Abuse in different languages

Abuse in Different Languages

Discover 'Abuse' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'abuse' carries a significant weight, as it refers to the harmful or improper use of something, often involving mistreatment or harm to people or things. Its cultural importance is evident in the way it is used across various societies to describe harmful behaviors and attitudes. Understanding its translation in different languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures approach and address this important issue.

For instance, in Spanish, 'abuse' translates to 'abuso', while in French, it is 'abus'. In German, the word for 'abuse' is 'Missbrauch', and in Japanese, it is '虐待 (gyakutai)'. These translations not only help in cross-cultural communication but also highlight the global prevalence of harmful behaviors and the need for awareness and action.

In this article, we explore the translations of 'abuse' in 10 major languages, shedding light on the cultural nuances and significance of this important word. By understanding these translations, we can foster a greater appreciation for the diversity of human experiences and work towards creating a safer, more respectful world for all.

Abuse

Abuse in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansmisbruik
The Afrikaans word "misbruik" originally meant "incorrect use" and still retains this meaning in certain contexts.
Amharicአላግባብ መጠቀም
The word "abuse" comes from the Latin word "abuti", which means "to use incorrectly".
Hausazagi
"Zagi" is also used in Hausa as a name given to the child born after twins.
Igbommegbu
"Mmegbu" can also mean "mistreatment" or "maltreatment" in Igbo.
Malagasyfanararaotana
The word 'fanararaotana' is derived from the root word 'fanara', meaning 'to harm' or 'to mistreat'.
Nyanja (Chichewa)kuzunza
The root -kunza- in the word kuzunza means 'hurt' and the prefix ku- also indicates the infinitive
Shonakushungurudzwa
The word 'kushungurudzwa' derives ultimately from the Proto-Bantu *kungu, meaning 'to be in a state of distress or discomfort'
Somalixadgudub
In Somali, 'xadgudub' can also mean 'mistreatment' or 'violation'.
Sesothotlhekefetso
The noun 'tlhekefetso' derives from the verb 'tlekefetsa' meaning to harm, corrupt, or defile.
Swahiliunyanyasaji
"Unyanyasaji" in Swahili can also refer to "oppression" or "injustice."
Xhosaukuxhatshazwa
The Xhosa word 'ukuxhatshazwa' may originally come from the verb 'ukuxhathaza' meaning 'to torment', 'to molest', 'to ill-treat', or 'to vex'.
Yorubailokulo
In Yoruba, the word 'ilokulo' is derived from 'oloko' (enemy) and means 'behavior of an enemy'.
Zuluukuhlukumeza
The Zulu verb 'ukuhlukumeza' comes from the noun 'ihlazo', which means 'shame'.
Bambaraka tɔɲɔn
Ewewᴐ funyafunya
Kinyarwandaguhohoterwa
Lingalakomonisa mpasi
Lugandaokuvuma
Sepeditlaiša
Twi (Akan)teetee

Abuse in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicإساءة
The Arabic word "إساءة" can also refer to "wrongdoing", "offence", or "harm".
Hebrewהתעללות
The Hebrew word 'התעללות' can also refer to 'excessive use' or 'misuse', as in the case of 'substance abuse' or 'child abuse'.
Pashtoناوړه ګټه اخیستنه
Arabicإساءة
The Arabic word "إساءة" can also refer to "wrongdoing", "offence", or "harm".

Abuse in Western European Languages

Albanianabuzimi
The word "abuzimi" is derived from the Latin word "abusus", meaning "improper use".
Basquegehiegikeria
The word "gehiegikeria" is derived from the Basque word "gehiegi," meaning "excessive" or "too much."
Catalanabús
In Catalan, "abús" also means "excess" and has roots in the Latin "abusus," meaning "misuse or improper use."
Croatianzlostavljanje
Zlostavljanje means 'abuse' in Croatian, and comes from the word 'zlost', which means 'evil'.
Danishmisbrug
The word 'misbrug' can also refer to the misuse of substances, such as alcohol or drugs.
Dutchmisbruik
"Misbruik" in Dutch can also mean "incorrect use" or "disuse."
Englishabuse
"Abuse" comes from the Latin term "abusus," meaning "overuse" or "misuse"
Frenchabuser de
In French, "abuser de" can also mean "to take advantage of" or "to exploit".
Frisianmisbrûk
The word "misbrûk" also refers to improper handling or misuse of property.
Galicianabuso
The Galician word "abuso" can also refer to a "cheat" or "deception".
Germanmissbrauch
Missbrauch in German can also refer to trespass or exploitation, implying a violation of rights or trust.
Icelandicmisnotkun
The Icelandic word "misnotkun" is derived from the Old Norse words "misnot" (misuse) and "kun" (skill).
Irishmí-úsáid
The Irish word "mí-úsáid" literally translates to "misuse", suggesting a broader meaning than just physical or sexual abuse.
Italianabuso
The Italian word "abuso" derives from the Latin "abusus", meaning "misuse" or "improper use".
Luxembourgishmëssbrauch
The term "Mëssbrauch" in Luxembourgish also refers specifically to the misuse of alcohol or medication.
Malteseabbuż
The Maltese word "abbuż" is ultimately derived from the Latin "abusus", meaning "misuse", and can refer to any type of mistreatment or exploitation.
Norwegianmisbruke
In Norwegian, "misbruk" (abuse) originally meant "to use incorrectly".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)abuso
In Portuguese, "abuso" also means "misuse", "excessive use", "overuse", or "bad use".
Scots Gaelicdroch dhìol
The Scots Gaelic word "droch dhìol" not only means "abuse," but also "bad luck".
Spanishabuso
The Spanish word `abuso` is derived from the Latin `abusus` which translates as `too much use`.
Swedishmissbruk
A Swedish term for “abuse” or “mistreatment”, missbruk comes from the prefix miss-, meaning “failing” or “going wrong,” and the root bruk, meaning “usage” or “employment”.
Welshcam-drin
The word "cam-drin" has a second meaning in Welsh, which is "to give or provide".

