Upper in different languages

Upper in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 5, 2024

The word 'upper' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, often used to describe something that is higher in position or superior in quality. Its cultural importance is evident in various aspects of our lives, from fashion (upper wear) to anatomy (upper body) and even in social contexts (upper class).

But did you know? The concept of 'upper' has been interpreted differently across languages and cultures, reflecting unique perspectives and societal norms. For instance, in German, 'upper' can be translated to 'ober' as in 'oberhalb' (above) or 'Oberteil' (top part of clothing). In Spanish, it's 'superior', in French 'supérieur', and in Japanese, it's '上' (uwagi) which literally means 'upper garment'.

Understanding the translation of 'upper' in different languages not only enriches our linguistic abilities but also provides a fascinating glimpse into diverse cultural mindsets. Dive into this global exploration of 'upper' below!

Upper


Upper in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansboonste
The word 'boonste' in Afrikaans ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰer- ('to carry').
Amharicየላይኛው
"የላይኛው" can also mean "the one above" or "the highest one".
Hausana sama
The term "na sama" can also refer to a social or economic stratum, particularly the elite or upper classes.
Igboelu
In some cases, the word "elu" can also refer to the sky, the heavens, or the spiritual realm.
Malagasyambony
The Malagasy word
Nyanja (Chichewa)chapamwamba
The word 'chapamwamba' in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also refer to the upper body or the top of something.
Shonaokumusoro
The Shona word "okumusoro" literally means "on the head" and is used to describe things that are high or above.
Somalisare
The Somali word "sare" can also mean "high" or "tall" in the sense of a physical dimension.
Sesothohodimo
The word 'hodimo' shares a root with the word 'hoeletsa', meaning 'to lift' or 'to carry on the head'.
Swahilijuu
The word "juu" in Swahili can also mean "on top of" or "above".
Xhosangaphezulu
The Xhosa word 'ngaphezulu' is related to 'ngapha', meaning both 'side' and 'to add'. It literally means the 'added-on' side.
Yorubaoke
The Yoruba word "oke" may also refer to a deity of the mountain and forest.
Zulungenhla
The term 'ngenhla' can also refer to a specific social hierarchy in Zulu society or to the region of the sky associated with the sun.
Bambarasanfɛ
Ewedzigbe gome
Kinyarwandahejuru
Lingalalikoló
Lugandawaggulu
Sepedika godimo
Twi (Akan)soro

Upper in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالعلوي
In Arabic, the word “العلوي” refers to someone who belongs to a religious, political, or ethnic group claiming descent from Ali, the fourth caliph.
Hebrewעֶלִיוֹן
The Hebrew word "עלי" means "on" and "עליון" can mean "top". The word "עליה" can mean "ascent" or "attic". In the Bible, "עליון" often refers to God and means "most high".
Pashtoپورتنی
The Pashto word "پورتنی" is of Sanskrit origin, with its cognate "pūrtti" meaning "completion, fullness, accomplishment."
Arabicالعلوي
In Arabic, the word “العلوي” refers to someone who belongs to a religious, political, or ethnic group claiming descent from Ali, the fourth caliph.

