Possibility in Different Languages
Discover 'Possibility' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Possibility: a word that embodies hope, opportunity, and the excitement of the unknown. It signifies the existence of multiple outcomes and the chance for something extraordinary to happen. The concept of possibility holds great cultural importance across the globe, as it encourages people to dream, innovate, and explore. Understanding the translation of possibility in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and approach opportunities.
Did you know that the English word 'possibility' stems from the Latin 'possibilitas'? Or that in ancient cultures, possibility was often associated with fate and destiny? These fascinating historical contexts add depth and richness to the word, making it even more intriguing to explore in various languages.
So, why should you learn the translation of possibility in different languages? For one, it can enhance your communication skills and cultural understanding when interacting with speakers of other languages. Additionally, it can inspire you to see the world through a new lens, embracing the endless possibilities that life has to offer.
Now, let's explore the translations of possibility in 10 different languages, from Spanish and French to Mandarin and Japanese.
Possibility
Possibility in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | moontlikheid | ||
| "Maanlik" is etymologically related to the word "maan" (moon), and was originally used to describe something that was as likely to happen as the moon appearing in the daytime. | |||
| Amharic | ዕድል | ||
| The word "ዕድል" can also mean "chance" or "opportunity". | |||
| Hausa | yiwuwar | ||
| In Hausa, the word 'yiwuwar' is also used to refer to a 'chance' or 'opportunity'. | |||
| Igbo | enwere ike | ||
| In Igbo, “enwere ike” can also mean “it is possible” and “he has power.” | |||
| Malagasy | mety | ||
| The word "mety" in Malagasy can also mean "hope," "chance," or "destiny." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuthekera | ||
| The Nyanja term "kuthekera" not only means "possibility" but also refers to an act of making something possible for someone or allowing them to do something. | |||
| Shona | mukana | ||
| "Mukana" can also mean "near" or "accompanying" in Shona. | |||
| Somali | suurtagalnimada | ||
| Suurtagalnimada is the Somali adaptation of the Arabic word 'imkān', meaning 'possibility' or 'potential'. | |||
| Sesotho | monyetla | ||
| The word "monyetla" also means "opportunity". | |||
| Swahili | uwezekano | ||
| The word "uwezekano" in Swahili also means "ability" or "potential". | |||
| Xhosa | kunokwenzeka | ||
| The word 'kunokwenzeka' in Xhosa is derived from the verb 'ukwenzeka', meaning 'to happen or occur'. | |||
| Yoruba | seese | ||
| The word "seese" in Yoruba, meaning "possibility", shares a common root with the verb "se", which means "to look." | |||
| Zulu | kungenzeka | ||
| The Zulu word **kungenzeka** could also refer to a person's ability or talent. | |||
| Bambara | seko ni dɔnko | ||
| Ewe | ate ŋu adzɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | birashoboka | ||
| Lingala | likoki ezali | ||
| Luganda | okusobola okubaawo | ||
| Sepedi | kgonagalo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ebetumi aba | ||
Possibility in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | إمكانية | ||
| The Arabic word "إمكانية," meaning "possibility," derives from the verb "أمكن," meaning "to be possible" or "to be able," which in turn stems from the root "مكـن," meaning "to establish" or "to make firm." | |||
| Hebrew | אפשרות | ||
| The root of the word אפשרות (possibility) in Hebrew, א-פ-ש, is also the root of the word אפשרי (possible). | |||
| Pashto | امکان | ||
| The word 'امکان' ('possibility') in Pashto comes from the Arabic root 'مكَان' ('place,' 'position'), suggesting its etymological connection to 'place' and 'existence'. | |||
| Arabic | إمكانية | ||
| The Arabic word "إمكانية," meaning "possibility," derives from the verb "أمكن," meaning "to be possible" or "to be able," which in turn stems from the root "مكـن," meaning "to establish" or "to make firm." | |||
Possibility in Western European Languages
| Albanian | mundësia | ||
