Open in Different Languages
Discover 'Open' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'open' holds a special significance in our daily lives, denoting a state of unrestricted access or opportunity. It's a concept that transcends cultures and languages, embodying ideas of inclusivity, transparency, and innovation. From the Latin 'aperire' meaning 'to uncover', to the Old Norse 'opr' meaning 'not closed', the word's cultural importance is deeply rooted in our shared human experience.
Understanding the translation of 'open' in different languages not only enriches our linguistic abilities but also provides a window into diverse cultural perspectives. For instance, in Spanish, 'open' translates to 'abierto' - a term that also means 'unfastened' or 'unbuttoned', reflecting the language's rich vocabulary and cultural nuances.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'open' in various languages, from the French 'ouvert' to the Mandarin '开放' (kāifàng), discovering the fascinating histories and cultural contexts embedded in these words.
Open
Open in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | oopmaak | ||
| The Afrikaans word "oopmaak" is cognate with the Dutch word "openmaken", meaning "to open". It can also mean "to untie, undo, or dismantle" in Dutch. | |||
| Amharic | ክፈት | ||
| In Amharic, ክፈት ('open') can also refer to freedom, transparency, or a lack of secrecy. | |||
| Hausa | bude | ||
| Bude also means to have the opportunity or to get the chance to do something. | |||
| Igbo | imeghe | ||
| Igbo word "imeghe" also means "opportunity" which is its alternate meaning. | |||
| Malagasy | misokatra | ||
| "Misokatra" (open), which shares an etymology with "maso": face/eyes, and which may imply revealing a hidden meaning. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | tsegulani | ||
| The root word | |||
| Shona | kuvhura | ||
| Somali | furid | ||
| The word "furid" derives from the Proto-Somali root *fur-, meaning "to move out." | |||
| Sesotho | bula | ||
| In the past "bula" meant "to release" rather than "to open" as it does now. | |||
| Swahili | fungua | ||
| The Swahili word "fungua" is likely derived from the Bantu root word *fungu*, meaning "to untie" or "to release". | |||
| Xhosa | vula | ||
| In Xhosa, "vula" is related to the words "isivulo" (opening) and "imvula" (rain), implying that "vula" signifies the unblocking of a passage or the descent of something from above. | |||
| Yoruba | ṣii | ||
| The word 'ṣii' also means 'to break,' 'to begin,' or 'to loosen.' | |||
| Zulu | vula | ||
| Zulu word 'vula' is etymologically related to the word for 'reveal', 'show', or 'make visible'. | |||
| Bambara | ka dayɛlɛ | ||
| Ewe | ʋu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | fungura | ||
| Lingala | kofungola | ||
| Luganda | okuggula | ||
| Sepedi | bula | ||
| Twi (Akan) | bue | ||
Open in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | افتح | ||
| The verb "افتح" in Arabic can also take the alternate meanings to "win" or "conquer." | |||
| Hebrew | לִפְתוֹחַ | ||
| The word "לִפְתוֹחַ" can also mean "to solve" or "to resolve" in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | خلاص | ||
| The word "خلاص" in Pashto also has the meaning of "sufficient" and "enough". | |||
| Arabic | افتح | ||
| The verb "افتح" in Arabic can also take the alternate meanings to "win" or "conquer." | |||
Open in Western European Languages
| Albanian | e hapur | ||
| The Albanian word "e hapur" has Proto-Indo-European roots and is related to Sanskrit "upa" (near, over) and Latin "aperire" (to uncover). | |||
| Basque | irekia | ||
| 'Ireki' derives from Proto-Basque *eriki, which also meant 'clear' | |||
| Catalan | obert | ||
| The word "obert" comes from the Latin word "apertus", which means "open". | |||
| Croatian | otvoren | ||
| The Croatian word 'otvoren' ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic word '*otvorъ', meaning 'hole'. | |||
| Danish | åben | ||
| Åben (open) in old Danish also meant "exposed, vulnerable, without cover". | |||
| Dutch | open | ||
