Opposite in Different Languages
Discover 'Opposite' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'opposite' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting something that is entirely different or contrasting in position, direction, or effect. Its cultural importance is evident in various philosophies, art forms, and even in our daily lives where contrasting ideas and elements are constantly at play.
Delving into the translations of 'opposite' in different languages can open up a fascinating window into diverse cultural perspectives. For instance, in Spanish, the word for opposite is 'opuesto', in French, it's 'opposé', while in German, you'd say 'gegenüberliegend'. These translations not only help us understand linguistic nuances but also reveal how different cultures conceptualize the idea of opposition.
Moreover, exploring the word 'opposite' across languages can be an exciting journey for language enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike. It can provide insights into the unique ways each language captures this concept, enhancing our appreciation for the richness and diversity of human language and culture.
Opposite
Opposite in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | teenoorgestelde | ||
| The Afrikaans word "teenoorgestelde" is derived from the Dutch word "tegenstelling" which means "contrast". | |||
| Amharic | ተቃራኒ | ||
| The word ተቃራኒ primarily refers to physical opposition, but can also mean contrast or disagreement. | |||
| Hausa | kishiyar | ||
| In Hausa, "kishiyar" also means "rival" or "enemy". | |||
| Igbo | nke ozo | ||
| Igbo word "nke ozo" also means "the other side" or "the other party." | |||
| Malagasy | mifanohitra | ||
| The Malagasy word "mifanohitra" comes from the root "mifan" meaning "to face" or "to be opposite". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | moyang'anizana | ||
| The word "moyang'anizana" (opposite) in Nyanja (Chichewa) is derived from the verb stem "-yang'ana" (to turn or face) and the prefix "mo-" (one who or that which). | |||
| Shona | pakatarisana | ||
| The Shona word 'pakatarisana' also means 'to be in front of' or 'to face each other'. | |||
| Somali | ka soo horjeedka | ||
| The word "ka soo horjeedka" can also refer to a rebuttal or a contradiction. | |||
| Sesotho | kgahlano | ||
| Swahili | kinyume | ||
| The word 'kinyume' in Swahili also means 'contrast,' 'contradiction,' or 'denial'. | |||
| Xhosa | malunga | ||
| The word "malunga" can also mean "on the other side" or "over there" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | idakeji | ||
| "Idakeji" can refer to both "opposite" and the "direction towards which one is facing" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | okuphambene | ||
| The Zulu word "okuphambene" can also refer to a person who is left-handed. | |||
| Bambara | dɔwɛrɛ | ||
| Ewe | esi dze ŋgᴐ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | bitandukanye | ||
| Lingala | kotelemela | ||
| Luganda | obuteefaananyirizako | ||
| Sepedi | lelatodi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | abira | ||
Opposite in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | ضد | ||
| "ضد" has an alternate meaning of "anti" or "against," as in the word "مضاد حيوي" (antibiotic). | |||
| Hebrew | מול | ||
| The word "מול" can also mean "before","in front of" or "in the face of". | |||
| Pashto | برعکس | ||
| The word "برعکس" can also mean "backwards" or "upside down" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | ضد | ||
| "ضد" has an alternate meaning of "anti" or "against," as in the word "مضاد حيوي" (antibiotic). | |||
Opposite in Western European Languages
| Albanian | e kundërt | ||
| The word "e kundërt" has a secondary meaning, "rival". | |||
| Basque | kontrakoa | ||
| The word “kontrakoa” comes from the Latin word “contra”, which means “against” or “opposite”. | |||
| Catalan | oposat | ||
| The word “oposat” initially referred to a person who was opposing a ruling or had lost an election, and only later took on its current meaning of “opposite”. | |||
