Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'appointment' carries great significance in our daily lives. It refers to a prearranged meeting, either personal or professional, that we schedule in advance. The act of making an appointment is a testament to our commitment to time management and organization. But did you know that the concept of appointments has been around for centuries, with historical records showing evidence of prearranged meetings as early as the Roman Empire?
Moreover, the importance of appointments extends beyond just time management. In many cultures, keeping an appointment is a matter of respect and honor. It signifies that you value the other person's time and that you are reliable and trustworthy. This is why it's essential to understand the word 'appointment' in different languages.
For instance, in Spanish, the word for appointment is 'cita', while in French, it's 'rendez-vous'. In German, it's 'Termin', and in Japanese, it's 'tsuuchou'. Understanding these translations can help you navigate different cultures and build stronger relationships with people from around the world.
So, whether you're planning a business meeting, a doctor's appointment, or a social gathering, it's crucial to understand the significance of appointments and how to convey this concept in different languages.
Afrikaans | aanstelling | ||
"Aanstelling is also a synonym of 'employment'. | |||
Amharic | ቀጠሮ | ||
The word "ቀጠሮ" in Amharic can also mean "meeting" or "conference". | |||
Hausa | alƙawari | ||
"Alƙawari", meaning "appointment" in Hausa, derives from the Arabic word "waqara", meaning "to revere" or "to give great importance to". | |||
Igbo | oru | ||
The word "oru" in Igbo also means "meeting place" or "gathering". | |||
Malagasy | fotoana | ||
"Fotoana" can also refer to a planned event, a meeting, or a time set aside for a specific activity. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kusankhidwa | ||
The Nyanja word “kusankhidwa” can also mean “to be chosen” or “to be selected” in English. | |||
Shona | musangano | ||
The word "musangano" can also refer to a traditional Shona gathering or meeting place. | |||
Somali | ballan | ||
Ballan, meaning "appointment," has additional meanings such as "time" or "period." | |||
Sesotho | tumellano ya kopano | ||
In a legal context, it can also refer to the appointment of an executor or administrator of an estate. | |||
Swahili | miadi | ||
The word "miadi" also means "time" or "period" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | ukuqeshwa | ||
The term ukuqeshwa in Xhosa signifies not only an appointment, but also the act of being summoned or invited. | |||
Yoruba | ipinnu lati pade | ||
The Yoruba word for "appointment", "ipinnu lati pade", can also mean "the time set for a meeting" or "the place where a meeting is to be held." | |||
Zulu | ukuqokwa | ||
The Zulu word "ukuqokwa" also means "to be appointed to a position or task." | |||
Bambara | ɲɔgɔnkunbɛn | ||
Ewe | gbeɖoɖi | ||
Kinyarwanda | gahunda | ||
Lingala | likita | ||
Luganda | okulaalika | ||
Sepedi | peo | ||
Twi (Akan) | yi obi | ||
Arabic | موعد | ||
"موعد" also refers to a "date" and the noun form of "promise" | |||
Hebrew | קביעת פגישה | ||
קביעת פגישה does not just refer to meeting, but can also mean the result of that meeting - an agreement or a resolution | |||
Pashto | ټاکنه | ||
The word ټاکنه in Pashto is derived from the Arabic word توقيت, meaning "time" or "season" and is also used in the sense of "appointment" or "assignment" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | موعد | ||
"موعد" also refers to a "date" and the noun form of "promise" |
Albanian | emërimi | ||
The word "emërimi" also means "naming" or "nomination" in Albanian. | |||
Basque | hitzordua | ||
The word "hitzordua" can also mean "interview" or "agreement". | |||
Catalan | cita | ||
