Asset in Different Languages
Discover 'Asset' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
An 'asset' is a valuable resource, owned by an individual or organization, that can be used to generate income or provide a benefit. This term is commonly used in business and finance, where assets like property, equipment, or investments can contribute to a company's growth and success. But the significance of the word 'asset' goes beyond economics, as it also refers to any skill, talent, or resource that can be leveraged to achieve a goal.
Throughout history, assets have played a crucial role in shaping societies and cultures. From the ancient world, where land and livestock were the primary sources of wealth, to the modern digital age, where intellectual property and data have become key assets, the concept of 'asset' has evolved and adapted to the times. In many cultures, the acquisition and management of assets have been seen as a sign of status, power, and prosperity.
Understanding the translation of 'asset' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how this concept is perceived and valued across the globe. Here are a few examples:
- In Spanish, 'asset' is 'activo', which also means 'active' or 'lively', reflecting the dynamic nature of assets.
- In French, 'asset' is 'actif', which shares the same root as the Spanish translation, highlighting the universal importance of assets in various cultures.
- In German, 'asset' is 'Vermögen', which also means 'fortune' or 'estate', emphasizing the wealth-generating potential of assets.
- In Mandarin Chinese, 'asset' is '资产' (zīchǎn), which consists of two characters: '资' (zī), meaning 'resources', and '产' (chǎn), meaning 'to produce' or 'to generate', reflecting the practical value of assets in creating wealth and prosperity.
Asset
Asset in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | bate | ||
| In Afrikaans, "bate" also refers to a share portfolio, a group of investments, or a stake in a business. | |||
| Amharic | ንብረት | ||
| The word 'ንብረት' is derived from the Semitic root 'n-b-r,' meaning 'to produce' or 'to create,' and can also refer to 'income' or 'wealth'. | |||
| Hausa | kadara | ||
| The Hausa word "kadara" has an alternate meaning of "treasure". | |||
| Igbo | akụ | ||
| Akụ, a word used in Igbo to describe assets, has the connotation of wealth and abundance, and is related to the word akụna (riches). | |||
| Malagasy | -pananana | ||
| Malagasy -pananana is derived from the root word -ana or -anana, meaning to bring, hold, or possess. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chuma | ||
| The word "chuma" can also refer to a metal tool or weapon in Nyanja (Chichewa). | |||
| Shona | asset | ||
| The Shona word 'pfuma' can also mean 'wealth' or 'riches'. | |||
| Somali | hanti | ||
| In Somali, "hanti" is derived from the Proto-Somali *ʔáŋkì ('possessions, property') and is related to the word "hanuun" ('wealth') and "hantid" ('to collect'). | |||
| Sesotho | letlotlo | ||
| The word "letlotlo" also carries the secondary meaning of "benefit" or "usefulness" within the context of an action or object's characteristics. | |||
| Swahili | mali | ||
| The word "mali" can also refer to a dowry or a bride price in some Swahili-speaking communities. | |||
| Xhosa | asethi | ||
| In Xhosa, "asethi" is derived from the verb "sethwa," meaning "to build," implying the notion of acquiring or accumulating possessions. | |||
| Yoruba | dukia | ||
| In Yoruba, "dukia" can also refer to property or valuable possessions, particularly land and buildings. | |||
| Zulu | impahla | ||
| The word "impahla" can also refer to a "resource" or "possession" in Zulu language. | |||
| Bambara | kisɛ | ||
| Ewe | nunɔamese | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umutungo | ||
| Lingala | biloko | ||
| Luganda | eby'obugagga | ||
| Sepedi | phahlo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | agyapadeɛ | ||
Asset in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الأصول | ||
| The word "الأصول" in Arabic can also refer to roots, origins, or principles. | |||
| Hebrew | נכס | ||
| The Hebrew word "נכס" has the alternate meaning of "property". | |||
| Pashto | پانګه | ||