Abuse in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзлоўжыванне
The word "злоўжыванне" in Belarusian can also mean "misuse" or "excessive use", highlighting the broader semantic range of the concept of abuse across different languages.
Bosnianzlostavljanje
The term 'zlostavljanje' comes from the Slavic root 'zlo', which means 'evil', suggesting an act of causing harm or mistreatment.
Bulgarianзлоупотреба
The word "злоупотреба" can be translated to "abuse" or "misuse" in English, but it originally referred to "overconsumption of alcohol".
Czechzneužívání
The word "zneužívání" can also mean "overuse" or "misuse" in Czech.
Estoniankuritarvitamine
The Estonian word "kuritarvitamine" has a literal translation of "over-use," suggesting that the concept of abuse is rooted in the misuse of something
Finnishväärinkäyttö
The Finnish word "väärinkäyttö" is a compound of "väärin" (wrong) and "käyttö" (use), but it can also refer to misuse, mistreatment, or exploitation.
Hungarianvisszaélés
Visszaélés is a loanword from German, meaning ‘misuse, abuse’ or ‘illegal use’, and was first recorded in Hungarian in 1796.
Latvianļaunprātīga izmantošana
The word "ļaunprātīga izmantošana" in Latvian is derived from the Latin word "abusus" meaning "improper use".
Lithuanianpiktnaudžiavimas
The word "piktnaudžiavimas" can also mean "misuse" or "exploitation" in Lithuanian.
Macedonianзлоупотреба
"Злоупотреба" can also mean "excessive use" or "misuse" in Macedonian.
Polishnadużycie
The word "nadużycie" in Polish can also refer to "misuse" or "exaggeration".
Romanianabuz
The etymology of "abuz" in Romanian is unclear, but it may be connected to the Turkish word "abuz," meaning "exaggeration."
Russianзлоупотребление
In Russian, the word "злоупотребление" (abuse) also has the connotation of "taking advantage of a situation to one's benefit".
Serbianзлоупотреба
The Serbian word "злоупотреба" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *zloupotreba, meaning "misuse" or "overuse."
Slovakzneužitie
"Zneužitie" (abuse) in Slovak traces back to the Proto-Slavic word "zъlъ" (evil), suggesting its historical association with negative conduct.
Slovenianzlorabe
Zlòraba, which is the Slovenian word for "abuse", stems from "zloraabiti", which means to use amiss or incorrectly.
Ukrainianзловживання
The word 'зловживання' in Ukrainian originates from the Proto-Slavic root '*zlo-' ('evil') and '-vzhivati' ('to use'), and can also refer to 'overuse' or 'misuse' of something.

Abuse in South Asian Languages

Bengaliঅপব্যবহার
The word "অপব্যবহার" in Bengali also means "misuse" or "incorrect usage".
Gujaratiગા ળ
"ગાળ" could also refer to a type of vessel meant to separate impurities or as a verb meaning to pour out, filter or strain.
Hindiगाली
The Hindi word "गाली" (abuse) has Sanskrit roots, where it means "to scold" or "to censure."
Kannadaನಿಂದನೆ
The word "ನಿಂದನೆ" can also mean "reviling" or "cursing" in Kannada.
Malayalamദുരുപയോഗം
The word "ദുരുപയോഗം" has several meanings in Malayalam, including "bad use", "misuse", "misapplication", and "maltreatment".
Marathiगैरवर्तन
The word "गैरवर्तन" ("abuse") in Marathi also means "misconduct" or "maltreatment"
Nepaliदुरुपयोग
"दुरुपयोग" (abuse) can also mean "to misuse" or "to spoil" in Nepali.
Punjabiਦੁਰਵਿਵਹਾਰ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අපයෙදුම්
In Sinhala, 'අපයෙදුම්' literally means to 'use something wrongly or inappropriately'.
Tamilதுஷ்பிரயோகம்
Teluguతిట్టు
"తిట్టు" also means the 'bank' or 'shore' of a river or lake.
Urduبدسلوکی
The Urdu word “بدسلوکی” is derived from the Persian word “بد” (bad) and “سلوک” (behavior), and can also refer to mistreatment or misconduct.

