Agency in different languages

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

Afrikaansagentskap
The word "agentskap" can also refer to a person who acts on behalf of another.
Amharicኤጀንሲ
In Amharic, "ኤጀንሲ" (agency) originally meant "a representative or deputy" and was borrowed from Greek via Arabic.
Hausahukuma
In Arabic, hukuma is loosely translated as "rule" or "government" and refers to the exercise of authority over a domain or people.
Igboụlọ 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.
Malagasyfahafahana 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.
Shonaagency
The Shona word 'agensi' is borrowed from English and has the same meaning.
Somaliwakaaladda
The word "wakaaladda" can also refer to a government department or a representative.
Sesothomokhatlo
The word "mokhatlo" (agency) is derived from the verb "ho khatla" (to represent) and it also means a gathering or meeting of people.
Swahiliwakala
The word "wakala" can also refer to a document that grants someone the authority to act on behalf of another person.
Xhosaiarhente
'iarhente' is not found in the Xhosa language.
Yorubaibẹwẹ
Ìbẹ̀wẹ́ can also mean "messenger" as in "an agent of God" or "a diplomatic agent".
Zuluejensi
The Zulu word "ejensi" also denotes the position of a chief's messenger.
Bambaratɔn
Ewealɔdze
Kinyarwandaikigo
Lingalalisanga
Lugandaababaka
Sepedilekalatirelo
Twi (Akan)kuo

Agency in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicوكالة
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.
Hebrewסוֹכְנוּת
In Hebrew, סוֹכְנוּת can also refer to a news agency, travel agency, or employment agency.
Pashtoاژانس
In Pashto, the word "اژانس" can also refer to a "spy agency" or "intelligence agency".
Arabicوكالة
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

Albanianagjenci
The Albanian word "agjenci" (agency) originates from the Latin word "agens" (acting or doing), and has the same meaning in English.
Basqueagentzia
In Basque, "agentzia" can also refer to a "commission" or "errand."
Catalanagència
In Catalan, "agència" also refers to a "news agency" or "employment agency".
Croatianagencija
The Croatian word "agencija" also means "insurance company".
Danishbureau
In Danish, "bureau" also means "writing desk" and comes from the French word "bureau."
Dutchagentschap
"Agentschap" is related to "act" and also refers to the quality or state of being active.
Englishagency
"Agency" derives from the Latin "agentia," meaning "action" or "activity."
Frenchagence
The French word "agence" can also mean "news agency" or "employment agency".
Frisianagintskip
Frisian "agintskip" is related to the Old Dutch word "agente" and the French word "agent".
Galicianaxencia
The Galician word "axencia" comes from the Latin word "agentia", meaning "action" or "activity".
Germanagentur
The word "Agentur" in German can also mean "intelligence agency" or "news agency."
Icelandicumboðsskrifstofa
Umboðsskrifstofa is not to be confused with umboð, which means "mandate" or "authorization".
Irishgníomhaireacht
Italianagenzia
The Italian word "agenzia" has its roots in the Latin word "agere," meaning "to act" or "to do."
Luxembourgishagence
"Agence" (French for "agency") can refer to either a government agency or an advertising agency.
Malteseaġenzija
“Aġenzija” also means “an agent” (one who acts for another in some capacity) in Maltese.
Norwegianbyrå
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 Gaelicbhuidheann
The word "bhuidheann" (agency) also has the alternate meanings "band" or "company" in Scots Gaelic.
Spanishagencia
"Agencia" in Spanish not only means "agency" but also "news agency" and "travel agency."
Swedishbyrå
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.
Welshasiantaeth
The word 'asiantaeth' is derived from the Latin word 'agentia', which means 'action' or 'influence'.

Agency in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianагенцтва
"Агенцтва" can also refer to a place or organization that represents or acts on behalf of another person, group, or entity.
Bosnianagencija
In Bosnian, "agencija" also refers to a news agency, real estate agency, or employment agency.
Bulgarianагенция
Агенция (agentsia) is derived from the Latin word "agere", meaning "to act" or "to do".
Czechagentura
The word "agentura" can also refer to an organization involved in intelligence, spying, or espionage.
Estonianagentuur
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.
Finnishvirasto
The word "virasto" can also refer to a government or public authority.
Hungarianügynökség
In Hungarian, "ügynökség" can also refer to a secret service or intelligence agency.
Latvianaģentūra
The word "aģentūra" also means "agency" in Latvian.
Lithuanianagentūra
The word "Agentūra" originates from the French word "agence" which has been used for various meanings over time, including "action" or "business."
Macedonianагенција
The Macedonian word "агенција" comes from the French "agence" which in turn derives from the Latin "agentia," meaning "action" or "doing."
Polishagencja
The word "agencja" can also mean "institute" or "office" in Polish.
Romanianagenţie
In Romanian, "agenţie" can also refer to a travel agency or news agency.
Russianагентство
The word “агентство” also means “agency” in English, but it can also refer to a government department or a news agency.
Serbianагенција
In Serbian, "агенција" can also refer to an employment agency or a travel agency.
Slovakagentúra
The word "agentúra" derives from the Latin word "agens", meaning "doing".
Slovenianagencija
Agencija ('agency') derives from Latin 'agens' ('doing'), originally meaning an 'action' or 'business'.
Ukrainianагентство
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

