Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'resemble' holds a significant place in our vocabulary as it allows us to express similarities between objects, people, and ideas. This concept is not only crucial in our daily conversations but also in various fields such as art, science, and literature. For instance, when we say 'This painting remarkably resembles a photograph taken by the famous photographer,' we are acknowledging the similarity between two different forms of art.
Moreover, the ability to recognize resemblances is an essential part of human cognition and has played a vital role in our cultural evolution. For example, in ancient Greece, artists created sculptures that highly resembled real people, reflecting their cultural emphasis on realism and individuality.
Given the importance of the word 'resemble,' it's no surprise that people might want to know its translation in different languages. By doing so, they can not only expand their linguistic skills but also gain a deeper understanding of other cultures' ways of expressing similarities.
Here are some translations of the word 'resemble' in various languages:
Afrikaans | lyk | ||
The word "lyk" in Afrikaans also means "corpse" or "cadaver" in Dutch. | |||
Amharic | ይመሳሰላል | ||
The Amharic word ይመሳሰላል can also mean 'to be like' or 'to be similar to'. | |||
Hausa | kama | ||
The word "kama" also means "like" or "as" in a comparative sense. | |||
Igbo | yiri | ||
"Yi" is an ideophone that also means "resemblance". In Igbo, "yiri" is a verb meaning "resemble," and "iri" is a noun that also means "resemblance." | |||
Malagasy | mitovy | ||
The word "mitovy" also means "to be appropriate" or "to be suitable" in Malagasy. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kufanana | ||
The word "kufanana" in Nyanja also means "to be equal to" or "to match". | |||
Shona | fananidza | ||
The word 'fananidza' can also mean 'to look alike' or 'to be similar' in Shona. | |||
Somali | u eg | ||
The Somali word "u eg" can also mean "to be like" or "to imitate". | |||
Sesotho | tšoana | ||
"Tšoana" is also used to mean "to copy" or "to imitate". | |||
Swahili | inafanana | ||
The Swahili word "inafanana" also means "to be similar" or "to look alike". | |||
Xhosa | fana | ||
The term 'fana' can also relate to a close friend with whom one shares everything but is not in a romantic relationship. | |||
Yoruba | jọra | ||
The word "jọra" in Yoruba may also refer to the idea of "following in someone's footsteps" or "imitating" another person. | |||
Zulu | fana | ||
The word “fana” can also mean “belong” or “appropriate”. | |||
Bambara | ka bɔ ... fɛ | ||
Ewe | ɖi | ||
Kinyarwanda | bisa | ||
Lingala | ekokani | ||
Luganda | -faanana | ||
Sepedi | swanetšana | ||
Twi (Akan) | sɛ | ||
Arabic | تشابه | ||
تشابه (resemble) comes from the root word ش ب ه (shabbaha), which also means "to be similar". Thus, تشابه implies a strong likeness between two things. | |||
Hebrew | לִדמוֹת | ||
The root "לדמ" can also mean "to be silent" or "to become mute". | |||
Pashto | ورته | ||
The word "ورته" in Pashto can also mean "face" or "appearance." | |||
Arabic | تشابه | ||
تشابه (resemble) comes from the root word ش ب ه (shabbaha), which also means "to be similar". Thus, تشابه implies a strong likeness between two things. |
Albanian | ngjajnë | ||
The word "ngjajnë" is derived from the Proto-Albanian word *nɡāǵn-, meaning "to appear" or "to resemble". | |||
Basque | antza | ||
"Antza" also means "sign" or "trace" in Basque. | |||
Catalan | semblar | ||
In Catalan, "semblar" can also mean "to become"} | |||
Croatian | nalikovati | ||
"Nalikovati" shares the same Proto-Slavic root with "nalik", which means "inclined" or "similar". | |||
Danish | ligne | ||
"Ligne" is a Danish word that can also mean "line" or "border". | |||
