Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'poor' carries a profound significance, as it refers to those who lack the necessary resources to live a comfortable life. This term extends beyond mere finances, encompassing a range of societal and cultural contexts. Throughout history, the poor have been variously perceived as victims of circumstance, agents of change, or even as a necessary evil. The concept of poverty has fueled revolutions, inspired philanthropy, and challenged the conscience of societies worldwide.
Given its far-reaching implications, understanding the word 'poor' in different languages can be a fascinating exploration of cultural nuances and societal attitudes. For instance, the Spanish equivalent, 'pobre', also denotes a sense of humility or modesty, while the German 'arm' carries a connotation of powerlessness. Meanwhile, the Chinese character for poor, '穷' (qióng), is composed of two parts: ' Rice' and 'Stalk', symbolizing the struggle for survival.
Join us as we delve into the translations of 'poor' in various languages, offering a glimpse into the diverse ways poverty is perceived and addressed across the globe.
Afrikaans | arm | ||
In Afrikaans, the word "arm" can also refer to the physical extremity or a unit of length. | |||
Amharic | ድሆች | ||
In Amharic, ድሆች or 'd'ho'ch' also refers to people who have been excluded from society. | |||
Hausa | talakawa | ||
The word 'talakawa' in Hausa originated from the Arabic word 'talaka', which means 'to set free' or 'to divorce' | |||
Igbo | ogbenye | ||
The word 'ogbenye' in Igbo also means 'an unfortunate person', indicating a deeper connection between poverty and misfortune. | |||
Malagasy | mahantra | ||
The word "mahatra" in Malagasy can also refer to humility or lack of ostentation. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | osauka | ||
The word 'osauka' can also refer to a person who is unfortunate or unlucky. | |||
Shona | murombo | ||
The word "murombo" in Shona derives from the verb "kurova", meaning to beg or plead. | |||
Somali | faqiir | ||
In the original Somali language, the term « Faqiir » also refers to a religious or spiritual expert. | |||
Sesotho | mofutsana | ||
In Sesotho, "mofutsana" can also mean "a small village" or "a person who is not wealthy but is not destitute either." | |||
Swahili | maskini | ||
Swahili 'maskini' likely derives from Arabic 'miskin', a term for a poor or humble person. | |||
Xhosa | ihlwempu | ||
The word “ihlwempu” is a diminutive form of “umhlwempu”, the original word used to describe a person who is poor, especially an elderly person. | |||
Yoruba | talaka | ||
The word "talaka" can also mean "beggar" or "needy person" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | mpofu | ||
In Zulu, "mpofu" means "one who is lacking," but can also refer to a young woman who is not yet married. | |||
Bambara | faantan | ||
Ewe | da ahe | ||
Kinyarwanda | abakene | ||
Lingala | mobola | ||
Luganda | -aavu | ||
Sepedi | diila | ||
Twi (Akan) | hia | ||
Arabic | فقير | ||
In Persian, "فقير" (faqīr) refers to a Sufi mystic while in Turkish, it can mean "witty" or "humorous." | |||
Hebrew | עני | ||
The word "עני" (pronounced "ani") has several meanings in Hebrew, including "poor," "humble," and "meek." | |||
Pashto | غریب | ||
The Pashto word 'غریب' can also refer to a stranger or foreigner. | |||
Arabic | فقير | ||
In Persian, "فقير" (faqīr) refers to a Sufi mystic while in Turkish, it can mean "witty" or "humorous." |
Albanian | i varfer | ||
The word "i varfer" in Albanian can also mean "weak" or "unfortunate". | |||
Basque | eskasa | ||
The Basque word "eskasa" also means "lacking," "insufficient," or "deficient." | |||
Catalan | pobre | ||
In Catalan, "pobre" has a broader meaning than "poor", also referring to "miserable" or "unfortunate". | |||