"Cita" can also mean "quotation" or "quote", e.g. when talking about the words of an author. | |||
Croatian | ugovoreni sastanak | ||
The Croatian word for 'appointment', "ugovoreni sastanak", comes from the verb "ugovoriti", which itself is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰen-, meaning 'to negotiate or conclude'. The word "sastanak" originally meant 'a gathering' or 'meeting', and is related to the English word "assembly". In modern Croatian, however, "sastanak" is most often used to refer to a formal appointment, while the word "okupljanje" is used for a more informal gathering. | |||
Danish | aftale | ||
The word 'aftale' derives from the Old Norse word 'áfǫla,' meaning to agree, which is related to the German word 'abfinden' and the English word 'affiance'. | |||
Dutch | afspraak | ||
Dutch word 'afspraak' literally means 'to speak off' | |||
English | appointment | ||
The word "appointment" can also refer to a meeting arranged in advance, or to the act of assigning someone to a position or role. | |||
French | rendez-vous | ||
"Rendez-vous" derives from the Old French "rendez" meaning "to give" and "vous" meaning "oneself". | |||
Frisian | beneaming | ||
The word "beneaming" can also mean "nomination" or "selection". | |||
Galician | cita | ||
The Galician word "cita" can also refer to a "quotation" or a "date". | |||
German | geplanter termin | ||
Geplanter Termin is literally a "planted date", as in a date when something will "sprout" or happen. | |||
Icelandic | stefnumót | ||
Stefnumót also means 'tryst' or 'date' in the romantic sense, although this second meaning is almost exclusively found in poetry. | |||
Irish | coinne | ||
'Coinne' also means 'meeting', 'tryst', or 'assembly'. | |||
Italian | appuntamento | ||
The word "appuntamento" can also refer to a romantic rendezvous or a planned meeting. | |||
Luxembourgish | rendez-vous | ||
The Luxembourgish word for "Rendez-vous" is "Randevú", which comes from the French word "Rendez-vous" and means "appointment" or "meeting". | |||
Maltese | appuntament | ||
The Maltese word "appuntament" is derived from the Italian word "appuntamento", which can also mean a meeting or rendezvous. | |||
Norwegian | avtale | ||
The Norwegian word "avtale" is cognate with the English word "atone" and originally meant "to atone for" or "to agree upon". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | compromisso | ||
In Brazil, "compromisso" also often implies the obligation, meeting, or agreement. | |||
Scots Gaelic | cur an dreuchd | ||
The Gaelic word "cur an dreuchd" can also refer to a divine call, such as a calling to the priesthood. | |||
Spanish | cita | ||
"Cita" can also mean 'quotation' in Spanish, deriving from Latin "citare" (to summon, call upon). | |||
Swedish | utnämning | ||
"Utnämning," "nomination" or "appointment," is the Swedish word for designating someone to a position of authority. | |||
Welsh | apwyntiad | ||
The Welsh word "apwyntiad" is borrowed from English, and cognate with the French word "appointment". |
Belarusian | прызначэнне | ||
Bosnian | imenovanje | ||
The word 'imenovanje' in Bosnian can also refer to the act of choosing or selecting a person for a particular position or role. | |||
Bulgarian | назначаване | ||
"Назначаване" ("appointment") could also mean "assignment" in Bulgarian and in addition to scheduled event it can refer to the act of giving a new task or responsibility to someone which is usually translated as "assign" in English. | |||
Czech | jmenování | ||
The noun "jmenování" in Czech also means "nomination"} | |||
Estonian | kohtumine | ||
The etymology of the Estonian word for "appointment", "kohtumine," comes from the combination of "koht" (place) and "tulla" (to come). | |||
Finnish | nimittäminen | ||
Nimittäminen is a derivative of the verb nimittää, which shares its roots with the words nimi (name), nimike (title) and nimiö (nomenclature). | |||