| As a Dutch adjective, "open" can also mean "public" or "manifest". | |||
| English | open | ||
| The word 'open' shares the same Latin origin ('pāndere') as 'expand', 'expanse', and 'display'. | |||
| French | ouvert | ||
| In French, the word "ouvert" can also mean "frank" or "sincere". | |||
| Frisian | iepen | ||
| The word 'iepen' can also mean to 'break' or 'crack' in Frisian. | |||
| Galician | aberto | ||
| Galician "aberto" derives from Latin "apertum" ("open"), a past participle of "aperire" ("to open"). | |||
| German | öffnen | ||
| Öffnen shares a root with the English word 'aperture' and ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European word 'ep-'. | |||
| Icelandic | opinn | ||
| Icelandic 'opinn' means 'open' and is derived from the Old Norse word 'opinn,' which also meant 'public' or 'not secret'. | |||
| Irish | oscailte | ||
| The word "oscailte" shares its root with "fiosc" meaning light, and is also related to the word "deosc" meaning south. | |||
| Italian | aperto | ||
| Aperto, as in aperture, also signifies the beginning of something, often a musical piece. | |||
| Luxembourgish | opmaachen | ||
| The word "opmaachen" in Luxembourgish shares its Germanic root with "open" in English, meaning "to uncover or expose." | |||
| Maltese | miftuħa | ||
| The word 'miftuħa' can also refer to an opening move in a game, especially chess. | |||
| Norwegian | åpen | ||
| The word "åpning" (opening) is derived from "åpen" and can mean both the act or state of opening something and an opening or hole. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | abrir | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "abrir" can also mean to reveal a secret or to break or tear open. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | fosgailte | ||
| The Gaelic word 'fosgailte' derives from the Proto-Celtic *wo-skelt-, meaning 'to open', and has cognates in Welsh (agosgeltu) and Irish (oscailte). | |||
| Spanish | abierto | ||
| The word "abierto" means "open" in Spanish and derives from the Latin word "apertus" meaning "uncovered". | |||
| Swedish | öppet | ||
| "Öppet" in Swedish comes from the Old Norse word "opin," meaning "to show oneself." | |||
| Welsh | agored | ||
| The word 'agored' also has a more specific meaning, referring to a marketplace or public square. | |||
Open in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | адкрыты | ||
| “Адкрыты” can also mean “sincere” or “transparent” and is used to describe people and their actions. | |||
| Bosnian | otvoren | ||
| The word "otvoren" also means "ready" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | отворен | ||
| Bulgarian "отворен" is derived from the Slavic root *vor*, meaning "door" or "gate". | |||
| Czech | otevřeno | ||
| The Czech word "otevřeno" also has a deeper historical connotation, referring to the time when only shops would open up and display their wares, while markets were still closed. | |||
| Estonian | avatud | ||
| Estonian "avatud" is derived from a Proto-Finnic word base denoting "open". In Finnish, "avoin" (open) and "avaimet" (keys) share the same base. | |||
| Finnish | avata | ||
| The word "avata" can also mean "to open up" or "to expose". | |||
| Hungarian | nyisd ki | ||
| The word "nyit" (meaning "to open") is of Turkic origin, and is related to the Turkish word "açmak" and the Azerbaijani word "açmaq". | |||
| Latvian | atvērts | ||
| The Latvian word "atvērts" is related to the verb "vert" (to open) and also means "hospitable" or "willing to accept". | |||
| Lithuanian | atviras | ||
| "Atviras" in Lithuanian, meaning "open," shares a root with the word "atverti," or "to open," suggesting the concept of "making open" or "creating an opening." | |||
| Macedonian | отворен | ||
| The Macedonian word "отворен" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *otvoriti, which also means "to free" or "to liberate". | |||
| Polish | otwarty | ||
| The Polish word "otwarty" derives from the Proto-Slavic root "otvorъ", meaning "hole, opening" but it can also mean accessible, receptive to ideas or frank | |||
| Romanian | deschis | ||
