Contributors: Hkebbe, Ginger, Sev, Max, Sakura, Anna
Today we celebrate the birthday of Peter Mark Roget, born January 18, 1779. His Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases was published in 1852. Roget’s Thesaurus is still used today.
We’ve asked our etutors to give us some synonyms for common words you might already know. Take a look!
Arabic
| English word |
translation |
synonyms |
| big |
كبير “kabiir” |
ضخم “Dhakhm” (huge) |
| beautiful |
جميل ” jamiil |
فاتن “faatin” (pretty) |
| happy |
سعيد “saxiid” |
فرحان “farhaan” (glad) |
| friend |
صديق “Sadiiq” |
خليل “khaliil” (close friend) |
| delicious |
لذيذ is “ladhiidh” |
شهي “shahiy” (tasty) |
Chinese
| beautiful |
漂亮 piào liàng |
美丽 měi lì |
| happy |
快乐 kuài lè |
开心 kāi xīn; 愉快 yú kuài; 欢喜 huān xǐ; 愉悦 yú yuè; 喜悦 xǐ yuè |
| friend |
朋友 péng yǒu |
友人 yǒu rén |
| delicious |
美味 měi wèi |
好吃 hǎo chī ； 可口 kě kǒu |
| angry |
生气 shēng qì |
愤怒 fèn nù ；气愤 qì fèn |
French
| big |
grand/ grande (m./f.) |
large (wide) |
| beautiful |
beau / belle (m./f.) |
mignon/ mignonne (m./f.) (cute) |
| friend |
ami / amie (m./f.) |
copain/ copine (m./f.) (friend, informal); petit ami/ petite amie (m./f.) (boyfriend/ girlfriend) |
| delicious |
délicieux /délicieuse (m./f.) |
savoureux /savoureuse (m./f.) (tasty) |
Italian
| big |
grosso/a/i/e |
grande/i Example: “sei un grande“ (you are a cool guy) |
| beautiful |
bello/a/i/e Example: Sei bello come il sole. You are beautiful. (lit. You are as beautiful as the sun) |
attraente/i |
| happy |
felice/I Example: E’ felice come una Pasqua. He/she is very happ.y (lit. He is as happy as Easter.) |
contento/a/i/e |
| friend |
amico/a/amici/amiche |
compagno/a/i/e |
| delicious |
delizioso/a/i/e |
buono/a/i/e |
Japanese
| big |
大きい ookii |
大きな ookina can also mean big. The only thing to keep in mind is that 大きな ookina has to be followed by a noun. For example, you can say 大きな木 ookina ki big tree, but if you want to say the tree is big, then you must use the adjective 大きい ookii instead. |
| beautiful |
美しい utsukushii |
きれい kiree (The adjective 美しい utsukushii is not used very casually in Japanese. Instead, きれい kiree, which means pretty is used often. So whenever you want to say, It’s beautiful!, say, きれい Kiree! |
| happy |
幸せ shiawase |
嬉しい ureshii means pleased, but it is used in many contexts where English speakers would say happy. For example, if you want to say, I’m happy to see you in Japanese, it will be お会いできて嬉しいです Oaidekite ureshii desu.
|
| friend |
友達 tomodachi |
親友 shin-yuu means close friend or best friend. For example, ジョンは私の親友です Jon wa watashi no shin-yuu desu means John is my close/best friend. |
Spanish
| big |
grande (sing.) / grandes (pl.) |
gran, enorme (very big) |
| beautiful |
bonito (sing. masc.) / bonita (sing. fem.) / bonitos (pl. masc.) / bonitas (pl. fem.) |
guapo/guapa (related to people meaning handsome/pretty) |
| happy |
feliz (sing.) / felices (pl.) |
contento/contenta (glad) |
| delicious |
delicioso (sing. masc.) / deliciosa (sing. fem.) / deliciosos (pl. masc.) / deliciosas (pl. fem.) |
rico/rica (delicious) |
| friend |
amigo (sing. masc.) / amiga (sing. fem.) / amigos (pl. masc.) / amigas (pl. fem) |
colega (does not mean colleague- false cognate) |
