Definition
Beyond the range of normal experience or scientific explanation; relating to alleged psychic or supernatural phenomena.
Etymology
Coined in the 1920s from Greek prefix 'para-' meaning 'beside' or 'beyond' and 'normal' from Latin 'normalis'. The term emerged as scientists sought neutral language for phenomena that couldn't be explained by conventional methods.
Kelly Says
Paranormal is a beautifully diplomatic word that emerged when science needed to discuss unexplained phenomena without immediately dismissing them as supernatural nonsense or accepting them as fact. The 'para-' prefix suggests these phenomena exist alongside normal reality, neither fully rejecting nor embracing them.
Translations
ARالعربية
خارق للطبيعة
xā.riq li.t.tabī.ʿa
CSČeština
paranormální
pa.ʁaˈnɔr.mal.ni
DADansk
paranormal
pɑ.ʁɑˈmɔˀl
DEDeutsch
paranormal
pa.ʁaˈnoɐ̯mɑl
ELΕλληνικά
παραφυσικός
pa.ʁa.fi.si.kós
ESEspañol
paranormal
pa.ɾa.nɔɾ.mal
FISuomi
paranormaali
pɑ.ʁɑˈnɔr.mɑː.li
FRFrançais
paranormal
pa.ʁa.nɔʁ.mal
HEעברית
על-טבעי
ʿal.tə.ʋɛ.ʔi
HIहिन्दी
अलौकिक
ɑ.lau.kik
HUMagyar
paranormális
pɑ.ʁɑˈnɔr.mɑː.lɪʃ
IDBahasa Indonesia
paranormal
pa.ɾa.nɔr.mal
ITItaliano
paranormale
pa.ʁa.nɔrˈmaː.le
JA日本語
超常現象
chō.jō.gen.shō
KO한국어
초자연적
tʃo.dʒa.jŏn.dʒɛk
NLNederlands
paranormaal
pɑ.ʁaˈnɔr.maːl
NONorsk
paranormal
pɑ.ʁɑˈnɔːrmɑl
PLPolski
paranormalny
pa.ʁaˈnɔr.mal.nɨ
PTPortuguês
paranormal
pɐ.ʁɐ.nɔɾˈmal
RORomână
paranormal
pa.ʁa.nɔrˈmal
RUРусский
паранормальный
pɐ.rɐˈnɔr.malʲ.nɨj
SVSvenska
paranormal
pa.ʁaˈnɔr.mal
THไทย
เหนือธรรมชาติ
nɯ̄a.tʰam.ma.tʃʰat
TRTürkçe
paranormal
pa.ɾa.nɔɾ.mal
UKУкраїнська
паранормальний
pɐ.ʁɑˈnɔr.malʲ.nɨj
VITiếng Việt
siêu nhiên
sɨ̄əp nhiɲ