Special in Different Languages
Discover 'Special' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'special' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting something unique, distinct, or set apart from the ordinary. Its cultural importance is evident in various traditions, celebrations, and expressions of individuality worldwide. For instance, in Spanish, 'special' translates to 'especial,' while in French, it becomes 'spécial.' In German, the word takes on a more formal tone, 'besonders,' and in Japanese, 'tokubetsu' is the term used to convey this concept.
Delving deeper, 'special' has been used to describe people with exceptional talents or abilities, giving rise to the term 'special needs' in education and social services. Moreover, 'special effects' in film and television have revolutionized storytelling, adding new dimensions to our visual experiences.
Understanding the translation of 'special' in different languages can enrich our cross-cultural communication, fostering a greater appreciation for the unique qualities that make each language and culture special in its own way.
Special
Special in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | spesiaal | ||
| The word 'spesiaal' in Afrikaans can mean 'special', 'particular' or 'specific'. | |||
| Amharic | ልዩ | ||
| The word "ልዩ" not only means "special," but also can mean "extraordinary," "rare," or "different." | |||
| Hausa | na musamman | ||
| "Na musamman" in Hausa also means "one out of many" or "the unique one." | |||
| Igbo | pụrụ iche | ||
| The Igbo word "pụrụ iche" also means "to be different" or "to be unique." | |||
| Malagasy | special | ||
| In Malagasy, "special" can also mean "stranger" or "foreigner." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wapadera | ||
| The word 'wapadera' is also used to refer to something that is unusual or unexpected. | |||
| Shona | inokosha | ||
| The word "inokosha" can also mean "precious" or "valuable". | |||
| Somali | gaar ah | ||
| The word "gaar ah" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "ghayr", meaning "other" or "different". | |||
| Sesotho | khethehileng | ||
| The word "khethehileng" in Sesotho is derived from the root "khetha" ("to choose") and implies exclusivity or preference. | |||
| Swahili | maalum | ||
| The word "maalum" can also mean "specific" in Swahili, but it is less commonly used in this sense. | |||
| Xhosa | okhethekileyo | ||
| The word “okhethekileyo” in Xhosa comes from the verb “ukukhetha” (to choose), suggesting that something special has been chosen or set apart. | |||
| Yoruba | pataki | ||
| The word “pataki” also means 'a special way' or 'an unusual way' or 'a special occasion' or 'a special thing'. | |||
| Zulu | okukhethekile | ||
| The word "okukhethekile" comes from the verb "ukukhetha", which means "to choose", suggesting that something "okukhethekile" is handpicked or unique. | |||
| Bambara | kɛrɛnkɛrɛnlen | ||
| Ewe | tᴐxɛ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | idasanzwe | ||
| Lingala | ntina | ||
| Luganda | kya njawulo | ||
| Sepedi | ikgetha | ||
| Twi (Akan) | soronko | ||
Special in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مميز | ||
| The Arabic word "مميز" also means "discriminating" or "distinctive". | |||
| Hebrew | מיוחד | ||
| The Hebrew word "מיוחד" can also refer to a person or thing that is "distinguished" or "unique." | |||
| Pashto | ځانګړي | ||
| The word "ځانګړي" also means "unique" and "exclusive" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | مميز | ||
| The Arabic word "مميز" also means "discriminating" or "distinctive". | |||
Special in Western European Languages
| Albanian | të veçantë | ||
| The word "të veçantë" is derived from the Latin "spatium" meaning "a space", hence its original meaning was "to set apart, to give space". | |||
| Basque | berezia | ||
| The word “berezia” is related to the word for “different”, indicating its deviation from the normal state. | |||
| Catalan | especial | ||
| In Catalan, "especial" also means "outstanding", "different", or "peculiar". | |||
| Croatian | posebna | ||