Croatian | siromašna | ||
The etymology of 'siromašna' ('poor') is 'sir' ('cheese'), meaning originally 'lacking cheese'. | |||
Danish | fattige | ||
The word "fattige" originates from the Old Norse word "fátækr" meaning "needy" or "poor in spirit." | |||
Dutch | arm | ||
The Dutch word "arm" (poor) is derived from the Old English word "earm" (miserable, wretched) | |||
English | poor | ||
The word "poor" originates from the Latin "pauper", meaning "beggar" or "needy person." | |||
French | pauvre | ||
The French word "pauvre" originally meant "afraid" and still carries that connotation in some contexts. | |||
Frisian | earm | ||
The Frisian word "earm" is cognate with the English "arm", and originally meant "weak" or "defective". | |||
Galician | pobre | ||
The word "pobre" in Galician comes from Latin "pauper" meaning "poor", but can also mean "humble", "simple", or "small" depending on the context. | |||
German | arm | ||
The etymology of "arm" is disputed, with one possibility deriving it from the Old High German word "aram" meaning "wretched" while another suggests Indo-European roots meaning “affliction.” | |||
Icelandic | léleg | ||
The Icelandic word "léleg" (poor) derives from the Old Norse "hljóðr" (loud), which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic "*hluđaz" (loud). | |||
Irish | bocht | ||
In Irish, the word "bocht" also means "soft" or "tender". | |||
Italian | povero | ||
The Italian word "povero" can also mean "unlucky" or "wretched" | |||
Luxembourgish | aarm | ||
The word "aarm" can also refer to a feeling of misery or wretchedness, like in the expression "Ech sinn aarm dran", meaning "I'm miserable about it." | |||
Maltese | fqir | ||
The word "fqir" in Maltese is derived from the Arabic word "faqīr" meaning "poor", and also has the additional meaning of "monk" or "dervish". | |||
Norwegian | dårlig | ||
"Dårlig" is a cognate and false friend of English "dear". The word has retained the meaning "dear" in archaic contexts like the toponyms "Dårli" | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | pobre | ||
In Portuguese, "pobre" can also mean "unfortunate" or "miserable." | |||
Scots Gaelic | bochd | ||
The word "bochd" in Scots Gaelic also has meanings of "wretched" and "miserable". | |||
Spanish | pobre | ||
In Spanish, the word "pobre" also has a colloquial meaning of "cute" or "adorable". | |||
Swedish | fattig | ||
The word "fattig" is possibly derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*fatôgaz", meaning "beggar" or "poor person". | |||
Welsh | druan | ||
Druan can also mean 'pitiable' or 'wretched' |
Belarusian | бедны | ||
The term "бедны" in Belarusian is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *będъ, meaning "poor" or "miserable". | |||
Bosnian | siromašna | ||
The word 'siromašna' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word '*siro' and originally meant 'orphan' or 'needy'. | |||
Bulgarian | беден | ||
The word "беден" in Bulgarian also means "unfortunate" and "weak". | |||
Czech | chudý | ||
The word "chudý" also means "thin" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | vaene | ||
The word "vaene" derives from the Proto-Uralic root *waɣe-, meaning "lacking, poor." | |||
Finnish | huono | ||
The word "huono" can also mean "bad" or "low quality" in Finnish. | |||
Hungarian | szegény | ||
The word "szegény" also means "narrow" or "tight" in Hungarian, indicating a lack of wealth or space. | |||
Latvian | nabadzīgs | ||
"Nabagazds" also means a house without a man | |||
Lithuanian | vargšas | ||
The Lithuanian word "vargšas" is linked to "vargas", a word for "trouble", and also "vargti", which means "to suffer" or "to toil." | |||
Macedonian | сиромашен | ||
The word "сиромашен" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *sъromъ, meaning "orphan" or "miserable". | |||
