Updated on March 6, 2024
An adviser is a trusted source of guidance, providing valuable insights and knowledge to help individuals and organizations make informed decisions. The role of an adviser is significant in various aspects of life, including business, finance, education, and politics. In many cultures, advisers have held prominent positions, influencing critical decisions and shaping the course of history.
For instance, in ancient China, imperial advisers played a crucial role in governing the empire, while in medieval Europe, counselors to the king held great power and influence. Today, the figure of the adviser remains as relevant as ever, helping us navigate the complexities of modern life.
Understanding the term 'adviser' in different languages can open up new cultural perspectives and foster better communication. For example, in Spanish, an adviser is a 'consejero,' in French, it's a 'conseiller,' and in German, an 'Berater.'
In this article, we explore the translations of 'adviser' in various languages, shedding light on the cultural significance of this important role. Keep reading to learn more!
Afrikaans | adviseur | ||
The Afrikaans word "adviseur" is derived from the Dutch word "adviseur", which in turn is derived from the French word "adviser", meaning "to advise". | |||
Amharic | አማካሪ | ||
The Amharic word አማካሪ (adviser) is derived from the verb መካር (to mediate) and signifies someone who stands in the middle between two parties to reconcile them. | |||
Hausa | mai ba da shawara | ||
The word 'mai ba da shawara' may also refer to a counselor or someone who gives guidance. | |||
Igbo | onye ndụmọdụ | ||
The etymology of "onye ndụmọdụ" (adviser) in Igbo is not clear, but it may be related to the word "ndụmọ" (advice) | |||
Malagasy | mpanolo-tsaina | ||
The term 'mpanolo-tsaina' is derived from the root word 'panolo' meaning 'to advise' or 'to guide'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mlangizi | ||
The word "mlangizi" in Nyanja can also mean "messenger" or "herald." | |||
Shona | chipangamazano | ||
The word 'chipangamazano' is derived from the verb 'panga', meaning 'to cut' or 'to divide', and the noun 'mazano', meaning 'advice'. It implies that an adviser is one who 'cuts through' or 'divides' complex issues to provide clear and concise guidance. | |||
Somali | lataliye | ||
The Somali word "lataliye" is thought to originate from the Arabic word "lata"," meaning "attachment" or "adherence." | |||
Sesotho | moeletsi | ||
The term 'moeletsi', meaning 'adviser' in Sesotho, is derived from the verb 'ho eletsa' which refers to the act of 'advising' or 'counselling'. | |||
Swahili | mshauri | ||
"Mshauri" is derived from the root -shauri meaning counsel or advice. | |||
Xhosa | umcebisi | ||
The Xhosa word 'Umcebisi' means 'adviser', but also 'counselor', 'guide' or 'expert' depending on the context. | |||
Yoruba | onimọran | ||
The Yoruba word "onimọran" combines "ọràn" ("matter") and "onimọ" ("one who knows"), hence meaning "one who knows matters". | |||
Zulu | umeluleki | ||
"Umeluleki" originates from the verb "luleka," which means "to give direction, guide, or counsel." | |||
Bambara | ladilikɛla | ||
Ewe | aɖaŋuɖola | ||
Kinyarwanda | umujyanama | ||
Lingala | mopesi toli | ||
Luganda | omuwabuzi | ||
Sepedi | moeletši | ||
Twi (Akan) | ɔfotufo | ||
Arabic | مستشار | ||
The term 'مستشار' (mustashar) also denotes a 'counselor', an 'advisor' in government, or an 'attorney at law'. | |||
Hebrew | יוֹעֵץ | ||
The word "יוֹעֵץ" (adviser) is derived from the root "יָעַץ", which also means "to help" and "to counsel". | |||
Pashto | سلاکار | ||
The word "سلاکار" also means "messenger" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | مستشار | ||
The term 'مستشار' (mustashar) also denotes a 'counselor', an 'advisor' in government, or an 'attorney at law'. |
Albanian | këshilltar | ||
The word "këshilltar" comes from the Late Latin word "consilarius", meaning "member of a council". | |||
Basque | aholkulari | ||
"Aholkulari" can also mean "adviser to a person" or "adviser to a king". | |||
Catalan | assessor | ||
The Catalan word "assessor" can also refer to a tax official or a member of a local council. | |||
