Updated on March 6, 2024
An 'argument' is a powerful tool for expressing ideas and exchanging opinions. It holds cultural significance across the globe as a means of intellectual discourse and debate. Have you ever wondered how this concept translates in other languages? Understanding the nuances of words like 'argument' in different cultures can enrich your communication skills and broaden your cultural perspective.
For instance, in Spanish, an argument is known as 'una discusión', while in German, it's 'eine Diskussion'. In French, it's 'un argument' when referring to a reason or ground for a claim, and 'une dispute' when referring to a quarrel. These translations not only provide linguistic insights but also reflect the cultural contexts in which they are used.
Join us as we delve into the translations of 'argument' in various languages, from the romantic tones of Italian to the rhythmic cadences of Japanese. This journey will be an exciting exploration of language, culture, and the human capacity for expressive communication.
Afrikaans | argument | ||
“Argument” in Afrikaans comes from the Dutch word for disagreement, rather than the English word for a logical debate. | |||
Amharic | ክርክር | ||
In addition to meaning 'argument', “ክርክር” can also refer to 'the process of chewing food' or a 'disagreement between people. | |||
Hausa | muhawara | ||
In Hausa, the word "muhawara" can also mean "admonition" or "speech" | |||
Igbo | arụmụka | ||
The Igbo word "arụmụka" also means "discussion" or "conversation." | |||
Malagasy | fandresen-dahatra | ||
The word “fandresen-dahatra” literally means “to pull out the tongue” in Malagasy. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mkangano | ||
The word "mkangano" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also refer to a "dispute" or "quarrel". | |||
Shona | nharo | ||
The word 'nharo' (argument) in Shona can also refer to a heated disagreement or a debate. | |||
Somali | dood | ||
The Somali word "dood" can also refer to a "conversation" or "debate". | |||
Sesotho | ngangisano | ||
In Sesotho, 'ngangisano' can also refer to a 'debate' or 'dispute' with a connotation of two or more parties actively engaging in a discussion or argument. | |||
Swahili | hoja | ||
The Swahili word "hoja" can also mean "proof" or "evidence". | |||
Xhosa | impikiswano | ||
The Xhosa word "impikiswano" (argument) is derived from the verb "ukuphikisa" (to oppose). | |||
Yoruba | ariyanjiyan | ||
The word "ariyanjiyan" can also refer to a heated debate or discussion | |||
Zulu | impikiswano | ||
The word "impikiswano" (argument) in Zulu comes from the root word "pika", meaning "to pick" or "to choose". | |||
Bambara | sɔsɔli | ||
Ewe | nyahehe | ||
Kinyarwanda | impaka | ||
Lingala | likanisi | ||
Luganda | enkaayana | ||
Sepedi | ngangišano | ||
Twi (Akan) | akyinnyeɛ | ||
Arabic | جدال | ||
The word "جدال" in Arabic can also refer to "disputation" or "debate" in a religious or academic context. | |||
Hebrew | טַעֲנָה | ||
In 1 Kings 5:18 it denotes a "burden" or "load" of merchandise carried by mules | |||
Pashto | دلیل | ||
It is borrowed from Persian or Arabic and shares a common origin with the English word "dialectic", which refers to the art of argumentation and debate. | |||
Arabic | جدال | ||
The word "جدال" in Arabic can also refer to "disputation" or "debate" in a religious or academic context. |
Albanian | argument | ||
The Albanian word 'argument' comes from the Latin verb 'arguo' meaning 'to prove or argue', and can also refer to a 'proof', 'reason' or 'dispute'. | |||
Basque | argumentua | ||
The Basque word "argumentua" originates from the Latin "argumentum" and also means "theme" or "matter". | |||
Catalan | argument | ||
The Catalan word "argument" derives from the Latin "argumentum" and also means "evidence" or "proof." | |||
Croatian | argument | ||
The word 'argument' can also refer to a mathematical operation or a musical theme. | |||
Danish | argument | ||
In Danish, "argument" also means "theme" or "thesis". | |||
Dutch | argument | ||
In Dutch, "argument" can also refer to a sum of money given to a lawyer to plead a case, or to a plot or premise of a play. | |||
English | argument | ||
The word "argument" derives from the Latin "argumentum," meaning "proof," and has additional meanings such as "a reason or set of reasons given in support of a claim or proposition" and "a discussion or debate in which opposing viewpoints are expressed." | |||
French | argument | ||
"Argument" can also mean "proof" or "evidence" in French, and "plot" in film or drama. | |||
Frisian | argumint | ||
In Frisian, the word "argumint" also means "disagreement" or "dispute". | |||
Galician | argumento | ||
