Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'level' carries significant weight in our daily lives, often used to describe a state of equality or evenness. It transcends cultural boundaries and is a fundamental concept in various fields such as mathematics, gaming, and construction.
Historically, the idea of leveling surfaces has been present since ancient Egypt, where workers used simple tools to ensure the foundation of structures were perfectly level. Today, the term has evolved to encompass a multitude of meanings, including social status, emotional stability, and even basketball skills!
Understanding the translation of 'level' in different languages can provide unique insights into how different cultures perceive and utilize this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'level' is 'nivel', while in German, it's 'Ebene'. These translations not only offer linguistic diversity but also reflect the cultural importance placed on the concept of level.
So, whether you're a global citizen, a language learner, or a trivia enthusiast, exploring the translations of 'level' in various languages is an engaging journey that broadens your perspective and deepens your appreciation for cultural nuances.
Afrikaans | vlak | ||
The word "vlak" in Afrikaans is cognate to "vlak" in Dutch and " flach" in German, meaning "flat". | |||
Amharic | ደረጃ | ||
The Amharic word "ደረጃ" also has the meaning of "grade" or "class" in English. | |||
Hausa | matakin | ||
The word "matakin" in Hausa can also refer to a stage, step, or degree. | |||
Igbo | larịị | ||
The Igbo word "larịị" can also mean "equal" or "balanced." | |||
Malagasy | ambaratonga | ||
Ambaratonga may refer to multiple levels of buildings, e.g. second, third, fourth and so on | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mulingo | ||
The word "mulingo" also means "straight line" or "ruler" in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | nhanho | ||
"Nhanho" is also a variant of "hanho". | |||
Somali | heer | ||
Heer also means "side" and is used in the context of "side of a river" or "side of a road". | |||
Sesotho | boemo | ||
The word "boemo" can also refer to a flat or even surface. | |||
Swahili | kiwango | ||
The Swahili word 'kiwango' comes from the Proto-Bantu form *kí-bángo, which meant 'standard of measurement'. | |||
Xhosa | inqanaba | ||
The word "inqanaba" also means "beginning" or "source" in Xhosa. | |||
Yoruba | ipele | ||
'Ipele' also refers to the level ground on which houses are built | |||
Zulu | izinga | ||
"Izinga" can also refer to a | |||
Bambara | hakɛya | ||
Ewe | gbadzaa | ||
Kinyarwanda | urwego | ||
Lingala | nivo | ||
Luganda | okwenkanyankanya | ||
Sepedi | kelo | ||
Twi (Akan) | tipɛn | ||
Arabic | مستوى | ||
The word "مستوى" in Arabic can also mean "class" or "rank" in a hierarchy. | |||
Hebrew | רָמָה | ||
"רָמָה" can also mean "to be exalted" or "to be high". | |||
Pashto | کچه | ||
The word "کچه" can also refer to a "measurement of grain" or a "type of measurement used to measure land or distance" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | مستوى | ||
The word "مستوى" in Arabic can also mean "class" or "rank" in a hierarchy. |
Albanian | niveli | ||
Albanian "niveli" comes from the Latin word "libellum" (small book). It also refers to a type of traditional measurement of grains. | |||
Basque | maila | ||
The Basque word 'maila' also means 'step', 'stage', 'grade', 'degree', or 'rank', and is related to the verb 'mailatu' ('to level', 'to equal') | |||
Catalan | nivell | ||
Catalan "nivell" ultimately derives from Latin "libella", meaning "a level or line". | |||
Croatian | nivo | ||
The word "nivo" is also cognate with the Slavic word "norma" and the Latin word "nivella," which also share a common Indo-European root meaning "to balance" or "to be equal." | |||
Danish | niveau | ||
The Danish word "niveau" derives from the French word "niveau" which means "level, standard" and is used in Danish with a similar meaning. | |||
Dutch | niveau | ||
In Dutch, "niveau" can also refer to social class or educational attainment. | |||
English | level | ||
From Old French "livel," meaning "ruler, guide," from Latin "libella," a diminutive of "libra," meaning "balance, scales." | |||
French | niveau | ||
The French word 'niveau' comes from the Latin word 'libellum', meaning 'little book', and is related to the English word 'level'. | |||
Frisian | peil | ||
The term "peil" (level) comes from the verb "to weigh" and the noun "balance". | |||
Galician | nivel | ||
The Galician word "nivel" also means "spirits" or "courage". | |||
German | niveau | ||
In German, the word "Niveau" can also refer to social or intellectual status. | |||
Icelandic | stigi | ||
