Significance in Different Languages
Discover 'Significance' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'significance' holds a great deal of importance in our daily lives, as it refers to the importance or meaning of something. This concept is universal and plays a crucial role in various aspects of culture, communication, and personal growth. Understanding the significance of different events, actions, and ideas can help us navigate the world and connect with others on a deeper level.
Moreover, the significance of a word or concept can vary across different languages and cultures, making it even more fascinating to explore. For instance, the French translation of 'significance' is 'signification', while in Spanish, it is 'significado'. These translations not only reflect the meaning of the word but also offer a glimpse into the unique linguistic and cultural contexts of the languages themselves.
So, why might someone want to know the translation of 'significance' in different languages? For one, it can help foster cross-cultural communication and understanding. Additionally, learning new languages and exploring their unique vocabularies can be a rewarding and enriching experience, opening up new opportunities for personal and professional growth.
In the following list, you'll find the translations of 'significance' in various languages, along with some interesting historical and cultural contexts associated with each translation.
Significance
Significance in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | betekenis | ||
| The word "betekenis" is derived from the Dutch word "beteekenis" and it also means "meaning" or "importance". | |||
| Amharic | አስፈላጊነት | ||
| Hausa | muhimmanci | ||
| The Hausa word "muhimmanci" is derived from the Arabic word "muhimm", meaning "important", and the Hausa suffix "-anci", indicating the state or quality of something. | |||
| Igbo | pụtara | ||
| "Pụtara" derives from the verb "pụta" (to come out/become evident), signifying that something has emerged into prominence or importance. | |||
| Malagasy | heviny | ||
| The word "heviny" is also used to refer to the weight or importance of something. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kufunika | ||
| The word 'kufunika' in Nyanja (Chichewa) also means "cover" or "surround". | |||
| Shona | kukosha | ||
| The word "kukosha" in Shona is also used in a spiritual context, referring to the act of communicating with ancestral spirits. | |||
| Somali | muhiimadda | ||
| The word "muhiimadda" can also refer to the intensity or urgency of something. | |||
| Sesotho | bohlokoa | ||
| As well as "significance", "bohlokoa" has a connotation of a deep meaning and profound importance | |||
| Swahili | umuhimu | ||
| The word "umuhimu" originates from the Arabic word "muhim" meaning "important" or "significant", and is also used in Swahili to refer to the importance or significance of something. | |||
| Xhosa | ukubaluleka | ||
| The word 'ukubaluleka' can have the alternate meaning of 'importance' or 'notability'. | |||
| Yoruba | lami | ||
| The word "lami" in Yoruba also means "to have a say in a matter" or "to be important or influential". | |||
| Zulu | ukubaluleka | ||
| The word "ukubaluleka" has the extended meaning of "having weight, importance or value." | |||
| Bambara | kɔrɔ ye min ye | ||
| Ewe | vevienyenye | ||
| Kinyarwanda | akamaro | ||
| Lingala | ntina na yango | ||
| Luganda | amakulu | ||
| Sepedi | bohlokwa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nea ɛkyerɛ | ||
Significance in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الدلالة | ||
| The word الدلالة (significance) shares the root with the verb دلّ (to guide), and thus implies a path to finding something important. | |||
| Hebrew | מַשְׁמָעוּת | ||
| The Hebrew word "מַשְׁמָעוּת" originally meant "hearing" or "perception". | |||
| Pashto | ارزښت | ||
| ارزښت (arzawish, "significance") is derived from the Arabic verb ارز (arz, "value"). | |||
| Arabic | الدلالة | ||
| The word الدلالة (significance) shares the root with the verb دلّ (to guide), and thus implies a path to finding something important. | |||
Significance in Western European Languages
| Albanian | domethënia | ||
| The word "domethënia" is derived from the Greek word "δομή", meaning "structure" or "form". | |||