As the plural form 'argumentos' translates as 'clothes', it can refer to the 'cloth' or 'fabric'. | |||
German | streit | ||
The German word "Streit" can also refer to a legal dispute, conflict, or fight. | |||
Icelandic | rök | ||
The word 'rök' in Icelandic, meaning 'argument', is derived from the Old Norse word 'reykr', which means 'smoke', reflecting the heated nature of debates. | |||
Irish | argóint | ||
The word "argóint" in Irish comes from the Latin word "argumentum", meaning "proof" or "evidence." | |||
Italian | discussione | ||
The Italian word "discussione" derives from the Latin "discutere," meaning "to shake thoroughly." | |||
Luxembourgish | argument | ||
In Luxembourgish, "Argument" can also mean "reason" or "ground". | |||
Maltese | argument | ||
The Maltese word "argument" can also mean "subject matter" | |||
Norwegian | argument | ||
The Norwegian word "argument" has the additional meaning of "theme". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | argumento | ||
The Portuguese word "argumento" originally referred to proof presented in a court of law. | |||
Scots Gaelic | argamaid | ||
The word "argamaid" can also refer to a "quarrel", "debate", or "dispute" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
Spanish | argumento | ||
In Spanish, "argumento" can also refer to the plot of a story or play, or to a proof or demonstration. | |||
Swedish | argument | ||
The Swedish word “argument” comes from the Latin “argumentum” meaning “proof” or “evidence”. | |||
Welsh | dadl | ||
Welsh word "dadl" also means a petition or plea. |
Belarusian | аргумент | ||
The Belarusian word “аргумент” also means “proof” in Russian and “reason” in Latin. | |||
Bosnian | argument | ||
The word "argument" is derived from the Latin word "argumentum", which means "proof" or "evidence." | |||
Bulgarian | аргумент | ||
In Bulgarian, the word "аргумент" can also refer to an excuse or proof. | |||
Czech | argument | ||
The Czech word "argument" also means "proof", "reason", or "evidence", a usage preserved from Middle Latin. | |||
Estonian | argument | ||
"Argument" can also mean "proof, evidence, reason" | |||
Finnish | perustelu | ||
Perustelu derives from the Proto-Finnic word *perustus, meaning 'foundation' or 'basis'. | |||
Hungarian | érv | ||
"Érv" (argument) originally meant "reason" in Hungarian and is cognate with the Slavic word "razum" (reason). | |||
Latvian | arguments | ||
The word "arguments" in Latvian also means "reasons" or "proofs". | |||
Lithuanian | argumentas | ||
The Latin word "argumentum" means both "proof" and "subject" of an argument. | |||
Macedonian | аргумент | ||
The word "аргумент" originates from the Latin word "argumentum", which means "proof", "reason", or "evidence". | |||
Polish | argument | ||
"Argument" can also mean "evidence" or "proof". | |||
Romanian | argument | ||
The Romanian word "argument" can also mean a proof or evidence. | |||
Russian | аргумент | ||
The Russian word "argument" can also mean "proof", "premise", or "reason". | |||
Serbian | расправа | ||
The word "расправа" comes from the Proto-Slavic root *sъprati, meaning "to judge". | |||
Slovak | argument | ||
"Argument" in Slovak also means "proof" or "evidence". | |||
Slovenian | prepir | ||
The verb 'prepirati' derives from 'pir', meaning 'feast'. | |||
Ukrainian | аргумент | ||
In Ukrainian, "аргумент" can also refer to a sum of money given to a lawyer or official in exchange for services. |
Bengali | যুক্তি | ||
The word "যুক্তি" can also mean "reason" or "logic" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | દલીલ | ||
The Gujarati word "દલીલ" is also cognate with the Urdu word "دلیل" (proof). | |||
Hindi | बहस | ||
The word "बहस" can also mean "discussion" or "debate" in Hindi. | |||
Kannada | ವಾದ | ||
"ವಾದ" also means 'opinion' and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vada' meaning 'assertive speech'. | |||
Malayalam | വാദം | ||
വാദം also means 'debate', 'discussion', 'disputation', or 'controversy' in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | युक्तिवाद | ||
The word 'युक्तिवाद' ('argument') in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'युक्ति' ('reasoning', 'logic'), and it also means 'stratagem' or 'expedient'. | |||
Nepali | तर्क | ||
The word "तर्क" (tarka) in Nepali derives from the Sanskrit word "तर्क" (tarka), meaning "reasoning, logic, or debate". | |||
Punjabi | ਦਲੀਲ | ||
The word "ਦਲੀਲ" can also mean "proof" or "evidence" in Punjabi. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තර්කය | ||
The word "තර්කය" can also mean "logic" or "reasoning" in addition to "argument" | |||
Tamil | வாதம் | ||
The Tamil word "வாதம்" has multiple meanings, including "debate" but also "discussion", "argument", "theory" or "doctrine."} | |||