Dutch | lijken op | ||
De woorden ‘lijken op’ en ‘lijken naar’ hebben in het Middelnederlands nog de betekening ‘met het lichaam in een richting liggen’. | |||
English | resemble | ||
{"text": "The word resemble derives from the Old French "ressembler," meaning "to have a like appearance," and ultimately from the Latin word "similis," which means "similar."}" | |||
French | ressembler | ||
The word "ressembler" derives from the Latin word "similis" which means "similar". In French, it can also mean "to look like someone or something else". | |||
Frisian | lykje op | ||
In Saterland Frisian, "lykje op" can also mean "to look good on someone" | |||
Galician | asemellarse | ||
The words "asemellar" and "parecerse" are synonyms in Galician, both meaning "to resemble", but "asemellar" comes from Latin while "parecerse" comes from Spanish. | |||
German | ähneln | ||
The verb "ähneln" is derived from the Middle High German word "ænen," meaning "to be equal," and is related to the English word "even." | |||
Icelandic | líkjast | ||
Líkjast derives from "líkur" which means both "corpse" and "body". Hence, to resemble something is to have the same body as it. | |||
Irish | cosúil | ||
In Irish mythology, the word "cosúil" also refers to a shape-shifting creature. | |||
Italian | assomigliano | ||
The Italian word 'assomigliano' also means 'they look like', referring to a group of people or beings. | |||
Luxembourgish | gläichen | ||
The verb "gläichen" is derived from the Old High German "gleihan", meaning "to appear the same", and is related to the English word "gleich". In addition to its primary meaning of "to resemble", "gläichen" can also mean "to make equal" or "to equalize". | |||
Maltese | jixbhu | ||
"Jixbhu" is also a Maltese spelling of the Italian word "scivolare", meaning "to slip". | |||
Norwegian | ligne, se ut som, minne om | ||
The Norwegian word "ligne" is derived from the Proto-Germanic "liknō"," meaning "similar" or "equal." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | assemelhar-se | ||
"Assemelhar-se" vem do latim "similis" (semelhante), e também pode significar "parecer" ou "ter aparência de". | |||
Scots Gaelic | coltach | ||
It is cognate with the Irish "coltach" meaning "heifer" and thus probably referred to a young cow or follower. | |||
Spanish | asemejarse a | ||
The word "asemejarse a" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "similis," meaning "similar." | |||
Swedish | likna | ||
"Likna" also means "to compare" and is derived from the Old Norse word "líkna" with the same meaning. | |||
Welsh | ymdebygu | ||
The word "ymdebygu" also means "to pretend to be"} |
Belarusian | нагадваюць | ||
The word "нагадваюць" comes from the Old Belarusian word "нагадаць", which meant "to remind" or "to make remember". It is related to the Russian word "напоминать" and the Polish word "napowiadać". | |||
Bosnian | nalik | ||
In the slang of younger generations, 'nalik' is also used to express an attitude of indifference or non-involvement. | |||
Bulgarian | приличат | ||
The verb "приличат" ultimately derives from the same Proto-Slavic root as the Russian word "личина" (mask). | |||
Czech | podobat se | ||
The Slavic root *pod- means 'below', and *oba means 'two', which suggests a person 'in the company of others'. | |||
Estonian | sarnanema | ||
The word "sarnanema" can also mean "to become infected" or "to have a strong smell" in Estonian. | |||
Finnish | muistuttavat | ||
Muistuttavat means both "to resemble" and "to remind". In the latter sense it is related to "muisti" meaning "memory". | |||
Hungarian | hasonlítanak | ||
"Hasonlítanak" literally means "they are similar" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | līdzināties | ||
