Updated on March 6, 2024
Organic: it's a term that's become increasingly popular in recent years, but what does it really mean? At its core, 'organic' refers to something that is natural, not man-made or synthetic. It's a term that's often used in relation to food, where it signifies produce that's grown without the use of pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms. But the significance of organic goes beyond just food - it's a concept that's deeply rooted in our cultural values and beliefs about the world around us.
For many people, choosing organic is a way of life - a commitment to sustainability, health, and the environment. It's about supporting local farmers, reducing our carbon footprint, and promoting biodiversity. And as awareness of these issues grows, so too does the demand for organic products around the world.
That's why it's so interesting to explore the translation of organic in different languages. From the French 'biologique' to the Spanish 'orgánico', the German 'biologisch', and the Chinese '有机' (yǒujī), the word takes on new meanings and nuances in different cultural contexts. So whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply someone who's curious about the world around you, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of organic in different languages.
Afrikaans | organies | ||
In Afrikaans, "organies" can also mean "bodily organs" or "musical instruments". | |||
Amharic | ኦርጋኒክ | ||
The word 'ኦርጋኒክ' in Amharic can also mean 'natural' or 'living'. | |||
Hausa | kwayoyin | ||
Kwayoyin in Hausa also refers to 'something or someone that is of value' | |||
Igbo | organic | ||
"Organic" in Igbo can also mean "natural," "genuine," or "authentic." | |||
Malagasy | voajanahary | ||
"Voajanahary" in Malagasy is related to the concept of "nature" or "spirit of the forest" and not explicitly "organic" in the sense of agriculture. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | organic | ||
Organic refers to a system of farming that does not use artificial chemicals in the form of pesticides or fertilizers and only produces food that is natural without any preservatives or chemicals added. | |||
Shona | organic | ||
In Shona, "organic" also refers to something that is natural or traditional. | |||
Somali | dabiici ah | ||
The Somali word "dabiici ah" can also mean "authentic" or "traditional". | |||
Sesotho | manyolo | ||
The word "manyolo" in Sesotho finds its roots in the idea of "ripening" or "maturation" and it can also refer to the process of something becoming "ripe" or "mature". | |||
Swahili | kikaboni | ||
Kikaboni is a term used in Swahili to describe something that is pure, natural, or unprocessed. | |||
Xhosa | eziphilayo | ||
The word "eziphilayo" is cognate to the Zulu word "isiphilayo", which means "living". This suggests that the Xhosa concept of "organic" is closely tied to the idea of life and growth. | |||
Yoruba | abemi | ||
In Yorùbá, abèmí also refers to something of a fine, exquisite or beautiful quality; a perfect state; or something well made or done. | |||
Zulu | organic | ||
The Zulu word "organic" is also used to describe something that is authentic or genuine. | |||
Bambara | biologique (biologique) ye | ||
Ewe | organic | ||
Kinyarwanda | kama | ||
Lingala | biologique | ||
Luganda | ebiramu | ||
Sepedi | organic | ||
Twi (Akan) | organic | ||
Arabic | عضوي | ||
The word عضوي is a loanword from Greek and originally meant 'relating to living beings' but is also used as a loanword to mean 'organic' in chemistry. | |||
Hebrew | אורגני | ||
The Hebrew word "אורגני" is etymologically related to the root "אור," meaning "light," and can also carry the connotation of "original" or "primordial." | |||
Pashto | عضوي | ||
The word عضوي (organic) in Pashto also refers to a person's body or to a bodily organ. | |||
Arabic | عضوي | ||
The word عضوي is a loanword from Greek and originally meant 'relating to living beings' but is also used as a loanword to mean 'organic' in chemistry. |
