Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'lot' carries with it a multitude of meanings and connotations, making it a fascinating word to explore in different languages. At its core, 'lot' can refer to a parcel of land, a group of items, or a quantity of something. However, its significance goes beyond these basic definitions. In literature, 'lot' is often used to describe a person's circumstances or fate, as in the phrase 'a lot in life.'
Moreover, the word 'lot' has cultural importance in various contexts. For instance, the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale features a lottery to determine which sailor would be sacrificed to calm the storm. Meanwhile, in Chinese culture, the phrase 'lotus flower' symbolizes purity and spiritual growth.
Understanding the translation of 'lot' in different languages can provide insight into how other cultures view this concept. For example, in Spanish, 'lote' means 'lot' or 'parcel,' while in German, 'Los' means 'ticket' or 'lottery ticket.'
So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply curious, learning the translations of 'lot' in different languages can be a rewarding and enlightening experience.
Afrikaans | baie | ||
The Afrikaans word 'baie' is derived from a Middle Dutch word 'bagghe' meaning a group or cluster of horses or animals, and is unrelated to the modern meaning of 'bay'. | |||
Amharic | ብዙ | ||
The word ብዙ (lot) is also cognate to the Omotic word ብዙ (many) and may have originally meant "a group" or "a crowd". | |||
Hausa | yawa | ||
Yawa is a word in Hausa that can also mean "abundance" or "excessiveness" | |||
Igbo | otutu | ||
The word "otutu" can also refer to a portion of land given to someone as an inheritance. | |||
Malagasy | betsaka | ||
The word "betsaka" is derived from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian "*batu" meaning "stone". Stones were used in Malagasy lotteries, much like dice. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | zambiri | ||
Derived from the Arabic “zamb{ī}ri” meaning a "small quantity" or "a little bit." | |||
Shona | zvakawanda | ||
Somali | badan | ||
The origin of the Somali word "badan" ("lot") as a noun is obscure, but it likely originates from the verb "badan" which means "to increase". | |||
Sesotho | ngata | ||
The word "ngata" in Sesotho can also refer to a group of people or a collection of items. | |||
Swahili | mengi | ||
The Swahili word "mengi" also refers to an abundance, a large amount, a heap. | |||
Xhosa | okuninzi | ||
"Okuninzi" also refers to a specific type of African drum and to the spirit of a deceased person that can be consulted through a diviner. | |||
Yoruba | pupo | ||
In Yoruba, "pupo" can also refer to a large quantity or a big group of people. | |||
Zulu | okuningi | ||
"Okuningi" also means "to gather" in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | caman | ||
Ewe | gbogbo | ||
Kinyarwanda | byinshi | ||
Lingala | mingi | ||
Luganda | binji | ||
Sepedi | kabelo | ||
Twi (Akan) | dodoɔ | ||
Arabic | كثيرا | ||
The word "كثيرا" (lot) comes from the root "ك ث ر" (abundance), implying a large quantity or a large number of people or things. | |||
Hebrew | מִגרָשׁ | ||
The word מִגרָשׁ also means 'baseball field', from the act of drawing lots to determine who would be up to bat | |||
Pashto | ډېر | ||
ډېر can also mean 'many' in Pashto, a usage not shared by its cognate in English, 'lot'. | |||
Arabic | كثيرا | ||
The word "كثيرا" (lot) comes from the root "ك ث ر" (abundance), implying a large quantity or a large number of people or things. |
Albanian | shumë | ||
The etymology of Albanian word "shumë" is "much, many" in Proto-Albanian, and is cognate with Slavic languages "mogo" and "mnogo". | |||
Basque | asko | ||
“Askoa” is a noun meaning “lot,” “fate,” “destiny,” “allotment,” or “share” in Basque (Basque: “zoria”). | |||
Catalan | molt | ||
In Catalan, "molt" is not only an indefinite quantity ("lot"), but also an adverb meaning "very". | |||
Croatian | mnogo | ||
The word 'mnogo' is derived from the Proto-Slavic root '*mъnogъ', which also meant 'wealth'. | |||
Danish | masse | ||
The word "masse" in Danish can also mean "mass" in the physical sense, as well as "quantity" or "amount". | |||
Dutch | veel | ||
The Dutch word "veel" originates from Middle Dutch "vele" and Old Dutch "felu", with cognates in several West-Germanic languages. | |||
English | lot | ||
The Old English word "hlot" referred to a portion of land, and the related Old Norse "hlutr" meant "goods." | |||
French | lot | ||
In French, "lot" can also mean a piece of land or a portion of something, or a fate or destiny. | |||
Frisian | protte | ||
The Frisian word "protte" is cognate with the French word "part", both derived from the Latin "pars" meaning "a portion". | |||
