Naked in Different Languages
Discover 'Naked' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'naked' holds a unique significance in our vocabulary, often used to describe the state of being without clothing or coverings. Its cultural importance is far-reaching, often symbolizing vulnerability, authenticity, or freedom. But have you ever wondered how different cultures and languages express this concept?
Understanding the translation of 'naked' in various languages can provide fascinating insights into cultural norms and attitudes towards nudity. For instance, in Spanish, 'naked' translates to 'desnudo', while in French, it's 'nu'. In German, 'naked' is 'nackt', and in Japanese, it's 'hadaka'. Each translation offers a unique perspective on this universal concept.
Moreover, the word 'naked' has a rich historical context. In many ancient societies, nudity was a symbol of purity and innocence. Today, it's often associated with art, fashion, and even environmental activism. So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or just curious, delving into the translations of 'naked' is a journey worth taking.
Naked
Naked in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | kaal | ||
| The Afrikaans word "kaal" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *keh₂lós, meaning "bald". It also has the alternate meaning of "bare" or "empty". | |||
| Amharic | እርቃናቸውን | ||
| The word "እርቃናቸውን" can also refer to someone who is poor or has nothing to wear. | |||
| Hausa | tsirara | ||
| "Tsirara" can also mean "empty" or "deficient" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | gba ọtọ | ||
| The term 'gba ọtọ' is also used figuratively to describe an 'exposed' situation. | |||
| Malagasy | tsy nanan-kitafy | ||
| The word "tsy nanan-kitafy" comes from the Indonesian word "telanjang" and Swahili word "utupu" which also means "naked". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wamaliseche | ||
| The etymology of the Nyanja word 'wamaliseche' ('naked') can also mean 'unclothed', 'without clothes', 'exposed' or 'unprotected'. | |||
| Shona | akashama | ||
| In Shona, the word 'akashama' is a euphemism for 'dead', suggesting a state of complete vulnerability and exposure. | |||
| Somali | qaawan | ||
| Qaawan also refers to a person with no money or possessions, and is sometimes used in a figurative sense to describe someone who is helpless or vulnerable. | |||
| Sesotho | hlobotse | ||
| The word 'hlobotse' may also refer to a stripped tree. | |||
| Swahili | uchi | ||
| The Swahili word "uchi" also has the secondary meaning of "open, exposed, or bare." | |||
| Xhosa | ze | ||
| "Ze" in Xhosa is a noun that refers to the bare or exposed body, but can also be used to describe a state of being stripped of dignity or respect. | |||
| Yoruba | ihoho | ||
| The word "ìhòhó" in Yoruba, meaning "naked," is also used to describe something that is bare, without any covering or protection. | |||
| Zulu | nqunu | ||
| The Zulu word "nqunu" primarily means "nakedness," but can also be used figuratively to describe poverty or a lack of something. | |||
| Bambara | farilankolon | ||
| Ewe | amamaɖeɖenuwɔnawo | ||
| Kinyarwanda | yambaye ubusa | ||
| Lingala | bolumbu | ||
| Luganda | nga bali bukunya | ||
| Sepedi | ba hlobotše | ||
| Twi (Akan) | adagyaw | ||
Naked in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | عارية | ||
| Hebrew | עֵירוֹם | ||
| The word "עֵירוֹם" can also refer to a person who is lacking in knowledge or experience, or to something that is simple or unadorned. | |||
| Pashto | ننگه | ||
| The word "ننگه" in Pashto can also mean "honourless" or "disgraced". | |||
| Arabic | عارية | ||
Naked in Western European Languages
| Albanian | lakuriq | ||
| The word 'lakuriq' is derived from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ('to leave, abandon'), and is cognate with Latin 'lacrima' ('tear') and Sanskrit 'loka' ('world'). | |||
| Basque | biluzik | ||
