Afrikaans minnaar | ||
Albanian dashnor | ||
Amharic አፍቃሪ | ||
Arabic حبيب | ||
Armenian սիրահար | ||
Assamese প্ৰেমিক | ||
Aymara munasiri | ||
Azerbaijani sevgilisi | ||
Bambara kanubaganci | ||
Basque maitalea | ||
Belarusian палюбоўнік | ||
Bengali প্রেমিক | ||
Bhojpuri प्रेमी के बा | ||
Bosnian ljubavnik | ||
Bulgarian любовник | ||
Catalan amant | ||
Cebuano mahigugmaon | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 情人 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 情人 | ||
Corsican amante | ||
Croatian ljubavnik | ||
Czech milenec | ||
Danish elsker | ||
Dhivehi ލޯބިވެރިޔާއެވެ | ||
Dogri प्रेमी | ||
Dutch minnaar | ||
English lover | ||
Esperanto amanto | ||
Estonian armastaja | ||
Ewe lɔlɔ̃tɔ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) magkasintahan | ||
Finnish rakastaja | ||
French amoureux | ||
Frisian leafhawwer | ||
Galician amante | ||
Georgian შეყვარებული | ||
German liebhaber | ||
Greek εραστής | ||
Guarani mborayhu jára | ||
Gujarati પ્રેમી | ||
Haitian Creole lover | ||
Hausa masoyi | ||
Hawaiian ipo | ||
Hebrew מְאַהֵב | ||
Hindi प्रेमी | ||
Hmong tus hlub | ||
Hungarian szerető | ||
Icelandic elskhugi | ||
Igbo onye hụrụ n'anya | ||
Ilocano ay-ayaten | ||
Indonesian kekasih | ||
Irish leannán | ||
Italian amante | ||
Japanese 恋人 | ||
Javanese kekasih | ||
Kannada ಪ್ರೇಮಿ | ||
Kazakh любовник | ||
Khmer ស្រឡាញ់ | ||
Kinyarwanda umukunzi | ||
Konkani मोगी | ||
Korean 연인 | ||
Krio pɔsin we lɛk pɔsin | ||
Kurdish evîndar | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) خۆشەویست | ||
Kyrgyz сүйгөн | ||
Lao ຄົນຮັກ | ||
Latin amans | ||
Latvian mīļākais | ||
Lingala molingami | ||
Lithuanian meilužis | ||
Luganda omwagalwa | ||
Luxembourgish liebhaber | ||
Macedonian убовник | ||
Maithili प्रेमी | ||
Malagasy tia | ||
Malay kekasih | ||
Malayalam കാമുകൻ | ||
Maltese maħbub | ||
Maori aroha | ||
Marathi प्रियकर | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯅꯨꯡꯁꯤꯔꯕꯥ ꯃꯤꯑꯣꯏ꯫ | ||
Mizo hmangaihtu | ||
Mongolian амраг | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) ချစ်သူ | ||
Nepali प्रेमी | ||
Norwegian kjæreste | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) wokonda | ||
Odia (Oriya) ପ୍ରେମିକ | ||
Oromo jaalallee | ||
Pashto مین | ||
Persian عاشق | ||
Polish kochanek | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) amante | ||
Punjabi ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ | ||
Quechua munakuq | ||
Romanian iubit | ||
Russian любовник | ||
Samoan alofa | ||
Sanskrit प्रेमी | ||
Scots Gaelic leannan | ||
Sepedi moratiwa | ||
Serbian љубавник | ||
Sesotho morati | ||
Shona mudiwa | ||
Sindhi عاشق | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) පෙම්වතා | ||
Slovak milenec | ||
Slovenian ljubimec | ||
Somali jecel | ||
Spanish amante | ||
Sundanese kakasih | ||
Swahili mpenzi | ||
Swedish älskare | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) kalaguyo | ||
Tajik ошиқ | ||
Tamil காதலன் | ||
Tatar гашыйк | ||
Telugu ప్రేమికుడు | ||
Thai คนรัก | ||
Tigrinya ኣፍቃሪ | ||
Tsonga murhandziwa | ||
Turkish sevgili | ||
Turkmen söýgüli | ||
Twi (Akan) ɔdɔfo | ||
Ukrainian коханець | ||
Urdu عاشق | ||
Uyghur سۆيگۈ | ||
Uzbek sevgilisi | ||
Vietnamese người yêu | ||
Welsh cariad | ||
Xhosa umthandi | ||
Yiddish ליבהאָבער | ||
Yoruba ololufe | ||
Zulu isithandwa |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Albanian | The term "dashnor" is a diminutive form of the word "dash" (love, affection) and can also refer to an object of affection. |
| Amharic | The Amharic word 'አፍቃሪ' ('lover') also means 'friend' or 'sweetheart'. |
| Arabic | حبيب, meaning "lover" in Arabic, finds its origin in the notion of "one who is beloved," with the dual meanings encompassing both a romantic and familial sense. |
| Azerbaijani | The word sevgilisi comes from the Azerbaijani root 'sevmək', meaning to love, and is also used as a term of endearment for both male and female lovers, especially among young people. |
| Basque | In Basque, 'maitalea' can refer to a lover, admirer, or beloved person, originating from the verb 'maitatu,' meaning 'to love'. |
| Bengali | The Bengali word "প্রেমিক" not only means "lover" but also "friend" |
| Bosnian | In addition to its primary meaning of "lover," "ljubavnik" can also refer to a "close friend" or "companion" in Bosnian. |
| Bulgarian | "Любовникът" (ljubovnikat) is an informal term for "boyfriend" and is not used for "husband", whereas the cognate in other Slavic languages refers primarily to a married man's extramarital partner. |
| Catalan | In some cases 'amant' is an ambiguous noun that can also denote a person who loves another person, regardless of their gender and the nature of the romantic relationship. |
