Scale in Different Languages
Discover 'Scale' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Scale, a word with significant meaning and cultural importance, is used to describe a range or system of measures, or the relative size, extent, or degree of something. It's a term that has been used for centuries, and its significance has only grown with time.
Throughout history, the concept of scale has played a crucial role in various fields such as science, mathematics, music, and architecture. For instance, in music, a scale is a series of notes arranged in ascending or descending order, while in architecture, the term is used to describe the size of a building or structure in relation to its surroundings.
Given its importance, it's no surprise that the word 'scale' has been translated into various languages around the world. For example, in Spanish, the word for scale is 'escala,' while in French, it's 'échelle.' In German, the word for scale is 'Skala,' and in Japanese, it's 'スケール (suke-eru).'
Understanding the translation of the word 'scale' in different languages can help us appreciate the cultural nuances and historical contexts associated with this term. So, let's explore some of the fascinating translations of the word 'scale' in various languages.
Scale
Scale in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skaal | ||
| In Afrikaans the word 'skaal' derives from Dutch and has the alternate meaning of a bowl or cup, also used for toasting or drinking in a social setting. | |||
| Amharic | ልኬት | ||
| The word "ልኬት" can also mean "balance" or "equilibrium". | |||
| Hausa | sikelin | ||
| Sikelin is originally a loanword from the English word "scale". | |||
| Igbo | n'ọtụtụ | ||
| In Igbo, the word "n'ọtụtụ" also means "many, much, or several". | |||
| Malagasy | ambaratonga | ||
| The word 'ambaratonga' in Malagasy is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word '*imbang', meaning 'to measure'. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | sikelo | ||
| The word "sikelo" can also mean "weight" or "importance" in Nyanja (Chichewa). | |||
| Shona | chikero | ||
| The word "chikero" has alternate meanings of a small dish holding a few mouthfuls of relish or the quantity of relish it holds. | |||
| Somali | cabirka | ||
| The word appears to be related to the Afar word "qarboka" meaning "weight, balance". | |||
| Sesotho | sekala | ||
| The Sesotho term sekala also refers to the rungs of a ladder and the vertebrae of an animal's spine. | |||
| Swahili | wadogo | ||
| The word "wadogo" also means "thin material" in Swahili, reflecting its physical characteristics. | |||
| Xhosa | isikali | ||
| The word "isikali" can also refer to a fish scale or a musical scale. | |||
| Yoruba | asekale | ||
| "Asekale" also means "balance" or "equilibrium" in the context of weight measurement. | |||
| Zulu | isikali | ||
| The word "isikali" can also refer to a measuring device or a musical instrument. | |||
| Bambara | sumanikɛlan | ||
| Ewe | dudanu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | igipimo | ||
| Lingala | emekeli kilo | ||
| Luganda | minzaani | ||
| Sepedi | sekala | ||
| Twi (Akan) | susudua | ||
Scale in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مقياس | ||
| The word "مقياس" (scale) in Arabic derives from the root "قوس" (bow), as scales were originally made from bent wood or metal. | |||
| Hebrew | סוּלָם | ||
| The word 'סולם' ('scale') in Hebrew shares a root with the word for 'ladder' and can also refer to a type of musical scale. | |||
| Pashto | کچه | ||
| "کچه" is derived from the Persian word "کچه" meaning "balance" or "level". | |||
| Arabic | مقياس | ||
| The word "مقياس" (scale) in Arabic derives from the root "قوس" (bow), as scales were originally made from bent wood or metal. | |||
Scale in Western European Languages
| Albanian | shkallë | ||
| The word "shkallë" derives from Proto-Albanian *skal- and is a cognate of Latin scala 'ladder'. | |||
| Basque | eskala | ||
| "Eskala" can also mean "threshold" or "step", both literally and figuratively. | |||
| Catalan | escala | ||
| In Catalan, "escala" can also mean "staircase" or "stop" (in a journey or process). | |||
| Croatian | ljestvica | ||
| The Croatian word "ljestvica" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "lěstva", meaning "ladder", and is also related to the German word "Leiter" with the same meaning. | |||
| Danish | vægt | ||
| The word "vægt" comes from the Old Norse word "vág" meaning "balance," similar to the English words "weight" and "weigh." | |||
| Dutch | schaal | ||
| Schaal (échelle in French and ladder in English) derives from the Latin word scala and the Greek word skála, meaning ladder. | |||
| English | scale | ||
| The word 'scale' can refer to the covering of a fish, reptile, or bird, as well as a device used for weighing objects or measuring distances. | |||
| French | échelle | ||
| The word "échelle" can also mean "ladder" or "hierarchy". | |||
| Frisian | skaal | ||
| In Frisian, the word "skaal" can also refer to a drinking vessel or a unit of measurement for length. | |||
| Galician | escala | ||
