Simple in Different Languages
Discover 'Simple' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'simple' holds a special place in our hearts and languages, denoting something uncomplicated, modest, or easy. Its significance transcends cultural boundaries, making it a fundamental part of our global lexicon. But have you ever wondered how we express this concept in other languages?
The notion of simplicity has been appreciated throughout history, with philosophers like Leonardo da Vinci advocating for 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.' This idea resonates in various languages, from the French simple to the Spanish simple, and from the German einfach to the Chinese 简单 (jiǎn jian).
Understanding the translation of 'simple' in different languages can enrich your communication, fostering a deeper connection with people worldwide. It can also provide a fascinating glimpse into how different cultures perceive and value simplicity.
Join us as we embark on a journey through languages, exploring the many ways to express the concept of simplicity.
Simple
Simple in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | eenvoudig | ||
| "Eenvoldig" is etymologically related to "enkel" and "vouwen", and also means "uniform". | |||
| Amharic | ቀላል | ||
| "ቀላል" can also mean "easy" or "light" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | mai sauki | ||
| "Mai sauki" can also mean plain, ordinary, common, basic, cheap, and easy. | |||
| Igbo | mfe | ||
| Also means something small or insignificant | |||
| Malagasy | tsotra | ||
| "Tsotra" comes from the root word "so" which means "true". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zosavuta | ||
| Zosavuta is formed from 'zosauka' meaning 'to take,' and '-kuta,' meaning 'to do something many times'. | |||
| Shona | yakapusa | ||
| 'Yakapusa', meaning 'simple' in Shona, also refers to a type of edible wild fruit known as the 'African peach' or 'wild mango'. | |||
| Somali | fudud | ||
| Fudud also alludes to "being born on a Sunday" in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | bonolo | ||
| In Sesotho, "bonolo" can also refer to someone who is easily deceived or taken advantage of. | |||
| Swahili | rahisi | ||
| The Swahili word "rahisi" is also used to refer to something that is "easy" to do. | |||
| Xhosa | elula | ||
| Xhosa elula derives from the verb -lūk (divide). | |||
| Yoruba | rọrun | ||
| The word 'rọrun' can also mean 'easy' or 'straightforward' in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | elula | ||
| The word 'elula' (simple) also means 'to remove', 'to subtract', or 'to reduce'. | |||
| Bambara | nɔgɔman | ||
| Ewe | ɖagbuie | ||
| Kinyarwanda | byoroshye | ||
| Lingala | pete | ||
| Luganda | -angu | ||
| Sepedi | bonolo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tiawa | ||
Simple in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | بسيط | ||
| The term "بسيط" is also used to denote "elementary" or "basic" concepts in mathematics and grammar. | |||
| Hebrew | פָּשׁוּט | ||
| The word "פָּשׁוּט" (pashoot) in Hebrew, meaning "simple" or "plain," also has the sense of "to spread out" or "to unfold," as in spreading out a blanket or unfolding a scroll. | |||
| Pashto | ساده | ||
| The etymology of "ساده" in Pashto is uncertain, but it is possible that it is related to the Sanskrit word "sādhu," which means "good" or "honest." | |||
| Arabic | بسيط | ||
| The term "بسيط" is also used to denote "elementary" or "basic" concepts in mathematics and grammar. | |||
Simple in Western European Languages
| Albanian | e thjeshtë | ||
| The word "e thjeshtë" has the same Latin origin as the English word "justice". | |||
| Basque | sinplea | ||
| "Sinplea" in Basque comes from Latin "simplex" and also means "innocent, naive, or credulous." | |||
| Catalan | senzill | ||
| In Old Catalan, "senzill" also meant "whole" or "single". | |||
| Croatian | jednostavan | ||
| The etymology of 'jednostavan' is 'jedan' (one) and 'stavati' (to stand), suggesting a single, stable way of being. | |||
| Danish | enkel | ||
| The word "enkel" comes from the Old Danish word "enkelt", meaning "single". It can also refer to something that is plain or unadorned. | |||
| Dutch | gemakkelijk | ||
| "Gemakkelijk" is derived from the Middle Dutch "gemackelijk" meaning convenient or comfortable, which in turn comes from the Old French "gemache" meaning ease or comfort. | |||
| English | simple | ||
| While the word "simple" is an English word derived from the Latin simplex, its root, simul, and the root of "simultaneous" are also shared, implying its original meaning relates to things happening at the same time. | |||
| French | facile | ||
| In French, "facile" can also mean "easy to do" or "superficial." | |||
| Frisian | ienfâldich | ||
| In Frisian, "ienfâldich" refers not only to someone who is simple-minded but also to someone who is kind-hearted and naive. | |||
| Galician | sinxelo | ||
| The Galician word "sinxelo" also means "single" or "unmarried". | |||
| German | einfach | ||
| The word "einfach" can also mean "single" or "plain". | |||
