Like in different languages

Like in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'like' is a small but powerful part of our daily vocabulary. It has many meanings and uses, including expressing fondness, making comparisons, and even as a filler word in casual conversation. Its significance and cultural importance cannot be overstated, as it has been used in various ways throughout history and across different cultures.

For example, in Latin, 'like' can be translated as 'placent,' while in Spanish, it's 'gustar.' In French, 'like' can be expressed as 'aimer,' and in German, it's 'mögen.' These translations not only help us understand the word's meaning in different languages but also offer a glimpse into the unique cultural contexts that shape how we communicate.

So, why might someone want to know the translation of 'like' in different languages? For one, it can enhance our cross-cultural communication skills and deepen our understanding of other cultures. Additionally, it can be a fun and interesting way to learn a new language and connect with people from around the world.

Like


Like in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanssoos
Afrikaans "soos" derives from Old French "sus" and can also mean "as if, similar, resembling."
Amharicእንደ
The word "እንደ" can also mean "according to" or "in the manner of".
Hausakamar
Hausa "kamar" also means "to want" and "to be willing."
Igbodị ka
Dị ka can refer to both similarity and comparison and derive from the word ‘dì’, meaning ‘to be.’
Malagasytoy ny
Nyanja (Chichewa)monga
The word "monga" also means "similar" or "such as" in Nyanja.
Shonasenge
The word "senge" in Shona can also mean "as if" or "similar to".
Somalisida
An alternate meaning of “sida” is “to look, stare, or gaze”.
Sesothojoalo ka
While "joalo ka" most often means "like" in Sesotho, it can also mean "such as" or "in the same way."
Swahilikama
In Swahili, "kama" can also refer to a preposition meaning "as" or a conjunction meaning "if".
Xhosanjenge
Although it means "like," "njenge" can also be understood as similar to "as if" in English.
Yorubafẹran
Zulunjenge
The form njengo may be a loan from Tswana "ntshongo", similarly meaning "like".
Bambarai n'a fɔ
Ewedi
Kinyarwandanka
Lingalakolinga
Lugandaokwaagala
Sepedirata
Twi (Akan)te sɛ

Like in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمثل
The word 'مثل' in Arabic can also mean 'example', 'parable', or 'proverb'.
Hebrewכמו
The word "כמו" can also be used to mean "in accordance with" or "in a similar manner".
Pashtoخوښول
The Pashto word "خوښول" can also mean "to please" or "to desire".
Arabicمثل
The word 'مثل' in Arabic can also mean 'example', 'parable', or 'proverb'.

Like in Western European Languages

Albaniansi
"Si" can also be used to indicate a wish or preference, as in "Do you want some coffee?" - "Si, please."
Basquebezala
In some contexts, "bezala" can carry connotations of "in the manner of".
Catalanm'agrada
The Catalan word "M'agrada" comes from the Latin expression "Mihi placet" (it pleases me).
Croatiankao
"Kao" can also mean "as" or "for example" or even "to look like".
Danishsynes godt om
The verb 'synes godt om' comes from an old Danish word that meant 'to see well', and is still sometimes used in that sense.
Dutchleuk vinden
The Dutch word "Leuk vinden" ("to like") literally means "to find pleasing" or "to find joyful."
Englishlike
The word 'like' can also be used to express approval or preference, as in 'I like your dress'.
Frenchcomme
In its archaic or literary uses, “comme” can also mean “as”
Frisianlykas
In addition to meaning "like" or "similar to", "lykas" can also mean "as" or "equal to" in Frisian.
Galiciancomo
The word "como" in Galician can also mean "as" or "how".
Germanmögen
Mögen's original meaning in Old High German was 'to be able; to have power, strength'
Icelandiceins og
The Icelandic word "eins og" ("like") has a similar meaning to "þvílíkt og" ("such as"), but only in informal contexts.
Irishmhaith
Mhaith can also mean 'well' or 'good' in certain contexts.
Italianpiace
The Italian word 'piace' comes from the Latin 'placere', meaning 'to please'.
Luxembourgishgär
The Luxembourgish word "gär" can also refer to a measurement used in forestry, equal to about 38.08 cubic feet (1.08 cubic meters).
Maltesebħal
The word "bħal" in Maltese can also mean "as if" or "similar to".
Norwegiansom
In the context of a sentence, "som" can also mean a "manner in which some action is done," such as "som vanlig." (as usual).
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)gostar
"Gostar" is derived from the Latin word "gustare," meaning "to taste," and in Portuguese, it can refer to both preference and enjoyment.
Scots Gaelicmar
The word "mar" in Gaelic is cognate to the Latin "magis," and is related to words meaning "greater" and "more abundant."
Spanishme gusta
In Spanish, "me gusta" can also be used to express that something is enjoyable or pleasing.
Swedishtycka om
"Tycka om", "to think of", has evolved from the sense "to think" and the old phrase "ha tycke (till någon)", "to have (a) liking (for someone)"
Welshfel
"Fel" is also a contraction of the phrase "i'r un fel," which literally translates to "in the one like" and means similar.

