Updated on March 6, 2024
Access: it's a small word, but one that carries a world of significance. Defined as the ability to approach or enter a place, as well as the means or opportunity to obtain or make use of something, 'access' is a concept that impacts our daily lives in countless ways. From equal access to education and opportunities, to the accessibility of public spaces for individuals with disabilities, this word is deeply intertwined with issues of social justice and equality.
The cultural importance of 'access' cannot be overstated. Throughout history, struggles for access to resources, knowledge, and power have shaped the course of human events. From the civil rights movement to the digital age, the fight for greater access has been a driving force behind many of the most significant cultural and technological shifts of our time.
Given the profound impact of 'access' on our lives, it's no wonder that people around the world are interested in translating this word into their own languages. Whether you're traveling to a foreign country and want to communicate about accessibility issues, or you're simply curious about the linguistic and cultural nuances of this important concept, understanding the translations of 'access' can open up new worlds of understanding and connection.
Here are just a few of the many translations of 'access' in different languages:
Afrikaans | toegang | ||
The word "toegang" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "toegang", meaning "access" or "entry", and is related to the English word "toe". It can also refer to a "threshold" or "doorway". | |||
Amharic | መድረሻ | ||
"Medresha" can also refer to a | |||
Hausa | samun dama | ||
The Hausa word "samun dama" derives from Arabic and can also mean "gateway" or "means of entrance." | |||
Igbo | ohere | ||
The Igbo word 'ohere' also means 'to be in one's rightful place or position'. | |||
Malagasy | fidirana | ||
The Malagasy word "fidirana" derives from the root "fiditra" meaning "to enter" and can also refer to the act of "penetration" or "insertion." | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mwayi | ||
The word "mwayi" is also used in Nyanja to mean "a chance" or "an opportunity". | |||
Shona | kuwana | ||
The word "kuwana" can also mean "to take part in" or "to enter". | |||
Somali | marin u helid | ||
The word "marin u helid" also means "enter and exit" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | fihlella | ||
The Sesotho word "fihlella" is derived from the verb "ho fihlela", meaning "to reach" or "to arrive at". | |||
Swahili | upatikanaji | ||
There is a homophone of "upatikanaji" in Swahili, "upatikanaji" meaning "the right to take possession of something". | |||
Xhosa | ukufikelela | ||
The word 'ukufikelela' in Xhosa is also used to refer to the act of reaching out or approaching someone. | |||
Yoruba | wiwọle | ||
The word "wiwọle" is derived from two words: "wi" (to open) and "ọle" (a hole). | |||
Zulu | ukufinyelela | ||
The Zulu word "ukufinyelela" can also mean "to reach" or "to arrive at". | |||
Bambara | ka se a ma | ||
Ewe | mᴐnu | ||
Kinyarwanda | kwinjira | ||
Lingala | kokota | ||
Luganda | okwetuusako | ||
Sepedi | fihlelela | ||
Twi (Akan) | kwan | ||
Arabic | التمكن من | ||
In Arabic, the word "التمكن من" can also mean "to be able to" or "to have the ability to do something". | |||
Hebrew | גִישָׁה | ||
The word "גישה" can also mean "approach" or "attitude" | |||
Pashto | رسي | ||
The word "رسي" in Pashto also means "to arrive" or "to reach". | |||
Arabic | التمكن من | ||
In Arabic, the word "التمكن من" can also mean "to be able to" or "to have the ability to do something". |
Albanian | akses | ||
The word "akses" is borrowed from Turkish, where it means "key" or "means to get to a place". | |||
Basque | sarbidea | ||
The word “sarbide” was borrowed from French (sortie) during the 14th century, it originally meant “exit”. | |||
Catalan | accés | ||
The Catalan word "accés" ultimately derives from the Latin word "accedere" (to approach) and can also mean "entrance" or "way in". | |||
Croatian | pristup | ||
The word "pristup" in Croatian can also refer to a type of folk song. | |||
Danish | adgang | ||
The Danish word "adgang" also means "entrance" or "admission". | |||
Dutch | toegang | ||
"Toegang" can mean both "access" and "admission". | |||
English | access | ||
The word "access" can also refer to a road, path, or means of approach. | |||
French | accès | ||
The French word "accès" can also mean "fit" or "attack". | |||
Frisian | tagong | ||
The word "tagong" was borrowed from Middle Dutch "toegang," which in turn originated from Old French "acès" or "acces"} | |||
Galician | acceso | ||
The Galician word "acceso" also means "entrance" and "approach". | |||
German | zugriff | ||
The German word "Zugriff" literally translates to "access grip," likely referencing the historical practice of using a key to gain access to a physical space. | |||