| In Galician, "escala" can also refer to a landing stage or a stopover point on a journey. | |||
| German | rahmen | ||
| The word "Rahmen" also refers to the border or frame of a picture or object, or to the framework of a building or piece of furniture. | |||
| Icelandic | mælikvarði | ||
| The word "mælikvarði" can also refer to a landmark or boundary marker. | |||
| Irish | scála | ||
| The word "scála" in Irish can also refer to a ladder or a flock of birds. | |||
| Italian | scala | ||
| The Italian word “scala” can refer to a flight of stairs or a scale (the musical term). | |||
| Luxembourgish | skala | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Skala" comes from the French word "échelle" and can refer both to a scale (measuring) and a staircase. | |||
| Maltese | skala | ||
| Maltese "skala" may derive from Proto-Semitic *skal "to weigh" (as in Hebrew שקול) or Arabic "miqyas" (مقياس). | |||
| Norwegian | skala | ||
| In Norwegian, "skala" can also mean "bowl" or "shell", and in biology it refers to the hard outer covering of certain animals. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | escala | ||
| In Portuguese, 'escala' can mean 'scale', 'ladder', 'flight', 'port of call', 'layover', or 'scale of measurement'. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sgèile | ||
| The word "sgèile" can also be used idiomatically to refer to a person's stature or bearing. | |||
| Spanish | escala | ||
| Escala can also refer to a pitstop, a series of steps or gradations, or a scale on a map or blueprint. | |||
| Swedish | skala | ||
| The Swedish word "skala" also means "shell" and "rind". | |||
| Welsh | graddfa | ||
| The word graddfa also means 'degree' and is related to 'graddio' meaning 'to climb' in Welsh. | |||
Scale in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | маштаб | ||
| In Russian, "масштаб" can also refer to the "range" of something. | |||
| Bosnian | skala | ||
| Skala can also mean "ladder" or "hierarchy" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | мащаб | ||
| "Мащаб" can also mean "size" or "proportion" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | měřítko | ||
| "Měřítko" is derived from the verb "měřit" (to measure) and the suffix "-ko", which denotes a tool or instrument. | |||
| Estonian | kaal | ||
| The word "kaal" can also refer to a "weighing machine" or a "balance" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | mittakaavassa | ||
| "Mittakaava" and its synonym "asteikko" are derived from older "mitta" and "astua", "to step". | |||
| Hungarian | skála | ||
| Besides 'scale', 'skála' also means 'series of grades or values', 'spectrum', 'range' or 'line-up'. | |||
| Latvian | mērogs | ||
| Mērogs is also used in the context of a | |||
| Lithuanian | skalė | ||
| The word "skalė" also means "a series of degrees or values" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | скала | ||
| In the Cyrillic script, the word “скала” also means “cliff”. In ancient Macedonian, “скала” also meant “stairs”. | |||
| Polish | skala | ||
| The Polish word "skala" also refers to "cliff", likely derived from the Latin word "scala" meaning "stairs", due to their stepped appearance. | |||
| Romanian | scară | ||
| The Romanian word "scară" is of Slavic origin, derived from the word "skala" meaning either a "fence" or a "ladder". | |||
| Russian | шкала | ||
| "Шкала" means "ladder" or "rank" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | скала | ||
| The Serbian word "Скала" (transliterated as "Skala") originates from the Greek word "Σκάλα" (transliterated as "Skala"), which means "stairway, ladder". | |||
| Slovak | mierka | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "scale", "mierka" can also mean "measure" or "standard" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | lestvica | ||
| The word "lestvica" can also refer to a ranking or a list of items arranged in order of importance. | |||
| Ukrainian | масштаб | ||
| The word "масштаб" is also used figuratively to mean "the scope or extent of something" | |||
Scale in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | স্কেল | ||
| The word "স্কেল" can also refer to a musical scale or a range of values. | |||
| Gujarati | સ્કેલ | ||
| The Gujarati word "સ્કેલ" can also refer to a musical scale or a balance or weighing apparatus. | |||
| Hindi | स्केल | ||
| In medicine, "स्केल" can refer to a set of graded markings used to measure symptoms or assess severity. | |||
| Kannada | ಪ್ರಮಾಣದ | ||
| In science, ಪ್ರಮಾಣದ can refer to the order of magnitude, which is not its dictionary meaning. | |||
| Malayalam | സ്കെയിൽ | ||
| The word "സ്കെയിൽ" in Malayalam primarily means "scale" but can also refer to a "ladder" or a "stepped platform". | |||
| Marathi | स्केल | ||
| स्केल can also mean 'a range of variation'. For example, स्केल ऑफ पे (scale of pay). | |||
| Nepali | स्केल | ||
| The word 'स्केल' ('scale') in Nepali can also mean a set of steps or a ladder. | |||
| Punjabi | ਪੈਮਾਨਾ | ||
| ਪੈਮਾਨਾ is derived from the Persian word | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පරිමාණ | ||
| The word "පරිමාණ" (scale) in Sinhala (Sinhalese) also refers to "proportion" or "amount". | |||