| Basque | garrantzia | ||
| Garrentzia is also a Basque word that means 'guarantee' or 'security'. | |||
| Catalan | significació | ||
| Although the word 'significació' is most commonly used with the meaning of 'significance' or 'meaning', it can also mean 'signal' or 'sign' | |||
| Croatian | značaj | ||
| The word "značaj" comes from the Proto-Slavic root "*zъnati", meaning "to know" or "to mark". | |||
| Danish | betydning | ||
| The word "betydning" also means "meaning" and "importance". | |||
| Dutch | betekenis | ||
| The Dutch word "betekenis" derives from the Middle Dutch word "betekenesse", which meant 'indication, representation' and was derived from the Old High German word "bitechan", meaning 'to mark, to point out'. | |||
| English | significance | ||
| The word "significance" comes from the Latin "significantia," meaning "meaning" or "importance." | |||
| French | importance | ||
| In French, the word "importance" can also mean "tax" or "duty". | |||
| Frisian | betsjutting | ||
| In medieval Frisian, "betsjutting" also meant "proof" or "evidence". | |||
| Galician | importancia | ||
| The Galician word "importancia" derives from the Latin "importare", meaning "to carry in" or "to bring in". | |||
| German | bedeutung | ||
| The word "Bedeutung" comes from Middle High German "bediuten," which means "to show, make known, or to indicate. | |||
| Icelandic | þýðingu | ||
| In Icelandic, 'þýðingu' has an alternate meaning referring to a 'meaningful interpretation' of something, beyond its surface significance. | |||
| Irish | tábhacht | ||
| The term 'tábhacht' is cognate with the Welsh 'tafodiaeth', both derived from the Proto-Celtic form *tawbedi, meaning 'the action of bringing forth, creation'. | |||
| Italian | significato | ||
| In its original Latin, this noun meant a 'sign', but also an 'indication', an 'expression of goodwill'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | bedeitung | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Bedeitung" besides "significance" can also refer to "meaning," "interpretation," or "importance." | |||
| Maltese | sinifikat | ||
| Maltese word "sinifikat" comes from the Italian "significato" and also means "sense" or "interpretation." | |||
| Norwegian | betydning | ||
| Betydning derives from the Old Norse word "betyða", meaning "to make known" or "to explain". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | significado | ||
| "Significado" also means "meaning" in Portuguese. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | brìgh | ||
| The Gaelic word "brìgh" is a cognate of the Old Irish "brí", the Welsh "bri" and the Old Breton "bri". It can mean "force", "virtue", "quality", "power", "importance" or "significance". | |||
| Spanish | significado | ||
| Despite its spelling, "significado" is derived from the Latin "signum" (sign) and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root "sekw-" (to follow), and thus not etymologically related to "significare" (to signify). | |||
| Swedish | betydelse | ||
| The verb `betyda` from which betydelse is derived means to signify, denote, imply or mean and it derives from the Middle Low German `beduden` or `betekenen` | |||
| Welsh | arwyddocâd | ||
| "Arwyddocâd" also means "omen", in the sense of something regarded as a sign of a future event or development, not necessarily a good event. | |||
Significance in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | значэнне | ||
| In physics, "значэнне" can also mean "value". | |||
| Bosnian | značaj | ||
| The word 'značaj' has its root in the Proto-Indo-European term *(s)nog-, meaning 'to know', 'to mark' | |||
| Bulgarian | значение | ||
| Значението на думата "значение" на български също е "стойност", "важност" или "съдържание на знак". | |||
| Czech | význam | ||
| The Czech word "význam" also has the alternate meaning of "meaning" or "importance". | |||
| Estonian | tähtsus | ||
| "Tähtsus" relates to the importance of a star in the universe, as well as a point of light in the night sky. | |||
| Finnish | merkitys | ||
| "Merkitys" means "payment" in Southern Ostrobothnian dialects. | |||
| Hungarian | jelentőség | ||
