Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'advance' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting progress, improvement, or forward movement in various aspects of life. Its cultural importance is evident in its widespread use in fields such as technology, business, and the military. Understanding the translation of 'advance' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how diverse cultures perceive and approach the concept of progress.
Did you know that the English word 'advance' is derived from the Latin 'abante,' meaning 'before' or 'in front of'? This historical context highlights the term's emphasis on moving forward and leading the way. Moreover, the word has been adopted and adapted in various languages, taking on nuanced meanings that reflect the cultural values of each region.
For instance, in Spanish, 'avance' not only refers to progress but also carries a sense of anticipation or expectation. Meanwhile, in German, 'Fortschritt' emphasizes steady, continuous development. These subtle differences showcase the richness and diversity of human languages and thought.
Discover how 'advance' is translated in different languages and deepen your appreciation for the world's cultural and linguistic tapestry.
Afrikaans | vooruitgaan | ||
"Vooruitgaan" in Afrikaans can also mean "to improve" or "to progress", similar to its English cognate "advance". | |||
Amharic | ወደፊት | ||
The word "ወደፊት" in Amharic is cognate to the Arabic preposition "إلى", meaning "to" or "towards" and is often used figuratively to mean "progress" or "improvement". | |||
Hausa | ci gaba | ||
The word 'ci gaba' literally translates to 'there in front', emphasizing movement forward, progress or advancement. | |||
Igbo | na-aga n'ihu | ||
The Igbo word "na-aga n'ihu" is derived from the verb "iga" (to go) and means "to move or progress forward" in a physical or metaphorical sense. | |||
Malagasy | mialoha | ||
The word "mialoha" can also mean "to make progress" or "to start something new". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | patsogolo | ||
"Patsogolo" also means "development" or "progress" in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | fambira mberi | ||
"Fambira mberi" is also a term used to describe leading or going forward, especially in a metaphorical sense. | |||
Somali | hore u marin | ||
The Somali word "hore u marin" has the alternate meaning of "taking the initiative". | |||
Sesotho | tsoelapele | ||
The word "tsoelapele" also means "leading the sheep or the cows in front on a long distance journey when you know that there is a lion stalking the livestock" in Sesotho. | |||
Swahili | mapema | ||
The Swahili word "mapema" is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "-pama" meaning "to go ahead" or "to precede". | |||
Xhosa | phambili | ||
The Xhosa word "phambili" can also mean "forward" or "before". | |||
Yoruba | ilosiwaju | ||
"Ilosiwaju" means "advance" and can also be translated into "progress", "development" or "improvement." | |||
Zulu | phambili | ||
"Phambili" can mean both "ahead" and "forward" in Zulu, suggesting a sense of progression or movement towards a goal. | |||
Bambara | ka taa ɲɛfɛ | ||
Ewe | do ŋgᴐ | ||
Kinyarwanda | imbere | ||
Lingala | kokende liboso | ||
Luganda | okutuukiriza | ||
Sepedi | gatetšego pele | ||
Twi (Akan) | animkɔ | ||
Arabic | تقدم | ||
"تقدم" also means "progress" or "promotion" or "development." | |||
Hebrew | לְקַדֵם | ||
The word "לְקַדֵם" can also mean "to meet" or "to receive" in Hebrew. | |||
Pashto | پرمختګ | ||
The word "پرمختګ" (advance) in Pashto has roots in the Persian language and shares a similar meaning to the English word "progress". | |||
Arabic | تقدم | ||
"تقدم" also means "progress" or "promotion" or "development." |
Albanian | avancoj | ||
The verb "avancoj" in Albanian can also mean "to give a down payment" or "to make a deposit." | |||
Basque | aurreratu | ||
"Aurreratu" can also mean "to bring forward" or "to anticipate." | |||
Catalan | avançar | ||
Catalan "avançar" comes from the Latin "abante" that means "from the front, from the forward side; on the side of the attacker" | |||
Croatian | unaprijed | ||
Unaprijed can also mean 'in advance' in the context of time. | |||
Danish | rykke | ||
The Danish word "rykke" comes from the Old Norse word "rykkja", meaning "to move" or "to pull". | |||
Dutch | vooruitgaan | ||
Vooruitgaan also means 'get out of the way' in an informal Dutch context. | |||
English | advance | ||
"Advance" comes from the Latin "advenire," meaning "to arrive at" or "approach." | |||
French | avance | ||
The word "avance" in French can also mean "loan" or "proposal". | |||
Frisian | foarútgong | ||
The Frisian word "foarútgong" is related to the Old English word "foregang" and the German word "vorausgehen", all meaning "to go before". | |||
Galician | adianto | ||
"Adianto" in Galician has also alternate meanings like "help" or "loan" | |||
German | voraus | ||
