Practical in Different Languages
Discover 'Practical' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'practical' holds great significance in our daily lives, denoting something that is useful, efficient, and directly applicable in the real world. Its cultural importance is evident in various aspects of society, including education, business, and technology. By understanding the concept of practicality, we can make informed decisions, solve problems effectively, and adapt to new challenges.
Moreover, the translation of 'practical' in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how diverse cultures perceive and prioritize usefulness and efficiency. For instance, in Spanish, 'practical' translates to 'práctico,' while in French, it is 'pratique.' In German, the word 'praktisch' carries a similar meaning, reflecting the language's shared roots with English.
Understanding the nuances of practical in various languages can help us connect with people from different backgrounds, broaden our perspectives, and appreciate the richness of global cultures. As we delve into the translations of practical, we will explore the historical contexts, interesting facts, and cultural significance associated with this versatile word.
Practical
Practical in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | prakties | ||
| The word "prakties" in Afrikaans, meaning "practical", shares its etymology with "practice" in English, having originated from the Greek "praktikos" (active, practical). | |||
| Amharic | ተግባራዊ | ||
| Amharic word "ተግባራዊ" also refers to a practical activity or hands-on project, and is related to the word "ተግባር" meaning action or deed. | |||
| Hausa | mai amfani | ||
| 'Mai amfani' also means 'useful' rather than 'practical' in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | bara uru | ||
| The word "bara uru" can be literally translated as "to come down to the earth" or "to be down to earth". This phrase is used to describe someone who is practical and realistic. | |||
| Malagasy | mahasoa | ||
| The word "mahasoa" can also mean "profitable" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zothandiza | ||
| Zothandiza means "practical" in Nyanja. It also refers to something that is useful, helpful, or profitable. | |||
| Shona | inoshanda | ||
| The word "inoshanda" is also sometimes used to describe a person who is capable or competent. | |||
| Somali | wax ku ool ah | ||
| The literal translation of "wax ku ool ah" is "work in accordance with something". | |||
| Sesotho | e sebetsang | ||
| The word "sebetsang" is derived from the verb "sebetsa," meaning "to work or do something." This suggests that something practical is something that is useful or effective in achieving a desired result. | |||
| Swahili | vitendo | ||
| The Swahili word "vitendo" can also refer to "actions" or "deeds". | |||
| Xhosa | iyasebenza | ||
| In Xhosa, "iyasebenza" is derived from the root "sebenza," meaning "to work," and the prefix "iya," denoting ability or capacity. | |||
| Yoruba | wulo | ||
| The word "wulo" can also mean "skillful" or "capable". | |||
| Zulu | okusebenzayo | ||
| Oku-sebenz-ayo is derived from the verb 'sebenza' (to work), which implies the quality of being useful, applicable, or effective. | |||
| Bambara | nɔ̀gɔman | ||
| Ewe | asidɔwɔwɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ngirakamaro | ||
| Lingala | ya malamu | ||
| Luganda | kikolebwa | ||
| Sepedi | ka dirwago | ||
| Twi (Akan) | wotumi yɛ | ||
Practical in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | عملي | ||
| The word "عملي" (practical) literally means "effective" or "performable" in Arabic, highlighting its result-oriented nature. | |||
| Hebrew | מַעֲשִׂי | ||
| מַעֲשִׂי in biblical Hebrew means 'deed', while its modern meaning of 'practical' is a modern coinage. | |||
| Pashto | عملي | ||
| عملي can also mean 'feasible', 'possible', 'workable', 'achievable', or 'doable' in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | عملي | ||
| The word "عملي" (practical) literally means "effective" or "performable" in Arabic, highlighting its result-oriented nature. | |||
Practical in Western European Languages
| Albanian | praktike | ||
