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
| Afrikaans | primêre | ||
| The Afrikaans word "primêre" derives from the French "primaire", meaning "first", but also carries the connotation of "original" or "fundamental." | |||
| Amharic | የመጀመሪያ ደረጃ | ||
| In Ethiopian education 'primary school' starts in 1st grade and lasts through 8th grade. | |||
| Hausa | na farko | ||
| Hausa word "na farko" means "first", "primary", and can also refer to "the beginning" or "the starting point" in a series or process. | |||
| Igbo | nke mbu | ||
| "Nke mbu" in Igbo can also refer to something that is foundational or essential. | |||
| Malagasy | kilonga | ||
| 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. | |||
| Shona | chikuru | ||
| The word "chikuru" can also mean "senior" or "elder". | |||
| Somali | aasaasiga ah | ||
| Sesotho | mantlha | ||
| Manthlha is cognate with the Tswana and Venda word "mantlha" meaning "head". | |||
| Swahili | msingi | ||
| The word "msingi" in Swahili means "origin", "source", or "foundation". | |||
| Xhosa | zaseprayimari | ||
| The word "zaseprayimari" in Xhosa also means "first or main". | |||
| Yoruba | akọkọ | ||
| "Akọkọ" also means "first," "original," or "chief." | |||
| Zulu | okuyinhloko | ||
| The Zulu word "okuyinhloko" derives from the root "intloko" meaning "head", hence implying "primary" or "of primary importance". | |||
| Bambara | fɔlɔ | ||
| Ewe | gɔmedzeƒe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ibanze | ||
| Lingala | ya liboso | ||
| Luganda | pulayimale | ||
| Sepedi | motheo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | mfiaseɛ | ||
Primary in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | ابتدائي | ||
| ابتدائي also refers to a small-sized person or thing, such as a small child or a small house. | |||
| Hebrew | יְסוֹדִי | ||
| The word יְסוֹדִי originally meant "foundation" or "basis" in Hebrew and is related to the verb יסד, meaning "to establish" or "to found." | |||
| Pashto | لومړنی | ||
| In Pashto, "لومړنی" can also mean "original" or "ancient." | |||
| Arabic | ابتدائي | ||
| ابتدائي also refers to a small-sized person or thing, such as a small child or a small house. | |||
Primary in Western European Languages
| Albanian | fillore | ||
| The word "fillore" in Albanian comes from the Latin word "plenus", meaning "full" or "abundant". | |||
| Basque | lehen mailakoak | ||
| This word might come from the Basque word "lehenik" (first) rather than from the Latin word "primo" (first). | |||
| Catalan | primària | ||
| The Catalan word "primària" can also refer to primary education (the first level of education after preschool). | |||
| Croatian | primarni | ||
| "Primarni" means "primary" and comes from Latin "primarius", which means "first" or "chief". | |||
| Danish | primær | ||
| The Danish word "primær" can also refer to the first coat of paint applied to a surface. | |||
| Dutch | primair | ||
| Primair means 'elementary' as well as 'primary'. | |||
| English | primary | ||
| The Latin word "primus" means "first"; other English-language derivations of this word include "prime" and "primer" | |||
| French | primaire | ||
| Primaire can also mean first course of a meal or first class in a school (equivalent to grade 1-5 in the US). | |||
| Frisian | primêr | ||
| In Frisian, "primêr" can also mean "chief" or "firstborn". | |||
| Galician | primaria | ||
| The word "primaria" also refers to the first grade of primary education in Galician. | |||
| German | primär | ||
| In German, "primär" can also mean "crude" or "basic." | |||
| Icelandic | aðal | ||
| The word "aðal" is also used in Icelandic to refer to "noble" or "aristocratic." | |||
| Irish | bunscoile | ||
| The word "bunscoile" is derived from the Irish words "bun" meaning "bottom" and "scoil" meaning "school", originally referring to the lowest level of education. | |||
| Italian | primario | ||
| In Italian, "primario" can also refer to a chief physician or the head of a hospital department. | |||
| Luxembourgish | primär | ||
| Als Bezeichnung für eine Person (Adj.) bedeutet Primär auch 'nicht verheiratet' oder 'unverheiratet'. | |||
