Agency in Different Languages
Discover 'Agency' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'agency' holds great significance in our daily lives, often referring to the ability to act and take independent charge of our decisions and actions. This concept is central to many cultural and social contexts, shaping our understanding of personal autonomy, responsibility, and empowerment. Understanding the translation of 'agency' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and value the concept.
For instance, the German translation of 'agency' is 'Agentur,' which also refers to a company or organization that provides services, reflecting the idea that individual agency can be expressed through collective action. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'agency' is translated as 'jouken,' which carries a sense of authority and legitimacy, highlighting the cultural importance placed on formal structures and institutions.
Exploring the translations of 'agency' in different languages can deepen our appreciation for the richness and diversity of human cultures and languages. Here are some translations to get you started:
Agency
Agency in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | agentskap | ||
| The word "agentskap" can also refer to a person who acts on behalf of another. | |||
| Amharic | ኤጀንሲ | ||
| In Amharic, "ኤጀንሲ" (agency) originally meant "a representative or deputy" and was borrowed from Greek via Arabic. | |||
| Hausa | hukuma | ||
| In Arabic, hukuma is loosely translated as "rule" or "government" and refers to the exercise of authority over a domain or people. | |||
| Igbo | ụlọ ọrụ | ||
| Ụlọ Ọrụ can also connote a government agency such as NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control). Other agencies can be private institutions. | |||
| Malagasy | fahafahana misafidy | ||
| The word "fahafahana misafidy" can also mean "ability to choose" or "power of attorney". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | bungwe | ||
| The Yao word 'bungwe' means 'council' and shares an etymology with the Nyanja word 'boma,' meaning 'fort' or 'camp,' suggesting a connection between 'bungwe' and the idea of a gathering place. | |||
| Shona | agency | ||
| The Shona word 'agensi' is borrowed from English and has the same meaning. | |||
| Somali | wakaaladda | ||
| The word "wakaaladda" can also refer to a government department or a representative. | |||
| Sesotho | mokhatlo | ||
| The word "mokhatlo" (agency) is derived from the verb "ho khatla" (to represent) and it also means a gathering or meeting of people. | |||
| Swahili | wakala | ||
| The word "wakala" can also refer to a document that grants someone the authority to act on behalf of another person. | |||
| Xhosa | iarhente | ||
| 'iarhente' is not found in the Xhosa language. | |||
| Yoruba | ibẹwẹ | ||
| Ìbẹ̀wẹ́ can also mean "messenger" as in "an agent of God" or "a diplomatic agent". | |||
| Zulu | ejensi | ||
| The Zulu word "ejensi" also denotes the position of a chief's messenger. | |||
| Bambara | tɔn | ||
| Ewe | alɔdze | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ikigo | ||
| Lingala | lisanga | ||
| Luganda | ababaka | ||
| Sepedi | lekalatirelo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kuo | ||
Agency in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | وكالة | ||
| وكالة comes from the Arabic word وَكَلَ, meaning 'to entrust' or 'to commission', and can also refer to a diplomatic mission or an official representation. | |||
| Hebrew | סוֹכְנוּת | ||
| In Hebrew, סוֹכְנוּת can also refer to a news agency, travel agency, or employment agency. | |||
| Pashto | اژانس | ||
| In Pashto, the word "اژانس" can also refer to a "spy agency" or "intelligence agency". | |||
| Arabic | وكالة | ||
| وكالة comes from the Arabic word وَكَلَ, meaning 'to entrust' or 'to commission', and can also refer to a diplomatic mission or an official representation. | |||
Agency in Western European Languages
| Albanian | agjenci | ||
