Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'increase' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting a growth or enhancement in quantity, quality, or value. It's a concept that transcends cultural boundaries and is vital to progress and development. Throughout history, civilizations have strived for increase in various aspects of life, from agriculture and economy to knowledge and technology.
Interestingly, the word has been interpreted and translated differently across languages, reflecting the unique cultural perspectives of each society. For instance, in Spanish, 'increase' translates to 'aumentar', while in French, it's 'augmenter'. In Mandarin Chinese, the word '增加' (zēngjiā) captures the same essence, and in Japanese, '増加' (zōka) is the equivalent term.
Understanding the translation of 'increase' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic abilities but also provides valuable insights into the cultural nuances of various societies. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of language and culture through the lens of this simple, yet powerful word.
Afrikaans | verhoog | ||
The word "Verhoog" in Afrikaans can also mean "stage" or "platform" | |||
Amharic | ጨምር | ||
"ጨምር" is Amharic for a "measure of length equal to four cubits" | |||
Hausa | karuwa | ||
Igbo | abawanye | ||
Abawanye is a noun and verb meaning 'increase', 'addition' but also 'repetition' or 'doing something again'. | |||
Malagasy | mitombo | ||
The word "mitombo" derives from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root "*tumbuh", meaning "to grow, increase." | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wonjezani | ||
'Wonjezani' shares the same root word 'wonjezera' meaning something that is getting bigger in size or quantity. | |||
Shona | kuwedzera | ||
The word "kuwedzera" in Shona also means to enlarge, extend, or lengthen something. | |||
Somali | kordhiyo | ||
The verb "kordhiyo" derives from the Proto-Cushitic form (*kur-) meaning "to make long." | |||
Sesotho | nyollelo | ||
The word "nyollelo" also means "something that has been increased" in Sesotho. | |||
Swahili | ongeza | ||
In Swahili, "Ongeza" literally translates to "put on top," emphasizing the concept of adding to or amplifying something. | |||
Xhosa | nyusa | ||
The word "Nyusa" is also used to refer to an increase in size or weight, or to a swelling or tumor. | |||
Yoruba | alekun | ||
The Yoruba word "alekun" also refers to a traditional Yoruba hairstyle worn by women. | |||
Zulu | ukwanda | ||
The word "ukwanda" can also refer to the act of multiplying or to the result of a multiplication. | |||
Bambara | ka caya | ||
Ewe | dzi ɖe edzi | ||
Kinyarwanda | kwiyongera | ||
Lingala | komata | ||
Luganda | okwongera | ||
Sepedi | oketša | ||
Twi (Akan) | kɔ anim | ||
Arabic | زيادة | ||
The word "زيادة" can also mean "addition" or "extra" in Arabic. | |||
Hebrew | להגביר | ||
The verb "להגביר" not only means "to increase" but also means "to make more intensive". | |||
Pashto | ډیروالی | ||
ډیروالی is derived from the Sanskrit "dirgha", meaning "longitudinal" or "distant." | |||
Arabic | زيادة | ||
The word "زيادة" can also mean "addition" or "extra" in Arabic. |
Albanian | rrit | ||
The word "rrit" originates from the Proto-Albanian *r̥s-ti, which also means "grown". | |||
Basque | handitu | ||
"Handitu" refers to growth, addition, or extension, and also means "to raise" or "to lift up" | |||
Catalan | augmentar | ||
The Catalan word “augmentar” comes from the Latin word “augmentare”, which also means “to consecrate” or “to dedicate”. | |||
Croatian | povećati | ||
The verb 'povećati' is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word 'povęčati', which means 'to make greater' or 'to magnify'. | |||
Danish | øge | ||
The Danish word "øge" is a homonym, also meaning "an increase in age". | |||
Dutch | toename | ||
The Dutch word "toename" can also refer to the act of growing or expanding, as well as the result of such growth or expansion. | |||
English | increase | ||
Increase derives from the Late Latin increscere, which in turn derives from the Latin incrementum, meaning 'growth'. | |||
French | augmenter | ||
"Augmenter" in French also means "to make someone or something greater"} | |||
Frisian | tanimme | ||
The word "tanimme" in Frisian also means "to gain weight". | |||
Galician | aumentar | ||
In Galician, "aumentar" can also mean "to fatten" or "to grow". | |||
German | erhöhen, ansteigen | ||
"Erhöhen" and "ansteigen" both stem from the noun "Höhe" ("height"), highlighting the upward movement associated with increasing." | |||
Icelandic | auka | ||
"Auka" also means "empty" in older Icelandic, and the word is of uncertain origin but may be akin to the Old Irish word "óc" meaning "a void". | |||
Irish | méadú | ||