| The word "پانګه" also means "base" or "foundation" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | الأصول | ||
| The word "الأصول" in Arabic can also refer to roots, origins, or principles. | |||
Asset in Western European Languages
| Albanian | pasuri | ||
| The word "pasuri" in Albanian is cognate with "pasuria" in Romanian, both words descending from Latin "possessio". | |||
| Basque | aktiboa | ||
| There are no known etymologies or alternate meanings of "aktiboa" (English: "asset") in Basque. | |||
| Catalan | actiu | ||
| The word "actiu" in Catalan can also mean "active" in the sense of "not passive". | |||
| Croatian | imovina | ||
| The word "imovina" in Croatian is derived from the Slavic word "imeti", meaning "to have" or "to possess". | |||
| Danish | aktiv | ||
| The word "aktiv" is derived from the Latin "actus," meaning "deed" or "action," and also has the alternate meaning of "active" in Danish. | |||
| Dutch | bedrijfsmiddel | ||
| The Dutch word "Bedrijfsmiddel" (asset) derives from the words "bedrijf" (business) and "middel" (means), and refers to the resources used by a business to achieve its objectives. | |||
| English | asset | ||
| The word "asset" originally meant "something useful" in French, and is related to the word "enough". | |||
| French | atout | ||
| "Atout" is a term used in card games to refer to the trump card, and it originates from the French phrase "à tout," meaning "to everything." | |||
| Frisian | asset | ||
| In Frisian, the word "goed" can mean "asset", "property", or "wealth". | |||
| Galician | activo | ||
| In Galician, "activo" also means "lively, active, energetic" and "wealth". | |||
| German | anlagegut | ||
| "Anlagegut" is a composite noun, consisting of "Anlage" ("investment" or "facility") and "Gut" ("property" or "asset"). | |||
| Icelandic | eign | ||
| Eign is derived from the Old Norse word "eign" which can also mean "property" or "ownership". | |||
| Irish | sócmhainn | ||
| The word "sócmhainn" is thought to derive from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ḱow-," which also gave rise to the Latin word "pecus" (cattle) and the English word "fee" | |||
| Italian | risorsa | ||
| "Risorsa" is derived from the Latin "resursus", meaning "a rising up". It also has the alternate meaning of "a means"} | |||
| Luxembourgish | verméigen | ||
| "Vermeigen" derives from the old French term "moebile" (property), whereas its alternative term "Bi" is derived from the word "biens" (possessions) | |||
| Maltese | assi | ||
| Similar to words in English with French origin like "assault" and "assemble" (which both involve gathering), "assi" likely comes from the same Latin source, "adsistere". | |||
| Norwegian | ressurs | ||
| The Norwegian word "ressurs" is derived from the French word "ressource", which in turn comes from the Latin word "resurgis", meaning "to rise again". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | de ativos | ||
| In financial accounting, "de ativos" derives from Latin word "activos", which denotes an "active state" or a "state of possession". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | so-mhaoin | ||
| So-mhaoin derives from Old Gaelic "só" (good) and "maoin" (wealth), signifying its role as a valuable possession. | |||
| Spanish | activo | ||
| The Spanish word "activo" also means "active" or "current" in English. | |||
| Swedish | tillgång | ||
| The Swedish word "tillgång" also means "access" or "opportunity". | |||
| Welsh | ased | ||
| In the Welsh language, the word "ased" can also refer to a type of plant known as wood avens. | |||
Asset in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | актыў | ||
| The Belarusian word "актыў" (asset) comes from the Latin word "activus" (active). | |||
| Bosnian | imovina | ||
| Derived from 'imati', meaning 'to have'. | |||
| Bulgarian | актив | ||
| The word "актив" in Bulgarian also means "balance sheet assets" and "current assets". | |||
| Czech | aktivum | ||
| The word "aktivum" can also refer to a state of being active or lively. | |||
| Estonian | vara | ||
| The word "vara" in Estonian has several meanings, one of which is "asset", but can also refer to an animal's pelt, or a piece of land. | |||
