Slightly in different languages

Slightly in Different Languages

Discover 'Slightly' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'slightly' is a small but powerful term, subtly altering the meaning of any phrase it modifies. It implies a slight degree, a touch, or a minor presence - just enough to be noticeable, but not overwhelming. This nuanced term holds great significance in both casual and formal contexts, allowing us to express ourselves with greater precision and depth.

Throughout history, 'slightly' has played a crucial role in literature and culture. Shakespeare, for instance, used the term to add shades of meaning to his characters' speeches. Today, it remains a staple in our vocabulary, enabling us to convey our thoughts and emotions with greater refinement.

Given its importance, you might be interested in knowing the translations of 'slightly' in different languages. After all, understanding how to express this concept in various tongues can enrich your communication skills and cultural awareness.

Here are a few sample translations to pique your curiosity:

  • French: un peu
  • Spanish: un poco
  • German: ein wenig
  • Italian: un po'
  • Japanese: 少し (sukoshi)

Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of 'slightly' translations in multiple languages, further expanding your linguistic and cultural horizons.

Slightly


Slightly in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanseffens
The word "effens" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "effen" and can also mean "flat, even, or smooth".
Amharicበትንሹ
In Amharic, "በትንሹ" can also mean "in a little while" or "after a little bit of time".
Hausakadan
The Hausa word "kadan" also means "few" or "some".
Igbontakịrị
The Igbo word "ntakịrị" also means little or few.
Malagasykely
The word "kely" also means "small" or "little" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)pang'ono
The word "pang'ono" can also mean "a little bit" or "not much".
Shonazvishoma
The word "zvishoma" is derived from the verb "zvisha," meaning "to be above or superior."
Somaliwax yar
The Somali word "wax yar" comes from the Arabic word "qalīl", which means "little". However, it can also refer to a "short period of time".
Sesothohanyane
The word "hanyane" can also mean "little", "small", or "few".
Swahilikidogo
The word kidogo also means 'a little', 'a bit', 'some', or 'small'.
Xhosakancinci
The word "kancinci" also denotes a "small quantity".
Yorubadie-die
In Yoruba, the word "die-die" is also the imperative of "to die."
Zulukancane
The word "kancane" in Zulu can also mean "a little bit" or "a small amount".
Bambaradɔɔni
Ewevie ko
Kinyarwandagato
Lingalamoke
Lugandakatono
Sepedigannyane
Twi (Akan)kakra bi

Slightly in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicبعض الشيء
The Arabic word "بعض الشيء" originates from the verb "بضع" meaning "to cut", and refers to a small or limited amount of something.
Hebrewמְעַט
The word "מְעַט" can also refer to a time, a place, or a quantity.
Pashtoلږ څه
The word "لږ څه" also means "a little bit" or "somewhat" in Pashto.
Arabicبعض الشيء
The Arabic word "بعض الشيء" originates from the verb "بضع" meaning "to cut", and refers to a small or limited amount of something.

Slightly in Western European Languages

Albanianpaksa
"Paksa" can also mean "a little", "somewhat", or "relatively" in Albanian.
Basqueapur bat
"Apur bat" can also mean "some time ago" in Basque.
Catalanlleugerament
"Lleugerament" is derived from the Latin "levis," meaning "light" or "light in weight."
Croatianmalo
Croatian "malo" can mean "a little bit", "a moment" or "slightly" and is derived from Proto-Slavic, related to Ukrainian "мало" (little) and Russian "малый" (small).
Danishen smule
The Danish word "en smule" originates from the Old Saxon "smala" meaning "narrow", but has since shifted to mean small in size, quantity, or degree.
Dutcheen beetje
The term "een beetje" originally meant "a little bit" of food.
Englishslightly
The word 'slightly' derives from the Old English 'slicht', meaning 'smooth' or 'even'.
Frenchlégèrement
The word "légèrement" is derived from the Latin "levis", meaning "light", and can also refer to a fine mist or a lack of seasoning.
Frisianlicht
The word 'licht' in Frisian can also mean 'a little bit' or 'rather'
Galicianlixeiramente
The word "lixeiramente" comes from "lixeiro" (a dunghill) and thus originally meant "to a small degree".
Germanleicht
The word "leicht" in German originally meant "light" in weight, but over time it has come to also mean "slight" in degree or intensity.
Icelandicörlítið
"Örlítil" derives from "ör" (arrow) and "lítill" (small), and may have originally meant "as small as an arrow."
Irishbeagán
The word "beagán" in Irish can also mean "a little bit" or "a while".
Italianleggermente
"Leggermente" originates from the Latin "levis," meaning "light," and shares its root with the English word "levity."
Luxembourgishliicht
The word "liicht" is derived from Old High German "lūȥȥēl" meaning "little" and is also used in the sense of "not very" or "quite".
Maltesekemmxejn
The word "kemmxejn" is derived from the Arabic word "qamīšan", meaning "a little bit".
Norwegianlitt
The word "litt" can also refer to a small amount or a short distance.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)levemente
In Portuguese, the word "levemente" literally means "lightly" or "with a gentle touch". It can also be used to indicate a degree of intensity or to soften a statement, similar to the English word "kind of".
Scots Gaelicbeagan
The word "beagan" in Scots Gaelic originally meant "a small amount" and is related to the Irish word "beagán" meaning "almost".
Spanishligeramente
Some sources say that "ligeramente" comes from the Latin "leviter" meaning "lightly", while others say it comes from "ligero" meaning "agile".
Swedishlite
Swedish 'lite' also means 'small', 'little' or 'a bit', related to the English 'little'
Welshychydig
Welsh 'ychydig' could also mean 'rather' or 'to some extent'.