| "Praktike" in Albanian can also mean "experience" or "practice". | |||
| Basque | praktikoa | ||
| The Basque word "praktikoa" may come from Spanish or Latin and originally meant "a book of sermons". | |||
| Catalan | pràctic | ||
| The adjective pràctic in Catalan shares an etymology with the English practical, but additionally describes a person skilled in a trade or activity. | |||
| Croatian | praktično | ||
| The word "praktično" can also mean "useful" or "serviceable" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | praktisk | ||
| {"text": "Praktisk derives from Hellenistic Greek praktikos, "practical, active," from praktein, "to do," from PIE base *per- (**across, forward")."} | |||
| Dutch | praktisch | ||
| Praktisch means 'to practice' or 'to bring into effect', as opposed to 'theoretisch' (theoretical), which means 'in theory' or 'conjectural'. | |||
| English | practical | ||
| The word "practical" originated from the Greek word "praktikos," meaning "active," and the Latin word "practicus," meaning "skilful." | |||
| French | pratique | ||
| The French word "pratique" derives from the Greek "praktikos" meaning "actual" or "real," and is also used to refer to medical or legal practices. | |||
| Frisian | praktysk | ||
| The Frisian word "praktysk" also means "useful" or "handy". | |||
| Galician | práctico | ||
| In Galician, práctico means the same as in Spanish, but can also have the alternate meaning of "sea pilot". | |||
| German | praktisch | ||
| "Praktisch" derives from the Greek "praktikos" ("active"), via Latin "practicus," French "pratique," and Middle Dutch "practijc." | |||
| Icelandic | hagnýt | ||
| Hagnýt is related to hagnaður, a word that means both "a profit" in the business sense or "a benefit" and "an act of defending or protecting". | |||
| Irish | praiticiúil | ||
| "Praiticiúil" is also used in Irish to refer to something that is 'useful' or 'advantageous'. | |||
| Italian | pratico | ||
| The Italian word "pratico" (practical) also means "familiar with a place or thing" or "experienced in a particular field". | |||
| Luxembourgish | praktesch | ||
| 'Praktesch' comes from the German 'praktisch' and is related to the Greek 'pragmatikos', meaning 'dealing with affairs'. | |||
| Maltese | prattiku | ||
| The word "prattiku" is derived from the Italian word "pratico" and also means "experienced" or "skilled". | |||
| Norwegian | praktisk | ||
| In Norwegian, “praktisk” can also refer to a tool or something that is used for a specific purpose, such as a “praktisk” (tool) or “en praktisk” (tool). | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | prático | ||
| In Portuguese, "prático" can also refer to a pilot who guides ships into and out of harbors or a physician who specializes in a particular area of medicine. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | practaigeach | ||
| The Gaelic word "practaigeach" may also refer to a person who engages in illicit or underhanded activities. | |||
| Spanish | práctico | ||
| In Spanish, "práctico" can also refer to a nautical guide who helps ships navigate dangerous waters or a doctor who specializes in internal medicine. | |||
| Swedish | praktisk | ||
| The word 'praktisk' ('practical') in Swedish is derived from the Greek word 'praktikos', meaning 'active' or 'doing'. | |||
| Welsh | ymarferol | ||
| The word ‘ymarferol’ can also mean ‘experiment’ or ‘practice’, reflecting its derivation from the root ‘marfer’, meaning ‘to practice’.”} | |||
Practical in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | практычны | ||
| Bosnian | praktično | ||
| The word 'praktično' is derived from the Greek word 'praktikos', meaning 'pertaining to action' or 'efficient'. | |||
| Bulgarian | практичен | ||
| The word "практичен" comes from the Greek word "πρακτικός" meaning "active", "efficient", or "pertaining to action". | |||
| Czech | praktický | ||
| The word "praktický" also means "useful" or "handy" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | praktiline | ||
| The word "praktiline" in Estonian is derived from the Latin word "practicus" meaning "experienced" or "skilled." | |||
| Finnish | käytännöllinen | ||
| Käytännöllinen is a Finnish word derived from the verb "käyttää" (use) and refers to something that is useful or applicable in practice. | |||
