scratch - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The Word “Scratch”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The word “scratch” is a versatile term in the English language that can be used as both a noun and a verb. It has several meanings depending on the context, ranging from physical actions to metaphorical expressions. This article will explore the different meanings and uses of “scratch”, along with translations in 30 different languages and example sentences to demonstrate its usage.

Meaning and Usage of “Scratch”

As a Verb (To Rub or Scrape the Surface) One of the most common meanings of “scratch” is to rub or scrape the surface of something, typically with something sharp or rough. This can be an intentional or accidental action.
- Example: “She scratched the table with her keys.” (Here, “scratch” means to scrape the surface of the table with keys.)
As a Verb (To Itch or Rub Skin) “Scratch” is also commonly used to describe the act of rubbing or scraping the skin when it feels itchy. This is usually a natural reflex to relieve discomfort.
- Example: “He scratched his arm because it was itchy.” (In this case, “scratch” refers to rubbing the skin to relieve itching.)
As a Noun (A Mark or Injury) A “scratch” can also refer to a mark, often a shallow or superficial injury, caused by scraping or rubbing against something sharp or rough.
- Example: “She had a small scratch on her cheek from the thorn.” (Here, “scratch” refers to a small, shallow wound.)
As a Noun (Starting from Nothing or a Beginning) In a metaphorical sense, “scratch” can refer to starting something from the very beginning, often expressed in the phrase “from scratch.”
- Example: “We built the business from scratch.” (In this case, “scratch” refers to starting something without any prior foundation or help.)
In Sports (A “Scratch” Player) In sports, particularly in golf or horse racing, a “scratch” player or competitor is one who withdraws from the competition or does not start.
- Example: “He was a scratch golfer, meaning he had a perfect score.” (In this example, “scratch” refers to a high skill level in golf.)

Translations of the Word “Scratch” in 30 Languages

Below is a table showing how the word “scratch” is translated into 30 different languages, along with example sentences in each language.

Language	Translation	Example Sentence (in the target language)	English Translation of Example
English	Scratch	“She scratched the table with her keys.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Spanish	Rascar	“Ella rasguñó la mesa con sus llaves.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
French	Gratter	“Elle a gratté la table avec ses clés.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
German	Kratzen	“Sie kratzte den Tisch mit ihren Schlüsseln.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Italian	Grattare	“Lei ha grattato il tavolo con le sue chiavi.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Portuguese	Ralar	“Ela arranhou a mesa com as chaves.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Russian	Царапать (Tsarapat’)	“Она поцарапала стол своими ключами.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Chinese (Simplified)	刮 (Guā)	“她用钥匙刮伤了桌子。”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Japanese	引っ掻く (Hikkaku)	“彼女は鍵でテーブルを引っ掻いた。”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Korean	긁다 (Geulda)	“그녀는 열쇠로 테이블을 긁었다.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Hindi	खरोंच (Kharoṅch)	“उसने अपनी चाबियों से मेज को खरोंच दिया।”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Bengali	আঁচড় (Āṃchaṛ)	“সে চাবি দিয়ে টেবিলটিকে আঁচড়ে দিল।”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Urdu	کھچنا (Khichna)	“اس نے چابیوں سے میز کو کھچ دیا۔”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Turkish	Kararmak	“Anahtarlarla masayı kararttı.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Dutch	Krassen	“Ze krabte de tafel met haar sleutels.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Greek	Ξύνω (Xýno)	“Ξύσε το τραπέζι με τα κλειδιά της.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Swedish	Klia	“Hon kliade bordet med sina nycklar.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Danish	Kradse	“Hun kradsede bordet med sine nøgler.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Finnish	Raapia	“Hän raapi pöytää avaimillaan.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Norwegian	Klø	“Hun klødde bordet med nøklene sine.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Polish	Drapać	“Ona zadrapała stół swoimi kluczami.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Czech	Škrábat	“Ona poškrábala stůl svými klíči.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Hungarian	Karcolni	“Kulcsaival megkarcolta az asztalt.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Hebrew	לגרד (Legared)	“היא גרדה את השולחן עם המפתחות שלה.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Thai	ขูด (Khūad)	“เธอขูดโต๊ะด้วยกุญแจของเธอ”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Vietnamese	Cào	“Cô ấy cào chiếc bàn bằng chìa khóa của mình.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Indonesian	Mencakar	“Dia menggores meja dengan kunci-kuncinya.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Filipino	Kuskos	“Kinuskos niya ang mesa gamit ang kanyang mga susi.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Malay	Menggores	“Dia menggores meja dengan kunci-kuncinya.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Swahili	Kuchora	“Alikora meza kwa funguo zake.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)
Arabic	خدش (Khadsh)	“خدشت الطاولة بمفاتيحها.”	(She scratched the table with her keys.)

The word “scratch” is a versatile and frequently used term in English. It can refer to physical actions like scraping or rubbing, injuries like a small cut, or metaphorical ideas like starting from scratch. Its wide range of meanings makes it an important word for various contexts, whether it’s used literally or figuratively. The translations provided across 30 languages show how the concept of “scratching” is universally understood, both in terms of physical actions and more abstract uses.

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