Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'account' holds great significance in our daily lives, especially in the digital age. It refers to a record of financial transactions, a system for organizing information, or even a persona we present online. This word has been used in various cultural contexts, from Shakespeare's works to modern-day business transactions.
Did you know that the word 'account' comes from the Old French 'compte', meaning 'computation' or 'reckoning'? This historical context highlights the importance of numerical record-keeping in the evolution of the word. Moreover, its cultural significance is evident in the fact that it has been incorporated into various languages around the world.
Understanding the translation of 'account' in different languages can be beneficial for global communication and cultural appreciation. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | rekening | ||
In Afrikaans, “rekening” can also refer to a “bill” or a “settlement”. | |||
Amharic | መለያ | ||
The word "መለያ" can also mean "account" in terms of financial records. | |||
Hausa | asusu | ||
The Hausa word 'asusu' is derived from the Arabic word 'hisab' and can also refer to a 'share' or 'portion'. | |||
Igbo | akaụntụ | ||
"Akaụntụ" in Igbo has an alternative meaning of "to be in charge of". | |||
Malagasy | tantara | ||
TANTARA is rooted in the Arabic word SANTARA, which means 'register'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | nkhani | ||
In Nyanja, "nkhani" also means "story" or "news", suggesting a connection between accounting and storytelling. | |||
Shona | account | ||
The Shona word 'account' has an alternate meaning of 'to be of value or worth'. | |||
Somali | koontada | ||
In Somali, the word "koontada" is derived from the Arabic word "hisab" and can also mean "calculation" or "arithmetic". | |||
Sesotho | ak'haonte | ||
The word "ak'haonte" in Sesotho can be traced back to the Khoisan word "kwain" meaning "to remember". | |||
Swahili | akaunti | ||
The word "akaunti" in Swahili also means "receipt". | |||
Xhosa | iakhawunti | ||
The term 'iakhawunti' likely traces its origin to the Dutch 'accountant'. | |||
Yoruba | iroyin | ||
Yoruba word iroyin may refer to a narrative or to a financial account. | |||
Zulu | i-akhawunti | ||
The word "i-akhawunti" in Zulu is derived from the Afrikaans word "rekening" and refers not only to financial records, but also to a person's character or standing in the community. | |||
Bambara | jate | ||
Ewe | akᴐnta | ||
Kinyarwanda | konte | ||
Lingala | konte | ||
Luganda | akawunti | ||
Sepedi | akhaonte | ||
Twi (Akan) | akawnso | ||
Arabic | الحساب | ||
حساب can also mean "calculation," "reckoning," or "judgment." | |||
Hebrew | חֶשְׁבּוֹן | ||
The Hebrew word "חֶשְׁבּוֹן" (account) also means "reckoning" and "arithmetic" in some contexts. | |||
Pashto | ګ .ون | ||
The Pashto word ګ .ون also carries connotations of trust, responsibility, and reliability. | |||
Arabic | الحساب | ||
حساب can also mean "calculation," "reckoning," or "judgment." |
Albanian | llogari | ||
The word 'llogari' in Albanian comes from the Latin word 'calculare', meaning 'to compute'. | |||
Basque | kontua | ||
In Basque, the word "kontua" originally referred to a story or a report and later came to mean an account. | |||
Catalan | compte | ||
In Catalan, "compte" can also mean "story", "tale", or "narrative". | |||
Croatian | račun | ||
'Račun' is also the word for 'bill' and derives from 'count', indicating a calculation of monetary worth. | |||
Danish | konto | ||
The word "konto" also refers to a ledger entry in German and a pole or spear in Spanish. | |||
Dutch | account | ||
In Dutch, 'account' means both 'account' and 'bill' and derives from the Old French 'acont', meaning 'sum due'. | |||
English | account | ||
The word "account" derives from the Old French word "acont" and the Latin word "computus," both meaning "reckoning." | |||
French | compte | ||
In French, "Compte" can also refer to a narrative or a report, owing to its Latin etymology meaning "to reckon or count". | |||
Frisian | rekken | ||
Rek means to count or calculate, and is the origin of the English word 'reckon' or 'reckless'. | |||
Galician | conta | ||
Conta can also mean a story or a tale. | |||
German | konto | ||
Konto is a loanword from Italian "conto" which also means "count" | |||
Icelandic | reikningi | ||
The word "reikningi" in Icelandic has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as "rikning" in Norwegian and "räkning" in Swedish, all of which derive from the Proto-Germanic word *reikjaną, meaning "to calculate." | |||
Irish | cuntas | ||
In Irish, the word "cuntas" can also mean "councillor", "audit" or "estimate" | |||
Italian | account | ||
"Account" derives from the Old French "acounter" (to compute), from the Latin "computare" (to reckon), and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root "*kom-" (together). | |||