The word "stigi" is also used to describe a level of intensity or degree. | |||
Irish | leibhéal | ||
The word "leibhéal" can come from the word "liath" referring to its grey colour that appears when water reaches a certain level. | |||
Italian | livello | ||
The word "livello" also refers to a flat-bottomed measuring instrument used in surveying and construction. | |||
Luxembourgish | niveau | ||
"Niveau" is related to "Neid" (envy) and originally described a place where the water was too shallow to paddle in. | |||
Maltese | livell | ||
The word "livell" in Maltese comes from the Old French word "livel" and is related to the Italian word "livello" (level) | |||
Norwegian | nivå | ||
In Norwegian, "nivå" can also refer to a "grade" or "class" in an educational context, as well as a "step" or "tier" in a hierarchical structure. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | nível | ||
The word "nível" is derived from the Latin "libella", meaning "a small balance" or "a level". | |||
Scots Gaelic | ìre | ||
The word "ìre" can also be used to describe the flat, sandy area at the mouth of a river. | |||
Spanish | nivel | ||
The word "nivel" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "libella", meaning a small scales or balance. | |||
Swedish | nivå | ||
The Swedish word 'nivå' is derived from the Old Norse word 'nefja', meaning 'a downward slope' or 'a low place'. | |||
Welsh | lefel | ||
In Welsh, 'lefel' also means a 'shelf' |
Belarusian | узровень | ||
The Belarusian word "узровень" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *ǫzorъ, meaning "narrow passage" or "boundary". It also has the alternate meaning of "standard" or "norm" in contemporary Belarusian. | |||
Bosnian | nivo | ||
The word 'nivo' also has the meaning of 'grade' in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | ниво | ||
The Bulgarian word "ниво" (level) is also used to refer to a class, stage or grade, and originates from the French "niveau" (level). | |||
Czech | úroveň | ||
It can also refer to a level of a building, a standard of quality, or a stage of development. | |||
Estonian | tasandil | ||
The word "tasandil" is cognate with Finnish "taso" and Hungarian "tason" and probably comes from a Balto-Slavic root meaning "to flatten". | |||
Finnish | taso | ||
In botany, "taso" can refer to a plant formation level. | |||
Hungarian | szint | ||
The word "szint" in Hungarian can also refer to a floor or story of a building or to a grade or rank. | |||
Latvian | līmenī | ||
The word "līmenī" can also refer to a layer or stratum, as in a geological or social context. | |||
Lithuanian | lygio | ||
The word 'lygis' is cognate with 'level' in English but may also refer to 'a layer or a plane'. | |||
Macedonian | ниво | ||
The word "ниво" can also refer to a "tier" or "stage" in a hierarchy or progression. | |||
Polish | poziom | ||
Poziom can also refer to a stage or degree of something, such as a level of education or a level of difficulty. | |||
Romanian | nivel | ||
Romanian word "nivel" ultimately derives from the French "niveau" meaning "a level", "a standard", or "a grade" | |||
Russian | уровень | ||
The Russian word "уровень" can also mean "degree" or "amount". | |||
Serbian | ниво | ||
The Serbian word "ниво" also means "standard" or "rank". | |||
Slovak | úrovni | ||
The word 'úrovni' can also refer to the surface of a liquid or the height of a sound. | |||
Slovenian | ravni | ||
In a non-geometrical context, "ravni" may also denote a rank or status in a hierarchy. | |||
Ukrainian | рівень | ||
"Рівень" (level) also denotes "a layer or stratum" and "amount or quantity that fills or covers a space". |
Bengali | স্তর | ||
In Bengali, "স্তর" (stôr) can also refer to a layer or stratum, a class or category, a stage or phase, or a rank or grade. | |||
Gujarati | સ્તર | ||
The Gujarati word "સ્તર" is cognate with English word "stir" of similar meaning. | |||
Hindi | स्तर | ||
स्तर (level) is derived from the Sanskrit root 'स्तृ' (str), meaning 'to spread out' or 'to level' | |||
Kannada | ಮಟ್ಟ | ||
The word 'ಮಟ್ಟ' ('matta') in Kannada can also refer to a plane, a story in a building, or a rank in a hierarchy. | |||
Malayalam | ലെവൽ | ||
The Malayalam word "ലെവൽ" is derived from the French word "level", meaning a horizontal plane or a flat surface. | |||
Marathi | पातळी | ||
The word "पातळी" is derived from the Sanskrit word "पत्तिका" meaning "layer". It can also refer to a rank or degree. | |||
Nepali | स्तर | ||
The word "स्तर" can also refer to a plateau, story of a building, or layer of something. | |||
Punjabi | ਪੱਧਰ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මට්ටමින් | ||
Also has meanings 'to flatten', 'to make smooth', or 'to bring into conformity'. | |||