| The word "biluzik" also means "the one from the village" or "the rural one" when used as a noun. | |||
| Catalan | nu | ||
| In Catalan, 'nu' can also refer to a shade of color between white and gray, or to a type of fabric with a similar shade. | |||
| Croatian | gola | ||
| "Gola" also means "goal" in Croatian and is related to the word "gol" in Spanish and other Romance languages. | |||
| Danish | nøgen | ||
| "Nøgen" originally meant "just newly born" in Old Norse, and is cognate with the English word "naked". As time passed, its meaning shifted to "not wearing clothes". | |||
| Dutch | naakt | ||
| The word 'naakt' is derived from the Middle Dutch 'naken', which is itself a cognate of the English word 'naked'. | |||
| English | naked | ||
| "Naked" originates from the Old English word "nacod", meaning "not covered." | |||
| French | nu | ||
| Nu can mean unadorned or stripped of something other than clothes, like land, trees, or a table. | |||
| Frisian | neaken | ||
| In Frisian, "neaken" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "nakiðaz," meaning "bare," and also shares a root with the English word "naked." | |||
| Galician | espido | ||
| Espido comes from the Latin 'expedire', meaning to free from obstacles or hindrances. | |||
| German | nackt | ||
| The word "nackt" comes from the Old High German word "nachot," meaning "bare" or "uncovered." | |||
| Icelandic | nakinn | ||
| Nakin is cognate with 'naked', 'nacke', 'nocent', and 'nocuous'. All of these words have the concept 'to cause harm' at their root. | |||
| Irish | nocht | ||
| The older Irish word 'nocht' survives in the modern words 'nochtadh' (naked) and 'oíche' (night), the latter being related to 'nyx' in Greek and 'nox' in Latin, all ultimately deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root *nokw-t-, meaning 'night'. | |||
| Italian | nudo | ||
| Luxembourgish | plakeg | ||
| The etymology of "plakeg" is unknown, but it may come from the Old High German word "placho", meaning "smooth" or "shiny". | |||
| Maltese | mikxufa | ||
| The Maltese word "mikxufa" originally meant "uncovered" and is related to the Arabic word "kashfa" meaning "to uncover". | |||
| Norwegian | naken | ||
| Although 'naken' means 'naked' in Norwegian, it originally meant 'bare' and is still used that way in Swedish and Danish. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | nu | ||
| In Tupi language, 'nu' means 'one who sees', 'the one who observes'. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | rùisgte | ||
| The term 'rùisgte' can also refer to an object or place that is missing something or incomplete, like a 'rùisgte ceann' or 'bare head'. | |||
| Spanish | desnudo | ||
| Swedish | naken | ||
| The Swedish word 'naken' can also mean 'exposed' or 'unprotected,' and is related to the Old Norse term 'nakr,' meaning 'poor'. | |||
| Welsh | noeth | ||
| The word 'noeth' in Welsh derives from the Proto-Celtic word 'nagdo', meaning 'bare' or 'naked', and also appears in the Irish word 'nocht' and the Gaulish word 'nagdos'. | |||
Naked in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | голы | ||
| Bosnian | gola | ||
| The Bosnian word "gola" has its origins in the Proto-Slavic word "golъ", meaning "bare" or "naked". | |||
| Bulgarian | гол | ||
| The word гол in its archaic form could be использоваться to refer also to | |||
| Czech | nahý | ||
| The word "nahý" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *nagъ, meaning "naked" or "bare". | |||
| Estonian | alasti | ||
| The word "alasti" in Estonian is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *alast-, meaning "naked", and is also used in the sense of "bare" or "uncovered". | |||
| Finnish | alasti | ||
| The Finnish word "alasti" is derived from the Proto-Uralic word *ala, meaning "naked" or "bare". | |||
| Hungarian | meztelen | ||
| The Hungarian word "meztelen" derives from the Proto-Uralic "meččen", which also meant "empty" and "bare". | |||
| Latvian | kails | ||