Luxembourgish | kont | ||
The word "Kont" in Luxembourgish is derived from the French "compte" and also refers to a bank statement. | |||
Maltese | kont | ||
The word "kont" is derived from the Italian word "conto", meaning "account". | |||
Norwegian | regnskap | ||
The word 'regnskap' is derived from the Old Norse word 'reiknaskap', meaning 'reckoning' or 'accounting'. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | conta | ||
In Portuguese, "conta" can also have the meaning of "infection", "virus", or "disease" | |||
Scots Gaelic | cunntas | ||
The Gaelic word "cunntas" can also mean "a story" or "a narrative". | |||
Spanish | cuenta | ||
Cuenta derives from the Latin "computare", meaning "to calculate". | |||
Swedish | konto | ||
The Swedish word "konto" is borrowed from Italian "conto" ("calculation, bill"), which in turn comes from Latin "computus" "reckoning". | |||
Welsh | cyfrif | ||
"Cyfrif" derives from "cyfri," with meanings of accounting, counting, reckoning, calculating, computing, estimating, number, numeral, figure, and cipher. |
Belarusian | рахунку | ||
The word “рахунку” has also a meaning of “invoice, bill”. | |||
Bosnian | račun | ||
The word "račun" also means "computation" or "calculation" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | сметка | ||
The Bulgarian word "сметка" can also refer to a "plan" or "intention". | |||
Czech | účet | ||
The word "účet" can also mean a bill or a receipt. | |||
Estonian | konto | ||
The word "konto" is derived from the Italian word "conto" (meaning "bill, account") and the German word "Konto" (meaning "account"). | |||
Finnish | tili | ||
Tili is also used as a name for a small, closed-in space for storage such as a pantry, closet, or cubby, similar to the German word "Diele". | |||
Hungarian | számla | ||
The word "számla" also means "invoice" in Hungarian, coming from the Old German word "scambjo" meaning "exchange". | |||
Latvian | konts | ||
The word "konts" is derived from the Low German "kont" and has additional meanings such as "end" or "final settlement". | |||
Lithuanian | sąskaitą | ||
"Sąskaita" in Lithuanian is etymologically related to the verb "skaičiuoti", meaning "count". | |||
Macedonian | сметка | ||
The Macedonian word "сметка" is cognate with the Serbo-Croatian "smetka", Czech "smětka", and Slovak "smietka", all derived from the Proto-Slavic *smečьka, meaning "reckoning, computation, account". | |||
Polish | konto | ||
The word "konto" in Polish also refers to a type of fencing weapon. | |||
Romanian | cont | ||
The word "cont" derives from the Latin word "computus" meaning "calculation" or "reckoning." | |||
Russian | счет | ||
The Russian word "Счет" (account) also means "bill" or "invoice". | |||
Serbian | рачун | ||
The word "рачун" also means "bill" or "invoice" in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | účet | ||
The word 'účet' comes from the Proto-Slavic word *oťьtъ, meaning 'notch' or 'mark'. | |||
Slovenian | račun | ||
The word “račun” in Slovenian can also refer to an invoice, and comes from the Proto-Slavic word *srъtъ, meaning “to add, count”. | |||
Ukrainian | рахунок | ||
The Ukrainian word рахунок originates from the Proto-Slavic *or̥kъ, signifying "an act of reckoning." |
Bengali | হিসাব | ||
In Bengali, "হিসাব" can also refer to a person's intention or plan. | |||
Gujarati | ખાતું | ||
The word "ખાતું" can also refer to a story or a narrative in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | लेखा | ||
The word "लेखा" is derived from the Sanskrit word "लेख्य" (lekhya), which means "that which is written" or "a record". | |||
Kannada | ಖಾತೆ | ||
The Kannada word ಖಾತೆ has Sanskrit origins, and can also refer to a "story" or "description" | |||
Malayalam | അക്കൗണ്ട് | ||
"അക്കൗണ്ട്" comes from the Tamil word "akkaunti", which in turn comes from the English word "account". | |||
Marathi | खाते | ||
The Marathi word "खाते" can also refer to a ledger, a record of transactions, or a financial statement. | |||
Nepali | खाता | ||
The word "खाता" (account) in Nepali derives from the Sanskrit word "khata" meaning "a record" or "a ledger." | |||
Punjabi | ਖਾਤਾ | ||
The term "ਖਾਤਾ" in Punjabi can also refer to a financial ledger, a list of transactions, or an invoice, demonstrating its diverse usage in financial contexts. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ගිණුම | ||
Apart from its primary meaning as 'account', 'ගිණුම' also refers to a 'count' in Sinhala. | |||
Tamil | கணக்கு | ||
கணக்கு can refer to numerical or monetary accounts, as well as to the process of counting or calculating. | |||
Telugu | ఖాతా | ||
The Telugu word "ఖాతా" (account) traces its etymological roots to the Persian word "hisab" and the Arabic word "hasab", both meaning "reckoning". | |||
Urdu | کھاتہ | ||
The word "کھاتہ" is derived from the Arabic word "حساب" which means "reckoning" or "calculation". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 帐户 | ||