Albanian | organike | ||
The Albanian word “organike” derives from Ottoman Turkish “organik”, which itself comes from Greek “οργανικός” (organikos), meaning “of or belonging to an organ.” The word also retains its original Greek meaning of “instrumental” or “serving as an instrument.” | |||
Basque | organikoa | ||
In Basque, "organikoa" literally translates to "of organs" or "of life". | |||
Catalan | orgànica | ||
El término «orgànica» también significa «que tiene una organización o estructura», como en «una estructura orgánica». | |||
Croatian | organski | ||
In Croatian, "organski" can also refer to organs or organisms, or to a chemical containing carbon. | |||
Danish | økologisk | ||
The Danish word "økologisk" also means "ecological" in the broader sense of the word, and the "eco" prefix comes from the ancient Greek word "oikos", meaning "house" or "habitat". | |||
Dutch | biologisch | ||
In Dutch, "biologisch" is not only used in the sense of "organic," but also as a general term for "biological." | |||
English | organic | ||
The word "organic" stems from the Greek word "organon," meaning "tool" or "instrument," and has a range of meanings, including "relating to living organisms" and "produced without synthetic chemicals," among others. | |||
French | biologique | ||
In French, "biologique" also refers to biology and biological sciences, deriving from Greek "bios" (life) and "logos" (study). | |||
Frisian | organysk | ||
The Frisian word 'organysk' is most likely a loanword from the Greek word 'organikos' meaning 'of an organ' | |||
Galician | orgánico | ||
German | organisch | ||
"Organisch" has an additional meaning in German, namely "well-organized" or "systematic", derived from Latin "organum" meaning "tool" or "instrument". | |||
Icelandic | lífrænt | ||
The Old Norse word lífrænt meant both "pertinent to life", and "inanimate" or "dead". | |||
Irish | orgánach | ||
The word "orgánach" is a loanword from the English word "organic", and shares similar meanings to its English counterpart. | |||
Italian | biologico | ||
In Italian, "biologico" can also refer to a "logical" argument, or to the study of biology itself. | |||
Luxembourgish | organesch | ||
Maltese | organiku | ||
The Maltese word "organiku" can also mean "organism" | |||
Norwegian | organisk | ||
Organisk also refers to organisms and can be translated as 'organic', 'biological' or 'living'. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | orgânico | ||
In Portuguese, "orgânico" can also mean "organ-like" or "organ-related". | |||
Scots Gaelic | organach | ||
Organach can also mean "generous" or "kindly" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
Spanish | orgánico | ||
In Spanish, "orgánico" means both "organic" and "related to an organism". | |||
Swedish | organisk | ||
The word "organisk" in Swedish can also refer to "musical" or "pertaining to an organism". | |||
Welsh | organig | ||
The Welsh word "organig" traces back to the Greek "organikos" meaning "instrumental". |
Belarusian | арганічны | ||
The term "арганічны" in Belarusian can also refer to something that is natural or innate to a person or thing. | |||
Bosnian | organska | ||
Orgaljka (an organ in Bosnian) is a cognate of organska (organic), sharing the same root word "org", meaning "tool" or "instrument." | |||
Bulgarian | органични | ||
В български език думата "органични" може да се отнася и до вещества или материали, които са свързани с живи организми или са получени от тях. | |||
Czech | organický | ||
"Organický" pochází z řečtiny "organōn", což znamená "nástroj" nebo "orgán", a odkazuje na něco, co má uspořádanou strukturu. | |||
Estonian | orgaaniline | ||
In botany, "orgaaniline" can also mean "organogenetic", referring to structures capable of producing other organs. | |||
Finnish | luomu | ||
Luomu's etymology originates from the Proto-Uralic *lume, meaning 'tree' or 'branch'. | |||
Hungarian | organikus | ||