Croatian | savjetnik | ||
The word 'savjetnik' is derived from 'savjetovati', meaning 'to advise', and also refers to a type of government council in medieval Croatia. | |||
Danish | rådgiver | ||
From Danish "råd" (advice) and "givet" (given), meaning a person who gives advice. | |||
Dutch | adviseur | ||
The Dutch word "adviseur" originally meant "one who gives advice", but now also refers to a professional who provides expert advice in a specific field. | |||
English | adviser | ||
The word "adviser" comes from the Latin word "adviso," meaning "to inform or advise." | |||
French | conseiller | ||
The word conseiller also has a broader sense of 'guiding' or 'leading' and is sometimes used to refer to God's role in directing people's lives. | |||
Frisian | adviseur | ||
The Frisian word "adviseur" also means "consultant". | |||
Galician | conselleiro | ||
The word 'conselleiro' shares its etymological origin with the Latin word 'consiliarius,' meaning member of a council. | |||
German | berater | ||
The word "Berater" can also refer to a member of a deliberative assembly, a consultant, or a representative. | |||
Icelandic | ráðgjafi | ||
The word "ráðgjafi" in Icelandic is derived from "ráð" which means "advice" and "gjafi" which means "a gift or a person who gives". | |||
Irish | comhairleoir | ||
"Comhairleoir" is a loanword from the Spanish "consejero," ultimately derived from the Latin word "consulere," meaning "to deliberate or advise." | |||
Italian | consigliere | ||
In the Sicilian Mafia, the consigliere serves as a senior advisor to the boss or head of the family. | |||
Luxembourgish | beroder | ||
The word "Beroder" in Luxembourgish likely derives from the Old High German word "bërāt" (counsel, advice), and is related to the German word "Berater". | |||
Maltese | konsulent | ||
In Maltese, "konsulent" can also refer to a doctor, a consultant, or an expert in a specific field. | |||
Norwegian | rådgiver | ||
In Danish, the cognate word "rådgiver" can also refer to a lawyer. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | conselheiro | ||
The word "conselheiro" derives from the Latin word "consiliarius," meaning "member of a council". | |||
Scots Gaelic | comhairliche | ||
The Gaelic word comhairliche relates to Welsh cyngor (advice) and Irish comhairle (council), and thus denotes someone who gives counsel. | |||
Spanish | asesor | ||
The Spanish word "asesor" comes from the Latin "assessorem," meaning "one who sits beside another." | |||
Swedish | rådgivare | ||
"Rådgivare" derives from the Old Norse word "ráðgjafi" meaning "one who gives advice". | |||
Welsh | cynghorydd | ||
In Welsh, the word "cynghorydd" can also refer to a counsellor, advocate, or guide. |
Belarusian | дарадца | ||
The word "дарадца" is also used to refer to "counselors" or "consultants" in some contexts. | |||
Bosnian | savjetnik | ||
In Serbian, "savjetnik" can refer to both an adviser and a counselor. | |||
Bulgarian | съветник | ||
The word "съветник" is derived from the Slavic root "съветъ", meaning "advice, counsel". It can also refer to a member of a council or a person who provides professional advice. | |||
Czech | poradce | ||
The word "poradce" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "porad", meaning "council" or "advice." | |||
Estonian | nõunik | ||
"Nõunik" in Estonian originates from the word "nõu," meaning "advice". Additionally, it is used in contexts such as a "board" or "council" to describe a group of individuals engaged in advisory roles. | |||
Finnish | neuvonantaja | ||
The word "neuvonantaja" derives from the verb "neuvoa" (to advise) and the suffix "-antaja" (actor). It can also refer to a consultant or counselor. | |||
Hungarian | tanácsadó | ||
The word "tanácsadó" is derived from the Hungarian word "tanács" (council), and originally meant "one who participates in a council" or "one who gives advice to a council". Over time the meaning of the word narrowed to its current meaning of "one who gives advice to an individual or organization". | |||
Latvian | padomnieks | ||
Padomnieks, "adviser" in Latvian, also translates to "a person who advises someone; a consultant, a counselor, a teacher; a guide, a tutor." | |||
