives from the verb 'kusintha' meaning 'to sew', 'to patch', 'to repair' or 'to mend'. | |||
Shona | kuvandudza | ||
The word "kuvandudza" in Shona also means "to advance," "to move forward," or "to progress." | |||
Somali | horumar | ||
'Horumar' also means increase, rise, progress, or development. | |||
Sesotho | ntlafatso | ||
Ntlafatso can also refer to a blessing or a gift. | |||
Swahili | uboreshaji | ||
The Swahili word 'uboreshaji' can also refer to 'refinement', 'enhancement', or 'progress'. | |||
Xhosa | ukuphucula | ||
It can also imply a development or refinement of something. | |||
Yoruba | ilọsiwaju | ||
Zulu | ukuthuthuka | ||
The Zulu word "ukuthuthuka" also means "to develop" or "to progress".} | |||
Bambara | fisayali | ||
Ewe | ŋgɔyiyi | ||
Kinyarwanda | gutera imbere | ||
Lingala | kobongisa | ||
Luganda | okuterezamu | ||
Sepedi | kaonafalo | ||
Twi (Akan) | mpuntuo | ||
Arabic | تحسين | ||
The word " تحسين " means "making something better" or "improving something." | |||
Hebrew | הַשׁבָּחָה | ||
הַשׁבָּחָה also implies the action of praising someone. | |||
Pashto | پرمختګ | ||
The Pashto word "پرمختګ" can also refer to "advancement" or "progress." | |||
Arabic | تحسين | ||
The word " تحسين " means "making something better" or "improving something." |
Albanian | përmirësim | ||
The word "përmirësim" comes from the Latin "melioratio" meaning "making something better". | |||
Basque | hobekuntza | ||
The word "hobekuntza" in Basque derives from the verb "hobetu" (to improve), which in turn comes from the Proto-Basque root *hozbe- (better). | |||
Catalan | millora | ||
The Catalan word "millora" comes from the Latin word "meliorare", meaning "to make better". | |||
Croatian | poboljšanje | ||
"Poboljšanje" also means "edification" or "cultivation" in Croatian. | |||
Danish | forbedring | ||
The Danish word "forbedring" is related to the German "Besserung" and originally meant "recovery from illness". | |||
Dutch | verbetering | ||
"Verbetering means not only 'better' but also 'amendment', ‘repair’, or 'correction' in Dutch." | |||
English | improvement | ||
"Improvement" originates from the Latin word "in prō" meaning "forward" or "progressing," hence the concept of betterment or enhancement. | |||
French | amélioration | ||
The French word "amélioration" comes from the Latin word "melioratus" meaning "to make better", and also has a legal definition of "an alteration that increases a property's value". | |||
Frisian | ferbettering | ||
The word 'ferbettering' also means 'reparation' in Frisian. | |||
Galician | mellora | ||
The word mellora comes from the Latin root 'meliorare', meaning to make better, and is related to the word 'mejor' (better). | |||
German | verbesserung | ||
The word 'Verbesserung' comes from the Middle High German word 'verbezzern', meaning 'to make better' or 'to correct'. | |||
Icelandic | framför | ||
The Icelandic word "framför" can also mean "forward" or "in front of". | |||
Irish | feabhsú | ||
The root word "feabh" in "feabhsú" means "better" or "good," and the suffix "sú" indicates the state or quality of something. | |||
Italian | miglioramento | ||
The Italian word "miglioramento" shares an origin with the English word "melioration". | |||
Luxembourgish | verbesserung | ||
Luxembourgish "Verbesserung" means "deprivation" in German, the language from which it is borrowed. | |||
Maltese | titjib | ||
The Maltese word "titjib" is of Arabic origin, meaning "correction" or "amendment" | |||
Norwegian | forbedring | ||
Forbedring can also refer to a repair or renovation, or to an agricultural crop improvement method | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | melhoria | ||
The Portuguese word "melhoria" comes from the Latin "meliorare", meaning "to make better", and also has the meaning of "bonus". | |||
Scots Gaelic | leasachadh | ||
The term 'leasachadh' in Scots Gaelic can refer to both 'improvement' and 'repairs'. | |||
Spanish | mejora | ||
Mejora can also refer to the action of making something better or to a betterment. | |||
Swedish | förbättring | ||
The word "förbättring" literally means "improvement in front" and is also used to refer to a "good bargain" in Swedish. | |||
Welsh | gwelliant | ||
The Welsh word "gwelliant" derives from the Proto-Celtic root "*wel-/*woli-/*wil-/*wul-", meaning "to choose, to select, to wish". |
Belarusian | паляпшэнне | ||