| The Albanian word "agjenci" (agency) originates from the Latin word "agens" (acting or doing), and has the same meaning in English. | |||
| Basque | agentzia | ||
| In Basque, "agentzia" can also refer to a "commission" or "errand." | |||
| Catalan | agència | ||
| In Catalan, "agència" also refers to a "news agency" or "employment agency". | |||
| Croatian | agencija | ||
| The Croatian word "agencija" also means "insurance company". | |||
| Danish | bureau | ||
| In Danish, "bureau" also means "writing desk" and comes from the French word "bureau." | |||
| Dutch | agentschap | ||
| "Agentschap" is related to "act" and also refers to the quality or state of being active. | |||
| English | agency | ||
| "Agency" derives from the Latin "agentia," meaning "action" or "activity." | |||
| French | agence | ||
| The French word "agence" can also mean "news agency" or "employment agency". | |||
| Frisian | agintskip | ||
| Frisian "agintskip" is related to the Old Dutch word "agente" and the French word "agent". | |||
| Galician | axencia | ||
| The Galician word "axencia" comes from the Latin word "agentia", meaning "action" or "activity". | |||
| German | agentur | ||
| The word "Agentur" in German can also mean "intelligence agency" or "news agency." | |||
| Icelandic | umboðsskrifstofa | ||
| Umboðsskrifstofa is not to be confused with umboð, which means "mandate" or "authorization". | |||
| Irish | gníomhaireacht | ||
| Italian | agenzia | ||
| The Italian word "agenzia" has its roots in the Latin word "agere," meaning "to act" or "to do." | |||
| Luxembourgish | agence | ||
| "Agence" (French for "agency") can refer to either a government agency or an advertising agency. | |||
| Maltese | aġenzija | ||
| “Aġenzija” also means “an agent” (one who acts for another in some capacity) in Maltese. | |||
| Norwegian | byrå | ||
| The Norwegian word "byrå" ultimately comes from the Old French word "bureau," meaning "writing desk" or "office." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | agência | ||
| Portuguese "agência" comes from Latin "agere" (to drive, perform), the same root of English "agent" and "act". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | bhuidheann | ||
| The word "bhuidheann" (agency) also has the alternate meanings "band" or "company" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | agencia | ||
| "Agencia" in Spanish not only means "agency" but also "news agency" and "travel agency." | |||
| Swedish | byrå | ||
| The word 'byrå' in Swedish can also mean 'drawer' or 'cabinet'. This is because the word originally referred to a small chest or box that was used to store documents and other valuables. | |||
| Welsh | asiantaeth | ||
| The word 'asiantaeth' is derived from the Latin word 'agentia', which means 'action' or 'influence'. | |||
Agency in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | агенцтва | ||
| "Агенцтва" can also refer to a place or organization that represents or acts on behalf of another person, group, or entity. | |||
| Bosnian | agencija | ||
| In Bosnian, "agencija" also refers to a news agency, real estate agency, or employment agency. | |||
| Bulgarian | агенция | ||
| Агенция (agentsia) is derived from the Latin word "agere", meaning "to act" or "to do". | |||
| Czech | agentura | ||
| The word "agentura" can also refer to an organization involved in intelligence, spying, or espionage. | |||
| Estonian | agentuur | ||
| Agentuur may also refer to the process of acting or doing, the state or fact of being an agent, or the capacity to act or do. | |||
| Finnish | virasto | ||
| The word "virasto" can also refer to a government or public authority. | |||
| Hungarian | ügynökség | ||
| In Hungarian, "ügynökség" can also refer to a secret service or intelligence agency. | |||
| Latvian | aģentūra | ||
| The word "aģentūra" also means "agency" in Latvian. | |||
| Lithuanian | agentūra | ||
| The word "Agentūra" originates from the French word "agence" which has been used for various meanings over time, including "action" or "business." | |||
| Macedonian | агенција | ||
