Physical in Different Languages
Discover 'Physical' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'physical' has a rich history and a wide range of meanings, from referring to the tangible world around us to denoting a particular type of exercise or activity. Its significance extends beyond the realm of language, as it speaks to our very understanding of the world and our place in it. In many ways, the concept of the physical is at the heart of human culture and experience.
Interestingly, the word 'physical' has been translated in various ways across different languages, reflecting the unique cultural perspectives and linguistic traditions of each language. For example, in Spanish, 'physical' is translated as 'físico,' while in French, it becomes 'physique.' Meanwhile, in Japanese, the word 'タンイン' (ta-n'in) is used to describe something as physical, but it also has connotations of being tangible or material.
Understanding the translations of 'physical' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural contexts that shape our understanding of the world. In the following list, you'll find a range of translations for 'physical' in various languages, each with its own unique history and significance.
Physical
Physical in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | fisies | ||
| Amharic | አካላዊ | ||
| The Amharic word "አካላዊ" can also refer to the physical body or to a material object. | |||
| Hausa | na jiki | ||
| The Hausa word 'na jiki' can also refer to 'concrete' or 'tangible' things. | |||
| Igbo | aru | ||
| "Arụ" also refers to a taboo or abomination that should be strictly avoided. | |||
| Malagasy | ara-batana | ||
| The word "ara-batana" also has the meaning "to be able to do something" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | thupi | ||
| **Thupi** also denotes being pregnant or the belly of an animal, which derives from the word **kutuwa** meaning to be big or swollen. | |||
| Shona | muviri | ||
| "Muviri" also refers to an appearance or vision (physical or spiritual) of a departed person | |||
| Somali | jireed | ||
| In Somali, "jireed" also refers to a flexible rod used in traditional equestrian sports or a javelin thrown in such sports. | |||
| Sesotho | 'meleng | ||
| The Sesotho word 'meleng' also has the meaning of 'body' and is related to the word 'melemo' meaning 'strength'. | |||
| Swahili | kimwili | ||
| Kimwili' refers to 'nature' in the sense of 'essence' or 'substance', and is related to the verb 'ku-wili' ('to peel', 'to pare', 'to pluck', 'to strip', 'to remove'). | |||
| Xhosa | ngokomzimba | ||
| "Ngkomzimba" also means "to touch" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | ti ara | ||
| Ti ara can also mean "body" like in "omo ti ara nla", "a person with a large body" | |||
| Zulu | ngokomzimba | ||
| The Zulu word "ngokomzimba" can also refer to "in person" or "in the flesh". | |||
| Bambara | fanga | ||
| Ewe | ŋutilã me | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umubiri | ||
| Lingala | ya nzoto | ||
| Luganda | okukozesa amanyi | ||
| Sepedi | ka sebele | ||
| Twi (Akan) | anisoɔ | ||
Physical in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | جسدي - بدني | ||
| The word "جسدي - بدني" can also refer to the material or tangible form of something, such as an object or a person's body. | |||
| Hebrew | גוּפָנִי | ||
| The word "גוּפָנִי" (gūpānī, "physical") derives from the Greek "γυμνός" (gumnόs, "naked") via Aramaic. It can also refer to the body's appearance, shape, or condition. | |||
| Pashto | فزیکي | ||
| The Pashto word "فزیکي" also means "scientific" or "natural" in a more general sense. | |||
| Arabic | جسدي - بدني | ||
| The word "جسدي - بدني" can also refer to the material or tangible form of something, such as an object or a person's body. | |||
Physical in Western European Languages
| Albanian | fizike | ||
| Fizike's etymology is debated, but it may derive from Greek φυσιγχή or Turkish fiziki, both meaning "related to nature" | |||
| Basque | fisikoa | ||
| The word 'fisikoa' can also refer to someone who has studied or specializes in physics. | |||
