Wet in different languages

Wet in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'wet' holds a significant place in our daily lives, describing the state of something being covered in, or having the presence of, liquid. It's a simple term, yet it carries a world of meaning, from the freshness of morning dew to the power of a stormy sea. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, art, and language itself. For instance, in English folklore, the 'wet blanket' is a party pooper, while in Chinese, 'wet' (湿/shī) is a radical found in characters related to water and moisture.

Given its universal relevance, knowing the translation of 'wet' in different languages can enrich your vocabulary and cultural understanding. For example, in Spanish, 'wet' is 'mojado' (moh-HAH-do), and in Japanese, it's 'nureta' (nu-REH-ta). These translations not only help in communication but also offer a glimpse into the unique ways other cultures perceive and express this basic concept.

Wet

Wet in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansnat
"Nat" is not to be confused with the "Natte" of "Nattegal" (nightingale)
Amharicእርጥብ
"እርጥብ" comes from the Ge'ez word "arṭeba" meaning "to moisten".
Hausajika
Hausa word 'jika' is also used for the act of soaking something in a liquid.
Igbommiri
'Mmili' literally translates to 'the giver of life' in Igbo language as it connotes purity, blessing and abundance.
Malagasyfahavaratra
The word
Nyanja (Chichewa)yonyowa
Shonanyorova
Somaliqoyan
The Somali word "qoyan" has an alternate meaning of "weak" or "feeble"
Sesothometsi
The related noun 'metsi' in Sesotho can refer to any liquid, including alcoholic beverages, not just water.
Swahilimvua
The word 'mvua' in Swahili shares etymological roots with other Bantu languages and may have originally meant 'to rain' or 'rainfall'.
Xhosakumanzi
The word "kumanzi" in Xhosa has an alternate meaning of "abundance" or "plenty."
Yorubatutu
The Yoruba word 'tutu' can also be used to emphasize a statement, meaning 'very'.
Zulukumanzi
"Kumanzi" in Zulu has roots in the word "ama" which refers to water and "khanda" meaning "to fall".
Bambaraɲigin
Eweƒo tsi
Kinyarwandaitose
Lingalamai
Lugandaokutoba
Sepedithapile
Twi (Akan)fɔ

Wet in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمبلل
The verb "بَلّ" (to wet) comes from the Semitic root "بل" meaning to make or become moist, and is cognate with the Hebrew verb "בָלַל" (to confuse)
Hebrewרָטוֹב
"רָטוֹב" (wet) is derived from the root "רטב," meaning "to moisten," and has an alternate meaning of "moist," used to describe food.
Pashtoلوند
Arabicمبلل
The verb "بَلّ" (to wet) comes from the Semitic root "بل" meaning to make or become moist, and is cognate with the Hebrew verb "בָלַל" (to confuse)

Wet in Western European Languages

Albaniani lagur
The Albanian word "i lagur" ('wet') may be derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to pour". In some Albanian dialects, it can also mean "heavy rain" or "swamp".
Basquebustia
The word comes from Latin *bustum* meaning "crematorium" or even "grave."
Catalanmullat
The word "mullat" can also mean "subdued" or "faded" in Catalan.
Croatianmokra
The word "mokra" can also refer to a female otter or a swampy area in Croatian.
Danishvåd
The word 'våd' is also used in Danish to describe something that is 'difficult' or 'troublesome'.
Dutchnat
In Dutch dialects, "nat" can also mean "drunk" or "naked".
Englishwet
"Wet" was borrowed into English during the 13th century from Old Norse "våtr". It can also refer to a drink containing alcohol
Frenchhumide
The French word
Frisianwiet
The Frisian word "wiet" can also mean "white" or a "meadow".
Galicianmollado
In Galician, "mollado" can also refer to "soft" or "tender" when used to describe bread or pastry.
Germannass
The word "nass" also means "drunk" in German, and is related to the English word "in a snit".
Icelandicblautur
The word "blautur" in Icelandic is cognate with the English word "blue" and originally meant "bluish".
Irishfliuch
The word 'fliuch' is related to the word 'flow'.
Italianbagnato
Bagnato is derived from the Latin word 'balneum' meaning 'bath'.
Luxembourgishnaass
The word "naass" in Luxembourgish derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*sneigw-" which also means "to snow" and is related to the German word "nass" and the French word "neige"
Malteseimxarrab
The Arabic word "imxarrab" can also refer to a person who is drunk or disheveled.
Norwegianvåt
Vått's historical meaning is 'to be ready for harvest'
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)molhado
"Molhado" originates from the Latin word "mollis," meaning "soft" or "pliable," and is related to "mole," meaning "softly" or "delicately."
Scots Gaelicfliuch
The Scots Gaelic word 'fliuch' not only means 'wet', but also 'moist' and 'green'.
Spanishmojado
"Mojado" in Spanish can also mean "undocumented immigrant" in US Spanish.
Swedishvåt
"Våt" in Swedish is connected to the English word "water" in the sense that "våt" comes from the Proto-Norse word "vātr", which also gave us the English word "water".
Welshgwlyb
The word 'gwlyb' can also refer to a 'tear' or 'drop', or the act of 'weeping'.

