Primary in different languages

Primary in Different Languages

Discover 'Primary' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'primary' holds great significance in various contexts, including education, healthcare, and even in the political landscape. It is often used to describe something that is fundamental or of utmost importance. For instance, in the education system, primary education refers to the first stage of formal learning, usually for children aged 6 to 11. This stage is crucial as it lays the foundation for a child's intellectual, social, and emotional development.

Beyond its educational context, 'primary' is also used to describe colors in their purest form, before they are mixed with others, highlighting its relevance in art and design. Moreover, in healthcare, primary care refers to the first point of contact for individuals seeking healthcare services.

Given its wide-ranging applications, it's not surprising that people across the globe might want to know how to say 'primary' in their native languages. Here are a few translations to pique your interest:

  • French: primaire
  • Spanish: primario
  • German: primär
  • Mandarin: 主要 (Zhǔyào)
  • Japanese: 主要 (Shuyō)

Primary


Primary in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansprimêre
The Afrikaans word "primêre" derives from the French "primaire", meaning "first", but also carries the connotation of "original" or "fundamental."
Amharicየመጀመሪያ ደረጃ
In Ethiopian education 'primary school' starts in 1st grade and lasts through 8th grade.
Hausana farko
Hausa word "na farko" means "first", "primary", and can also refer to "the beginning" or "the starting point" in a series or process.
Igbonke mbu
"Nke mbu" in Igbo can also refer to something that is foundational or essential.
Malagasykilonga
In Malagasy, "kilonga" can also refer to the first or most important thing in a series, or to the main part of something.
Nyanja (Chichewa)chachikulu
The word "chachikulu" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is derived from the Proto-Bantu word "-kúlú" meaning "chief" or "master". It can also refer to a person who is in charge of a group or organization.
Shonachikuru
The word "chikuru" can also mean "senior" or "elder".
Somaliaasaasiga ah
Sesothomantlha
Manthlha is cognate with the Tswana and Venda word "mantlha" meaning "head".
Swahilimsingi
The word "msingi" in Swahili means "origin", "source", or "foundation".
Xhosazaseprayimari
The word "zaseprayimari" in Xhosa also means "first or main".
Yorubaakọkọ
"Akọkọ" also means "first," "original," or "chief."
Zuluokuyinhloko
The Zulu word "okuyinhloko" derives from the root "intloko" meaning "head", hence implying "primary" or "of primary importance".
Bambarafɔlɔ
Ewegɔmedzeƒe
Kinyarwandaibanze
Lingalaya liboso
Lugandapulayimale
Sepedimotheo
Twi (Akan)mfiaseɛ

Primary in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicابتدائي
ابتدائي also refers to a small-sized person or thing, such as a small child or a small house.
Hebrewיְסוֹדִי
The word יְסוֹדִי originally meant "foundation" or "basis" in Hebrew and is related to the verb יסד, meaning "to establish" or "to found."
Pashtoلومړنی
In Pashto, "لومړنی" can also mean "original" or "ancient."
Arabicابتدائي
ابتدائي also refers to a small-sized person or thing, such as a small child or a small house.