| The Macedonian word "агенција" comes from the French "agence" which in turn derives from the Latin "agentia," meaning "action" or "doing." | |||
| Polish | agencja | ||
| The word "agencja" can also mean "institute" or "office" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | agenţie | ||
| In Romanian, "agenţie" can also refer to a travel agency or news agency. | |||
| Russian | агентство | ||
| The word “агентство” also means “agency” in English, but it can also refer to a government department or a news agency. | |||
| Serbian | агенција | ||
| In Serbian, "агенција" can also refer to an employment agency or a travel agency. | |||
| Slovak | agentúra | ||
| The word "agentúra" derives from the Latin word "agens", meaning "doing". | |||
| Slovenian | agencija | ||
| Agencija ('agency') derives from Latin 'agens' ('doing'), originally meaning an 'action' or 'business'. | |||
| Ukrainian | агентство | ||
| The word "агентство" can also refer to departments or subdivisions within an organization or the authority delegated to an individual to act on behalf of another. | |||
Agency in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সংস্থা | ||
| The Bengali word সংস্থা ('agency') comes from the Sanskrit word 'sangathan' meaning 'organization' or 'association'. | |||
| Gujarati | એજન્સી | ||
| The Gujarati word "એજન્સી" can also mean "authority" or "jurisdiction". | |||
| Hindi | एजेंसी | ||
| The word 'एजेंसी' in Hindi derives from the Sanskrit word 'अजेंसी', meaning 'action' or 'instrumentality'. | |||
| Kannada | ಏಜೆನ್ಸಿ | ||
| The Kannada word "ಏಜೆನ್ಸಿ" can also refer to an area under government administration in a tribal region. | |||
| Malayalam | ഏജൻസി | ||
| The word "ഏജൻസി" is derived from the Latin word "agere", meaning "to do" or "to act." | |||
| Marathi | एजन्सी | ||
| The word "एजन्सी" (agency) in Marathi derives from the Sanskrit root "अज्" (aj), meaning "to go" or "to act". | |||
| Nepali | एजेन्सी | ||
| The Hindi word "एजेन्सी" originated from the English word "agency" and is also used in Nepali to mean "representative" or "authority." | |||
| Punjabi | ਏਜੰਸੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නියෝජිතායතනය | ||
| The word 'agency' derives from the Latin 'agere,' meaning 'to act'. | |||
| Tamil | நிறுவனம் | ||
| The word 'நிறுவனம்' (agency) in Tamil can also mean 'an organization' or 'an institution'. | |||
| Telugu | ఏజెన్సీ | ||
| “ఏజెన్సీ” (“agency”) derives from the Latin “agere,” meaning "to do or set in motion,", and can also refer to a department of government responsible for a particular function. | |||
| Urdu | ایجنسی | ||
| The Urdu word "ایجنسی" also refers to a government department or a region under its control. | |||
Agency in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 机构 | ||
| The Chinese word "机构" (jī gòu) also means "organization" or "structure" and is composed of the characters "机" (jī), meaning "machine" or "mechanism," and "构" (gòu), meaning "to construct" or "to form." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 機構 | ||
| 機構 is sometimes used as a synonym for 機關 (agency or organization). | |||
| Japanese | 代理店 | ||
| 代理店 derives from the Portuguese word "agencia", meaning "action" or "management." | |||
| Korean | 대리점 | ||
| The word "대리점" (agency) in Korean can also refer to a store that sells lottery tickets or a travel agency. | |||
| Mongolian | агентлаг | ||
| Mongolian агентлаг derives from Russian агентство which derives from Italian agente meaning "agent" and Latin agere meaning "to act." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အေဂျင်စီ | ||
Agency in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | agen | ||
| In Indonesian, the word "agen" is also used as a short form of "agen judi", which means "gambling agent". | |||
| Javanese | agensi | ||
| The Javanese word 'agensi' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'aja', which means 'to act' or 'to move'. | |||
| Khmer | ទីភ្នាក់ងារ | ||
| Lao | ອົງການ | ||
| The Lao word ອົງການ derives from the Sanskrit word anga meaning 'organ of the body' or 'part of a living being'. | |||
| Malay | agensi | ||