| Cebuano | In ancient Cebuano society, the word 'mahigugmaon' was used not only for romantic relationships but also for friendships and family bonds, reflecting a broader understanding of love and intimacy. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | "情人" ('lover') originally meant 'daytime', and it is used today in the phrase '情人节' ('Valentine's Day') to refer to the holiday rather than the specific person. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 情人 can literally mean "a person during your lifetime" and is an idiom which comes from ancient China referring to marriage. |
| Corsican | In Corsica, "amante" can also mean "relative," especially when used in plural to refer to relatives who live in the same household. |
| Croatian | The word 'ljubavnik' is used in Croatian for both romantic and platonic relationships |
| Czech | Milenec - the term derives from 'milý', meaning "dear" or "kind" and is a Czech equivalent of an "amour" |
| Danish | Danish 'elsker' comes from Old Norse 'ást' which referred to both romantic and non-romantic love. |
| Esperanto | "Amanto" as a noun in Esperanto can mean "mistress" or "kept woman" depending on the context. |
| Estonian | In the past, the word "armastaja" also referred to a fiancé, while today it's used exclusively for non-marital partners. |
| Finnish | In Finnish, the word "rakastaja" also refers to a "hobby" or "passion" |
| Frisian | Frisian "leafhawwer" comes from Middle Dutch "liefhebber" and Old Frisian "lefhabba", where "lief" means "dear" or "kind". |
| German | The word "Liebhaber" in German can also refer to a connoisseur or enthusiast of a particular subject. |
| Gujarati | The word "પ્રેમી" can also refer to a friend or a confidant. |
| Haitian Creole | In Haitian Creole, "lover" can also refer to a close friend, confidant, or someone who is loved and cherished |
| Hausa | Hausa 'masoyi' derives from 'so,' meaning 'to like', and the nominalising suffix 'yi,' yielding 'one who is liked'. |
| Hawaiian | Ipo can also mean "sweetheart" or "beloved" in a non-romantic sense, such as between family members or friends. |
| Hebrew | The word "מְאַהֵב" in Hebrew can also mean "beloved" or "friend". |
| Hindi | "प्रेमी" can also mean a devotee or a fan. |
| Hmong | The Hmong word "tus hlub" means "lover" and can also refer to a spouse or intimate partner. |
| Hungarian | The Hungarian word "szerető" comes from the verb "szeret", meaning "to love". |
| Icelandic | "Elskhuga" (lover) derives from the Old Norse word "elskuhogi", meaning "thought of love". |
| Igbo | The Igbo word "onye hụrụ n'anya" also means "someone who is seen as good-looking or worthy of admiration." |
| Indonesian | The Indonesian word "kekasih" is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word "kāma" (desire), and also has the alternate meaning of "beloved" or "darling". |
| Italian | "Amante" also means "diamond" in Italian, deriving from the Latin word "adamas", meaning "unbreakable". |
| Japanese | The word '恋人' can also refer to a 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend', and is often used to describe a romantic relationship. |
| Javanese | The Javanese word "kekasih" also means "beloved" or "darling". |
| Kannada | The word "ಪ್ರೇಮಿ" can also mean "beloved" or "dear one" in Kannada. |
| Kazakh | In Kazakh, "любовник" also means "close friend" or "companion." |
| Khmer | "ស្រឡាញ់" can also mean "affection" or "love" in a general sense, and is often used in the context of familial or platonic relationships. |
| Korean | The Korean word "연인" can also refer to a "sweetheart" or "honeymoon phase". |
| Kurdish | Evindar in Kurdish is also used for a 'dear person'. |
| Kyrgyz | The word "сүйгөн" can also mean "beloved" or "darling" in Kyrgyz. |
| Latin | Amans derives from the ancient Greek verb “amao,” meaning “I love,” but it also has an alternative meaning in medieval texts, where it refers to a knight who serves a lord and is a guardian or attendant in his household or retinue. |
| Latvian | The word "mīļākais" is derived from the verb "mīlēt" (to love) and originally meant "the one who is loved". |
| Lithuanian | The word "meilužis" derives from the Old Lithuanian word "meilė", meaning "love", and the suffix "-užis", indicating an agent or doer of an action. |
| Luxembourgish | The word 'Liebhaber' in Luxembourgish is etymologically descended from the German 'Lieb' meaning 'dear', with 'haber' representing the noun 'person'. |
| Macedonian | The word "убовник" comes from the same root as "убавина" (beauty) and "убав" (beautiful). |
| Malagasy | "Tia" also means "uncle" or "aunt" in Malagasy, conveying the idea of a familial bond between lovers. |
| Malay | The word kekasih in Malay is an alteration from Sanskrit kaseha (affection or love). |
| Maltese | The word "maħbub" in Maltese originates from the Arabic root "حَبَب" (to love), and can also mean "beloved" or "dear one". |
| Maori | The word "aroha" in Maori can also mean "compassion", "affection", or "love" in a broader sense. |