| The term 'posebna' or 'posebno' can also mean 'separate' or 'different' in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | særlig | ||
| The Danish word "særlig" derives from the Old Norse "serligr" meaning "separate, distinct." | |||
| Dutch | speciaal | ||
| The Dutch word 'speciaal' also means 'specifically' or 'especially', and its root is the Latin word 'species', meaning 'kind' or 'class'. | |||
| English | special | ||
| The word "special" originally meant "particular" or "specific". | |||
| French | spécial | ||
| "Spécial" in French can also mean "specific" or "extraordinary." | |||
| Frisian | spesjaal | ||
| The word "spesjaal" in Frisian is borrowed from the Middle Dutch word "spesiael" or the later, modern Dutch "speciaal" both meaning "special." | |||
| Galician | especial | ||
| "Especial" in Galician also means "particular" or "different." | |||
| German | besondere | ||
| "Besondere" can also mean "specific" and has the synonyms "eigentlich," "beschränkt" and "bestimmt." | |||
| Icelandic | sérstakt | ||
| The word "sérstakt" in Icelandic comes from the Old Norse word "sérstakr," meaning "distinct" or "separate." | |||
| Irish | speisialta | ||
| The word "speisialta" also derives from the Irish "speis" (food), implying something exceptional and desirable. | |||
| Italian | speciale | ||
| In Italian, "speciale" also means "spice" and is related to the Latin "species," meaning "kind" or "variety." | |||
| Luxembourgish | speziell | ||
| The word "speziell" can also mean "specifically" or "in particular" in Luxembourgish. | |||
| Maltese | speċjali | ||
| "Speċjali" can also mean "spectacle" or "showpiece". | |||
| Norwegian | spesiell | ||
| The word "spesiell" can also mean "particular" or "specific" in Norwegian. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | especial | ||
| The word "especial" in Portuguese is derived from the Latin word "specialis", meaning "distinctive" or "specific". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sònraichte | ||
| The word "sònraichte" is also used to mean "holy" or "sacred". | |||
| Spanish | especial | ||
| The word "especial" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "specialis" which means "distinct" or "set apart." | |||
| Swedish | särskild | ||
| Särskild, cognate with German "sonder" and English "sundry," originally meant "apart" or "sundering" | |||
| Welsh | arbennig | ||
| Arbennig is a Welsh word that can also refer to a gift or offering, a talent or skill, or a task or duty. | |||
Special in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | спецыяльны | ||
| "Спецыяльны" is cognate with Russian "специальный" and Polish "specjalny", and the original meaning of all is "related to a species," from "species." | |||
| Bosnian | poseban | ||
| The word `poseban` comes from the Turkish word `özel` which also means `special`. | |||
| Bulgarian | специален | ||
| The word "специален" has a similar etymology to the Russian word "специальный", and it can also mean "specific", "peculiar", or "exclusive" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | speciální | ||
| The Czech word "speciální" comes from the Latin "species", meaning "kind" or "sort", and has the same root as the word "specific" in English. | |||
| Estonian | eriline | ||
| The Estonian word "eriline" can also mean "different" or "unusual". | |||
| Finnish | erityinen | ||
| The word "erityinen" comes from the Proto-Uralic word *erä- ('different'), which is also the origin of the Estonian word "eriline" ('special'). | |||
| Hungarian | különleges | ||
| The word "különleges" derives from the Hungarian word "külön" meaning "separate" and the suffix "-leges" meaning "having the nature of", thus indicating something set apart or having a distinct character. | |||
| Latvian | īpašs | ||
| The Latvian word "īpašs" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂éḱs₂o-," meaning "unique," and is related to the Latin word "exiguus," meaning "small" or "limited." | |||
| Lithuanian | ypatingas | ||
| The word "ypatingas" also means "extraordinary" or "outstanding". | |||
| Macedonian | посебен | ||
