Right in different languages

Right in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'right' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, encompassing a wide range of meanings from correctness and justice to direction and possession. Its cultural importance is evident in its use in various idioms, laws, and philosophical concepts. For instance, the 'Moral Right' in French is 'Droit Moral', while in Spanish, it's 'Derecho Moral'. Understanding the translation of 'right' in different languages can open up new dimensions of cultural exchange and understanding.

Did you know that the English word 'right' comes from the Old English 'riht', which means 'just, good, fair, proper, correct'? This word has also been influenced by various other languages, including Germanic and Latin, showcasing its rich linguistic history. In German, 'right' translates to 'rechts', and in Italian, it's 'diritto'.

Exploring the word 'right' in different languages can be a fascinating journey, shedding light on the intricate connections between language, culture, and history. Keep reading to discover more translations of this versatile word!

Right


Right in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansreg
The word "reg" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "recht", meaning "straight" or "correct".
Amharicቀኝ
The Amharic word for 'right' 'ቀኝ' can also mean 'the east'
Hausadama
"Dama" can also refer to the "right side" of a person or object.
Igbonri
In Igbo, the word “nri” also refers to a traditional priestly king associated with the goddess Ala
Malagasytsara
Malagasy TSARA means "right" in both moral and anatomical senses, and might share an etymology with Malay TERANG (bright or clear).
Nyanja (Chichewa)kulondola
Kulondola may also be translated as 'right-handed', as the left hand in Nyanja culture was often used to complete less-desirable tasks.
Shonarudyi
The word "rudyi" can also mean "correct" or "appropriate".
Somalisax
Somali "sax" is an Arabic loanword meaning "proper" or "fit" and also means "healthy" in Afar.
Sesothohantle
Swahilihaki
Haki in Swahili also implies justice, righteousness, and truth.
Xhosakunene
Xhosa 'kunene' is derived from the Proto-Bantu form '*kunene' meaning 'straight' or 'correct'. It cognate to Swazi 'kunene' and Zulu 'kunene', all meaning 'right'.
Yorubaọtun
"Ọtun" can also refer to the east cardinal direction, the Yoruba Orisa of divination, or a position of honor in society.
Zulukwesokudla
In Zulu, "kwesokudla" can also mean "the right-hand side" or "the direction of the sun's rise."
Bambarajo
Ewenyui
Kinyarwandaiburyo
Lingalamalamu
Lugandakituufu
Sepedinepagetše
Twi (Akan)nifa

Right in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicحق
The Arabic word "حق" (right) can also refer to "justice", "truth", or "the rightful share or due."
Hebrewימין
The word "ימין" (right) in Hebrew also refers to the south, as in "ימינה" (to the right) and "ימין" (the south).
Pashtoښي
The Pashto word "ښي" also means "good" or "correct".
Arabicحق
The Arabic word "حق" (right) can also refer to "justice", "truth", or "the rightful share or due."

Right in Western European Languages

Albaniane drejtë
The Albanian word "e drejtë" has its roots in the word "drekë" (oak), representing strength, justice, and order in ancient Albanian society.
Basqueeskubidea
The word “eskubidea” is based on the Latin word "ex-cubitum" which literally means "out of the elbow".
Catalandret
The Catalan word "dret" also means "law" or "justice".
Croatianpravo
The word "pravo" in Croatian can also mean "law" and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "pravo", meaning "straight" or "correct."
Danishret
Ret, meaning right, also means straight, just, fair and direct.
Dutchrechtsaf
In the Limburgish and Brabantian dialects of Dutch, "Rechtsaf" can also mean "really, indeed".
Englishright
The word 'right' can also mean 'a correct answer' or 'a person's moral or legal entitlement'
Frenchdroite
The French word 'droite' (right) comes from the Latin 'directus' (straight, direct), and its original meaning was 'to go straight'.
Frisianrjochts
The Frisian word 'rjochts' is derived from the Proto-Germanic word '*rehta-' meaning 'straight' or 'correct'.
Galiciancerto
The Galician word "certo\” is derived from the Latin "certus\”, meaning both "right" and "sure".
Germanrichtig
"Richtig" has the alternate old-style meaning of "straight through," as in: "Ich gehe richtig durch den Wald"
Icelandicrétt
The Icelandic word 'rétt' can also refer to food and clothing, highlighting its broader connotation of 'straightness' or 'orderliness'
Irishceart
The word 'ceart' derives from the Proto-Celtic root *kar-to-, meaning both 'proper' and 'just'.
Italiangiusto
giusto's second meaning, used in music, refers to the rhythm and tempo of songs and compositions
Luxembourgishriets
In the Luxembourgish language, the word "riets" is also used to refer to the direction "straight ahead" when giving directions.
Maltesedritt
Maltese 'dritt' is derived from the Latin 'directum' and can also mean 'direct' or 'straight'.
Norwegianikke sant
"Ikke sant" is a Norwegian phrase that literally translates to "isn't it true?" or "am I right?"
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)direito
In Portuguese, "direito" can refer to both "right" and "law", reflecting its Latin root "directus"
Scots Gaelicdeas
The Gaelic word "deas" can also refer to the south, or the sunny side of a valley.
Spanishderecho
The word "derecho" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "directum", meaning "straight" or "direct".
Swedishrätt
Rätt shares its origin with the Old English word 'riht,' meaning 'orderly,' and can also mean 'plate' in Swedish.
Welshiawn
The Welsh word 'iawn' can also refer to 'justice' or 'law'.