Tamil | நிலை | ||
In classical Tamil, the word நிலை means "place" or "house", and is also interchangeable with the word நிலம் which means "land". | |||
Telugu | స్థాయి | ||
"స్థాయి" comes from the Sanskrit word "sthāyī" and also means "status, rank, or position." | |||
Urdu | سطح | ||
سطح has Persian roots, the literal meaning is to 'spread' |
Chinese (Simplified) | 水平 | ||
"水平" also means "standard". For example, someone with a high education level has a high "水平". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 水平 | ||
"水平" can also refer to one's competence or skill in a particular area. | |||
Japanese | レベル | ||
"レベル" (level) also means "experience" in Japanese, indicating someone's skill or knowledge in a particular area. | |||
Korean | 수평 | ||
수평 (水平) can also refer to a calm and peaceful state of mind or a balanced relationship. | |||
Mongolian | түвшин | ||
The Mongolian word "түвшин" can also refer to a class, grade, or rank. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အဆင့် | ||
The word “အဆင့်” in Myanmar also means “step”, “grade”, or “rank” among other things. |
Indonesian | tingkat | ||
The word | |||
Javanese | tingkat | ||
The Javanese word "tingkat" can also refer to a social hierarchy or a physical layer. | |||
Khmer | កម្រិត | ||
The word "កម្រិត" is derived from the Sanskrit word "krama" meaning "step" or "stage". It can also refer to a grade or rank in a hierarchy. | |||
Lao | ລະດັບ | ||
The word "ລະດັບ" comes from the Sanskrit word "stambha", which means "pillar" or "post". This is likely because the word "ລະດັບ" was originally used to refer to the steps of a pagoda or temple. | |||
Malay | tahap | ||
As a loanword from Sanskrit, "tahap" can also mean "step" or "stage". | |||
Thai | ระดับ | ||
The word "ระดับ" is derived from Pali and has meanings such as "degree, measure, and standard". | |||
Vietnamese | cấp độ | ||
The word "cấp độ" can also mean "rank" or "degree" and is often used in the context of academic or professional achievements. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | antas | ||
Azerbaijani | səviyyə | ||
"səviyyə" also means "the height of water in a river" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | деңгей | ||
The Kazakh word "деңгей" can also refer to a weight, a balance, or an amount. | |||
Kyrgyz | деңгээл | ||
The word "деңгээл" also means "equal" or "smooth" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | сатҳ | ||
The word "сатҳ" in Tajik can also refer to the rank or grade of an individual in society. | |||
Turkmen | derejesi | ||
Uzbek | daraja | ||
The word "Daraja" in Uzbek can also refer to a rank or a degree. | |||
Uyghur | level | ||
Hawaiian | pae | ||
The word "pae" can also refer to a flat or level area of land, or to a section or layer. | |||
Maori | taumata | ||
One possible alternate meaning of "taumata" is "heaped up into a hill or mountain." | |||
Samoan | tulaga | ||
The word 'tulaga' can also mean 'flat' or 'smooth', and is related to the word 'tu' which means 'to stand' or 'to be erect'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | antas | ||
The Tagalog word "antas" also means "equal" or "the same" in terms of quantity, quality, or value. |
Aymara | niwila | ||
Guarani | yvatekueha'ã | ||
Esperanto | nivelo | ||
The Esperanto word "nivelo" derives from the Latin "libella", meaning small balance, from "libra", meaning scales, balance. | |||
Latin | planum | ||
In anatomy, 'planum' specifically refers to a flat or level surface of a bone. |
Greek | επίπεδο | ||
Hmong | theem | ||
The Hmong word "theem" also translates to "layer". | |||
Kurdish | serrast | ||
The word "serrast" in Kurdish comes from the Persian word "sarāzīr" which means "going down". It can also mean "a steep slope" or "a landslide". | |||
Turkish | seviye | ||
The word 'seviye' comes from the Persian word 'sayyah', meaning 'journey'. | |||
Xhosa | inqanaba | ||
The word "inqanaba" also means "beginning" or "source" in Xhosa. | |||
Yiddish | level | ||
The Yiddish word "level" can also mean "to live" or "to be in a state of being". | |||
Zulu | izinga | ||
"Izinga" can also refer to a | |||
Assamese | স্তৰ | ||
Aymara | niwila | ||
Bhojpuri | स्तर | ||
Dhivehi | ލެވަލް | ||
Dogri | लेवल | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | antas | ||
Guarani | yvatekueha'ã | ||
Ilocano | lebel | ||
Krio | lɛvul | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاست | ||
Maithili | दर्जा | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯥꯛ | ||
Mizo | tlukpui | ||
Oromo | sadarkaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସ୍ତର | ||
Quechua | pata | ||
Sanskrit | स्तर | ||
Tatar | дәрәҗәсе | ||
Tigrinya | ብርኪ | ||
Tsonga | levhele | ||