Rub in Different Languages
Discover 'Rub' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'rub' holds a significant place in our daily lives, often used to describe a simple action with a variety of meanings. It can refer to the act of moving one's hand over a surface, an act that can signify anything from soothing a sore muscle to starting a fire. Moreover, 'rub' has cultural importance, featuring prominently in idioms and expressions around the world.
For instance, 'rub someone the wrong way' is an English idiom used to describe when someone's behavior or attitude is irritating or annoying. Similarly, in Spanish, 'hacer buenos ruegos' (to make good rubbings) is an expression used to wish someone good luck. These examples illustrate the word's versatility and cultural significance.
Given the word's ubiquity and cultural importance, one might wonder how 'rub' translates into different languages. Understanding these translations can provide insight into how other cultures view this simple yet versatile action.
Here are a few translations to pique your curiosity:
- Spanish: frotar
- French: frotter
- German: reiben
- Mandarin: 擦 (cā)
- Japanese: 擦る (sureru)
Rub
Rub in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | vryf | ||
| The Afrikaans word "vryf" (meaning "to rub") is of uncertain origin, potentially derived from the Dutch or Flemish "vrijven" or the Low German "frijen." | |||
| Amharic | ማሻሸት | ||
| The word "ማሻሻት" can also mean "to grind" or "to crush" | |||
| Hausa | goga | ||
| In addition to its literal meaning, "goga" can also refer to "annoying" or "bothering" someone. | |||
| Igbo | ete | ||
| In some contexts, "ete" can also connote a forceful action of pushing or shoving. | |||
| Malagasy | rub | ||
| The Malagasy word "RUB" also means "to rub or massage" in some regional dialects. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | pakani | ||
| The word "pakani" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also refer to "cleaning by scrubbing" or "massaging with pressure" | |||
| Shona | kwiza | ||
| The word "kwiza" can also mean "to grind" or "to crush" in Shona. | |||
| Somali | xoqin | ||
| In Somali, "xoqin" can also refer to the act of scrubbing or cleaning. | |||
| Sesotho | rub | ||
| Sesotho and English "rub" share the same Proto-Indo-European root as "rupester" ('rock' or 'crag') which is also shared by "rupture". | |||
| Swahili | kusugua | ||
| The word "kusugua" is also used figuratively to mean "to annoy" or "to irritate" someone, or as an exclamation "eww!" or "yuck!"} | |||
| Xhosa | hlikihla | ||
| The verb "Hlikihla" is used to describe the action of rubbing something, but it can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of massaging or kneading something. | |||
| Yoruba | bi won ninu | ||
| The phrase "bi won ni nu" can also mean "to be at the edge of something" | |||
| Zulu | hlikihla | ||
| Hlikihla can also mean 'to be in deep thought' or 'to ponder'. | |||
| Bambara | tereke | ||
| Ewe | si | ||
| Kinyarwanda | rub | ||
| Lingala | kopangusa | ||
| Luganda | okusangula | ||
| Sepedi | fogohla | ||
| Twi (Akan) | twitwi | ||
Rub in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | فرك | ||
| The word "فرك" can also mean "to polish" or "to massage" in Arabic. | |||
| Hebrew | לשפשף | ||
| לשפשף can also mean "to scrub", "to polish", and "to scour" | |||
| Pashto | مسح کول | ||
| مسح کول may also mean "clean," "polish," or "wipe" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | فرك | ||
| The word "فرك" can also mean "to polish" or "to massage" in Arabic. | |||
Rub in Western European Languages
| Albanian | fshij | ||
| The Albanian word "fshij" can also refer to the process of removing dirt or impurities from a surface. | |||
| Basque | igurtzi | ||
| The Basque word "igurtzi" also refers to a traditional type of soup or porridge containing vegetables and legumes. | |||
| Catalan | fregar | ||
| The verb "fregar" can also mean "to mop" or "to scour". | |||
| Croatian | trljati | ||
| "Trljati" is thought to be related to the Albanian word "thëroj," meaning "to dry." | |||
| Danish | gnide | ||
| "Gnide" in Danish can mean both "to rub" and "to make a mistake". | |||
| Dutch | wrijven | ||
| The verb "wrijven" originally meant "to twist", and it could also mean "to wash" or "to scrub". | |||
| English | rub | ||
| "Rub" comes from the Middle English word "rubben," which comes from the Old English word "rubbian," meaning "to stroke or move with pressure." | |||
| French | frotter | ||
| Frisian | wrijven | ||
| In Frisian, "wrijven" can also mean "to grind" (e.g., coffee beans) | |||
| Galician | frotar | ||
| In Galician "frotar" is also used figuratively to mean "to tease" or "to make fun of someone" | |||
| German | reiben | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "to rub," "reiben" can also refer to the friction that occurs when two objects touch, or to chafing or irritation of the skin. | |||
