Might in different languages

Might in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'might' is a small but powerful part of the English language. It signifies possibility, ability, and potential, adding nuance and depth to our conversations and thoughts. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, where it's used to build suspense, convey uncertainty, and express humility. For example, Shakespeare's Hamlet famously ponders, 'To be, or not to be: that is the question.'

Understanding the translation of 'might' in different languages can enrich our global communication and cultural appreciation. For instance, in Spanish, 'might' translates to 'poder,' which also means 'can' or 'to be able to.' In German, 'might' becomes 'mögen,' which can also mean 'like' or 'may.' In Japanese, 'might' is expressed as '〜 poderu,' a verb conjugation derived from 'poder.'

Explore the many faces of 'might' and discover how this modest word connects us all. Delve into the list of translations below and unlock a world of linguistic and cultural richness.

Might


Might in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansdalk
The word "dalk" originates from the Dutch word "denken" (to think) which led to the Afrikaans word "dink" (to think), and then "dalk" (perhaps, possibly).
Amharicይችላል
ይችላል could also mean may (permission).
Hausaiya
Iya can also mean "authority", "control", or "strength"
Igbonwere ike
Nwere ike means "to have strength" in Igbo, and is also a colloquialism meaning "to be wealthy" or "to be influential."
Malagasyhery
The Malagasy word hery, meaning "might", is ultimately derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *qali, which also meant "strength, power". Other cognates of *qali in various Austronesian languages include the Malay kata, the Javanese kori, and the Fijian kaukau, all of which mean "word". This suggests that the original meaning of *qali may have been "speech", which was later extended to mean "power" and "strength".
Nyanja (Chichewa)akhoza
In Zambia, 'akhoza' means 'to be able to' and 'to have power'.
Shonasimba
"Simba" is derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-mba meaning "to be strong, or powerful."
Somalilaga yaabaa
The word "laga yaabaa" can also mean "it seems like" or "it is possible that".
Sesothomatla
In Sesotho, the word "matla" also refers to "power" and "strength".}
Swahilinguvu
The word 'nguvu' shares a root with 'ng'ombe' ('cow'), 'ng'uni' ('zebu breed of cattle'), and 'sungura' ('hare').
Xhosaunamandla
The word "unamandla" in Xhosa is also used to refer to a "chief" or "leader".
Yorubale
The word "le" in Yoruba also means "to be able to" or "to have the power to".
Zuluamandla
The word 'amandla' shares etymological roots with the word 'mandla' meaning 'power'
Bambaraa tun bɛ se
Eweate ŋu
Kinyarwandaimbaraga
Lingalaekoki
Lugandanyinza
Sepedika
Twi (Akan)ebia

Might in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicربما
"ربما" can also mean "not sure" or "it is possible" in Arabic.
Hebrewאולי
The Hebrew word "אולי" is also used in the sense of "perhaps" or "possibly".
Pashtoښايي
The word "ښايي" in Pashto can also mean "it is possible" or "it is feasible."
Arabicربما
"ربما" can also mean "not sure" or "it is possible" in Arabic.

