Low in different languages

Low in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'low' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting a variety of concepts related to height, volume, or intensity. Its cultural importance is evident in its use in idioms and phrases, such as 'keep a low profile' or 'feeling low.' Understanding the translation of 'low' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the nuances of various cultures and broaden your linguistic horizons.

Did you know that the word 'low' has roots in Old English and originally meant 'not lofty' or 'close to the ground'? This historical context highlights the word's versatility and longevity in the English language. Moreover, its translations in different languages can reveal fascinating cultural differences and similarities.

For instance, in Spanish, 'low' translates to 'bajo,' while in French, it's 'bas.' In German, 'low' becomes 'niedrig,' and in Japanese, 'hikui' captures the same meaning. These translations offer a glimpse into the diverse ways that different cultures express the concept of 'low' and can enrich your understanding of language and culture.

Low


Low in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanslaag
The word "laag" is a homonym of the English "log", referring to a tree trunk that has fallen off a tree.
Amharicዝቅተኛ
In addition, ዝቅተኛ can also refer to someone of low social status.
Hausalow
The Hausa word "low" can also refer to a person or group of people of low status or rank.
Igbodị ala
The Igbo word "dị ala" also refers to someone who is humble, modest, or respectful.
Malagasyiva
The word IVA can also refer to a type of fish trap or a small, narrow path or passageway.
Nyanja (Chichewa)otsika
Otsika can also refer to a valley or ditch.
Shonapasi
"Pasi" may also have other meanings, including "short in height", "underdeveloped", or "deficient".
Somalihooseeya
The word "hooseeya" in Somali comes from the Arabic word "'aseeya", meaning "inferior" or "humble".
Sesothotlase
This word is derived form the Proto-Bantu word "tas" with the same meaning
Swahilichini
The word "chini" in Swahili can also mean "south" or "inferior".
Xhosaisezantsi
Isezantsi may also refer to the region of Southern Africa, especially as named in the 'Southern Africa Development Community' or by the University of South Africa, where it refers to the southern part of their campus.
Yorubakekere
Yoruba "kekere" also means "small or little" as in "o mo kekere" (a small child).
Zuluphansi
"Phansi" in Zulu holds associations with the depths of the earth and the realm of ancestors.
Bambarafɛ́gɛn
Ewebᴐbᴐ
Kinyarwandahasi
Lingalanse
Lugandawansi
Sepedifase
Twi (Akan)fam

Low in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمنخفض
In addition to its literal meaning of "low," منخفض also denotes a "depression," "trough," or "sinkhole" in topography.
Hebrewנָמוּך
The Hebrew word for 'low' is derived from the Akkadian word 'namû,' which refers to the lowest position of the sun during its daily orbit.
Pashtoټیټ
"ټیټ" can also refer to a "valley" in Pashto.
Arabicمنخفض
In addition to its literal meaning of "low," منخفض also denotes a "depression," "trough," or "sinkhole" in topography.

Low in Western European Languages

Albaniani ulët
The word "i ulët" can also refer to a plain or valley, or to something that is humble or modest.
Basquebaxua
The Basque word “baxua” also means “peaceful” or “quiet”.
Catalanbaix
In Catalan, "baix" can also mean "nearby" or "underneath".
Croatianniska
"niska" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "nek-" meaning "bow, stoop" and is also related to the Latin word "nixus" meaning "effort, exertion".
Danishlav
In Danish the word "lav" (low) can also refer to the act of making a sound between yawning and laughter.
Dutchlaag
The Dutch word "laag" can also mean "stratum" or "layer".
Englishlow
The word 'low' originates from the Proto-Germanic word '*laugaz', meaning 'bent' or 'sloping'.
Frenchfaible
The term "faible" in French also means "weak" or "feeble".
Frisianleech
In Frisian, "leech" can also refer to a ditch or stream.
Galicianbaixo
"Baixo" can also refer to a musical instrument, a river area, or a low-lying place, depending on the context.
Germanniedrig
The archaic meaning of "niedrig" in German was "near the ground" rather than indicating a quantitative measure of height, and the word is related to "nahe" (near) and "Niederung" (lowlands).
Icelandiclágt
In Icelandic, “lágt” can also refer to a shallow depth or the lower end of a scale.
Irishíseal
From the Proto-Celtic *īsalo-, meaning "low" or "base."
Italianbasso
The Italian word "Basso" can also refer to a bass or bass guitar player in a musical ensemble.
Luxembourgishniddereg
"Niddereg" stems from the Old High German "nidar", which has the meaning of "down".
Maltesebaxx
Baxx is also a type of small boat used for fishing in Malta.
Norwegianlav
The word "lav" in Norwegian can also refer to a type of moss, moss carpet, or growth of moss.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)baixo
In Portuguese, "baixo" can also refer to a musical instrument similar to an upright bass or a dance style with an associated musical genre.
Scots Gaelicìosal
The Gaelic word "ìosal" derives from the Gaelic word "ìseal" and can also mean "humble or meek."
Spanishbajo
"Bajo" in Spanish can mean "under," "below" or "soft" depending on the context.
Swedishlåg
The word "låg" can also refer to a flame or a fire.
Welshisel
The Welsh word "isel" can also mean "humble" or "gentle".