| Finnish | omaisuus | ||
| "Omaisuus" means "property or asset" in English, but its etymology comes from the Finnish word "omainen" meaning "close or relative". | |||
| Hungarian | eszköz | ||
| The word eszköz derives from the verb ‘esz’, meaning ‘to eat’, referring to something of nutritional value. The same root word gave rise to the words ‘étel’ (food) and ‘étkezés’ (meal). | |||
| Latvian | aktīvs | ||
| The Latvian word "aktīvs" is derived from the Latin "activus" meaning "ready for action", and is also related to the English word "active". | |||
| Lithuanian | turtas | ||
| The word, "turtas," in Lithuanian is a derivative of the word, "turėti," meaning "to have" or "to hold" something of value. | |||
| Macedonian | средство | ||
| The word "средство" in Macedonian can also refer to a means, instrument, or method used to achieve or fulfill something. | |||
| Polish | kapitał | ||
| Polish "kapitał" from Latin "capitalis" meaning "of the head" can also mean "capital (sentence)" or "initial capital (money)" depending on the context. | |||
| Romanian | activ | ||
| The Romanian noun "activ" (asset) comes from the Latin word "activus" (active), which in turn is derived from the verb "agere" (to do or act). | |||
| Russian | актив | ||
| In Russian, "актив" also refers to financial assets, such as stocks and bonds, as well as to the most active part of a population or organization. | |||
| Serbian | имовина | ||
| The word "имовина" in Serbian literally translates to "what is had", meaning possessions or property. | |||
| Slovak | aktívum | ||
| The word "aktívum" is derived from the Latin word "activus" meaning "active". | |||
| Slovenian | sredstva | ||
| In Slovenian, "sredstva" can also refer to "funds" or "resources". | |||
| Ukrainian | активу | ||
| The word "активу" in Ukrainian can also refer to a person or group of people who are active in a particular area or field. | |||
Asset in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সম্পদ | ||
| The word "সম্পদ" (sampad) comes from the Sanskrit word "sampat" meaning "wealth" or "property". | |||
| Gujarati | સંપત્તિ | ||
| Hindi | एसेट | ||
| In Hindi, "एसेट" (asset) is also used figuratively to refer to a valuable attribute or quality of a person or thing. | |||
| Kannada | ಆಸ್ತಿ | ||
| The word "ಆಸ್ತಿ" has an alternate meaning of "wealth" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | അസറ്റ് | ||
| "അസറ്റ്" is derived from the Malay word "aset", meaning "property" or "wealth". | |||
| Marathi | मालमत्ता | ||
| The word "मालमत्ता" ("asset") in Marathi is derived from the word "माल" ("goods") and the suffix "-मत्ता" ("possession"), meaning "possession of goods" | |||
| Nepali | सम्पत्ति | ||
| The word "सम्पत्ति" can also mean "property" or "wealth" in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੰਪਤੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වත්කම | ||
| Sinhala term "වත්කම" originates from Sanskrit and was initially used in a broad sense to mean possessions or goods. | |||
| Tamil | சொத்து | ||
| Tamil word 'சொத்து' likely originates from the root 'சொல்' meaning 'to speak' or 'to own'. | |||
| Telugu | ఆస్తి | ||
| The word "ఆస్తి" also means "property" or "wealth" in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | اثاثہ | ||
| The word "اثاثہ" originally meant "a piece of cloth spread on the ground" in Arabic, and is related to the word "فرس" (meaning "carpet"). | |||
Asset in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 资产 | ||
| 资产 originally meant "possessions or property" in classical Chinese, but now refers to "assets" in modern Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 資產 | ||
| 資產, or asset in English, can also mean "materials" or "means". | |||
| Japanese | 資産 | ||
| The Japanese word "資産" (asset) is a compound noun of the words "財" (wealth) and "産" (production). | |||
| Korean | 유산 | ||
| The Korean word "유산" ("asset") can also refer to a heritage or legacy from one's ancestors. | |||
| Mongolian | хөрөнгө | ||
| The Mongolian word "хөрөнгө" can also mean "wealth", "property", or "capital" depending on the context in which it is used. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ပိုင်ဆိုင်မှု | ||