Az "organikus" szó a "szervezeti" jelentésű "organum" szóból származik. | |||
Latvian | organiski | ||
The word “organiski” also has the alternate meanings “biologically, organically, or chemically”. | |||
Lithuanian | ekologiškas | ||
The word "ekologiškas" in Lithuanian is derived from the Greek word "oikos", meaning "house" or "habitat", and "logos", meaning "study" or "knowledge". | |||
Macedonian | органски | ||
The Macedonian word "органски" can also refer to a musical instrument or a body organ. | |||
Polish | organiczny | ||
The Polish word "organiczny" can also mean "related to or derived from living organisms" or "constituting an organ". | |||
Romanian | organic | ||
In Romanian, the word "organic" has additional meanings, such as referring to the field of chemistry. | |||
Russian | органический | ||
The word "органический" in Russian also means "natural" or "grown without chemicals." | |||
Serbian | органска | ||
The word "органска" (organska) in Serbian can also refer to a musical instrument or a body organ. | |||
Slovak | organický | ||
"Organický" is also an adjective for "organic" in chemistry. | |||
Slovenian | ekološko | ||
In Slovenian, the term "ekološko" means "organic", and can also refer to the ecological system or the environment. | |||
Ukrainian | органічні | ||
In Ukrainian, the word “органічні” can also mean “biological” or “pertaining to nature.” |
Bengali | জৈব | ||
জৈব (Jaib) also means 'alive' or 'living' in Bengali, akin to the Latin origin of 'organic' meaning 'a living organism'. | |||
Gujarati | કાર્બનિક | ||
The term "organic" may also refer to chemical compounds containing carbon atoms bonded with each other or atoms of other non-metallic elements. | |||
Hindi | कार्बनिक | ||
The word "कार्बनिक" in Hindi originated from the Sanskrit word "कार्बण" meaning "carbon", and is also used to refer to living organisms. | |||
Kannada | ಸಾವಯವ | ||
The word ಸಾವಯವ has two meanings in Kannada: 'organic' and 'living' | |||
Malayalam | ഓർഗാനിക് | ||
The Malayalam word 'ഓർഗാനിക്' can also mean "living" or "of living origin". | |||
Marathi | सेंद्रिय | ||
The Sanskrit word 'saindriya' is derived from 'indriya', meaning 'sense organ', and refers to the qualities perceived by the senses. | |||
Nepali | जैविक | ||
The word "जैविक" can refer to both biological organisms and things that are naturally produced or cultivated without using synthetic chemicals. | |||
Punjabi | ਜੈਵਿਕ | ||
ਜੈਵਿਕ is derived from the Sanskrit word 'jaya' meaning 'victory,' and also refers to a type of farming that promotes ecological balance. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කාබනික | ||
The term "කාබනික" was coined by agricultural chemist J. Howard in 1930. | |||
Tamil | கரிம | ||
The Tamil word "கரிம" (organic) derives from Sanskrit "कालिम्" (black, denoting the dark color of soil). | |||
Telugu | సేంద్రీయ | ||
The word "సేంద్రీయ" (organic) in Telugu also means "of, relating to, or derived from living organisms." | |||
Urdu | نامیاتی | ||
نامیاتی is derived from the Persian word 'nami' which means 'moist' or 'fresh'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 有机 | ||
有机 (yǒujī) is also used in Taoism and Chinese philosophy, where its meaning roughly corresponds to the concept of spontaneity or naturalness. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 有機 | ||
In Chinese, "有機" can also mean "potential" or "machinery". | |||
Japanese | オーガニック | ||
「オーガニック」はもともと生物学の用語で、現在では食品以外にも「有機的」の意味で使われています。 | |||
Korean | 본질적인 | ||
본질적인 is also used to describe things that are natural or intrinsic to something. | |||
Mongolian | органик | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အော်ဂဲနစ် | ||
Myanmar “အော်ဂဲနစ်” (organic) can also mean "involving the use of the organs of the body" or "of or relating to organisms" and is derived from Greek "organon," meaning "organ." |
Indonesian | organik | ||
The Indonesian word "organik" can also mean "authentic" or "original". | |||
Javanese | organik | ||
