Updated on March 6, 2024
Ah, advice. A simple word, yet it holds such profound significance in our lives. It's the wisdom shared by others, a guiding light in the labyrinth of life's decisions. From the sagely advice of elders to the hard-earned wisdom of peers, this word transcends cultures and generations, always carrying with it a sense of trust and experience.
But why stop at one language when we can explore 'advice' in different languages? After all, language is a mirror reflecting our unique cultural landscapes. By understanding the translation of advice in various tongues, we not only enrich our vocabulary but also deepen our appreciation for global diversity and wisdom.
For instance, in Spanish, 'advice' is 'consejo', in French, it's 'conseil', and in German, it's 'Rat'. Each translation offers a fascinating glimpse into how different cultures perceive and express the concept of guidance.
Join us as we embark on this linguistic journey, uncovering the many faces of 'advice' in a variety of global languages. Prepare to be inspired, intrigued, and enlightened!
Afrikaans | raad | ||
The Afrikaans word "raad" also means "council", a collective of people who advise and govern. | |||
Amharic | ምክር | ||
"ምክር" can also mean "secret" or "conspiracy" in Amharic | |||
Hausa | shawara | ||
The Hausa word 'shawara' also signifies 'consultation', indicating the reciprocal and collaborative nature of exchanging knowledge and guidance. | |||
Igbo | ndụmọdụ | ||
The term "ndụmọdụ" can also refer to "guidance" or "instruction" in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | toro-hevitra | ||
The Malagasy word "toro-hevitra" literally means "to exchange opinions". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | malangizo | ||
The word 'malangizo' can also be used to refer to instructions, teachings, or commands. | |||
Shona | zano | ||
The word "zano" in Shona can also refer to "wisdom" or "knowledge". | |||
Somali | talo | ||
The word "talo" in Somali can also refer to a "story" or a "discussion". | |||
Sesotho | boeletsi | ||
The word 'boeletsi' in Sesotho is also used to refer to 'news'. | |||
Swahili | ushauri | ||
The word "ushauri" in Swahili can also refer to a council or meeting. | |||
Xhosa | ingcebiso | ||
The term 'Ingcebiso' originates from the Xhosa word 'Ucebisa,' meaning 'to advise', indicating its role in counseling and providing guidance. | |||
Yoruba | imọran | ||
The Yoruba word "imọran" is derived from the verb "mọ", meaning "to know" or "to understand", and the noun "oran", meaning "matter" or "thing." | |||
Zulu | iseluleko | ||
The word "iseluleko" in Zulu is derived from the verb "ukuselula", which means "to guide" or "to counsel". | |||
Bambara | laadilikan | ||
Ewe | aɖaŋu | ||
Kinyarwanda | inama | ||
Lingala | toli | ||
Luganda | okuwabula | ||
Sepedi | maele | ||
Twi (Akan) | afutuo | ||
Arabic | النصيحة | ||
النصيحة also means the "heart's best intentions" | |||
Hebrew | עֵצָה | ||
עֵצָה is derived from the root עץ 'tree' and may refer to the notion of taking root or growing firmly in something. | |||
Pashto | مشوره | ||
In Pashto, "مشوره" has additional meanings such as "consultation" and "suggestion." | |||
Arabic | النصيحة | ||
النصيحة also means the "heart's best intentions" |
Albanian | këshilla | ||
The word "këshilla" derives from the Latin word "consilium", meaning "a meeting of persons, counsel, or plan". | |||
Basque | aholkuak | ||
The Basque word "aholkuak" comes from the verb "aholkatu" meaning to "advise" and was influenced by an old Basque word "alku" meaning "beginning" | |||
Catalan | consells | ||
The Catalan word "consells" also means "municipal councils" or "local authorities" in the autonomous region of Catalonia. | |||
Croatian | savjet | ||