Slightly in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзлёгку
The word "злёгку" in Belarusian is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *leg-, meaning "to lie down", and is related to words such as "лёгкий" (light) and "ложе" (bed).
Bosnianlagano
"Lagano" is likely related to the Turkish "lahanası", meaning "cabbage".
Bulgarianлеко
"Леко" also means "bed" in Bulgarian, likely originating from the Latin "lectus" (bed).
Czechmírně
The word "mírně" (slightly) in Czech has other meanings such as "moderately", "somewhat" or "gently" depending on the context.
Estoniankergelt
In colloquial Estonian, "kergelt" can also mean "in a state of intoxication".
Finnishhieman
In Finnish, the word "hieman" can also mean "quietly" or "peacefully".
Hungariannémileg
The Hungarian word "némileg" can also mean "not completely"
Latviannedaudz
The word "nedaudz" (slightly) in Latvian comes from the Proto-Baltic word *nedaugus, meaning "few".
Lithuanianlengvai
"Lengvai" in Lithuanian, meaning "lightly," derives from the Proto-Balto-Slavic root *lengv- and shares similarities with Russian "легкий" (legkij), meaning "light," and Latin "levis" (levis), meaning "light" or "easy."
Macedonianмалку
The word "малку" in Macedonian derives from the Proto-Slavic term "malъ", which also means "small" or "little".
Polishnieco
Polish "nieco" also means 'a bit' and is a comparative form of the adjective "nice".
Romanianpuțin
The word 'puțin' originates from the Proto-Slavic word 'pъtinъ', which meant 'path' or 'way'. In Romanian, it has also acquired the meanings of 'bit' or 'piece', as in 'un puţin de pâine' ('a bite of bread').
Russianслегка
The word "слегка" can also be used to mean "a little bit" or "somewhat".
Serbianмало
The word "мало" (malo) in Serbian can also refer to "a small amount" or "a few".
Slovakmierne
The word "mierne" in Slovak can also mean "quiet" or "calm".
Slovenianmalce
In Slovenian, "malce" also means "a little bit" or "a bit".
Ukrainianтрохи
In Ukrainian, “трохи” can also mean “a little bit” or “some”.

Slightly in South Asian Languages

Bengaliসামান্য
The word "সামান্য" can also refer to "ordinary" or "common" in Bengali.
Gujaratiસહેજ
The word "સહેજ" is derived from Sanskrit "sahaja" meaning "innate", "natural", or "unforced".
Hindiथोड़ा
The word "थोड़ा" (thorā) comes from the Sanskrit word "stoka," meaning "small"}
Kannadaಸ್ವಲ್ಪ
Malayalamചെറുതായി
Marathiकिंचित
किंचित is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kancana' meaning 'golden' and is cognate with the word 'kanchan' in Hindi.
Nepaliथोरै
The word "थोरै" is also used to mean "a little bit" or "a small amount".
Punjabiਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ
The word "ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "stoka," which means "a little" or "a small amount"
Sinhala (Sinhalese)තරමක්
The word තරමක් is derived from the Sanskrit word 'tara' meaning 'to cross', and can also mean 'a little', 'somewhat', or 'moderately'.
Tamilசற்று
சற்று (saṟṟu) may mean 'a little less than one-half of a whole,' a 'bit,' and 'a few'.
Teluguకొద్దిగా
కొద్దిగా can also mean "limited quantity," "a little bit of," or "a small amount of"
Urduقدرے
"قدرے" also means "some" or "a bit" in Urdu and is used to express a small amount or degree of something.

