Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'other' is a small but powerful term, often used to distinguish one thing from another. It holds great significance in many realms, including philosophy, psychology, and sociology, where it helps us explore concepts of identity, diversity, and inclusion. Culturally, the idea of 'the other' has been both vilified and celebrated throughout history, from early tales of monstrous 'others' in folklore to modern movements promoting acceptance and understanding of those who are different from us.
Given its importance, you might be interested in learning how to say 'other' in different languages. This knowledge not only broadens your vocabulary but also deepens your cultural awareness. For instance, in Spanish, 'other' is 'otro' or 'otra' depending on the gender, while in French, it's 'autre'. In Mandarin Chinese, it's '其他' (qí tā), and in Japanese, it's 'もう一つ' (mou hitotsu).
Explore the translations below to enrich your language skills and appreciate the nuances of 'other' in various cultures.
Afrikaans | ander | ||
The word "ander" in Afrikaans can also refer to "the other side" or "the other way". | |||
Amharic | ሌላ | ||
Both "ሌላ" (other) and "ሰንበት" (Sunday) evolved from the Semitic word for "seventh". | |||
Hausa | wasu | ||
In some contexts, Hausa "wasu" can also mean "another" or "remainder." | |||
Igbo | ọzọ | ||
The Igbo word "ọzọ" can also refer to the title of an elder in the community, which is attained through a series of traditional rites and ceremonies. | |||
Malagasy | hafa | ||
In Malagasy, "hafa" means "other" but can also be used when you don't know what to say or are surprised. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | zina | ||
Nyanja 'zina' can also mean 'to accompany', 'to go with', and 'to go along with'. | |||
Shona | zvimwe | ||
The word "zvimwe" is derived from the Proto-Bantu word "*dime", meaning "another", and can also refer to "something else" or "the other side". | |||
Somali | kale | ||
The Somali word | |||
Sesotho | enngwe | ||
In Sesotho, 'enngwe' can also refer to someone outside the homestead, indicating a distance from the community. | |||
Swahili | nyingine | ||
The Swahili word "nyingine" (other) is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "*ginga" and shares cognates with the Zulu word "ingane" (child) and the Xhosa word "ingane" (small one). | |||
Xhosa | enye | ||
The word "enye" derives from the Bantu root -enye, meaning "another one like this". | |||
Yoruba | omiiran | ||
Omiiran, meaning "other," also refers to "a person of a different tribe" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | okunye | ||
In its alternate form, 'okunye' sometimes also refers to a specific thing, as opposed to 'everything else' | |||
Bambara | dɔ wɛrɛ | ||
Ewe | bubu | ||
Kinyarwanda | ikindi | ||
Lingala | mosusu | ||
Luganda | -lala | ||
Sepedi | nngwe | ||
Twi (Akan) | foforɔ | ||
Arabic | آخر | ||
In the Qur'an, the word "آخر" can also refer to God's ultimate plan or ultimate outcome. | |||
Hebrew | אַחֵר | ||
The Hebrew word אַחֵר can refer to a stranger, an enemy, or a Gentile among other possibilities. | |||
Pashto | نور | ||
In Arabic, نور also means light or illumination. | |||
Arabic | آخر | ||
In the Qur'an, the word "آخر" can also refer to God's ultimate plan or ultimate outcome. |
Albanian | të tjera | ||
The word "të tjera" can also refer to "the remaining" or "the rest". | |||
Basque | beste | ||
The Basque word “beste” is cognate with “best” in English, and it also means “better” in the language. | |||
Catalan | altres | ||
The Catalan word "altres" is derived from the Latin "alteri", meaning "one of two", but has since expanded its meaning to include "all of the others". | |||
Croatian | drugo | ||
The word "drugo" in Croatian can also mean "another" or "a different one". | |||
Danish | andet | ||
Andet is also used to refer to the unknown, the mysterious, or the supernatural. | |||
Dutch | andere | ||
In Dutch, the word "andere" also denotes "the rest" or "others". | |||
English | other | ||
The word 'other' can also refer to a person or thing that is different or unrelated to the one being discussed. | |||
French | autre | ||
In French, "autre" can also mean "otherworldly" or "different". | |||
Frisian | oar | ||
The Frisian word "oar" can also refer to the ear of a person or animal. | |||
Galician | outro | ||
The Galician word "outro" can also refer to the edge, hem, or selvedge of a piece of fabric. | |||
German | andere | ||
The Old Norse word 'anþarr' and Gothic word 'anþar' (both 'other, second') were borrowed into the Germanic languages around the Middle Ages. | |||
Icelandic | annað | ||