Bosnian | poboljšanje | ||
The term 'poboljšanje' in Bosnian is derived from the Slavic root 'bolj', meaning 'better'. | |||
Bulgarian | подобрение | ||
The word "подобрение" derives from the Old Church Slavonic language and also means "correction" or "restoration". | |||
Czech | zlepšení | ||
In Czech, the word "zlepšení" not only means "improvement," but it can also refer to a process of improvement or refinement. | |||
Estonian | paranemine | ||
The word "paranemine" in Estonian comes from the verb "paranema," which means "to improve" or "to get better." | |||
Finnish | parannusta | ||
"Parannusta" also means a "patch" in computer software and a "darn" or "mend" in clothing. | |||
Hungarian | javulás | ||
The word "javulás" comes from the verb "javít", which means "to repair" or "to fix". | |||
Latvian | uzlabošana | ||
"Uzlabošana" comes from the word "labot", which means "to repair", "to mend" or "to fix", but in a broader sense, it can also refer to "improvement" or "betterment." | |||
Lithuanian | tobulinimas | ||
The word "tobulinimas" comes from the verb "tobulinti", which means "to make perfect" or "to make better". | |||
Macedonian | подобрување | ||
Its root word is 'добро,' meaning 'good.' | |||
Polish | poprawa | ||
The word "poprawa" also means "correction" or "amendment" in Polish. | |||
Romanian | îmbunătăţire | ||
{"text": "The Romanian word "îmbunătăţire" ("improvement") is derived from the Latin word "boni", meaning "good," and the suffix "tatio", which means "action or process."} | |||
Russian | улучшение | ||
The verb улучшать comes from the Russian word лучше meaning "better." | |||
Serbian | побољшање | ||
The Serbian word "побољшање" derives from the verb "побољшати," meaning "to make better," and is related to the noun "бољитак," meaning "betterment." | |||
Slovak | zlepšenie | ||
The word zlepšenie is derived from the Slavic root "zlep" meaning "to make better" and is still used in Russian, Polish, and Czech with the same meaning. | |||
Slovenian | izboljšava | ||
The word 'izboljšava' is derived from the verb 'izboljšati', which has different meanings depending on the context: 'correct', 'make corrections' or 'revise'. | |||
Ukrainian | вдосконалення | ||
The word "вдосконалення" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "съвършениѥ", meaning "perfection" or "completion". |
Bengali | উন্নতি | ||
The word "উন্নতি" can also be used to refer to "elevation" or "advancement" in a metaphorical sense, such as the improvement of one's social or economic status. | |||
Gujarati | સુધારો | ||
The Gujarati word 'सुधारो' (improvement) is closely related to the Hindi term सुधार, meaning correction, amendment or refinement, indicating a process of making something better or more accurate. | |||
Hindi | सुधार की | ||
The word "सुधार की" in Hindi can also mean "reformation" or "amendment" in the context of laws or policies. | |||
Kannada | ಸುಧಾರಣೆ | ||
The word "ಸುಧಾರಣೆ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "सुधार" (sudhāra), which means "to rectify" or "to correct". It can also refer to "reformation" or "restoration". | |||
Malayalam | മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്തൽ | ||
Marathi | सुधारणा | ||
सुधारणा is derived from the Sanskrit word 'सुधार' (meaning 'to make better') and can also refer to refinement or amendment. | |||
Nepali | सुधार | ||
The word "सुधार" has Sanskrit roots and is related to the concept of "correction," "rectification," or "amendment." | |||
Punjabi | ਸੁਧਾਰ | ||
The term 'ਸੁਧਾਰ' in Punjabi originates from the Sanskrit word 'सुधार' meaning 'to make better' and can also refer to 'correction' or 'reform'. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම | ||
Tamil | முன்னேற்றம் | ||
Telugu | మెరుగుదల | ||
In Telugu, "మెరుగుదల" also means "polishing", suggesting a gradual and refined process of making something better. | |||
Urdu | بہتری | ||
The word "بہتری" in Urdu is derived from the Arabic word "بہر", meaning "good" or "better". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 改善 | ||
"改善" may also refer to the Chinese economist and philosopher Wu Wenzao. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 改善 | ||
The word “改善” (gǎibiàn) means “reform” or “change for the better. | |||
Japanese | 改善 | ||
The word 改善 can also mean "reformation" or "renovation." | |||
Korean | 개량 | ||