"Voraus" can also mean "precondition," "premise," or "expectation." | |||
Icelandic | fara fram | ||
The word "fara fram" can also mean "to go forward" or "to progress". | |||
Irish | roimh ré | ||
"Roimh ré" is composed of "roimh" (ahead) and "ré" (era), implying advancement as one moves further into the future. | |||
Italian | progredire | ||
Progredire derives from Latin "progredi", composed of "pro-" (forward) and "gradi" (to step). | |||
Luxembourgish | virgezunnen | ||
The word "virgezunnen" in Luxembourgish derives from the French word "avancer" meaning "to proceed" or "to go forward". | |||
Maltese | bil-quddiem | ||
"Qudiem" is the word for "forward" in Maltese, and the prefix "bi" is used to form verbs, so "bil-quddiem" literally translates to "to go forward." | |||
Norwegian | avansere | ||
The word "avansere" comes from the French word "avancer", which means "to move forward" or "to make progress." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | avançar | ||
In Portuguese, "avançar" can also mean "to overtake" (a vehicle), "to make progress," "to move up," or "to promote." | |||
Scots Gaelic | ro-làimh | ||
"Ro-làimh" in Scots Gaelic also means "a hand's width", "as much as can be held in the open hand", "palm" or "flat of the hand" | |||
Spanish | avanzar | ||
"Avanzar" comes from the Latin "abante" (at the front) and evolved from "andare" (to go). | |||
Swedish | förskott | ||
The word "förskott" derives from the Proto-Germanic word “*furskatuz”, which also means “payment in advance”. | |||
Welsh | ymlaen llaw | ||
The Welsh phrase "ymlaen llaw" literally translates to "into the front hand", reflecting its original meaning of "advance payment". |
Belarusian | загадзя | ||
The word "загадзя" can also mean "intentionally" or "deliberately". | |||
Bosnian | unaprijed | ||
The word "unaprijed" is derived from the word "unaprijedio" which means "to make progress". | |||
Bulgarian | предварително | ||
The Bulgarian word "предварително" also holds a connotation of being conditional in meaning. | |||
Czech | záloha | ||
The word "záloha" originally meant "pledge" or "surety" in Old Czech. | |||
Estonian | ette | ||
"Ette" in Estonian can also refer to something or someone located in front, or a destination, direction, or future occurrence. | |||
Finnish | etukäteen | ||
"Etutäteen" also means "in advance" in Finnish. | |||
Hungarian | előleg | ||
In Hungarian, “előleg” also means “deposit” and is derived from the root “elő” meaning “before” and “lég” meaning “down payment”. | |||
Latvian | iepriekš | ||
"iepriekš" can also mean "previously" or "beforehand" | |||
Lithuanian | iš anksto | ||
The Lithuanian word "iš anksto" originally meant "from the beginning" or "in advance," but now it is commonly used to mean "in advance" or "beforehand." | |||
Macedonian | однапред | ||
The word "еднапред" in Macedonian also means forward. | |||
Polish | postęp | ||
The word "postęp" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *pъstǫpati, which means "to step on" or "to progress." | |||
Romanian | avans | ||
In Romanian, «аванс» originally referred to taxes levied on merchants in the 17th century. | |||
Russian | продвижение | ||
The Russian word "продвижение" has the same etymology as the word "движение" ("movement"), but has come to have a more specific meaning of "advance" or "progress". | |||
Serbian | унапред | ||
The word "унапред" can also mean "in front" or "ahead". | |||
Slovak | vopred | ||
The root «pred» in the word «vopred» is used in many other words meaning «ahead» like «napred» and «napredok» in Slovak and many related languages such as Czech and Polish. | |||
Slovenian | vnaprej | ||
Vnaprej is formed from the root 'nap(re)j' (onwards) combined with the prefix 'v' (in). | |||
Ukrainian | авансом | ||
"Авансом" comes from the French "en avance" meaning "beforehand". |
Bengali | অগ্রিম | ||
The word অগ্রিম can also mean forefront, or preliminary, as well as the first part or installment of something. | |||
Gujarati | એડવાન્સ | ||
The word "advance" in Gujarati has the same meaning as in English, and also the alternate meaning of "to progress". The word "advance" is derived from the Old French word "avancer", which in turn comes from the Latin word "advenire", meaning "to come forth". The word "avancer" is also the origin of the English word "adventure". | |||
Hindi | अग्रिम | ||
The word 'अग्रिम' comes from the Sanskrit word 'अग्र' meaning 'foremost' or 'ahead'. | |||
Kannada | ಮುಂಗಡ | ||
The word "ಮುಂಗಡ" in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word "मुनिगद" meaning "going in front"} | |||
Malayalam | അഡ്വാൻസ് | ||
The word "അഡ്വാൻസ്" in Malayalam is derived from the English word "advance," and it can also mean "progress" or "development." | |||
Marathi | प्रगती | ||
In Marathi, "प्रगती" is related to the Sanskrit word "प्रगति" meaning "progress", and can also refer to "progressing" or "moving forward". | |||
Nepali | अग्रिम | ||
