Updated on March 6, 2024
Price, a simple word that carries great significance in our daily lives. It is a cultural universal, a concept that transcends borders and languages. The price of an item represents its value, allowing us to make informed decisions about what we buy and sell. But have you ever wondered what price is called in different languages, and what that reveals about the cultures that use those languages?
For instance, did you know that in Spanish, the word for price is 'precio'? Or that in German, it's 'Preis'? These translations not only help us navigate foreign markets, but they also offer a glimpse into the history and culture of the people who speak these languages. For example, the Old English word for price, 'prica', has roots in the Latin 'pretium', which also gives us words like 'pretend' and 'imprecise' in English.
Join us as we explore the many translations of the word 'price' in different languages, and discover the fascinating stories and insights that lie behind them.
Afrikaans | prys | ||
The word "prys" in Afrikaans also means "value" or "importance". | |||
Amharic | ዋጋ | ||
The word "ዋጋ" also means "worth" or "value" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | farashin | ||
In ancient Hausa lore, the word "farashin" was used to signify not only the monetary value of goods but also their perceived worth or significance. | |||
Igbo | ọnụahịa | ||
The Igbo word “ọnụahịa” (“price”) literally means “the mouth of an item.” | |||
Malagasy | vidiny | ||
The word "vidiny" is also used to refer to the compensation paid for the services of a diviner. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mtengo | ||
"Mtengo" in Nyanja also means 'value,' 'cost,' 'worth,' 'amount,' or 'expense.' | |||
Shona | mutengo | ||
The Shona word "mutengo" can also mean "value" or "worth". | |||
Somali | qiimo | ||
The Somali word 'qiimo' is related to the Arabic word 'qīm' and 'qiyam', meaning value or worth. | |||
Sesotho | theko | ||
In Sesotho 'theko' is also the stem of a verb meaning 'to carry on one's shoulders'. | |||
Swahili | bei | ||
The word "bei" can also mean "worth" or "value" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | ixabiso | ||
The Xhosa word "ixabiso" is related to the concept of value, and also carries the meaning of "honor" or "respect". | |||
Yoruba | owo | ||
Owo in Yoruba can also mean 'money' or 'currency', and is related to the Igbo word 'ego'. | |||
Zulu | intengo | ||
In Zulu, "intengo" is said to be derived from "tenga," meaning to buy or acquire. | |||
Bambara | sɔngɔ | ||
Ewe | asi | ||
Kinyarwanda | igiciro | ||
Lingala | ntalo | ||
Luganda | omuwendo | ||
Sepedi | theko | ||
Twi (Akan) | boɔ | ||
Arabic | السعر | ||
In addition to "price," السعر (al-saʻr) can also mean "rate" or "exchange rate." In the past, it specifically indicated the value of different coins in relation to gold. | |||
Hebrew | מחיר | ||
מחיר derives from the root "חרר" meaning "to bore" or "to dig", and its original meaning was "to dig a hole". | |||
Pashto | نرخ | ||
The Pashto word "نرخ" (narakh) also means "rate" or "ratio". | |||
Arabic | السعر | ||
In addition to "price," السعر (al-saʻr) can also mean "rate" or "exchange rate." In the past, it specifically indicated the value of different coins in relation to gold. |
Albanian | çmimi | ||
The word "çmimi" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷem- (“to measure, to estimate”), which is also the origin of the English word "cost". | |||
Basque | prezioa | ||
In addition to "price," "prezioa" also means "treasure" in Basque. | |||
Catalan | preu | ||
The Catalan word "preu" derives from the Latin word "pretium", which means both "price" and "value". | |||
Croatian | cijena | ||
"Cijena" has the same etymology as "cena," a Latin word for "dinner" or "meal," suggesting that the original meaning of "cijena" was "the price of a meal." | |||
Danish | pris | ||
In Danish, the word "pris" derives from the Middle Low German word "prīs" or the Old Norse word "prīs", both meaning "worth," or "value."} | |||
Dutch | prijs | ||
The Dutch word "prijs" also means "prize" or "award". | |||
English | price | ||
The word 'price' derives from an Old French term meaning 'worth' and is related to the Latin verb 'pretium'. | |||
French | prix | ||
The word "prix" in French can also refer to an award or prize | |||
Frisian | priis | ||
The word priis comes from the Proto-Germanic "pretium" and also means "payment" or "value". | |||
Galician | prezo | ||
The word "prezo" in Galician is derived from the Latin "pretium," meaning "worth" or "value." | |||
German | preis | ||
In the context of hunting or sports, "Preis" can mean "prey" or "trophy". | |||
Icelandic | verð | ||
"Verð" derives from the Old Norse word "verðr" meaning "worth, value, or honor". | |||
Irish | praghas | ||
The Irish word 'praghas' is derived from the Proto-Celtic root *pregi-, meaning 'value, worth, or price'. | |||
Italian | prezzo | ||