Polish | ubogi | ||
The Polish word "ubogi" derives from the Proto-Slavic "bogъ", meaning "god, wealth", thus originally denoting someone lacking divine protection and hence fortune. | |||
Romanian | sărac | ||
The word 'sărac' is derived from the Latin word 'saracu', meaning 'to beg' | |||
Russian | бедных | ||
The Russian word "бедных" can also be used to refer to people with low social status, or those who are disadvantaged or marginalized. | |||
Serbian | сиромашни | ||
The word "сиромашни" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "siro", meaning "orphan". | |||
Slovak | chudobný | ||
"Chudobný" in Slovak derives from the Proto-Slavic "xudь" (hunger), while the word for "poor" in Czech, Polish, etc., comes from a distinct root meaning "humble" | |||
Slovenian | ubogi | ||
In Old Church Slavonic, "ubogi" meant "poor" but also "deserving of pity", which is closer to its meaning in Slovenian and reflects social values of the past. | |||
Ukrainian | бідний | ||
Ukrainian 'бідний' derives from Proto-Slavic 'bydьnь', which meant 'alone' or 'solitary' as opposed to 'rich' which connoted 'abundant' or 'fertile' land. |
Bengali | দরিদ্র | ||
দরিদ্র originates from Sanskrit 'daridrā', referring to a beggar's staff, which symbolises poverty. | |||
Gujarati | ગરીબ | ||
The word 'ગરીબ' also has a more metaphorical meaning, referring to someone who is unfortunate or disadvantaged. | |||
Hindi | गरीब | ||
The word "गरीब" (poor) is derived from the Sanskrit word "गरिमा" (weight), and originally meant "heavy" or "burdened." | |||
Kannada | ಬಡವರು | ||
The word "ಬಡವರು" (poor) in Kannada comes from the Dravidian word "ಪಡು" (to fall), implying a state of fallenness or helplessness. | |||
Malayalam | ദരിദ്രർ | ||
The word "ദരിദ്രർ" (daridrar) in Malayalam stems from the Sanskrit word "daridra," which can also mean "beggar" or "needy." | |||
Marathi | गरीब | ||
The Marathi word " गरीब" traces its roots to the Sanskrit word "गुरू" (teacher) and initially referred to someone who was financially dependent, rather than someone who was impoverished. | |||
Nepali | गरीब | ||
The word "गरीब" (poor) may also refer to a person suffering from a specific disease or calamity. | |||
Punjabi | ਗਰੀਬ | ||
The word "ਗਰੀਬ" is derived from the Persian word "gharīb" meaning "foreigner" or "stranger". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දුප්පත් | ||
"දුප්පත්" also means "low" or "inferior" and is related to the Sanskrit word "durbala" which means "weak". | |||
Tamil | ஏழை | ||
The word "ஏழை" (ēḻai) is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word "*ēṯ- " meaning "to beg" or "to be needy". | |||
Telugu | పేద | ||
The word "పేద" (pronounced "payda") can also mean "wretched" or "miserable" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | غریب | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "poor," "غریب" can also mean "stranger" or "foreigner" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 较差的 | ||
The Chinese word "较差的" can also mean "comparatively bad" or "relatively worse". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 較差的 | ||
The traditional Chinese word 較差的 is more ambiguous than English "poor" and can describe something weak or inferior; lacking in quality. | |||
Japanese | 貧しい | ||
貧しい (binbōshii) is also used as a term of endearment, particularly towards children and pets. | |||
Korean | 가난한 | ||
The Korean word '가난한' comes from the Middle Korean '가난ㅎ다', meaning 'to have insufficient resources' or 'to be unable to provide for oneself'. | |||
Mongolian | ядуу | ||
The word "ядуу" can also mean poor in quality. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ဆင်းရဲတယ် | ||
Indonesian | miskin | ||
Some scholars of Indonesian etymology associate the word with Arabic, "miskin" which means "needy" or "poor." | |||