| Maltese | primarja | ||
| The word "primarja" in Maltese is derived from the Latin word "primariu". It can also mean "main", "first-rate", or "chief". | |||
| Norwegian | hoved | ||
| "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 Gaelic | bun-sgoil | ||
| Scots Gaelic "bun-sgoil", from Scottish English "bun" (root or base) + "school" (from Latin "schola") | |||
| Spanish | primario | ||
| The word "primario" in Spanish shares its Latin root "primus" with the English word "prime", both meaning "first". | |||
| Swedish | primär | ||
| Swedish "primär" can also mean "very", as in "extremely", in addition to its meaning "primary". | |||
| Welsh | cynradd | ||
| The Welsh word "cynradd" originally referred to the first rank of a battle formation. | |||
Primary in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | першасны | ||
| Першасны also means first-born (of children) or initial (from an original stock). | |||
| Bosnian | primarni | ||
| The word 'primarni' in Bosnian can also refer to something that is basic, essential, or fundamental. | |||
| Bulgarian | първичен | ||
| "Първичен" also means "original", "primordial", or "basic" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | hlavní | ||
| The word "hlavní" has other meanings besides "primary", including "main" and "chief" | |||
| Estonian | esmane | ||
| "Esmane" also means "principal" or "the first thing." | |||
| Finnish | ensisijainen | ||
| "Ensisijainen" in Finnish also refers to the most important or essential aspect of something. | |||
| Hungarian | elsődleges | ||
| „Elsődleges” means not only “primary” but also “main” and “essential” in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | primārs | ||
| The term primārs is also used to describe the primary color of the Latvian flag. | |||
| Lithuanian | pirminis | ||
| In modern usage, "pirminis" can be used to refer to either a primary or a primitive source or element. | |||
| Macedonian | основно | ||
| **Macedonian:** Основно (primary) comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *per-*, meaning 'to produce, to put forth' | |||
| Polish | podstawowa | ||
| The Polish word "podstawowa" can also mean "basic" or "fundamental". | |||
| Romanian | primar | ||
| In Romanian, "primar" has additional meanings such as "mayor" and "primary elections" beyond its primary meaning of "primary". | |||
| Russian | первичный | ||
| In Russian, "первичный" can also mean "original" or "initial." | |||
| Serbian | примарна | ||
| "Примарна" means "primary" in Serbian. It can also mean "elementary", "fundamental", or "essential". | |||
| Slovak | primárny | ||
| Slovak "primárny" can also mean "principal", "basic" or "primary (regarding school level)". | |||
| Slovenian | primarni | ||
| The word "primarni" in Slovenian has several meanings, including "original", "basic", and "important." | |||
| Ukrainian | первинний | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning, "первинний" can also refer to "original" or "primitive". | |||
Primary in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রাথমিক | ||
| "প্রাথমিক" শব্দটি সংস্কৃত "प्राथमिक" শব্দ থেকে এসেছে, যার অর্থ "প্রথম" বা "মূলত"। | |||
| Gujarati | પ્રાથમિક | ||
| Hindi | मुख्य | ||
| The word "मुख्य" can also mean "main", "head", or "leader". | |||
| Kannada | ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ | ||
| The word 'praathamike' can also mean 'elementary' or 'initial' in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | പ്രാഥമികം | ||
| Marathi | प्राथमिक | ||
| "प्राथमिक" (primary) in Marathi can also mean "essential" or "fundamental". | |||
| Nepali | प्राथमिक | ||
| The word "प्राथमिक" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रथम" (prathama), meaning "first" or "chief". | |||
| Punjabi | ਪ੍ਰਾਇਮਰੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ප්රාථමික | ||
| Tamil | முதன்மை | ||
| The Tamil word 'முதன்மை' originated from the Sanskrit word 'मुख्य' ('mukhya'), meaning 'chief' or 'principal'. | |||
| Telugu | ప్రాథమిక | ||
| The word "primary" can also mean "elementary" or "fundamental" in the context of education. | |||