Lithuanian | patarėjas | ||
The word 'patarėjas' comes from the verb 'patarti', which means 'to advise' or 'to counsel'. | |||
Macedonian | советник | ||
The word "советник" also means "councilor" or "member of a council" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | doradca | ||
The Polish word "doradca" ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *derk-, meaning "to see" or "to observe". | |||
Romanian | consilier | ||
The Romanian word "consilier" is derived from the Latin word "consilium" meaning "council" or "assembly". | |||
Russian | советник | ||
"Советник" is also one of the ranks in the Russian table of ranks, introduced by Peter the Great in 1722 and abolished in 1917. | |||
Serbian | саветник | ||
The word "саветник" is derived from the Old Russian word "съветъ", meaning "advice" or "council". | |||
Slovak | poradca | ||
The word poradca is derived from the verb "radiť" (to advise), originally meaning "one who advises". Originally, a poradca also meant someone who served as an advocate in court proceedings. | |||
Slovenian | svetovalec | ||
The word "svetovalec" is derived from the Slavic word "svět", meaning "advice" or "council". It is related to the words "svetnik" (councilor) and "svetovati" (to advise). | |||
Ukrainian | радник | ||
The word "радник" is derived from the Slavic root "рад", meaning "council" or "assembly". |
Bengali | উপদেষ্টা | ||
The word 'উপদেষ্টা' (adviser) in Bengali derives from the Sanskrit word 'उपदिष्ट' (upadesta), which means 'one who instructs or teaches'. | |||
Gujarati | સલાહકાર | ||
Hindi | सलाहकार | ||
The word "सलाहकार" comes from the Arabic word "sahib al-shūrā" which means "one who takes counsel". | |||
Kannada | ಸಲಹೆಗಾರ | ||
The word "ಸಲಹೆಗಾರ" (adviser) is derived from the Kannada word "ಸಲಹೆ" (advice) and the suffix "-ಗಾರ" (one who does something). | |||
Malayalam | ഉപദേഷ്ടാവ് | ||
ഉപദേഷ്ടാവ് comes from the Sanskrit words 'upa' (near), 'diś' (to point out), and 'tṛ' (a suffix denoting an agent), meaning 'one who points out or advises'. | |||
Marathi | सल्लागार | ||
The word 'सल्लागार' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'सल्लाह', meaning 'advice'. | |||
Nepali | सल्लाहकार | ||
The word "सल्लाहकार" in Nepali is derived from the Persian word "salāhkār", meaning "one who gives advice". | |||
Punjabi | ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ | ||
The word ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ (adviser) in Punjabi is derived from the Persian word "maslahat-gar," which also means "an adviser." | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උපදේශක | ||
"උපదේශක" is a loanword from the Sanskrit word "उपदेशक" and also means "commentator" or "teacher". | |||
Tamil | ஆலோசகர் | ||
The Tamil word "ஆலோசகர்" is derived from the Sanskrit word "आलोचक" (ālocak), meaning "one who sees" or "one who observes". | |||
Telugu | సలహాదారు | ||
సలహాదారు is used to mean 'ambassador', 'envoy', or 'minister' when referring to diplomatic officials. | |||
Urdu | مشیر | ||
The word "مشیر" (adviser) is derived from the verb "مشورہ" (consultation) and also means "minister". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 顾问 | ||
顾问 (guwen) was originally used to refer to ministers who helped the ruler of a country, but it is now also used to refer to anyone who provides expert advice to a person or organization. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 顧問 | ||
The word 顧問 (gùwèn) is composed of the characters 顧 (gù), meaning "to look after", and 問 (wèn), meaning "to ask". It originally referred to a person who was consulted for advice or guidance, but has since come to mean "adviser" in general. | |||
Japanese | 顧問 | ||
The word "顧問" can also mean "expert" or "counselor" in Japanese. | |||
Korean | 고문 | ||
"고문" is derived from the Chinese word "顧問", which means "to advise". | |||
Mongolian | зөвлөх | ||
The word "зөвлөх" comes from the Mongolian word "зөвлөл", which means "advice" or "counsel", and ultimately derives from the Proto-Altaic word "*зөб" meaning "to speak". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အကြံပေးပုဂ္ဂိုလ် | ||
The word comes from the root အကြံ, meaning "advice or plan" and the honorific ပေး, which elevates the verb and shows respect. |
