Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'natural' holds a special place in our hearts and minds, representing authenticity, simplicity, and a deep connection to the world around us. Its significance extends beyond mere vocabulary, tapping into the very essence of what it means to be human. From the rolling hills of the countryside to the bustling streets of the city, the concept of 'natural' is a universal language that transcends borders and cultures.
Throughout history, the word 'natural' has been a source of inspiration for artists, philosophers, and scientists alike. It has sparked countless debates, influenced major discoveries, and shaped the way we view ourselves and the world we inhabit. From the ancient Greek concept of 'physis' to the modern English definition of 'existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind', the word 'natural' has evolved and adapted with the times, yet its core meaning remains unchanged.
Given its cultural importance, it's no wonder that many people are interested in learning the translations of 'natural' in different languages. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply curious, understanding the nuances of this word in various languages can open up new worlds of meaning and understanding.
Here are just a few of the many translations of 'natural' in different languages:
Afrikaans | natuurlik | ||
The word "natuurlik" in Afrikaans derives from the Dutch word "natuurlijk" and carries the same meaning of "in accordance with nature". | |||
Amharic | ተፈጥሯዊ | ||
"ተፈጥሯዊ" can also mean "instinctive" or "unnatural (in the sense of not being learned or acquired)." | |||
Hausa | na halitta | ||
The Hausa word "na halitta" ultimately derives from the Arabic "khalq" (creation), and also relates to the Hausa word for "life" ("hali"). | |||
Igbo | eke | ||
Though the word "eke" primarily means "natural" in Igbo, it also has alternate meanings such as "ordinary" and "everyday." | |||
Malagasy | ara-nofo | ||
The word 'ara-nofo' can also mean 'native' or 'indigenous'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | zachilengedwe | ||
“Zachilengedwe” can also mean “by itself” or “on its own.” | |||
Shona | zvakasikwa | ||
The Shona word "zvakasikwa" is also used to describe something that is innate or inherent. | |||
Somali | dabiici ah | ||
In Somali, the term "dabiici ah" can also refer to something that is innate, intrinsic, or inherent. | |||
Sesotho | tlhaho | ||
Swahili | asili | ||
The word 'asili' in Swahili can also refer to 'original' or 'native'. | |||
Xhosa | yendalo | ||
'Yendalo' also means 'that which is'} | |||
Yoruba | adayeba | ||
The word "adayeba" in Yoruba can also mean "uncooked" or "unripe". | |||
Zulu | yemvelo | ||
"Yemvelo" comes from the same root as the word "velo", meaning "earth", and also has the connotation of "wild" and "uncultivated" | |||
Bambara | yɛrɛyɛrɛ | ||
Ewe | dzɔdzɔme nu | ||
Kinyarwanda | karemano | ||
Lingala | ya malamu | ||
Luganda | buzaalirwana | ||
Sepedi | tlhago | ||
Twi (Akan) | abɔdeɛ mu deɛ | ||
Arabic | طبيعي >> صفة | ||
The Arabic word "طبيعي" also means "usual" or "common". | |||
Hebrew | טִבעִי | ||
The Hebrew word "טִבעִי" ("natural") also has the connotation of "genuine" or "authentic". | |||
Pashto | طبیعي | ||
The Pashto word "طبیعي" has several other meanings, including "pure", "authentic", and "original". | |||
Arabic | طبيعي >> صفة | ||
The Arabic word "طبيعي" also means "usual" or "common". |
Albanian | natyrore | ||
The word "natyrore" in Albanian is derived from the Latin word "natura" and it can also mean "essential" or "inherent." | |||
Basque | naturala | ||
Also means 'true' (as in the essence or true nature of something) in Basque, from Latin: 'natura' (nature), akin to 'nascor' (be born, come to existence). | |||
Catalan | natural | ||
The word "natural" comes from the Latin word "naturalis," which means "of nature". | |||
Croatian | prirodno | ||
"Prirodno" in Croatian also means "naturally," "obviously," or "of course." | |||
Danish | naturlig | ||
In Danish, 'naturlig' can also mean 'of course' or 'obviously'. | |||
Dutch | natuurlijk | ||
In 1521, "natuurlijk" was an acceptable alternate spelling for "neutral". | |||
English | natural | ||
The word "natural" derives from the Latin "naturalis", meaning "of or belonging to nature". | |||
French | naturel | ||
In French, “Naturel” also means “birthmark,” and can be found as a surname in some instances. | |||
Frisian | natuerlik | ||
In a figurative sense, "natuerlik" can also indicate normality or something that seems right and acceptable to most. | |||
Galician | natural | ||
In Galician, "natural" is used to refer to people born in the region, as opposed to those who have moved there. | |||
German | natürlich | ||
The German word "natürlich" can also refer to the music note B-flat in some contexts | |||
Icelandic | náttúrulegt | ||
In Icelandic, the word náttúrulegt can also mean "authentic," "genuine," or "spontaneous." | |||
Irish | nádúrtha | ||