| Catalan | físic | ||
| The word "físic" can also mean "doctor" or "surgeon" in Catalan. | |||
| Croatian | fizički | ||
| In Old Church Slavonic, 'fizički' (физичьскъ) is used to describe the state of the body as opposed to the soul, while in Russian, it's also used to denote a person's appearance. | |||
| Danish | fysisk | ||
| The Danish word "fysisk" can also mean "natural" or "bodily". | |||
| Dutch | fysiek | ||
| The word "fysiek" in Dutch can also mean "appearance" or "posture". | |||
| English | physical | ||
| The word "physical" derives from the Greek "physika", meaning "nature", and was first used in English in the 14th century to describe the natural world as opposed to the supernatural. | |||
| French | physique | ||
| In French, the word "physique" can also refer to a person's bodily appearance or physical characteristics. | |||
| Frisian | lichaamlik | ||
| The modern sense of "lichaamlik" derives from the older sense of "of the body," while its more ancient sense related to leeches. | |||
| Galician | físico | ||
| In Galician, "físico" can also mean "physician". | |||
| German | physisch | ||
| The German word "physisch" originates from the Greek word "physis" (φύσις), meaning nature, and is also related to the English word "physics". | |||
| Icelandic | líkamlegt | ||
| líkamlegt is derived from the Old Norse líkami, which means 'body'. | |||
| Irish | fisiceach | ||
| The Irish word "fisiceach" originates from the Greek "physikos" meaning "natural". | |||
| Italian | fisico | ||
| The word "fisico" derives from Greek and can also mean "physician". | |||
| Luxembourgish | kierperlech | ||
| The word "kierperlech" is derived from the Middle High German "körperlich", which in turn is derived from the Old High German "chopar", meaning "body". | |||
| Maltese | fiżiku | ||
| The Maltese word "fiżiku" comes from the Greek word "physikos", meaning "belonging to nature". | |||
| Norwegian | fysisk | ||
| "Fysisk" in Norwegian also means "mental". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | fisica | ||
| In Portuguese, "fisica" can also refer to a "woman physicist" or "a female student of physics." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | corporra | ||
| A similar word, corporra (sometimes spelled coirpear), means 'body, as a whole' or 'corpse' | |||
| Spanish | físico | ||
| In Spanish, "físico" can also refer to a medical doctor or a person with a degree in physics. | |||
| Swedish | fysisk | ||
| In Swedish, "fysisk" not only means "physical" but it can also refer to "physics" or "natural science". | |||
| Welsh | corfforol | ||
| "Corfforol" comes from the word "corff," meaning "body," and is also a synonym for "real" or "substantial." | |||
Physical in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | фізічны | ||
| "Фізічны" also means "psychic" in Belarusian, reflecting the historical connection between the two in the Belarusian language. | |||
| Bosnian | fizički | ||
| The term fizički is also used in a sense of 'bodily' meaning something that concerns one's body. | |||
| Bulgarian | физически | ||
| Физически may also mean 'in person' as in 'физически в офиса' ('at the office in person.') | |||
| Czech | fyzický | ||
| The Czech word "fyzický" is derived from the Greek word "physikós" and can also mean "natural" or "material". | |||
| Estonian | füüsiline | ||
| "Füüsiline" can also mean "natural" or "bodily". | |||
| Finnish | fyysinen | ||
| The word "fyysinen" can also refer to the physical environment or to one's physical appearance. | |||
| Hungarian | fizikai | ||
| The term "fizikai" originally derives from the Greek word "physike," signifying nature. | |||
| Latvian | fizisks | ||
| In Latvian, "fizisks" has a colloquial and archaic usage meaning "strong" or "powerful", derived from the German word "physisch" | |||
| Lithuanian | fizinis | ||
| Derived from the Greek word “fysis,” "fizinis" can also denote "characteristic" or "essence." | |||
| Macedonian | физички | ||
| The word физички (physical) comes from the Greek word "physikos" meaning "natural" or "relating to nature". | |||