| In early Albanian, "mundësia" also meant "the right or ability to do something." | |||
| Basque | aukera | ||
| The word "aukera" derives from "auki" ("open") and "-era" (a suffix indicating a place or state). | |||
| Catalan | possibilitat | ||
| The related words to possibilitat include possible, probable, potent, power and possiblet. | |||
| Croatian | mogućnost | ||
| "Mogućnost" comes from "moći" (to be able to) and means an opportunity, a chance, a prospect, a potentiality or a capability. | |||
| Danish | mulighed | ||
| The word 'mulighed' in Danish shares the same root as 'mulig' ('possible') and 'magt' ('power'). | |||
| Dutch | mogelijkheid | ||
| The Dutch word "mogelijkheid" ultimately derives from the Latin "possibilitas" | |||
| English | possibility | ||
| The word "possibility" derives from the Old French "possibilité," ultimately from the Latin "possibilitas," meaning "ability to do," from "posse," "to be able." | |||
| French | possibilité | ||
| The word "possibilité" stems from the Latin "possibilitas" and shares its meaning with the term "potentiality". | |||
| Frisian | mooglikheid | ||
| The Old Frisian "mugelikheid" is derived from Middle Dutch "moegelijchede" and means both "possibility" and "ability". | |||
| Galician | posibilidade | ||
| In Portuguese, “posibilidade” can also refer to someone who makes things possible. | |||
| German | möglichkeit | ||
| The German word "Möglichkeit" derives from the Middle High German "mügelicheit", which itself originates from the Old High German "muga". In addition to its common meaning of "possibility", "Möglichkeit" can also refer to "ability" or "means". | |||
| Icelandic | möguleika | ||
| "Möguleika" is a feminine noun in Icelandic. It comes from the verb "mega", which means "to be possible" or "to be able to." | |||
| Irish | fhéidearthacht | ||
| Italian | possibilità | ||
| The Italian word "possibilità" comes from Latin "possibilitās," which is derived from "posse," "to be able". | |||
| Luxembourgish | méiglechkeet | ||
| The word "Méiglechkeet" is derived from the Middle High German word "mugelicheit," meaning "ability" or "capacity." | |||
| Maltese | possibbiltà | ||
| The Maltese word "possibbiltà" comes from the Italian word "possibilità", which in turn comes from the Latin word "possibilitas", meaning "capability" or "potentiality." | |||
| Norwegian | mulighet | ||
| "Mulighet" can also refer to a place of refuge for people who live in dangerous or unsafe places. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | possibilidade | ||
| The word "possibilidade" comes from the Latin word "possibilitas", which means "the possibility of being or happening." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | comas | ||
| The word "comas" in Scots Gaelic derives from the Old Irish "commess, | |||
| Spanish | posibilidad | ||
| The word 'posibilidad' in Spanish derives from the Latin word 'possibilitas', which means 'being possible'. | |||
| Swedish | möjlighet | ||
| Möjlighet, meaning 'possibility' in Swedish, also connotes 'opportunity' and 'chance', implying an element of fortune or serendipity. | |||
| Welsh | posibilrwydd | ||
| The word 'posibilrwydd' is derived from the Latin word 'possibilitas', meaning the state or condition of being possible. | |||
Possibility in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | магчымасць | ||
| The word "магчымасць" in Belarusian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "mogoštĭ", which also means "ability" or "power". | |||
| Bosnian | mogućnost | ||
| The word "mogućnost" is derived from the verb "moći" (to be able) and means "capability". | |||
| Bulgarian | възможност | ||
| The word "възможност" is derived from the word "възможно" which means "possible". | |||
| Czech | možnost | ||
| The word "možnost" is derived from the Czech word "moci", meaning "to be able to", and can also refer to an opportunity or occasion. | |||
| Estonian | võimalus | ||
| "Võimalus" is also related to "võima" ("capable") and "võim" ("power") and was originally a noun meaning "strength, capability." | |||
| Finnish | mahdollisuus | ||
| The word "mahdollisuus" is derived from the word "mahdollinen", meaning "possible", which in turn comes from the word "mahta", meaning "to be able to". | |||