Slightly in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
"略" can also mean "generally speaking" or "to omit".
Chinese (Traditional)
"略" is a shortened form of "简约 (jian4yue3)", meaning "simple" or "brief".
Japanese少し
"少し" (sukoshi) literally means "thinness" or "smallness"
Korean약간
약간 is also written as 若干, with the latter meaning a small number or quantity.
Mongolianбага зэрэг
The word "бага зэрэг" (slightly) in Mongolian can also mean "a little bit" or "to some extent".
Myanmar (Burmese)အနည်းငယ်

Slightly in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansedikit
The Indonesian word "sedikit" is of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian origin, and cognates include "siket" in Javanese and "sikit" in Malay, all sharing similar meanings of "small" or "insignificant."
Javaneserada
Rada is also an acronym for 'Rasa Dahaga' or the 'Feeling of Thirst'
Khmerបន្តិច
"បន្តិច" can also mean "a little bit" or "a short time" in Khmer.
Laoເລັກນ້ອຍ
Malaysedikit
The word 'sedikit' can also mean 'a little' or 'few', and is derived from the Old Malay word 'sikit' meaning 'small' or 'narrow'.
Thaiเล็กน้อย
"เล็กน้อย" comes from "เล็ก" + "น้อย" with "เล็ก" meaning "small" and "น้อย" meaning "a little bit". Thus the literal meaning of "เล็กน้อย" is "a little bit small".
Vietnamesenhẹ nhàng
The word "nhẹ nhàng" also means "gently" or "tenderly".
Filipino (Tagalog)bahagya

Slightly in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanibiraz
The word "biraz" is also used to indicate a small amount of something or to express a sense of hesitation.
Kazakhсәл
The word "сәл" also means "a little bit", "a small amount", or "a short while" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzбир аз
"Бир аз" in Kyrgyz can also mean "almost" or "a little bit".
Tajikкаме
The word “каме” can also be used to mean "almost" in the sense of “almost finished".
Turkmenazajyk
Uzbekozgina
The word "ozgina" in Uzbek has an alternate meaning of "slightly".
Uyghurئازراق

Slightly in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianiki
The Hawaiian word “iki” can also mean “the youngest sibling” or “the smallest in a group” depending on context.
Maoripaku
"Paku" also means "bent, crooked, stooped, round-shouldered".
Samoanlaititi
Some claim the word "laititi" derives from the word "laiti" meaning "short" while others claim that it is derived from the word "laititi" meaning "a little".
Tagalog (Filipino)bahagyang
The word "bahagyang" in Tagalog is derived from the word "bahagi" meaning "part" or "portion"

Slightly in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajank'akipuni
Guaranimbeguekatu'asy

Slightly in International Languages

Esperantoiomete
The Esperanto word "iomete" also means "little by little" and "gradually" in English.
Latinpaulo
In Latin, "paulo" can also mean "a little" or "somewhat".

Slightly in Others Languages

Greekελαφρώς
Ελαφρώς is also an adverb meaning “lightly” (“with light”) or “easily” (“with ease”), both of which are related to the word’s original meaning of “of little weight.”
Hmongme ntsis
"Me ntsis" originates from the Proto-Hmong-Mien language and is used in various dialects with different meanings, including "slightly" and "slowly".
Kurdishhinek
The word "hinek" also means "bit" or "small piece" in Kurdish.
Turkishbiraz
Biraz derives from the Persian word ''birāz'' meaning "a time" or "a few." In Ottoman, it also meant "a few drinks" or "a bit of food."
Xhosakancinci
The word "kancinci" also denotes a "small quantity".
Yiddishאַ ביסל
אַ ביסל derives from Middle High German "ein bizzeli" meaning "a tiny bit," which later also came to mean "in some way."
Zulukancane
The word "kancane" in Zulu can also mean "a little bit" or "a small amount".
Assameseঅলপীয়াকৈ
Aymarajank'akipuni
Bhojpuriतनी-मनी
Dhivehiކުޑަކޮށް
Dogriथोहड़ा
Filipino (Tagalog)bahagya
Guaranimbeguekatu'asy
Ilocanobassit laeng
Kriosmɔl
Kurdish (Sorani)کەمێک
Maithiliकिछु न किछु
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯈꯔ
Mizotlemtein
Oromoxiqqoodhuma ishee
Odia (Oriya)ସାମାନ୍ୟ
Quechuaasllata
Sanskritस्तोकम्‌
Tatarбераз
Tigrinyaብውሕድ
Tsongaswitsongo

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