Might in Western European Languages

Albanianmund
The Albanian word "mund" can mean both "can" and "might".
Basquebaliteke
In Basque, “baliteke” also means: “it will help,” “capable,” or “maybe.”
Catalanpodria
Podria' originates from Latin 'potere' and also means 'power' or 'authority' in Catalan
Croatianmoć
Moć also means 'the ability or power to do something' and 'strength, force, or energy'.
Danishmagt
In Danish, "magt" can also refer to authority, influence, or power.
Dutchmacht
Dutch "macht" and German "Macht" share an origin in Latin "magis," meaning "more" or "greater."
Englishmight
"Might" is an Old English word that originally meant "power" or "strength", or used to refer to ability or possibility.
Frenchpourrait
The French word "pourrait" can also mean "to pour," derived from the Latin "fundere" meaning "to pour out"
Frisianmacht
The Frisian word "macht" is not only cognate to the English word, but also means "makes" in English.
Galicianpodería
In Galician, "podería" can also mean "authority, jurisdiction, territory, or influence."
Germanmacht
Macht can also mean "power" or "authority" in German.
Icelandicgæti
The word "gæti" also means "capability" or "possibility" in Icelandic.
Irishd'fhéadfadh
The word "d'fhéadfadh" is derived from the Old Irish word "fedim," meaning "to perform" or "to accomplish."
Italianpotrebbe
The Latin verb "potere" can mean "to be able", "to have the power", or "to have the potential to do something."
Luxembourgishvläicht
The word "vläicht" is derived from Old High German "mīlīht" meaning "pleasant", and is related to English "mellow", Dutch "milde", German "milde" and "mild".
Maltesejista '
The Maltese word 'jista'' can also be used to express possibility or ability.
Norwegiankanskje
The Norwegian word "kanskje" is thought to have been originally used as an expression of doubt and later took on the meaning of "might".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)poderia
The word "poderia" comes from the Latin word "posse", meaning "to be able" or "to have power".
Scots Gaelicdòcha
"Dòcha" can also mean "maybe" or "perhaps."
Spanishpodría
"Podría" comes from the Latin "posse" and can also mean "be able to" or "have the power to"
Swedishmakt
The word "makt" is derived from the Old Norse word "makt", meaning "ability" or "power."
Welshgallai
The Welsh word "gallai" has the additional meaning of "possible" or "likely".

Might in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianможа
The word "можа" can also refer to the ability or strength to do something.
Bosnianmogao
Bosnian "mogao" originally meant to be able to, and is not related to strength
Bulgarianбиха могли, може
In Bulgarian, "биха могли, може" can also refer to a possible or hypothetical event.
Czechmohl
"Mohl" or "mohla" in Czech can also be used as a phrase meaning "I can" or "she can".
Estonianvõib
The word "võib" can also mean "may" or "can", depending on the context.
Finnishvoi
The word "voi" can also mean "butter" or "margarine" in Finnish.
Hungarianesetleg
The Hungarian word "esetleg" originally meant "possibly", but its meaning has shifted over time to also include "might"
Latvianvarenība
The root word of "varenība" is the verb "varēt" meaning "to be able to".
Lithuaniangali
The Lithuanian word "gali" has Slavic roots and can also mean "ability", "power", "possibility" or "permission".
Macedonianможе
Polishmoc
The Polish word "moc" also means "strength" and "power."
Romanianar putea
In Romanian, "ar putea" can also refer to a potential action, an assumption, or a request for permission.
Russianможет быть
The word "может быть" can also mean "perhaps" or "possibly" in Russian.
Serbianмогао би
The Serbian word "могао би" (might) originates from the Old Church Slavonic verb "могѫ" (mogu), meaning "to be able" or "to have the power to do something."
Slovakmožno
The Slovak word "možno" derives from the Proto-Slavic "možь" meaning "man" or "capable of," and also has the meaning "perhaps" or "possibly."
Slovenianmorda
The word 'morda' has additional meanings of 'maybe' and 'perhaps' in Slovenian.
Ukrainianможе
The Ukrainian word "може" comes from the Proto-Slavic root "*možetъ", meaning "to be strong, powerful"

Might in South Asian Languages

Bengaliহতে পারে
The word "হতে পারে" is derived from the Sanskrit verbal root "bhū," which means "to become" or "to be."
Gujaratiકદાચ
The word "કદાચ" in Gujarati can also mean "maybe" or "perhaps".
Hindiपराक्रम
"पराक्रम" means "deeds of heroism, valor or courage" and is derived from the Sanskrit root "क्रम्" (to step), suggesting "stepping forward" or "progressing" through deeds of valor.
Kannadaಇರಬಹುದು
In some contexts, “ಇರಬಹುದು” can also mean “must” or indicate a strong possibility.
Malayalamശക്തി
The word ശക്തി has alternate meanings of 'energy', 'power', 'strength' and 'ability' in Malayalam.
Marathiकदाचित
In Marathi the word "कदाचित" also means, "perhaps, probably."
Nepaliहुन सक्छ
The word "हुन सक्छ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "हुन्," meaning "to be" or "to happen," and the suffix "-सक्छ," which indicates possibility or probability.
Punjabiਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)බලවත්
'බලවත්' has its roots in the Sanskrit word 'bala', which means power or strength.
Tamilவலிமை
"வலிமை" ('might') is derived from the Tamil word 'வலம்' ('turn' or 'wheel') suggesting perpetual force that rotates.
Teluguఉండవచ్చు
The word "ఉండవచ్చు" in Telugu can also mean "it is possible" or "it may be".
Urduشاید
The Urdu word "شاید" can also be used to express "maybe" or "possibly."