| Icelandic | nudda | ||
| The Icelandic word "nudda" is cognate with the Swedish "gnugga," the Norwegian "gnua," and the Old Norse "gnúðga." | |||
| Irish | rub | ||
| The Irish word "rub" also means "to wipe" or "to clean". | |||
| Italian | strofinare | ||
| Strofinare derives from the Greek στρoφὴ, "turn" (like the strophe of a song). | |||
| Luxembourgish | reiwen | ||
| Reiwen also means "to make a mistake" or "to do something awkwardly". | |||
| Maltese | togħrok | ||
| The word "togħrok" also means "to massage" in Maltese. | |||
| Norwegian | gni | ||
| The verb "gni" also has the alternate translation of "to scratch" in Norwegian. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | esfregar | ||
| In Portuguese, "esfregar" also means "to scrub" or "to scour". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | rub | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, "rub" can also mean "to rob, to steal". | |||
| Spanish | frotar | ||
| Spanish 'frotar' comes from 'frictus' (Latin for 'rubbed') and also means 'to play a string instrument'. | |||
| Swedish | gnugga | ||
| "Gnu" in the word "gnugga" is a cognate of "knee" in English, hinting at the motion of rubbing. | |||
| Welsh | rhwbiwch | ||
| The word "rhwbiwch" (rub) may also mean "rubbish" or "nonsense" in Welsh. | |||
Rub in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | rub | ||
| The Belarusian word "церці" (tsertstsi) means "rub" in English, but it can also mean "to scold" or "to chide". | |||
| Bosnian | trljati | ||
| The word 'trljati' is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *terti, meaning 'to rub' or 'to scour'. | |||
| Bulgarian | търкайте | ||
| Търкайте can also mean "to scrub" or "to scour". | |||
| Czech | třít | ||
| The Czech word "třít" can also refer to the act of grinding or crushing something into small pieces. | |||
| Estonian | hõõruda | ||
| The word 'hõõruda' can also mean 'to chafe' or 'to scour'. | |||
| Finnish | hieroa | ||
| The word "hieroa" also means "to make a sacrifice" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | dörzsölés | ||
| Dörzsölés' most likely originates from the Slavic word 'derti', which also means 'rub'. | |||
| Latvian | berzēt | ||
| It's also used figuratively to mean 'annoy', 'irritate'. | |||
| Lithuanian | patrinti | ||
| "Patrinti" can also refer to the removal of something by friction, such as erasing writing or polishing a surface. | |||
| Macedonian | триење | ||
| The word "триење" also means "friction" or "polishing" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | pocierać | ||
| In Polish, "pocierać" also means "to touch lightly" or "to stroke gently". | |||
| Romanian | freca | ||
| In Romanian, "freca" may also refer to a type of dance or a type of massage. | |||
| Russian | rub | ||
| In Russian, "rub" can also mean "to criticize sharply" or "to annoy or bother someone". | |||
| Serbian | трљати | ||
| The verb "трљати" can also mean "to scratch" or "to scrub." | |||
| Slovak | trieť | ||
| The word "trieť" also means "to grind" or "to crush" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | vtrite | ||
| The word "vtrite" in Slovenian can also refer to grinding or pounding something into powder. | |||
| Ukrainian | rub | ||
| The word "rub" can also refer to wiping, scrubbing, or massaging. | |||
Rub in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ঘষা | ||
| ঘষা in Bengali is derived from the root ঘৃ (ghri), meaning 'to rub' or 'to grind', and is related to the Sanskrit word 'gharsha' with the same meaning. | |||
| Gujarati | ઘસવું | ||
| The Gujarati word "ઘસવું" can also refer to "friction" or the act of "grinding." | |||
| Hindi | रगड़ | ||
| "रगड़" also means "friction" in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ರಬ್ | ||
| The Kannada word "ರಬ್" ("rub") is related to the Sanskrit word "रभ" ("rabh"), which means "to seize" or "to hold firmly." | |||
| Malayalam | തടവുക | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "rub," "തടവുക" can also mean "to apply," "to smear," or "to spread." | |||
| Marathi | घासणे | ||
| The word "घासणे" can also mean "to graze" or "to wipe" in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | रग | ||
| The word "रग" ("rub") in Nepali can also refer to a "cloth used for cleaning or wiping," and is cognate to the Hindi word "रगड़ना" ("to rub"). | |||
| Punjabi | ਖਹਿ | ||
| The word "ਖਹਿ" can also mean "to scratch" or "to scrape". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අතුල්ලන්න | ||
| The word අතුල්ලන්න, meaning 'rub', is derived from the Proto-Indo-Aryan verb *tul-, meaning 'to push' or 'to rub'. | |||
| Tamil | தேய்க்கவும் | ||
| The word தேய்க்கவும் also refers to erasing something with friction or applying oil to the body. | |||
| Telugu | రుద్దండి | ||
| రుద్దండి (rub) also means friction or resistance in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | رگڑنا | ||