| Croatian | suprotan | ||
| The word "suprotan" in Croatian also means "countermeasure" or "counter-argument". | |||
| Danish | modsatte | ||
| In Danish, "modsatte" can also refer to someone who is stubborn or rebellious. | |||
| Dutch | tegenover | ||
| Tegenover derives from the Old Dutch words 'tege' (toward) and 'over' (above), implying 'facing each other'. | |||
| English | opposite | ||
| Opposite originally implied position, as in 'opposite the church', and only later acquired its more abstract meaning, as in 'the opposite sex'. | |||
| French | contraire | ||
| The French word "contraire" not only means opposite, but also means contradictory or contrary, and is related to the English word "contrariness." | |||
| Frisian | tsjinoersteld | ||
| The Frisian word "Tsjinoersteld" can also be used in a more literal way, meaning two objects are physically positioned against each other, such as with the two sides of a door | |||
| Galician | oposto | ||
| Galician "oposto" and Portuguese "oposto" originate from Latin "oppositus," meaning "placed against". | |||
| German | gegenteil | ||
| The word "Gegenteil" is often used to express that something is different or contrasting, but it can also refer to the specific opposite of something. | |||
| Icelandic | andstæða | ||
| The Icelandic word "andstæða" not only means "opposite" but also "confrontation" and "opponent". | |||
| Irish | os coinne | ||
| The word "os coinne" literally translates to "in the face of" or "in front of". | |||
| Italian | di fronte | ||
| "Di fronte" derives from the Latin "de fronte," meaning "from the forehead," or, figuratively, "face to face". | |||
| Luxembourgish | géigewier | ||
| The word "Géigewier" derives from the Old High German word "gigeginwerti" meaning "on the other side". | |||
| Maltese | oppost | ||
| The Maltese word "oppost" derives from the Latin word "oppositus", meaning "set against" or "lying opposite". | |||
| Norwegian | motsatte | ||
| “Motsatte” can also refer to contradictions with two contrasting statements. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | oposto | ||
| The word "oposto" in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) comes from the Latin word "oppositus" which also means "lying against" or "facing". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | mu choinneamh | ||
| It is also a word for a hill, a mound, or a heap, reflecting the literal meaning of "in front" (mu) and "elevation" (choinn). | |||
| Spanish | opuesto | ||
| The word "opuesto" comes from the Latin word "opponere," which means "to put against" or "to oppose." | |||
| Swedish | motsatt | ||
| The word 'motsatt' in Swedish derives from the Old Norse word 'mótstǫð,' meaning 'resistance' or 'obstacle'. | |||
| Welsh | gyferbyn | ||
| The Welsh word "gyferbyn" can also mean "against" or "facing each other". | |||
Opposite in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | насупраць | ||
| The word “насупраць” can also refer to a location that is in front of something. For example, “дом насупраць школы” could mean “a house in front of the school”. | |||
| Bosnian | suprotno | ||
| "Suprotno" also means "on the side of". | |||
| Bulgarian | противоположна | ||
| The word "противоположна" can also mean "contradictory" or "contrasting". | |||
| Czech | naproti | ||
| The word "naproti" also means "face to face" or "across from" in the context of a meeting or conversation. | |||
| Estonian | vastupidine | ||
| The word "vastupidine" is derived from the Estonian words "vastas" (opposite) and "pidine" (like). | |||
| Finnish | vastapäätä | ||
| In Estonian, "vastas" means "opposite", and "pää" means "head". Thus, "vastapäätä" could literally mean "head to head" in Estonian. | |||
| Hungarian | szemben | ||
| The Hungarian word "szemben" also means "in the face of" and can be used to express confrontation or challenge. | |||
| Latvian | pretēji | ||
| Latvian "pretēji" comes from the verb "pretīties", meaning to resist, oppose or contradict. | |||
| Lithuanian | priešingas | ||