| Icelandic | einfalt | ||
| While `einfalt` usually means `simple`, it can also mean `kindness` in Icelandic. | |||
| Irish | simplí | ||
| It is unclear whether it is derived from Latin "similis", meaning similar, or Greek "haplous", meaning "onefold, single." | |||
| Italian | semplice | ||
| In music, 'semplice' can also mean 'smooth' or 'gentle'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | einfach | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "einfach" can also mean "merely" or "only". | |||
| Maltese | sempliċi | ||
| The etymology of "sempliċi" is traced back to Latin "simplex" with the same meaning but also meaning "single, unadorned, foolish" and "unmixed, raw, pure, fresh". | |||
| Norwegian | enkel | ||
| Enkel also means "ankle" in Norwegian, likely deriving from the Proto-Germanic word *ankilaz, meaning "crooked." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | simples | ||
| The word "simples" in Portuguese can also refer to medicinal herbs or remedies, and to a kind of card game. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sìmplidh | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, the word sìmplidh can have the alternate meanings of 'common' or 'ordinary'. | |||
| Spanish | sencillo | ||
| The word "sencillo" can also mean "single" or "straightforward" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | enkel | ||
| The word 'enkel' can also mean 'easy' or 'straightforward' in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | syml | ||
| Syml comes from the latin word 'simplex' ('simple') but can also mean 'pleasant'. | |||
Simple in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | простыя | ||
| The word "простыя" also means "common" or "regular". | |||
| Bosnian | jednostavno | ||
| The word 'jednostavno' can also mean 'merely' or 'only' in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | просто | ||
| The word 'просто' (simple) in Bulgarian is also used to mean 'just' or 'merely', as in the phrase 'просто си говорим' (we're just talking). | |||
| Czech | jednoduchý | ||
| The word "jednoduchý" can also mean "ingenious" or "naive" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | lihtne | ||
| The noun "lihtne" also means "flat" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | yksinkertainen | ||
| The word "yksinkertainen" originally meant "single" or "unadorned" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | egyszerű | ||
| The Hungarian word "egyszerű" originally meant "single" or "uniform". | |||
| Latvian | vienkārši | ||
| The word "vienkārši" can also mean "merely" or "just". | |||
| Lithuanian | paprastas | ||
| "Paprastas" is cognate with the Russian word "prostoi," both derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *per-, meaning "to pass through". | |||
| Macedonian | едноставна | ||
| The word "едноставна" can also mean "naive" or "unsophisticated" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | prosty | ||
| The Polish word "prosty" can also mean “unadorned.” | |||
| Romanian | simplu | ||
| The Romanian word "simplu" originates from two Latin words "similis", meaning similar, and "plus", meaning more. | |||
| Russian | просто | ||
| The Russian "просто" (simple) derives from the verb "простить" (to forgive), suggesting the idea of "unburdened" or "without complications" | |||
| Serbian | једноставно | ||
| The word "једноставно" can also mean "only" or "merely" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | jednoduché | ||
| The word "jednoduché" can also mean "single", "plain", or "easy". | |||
| Slovenian | preprosto | ||
| "Preprosto" is a cognate of its German counterpart, "bereits" (which denotes something that is ready, completed) and thus can also be translated to mean easily, naturally. | |||
| Ukrainian | просто | ||
| In Ukrainian, “просто” not only means “simple” but can also refer to a spacious area, a plain, or an expanse. | |||
Simple in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সরল | ||
| The word 'সরল' ('simple') in Bengali also means 'straight', 'plain', 'pure', 'honest', and 'sincere'. | |||
| Gujarati | સરળ | ||
| સરળ can alternately mean straightforward, plain, clear or even easy in Gujarati, similar to its English translation | |||
| Hindi | सरल | ||
| The word 'सरल' in Hindi can also mean 'straightforward', 'natural', or 'free from hindrance'. | |||
| Kannada | ಸರಳ | ||
| ಸರಳ can also mean 'straight', 'not mixed', or 'clear'. | |||
| Malayalam | ലളിതം | ||
| The Malayalam word "ലളിതം" also refers to a kind of poetic metre consisting of four lines of fifteen syllables each. | |||
| Marathi | सोपे | ||
| 'सोपे' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'सु+प' meaning 'well+to protect'. It also means 'easy' or 'plain'. | |||
| Nepali | सरल | ||
| The Sanskrit root of सरल is 'sarala', which means 'straight' or 'direct'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਆਸਾਨ | ||
| The word "ਆਸਾਨ" can also mean "comfortable" or "convenient" in Punjabi. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සරල | ||
| සරල can also mean 'easy' or 'clear' in Sinhala. | |||