Primary in Western European Languages

Albanianfillore
The word "fillore" in Albanian comes from the Latin word "plenus", meaning "full" or "abundant".
Basquelehen mailakoak
This word might come from the Basque word "lehenik" (first) rather than from the Latin word "primo" (first).
Catalanprimària
The Catalan word "primària" can also refer to primary education (the first level of education after preschool).
Croatianprimarni
"Primarni" means "primary" and comes from Latin "primarius", which means "first" or "chief".
Danishprimær
The Danish word "primær" can also refer to the first coat of paint applied to a surface.
Dutchprimair
Primair means 'elementary' as well as 'primary'.
Englishprimary
The Latin word "primus" means "first"; other English-language derivations of this word include "prime" and "primer"
Frenchprimaire
Primaire can also mean first course of a meal or first class in a school (equivalent to grade 1-5 in the US).
Frisianprimêr
In Frisian, "primêr" can also mean "chief" or "firstborn".
Galicianprimaria
The word "primaria" also refers to the first grade of primary education in Galician.
Germanprimär
In German, "primär" can also mean "crude" or "basic."
Icelandicaðal
The word "aðal" is also used in Icelandic to refer to "noble" or "aristocratic."
Irishbunscoile
The word "bunscoile" is derived from the Irish words "bun" meaning "bottom" and "scoil" meaning "school", originally referring to the lowest level of education.
Italianprimario
In Italian, "primario" can also refer to a chief physician or the head of a hospital department.
Luxembourgishprimär
Als Bezeichnung für eine Person (Adj.) bedeutet Primär auch 'nicht verheiratet' oder 'unverheiratet'.
Malteseprimarja
The word "primarja" in Maltese is derived from the Latin word "primariu". It can also mean "main", "first-rate", or "chief".
Norwegianhoved
"Hoved" has meanings of "main" and "head" in Norwegian and shares the same etymological root as the English word "head", which derives from a Proto-West-Germanic word meaning "head" or "mind".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)primário
In Brazilian Portuguese, "primário" can also mean "elementary" (as in related to primary school), while in European Portuguese, this is "primário" or "elementar".
Scots Gaelicbun-sgoil
Scots Gaelic "bun-sgoil", from Scottish English "bun" (root or base) + "school" (from Latin "schola")
Spanishprimario
The word "primario" in Spanish shares its Latin root "primus" with the English word "prime", both meaning "first".
Swedishprimär
Swedish "primär" can also mean "very", as in "extremely", in addition to its meaning "primary".
Welshcynradd
The Welsh word "cynradd" originally referred to the first rank of a battle formation.

Primary in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпершасны
Першасны also means first-born (of children) or initial (from an original stock).
Bosnianprimarni
The word 'primarni' in Bosnian can also refer to something that is basic, essential, or fundamental.
Bulgarianпървичен
"Първичен" also means "original", "primordial", or "basic" in Bulgarian.
Czechhlavní
The word "hlavní" has other meanings besides "primary", including "main" and "chief"
Estonianesmane
"Esmane" also means "principal" or "the first thing."
Finnishensisijainen
"Ensisijainen" in Finnish also refers to the most important or essential aspect of something.
Hungarianelsődleges
„Elsődleges” means not only “primary” but also “main” and “essential” in Hungarian.
Latvianprimārs
The term primārs is also used to describe the primary color of the Latvian flag.
Lithuanianpirminis
In modern usage, "pirminis" can be used to refer to either a primary or a primitive source or element.
Macedonianосновно
**Macedonian:** Основно (primary) comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *per-*, meaning 'to produce, to put forth'
Polishpodstawowa
The Polish word "podstawowa" can also mean "basic" or "fundamental".
Romanianprimar
In Romanian, "primar" has additional meanings such as "mayor" and "primary elections" beyond its primary meaning of "primary".
Russianпервичный
In Russian, "первичный" can also mean "original" or "initial."
Serbianпримарна
"Примарна" means "primary" in Serbian. It can also mean "elementary", "fundamental", or "essential".
Slovakprimárny
Slovak "primárny" can also mean "principal", "basic" or "primary (regarding school level)".
Slovenianprimarni
The word "primarni" in Slovenian has several meanings, including "original", "basic", and "important."
Ukrainianпервинний
In addition to its primary meaning, "первинний" can also refer to "original" or "primitive".

Primary in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপ্রাথমিক
"প্রাথমিক" শব্দটি সংস্কৃত "प्राथमिक" শব্দ থেকে এসেছে, যার অর্থ "প্রথম" বা "মূলত"।
Gujaratiપ્રાથમિક
Hindiमुख्य
The word "मुख्य" can also mean "main", "head", or "leader".
Kannadaಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ
The word 'praathamike' can also mean 'elementary' or 'initial' in Kannada.
Malayalamപ്രാഥമികം
Marathiप्राथमिक
"प्राथमिक" (primary) in Marathi can also mean "essential" or "fundamental".
Nepaliप्राथमिक
The word "प्राथमिक" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रथम" (prathama), meaning "first" or "chief".
Punjabiਪ੍ਰਾਇਮਰੀ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ප්‍රාථමික
Tamilமுதன்மை
The Tamil word 'முதன்மை' originated from the Sanskrit word 'मुख्य' ('mukhya'), meaning 'chief' or 'principal'.
Teluguప్రాథమిక
The word "primary" can also mean "elementary" or "fundamental" in the context of education.
Urduپرائمری