Abuse in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)滥用
"滥" 泛滥； "用" 使用、利用
Chinese (Traditional)濫用
「濫用」源自「濫」，指水勢過盛、氾濫；引申為使用過度、不當，即「濫用」之意。
Japanese乱用
The word "乱用" can also mean "misuse" or "wasteful use."
Korean남용
남용 is also used in Korean to refer to the excessive use of a resource or substance.
Mongolianхүчирхийлэл
"Хүчирхийлэл" is derived from the verb "хүчих" (to force), hence "force" or "coercion". It also carries the connotation of "injury" or "damage".
Myanmar (Burmese)အလွဲသုံးစားမှု

Abuse in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpenyalahgunaan
The Indonesian word "penyalahgunaan" has the alternative meaning of "improper use" or "misappropriation"
Javanesenyiksa
In Javanese, "nyiksa" can also mean "to treat someone with indifference".
Khmerការរំលោភបំពាន
Laoການລ່ວງລະເມີດ
Malaypenyalahgunaan
The word "penyalahgunaan" also means "misuse" or "improper use" in Malay.
Thaiการละเมิด
In Thai, "การละเมิด" can also refer to "violation of a law or rule."
Vietnameselạm dụng
The word "lạm dụng" in Vietnamese originated from the Chinese word "滥用", meaning "excessive use", and has alternate meanings such as "misuse" and "improper use".
Filipino (Tagalog)pang-aabuso

Abuse in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanisui-istifadə
The word "sui-istifadə" in Azerbaijani is derived from the Arabic word "istifadə" meaning "use" and the Persian suffix "sui" meaning "bad".
Kazakhтеріс пайдалану
The word "теріс пайдалану" in Kazakh has an etymology that means to use something in the wrong or excessive way.
Kyrgyzкыянаттык
The root "кыян" in "кыянаттык" also means "to betray" and is cognate with the Proto-Turkic root *qïyan "to cheat, deceive".
Tajikсӯиистифода
This word may also refer to using something in a negative way
Turkmenhyýanatçylykly peýdalanmak
Uzbeksuiiste'mol qilish
The word "suiiste'mol qilish" derives from Arabic, meaning "to misuse" or "to exploit".
Uyghurخورلاش

Abuse in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhoʻomāinoino
The word "hoʻomāinoino" has also been used to convey the idea of "to vex" or "to annoy".
Maoritūkino
Tūkino also means "to reject" or "send away."
Samoansaua
"Saua" is derived from Proto-Polynesian *saŋoŋo-, with cognates across many Oceanic languages.
Tagalog (Filipino)pang-aabuso
"Pang-aabuso" derives from the root "abuso" (to misuse), which itself can trace its origins to the Latin "abūsus" (wrong use).

Abuse in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraphiskasi
Guaranimeg̃uamboru

Abuse in International Languages

Esperantomisuzo
The Esperanto word "misuzo" also means "misuse" or "wrong use of something".
Latinabuse
The Latin verb "abuti" (to abuse) originally meant "to use up", or "to misuse", and was often used in a legal context, referring to the misuse of property or power.

Abuse in Others Languages

Greekκατάχρηση
Κατά is a frequent compounding prefix meaning “down, against, away,” “intensely,” “thoroughly,” “completely,” “altogether,” “very,” “quite,” “just,” “as much as,” “proportionately,” and “according to”.
Hmongtsim txom
"Tsim txom" is related to the root form "tsim" in Miao-Yao languages, having many meanings such as ‘use’, ‘handle’, ‘manage’, ‘to employ’, ‘to serve’, ‘respect’, ‘obey’, and ‘to love’.
Kurdishnebaşkaranî
The word 'nebaşkaranî' is derived from the Kurdish root 'nebaşkar' (bad) and the Persian suffix '-anî', and it can also mean 'insult'.
Turkishtaciz
Turkish "taciz" is related to the Arabic word "ta'azi", meaning "condolence" or "compassion".
Xhosaukuxhatshazwa
The Xhosa word 'ukuxhatshazwa' may originally come from the verb 'ukuxhathaza' meaning 'to torment', 'to molest', 'to ill-treat', or 'to vex'.
Yiddishזידלען
“זידלען” is not only a Yiddish word for “abuse,” but in Biblical Hebrew it means “to boil.”
Zuluukuhlukumeza
The Zulu verb 'ukuhlukumeza' comes from the noun 'ihlazo', which means 'shame'.
Assameseঅপব্যৱহাৰ
Aymaraphiskasi
Bhojpuriगरियावल
Dhivehiއަނިޔާ
Dogriगाली
Filipino (Tagalog)pang-aabuso
Guaranimeg̃uamboru
Ilocanosalungasingen
Kriotrit bad
Kurdish (Sorani)مامەڵەی خراپ
Maithiliगारि देनाइ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯆꯩꯕ
Mizotiduhdah
Oromoakka malee itti fayyadamuu
Odia (Oriya)ଅପବ୍ୟବହାର |
Quechuakamiy
Sanskritनिकृति
Tatarҗәберләү
Tigrinyaፀረፈ
Tsongaxanisa

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