Adopt in Different Languages
Discover 'Adopt' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'adopt' carries a significant weight as it represents the act of welcoming someone or something new into one's life with open arms. This cultural importance is reflected in various languages and societies around the world. From the French 'adopter' to the Spanish 'adoptar', the word's translation signifies a universal value of acceptance and belonging.
Moreover, 'adopt' has fascinating historical contexts. For instance, in ancient Rome, the act of adoption was a common practice among the elite to ensure the continuation of their family lineage and wealth. Today, the term has evolved to encompass not just humans, but also animals and even ideas.
So, why should you know the translation of 'adopt' in different languages? Understanding this term in various languages can help bridge cultural gaps, foster global connections, and promote a sense of unity in diversity. It can also serve as a reminder that, despite our differences, we all share common values and aspirations.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'adopt' in various languages, from the familiar to the exotic, and gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of this powerful word.
Adopt
Adopt in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | aanneem | ||
| "Aanneem" in Afrikaans relates to "adoption", but is sometimes also used to describe a "presumption" that something is true. | |||
| Amharic | ጉዲፈቻ | ||
| The word ጉዲፈቻ (adopt) in Amharic is derived from the Ge'ez word "gud" (child) and "difecha" (to take). | |||
| Hausa | yi amfani da | ||
| It can also mean "to use" or "to make use of" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | ịmụta | ||
| Ịmụta also means to 'learn' or 'acquire knowledge' in Igbo. | |||
| Malagasy | mandany | ||
| "Mandany" shares a root with a word for "exchange of children for a time," implying an agreement between two parties and a temporary (and reciprocal) loss and gain. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kutengera | ||
| The word ‘kutengera’ originates from the word ‘tengera’ with the prefix ‘ku’, and it implies taking over the responsibility of nurturing somebody else’s child as your own. | |||
| Shona | kutora | ||
| The word "kutora" also conveys a sense of taking on or assuming something, such as a role, responsibility or belief. | |||
| Somali | korsasho | ||
| Korsasho shares a root with korsaar ('be adopted') and is related to the word kors ('family'). | |||
| Sesotho | amohela | ||
| Amohela can also mean 'bring over' in the sense of 'accompany' | |||
| Swahili | kupitisha | ||
| The word "kupitisha" is derived from the verb "kupita" (to buy) and has the literal meaning of "to cause to buy". | |||
| Xhosa | ukwamkela | ||
| The Xhosa word "ukwamkela" can also mean "to take possession of" or "to receive something." | |||
| Yoruba | gba | ||
| The word "gba" in Yoruba can also mean "to receive" or "to take in charge." | |||
| Zulu | ukwamukela | ||
| "Ukwamukela" can also refer to the welcoming or reception of someone or something. | |||
| Bambara | ka yamaruya | ||
| Ewe | xɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kurera | ||
| Lingala | kondima | ||
| Luganda | okufula omwaana | ||
| Sepedi | amogela | ||
| Twi (Akan) | gye tom | ||
Adopt in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تبني | ||
| "تبني" in Arabic can also mean "to take on something as one's own" or "to embrace something as one's own belief or cause." | |||
| Hebrew | לְאַמֵץ | ||
| The word 'לְאַמֵץ' is derived from the root 'א.מ.ץ', which also means 'to be strong' or 'to fortify'. | |||
| Pashto | خپلول | ||
| The Pashto word "خپلول" is a derivative of the Proto-Indo-Iranian root *kʷel-, meaning to turn, twist, bend. | |||
| Arabic | تبني | ||
| "تبني" in Arabic can also mean "to take on something as one's own" or "to embrace something as one's own belief or cause." | |||
Adopt in Western European Languages
| Albanian | miratoj | ||
| The Albanian verb "miratoj" also means "to take over" or "to occupy". | |||
| Basque | adoptatu | ||