"Méadú" is also a term used in Irish folklore to refer to a magical substance that can cause plants to grow rapidly. | |||
Italian | aumentare | ||
The word "aumentare" in Italian derives from the Latin word "augmentare", which means "to make larger" or "to increase". | |||
Luxembourgish | erhéijung | ||
The word "Erhéijung" is derived from the Middle High German "erhoejen", meaning "to elevate". | |||
Maltese | żid | ||
"Żid" is etymologically related to the Arabic word "zāda" meaning "to increase", and it has the alternate meaning of "addition" in Maltese. | |||
Norwegian | øke | ||
The word "øke" is cognate with the English word "eke" (meaning "to make more of" or "to lengthen"). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | aumentar | ||
The verb "aumentar" comes from the Latin verb "augere," meaning "to add to," "to enlarge," or "to increase." | |||
Scots Gaelic | àrdachadh | ||
"Àrdachadh" also means "to grow" in the context of crops or plants. | |||
Spanish | incrementar | ||
The verb 'incrementar' in Spanish also refers to 'strengthening' a person, idea, position or organization. | |||
Swedish | öka | ||
Öka, meaning 'to increase' in Swedish, is said to have originated from the word 'aukan' in Old Norse, which also means 'to increase'. | |||
Welsh | cynyddu | ||
In Welsh, the term 'cynyddu', aside from meaning 'increase', can refer to growth, development or even progress. |
Belarusian | павялічыць | ||
The word "павялічыць" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "*veliky", meaning "big" or "great". | |||
Bosnian | povećati | ||
"Povećati" originated from the Proto-Slavic "povьšati", itself likely derived from a Proto-Indo-European root "-weg-", meaning to stretch, to grow | |||
Bulgarian | нараства | ||
The Bulgarian word "нараства" can also refer to the stretching of rubber, the expansion of metal, the swelling of wood, and the rising of dough. | |||
Czech | zvýšit | ||
The Czech word "zvýšit" is cognate with the Serbian word "увећати", both meaning "increase". | |||
Estonian | suurendama | ||
Finnish | lisääntyä | ||
It comes from the verb 'listata', meaning 'to enumerate' and also used in a more general sense of 'to add'. | |||
Hungarian | növekedés | ||
The word 'növekedés' is also used to describe the growth of plants, animals, or other living organisms. | |||
Latvian | palielināt | ||
Latvian 'palielināt' ('increase') traces its roots to a Proto-Balto-Slavic root meaning 'bigger'. | |||
Lithuanian | padidinti | ||
"Padidinti" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "pleth-", meaning "full, wide, or spread". | |||
Macedonian | зголемување | ||
The word "зголемување" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *golmъ, which means "large" or "great". | |||
Polish | zwiększać | ||
The Polish word "zwiększać" originally meant "to lift up" or "to raise". | |||
Romanian | crește | ||
The Romanian word 'crește' is derived from the Latin word 'crescere', which means 'to grow'. | |||
Russian | увеличение | ||
The word "увеличение" ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic word *vьzъ-, meaning "to raise," and is cognate with the Latin word "exalto," meaning "to elevate." | |||
Serbian | повећати | ||
The word 'повећати' comes from the Old Church Slavonic word 'възъвєсти', which means 'to make known'. | |||
Slovak | zvýšiť | ||
'Zvýšiť' is a Slavic root with counterparts in various languages, e.g. Russian 'звезда', 'star' ('svezda'), Polish 'wzrok' ('look' ('vzrok')). | |||
Slovenian | porast | ||
_Porast_ comes from the verb _rasti_ meaning to grow (in size). | |||
Ukrainian | збільшувати | ||
The word "збільшувати" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *golbь, meaning "big". |
Bengali | বৃদ্ধি | ||
The word "বৃদ্ধি" also implies growth, development or enhancement in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | વધારો | ||
The Gujarati word "વધારો" can also mean "addition" or "increment". | |||
Hindi | बढ़ना | ||
बढ़ना, meaning "to grow," is derived from the Sanskrit root वृध्, which also means "to prosper." | |||
Kannada | ಹೆಚ್ಚಳ | ||
The word "ಹೆಚ್ಚಳ" is also used to describe the act of multiplying. | |||
Malayalam | വർധിപ്പിക്കുക | ||
The Sanskrit origin of the word वर्धिപ്പിക്കുക is 'वर्ध्', which means to grow or increase, and this word is also found in Hindi with the same meaning. | |||
Marathi | वाढवा | ||
"वाढवा" is also a traditional Marathi sweet made from rice and jaggery. | |||
Nepali | बढ्नु | ||
"बढ्नु" originated from "वृध्" and can also mean "to expand" and "to grow." | |||
Punjabi | ਵਾਧਾ | ||
"ਵਾਧਾ" (increase) is derived from the Sanskrit word "वृद्धि" (increase, growth), which is related to the English word "growth". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඉහළ | ||
The word "ඉහළ" can also mean "elevated" or "high" in Sinhala. | |||