Right in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianправільна
The word "правільна" can also mean "correct", "true", or "proper".
Bosniantačno
Tačno is also used as an adverb meaning "in a precise manner" or "exactly".
Bulgarianнали
The word "нали" in Bulgarian also means "isn't it so?" or "don't you agree?"
Czechže jo
The phrase "že jo" is also used as a way to affirmatively respond to statements or to ask for confirmation.
Estonianeks
"Eks" can also refer to an axle, and is thought to be cognate with the Proto-Finnic "*ehke" and Proto-Indo-European "*aǵʰs-os" ('axle').
Finnishoikein
"Oikein" comes from the Proto-Finnic word *ojkë, which also meant "left".
Hungarianjobb
"Jobb" has a double meaning and comes from the Sanskrit word "shubha," meaning "beautiful."
Latvianpa labi
In Latvian, the word "pa labi" means "right" but its root, "lab-", also implies something "good" or "favorable".
Lithuanianteisingai
The Lithuanian word "teisingai" ("right") is related to the Sanskrit word "r̥ju" ("straight") and the ancient Greek word "ορθή" ("upright").
Macedonianнели
The word "нели" (right) in Macedonian comes from the Proto-Slavic word *desьnъ, which also means "right hand."
Polishdobrze
The Polish word "dobrze" can also mean "good" or "well", and is related to the Old Polish word "dobry", meaning "good" or "kind".
Romaniandreapta
Alternate meanings of "dreapta" include: "straight", "upright", "correct", "just", and "proper".
Russianверно
The Russian word "верно" can also mean "faithfully" or "truly".
Serbianјел тако
In Serbian, "јел тако" is the colloquial form of "је ли то тако", meaning "is that true". As such, it can be used to both affirm or question an assertion.
Slovaksprávny
The word "správny" in Slovak can also mean "correct" or "proper".
Slovenianprav
The word also means "law" or "justice" in a legal context and is the root of words like "pravda" (justice) and "pravičnost" (fairness).
Ukrainianправильно
The word "правильно" also means "correct" or "true" in Ukrainian.

Right in South Asian Languages

Bengaliঠিক
"ঠিক" comes from the Sanskrit "dik" meaning "direction, side".
Gujaratiબરાબર
"બરાબર" (right) shares its etymology with "બરા" (level) and "બર" (equal), highlighting its association with balance and equality.
Hindiसही
The Hindi word "सही" can also mean "proper", "true", or "correct".
Kannadaಸರಿ
The word "ಸರಿ" also means "correct", "true", or "proper" and is often used to express agreement or understanding.
Malayalamശരി
The Malayalam word "ശരി" (śari) stems from the Sanskrit word "sṛj" (create) and also signifies"good".
Marathiबरोबर
In the Marathi language, "बरोबर" can also mean "to put in order" or "to arrange."
Nepaliसहि
The word "सहि" can also refer to an agreement, a proper match, or a suitable person.
Punjabiਸਹੀ
'ਸਹੀ' is sometimes also used to mean 'true'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)හරි
'හරි' (right) is also used as a synonym for 'beautiful' in Sinhala.
Tamilசரி
சரி also means "enough" or "that'll do" in Tamil, when used to express contentment or acceptance.
Teluguకుడి
The word "కుడి" ("right") in Telugu also means "appropriate", "suitable" or "fitting".
Urduٹھیک ہے