The word "līdzināties" in Latvian is formed by combining the prefix "līdz-" (similar to) and the suffix "-ties" (to become), implying a state of becoming similar. | |||
Lithuanian | panašūs | ||
The word "panašūs" in Lithuanian comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*penkʷ-", meaning "five", and is related to the words "penki" (five), "penktas" (fifth), and "penktadienis" (Friday). | |||
Macedonian | личат на | ||
The Macedonian verb "личат на" is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb *likъ, meaning "to be like." | |||
Polish | przypominać | ||
'Przypominać' in Polish can also mean to recall, remind, or bring back memories. | |||
Romanian | semăna | ||
The word "semăna" comes from the Latin "sēmen", meaning "seed", thus implying a relationship between the two things that resemble each other. | |||
Russian | походить | ||
The Russian verb "походить" originally meant "to proceed" or "to emanate". | |||
Serbian | личити | ||
The Serbian word "личити" also means "to suit" or "to be appropriate". | |||
Slovak | ponášať sa | ||
The etymology of "ponášať sa" is connected to *nosiť* meaning "to carry". | |||
Slovenian | spominjajo | ||
The word 'spominjajo' shares the same root as the word 'spomin' (memory), suggesting a connection between resemblance and memory. | |||
Ukrainian | нагадують | ||
"Нагадують" (resemble) is derived from "гад" (reptile, viper), and can also mean "remind". |
Bengali | সদৃশ | ||
The word "সদৃশ" also means "similar" or "alike" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | મળતા | ||
"મળતા" means "agreeing", "corresponding". The word is derived from the Sanskrit root "mil", meaning "to meet". | |||
Hindi | जैसे लगते हैं | ||
The word ''जैसे लगते हैं'' (''jaise lagte hain'') is often used to compare two people or things, but it can also be used to express other ideas, such as similarity, likeness, or resemblance. | |||
Kannada | ಹೋಲುತ್ತದೆ | ||
The term 'ಹೋಲುತ್ತದೆ' (resemble) is similar to 'ಹೊಲ' (field), reflecting the idea that something looks like it is in the same field as another. | |||
Malayalam | സമാനമാണ് | ||
The word "സമാനമാണ്" comes from the Sanskrit root "sama," meaning "equal" or "similar." | |||
Marathi | सारखा असणे | ||
The Marathi word "सारखा असणे" (sārkhā asaṇē) can also mean "to be equal to" or "to be alike". | |||
Nepali | मिल्दो | ||
मिल्दो' is also a name given to the red vermilion powder often applied on deity idols and foreheads of married Nepali women. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਮਾਨ | ||
The word "ਸਮਾਨ" in Punjabi can also mean "equal", "alike", or "similar". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සමාන | ||
The word සමාන is derived from the Sanskrit word सम (sama), meaning “equal,” “similar,” or “alike.” | |||
Tamil | ஒத்திருக்கின்றன | ||
Telugu | పోలి ఉంటాయి | ||
Urdu | مشابہت | ||
The word "مشابہت" derives from the Arabic root "ش - ب - ه" which means "to be like" or "to be similar to". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 类似 | ||
The word 类似 (lèisì) can also mean "similar to," "analogous to," or "comparable to." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 類似 | ||
The character 類 (類) is composed of the character 示 and the character 木, meaning 'tree'. It often suggests the meaning of categories or classification. | |||
Japanese | 似ている | ||
似ている, resembling, also means "be similar to" and "look like" in Japanese. | |||
Korean | 닮다 | ||
"닮다" originally meant "to be like". The word "닮" was an alternative pronunciation of "같". "같다" and "닮다" were used interchangeably in ancient texts. | |||
Mongolian | төстэй | ||
The word "төстэй" also refers to "similarity", "resemblance", and "likeness" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တူသည် | ||
The word "တူသည်" can also mean "to be similar", "to be like", or "to be the same". |
