Athletic in Different Languages
Discover 'Athletic' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'athletic' is more than just an adjective used to describe someone who is physically fit or skilled in sports. It's a term that embodies strength, determination, and perseverance. From ancient Greek games to modern-day Olympics, athleticism has held cultural significance across the globe. In fact, the concept of athleticism has been celebrated and revered in various forms throughout history.
For language enthusiasts and cultural aficionados, understanding the translation of 'athletic' in different languages can offer unique insights into the values and traditions of various cultures. For instance, the Spanish translation of 'athletic' is 'atlético,' which is derived from the Greek word 'athlos' meaning 'contest.' Meanwhile, in German, 'athletic' is translated to 'athletisch,' reflecting the country's love for sports and fitness.
Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of translations of the word 'athletic' in various languages, providing a glimpse into the cultural significance of athleticism around the world.
Athletic
Athletic in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | atleties | ||
| The word "atletiek" originates from the Greek "athlos", meaning "contest" or "competition." | |||
| Amharic | አትሌቲክስ | ||
| The term አትሌቲክስ is also used to refer to the study of human movement, known as kinesiology. | |||
| Hausa | mai tsere | ||
| The word "mai tsere" in Hausa can also refer to a wrestler or a warrior. | |||
| Igbo | egwuregwu | ||
| Egwuregwu shares the same etymology with "igwurube" and "igwu", all referring to play, sports and dancing. | |||
| Malagasy | fanatanjahan-tena | ||
| The word "fanatanjahan-tena" can also mean "healthy" or "fit". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | othamanga | ||
| The Nyanja word 'othamanga' also means 'strong' and can be used to describe both physical and emotional strength. | |||
| Shona | zvemitambo | ||
| "Zvemitambo" also means "having a habit of doing things the same way all the time". | |||
| Somali | ciyaaraha fudud | ||
| The word 'ciyaaraha fudud' in Somali can also refer to 'light sports' or 'track and field athletics'. | |||
| Sesotho | moatlelete | ||
| The word "moatlelete" in Sesotho is derived from the verb "atlha" meaning "to run", and is cognate with the Zulu word "umdlali" meaning "player". | |||
| Swahili | riadha | ||
| The Swahili word for "athletic," riadha, also refers to an act of worship; in Arabic, its root form "rdh" means willing | |||
| Xhosa | ezemidlalo | ||
| The Xhosa word "ezemidlalo" can also refer to a "playing field" or a "sports complex". | |||
| Yoruba | ere ije | ||
| The word "ere ije" in Yoruba has an alternate meaning of "play." | |||
| Zulu | ezemidlalo | ||
| A more literal rendering of "ezemidlalo" is "of the game" or "of games" | |||
| Bambara | farikoloɲɛnajɛla | ||
| Ewe | kamedefefewo ƒe nuwɔna | ||
| Kinyarwanda | siporo | ||
| Lingala | ya masano | ||
| Luganda | eby’emizannyo | ||
| Sepedi | tša diatleletiki | ||
| Twi (Akan) | agumadi mu | ||
Athletic in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | رياضي | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "athletic," the Arabic word "رياضي" can also refer to "mathematical," "sportsman," or "athlete." | |||
| Hebrew | אַתלֵטִי | ||
| The word “אַתלֵטִי” (“athletic”) is derived from the Greek word “ἆθλος,” meaning “contest” or “struggle.” | |||
| Pashto | ورزش | ||
| The Pashto word "ورزش" can also refer to "exercise" or "physical activity". | |||
| Arabic | رياضي | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "athletic," the Arabic word "رياضي" can also refer to "mathematical," "sportsman," or "athlete." | |||
Athletic in Western European Languages
| Albanian | atletike | ||
| The Albanian word "atletike" derives from the Greek word "athletikos", meaning "relating to athletics or athletes." | |||
| Basque | atletikoa | ||
| Atletikoa comes from the Basque word letikoa, meaning 'strong' or 'robust'. | |||
| Catalan | atlètic | ||
| The Catalan word 'atlètic' is derived from the Greek 'athletes', meaning "one who contends for a prize" | |||
| Croatian | atletski | ||