| The word 'посебен' in Macedonian is cognate with the Russian word 'посинный', meaning 'bluish'. | |||
| Polish | specjalny | ||
| The word "specjalny" in Polish is derived from the Latin word "specialis" and also means "distinctive" or "unique". | |||
| Romanian | special | ||
| In Romanian, the word "special" can also mean "exceptional" or "unusual". | |||
| Russian | специальный | ||
| The word "специальный" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "spěti", meaning "to be successful" or "to attain". | |||
| Serbian | посебна | ||
| The word "posebna" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *posěbъ, meaning "separate" or "different". | |||
| Slovak | špeciálne | ||
| Špeciálne comes from the Latin word "species", meaning a particular sort or kind. | |||
| Slovenian | poseben | ||
| "Poseben" in Slovenian also means "particular", "specific", "distinct", "extraordinary", "peculiar", or "odd". | |||
| Ukrainian | спеціальні | ||
| Слово "спеціальні" в украинском языке имеет несколько дополнительных значений, таких как "профессиональный", "специализированный" и "особый." | |||
Special in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিশেষ | ||
| বিশেষ ('special') in Bengali derives from the Sanskrit word 'vishesha', meaning 'characteristic' or 'difference'. | |||
| Gujarati | ખાસ | ||
| "ખાસ" (special) may also mean "particularly" or "specifically". | |||
| Hindi | विशेष | ||
| विशेष can also mean 'specific', 'extra' or 'particularly' | |||
| Kannada | ವಿಶೇಷ | ||
| The word "ವಿಶೇಷ" means "important," "extraordinary," or "rare" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | പ്രത്യേക | ||
| "പ്രത്യേക" means "particular, peculiar, specific, extraordinary, unusual, singular, uncommon, distinctive" in Malayalam. | |||
| Marathi | विशेष | ||
| विशेष is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vishesh', meaning 'distinctive' or 'different' | |||
| Nepali | विशेष | ||
| The word "विशेष" has alternate meanings including "particular", "different", and "remarkable" depending on the context of its usage. | |||
| Punjabi | ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විශේෂ | ||
| The word "විශේෂ" (special) in Sinhala also means "distinct from others or unique". | |||
| Tamil | சிறப்பு | ||
| சிறப்பு' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'श्रेष्ठ' ( श्रेष्ठ ) meaning 'best' or 'superior', and also means 'distinction' or 'excellence' in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | ప్రత్యేక | ||
| The word "ప్రత్యేక" (special) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रत्येक" (each), meaning "distinctive or unique". | |||
| Urdu | خصوصی | ||
| Historically, "خصوصی" was used in an adjectival sense to modify nouns denoting persons or things worthy of honor or respect | |||
Special in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 特别 | ||
| "特别" can also mean exceptionally or abnormally. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 特別 | ||
| The word "特別" can also mean "extraordinary" or "exceptional". | |||
| Japanese | 特殊 | ||
| "特殊" (special) in Japanese can also refer to "specific", "particular", "unique", or "extraordinary". | |||
| Korean | 특별한 | ||
| Mongolian | онцгой | ||
| The word "Онцгой" in Mongolian can also refer to something unique or unusual. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အထူး | ||
Special in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | khusus | ||
| The word 'khusus' in Indonesian is derived from Arabic and has the alternate meaning of 'reserved for a specific purpose'. | |||
| Javanese | khusus | ||
| The word "khusus" in Javanese also carries the connotation of "exclusive" or "private", implying a sense of exclusivity or limited access. | |||
| Khmer | ពិសេស | ||
| The word "ពិសេស" originates from Sanskrit "विशेष" meaning "different" or "exceptional". | |||
| Lao | ພິເສດ | ||
| ພິເສດ (Phiset): A highly-regarded individual, one who possesses unique skills or abilities beyond the norm in Lao society. | |||
| Malay | khas | ||
| The Malay word "khas" can also refer to a private area or room, and to certain types of traditional Malay clothing. | |||