The word "prezzo" comes from the Latin word "pretium", meaning "worth" or "value". | |||
Luxembourgish | präis | ||
In addition to its meaning as "price", "Präis" also refers to an award or recognition. | |||
Maltese | prezz | ||
The word "prezz" in Maltese likely derives from the Romance "prezzo (price)", but also has the additional meanings of value, worth, fare, and cost. | |||
Norwegian | pris | ||
In Norwegian, the word "pris" can also mean "prize" or "reward." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | preço | ||
In Brazil, "preço" can also refer to a bribe or the value of something. | |||
Scots Gaelic | prìs | ||
The Gaelic word “prìs” also means “esteem” or “worth”, implying that something is highly valued. | |||
Spanish | precio | ||
Precio (price) is derived from the Latin word 'pretium', which also means reward or value. | |||
Swedish | pris | ||
"Pris" also means a lever in Swedish. | |||
Welsh | pris | ||
The Welsh word "pris" can refer to a "spell", "incantation", or "charm", as well as "value". |
Belarusian | цана | ||
The word 'цана' ('tsana') comes from the Proto-Slavic word '*cěna', which originally meant 'worth' or 'value'. | |||
Bosnian | cijena | ||
The word 'Cijena' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'cěna', which originally meant 'value' or 'worth'. | |||
Bulgarian | цена | ||
The word "цена" not only means "price", but also can mean "value" or "worth" and it has a root in common with the words "член" ("member") and "честь" ("honor"). | |||
Czech | cena | ||
The word "cena" can also refer to the value or significance of something, similar to the English word "worth." | |||
Estonian | hind | ||
The word "hind" in Estonian, meaning "price", is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "hinta" and has cognates in Finnish, Karelian, and Veps. | |||
Finnish | hinta | ||
The word "hinta" is a cognate of the Proto-Uralic verb "*hinta-/*hinča" meaning "to desire, to wish". | |||
Hungarian | ár | ||
The Hungarian word "ár" also means "tide" or "flood," possibly due to its historical association with the flooding of the Danube River. | |||
Latvian | cena | ||
"Cena" derives from the Proto-Baltic word *kaina-, which also meant "a fine". | |||
Lithuanian | kaina | ||
"Kaina" is cognate with "цена" (tsena, price) in Russian, "cena" in Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Slovenian and Polish, "tsini" (цини) in Ukrainian and Belarusian, "çenë/çun" in Albanian, and "τιμή" (timi, price) in Greek. In the dialects of some Slavic languages (like in Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and Slovak) the plural form "ceny" (цены) has an additional meaning of "value", similarly the Ukrainian singular form "tsina" also means, among the meaning of "price", "value". In Ukrainian one also could use "вартість" (vartist) for "value", a word derived from "вартий" (vartiy, having worth). | |||
Macedonian | цена | ||
The word "цена" ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic "*kaina" meaning "payment, price", which in turn is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*kei-n-" meaning "to buy, to acquire". | |||
Polish | cena £ | ||
„Cena” is also used to mean „appraisal” in the context of art. | |||
Romanian | preț | ||
The Romanian word "Preț" comes from the Slavic word "prěti", meaning "to pay" or "to purchase". | |||
Russian | цена | ||
In Old Church Slavonic, "цена" (tsena) meant "value" or "esteem," as well as "price." | |||
Serbian | цена | ||
The word 'Цена' in Serbian is cognate with 'цена' in Russian and means 'cost, expense' in addition to 'price'. | |||
Slovak | cena | ||
Slovak 'cena' (price) derives from Latin 'caena', a communal meal, thus reflecting the early use of food and livestock as currency. | |||
Slovenian | cena | ||
"Cena" also means "weight" and is cognate with the Latin word "pensa" | |||
Ukrainian | ціна | ||
The word "ціна" (price) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "cěna", which also meant "value, worth". |
Bengali | দাম | ||
In Sanskrit, 'dam' is one of the three 'das' meaning 'to give'. | |||
Gujarati | કિંમત | ||
The word "કિંમત" (kimmat) in Gujarati shares its etymological roots with the Sanskrit word "कीमत" (kimata), meaning "value" or "worth". | |||
Hindi | कीमत | ||
The word "कीमत" (price) in Hindi originates from the Persian word "qeemat", meaning "value" or "worth" | |||
Kannada | ಬೆಲೆ | ||
The word "ಬೆಲೆ" (bele) in Kannada also refers to the value or worth of something. | |||
Malayalam | വില | ||
The word "വില" also means "the value or worth of something" in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | किंमत | ||
The Marathi word "किंमत" derives from the Sanskrit word "कीमत" meaning "value" or "worth" and ultimately derives from the Arabic word "قيمت" meaning "price". | |||
Nepali | मूल्य | ||
मूल्य comes from the Sanskrit word "mūlya", meaning "value, worth, or price". | |||
Punjabi | ਕੀਮਤ | ||
कीमत (kīmat) is derived from the Arabic word for "value" or "estimation" and also means "appreciation" or "recognition" in Punjabi. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මිල | ||