| The word "atletski" can also refer to "athletic shoes" or "athletic wear" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | atletisk | ||
| Atletisk can also mean 'muscular' or 'robust' in Danish. | |||
| Dutch | atletisch | ||
| The Dutch word "atletisch" can also refer to someone who is physically strong and well-built. | |||
| English | athletic | ||
| "Athletic" originally meant "pertaining to wrestling" and comes from the Greek word "athlētēs," meaning "wrestler". | |||
| French | athlétique | ||
| The French word « athlétique » derives from the Greek word « ᾰ̓ϑλᾰ́ω » meaning to compete, but can also refer to physical attractiveness or strength. | |||
| Frisian | atletysk | ||
| The word 'Atlet' (athlete), is derived directly, through the Latin 'athleta', from the ancient greek word athlētḗs - a contender in a contest; wrestler. | |||
| Galician | atlético | ||
| The Galician word "atlético" is derived from the Greek word "athletikos", meaning "pertaining to wrestling or combat". However, it can also refer to a person who is physically fit or an athlete in general. | |||
| German | sportlich | ||
| Sportlich has the alternate meaning of 'stylish' or 'chic', which comes from the idea of athletes being well-dressed and fashionable. | |||
| Icelandic | íþróttamaður | ||
| The Icelandic word "íþróttamaður", which means "athlete", is likely derived from the old Norse words "íþrótt", meaning "sports" or "athletics", and "maður", meaning "man". | |||
| Irish | lúthchleasaíochta | ||
| Lúthchleasaíochta, as used in Irish folklore, originally referred to the feats of strength and courage of legendary heroes rather than modern sports. | |||
| Italian | atletico | ||
| "Atletico" in Italian can also refer to a sports club or the athletic nature of a person. | |||
| Luxembourgish | sportlech | ||
| The word "sportlech" derives from the Old High German "sport", meaning "play" or "joy". | |||
| Maltese | atletiku | ||
| The word "atletiku" comes from the Greek word "athletes", which means "a combatant in the public games". | |||
| Norwegian | atletisk | ||
| The Norwegian word "atletisk" can also mean "muscular" or "well-built." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | atlético | ||
| The Portuguese word "Atlético" is derived from the Greek word "athlos", meaning "competition", and is similar to the Spanish word "Atlético", which also means "athletic". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | lùth-chleasachd | ||
| Spanish | atlético | ||
| The word "atlético" in Spanish can also refer to the physical appearance or characteristics of a person, such as their strength, robustness, or build. | |||
| Swedish | atletisk | ||
| The Swedish word "atletisk" can also be translated as "sporty" or "muscular" in English. | |||
| Welsh | athletaidd | ||
| The word "athletaidd" is derived from the Greek word "athlete," which means "one who competes in a contest" | |||
Athletic in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | спартыўны | ||
| The word | |||
| Bosnian | atletski | ||
| "Atletski" can also refer to an athlete or the sport of athletics in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | атлетичен | ||
| "Атлетичен" също се използва за описване на човек със стройно и мускулесто телосложение. | |||
| Czech | atletický | ||
| "Atletický" also means "of or relating to the Attica region of Greece" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | sportlik | ||
| The word "sportlik" is derived from the word "sport", which means "physical activity or game requiring skill or physical prowess" in English. | |||
| Finnish | urheilullinen | ||
| "Urheilullinen" (athletic) is related to "uho" | |||
| Hungarian | atlétikai | ||
| The word **atlétikai** in Hungarian means not only the concept covered in English by the "athletics" discipline, like track-and-field, cycling, swimming among others, but its use includes the concept of "gymnastics" as practiced in English-influenced contexts. | |||
| Latvian | atlētisks | ||
| The word "atlētisks" is derived from the Greek word "athlētēs", which means "competitor" or "contestant". | |||
| Lithuanian | atletiškas | ||
| The word "Atletiškas" comes from the Greek word "athlon," which means "contest". It can also refer to someone who is physically fit or skilled in sports. | |||
