The word “Beautiful” is a feminine adjective. Apart from making women smile when they are called “Beautiful”, it can also be used to describe inanimate things that are pleasant looking, e.g (that is a beautiful mansion!) Dictionary.com defines the word Beautiful as”…possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc.; delighting the senses or mind.” Other words that can be used in place of beautiful, are; Lovely, Goodlooking, Charming, Attractive, e.t.c
The word beautiful is a positive word, it spreads cheer and happiness and is bound to make the hearer smile or at least blush. Everyone alive loves beautiful things and wants a beautiful life. If you tell a random lady that you see that she is beautiful, you may have probably made her day as everyone loves to feel beautiful even men, although men are often called “Handsome”. Let’s try this, compliment a man and tell him he is “Beautiful”, chances are, he will smile first.
We all love the word beautiful, but where did it originate from? The adjective beautiful comes from the adjectival noun, Beauty. Both words are etymologically derived from the Latin word “Bellus” and the old French word “Beaute”. Now that we know the etymology of the word, and have figured out its western/foreign origin; we will also learn what the word beautiful is called in local African languages, or how to say beautiful in popular African languages.
Whether for academic purposes or for social purposes to impress your friends, learn 50 ways to say the word beautiful in popular African languages.
How To Say BEAUTIFUL In 50 Popular African Languages
1. Mrembo (Swahili)
In Swahili, a major East African language spoken in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and other East African countries; The word Mrembo means “beautiful”.
2. Kuhle (Zulu)
The word beautiful is KUHLE in Zulu. Zulu is a major Bantu language spoken in South Africa. There are also various variations of the word Beautiful in Zulu; e.g Amahle, Enhle, Umuhle.
3. Mma (Igbo)
In the Igbo language, which is spoken largely by the Igbo people of Southern Nigeria, and also some parts of some West African countries, the word for beautiful is MMA.
4. Ewa (Yoruba)
Yoruba is spoken largely by the Yoruba people in South-Western Nigeria. In the Yoruba language, the word Beautiful is EWA.
5. Kyau (Hausa)
In the Hausa language, which is largely spoken by the Hausa people of Northern Nigeria and also some west African countries, the word for Beautiful is KYAU.
6. Boddo (Fula)
Fula also called Fulfulde or Pular is a language spoken widely in west Africa in countries like Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal, and others. BODDO is the word for Beautiful in Fula.
7. Qurux (Somali)
Spoken mainly in Somalia, and also in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, the word for Beautiful in Somali is QURUX.
8. Umhle (Xhosa)
Another major language spoken in South Africa is Xhosa also known as iSiXhosa. UMHLE is the Xhosa word for Beautiful.
9. Ntle (Sesotho)
Sesotho is a language spoken in Lesotho, South Africa, and other Southern African countries. NTLE is the word for Beautiful in Sesotho.
10. Fɛ (Twi)
Twi is a widely spoken Akan language in Ghana. Fɛ is the Twi word for Beautiful.
11. Zwina (Darija)
Darija Language is a Moroccan Native version of Arabic, the word for BEAUTIFUL in Darija is ZWINA.
12. Fɛo (Ga)
Ga is a language spoken in Ghana. Fɛo is the word for Beautiful in Ga.
13. Ñiimaa (Mandinka)
Mandinka is also known as Mandingo is a language spoken in the West African countries of Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Guinea, and some parts of Senegal. ÑIIMAA is the word for Beautiful in Mandinka.
14. Rafet (Wolof)
Wolof is the most widely spoken language in Senegal. How to say Beautiful in Wolof, is RAFET.
15. Konjo (Amharic)
Amharic is one of the most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia. In Amharic, the word Beautiful is KONJO.
16. Bareeda (Oromo)
The Oromo language is reportedly the most widely spoken in Ethiopia. It is also spoken in some parts of Egypt, Somali, and Kenya. How to say Beautiful in Oromo is, BAREEDA.
17. Runako (Shona)
RUNAKO is the word for Beautiful in Shona, a language spoken in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and some other Southern African countries.
19. Uyai (Efik)
The Efik language is spoken amongst the Calabar and Akwaibom people in Southern Nigeria. UYAI or also EDIYE is the word for Beautiful in Efik.
20. Eefoolkee (Berber)
The Berber language also called Tashelhiyt, is spoken in Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and some other North African countries. EEFOOLKEE is the word for Beautiful in Berber.
21. Tsara Rahey (Malagasy)
Malagasy is a language spoken on the island of Madagascar. How to say beautiful in Malagasy is Tsara Rahey.
22. Wokongola (Chewa)
The Chewa or Chichewa language is widely spoken in Malawi and some Southern African countries. In Chichewa, the word for beautiful is WOKONGOLA.
