Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'Soviet' is deeply rooted in history and culture, and its significance extends far beyond its original Russian origins. Originally, 'Soviet' referred to a council or councilor in Russian, but it quickly became associated with the revolutionary movement that swept across Russia in the early 20th century. The Soviet Union, which existed from 1922 to 1991, was a socialist state that spanned 11 time zones and was home to over 290 million people. At its height, the Soviet Union was a major world power, shaping global politics and culture in profound ways.
Given its historical significance, it's no wonder that many people are interested in learning the translation of 'Soviet' in different languages. Whether you're a history buff, a language enthusiast, or simply curious about the world around you, understanding the nuances of this word can open up new avenues of exploration and understanding.
Here are just a few of the many translations of 'Soviet' in different languages:
Afrikaans | sowjet | ||
Sowjet is Afrikaans for 'soviet', but it can also refer to a type of soup made from sour milk, vinegar, and onions. | |||
Amharic | ሶቪዬት | ||
The Amharic word "ሶቪዬት" originates from the Russian word "совет" (sovet), which means "council". | |||
Hausa | soviet | ||
The Hausa word 'Soviet' ('Soviet') is a borrowed term originating from the Russian word 'Soviet' ('совет') meaning 'council'. | |||
Igbo | soviet | ||
In Igbo, the word "Soviet" is derived from the Russian word "sovet" meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Malagasy | sovietika | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | soviet | ||
In Nyanja, "Soviet" can also mean "workers' council". | |||
Shona | soviet | ||
In Shona, "Soviet" means "Council" or "Committee" and is often used in a political context. | |||
Somali | soofiyeeti | ||
The word "Soofiyeeti" also implies foreignness or other-ness in Somali, similar to how the term "Soviet" has been used in various contexts. | |||
Sesotho | soviet | ||
Swahili | soviet | ||
Neno "Soviet" kwa Kiswahili pia linaweza kumaanisha "baraza" au "halmashauri" | |||
Xhosa | esoviet | ||
The word "ESoviet" in Xhosa does not have an alternate meaning and it is pronounced as "e soviet". | |||
Yoruba | soviet | ||
The word "Soviet" in Yoruba, "Sofieti", means "gathering", "meeting", or "council". | |||
Zulu | isoviet | ||
In Zulu, the word 'Soviet' can also mean a 'council' or 'group of people'. | |||
Bambara | soviyetiki jamana na | ||
Ewe | soviet union | ||
Kinyarwanda | abasoviyeti | ||
Lingala | union soviétique | ||
Luganda | soviet union | ||
Sepedi | soviet | ||
Twi (Akan) | sovietfo | ||
Arabic | السوفياتي | ||
In Arabic, the word "السوفياتي" means both "Soviet" and "socialist". | |||
Hebrew | סובייטי | ||
סובייטי is a Hebrew word that can refer to a citizen of the Soviet Union or to the Soviet Union itself. | |||
Pashto | شوروی | ||
The Pashto word "شوروی" (Soviet) also refers to a type of long-sleeved shirt worn by men. | |||
Arabic | السوفياتي | ||
In Arabic, the word "السوفياتي" means both "Soviet" and "socialist". |
Albanian | sovjetike | ||
The Albanian term "Sovjetike" is derived from the Russian word "Sovetskaya" and was originally used to refer to the Soviet Union. | |||
Basque | sobietarra | ||
The Basque word "Sobietarra" (Soviet) refers specifically to the government of the Soviet Union, while "Sobietar" means "worker" or "councilor". | |||
Catalan | soviètic | ||
The word “Soviètic” also means “Sudden” or “Unexpected” in Catalan. | |||
Croatian | sovjetski | ||
The word 'sovjetski' is also used to describe something that is 'grand' or 'impressive'. | |||
Danish | sovjet | ||
The Danish word "sovjet" can also refer to a building used for organizational gatherings. | |||
Dutch | sovjet- | ||
Het woord "Sovjet-" in het Nederlands kan ook verwijzen naar een bepaald type vergadering of raad. | |||
English | soviet | ||
The word "soviet" derives from the Russian word for "council" and has alternate meanings such as "assembly" or "committee" in political contexts. | |||
French | soviétique | ||
"Soviétique", a French adjective, also refers to the Soviets (Russian revolutionary councils), in the context of the Russian Revolution | |||
Frisian | sovjet | ||
It may also mean 'union' or 'cooperative' in Frisian. | |||
Galician | soviético | ||
German | sowjet | ||
Sowjet (German for "Soviet") can also refer to a type of bread roll, a pot for cooking, or a pig's head. | |||
Icelandic | sovét | ||
In Icelandic, "Sovét" can also mean "wisdom" or "advice". | |||
Irish | sóivéadach | ||
The Irish word "Sóivéadach" is derived from the Russian word "Sovet"," meaning council or assembly. | |||