Galician | moito | ||
The Galician word "moito" derives from the Latin "multus" (much), but it can also mean "very" or "too much" depending on the context. | |||
German | menge | ||
In German, "Menge" means "crowd" in addition to "lot." | |||
Icelandic | mikið | ||
In archaic Swedish, "mycket" meant "a lot/greatly," which is similar to "mikið's" use in Old Norse to mean "very." | |||
Irish | go leor | ||
The word 'go leor' also has the alternate meaning of 'a great amount'. | |||
Italian | molto | ||
In Italian, "molto" derives from the Latin "multum" and also means "very, much, or greatly". | |||
Luxembourgish | vill | ||
In Luxembourgish, the word "vill" also means "village". | |||
Maltese | ħafna | ||
The Maltese word "ħafna" can also refer to "many times" or "a great number of times". | |||
Norwegian | mye | ||
The word "mye" can also mean "much" or "a lot" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | muito | ||
"Muito" also means "very" in both countries. | |||
Scots Gaelic | lot | ||
In Scots Gaelic, "lot" can also mean "small portion" or "piece". | |||
Spanish | lote | ||
"Lotes" en español significa parcelas o terrenos, y también puede referirse al destino o azar. | |||
Swedish | massa | ||
Massa can also mean 'crowd', 'heap', 'mass', 'dough', 'quantity' or 'weight'. | |||
Welsh | lot | ||
Welsh "llôt" shares the root *h₁lew- with English "loot", referring to one's share in the division of spoils. |
Belarusian | шмат | ||
The word "шмат" in Belarusian can also refer to a piece, bit, or fragment of something. | |||
Bosnian | puno | ||
"Puno" in Bosnian can also mean "many" or "large group of people". | |||
Bulgarian | много | ||
The word "много" in Bulgarian also has the meaning of "many". | |||
Czech | hodně | ||
The word "hodně" also means "very" or "much" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | palju | ||
The word "palju" can also refer to a large amount or quantity of something or to a great number or amount of people or things. | |||
Finnish | paljon | ||
Paljon's etymology is uncertain, but it may be related to the Slavic word "polje" (field), or an archaic Estonian word "pal" (abundance). | |||
Hungarian | sok | ||
The Hungarian word "sok" also means "great quantity" and is related to the word for "heap of grain". | |||
Latvian | daudz | ||
Latvian word "daudz" (lot) originates from the Proto-Baltic word "daugs" meaning "many" or "much". | |||
Lithuanian | daug | ||
The word "daug" can also refer to "a lot" in the sense of "many". | |||
Macedonian | многу | ||
The word 'многу' is derived from the Slavic root 'mnogъ', and also means 'many' or 'numerous'. | |||
Polish | los | ||
The word "los" in Polish can also mean "fate", "destiny", or "luck." | |||
Romanian | lot | ||
In Romanian, "lot" can also refer to a small amount of something or an act of drawing or casting. | |||
Russian | много | ||
'Много' is an Old Russian cognate of 'many,' but has evolved to mean 'lot' or 'much' | |||
Serbian | пуно | ||
The word "пуно" also means "full" in Serbian, coming from the Proto-Slavic word *pьlnъ, which also meant "full" or "stuffed". | |||
Slovak | veľa | ||
The Slovak word "veľa" is derived from Old Slavic "velъ" (large, much) and also shares a root with the English "wealth". | |||
Slovenian | veliko | ||
The word 'veliko' also means 'great' or 'large' in Slovenian. | |||
Ukrainian | багато | ||
The Ukrainian 'багато' also has the meaning of 'many'. |
Bengali | অনেক | ||
"অনেক" comes from the Sanskrit word "anekah", meaning "many" or "various". | |||
Gujarati | ઘણું | ||
The Gujarati word "ઘણું" can also mean "much" or "many". | |||
Hindi | बहुत | ||
The word "बहुत" can also mean "very" or "much". | |||
Kannada | ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು | ||
The Kannada word "ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು" (bahaḷashṭu) also means "much," "greatly" or "very" | |||
Malayalam | ഭൂരിഭാഗം | ||
ഭൂരിഭാഗം means a large portion, a majority, or a great number and is derived from the Sanskrit prefix "भुरी" (bhuri), meaning "abundant" or "much", and the noun "भाग" (bhaga), meaning "part" or "portion." | |||
Marathi | खूप | ||
The word "खूप" in Marathi also means "very" or "much". | |||
Nepali | धेरै | ||
The word "धेरै" can also mean "large" or "big" in Nepali. | |||
Punjabi | ਬਹੁਤ | ||
The word "ਬਹੁਤ" in Punjabi can also mean "very" or "much". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ගොඩක් | ||
In Sinhala, the word "ගොඩක්" can also mean "many," "several," or "a great deal." | |||
Tamil | நிறைய | ||
"நிறைய" also means "completely, wholly". | |||
Telugu | చాలా | ||
The word "చాలా" in Telugu also has the meaning of "enough" or "sufficient", akin to its usage in the English phrase "a lot." | |||
Urdu | بہت | ||