Asset in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | aset | ||
| The Indonesian word "aset" originates from the Dutch word "acten", which means "documents" or "deeds". | |||
| Javanese | bondho | ||
| The Javanese word "bondho" which means "asset" can also mean "friend" or "capital". | |||
| Khmer | ទ្រព្យ | ||
| The word "ទ្រព្យ" can also refer to "property" or "wealth". | |||
| Lao | ຊັບສິນ | ||
| In Thai, the same word can also be used for "property, wealth, assets" and is often paired with its near synonym "ทรัพย์" for emphasis. | |||
| Malay | aset | ||
| In the 17th century, aset referred to a person's character and behavior. | |||
| Thai | สินทรัพย์ | ||
| The word "สินทรัพย์" (asset) in Thai comes from the Sanskrit word "संपत्ति" (sampatti), meaning "property" or "wealth." | |||
| Vietnamese | tài sản | ||
| 'Tài sản' originates from the Chinese word '財產', meaning 'wealth' or 'property'. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | asset | ||
Asset in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | aktiv | ||
| The word "aktiv" in Azerbaijani also means "active" or "energetic". | |||
| Kazakh | актив | ||
| "Актив" (asset) in Kazakh also means "the state of being in force and effect or existence" | |||
| Kyrgyz | актив | ||
| The term "актив" in Kyrgyz can also refer to the "positive side" or "advantage" of something. | |||
| Tajik | дороӣ | ||
| The word "дороӣ" in Tajik can also mean "property" or "wealth". | |||
| Turkmen | aktiw | ||
| Uzbek | aktiv | ||
| The Uzbek word "aktiv" is derived from the Arabic word "al-akht" (meaning "to possess") and also refers to "the property of a corporation". | |||
| Uyghur | مۈلۈك | ||
Asset in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | waiwai | ||
| The word "waiwai" also means "water" in Hawaiian and is related to the word "wai" meaning "fresh water" or "spring". | |||
| Maori | rawa | ||
| The word "rawa" also means "space" and "place" in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | aseta | ||
| "Aseta" has a secondary meaning in Samoan, which translates to "something bad that is done" | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pag-aari | ||
| The word "pag-aari" is derived from the word "ari" which means "lord" or "master" in Old Tagalog. | |||
Asset in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | aktiwu | ||
| Guarani | kyre'ỹ | ||
Asset in International Languages
| Esperanto | valoraĵo | ||
| The Esperanto word "valoraĵo" is derived from "valoro" (value), and can also refer to a valuable object or a treasure. | |||
| Latin | dignissim | ||
| Dignissim comes from the Latin verb "dignor," meaning "to deem worthy" or "to think well of," also being an adverb meaning "in a manner worthy of respect." | |||
Asset in Others Languages
| Greek | περιουσιακό στοιχείο | ||
| The word can also refer to a person's estate or property. | |||
| Hmong | lub cuab tam | ||
| The Hmong word "lub cuab tam" can also mean "wealth" or "property." | |||
| Kurdish | sermaye | ||
| The word "sermaye" originally meant "capital" in Kurdish, but it has also come to mean "asset" in modern usage. | |||
| Turkish | varlık | ||
| "Varlık" also means "existence" in Turkish, coming from the verb "var" (to be). | |||
| Xhosa | asethi | ||
| In Xhosa, "asethi" is derived from the verb "sethwa," meaning "to build," implying the notion of acquiring or accumulating possessions. | |||
| Yiddish | אַסעט | ||
| In Yiddish, "אַסעט" can also mean "breath". | |||
| Zulu | impahla | ||
| The word "impahla" can also refer to a "resource" or "possession" in Zulu language. | |||
| Assamese | সম্পত্তি | ||
| Aymara | aktiwu | ||
| Bhojpuri | संपत्ति | ||
| Dhivehi | މުދާ | ||
| Dogri | जैदाद | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | asset | ||
| Guarani | kyre'ỹ | ||
| Ilocano | sanikua | ||
| Krio | valyu tin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کەرەستە | ||
| Maithili | संपत्ति | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯜ ꯃꯊꯨꯝ | ||
| Mizo | thilhlu | ||
| Oromo | qabeenya | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସମ୍ପତ୍ତି | ||
| Quechua | kawsaq | ||
| Sanskrit | संपत्ति | ||
| Tatar | актив | ||
| Tigrinya | ጥሪት | ||
| Tsonga | nhundzu | ||