Updated on March 6, 2024
Patterns are a fundamental part of our world, visible in the natural world and in the man-made designs that surround us. They are significant because they provide a sense of order and predictability, allowing us to recognize and understand the world around us. Patterns have been used throughout history in art, architecture, and design to create beautiful and harmonious compositions.
The cultural importance of patterns cannot be overstated. They are a universal language that transcends borders and connects us all. From the intricate geometric patterns of Islamic art to the bold graphic patterns of African textiles, patterns are a reflection of our diverse cultural heritage.
Knowing the translation of the word 'pattern' in different languages can be fascinating and enlightening. For example, in Spanish, the word for pattern is 'patrón', which also means 'boss' or 'master'. In German, the word for pattern is 'Muster', which is also used to describe a sample or example.
Below is a list of translations of the word 'pattern' in different languages. Explore these translations to gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of patterns and to expand your linguistic horizons.
Afrikaans | patroon | ||
The word "patroon" in Afrikaans has an extended meaning of "example" or "model to be followed", derived from its original Dutch meaning of "lord of the manor" or "wealthy landowner". | |||
Amharic | ንድፍ | ||
The word ''ንድፍ'' in Amharic is related to ''ንድፍ'' (to make a sign) while it also implies a form or a layout. | |||
Hausa | abin kwaikwaya | ||
Though abin kwaikwaya in Hausa translates to 'pattern' in English, it can also mean 'example', 'model', 'type' or 'style' depending on the context. | |||
Igbo | ụkpụrụ | ||
Malagasy | lamina | ||
The word "lamina" in Malagasy also means "drawing". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chitsanzo | ||
The word "chitsanzo" shares a linguistic root with another verb "kusanza", meaning "to imitate" or "to copy". | |||
Shona | pateni | ||
The word "pateni" in Shona means "pattern" and can also refer to a traditional cloth woven with intricate designs. | |||
Somali | hannaan | ||
In a broader context, it can also refer to a style, manner, or approach. | |||
Sesotho | mohlala | ||
The word 'mohlala' in Sesotho can also refer to a mould for making something. | |||
Swahili | muundo | ||
The Swahili word "muundo" also means "figure, shape, plan, structure, model"} | |||
Xhosa | ipateni | ||
The plural form of ipateni is amapateni, which means 'designs' or 'patterns'. | |||
Yoruba | apẹẹrẹ | ||
"Apẹẹrẹ (Yoruba for 'pattern') is also a term for 'example' or 'lesson' in the language." | |||
Zulu | iphethini | ||
Iphethini, meaning 'pattern' in Zulu, can also refer to a plan, design, or blueprint. | |||
Bambara | ɲɔgɔn | ||
Ewe | ɖoɖome | ||
Kinyarwanda | icyitegererezo | ||
Lingala | ezaleli | ||
Luganda | patani | ||
Sepedi | phethene | ||
Twi (Akan) | nhyehyɛeɛ | ||
Arabic | نمط | ||
The word "نمط" has the root word "نم" which means to form and grow. It can also refer to a way, habit or lifestyle. | |||
Hebrew | תבנית | ||
The word "תבנית" (tabnit) in Hebrew also means "example" or "model". | |||
Pashto | ب patternه | ||
The Pashto word "پتترن" is borrowed from the English word "pattern". | |||
Arabic | نمط | ||
The word "نمط" has the root word "نم" which means to form and grow. It can also refer to a way, habit or lifestyle. |
Albanian | modeli | ||
The Albanian word "modeli" is derived from the Latin "modulus," which refers to a form, model, or measure. | |||
Basque | eredua | ||
The word "eredua" also translates as "model", "example" and "type" in English, and its etymology is the Basque word "eredu", which means "pattern", "example" and "type". | |||
Catalan | patró | ||