The word "nádúrtha" in Irish comes from the Latin "natura", meaning "birth", and can also mean "supernatural" or "divine". | |||
Italian | naturale | ||
The Italian word 'naturale' can also mean 'of course' or 'naturally,' and is often used as a filler word. | |||
Luxembourgish | natierlech | ||
The word "natierlech" has been suggested to come from the root *nath,* meaning "to moisten," and thus referred to something born from moisture, i.e. nature. | |||
Maltese | naturali | ||
Maltese "naturali" is derived from Italian "naturale" and also means "simple" or "ordinary"} | |||
Norwegian | naturlig | ||
Used in Norwegian, "naturlig" can also have the meaning "of course" or "obviously"} | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | natural | ||
In Portuguese, the word "natural" can also refer to something that is inherent, essential, or characteristic of a person or thing. | |||
Scots Gaelic | nàdarra | ||
The Gaelic word "nàdarra" can also mean "nature," "innate," or "inborn." | |||
Spanish | natural | ||
Además de "natural", la palabra "natural" puede significar "propio" o "legítimo" en español. | |||
Swedish | naturlig | ||
In Swedish, "naturlig" can also mean "of course" or "obviously". | |||
Welsh | naturiol | ||
The word 'naturiol' can also be used to mean 'simple' or 'naive' in Welsh. |
Belarusian | натуральны | ||
Bosnian | prirodno | ||
The word 'prirodno' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'priroda', which means 'nature' or 'origin'. | |||
Bulgarian | естествен | ||
The Bulgarian word "естествен" (natural) also means "legitimate" or "authentic" in some contexts. | |||
Czech | přírodní | ||
The word "přírodní" in Czech can also mean "artificial" or "man-made". | |||
Estonian | loomulik | ||
"Loomulik" comes from "looma", which means "animal", and originally meant "animalistic", but with a derogatory connotation which was later dropped. | |||
Finnish | luonnollinen | ||
The word "luonnollinen" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "luonta", meaning "nature". | |||
Hungarian | természetes | ||
The Hungarian word "természetes" is a loanword from Slovak that originally only referred to supernatural or magical beings and powers. | |||
Latvian | dabiski | ||
The word “dabiski” can also describe the quality of a product that hasn't been processed in any way | |||
Lithuanian | natūralus | ||
"Natūralus" may also carry the additional connotation of "native or indigenous" (in reference to plants or animals) or "genuine or authentic" (in reference to emotions or qualities). | |||
Macedonian | природно | ||
The word "природно" can also be used to mean "organic" or "green". | |||
Polish | naturalny | ||
The word "naturalny" in Polish also refers to something that is artificial or fake, in contrast to its more common meaning of "natural". | |||
Romanian | natural | ||
In Romanian, the word "natural" carries the additional meaning of "genuine" or "authentic." | |||
Russian | естественный | ||
The word "естественный" can also mean "legitimate" or "normal" in Russian. | |||
Serbian | природни | ||
The root of the word "природни"("natural") shares an origin with the word "природа"("nature"), thus emphasizing the inherent characteristic of something. | |||
Slovak | prirodzené | ||
In Slovak, "prirodzené" also means "innate," "intrinsic," or "inherent." | |||
Slovenian | naravno | ||
"Naravno" also means "of course" and is cognate with Polish "naturalnie" and Russian "натурально". | |||
Ukrainian | природний | ||
The Ukrainian word "природний" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *prьrodъ*, meaning "origin", "birth" or "nature". |
Bengali | প্রাকৃতিক | ||
The word "প্রাকৃতিক" also means "common", "ordinary", or "unadorned" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | કુદરતી | ||
"કુદરતી" ('natural') in Gujarati can also refer to 'unrefined' (e.g., oil or sugar) and 'homely' or 'local' cuisine. | |||
Hindi | प्राकृतिक | ||
The word "प्राकृतिक" in Hindi can also mean "elemental" or "raw". | |||
Kannada | ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ | ||
Malayalam | സ്വാഭാവികം | ||
Though the word "സ്വാഭാവികം" predominantly means "natural," it can also mean "spontaneous" or "habitual," depending on the context. | |||
Marathi | नैसर्गिक | ||
In Marathi, "नैसर्गिक" also refers to a person with an innate or natural ability or talent. | |||
Nepali | प्राकृतिक | ||
The word प्राकृतिक ("natural") in Nepali is derived from Prakrit, an ancient Indian language spoken during the 3rd century BCE to the 10th century CE. | |||
Punjabi | ਕੁਦਰਤੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ස්වාභාවික | ||
The word "ස්වාභාවික" (natural) is derived from the Sanskrit word "स्वभाव" (nature, disposition), which itself is derived from the root "स्व" (self) and "भाव" (being). | |||
Tamil | இயற்கை | ||
"இயற்கை" (natural) in Tamil also refers to "creation" and "destiny," deriving from the root "இயல்" (nature, inherent quality). | |||
Telugu | సహజ | ||
సహజ derives from the Proto-Dravidian word for "born" or "origin," a cognate of the Sanskrit word "sahaja." | |||