| Hungarian | lehetőség | ||
| The Hungarian word "lehetőség" has Slavic origins and is related to words meaning "ability" or "opportunity" in other Slavic languages. | |||
| Latvian | iespēju | ||
| The word "iespēja" can also refer to "an opportunity" or "a chance". | |||
| Lithuanian | galimybė | ||
| The word "galimybė" comes from the Lithuanian word "galiu", which means "can" or "am able". | |||
| Macedonian | можност | ||
| The word "можност" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *možь, meaning "power, ability". | |||
| Polish | możliwość | ||
| In Polish, the word "możliwość" derives from the verb "możyć," which means "to be able" or "to have the power to do something." | |||
| Romanian | posibilitate | ||
| The word "posibilitate" is derived from the Latin word "possibilitas", which means "capability" or "potentiality". | |||
| Russian | возможность | ||
| Возможность may also refer to the subjunctive mood in Slavic languages, derived from možь, meaning "I can" or "it is possible". | |||
| Serbian | могућност | ||
| The word "могућност" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "moguti" meaning "to be able". | |||
| Slovak | možnosť | ||
| The word "možnosť" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*mogtь", meaning "to be able". | |||
| Slovenian | možnost | ||
| "Možnost" also has the meaning of "opportunity" in Slovenian, and originates as a derivative from the Proto-Slavic term *mogъ, meaning "to be possible". | |||
| Ukrainian | можливість | ||
| The Ukrainian word "можливість" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *možь, meaning "power" or "ability." | |||
Possibility in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সম্ভাবনা | ||
| The Sanskrit root "bhava" (to exist) is common between "som-bha-b-na" (Bengali) and "pos-sib-le" (English), suggesting a common etymological origin. | |||
| Gujarati | શક્યતા | ||
| The Gujarati word "શક્યતા" also refers to the potential, aptitude, or capability of someone or something. | |||
| Hindi | संभावना | ||
| The Hindi word "संभावना" (sambhāvanā) derives from the Sanskrit word "सम्भावना" (sambhāvanā), meaning both "possibility" and "probability". | |||
| Kannada | ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆ | ||
| The word "ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆ" (sādhyate) is derived from the Sanskrit root "sadh" meaning "to accomplish, to succeed." | |||
| Malayalam | സാധ്യത | ||
| The word "സാധ്യത" also means "ability" or "capacity". | |||
| Marathi | शक्यता | ||
| The word "शक्यता" in Marathi originates from the Sanskrit word "शक्ति" meaning "ability" or "capacity". It suggests that something is within the realm of what is possible or can be done. | |||
| Nepali | सम्भावना | ||
| The word सम्भावना is derived from the Sanskrit word संभव meaning 'possible or probable'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | හැකියාව | ||
| "හැකියාව" can also refer to ability, capability, capacity, opportunity, potential. | |||
| Tamil | சாத்தியம் | ||
| Telugu | అవకాశం | ||
| In ancient Tamil, 'அவகாச' or "Avakaasa", referred to the time taken by a poet's assistant or scribe to write down the poet's words on the palm leaf | |||
| Urdu | امکان | ||
| Urdu word "امکان" is derived from the Arabic word "emkân" which means "to be possible" or "to be feasible and within reach". | |||
Possibility in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 可能性 | ||
| "可能性" can also mean "probability" or "potential" in Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 可能性 | ||
| In Classical Chinese, "可能性" also refers to the likelihood of something happening. | |||
| Japanese | 可能性 | ||
| The word "可能性" can also mean "probability" or "potential" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 가능성 | ||
| The word "가능성" originally meant "what is capable of being done" but now also means "what is likely to happen". | |||
| Mongolian | боломж | ||
| The Mongolian word "боломж" can also refer to opportunity, potential, or feasibility. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဖြစ်နိုင်ခြေ | ||
| It comes from two Pali words: bhavati meaning 'to exist' and anuggaha meaning 'to make fit' or 'enable'. | |||