| Hungarian | gyakorlati | ||
| The word "gyakorlati" also means "experienced" or "skilled" in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | praktiski | ||
| The word "praktiski" is derived from the Greek word "praktikos", meaning "active" or "capable of doing something." | |||
| Lithuanian | praktiška | ||
| Praktiška is also used in Lithuanian slang to refer to a person who is cunning or resourceful. | |||
| Macedonian | практични | ||
| The word "практични" in Macedonian also means "useful". | |||
| Polish | praktyczny | ||
| The word "praktyczny" derives from Greek "πρακτικός" (praktikos) and was first recorded in Polish in 1551. | |||
| Romanian | practic | ||
| The word `practic` comes from Greek `praktikos` and may also mean `skilled` and `feasible`. | |||
| Russian | практичный | ||
| The word "практичный" comes from the Greek word "πρακτικός", meaning "pertaining to action" or "capable of being done." | |||
| Serbian | практично | ||
| "Практично" originated from the French word "pratique" meaning "practical or useful," but it also implies a sense of suitability and convenience in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | praktické | ||
| The word "praktické" can also mean "useful" or "convenient" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | praktično | ||
| The word “praktično” in Slovenian has German (praktisch) and Latin (practicus) roots and can also mean “convenient” or “advantageous”. | |||
| Ukrainian | практичний | ||
| The word "практичний" in Ukrainian also means "convenient". | |||
Practical in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ব্যবহারিক | ||
| The word ব্যবহারিক can also mean 'pragmatic' or 'utilitarian' in English. | |||
| Gujarati | વ્યવહારુ | ||
| વ્યવહારુ can also mean a customary practice, a convention, or a transaction. | |||
| Hindi | व्यावहारिक | ||
| The word "व्यावहारिक" in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit root "व्यवहर" (vyavahara), meaning "conduct" or "transaction". | |||
| Kannada | ಪ್ರಾಯೋಗಿಕ | ||
| The word "ಪ್ರಾಯೋಗಿಕ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रायोगिक" (prāyogika), meaning "relating to practice or use". | |||
| Malayalam | പ്രായോഗികം | ||
| Marathi | व्यावहारिक | ||
| In Sanskrit, "vyaavaharika" means "of a common speech or colloquial language" and is contrasted with "taatvika" or "philosophical language". | |||
| Nepali | व्यावहारिक | ||
| In some contexts, व्यावहारिक may also imply "routine" or "workaday". | |||
| Punjabi | ਅਮਲੀ | ||
| The word "ਅਮਲੀ" is derived from the Arabic word "amal" which means "work" or "action" and also has the alternate meaning of "an addict" or "a habitual user of drugs". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ප්රායෝගික | ||
| Tamil | நடைமுறை | ||
| The term "நடைமுறை" is derived from the Tamil word "நடை" (step) and "முறை" (method), and also refers to a dance performance in the context of fine arts. | |||
| Telugu | ఆచరణాత్మక | ||
| ఆచరణాత్మక may also mean 'actuality', 'application', or 'practice' depending on the context. | |||
| Urdu | عملی | ||
| "عملی" is an Arabic-originated word that also means "operational" | |||
Practical in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 实际的 | ||
| 实际的 can also mean 'existing' or 'current', such as "实际 GDP" (current GDP). | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 實際的 | ||
| 在日本，“實用主義”一詞有時也指哲學流派實用主義。 | |||
| Japanese | 実用的 | ||
| The word '実用的' has many meanings such as effective, workable, or useful. | |||
| Korean | 실용적인 | ||
| 실용적인 is derived from the Chinese word '實用' (real-use), which also means 'utilitarian' or 'pragmatic'. In Korean, it has acquired a broader meaning to include 'feasible' or 'workable'. | |||
| Mongolian | практик | ||
| The Mongolian word "практик" is etymologically related to the Sanskrit word "prati-karman", meaning "action in response", and thus also carries connotations of "response" and "action". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လက်တွေ့ကျ | ||
Practical in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | praktis | ||
| The Indonesian word 'praktis' comes from the Portuguese word 'pratico', meaning 'practical or skilled'. | |||
| Javanese | praktis | ||