| The Lithuanian word "priešingas" also means "contradictory" or "reversed." | |||
| Macedonian | наспроти | ||
| The word "наспроти" derives from Proto-Slavic *nasъprogъti, which originally meant "towards" or "facing". | |||
| Polish | naprzeciwko | ||
| In Polish, 'naprzeciwko' also means 'to meet', reflecting the dual nature of encountering someone or something physically and mentally. | |||
| Romanian | opus | ||
| The Romanian word "opus" derives from the Latin "oppositum", meaning "opposite", but it also carries the meaning of "work", "creation", or "labor". | |||
| Russian | напротив | ||
| The word "напротив" can also mean "on the other hand" or "in contrast". | |||
| Serbian | супротно | ||
| The word 'супротно' has an interesting etymology, as it is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *suprotъ, which also means 'against' or 'in opposition'. | |||
| Slovak | opak | ||
| In addition to meaning "opposite," "opak" can also mean "wrong" or "incorrect." | |||
| Slovenian | nasprotno | ||
| "Nasprotno" also means "on the contrary" in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | протилежний | ||
| The word "протилежний" in Ukrainian comes from the Proto-Slavic word "protivŭ", meaning "against" or "opposite". It is also related to the Russian word "противоположный" (protivopolozhnyj), which shares a similar meaning. | |||
Opposite in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিপরীত | ||
| বিপরীত in Bengali derives from Sanskrit "viparītam," which also means "perverse" or "inverted." | |||
| Gujarati | વિરુદ્ધ | ||
| The word "વિરુદ્ધ" ("opposite") in Gujarati also means "against" or "in opposition to". | |||
| Hindi | सामने | ||
| The word "सामने" may also refer to a place or area that is in front of or facing something else. | |||
| Kannada | ವಿರುದ್ದ | ||
| The word ವಿರುದ್ದ is derived from the Sanskrit word विरुद्ध (viruddha), which also means "opposed" or "contradictory". | |||
| Malayalam | എതിർവശത്ത് | ||
| The word 'എതിർവശത്ത്' ('opposite') in Malayalam can also mean 'on the other side' or 'facing' something. | |||
| Marathi | उलट | ||
| The Marathi word "उलट" (opposite) also means "inverted" or "in reverse order". | |||
| Nepali | विपरित | ||
| The word "विपरित" in Nepali comes from the Sanskrit word "विपरीत, | |||
| Punjabi | ਉਲਟ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਉਲਟ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "उलटः" (ulṭaḥ) meaning "turned upside down" and shares a similar meaning in Marathi. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ප්රතිවිරුද්ධ | ||
| Tamil | எதிர் | ||
| எதிர் also means 'to face' or 'to oppose' | |||
| Telugu | సరసన | ||
| The word "సరసన" (sarasana) in Telugu can also mean "nearby" or "in the company of". | |||
| Urdu | برعکس | ||
| The word “برعکس” is a compound of “بر” (on) and “رخ” (face), signifying something that has been turned face down or upside down, hence "opposite". | |||
Opposite in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 对面 | ||
| 对面 has the same morphemes as the phrase 对面, which means 'each other' or 'mutual' | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 對面 | ||
| 對面 can also mean "across from" or even "in front". | |||
| Japanese | 反対 | ||
| The kanji 反 means "to return" while 対 means "to confront", thus together 反対 can also mean "to return confrontation" | |||
| Korean | 반대말 | ||
| The word "반대말" can also refer to "antonyms" in the context of linguistics. | |||
| Mongolian | эсрэг | ||
| "эсрэг" (opposite) also refers to "contradictory" in its literal sense. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဆန့်ကျင်ဘက် | ||
Opposite in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | seberang | ||
| "Seberang" in Indonesian can also refer to a specific region in a country separated by a river or sea. | |||
| Javanese | kosok baline | ||
| The term 'kosok baline' in Javanese is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit phrase 'koṣa baliṇa', meaning 'to exchange' or 'to turn around'. | |||
| Khmer | ផ្ទុយ | ||