| Thai | พิเศษ | ||
| The Thai word "พิเศษ" (special) likely derives from the Sanskrit/Pali word "विशेष" (visesa), meaning "excellence" or "distinction". | |||
| Vietnamese | đặc biệt | ||
| "Đặc biệt" also means "thickness" in Vietnamese, which refers to the texture or consistency of a substance. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | espesyal | ||
Special in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | xüsusi | ||
| "Xüsusi" is derived from the Arabic word "khusus" meaning "private," "particular" or "specific." | |||
| Kazakh | арнайы | ||
| The Kazakh word "арнайы" is derived from the Persian word "ارنای", meaning "particular" or "specific". | |||
| Kyrgyz | атайын | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "атайын" can also mean "on purpose" or "specifically". | |||
| Tajik | махсус | ||
| The word "махсус" is derived from the Arabic word "خصّ" (khạṣṣ), meaning "particular" or "specific." | |||
| Turkmen | ýörite | ||
| Uzbek | maxsus | ||
| The word "maxsus" is ultimately derived from Arabic and can also mean "custom", "specific", or "particular" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | ئالاھىدە | ||
Special in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kūikawā | ||
| Kūikawā derives from words meaning 'to assemble' and 'beautiful,' and also refers to something precious, esteemed, or rare. | |||
| Maori | motuhake | ||
| The word 'motuhake' also implies exclusivity and sovereignty, with its root 'motu' meaning both 'island' and 'nation'. | |||
| Samoan | faʻapitoa | ||
| Faʻapitoa originally referred to sacred tapu places or actions specifically restricted to high chiefs or priests. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | espesyal | ||
| The word "espesyal" in Tagalog is derived from the Spanish word "especial", meaning special or extraordinary. | |||
Special in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ispisyala | ||
| Guarani | mba'eraite | ||
Special in International Languages
| Esperanto | speciala | ||
| Esperanto's "speciala" comes from Latin "specialis", used in the sense of "exclusive" or "singular". | |||
| Latin | peculiari | ||
| The Latin term "peculiari" not only carries the familiar denotation of "special" but also can imply exceptionalism in the sense of belonging to an individual or a group. | |||
Special in Others Languages
| Greek | ειδικός | ||
| The word "ειδικός" (special) comes from the Greek word "είδος" (type, form), and can also mean "expert" or "specialist". | |||
| Hmong | tshwj xeeb | ||
| The word "tshwj xeeb" can also refer to something that is rare, unique, or extraordinary. | |||
| Kurdish | taybetî | ||
| Taybetî derives from the root word 'tîp', meaning 'type', and can also refer to something that is unique or one-of-a-kind. | |||
| Turkish | özel | ||
| The word "özel" in Turkish also means "secret" or "private". | |||
| Xhosa | okhethekileyo | ||
| The word “okhethekileyo” in Xhosa comes from the verb “ukukhetha” (to choose), suggesting that something special has been chosen or set apart. | |||
| Yiddish | ספּעציעל | ||
| The Yiddish word "ספּעציעל" derives from the Latin word "specialis", which means "particular", "specific", or "extraordinary". | |||
| Zulu | okukhethekile | ||
| The word "okukhethekile" comes from the verb "ukukhetha", which means "to choose", suggesting that something "okukhethekile" is handpicked or unique. | |||
| Assamese | বিশেষ | ||
| Aymara | ispisyala | ||
| Bhojpuri | खास | ||
| Dhivehi | ޚާއްސަ | ||
| Dogri | चेचा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | espesyal | ||
| Guarani | mba'eraite | ||
| Ilocano | naisingsingayan | ||
| Krio | spɛshal | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تایبەت | ||
| Maithili | विशेष | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯈꯟꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | danglam bik | ||
| Oromo | kan adda ta'e | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବିଶେଷ | ||
| Quechua | sapaq | ||
| Sanskrit | विशेषः | ||
| Tatar | махсус | ||
| Tigrinya | ፍሉይ | ||
| Tsonga | hlawuleka | ||