Pair in different languages

Pair in Different Languages

Discover 'Pair' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'pair' is a simple term that carries significant meaning in English and many other languages. At its core, a pair refers to two things that go together, such as shoes, gloves, or even partners in a dance. This concept of two things coming together is not only important in our daily lives but also holds cultural significance in various traditions and practices around the world.

For instance, in Chinese culture, the concept of a pair is often associated with balance and harmony, as seen in the traditional Yin and Yang symbol. Similarly, in many Western cultures, the idea of a 'pair' is often used to describe romantic partners or life-long companions.

Given the global significance of this term, it's no wonder that people might want to know its translation in different languages. Understanding how to say 'pair' in various languages can help facilitate communication and build connections with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Here are some translations of the word 'pair' in different languages:

Pair


Pair in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanspaar
In 16th-century Middle Dutch, 'paar' meant 'a set of two matched things', and was derived from the Latin 'par' ('equal').
Amharicጥንድ
"ጥንድ" (pair) is derived from the root "ጥን" (to be together, to be joined), and is also used to refer to twins or married couples
Hausabiyu
The word biyu in Hausa can also refer to the number two as a grammatical element or two items as a collective whole.
Igboụzọ
In Igbo, "ụzọ" can also refer to a path, road, or way of life
Malagasymiaraka tsiroaroa
In Malagasy, the term "Miaraka tsiroaroa" is not only used in the sense of a couple or a pair, but also has the underlying meaning of "to be together until the end".
Nyanja (Chichewa)awiriawiri
The word originates from two words meaning "one" and "another"
Shonavaviri
The word 'vaviri' also means 'two' in Shona, similar to the English word 'pair'.
Somalilabo
The Somali word "labo" is derived from the Proto-Cushitic root *-(ʔ)lab- "to cleave".
Sesothopara
The word "para" in Sesotho can also mean "to split" or "to separate".
Swahilijozi
Jozi is a borrowing from Arabic "zawj" meaning "pair" and is also used in Kiswahili to mean "spouse".
Xhosaisibini
The Xhosa word 'isibini' means 'pair' and can also refer to a couple or a set of similar or related things.
Yorubabata
The word "bata" not only means "pair" in Yoruba but also "footwear" or "dance".
Zulungababili
The word 'ngababili' also means 'double' in Zulu.
Bambarafila
Ewenu eve
Kinyarwandacouple
Lingalamibale
Lugandaomugogo
Sepediphere
Twi (Akan)nta

Pair in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicزوج
The word "زوج" in Arabic can also refer to a "spouse" or "mate", particularly in the context of marriage.
Hebrewזוג
זוג (pair) is an ancient word with roots in both Hebrew and Sanskrit, and it retains an alternate meaning of 'yoke'.
Pashtoجوړه
The Pashto word "جوړه" ("pair") also refers to an agreement between two individuals or groups, a match, or a couple.
Arabicزوج
The word "زوج" in Arabic can also refer to a "spouse" or "mate", particularly in the context of marriage.

Pair in Western European Languages

Albanianpalë
The etymology of "palë" is unclear but it likely derives from the reconstructed Proto-Albanian "pālis" meaning "side" or "part".
Basquebikotea
Bikotea also means 'a pair of oxen' in Basque.
Catalanparell
Catalan word "parell" has a double etymology: Latin "par" and Greek "pareilos", which convey "similar" and "equal" respectively.
Croatianpar
The Croatian word "par" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "para", meaning "pair" or "couple."
Danishpar
The Danish word "par" can also refer to a team or a couple.
Dutchpaar-
"Paar" can also refer to a set of two similar or matching things.
Englishpair
The word 'pair' derives from the Latin word 'par', meaning 'equal' or 'similar'.
Frenchpaire
In French, "paire" can also refer to a couple, a set, or a pair of animals pulling a wagon.
Frisianpear
Frisian "pear" means "pair" but can also be used to refer to a single thing, like an object or animal.
Galicianpar
In Galician, "par" can also mean "equal" or "similar".
Germanpaar
The German word "Paar" originally referred to a brace of birds that would fly together during mating season.
Icelandicpar
In Icelandic, "par" can refer to a married couple, a couple in a romantic relationship, or a group of two people who are close friends.
Irishpéire
The Irish word "péire" also has the meaning of "sum", "amount", or "quantity".
Italianpaio
The word "paio" can also refer to a set of bells or to the sticks used to play them.
Luxembourgishkoppel
In Luxembourgish, 'Koppel' originally meant 'bond' or 'lock' in Middle High German, before it came to mean 'pair'.
Maltesepar
Maltese 'par' (pair) originates from Italian 'paio'. Both words mean 'a set of two'.
Norwegianpar
The Norwegian word "par" can also mean an odd number.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)par
In Portuguese, "par" can also mean "odd" or "uneven," as in a number of objects that cannot be divided into equal pairs.
Scots Gaelicpaidhir
The word "paidhir" is cognate with the English word "pedestal".
Spanishpar
In Spanish, "par" has nautical usage in the form of a pair of oars or a sail with its yard.
Swedishpar
In Swedish, "par" can also refer to a couple in a relationship or a group of animals that live together.
Welshpâr
The Welsh word "pâr" may also mean "couple" or "mate" in the sense of a breeding pair of animals.