Icelandic | aðgangur | ||
Aðgangur can also mean "permission", "entry" or "admittance." | |||
Irish | rochtain | ||
"Rochtain" also means "an opening" in a wall or fence. | |||
Italian | accesso | ||
The Italian verb "accedere" ultimately derives from Latin, where its original meaning was to approach, get closer, go to, while its later and present meaning is to gain access. | |||
Luxembourgish | zougang | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Zougang" comes from the French word "accès" which originates from the Latin "accessus". | |||
Maltese | aċċess | ||
In Maltese, "aċċess" is derived from Italian "accesso" and also means "admittance" or "entrance." | |||
Norwegian | adgang | ||
The word "adgang" is derived from the Old Norse word "aðgangr," meaning "entrance" or "approach." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | acesso | ||
Acesso comes from the Latin "accedere", meaning to "approach", "enter" or "arrive." | |||
Scots Gaelic | ruigsinneachd | ||
Etymology: Middle Irish urgaine; from uru + gaine. "Uru" could be related to Proto-Celtic *veri- "truth," and "gaine" is probably from Irish "gainm" ("birth"). Hence, literally: "Birth to truth", "path to knowledge." | |||
Spanish | acceso | ||
Acceso, meaning 'access', is derived from the Latin verb 'accedere' (to approach), and shares the same root as 'accession' and 'accession'. | |||
Swedish | tillgång | ||
In medieval Swedish "tillgång" meant "attack" or "conquest", as indicated by the modern Norwegian "tilgang". | |||
Welsh | mynediad | ||
‘Mynediad’ derives from ‘mynd’ meaning ‘to go’, hence ‘to get to’ |
Belarusian | доступ | ||
The term "доступ" (access) comes from Old Church Slavonic and initially referred to a path (to some place). | |||
Bosnian | pristup | ||
The word "pristup" in Bosnian is derived from the Latin word "accedere" which means "to approach". | |||
Bulgarian | достъп | ||
The word "достъп" can also mean "approach" or "admittance". | |||
Czech | přístup | ||
The word "přístup" can also mean "approach" or "attitude" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | juurdepääs | ||
The Estonian word “juurdepääs” is literally translated as “access to roots”, alluding to the ability to obtain the essence or fundamental aspects of something. | |||
Finnish | pääsy | ||
"Pääsy" also means "entrance", "admission", "permission" and "opportunity" in Finnish. | |||
Hungarian | hozzáférés | ||
The word "hozzáférés" originates from the verb "hozzáfér", which means "to reach" or "to get to". | |||
Latvian | piekļuvi | ||
Latvian word "piekļuvi" derives from the word "pieklūt", which means "to approach". | |||
Lithuanian | prieiga | ||
The Lithuanian word "prieiga" derives from the verb "prieiti", meaning "to come near or to reach", and is related to the Latin "prehendere", meaning "to grasp". | |||
Macedonian | пристап | ||
The Macedonian word "пристап" is derived from the Slavic word "prisetap" which means "to approach". | |||
Polish | dostęp | ||
The word "dostęp" has the same root as the words "dostać" (to get) and "dostarczyć" (to deliver), suggesting a connotation of "reaching towards" or "obtaining something." | |||
Romanian | acces | ||
In Romanian, "acces" is derived from the French word "accès", meaning both "access" and "fit" or "attack" (e.g., an epileptic fit). | |||
Russian | доступ | ||
The Russian word "доступ" (access) derives from the Proto-Slavic "dostopъ", meaning "approach" or "entrance". | |||
Serbian | приступ | ||
From Old Church Slavonic; cognate with Bulgarian, Macedonian and Russian приступъ (pristupъ) | |||
Slovak | prístup | ||
The Slovak word "prístup" can also mean "approach" or "attitude". | |||
Slovenian | dostop | ||
Slovenian word 'dostop', meaning 'access', is derived from the verb 'dostopiti', which means 'to reach, to attain, or to arrive'. | |||
Ukrainian | доступ | ||
The word "доступ" in Ukrainian also means "permission" or "admission". |
Bengali | অ্যাক্সেস | ||
In Bengali, the word "অ্যাক্সেস" can also mean "permission to enter or use something" or "a means of reaching or using something." | |||
Gujarati | પ્રવેશ | ||
The Gujarati word "પ્રવેશ" (pravesh) can also mean "admission", "entrance", or "approach". | |||
Hindi | पहुंच | ||
The word "पहुंच" also refers to the range or reach of something within one's sphere of influence. | |||
Kannada | ಪ್ರವೇಶ | ||
In Sanskrit, "ಪ್ರವೇಶ" ("access") also means "entrance," "introduction," and "initiation." | |||
Malayalam | പ്രവേശനം | ||
"പ്രവേശനം" also means "entrance" or "admission" in Malayalam, not just "access". | |||
Marathi | प्रवेश | ||
प्रवेश (access) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'pravesha', which means 'entering' or 'going into' | |||
Nepali | पहुँच | ||
The word "पहुँच" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्राप्ति," meaning acquisition or attainment. | |||
Punjabi | ਪਹੁੰਚ | ||
The word "ਪਹੁੰਚ" ("access") in Punjabi also means "arrival", "approach", "nearness", or "proximity". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ප්රවේශ | ||