Rub in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 擦 | ||
| The word "擦 ("rub")" can also mean "to brush past" or "to scrape". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 擦 | ||
| 擦 can also mean 'to wipe', 'to brush', 'to polish', or 'to erase'. | |||
| Japanese | こする | ||
| "こする" originally meant "to scrape" or "to scratch". | |||
| Korean | 장애 | ||
| 장애 (jang-ae) shares an origin with 장아지 (jang-aji, "calf") and means "to rub". | |||
| Mongolian | үрэлт | ||
| The word “үрэлт” can also be used to describe the process of wearing down or eroding something, such as the erosion of a riverbank by water. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ပွတ်ပေးပါ | ||
Rub in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | menggosok | ||
| Menggosok is also used to describe removing dirt or stains from a surface. | |||
| Javanese | gosok | ||
| Gosok, selain berarti menggosok, dalam bahasa Jawa juga dapat berarti melakukan kegiatan mencuci baju atau mandi. | |||
| Khmer | ជូត | ||
| The word "ជូត" can also mean "to push" or "to press". | |||
| Lao | ຖູ | ||
| The word "ຖູ" can also mean "to remove" or "to wipe", and is related to the Thai word "ถู" with the same meaning. | |||
| Malay | sapu | ||
| This word is used in the contexts of smearing on and putting on cosmetics. | |||
| Thai | ถู | ||
| ถู can also refer to the act of rubbing or polishing something, such as cleaning a floor or a piece of furniture. | |||
| Vietnamese | chà xát | ||
| The word "chà xát" can also mean "to investigate" or "to examine" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kuskusin | ||
Rub in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ovuşdurmaq | ||
| The word "ovuşdurmaq" in Azerbaijani also means "to knead" or "to massage". | |||
| Kazakh | сүрту | ||
| The word "сүрту" in Kazakh can also mean "to push", "to stroke", or "to wipe". | |||
| Kyrgyz | руб | ||
| "Руб" in Kyrgyz refers to the Russian ruble, as opposed to a Kyrgyz som, currency or the act of rubbing. | |||
| Tajik | молидан | ||
| A Persian word, "moliden" was originally a term used by goldsmiths, but later became a general term for rubbing. | |||
| Turkmen | sürtmek | ||
| Uzbek | silamoq | ||
| "Silamoq" in Uzbek also means "to ask for". | |||
| Uyghur | rub | ||
Rub in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻānai | ||
| 'ānai can also mean "to touch or feel" or "to handle or manipulate". | |||
| Maori | mirimiri | ||
| The word "mirimiri", meaning "to rub" or "to massage", also has connotations of "to soothe" or "to make gentle movements." | |||
| Samoan | olo | ||
| The word "olo" can also refer to the skin or surface of something, or to smoothness. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kuskusin | ||
| The Tagalog word "kuskusin" can also be used to describe the act of grinding something, such as grains or spices. | |||
Rub in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | qaqsuña | ||
| Guarani | pichy | ||
Rub in International Languages
| Esperanto | froti | ||
| Latin | fricare | ||
| The verb 'fricare' comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰreg-, meaning to break or shatter. | |||
Rub in Others Languages
| Greek | τρίψιμο | ||
| The word "τρίψιμο" can also refer to friction or the act of rubbing something against something else. | |||
| Hmong | tshiav | ||
| The etymology of "tshiav" is unknown but it is also a term for rubbing a substance onto oneself, as in applying medicine, or performing a ritual. | |||
| Kurdish | dihevdan | ||
| In Persian, "dihevdan" also refers to a type of pastry filled with nuts or fruit. | |||
| Turkish | ovmak | ||
| The word "ovmak" in Turkish shares the same root word with "ovus" (egg) and "ova" (plain), suggesting a connection to fertility and abundance. | |||
| Xhosa | hlikihla | ||
| The verb "Hlikihla" is used to describe the action of rubbing something, but it can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of massaging or kneading something. | |||
| Yiddish | רייַבן | ||
| In Yiddish, "רייַבן" (''raybn'') can also refer to "grating" or "scratching". | |||
| Zulu | hlikihla | ||
| Hlikihla can also mean 'to be in deep thought' or 'to ponder'. | |||
| Assamese | ঘঁহা | ||
| Aymara | qaqsuña | ||
| Bhojpuri | रगड़ | ||
| Dhivehi | އުގުޅުން | ||
| Dogri | रगड़ | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kuskusin | ||
| Guarani | pichy | ||
| Ilocano | aprusan | ||
| Krio | rɔb | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | شێلان | ||
| Maithili | मालिस | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯛꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | nawt | ||
| Oromo | sukkuumuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଘଷନ୍ତୁ | | ||
| Quechua | qaquy | ||
| Sanskrit | घट्टते | ||
| Tatar | сөртегез | ||
| Tigrinya | ፍሕፍሕ | ||
| Tsonga | rhaba | ||