Definition
A simile is a figure of speech that compares one thing to another using words like “like” or “as,” such as “as brave as a lion.” It makes descriptions more vivid and imaginative.
Etymology
“Simile” comes directly from Latin “similis,” meaning like or similar, through Late Latin “simile,” meaning a comparison. It entered English via French and Latin literary traditions. The name literally means a ‘likeness.’
Kelly Says
Simile and similar are almost twins: both come from the Latin for ‘like.’ That’s why similes always need a ‘like’ or ‘as’—the word itself demands a visible comparison. Metaphors hide the comparison; similes wave a little flag saying, ‘Look, this is like that.’
Translations
AFAfrikaans
vergelyking
fer-KHE-lay-king
BGБългарски
сравнение
sra-VNE-niye
CSČeština
přirovnání
przhi-rov-NAA-nyee
DADansk
lignelse
LIG-nel-se
DEDeutsch
Vergleich
fer-GLYKH
ELΕλληνικά
παρομοίωση
pa-ro-MI-o-si
EUEuskara
antzekotasun
an-te-ko-ta-sun
FAفارسی
تشبیه
tash-bee-he
FRFrançais
comparaison
kom-pa-re-ZON
HRHrvatski
usporedba
us-po-RED-ba
HUMagyar
hasonlat
HA-shon-lat
IDBahasa Indonesia
perumpamaan
pe-rum-pa-MA-an
ITItaliano
similitudine
see-me-lee-tu-DI-ne
LTLietuvių
palyginimas
pa-li-GI-ni-mas
LVLatviešu
līdzinājums
leed-zi-NAA-yums
MNМонгол
зүйрлэл
zuir-lel
MSBahasa Melayu
perumpamaan
pe-rum-pa-MA-an
NLNederlands
vergelijking
ver-khe-li-KING
NONorsk
lignelse
LIG-nel-se
PLPolski
porównanie
po-roov-NA-nye
PTPortuguês
símile
SEE-mi-le
RORomână
comparăție
kom-pa-ruh-TSEE
RUРусский
сравнение
sra-VNE-niye
SKSlovenčina
prirovnanie
pri-rov-NA-nye
SLSlovenščina
primerjava
pri-mer-YA-va
SRСрпски
поређење
po-re-dje-nye
SVSvenska
liknelse
LIK-nel-se
SWKiswahili
mfano
m-FA-no
TEతెలుగు
ఉపమానం
u-pa-maa-nam
TRTürkçe
benzetme
ben-zet-ME
UKУкраїнська
порівняння
po-riv-NYAN-nya
VITiếng Việt
phép so sánh
phep so sanh