| The Javanese word "praktis" can also mean "efficient" or "effective" | |||
| Khmer | ជាក់ស្តែង | ||
| Lao | ພາກປະຕິບັດ | ||
| Malay | praktikal | ||
| The word "praktikal" in Malay was derived from the Dutch word "practijk", which means "practice" or "experience". | |||
| Thai | ในทางปฏิบัติ | ||
| In Thai, "ในทางปฏิบัติ" means not just "practical," but also "in practice" or "in reality." | |||
| Vietnamese | thực dụng | ||
| Thực dụng is composed of two Sino-Vietnamese words: thực meaning "fact" and dụng meaning "use," which together imply "using facts". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | praktikal | ||
Practical in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | praktik | ||
| The term "praktik" is also used as a noun to refer to a person engaged in a specific profession or trade. | |||
| Kazakh | практикалық | ||
| The word "практикалық" can also mean "applicable" or "useful" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | практикалык | ||
| The word "практикалык" comes from the Greek word "πρακτικός" meaning "active" or "engaged in doing." | |||
| Tajik | амалӣ | ||
| The word 'амалӣ' ('practical') is of Arabic origin and can also mean 'worker' or 'laborer' in some contexts. | |||
| Turkmen | amaly | ||
| Uzbek | amaliy | ||
| The word "amaliy" can also mean "useful" or "effective" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | ئەمەلىي | ||
Practical in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mea hiki | ||
| "Mea hiki" originally meant "a suitable thing" or "something that works" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | whaihua | ||
| The Maori word "whaihua" comes from the root "wai" (water) and "hua" (to grow), and can also mean "to nourish" or "to sustain." | |||
| Samoan | aoga | ||
| The Samoan term "aoga" holds close connections with the Hawaiian word "aoao". Both share the meaning of instruction or knowledge. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | praktikal | ||
| The word "praktikal" in Tagalog also means "prudent" or "careful". | |||
Practical in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jasaki | ||
| Guarani | apokuaa | ||
Practical in International Languages
| Esperanto | praktika | ||
| "Praktika" in Esperanto also means "internship". | |||
| Latin | practical | ||
| Latin _practica_ (_practical_) is a derivative of _prācticus_ (_fit for action_), which is related to _praec_ (_before_) and _facere_ (_to do_) | |||
Practical in Others Languages
| Greek | πρακτικός | ||
| The word "πρακτικός" also means "active" or "skilled", and derives from "πράσσω", meaning "to do" or "to act". | |||
| Hmong | tswv yim | ||
| The word "tswv yim" can also mean "useful" or "beneficial" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | destemel | ||
| The word "destemel" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian word "dast-mel", meaning "handmade" or "crafted". | |||
| Turkish | pratik | ||
| "Pratik" in Turkish originates from the Greek "praktikos," meaning "active" or "efficient," reflecting its association with swift and effective action. | |||
| Xhosa | iyasebenza | ||
| In Xhosa, "iyasebenza" is derived from the root "sebenza," meaning "to work," and the prefix "iya," denoting ability or capacity. | |||
| Yiddish | פּראַקטיש | ||
| In Yiddish, "פּראַקטיש" derives from the French "pratique" and originally meant "experienced" or "skilled". | |||
| Zulu | okusebenzayo | ||
| Oku-sebenz-ayo is derived from the verb 'sebenza' (to work), which implies the quality of being useful, applicable, or effective. | |||
| Assamese | বাস্তৱিক | ||
| Aymara | jasaki | ||
| Bhojpuri | व्यावहारिक | ||
| Dhivehi | ޕްރެކްޓިކަލް | ||
| Dogri | ब्यहारी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | praktikal | ||
| Guarani | apokuaa | ||
| Ilocano | praktikal | ||
| Krio | gud | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کرداریی | ||
| Maithili | व्यावहारिक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯕꯛ ꯑꯣꯏꯅ ꯄꯥꯡꯊꯣꯛꯄ ꯌꯥꯕ | ||
| Mizo | tih theih | ||
| Oromo | hojiitti hiikuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବ୍ୟବହାରିକ | | ||
| Quechua | practical | ||
| Sanskrit | व्यावहारिक | ||
| Tatar | практик | ||
| Tigrinya | ብተግባር | ||
| Tsonga | koteka | ||