| Polish | fizyczny | ||
| The word "fizyczny" derives from the Greek "physis" meaning "nature", and also means "real" or "in the flesh" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | fizic | ||
| The Romanian word "fizic" also refers to a type of folk song and dance. | |||
| Russian | физический | ||
| "Физический" также означает "связанный с природой". | |||
| Serbian | физички | ||
| The Serbian word "физички" can also mean "real" or "concrete" in philosophical contexts. | |||
| Slovak | fyzický | ||
| The word "fyzický" also has the meaning of "corporal" or "physical" in the sense of "tangible". | |||
| Slovenian | fizično | ||
| The word 'fizično' in Slovenian also refers to the concept of 'presence' or 'being in a certain place'. | |||
| Ukrainian | фізичний | ||
| The word "фізичний" is also used in a more abstract way to refer to something tangible or concrete. | |||
Physical in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | শারীরিক | ||
| The word "শারীরিক" is derived from the Sanskrit word "शारीरिक" (śārīrika), which means "of or relating to the body". | |||
| Gujarati | શારીરિક | ||
| The word "શારીરિક" can also mean "worldly" or "material" in Gujarati, in addition to its literal meaning of "physical". | |||
| Hindi | शारीरिक | ||
| The Sanskrit root 'श्री' (shree) means "to shine" or "to go, wander," indicating an emphasis on movement and energy in the word "शारीरिक". | |||
| Kannada | ಭೌತಿಕ | ||
| The term ಼ฎตದ (ಪຕುಹುಕ್), in addition to its “physical” meaning, refers to a philosophical school of thought focusing on reality – in this case, matter – as opposed to ideas. | |||
| Malayalam | ശാരീരിക | ||
| ശാരീരിക is derived from the Sanskrit word शारिरीक (śārīrika), which also means "relating to the body" or "corporeal." | |||
| Marathi | शारीरिक | ||
| The term 'शारीरिक' not only denotes something that relates to the body or is corporeal in nature but also that which pertains to or deals with one of the six main branches of Indian philosophy known as 'Sāṃkhya' | |||
| Nepali | शारीरिक | ||
| The term ''शारीरिक'' is also used to describe non-corporeal qualities, such as character. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਰੀਰਕ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ශාරීරික | ||
| The word "ශාරීරික" (physical) in Sinhala is derived from the Sanskrit word "शारीरिक" (śārīrika), meaning "bodily" or "pertaining to the body". | |||
| Tamil | உடல் | ||
| "உடல்" (physical) is derived from the root word "உள்" (inside), denoting the embodiment of the soul or consciousness within the physical body. | |||
| Telugu | భౌతిక | ||
| The term "భౌతిక" (physical) is a Sanskrit word derived from the root "భూ" (earth) and is also used in several other Indian languages. | |||
| Urdu | جسمانی | ||
| The word "جسمانی" originates from the Sanskrit word "deha" meaning "body". | |||
Physical in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 物理 | ||
| In Japanese, "物理" (butsuri) means "physics" while in Chinese, it means "physical". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 物理 | ||
| 物理 in Chinese can also refer to metaphysics and the study of the supernatural | |||
| Japanese | 物理的 | ||
| Japanese word "物理的 (ぶつりがく てき)" also means "physics-related" or "scientific." | |||
| Korean | 물리적 인 | ||
| The word 물리적 comes from the Chinese word 物理, which can also mean 'physics'. | |||
| Mongolian | физик | ||
| The Mongolian word “физик” can also refer to a person with a degree in physics. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ရုပ်ပိုင်းဆိုင်ရာ | ||
Physical in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | fisik | ||
| "Fisik" also means "money" (from Portuguese "fisico" and Latin "fiscus") | |||
| Javanese | fisik | ||
| In Javanese, 'fisik' does not mean 'physical' but refers to a person's body or appearance. | |||
| Khmer | រាងកាយ | ||
| The word "រាងកាយ" (physical) in Khmer can also refer to a person's appearance or physique. | |||
| Lao | ທາງດ້ານຮ່າງກາຍ | ||
| Malay | fizikal | ||