Possibility in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kemungkinan | ||
| The word "kemungkinan" also means "ability", as in "memiliki kemungkinan untuk menang" (to have the ability to win). | |||
| Javanese | kamungkinan | ||
| The Javanese word "kamungkinan" is derived from two words: "kamungkinan" ("to be able") and "-an" (a suffix indicating a noun). | |||
| Khmer | លទ្ធភាព | ||
| The Sanskrit origin of លទ្ធភាព (possibility) carries the sense of "success" or "achievement". | |||
| Lao | ຄວາມເປັນໄປໄດ້ | ||
| Malay | kemungkinan | ||
| In addition to "possibility," kemungkinan is also an Old Javanese term for "chance" or "luck." | |||
| Thai | ความเป็นไปได้ | ||
| The Thai word "ความเป็นไปได้" also has the connotation of "potential" or "capability". | |||
| Vietnamese | khả năng | ||
| The word "khả năng" is derived from the root "khả" meaning "can", "able", and "năng" meaning "power", "ability". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | posibilidad | ||
Possibility in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | imkan | ||
| The word "imkan" can also mean "talent" or "ability" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | мүмкіндік | ||
| The word "мүмкіндік" in Kazakh can also refer to an opportunity or a chance. | |||
| Kyrgyz | мүмкүнчүлүк | ||
| Tajik | имконият | ||
| The word "имконият" is derived from Arabic, where it originally meant "power or ability". | |||
| Turkmen | mümkinçiligi | ||
| Uzbek | imkoniyat | ||
| The word "imkoniyat", like the Russian "возможность" it is derived from, can also mean "opportunity". | |||
| Uyghur | مۇمكىنچىلىكى | ||
Possibility in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hiki | ||
| The Hawaiian word "hiki" also has alternate meanings, including "able to," "capable of" and "may or could." | |||
| Maori | taea | ||
| "Taea" also means "ability, resource, or strength." | |||
| Samoan | avanoa | ||
| The word avanoa is also used to express the availability of time or a place to do something. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | posibilidad | ||
| The word "posibilidad" is derived from the Spanish word "posibilidad", which means "possibility". | |||
Possibility in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ukax lurasispawa | ||
| Guarani | posibilidad rehegua | ||
Possibility in International Languages
| Esperanto | eblo | ||
| "Eblo" also means "ability" in Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | possibilitate | ||
| Latin "possibilitas" originates from "posse", meaning "to be able". | |||
Possibility in Others Languages
| Greek | δυνατότητα | ||
| The Greek word "δυνατότητα" also means "ability". | |||
| Hmong | tau | ||
| In Hmong, "tau" can also refer to fortune or an oracle. | |||
| Kurdish | îmkan | ||
| In the Kurdish language "imkan" can also refer to the means or resources necessary to achieve something. | |||
| Turkish | olasılık | ||
| "Olasılık" shares the same root with "olsa" which means "may be" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | kunokwenzeka | ||
| The word 'kunokwenzeka' in Xhosa is derived from the verb 'ukwenzeka', meaning 'to happen or occur'. | |||
| Yiddish | מעגלעכקייט | ||
| The word "מעגלעכקייט" can also refer to the circular nature of time or the cyclical nature of events. | |||
| Zulu | kungenzeka | ||
| The Zulu word **kungenzeka** could also refer to a person's ability or talent. | |||
| Assamese | সম্ভাৱনা | ||
| Aymara | ukax lurasispawa | ||
| Bhojpuri | संभावना बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ޕޮސިބިލިޓީ އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | संभावना ऐ | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | posibilidad | ||
| Guarani | posibilidad rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | posibilidad | ||
| Krio | pɔsibul | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەگەری هەیە | ||
| Maithili | संभावना | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯣꯏꯊꯣꯀꯄꯥ ꯌꯥꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | thil awm thei | ||
| Oromo | ta’uu danda’a | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସମ୍ଭାବନା | | ||
| Quechua | atiyniyuq | ||
| Sanskrit | सम्भावना | ||
| Tatar | мөмкинлек | ||
| Tigrinya | ተኽእሎ ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | ku koteka | ||