Affair in Different Languages
Discover 'Affair' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'affair' is a small but powerful term, holding significant meaning in English culture and language. It often refers to a secretive romantic relationship, but can also signify a situation or matter, often of public interest. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, film, and music, where affairs can symbolize passion, scandal, or conflict.
Understanding the translation of 'affair' in different languages can provide valuable insights into global perspectives on love, relationships, and social issues. For instance, in French, an affair is a 'liaison,' while in Spanish, it's a 'affaire' or 'relación.' In German, it's 'Angelegenheit,' which also means 'matter' or 'business.' In Russian, it's 'дело' (delo), and in Japanese, it's '関係' (kankei), both of which can also mean 'relationship' or 'situation.'
Whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply curious, learning the translations of 'affair' can open up a world of understanding and appreciation for diverse viewpoints. Discover how this simple word can hold complex meanings across the globe.
Affair
Affair in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | affêre | ||
| In Afrikaans, "affêre" can also refer to a matter or business concern. | |||
| Amharic | ጉዳይ | ||
| The word "ጉዳይ" also means "business" or "matter" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | al'amarin | ||
| In Hausa, the word "al'amarin" means both "affair" and "situation" when referring to the overall state of affairs. | |||
| Igbo | omume | ||
| The word "omume" is a general term that can refer to any type of relationship, from a casual fling to a serious partnership. | |||
| Malagasy | zava | ||
| The Malagasy word "Zava" can also mean "meeting" or "gathering", suggesting its broader connotations beyond intimate relationships | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chibwenzi | ||
| The word "chibwenzi" also means "friend" or "companion" in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | nyaya | ||
| The word "nyaya" in Shona can also mean "a reason" or "a question". | |||
| Somali | arrin | ||
| The Somali word "arrin" also refers to something "valuable" or "important." | |||
| Sesotho | taba | ||
| The word "taba" can also refer to a meeting or a gathering of people. | |||
| Swahili | mapenzi | ||
| The Swahili word "mapenzi" can also mean "love," "affection," or "passion."} | |||
| Xhosa | umcimbi | ||
| "Umcimbi" can also be translated to "occasion" or "gathering" | |||
| Yoruba | ibalopọ | ||
| Ibalopọ may also refer to a group or gathering, such as a meeting or a party. | |||
| Zulu | indaba | ||
| The Zulu word 'indaba' also refers to a meeting or discussion, particularly one held in a formal or official setting. | |||
| Bambara | kunko | ||
| Ewe | nya | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ikibazo | ||
| Lingala | likambo | ||
| Luganda | ensonga | ||
| Sepedi | kamano | ||
| Twi (Akan) | asɛm | ||
Affair in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | قضية | ||
| "قضية" originally meant "a matter to be settled", hence its alternate meanings: "issue" and "lawsuit". | |||
| Hebrew | פָּרָשָׁה | ||
| פָּרָשָׁה (parashah) comes from the verb פָּרַשׁ (paras) 'to divide,' 'to separate,' 'to expound,' referring to the weekly Torah portion. | |||
| Pashto | اړیکه | ||
| The Pashto word "اړیکه" can also refer to a meeting or conference, especially one involving government or diplomacy. | |||
| Arabic | قضية | ||
| "قضية" originally meant "a matter to be settled", hence its alternate meanings: "issue" and "lawsuit". | |||
Affair in Western European Languages
| Albanian | çështje | ||
| The Albanian word "çështje" (affair) is derived from the Latin word "quaestio" (question) and can also mean "issue" or "matter". | |||
| Basque | afera | ||
| The word "afera" in Basque is cognate with the Latin word "affair" and the French word "affaire", both ultimately deriving from the Latin verb "agere", meaning "to do". | |||
| Catalan | assumpte | ||
| In Catalan, "assumpte" also means "subject", "issue", or "matter". | |||
| Croatian | afera | ||
| The word "afera" also means "scandal" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | affære | ||
| The Danish word "affære" can also mean "business" or "matter", derived from the German word "Affäre" with the same meanings. | |||
| Dutch | affaire | ||
| The Dutch word 'affaire' can also mean 'case' or 'matter', as in a legal or business context. | |||
| English | affair | ||
| The word "affair" derives from the Latin "affers" meaning "things to be done," and has evolved to encompass various contexts including romantic relationships. | |||
| French | affaire | ||
| The French word "affaire" can also mean "business"} | |||
| Frisian | affêre | ||
| In Frisian, the word "affêre" translates to "event" or "matter". | |||
| Galician | asunto | ||
| The Galician word "asunto" derives from the Latin "adsumptio" and can also mean "topic" or "subject matter" in addition to its main meaning of "affair". | |||
| German | affäre | ||
| In German, "Affäre" can also refer to a matter under consideration or a transaction. | |||
| Icelandic | mál | ||
| It is also used to describe other things such as legal cases, financial matters, or political issues. | |||
