Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'sharp' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting something that is precise, clear, and definitive. Its cultural importance is evident in various aspects, from the sharp notes of a musical instrument to the sharp lines of a modern architectural design. The word 'sharp' has also been used to describe a person with quick wit and a keen intellect.
Moreover, the term 'sharp' has an interesting historical context. In the medieval period, a 'sharp' instrument was considered a symbol of surgical precision, while in the Renaissance, it represented the fine art of portraiture. In the modern era, 'sharp' has become synonymous with innovation and cutting-edge technology.
Given its significance and cultural importance, it's no wonder that someone might want to know its translation in different languages. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | skerp | ||
The word 'skerp', meaning 'smart', originates from a now-archaic use in German. | |||
Amharic | ሹል | ||
"ሹል" refers to a sharp or pointed object, but it also has the alternate meaning of "a small amount" or "a little bit". | |||
Hausa | kaifi | ||
"Kaifi" can also mean severe, dangerous, or unpleasant. | |||
Igbo | nkọ | ||
The word "nkọ" can also refer to a type of Igbo dance. | |||
Malagasy | maranitra | ||
"Maranitra", which means "sharp", can also refer to a sharpened stick used as a weapon. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | lakuthwa | ||
Lakuthwa, also meaning 'a thing to sharpen with', is derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-kuth- meaning 'cut' or 'pierce'. | |||
Shona | unopinza | ||
Unopinza is also used with other words to describe objects or people that are unusually sharp, such as a knife that is unotiza kwazvo (very sharp) or a person who is unopinza (quick-witted). | |||
Somali | fiiqan | ||
The word "fiiqan" in Somali shares its etymological root with the word for "fire," highlighting a link between sharpness and the transformative power of heat. | |||
Sesotho | hlabang | ||
The word "hlabang" in Sesotho is cognate with the word "hlangu" in Zulu, which also means "sharp", and likely derives from the Proto-Bantu root "-lab-", meaning "to cut." | |||
Swahili | mkali | ||
The word "mkali" can also refer to a person who is quick-witted or intelligent. | |||
Xhosa | ubukhali | ||
The word "ubukhali" in Xhosa means "sharp" but also refers to the sharpness of intellect or perception. | |||
Yoruba | didasilẹ | ||
Didasilẹ, meaning sharp, can also refer to a person who is alert or perceptive. | |||
Zulu | kubukhali | ||
In Zulu, kubukhali can also refer to something that is dangerous or difficult to handle. | |||
Bambara | daduman | ||
Ewe | ɖaɖɛ | ||
Kinyarwanda | ityaye | ||
Lingala | mino | ||
Luganda | -oogi | ||
Sepedi | bogale | ||
Twi (Akan) | nam | ||
Arabic | حاد | ||
The word "حاد" can also mean "smart" or "intelligent" in Arabic | |||
Hebrew | חַד | ||
The word "חַד" (sharp) also has a meaning of "new" in Hebrew, possibly derived from the Aramaic word "חַדְתָּא" (new). | |||
Pashto | تېز | ||
The word "تېز" means "fast" and it is sometimes used with "دماغ" "mind" to express astuteness. | |||
Arabic | حاد | ||
The word "حاد" can also mean "smart" or "intelligent" in Arabic |
Albanian | i mprehtë | ||
The word "i mprehtë" in Albanian is a cognate of the Latin word "acutus", meaning "sharp" or "pointed". | |||
Basque | zorrotz | ||
The word derives from the same Proto-Basque root as "sor" ("cut"). | |||
Catalan | agut | ||
The word "agut" is derived from the Latin word "acutus", meaning "sharp" or "pointed". | |||
Croatian | oštar | ||
The word "oštar" can also refer to a person who is quick-witted or alert. | |||
Danish | skarp | ||
Skarp (''sharp'') in Danish also means ''crag'' or ''steep''. | |||
Dutch | scherp | ||
Scherp also has the literal meaning 'clean', as in 'to clean' and 'a clean shave'. | |||
English | sharp | ||
The word 'sharp' originates from the Old English word 'scearp', meaning 'to cut' or 'to carve'. | |||
French | tranchant | ||
The word "tranchant" also means "decisive" or "authoritative" in French. | |||
Frisian | skerp | ||
Frisian word "skerp" (sharp) is cognate with English "sharp" and German "scharf", and also means "clean" in Frisian. | |||
Galician | afiada | ||
"Afiada" can mean both "sharp" and "stylish" in Galician, likely coming from the French "affil" and the Latin "affilat". | |||
German | scharf | ||
In German, "Scharf" can also mean "spicy" or "pungent", with the noun form "Schärfe" referring to the level of spiciness in a dish. | |||
Icelandic | hvass | ||
