Narrow in Different Languages
Discover 'Narrow' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'narrow' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, describing something of little width or scope. It's a term that transcends cultural boundaries, being a fundamental aspect of how we understand and interact with the world around us. From a narrow path that twists through a dense forest to a narrow focus on a specific task, this term is both versatile and essential.
Historically, the concept of 'narrow' has played a crucial role in various cultural contexts. For instance, in medieval city planning, narrow streets were common to minimize the damage caused by potential fires. Moreover, in literature, a 'narrow escape' is a popular phrase that describes a fortunate avoidance of danger or failure.
Given its importance and cultural significance, it's no surprise that someone might want to know the translation of 'narrow' in different languages. Not only does this broaden one's linguistic abilities, but it also offers a window into other cultures and their unique perspectives on this universal concept.
Here are some translations of 'narrow' to pique your interest:
Narrow
Narrow in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | smal | ||
| The word "smal" in Afrikaans shares its roots with the Dutch word "smal", though unlike in Dutch, it is most commonly used in Afrikaans to refer to widths rather than heights. | |||
| Amharic | ጠባብ | ||
| The term "ጠባብ" in Amharic is also colloquially used to describe the act of being meticulous, attentive to detail, or focused on something. | |||
| Hausa | kunkuntar | ||
| "Kunkuntar" also means "a small quantity" or "few". | |||
| Igbo | warara | ||
| Igbo word 'warara' means 'narrow' and is closely related to 'wara' meaning 'to constrict' or 'reduce' the scope of something. | |||
| Malagasy | ferana | ||
| "Ferana" also means "to sharpen" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | yopapatiza | ||
| The word 'yopapatiza' is derived from the word 'yopapala', which means 'to be thin or narrow'. | |||
| Shona | yakamanikana | ||
| The word comes from the verb 'kuyamanika' meaning 'to squeeze' | |||
| Somali | cidhiidhi ah | ||
| The Somali word "cidhiidhi ah" can also refer to a feeling of tightness or constriction | |||
| Sesotho | moqotetsane | ||
| "Moqotetsane" is a diminutive form of the word "moqoqo" meaning "a narrow passage or opening". | |||
| Swahili | nyembamba | ||
| The Swahili word "nyembamba" can also refer to someone who is thin or skinny. | |||
| Xhosa | imxinwa | ||
| The word 'imxinwa' is derived from the same root as the word 'imngxuma', which means 'hole'. | |||
| Yoruba | dín | ||
| Dín can mean not just 'narrow' physically, but also 'narrow' or 'limited' in capabilities. | |||
| Zulu | mncane | ||
| The word "mncane" is also used to refer to the space between two things, such as the space between two fingers or the space between two houses. | |||
| Bambara | dɔgɔman | ||
| Ewe | me xe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | gito | ||
| Lingala | kaka | ||
| Luganda | obufunda | ||
| Sepedi | sesane | ||
| Twi (Akan) | teaa | ||
Narrow in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | ضيق | ||
| In colloquial Arabic, "ضيق" can also mean "annoyed" or "distressed". | |||
| Hebrew | לְצַמְצֵם | ||
| The root word צמצם can also refer to the physical act of pinching something between two fingers. | |||
| Pashto | تنګ | ||
| "تنګ" can also refer to a "difficult or dangerous situation" or a "difficult person to deal with" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | ضيق | ||
| In colloquial Arabic, "ضيق" can also mean "annoyed" or "distressed". | |||
Narrow in Western European Languages
| Albanian | e ngushte | ||
| The word "e ngushte" in Albanian also refers to a geographical pass, a strait, or a narrow stretch of land connecting two bodies of water. | |||
| Basque | estua | ||