Like in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпадабаецца
The Belarusian word "падабаецца" is derived from the noun "падаба", which means "desire" or "will".
Bosniankao
"Kao" can also mean "while" or "as" in the sense of comparison.
Bulgarianкато
The word "като" in Bulgarian can also mean "as" or "similar to".
Czechjako
The word “jako” can also mean “such a” or “like this,” depending on the context of the sentence.
Estonianmeeldib
The word "meeldib" is derived from the word "meel", which means "mind" or "soul", and indicates that something is pleasing to the mind or spirit.
Finnishkuten
Besides "like," "kuten" can mean "likewise" and "as."
Hungarianmint
The Hungarian word "menta" is a cognate of German "Meinte" (opinion).
Latvianpatīk
Patīk, “like” in the Latvian language, comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *pet-, meaning “to spread out, extend, or fly”.
Lithuaniankaip
The word "Kaip" can also mean "how" or "as" in Lithuanian, and it is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷi- "to ask, to inquire".
Macedonianдопаѓа
Though derived from the Proto-Slavic, the root of the word has various meanings across other Slavic languages, including "to be decent or proper" in Bulgarian, "to suit" in Russian, and "to fit" in Polish
Polishlubić
The Polish word "lubić" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "*ľubiti" meaning "to love, cherish" and is cognate with the Russian "любить" (lyubit').
Romanianca
The word "ca" derives from the Latin word "quam" and originally meant "than" rather than "like".
Russianнравиться
The Russian verb нравиться derives from the Old Church Slavonic word "nravъ"" (character), and literally means "to be to one's character," meaning to suit one's tastes or preferences.
Serbianкао
"Као" is also used in the context of approximation, i.e. "kao tri", which means "around three."
Slovakpáči sa mi to
The word "páči sa mi to" in Slovak also has a meaning of "it looks good".
Slovenianvšeč
The word "všeč" also has the archaic meaning of "all" or "everything".
Ukrainianподібно до
In Ukrainian, this word can also mean "similarly," "accordingly," or "as is usual."

Like in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপছন্দ
The word "পছন্দ" in Bengali has an alternate meaning of "choice" or "preference".
Gujaratiગમે છે
In Gujarati, "ગમે છે" (game che) not only means "to like" but also implies "to be pleasing," "to be acceptable," or "to be agreeable."
Hindiपसंद
While "पसंद" means "choice" in Hindi, it derives from the Persian word "پسند" meaning "approval" or "appreciation"
Kannadaಹಾಗೆ
The word "ಹಾಗೆ" (hāge) in Kannada can also mean "just like that" or "just as it is".
Malayalamപോലെ
The word "പോലെ" can also mean "similar" or "as" in Malayalam.
Marathiआवडले
The word 'आवडले' comes from the Sanskrit root 'वद', meaning 'to speak', and originally meant 'to be pleased with something' or 'to enjoy something'.
Nepaliजस्तै
The word "जस्तै" comes from the verb "जस्त" meaning "to resemble" and the suffix "-ै" indicating "likeness or comparison".
Punjabiਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ
The Punjabi word 'ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ' can also refer to a person's affection or fondness for something or someone.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)මෙන්
Sinhala "මෙන්" is derived from Sanskrit "यथा" meaning "in proportion to".
Tamilபோன்ற
"போன்ற" (pōṉṟa) was originally a combination of "போல்" (pōl) meaning "like" and "ன்ற" (ṉṟa) meaning "a kind". In ancient Tamil, it was used to describe an approximation or a comparison.
Teluguవంటి
The word "వంటి" can also mean "such as" or "for example".
Urduپسند ہے
This word shares the same root as words meaning "to test" and "to select", indicating a deeper connection between liking and making a choice.