In some contexts, the Catalan word "patró" can refer to a protector or patronizing entity. | |||
Croatian | uzorak | ||
The Croatian word "uzorak” is a loanword from Hungarian, likely derived from "szokás" (habit, custom). | |||
Danish | mønster | ||
"Mønster" also means "example" or "model" but it may also refer to "sample" or "template" in the Danish language. | |||
Dutch | patroon | ||
The word "patroon" in Dutch can also refer to a landlord or estate owner, with historical roots in the patroonship system in New Netherland. | |||
English | pattern | ||
The word "pattern" derives from the Middle French "patron," meaning "model" or "example," which in turn comes from the Latin "patronus," meaning "protector" or "father." | |||
French | modèle | ||
The French word "modèle" originated from the Latin word "modulus" and can also refer to a model or an example. | |||
Frisian | patroan | ||
"Patroan" (or "Patroon") is cognate with the Dutch and Old English words for "patron" | |||
Galician | patrón | ||
In Galician, "patrón" can also refer to a saint, a protector, or a boss. | |||
German | muster | ||
The word "Muster" in German can also mean "sample", "example", or "specimen". | |||
Icelandic | mynstur | ||
The word "mynstur" in Icelandic is derived from the Middle English "mynstre," meaning "example," "model," or "style," and ultimately from the Latin "monstrum," meaning "warning," "omen," or "example," suggesting a connection between the concept of patterns and the notion of exemplars or warnings from the past. | |||
Irish | patrún | ||
The Irish word 'patrún' can also refer to a patron saint or a religious pilgrimage. | |||
Italian | modello | ||
The Italian word "modello" (pattern) originates from the Latin word "modulus" (module), which also means "standard" or "exemplar". | |||
Luxembourgish | muster | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Muster" also means "sample", "exemplar", or "model". | |||
Maltese | mudell | ||
The Maltese word 'mudell' is likely derived from the Arabic word 'mithāl', which also means 'example' or 'model'. | |||
Norwegian | mønster | ||
The word "mønster" is derived from the Old Norse word "mynstr", which also means "example" or "model". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | padronizar | ||
The word "padronizar" in Portuguese is derived from the word "padrão", which means "standard" or "pattern", and "-izar", which means "to make standard". | |||
Scots Gaelic | pàtran | ||
Coincidentally, the word "pàtran" in Scots Gaelic also refers to a "Lord's Prayer". | |||
Spanish | patrón | ||
In Spanish, the word "patrón" can also mean "boss" or "patron saint". | |||
Swedish | mönster | ||
"Mönster" also means "monster" in Swedish, possibly because "monstrous" patterns were once common in art. | |||
Welsh | patrwm | ||
The Welsh word "patrwm" also means "example" or "model". |
Belarusian | ўзор | ||
The word "ўзор" can also mean "decoration" or "ornament" in Belarusian. | |||
Bosnian | uzorak | ||
"Uzorak" has alternate meaning - "example". | |||
Bulgarian | модел | ||
The word "модел" in Bulgarian can also refer to a mathematical model or a scale model. | |||
Czech | vzor | ||
In Russian, "vzor" is a homonym that means "eye" and is cognate with Czech "zrak". | |||
Estonian | muster | ||
The word "muster" can also mean "example" or "model" in English. | |||
Finnish | kuvio | ||
The word "kuvio" is rooted in the ancient concept of weaving, where it represented a woven or embroidered design; its original meaning lingers in the textile context even today. | |||
Hungarian | minta | ||
In Hungarian, 'minta' also means 'sample', 'example', or 'model', highlighting its connection to the concept of 'pattern' as a guide or prototype. | |||
Latvian | modeli | ||
The word "modeli" in Latvian comes from the Latin word "modulus," meaning "measure" or "standard." | |||