23. Tsebuk (Tigrinya)
Tigrinya is the language of Eritrea, also spoken in some parts of Ethiopia. How to say beautiful in Tigrinya is TSEBUK
24. Dzetugbe (Ewe)
The Ewe language is spoken in Togo, Ghana, and some parts of the Benin Republic. How to say Beautiful in Ewe is DZETUGBE
25. IZA (Kinyarwanda)
Kinyarwanda is the most widely spoken language in Rwanda. The word for beautiful is IZA
26. Ber (Dholuo)
Dholuo is the language of the Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania. BER is the word for beautiful in Dholuo
27. Naka (Tshivenda)
Tshivenda is a language spoken by the Venda people of South Africa. How to say Beautiful in Venda is Naka.
28. ĪZA (Kirundi)
Kirundi is the most widely spoken language in Burundi. ĪZA is the word for Beautiful in Kirundi.
29. Mobotse (Sepedi)
Sepedi is the language of the Northern Sotho people in South Africa. In Sepedi, the word for beautiful is MOBOTSE
30. Ntle (Tswana)
Tswana is the Language of the Setswana people of Botswana and South Africa. How to say Beautiful in Tswana is Ntle
31.Mushle (Swati)
Swati is the language of Eswatini and also the Swazi people of South Africa. In Swati, MUSHLE is the word for Beautiful
32. Ibiye (Ijaw)
The Ijaw language is spoken by the people who live in the riverine oil-rich areas of the Southern part of Nigeria. IBIYE is the Ijaw word for beautiful
33. Muthaka (Kikuyu)
In Kikuyu, a language spoken in Kenya, the word for beautiful is MUTHAKA
34. Mulungi (Luganda)
Luganda is a language spoken in Uganda. How to say beautiful in Luganda, is MULUNGI
35. Eruvwu (Urhobo)
Amongst the Urhobo people of the Niger-Delta area of Nigeria, the word for beautiful is ERUVWU
36. Sasekile (Tsonga)
The Tsonga language is spoken in Mozambique and South Africa. How to say beautiful in Tsonga is, SASEKILE
37. Pragtige (Afrikaans)
Afrikaans is a language spoken in South Africa. PRAGTIGE is the word for beautiful in Afrikaans
38. Asham (Atyap)
Atyap is a language spoken in the northern part of Nigeria. In Atyap, ASHAM means beautiful.
39. Bongho (Mankon)
Mankon is a language spoken in the Bamenda area of Cameroon and some parts of Nigeria. In Mankon, BONGHO is the world for beautiful.
40. Vielli (Dagbani)
Dagbani is a language spoken in Ghana. The word for beautiful in Dagbani is VIELLI
41. Dituku (Tshiluba)
Tshiluba is a language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Tshiluba how to say beautiful is DITUKU
42. Qurxoon (Afar)
Afar is the language spoken by the Afar people of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. In Afar, the word for beautiful is QURXOON
43. Muwa (Oshiwambo)
Oshiwambo language is the language spoken by the Ovambo people of Namibia. MUWA is how to say beautiful in Oshiwambo
44. Shawa (Kanuri)
Kanuri is a language spoken in Niger, Chad, and Nigeria. The word for beautiful in Kanuri is SHAWA
45. Musumu (Bemba)
Bemba is a language native to Zambia, Tanzania, and Congo. In Bemba, beautiful is MUSUMU
46. Arme (Mende)
Mende is spoken in Sierra Leone and some parts of Liberia. ARME is the word for beautiful in Mende
47. Imose (Bini)
Bini is a language spoken by the Edo people of Nigeria. How to say beautiful in Bini is IMOSE
48. Cɛɲi (Bambara)
The Bambara language is the lingua franca of Mali, and is also spoken in some parts of Burkina Faso. In Bambara, the word for Beautiful is CɛɲI
49. Dekpe (Fon)
Fon or Fon Gbe, is a widely spoken language in Benin Republic. In Fon, how to say beautiful, is DEKPE
50. Kitoko (Lingala)
Lingala is the language of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. KITOKO is the word for beautiful in Lingala
How To Say “You Are Beautiful” In 5 Major African Languages
We have learned how to say Beautiful in 50 popular African languages. Additionally, we are outlining how to say the phrase “You are Beautiful” in five major African languages.
Í Mara Mma (Igbo)
If you want to tell a lady she is beautiful in Igbo Language, Í MARA MMA is the correct phrase.
wo ho ye fɛ (Twi)
In the Twi language, “fɛ” is a Twi language adjective that describes beauty.
Wewe Ni Mrembo (Swahili)
WEWE NI MREMBO is the Swahili way to say “You are beautiful”
Ó Lewa (Yoruba)
In Yoruba Language, the correct phrase for “You are Beautiful” is Ó LEWA
Umuhle (Zulu)
UMUHLE is the Zulu way to say “You are beautiful” it is also the Xhosa way of saying “You are beautiful”