In Old Norse, 'annarr' meant 'the second', and 'annat' meant 'the second thing' or 'something else'. | |||
Irish | eile | ||
The word "eile" also means "another" or "a different one" in Irish. | |||
Italian | altro | ||
The Italian word "altro" stems from the Latin phrase "alterum" meaning "other or second" and also means "high" or "elevated" in some contexts. | |||
Luxembourgish | aner | ||
In Luxembourgish, the word "aner" means "other," but it can also refer to a male person. | |||
Maltese | oħra | ||
The word "oħra" in Maltese can also refer to the "other side" or to "the other one". | |||
Norwegian | annen | ||
Annen can also mean 'the other' with the meaning of 'the remaining' or 'the opposite'. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | de outros | ||
In Portuguese, "de outros" can also mean "belonging to others" or "from others." | |||
Scots Gaelic | eile | ||
Eile, 'other' in Gaelic, also means 'again', and is related to the Irish idir, 'between'. | |||
Spanish | otro | ||
"Otro" derives from the Latin word "alter", meaning "the second of two". | |||
Swedish | övrig | ||
The word "Övrig" can also mean "remaining" or "the rest". | |||
Welsh | arall | ||
The Welsh word "arall" also refers to the "otherworld" or "realm of the dead" in Celtic mythology. |
Belarusian | іншыя | ||
The word "іншыя" in Belarusian derives from the Proto-Slavic word "inъ", meaning "outside" or "foreign". | |||
Bosnian | drugo | ||
The word 'drugo' can also be an adverb meaning 'additionally' | |||
Bulgarian | други | ||
The word "други" can also mean "different" or "another" in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | jiný | ||
The Czech word "jiný" is cognate with the Polish "inny" and has the same root as "alien" and "enemy". | |||
Estonian | muud | ||
The word "muud" also has a second, less common meaning: "different". | |||
Finnish | muut | ||
In ancient Estonian 'muu' meant 'different kind'. This is cognate with the Finnish verb 'muuttua': 'turn elsewhere or turn into something or someone else'. | |||
Hungarian | egyéb | ||
It is also an abbreviation of the longer "számos egyebeknek", meaning "among many others", and is often used in a similar way. | |||
Latvian | cits | ||
Another meaning of "cits" is "this" in Latvian sign language and "there" in the Latgalian dialect. | |||
Lithuanian | kita | ||
The word 'kita' has Slavic roots, originating from the Old Church Slavonic word 'kъto' ('who?'). | |||
Macedonian | други | ||
The word "други" in Macedonian can also mean "different", "the other one", or "additional". | |||
Polish | inny | ||
The word "inny" (other) in Polish can also refer to a "stranger" or "outsider". | |||
Romanian | alte | ||
The word "alte" in Romanian is derived from the Latin word "alter", meaning "the other one". It can also refer to "the other side" or "the opposite". | |||
Russian | разное | ||
The Russian word "разное" can also mean "miscellaneous" or "assorted". | |||
Serbian | друго | ||
The word друго (drugo) in Serbian was originally used only when referring to another person, and is related to the Old Church Slavonic word drugъ (drugъ), also meaning 'friend'. | |||
Slovak | iné | ||
In Slovak, "iné" is used in a wider sense than in English and can also mean "different" or "various" | |||
Slovenian | drugo | ||
In Slovenian, the word "drugo" comes from the Proto-Slavic *drugu, meaning "fellow, companion" or "friend". | |||
Ukrainian | інший | ||
The Ukrainian word "інший" ("other") is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *inъ, meaning "other, different, strange". |
Bengali | অন্যান্য | ||
The word "অন্যান্য" can also mean "diverse" or "various". | |||
Gujarati | અન્ય | ||
The word "અન્ય" can also refer to the cardinal direction "west" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | अन्य | ||
"अन्य" also means "another" or "one of a different kind". | |||
Kannada | ಇತರ | ||
ಇತರ is also used in Kannada to refer to 'something else' or 'the rest'. | |||
Malayalam | മറ്റുള്ളവ | ||
The word 'மற்றുള്ളவ' in Malayalam is closely related to the Sanskrit word 'अन्य' ('anya'), which also means 'other'. | |||
Marathi | इतर | ||
The word 'इतर' in Marathi has roots in Sanskrit and is also used to refer to 'others', 'different', or 'separate'. | |||
Nepali | अन्य | ||
The word "अन्य" can also mean "different" or "else" in Nepali. | |||
Punjabi | ਹੋਰ | ||
The Punjabi word "ਹੋਰ" can also refer to "more" or "extra". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අනික් | ||
The word "අනික්" comes from the Sanskrit word "अन्यः" (anyaḥ), which means "different". It can also be used to mean "the other one" or "the rest". | |||
Tamil | மற்றவை | ||
The term 'மற்றவை' is also used in Tamil to refer to 'the remaining' or 'the rest', encompassing both animate and inanimate entities. | |||