| The Khmer word ផ្ទុយ (opposite) is also used to mean "reverse", "backward", or "wrong side out". | |||
| Lao | ກົງກັນຂ້າມ | ||
| Malay | sebaliknya | ||
| The word "sebaliknya" can also mean "on the contrary" or "conversely". | |||
| Thai | ตรงข้าม | ||
| The Thai word "ตรงข้าม" can also refer to "the opposite direction" or "the other side" of something. | |||
| Vietnamese | đối diện | ||
| The word "đối diện" can also mean "to face" or "to confront" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kabaligtaran | ||
Opposite in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | əksinə | ||
| Əksinə is derived from the Persian word "aks", meaning "echo" or "reflection", and is also related to the Azerbaijani word "əks", meaning "image" or "reflection". | |||
| Kazakh | қарама-қарсы | ||
| The word "қарама-қарсы" in Kazakh has alternate meanings such as "facing each other" and "opposite in character or nature." | |||
| Kyrgyz | карама-каршы | ||
| The word "карама-каршы" can also mean "facing each other" or "eye to eye" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | муқобил | ||
| Tajik "муқобил" is also used as a synonym for "equivalent" or "counterpart" in formal settings. | |||
| Turkmen | tersine | ||
| Uzbek | qarama-qarshi | ||
| The Uzbek word "qarama-qarshi" can also mean "facing each other" or "in front of". | |||
| Uyghur | ئەكسىچە | ||
Opposite in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻaoʻao ʻē | ||
| ʻAoʻao ʻē can also mean to be opposite in terms of social hierarchy, such as superior and inferior. | |||
| Maori | anga ke | ||
| The word "anga ke" can also mean "other side", "opposite direction", or "the other way around" in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | faʻafeagai | ||
| The word fa'afeagai can also refer to a relationship between two people who are considered opposites. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kabaliktaran | ||
| The word "kabaliktaran" can also refer to the reverse side of something, or to the opposite end of a spectrum. | |||
Opposite in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | maysata | ||
| Guarani | joavýva | ||
Opposite in International Languages
| Esperanto | kontraŭe | ||
| The word "kontraŭe" in Esperanto, originally meaning "against" (the opposite of something), has taken on the broader meaning of "opposite" (denoting a contrasting position). | |||
| Latin | contrarium | ||
| "Contrarium" is also a neuter substantive meaning "misfortune", "harm", or "disaster". | |||
Opposite in Others Languages
| Greek | απεναντι απο | ||
| The Greek word "απεναντι απο" is a compound word meaning "across from" or "facing" and is derived from the preposition "απο" (from, away from) and the noun "ναντι" (direction, side). | |||
| Hmong | rov qab | ||
| "Rov qab" is a homophone of "ob qab" which means "face to face" | |||
| Kurdish | beramber | ||
| The word 'beramber' in Kurdish can also refer to a state of confusion or disorder. | |||
| Turkish | karşısında | ||
| Karşısında also means "in the presence of" or "before". | |||
| Xhosa | malunga | ||
| The word "malunga" can also mean "on the other side" or "over there" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | פאַרקערט | ||
| The word "פאַרקערט" comes from the German "verkehrt", which can also mean "wrong" or "incorrect". | |||
| Zulu | okuphambene | ||
| The Zulu word "okuphambene" can also refer to a person who is left-handed. | |||
| Assamese | বিপৰীত | ||
| Aymara | maysata | ||
| Bhojpuri | उल्टा | ||
| Dhivehi | އިދިކޮޅު | ||
| Dogri | उलट | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kabaligtaran | ||
| Guarani | joavýva | ||
| Ilocano | sungani | ||
| Krio | difrɛn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بەرامبەر | ||
| Maithili | उल्टा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯣꯟꯅ ꯇꯩꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | lehlam | ||
| Oromo | faallaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବିପରୀତ | ||
| Quechua | awqa | ||
| Sanskrit | विपरीतः | ||
| Tatar | киресенчә | ||
| Tigrinya | ተቃራኒ | ||
| Tsonga | fularhela | ||