Italian | sovietico | ||
Italian "sovietico" comes from French "soviétique" and ultimately derives form Russian "sovet" (council). | |||
Luxembourgish | sowjetesch | ||
The word "Sowjetesch" in Luxembourgish has two interpretations: the Soviet Union and the workers' and peasants' councils that existed in Luxembourg during and after the First World War. | |||
Maltese | sovjetika | ||
"Sovjetika" also refers to the ideology, policies, and practices characteristic of the former Soviet Union and other Soviet bloc countries. | |||
Norwegian | sovjetisk | ||
Sovjetisk can also mean "soviet" in Norwegian, in the sense of a group of people working together. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | soviético | ||
Soviético" can also be used to refer to the former Soviet Union or its culture. | |||
Scots Gaelic | sobhietach | ||
The Scots Gaelic word "Sobhietach" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "sovětъ", meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Spanish | soviético | ||
The Spanish word "Soviético" derives from the Latin "Sovietum" meaning"council", although in modern parlance it often refers to the former USSR. | |||
Swedish | sovjet | ||
In the Swedish language, the term "sovjet" also holds a historical meaning in the context of a decision-making assembly in local or corporate structures, not exclusively related to the political meaning often associated with its Soviet counterparts. | |||
Welsh | sofietaidd | ||
The word 'Sofietaidd' in Welsh also means 'socialist' or 'communal'. |
Belarusian | савецкая | ||
The Belarusian word "Савецкая" comes from the Russian word "советский" meaning "soviet, council" but can also refer to places near rivers with the word "совет" meaning "council, advice" in the toponym, for example "Савецкая Слабодка" near the Свіслач river in Minsk. | |||
Bosnian | sovjetski | ||
The word "Sovjetski" can also mean "councils" or "soviets" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | съветски | ||
In Bulgarian, "Съветски" not only means "Soviet", but also "advisory" or "council-related." | |||
Czech | sovětský | ||
Sovětský can also mean "provincial" or "rustic" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | nõukogude | ||
The word "Nõukogude" derives from the Russian word "sovet", meaning "council". | |||
Finnish | neuvostoliiton | ||
The Finnish word "Neuvostoliiton" does not have any other meanings beyond "Soviet", and it doesn't have an etymology beyond being a loanword from Russian. | |||
Hungarian | szovjet | ||
In Hungarian, "szovjet" can also refer to "cooperative" or "collective farm" | |||
Latvian | padomju | ||
The term “Padomju” is also used in some contexts to describe Soviet-era architecture or art. | |||
Lithuanian | sovietinis | ||
Sovietinis in Lithuanian may also refer to the period of Soviet occupation or to items originating from that time period. | |||
Macedonian | советски | ||
The word "Советски" ("Soviet") in Macedonian can also refer to something that is related to the USSR or communism in general. | |||
Polish | radziecki | ||
Radziecki is derived from "rada," a Slavic word for "council," which in turn originates from the Proto-Indo-European "*wre-," meaning "gathering." | |||
Romanian | sovietic | ||
In Romanian the word "sovietic" can also mean communist or oppressive. | |||
Russian | советский | ||
The word "Советский" can also mean "related to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" or "in the style of the Soviet Union". | |||
Serbian | совјетски | ||
In Serbian, "Совјетски" (Soviet) also refers to anything related to advice, counsel, or assembly. | |||
Slovak | sovietsky | ||
In Slovak, "Sovietsky" can also refer to the period of Soviet rule or the Soviet system of government. | |||
Slovenian | sovjetski | ||
"Sovjetski" can also refer to the former Soviet republics or citizens. | |||
Ukrainian | радянський | ||
The word "Радянський" also has the meaning "planned", as in the planned economy of the Soviet Union. |
Bengali | সোভিয়েত | ||
In Bengali, the word "সোভিয়েত" can also refer to a council or a group of people working together. | |||
Gujarati | સોવિયત | ||
The word "સોવિયત" is derived from the Russian word "sovet", which means "council" or "assembly". | |||
Hindi | सोवियत | ||
The word "सोवियत" is derived from the Russian word "sovet", meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Kannada | ಸೋವಿಯತ್ | ||
Malayalam | സോവിയറ്റ് | ||
The Malayalam word "സോവിയറ്റ്" is also used to refer to a council or assembly. | |||
Marathi | सोव्हिएत | ||
Nepali | सोभियत | ||
सोभियत (soviet) comes from the Russian word “sovet,” meaning a council. | |||
Punjabi | ਸੋਵੀਅਤ | ||