| Urdu | پرائمری | ||
Primary in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 主 | ||
| 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 | ||
| "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" | |||
| Korean | 일 순위 | ||
| In Korean, "일 순위" is used in computer science to refer to the main data or function within a hierarchy. | |||
| Mongolian | анхдагч | ||
| 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
| Indonesian | utama | ||
| "Utama" shares a root with the word "utamakan" meaning "to prioritize". | |||
| Javanese | utami | ||
| "Utami" also means "original", "first", or "main" in Javanese. | |||
| Khmer | បឋម | ||
| 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. | |||
| Lao | ປະຖົມ | ||
| The word also means 'first' or 'the beginning'. | |||
| Malay | primer | ||
| The Malay term 'primer,' 'prima,' is also used in banking, engineering, chemistry, and printing. | |||
| Thai | หลัก | ||
| The Thai word "หลัก" can also mean "evidence" or "principle". | |||
| Vietnamese | sơ cấp | ||
| In Vietnamese, the word "sơ cấp" also has the meaning of "elementary" or "basic". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pangunahin | ||
Primary in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ilkin | ||
| "İlkin" can also mean "previous" or "former" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | бастапқы | ||
| The word "бастапқы" in Kazakh comes from the root "бас" meaning "head" or "beginning."} | |||
| Kyrgyz | баштапкы | ||
| 'Баштапкы' ('primary') in Kyrgyz stems from the verb 'баштоо' ('to start'), and can also mean 'initial' or 'first'. | |||
| Tajik | ибтидоӣ | ||
| "Ибтидоӣ" also means "in the beginning" and "elementary" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | başlangyç | ||
| Uzbek | birlamchi | ||
| “Birlamchi” means both “primary” and “first”, depending on the context. | |||
| Uyghur | primary | ||
Primary in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | poʻokela | ||
| Poʻokela can also refer to the head of a school, a chief, or a leader. | |||
| Maori | tuatahi | ||
| The word "tuatahi" in Maori also refers to the first-born child or the first time something is done. | |||
| Samoan | tulaga 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
| Aymara | nayriri | ||
| Guarani | tenondeguáva | ||
Primary in International Languages
| Esperanto | primaraj | ||
| Latin | primaria | ||
| In ancient Roman assemblies, "primaria" could refer to "the first class of voters consulted" or "the first vote cast". | |||
Primary in Others Languages
| Greek | πρωταρχικός | ||
| "Πρωταρχικός" also means that something is first in origin or development. | |||
| Hmong | thawj | ||
| The Hmong word "thawj" can also refer to an initiation ceremony or ritual. | |||
| Kurdish | bingehîn | ||
| The word "bingehîn" in Kurdish has multiple meanings, including "fundamental," "essential," and "principal." | |||
| Turkish | birincil | ||
| The word ''birincil'' comes from the Persian word ''birunji'', meaning ''outside''. | |||
| Xhosa | zaseprayimari | ||
| The word "zaseprayimari" in Xhosa also means "first or main". | |||
| Yiddish | ערשטיק | ||
| "ערשטיק" also means "original" or "genuine" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | okuyinhloko | ||
| The Zulu word "okuyinhloko" derives from the root "intloko" meaning "head", hence implying "primary" or "of primary importance". | |||
| Assamese | প্ৰাথমিক | ||
| Aymara | nayriri | ||
| Bhojpuri | प्राथमिक | ||
| Dhivehi | އިބްތިދާއީ | ||
| Dogri | मुंढला | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pangunahin | ||
| Guarani | tenondeguáva | ||
| Ilocano | kangrunaan | ||
| Krio | fɔs | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سەرەکی | ||
| Maithili | प्राथमिक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯨ ꯑꯣꯏꯕ | ||
| Mizo | hmasa ber | ||
| Oromo | sadarkaa tokkoffaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରାଥମିକ | ||
| Quechua | qallariq | ||
| Sanskrit | प्राथमिक | ||
| Tatar | башлангыч | ||
| Tigrinya | ቀዳማይ | ||
| Tsonga | phurayimari | ||