Low in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianнізкая
The word
Bosnianniska
The word 'niska' is also used in Bosnia to refer to a type of folk dance.
Bulgarianниско
Bulgarian "ниско" may be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ney-", meaning "down" or "below."
Czechnízký
"Nízký" is related to the adjectives "nedotknutelný" (untouchable) and "neviditelný" (invisible) and the ancient verb "níjeti" (to disappear).
Estonianmadal
"Madal" also relates to "madaldama," meaning to lower, as well as "madalik," or depression in the earth.
Finnishmatala
"Matala" originates from Proto-Uralic "*mata-l", meaning "lying on the ground" or "near the ground".
Hungarianalacsony
The word "alacsony" comes from the Proto-Uralic *alak "to go down".
Latvianzems
The word “zems” can also refer to geographical depression, which can be seen, for example, in the place name “Zemgale” and “Zemenes” (strawberries) - berries growing close to the ground.
Lithuanianžemas
The word 'žemas' derives from the Proto-Baltic word '*žem-' which meant 'below, earth, ground'.
Macedonianниско
The word "ниско" can also refer to a person of low social status or to something that is considered as being of a low standard.
Polishniska
"Niska" can also refer to the Polish city Nisko, established in 1593.
Romanianscăzut
The word "scăzut" originates from the Proto-Slavic *skǫdъ, meaning "poor" or "deficient."
Russianнизкий
Russian word "низкий" initially meant "the lower one" and was used to describe the position of a servant in relation to the master.
Serbianниска
The word "ниска" (low) in Serbian can also mean "necklace", originating from the old Slavic word for thread or string.
Slovaknízka
The word "nízka" can also refer to a woman of low social status or a type of folk song.
Sloveniannizka
The word "nizka" can also refer to a necklace or a string of pearls.
Ukrainianнизький
The Ukrainian word "низький" not only means "low," but also means "humble".

Low in South Asian Languages

Bengaliকম
In Bengali, 'কম' can also mean 'lacking' or 'without' something.
Gujaratiનીચા
"નીચા" also means "a piece of low-quality land" or "a person of low birth or character".
Hindiकम
"कम" is a homonym meaning both "low" and "less" in Hindi.
Kannadaಕಡಿಮೆ
In addition to its primary meaning of "low," "ಕಡಿಮೆ" can also mean "few," "less," or "below average" in Kannada.
Malayalamതാഴ്ന്നത്
Marathiकमी
The word "कमी" can also mean "fault".
Nepaliकम
The word "कम" also means "few" or "less" and derives from the Sanskrit word "कम".
Punjabiਘੱਟ
The word "ਘੱਟ" also means "minus" or "less" in a mathematical sense.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අඩු
The word "අඩු" also means "less" or "deficient".
Tamilகுறைந்த
The Tamil word "குறைந்த" can also mean "lessened", "diminished", or "deficient".
Teluguతక్కువ
The word "తక్కువ" can also mean "lacking in value" or "inferior".
Urduکم
The word 'کم' can also mean 'less', 'deficient', or 'insufficient'