Lithuanian | raštas | ||
The word "raštas" also means "writing" in Lithuanian, highlighting the connection between the written word and visual patterns. | |||
Macedonian | шема | ||
The word "шема" also has the alternate meaning of "outline" or "scheme". | |||
Polish | wzór | ||
The Polish word "wzór" also means "sample", "model", "formula", "example", "standard", or "design". | |||
Romanian | model | ||
In Romanian, model is used in various contexts such as a person posing for an artist, a representation of a product or a small amount of food given for a taste. | |||
Russian | шаблон | ||
Шаблон (pattern) в русском языке имеет дополнительное значение: трафарет, шаблон для копирования или печати, форма. | |||
Serbian | шаблон | ||
Besides the most common meaning of "pattern", "шаблон" can also refer to a template or a stencil in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | vzor | ||
The word "vzor" in Slovak can also mean a "model" or an "example". | |||
Slovenian | vzorec | ||
Its cognate in other slavic languages is related to | |||
Ukrainian | візерунок | ||
The word "візерунок" might be derived from "визерти" (to look out) or "визирати" (to peer out). Or it might come from the Persian "naqsh" (picture). |
Bengali | প্যাটার্ন | ||
In Bengali, 'প্যাটার্ন' can also refer to a type of traditional sari worn in Bangladesh and East India, known for its colorful and intricate designs. | |||
Gujarati | પેટર્ન | ||
The word "પેટર્ન" ("pattern") in Gujarati also means "a model" or "an example to be followed". | |||
Hindi | प्रतिरूप | ||
प्रतिरूप can also refer to the image of an idol on the mind | |||
Kannada | ಮಾದರಿ | ||
In Kannada, the word "ಮಾದರಿ" can also refer to a sample, a prototype, or an ideal. | |||
Malayalam | മാതൃക | ||
"മാതൃക" is cognate to the Sanskrit "mātrkā" and "metr" and related to "mother" and "measure". | |||
Marathi | नमुना | ||
"नमुना" (pattern) is a Marathi word derived from the Sanskrit word "नम" (bow) and "आन" (to bring), indicating a model or example to be followed. | |||
Nepali | ढाँचा | ||
"ढाँचा" can also mean "framework" or "format". | |||
Punjabi | ਪੈਟਰਨ | ||
The word 'ਪੈਟਰਨ' ('pattern') in Punjabi can also refer to the shape of a piece of cloth or a piece of land. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | රටාව | ||
The Sinhala word රටාව (pattern) derives from the Sanskrit word 'ratha,' meaning 'a chariot,' and also refers to the 'arrangement of a chariot's parts.' | |||
Tamil | முறை | ||
முறை originally meant 'custom' or 'convention' and later came to mean 'pattern', indicating its role in shaping societal norms. | |||
Telugu | నమూనా | ||
Telugu word "నమూనా" originated from the Urdu word "numoona" meaning "specimen". | |||
Urdu | پیٹرن | ||
The word "پیٹرن" can also mean "father" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 模式 | ||
The character "模" in "模式" originally meant "to imitate", and "式" meant "form" or "model" | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 模式 | ||
模式 (Mòshì) also means 'model', 'schema', or 'paradigm' and may be used in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or sociology. | |||
Japanese | パターン | ||
パターン is derived from the Portuguese "padrão" (standard), which also gave rise to the English "patron" and "patronage." | |||
Korean | 무늬 | ||
The word "무늬" can also refer to the pattern or design on a fabric or garment. | |||
Mongolian | хэв маяг | ||
In Mongolian, the word хэв маяг can also refer to the appearance or texture of something. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပုံစံ | ||
ပုံစံ literally means 'form, shape' and has alternate meanings like 'style' or 'model'. |
Indonesian | pola | ||
The word "pola" is also sometimes used in Indonesian to refer to a group of people or objects arranged in a specific order. | |||