Bengaliসংস্থা
The Bengali word সংস্থা ('agency') comes from the Sanskrit word 'sangathan' meaning 'organization' or 'association'.
Gujaratiએજન્સી
The Gujarati word "એજન્સી" can also mean "authority" or "jurisdiction".
Hindiएजेंसी
The word 'एजेंसी' in Hindi derives from the Sanskrit word 'अजेंसी', meaning 'action' or 'instrumentality'.
Kannadaಏಜೆನ್ಸಿ
The Kannada word "ಏಜೆನ್ಸಿ" can also refer to an area under government administration in a tribal region.
Malayalamഏജൻസി
The word "ഏജൻസി" is derived from the Latin word "agere", meaning "to do" or "to act."
Marathiएजन्सी
The word "एजन्सी" (agency) in Marathi derives from the Sanskrit root "अज्" (aj), meaning "to go" or "to act".
Nepaliएजेन्सी
The Hindi word "एजेन्सी" originated from the English word "agency" and is also used in Nepali to mean "representative" or "authority."
Punjabiਏਜੰਸੀ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)නියෝජිතායතනය
The word 'agency' derives from the Latin 'agere,' meaning 'to act'.
Tamilநிறுவனம்
The word 'நிறுவனம்' (agency) in Tamil can also mean 'an organization' or 'an institution'.
Teluguఏజెన్సీ
“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.
Urduایجنسی
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."
Korean대리점
The word "대리점" (agency) in Korean can also refer to a store that sells lottery tickets or a travel agency.
Mongolianагентлаг
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

Indonesianagen
In Indonesian, the word "agen" is also used as a short form of "agen judi", which means "gambling agent".
Javaneseagensi
The Javanese word 'agensi' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'aja', which means 'to act' or 'to move'.
Khmerទីភ្នាក់ងារ
Laoອົງການ
The Lao word ອົງການ derives from the Sanskrit word anga meaning 'organ of the body' or 'part of a living being'.
Malayagensi
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.
Thaiหน่วยงาน
หน่วยงาน also means a single unit or measure, e.g. a unit of currency.
Vietnameseđại 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

Azerbaijaniagentlik
The word "agentlik" in Azerbaijani shares its etymology with the English word "agent", both originating from the Latin word "agere" (to do).
Kazakhагенттік
Агенттік's etymology traces back to the French word 'agent', which refers to a person or thing that performs an action or function.
Kyrgyzагенттик
Агенттик ( Kyrgyz for "agency") is a loanword from Russian, and it also means "commission fee" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikагентӣ
The Tajik word "агентӣ" derives from the Persian word "عنایت" meaning "favor, kindness," and retains a connotation of favor or patronage.
Turkmengullugy
Uzbekagentlik
"Agentlik" (agency) in Uzbek may also refer to a state enterprise or government department.
Uyghuragency

Agency in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankuokoa
"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".
Maoriti'amâraa
The word "ti'amâraa" in Maori also refers to the act of mediating or being an intermediary.
Samoanfaitalia
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

Aymaraajinsya
Guaranimba'aporenda

Agency in International Languages

Esperantoagentejo
"Agentejo" can also refer to a place where agents work, like a real estate agency or a travel agency.
Latinpropellente
The Latin word "propellente" also means "means of propulsion".

Agency in Others Languages

Greekπρακτορείο
The word "πρακτορείο" can also refer to a news agency or a travel agency.
Hmongkoomhaum
Koomhaum is also known as 'txoj cai' in Hmong, which means 'the power to act' or 'the ability to make things happen'.
Kurdishajans
The Kurdish word "ajans" also refers to "a person or organization who supplies news to newspapers".}
Turkishajans
The word "ajans" in Turkish not only means "agency" but also "news agency" and "spy organization".
Xhosaiarhente
'iarhente' is not found in the Xhosa language.
Yiddishאַגענטור
The Yiddish word אַגענטור (agentur) can also refer to an intelligence or government organization.
Zuluejensi
The Zulu word "ejensi" also denotes the position of a chief's messenger.
Assameseএজেন্সী
Aymaraajinsya
Bhojpuriएजेंसी
Dhivehiއެޖެންސީ
Dogriअजैंसी
Filipino (Tagalog)ahensya
Guaranimba'aporenda
Ilocanoahensia
Krioɔfis
Kurdish (Sorani)دەزگا
Maithiliसंस्था
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯀꯅꯥꯒꯨꯝꯕ ꯑꯃꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯨꯠ ꯁꯤꯟꯗꯨꯅ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯅꯕ ꯃꯐꯝ
Mizodawr hmunpui
Oromobakka bu'ummaa
Odia (Oriya)ସଂସ୍ଥା
Quechuaagencia
Sanskritकर्तृकत्व
Tatarагентлыгы
Tigrinyaትካል
Tsongaxihatla

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