| Marathi | The word "प्रियकर" in Marathi also has the alternate meaning of "husband". |
| Mongolian | "Амраг" has various Mongolian verb roots with different meanings such as "to embrace," "to smell" or "to love". |
| Myanmar (Burmese) | Derived from the Pali word "pīti", meaning "joy" or "delight", it also refers to a "treasure" or "beloved object". |
| Nepali | The word "प्रेमी" can also refer to a "friend" or a "well-wisher" in Nepali. |
| Norwegian | The word 'kjæreste' literally translates to 'dearest' in English, and can also be used to refer to a close friend. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | "Wokonda" is derived from the verb "kukonda" meaning "to love". |
| Pashto | The Pashto word "مین" can also refer to an affection, like "a favorite" or "a beloved one." |
| Persian | The word ''عاشق'' is derived from the Arabic root ''عشق'', meaning ''love'' or ''passion'', and can also refer to a Sufi mystic or a devotee of God. |
| Polish | The word 'kochanek' also means 'a small loaf of bread' or 'a type of apple'. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | The word 'amante' in Portuguese can also refer to someone who is a devotee of an activity, person, or thing. |
| Punjabi | ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ, derived from Sanskrit, can also refer to a devoted admirer or an enthusiastic follower, not necessarily restricted to romantic affections. |
| Romanian | The word "iubit" also means "beloved" in Romanian. |
| Samoan | Alofa, which typically denotes a lover or beloved in Samoan, may also refer to charity or compassion in a more general sense. |
| Scots Gaelic | The Gaelic word "leannan" can also mean "sweetheart" or refer to a "paramour" or mistress. |
| Serbian | The word љубавник is derived from the Slavic root -ljub-, meaning 'to love' and also denoting a romantic relationship. |
| Sesotho | The word "morati" can also refer to a partner or spouse. |
| Shona | The word "mudiwa" also means "a married man" or "a husband" in Shona. |
| Sindhi | The Sindhi word "عاشق" is also a term endearment used to address the object of one's affection, similar to the English word "sweetheart". |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | "පෙම්වතා" is also used as a term of endearment for a male relative or friend. |
| Slovak | The word "milenec" in Slovak comes from the word "milý", which means "dear" or "beloved". |
| Slovenian | The word "ljubimec" in Slovenian can also refer to a favorite person or thing, without romantic connotations. |
| Somali | The word "jecel" in Somali can also refer to a person's beloved child, especially a daughter. |
| Spanish | In Spanish, "amante" also means "one who loves," as in a close friend or devoted follower. |
| Sundanese | 'Kakasih' in Sundanese can also mean 'a person who has a close relationship to another person' or 'a person who is loved' |
| Swahili | The word 'mpenzi' can also mean 'sweetheart' or 'darling'. |
| Swedish | In Old Norse, "älskare" meant "supporter" or "helper", but its meaning has since shifted to "romantic partner". |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | In some Visayan languages, the word "kalaguyo" means "to get caught in the act." |
| Tajik | The term "oshiq" also signifies a person deeply engrossed in a particular pursuit or activity, akin to the Persian term "ashiq" |
| Tamil | The term "காதலன்" also implies a husband, as Tamil culture considers a spouse to be one's beloved or lover. |
| Thai | คนรัก (khon rak) originally meant "person who loves me" but now more commonly means "person I love". |
| Turkish | "Sevgili" comes from the Persian word "sevmek," meaning "to love" and literally means "the one who is loved." |
| Ukrainian | "Коханець" is related to "кохати" ("to love"), and also to "коханий" and "коханка" ("lover") |
| Urdu | In Urdu, "عاشق" can also refer to a devotee or a musician, and is derived from the Arabic word for "love" or "passion." |
| Uzbek | "Sevgisi" in Uzbek can also refer to a person's beloved or cherished one, not necessarily a romantic partner. |
| Vietnamese | The word "người yêu" is a compound formed by two words meaning "person" and "love", and it can also refer to a close friend who is like a sweetheart, not necessarily a love partner. |
| Welsh | The Welsh word "cariad" also means "friend" or "beloved" and is related to the Latin word "carus" (dear). |
| Xhosa | The word "umthandi" is sometimes used as a euphemism for "bride". |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word "ליבהאָבער" also means "sweetheart", "darling" or "beloved". |
| Yoruba | The Yoruba word "ololufe" literally translates to "owner of love". |
| Zulu | The word “isithandwa” has a double meaning, with its second, hidden meaning being “lover”. |
| English | In Old English, 'lover' meant someone who was loved, rather than someone loving another person. |