| The word "estua" is also used to refer to the "inside" of something, or to a "place of gathering". | |||
| Catalan | estret | ||
| The word "estret" in Catalan comes from the Latin "strictus" meaning "tight" or "narrow", and it can also mean "strait" in the sense of a narrow passage of water. | |||
| Croatian | suziti | ||
| The word "suziti" in Croatian has a root meaning "to tie up" and is derived from the Proto-Slavic *sǫzъ. | |||
| Danish | smal | ||
| The word "smal" derives from the Old Norse word "smalr", meaning "small, narrow, or thin". | |||
| Dutch | smal | ||
| The Dutch word "smal" is derived from Old High German "smal", meaning "thin", and is cognate with English "small". | |||
| English | narrow | ||
| The word "narrow" is derived from the Old English word "nearu," which means "confined" or "close." | |||
| French | étroit | ||
| French 'étroit' refers to something both literally narrow and figuratively closed-minded or strict. | |||
| Frisian | nau | ||
| Frisian "nau" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "n *auwa"," meaning "confined" | |||
| Galician | estreito | ||
| The Galician word for "narrow", "estreito", comes from the Latin word "strictus", which also means "severe" or "harsh". | |||
| German | eng | ||
| The word "eng" is also used figuratively to describe the limits of space. | |||
| Icelandic | þröngt | ||
| The word "þröngt" in Icelandic originally meant "to press" or "to crowd" and is related to the English word "throng". | |||
| Irish | caol | ||
| The word “caol” can also refer to a “strait” (a narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of water). | |||
| Italian | stretto | ||
| The word "stretto" also refers to the narrowest part of a musical passage, where the voices or instruments converge. | |||
| Luxembourgish | enker | ||
| The word "enker" in Luxembourgish comes from the old German word "enger", which also means "narrow". | |||
| Maltese | dejjaq | ||
| The Maltese word "dejjaq" is derived from the Arabic "ضيق" (ḍayiq), meaning "narrow" or "confined." | |||
| Norwegian | smal | ||
| The word 'smal' has its roots in the Old Norse 'smala', meaning to be slender. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | limitar | ||
| The word "limitar" is derived from the Latin "limitaris", meaning "pertaining to a boundary". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cumhang | ||
| The word "cumhang" in Scots Gaelic has an alternate form "cuimghe", from the Gaelic word "cuibhe" meaning "fitting; suitable; corresponding." | |||
| Spanish | estrecho | ||
| The Spanish word "estrecho" also refers to the Strait of Gibraltar. | |||
| Swedish | smal | ||
| The word "smal" is a cognate of the English word "small" and has similar roots in Proto-Germanic. | |||
| Welsh | cul | ||
| In Welsh the word 'cul' is also synonymous with a cul-de-sac and can be found at the end of place names that describe the location of a property. | |||
Narrow in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | вузкі | ||
| The word "вузкі" in Belarusian also means "difficult" or "hard to understand". | |||
| Bosnian | uska | ||
| The word "uska" also means "tight" or "cramped" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | тесен | ||
| The word "тесен" can also mean "tight", "close-fitting", "limited in space", or "oppressive". | |||
| Czech | úzký | ||
| The term "úzký" is related to the Proto-Slavic word *žьskъ, and can also indicate "thin", "slender", or "tight, restricted" as well as being used in a figurative and abstract sense. | |||
| Estonian | kitsas | ||
| The word "kitsas" also means "stingy" or "greedy" in Estonian, highlighting its association with negative financial behaviors. | |||
| Finnish | kapea | ||
| "kapea" (narrow) is also a noun meaning "a narrow strip of land between two bodies of water" or "a narrow channel or passageway". | |||
| Hungarian | keskeny | ||
| The word "keskeny" may also refer to "slim" or "tight" in a non-physical sense, such as a financial situation or a relationship. | |||