Pair in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпара
The word "пара" in Belarusian can also mean "steam".
Bosnianpar
The word 'par' derives from the Proto-Slavic form *parъ, which also meant 'dispute' or 'argument'.
Bulgarianдвойка
The word "двойка" can also mean a "two", a "grade of two", or a "team of two"
Czechpár
The word "pár" can also mean "a few" or "some" in Czech, as in the phrase "pár dnů" (a few days).
Estonianpaar
Derived from Proto-Finnic *para, related to the Hungarian pár and Finnish pari.
Finnishpari
"Pari" can also mean "good" or "even number" in Finnish.
Hungarianpár
“Pár” can also mean “a few” or “some”.
Latvianpāris
The Latvian word "pāris" comes from the Indo-European word *per-, meaning "to go across," and is related to the English word "ferry."
Lithuanianpora
"Pora" also means "time" in Lithuanian, derived from the Proto-Balto-Slavic word "*porъ". So, "porą" means "a pair" and "porą" also means "for a while".
Macedonianпар
The word "пар" can also mean "steam" or "vapour" in Macedonian, which is related to its use in the term "парно греење" (central heating).
Polishpara
In Polish, "para" can also refer to a couple, a set of two, or a team.
Romanianpereche
The term 'pereche' likely derives from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to combine" or "to tie up," and initially meant two things that are connected.
Russianпара
In Russian, "пара" can mean not only "pair," but also "steam," "couple," or "sailboat," depending on context.
Serbianпар
The Serbian word "пар" (pair) also means "steam" or "vapor" and comes from the Proto-Slavic word *parъ, which had the same meaning.
Slovakpár
The word 'pár' can also mean 'a few' or 'several' in Slovak.
Slovenianpar
The noun 'par' (pair) also means 'an odd number of things' in Slovenian.
Ukrainianпара
The word "пара" (pair) also means "a couple", "a pair of shoes", "a match".

Pair in South Asian Languages

Bengaliজোড়
The word "জোড়" can also refer to a couple or a team.
Gujaratiજોડ
The word "જોડ" in Gujarati can also mean a couple, a match, or a junction
Hindiजोड़ा
The Hindi word "जोड़ा" can also mean "a yoke for bullocks" or "a couple of oxen".
Kannadaಜೋಡಿ
The word ಜೋಡಿ can also be used to mean 'couple', 'mates' or 'partners'.
Malayalamജോഡി
"ജോഡി" is likely derived from the Sanskrit word "युग" (meaning 'pair', 'couple') or the Tamil word "ஜோடி" (meaning 'a pair'). In some contexts, it can also refer to a 'couple' of people or a 'set' of objects.
Marathiजोडी
The word "जोडी" can also refer to a couple, a team, or a set of two.
Nepaliजोडी
The word "जोडी" is derived from the Sanskrit word "युग", meaning "two" or "pair."
Punjabiਜੋੜਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)යුගල
The word "යුගල" also means "couple" or "mate" in Sinhala.
Tamilஜோடி
The Tamil word "ஜோடி" can also refer to a group of singers or dancers who perform together.
Teluguజత
జత is also used to refer to a match or a set of similar things.
Urduجوڑا
The word “جوڑا” can also refer to “twins.”

