Let in different languages

Let in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'let' is a small but powerful part of many languages, including English. It can serve as a helping verb, giving life to a sentence's action, or as a noun, referring to a period of time in sports like tennis. But 'let's' explore its significance and cultural importance beyond English borders.

Translating 'let' into different languages reveals the richness of the world's linguistic diversity. For instance, in Spanish, 'let' can be translated to 'dejar' or 'dejad' depending on the context. In German, 'lasst' is the equivalent, while in French, you might say 'laissez'. These variations show how a simple word can take on new forms and functions in various languages and cultures.

Moreover, understanding the translation of 'let' in different languages can enhance your cross-cultural communication skills and deepen your appreciation for the world's diverse languages and cultures. So, let's delve into the fascinating world of 'let' in different languages!

Let


Let in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanslaat
The Afrikaans word "laat" is derived from the Proto-West Germanic verb *latan, meaning "to delay" or "to hinder". Its alternate meaning in English is "to permit" or "to allow".
Amharicእንሂድ
The Amharic verb "እንሂድ" can also mean "to go" or "to leave".
Hausabari
"Bari" can also be translated as permission or allowance, depending on the context.
Igboka
"Ka" is also an imperative particle that can convey a call to action or an exhortation.
Malagasyaoka
The word "aoka" can also mean "allow" or "enable".
Nyanja (Chichewa)lolani
This term is also an abbreviation of the Nyanja phrase **lolani ndipite**, which means 'allow me to pass'.
Shonaregai
The word "regai" can also mean "to give permission" or "to allow" in Shona.
Somaliha
The word "ha" can also mean "give" or "offer" in Somali.
Sesothotlohella
The word "tlohella" can also be used to mean "allow", "permit" or "leave something alone".
Swahiliacha
The Swahili word "acha" can also mean "leave" or "abandon".
Xhosavumela
Vumela also means "to make a way" or "to open a path" in Xhosa, reflecting its role in providing permission or creating opportunities.
Yorubajẹ ki
"Jẹ ki" may also mean "to be," or serve as the future tense.}
Zuluake
'Ake' is homophonous with and has the same meaning as 'dela', which means 'leave'. In the same way, there is a verb 'yeki' which derives from 'yika' (wash) but whose meaning is 'leave'. This pattern is repeated in other pairs of verbs, such as 'goda' (praise) and 'yoda' (leave)
Bambaraka to
Ewena
Kinyarwandareka
Lingalakotika
Lugandaleka
Sepedidumelela
Twi (Akan)ma

Let in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicدع
دع can also mean 'invite', 'call' or 'summon' in Arabic.
Hebrewלתת
The word לתת can also mean 'to give', 'to allow', 'to permit', 'to grant', or 'to assign'.
Pashtoاجازه راکړئ
The Pashto word “اجازه راکړئ” (“let”) also means “permission” or “leave”.
Arabicدع
دع can also mean 'invite', 'call' or 'summon' in Arabic.

Let in Western European Languages

Albanianle të
Derived from the Latin "licere", meaning "to be allowed" or "to be possible".
Basqueutzi
"Utzi" can also mean "leave", "allow" or "give up" in Basque.
Catalandeixar
The verb "deixar" can also mean "to leave" or "to abandon" in Catalan.
Croatianneka
The word "neka" can also mean "a little" or "a bit" in Croatian, e.g. "Neka vode" means "a little bit of water".
Danishlade
The word “lade” originally referred to “letting” something fall or making something fall.
Dutchlaat
Het woord "laat" betekent naast "laten" ook "pas". Het komt van het Oud-Nederlandse "late", dat afgeleid is van het West-Germaanse "lat" (= traag).
Englishlet
The word "let" originates from the Old English word "lǣtan," meaning "to leave" or "to allow."
Frenchlaisser
The origin of "laisser" likely derives from the Late Latin "laxare" (to loosen, set free) and has similar cognates in Italian ("lasciare") and Spanish ("dejar").
Frisianlitte
The Frisian word "litte" is cognate with the English word "little" and originally meant "small".
Galicianimos
In medieval law and legal documents in Galician, the term "imos" also referred to a type of property tenure or land ownership.
Germanlassen
"Lassen" derives from the Old High German "lazzen" meaning "to neglect" and is related to the English "lazy".
Icelandicláta
The Icelandic word "láta" can also mean "appear" or "seem," a usage which dates back to Old Norse.
Irishlig
Lig can also mean 'leave' or 'allow', and is pronounced differently when used in this sense.
Italianpermettere
Etymology: from Latin permitto "allow" (ultimately meaning "let through", from *per- + *mitto "send, release, let go".
Luxembourgishloossen
The word "loossen" can also mean "to relax" or "to loosen" in Luxembourgish.
Malteseejja
The word "ejja" also means "come" in Maltese, and is derived from the Arabic word "ijjī", which means "to come".
Norwegianla
The Norwegian word "la" can also mean "to allow" or "to leave (something alone)".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)deixei
The origin of the word "deixar" in Portuguese is the Latin verb "dimittere", which means "to send away, to abandon, to leave alone".
Scots Gaelicleig
Leig was borrowed from Old Norse 'leigja' meaning 'to loosen' or 'to free', and is also cognate with the English word 'lay'
Spanishdejar
"Dejar" can also mean to stop or discontinue something.
Swedishlåta
The Swedish word 'låta' can also mean 'to sound' or 'to make a noise'.
Welshgadewch
'Gadewch' is the Welsh imperative form of the verb 'gadael', and can also mean 'leave' or 'permit'.