The word "Soviet" derives from the Russian word "sovet" meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සෝවියට් | ||
Tamil | சோவியத் | ||
Telugu | సోవియట్ | ||
The word "సోవియట్" (Soviet) is derived from the Russian word "совет" (sovet), meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Urdu | سوویت | ||
The term "Soviet" is a derivative of the Russian word "sovet," which means "council" or "assembly." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 苏维埃 | ||
苏维埃一词源于俄语中的“议会”或“委员会”含义 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 蘇維埃 | ||
蘇維埃(俄語原意為『委員會』) | |||
Japanese | ソビエト | ||
「ソビエト」の語源はロシア語の「ソビエト」で、英語の「ソビエト」と同様に「評議会」を意味する。 | |||
Korean | 옛 소련 | ||
의회의 위원회나 회의를 의미하는 라틴어 'sovietum'에서 유래되었고, 이는 '협의회'를 의미하는 라틴어 'sovere'에서 파생되었습니다. | |||
Mongolian | зөвлөлт | ||
The word "Зөвлөлт" (Soviet) is derived from the Latin word "concilium", meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ဆိုဗီယက် | ||
The word “Soviet” entered the Burmese language through the English word “soviet” and is also found with the variant spelling “sobi.” |
Indonesian | soviet | ||
Dalam bahasa Indonesia, "Soviet" sering disalahartikan sebagai "Dewan", padahal sebenarnya kata tersebut merujuk pada "Persatuan".} | |||
Javanese | soviet | ||
The Javanese word "Soviet" can also refer to a council or assembly. | |||
Khmer | សូវៀត | ||
Also can mean "union" or "council" in Khmer. | |||
Lao | ໂຊວຽດ | ||
Malay | soviet | ||
In Malay, the word "Soviet" is sometimes used to refer to the former Soviet Union or its member states. | |||
Thai | โซเวียต | ||
โซเวียต (Soviet) เป็นคำที่มีมานานกว่า 100 ปี โดยมีรากศัพท์มาจากภาษาสลาฟ ซึ่งหมายถึง 'สภา' หรือ 'คณะกรรมการ' | |||
Vietnamese | xô viết | ||
"Xô Viết" is derived from the Russian word Совет ("soviet"), meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sobyet | ||
Azerbaijani | sovet | ||
"Sovet" also means "council" and "advice" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | кеңестік | ||
Originally referred to a council or assembly, but took on the meaning of 'Soviet' after the Russian Revolution. | |||
Kyrgyz | совет | ||
The word "Совет" can also mean "advice" or "council" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | шӯравӣ | ||
The word "Шӯравӣ" (Soviet) is derived from the Russian word "совет" (sovet), meaning "council". In Tajikistan, it is also used to refer to the period of Soviet rule in the country. | |||
Turkmen | sowet | ||
Uzbek | sovet | ||
In Uzbek, "Sovet" can also mean "advice" or "council", and is derived from the Persian word "shura" which has the same meaning. | |||
Uyghur | سوۋېت ئىتتىپاقى | ||
Hawaiian | soviet | ||
In Hawaiian, "Soviet" is also a word for "counsel". | |||
Maori | soviet | ||
Samoan | soviet | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) | soviet | ||
Aymara | soviético ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Guarani | soviético | ||
Esperanto | sovetia | ||
Latin | soviet | ||
In Latin, the word "Soviet" derives from "consilium," meaning "council" or "assembly." |
Greek | σοβιέτ | ||
Στα νεοελληνικά, η λέξη «σοβιέτ» προέρχεται από τη ρωσική «совет», που σημαίνει «συμβούλιο», ενώ αρχικά σήμαινε «επιτροπή», «ένα σύνολο ατόμων που συνεδριάζουν για να συζητήσουν και να αποφασίσουν για κάποιο θέμα». | |||
Hmong | soviet | ||
Soviet comes from the Russian term for 'council,' referring to the governing councils established during the Russian Revolution. | |||
Kurdish | sovyetî | ||
Kurdish word "Sovyetî" (Soviet) also means "the one who eats garlic". | |||
Turkish | sovyet | ||
Sovyet kelimesi Türkçede "toplum konseyi" anlamına da gelir. | |||
Xhosa | esoviet | ||
The word "ESoviet" in Xhosa does not have an alternate meaning and it is pronounced as "e soviet". | |||
Yiddish | סאָוויעט | ||
The Yiddish word סאָוויעט (Soviet) is also used colloquially to mean "gang" or "crew," especially in the context of criminal activity. | |||
Zulu | isoviet | ||
In Zulu, the word 'Soviet' can also mean a 'council' or 'group of people'. | |||
Assamese | ছোভিয়েট | ||
Aymara | soviético ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Bhojpuri | सोवियत संघ के ह | ||
Dhivehi | ސޯވިއެޓް | ||
Dogri | सोवियत | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sobyet | ||
Guarani | soviético | ||
Ilocano | soviet | ||
Krio | sɔviɛt yuniɔn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سۆڤیەت | ||
Maithili | सोवियत | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯣꯚꯤꯌꯦꯠ ꯑꯣꯏꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | soviet union a ni | ||
Oromo | sooviyeet | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସୋଭିଏତ୍ | | ||
Quechua | soviet union nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | सोवियत | ||
Tatar | совет | ||
Tigrinya | ሶቭየት። | ||
Tsonga | soviet | ||