Beauty

/ˈbjuːti/ noun

Definition

Beauty is the quality that makes something or someone very pleasing to your senses or your mind. It can be found in nature, art, people, ideas, and even kind actions.

Etymology

“Beauty” came into English from Old French “beaute,” which came from Latin “bellus,” meaning pretty or fine. Over time, the word expanded from surface looks to deeper, more abstract kinds of beauty.

Kelly Says

Beauty isn’t just about looks; we talk about the beauty of a math proof, a kindness, or a solution. That shows how humans link beauty with a feeling of “rightness” or harmony, not just with a pretty face.

Translations

AMአማርኛ
ብረት
bərɛt
ARالعربية
جمال
jamāl
BNবাংলা
সৌন্দর্য
shau-n-dar-ya
CSČeština
krása
kra-sa
DADansk
skønhed
skøn-hed
DEDeutsch
Schönheit
ʃøːn-haɪt
ELΕλληνικά
ομορφιά
o-mor-fi-á
ESEspañol
belleza
be-le-za
FAفارسی
زیبایی
zi-ba-ī
FISuomi
kauneus
kau-neus
FRFrançais
beauté
bo-té
HEעברית
יופי
yo-fi
HIहिन्दी
सुंदरता
sun-dar-ta
HUMagyar
szépség
se-pse-g
IDBahasa Indonesia
keindahan
ke-in-dah-an
IGIG
nwọrọ
nwo-rọ
ITItaliano
bellezza
bel-le-zza
JA日本語
u-tsu-ku-shi-sa
KMKM
ភាពស្រស់
phiəp-srɔs
KO한국어
아름다움
a-reum-da-um
MSBahasa Melayu
keindahan
ke-in-dah-an
MYမြန်မာ
အလှတရား
a-lha-ta-ya
NLNederlands
schoonheid
sxoːn-hɛt
NONorsk
skjønnhet
skjøn-het
PLPolski
piękność
pʲɛŋk-nɔ-ɕt͡ɕ
PTPortuguês
beleza
be-le-za
RORomână
frumusețe
fru-mu-se-țe
RUРусский
красота
kra-so-ta
SVSvenska
skönhet
skøːn-het
SWKiswahili
urembo
u-rem-bo
TAதமிழ்
அழகு
a-lagu
TEతెలుగు
అందం
an-dam
THไทย
ความสวยงาม
khwam-su-ay-ngam
TLTL
kagandahan
ka-gan-dah-an
TRTürkçe
güzellik
gyu-zel-lik
UKУкраїнська
красота
kra-so-ta
URاردو
خوبصورتی
khub-sur-ti
VITiếng Việt
vẻ đẹp
vế-đẹp
ZH中文
měi

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

‘Beauty’ has a long history of being used to evaluate women’s social and economic prospects, often overshadowing their skills and achievements. Beauty standards have been racialized, classed, and gendered, excluding many groups while commodifying women’s bodies in media, advertising, and employment.

Inclusive Usage

Discuss beauty as a broad, culturally variable concept rather than a single standard, and avoid treating beauty as a primary measure of a woman’s worth. Include men and nonbinary people when relevant, and recognize diverse forms of beauty beyond appearance.

Inclusive Alternatives

["aesthetics","appeal","elegance","form","design quality"]

Empowerment Note

Highlight the work of women and gender-diverse thinkers in aesthetics, art, and design, whose theories and creations have shaped what societies call ‘beauty.’

Related Words

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