Might in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)威力
"威力" can also mean 'power' or 'influence' in some contexts.
Chinese (Traditional)威力
威力 (威 "awe" + 力 "strength")
Japaneseかもしれない
The word "かもしれない" can also mean "maybe" or "possibly"
Korean
"힘" in Korean can also mean "force", "power", or "strength".
Mongolianмагадгүй
The Mongolian word "магадгүй" can also mean "possibility" or "likelihood".
Myanmar (Burmese)အစွမ်းကုန်

Might in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmungkin
Possibly derived from Proto-Austronesian *maŋi "to try, to do"
Javanesebisa uga
Bisa uga also means "able to" or "can do" in Javanese, but it is more commonly used to express uncertainty or possibility.
Khmerអាច
The word "អាច" also means "ability".
Laoອາດ
In Thai, "ອາດ" is often used with a negative meaning, suggesting an unlikely event.
Malaymungkin
The Malay word "mungkin" is also used to express possibility, uncertainty, or permission.
Thaiอาจ
อาจ is derived from Pali and Sanskrit, and also means
Vietnamesecó thể
In the old Vietnamese language, the word "có thể" also means "ability".
Filipino (Tagalog)baka

Might in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanibilər
In Old Turkic "bilər" also meant to know
Kazakhмүмкін
The word "мүмкін" is also used in Kazakh in the sense of "possible", which is a related meaning in English.
Kyrgyzмүмкүн
The Kyrgyz word "мүмкүн" also means "possible" and "probable".
Tajikметавонад
The etymological root of "метавонад" is the same as in Russian "могучий" (mighty), from an Old Slavonic word meaning "to be able". Historically, "метавонад" meant "great or strong" before coming to indicate capacity.
Turkmenbolup biler
Uzbekmumkin
In Uzbek, the word "mumkin" also means "possible" or "probable."
Uyghurمۇمكىن

Might in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianikaika paha
'Ikaika paha' also means strong, vigorous, potent, healthy, active, or energetic.
Maorikaha
Kaha can also mean 'strength' or 'authority' in some contexts.
Samoanmalosiaga
"Malosiaga" can also mean "strength" or "ability" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)baka
The word 'baka' in Tagalog also means 'possibly' or 'maybe', and is related to the Malay word 'barangkali' which means 'perhaps'.

Might in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraatiña
Guaranipokatu

Might in International Languages

Esperantopovus
The Esperanto word "povus" ultimately comes from the Latin word "potens," meaning "powerful" or "able."
Latinpotens verax
The word "potens verax" in Latin can also refer to a person who is powerful and truthful.

Might in Others Languages

Greekθα μπορούσε
In Greek, 'θα μπορούσε' might also mean 'it could' or 'it was possible'.
Hmongzaum
The word "zaum" in Hmong can also mean "strength" or "power".
Kurdisherk
The word "erk" is also used as "power, force, energy."
Turkishbelki
The word "belki" is derived from the Persian word "belke" meaning "maybe".
Xhosaunamandla
The word "unamandla" in Xhosa is also used to refer to a "chief" or "leader".
Yiddishזאל
"זאל" (might) in Yiddish can also refer to a dining or banquet hall, a public meeting room, or a grand ballroom.
Zuluamandla
The word 'amandla' shares etymological roots with the word 'mandla' meaning 'power'
Assameseহ’ব পাৰে
Aymaraatiña
Bhojpuriहो सकेला
Dhivehiވެދާނެ
Dogriहोई सकदा
Filipino (Tagalog)baka
Guaranipokatu
Ilocanodinto
Kriosɔntɛm
Kurdish (Sorani)ڕەنگە
Maithiliसक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯃꯇꯤꯛ
Mizomaithei
Oromotarii
Odia (Oriya)ହୁଏତ
Quechuamay
Sanskritविक्रमः
Tatarбулырга мөмкин
Tigrinyaይኸዉን
Tsongakumbe

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