| Latvian | šaurs | ||
| The word "Šaurs" can also refer to a person who is tight-fisted or stingy. | |||
| Lithuanian | siauras | ||
| The word "siauras" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂ens-gh-u-ro-s", meaning "narrow, tight, close". | |||
| Macedonian | тесен | ||
| The word "тесен" also means "difficult" or "uncomfortable" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | wąski | ||
| "Wąski" is also used to describe a limited scope or perspective. | |||
| Romanian | îngust | ||
| The Romanian word "îngust" (narrow) is derived from the Latin "angustus", which also means "strait" or "confined". | |||
| Russian | узкий | ||
| The word "узкий" can also mean "limited" or "confined" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | узак | ||
| The word узак, meaning "narrow," is shared with the Russian and Ukrainian languages, and all three trace their origins to the Proto-Slavic word "ǫzъkъ," also meaning "narrow." | |||
| Slovak | úzky | ||
| The word 'úzky' can also be used in a figurative sense to describe a limited situation or a lack of freedom. | |||
| Slovenian | ozko | ||
| The word "ozko" in Slovenian originates from the Slavic word "ozekъ", meaning "narrow" or "tight". | |||
| Ukrainian | вузький | ||
| The word “вузький” (“narrow”) in Ukrainian is related to the verb “звужувати” (“to narrow”) and also means “close” or “confined”. | |||
Narrow in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সরু | ||
| সরুর কাঠামোগত সমার্থক হলো 'সরে' যা হিন্দুদের জাতিব্যবস্থা অনুযায়ী সবচেয়ে নিম্ন বর্ণকে বুঝায়। | |||
| Gujarati | સાકડૂ | ||
| The word "સાકડૂ" in Gujarati may also refer to a place or a narrow opening. | |||
| Hindi | संकीर्ण | ||
| "संकीर्ण" also means "complex" or "difficult to understand". | |||
| Kannada | ಕಿರಿದಾದ | ||
| The term 'ಕಿರಿದಾದ' can also refer to an individual's mindset, personality, or perspective. | |||
| Malayalam | ഇടുങ്ങിയത് | ||
| The word 'ഇടുങ്ങിയത്' ('narrow') in Malayalam comes from the root 'ഇട' ('to shut, close'), indicating a space that is constricted or closed off. | |||
| Marathi | अरुंद | ||
| The Marathi word "अरुंद" comes from the Prakrit word "अरुंड" which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word "अरूंध". | |||
| Nepali | साँघुरो | ||
| The word 'साँघुरो' also means 'uncomfortable' or 'tight' in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਤੰਗ | ||
| ਤੰਗ is derived from Sanskrit तंग which means "to distress, squeeze, or oppress". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පටුයි | ||
| පටුයි is also used figuratively to describe someone who is shrewd or cunning. | |||
| Tamil | குறுகிய | ||
| குறுகிய (kurukiya) also means "narrow-minded" or "mean" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | ఇరుకైన | ||
| The word "ఇరుకైన" can also mean "tight" or "confined" in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | تنگ | ||
| In Persian, the word "تنگ" can also refer to a "straight" or "strait" (as in the Strait of Hormuz), or a "gorge". | |||
Narrow in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 狭窄 | ||
| The word "狭窄" also means "limited" or "restrictive". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 狹窄 | ||
| The word 狹窄 in Chinese can also mean 'small-minded' or 'narrow-minded'. | |||
| Japanese | 狭い | ||
| 狭い derives from the verb 狭む (せばむ) which means to become narrower. | |||
| Korean | 제한된 | ||
| The Chinese character 柬, from which 제한된 is derived, can also mean to select, choose, or distinguish between. | |||
| Mongolian | нарийн | ||
| "Нарийн" is also used to describe something that is precise or meticulous. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကျဉ်းသော | ||
| The word "ကျဉ်းသော" (narrow) is also used to describe a narrow-minded person or a tight situation. | |||
Narrow in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | sempit | ||