Low in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
"低" can also mean humble, mean, inferior, cheap, thin, poor, or shallow.
Chinese (Traditional)
低 can also mean 'humility' or 'modesty'
Japanese
低 (dī) can also mean “short” (of stature), “shallow,” “weak,” or “inferior.”
Korean낮은
"낮은" is also used to refer to the register of speech or writing, with "낮은말" meaning "informal language".
Mongolianбага
"Бага" is also the name of an administrative unit in several Mongolian regions and means "division" or "part".
Myanmar (Burmese)အနိမ့်
The word "အနိမ့်" can also refer to a "small amount", "a short time", or "something that is not very important".

Low in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianrendah
Rendah is the Indonesian word for “low”, cognate with randah and landas, from Proto-Austronesian *landen – to lie down; to be flat
Javanesekurang
In Javanese, 'kurang' can also refer to 'lacking' or 'insufficient'.
Khmerទាប
The Khmer word "ទាប" can also mean "humble" or "modest".
Laoຕ່ ຳ
Malayrendah
Rendah derives from Proto-Austronesian *landeq, meaning "ground" or "below".
Thaiต่ำ
The Thai word "ต่ำ" (low) also means "vulgar" or "uncouth".
Vietnamesethấp
The word "thấp" in Vietnamese also has the alternate meaning of "inferior" or "base".
Filipino (Tagalog)mababa

Low in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniaşağı
The word "aşağı" can also mean "downstream" or "the lower part of a river" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhтөмен
The Kazakh word "төмен" can also refer to the bottom of a tree or a shallow section of a river.
Kyrgyzтөмөн
The word "төмөн" also means "ten thousand" in Kyrgyz, reflecting its use as a unit of measurement in the past.
Tajikпаст
The word "паст" also means "down" or "below" in Tajik.
Turkmenpes
Uzbekpast
The Uzbek word "past" meaning "low" also means "vile, vulgar, wicked, base, mean".
Uyghurتۆۋەن

Low in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhaʻahaʻa
Haʻahaʻa can also mean 'humble' - a virtue highly valued in traditional Hawaiian culture.
Maoriiti
The word "iti" also means "small" or "narrow" in Maori.
Samoanmaualalo
The word "maualalo" ("low") in Samoan can also refer to modesty.
Tagalog (Filipino)mababa
The word "mababa" can also mean "cheap" or "of low quality" in Tagalog.

Low in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajask'a
Guaraniiguýpe

Low in International Languages

Esperantomalalta
The Esperanto word "malalta" can also mean "humble" or "modest".
Latinhumilis
"Humilis" can also mean "close to the ground", "of humble status", or "unpretentious."

Low in Others Languages

Greekχαμηλός
The word "χαμηλός" also means "humble" or "modest" in Greek.
Hmongtsawg
The term "tsawg" also refers to a person who works slowly and does not meet others' expectations or standards.
Kurdishnizm
'Nizm' also means 'peace' in the Sorani dialect of Kurdish.
Turkishdüşük
The word "düşük" can also mean "miscarriage" in Turkish.
Xhosaisezantsi
Isezantsi may also refer to the region of Southern Africa, especially as named in the 'Southern Africa Development Community' or by the University of South Africa, where it refers to the southern part of their campus.
Yiddishנידעריק
The word "נידעריק" ("nidrig") in Yiddish can also be used to refer to a person of low social status.
Zuluphansi
"Phansi" in Zulu holds associations with the depths of the earth and the realm of ancestors.
Assameseনিম্ন
Aymarajask'a
Bhojpuriकम
Dhivehiދަށް
Dogriघट्ट
Filipino (Tagalog)mababa
Guaraniiguýpe
Ilocanoababa
Kriolo
Kurdish (Sorani)نزم
Maithiliकम
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯅꯦꯝꯕ
Mizohniam
Oromogadi bu'aa
Odia (Oriya)ନିମ୍ନ
Quechuapisi
Sanskritन्यूनम्‌
Tatarтүбән
Tigrinyaውሑድ
Tsongahansi

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