Modest in different languages

Modest in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'modest' is a small but powerful term, often used to describe a person who is humble, unassuming, and respectful. It's a quality that is highly valued in many cultures, and is often associated with grace, dignity, and self-control. In fact, the concept of modesty has been a part of human societies for thousands of years, and has been expressed in many different ways across different cultures and traditions.

For example, in Western cultures, modesty is often associated with dressing conservatively and avoiding drawing attention to oneself. In some Eastern cultures, modesty is expressed through quiet, understated behavior and a focus on the needs of others. And in many religious traditions, modesty is seen as a key virtue, reflecting a deep respect for the sacred and a commitment to living a life of integrity.

Given the importance of modesty in so many different contexts, it's not surprising that people around the world might be interested in learning how to say 'modest' in different languages. Whether you're traveling to a new country, studying a foreign language, or simply looking to expand your cultural horizons, understanding the nuances of this important term can help you connect with people from all walks of life.

Here are just a few of the many ways to say 'modest' in different languages:

Modest


Modest in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbeskeie
The word "beskeie" is derived from the Dutch word "bescheiden", which also means "modest". It can also mean "humble" or "unassuming".
Amharicልከኛ
The word "ልከኛ" can also refer to someone who is not talkative or expressive.
Hausasuna fadin
The Hausa word 'suna fadin' also means 'to be humble' or 'to be well-mannered'.
Igboobi umeala
The Igbo word "obi umeala" can also refer to "the heart of the poor" or "the heart of the common man."
Malagasytsotra
The word "tsotra" in Malagasy can also mean "straight, simple, direct".
Nyanja (Chichewa)modzichepetsa
The word 'modzichepetsa' in Nyanja can also mean 'to be ashamed' or 'to be shy'.
Shonazvine mwero
The Shona word "zvine mwero" literally means "to have a lot of blood", and is used to describe someone who is modest or humble.
Somalisuubban
"Suubban" can also mean "quietly respectful".
Sesothoinyenyefatsa
The word "inyenyefatsa" in Sesotho is derived from "inyenya," meaning "spider," and "fatsa," meaning "spinning web," which together refer to the cautious and intricate nature of modesty.
Swahilikiasi
The Swahili word 'kiasi' comes from the Proto-Bantu word '-asi' meaning 'a little bit'.
Xhosaukuthozama
"Ukuthozama" in Xhosa also refers to the act of lowering oneself in a humble or respectful manner.
Yorubaiwonba
Iwónbá also refers to politeness or humility.
Zulunesizotha
The Zulu word ‘nesizotha’ is a compound word made up of ‘neso’ meaning ‘to be low’ or ‘humble’ and ‘izotha’ meaning ‘a bottom or an end’.
Bambaramɔgɔsɛbɛ
Ewesi le sue
Kinyarwandakwiyoroshya
Lingalakoyeba bandelo
Lugandaobuwombeefu
Sepediikokobetšago
Twi (Akan)ne ketewa mu

Modest in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمتواضع
The word "متواضع" (modest) also has the connotation of "humble" or "lowly" in Arabic.
Hebrewצָנוּעַ
The root of "צָנוּעַ" appears in the Bible referring to "covering" or "hiding" which gives us a sense of its original meaning.
Pashtoمتل
The Pashto word "متل" can also refer to the concept of "being in balance" or "being equal".
Arabicمتواضع
The word "متواضع" (modest) also has the connotation of "humble" or "lowly" in Arabic.

Modest in Western European Languages

Albanianmodest
Modest in Albanian can also mean "low" or "humble".
Basqueapala
"Apala" is originally from the Spanish word "apacible" (
Catalanmodest
The Catalan noun "modèstia" (modesty) comes from Latin "molestia" meaning disturbance or annoyance
Croatianskroman
While skroman in Croatian only means "modest," its Russian and Polish cognates also mean "penurious" and "stingy," respectively.
Danishbeskeden
The word 'beskeden' is derived from the German word 'bescheiden', meaning 'wise' or 'prudent'.
Dutchbescheiden
The adjective "bescheiden" in Dutch derives from the Old High German "biskeiden", meaning "to separate and distinguish, understand reasonably, decide upon".
Englishmodest
The word `modest` originates from the Latin word `modestus`, meaning `moderate` or `unassuming`.
Frenchmodeste
The word "modeste" is derived from the Latin word "modestus," meaning "moderate" or "temperate."
Frisianbeskieden
The word "beskieden" in Frisian is derived from the Old Frisian word "besciedan," which means "to command" or "to inform."
Galicianmodesto
In Galician, the word "modesto" can also mean "a small, rural area".
Germanbescheiden
The word "bescheiden" is derived from the Middle High German word "bescheiden," meaning "wise," "prudent," or "discreet."
Icelandichófstillt
The word "hófstillt" can also refer to calmness or composure in Icelandic.
Irishmeasartha
Measartha can also mean "moderate" or "limited" in Irish.
Italianmodesto
"Modesto" in Italian can also mean "moderate" or "fair."
Luxembourgishbescheiden
In Luxembourgish, the word "bescheiden" can refer to both "modest" and "ashamed".
Maltesemodest
In Maltese, "modest" can be slang for "crazy"
Norwegianbeskjeden
Historically, the word "beskjeden" had an alternate meaning of "reasonable" in addition to "modest".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)modesto
In Brazil, "modesto" can also mean "simple" or "unpretentious".
Scots Gaelicmodhail
In English, "modest" means "free from vanity", but in Gaelic, "modhail" also has a sense of "of good character".
Spanishmodesto
In Spanish, the word "modesto" also means "humble" and "moderate".
Swedishblygsam
The word "blygsam" can also mean "shy" or "reserved" in Swedish, and originates from the Proto-Germanic word "blaga-samja", meaning "able to understand, capable".
Welshcymedrol
The word "cymedrol" is derived from the Brythonic Celtic word "kymedrolos", meaning "concealed" or "reserved."