Hungarian | időpont egyeztetés | ||
The word "időpont egyeztetés" literally means "time point agreement" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | pieraksts | ||
Pieraksts also means "registration" and it comes from the verb "pierakstīt" (to register). | |||
Lithuanian | paskyrimas | ||
The Lithuanian word "paskyrimas" can also refer to a destination, as in a place or time to which someone is going. | |||
Macedonian | назначување | ||
The word can also mean 'assignment', 'engagement' or 'destination' | |||
Polish | spotkanie | ||
The word "spotkanie" can also mean "gathering" or "encounter" in Polish. | |||
Romanian | programare | ||
In Romanian, the noun "programare" has an alternate meaning, "programming", possibly derived from French "programmation". | |||
Russian | деловое свидание, встреча | ||
The Russian word "деловое свидание, встреча" can also mean "business meeting" | |||
Serbian | именовање | ||
The Serbian word "именовање" can also refer to "naming" or "designation." | |||
Slovak | vymenovanie | ||
The word "vymenovanie" can also mean "dismissal" or "naming" in some contexts. | |||
Slovenian | sestanek | ||
The word "sestanek" derives from the Old Slavonic word "sъstanьje", meaning "meeting" or "gathering". | |||
Ukrainian | призначення | ||
Ukrainian word "призначення" means "destiny" and "calling" as well as "appointment". |
Bengali | অ্যাপয়েন্টমেন্ট | ||
অ্যাপয়েন্টমেন্ট শব্দটি appointment বা অ-পয়েন্টমেন্ট দুইটি শব্দের সংমিশ্রনে তৈরি। | |||
Gujarati | નિમણૂક | ||
"નિમણૂક" is a Hindi word that has alternate meanings of "employment" or "arrangement" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | नियुक्ति | ||
The word "नियुक्ति" can also mean "assignment" or "task". | |||
Kannada | ನೇಮಕಾತಿ | ||
"ನೇಮಕಾತಿ" is also used to refer to the process of hiring or engaging someone for a specific job or position. | |||
Malayalam | നിയമനം | ||
The Sanskrit root of 'nay' also indicates 'leading,' 'conducting,' 'guiding,' 'directing,' or 'governing.' | |||
Marathi | भेट | ||
The word 'भेट' can also refer to a 'chance encounter' or 'visitation'. | |||
Nepali | भेट | ||
The word "भेट" can also mean "meeting" or "encounter" in Nepali. | |||
Punjabi | ਮੁਲਾਕਾਤ | ||
The word | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පත්වීම | ||
The Sinhalese word "පත්වීම" can also refer to an occasion when someone is consecrated or ordained into a religious order. | |||
Tamil | நியமனம் | ||
The Tamil word 'நியமனம்' also refers to a vow or observance, derived from the root 'நியம்', meaning 'to fix' or 'establish'. | |||
Telugu | నియామకం | ||
Urdu | تقرری | ||
The word "تقرری" also refers to the process of being appointed to a position or job. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 约定 | ||
约定, 'promise', is a compound of two characters: '约' (to agree) and '定' (to fix). | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 約定 | ||
In Chinese, "約束" (yuēyuē) can also mean "promise" or "agreement". | |||
Japanese | 予定 | ||
The word 予定, meaning "appointment," can also mean "plan" or "schedule" and is composed of the characters "定," meaning "fixed," and "予," meaning "in advance". | |||
Korean | 약속 | ||
“약속” (appointment) literally means “a promise”. | |||
Mongolian | томилгоо | ||
The etymology of томилгоо derives from a verb meaning to 'make someone wait', suggesting the waiting involved in making an appointment. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ရက်ချိန်း | ||
Indonesian | janji | ||
"Janji" also means "promise" in Indonesian, likely due to the similar concept of an obligation to fulfill a commitment. | |||
Javanese | janjian | ||
In Javanese, "janjian" can also refer to a supernatural power or the spirit of a deceased ancestor. | |||
Khmer | ការណាត់ជួប | ||
The etymology of ការណាត់ជួប derives from the Sanskrit root nṛita meaning “to dance,” possibly referring to the meeting place as a traditional gathering place for dance or music. | |||
