Updated on March 6, 2024
Satisfaction is a universal human experience, yet its expression varies across languages and cultures. Derived from the Latin word satis, meaning 'enough', satisfaction signifies contentment, fulfillment, and the achievement of one's desires or needs. Its significance transcends personal achievement, as it is often tied to societal expectations and cultural norms.
Through history, satisfaction has been a powerful motivator and a measure of success. From ancient philosophers seeking wisdom to modern entrepreneurs striving for innovation, satisfaction remains a constant pursuit. Moreover, satisfaction is multidimensional, encompassing emotional, physical, and intellectual aspects of our lives.
Understanding satisfaction in different languages can provide valuable insights into global perspectives and cultural nuances. For instance, the French expression la satisfaction du devoir accompli (the satisfaction of duty fulfilled) highlights the importance of personal and professional responsibility. Meanwhile, the German term Zufriedenheit emphasizes a deep sense of inner contentment.
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of satisfaction in various languages, from the romantic allure of Italian to the rhythmic cadences of Japanese. Discover how the word resonates in different cultures and deepen your appreciation for the richness of human experience.
Afrikaans | tevredenheid | ||
"Tevredenheid" is derived from the Dutch word "tevreden", which means "content". "Tevredenheid" also shares a root with the English word "teeming", which refers to a large number of things or people. | |||
Amharic | እርካታ | ||
The word "እርካታ" can also refer to "happiness" or "pleasure" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | gamsuwa | ||
The word 'gamsuwa' may have an alternative meaning of 'comfort' in the context of providing relief from distress. | |||
Igbo | afọ ojuju | ||
The Igbo word "afọ ojuju" can also mean "inner joy" or "fulfillment". | |||
Malagasy | fahafaham-po | ||
The word "fahafaham-po" comes from the root "fahafaha" (to know) and the suffix "-po" (completion), meaning "to know fully". It can also refer to knowledge, understanding, or perception. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kukhutira | ||
The word 'kukhutira' is derived from the verb 'kuthuta' meaning 'to be content' and is often used in the context of contentment or fulfillment. | |||
Shona | kugutsikana | ||
The word 'kugutsikana' can mean satisfaction, enjoyment or happiness. | |||
Somali | qanacsanaanta | ||
Sesotho | khotsofalo | ||
The word 'khotsofalo' also means contentment, fulfilment, completion, comfort, ease, happiness, or even joy in the Sesotho language | |||
Swahili | kuridhika | ||
The word 'kuridhika' derives from the verb 'kuridhia', meaning 'to be content or satisfied'. | |||
Xhosa | ukwaneliseka | ||
The word "ukwaneliseka" in Xhosa also carries the connotation of fulfilment and contentment. | |||
Yoruba | itelorun | ||
The word 'itelorun' can also refer to having no more worries or stress. | |||
Zulu | ukwaneliseka | ||
"Ukwaneliseka" is derived from the word "-anelisa". The other meanings of "-anelisa" include "to satisfy", "to be enough" and "to please". | |||
Bambara | wasali | ||
Ewe | ƒoɖiɖi | ||
Kinyarwanda | kunyurwa | ||
Lingala | kosepela | ||
Luganda | okukkuta | ||
Sepedi | kgotsofalo | ||
Twi (Akan) | deɛ ɛso | ||
Arabic | رضا | ||
The word "رضا" in Arabic can also mean "consent" or "acceptance", and is related to the word "رضي" meaning "to be pleased" or "to be content". | |||
Hebrew | שביעות רצון | ||
The Hebrew word "שביעות רצון" can also mean contentment, gratification, fulfillment or a feeling of happiness and well-being. | |||
Pashto | رضایت | ||
The word "رضایت" (razayat) holds an additional meaning in Pashto, encompassing the concept of 'permission' or 'consent, particularly referring to the consent granted by parents for their daughter's betrothal. | |||
Arabic | رضا | ||