| Tamil | அளவு | ||
| The word 'அளவு' ('scale') can also refer to 'amount', 'measure', 'rate', or 'degree'. | |||
| Telugu | స్కేల్ | ||
| The word "scale" can also refer to a musical scale or a ladder. | |||
| Urdu | پیمانہ | ||
| The word " پیمانہ" can also mean "measure" or "portion". | |||
Scale in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 规模 | ||
| The word "规模" also means "scope" or "magnitude" in Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 規模 | ||
| "規模" is a borrowed word from Japanese, which itself borrowed it from Portuguese. | |||
| Japanese | 規模 | ||
| The word "scale" in Japanese, "規模", can also mean "extent" or "size" in the sense of the scope or magnitude of something. | |||
| Korean | 규모 | ||
| "규모" has the additional definition of "magnitude" or "size". | |||
| Mongolian | масштаб | ||
| The Mongolian term "масштаб" can also refer to a measuring tape or ruler. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စကေး | ||
| The word "စကေး" ("scale") can also refer to a system of musical intervals. | |||
Scale in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | skala | ||
| In Indonesian, 'skala' can also mean 'step', 'class', or 'level'. | |||
| Javanese | ukuran | ||
| The word "ukuran" ("scale") in Javanese can also mean "criterion", "standard", or "measure". | |||
| Khmer | ជញ្ជីង | ||
| The word "ជញ្ជីង" can also refer to a type of traditional Khmer musical instrument. | |||
| Lao | ຂະ ໜາດ | ||
| Malay | skala | ||
| The Malay word "skala" can also refer to a ranking or level, as in "skala kesihatan" (health level) or "skala kesukaran" (difficulty level). | |||
| Thai | มาตราส่วน | ||
| The word มาตราส่วน in Thai can also refer to a "standard" or "criterion". | |||
| Vietnamese | tỉ lệ | ||
| Tỉ lệ originated from the Chinese word "比例" (bǐlì), meaning "comparison of proportions" | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sukat | ||
Scale in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | miqyaslı | ||
| "Miqyaslı" also means "measured" and "calibrated". | |||
| Kazakh | масштаб | ||
| The word "масштаб" also means "size" or "scope" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | масштаб | ||
| Масштаб (Kyrgyz) can refer to both the concept of scale in music or the ratio between two maps. | |||
| Tajik | миқёс | ||
| The word "миқёс" is also used to refer to a balance or a pair of scales. | |||
| Turkmen | masştab | ||
| Uzbek | o'lchov | ||
| "O'lchov" also means "dimension" or "size" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | كۆلەم | ||
Scale in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pālākiō | ||
| The word "pālākiō" can also mean "balance" or "weighing instrument" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | tauine | ||
| Tauine can also refer to a step, a layer of a building or a stage in a process. | |||
| Samoan | fua | ||
| In the expression "fua o le i'a" (fish scales), "fua" refers to a specific type of scale called a ctenoid scale. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | sukatan | ||
| The Tagalog word “sukatan” can also refer to a measuring cup, a measuring spoon, or measurement in general. | |||
Scale in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | makhataña | ||
| Guarani | pirapire | ||
Scale in International Languages
| Esperanto | skalo | ||
| The Esperanto word "skalo" comes from the Latin word "scalae", meaning a ladder or flight of stairs. | |||
| Latin | scale | ||
| In Latin, "scale" can also refer to a ladder or a staircase. | |||
Scale in Others Languages
| Greek | κλίμακα | ||
| The word "κλίμακα" in Greek can also refer to a staircase or a ladder. | |||
| Hmong | nplai | ||
| The term 'nplai' in Hmong is derived from the Proto-Hmong-Mien root word 'blaj', meaning 'to spread out flat'. | |||
| Kurdish | pîvan | ||
| The word "pîvan" also means "balance" or "equanimity" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | ölçek | ||
| The word "ölçek" can also mean "measure" or "standard" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | isikali | ||
| The word "isikali" can also refer to a fish scale or a musical scale. | |||
| Yiddish | וואָג | ||
| The Yiddish term "וואָג" (scale) is derived from the German word "Wage" (balance, equilibrium) likely via Middle High German, and refers not only to a weighing device but also to the act of weighing. | |||
| Zulu | isikali | ||
| The word "isikali" can also refer to a measuring device or a musical instrument. | |||
| Assamese | মাপন | ||
| Aymara | makhataña | ||
| Bhojpuri | पैमाना | ||
| Dhivehi | ބަރުދަން ބަލާ ކަށި | ||
| Dogri | पैमाना | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sukat | ||
| Guarani | pirapire | ||
| Ilocano | timbangan | ||
| Krio | skel | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سکەیڵ | ||
| Maithili | पैमाना | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯥꯎꯕꯒꯤ ꯆꯥꯡ | ||
| Mizo | bukna | ||
| Oromo | safartuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସ୍କେଲ | ||
| Quechua | ñiqi | ||
| Sanskrit | मापन | ||
| Tatar | масштаб | ||
| Tigrinya | መለክዒ | ||
| Tsonga | xikalu | ||