Indonesian | penasihat | ||
The word "penasihat" in Indonesian has alternate meanings of "advisor" and "counselor". | |||
Javanese | penasehat | ||
The word "penasehat" in Javanese originally referred to a traditional advisor known as a "penguasa" who possessed spiritual powers. | |||
Khmer | ទីប្រឹក្សា | ||
Lao | ທີ່ປຶກສາ | ||
In Laos, "ທີ່ປຶກສາ" can also refer to "consultants" who are not necessarily employed by a particular company or government. | |||
Malay | penasihat | ||
The Malay word "penasihat" originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word "upadesha" meaning "instruction" or "advice". | |||
Thai | ที่ปรึกษา | ||
ที่ปรึกษา is a Thai word derived from Sanskrit and also means 'envoy' or 'agent' | |||
Vietnamese | cố vấn | ||
The word "cố vấn" also has the meanings "tutor", "teacher" and "expert" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapayo | ||
Azerbaijani | məsləhətçi | ||
The word "məsləhətçi" can also refer to a consultant or a counselor. | |||
Kazakh | кеңесші | ||
The term "кеңесші" in Kazakh shares the same root as "кеңес" (advice, council, assembly), and can also refer to a member of a consultative body. | |||
Kyrgyz | кеңешчи | ||
The word "кеңешчи" comes from the Turkish word "keңeş", meaning "council" or "meeting". | |||
Tajik | мушовир | ||
In Tajik, "мушовир" also means "negotiator" and derives from the Persian word "moshâver". | |||
Turkmen | geňeşçisi | ||
Uzbek | maslahatchi | ||
"Maslahatchi" has a root word "maslihat" which means "consultation, discussion, council, advice" in Turkic languages. | |||
Uyghur | مەسلىھەتچى | ||
Hawaiian | kākāʻōlelo | ||
"Kākāʻōlelo" in Hawaiian has alternate meanings including "counselor", "lawyer", and "judge." | |||
Maori | kaitohutohu | ||
Kaitohutohu can also refer to a priest, guardian spirit, or an expert in tikanga (customary law). | |||
Samoan | faufautua | ||
In Samoan, the word 'faufautua' also carries meanings related to wisdom, knowledge, or guidance. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | tagapayo | ||
The word "tagapayo" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *taga-pai*, meaning "to give advice". |
Aymara | iwxt’iri | ||
Guarani | asesor rehegua | ||
Esperanto | konsilisto | ||
The word 'konsilisto' is derived from the Latin word 'consiliarius', meaning 'member of a council'. | |||
Latin | auctor | ||
In ancient Rome, 'auctor' could also denote a magistrate who convened a senate meeting. |
Greek | σύμβουλος | ||
The Greek word "σύμβουλος" can also mean "accomplice" or "conspiracy partner", derived from "σύμ" (with) and "βουλεύω" (to plan, deliberate). | |||
Hmong | tus pab tswv yim | ||
In the Hmong language, the word "tus pab tswv yim" is a compound word that literally translates to "think-know-person." | |||
Kurdish | şêwirvan | ||
The word "şêwirvan" can also refer to a "counselor" or "consultant" in certain contexts. | |||
Turkish | danışman | ||
Danışman has its roots in an old Persian word meaning 'one who knows' or a 'scholar' | |||
Xhosa | umcebisi | ||
The Xhosa word 'Umcebisi' means 'adviser', but also 'counselor', 'guide' or 'expert' depending on the context. | |||
Yiddish | ייצע - געבער | ||
The word "ייצע - געבער" has its roots in the German word "Ratgeber" and the Slavic word "doradca". | |||
Zulu | umeluleki | ||
"Umeluleki" originates from the verb "luleka," which means "to give direction, guide, or counsel." | |||
Assamese | উপদেষ্টা | ||
Aymara | iwxt’iri | ||
Bhojpuri | सलाहकार के रूप में काम कइले बानी | ||
Dhivehi | އެޑްވައިޒަރެވެ | ||
Dogri | सलाहकार | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapayo | ||
Guarani | asesor rehegua | ||
Ilocano | mamalbalakad | ||
Krio | advaysa | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕاوێژکار | ||
Maithili | सलाहकार | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯦꯗꯚꯥꯏꯖꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯔꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | adviser a ni | ||
Oromo | gorsaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପରାମର୍ଶଦାତା | | ||
Quechua | yuyaychaq | ||
Sanskrit | सल्लाहकारः | ||
Tatar | киңәшчесе | ||
Tigrinya | ኣማኻሪ | ||
Tsonga | mutsundzuxi | ||