Upper in Western European Languages

Albaniansipërme
Sipërme is possibly derived from the Proto-Albanian word *sypərmə (“highest”)
Basquegoikoa
The Basque word "goikoa" is the origin of the name of the town "Goikoetxea".
Catalansuperior
In Catalan, the word
Croatiangornji
In Croatian, "Gornji" can describe an item's quality, geographical location, or time period.
Danishøverst
Its historical meanings include 'greatest, highest (amount), outermost', and 'top, roof'.
Dutchbovenste
The Dutch word "bovenste" can also refer to a "top hat" or a "topper."
Englishupper
The term
Frenchplus haut
In heraldy, the word "plus haut" refers to the upper part of an escutcheon.
Frisianheger
The Frisian word "heger" also refers to the "loft" or "hayloft" of a barn.
Galiciansuperior
Germanoberer, höher
"Ober" and "hoch" are derived from the same Indo-European word "up".
Icelandicefri
As a noun, "efri" can refer to the upper (and outer) surface of an object.
Irishuachtarach
Uachtarach is also part of the Irish word for elbow, uilinn, which translates literally to 'joint of the upper'.
Italiansuperiore
The Italian word "superiore" originally referred to a monk of higher rank, later extended to any superior, and eventually to anything that is above or greater than another.
Luxembourgishiewescht
"Iewescht" also means "upper" in the sense of superior or high-quality.
Malteseta 'fuq
Norwegianøverste
The Norwegian word "øverste" can also mean "highest" or "topmost".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)superior
The Portuguese word "superior" can also mean "better, most excellent".
Scots Gaelicàrd
Àrd can also mean "noble" or "chief" and comes from the same Indo-European root as "lord."
Spanishsuperior
"Superior" in Spanish can also mean "excellent" or "of higher quality".
Swedishövre
"Övre" can also mean eastern, as in when the word is part of place names, like Övre Soppero in northern Sweden.
Welshuchaf

Upper in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianверхняя
In many Slavic languages, including Belarusian, "верхняя" can also refer to the upper or front teeth.
Bosniangornji
The word 'gornji' can also mean 'eastern' or 'outer' in Bosnian.
Bulgarianгорен
The word "горен" can also refer to a type of traditional Bulgarian bread.}
Czechhorní
In dialects, "horní" can also mean "better" or "greater".
Estonianülemine
The term "ülemine", besides meaning "upper," can also refer to a transition to another condition.
Finnishylempi
The word "ylempi" is also used in the sense of "superior" or "higher" in a hierarchy or social status.
Hungarianfelső
The word "felső" also means "surface" or "top" in Hungarian, and is related to the Finnish word "ylä" (up, above).
Latvianaugšējā
The word "augšējā" can also mean "upper floor" or "higher level", as in "augšējā stāvā" (on the upper floor).
Lithuanianviršutinė
Although "viršutinė" means "upper" in Lithuanian, it can also refer to the bodice of a woman's dress.
Macedonianгорниот
Горниот is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *gornь, which also means "mountain" or "highland".
Polishgórny
"Górny" also means "mountainous" in Polish, derived from Slavic "gora" (mountain), just like English "gore".
Romaniansuperior
In Romanian, "superior" has retained both its Latin meaning of "higher" and has taken on the additional meaning of "excellent" or "of higher quality."
Russianверхний
In old Slavonic, "верхний" meant "highest" or "supreme."
Serbianгорња
The word "горња" can also refer to the Upper Town or uphill part of a town.
Slovakhorný
The Slovak word "horný" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*gornъ", which also meant "bitter or acrid".
Slovenianzgornji
"Zgornji" also means "rotten" in Slovenian and derives from the Slavic word "goru"
Ukrainianверхній
The word "верхній" in Ukrainian can also mean "supreme" or "highest", referring to a higher power or authority.

Upper in South Asian Languages

Bengaliউপরের
The word "উপরের" can also mean "on top of" or "above".
Gujaratiઉપલા
In Gujarati, "ઉપલા" can also refer to a type of lentil or pea.
Hindiऊपरी
ऊपरी also means 'superficial' or 'external' and is an antonym of भीतरी ('inner')
Kannadaಮೇಲ್ಭಾಗ
The word "ಮೇಲ್ಭಾಗ" can also refer to the top of a tree or hill.
Malayalamമുകളിലെ
മുകളിലെ also means "top" (like "top of the mountain"), "above" (like "the stars above"), or "over" (like "the house over there").
Marathiवरील
The word "वरील" is used to refer to the "upper" part of something or to indicate a superior position, but it can also mean "former" or "past".
Nepaliमाथिल्लो
The word "माथिल्लो" (upper) in Nepali also means "higher" or "superior".
Punjabiਵੱਡੇ
The word "ਵੱਡੇ" (upper) also serves as a term of respect for elders in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ඉහළ
The word "ඉහළ" (upper) can also mean "high", "above", "on top", or "over" in Sinhala.
Tamilமேல்
மேல் is used figuratively to indicate superiority or dominance.
Teluguఎగువ
Urduاوپری
The Urdu word "اوپری" also means "superficial" or "foreign".