| Irish | cleamhnas | ||
| The word 'cleamhnas' is cognate with the Latin word 'clandestinus', meaning 'secret' or 'hidden'. | |||
| Italian | affare | ||
| In Italian, the word "affare" can also mean "business" or "matter, | |||
| Luxembourgish | affär | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Affär" can also refer to a business or office. | |||
| Maltese | affari | ||
| In Maltese, the word "affari" can also mean "business" or "commerce" and is derived from the Italian word "affare" meaning "business" or "matter." | |||
| Norwegian | sak | ||
| The word "sak" can also mean "case", "thing", or "cause". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | caso | ||
| The word "caso" in Portuguese originates from the Latin "casus" and can also mean "incident", "case", or "event". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | dàimh | ||
| The Gaelic word "dàimh" also refers to a company or group, or an occasion, tryst or meeting. | |||
| Spanish | asunto | ||
| The word "asunto" in Spanish has its roots in the Latin "assumptus", meaning "taken up" or "accepted". | |||
| Swedish | affär | ||
| In Swedish, "affär" can also mean "business" or "store", with slightly different spellings. | |||
| Welsh | carwriaeth | ||
| The Welsh word 'carwriaeth' has a broader, less intimate meaning than the English 'affair', and can signify close friendship or even 'love'. | |||
Affair in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | раман | ||
| Bosnian | afera | ||
| Bosnian 'afera' means 'scandal', it comes from Turkish 'affair' meaning 'important matter'. | |||
| Bulgarian | афера | ||
| In Russian, the word "афера" is a synonym of "fraud" and has a negative connotation. | |||
| Czech | aféra | ||
| The word 'aféra' is a loanword from French, where it has its roots in Medieval Latin and is related to Latin 'fari' meaning to speak | |||
| Estonian | afäär | ||
| "Afäär" can also mean "case", "event", or "matter" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | asia | ||
| In Finnish, "asia" has multiple meanings, including "case" (legal), "theme", and "affair" (in the sense of "business"). | |||
| Hungarian | ügy | ||
| Although the noun "ügy" can mean "affair" in English, it also has meanings like "subject," "matter," and "cause". | |||
| Latvian | romāns | ||
| The word "romāns" in Latvian also means "novel" and comes from the Latin word "romanus," meaning "Roman." | |||
| Lithuanian | romanas | ||
| The origin of the Lithuanian word “romanas” traces back to the Latin verb “reor” (“I think, suppose, believe”). | |||
| Macedonian | афера | ||
| The word "афера" in Macedonian can also mean "scam" or "fraud". | |||
| Polish | sprawa | ||
| The word 'sprawa' comes from the Proto-Slavic word 'sporva', which meant 'dispute'. | |||
| Romanian | afacere | ||
| In Romanian language, "afacere" means business and has its etymology in Turkish word of "iş" meaning work. | |||
| Russian | дело | ||
| The Russian word "дело" can also refer to a case, business, or matter. | |||
| Serbian | афера | ||
| "Афера" is a Serbian word that means a scam or a fraud. | |||
| Slovak | aféra | ||
| The Slovak word "aféra" is derived from French "affaire" and can also mean "case" or "concern". | |||
| Slovenian | afera | ||
| The word "afera" is derived from the Latin word "affare," which means "to do" or "to carry out." | |||
| Ukrainian | роман | ||
| The Ukrainian word "роман" also means "novel" and is derived from the Greek word "ῥωμανία" (Rōmania), which referred to the Eastern Roman Empire. | |||
Affair in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিষয় | ||
| The word "বিষয়" (bishôy) comes from the Sanskrit word "विषय" (viṣaya), which means "object of knowledge, experience, or sensation." | |||
| Gujarati | પ્રણય | ||
| The word "પ્રણય" (affair) in Gujarati ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "प्रणय" (pranaya), which means "love". The Gujarati word acquired its current meaning through an extension of the original sense. | |||
| Hindi | चक्कर | ||
| The word "चक्कर" in Hindi can also mean "a round" or "a circle". | |||
| Kannada | ಸಂಬಂಧ | ||
| The word "ಸಂಬಂಧ" in Kannada can also refer to a relationship or connection between two or more things. | |||
| Malayalam | കാര്യം | ||
| "കാര്യം" (kāryam), meaning "matter" or "business," derives from the Sanskrit word "कार्य" (kārya), which refers to an action or task to be performed. | |||
| Marathi | प्रेम प्रकरण | ||
| The word "प्रेम प्रकरण" in Marathi can also refer to a love story or romance | |||
| Nepali | चक्कर | ||
| The word 'चक्कर' ('affair') is also used to refer to a situation of confusion or agitation. | |||
| Punjabi | ਮਾਮਲੇ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਮਾਮਲੇ" has multiple meanings ranging from "affair" to "matter" or "issue". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සම්බන්ධය | ||
| Tamil | விவகாரம் | ||
| The Tamil word 'விவகாரம்' (vivakaram) originally referred to legal disputes or matters, and is also used in contexts like 'debate' or 'discussion'. | |||
| Telugu | వ్యవహారం | ||
| The word "వ్యవహారం" ("affair") in Telugu can also refer to business or trade, or to the way something is done. | |||
| Urdu | معاملہ | ||
| The word "معاملہ" can also mean "matter", "concern", or "issue" in Urdu. | |||