| The Basque word "adoptatu" is derived from the Latin word "adoptare", meaning "to choose" or "to take as one's own". | |||
| Catalan | adoptar | ||
| The verb "adoptar" in Catalan has its origins in the Latin word "adoptare", which means "to choose". | |||
| Croatian | posvojiti | ||
| "Posvojiti" is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb *pojьti, meaning "to take", and is related to the Serbian "posvojiti" (to take as one's own). | |||
| Danish | vedtage | ||
| The Danish word "vedtage" originally meant "to acknowledge" or "to approve". | |||
| Dutch | aannemen | ||
| The Dutch word 'aannemen' not only means 'adopt' but also 'to assume' or 'to accept' something as true or valid. | |||
| English | adopt | ||
| The word 'adopt' derives from the Latin 'adoptare', meaning 'to choose' and 'to take as a child'. | |||
| French | adopter | ||
| In French, "adopter" also refers to the legal adoption of a child. | |||
| Frisian | oannimme | ||
| Oannimme is also used in the sense of to accept (opinions, advice, etc.). | |||
| Galician | adoptar | ||
| In Galician, "adoptar" can also mean "to take someone as a godchild". | |||
| German | adoptieren | ||
| (The verb) 'adoptieren' comes from the Latin 'adoptare' which means 'to choose' | |||
| Icelandic | ættleiða | ||
| "Ættleiða" is a compound word that literally translates to "to lead into the family". | |||
| Irish | ghlacadh | ||
| The word "ghlacadh" can also mean "to take hold of," "to seize," or "to apprehend." | |||
| Italian | adottare | ||
| In the past, "adottare" could also mean "to make someone a knight". | |||
| Luxembourgish | adoptéieren | ||
| The word "adoptéieren" is derived from the French word "adopter", meaning "to adopt", and is also used in Luxembourgish to refer to the legal process of "affiliation" (the establishment of a parent-child relationship between two people who are not biologically related). | |||
| Maltese | tadotta | ||
| The word "tadotta" is derived from the Italian word "adottare", meaning "to adopt". | |||
| Norwegian | adoptere | ||
| The word "adoptere" is derived from the Latin word "adoptare", which means "to choose as one's own child". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | adotar | ||
| In Portuguese, "adotar" not only means "to adopt" but also "to assume" or "to approve". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | gabhail | ||
| Though the word "gabhail" typically means "adopt" in Scots Gaelic, it can also mean "take" or "seize" in other contexts. | |||
| Spanish | adoptar | ||
| Adoptar can also mean to take on a new role, to assume a new identity, or to take on a new perspective. | |||
| Swedish | anta | ||
| Anta, meaning 'to adopt', has its origins in the Latin word 'adoptare' and the Old French word 'anter', both of which mean 'to take (someone) as one's child'. | |||
| Welsh | mabwysiadu | ||
| The Welsh word 'mabwysiadu' has two meanings: 'to adopt' (as a child), and 'to appropriate or seize' (property). | |||
Adopt in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | прыняць | ||
| Прыняць (adopt) is related to words in other Slavic languages meaning "to take, receive, accept". | |||
| Bosnian | usvojiti | ||
| "Usvojiti" can also mean to accept or take ownership of something. | |||
| Bulgarian | осинови | ||
| The word "осинови" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*osinoviti" meaning "to make one's own", and also means "to foster" or "to nurse" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | přijmout | ||
| The verb přijmout can also mean to receive or to accept. | |||
| Estonian | vastu võtma | ||
| "Võtma" in "vastu võtma" means to take or receive. | |||
| Finnish | hyväksyä | ||
| The word "hyväksyä" can also mean "to accept" or "to approve" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | fogadja el | ||
| Fogadja el, a szó szerinti jelentése: elfogad. | |||
| Latvian | pieņemt | ||
| "Pieņemt" also means "accept, acknowledge" in Latvian | |||
| Lithuanian | priimti | ||
| The word "priimti" in Lithuanian can also mean to accept, or agree to, something. | |||
| Macedonian | посвојува | ||
| The word also refers to the process of adopting a child. | |||
| Polish | przyjąć | ||