The word "hvass" in Icelandic can also refer to someone who is quick-witted or intelligent. | |||
Irish | géar | ||
"Géar" also means "ready" or "eager" and is cognate with the Latin "acer" and the Ancient Greek "akros" | |||
Italian | acuto | ||
In Italian, the word "acuto" comes from the Latin "acutus," meaning "sharp" or "pointed," and also refers to high-pitched sounds or sharp angles. | |||
Luxembourgish | schaarf | ||
The word "schaarf" in Luxembourgish can also refer to a cutting edge or a knife. | |||
Maltese | qawwi | ||
"Qawwi" in Maltese is cognate with the Arabic "qawwiyy", meaning "strong", and is related to the concept of intensity. | |||
Norwegian | skarp | ||
Skarp is also an old word for something that 'projects out' or 'sticks out', like a steep cliff. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | afiado | ||
Portuguese «afiado» is etymologically related to "filo" ("blade") and "afiliar" ("to sharpen"), while in the Brazilian Northeast it can mean "clever" or "intelligent"} | |||
Scots Gaelic | biorach | ||
Scots Gaelic "biorach" is derived from Proto-Celtic "*bergos" and "*bheru" meaning "peak" and "point" respectively. | |||
Spanish | agudo | ||
Agudo is the past participle of aguzar, which comes from the Latin acus, meaning needle. | |||
Swedish | skarp | ||
The word 'skarp' in Swedish also means 'steep' or 'precipitous', sharing a common root with the verb 'skära' (to cut). | |||
Welsh | miniog | ||
The word "miniog" in Welsh also means "small, slender, fine, keen, thin, or subtle". |
Belarusian | рэзкі | ||
Рэзкі ( резкий (ru), sharp (en) ) - cutting , keen , severe , abrupt , rapid , sudden , quick , harsh , acid , caustic , acrid , poignant , piercing , shrill , strident , grating , discordant , dissonant , jarring , offensive , insulting , harsh , bitter , critical , sarcastic . | |||
Bosnian | oštar | ||
'Oštar' is also a noun with the meaning of 'eyebrow' in Croatian. | |||
Bulgarian | остър | ||
In Bulgarian, the word "остър" can also mean "acute" or "pungent". | |||
Czech | ostrý | ||
The word "ostrý" can also refer to someone who is harsh or severe in their words or actions. | |||
Estonian | terav | ||
The word "terav" originated from a Proto-Finnic verb *terä meaning "to scratch", and it also shares a common origin with "tera" in Finnish and "skarp" in Swedish. | |||
Finnish | terävä | ||
The word "terävä" can also refer to an "edge" or "point" in the context of geometry, physics, or anatomy. | |||
Hungarian | éles | ||
"Éles" is also an archaic term for steel in Hungarian | |||
Latvian | asa | ||
The word "asa" also means "blade" and is related to the Lithuanian word "ašis", meaning "axle". | |||
Lithuanian | aštrus | ||
The Lithuanian word "aštrus" is related to the verbs "aštrinti" ("to sharpen") and "aštrybėti" ("to become sharp"), suggesting a sense of "acuteness" or "keenness". | |||
Macedonian | остар | ||
The word "остар" is also used to describe someone who is intelligent or skilled. | |||
Polish | ostry | ||
"Ostry" also means "severe". Hence "ostra zima" means "severe winter", not "sharp winter". | |||
Romanian | ascuțit | ||
Etymology and alternate meanings of the word "ascuțit" in Romanian are unknown. | |||
Russian | острый | ||
The verb острить originated from the adjective "острый" and means "to make a joke". | |||
Serbian | оштар | ||
Oštar is also used metaphorically to describe someone who is clever or quick-witted. | |||
Slovak | ostrý | ||
The word "ostrý" in Slovak can have other meanings, such as "alert" or "acute". | |||
Slovenian | ostro | ||
The word "ostro" is also a Slavic root meaning "island". | |||
Ukrainian | різкий | ||
The word "різкий" can also mean "harsh" or "abrupt" in Ukrainian. |
Bengali | তীক্ষ্ণ | ||
"তীক্ষ্ণ" means "sharp" in Bengali, but it also has other meanings such as "acute", "severe", "pungent", "penetrating", "keen", and "piercing". | |||
Gujarati | તીક્ષ્ણ | ||
"તીક્ષ્ણ" can also refer to something that is intense or severe, such as pain or criticism. | |||
Hindi | तेज़ | ||
In Hindi, "तेज़" can also mean "fast", "speedy", or "intense". | |||
Kannada | ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣವಾದ | ||
Malayalam | മൂർച്ചയുള്ളത് | ||
This word can also mean "clever" or "intelligent". | |||
Marathi | तीक्ष्ण | ||
"तीक्ष्ण" in Marathi means "harsh" or "severe" in addition to "sharp". | |||
Nepali | तीखो | ||
"तीखो" also means "sour" in Nepali. | |||
Punjabi | ਤਿੱਖੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තියුණු | ||
The word "තියුණු" in Sinhala is related to the Tamil word "தீ" ("fire") and the Sanskrit word "तीक्ष्ण" ("sharp, keen"). | |||