ප්රවේශ (pravesaya) derives from Sanskrit words pra- ('towards') and viś ('enter'), meaning a way of going into something | |||
Tamil | அணுகல் | ||
The word 'அணுகல்' (access) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'anugaachh' meaning 'to follow or approach'. | |||
Telugu | యాక్సెస్ | ||
Urdu | رسائی | ||
رسائی can also mean "arrival", "approach", or "ability to attain or achieve something." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 访问 | ||
访问 (fàngwèn) can also mean 'visit' or 'interview', and has the same root as the word '问' (wèn), meaning 'ask'. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 訪問 | ||
訪問 literally means "to ask to visit" in Chinese | |||
Japanese | アクセス | ||
The word "アクセス" (akusesu) in Japanese is derived from the Latin word "accessus", meaning "approach" or "entry". | |||
Korean | 접속하다 | ||
"접속하다" comes from the Chinese "接續" meaning to connect or continue. | |||
Mongolian | нэвтрэх | ||
It is unclear if the Mongolian word for "access" "нэвтрэх" is derived from either the Mongolian verb "нэвтэрх" meaning "to fit" or if it originated in Russian, which was an official language of Mongolia in the 20th century. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အသုံးပြုခွင့် | ||
Indonesian | mengakses | ||
The Indonesian word 'mengakses' derives from the French 'acces' or the Dutch 'acces', both meaning 'access'. | |||
Javanese | akses | ||
In Javanese, "akses" can also mean "to open" or "to unlock". | |||
Khmer | ចូលដំណើរការ | ||
Lao | ເຂົ້າເຖິງ | ||
The word "ເຂົ້າເຖິງ" in Lao can also be used to refer to a point or passage through which something is entered or exited. | |||
Malay | akses | ||
The Malay word "akses" is borrowed from the English word "access", which in turn comes from the Latin "accessus", meaning "approach" or "entry"} | |||
Thai | เข้าไป | ||
The word "เข้าไป" can also mean "to enter" or "to go in". | |||
Vietnamese | truy cập | ||
In Vietnamese, "truy cập" also means "to refer to or consult something" | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | access | ||
Azerbaijani | giriş | ||
The word "Giriş" in Azerbaijani shares the same root with the Turkish word "Giriş" meaning "entrance" or "introduction". | |||
Kazakh | кіру | ||
The Kazakh word "кіру" can also mean "to enter" or "to join". | |||
Kyrgyz | кирүү | ||
The verb «кирүү» (access) derives from the Turkic root «kir-» having the meaning of going in, entering. | |||
Tajik | дастрасӣ | ||
The word "дастрасӣ" can also refer to "availability" or "opportunity" in Tajik. | |||
Turkmen | elýeterliligi | ||
Uzbek | kirish | ||
The word "kirish" in Uzbek can also mean "to enter" or "to get in" | |||
Uyghur | access | ||
Hawaiian | komo | ||
"komo" also means "step" or "stride" in Hawaiian, referring to the act of physically entering or approaching something. | |||
Maori | urunga | ||
The Maori word "urunga" can also refer to a boundary or limit. | |||
Samoan | ulufale | ||
In Samoan mythology, Ulufale is known as the gatekeeper of the underworld. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pag-access | ||
The word "pag-access" in Tagalog (Filipino) also means "to visit" or "to reach out to someone". |
Aymara | aksisu | ||
Guarani | jeike | ||
Esperanto | aliro | ||
"Aliro" is a derivative of the Latin word "alis" (wing), implying the idea of "taking flight to reach a place." | |||
Latin | aditum | ||
The Latin word "aditum" also means "entrance" or "approach". |
Greek | πρόσβαση | ||
Πρόσβαση (access) derives from Ancient Greek "προσιέναι" (prosiénai) meaning "to approach" and "εἰς" (eis) meaning "into" or "towards". | |||
Hmong | nkag tau | ||
The Hmong word "nkag tau" comes from the Old Chinese word "kʰawg" meaning "mouth" or "opening". | |||
Kurdish | navketin | ||
"Navketin" can be literally translated as "come by" in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | giriş | ||
The word 'Giriş' in Turkish can also mean 'entrance' or 'introduction' | |||
Xhosa | ukufikelela | ||
The word 'ukufikelela' in Xhosa is also used to refer to the act of reaching out or approaching someone. | |||
Yiddish | צוטריט | ||
In Yiddish, צוטריט or tsuztrit also means 'admittance' and 'entrance' | |||
Zulu | ukufinyelela | ||
The Zulu word "ukufinyelela" can also mean "to reach" or "to arrive at". | |||
Assamese | প্ৰৱেশাধিকাৰ | ||
Aymara | aksisu | ||
Bhojpuri | पहुँचल | ||
Dhivehi | އެކްސަސް | ||
Dogri | पुज्ज | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | access | ||
Guarani | jeike | ||
Ilocano | access | ||
Krio | fɛn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دەسگەیشتن | ||
Maithili | पहुंच | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯤꯖꯤꯟꯅꯕ ꯐꯪꯕ | ||
Mizo | lut | ||
Oromo | argachuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରବେଶ | ||
Quechua | yaykuna | ||
Sanskrit | अभिगमः | ||
Tatar | керү | ||
Tigrinya | ናይ ምርካብ ዓቅሚ | ||
Tsonga | fikelela | ||