The Croatian word 'savjet' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'sъvĕtъ', which means 'council' or 'assembly' | |||
Danish | råd | ||
"Råd" can also mean "council" or "assembly", deriving from Old Norse "ráð", meaning "consultation" or "deliberation". | |||
Dutch | advies | ||
The Dutch word "advies" can also mean "notification" or "counsel". | |||
English | advice | ||
The word 'advice' ultimately derives from the Latin 'advertere', meaning 'to turn to', referring to the act of giving attention to something before offering guidance. | |||
French | conseil | ||
Conseil is also the name of a character from the Jules Verne novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" who serves as an advisor to Captain Nemo. | |||
Frisian | rie | ||
The Frisian word "rie" is cognate with the English word "rede," meaning "advice" or "counsel." | |||
Galician | consello | ||
In Galician, "consello" is synonymous with "acordo" or "decisión" (agreement or decision), and etymologically related to the Latin words "consilium" and "consulere". | |||
German | rat | ||
In German, "Rat" not only means "advice" but also "council" or "senate". | |||
Icelandic | ráðh | ||
From the Proto-Germanic word *rēdan, which also meant 'to speak' or 'to advise'. | |||
Irish | comhairle | ||
The word 'comhairle' also means 'council' and derives from the Old Irish word 'comóro', meaning 'assembly' or 'gathering'. | |||
Italian | consigli | ||
The word "consigli" is derived from the Latin "consilium", meaning "plan" or "purpose." | |||
Luxembourgish | berodung | ||
"Berodung" is a derivative of the verb "beroden" (to advise), meaning "the act of advising or giving advice". | |||
Maltese | parir | ||
The verb "parir" can also mean "to give birth" in Maltese, demonstrating the overlapping semantic fields of advice and procreation. | |||
Norwegian | råd | ||
The word "råd" in Norwegian can also mean "council" or "governing body". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | adendo | ||
"Adendo" can also mean "annex" or "addendum" in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil). | |||
Scots Gaelic | comhairle | ||
The Gaelic word for 'advice' can also mean 'consultation' or 'deliberation'. | |||
Spanish | consejo | ||
"Consejo" derives from the Latin consilium, meaning "plan, purpose, or recommendation." | |||
Swedish | råd | ||
The word "råd" comes from the Old Norse word "ráð", which could mean both "advice" and "power". | |||
Welsh | cyngor | ||
Cyngor is also used figuratively to refer to a group of people who give advice, such as a council or a board. |
Belarusian | парада | ||
The word "парада" can also refer to a type of traditional Belarusian song. | |||
Bosnian | savjet | ||
The word "savjet" also has an alternate meaning: "a council or assembly" | |||
Bulgarian | съвет | ||
The Bulgarian word 'съвет' also means 'council' (in its governing sense) and is cognate with the Russian word 'совет' which also means 'council' (but usually of the governing type) as well as 'advice'. | |||
Czech | rada | ||
The Czech word "rada" has the same root as "to counsel". | |||
Estonian | nõuanne | ||
The Estonian word "nõuanne" is related to the Finnish word "neuvo" and the Russian word "наставление" (nastavleniye), all meaning "advice".} | |||
Finnish | neuvoja | ||
The word "neuvoja" is also used in Finnish to refer to an advisor or a counselor. | |||
Hungarian | tanács | ||
The word "tanács" is related to both "talk" and "dance", suggesting its ancient origins in both verbal and physical communication. | |||
Latvian | padoms | ||
"Padoms" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ped-, meaning "foot", suggesting it originally meant "path" or "way to follow". | |||
Lithuanian | patarimas | ||
The word "patarimas" derives from the Lithuanian root "tar", meaning "to speak". | |||
Macedonian | совети | ||