| Jelen + tőség: jelen - present, tőség - noun suffix indicating quality, state or belonging; hence, the word means 'the quality of being present'. Also: 'importance' | |||
| Latvian | nozīmīgums | ||
| "Nozīmīgums" comes from the verb "zīmēt," meaning "to draw," and thus originally meant "something drawn, a sign," and "that which makes a sign," and only later "significance, importance." | |||
| Lithuanian | reikšmingumas | ||
| "Reikšmingumas" is derived from the Lithuanian word "reikšmė," meaning importance, relevance, or value. | |||
| Macedonian | значење | ||
| The word "значење" has the same Proto-Slavic origin as the Latin word "signum," indicating its relationship to the concepts of "mark" and "sign." | |||
| Polish | znaczenie | ||
| "Znaczenie" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "zъnati" meaning "to know". | |||
| Romanian | semnificaţie | ||
| The Romanian word "semnificație" comes from the Latin word "significare", meaning "to make known by a sign" | |||
| Russian | значение | ||
| The word "значение" in Russian shares the same etymology as "знак" ("sign"), signifying the idea of something standing for something else. | |||
| Serbian | значај | ||
| The Serbian word "значај" (significance) also has the alternate meaning of "importance". | |||
| Slovak | význam | ||
| "Význam" in Slovak also means "meaning" and comes from the Proto-Slavic *vě̌domъ, meaning "known". | |||
| Slovenian | pomembnost | ||
| The word "pomembnost" is derived from the verb "pomniti" (to remember), suggesting its connection to the lasting impact or importance of something. | |||
| Ukrainian | значення | ||
| In Ukrainian, "значення" comes from the root "знати", meaning "to know". | |||
Significance in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | তাৎপর্য | ||
| তাৎপর্য also means 'meaning' or 'sense' in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | મહત્વ | ||
| "મહત્વ" (significance) also means "importance" or "gravity" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | महत्व | ||
| महत्व' का एक वैकल्पिक अर्थ है 'महानता' या 'महत्वपूर्णता'. | |||
| Kannada | ಮಹತ್ವ | ||
| The term "ಮಹತ್ವ" (significance) in Kannada can also refer to "greatness" or "importance". | |||
| Malayalam | പ്രാധാന്യത്തെ | ||
| Marathi | महत्त्व | ||
| The word "महत्त्व" ("mahāttva") is derived from the Sanskrit word "महत्" ("mahant"), meaning "great" or "important". | |||
| Nepali | महत्व | ||
| ‘महत्व’ derives from ‘महत’ meaning ‘great’ and ‘त्व’ meaning ‘ness’, thus ‘greatness’, also meaning ‘significant’.”} | |||
| Punjabi | ਮਹੱਤਤਾ | ||
| The word "ਮਹੱਤਤਾ" comes from the Sanskrit root "mahat", meaning "great" or "important", and also refers to the "essence" or "substance" of something. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වැදගත්කම | ||
| "වැදගත්කම" (significance) derives from the Sanskrit word "वड" (vada), meaning "to speak" or "to say," implying the importance of communication and expression in conveying meaning and value. | |||
| Tamil | முக்கியத்துவம் | ||
| Telugu | ప్రాముఖ్యత | ||
| The word 'ప్రాముఖ్యత' or 'pramukhyata' refers to being foremost or distinguished, a position of priority, or being at the front or in front of something. | |||
| Urdu | اہمیت | ||
| The term "اہمیت" in Urdu can also mean "importance" or "value". | |||
Significance in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 意义 | ||
| 意义 is derived from "意" (thought) and "义" (meaning), representing the meaning derived from intentions. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 意義 | ||
| "意義" literally means "sound shape" and it also means "meaning" or "significance" | |||
| Japanese | 意義 | ||
| "意義" (significance) also means "meaning" or "purpose" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 의미 | ||
| 의미's roots are in Chinese, where it meant "meaningful words" or "intention". Early usage in Korean reflected this, but by Late Modern Korean, it had become the standard word for "meaning" and "significance" in general. | |||
| Mongolian | ач холбогдол | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အဓိပ်ပာယျ | ||
| The word "အဓိပ်ပာယျ" has alternate meanings such as "aim" and "purpose", and is derived from the Sanskrit word "अधिष्ठान" (adhiṣṭhāna), meaning "foundation". | |||
Significance in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | makna | ||