The word 'بہت' (bohat) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'bahuta', meaning 'much' or 'many'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 很多 | ||
"很多" (lot) comes from "浩浩", meaning "vast." It also means "too much" or "a multitude of something." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 很多 | ||
"很多" can mean "a lot" or "many" in English, but it can also mean "very" or "much". | |||
Japanese | たくさん | ||
The word "たくさん" (takusan) is also used to mean "a lot" or "many" in a general sense, as in "たくさんのお金" (takusan no okane) "a lot of money". | |||
Korean | 제비 | ||
The word "제비" also means "swallow" in Korean, likely due to the belief that swallows bring good luck and prosperity. | |||
Mongolian | их | ||
The word "их" can also mean "abundant" or "numerous" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အများကြီး | ||
Indonesian | banyak | ||
The word "banyak" is derived from the Proto-Malayic word *baɲak, which also means "plenty" or "many". | |||
Javanese | akeh | ||
In Javanese, "akeh" can also refer to a large quantity of something, a group of people, or a long time. | |||
Khmer | ច្រើន | ||
"ច្រើន" can also mean "abundance" or "abundance" in Khmer. | |||
Lao | ຫຼາຍ | ||
ຫຼາຍ originates from the Mon word "hฺla" meaning "to gather". In Thai it means much or many. | |||
Malay | banyak | ||
In the Malay language, the word "banyak" can also mean "various". | |||
Thai | มาก | ||
The word "มาก" (lot) comes from the Sanskrit word "mahant" meaning "great", and can also refer to "abundance" or "large quantity". | |||
Vietnamese | nhiều | ||
The word "nhiều" is the Vietnamese equivalent of the English word "much", "many", and "a lot" and can also be used to indicate plurality. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | marami | ||
Azerbaijani | çox | ||
The word "çox" in Azerbaijani is related to the Turkish word "çok" and can also mean "very much" | |||
Kazakh | көп | ||
"Көп" derives from Old Turkic "köb" (a great amount), "köbs" (many), "köpd" (abundance), "köbsüz" (abundant), which in turn derives from Proto-Altaic "*keb" (many). | |||
Kyrgyz | көп | ||
The word "көп" can also mean "much, many" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | бисёр | ||
The word "бисёр" is derived from the Persian word "بسیار" (bisyār), meaning "much, many." | |||
Turkmen | köp | ||
Uzbek | ko'p | ||
The Uzbek word "ko'p" (lot) is also used to mean "many" and "much". | |||
Uyghur | lot | ||
Hawaiian | hailona | ||
In Hawaiian, 'hailona' can also mean 'to choose' or 'to obtain by chance'. | |||
Maori | rota | ||
In Maori, "rota" also means "wheel" or "circle", reflecting its role in determining the order of tasks or responsibilities. | |||
Samoan | tele | ||
The word "tele" in Samoan also means "a hundred" or "a great number". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | marami | ||
"Marami" is a Tagalog word with roots in the Malaysian/Indonesian word "ramé" which means "gather" or "come together". |
Aymara | phina | ||
Guarani | yvy | ||
Esperanto | multe | ||
In Esperanto, "multe" is inspired by the French "moult" and also means "very". | |||
Latin | multum | ||
The Latin word 'multum' also means 'much', 'greatly', or 'abundantly'. |
Greek | παρτίδα | ||
In Medieval Greek, the plural form of the noun could be used as a collective meaning "things" or "goods." | |||
Hmong | ntau | ||
The word "ntau" can refer to the fate of an individual, an event, or the result of something. | |||
Kurdish | pirr | ||
The word "pirr" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *peh₂- "to divide" and is related to the English word "part". It can also refer to a share or portion of something. | |||
Turkish | çok | ||
In Ottoman Turkish, 'çok' also meant 'army', 'host', or 'multitude'. | |||
Xhosa | okuninzi | ||
"Okuninzi" also refers to a specific type of African drum and to the spirit of a deceased person that can be consulted through a diviner. | |||
Yiddish | פּלאַץ | ||
In Yiddish, "פּלאַץ" can also refer to a town square or an open space in a city or town, derived from the German "Platz" with the same meaning. | |||
Zulu | okuningi | ||
"Okuningi" also means "to gather" in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | বহুত | ||
Aymara | phina | ||
Bhojpuri | बहुते | ||
Dhivehi | ތަން | ||
Dogri | बंड | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | marami | ||
Guarani | yvy | ||
Ilocano | lote | ||
Krio | pat | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | زۆر | ||
Maithili | खूब | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯥꯝꯅ | ||
Mizo | tam | ||
Oromo | hedduu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବହୁତ | ||
Quechua | achka | ||
Sanskrit | विपुलं | ||
Tatar | күп | ||
Tigrinya | ብዙሕ | ||
Tsonga | swo tala | ||