The word "совети" in Macedonian can also refer to "consultations" or "deliberations". | |||
Polish | rada | ||
The word "Rada" in Polish also means "council". | |||
Romanian | sfat | ||
Romanian "sfat" derives from Proto-Indo-European *h₁se-kʷ-ti-, meaning "to speak, to tell, to advise". | |||
Russian | совет | ||
The word "совет" (advice) in Russian also means "council" and is cognate with the English word "soviet" | |||
Serbian | савет | ||
The Serbian word "savet" originally meant "knowledge" or "counsel", and still does in some contexts. | |||
Slovak | radu | ||
The word "radu" can also mean "rejoicing" or "happiness" in Romanian. | |||
Slovenian | nasvet | ||
The word "nasvet" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *съvětъ, meaning "council, meeting, agreement". It has cognates in other Slavic languages, such as Russian совет, Polish rada, and Czech rada. | |||
Ukrainian | порада | ||
"Порада" (advice) originally meant "what needs to be done" from the verb "радити" (to consult, advise). |
Bengali | পরামর্শ | ||
The word "পরামর্শ" in Bengali is derived from the Sanskrit word "परमर्श" (paramarsha), meaning "consultation" or "deliberation". | |||
Gujarati | સલાહ | ||
"સલાહ" originates from the Persian word "salah" meaning "opinion, counsel, advice." | |||
Hindi | सलाह | ||
In Hindi, "सलाह" (advice) originates from the Arabic word "mashwara", which also means "consultation" or "deliberation" with others. | |||
Kannada | ಸಲಹೆ | ||
The word "ಸಲಹೆ" also means "tips" in some contexts. | |||
Malayalam | ഉപദേശം | ||
The word "ഉപദേശം" in Malayalam originated from the Sanskrit word "उपदेश" which means "instruction" or "precept". | |||
Marathi | सल्ला | ||
The Marathi word "सल्ला" has an alternative meaning of "a piece of bark or dried fruit with a small stone inside used in games like "lagori" | |||
Nepali | सल्लाह | ||
The word "सल्लाह" also means "suggestion" or "recommendation" in Nepali. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਲਾਹ | ||
The word “ਸਲਾਹ” (“advice”) in Punjabi originates from the Persian word "ਸਲāh"," that also means "counsel, guidance," or "consultation." | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උපදෙස් | ||
Sinhala word "උපදෙස්" (advice) is derived from Sanskrit "उपदेश" (upadesha), meaning "instruction, teaching, advice" and is also loosely associated with the concept of "preaching". | |||
Tamil | ஆலோசனை | ||
The Tamil word 'ஆலோசனை' derives from the Sanskrit root 'āloch' meaning 'consider' and 'discuss', and is related to the English word 'allege'. | |||
Telugu | సలహా | ||
The Telugu word "సలహా" is derived from the Arabic word "ṣalaḥ" which means "good". Hence its other meaning in Telugu is "well-wishing, blessings". | |||
Urdu | مشورہ | ||
The term ‘مشورہ’ can also denote ‘taking counsel’ or ‘deliberation’. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 忠告 | ||
The word “忠告” can also mean “warning | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 忠告 | ||
"忠" means loyal and "告" means to tell, hence "忠告" means to tell (someone) something to help them. | |||
Japanese | 助言 | ||
助言 was a word used originally for a medical prescription but has come to mean advice in general. | |||
Korean | 조언 | ||
조언 comes from the Chinese word 告言 (go-eon), which means "counsel, advice" or "to inform". | |||
Mongolian | зөвлөгөө | ||
The Mongolian word "зөвлөгөө" can also mean "instruction" or "recommendation".} | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အကြံဥာဏ် | ||
Indonesian | nasihat | ||
"Nasihat" is derived from the Arabic word "nasiha," which means "to counsel" or "to advise." | |||
Javanese | saran | ||
The term 'saran' in Javanese can also imply a warning or admonition. | |||
Khmer | ដំបូន្មាន | ||
