custom (adjective) / customize (2025)

The word custom, when used as an adjective, means

made specially for individual customers : [e.g.] custom shoes.

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(source: Random House dictionary)

The corresponding verb is to customize: e.g. These shoes were customized for his feet. A more or less synonymous verb is to tailor, based on the noun tailor meaning "someone who makes clothes". tailor as a verb is not restricted to clothes: e.g., one could say This computer program was tailored to the client's requests.

What are some words/expressions for the above meanings in other languages?

In Chinese both are 訂做/製 (made according to order)
e.g. custom shoes 訂做鞋
e.g. These shoes were customized for his feet. 這雙鞋是依照他的腳去訂做/製的
e.g. This computer programme was tailored to the client's requests. 這個電腦程式是依客戶的要求訂做的

There are also alternative terms:
特製(lit. made specifically/especially (for))
個性化(lit. personalization/customization) (often used on a websites referring to the themes)

Greek:

: «Εξατομίκευση» [ek͡satoˈmicefsi] (Katharevousa: «ἐξατομίκευσις» [ek͡satoˈmicefsis]) a modern deverbal fem. noun calqued from the Fr. individualisant < compound; prefix, preposition and adverb «ἐκ» ĕk which becomes «ἐξ» ĕk͡s when the next word begins with a vowel --> out (PIE *h₁eǵʰs-/*h₁eḱs- out cf Lat. ex/ex- out of, from) + Classical neut. noun «ἄτομον» ắtŏmŏn --> atom, individual (< compound; privative prefix «α-» a- (PIE *n- in Greek we see vocalisation of the IE nasal) + Classical deverbal o-grade masc. noun «τόμος» tómŏs --> section, piece, part, tome < Classical v. «τέμνω» témnō --> to cut, cut up, split (PIE *temh₁- to cut cf Lat. temnere) + Classical fem. suffix «-σῐς» -sĭs for forming 3rd declension fem. nouns of action (PIE *-tis forms abstract/action nouns from verbal roots cf Lat. -tis, Proto-Germanic *-þiz, Proto-Slavic *-tь).

: «Εξατομικεύω» [ek͡satomiˈcevo] < compound; prefix, preposition and adverb «ἐκ» ĕk which becomes «ἐξ» ĕk͡s when the next word begins with a vowel (see above) + Classical neut. noun «ἄτομον» ắtŏmŏn --> atom, individual (see above) + Classical verbal suffix «-ε(υ)ω» -e(u)ō (PIE *-eye- suffix for causative verbs cf Lat. verbs with long ending stem -ē-).

: «Προσαρμόζω» [prosarˈmozo] < Classical v. «προσαρμόζω» prŏsărmózō --> (trans.) to fit to, attach closely to, (intrans.) to attach oneself, suit/agree with a thing < compound; prefix, adverb and preposition «πρός» prós --> furthermore, thereto, from, by, at, to, towards, in face of (PIE *proti- against cf Skt. प्रति (prati), against, in opposition to, Lat. pretium) + Classical denominative v. «ἁρμόζω» hărmózō --> to join, fit together, connect < Classical masc. noun «ἁρμός» hărmós --> joint (PIE *h₂(e)r-smo- joint > PIE *h₂er- to fit)

Edit: Added «προσαρμόζω»

Finnish:

mittatyö
mittatilaus
mittatilaustyö

from mitta "measure", tilaus "order", työ "work". Custom shoes is mittatilauskengät, lit. measure-order-shoes.
We don't have a verb, we rather use a noun with a verb: Nämä kengät on tehty mittatilaustyönä hänen jaloilleen, lit. These shoes have been made as measure-order-work for his/her feet.

Räätälöidä means "to tailor" and can be used like the English verb.

German:

The adjective 'custom' can be translated as
- maßgefertigt (Maß 'measure' + gefertigt 'manufactured')
- maßgeschneidert (Maß 'measure' + geschneidert 'tailored')
- kundenspezifisch (Kunde 'customer' + spezifisch 'specific')
- benutzerdefiniert (Benutzer 'user' + definiert 'defined'), the latter mainly with regard to IT

As for the verb 'to customize', we can say
- nach Kundenwünschen anpassen (or anfertigen) (lit.: 'adapt / manufacture to customer's wishes')
- kundengerecht anfertigen (kundengerecht - lit.: 'customer-suitably' i.e. 'customized' + anfertigen 'manufacture')
- auf Kundenwünsche zuschneiden (lit. 'tailor according to customer's wishes')

Hi Apmoy,

apmoy70 said:

Greek:

Custom

: «Εξατομίκευση» [ek͡satoˈmicefsi] (Katharevousa: «ἐξατομίκευσις» [ek͡satoˈmicefsis])

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Is Εξατομίκευση an adjective or a noun? How would you say e.g. "This is a custom car"?

Gavril said:

Hi Apmoy,
Is Εξατομίκευση an adjective or a noun?

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Hi Γαβριήλ,
It's a noun

Gavril said:

How would you say e.g. "This is a custom car"?

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I'd use its mediopassive perfect participle, in your example the neuter one because car is a neuter noun in Greek: «εξατομικευμένο αυτοκίνητο» [ek͡satomicevˈmeno aftoˈcinito] --> customized car

Edit: You're right I made mistake, «εξατομίκευση» is customization, custom (adj.) is described by the particple «εξατομικευμένος, -μένη, -μένο» [ek͡satomicevˈmenos] (perfect tense mediopassive voice masc. nom. sing.), [ek͡satomicevˈmeni] (fem. nom. sing.), [ek͡satomicevˈmeno] (neut. nom. sing.) --> customized.
Similarly I'd also use «προσαρμοσμένο» [prosarmoˈzmeno] (neut.).

In French and Spanish they are measured out

Chaussures sur mesure
Zapatos a la medida

Customize/ custom-fit
Faire sur mesure
Hacer a la medida