Primary in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The term '主' in the phrase '主从关系' (master-slave relationship) refers to the dominant or authoritative party, whereas in '主语谓语' (subject-predicate), it signifies the topic or the thing being spoken about.
Chinese (Traditional)
"主" also means master, boss, or host.
Japaneseプライマリ
In Japanese, the word "プライマリ" also means "first-generation," or "basic"
Korean일 순위
In Korean, "일 순위" is used in computer science to refer to the main data or function within a hierarchy.
Mongolianанхдагч
The Mongolian word "анхдагч" comes from the verb "анхлах" (to start) and carries the additional meaning of "originator".
Myanmar (Burmese)မူလတန်း

Primary in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianutama
"Utama" shares a root with the word "utamakan" meaning "to prioritize".
Javaneseutami
"Utami" also means "original", "first", or "main" in Javanese.
Khmerបឋម
In addition to its literal meaning of "primary," "បឋម" can also be used to refer to a beginning or first stage in a sequence or process.
Laoປະຖົມ
The word also means 'first' or 'the beginning'.
Malayprimer
The Malay term 'primer,' 'prima,' is also used in banking, engineering, chemistry, and printing.
Thaiหลัก
The Thai word "หลัก" can also mean "evidence" or "principle".
Vietnamesesơ cấp
In Vietnamese, the word "sơ cấp" also has the meaning of "elementary" or "basic".
Filipino (Tagalog)pangunahin

Primary in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniilkin
"İlkin" can also mean "previous" or "former" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhбастапқы
The word "бастапқы" in Kazakh comes from the root "бас" meaning "head" or "beginning."}
Kyrgyzбаштапкы
'Баштапкы' ('primary') in Kyrgyz stems from the verb 'баштоо' ('to start'), and can also mean 'initial' or 'first'.
Tajikибтидоӣ
"Ибтидоӣ" also means "in the beginning" and "elementary" in Tajik.
Turkmenbaşlangyç
Uzbekbirlamchi
“Birlamchi” means both “primary” and “first”, depending on the context.
Uyghurprimary

Primary in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpoʻokela
Poʻokela can also refer to the head of a school, a chief, or a leader.
Maorituatahi
The word "tuatahi" in Maori also refers to the first-born child or the first time something is done.
Samoantulaga muamua
The term "tulaga muamua" literally translates to "first stand".
Tagalog (Filipino)pangunahin
Pangunahin can also mean "essential" or "fundamentally important" in Tagalog.

Primary in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaranayriri
Guaranitenondeguáva

Primary in International Languages

Esperantoprimaraj
Latinprimaria
In ancient Roman assemblies, "primaria" could refer to "the first class of voters consulted" or "the first vote cast".

Primary in Others Languages

Greekπρωταρχικός
"Πρωταρχικός" also means that something is first in origin or development.
Hmongthawj
The Hmong word "thawj" can also refer to an initiation ceremony or ritual.
Kurdishbingehîn
The word "bingehîn" in Kurdish has multiple meanings, including "fundamental," "essential," and "principal."
Turkishbirincil
The word ''birincil'' comes from the Persian word ''birunji'', meaning ''outside''.
Xhosazaseprayimari
The word "zaseprayimari" in Xhosa also means "first or main".
Yiddishערשטיק
"ערשטיק" also means "original" or "genuine" in Yiddish.
Zuluokuyinhloko
The Zulu word "okuyinhloko" derives from the root "intloko" meaning "head", hence implying "primary" or "of primary importance".
Assameseপ্ৰাথমিক
Aymaranayriri
Bhojpuriप्राथमिक
Dhivehiއިބްތިދާއީ
Dogriमुंढला
Filipino (Tagalog)pangunahin
Guaranitenondeguáva
Ilocanokangrunaan
Kriofɔs
Kurdish (Sorani)سەرەکی
Maithiliप्राथमिक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯃꯔꯨ ꯑꯣꯏꯕ
Mizohmasa ber
Oromosadarkaa tokkoffaa
Odia (Oriya)ପ୍ରାଥମିକ
Quechuaqallariq
Sanskritप्राथमिक
Tatarбашлангыч
Tigrinyaቀዳማይ
Tsongaphurayimari

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