Urdu | قدرتی | ||
The word "قدرتی" also means "predestined" or "divine." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 自然 | ||
In Japanese, 自然 (pronounced “shizen”) refers to “the natural world”, while in Chinese, it also refers to “spontaneous” or “unforced”. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 自然 | ||
自然 (zìrán) includes meanings of "self-so" and "of its own nature". | |||
Japanese | ナチュラル | ||
The Japanese word "ナチュラル" can also refer to "without artifice" and "casual". | |||
Korean | 자연스러운 | ||
The word 자연스러운 (natural) in Korean can also mean 'instinctive' or 'spontaneous'. | |||
Mongolian | байгалийн | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | သဘာဝ | ||
The Burmese word "သဘာဝ" can also refer to the inherent or essential qualities of something. |
Indonesian | alam | ||
In Arabic, "alam" means "universe" or "world" and is also used to describe the realm of the supernatural. | |||
Javanese | alam | ||
"Alam" can also mean "world" or "universe" in Javanese, showing its cosmic scope. | |||
Khmer | ធម្មជាតិ | ||
The word "ធម្មជាតិ" (natural) derives from the Sanskrit word "dharma", meaning law or order, and "jati", meaning birth or origin. | |||
Lao | ທໍາມະຊາດ | ||
Malay | semula jadi | ||
The word "semula jadi" literally means "becoming what is" in Malay, highlighting the dynamic and transformative nature of what is considered "natural". | |||
Thai | ธรรมชาติ | ||
The Thai word "ธรรมชาติ" (tham-ma-chaat) has a broader meaning than the English word "natural"} | |||
Vietnamese | tự nhiên | ||
Tư nhiên (natural) has multiple meanings and etymologies: it could be used as an adverb meaning “spontaneously”, as a noun meaning “nature” and to denote the state of having “no alteration”. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | natural | ||
Azerbaijani | təbii | ||
Təbii in Azerbaijani can also mean 'of course' or 'as a matter of fact' | |||
Kazakh | табиғи | ||
Табиғи means both "natural" and "usual" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | табигый | ||
The word "табигый" in Kyrgyz can also mean "genuine" or "original". | |||
Tajik | табиӣ | ||
The word табиӣ is derived from the Arabic word طبيع, meaning nature, and can also mean innate or original in Tajik. | |||
Turkmen | tebigy | ||
Uzbek | tabiiy | ||
Tabiiy ultimately derives from the Arabic "tabī'ī" (natural, genuine), which is in turn derived from the Arabic verbal root "-ṭ-b-ʿ", meaning "to follow; to accompany; to be accustomed to; to be natural." | |||
Uyghur | تەبىئىي | ||
Hawaiian | kūlohelohe | ||
The Hawaiian word "kūlohelohe" can also refer to something that is raw or unprocessed, or to a person who is simple or unsophisticated. | |||
Maori | maori | ||
Maori also means "normal" or "ordinary". | |||
Samoan | natura | ||
The Samoan word "natura" is derived from the Proto-Oceanic root *natura*, meaning "life" or "existence." | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | natural | ||
The Tagalog word "natural" can also mean "son of nature" or "original." |
Aymara | naturala | ||
Guarani | heko ypýva | ||
Esperanto | natura | ||
The Esperanto word 'natura' is derived from both the Latin words 'natura' ('natural' or 'character') and 'nasci' ('to be born'). | |||
Latin | naturalis | ||
"Naturalis" derives from the root *nasci* ("be born") and also carries the meaning "native, indigenous" in Latin. |
Greek | φυσικός | ||
Φυσικός derives from the Greek word "φύσις" (physis), which also means "nature," and from the verb "φύω" (phuo), meaning "to grow" or "to come into existence." | |||
Hmong | ntuj | ||
The Hmong word "ntuj" can also be used to refer to the spiritual realm, or to describe something that is divine or sacred. | |||
Kurdish | xûriste | ||
The word 'xûriste' derives from the Proto-Indo-European root '*kwer-' meaning 'to turn or bend', suggesting a connection to the natural growth and transformation of plants and animals. | |||
Turkish | doğal | ||
In Turkish, "doğal" also refers to substances derived from nature, free from additives and artificial ingredients. | |||
Xhosa | yendalo | ||
'Yendalo' also means 'that which is'} | |||
Yiddish | נאַטירלעך | ||
In some contexts, "נאַטירלעך" can mean "of course" or "naturally." | |||
Zulu | yemvelo | ||
"Yemvelo" comes from the same root as the word "velo", meaning "earth", and also has the connotation of "wild" and "uncultivated" | |||
Assamese | প্ৰাকৃতিক | ||
Aymara | naturala | ||
Bhojpuri | स्वाभाविक | ||
Dhivehi | ޤުދުރަތީ | ||
Dogri | कुदरती | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | natural | ||
Guarani | heko ypýva | ||
Ilocano | natural | ||
Krio | kɔmɔn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سروشتی | ||
Maithili | प्राकृतिक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯍꯧꯁꯥ | ||
Mizo | dan pangngai | ||
Oromo | kan uumamaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ | ||
Quechua | kaqlla | ||
Sanskrit | प्राकृतिक | ||
Tatar | табигый | ||
Tigrinya | ተፈጥራዊ | ||
Tsonga | xa ntumbuluko | ||