| Macedonian | атлетски | ||
| The word "атлетски" in Macedonian can also mean "sporty" or "athletic build". | |||
| Polish | atletyczny | ||
| The word "atletyczny" can also mean "sporty" or "athletic-looking" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | atletic | ||
| The Romanian word ,,atletic'' has a Latin origin, comes from the Greek ''athletikos'', and means athlete, active. | |||
| Russian | спортивное | ||
| The word "Спортивное" is the neuter nominative singular form of the adjective "спортивный", which means "sporting" or "athletic" and derives from the noun "спорт" (sport). The word is also sometimes used as a noun in its own right to refer to "an athletic event." | |||
| Serbian | атлетски | ||
| The word 'атлетски' ('athletic') in Serbian is derived from the Ancient Greek word 'athlos', meaning 'contest' or 'competition', and is related to the words 'athlete' and 'athlon'. | |||
| Slovak | atletický | ||
| The Slovak word "atletický" also means "athletic" and "gymnastic" in English. | |||
| Slovenian | atletska | ||
| The word 'atletska' comes from the Greek word 'athlon' which means 'contest'. | |||
| Ukrainian | атлетичний | ||
| "Атлетичний" (athletic) comes from the Greek word "athlos," which means "contest" or "competition." | |||
Athletic in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | অ্যাথলেটিক | ||
| অ্যাথলেটিক শব্দটির উৎপত্তি গ্রীক শব্দ 'ἄθλησις' থেকে এসেছে যার অর্থ 'প্রতিযোগিতা' বা 'खেলাধুলা'। | |||
| Gujarati | એથલેટિક | ||
| The word "athletic" comes from the Greek word "athletes", which means "one who competes in a contest". The word has been used in English since the 16th century. | |||
| Hindi | पुष्ट | ||
| पुष्ट shares its root with push, meaning to shove or propel forward | |||
| Kannada | ಅಥ್ಲೆಟಿಕ್ | ||
| The word 'ಅಥ್ಲೆಟಿಕ್' is derived from the Greek word 'αθλητής' (athlētēs), meaning 'contestant in a public game'. | |||
| Malayalam | അത്ലറ്റിക് | ||
| The word "അത്ലറ്റിക്" (athletic) is derived from the Greek word "αθλητής" (athletes), which means "one who competes in a contest of strength or skill." | |||
| Marathi | .थलेटिक | ||
| .थलेटिक is derived from Sanskrit .थल ('thala' = ground), meaning 'of or relating to the ground' or 'performed on the ground' such as the sport .मल्लयुद्ध ('mallayuddha' = wrestling). In modern Marathi, it still carries a similar meaning, encompassing all physical activities performed on the ground (other than warfare), including exercise, sports, and even walking. | |||
| Nepali | खेलकुद | ||
| The term "खेलकुद" is a Sanskrit compound of "खेल" ("play") and "कूद" ("jump"), which together literally mean "jump-play" but are commonly translated as "athletics" or "sports". | |||
| Punjabi | ਅਥਲੈਟਿਕ | ||
| The word "ਅਥਲੈਟਿਕ" is derived from the Greek word "αθλητικός" (athletikos), meaning "pertaining to athletics or contests". It can also refer to someone who is physically fit or active. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මලල ක්රීඩා | ||
| Tamil | தடகள | ||
| தடகள (thadagam) literally means 'foot race' in Tamil and has evolved to include all forms of athletics. | |||
| Telugu | అథ్లెటిక్ | ||
| The word "అథ్లెటిక్" is derived from the Greek word "αθλητής" (athletēs) which refers to a competitor or contestant in competitive physical activities, particularly in the Olympic games. | |||
| Urdu | اتھلیٹک | ||
| "اتھلیٹک" is also used figuratively to describe someone or something as powerful, strong, or energetic. | |||
Athletic in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 运动的 | ||
| 运动的 (yùndòngde) also means moving, active, dynamic, or kinetic. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 運動的 | ||
| 運動的也可指一種藝術，即中國的國畫或書法，這是一種以線條和色彩描繪自然景物的技法。 | |||
| Japanese | アスレチック | ||
| "アスレチック" is the Japanese word for "obstacle course". It is derived from the English word "athletics", which refers to sports and physical exercise. | |||
| Korean | 운동 | ||
| The Korean word "운동" can also mean "motion" or "exercise". | |||
| Mongolian | хөнгөн атлетик | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အားကစား | ||
Athletic in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | atletis | ||
| "Atletis" is not only used to mean "athletic" in Indonesian; it can also indicate someone who is very skilled at something, or has a certain trait or nature. | |||