"ដំបូន្មាន" is also used metaphorically to refer to an object used in spiritual rituals for protection from evil, and also as part of traditional Buddhist ceremonies, to bless people and their homes. | |||
Lao | ຄຳ ແນະ ນຳ | ||
Malay | nasihat | ||
"Nasihat" derives from Arabic and originally referred to the advice found in books, but now also includes spoken advice in Malay. | |||
Thai | คำแนะนำ | ||
The literal meanings of "คำแนะนำ" are "words" and "push/pull", with the metaphorical meaning derived from the idea of using words to nudge someone into an action. | |||
Vietnamese | khuyên bảo | ||
"khuyên bảo" literally means "to wear earrings" and can also mean "to advise" or "to guide". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | payo | ||
Azerbaijani | məsləhət | ||
The word məsləhət comes from the Arabic word "mashwara" meaning "consultation". | |||
Kazakh | кеңес | ||
The word "кеңес" also means "council" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | кеңеш | ||
The word "кеңеш" can also mean "council" or "consultation" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | маслиҳат | ||
"Маслиҳат" is derived from the Arabic word "mashwara", meaning "consultation" or "deliberation". | |||
Turkmen | maslahat | ||
Uzbek | maslahat | ||
"Maslahat" also means "benefit" or "interest" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | مەسلىھەت | ||
Hawaiian | ʻōlelo aʻoaʻo | ||
'Ōlelo aʻoaʻo' in Hawaiian originally referred to ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. | |||
Maori | tohutohu | ||
In Maori, the origin of the word “tohutohu” could be traced back to a Polynesian root word meaning guidance, or to the word "tohu", meaning a beacon, landmark or signal. | |||
Samoan | fautuaga | ||
The Samoan word "fautuaga" also carries the connotation of "guidance" or "instruction". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | payo | ||
"Payo" can also mean "bet" or "suggestion" depending on the context. |
Aymara | ixwa | ||
Guarani | moñe'ẽ | ||
Esperanto | konsiloj | ||
The word "konsiloj" comes from the root "konsil-," meaning "to deliberate or consult." | |||
Latin | consilium | ||
The word "consilium" comes from the Latin verb "consulo," meaning "to consult" or "to deliberate." |
Greek | συμβουλή | ||
"Συμβουλή" derives from "βουλή" (will, command) and the prefix "συν" (together), meaning "sharing of counsel". | |||
Hmong | tswv yim | ||
"Tswv yim" comes from the root "tswv" meaning "to teach" and "yim" meaning "words", indicating that advice is a form of teaching through words. | |||
Kurdish | şêwr | ||
The word "şêwr" in the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish has an alternate interpretation as "news" and is derived from the Persian word "shoor" meaning "salty water" or a "salt lake". | |||
Turkish | tavsiye | ||
The word "tavsiye" comes from the Arabic word "tawsiyah", meaning "recommendation" or "counsel". | |||
Xhosa | ingcebiso | ||
The term 'Ingcebiso' originates from the Xhosa word 'Ucebisa,' meaning 'to advise', indicating its role in counseling and providing guidance. | |||
Yiddish | עצה | ||
The Yiddish word "עצה" can also mean "tree" or "a plan." | |||
Zulu | iseluleko | ||
The word "iseluleko" in Zulu is derived from the verb "ukuselula", which means "to guide" or "to counsel". | |||
Assamese | পৰামৰ্শ | ||
Aymara | ixwa | ||
Bhojpuri | सलाह | ||
Dhivehi | ނަޞޭޙަތް | ||
Dogri | सलाह् | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | payo | ||
Guarani | moñe'ẽ | ||
Ilocano | balakad | ||
Krio | advays | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئامۆژگاری | ||
Maithili | सलाह | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯥꯎꯇꯥꯛ | ||
Mizo | thurawn | ||
Oromo | gorsa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପରାମର୍ଶ | ||
Quechua | kunay | ||
Sanskrit | उपदेशः | ||
Tatar | киңәш | ||
Tigrinya | ምኽሪ | ||
Tsonga | xitsundzuxo | ||