Let in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianхай
The Belarusian word "хай" can also mean "go ahead" or "allow".
Bosnianneka
"Neka" also means 'maybe', 'possibly', or 'perhaps'.
Bulgarianпозволявам
The word "позволявам" can also mean "permit", "allow" or "tolerate" in Bulgarian.
Czechnechat
Czech language has another verb 'opustit' that can mean 'leave, abandon', but in many situations is translated into English by the verb let, e.g. 'opustite mne prosím' - 'leave/let me, please'.
Estonianlase
The word "lase" in Estonian shares its etymology with the word "let" in English, meaning "to permit" or "to allow".
Finnishpäästää
"Päästää" also means "to free" and comes from the root "paeta" meaning "to escape".
Hungarianhadd
The Hungarian word "hadd" can also mean "allow", "permit" or "leave alone".
Latvianļaujiet
The Latvian word "ļaujiet" is cognate with the Lithuanian word "leisti" and the Proto-Indo-European root *leyh₂-, meaning "to leave".
Lithuanianleisti
The verb "leisti" can also mean "to allow" or "to permit" in Lithuanian, expanding its usage beyond the concept of letting go.
Macedonianнека
"Нека" can also mean "may," "could," or "let (someone)."
Polishpozwolić
The word "pozwolić" is derived from the Proto-Slavic *pozvoliti, meaning "to allow" or "to permit."
Romanianlăsa
Derived from Latin "laxare" with the sense of "to let go" and having the same usage in Romanian, "lăsa" also came to have the sense of "to put down", as in Romanian "lasă cartea jos", or literally in English, "puts the book down".
Russianпозволять
The verb “позволять” (“let”) originally meant to “allow”, which was associated with the verb “волить” (“to will”).
Serbianдозволити
The verb "дозволити" originates from the Proto-Slavic word *dovoliti* meaning "to allow" or "to permit" and is cognate with the Russian word "дозволить" and the Polish word "dozwolić".
Slovaknechajme
The word "nechajme" can also mean "leave something alone" or "let something be" in Slovak.
Slovenianpustiti
The Proto-Slavic root of „pustiti” (“let”) also meant “to send,” which explains the extended meaning of „pustiti glas” (“to spread a rumor”).
Ukrainianдозволяє
The Ukrainian word "дозволяє" (let) originates from the Proto-Slavic word *dovoliti, meaning "to allow" or "to permit."

Let in South Asian Languages

Bengaliদিন
দিন is derived from the Sanskrit word 'di', meaning 'to give' or 'to send'.
Gujaratiદો
The word 'દો' ('let') in Gujarati also means 'to give' or 'to allow'.
Hindiलश्कर
The word 'लश्कर' can also mean 'army' or 'camp' in Hindi, and originates from the Persian word 'lashkar'.
Kannadaಅವಕಾಶ
ಅವಕಾಶ's alternate meaning 'opportunity' shares its root with 'chance'.
Malayalamഅനുവദിക്കുക
Marathiद्या
The word "द्या" in Marathi can also mean "give" in English.
Nepaliगरौं
गरौं "let" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "graha" meaning "to seize" or "to take hold of".
Punjabiਦਿਉ
The word "ਦਿਉ" (let) in Punjabi originally meant "to give".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ඉඩ
ඉඩ (iḍa) also means "space", "location" or "opportunity".
Tamilவிடுங்கள்
Teluguవీలు
"వీలు" means "freedom" or "scope" in some contexts
Urduدو
In Urdu, "دو" ("let") also means "two" or "run" depending on the context.