Telugu | ఇతర | ||
Telugu "ఇతర" derives from the Sanskrit "itarah" that can also mean "alternative or different." | |||
Urdu | دوسرے | ||
The word "دوسرے" means "two" in some contexts and may also refer to "half" or "some" in others. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 其他 | ||
其他 can also mean 'et cetera' or 'etc.' when used as a phrase. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 其他 | ||
其他 can also mean 'etc.' which derives from the Latin word 'et cetera' which means 'and the rest' | |||
Japanese | その他 | ||
The word 'その他' is also used in Japanese to refer to 'miscellaneous' or 'etc.' | |||
Korean | 다른 | ||
The term "다른" originally referred to something "far away" but took on its current meaning during the Joseon dynasty. | |||
Mongolian | бусад | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အခြား | ||
'အချား' means 'different' in Burmese and is also used as a noun meaning 'foreigners' or 'guests' |
Indonesian | lain | ||
The Indonesian word "lain" is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *lain, which also means "different" or "other" in various Austronesian languages. | |||
Javanese | liyane | ||
In poetic usage, liyane can also refer to the deceased, the absent, the unseen, the invisible, or the unknown. | |||
Khmer | ផ្សេងទៀត | ||
In ancient Khmer the word 'Phsar' (meaning market) derived from Sanskrit 'Panya' and later transformed to 'Phsar' and eventually 'Phsarthid' or 'Phsangthid'. | |||
Lao | ອື່ນໆ | ||
In Lao, “ອື່ນໆ” can also refer to the concept of “the rest” or “the remainder”. | |||
Malay | yang lain | ||
"Yang lain" is an Indonesian phrase that is used to refer to "other people" or "others". | |||
Thai | อื่น ๆ | ||
The Thai word "อื่น ๆ" can also refer to "others" or "the rest of them". | |||
Vietnamese | khác | ||
The word "khác" can also mean "different, diverse, or distinct" and is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *ka-bed-a*. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | iba pa | ||
Azerbaijani | digər | ||
The word "digər" also means "the other side" or "the other world" in Azerbaijani mythology. | |||
Kazakh | басқа | ||
The Kazakh word "басқа" also means "different" or "remaining." | |||
Kyrgyz | башка | ||
The word "башка" also means "another one" or "one more" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | дигар | ||
The word "дигар" is also used in compounds to mean "different" or "various" | |||
Turkmen | beýlekisi | ||
Uzbek | boshqa | ||
Boshqa has two forms in Uzbek - "boshqa" and "bo'shqa" and is a word of Mongolian origin. | |||
Uyghur | other | ||
Hawaiian | ʻē aʻe | ||
In the Hawaiian language, ʻē aʻe is used as a pronoun and an interrogative and also shares a root word with ʻē (emphatic stress) | |||
Maori | etahi atu | ||
In some Polynesian languages, 'etahi atu' also means "some, various," or "other" in the plural sense. | |||
Samoan | isi | ||
The Samoan word 'isi' may also mean 'different' or 'strange'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | iba pa | ||
The word "iba pa" in Tagalog can also be used to mean "different" or "moreover". |
Aymara | yaqha | ||
Guarani | ambue | ||
Esperanto | alia | ||
"Alia" also means "foreign" in Latin. | |||
Latin | alium | ||
The Latin word "alium" can also refer to the "remainder" or "rest" of something. |
Greek | άλλα | ||
The word “άλλα” also serves as a conjunction to denote objection or contradiction. | |||
Hmong | lwm yam | ||
The word "lwm yam" in the Hmong language is derived from the verb "lwm", meaning "to leave" or "to separate". | |||
Kurdish | yên din | ||
In Persian, the word 'dîn' may refer to the Zoroastrian faith or the Zoroastrian clergy. | |||
Turkish | diğer | ||
The word "diğer" in Turkish is derived from the Persian word "digar," which means "another, other." | |||
Xhosa | enye | ||
The word "enye" derives from the Bantu root -enye, meaning "another one like this". | |||
Yiddish | אנדערע | ||
The word 'אנדערע' in Yiddish can also mean 'elsewhere' or 'in another place'. | |||
Zulu | okunye | ||
In its alternate form, 'okunye' sometimes also refers to a specific thing, as opposed to 'everything else' | |||
Assamese | অন্যান্য | ||
Aymara | yaqha | ||
Bhojpuri | दोसर | ||
Dhivehi | އެހެން | ||
Dogri | होर | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | iba pa | ||
Guarani | ambue | ||
Ilocano | sabali pay | ||
Krio | ɔda | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئی تر | ||
Maithili | दोसर | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯇꯣꯞꯄ | ||
Mizo | thildang | ||
Oromo | kan biraa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଅନ୍ୟ | ||
Quechua | huk | ||
Sanskrit | इतर | ||
Tatar | бүтән | ||
Tigrinya | ካልእ | ||
Tsonga | xin'wana | ||