In Javanese, the word "organik" originally meant "having a physical body" and is still used in this sense in some contexts. | |||
Khmer | សរីរាង្គ | ||
The word "សរីរាង្គ" can also refer to the parts of a plant or animal's body. | |||
Lao | ປອດສານພິດ | ||
Malay | organik | ||
"Organik" in Malay also means natural, genuine, or authentic. | |||
Thai | โดยธรรมชาติ | ||
The Thai word "โดยธรรมชาติ" is derived from the Pali word "pākathajāti" or the Sanskrit word "prakṛta". | |||
Vietnamese | hữu cơ | ||
The word "hữu cơ" in Vietnamese also means "to have" or "to have on hand". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | organic | ||
Azerbaijani | üzvi | ||
"Üzvi" is also used to refer to a member of a group or organization. | |||
Kazakh | органикалық | ||
The word | |||
Kyrgyz | органикалык | ||
The Kyrgyz word "органикалык" can also refer to "natural", "organic", or "biological." | |||
Tajik | органикӣ | ||
The Tajik word "органикӣ" can also refer to "natural" products, not just "organic" ones. | |||
Turkmen | organiki | ||
Uzbek | organik | ||
The Uzbek word “organik” also means “regular, inherent” and “characteristic”. | |||
Uyghur | ئورگانىك | ||
Hawaiian | meaola | ||
Meaola is of Proto-Austronesian origin and is cognates to Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *meahu and other Oceanic words for "ripe". | |||
Maori | rauropi | ||
"Rauropi" in Māori can also refer to something that is fresh, natural, or unprocessed. | |||
Samoan | faatulagaina | ||
Fa'atulagaina, meaning 'organic,' originally referred to any product derived from trees or plants. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | organiko | ||
The root word "organ" of the Tagalog word "organiko" references "internal organs", rather than "organized systems", like its English counterpart. Thus, the term refers to the "vital" or "essential" parts of a whole, rather than something being a part of a larger, cooperative structure. |
Aymara | orgánico ukaxa wali ch’amawa | ||
Guarani | orgánico rehegua | ||
Esperanto | organika | ||
Esperanto's "organika" means "organic", but also "organ-related". | |||
Latin | organicum | ||
The Latin word "organicum" also means "organ" or "instrument." |
Greek | οργανικός | ||
The term "organic" derives from the Greek word "οργανόω" (organóō), which means "to compose or combine", also referring to an instrument or apparatus. | |||
Hmong | organic | ||
In Hmong, “organic” has broader meanings, including anything that is natural, pure, or original. | |||
Kurdish | organîk | ||
The word "organîk" is a loanword from Persian that has two meanings in Kurdish: "musical instrument" and "living thing". | |||
Turkish | organik | ||
Besides its primary meaning as "organic", "organik" can also refer to "natural, authentic, genuine" in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | eziphilayo | ||
The word "eziphilayo" is cognate to the Zulu word "isiphilayo", which means "living". This suggests that the Xhosa concept of "organic" is closely tied to the idea of life and growth. | |||
Yiddish | אָרגאַניק | ||
In Yiddish, "אָרגאַניק" can also mean "musical instrument" or "organism". | |||
Zulu | organic | ||
The Zulu word "organic" is also used to describe something that is authentic or genuine. | |||
Assamese | জৈৱিক | ||
Aymara | orgánico ukaxa wali ch’amawa | ||
Bhojpuri | जैविक बा | ||
Dhivehi | އޯގަނިކް އެވެ | ||
Dogri | जैविक | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | organic | ||
Guarani | orgánico rehegua | ||
Ilocano | organiko | ||
Krio | ɔrganik | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەندامی | ||
Maithili | जैविक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯣꯔꯒꯥꯅꯤꯛ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | organic a ni | ||
Oromo | orgaanikii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଜ organic ବିକ | | ||
Quechua | orgánico nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | जैविक | ||
Tatar | органик | ||
Tigrinya | ኦርጋኒክ ዝበሃል ምዃኑ ይፍለጥ | ||
Tsonga | organic | ||