Upper in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character "上" can also mean "to go up," "to ascend," or "to rise."
Chinese (Traditional)
In addition to its primary meaning of "upper," the character "上" can also mean "ascend," "above," or "begin."
Japaneseアッパー
The word
Korean높은
Originally, the word meant “to put high,” and only later “to be high”.
Mongolianдээд
The word "дээд" also means "top" and "superior".
Myanmar (Burmese)အထက်
The word "အထက်" (upper) in Myanmar (Burmese) can also mean "above" or "higher".

Upper in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianatas
The word "atas" is thought to have originated from the Sanskrit word "uttas" meaning "upward" or "higher up". It can also be used to refer to a person's social status or rank.
Javanesendhuwur
The Javanese word
Khmerខាងលើ
The word "ខាងលើ" is also used in Khmer to mean "above" or "on top of".
Laoເທິງ
The word
Malaybahagian atas
The word "bahagian atas" also means "heaven" in Malay.
Thaiด้านบน
The word "ด้านบน" can also mean "on top of" or "above" in Thai.
Vietnamesephía trên
"Phía trên" (upper) in Vietnamese can also refer to the northern region of the country or to an area that is higher in elevation.
Filipino (Tagalog)itaas

Upper in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniyuxarı
"Yuxarı" is also an Azerbaijani word for "upward" and a Turkish surname.
Kazakhжоғарғы
The Kazakh word жоғарғы (joğarğı) is cognate with the Turkish word yukarı, both meaning "upper" or "above".
Kyrgyzжогорку
"Жогорку" also refers to a traditional Kyrgyz headdress worn by married women.
Tajikболоӣ
The word "болоӣ" has been used as a synonym for "head" in Persian texts since the 13th century.
Turkmenýokarky
Uzbekyuqori
The word "yuqori" means "upper" in Uzbek
Uyghurئۈستى

Upper in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianluna
In Hawaiian, the word "luna" can also refer to the high chief or overseer of a district.
Maoriwhakarunga
Samoani luga
In Samoan, the word "i luga" not only means "upper" but also "above, on top, on the surface of, over, and up."
Tagalog (Filipino)itaas
Itaas can also mean "more than" and "best part".

Upper in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarapata tuqina
Guaraniyvategua

Upper in International Languages

Esperantosupra
The Esperanto word "supra" also means "over" or "above" in Latin.
Latinsuperiores
"Superiores" could also mean "priests" or "ancestors".

Upper in Others Languages

Greekανώτερος
The word
Hmongqaum
The word "qaum" also means "above".
Kurdishyên jorîn
"Yên jorîn" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian "bālā tar", which also refers to the upper or higher part of something.
Turkishüst
The word "üst" can also mean "dominant" or "superior" in Turkish, as well as referring to the topmost part of something.
Xhosangaphezulu
The Xhosa word 'ngaphezulu' is related to 'ngapha', meaning both 'side' and 'to add'. It literally means the 'added-on' side.
Yiddishאויבערשטער
Yiddish "אויבערשטער" can also be the Yiddish translation for God or the devil.
Zulungenhla
The term 'ngenhla' can also refer to a specific social hierarchy in Zulu society or to the region of the sky associated with the sun.
Assameseওপৰৰ
Aymarapata tuqina
Bhojpuriऊपर के बा
Dhivehiމަތީގައެވެ
Dogriऊपरी
Filipino (Tagalog)itaas
Guaraniyvategua
Ilocanongato
Krioɔp
Kurdish (Sorani)سەرەوە
Maithiliऊपरी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯃꯊꯛꯀꯤ꯫
Mizochunglam chu a ni
Oromogubbaa
Odia (Oriya)ଉପର
Quechuahanaq
Sanskritऊर्ध्वम्
Tatarөске
Tigrinyaላዕለዋይ ክፋል
Tsongaehenhla

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