Indonesian | menyerupai | ||
The Indonesian word "menyerupai" can also mean "to imitate" or "to follow the example of". | |||
Javanese | mirip | ||
The words "mirip" and "wani" in Javanese share the same root word, indicating a connection between resemblance and courage. | |||
Khmer | ស្រដៀង | ||
In Khmer, the word "ស្រដៀង" can also refer to an "image" or a "likeness," capturing the idea of resemblance in a broader sense. | |||
Lao | ຄ້າຍຄືກັນ | ||
Malay | menyerupai | ||
Menyerupai can also mean 'to resemble' in a figurative sense, such as when one's actions are similar to someone else's | |||
Thai | คล้ายคลึงกับ | ||
The word "คล้ายคลึงกับ" can also mean "similar to" or "analogous to". | |||
Vietnamese | giống | ||
"Giống" also means "same" or "alike" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kahawig | ||
Azerbaijani | oxşayır | ||
The word "oxşayır" is a derivative of the Turkish word "okşar" meaning "caress" or "stroke". | |||
Kazakh | ұқсас | ||
"ұқсас" means "look alike" in Kazakh and is also used to refer to "similarities" | |||
Kyrgyz | окшош | ||
Окшош comes from Arabic, which also has an alternate meaning of "similar." | |||
Tajik | шабеҳ | ||
In Persian, "shabah" means "to be alike" or "to be like something else" and is commonly used in classical Persian literature. | |||
Turkmen | meňzeýär | ||
Uzbek | o'xshash | ||
The word "o'xshash" in Uzbek, meaning "resemble," may also refer to "similarity," "likeness," or "equivalent." | |||
Uyghur | ئوخشايدۇ | ||
Hawaiian | ʻano like | ||
The phrase ʻano like (resemble) has roots in the Proto-Polynesian word *ano, which also meant "kind" or "species." | |||
Maori | rite | ||
The verb "rite" in Maori can also mean "to be like" or "to resemble". | |||
Samoan | faʻatusa | ||
The word "faʻatusa" can also mean to compare or to pretend to be someone else. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | kahawig | ||
"Kahawig" originated from the Proto-Austronesian word "*ka-sama" meaning "to be together," with the suffix "-ig" indicating a state or relation. |
Aymara | niya kipka | ||
Guarani | jejogua | ||
Esperanto | similas | ||
The Esperanto word "similas" derives from the Latin word "similis" which also means "similar". | |||
Latin | simile esse existimabo | ||
The Latin phrase "simile esse existimabo" derives from the verb "esse" (to be) and the adjective "similis" (similar). |
Greek | μοιάζω | ||
The verb "μοιάζω" is cognate with the Slavic word "mazan" and the Albanian word "me ngjasë", meaning "to be similar". | |||
Hmong | tsa | ||
'Tsa' can also mean 'to be the same age' or 'to be of the same generation' in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | nêzhevbûn | ||
The verb 'nêzhevbûn' in Kurdish also means 'to pretend'. | |||
Turkish | benzemek | ||
The word "benzemek" in Turkish is derived from the Persian word "benzer", which means "equal" or "similar". | |||
Xhosa | fana | ||
The term 'fana' can also relate to a close friend with whom one shares everything but is not in a romantic relationship. | |||
Yiddish | ריזעמבאַל | ||
The Yiddish word "ריזעמבאַל" also means "to remind". | |||
Zulu | fana | ||
The word “fana” can also mean “belong” or “appropriate”. | |||
Assamese | মিল থকা | ||
Aymara | niya kipka | ||
Bhojpuri | समान भईल | ||
Dhivehi | ތަމްސީލުކުރަނީ | ||
Dogri | रलदा-मिलदा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kahawig | ||
Guarani | jejogua | ||
Ilocano | kasla | ||
Krio | fiba | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دەچێت لە | ||
Maithili | एक जैसन होनाइ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯥꯟꯅꯕ | ||
Mizo | inang | ||
Oromo | fakkaachuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସଦୃଶ | | ||
Quechua | rikchakuy | ||
Sanskrit | सदृश्य | ||
Tatar | охшаган | ||
Tigrinya | ምምሳል | ||
Tsonga | fana na | ||