Modest in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianсціплы
Слово «сціплы» походить від латинського «scrupulus», що означає «камінчик у взутті».
Bosnianskroman
The word "skroman" can also mean "humble" or "unassuming" in Bosnian.
Bulgarianскромен
Bulgarian "скромен" also means "humble" or "with no pretentions" in some contexts, and has the same Slavic root as the English "scrum"
Czechskromný
The word "skromný" derives from the word "skroma" („a piece of land”), which denotes humility and willingness to share.
Estoniantagasihoidlik
"Tagasihoidlik" is derived from the verb "tagasi hoida", meaning to hold back, and implies reserve and restraint.
Finnishvaatimaton
"Vaatimaton" is a Finnish word that is often translated as "modest" in English, but it can also mean "unassuming" or "humble."
Hungarianszerény
"Szerény" ultimately derives from the Latin word "serenus", which means "peaceful" or "calm".
Latvianpieticīgs
Etymology: from "piety" which refers to deep religious feeling or devotion.
Lithuaniankuklus
The Lithuanian word "kuklus" has Slavic roots and is related to the Russian словом "kukol," meaning "idol" or "doll."
Macedonianскромен
The word "скромен" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "скромь", which means "humility" or "lowliness".
Polishskromny
"Skromny" means modest, but can also describe someone or something that's simple, plain, or lacking ornamentation.
Romanianmodest
In Romanian, "modest" can also refer to moderate or reasonable amounts of something.
Russianскромный
"Скромный" (modest) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *skromъ, meaning "lean, thin, narrow".
Serbianскроман
"Скромност" (skromnost), meaning modesty or humility, derives from "скршити" (skršiti) meaning "to break".
Slovakskromný
The Slovak word "skromný" comes from the Czech word "skromny" and the Latin word "scromnis", which means "scrupulous".
Slovenianskromen
The adjective "skromen" is derived from the Indo-European root *sker- meaning "to cut, to separate" and has connotations of "humble" or "plain".
Ukrainianскромний
The word "скромний" (modest) in Ukrainian derives from the Proto-Slavic root *skromъ, meaning "close, narrow, constrained".

Modest in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবিনয়ী
"বিনয়ী" is also used to describe a person who is submissive or even obsequious.
Gujaratiવિનમ્ર
The word "વિનમ્ર" is derived from the Sanskrit word "vinamra", which means "bending down" or "humble", and is related to the word "nam", meaning "to bow down".
Hindiमामूली
मामूली is also used to describe something that is simple or plain, a meaning most likely derived from the word मामल (legal case) and माँगना (to ask).
Kannadaಸಾಧಾರಣ
The word "ಸಾಧಾರಣ" can also mean "common" or "usual" in Kannada.
Malayalamഎളിമ
The word "എളിമ" in Malayalam can also refer to being humble, unassuming, or respectful.
Marathiविनम्र
The word "विनम्र" in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word "विनम्र" meaning "humble" or "courteous".
Nepaliभद्र
The word "भद्र" can also mean "auspicious" or "fortunate".
Punjabiਨਿਮਰ
The word "ਨਿਮਰ" is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word "नम्र", which means "bent" or "bowed".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)නිහතමානී
In a secondary sense 'nihathamani' also carries the meaning 'not being haughty'
Tamilசாதாரண
The Tamil word "சாதாரண" ("modest") is a compound of "சதா" ("constant") and "ஆரவார" ("noise"), suggesting something that is "not noisy or flashy".
Teluguనమ్రత
The Telugu word "నమ్రత" (namrata) comes from the Sanskrit word "नम्र" (namra), which means 'bent' or 'supple', and is related to the concept of humility or modesty.
Urduمعمولی
The Persian word "mo`tadil" (meaning "moderate") is the etymological root of "معمولی" (modest).