| In Malay, the word "agensi" can also refer to a person or organization that represents another person or organization, or to the power or ability to act independently. | |||
| Thai | หน่วยงาน | ||
| หน่วยงาน also means a single unit or measure, e.g. a unit of currency. | |||
| Vietnamese | đại lý | ||
| Đại lý in Vietnamese refers to 1) a foreign company or representative office and 2) an independent sales agent. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ahensya | ||
Agency in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | agentlik | ||
| The word "agentlik" in Azerbaijani shares its etymology with the English word "agent", both originating from the Latin word "agere" (to do). | |||
| Kazakh | агенттік | ||
| Агенттік's etymology traces back to the French word 'agent', which refers to a person or thing that performs an action or function. | |||
| Kyrgyz | агенттик | ||
| Агенттик ( Kyrgyz for "agency") is a loanword from Russian, and it also means "commission fee" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | агентӣ | ||
| The Tajik word "агентӣ" derives from the Persian word "عنایت" meaning "favor, kindness," and retains a connotation of favor or patronage. | |||
| Turkmen | gullugy | ||
| Uzbek | agentlik | ||
| "Agentlik" (agency) in Uzbek may also refer to a state enterprise or government department. | |||
| Uyghur | agency | ||
Agency in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kuokoa | ||
| "Kuokoa" has a second meaning: ``a native Hawaiian missionary sent out by a church or mission organization to establish and run a Hawaiian-speaking church or mission station". | |||
| Maori | ti'amâraa | ||
| The word "ti'amâraa" in Maori also refers to the act of mediating or being an intermediary. | |||
| Samoan | faitalia | ||
| The word "faitalia" in Samoan also has the alternate meanings of "ministry" and "department". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | ahensya | ||
| The Tagalog word "ahensya" also means "store" and is derived from the Spanish word "agencia" with the same meaning. | |||
Agency in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ajinsya | ||
| Guarani | mba'aporenda | ||
Agency in International Languages
| Esperanto | agentejo | ||
| "Agentejo" can also refer to a place where agents work, like a real estate agency or a travel agency. | |||
| Latin | propellente | ||
| The Latin word "propellente" also means "means of propulsion". | |||
Agency in Others Languages
| Greek | πρακτορείο | ||
| The word "πρακτορείο" can also refer to a news agency or a travel agency. | |||
| Hmong | koomhaum | ||
| Koomhaum is also known as 'txoj cai' in Hmong, which means 'the power to act' or 'the ability to make things happen'. | |||
| Kurdish | ajans | ||
| The Kurdish word "ajans" also refers to "a person or organization who supplies news to newspapers".} | |||
| Turkish | ajans | ||
| The word "ajans" in Turkish not only means "agency" but also "news agency" and "spy organization". | |||
| Xhosa | iarhente | ||
| 'iarhente' is not found in the Xhosa language. | |||
| Yiddish | אַגענטור | ||
| The Yiddish word אַגענטור (agentur) can also refer to an intelligence or government organization. | |||
| Zulu | ejensi | ||
| The Zulu word "ejensi" also denotes the position of a chief's messenger. | |||
| Assamese | এজেন্সী | ||
| Aymara | ajinsya | ||
| Bhojpuri | एजेंसी | ||
| Dhivehi | އެޖެންސީ | ||
| Dogri | अजैंसी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ahensya | ||
| Guarani | mba'aporenda | ||
| Ilocano | ahensia | ||
| Krio | ɔfis | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دەزگا | ||
| Maithili | संस्था | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯅꯥꯒꯨꯝꯕ ꯑꯃꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯨꯠ ꯁꯤꯟꯗꯨꯅ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯅꯕ ꯃꯐꯝ | ||
| Mizo | dawr hmunpui | ||
| Oromo | bakka bu'ummaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସଂସ୍ଥା | ||
| Quechua | agencia | ||
| Sanskrit | कर्तृकत्व | ||
| Tatar | агентлыгы | ||
| Tigrinya | ትካል | ||
| Tsonga | xihatla | ||