Affair in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 事务 | ||
| In Chinese, "事物" (shìwù) also refers to "things" or "matters," and is often used in a business or administrative context. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 事務 | ||
| "事務" originally refers to a series of events, now also includes the meaning of "task". | |||
| Japanese | 事件、出来事 | ||
| The word 事件、出来事 (jiken, dekigoto) can also mean "incident" or "event" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 일 | ||
| In Korean, the word "일" can also mean "event", "work", "thing", or "deed". | |||
| Mongolian | хэрэг | ||
| The word "хэрэг" can also refer to "business, matter, affair, concern, duty, or work." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကိစ္စ | ||
| As well as "affair", the word ကိစ္စ also means "business matters" or "work", particularly in more formal situations. | |||
Affair in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | perselingkuhan | ||
| The word "perselingkuhan" is derived from the root word "selingkuh", which means "to go astray" or "to deviate from the path". It can also refer to a secret relationship between two people. | |||
| Javanese | urusane | ||
| In Javanese, "urusane" can also mean "business" or "concern", implying that an affair is a matter of personal or professional consequence. | |||
| Khmer | កិច្ចការ | ||
| The word "កិច្ចការ" in Khmer has its roots in the Sanskrit word "karya", meaning "work" or "action". | |||
| Lao | ເລື່ອງ | ||
| Malay | urusan | ||
| The term 'urusan' in Malay can also refer to 'business', or the 'process' of achieving something, depending on context. | |||
| Thai | เรื่อง | ||
| The word "เรื่อง" also means "event" or "story". | |||
| Vietnamese | công việc | ||
| "Công việc" also refers to a type of government document issued in pre-modern Vietnam under the Nguyễn dynasty. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapakanan | ||
Affair in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | iş | ||
| In Azerbaijani, "iş" can also mean "occupation" or "business". | |||
| Kazakh | іс | ||
| The word "іс" in Kazakh is also used to refer to "internal affairs" or "business matters". | |||
| Kyrgyz | иш | ||
| The word "иш" in Kyrgyz can also mean "work" or "business." | |||
| Tajik | кор | ||
| In addition to the meaning of affair, the word also has synonyms in the context of a story, such as "subject matter" and "theme." | |||
| Turkmen | iş | ||
| Uzbek | ish | ||
| The word "ish" in Uzbek can also mean "business", "work", or "thing". | |||
| Uyghur | ئىش | ||
Affair in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hihia | ||
| In Hawaiian, "hihia" can also mean "to need" or "to require". | |||
| Maori | take | ||
| The Maori word "take" comes from the Proto-Polynesian word "taki", which means "to embrace" or "to hold in one's arms." | |||
| Samoan | mataupu | ||
| Mataupu originally meant "chapter," the idea being that it's a new "chapter" in one's life. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kapakanan | ||
| The word "kapakanan" in Tagalog can also refer to "interest" or "concern". | |||
Affair in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | asuntu | ||
| Guarani | porohayhu | ||
Affair in International Languages
| Esperanto | afero | ||
| The Esperanto word 'afero' derives from the Spanish word 'afer' meaning 'business,' 'matter,' or 'concern' | |||
| Latin | affair | ||
| The Latin word "affair" (affair) originally referred to "what has been done," as in "affairs," "business," or "occupations." | |||
Affair in Others Languages
| Greek | υπόθεση | ||
| The word "υπόθεση" (hypothesis) in Greek can also refer to a legal case or a scientific theory. | |||
| Hmong | yi | ||
| The word "yi" can also mean "reason" or "cause" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | karûbar | ||
| The word "karûbar" in Kurdish also means "business" or "work". | |||
| Turkish | mesele | ||
| The Turkish word "mesele" is an Arabic borrowing likely ultimately of Greek origin denoting "question, problem" or "a story that is recounted, an instance recounted and cited to exemplify some idea or principle" | |||
| Xhosa | umcimbi | ||
| "Umcimbi" can also be translated to "occasion" or "gathering" | |||
| Yiddish | ייסעק | ||
| Yiddish 'ייסעק' ultimately derives from Hebrew 'עִסֶק' ('business, occupation') and can also mean 'a business matter' or 'a bothersome or unpleasant matter' in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | indaba | ||
| The Zulu word 'indaba' also refers to a meeting or discussion, particularly one held in a formal or official setting. | |||
| Assamese | বেপাৰ | ||
| Aymara | asuntu | ||
| Bhojpuri | मामला | ||
| Dhivehi | ގުޅުން | ||
| Dogri | मामला | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapakanan | ||
| Guarani | porohayhu | ||
| Ilocano | aramid | ||
| Krio | biznɛs | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کاروبار | ||
| Maithili | मामिला | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯤ ꯂꯩꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | thiltih | ||
| Oromo | hariiroo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରେମ | ||
| Quechua | aventura | ||
| Sanskrit | व्यवहार | ||
| Tatar | эш | ||
| Tigrinya | ጉዳይ | ||
| Tsonga | mhaka | ||