Lao | ນັດ ໝາຍ | ||
"ນັດໝາຍ" in Lao can also mean "time", "hour", in the phrase "one 'time' or one 'hour' passed"} | |||
Malay | temu janji | ||
Temujanji (Malay for 'appointment') is derived from the Tamil-Malay words temu (meaning 'to meet') and janji (meaning 'promise' or 'agreement'). | |||
Thai | นัดหมาย | ||
The Thai word "นัดหมาย" also means "promise" or "date", and is derived from the Sanskrit word "niyama" (rule, regulation). | |||
Vietnamese | cuộc hẹn | ||
The word "cuộc hẹn" in Vietnamese can also mean a "date" or a "meeting". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | appointment | ||
Azerbaijani | təyinat | ||
The word "təyinat" in Azerbaijani shares the same root with the word "təyin" which means "to appoint", "to assign", or "to order" in English. | |||
Kazakh | тағайындау | ||
Тағайындау, meaning "appointment," derives from the root word "тағайын," indicating "to designate" or "to entrust with a task." | |||
Kyrgyz | дайындоо | ||
The Kyrgyz word "дайындоо" can also mean "preparation" or "readiness". | |||
Tajik | таъинот | ||
The word “таъинот” comes from Arabic “تَعْيين” and also means assignment. | |||
Turkmen | bellemek | ||
Uzbek | uchrashuv | ||
The word "uchrashuv" comes from the Persian word "avarez", meaning "meeting". | |||
Uyghur | تەيىنلەش | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻokohu | ||
The word "hoʻokohu" also means "to arrange," "to set in order," or "to fix." | |||
Maori | whakaritenga | ||
The word "whakaritenga" can also mean "the act of arranging" or "the act of putting in order" in Maori. | |||
Samoan | tofiga | ||
"Tofiga" is also used to refer to a meeting, a time set aside for a particular purpose, or an assembly. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | appointment | ||
In Tagalog, "appointment" can also mean a "position or office" or a "date or time for a meeting." |
Aymara | sita | ||
Guarani | hysýi | ||
Esperanto | rendevuo | ||
The Esperanto word "rendevuo" is derived from the French "rendez-vous", meaning "meeting" or "appointment". | |||
Latin | appointment | ||
Latin "appointare" means to sharpen, arrange, or prepare something such as a pencil, sword, or appointment. |
Greek | ραντεβού | ||
In French 'rendez-vous' (meaning 'meeting') comes from the Old French 'rendre', 'render' (meaning 'to turn, to come, to appear'). | |||
Hmong | kev teem sijhawm | ||
"Kev teem sijhawm is an idiom meaning "appointment" which derives from the verbs "teem" (to speak) and "sijhawm" (to agree upon)." | |||
Kurdish | binavkirî | ||
“binavkirî” comes from “bî” (in) and “navkirî” meaning “sitting down” | |||
Turkish | randevu | ||
The word "randevu" originally meant "meeting point" in French, and still does in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | ukuqeshwa | ||
The term ukuqeshwa in Xhosa signifies not only an appointment, but also the act of being summoned or invited. | |||
Yiddish | אַפּוינטמאַנט | ||
The Yiddish word אַפּוינטמאַנט (appointment) is derived from German, and its secondary meaning is a meeting with a doctor. | |||
Zulu | ukuqokwa | ||
The Zulu word "ukuqokwa" also means "to be appointed to a position or task." | |||
Assamese | সাক্ষাত্কাৰ | ||
Aymara | sita | ||
Bhojpuri | नियुक्ति | ||
Dhivehi | އެޕޮއިންޓްމަންޓް | ||
Dogri | मुलाकात | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | appointment | ||
Guarani | hysýi | ||
Ilocano | appointment | ||
Krio | sho tɛm | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دیمانە | ||
Maithili | नियुक्ति | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯎꯅꯕꯒꯤ ꯃꯇꯝ ꯊꯥꯟꯈꯤꯕ | ||
Mizo | hunruat | ||
Oromo | beellama | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ନିଯୁକ୍ତି | | ||
Quechua | tupanakuy | ||
Sanskrit | नियुक्तिः | ||
Tatar | билгеләнү | ||
Tigrinya | ቆፀራ | ||
Tsonga | thola | ||