The word `अग्रिम` (advance) comes from the Sanskrit word `अग्र` (front), suggesting a forward movement in time or position | |||
Punjabi | ਪੇਸ਼ਗੀ | ||
The word “ਪੇਸ਼ਗੀ” in Punjabi can also mean “advance” as in money paid up front, or “presentation” as in a speech or a report. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අත්තිකාරම් | ||
The word 'අත්තිකාරම්' is also used to refer to the advance payment made on a purchase or a loan. | |||
Tamil | முன்கூட்டியே | ||
Telugu | అడ్వాన్స్ | ||
The word “అడ్వాన్స్” (“advance”) in Telugu is derived from the English word “advance,” which means forward movement or progress. | |||
Urdu | پیشگی | ||
The word "پیشگی" can also refer to an estimated amount of money or resources required for a particular task or project. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 提前 | ||
The Chinese word "提前" (advance) also means "premature" or "early". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 提前 | ||
The first character of 預項 ("advance") depicts a person standing on top of a high pillar, which represents the idea of looking ahead and anticipating. | |||
Japanese | 前進 | ||
前 can also mean 'front', 'before' or 'previous', and 進 means 'go', 'progress', or 'develop'. | |||
Korean | 전진 | ||
The word "전진" can also mean "progress" or "development". | |||
Mongolian | урьдчилгаа | ||
The Mongolian word 'урьдчилгаа' can also refer to a 'premonition' or a 'forewarning'. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကြိုတင်မဲ | ||
Indonesian | muka | ||
The word "muka" in Indonesian also means "face". | |||
Javanese | advance | ||
The verb 'ngawon' means either to go forward or to make progress. | |||
Khmer | ទៅមុខ | ||
The Khmer word "ទៅមុខ" can also mean "to go ahead" or "to progress". | |||
Lao | ລ່ວງຫນ້າ | ||
Malay | maju | ||
The Malay word "maju" can also mean "to progress", "to move forward" or "to make headway" in English. | |||
Thai | ล่วงหน้า | ||
The word "ล่วงหน้า" can also mean "in advance" or "beforehand". | |||
Vietnamese | nâng cao | ||
Nâng cao's alternate meaning is 'to raise' | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | advance | ||
Azerbaijani | əvvəlcədən | ||
Kazakh | алға | ||
The word "алға" also means "forward" and is a common word in Kazakh poetry and song. | |||
Kyrgyz | илгерилөө | ||
Tajik | пеш | ||
"Пеш" is a word used in Tajikistan and has two distinct meanings depending on its use in the context of chess and the military. | |||
Turkmen | öňe gitmek | ||
Uzbek | oldinga | ||
The Uzbek word "oldinga" is a derivative of the Turkic verb "ilgər" meaning 'to move forward'. | |||
Uyghur | ئالغا ئىلگىرىلەش | ||
Hawaiian | mua | ||
In the Hawaiian language, "mua" derives from Polynesian roots, additionally meaning "foremost," "in front," or "to begin." | |||
Maori | whakamua | ||
Whakamua has multiple meanings, including 'to progress', 'to promote', 'to move forward', and 'to lead'. | |||
Samoan | muamua | ||
The word "muamua" in Samoan can also mean "beginning" or "first". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | isulong | ||
"Isulong" is derived from the root word "sulong", meaning "forward" or "progress". |
Aymara | aski | ||
Guarani | jehotenonde | ||
Esperanto | antaŭeniri | ||
The Esperanto word "antaŭeniri" also means "to progress" or "to move forward" in a general sense. | |||
Latin | antecessum | ||
The word "antecessum" derives from the Latin words "ante" (before) and "cedere" (to go), indicating "going before" or "preceding." |
Greek | προκαταβολή | ||
Προκαταβολή shares a common root with "πρό", which means "before", and "βολή", which refers to throwing or sending, capturing the sense of an advance as something sent forward in preparation. | |||
Hmong | ua ntej | ||
The word "ua ntej" in Hmong also means "to go forward" or "to proceed". | |||
Kurdish | pêşveçûn | ||
The word "pêşveçûn" is also used in Kurdish to mean "progress" or "development". | |||
Turkish | ilerlemek | ||
"İlerlemek" kelimesi Türkçe'de "ileri gitmek" anlamının yanı sıra "gelişme kaydetmek" anlamında da kullanılır. | |||
Xhosa | phambili | ||
The Xhosa word "phambili" can also mean "forward" or "before". | |||
Yiddish | שטייַגן | ||
The Yiddish word "שטייַגן" can also mean "to ascend" or "to rise." | |||
Zulu | phambili | ||
"Phambili" can mean both "ahead" and "forward" in Zulu, suggesting a sense of progression or movement towards a goal. | |||
Assamese | আগতীয়া | ||
Aymara | aski | ||
Bhojpuri | आगे बढ़ल | ||
Dhivehi | އެޑްވާންސް | ||
Dogri | पेशगी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | advance | ||
Guarani | jehotenonde | ||
Ilocano | idadarup | ||
Krio | go bifo | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | بەرەوپێش چوون | ||
Maithili | अग्रिम | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯥꯡꯖꯧꯅꯅ | ||
Mizo | ti lawk | ||
Oromo | fooyyessuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଅଗ୍ରିମ | ||
Quechua | ñawpariy | ||
Sanskrit | अग्रिमधन | ||
Tatar | алга | ||
Tigrinya | ሰጉም | ||
Tsonga | hundzela | ||