Right in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
In Chinese, 对 (right) also means opposite and pair.
Chinese (Traditional)
Besides its main meaning, 對 (duì) can mean 'to confront' or 'a pair'.
Japanese正しい
正 is also used as a prefix meaning "straight; correct; true."
Korean권리
권리 can also mean 'power' or 'authority'.
Mongolianзөв
The word "зөв" (right) may have originated from the root word "зохи", meaning "to fit" or "to be appropriate", suggesting that something that is right aligns with established norms or expectations.
Myanmar (Burmese)မှန်ပါတယ်

Right in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbaik
The Indonesian word "baik" (right) is cognate with the Malay word "baik" (good), and with the Arabic word "baik" (between).
Javanesebener
In Krama form, "bener" can also mean "to fix", while in Ngoko it means "true" or "correct"
Khmerត្រឹមត្រូវ
Laoຖືກຕ້ອງ
Malaybetul
'Betul' in Indonesian also means 'genuine' or 'correct'.
Thaiขวา
The Thai word "ขวา" can also refer to an auspicious direction or side.
Vietnameseđúng
"Đúng" can also mean "precisely" or "exactly".
Filipino (Tagalog)tama

Right in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanisağ
The word "sağ" in Azerbaijani, meaning "right," is cognate with the Persian word "rāst" and the Sanskrit word "ṛta," both meaning "truth" or "order."
Kazakhдұрыс
In Kazakh, "дұрыс" can also mean "correct" or "straight".
Kyrgyzтуура
The word "туура" in Kyrgyz can also refer to "flatness" or "justice".
Tajikрост
In Tajik, the word "рост" can also refer to "growth" or "progress".
Turkmendogry
Uzbekto'g'ri
The word "to'g'ri" can also mean "proper" or "appropriate" in Uzbek.
Uyghurتوغرا

Right in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianakau
Hawaiian 'akau' originates in a Proto-Austronesian word that can mean both "right" and "left".
Maoritika
The word "tika" in Maori comes from the Proto-Polynesian word "tika" but it also means "genuine", "correct", or "upright".
Samoantauagavale
Tauagavale can also mean 'correct' or 'proper' in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)tama
The word "tama" in Tagalog has Proto-Austronesian origins and is related to words for "true" in other Philippine languages.

Right in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarawaliki
Guaraniakatúa

Right in International Languages

Esperantoĝuste
"Ĝuste" is derived from French "juste" and Latin "iuste" (justly).
Latiniustum
"Iustum" in Latin can also refer to "regular" or "complete."

Right in Others Languages

Greekσωστά
Σωστά derives from the Ancient Greek σωτός (safe, sound, whole), possibly from a Proto-Indo-European root *s(e)w- (to save).
Hmongtxoj cai
In Hmong, "txoj cai" can also refer to a person's appearance or physical condition, such as being "right" or "correct" in terms of one's health or physical well-being.
Kurdishrast
The word "rast" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian word "rāst", meaning "straight" or "correct"
Turkishsağ
The word "sağ" in Turkish can also mean "side" or "health."
Xhosakunene
Xhosa 'kunene' is derived from the Proto-Bantu form '*kunene' meaning 'straight' or 'correct'. It cognate to Swazi 'kunene' and Zulu 'kunene', all meaning 'right'.
Yiddishרעכט
The Yiddish word "רעכט" can also mean "straight" or "correct".
Zulukwesokudla
In Zulu, "kwesokudla" can also mean "the right-hand side" or "the direction of the sun's rise."
Assameseশুদ্ধ
Aymarawaliki
Bhojpuriठीक
Dhivehiކަނާތް
Dogriस्हेई
Filipino (Tagalog)tama
Guaraniakatúa
Ilocanokusto
Kriorayt
Kurdish (Sorani)ڕاست
Maithiliठीक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯆꯨꯝꯃꯤ
Mizodik
Oromosirrii
Odia (Oriya)ଠିକ୍
Quechuapaña
Sanskritदक्षिणः
Tatarуң
Tigrinyaትኽክል
Tsongamfanelo

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