| Przyjąć can also mean "to accept", "to receive", "to welcome", or "to assume (a position or role)". | |||
| Romanian | adopta | ||
| "Adopta" is derived from the Latin word "adoptare," meaning "to take as one's own child." | |||
| Russian | принять | ||
| The Russian word "принять" can also mean "to receive" or "to accept". | |||
| Serbian | усвојити | ||
| "Усвојити" (adopt) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *usvojiti, which originally meant "to make one's own". | |||
| Slovak | adoptovať | ||
| The Slovak word "adoptovať" also means "to take something into one's care", as in "adopting a stray dog." | |||
| Slovenian | sprejeti | ||
| The word "sprejeti" in Slovenian can also mean "accept" or "embrace" | |||
| Ukrainian | прийняти | ||
| The Ukrainian word "прийняти" also means "to accept" or "to receive". | |||
Adopt in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | গ্রহণ | ||
| The term গ্রহণ is also used in the context of astrophysics, where it refers to the blocking out of celestial bodies by another, often larger, object passing in front of it. | |||
| Gujarati | અપનાવવું | ||
| The Gujarati word "અપનાવવું" also means to accept or take something on as one's own. | |||
| Hindi | अपनाने | ||
| The Hindi word 'अपनाना' ('adopt') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'आत्मन', meaning 'self', suggesting taking something as one's own. | |||
| Kannada | ಅಳವಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ | ||
| The word "ಅಳವಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ" (adopt) in Kannada shares its root with the word "ಅಳವು" (measure), suggesting the idea of adjusting or conforming to something. | |||
| Malayalam | ദത്തെടുക്കുക | ||
| Originally coming from Sanskrit 'dattṛ', the root 'datt' means 'to give'. In Malayalam, it means 'to provide one with a child to bring up as their own'. | |||
| Marathi | अंगीकारणे | ||
| "अंगीकारणे" is derived from the Sanskrit root "अंगी" meaning "limb" or "part," suggesting the idea of incorporating or taking something into oneself. | |||
| Nepali | अपनाउनु | ||
| The word 'अपनाउनु' has the alternate meaning of 'to make something one's own' or 'to assume something as one's own' | |||
| Punjabi | ਗੋਦ ਲੈਣਾ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਗੋਦ ਲੈਣਾ" can also mean to "take into one's protection or care" or to "bring up as one's own". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දරුකමට හදා ගැනීම | ||
| The Sinhala word for "adopt" comes from the root word "දරු" (daru), which means "child" or "infant." | |||
| Tamil | தத்தெடுக்க | ||
| The word "தத்தெடுக்க" (adopt) in Tamil stems from the root word "தத்து" meaning "to receive" or "to take charge of". | |||
| Telugu | దత్తత | ||
| "దత్తత" refers to the religious practice of adoption during the Vedic period, where a childless couple would choose a male child to inherit their property and lineage. | |||
| Urdu | اپنانے | ||
| اپنانے ('adopt' in Urdu) is derived from the Persian word 'farzand', meaning 'child', and can also have connotations of accepting or embracing something as one's own. | |||
Adopt in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 采用 | ||
| "采" originally means "gather", and "用" means "use". Therefore, "采用" literally means "gather and use". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 採用 | ||
| In Chinese, 「採用」 can also mean "to employ" or "to use". | |||
| Japanese | 採用 | ||
| Originally written as 採養, it meant 'to adopt an heir,' but in modern times it has taken on 'to adopt' as a meaning. | |||
| Korean | 채택하다 | ||
| The word "채택하다" (adopt) in Korean also means "to adopt a child" or "to take on a new role or position." | |||
| Mongolian | үрчлэх | ||
| In some contexts, "үрчлэх" can refer to the act of inheriting or taking on someone's legacy or responsibilities. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မွေးစားပါ | ||
Adopt in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | mengambil | ||
| "Mengambil" can also mean 'to take' in a more general sense. | |||
| Javanese | nganggo | ||
| In Javanese, 'nganggo' also means 'to wear' or 'to use', reflecting the concept of 'adopting' something into one's own usage or being. | |||
| Khmer | អនុម័ត | ||