Modest in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)谦虚
The Chinese character '谦' in '谦虚' (modest) originally meant 'lowly' and 'humble' and was often used in a self-deprecating way.
Chinese (Traditional)謙虛
謙虛 derives from 謙遜 (qiānxùn) 'to give up, yield' (to superior force or opinion), and 虛 (xū) 'empty'. In Buddhism, it means 'emptying oneself'.
Japanese控えめ
控えめ (tsutsumashī) comes from 慎む (tsutsushimu), meaning to exercise caution or discretion.
Korean겸손한
겸손 has the additional meaning of “humble” and is derived from the Chinese characters 謙(겸) meaning “to yield” and 遜(손) meaning “to retreat or defer.”
Mongolianдаруухан
The Mongolian word "даруухан" can also mean "meek" or "humble".
Myanmar (Burmese)ကျိုးနွံ

Modest in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansederhana
The Indonesian word "sederhana" comes from the Sanskrit word "sudharana", meaning "easy" or "uncomplicated".
Javaneseandhap asor
The word "andhap asor" in Javanese originally meant "unseen and unheard".
Khmerសុភាពរាបសា
The word "សុភាពរាបសា" is derived from the Sanskrit word "subhāva" meaning "nature" and "prāpasa" meaning "to attain". It can also mean "good character" or "virtue".
Laoຈຽມຕົວ
The Lao word ຈຽມຕົວ can also mean "to be shy" or "to be reserved."
Malaysederhana
The word 'sederhana' can also mean 'simple', 'plain' or 'humble'.
Thaiเจียมเนื้อเจียมตัว
The Thai word "เจียมเนื้อเจียมตัว" (modest) literally translates to "knowing one's own flesh and knowing one's own body."
Vietnamesekhiêm tốn
"Khiêm tốn" literally translates as "to humble oneself" and also carries the meaning of "to be humble, modest, unpretentious, or reserved" in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)mababang-loob

Modest in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanitəvazökar
The word "təvazökar" derives from the Persian word "tāvazō" which means "low, humble".
Kazakhқарапайым
The word "қарапайым" can also refer to something that is "simple" or "unpretentious".
Kyrgyzжөнөкөй
The word "жөнөкөй" in Kyrgyz can also mean "simple" or "plain".
Tajikхоксор
The word “хоксор” also means “modest” in Tajik.
Turkmensada
Uzbekkamtarona
The word "kamtarona" in Uzbek originally meant "to be humble" or "to be ashamed", but it now also means "modest".
Uyghurھايالىق

Modest in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianakahai
The word "akahai" in Hawaiian can also mean "humble", "meek", or "unassuming".
Maorimahaki
The word "mahaki" in Maori also refers to someone who is shy, or reserved.
Samoantauagafau
Tauagafau also means 'bashful,' 'shamefaced,' 'reserved,' or 'timid' in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)mababang-loob

Modest in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaramuristu
Guaranijejapo'ỹva

Modest in International Languages

Esperantomodesta
"Modesta" in Esperanto can also mean "low" or "humble".
Latinverecundus
The word "verecundus" has an alternative meaning of "reverent" or "respectful", and is derived from "vereri", meaning "to fear" or "to reverence."

Modest in Others Languages

Greekμετριόφρων
The word "μετριόφρων" can also mean "moderate" or "temperate" in Greek.
Hmongcoj tus
The expression can also be used in the context of a married woman, which means that her "co" is covered by "tus"
Kurdishmutewazî
The word "mutewazî" has another meaning in Kurdish: "balanced".
Turkishmütevazı
Mütevazı also refers to buildings that cover a small area and are not as tall as the surrounding buildings or are very close to the ground.
Xhosaukuthozama
"Ukuthozama" in Xhosa also refers to the act of lowering oneself in a humble or respectful manner.
Yiddishבאַשיידן
The Yiddish word באַשיידן may also mean "unassuming" or "humble".
Zulunesizotha
The Zulu word ‘nesizotha’ is a compound word made up of ‘neso’ meaning ‘to be low’ or ‘humble’ and ‘izotha’ meaning ‘a bottom or an end’.
Assameseবিনয়ী
Aymaramuristu
Bhojpuriआडंबरहीन
Dhivehiމޮޑެސްޓް
Dogriसिद्धा-सादा
Filipino (Tagalog)mababang-loob
Guaranijejapo'ỹva
Ilocanonapakumbaba
Krioɔmbul
Kurdish (Sorani)خاکی
Maithiliमामूली
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯆꯝꯊꯣꯛꯄ
Mizozahawm
Oromomurtaawaa
Odia (Oriya)ନମ୍ର
Quechuamodesto
Sanskritशालीन
Tatarтыйнак
Tigrinyaምጥን ዝበለ
Tsongampimo wutsongo

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