Definition
To make something pretty or prettier; to beautify or adorn.
Etymology
From 'be-' plus 'pretty,' from Old English 'pratt' (wily) eventually meaning attractive. Means to enhance beauty or appearance.
Kelly Says
Shakespeare's contemporaries used this word—you could 'bepretty' your garden, your outfit, or yourself, and the word captures that 16th-century obsession with decoration and ornamentation.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አንድ ነገር ጥሩ
an-dit ne-ger tir-oo
ARالعربية
أن تكون جميلة
an takun jamila
CACatalà
ser guapa
ser gwa-pa
CSČeština
být krásná
beet kra-sna
DADansk
være smuk
va-re smuk
DEDeutsch
schön sein
shon sein
ELΕλληνικά
να είναι όμορφη
na ine omorfi
ESEspañol
ser bonita
ser bee-toh-nah
FAفارسی
زیبا بودن
zee-ba bodan
FISuomi
olla kaunis
olla kau-nis
FRFrançais
être jolie
etre zho-lee
HEעברית
להיות יפה
le-hi-yot ya-feh
HIहिन्दी
सुंदर होना
sundar hona
HUMagyar
szépnek lenni
shep-nek len-nee
IDBahasa Indonesia
cantik
chan-tik
ITItaliano
essere bella
ess-eh-reh bel-la
JA日本語
きれいである
kirei de aru
MSBahasa Melayu
cantik
chan-tik
MYမြန်မာ
ကျေနပ်
cha-yen-na-p
NLNederlands
mooi zijn
moo-ee sein
NONorsk
være vakker
va-re vak-ker
PLPolski
być piękną
beet pyeh-knah
PTPortuguês
ser bonita
ser bee-toh-nah
RORomână
a fi frumoasă
a fi frum-o-sa
RUРусский
быть красивой
byt krasivoy
SVSvenska
vara vacker
va-ra vak-er
SWKiswahili
kuwa mzuri
koo-wa m-zoo-ree
TAதமிழ்
அழகாக இருக்க
a-zha-ga i-ruk-ka
TEతెలుగు
కావలసిన అందం
ka-va-la-si-na an-dam
TRTürkçe
güzel olmak
gyoo-zel o-mak
UKУкраїнська
бути гарною
booty har-no-yu
URاردو
خوبصورت ہونا
khoob-soorat hona
YOYO
ni wọ́n ní
nee woon nee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Aesthetic labeling disproportionately applied to women's bodies and appearance as primary value marker since Victorian era. 'Pretty' historically gatekept women's social worth.
Inclusive Usage
Use to describe visual aesthetics neutrally across all subjects. Avoid making appearance central to character or capability assessment.
Inclusive Alternatives
["visually striking","aesthetically appealing","well-designed"]
Empowerment Note
Women's intellectual and professional contributions have been historically overshadowed by appearance standards; prioritize substance equally.