| The Latvian word "kails" is related to Slavic **golъ**, Proto-Germanic **-gala-** ("bare"), Welsh **cal** ("bare"), and possibly Old Irish **calb** ("bald"). | |||
| Lithuanian | nuogas | ||
| "Nuogas" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European *nogʷhos, meaning "bare" or "pure." | |||
| Macedonian | гол | ||
| The word "гол" in Macedonian comes from the Proto-Slavic word "golъ", which also means "bare" or "uncovered". | |||
| Polish | nagi | ||
| "Nagi" also means "no clothes" or "no covering" in the context of furniture or other objects. | |||
| Romanian | gol | ||
| In Hungarian, "golyó" means "bullet", and some linguists believe that this word is related to Romanian "gol" due to the similar shape. | |||
| Russian | голый | ||
| The word "голый" also has the meaning of "poor" or "homeless". | |||
| Serbian | голи | ||
| In Serbian, "голи" also means "bare" and "destitute" | |||
| Slovak | nahý | ||
| The word 'nahý' ('naked') in Slovak is a cognate of the Czech and Polish words 'nahý' ('naked'), which are ultimately derived from the Proto-Slavic word *nagъ ('naked'), which is also the root of the word 'nahota' ('nakedness'). | |||
| Slovenian | gola | ||
| The word "gola" in Slovenian can also refer to a bare or barren surface, such as a field or a rock. | |||
| Ukrainian | голий | ||
| The Ukrainian word “голий” (naked) is also used to describe something incomplete, unfinished, or lacking something. | |||
Naked in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | নগ্ন | ||
| The word "নগ্ন" can also mean "new" or "fresh" in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | નગ્ન | ||
| "નગ્ન" (naked) in Gujarati can also mean "without clothing or covering" or "exposed to view." | |||
| Hindi | नंगा | ||
| "नंगा" is also used metaphorically to describe something that is incomplete, unfinished, or lacking in some way. | |||
| Kannada | ಬೆತ್ತಲೆ | ||
| The word "ಬೆತ್ತಲೆ" can also refer to a type of folk song or a person who is extremely poor and destitute. | |||
| Malayalam | നഗ്നനായി | ||
| Marathi | नग्न | ||
| The word "नग्न" (naked) in Marathi can also refer to "destitute" or "poor". | |||
| Nepali | ना naked्गो | ||
| The word "नाँगो" can also refer to a person who is poor or destitute. | |||
| Punjabi | ਨੰਗਾ | ||
| The word 'ਨੰਗਾ' ('naked') in Punjabi can also mean 'empty' or 'poor', showing its deep connection to concepts of exposure and vulnerability. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නිරුවත් | ||
| In Sinhala, ''නිරුවත්'' is not generally used in the context of human clothing, but rather for the bareness of objects like land or trees. | |||
| Tamil | நிர்வாணமாக | ||
| The Tamil word நிர்வாணமாக (nirvāṇamāka) can also refer to a state of spiritual liberation or detachment from worldly desires. | |||
| Telugu | నగ్నంగా | ||
| Urdu | ننگا | ||
| The word "ننگا" (naked) in Urdu is also used to describe someone who is poor or destitute. | |||
Naked in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 裸 | ||
| In Chinese, the character "裸" (naked) can also mean "bare," "exposed," or "unreserved." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 裸 | ||
| 裸 originated from the pictograph of a person with bare arms and legs. | |||
| Japanese | 裸 | ||
| Korean | 적나라한 | ||
| "적나라한" also means "harsh" or "excessive" in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | нүцгэн | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အဝတ်အချည်းစည်း | ||
Naked in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | telanjang | ||
| The word "telanjang" also has connotations of shamelessness or disgrace. | |||
| Javanese | wuda | ||
| The word 'wuda' ('naked') derives from its root word 'ada' which means 'to be' which also has a connotation of 'to appear'. | |||
| Khmer | អាក្រាត | ||
| The word "អាក្រាត" (naked) is derived from the Sanskrit word "नाग्न" (nāgna), meaning "naked". | |||
| Lao | ເປືອຍກາຍ | ||
| The word 'ເປືອຍກາຍ' can also mean 'clear' or 'visible' in Lao and is often used when making comparisons of one thing to another with phrases such as `ກາຍ(clear)ສາວ`, which translates in English to mean `young lady`. | |||