| Tamil | எளிய | ||
| "எளிய" (eLiya) in Tamil translates to "easy" in English, while its root "எளு" (eLu) means "lightness". | |||
| Telugu | సాధారణ | ||
| The word "సాధారణ" (saadhaarana) in Telugu comes from the Sanskrit root "saadhaarana" meaning "common" or "shared". | |||
| Urdu | آسان | ||
| آسان (āsān) shares its origin with Old Persian āsāna, whence also Sanskrit asana ('posture, seat'), meaning 'at rest' or 'free from difficulty'. | |||
Simple in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 简单 | ||
| As a noun, “简单” refers to a kind of traditional Chinese medicine that is easy to make. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 簡單 | ||
| The word "簡單" can also mean "easy" or "uncomplicated" in Chinese. | |||
| Japanese | シンプル | ||
| "シンプル" is derived from the Latin "simplex" which means "unmixed", "uncompounded", or "single". | |||
| Korean | 단순한 | ||
| 단순한 has an alternate meaning of 'merely' or 'just' when used in the context of a request or order. | |||
| Mongolian | энгийн | ||
| Энгийн is also a Mongolian name, meaning "peaceful" or "calm." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ရိုးရှင်း | ||
Simple in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | sederhana | ||
| In the early 20th century, the word "sederhana" often indicated something that was "done according to plan, in an orderly way" | |||
| Javanese | sederhana | ||
| The Javanese word "sederhana" can also mean "ordinary" or "usual". | |||
| Khmer | សាមញ្ញ | ||
| សាមញ្ញ can also refer to Buddhism's ascetic practices or the common class in a caste society. | |||
| Lao | ງ່າຍດາຍ | ||
| The word "ງ່າຍດາຍ" is derived from an Old Lao word that meant "without complications". This is also the root of the modern Lao word "ດາດ", meaning "to simplify". | |||
| Malay | sederhana | ||
| The word 'sederhana' also has an alternate meaning of 'modest' or 'humble' in Malay. | |||
| Thai | เรียบง่าย | ||
| The word "เรียบง่าย" in Thai also has meanings of "smooth," "flat," or "uncomplicated." | |||
| Vietnamese | đơn giản | ||
| The word "đơn giản" in Vietnamese can also mean "basic", "unadorned", or "plain". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | simple lang | ||
Simple in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | sadə | ||
| Azerbaijani "sadə" has alternate meanings such as "light", "unsalted", and "pure" | |||
| Kazakh | қарапайым | ||
| Kyrgyz | жөнөкөй | ||
| The word "жөнөкөй" in Kyrgyz can also mean "naive" or "gullible." | |||
| Tajik | оддӣ | ||
| "Оддӣ" can also mean "usual" or "familiar." | |||
| Turkmen | ýönekeý | ||
| Uzbek | oddiy | ||
| "Oddiy" has two meanings, 1) common and 2) easy. | |||
| Uyghur | ئاددىي | ||
Simple in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | maʻalahi | ||
| The Hawaiian word "maʻalahi" also means "easy to learn". | |||
| Maori | ngawari | ||
| The word ngawari (simple) in Maori can also refer to something that is easily done or understood. | |||
| Samoan | faigofie | ||
| Faigofie is also a Samoan term for a type of grass skirt worn by women and girls. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | simple | ||
| The Tagalog word "simple" can also mean "plain", "unadorned", or "ordinary". | |||
Simple in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jasa | ||
| Guarani | ndahekohetáiva | ||
Simple in International Languages
| Esperanto | simpla | ||
| "Simpla" in Esperanto derives from the Latin "simplex" (single, simple) and also means "plain" or "straightforward." | |||
| Latin | simplex | ||
| The Latin word "simplex" originally meant "single" or "folded together," suggesting a basic or straightforward nature. | |||
Simple in Others Languages
| Greek | απλός | ||
| "Απλός" derives from the ancient Greek verb "απλόω," meaning "to unfold" and "to extend". | |||
| Hmong | yooj yim | ||
| The word "yooj yim" can also mean "plain", "common", or "ordinary" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | asan | ||
| In Kurdish, "asan" also signifies "basic", "plain", or "clear." | |||
| Turkish | basit | ||
| The word "basit" is also used in Arabic, from where it entered Turkish, with the meaning of "easy", "effortless". | |||
| Xhosa | elula | ||
| Xhosa elula derives from the verb -lūk (divide). | |||
| Yiddish | פּשוט | ||
| Although 'פשוט' typically means 'simple' in Yiddish, it can also mean 'straightforward', 'clear', or 'obvious'. | |||
| Zulu | elula | ||
| The word 'elula' (simple) also means 'to remove', 'to subtract', or 'to reduce'. | |||
| Assamese | সাধাৰণ | ||
| Aymara | jasa | ||
| Bhojpuri | साधारन | ||
| Dhivehi | އާދައިގެ | ||
| Dogri | साद्दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | simple lang | ||
| Guarani | ndahekohetáiva | ||
| Ilocano | simple | ||
| Krio | simpul | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سادە | ||
| Maithili | साधारण | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯆꯝꯕ | ||
| Mizo | naran | ||
| Oromo | salphaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସରଳ | ||
| Quechua | kaqlla | ||
| Sanskrit | सरलं | ||
| Tatar | гади | ||
| Tigrinya | ቀሊል | ||
| Tsonga | olova | ||