The word "رضا" in Arabic can also mean "consent" or "acceptance", and is related to the word "رضي" meaning "to be pleased" or "to be content". |
Albanian | kënaqësi | ||
Albanian word "kënaqësi" also means "delight" or "pleasure" | |||
Basque | asebetetzea | ||
The word "asebetetzea" in Basque also refers to the act of completing a task. | |||
Catalan | satisfacció | ||
The word "satisfacció" in Catalan comes from the Latin word "satisfactio", which means "fulfillment" or "atonement". | |||
Croatian | zadovoljstvo | ||
The word “zadovoljstvo” comes from the Proto-Slavic word “*dovolьstvo”, meaning “enough” or “sufficient | |||
Danish | tilfredshed | ||
The word "tilfredshed" is derived from the Old Norse word "tilfrið", meaning "peace" or "reconciliation." | |||
Dutch | tevredenheid | ||
The word "tevredenheid" is derived from the Middle Dutch "te vreden"," which means "at peace" or "contented". | |||
English | satisfaction | ||
The word "satisfaction" derives from Latin "satisfacere," meaning "to do enough," but it also connotes the idea of "doing something that fully meets a need"} | |||
French | la satisfaction | ||
The phrase 'la satisfaction' can also mean 'the compensation paid for damages or injury in France' | |||
Frisian | befrediging | ||
The Frisian word "befrediging" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "vreding" (peace, contentment, agreement), which in turn comes from the Old High German word "fridu" (peace, protection). | |||
Galician | satisfacción | ||
The Galician word "satisfacción" also means "proof" or "evidence". | |||
German | befriedigung | ||
The word "Befriedigung" comes from the Middle High German word "bevridingunge", meaning "deliverance" or "relief" | |||
Icelandic | ánægju | ||
The word “ánægju” also means “sufficiency” or “plenty” and is often used in the phrase “með ánægju”, meaning “with pleasure” or “with satisfaction”. | |||
Irish | sástacht | ||
Italian | soddisfazione | ||
"Soddisfazione" originally meant "the act of doing enough", from Latin "satis" (enough) and "facere" (to do). | |||
Luxembourgish | zefriddenheet | ||
"Zefriddenheet" is derived from the Old High German word "zufriden", meaning "content". It is also related to the English word "serenity". | |||
Maltese | sodisfazzjon | ||
The Maltese word "sodisfazzjon" derives from the Italian word "soddisfazione", ultimately from the Latin word "satisfacere" meaning "to satisfy". | |||
Norwegian | tilfredshet | ||
The word "tilfredshet" comes from the Proto-Germanic word \*þurfta-, which originally meant "need". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | satisfação | ||
In Portuguese, "satisfação" can also mean "pleasure" or "happiness" | |||
Scots Gaelic | sàsachadh | ||
The Gaelic word "sàsachadh" also means "sufficiency" or "enough". | |||
Spanish | satisfacción | ||
The word "satisfacción" in Spanish derives from the Latin word "satis", meaning "enough" or "sufficient." | |||
Swedish | tillfredsställelse | ||
"Tillfredsställelse" is derived from the Old Norse word "tillafreðstaða", which means "condition of being satisfied or content". | |||
Welsh | boddhad | ||
In some varieties of northern Welsh the word 'boddhad' also has the meaning 'to be satisfied'. |
Belarusian | задавальненне | ||
Bosnian | zadovoljstvo | ||
The word "zadovoljstvo" also means "gratification" or "contentment" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | удовлетворение | ||
The word "удовлетворение" not only means "satisfaction" but also "gratification" or "contentment" in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | spokojenost | ||
In Czech, 'spokojenost' also means 'peace of mind' and 'contentment'. | |||
Estonian | rahulolu | ||
In colloquial language, "rahulolu" can informally denote a sense of relief and relaxation | |||
Finnish | tyytyväisyys | ||
The word "tyytyväisyys" originated from the word "tyydyttää" meaning "to satisfy". | |||
Hungarian | elégedettség | ||
The word "elégedettség" is cognate with the Turkish word "doymak", meaning "to be satisfied" or "to be full". | |||
Latvian | gandarījumu | ||