Let in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character '让' (ràng) in Chinese can also mean 'to yield' or 'to give way'.
Chinese (Traditional)
"讓" means to "yield" or "give way" and is also used as a surname in Chinese.
Japaneseしましょう
The word "しましょう" (let) in Japanese can also be used to express permission or a suggestion.
Korean허락하다
The word '허락하다' in Korean originates from the Middle Chinese word '許' (hɔ)
Mongolianзөвшөөрөх
Myanmar (Burmese)ခွင့်ပြုပါ
In the context of

Let in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmembiarkan
'Membiarkan' is derived from Proto-Austronesian '*biR' meaning 'give', which is also the source of 'beri'. As such, 'membiarkan' literally means 'to give (s.t) alone', hence 'let'.
Javaneseayo
The word "ayo" in Javanese can also mean "come on" or "go ahead".
Khmerអនុញ្ញាតឱ្យ
Laoປ່ອຍໃຫ້
Malaybiarkan
The word 'biarkan' is derived from the Old Javanese word 'biar', which means 'to allow' or 'to permit'.
Thaiปล่อย
ปล่อย also means 'to release' or 'set free'
Vietnameseđể cho
"Để cho" in Vietnamese can also mean "in order to" or "so that".
Filipino (Tagalog)hayaan

Let in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqoy
In ancient Turkic languages, "qoy" also meant "to put" or "to place".
Kazakhрұқсат етіңіз
"Рұқсат етіңіз" is the Kazakh equivalent of the Russian "позвольте" or "разрешите", which can also be used as a polite form of asking for something.
Kyrgyzуруксат
The Kyrgyz word "уруксат" is borrowed from the Persian language and means "permission, leave, or consent".
Tajikбигзор
The word "бигзор" can also mean "to leave" or "to let go".
Turkmengoý
Uzbekruxsat bering
The word "ruxsat bering" in Uzbek also means to permit or authorize.
Uyghurقويايلى

Let in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiane hoʻokuʻu
The Hawaiian word "e hoʻokuʻu" can also mean "to release," "to set free," or "to forgive."
Maoritukua
The Maori word “tukua” has meanings that relate to the concepts of “letting go”, “releasing”, and “setting free”.
Samoantuu
The word “tuu” has additional meanings, such as "to stay in one place" and "to be fixed".
Tagalog (Filipino)hayaan
In Tagalog, "hayaan" also means to allow, to permit, or to leave something alone.

Let in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajaytaña
Guaraniheja

Let in International Languages

Esperantolasu
"Lasu" also translates to "permit" in Esperanto but is more often used in the context of "letting go".
Latinsit
The Latin word "sit" can also mean "to place" or "to cause to do something," and is related to the Greek word "iemai" meaning "to send."

Let in Others Languages

Greekαφήνω
The word "αφήνω" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leh₃-, meaning "to abandon" or "to relax".
Hmongcia
The Hmong word "cia" can also mean "help" or "do something for someone".
Kurdishberdan
The word "berdan" in Kurdish can also refer to "permit" or "leave".
Turkishi̇zin vermek
The word "İzin Vermek" in Turkish shares a similar root word with the English "permission"}
Xhosavumela
Vumela also means "to make a way" or "to open a path" in Xhosa, reflecting its role in providing permission or creating opportunities.
Yiddishלאָזן
The Yiddish word "לאָזן" can also mean "to allow" or "to permit".
Zuluake
'Ake' is homophonous with and has the same meaning as 'dela', which means 'leave'. In the same way, there is a verb 'yeki' which derives from 'yika' (wash) but whose meaning is 'leave'. This pattern is repeated in other pairs of verbs, such as 'goda' (praise) and 'yoda' (leave)
Assameseকৰিবলৈ দিয়া
Aymarajaytaña
Bhojpuriहोखे दीं
Dhivehiދޫކޮށްލާށެވެ
Dogriजान देओ
Filipino (Tagalog)hayaan
Guaraniheja
Ilocanobay-an
Krio
Kurdish (Sorani)ڕێگە بدە
Maithiliहुअ दियौ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯣꯏꯍꯜꯂꯨ
Mizonihtir
Oromohaa
Odia (Oriya)ଚାଲ
Quechuauyay
Sanskritअनुमतिं करोतु
Tatarрөхсәт ит
Tigrinyaይኹን
Tsongapfumelela

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