Telugu | వాదన | ||
The verb form of "వాదన" (argument) is "వాదించు" (to argue), which can also mean "to defend" or "to prove" something. | |||
Urdu | دلیل | ||
The word "دلیل" can also mean "proof", "sign", or "evidence". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 论据 | ||
论据 (lunjù) is composed of two characters: 论 (lùn), meaning "to discuss or argue," and 据 (jù), meaning "evidence or proof." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 論據 | ||
In philosophical usage, "論據" can refer to evidence or reasoning, while in a legal context, it specifically means the arguments presented by one party in a case. | |||
Japanese | 引数 | ||
引数 comes from the Sino-Japanese reading of the Chinese word 引數, which originally meant "pulling a thread through a hole". | |||
Korean | 논의 | ||
The Korean word "논의" (argument) also has the alternate meaning of "discussion" or "debate" in a more positive and open context. | |||
Mongolian | маргаан | ||
The Mongolian word | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အငြင်းအခုံ | ||
Indonesian | argumen | ||
'Argumen' is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *pakru, meaning 'to speak' or 'to state'. | |||
Javanese | padu | ||
"Padu" also means "a pair" or "a matching set" in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | អាគុយម៉ង់ | ||
It is derived from the French word "argument" and can also refer to a disagreement or debate. | |||
Lao | ການໂຕ້ຖຽງ | ||
Malay | hujah | ||
The word "hujah" also means "proof" or "evidence" in Arabic, its language of origin. | |||
Thai | การโต้เถียง | ||
The word "การโต้เถียง" can also refer to a "debate" or "dispute". | |||
Vietnamese | tranh luận | ||
The word 'tranh luận' can also refer to a debate or a discussion. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | argumento | ||
Azerbaijani | mübahisə | ||
The word "mübahisə" is derived from the Arabic word "muḥāṭṭa", meaning "conversation" or "discussion" | |||
Kazakh | дәлел | ||
The word "дәлел" (dalel) is derived from the Arabic word "daliyl" (دليل) and can have alternate meanings such as "proof", "evidence", or "a sign of God". | |||
Kyrgyz | аргумент | ||
In Kyrgyz, “argument” also means “proof” or “evidence.” | |||
Tajik | далел | ||
The noun `далел` in Tajik also has the meanings `excuse`, `proof`, `evidence`, and `basis`. | |||
Turkmen | argument | ||
Uzbek | dalil | ||
The word "dalil" can also mean "proof" or "evidence" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | تالاش-تارتىش | ||
Hawaiian | paio | ||
In the Hawaiian language, "paio" can also refer to the act of striking something or someone. | |||
Maori | tautohe | ||
The word "tautohe" can also refer to a debate or discussion. | |||
Samoan | finauga | ||
The Samoan word "finauga" can also refer to a debate or a discussion. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pagtatalo | ||
The Tagalog word "pagtatalo" has alternate meanings such as "disagreement" and "contradiction." |
Aymara | arsu | ||
Guarani | tembiakuaapy | ||
Esperanto | argumento | ||
The root of the word "argumento" is the Latin word "argumentum", which means "reasoning" or "proof." | |||
Latin | ratio | ||
In Latin, “ratio” means both “argument” and “reason”. |
Greek | διαφωνία | ||
The Greek word "διαφωνία" can also refer to disagreement, dissonance, or a lack of harmony. | |||
Hmong | sib cav | ||
A "sib cav" is a dispute brought by a clan or lineage, rather than an individual. | |||
Kurdish | bersivk | ||
The word "bersivk" is derived from the Persian word "bahs", which also means "argumentation" or "debate". | |||
Turkish | tartışma | ||
The Turkish word "tartışma" can also refer to a debate or discussion, rather than just an argument. | |||
Xhosa | impikiswano | ||
The Xhosa word "impikiswano" (argument) is derived from the verb "ukuphikisa" (to oppose). | |||
Yiddish | אַרגומענט | ||
In Yiddish, the word "אַרגומענט" can refer to a topic or subject of discussion. | |||
Zulu | impikiswano | ||
The word "impikiswano" (argument) in Zulu comes from the root word "pika", meaning "to pick" or "to choose". | |||
Assamese | তৰ্কাতৰ্কি | ||
Aymara | arsu | ||
Bhojpuri | बहस | ||
Dhivehi | ޝަކުވާ | ||
Dogri | बैहस | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | argumento | ||
Guarani | tembiakuaapy | ||
Ilocano | argumento | ||
Krio | agyu | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | مشتومڕ | ||
Maithili | तर्क | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯩ ꯌꯦꯠꯅꯕ | ||
Mizo | inhnialna | ||
Oromo | falmii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଯୁକ୍ତି | ||
Quechua | rimanakuy | ||
Sanskrit | तर्क | ||
Tatar | аргумент | ||
Tigrinya | ክትዕ | ||
Tsonga | phikizana | ||