| "Deschis" is derived from the Latin "discooperire" meaning "to uncover" and also means "frank" or "revealed" in Romanian. | |||
| Russian | открытым | ||
| "Открытым" can also mean "outspoken" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | отворен | ||
| The word "отворен" can also mean "sincere" or "frank". | |||
| Slovak | otvorené | ||
| The word "otvorené" also means "candid" or "sincere" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | odprto | ||
| The verb 'odpreti' derives from the Slavic root 'pert-' and originally referred to the act of jumping or leaping. | |||
| Ukrainian | відчинено | ||
| The word "відчинено" in Ukrainian also means "unlocked" or "not closed" | |||
Open in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | খোলা | ||
| "খোলা" (open) in Bengali can also mean "to reveal" or "to expose". | |||
| Gujarati | ખુલ્લા | ||
| The Gujarati word 'ખુલ્લા' can also mean 'exposed' or 'vulnerable', similar to the English idiom 'to leave oneself wide open'. | |||
| Hindi | खुला हुआ | ||
| The Hindi word 'खुला हुआ' (open) stems from the Sanskrit verb 'khal', meaning to loosen or widen. | |||
| Kannada | ತೆರೆದಿರುತ್ತದೆ | ||
| The word "తెರೆదింపు" (tereḍimpu) in Telugu, which means "to open", is derived from the same root as "తెర" (tera), meaning "curtain". | |||
| Malayalam | തുറക്കുക | ||
| തുറക്കുക derives from the Dravidian root word 'tur', meaning 'to cut' or 'to pierce'. | |||
| Marathi | उघडा | ||
| Nepali | खोल्नुहोस् | ||
| The word खोल्नुहोस् is derived from the Sanskrit word 'khalu' which means 'to loosen' or 'to free'. It can also be used to describe the act of releasing something from a container or from a state of confinement. | |||
| Punjabi | ਖੁੱਲਾ | ||
| The word 'khulla' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'khula', meaning 'broad' or 'expansive'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විවෘත | ||
| Its other meanings include "disclosed", "exposed", "not concealed", "manifest", "apparent", "frank", "sincere", "free", "unoccupied", "vacant", "accessible", "permeable", "passable", "porous", "uncovered", "unroofed", "unprotected", "naked", "bare", "unarmed", "unbuttoned", "untied", "unfastened", "unchained", "unimpeded", "unhindered", "unconfined", "unrestricted", "unconstrained", "unhampered", "unobstructed", "unbridled", "uncontrolled", "uncurbed", "unrestrained", "unlimited", "unbounded", "unmeasured", "unconditional", "unqualified", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditional", "unspecified", "unrestricted", "unreserved", "unqualified", "unconditionally". Its etymology is from the Sanskrit word "vivṛta". Other languages that use words related to "vivṛta" include Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, Assamese, and Konkani. | |||
| Tamil | திறந்த | ||
| The word 'திறந்த' in Tamil also has connotations of 'spaciousness', 'freedom', and 'expansiveness'. | |||
| Telugu | తెరిచి ఉంది | ||
| Urdu | کھلا | ||
| The word "کھلا" (open) in Urdu can also mean "bald" or "empty". | |||
Open in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 打开 | ||
| The term "打开" also refers to the first or introductory section of a Chinese-style narrative or essay. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 打開 | ||
| "打開" literally means "open the lock/cover", a verb that implies removing an obstacle or barrier to gain access. | |||
| Japanese | 開いた | ||
| Originally meaning "to separate" or "to loosen", the word can also refer to the beginning of a time period, as in the opening of a store or the start of a new season. | |||
| Korean | 열다 | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "open", "열다" can also mean "to solve" or "to break open". | |||
| Mongolian | нээлттэй | ||
| "Нээлттэй" can mean "open in the sense of sincere" as well | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ပွင့်လင်း | ||
Open in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | buka | ||
| The word "Buka" likely originates from the Proto-Austronesian word "bukaq" meaning "to open." | |||
| Javanese | mbukak | ||
| The word 'mbukak' shares its root with 'ukara', meaning 'to say' or 'to talk'. | |||