Tamil | கூர்மையான | ||
The word "கூர்மையான" originally meant "sharp or pointed" in Tamil, but it has also come to mean "severe" or "intense". | |||
Telugu | పదునైన | ||
Urdu | تیز | ||
"تیز" can also mean "speed" or "quickly" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 尖锐 | ||
尖锐 may also refer to the sharp point of an object and, figuratively, to a sharp or harsh sound. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 尖銳 | ||
尖銳's alternate meaning is 'pointed', and it also means 'sharp' or 'acute' in the context of hearing or vision. | |||
Japanese | シャープ | ||
In Japanese, 「シャープ」 can also refer to the musical symbol ♯ or # known as a sharp which raises the note by one semitone. | |||
Korean | 날카로운 | ||
The word "날카로운" can also mean "acute" or "pungent" in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | хурц | ||
"хурц" (<Mong. "curved, curved knife, sickle, dagger, knife"), i.e. "in a curved manner, bent". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ချွန်ထက် | ||
ချွန်ထက် means 'to be ahead' or 'to be superior' in a figurative sense, in addition to its literal meaning of 'sharp'. |
Indonesian | tajam | ||
The word "tajam" in Indonesian also refers to a type of traditional dagger. | |||
Javanese | landhep | ||
The word 'landhep' also means 'accurate' or 'precise' in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | មុតស្រួច | ||
This word is formed by combining 'មុត' (point) and 'ស្រួច' (sharp), meaning 'to have a fine point'. | |||
Lao | ແຫຼມ | ||
The word "ແຫຼມ" can also refer to a cape or peninsula. | |||
Malay | tajam | ||
In Malay, "tajam" can also mean "acrid" or "piercing" when referring to tastes or sounds, respectively. | |||
Thai | คม | ||
The Thai word "คม" (sharp) also has meanings related to clarity, wit, and insight. | |||
Vietnamese | nhọn | ||
The word "nhọn" (sharp) in Vietnamese may also refer to the peak of a mountain | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | matalas | ||
Azerbaijani | kəskin | ||
The word "kəskin" is also used to describe someone who is intelligent or quick-witted in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | өткір | ||
The Kazakh word "өткір" can also mean "piercing" or "penetrating" in addition to its primary meaning of "sharp." | |||
Kyrgyz | курч | ||
The Kyrgyz word | |||
Tajik | тез | ||
تهز (tez) also means hot in Persian and many other Iranian languages. | |||
Turkmen | ýiti | ||
Uzbek | o'tkir | ||
The word "o'tkir" is derived from the Middle Persian word for "point" or "tip". | |||
Uyghur | ئۆتكۈر | ||
Hawaiian | ʻoiʻoi | ||
'Oi'oi is also a traditional Hawaiian drum. | |||
Maori | koi | ||
In Maori, "koi" is a verb meaning "to scratch" or "to cut" and is also used to describe something that is sharp or pointed. | |||
Samoan | maai | ||
The word 'maai' also means 'to cut' or 'to divide' in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | matalim | ||
The Tagalog word "matalim" can also refer to a keen intellect or a penetrating gaze. |
Aymara | salla | ||
Guarani | hãimbe'e | ||
Esperanto | akra | ||
The word "akra" is also used in Esperanto to refer to the sharp sign ("#"). | |||
Latin | acri | ||
The Latin word 'acri' (sharp) is a variant of 'acus' (needle). |
Greek | αιχμηρός | ||
The word "αιχμηρός" also means "pointed" or "sharp-edged". | |||
Hmong | ntse | ||
The Hmong word "ntse" also refers to a type of knife. | |||
Kurdish | tûj | ||
The word "tûj" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *teuk- or *teuk-w-, meaning "to strike." | |||
Turkish | keskin | ||
"Keskin" shares its root with the word "kesmek" (to cut), suggesting a literal meaning of "that which cuts" or "capable of cutting". | |||
Xhosa | ubukhali | ||
The word "ubukhali" in Xhosa means "sharp" but also refers to the sharpness of intellect or perception. | |||
Yiddish | שאַרף | ||
The word "שאַרף" can also mean "acute", "severe", or "keen" in Yiddish. | |||
Zulu | kubukhali | ||
In Zulu, kubukhali can also refer to something that is dangerous or difficult to handle. | |||
Assamese | চোকা | ||
Aymara | salla | ||
Bhojpuri | नुकीला | ||
Dhivehi | ތޫނު | ||
Dogri | तेज | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | matalas | ||
Guarani | hãimbe'e | ||
Ilocano | natadem | ||
Krio | shap | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | تیژ | ||
Maithili | तेज | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯌꯥ ꯊꯣꯕ | ||
Mizo | hriam | ||
Oromo | qara | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ | | ||
Quechua | kawchi | ||
Sanskrit | तीव्र | ||
Tatar | үткен | ||
Tigrinya | በሊሕ | ||
Tsonga | kariha | ||
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