| Malay | telanjang | ||
| "Telanjang": in the past also meant "to go outside" and "to be exposed". | |||
| Thai | เปล่า | ||
| เปล่า can also mean 'empty' or 'having nothing inside'. | |||
| Vietnamese | khỏa thân | ||
| The word "khỏa thân" in Vietnamese can also refer to "being alone or isolated". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hubad | ||
Naked in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | çılpaq | ||
| "Çılpaq" (naked) in Azerbaijani can also mean "bare" or "uncovered." | |||
| Kazakh | жалаңаш | ||
| "Жалаңаш" is also used to describe something that is not protected or hidden. | |||
| Kyrgyz | жылаңач | ||
| "Жылаңач" also means "bare, uncovered, open, barefooted, unfurnished, uninhabited" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | урён | ||
| The word "урён" can also mean "bare", "empty", or "unfurnished". | |||
| Turkmen | ýalaňaç | ||
| Uzbek | yalang'och | ||
| The word "yalang'och" has additional meanings such as "bare" or "empty" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | يالىڭاچ | ||
Naked in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | olohelohe | ||
| "Naked" in Hawaiian is "olohelohe", meaning "without clothes" or "innocent". | |||
| Maori | tahanga | ||
| The Maori word "tahanga" has additional meanings depending on context, including "unadorned" and "open" | |||
| Samoan | le lavalava | ||
| "Le lavalava" also means "a mat used to sleep on" or "a strip of cloth worn around the waist". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | hubad | ||
| The word "hubad" in Tagalog shares its origin with the Sanskrit term "nivasantah" meaning "those who reside in clothes." | |||
Naked in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | q’ala jan isinïña | ||
| Guarani | opívo | ||
Naked in International Languages
| Esperanto | nuda | ||
| Nuda is the feminine nominative of the Esperanto adjective for "naked." | |||
| Latin | nudus | ||
| The Latin word 'nudus' is also used to refer to unadorned or plain speech, as in 'nudus sermo'. | |||
Naked in Others Languages
| Greek | γυμνός | ||
| The Greek word "γυμνός" (naked), besides its literal meaning, also signifies "bare, stripped, unadorned" as well as "unarmed, defenseless". | |||
| Hmong | liab qab | ||
| The Hmong word 'liab qab' can also refer to a person who is vulnerable and defenseless, or to someone who has been stripped of their dignity. | |||
| Kurdish | tazî | ||
| The word "tazî" also means "poor" in Kurdish, which may be related to the idea of being exposed or vulnerable when unclothed. | |||
| Turkish | çıplak | ||
| "Çıplak", meaning "naked" in modern Turkish, also meant "barefoot" in Old Turkish and still retains that meaning in Turkish dialects." | |||
| Xhosa | ze | ||
| "Ze" in Xhosa is a noun that refers to the bare or exposed body, but can also be used to describe a state of being stripped of dignity or respect. | |||
| Yiddish | נאַקעט | ||
| The Yiddish word "נאַקעט" (naked) is derived from the Middle High German word "nacket", meaning "without a shirt". | |||
| Zulu | nqunu | ||
| The Zulu word "nqunu" primarily means "nakedness," but can also be used figuratively to describe poverty or a lack of something. | |||
| Assamese | উলংগ | ||
| Aymara | q’ala jan isinïña | ||
| Bhojpuri | नंगा हो गइल बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ބަރަހަނާއެވެ | ||
| Dogri | नंगे | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hubad | ||
| Guarani | opívo | ||
| Ilocano | lamolamo | ||
| Krio | nekɛd wan | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕووتی | ||
| Maithili | नंगटे | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯅꯛꯅꯥ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | saruak a ni | ||
| Oromo | qullaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଉଲଗ୍ନ | ||
| Quechua | q’ala | ||
| Sanskrit | नग्नः | ||
| Tatar | ялангач | ||
| Tigrinya | ዕርቃኑ ወጺኡ | ||
| Tsonga | a nga ambalanga nchumu | ||