| The word "makna" derives from the Javanese word "maknan" meaning "food". | |||
| Javanese | pinunjul | ||
| The word "pinunjul" also has the meaning of "a leader" and "someone who excels" in Javanese. | |||
| Khmer | សារៈសំខាន់ | ||
| Lao | ຄວາມ ສຳ ຄັນ | ||
| Malay | kepentingan | ||
| The word "kepentingan" in Malay is derived from the Sanskrit word "kepentingahan" which means "importance" or "value". | |||
| Thai | ความสำคัญ | ||
| The word "ความสำคัญ" ("significance") in Thai is also used to refer to the essence or core of something. | |||
| Vietnamese | ý nghĩa | ||
| "Ý nghĩa" has multiple meanings in Vietnamese, including "meaning", "content", "purpose", and "value". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kahalagahan | ||
Significance in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | əhəmiyyəti | ||
| "Əhəmiyyət" sözünün kökeni Arapça "hımm" fiilinden gelir ve "önemsemek" anlamına gelir. | |||
| Kazakh | маңыздылығы | ||
| "Маңыздылығы" has the alternate meaning of "consequences, implications, or repercussions" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | мааниси | ||
| The word "мааниси" can also refer to the meaning or value of something. | |||
| Tajik | аҳамият | ||
| "аҳамият" can also mean the amount of something | |||
| Turkmen | ähmiýeti | ||
| Uzbek | ahamiyati | ||
| The word "ahamiyati" in Uzbek derives from the Arabic word "aham," meaning "important" or "urgent." | |||
| Uyghur | ئەھمىيىتى | ||
Significance in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻano koʻikoʻi | ||
| The word ʻano koʻikoʻi can also mean "to have a unique or outstanding quality." | |||
| Maori | hiranga | ||
| Hiranga also means "seed" in Māori, alluding to the potential and growth inherent in significant things. | |||
| Samoan | taua | ||
| The word "taua" in Samoan can also mean "strength" or "importance". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kabuluhan | ||
| "Kabuluhan" comes from the root word "kabulu-buloan", which means importance, weight, or significance. | |||
Significance in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | significado ukax wali askiwa | ||
| Guarani | significado rehegua | ||
Significance in International Languages
| Esperanto | signifo | ||
| The Esperanto word "signifo" is derived from the Latin word "significare," which means "to make known." | |||
| Latin | momentum | ||
| The Latin term "momentum" also has a different meaning, referring to "movement" or "change." | |||
Significance in Others Languages
| Greek | σημασία | ||
| "Σημασία" is derived from the Greek root "σημα" (sema), meaning "sign" or "indication," and is related to the concept of "signification" or "meaning." | |||
| Hmong | qhov tseem ceeb | ||
| The word "qhov tseem ceeb" literally means "what is put in the heart" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | mane | ||
| The Kurdish word for "mane" (meaning "significance") is also used to denote "wealth" and "prosperity." | |||
| Turkish | önem | ||
| Önem, from Proto-Turkic *öŋem, means "forefront" and "priority". | |||
| Xhosa | ukubaluleka | ||
| The word 'ukubaluleka' can have the alternate meaning of 'importance' or 'notability'. | |||
| Yiddish | באַטייַט | ||
| In Yiddish, the word "באַטייַט" can also refer to a sense of worthiness or value. | |||
| Zulu | ukubaluleka | ||
| The word "ukubaluleka" has the extended meaning of "having weight, importance or value." | |||
| Assamese | তাৎপৰ্য্য | ||
| Aymara | significado ukax wali askiwa | ||
| Bhojpuri | महत्व के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | މުހިންމުކަން | ||
| Dogri | महत्व दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kahalagahan | ||
| Guarani | significado rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | kaipapanan | ||
| Krio | di minin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | گرنگی | ||
| Maithili | महत्व | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯨꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | awmzia a nei | ||
| Oromo | hiika qabaachuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ମହତ୍ତ୍। | | ||
| Quechua | significado nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | महत्त्वम् | ||
| Tatar | әһәмияте | ||
| Tigrinya | ትርጉም ዘለዎ ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | nkoka | ||