Javanese | mlarat | ||
The word "mlarat" in Javanese also means "to be at a disadvantage" or "to be unlucky." | |||
Khmer | ក្រីក្រ | ||
The Khmer word "ក្រីក្រ" (poor) can also refer to something that is weak or feeble. | |||
Lao | ທຸກຍາກ | ||
The word "ທຸກຍາກ" (poor) in Lao is derived from the Pali word "dukkha", meaning "suffering" or "pain". | |||
Malay | miskin | ||
The word "miskin" is derived from the Arabic word "miskin" which means "weak" or "feeble". | |||
Thai | น่าสงสาร | ||
The term "น่าสงสาร" can also mean "pitiable" or "pathetic" in Thai. | |||
Vietnamese | nghèo | ||
The word "nghèo" in Vietnamese derives from the Sino-Vietnamese word "nghèo" which initially described the sound of raindrops hitting water. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | mahirap | ||
Azerbaijani | kasıb | ||
The word | |||
Kazakh | кедей | ||
The Kazakh word "кедей" also refers to the legendary Kazakh hero who gave his life to save his people. | |||
Kyrgyz | кедей | ||
"кедей" (poor) in Kyrgyz is related to the Turkish word "kede" (to need). | |||
Tajik | камбизоат | ||
The Russian word "камбизоат" ("poor") can also refer to a person with a low social status. | |||
Turkmen | garyp | ||
Uzbek | kambag'al | ||
The word "kambag'al" in Uzbek is derived from the Persian word "kambiz", meaning "needy" or "poor." | |||
Uyghur | نامرات | ||
Hawaiian | ʻilihune | ||
'Ili Hune means 'moving joints', referring to the trembling caused by malnutrition in those who experience severe hunger. | |||
Maori | rawakore | ||
"Rawakore" also means "hungry" and "needy" in Maori. | |||
Samoan | mativa | ||
The word "mativa" can also mean "unfortunate" or "unlucky" in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | mahirap | ||
The word "mahirap" can also mean "difficult" or "hard to do" in Tagalog, implying that poverty is not just a lack of resources but also a struggle. |
Aymara | pisin jakiri | ||
Guarani | mboriahu | ||
Esperanto | malriĉa | ||
The word "malriĉa" is derived from "mal-" (bad) and "riĉa" (wealthy), which conveys the sense of a lack of wealth rather than just poverty. | |||
Latin | pauper | ||
In Latin, "pauper" stems from the word "paucus," meaning "few," signifying a lack of possessions. |
Greek | φτωχός | ||
Φτωχός comes from the word πτοέω (ptoeo) which means 'frighten, terrify, dismay'. | |||
Hmong | neeg pluag | ||
The word "neeg pluag" can also be used as an adverb meaning "poorly" or "inadequately" | |||
Kurdish | belengaz | ||
The word "belengaz" is also used to refer to a type of Kurdish folk dance. | |||
Turkish | yoksul | ||
The word “yoksul” can also mean “orphan” in Turkish, reflecting the historical association between poverty and lack of familial support. | |||
Xhosa | ihlwempu | ||
The word “ihlwempu” is a diminutive form of “umhlwempu”, the original word used to describe a person who is poor, especially an elderly person. | |||
Yiddish | נעבעך | ||
The word "nebbish" derives from the Yiddish word "nebekh," which conveys a sense of pity rather than destitution. | |||
Zulu | mpofu | ||
In Zulu, "mpofu" means "one who is lacking," but can also refer to a young woman who is not yet married. | |||
Assamese | দুখীয়া | ||
Aymara | pisin jakiri | ||
Bhojpuri | गरीब | ||
Dhivehi | ފަޤީރު | ||
Dogri | गरीब | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | mahirap | ||
Guarani | mboriahu | ||
Ilocano | napanglaw | ||
Krio | pɔ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | هەژار | ||
Maithili | गरीब | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯕ | ||
Mizo | rethei | ||
Oromo | hiyyeessa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଗରିବ | ||
Quechua | wakcha | ||
Sanskrit | निर्धनः | ||
Tatar | ярлы | ||
Tigrinya | ድኻ | ||
Tsonga | vusweti | ||
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