| The word "fizikal" in Malay can also refer to the physical or tangible properties of something. | |||
| Thai | ทางกายภาพ | ||
| The word "path" is included in the Thai word for "physical", emphasizing its connection to the physical realm. | |||
| Vietnamese | vật lý | ||
| "Vật lý" (physical) in Vietnamese also refers to the discipline of physics. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pisikal | ||
Physical in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | fiziki | ||
| The word "fiziki" in Azerbaijani is borrowed from Persian, where it means "relating to the natural sciences" as well as "relating to physics". | |||
| Kazakh | физикалық | ||
| The Kazakh word "физикалық" can also refer to a person's physical appearance or physique. | |||
| Kyrgyz | физикалык | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "физилык" can also refer to a person's appearance, personality, or behavior. | |||
| Tajik | ҷисмонӣ | ||
| The word "ҷисмонӣ" is derived from the Arabic word "جسماني" which means "corporeal" or "relating to the body". | |||
| Turkmen | fiziki | ||
| Uzbek | jismoniy | ||
| In Uzbek, the word "jismoniy" originally meant "of or related to the body" but is now primarily used to refer to something that is physical. | |||
| Uyghur | فىزىكىلىق | ||
Physical in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kino | ||
| Kino can also refer to a person, or sometimes a body part, and means 'form' in the sense of 'manifestation'. | |||
| Maori | ā-tinana | ||
| The Maori word "ā-tinana" also refers to the body of knowledge associated with the physical realm. | |||
| Samoan | faʻaletino | ||
| Faʻaletino can also refer to an inanimate object or animal but generally refers to humans. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pisikal | ||
| The Tagalog word "pisikal" (physical) comes from the Spanish word "físico", likely introduced and modified with time. | |||
Physical in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | janchi ch'amani | ||
| Guarani | hete | ||
Physical in International Languages
| Esperanto | fizika | ||
| The word "fizika" (physical) comes from the Greek word "physis" (nature), and can also refer to the study of natural phenomena. | |||
| Latin | corporis | ||
| The Latin word "corporis" also means "body" and is the root of the English word "corpse." | |||
Physical in Others Languages
| Greek | φυσικός | ||
| The Greek term "φυσικός" (physikos) originally referred to nature or the natural world and is related to "φυσις" (physis), meaning "nature," "growth," or "origin." | |||
| Hmong | lub cev | ||
| The Hmong word "lub cev" is said to mean "strong" or "healthy" and is often used as a term of endearment. | |||
| Kurdish | cûsseyî | ||
| The term 'cûsseyî' is also used to refer to the human body or physique and can carry a connotation of vitality and strength. | |||
| Turkish | fiziksel | ||
| "Fiziksel" is derived from the Greek word "physis," meaning nature, and also refers to the physical realm or the material world in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | ngokomzimba | ||
| "Ngkomzimba" also means "to touch" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | פיזיש | ||
| The word "פיזיש" can also mean "appearance" or "face" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | ngokomzimba | ||
| The Zulu word "ngokomzimba" can also refer to "in person" or "in the flesh". | |||
| Assamese | শাৰীৰিক | ||
| Aymara | janchi ch'amani | ||
| Bhojpuri | भौतिक | ||
| Dhivehi | ފިޒިކަލް | ||
| Dogri | जिसमानी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pisikal | ||
| Guarani | hete | ||
| Ilocano | pisikal | ||
| Krio | bɔdi | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | جەستەیی | ||
| Maithili | शारीरिक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯛꯆꯥꯡꯒꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯕ | ||
| Mizo | pawnlam | ||
| Oromo | qaama | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଶାରୀରିକ | ||
| Quechua | fisico | ||
| Sanskrit | भौतिक | ||
| Tatar | физик | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣካላዊ | ||
| Tsonga | xivumbeko | ||