帐户 can refer to an account on a financial platform or a registered account on a website. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 帳戶 | ||
帳戶 (account) in Chinese (Traditional) derives from бухгалтер (bookkeeper) in Russian. | |||
Japanese | アカウント | ||
The Japanese word "アカウント" (akaunt) is derived from the English word "account", which refers to a financial statement or a record of transactions. | |||
Korean | 계정 | ||
The Korean word "계정" (account) also refers to "accounting" in the context of bookkeeping or financial computations. | |||
Mongolian | данс | ||
The word "данс" can also refer to a notebook or record book. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အကောင့် | ||
Indonesian | akun | ||
"Akun" comes from Tamil words of Sanskrit origin (ākāram - number, amount) | |||
Javanese | akun | ||
In Javanese, "akun" can also refer to a debt book or a statement of accounts. | |||
Khmer | គណនី | ||
The word "គណនី" also carries the meaning of "record" or "calculation" in Khmer. | |||
Lao | ບັນຊີ | ||
ບັນຊີ can also mean 'list' or 'inventory' and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'varṇitā' meaning 'described' or 'recorded'. | |||
Malay | akaun | ||
The Malay word "akaun" is derived from the Arabic word "hisab", which means "to calculate or reckon". | |||
Thai | บัญชีผู้ใช้ | ||
บัญชีผู้ใช้ can also be a computer file that records financial transactions or a record of a person’s or business’s dealings with another. | |||
Vietnamese | tài khoản | ||
"Tài khoản" (account) can also refer to a person's wealth or status. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | account | ||
Azerbaijani | hesab | ||
The word "hesab" can also refer to a bill or an invoice in Azerbaijani | |||
Kazakh | шот | ||
In Kazakh, "шот" can also mean "a score in a game" or "a unit of measurement for flour or grain (equivalent to 16 pounds)." | |||
Kyrgyz | эсеп | ||
The word "эсеп" in Kyrgyz is derived from the Proto-Turkic word *əsəp, meaning "number" or "computation". | |||
Tajik | ҳисоб | ||
The Tajik word "ҳисоб" ("hisob") is ultimately derived from the Persian "حساب" ("hesab") < Arabic "حِساب" ("ḥisāb"), meaning "reckoning, computation, calculation". | |||
Turkmen | hasaby | ||
Uzbek | hisob qaydnomasi | ||
The word "hisob qaydnomasi" in Uzbek also refers to a ledger or a record of financial transactions. | |||
Uyghur | ھېسابات | ||
Hawaiian | moʻokāki | ||
In Hawaiian genealogy, moʻokāki are historical narratives that relate the lineage, deeds, and characteristics of individuals and families. | |||
Maori | pūkete | ||
Pūkete is a loanword from the English word 'pocket', originally referring to the small bags sailors used to hold coins. | |||
Samoan | teugatupe | ||
The word 'teugatupe' in Samoan also means 'to pay', 'to give', or 'to present'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | account | ||
The word "account" in Tagalog can also refer to a person's reputation or standing in society. |
Aymara | kuñta | ||
Guarani | mba'erepy | ||
Esperanto | konto | ||
"Konto" shares its roots with "konto" in German, Italian, and Hungarian, as well as "compte" in French, "cuenta" in Spanish, and "счёт" in Russian. | |||
Latin | ratio | ||
The Latin word "ratio" has cognates meaning "thought," "calculation," "reckoning," and "proportion." |
Greek | λογαριασμός | ||
The Greek word "λογαριασμός" (account) is derived from the verb "λογαριάζω" (to count) and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *leǵʰ-, meaning "to collect, gather". | |||
Hmong | nyiaj txiag | ||
In Hmong, 'nyiaj txiag' primarily means an 'account', but can also refer to 'money' or 'funds'. | |||
Kurdish | konto | ||
The Kurdish word “konto” originates from the Persian word “hisab” and is a term for “account.” | |||
Turkish | hesap | ||
The word "hesap" can also mean "calculation" or "reckoning" in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | iakhawunti | ||
The term 'iakhawunti' likely traces its origin to the Dutch 'accountant'. | |||
Yiddish | חשבון | ||
In Yiddish, the word "חשבון" (kheshbon) also refers to arithmetic or mathematics. | |||
Zulu | i-akhawunti | ||
The word "i-akhawunti" in Zulu is derived from the Afrikaans word "rekening" and refers not only to financial records, but also to a person's character or standing in the community. | |||
Assamese | একাউণ্ট | ||
Aymara | kuñta | ||
Bhojpuri | खाता | ||
Dhivehi | އެކައުންޓު | ||
Dogri | खाता | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | account | ||
Guarani | mba'erepy | ||
Ilocano | account | ||
Krio | akawnt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەژمێر | ||
Maithili | खाता | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯋꯥꯔꯣꯜ | ||
Mizo | sum vawnna | ||
Oromo | herrega | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଖାତା | ||
Quechua | yupay | ||
Sanskrit | वृतांत्तः | ||
Tatar | хисап | ||
Tigrinya | ኣካውንት | ||
Tsonga | akhawunti | ||