| Khmer | បើក | ||
| បើក can also mean to start, or to begin in Khmer. | |||
| Lao | ເປີດ | ||
| The Lao word "ເປີດ" can also mean "to turn on" or "to release". | |||
| Malay | buka | ||
| The word "buka" in Malay can also refer to the act of opening a meeting, a book, or a shop. | |||
| Thai | เปิด | ||
| Besides meaning "open", "เปิด" (pronounced "pet") also means "to broadcast". | |||
| Vietnamese | mở | ||
| Mở has alternate meanings including 'to start operating' like a business, and 'to become available' like a path or route. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bukas | ||
Open in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | açıq | ||
| Aç?q can also mean "clear" or "transparent" in Azerbaijani; for example, aç?q çay is clear tea. | |||
| Kazakh | ашық | ||
| In Kazakh, "ашық" also means a type of traditional game played with ankle bones. | |||
| Kyrgyz | ачык | ||
| The word "ачык" also means "obvious" or "clear" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | кушодан | ||
| In Persian, "kushadan" is the imperative form of the verb "kushidan", meaning "to open" or "to stretch out". | |||
| Turkmen | açyk | ||
| Uzbek | ochiq | ||
| The Uzbek word "ochiq" can also refer to a person who is straightforward or honest. | |||
| Uyghur | ئوچۇق | ||
Open in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hāmama | ||
| In Hawaiian, the word “hāmama” means open but could also refer to "to unbind, to loosen, to divide, to release." | |||
| Maori | whakatuwhera | ||
| 'Whakatuwhera' derives from the Proto-Polynesian verb *fakamafola, meaning 'to make open or clear' | |||
| Samoan | matala | ||
| The word matala also means 'clear', 'unobstructed', 'visible', or 'revealed'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | buksan | ||
| The word "buksan" may be related to the Sanskrit word "bodh" (to awaken), as both words share the idea of opening or revealing something hidden. | |||
Open in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jist'arata | ||
| Guarani | pe'a | ||
Open in International Languages
| Esperanto | malfermi | ||
| The word 'malfermi' shares its root with 'malantaŭ' (behind) and 'maldekstra' (left). | |||
| Latin | patentibus | ||
| The term "patentibus" can also refer to a document that is issued by the government or a court and is intended to be shown to the public. | |||
Open in Others Languages
| Greek | άνοιξε | ||
| The word 'Άνοιξε' (open) is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂énkʷ-, meaning 'to bend, to hook'. | |||
| Hmong | qhib | ||
| In Hmong, "qhib" also means "to release", "to untie", and "to forgive". | |||
| Kurdish | vekirî | ||
| The term 'vekirî' has roots dating back to Middle-Persian 'wiker' (to unclose, uncover) and holds alternative meanings including 'disclosure' or 'interpretation'. | |||
| Turkish | açık | ||
| "Açık" also refers to a person's clarity of mind, and to the amount of light or shade. | |||
| Xhosa | vula | ||
| In Xhosa, "vula" is related to the words "isivulo" (opening) and "imvula" (rain), implying that "vula" signifies the unblocking of a passage or the descent of something from above. | |||
| Yiddish | עפענען | ||
| In Yiddish, the word "עפענען" is a variant spelling of "עפֿנען", which shares a common Germanic origin with English "oven" (a heated space closed off) and "open" (the state of having no closure). | |||
| Zulu | vula | ||
| Zulu word 'vula' is etymologically related to the word for 'reveal', 'show', or 'make visible'. | |||
| Assamese | খোলা | ||
| Aymara | jist'arata | ||
| Bhojpuri | खुला | ||
| Dhivehi | ހުޅުވުން | ||
| Dogri | खु'ल्ला | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bukas | ||
| Guarani | pe'a | ||
| Ilocano | lukatan | ||
| Krio | opin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کردنەوە | ||
| Maithili | खुलल | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯥꯡꯗꯣꯛꯄ | ||
| Mizo | hawng | ||
| Oromo | banaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଖୋଲ | | ||
| Quechua | kichasqa | ||
| Sanskrit | उद्घाटित | ||
| Tatar | ачык | ||
| Tigrinya | ክፈት | ||
| Tsonga | pfuleka | ||