| The word អនុម័ត (adopt) in Khmer comes from the Pali word anumodana, meaning 'approval' or 'consent'. | |||
| Lao | ຮັບຮອງເອົາ | ||
| Malay | menerima pakai | ||
| The Malay word "menerima pakai" can also mean "to accept as true" or "to use or practice something". | |||
| Thai | นำมาใช้ | ||
| "นำมาใช้" can also mean "to carry" or "to take" in different contexts. | |||
| Vietnamese | nhận nuôi | ||
| In Vietnamese, "nhận nuôi" literally translates to "receive and nurture," emphasizing the act of care and protection involved in adoption. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | magpatibay | ||
Adopt in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | övladlığa götürmək | ||
| The verb "övladlığa götürmək" is also used to mean "to raise a child as one's own" and "to take someone under one's wing". | |||
| Kazakh | асырап алу | ||
| The verb “асырап алу” has a second meaning of “to protect or support.” | |||
| Kyrgyz | кабыл алуу | ||
| In Kyrgyz, "кабыл алуу" holds an alternate meaning of "to accept someone as a member of one's clan or family." | |||
| Tajik | фарзандхондан | ||
| The word "фарзандхондан" in Tajik derives from the Persian phrase "فرزند خواندن" meaning "to call (someone) a child". | |||
| Turkmen | ogullyga almak | ||
| Uzbek | asrab olish | ||
| The Uzbek word "asrab olish" can also mean "to take in" or "to protect". | |||
| Uyghur | بېقىۋېلىش | ||
Adopt in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | apono | ||
| Apono also means 'to receive' or 'be received' as a gift in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | tango | ||
| In Maori, the word "tango" also means "to hold or carry in the arms or lap". | |||
| Samoan | vaetama | ||
| Etymology: Va'e-tama literally means "to pick up a son or daughter." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | magpatibay | ||
| "Magpatibay" literally means "to confirm" or "to make strong" in Tagalog, and it is also used in the sense of "to adopt" a child or other dependent. | |||
Adopt in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | aruptaña | ||
| Guarani | ñemomba'e | ||
Adopt in International Languages
| Esperanto | adopti | ||
| The Esperanto word "adopti" also means to choose or take on as one's own. | |||
| Latin | adopt | ||
| The verb 'adoptare' comes from the noun 'adŏptio' and means to 'choose', 'elect' or 'assume'. | |||
Adopt in Others Languages
| Greek | ενστερνίζομαι | ||
| The term 'Ενστερνίζομαι' can also be used in a figurative sense to express the acceptance or internalization of an idea, belief, or principle. | |||
| Hmong | txais yuav | ||
| The term "txais yuav" has additional connotations of "taking into the family as one's own" and "providing care and support" beyond the legal definition of adoption. | |||
| Kurdish | xwerezarokgirtin | ||
| The word 'xwerezarokgirtin' is a compound word in Kurdish, consisting of the roots 'xwere' (to take), 'zarok' (child), and 'girtin' (to receive), and literally means 'to receive a child' or 'to take a child into one's care'. | |||
| Turkish | evlat edinmek | ||
| "Evlat edinmek" in Turkish also implies becoming the guardian of someone, not necessarily adoption in the Western sense. | |||
| Xhosa | ukwamkela | ||
| The Xhosa word "ukwamkela" can also mean "to take possession of" or "to receive something." | |||
| Yiddish | אַדאָפּטירן | ||
| The Yiddish word אַדאָפּטירן can also mean to "accept" or "approve". | |||
| Zulu | ukwamukela | ||
| "Ukwamukela" can also refer to the welcoming or reception of someone or something. | |||
| Assamese | তুলি লোৱা | ||
| Aymara | aruptaña | ||
| Bhojpuri | अपनावल | ||
| Dhivehi | އެޑޮޕްޓް | ||
| Dogri | अपनाना | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | magpatibay | ||
| Guarani | ñemomba'e | ||
| Ilocano | ampunen | ||
| Krio | tek pikin fɔ mɛn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تەبەنی | ||
| Maithili | गोदलेनइ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯣꯛꯄ | ||
| Mizo | chhawm | ||
| Oromo | guddifachaa fudhachuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଗ୍ରହଣ | ||
| Quechua | uyakuy | ||
| Sanskrit | स्वीकार | ||
| Tatar | кабул итү | ||
| Tigrinya | ተቐባልነት | ||
| Tsonga | wundla | ||