In Latvian, "gandarījumu" can also refer to "contentment" or "gratification." | |||
Lithuanian | pasitenkinimas | ||
The word "pasitenkinimas" in Lithuanian literally means "sitting down together" and has connotations of contentment and well-being. | |||
Macedonian | задоволство | ||
The word "задоволство" is also used to describe a feeling of contentment or fulfillment. | |||
Polish | zadowolenie | ||
The word `zadowolenie` comes from the verb `zadośćuczynić`, meaning `to satisfy` or `to do justice`. | |||
Romanian | satisfacţie | ||
The Romanian word «satisfacţie» also signifies «doing good to others» | |||
Russian | удовлетворение | ||
The word "удовлетворение" can also mean "gratification" or "contentment". | |||
Serbian | задовољство | ||
The word "задовољство" (zadovoljstvo) also means "contentment" in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | spokojnosť | ||
Spokojnosť, a loanword from Czech, can also mean "rest" or "peace of mind", but only in poetic or obsolete contexts. | |||
Slovenian | zadovoljstvo | ||
The word "zadovoljstvo" can trace its etymological origins back to the Proto-Slavic root *dovolъ, meaning "enough" or "sufficient". | |||
Ukrainian | задоволення | ||
The word "задоволення" can also refer to "pleasure" or "enjoyment". |
Bengali | সন্তোষ | ||
"সন্তোষ" also means contentment or gratification. | |||
Gujarati | સંતોષ | ||
"સંતોષ" (literally meaning 'to be satisfied with') is also used in the sense of being contented or pleased. | |||
Hindi | संतुष्टि | ||
In Hindi, 'संतुष्टि' ('satisfaction') comes from the word 'संतोष' ('contentment, pleasure'), which is derived from the Sanskrit root 'तुष' ('to be pleased, happy') and means both 'being content' and 'satisfaction'. | |||
Kannada | ತೃಪ್ತಿ | ||
The Kannada word 'ತೃಪ್ತಿ' ('satisfaction') originates from the Sanskrit 'तृप्' ('to be pleased') and also refers to 'fulfillment of desire' or 'contentment'. | |||
Malayalam | സംതൃപ്തി | ||
The Malayalam word "സംതൃപ്തി" (samtr̥pti) can also mean contentment or gratification. | |||
Marathi | समाधान | ||
The Marathi word "समाधान" is derived from the Sanskrit root "सम्+आ+धां" (sam + aa + dha), meaning "to put or place together", and is also related to the concept of "making whole" or "resolving conflict." | |||
Nepali | सन्तुष्टि | ||
The word "सन्तुष्टि" in Nepali derives from the Sanskrit word "सन्तुष्टिः," meaning "contentment" or "gratification." | |||
Punjabi | ਸੰਤੁਸ਼ਟੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තෘප්තිය | ||
තෘප්තිය (satisfaction) can also refer to the state of being content with what one has or has achieved. | |||
Tamil | திருப்தி | ||
The word 'திருப்தி' is derived from the Sanskrit term 'trpti', which means 'contentment' or 'fulfillment', and is cognate to the English word 'trip' (as in 'tripping' or 'traveling'). | |||
Telugu | సంతృప్తి | ||
The word "సంతృప్తి" in Telugu originally comes from the Sanskrit word "సంతుष्टि", meaning "contentment, happiness, or gratification." | |||
Urdu | اطمینان | ||
The root of the Urdu word "اطمینان" is "أمن" (amn) in Arabic, which means "safety" or "security."} |
Chinese (Simplified) | 满足 | ||
In ancient Chinese, 满足 also meant "to be filled with food" or "to be full of rice", likely due to the fact that food was scarce in ancient times. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 滿足 | ||
"滿足", or "satisfaction" in English, also means "full" as in a full stomach or "content" as in being happy with one's lot in life. | |||
Japanese | 満足 | ||
"満足 " (satisfaction) comes from the word "满腹", which means "full stomach". | |||
Korean | 만족감 | ||
The word 만족감 is derived from two Sino-Korean roots, 만족 (manjok), meaning 'satisfaction', and 감 (gam), meaning 'feeling' or 'sensation'. | |||
Mongolian | сэтгэл ханамж | ||
The Mongolian word "сэтгэл ханамж" can also mean "comfort", "contentment", or "peace of mind". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကျေနပ်မှု | ||