Javanese | pola | ||
The word pola is derived from Sanskrit and can also mean a model, plan, or method. | |||
Khmer | លំនាំ | ||
លំនាំ (pattern) is derived from លាំ (to draw) and may have originally referred to a drawing used as a model or guide. | |||
Lao | ຮູບແບບ | ||
In Lao, the word for "pattern" is "ຮູບແບບ" and comes from the Sanskrit word "रूपं" (rupa) meaning "form". It also refers to a template, model, or example. | |||
Malay | corak | ||
The word "corak" likely originates from the Sanskrit word "chakra", meaning "wheel" or "cycle". | |||
Thai | รูปแบบ | ||
ทระเปิน (ruaprorm) can also mean a 'model' or a 'design'. | |||
Vietnamese | mẫu | ||
'Mẫu' also means a female ghost or spirit, and is sometimes used as a term of endearment for a mother or grandmother. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pattern | ||
Azerbaijani | naxış | ||
The word "naxış" comes from the Persian word "naqsh", meaning "design" or "ornament". | |||
Kazakh | өрнек | ||
The word "өрнек" can also refer to a model or an example. | |||
Kyrgyz | үлгү | ||
"Үлгү" (Pattern) comes from the word "ülüsh" (to distribute), symbolizing fairness and equality as a pattern is used for distribution. | |||
Tajik | намуна | ||
The word "намуна" is also used to refer to a model or example in Tajik. | |||
Turkmen | nagyş | ||
Uzbek | naqsh | ||
The word "naqsh" is derived from the Persian word "naqsh", which means "ornament" or "decoration". | |||
Uyghur | ئەندىزە | ||
Hawaiian | lauana | ||
The name Lauana is a word with multiple meanings and can refer to a native Hawaiian chant, a type of dance and a traditional Hawaiian quilt pattern. | |||
Maori | tauira | ||
In Polynesian mythology, Tauira represents the child form of Tamateapokaiwhenua - guardian god of forests | |||
Samoan | mamanu | ||
The word "mamanu" in Samoan can also refer to a design, drawing, or picture. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pattern | ||
"Pattern" is also called "molde" in Tagalog, which can also mean "mold". |
Aymara | patruna | ||
Guarani | momba'apohára | ||
Esperanto | ŝablono | ||
The Esperanto word "ŝablono" is derived from the French word "chablon" and can also mean "stencil" or "template". | |||
Latin | ratio | ||
In Latin, besides meaning 'pattern', "ratio" also signified 'reckoning', 'calculation', or 'account'. |
Greek | πρότυπο | ||
Originally "πρότυπος" meant "original model", from the word "τύπος" (type) | |||
Hmong | qauv | ||
The Hmong word 'qauv' also means 'design' or 'model'. | |||
Kurdish | mînak | ||
In Sorani Kurdish, mînak (pattern) has a similar root as mîna (painting) and is sometimes used to refer to painted designs as well. | |||
Turkish | desen | ||
The word "desen" in Turkish derives from the Persian word "desan" meaning "design" and ultimately originates from the Greek word "deikos" meaning "to show". | |||
Xhosa | ipateni | ||
The plural form of ipateni is amapateni, which means 'designs' or 'patterns'. | |||
Yiddish | מוסטער | ||
מוסטער may be related to "Muster", which meant a collection of examples in medieval German. | |||
Zulu | iphethini | ||
Iphethini, meaning 'pattern' in Zulu, can also refer to a plan, design, or blueprint. | |||
Assamese | নমুনা | ||
Aymara | patruna | ||
Bhojpuri | परकार | ||
Dhivehi | ޕެޓާރން | ||
Dogri | ढंग | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pattern | ||
Guarani | momba'apohára | ||
Ilocano | ballaet | ||
Krio | ɛgzampul | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | شێواز | ||
Maithili | स्वरूप | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯇꯧ | ||
Mizo | kaihruaitu | ||
Oromo | toora | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ନମୁନା | ||
Quechua | awasqa | ||
Sanskrit | प्रतिमानम् | ||
Tatar | үрнәк | ||
Tigrinya | ንድፊ | ||
Tsonga | endlelo | ||