The Sinhala word "මිල" also means "honour" or "respect" and is related to the word "මල්" (flower), as both words have connotations of value and beauty. | |||
Tamil | விலை | ||
"விலை" is also the Tamil word for "value" or "worth", and relates to Sanskrit "विल" (vil), "to buy" and "to value". | |||
Telugu | ధర | ||
The word "ధర" (dhara) can also refer to the edge of a sword or the bank of a river. | |||
Urdu | قیمت | ||
Urdu قیمت (qīmat) is ultimately derived from Persian قیمت (q īmat), which in turn comes from Arabic قیمت (ṯaman) meaning 'value'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 价钱 | ||
价钱 (jiàqián) is a compound word composed of the characters 价 (jià, value) and 钱 (qián, currency), and originally meant "the value of money." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 價錢 | ||
價 is a combination of 貝 (shell, representing money) and 且 (exchange). | |||
Japanese | 価格 | ||
The Japanese word “価格” also means “value,” which can refer to either numerical or qualitative value. | |||
Korean | 가격 | ||
The word "가격" can also mean "value" or "worth" in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | үнэ | ||
The word "Үнэ" can also mean "value" or "worth" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | စျေးနှုန်း | ||
Indonesian | harga | ||
The Indonesian word "harga" may have originated from the Sanskrit word "harya" meaning "worth" or "value". | |||
Javanese | regane | ||
The word "regane" is commonly used in formal or polite Javanese language. | |||
Khmer | តម្លៃ | ||
The word "តម្លៃ" can also refer to the "value" of something, not just its monetary cost. | |||
Lao | ລາຄາ | ||
The Lao word "ລາຄາ" (price) is related to the Sanskrit word "laksha," meaning "100,000". | |||
Malay | harga | ||
The word "harga" in Malay can mean "price", but it also has another meaning: "value". | |||
Thai | ราคา | ||
The word "ราคา" ("price") is derived from the Sanskrit word "ragas", meaning "interest" or "passion". | |||
Vietnamese | giá bán | ||
'Giá' means 'value' and 'bán' means 'to sell,' so 'giá bán' can also mean 'the value of something for sale'. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | presyo | ||
Azerbaijani | qiymət | ||
"Qiymət" can also mean "value" or "worth" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | баға | ||
The Kazakh word "баға" can also refer to the value, worth, or cost of something, as well as the weight, size, or height of a person or animal. | |||
Kyrgyz | баа | ||
The word "баа" comes from a Persian word meaning "value" or "worth". | |||
Tajik | нарх | ||
The word "нарх" is derived from the Persian word "نرخ" and also means "rate". | |||
Turkmen | bahasy | ||
Uzbek | narx | ||
In Uzbek, "narx" also refers to the amount of money owed or the cost of something. | |||
Uyghur | باھاسى | ||
Hawaiian | kumu kūʻai | ||
Kumu kūʻai originates from kumu ( | |||
Maori | utu | ||
"Utu" is also a term used to describe revenge or retribution, or the payment of a debt. | |||
Samoan | tau | ||
The Samoan word "tau" has alternative meanings including "cost", "worth" or "payment". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | presyo | ||
Presyo in Tagalog also refers to the value or quality of something, especially in comparison to its worth. |
Aymara | chani | ||
Guarani | hepykue | ||
Esperanto | prezo | ||
The Esperanto word “prezo” is derived from “prezio” in Ido, which in turn comes from “pretium” in Latin. | |||
Latin | pretium | ||
In Latin, 'pretium' can also refer to value, worth, esteem, or reward. |
Greek | τιμή | ||
The Greek word "τιμή" can mean "honor", "respect", "value", "esteem", "appreciation", and "worth" in addition to "price".} | |||
Hmong | tus nqi | ||
"Tus nqi" also means "rate" and "fee". | |||
Kurdish | biha | ||
Biha derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰey-, meaning "to feed, to nourish". | |||
Turkish | fiyat | ||
The word "fiyat" shares its root with the verb "fiy etmek" (to estimate the value of something). | |||
Xhosa | ixabiso | ||
The Xhosa word "ixabiso" is related to the concept of value, and also carries the meaning of "honor" or "respect". | |||
Yiddish | פּרייַז | ||
The Yiddish word "פּרייַז" is derived from the German word "Preis" and also means "honor" or "reward" | |||
Zulu | intengo | ||
In Zulu, "intengo" is said to be derived from "tenga," meaning to buy or acquire. | |||
Assamese | মূল্য | ||
Aymara | chani | ||
Bhojpuri | दाम | ||
Dhivehi | އަގު | ||
Dogri | कीमत | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | presyo | ||
Guarani | hepykue | ||
Ilocano | presio | ||
Krio | prays | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | نرخ | ||
Maithili | दाम | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯃꯜ | ||
Mizo | man | ||
Oromo | gatii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ମୂଲ୍ୟ | ||
Quechua | chanin | ||
Sanskrit | मूल्य | ||
Tatar | бәя | ||
Tigrinya | ዋጋ | ||
Tsonga | nxavo | ||