Wet in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianмокры
Slavic languages use the Proto-Slavic root *mokrъ, meaning “dipped, soaked, wet.”
Bosnianmokro
The Bosnian word
Bulgarianмокър
Bulgarian word “мокър” may also mean “drunk” in some contexts.
Czechmokrý
The word "mokrý" in Czech comes from Proto-Slavic "mokrъ", meaning both "wet" and "moist".
Estonianmärg
The word "märg" in Estonian is cognate with "murky" in English and "mörk" in Swedish, reflecting their shared Proto-Indo-European root meaning "darkness" or "dimness".
Finnishmärkä
"Märkä" also means "rotten" or "putrid" in some Finnish dialects.
Hungariannedves
The word "nedves" also means "humid" or "moist" in Hungarian, and comes from the Proto-Uralic root "*neðʷa" meaning "wet".
Latvianslapjš
The Latvian word "slapjš" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Baltic root "*slapias", meaning "wet, damp, moist". It is also related to the Lithuanian word "šlapias", meaning "wet", and the Old Prussian word "slapis", meaning "damp, wet".
Lithuanianšlapias
The Lithuanian word "šlapias" is cognate with the Latin word "slippare" (to slide) and the German word "schlüpfrig" (slippery).
Macedonianвлажни
The word "влажни" is also used to describe something that is humid or moist.
Polishmokro
The word 'mokro' can also mean 'damp' or 'moist'. Additionally, it may refer to the act of immersing something in liquid.
Romanianumed
The Romanian word "umed" (wet) originates from the Latin word "humidus", meaning moist or wet.
Russianмокрый
"Мокрый" in Russian can also refer to a person who is drunk or emotionally distressed.
Serbianмокар
The term "мокар" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *mokrъ, meaning "wet" or "damp."
Slovakmokrý
The word "mokrý" originally meant "damp" or "moist".
Slovenianmokro
In the past,
Ukrainianмокрий
"Мокрий" is derived from Proto-Slavic *mokrъ, meaning "wet," and is related to the Russian word "мокрый" and the Polish word "mokry."

Wet in South Asian Languages

Bengaliভেজা
In addition to its primary meaning of "wet," ভেজা can also mean "moist" or "damp".
Gujaratiભીનું
Hindiभीगा हुआ
The word 'भीगा हुआ' also refers to something that is saturated, like a cloth soaked in water.
Kannadaಒದ್ದೆ
"ಒದ್ದೆ" may also mean sticky or mushy, like the consistency of dough.
Malayalamആർദ്ര
Marathiओले
Nepaliभिजेको
Derived from the Sanskrit word 'vij' (विज), meaning 'to sprinkle'.
Punjabiਗਿੱਲਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)තෙත්
"තෙත්" is an adjective that can also mean "moist".
Tamilஈரமான
The Tamil word ஈரமான also means "moist" or "damp" and is related to the word ஈரம் which means "moisture" or "dampness".
Teluguతడి
The word "తడి" can also mean "juice", "moisture", "dampness", or "humidity".
Urduگیلا
The word "گیلا" can also mean "damp" or "moist" in Urdu.

Wet in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)湿
Chinese (Traditional)濕
In Taiwan, 濕 (shī) also means humid and sultry weather conditions.
Japaneseウェット
ウェット can also mean "naive" or "green" when describing a person's personality or experience.
Korean젖은
"젖은" is used as both a noun and verb, and is often used to describe physical appearance.
Mongolianнойтон
The word "нойтон" in Mongolian can also mean "soft", "tender", or "flabby".
Myanmar (Burmese)စိုစွတ်သော

Wet in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbasah
"Basah" can also mean "fresh" or "new" in Indonesian, as in "daun basah" (fresh leaves) or "mobil basah" (new car).
Javaneseteles
Though it means "wet," the Javanese word "teles" has other connotations such as cold or damp.
Khmerសើម
"សើម" can also refer to the state of being slightly drunk.
Laoປຽກ
Malaybasah
The word "basah" is also used in Thai with the meaning of "fresh", "new", and "raw".
Thaiเปียก
The word "เปียก" can also mean "drunk" or "intoxicated".
Vietnameseướt
In the 16th century, "ướt" was a noun that referred to a "kind of fish trap". It only came to mean "wet" in the 20th century.
Filipino (Tagalog)basa