Like in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)喜欢
It can also mean, as an intransitive verb, 'to enjoy', 'to prefer', or 'to be inclined' towards something, as in '我喜欢音乐' ('I enjoy music'), '我喜欢看书' ('I prefer reading books'), or '我喜欢旅行' ('I am inclined towards travelling').
Chinese (Traditional)喜歡
The Traditional Chinese character 喜歡 can also mean an interest in, a hobby, or a favorite.
Japaneseお気に入り
The word "お気に入り" literally means "favorite" or "something that is liked" in Japanese.
Korean처럼
In Korean, "처럼" (cheoreom) can also mean "as if" or "like it seemed".
Mongolianдуртай
The word "дуртай" in Mongolian can also mean "good," "pleasant," or "fine."
Myanmar (Burmese)ကြိုက်တယ်

Like in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansuka
Suka's archaic meaning in Indonesian is 'pleasure'. It is also used in Malay and Javanese with the same meaning.
Javanesekaya
"Kaya" has a similar but more colloquial meaning to "kados" which is "similar to"
Khmerចូលចិត្ត
The term 'ចូលចិត្ត' in Khmer originates from the Sanskrit word 'chitta', meaning 'mind' or 'heart', thus emphasizing the emotional connection implied by 'like'.
Laoຄື
The word ຄື can also mean "identical to," "indeed," or "that is to say."
Malaysuka
Thaiชอบ
The Thai word "ชอบ" (like) derives from Sanskrit and also means "to love", "to desire", or "to be pleased with".
Vietnamesegiống
Giống can also mean "similar" or "alike" and is commonly used in phrases like "giống như" (just like).
Filipino (Tagalog)gaya ng

Like in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanikimi
The word "kimi" in Azerbaijani can also mean "similar to" or "resembling".
Kazakhсияқты
The Kazakh word "сияқты" not only means "like," but also "resembling", "seeming like," "looking like," and "similar to."
Kyrgyzсыяктуу
The word "сыяктуу" in Kyrgyz can also refer to manner, quality, or similarity.
Tajikмисли
The word "мисли" can also mean "opinion" in Tajik.
Turkmenýaly
Uzbekkabi
The word "kabi" can also mean "as" or "similar to" in Uzbek.
Uyghurlike

Like in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmakemake
Makemake's other meaning in Hawaiian is 'to desire'.
Maoririte
Maori 'rite' is derived from the word 'rite' in English, but also has the meaning of 'way' or 'manner'.
Samoanpei
The Samoan word "pei" originates from the Proto-Polynesian word "pei", but it also has an alternate meaning of "to agree".
Tagalog (Filipino)gaya ng
The phrase "gaya ng" can also be used to mean "in the manner of" or "according to".

Like in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajustaña
Guaraniarohory

Like in International Languages

Esperantoŝati
"Ŝati" comes from the Esperanto word "ŝajnigi," meaning "to pretend," and was originally used to denote a feeling of pretense.
Latintamquam
Tamquam can also mean "as if" or "just as" in Latin.

Like in Others Languages

Greekσαν
In modern Greek, "σαν" can also mean "as if" or "pretending to be".
Hmongnyiam
Hmong word "nyiam" also means "to agree with".
Kurdishçawa
The Kurdish word "çawa" also means "how," "what about," "what is like," and "what for."
Turkishsevmek
In some cases “sevmek” can also mean “to cherish” or “to be fond of”.
Xhosanjenge
Although it means "like," "njenge" can also be understood as similar to "as if" in English.
Yiddishווי
The Yiddish word "ווי" also means "how" and is sometimes used to express surprise or exasperation.
Zulunjenge
The form njengo may be a loan from Tswana "ntshongo", similarly meaning "like".
Assameseপচন্দ কৰা
Aymarajustaña
Bhojpuriपसन
Dhivehiކަހަލަ
Dogriपसंद
Filipino (Tagalog)gaya ng
Guaraniarohory
Ilocanokasla
Kriolɛk
Kurdish (Sorani)حەزپێکردن
Maithiliपसिन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄꯥꯝꯕ
Mizoduh
Oromoakka
Odia (Oriya)ପରି
Quechuamunasqa
Sanskritइव
Tatarкебек
Tigrinyaምፍታው
Tsongafana

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