The word "개량" can also mean "reform" or "renovation", and comes from the Chinese word "改良". | |||
Mongolian | сайжруулах | ||
The Mongolian word "сайжруулах" also means "to perfect" and "to refine". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တိုးတက်မှု | ||
Indonesian | perbaikan | ||
The Indonesian word "perbaikan" is derived from the Arabic word "ta'mir" (repair, fix). | |||
Javanese | dandan | ||
"Dandan" or "ngdandan" also means a kind of traditional ceremony in which a bride or groom gets dressed for a wedding. | |||
Khmer | ធ្វើឱ្យប្រសើរឡើង | ||
There are no other meanings for this word in Khmer, and it is not of foreign origin. | |||
Lao | ການປັບປຸງ | ||
Malay | peningkatan | ||
The word "peningkatan" in Malay can also refer to an increase in the level or size of something | |||
Thai | การปรับปรุง | ||
In Thai, the word "การปรับปรุง" not only means "improvement" but also "renovation" or "modification". | |||
Vietnamese | cải tiến | ||
"Cải tiến" evolved from Sino-Vietnamese cải 良 (cải líang), which means "improvement", "change for the better". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpapabuti | ||
Azerbaijani | inkişaf | ||
The word "inkişaf" is derived from the Arabic word "inkishaf", meaning "unveiling". It can also refer to the process of "self-realization" or "personal development". | |||
Kazakh | жетілдіру | ||
The Kazakh word "жетілдіру" ultimately derives from the Persian word "just", meaning "to seek". | |||
Kyrgyz | өркүндөтүү | ||
The Kyrgyz word "өркүндөтүү" originates from the Persian word "arqa", meaning "back" or "support". | |||
Tajik | беҳтаршавӣ | ||
Turkmen | gowulaşdyrmak | ||
Uzbek | takomillashtirish | ||
The Uzbek word "takomillashtirish" is derived from the Arabic "kamala", meaning "to be complete" and the suffix "-ish", which denotes a process. | |||
Uyghur | ياخشىلىنىش | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻomaikaʻi | ||
The Hawaiian word "hoʻomaikaʻi" can also mean "to bless" or "to wish well" in addition to its primary meaning of "improvement". | |||
Maori | whakapai ake | ||
"Whakapai ake" is a Maori phrase that also means "to make something better" or "to raise up". | |||
Samoan | faaleleia | ||
The word "faaleleia" can also refer to the progression or perfection of something, or improving someone's circumstances. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pagpapabuti | ||
The term "pagpapabuti" literally translates to "the act of making something good" in English, denoting not only improvement but also beautification or enhancement. |
Aymara | wakiskiri | ||
Guarani | ñemoporã | ||
Esperanto | plibonigo | ||
Latin | melius | ||
"Melior" also means "better" and shares a root with the word "meliorate," which means "to make something better." |
Greek | βελτίωση | ||
The word "βελτίωση" comes from the verb "βελτιώνω" which means "to improve" and also from the noun "βελιόν" which means "arrow". | |||
Hmong | kev txhim kho | ||
The word "kev txhim kho" can also mean "progress" or "development". | |||
Kurdish | serrastkirinî | ||
The word "serrastkirinî" in Kurdish is derived from the root "serrast", which means "head", and "kirin", which means "making" or "doing", suggesting a sense of "making a head" or "improving". | |||
Turkish | gelişme | ||
Gelişme, meaning “development” in Turkish, is also used to describe something that is “coming to light”. | |||
Xhosa | ukuphucula | ||
It can also imply a development or refinement of something. | |||
Yiddish | פֿאַרבעסערונג | ||
The Yiddish word "פֿאַרבעסערונג" comes from the German word "Verbesserung" which means not only "improvement" but also "amendment". | |||
Zulu | ukuthuthuka | ||
The Zulu word "ukuthuthuka" also means "to develop" or "to progress".} | |||
Assamese | উন্নতি | ||
Aymara | wakiskiri | ||
Bhojpuri | सुधार | ||
Dhivehi | ކުރިއެރުން | ||
Dogri | सधार | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpapabuti | ||
Guarani | ñemoporã | ||
Ilocano | pagannayasan | ||
Krio | go bifo | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | باشترکردن | ||
Maithili | सुधार | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯒꯠꯂꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | hmasawnna | ||
Oromo | fooyya'iinsa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଉନ୍ନତି | ||
Quechua | allinyay | ||
Sanskrit | प्रगति | ||
Tatar | яхшырту | ||
Tigrinya | ምምሕያሽ | ||
Tsonga | antswisa | ||