Pair in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The word "对" also refers to a specific arrangement of four characters in Chinese poetry, where the second and fourth characters rhyme.
Chinese (Traditional)
對 in Chinese can also mean 'to face', 'to compare', or 'to check'.
Japaneseペア
"ペア" (pair) is a loanword from English, and the original Japanese word for "pair" is "番" (ban).
Korean
쌍 (雙) can also mean "both" or "double" and is used in various combinations, such as 쌍둥이 (twins), 쌍꺼풀 (double eyelids), 쌍문 (double doors), and 쌍곡선 (hyperbola).
Mongolianхос
In Mongolian, "хос" not only means "pair" but also "both" and "each other."
Myanmar (Burmese)စုံတွဲတစ်တွဲ

Pair in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpasangan
Pasangan can also refer to a married couple or partners in a romantic relationship.
Javanesepasangan
The word "pasangan" can refer to two separate objects in Javanese and also means "partner" or "spouse"
Khmerគូ
The word "គូ" can also refer to a team or a group of people working together.
Laoຄູ່
ຄູ່ can also mean 'friend', 'companion', or 'partner'.
Malayberpasangan
The Malay word "berpasangan" has Javanese roots and can refer not only to pairs but also to relationships or companionships.
Thaiคู่
คู่ (pair) can also mean "a companion" or "a couple" and is related to the word "คู่กัน (together)".
Vietnameseđôi
"Đôi" in Vietnamese is a prefix denoting two people with a close or romantic relationship, or a group of two things
Filipino (Tagalog)pares

Pair in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanicüt
In addition to meaning "pair", "cüt" also means "equal" and "double" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhжұп
In Kazakh, "жұп" has multiple meanings including "double," "both," "similar," and "even (numbers)" while in Turkish it means "thin," "weak," or "skinny."
Kyrgyzжуп
The Kyrgyz word “жуп” can also mean “a match” between two socks, shoes, or gloves.
Tajikҷуфт
The word “ҷуфт” also means “a complete set of something” in Tajik, such as a set of clothes or dishes.
Turkmenjübüt
Uzbekjuftlik
The word "juftlik" in Uzbek has Persian roots and can also refer to a type of Uzbek rug with symmetrical patterns.
Uyghurجۈپ

Pair in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpālua
Pālua means 'two' in Hawaiian but can also refer to a spouse, friend, or colleague.
Maoritakirua
Takirua can also refer to two objects that are joined together or a set of two.
Samoanpaga
The Samoan word "paga" also means "to share" or "to divide", representing the concept of two becoming one.
Tagalog (Filipino)pares
The word 'pares' can also refer to a Tagalog dish consisting of a beef stew.

Pair in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraparisa
Guaranipapyjoja

Pair in International Languages

Esperantoparo
The root "*par-/*per-" means "to give birth to, to produce" and is found in words like "parent" and "parity".
Latinpar
"Par" also means "equal" or "alike" in Latin.

Pair in Others Languages

Greekζεύγος
'Ζεύγος' also refers to a yoke which harnessed animals together, thus implying the idea of 'union' or 'couple'
Hmongkhub
The word "khub" also means "to double" and "to multiply" in Hmong.
Kurdishcot
In Kurdish, "cot" has historical and cultural meanings related to the concept of a 'couple' within the context of marriage, extending beyond the mere notion of two.
Turkishçift
Çift can also mean 'double' in Turkish, as in 'çift katlı' ('double-storied').
Xhosaisibini
The Xhosa word 'isibini' means 'pair' and can also refer to a couple or a set of similar or related things.
Yiddishפּאָר
"פּאָר" (pair) is also used informally to mean "lots" or "a lot" in Yiddish.
Zulungababili
The word 'ngababili' also means 'double' in Zulu.
Assameseযোৰা
Aymaraparisa
Bhojpuriजोड़ा
Dhivehiޕެއަރ
Dogriजोड़ा
Filipino (Tagalog)pares
Guaranipapyjoja
Ilocanoagkadua
Kriobay tu
Kurdish (Sorani)جووت
Maithiliजोड़ा
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄꯨꯡꯕꯥ
Mizokawppui
Oromocimdii
Odia (Oriya)ଯୋଡି |
Quechuamasa
Sanskritयुग्म
Tatarпар
Tigrinyaጽምዲ
Tsongaswimbirhi

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