| Javanese | atletik | ||
| In Javanese, "atletik" also refers to a traditional martial art form known as "pencak silat." | |||
| Khmer | អត្តពលកម្ម | ||
| Lao | ນັກກິລາ | ||
| The word "ນັກກິລາ" can be used specifically to refer to "football player" as well as its more general meaning of "athlete". | |||
| Malay | atletik | ||
| The Malay word "atletik" is derived from the Greek word "athletikos" and refers to sporting competitions. | |||
| Thai | แข็งแรง | ||
| แข็งแรง means "strong" or "healthy" in Thai but also derives from the word "แข็ง" meaning "hard" or "firm". | |||
| Vietnamese | khỏe mạnh | ||
| "Khỏe mạnh" literally means "healthy and strong". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | athletic | ||
Athletic in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | atletik | ||
| The word "atletik" in Azerbaijani also means "handsome". | |||
| Kazakh | спорттық | ||
| The word "спорттық" also means "physical" or "sporting" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | спорттук | ||
| The word "спорттук" can also mean "fit" or "strong". | |||
| Tajik | варзишӣ | ||
| The word "варзишӣ" can also refer to "sports" or "athletics". | |||
| Turkmen | ýeňil atletika | ||
| Uzbek | sport | ||
| Uyghur | تەنھەرىكەتچى | ||
Athletic in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | haʻuki | ||
| The word "haʻuki" also means "to cause to grow" and is related to the word "hau" ("hibiscus"). | |||
| Maori | hakinakina | ||
| In Maori, 'hakinakina' not only means 'athletic,' but can also represent 'cheerful' or 'eager' | |||
| Samoan | afeleti | ||
| The word "afeleti" is derived from the root word "afe", meaning "to play a game" or "to compete". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | matipuno | ||
| "Matipuno" comes from an old Tagalog root that also meant "full", likely referring to someone of robust build. | |||
Athletic in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | atlético ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Guarani | atlético rehegua | ||
Athletic in International Languages
| Esperanto | atleta | ||
| "Atleta" en Esperanto deriva de la palabra griega "athlētēs" y también significa "deportista". | |||
| Latin | athletae | ||
| The Latin word 'Athletae' not only refers to athletes, but also to gladiators and participants in funeral games. | |||
Athletic in Others Languages
| Greek | αθλητικός | ||
| The word αθλητικός also means "pertaining to competition, games, or contests" and is derived from the verb αθλέω, which means "to contend for a prize in games". | |||
| Hmong | kev ua kis las | ||
| 'Kev ua kis las' in Hmong literally translates to 'doing work that causes difficulty'. | |||
| Kurdish | werzişvanî | ||
| Werzişvanî is a Kurdish word that can also mean 'active', 'lively' or 'nimble'. | |||
| Turkish | atletik | ||
| In Turkish, "atletik" can also refer to "energetic" or "active". | |||
| Xhosa | ezemidlalo | ||
| The Xhosa word "ezemidlalo" can also refer to a "playing field" or a "sports complex". | |||
| Yiddish | אַטלעטיק | ||
| In Yiddish, אַטלעטיק is primarily used to describe sports and physical activities. | |||
| Zulu | ezemidlalo | ||
| A more literal rendering of "ezemidlalo" is "of the game" or "of games" | |||
| Assamese | এথলেটিক | ||
| Aymara | atlético ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Bhojpuri | एथलेटिक के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | އެތުލެޓިކްސް އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | एथलेटिक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | athletic | ||
| Guarani | atlético rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | atletiko nga | ||
| Krio | atletik wan | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | وەرزشی | ||
| Maithili | एथलेटिक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯦꯊꯂꯦꯇꯤꯛ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | athletic lam a ni | ||
| Oromo | atileetiksii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆଥଲେଟିକ୍ | ||
| Quechua | atlético nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | एथलेटिक | ||
| Tatar | җиңел атлетика | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣትሌቲካዊ ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | swa mintlangu | ||