Tamil | அதிகரி | ||
The word "அதிகரி" in Tamil also means "to make or become prosperous". | |||
Telugu | పెంచు | ||
The word "పెంచు" can also mean "to raise" or "to bring up" in the context of children or animals. | |||
Urdu | اضافہ | ||
"اضافہ" can mean "addition" or "increase" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 增加 | ||
"增加" can also mean "add" or "increment" in arithmetic. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 增加 | ||
The character "增" in "增加" also appears in "增长", meaning "growth", suggesting that "增加" not only refers to a quantitative increase but also to a qualitative improvement. | |||
Japanese | 増加する | ||
The verb 増加する (zōkasuru) can also mean "to be added to" or "to be increased by". | |||
Korean | 증가하다 | ||
The term "증가하다" is derived from the Chinese characters "增" (increase) and "加" (add), originally meaning "to make more." | |||
Mongolian | нэмэгдүүлэх | ||
The word "нэмэгдүүлэх" also means "to augment" or "to enlarge" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တိုးမြှင့်လာသည် | ||
Indonesian | meningkat | ||
Meningkat, originating from Proto-Austronesian *manik, also relates to terms for 'high' and 'up' in various Austronesian languages. | |||
Javanese | mundhak | ||
The word "mundhak" also means "to ascend" or "to rise" in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | កើនឡើង | ||
The word "កើនឡើង" also implies a sense of growth, development, or expansion. | |||
Lao | ເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ | ||
Malay | meningkat | ||
Meningkat also means "climb" and is the root for several Malay words related to elevation and height. | |||
Thai | เพิ่มขึ้น | ||
The Thai word เพิ่มขึ้น originated from Pali language. | |||
Vietnamese | tăng | ||
"Tăng" means "increase" or "grow" and is also a name commonly given to monks in Vietnam. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagtaas | ||
Azerbaijani | artırmaq | ||
The word "artırmaq" comes from the Proto-Turkic *art-, meaning "to grow, to increase, or to become more." | |||
Kazakh | арттыру | ||
"Арттыру" also means "addition" or "increment" in mathematics and computer science. | |||
Kyrgyz | жогорулатуу | ||
The verb "жогорулатуу" literally translates to "to raise," which implies an elevation in both physical and abstract senses. | |||
Tajik | афзоиш | ||
The Tajik word "афзоиш" can also mean "development" or "growth". | |||
Turkmen | artdyrmak | ||
Uzbek | o'sish | ||
The Uzbek word "o'sish" is thought to be derived from the Persian word "afzâyish" (meaning "increase") or the Arabic word "izdiyâd" (meaning "augmentation"). | |||
Uyghur | كۆپەيتىش | ||
Hawaiian | mahuahua | ||
The Hawaiian word "mahuahua" can also refer to the action of "increasing" or "causing to increase". | |||
Maori | whakapiki | ||
Whakapiki also means 'to gather together', 'to assemble', and 'to accumulate'. | |||
Samoan | faʻatele | ||
The word “faʻatele” can also mean to “multiply” or “broaden”. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | dagdagan | ||
Aymara | jilxataña | ||
Guarani | moĩve | ||
Esperanto | pliigas | ||
"Pliigas" can also mean "to stretch, extend, or enlarge". | |||
Latin | augere | ||
"Augere" also relates etymologically to "author," denoting increase or creation of new works. |
Greek | αυξήσουν | ||
The Ancient Greek word “αυξήσουν” means not only 'increase' but also 'pride' and 'boast,' as in a sense of personal accomplishment, such as 'boasting in one's strength or wisdom.' | |||
Hmong | nce | ||
Another meaning of "nce" is "more". | |||
Kurdish | zêdekirin | ||
The word "zêdekirin" comes from the Persian "zâyid kardan," meaning "to create something, to add, to increase, or to make something." | |||
Turkish | artırmak | ||
The verb “artırmak” can also mean “to make something better or more valuable”. | |||
Xhosa | nyusa | ||
The word "Nyusa" is also used to refer to an increase in size or weight, or to a swelling or tumor. | |||
Yiddish | העכערונג | ||
The Yiddish word העכערונג "increase" comes from the German word "Mehrung" with the same meaning | |||
Zulu | ukwanda | ||
The word "ukwanda" can also refer to the act of multiplying or to the result of a multiplication. | |||
Assamese | বৃদ্ধি কৰা | ||
Aymara | jilxataña | ||
Bhojpuri | बढ़ल | ||
Dhivehi | އިތުރުކުރުން | ||
Dogri | बधाओ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagtaas | ||
Guarani | moĩve | ||
Ilocano | nayunan | ||
Krio | mɔ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | زیادکردن | ||
Maithili | बढ़ाउ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯦꯟꯒꯠꯄ | ||
Mizo | belh | ||
Oromo | dabaluu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବଢିବା | ||
Quechua | yapay | ||
Sanskrit | वर्धनं करोतु | ||
Tatar | күтәрелү | ||
Tigrinya | ወስኽ | ||
Tsonga | engetela | ||