The word ကျေနပ်မှု is used in Myanmar to describe a state of contentment or happiness which has been achieved through the fulfillment of a desire or goal, or the resolution of a problem or stressor. |
Indonesian | kepuasan | ||
The word "kepuasan" is derived from the Sanskrit word "puṣṭa" meaning "nourishment" or "well-being". | |||
Javanese | marem | ||
The term 'marem' also holds meanings of 'satiation', 'comfortable', 'ample', and 'peaceful' in the Javanese language. | |||
Khmer | ការពេញចិត្ត | ||
Lao | ຄວາມເພິ່ງພໍໃຈ | ||
Malay | kepuasan | ||
Kepuasan also means "sufficiency" and "completeness", denoting a sense of fulfillment and adequacy. | |||
Thai | ความพึงพอใจ | ||
The word "ความพึงพอใจ" comes from the Sanskrit word "prity" meaning "joy" or "delight". | |||
Vietnamese | sự thỏa mãn | ||
The word "sự thỏa mãn" derives from Chinese and means both "satisfaction" and "fulfillment". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kasiyahan | ||
Azerbaijani | məmnunluq | ||
"Məmnunluq" also refers to a sense of pleasure or gratification derived from something agreeable, especially food. | |||
Kazakh | қанағаттану | ||
The word "қанағаттану" (satisfaction) in Kazakh is derived from the Persian word "kanā'at", meaning contentment or fulfillment. | |||
Kyrgyz | канааттануу | ||
The word "канааттануу" in Kyrgyz is derived from Arabic and means "to be content with what one has". | |||
Tajik | қаноатмандӣ | ||
The Tajik word "қаноатмандӣ" is derived from the Arabic word "qana'ah," meaning "contentment" or "acceptance." | |||
Turkmen | kanagatlandyrmak | ||
Uzbek | qoniqish | ||
The word "qoniqish" can also refer to a "feeling of relief" or "contentment." | |||
Uyghur | رازى | ||
Hawaiian | ʻoluʻolu | ||
Etymology and other meanings: From the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ŋoluŋoŋu meaning 'quiet, tranquil, peaceful, calm'. | |||
Maori | ngata | ||
In Maori, the word 'ngata' also refers to 'something enjoyed' or 'a sweet taste'. | |||
Samoan | faʻamalieina | ||
The word "faʻamalieina" can also mean "to complete" or "to fulfill". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | kasiyahan | ||
Kasiyahan can also mean contentment, enjoyment, or pleasure. |
Aymara | satisphaksyuna | ||
Guarani | tyg̃uatã | ||
Esperanto | kontento | ||
The Esperanto word 'kontento' is derived from the French word 'content', which means 'satisfied'. | |||
Latin | satisfactio | ||
In Latin, "satisfactio" referred not only to compensation for wrongs but also to the fulfillment of an obligation or the attainment of a goal. |
Greek | ικανοποίηση | ||
The word 'ικανοποίηση' derives from the verb 'ικανόω', meaning 'to make capable or sufficient'. | |||
Hmong | txaus siab | ||
The Hmong word "txaus siab" has been used in the context of both "satisfaction" and "completion." | |||
Kurdish | dilşadî | ||
Dilşadî is also used to describe the feeling of being overjoyed and elated, as if one's heart is dancing with joy. | |||
Turkish | memnuniyet | ||
"Memnuniyet" is derived from the Arabic word "minnat" meaning "favor" or "obligation". | |||
Xhosa | ukwaneliseka | ||
The word "ukwaneliseka" in Xhosa also carries the connotation of fulfilment and contentment. | |||
Yiddish | צופֿרידנקייט | ||
Tzufridenkayt comes from the German word "zufrieden", meaning "satisfied" or "content" | |||
Zulu | ukwaneliseka | ||
"Ukwaneliseka" is derived from the word "-anelisa". The other meanings of "-anelisa" include "to satisfy", "to be enough" and "to please". | |||
Assamese | সন্তুষ্টি | ||
Aymara | satisphaksyuna | ||
Bhojpuri | संतुष्टि | ||
Dhivehi | ފުދުން | ||
Dogri | तसल्ली | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kasiyahan | ||
Guarani | tyg̃uatã | ||
Ilocano | kinanapnek | ||
Krio | fɔ satisfay | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕازیکردن | ||
Maithili | संतुष्टि | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯄꯦꯟꯕ ꯐꯥꯎꯕ | ||
Mizo | lungawina | ||
Oromo | itti quufuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ | ||
Quechua | samikuy | ||
Sanskrit | संतुष्टि | ||
Tatar | канәгатьләнү | ||
Tigrinya | ዕግበት | ||
Tsonga | eneriseka | ||