| The word "sempit" has Proto-Austronesian origins and cognates in other Malayo-Polynesian languages, like the Tongan "sipi" (tightly woven mat). | |||
| Javanese | sempit | ||
| In Indonesian, "sempit" also means "uncomfortable" or "constrained". | |||
| Khmer | តូចចង្អៀត | ||
| The term តូចចង្អៀត can also mean "confined" or "restricted" in a figurative sense, similar to the English idiom "tight spot" | |||
| Lao | ແຄບ | ||
| The Lao word for "narrow," ແຄບ, also means "difficult to achieve" | |||
| Malay | sempit | ||
| In colloquial Indonesian, "sempit" can also mean "difficult" or "oppressive." | |||
| Thai | แคบ | ||
| แคบ shares a root with 'เกรียม', 'กรียม', 'ขราม', 'คลำ' which all contain the idea of a hard or rough surface or a difficult situation | |||
| Vietnamese | hẹp | ||
| "Hẹp" also means "shallow" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | makitid | ||
Narrow in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | dar | ||
| The word "dar" in Azerbaijani can also mean "tight" or "narrow-minded". | |||
| Kazakh | тар | ||
| The word "тар" in Kazakh also means "thin", "slender", or "lean". | |||
| Kyrgyz | тар | ||
| The word тар (narrow) in Kyrgyz is a cognate of the word тара in other Turkic languages, meaning "to spread out". | |||
| Tajik | танг | ||
| In Tajik, "танг" can also refer to a gorge or ravine. | |||
| Turkmen | dar | ||
| Uzbek | tor | ||
| In some Turkic languages, "tor" can also refer to a mountain or a hill. | |||
| Uyghur | تار | ||
Narrow in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | haiki | ||
| Haiki can also mean a small, confined area, such as an enclosure or valley that is difficult to enter or escape. | |||
| Maori | whāiti | ||
| Whāiti's original meaning was "to choke", reflecting the narrowing of a passageway. | |||
| Samoan | vaapiapi | ||
| The word 'vaapiapi' can also be translated as 'squeezed' or 'tight' in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | makitid | ||
| The word "makitid" in Tagalog also means "stingy" or "close-fisted", implying a narrowness not just in space but also in character and behavior. | |||
Narrow in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | k'ullk'u | ||
| Guarani | po'i | ||
Narrow in International Languages
| Esperanto | mallarĝa | ||
| Mallarĝa originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *merg- meaning "to border, boundary" | |||
| Latin | adspectum graciliorem | ||
| The phrase is also used in classical Latin to describe the shape of letters in the context of penmanship or calligraphy. | |||
Narrow in Others Languages
| Greek | στενός | ||
| The Greek word "στενός" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*steg-h₂, | |||
| Hmong | nqaim | ||
| The word "nqaim" in Hmong can also refer to small items or quantities. | |||
| Kurdish | teng | ||
| The word "teng" in Kurdish also means "difficult" or "painful." | |||
| Turkish | dar | ||
| In some dialects, 'dar' is also used to mean 'tight' or 'cramped'. | |||
| Xhosa | imxinwa | ||
| The word 'imxinwa' is derived from the same root as the word 'imngxuma', which means 'hole'. | |||
| Yiddish | שמאָל | ||
| The word 'shmal' (narrow) comes from the German 'schmal', which in turn is derived from the Old Norse 'smár' (thin, slender). | |||
| Zulu | mncane | ||
| The word "mncane" is also used to refer to the space between two things, such as the space between two fingers or the space between two houses. | |||
| Assamese | ঠেক | ||
| Aymara | k'ullk'u | ||
| Bhojpuri | पातर | ||
| Dhivehi | ދަތި | ||
| Dogri | तंग | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | makitid | ||
| Guarani | po'i | ||
| Ilocano | naakikid | ||
| Krio | tayt | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تەسک | ||
| Maithili | पातर | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯕ | ||
| Mizo | zim | ||
| Oromo | dhiphaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଅଣଓସାରିଆ | ||
| Quechua | kichki | ||
| Sanskrit | सङ्कीर्णः | ||
| Tatar | тар | ||
| Tigrinya | ፀቢብ | ||
| Tsonga | lala | ||