Wet in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaninəm
The Azerbaijani word
Kazakhдымқыл
The word "дымқыл" in Kazakh also figuratively means "sad" or "unlucky".
Kyrgyzнымдуу
The word "нымдуу" is derived from the Proto-Turkic word "*nïm" meaning "moisture" or "dampness".
Tajikтар
The Tajik word "тар" comes from either the Proto-Indo-Iranian "*tra-/*tar-" or the Proto-Indo-European "*ter-/*tr-" and is related to words like "tear", "torrent", and "transpire"}
Turkmençygly
Uzbekho'l
The word "ho'l" in Uzbek is also used to describe liquids, moisture, and dampness.
Uyghurھۆل

Wet in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpulu
In addition to meaning "wet", "pulu" can also mean "to rinse" or "to wash" in Hawaiian.
Maorimākū
In Maori, “mākū” is also the name of a freshwater fish that is typically found in small streams and rivers.
Samoansusu
Tagalog (Filipino)basang basa
The Tagalog word "basang-basa" literally translates to "soaked wet" and can also be used figuratively to describe someone who is very emotional, especially sadness.

Wet in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajunt'u
Guaranihykue

Wet in International Languages

Esperantomalseka
The word 'malseka' likely comes from the same Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'moist'.
Latininfectum
In Latin, "infectum" can also refer to incomplete work, something unfinished or not colored.

Wet in Others Languages

Greekβρεγμένος
The word "βρεγμένος" in Greek also means "soaked" or "drenched".
Hmongntub
"Ntub" in Hmong is derived from the Proto-Hmong-Mien *n̥tub, which also means 'to wash' or 'to bathe'.
Kurdishşil
The word 'şil' also means 'fresh' in Kurdish, and is related to the word 'şîr', which means 'milk'.
Turkishıslak
The word "ıslak" can also refer to a person who is emotionally sensitive or delicate.
Xhosakumanzi
The word "kumanzi" in Xhosa has an alternate meaning of "abundance" or "plenty."
Yiddishנאַס
"Nasse" can be used to describe not only "wet" objects, but also "drunk" states in Yiddish.
Zulukumanzi
"Kumanzi" in Zulu has roots in the word "ama" which refers to water and "khanda" meaning "to fall".
Assameseভিজা
Aymarajunt'u
Bhojpuriगील
Dhivehiތެތް
Dogriगिल्ला
Filipino (Tagalog)basa
Guaranihykue
Ilocanonabasa
Kriosok
Kurdish (Sorani)تەڕ
Maithiliभीजल
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯆꯣꯠꯄ
Mizohuh
Oromojiidhaa
Odia (Oriya)ଓଦା
Quechuanuyu
Sanskritआर्द्रम्‌
Tatarдым
Tigrinyaርሑስ
Tsongatsakama

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter

Weekly TipWeekly Tip

Deepen your understanding of global issues by looking at keywords in multiple languages.

Immerse Yourself in the World of Languages

Type in any word and see it translated into 104 languages. Where possible, you'll also get to hear its pronunciation in languages your browser supports. Our goal? To make exploring languages straightforward and enjoyable.

How to use our multi-language translation tool

How to use our multi-language translation tool

Turn words into a kaleidoscope of languages in a few simple steps

  1. Start with a word

    Just type the word you're curious about into our search box.

  2. Auto-complete to the rescue

    Let our auto-complete nudge you in the right direction to quickly find your word.

  3. See and hear translations

    With a click, see translations in 104 languages and hear pronunciations where your browser supports audio.

  4. Grab the translations

    Need the translations for later? Download all the translations in a neat JSON file for your project or study.

Explore More Apps You'll Love

Our Word Search for Desktop provides a comprehensive and comfortable experience for those who prefer the big screen, making word finding a seamless task.

Struggle no more in search of the right words with this incredible adjective search tool. Elevate your language effortlessly.

Craft your perfect pronunciation path with resources designed for pronunciation for learners and professional speakers alike.

Features section image

Features overview

  • Instant translations with audio where available

    Type in your word and get translations in a flash. Where available, click to hear how it's pronounced in different languages, right from your browser.

  • Quick find with auto-complete

    Our smart auto-complete helps you quickly find your word, making your journey to translation smooth and hassle-free.

  • Translations in 104 Languages, no selection needed

    We've got you covered with automatic translations and audio in supported languages for every word, no need to pick and choose.

  • Downloadable translations in JSON

    Looking to work offline or integrate translations into your project? Download them in a handy JSON format.

  • All free, All for you

    Jump into the language pool without worrying about costs. Our platform is open to all language lovers and curious minds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you provide translations and audio?

It's simple! Type in a word, and instantly see its translations. If your browser supports it, you'll also see a play button to hear pronunciations in various languages.

Can I download these translations?

Absolutely! You can download a JSON file with all the translations for any word, perfect for when you're offline or working on a project.

What if I can't find my word?

We're constantly growing our list of 3000 words. If you don't see yours, it might not be there yet, but we're always adding more!

Is there a fee to use your site?

Not at all! We're passionate about making language learning accessible to everyone, so our site is completely free to use.