Attempt in Different Languages
Discover 'Attempt' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'attempt' is a common English term that carries significant weight. It signifies an effort to achieve something, often with a determined spirit and a hope for success. From attempting a new hobby to making an attempt to break a world record, this word is woven into our daily lives.
Culturally, the concept of attempting something novel or challenging is highly valued. It reflects our human desire to learn, grow, and improve. Throughout history, great minds and ordinary people alike have made remarkable attempts, leading to groundbreaking discoveries, innovations, and personal triumphs.
Understanding the translation of 'attempt' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and express this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'attempt' is 'intento'; in French, 'tentative'; in German, 'Versuch'; in Mandarin, '尝试' (pronounced 'chángshì'); and in Japanese, '시도' (pronounced 'shido').
Exploring these translations can open doors to new ways of thinking and communicating, enriching our global understanding and appreciation of this simple, yet powerful, word.
Attempt
Attempt in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | poging | ||
| Derived from Afrikaans ``pootjie``, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic ”potio” meaning “try” and Middle Dutch ”poeghen”, a synonym for “try”. | |||
| Amharic | ሙከራ | ||
| The word "ሙከራ" is derived from the Semitic root "*bkr", which also means "to strive". In Ge'ez, the word "ብክር" specifically referred to a "young animal". This suggests that the original meaning of "ሙከራ" may have been "to put forth effort", like a young animal trying to stand for the first time. | |||
| Hausa | ƙoƙari | ||
| ƙoƙari is also a name given to a type of Hausa traditional dance. | |||
| Igbo | gbalịa | ||
| In some dialects, "gbalị̣a" may also carry the sense of "to try" or "to endeavor." | |||
| Malagasy | manandrana | ||
| The word "manandrana" is also used to describe the process of trying to do something, or the effort put into doing something. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | yesani | ||
| The word "yesani" also means "to try". | |||
| Shona | kuyedza | ||
| "Kuyedza" also means "to try" or "to endeavor." | |||
| Somali | isku day | ||
| Isku day has an alternate meaning of 'try out' or 'put to the test' in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | leka | ||
| The word 'leka' also means 'try' and is derived from the Bantu root '-lek-'. | |||
| Swahili | jaribio | ||
| The word "jaribio" is derived from the Arabic word "jarraba", meaning "to test". It can also mean "experiment" or "trial". | |||
| Xhosa | ukuzama | ||
| Uk zama is also used to describe setting, as is the similar Nguni word gcwala. | |||
| Yoruba | igbiyanju | ||
| The Yoruba verb 'igbiyanju' shares the same etymological root as 'igba', meaning 'container', suggesting an attempt to 'hold' or 'capture' an outcome. | |||
| Zulu | umzamo | ||
| The Zulu word "umzamo" is derived from the verb "zama" (to try) and carries the idea of exertion or effort. | |||
| Bambara | ka si filɛ | ||
| Ewe | tee kpᴐ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kugerageza | ||
| Lingala | komeka | ||
| Luganda | okugezaako | ||
| Sepedi | leka | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tu anamɔn | ||
Attempt in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | محاولة | ||
| The word "محاولة" also means "trying", "effort", or "endeavor" in Arabic | |||
| Hebrew | לְנַסוֹת | ||
| The verb לְנַסוֹת "lənassot" (attempt) also means "to tempt" or "to test" which is consistent with several other uses of the root נסה. | |||
| Pashto | هڅه | ||
| The word "هڅه" is also used figuratively to mean "effort" or "endeavor." | |||
| Arabic | محاولة | ||
| The word "محاولة" also means "trying", "effort", or "endeavor" in Arabic | |||
Attempt in Western European Languages
| Albanian | përpjekje | ||
| "Përpjekje" derives from the Indo-European root *per- "forward" and originally meant "progress". | |||
| Basque | saiakera | ||
| The Basque word "saiakera" (attempt) has an alternate meaning of "essay". | |||
| Catalan | intent | ||
| Catalan "intent" means "attempt", but also "intention" and "purpose" in English. | |||
| Croatian | pokušaj | ||
| "pokušaj" (Croatian) is derived from "pokušati", meaning "to try" and ultimately comes from "kušati" ("to taste, to experience"). | |||
| Danish | forsøg | ||
| The word "forsøg" in Danish can also mean "experiment" or "assay", reflecting its scientific roots. | |||
| Dutch | poging | ||
| The verb 'pogen' is derived from the Old Dutch 'poken', which means 'to push' or 'to thrust'. | |||
| English | attempt | ||
| The word "attempt" can also refer to an attack or an attempt to gain entry to a place | |||
| French | tentative | ||
| Le mot français « tentative » vient du latin tentare, qui signifie « tenter », « essayer » ou « éprouver ». | |||
| Frisian | besykjen | ||
| Besykjen is also a term in Frisian ball games, where it means 'to try to catch the ball'. | |||
| Galician | intento | ||
| "Intento" also means "intention" or "purpose" in Galician, which is similar to its etymology in Latin, where "intentio" meant "stretching out" or "directing toward". | |||
| German | versuch | ||
| "Versuch" comes from Middle High German "versuochen", meaning "try, examine", related to Old High German "psuohhen", "test, tempt" | |||
| Icelandic | tilraun | ||
| "Tilraun" is a neuter noun that is the Icelandic cognate of English "trial". | |||
| Irish | iarracht | ||
| In Irish, the noun "iarracht" (an attempt) is etymologically derived from "iar", meaning "west" or "sunset", and may have originated from the notion of moving towards the end or goal (often represented symbolically by the setting sun). | |||
| Italian | tentativo | ||
| "Tentativo" in Italian comes from the Latin "temptare", meaning "to try" or "to test". | |||
| Luxembourgish | versuch | ||
| Maltese | attentat | ||
| In Maltese, "attentat" also means "attack" or "assault", which differs from its meaning in English. | |||
| Norwegian | forsøk | ||
| The word "forsøk" is derived from the Old Norse word "fǫrsok", meaning "trial" or "experiment". It can also refer to an attempt to achieve something, or a test to determine the capabilities or limits of something. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | tentativa | ||
| Portuguese "tentativa" derives from "tentar," akin to French "tenter" (to attempt) and "tentative" (hesitant, uncertain), from Old French "tempter" (to try, tempt) and Latin "tentare" (to try, tempt). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | oidhirp | ||
| The word "oidhirp" is derived from the Old Irish word "oidhre", meaning "an attempt". | |||
| Spanish | intento | ||
| In Spanish, "intento" (attempt) derives from the Latin "intentare," meaning "to stretch out" or "to make an effort toward." | |||
| Swedish | försök | ||
| The word "försök" can also mean "experiment", reflecting its Latin origin "experiri" (to try, to test). | |||
| Welsh | ymgais | ||
| The word `ymgais` can also refer to a `trial` or `effort`. | |||
Attempt in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | спроба | ||
| Belarusian word "спроба" can also refer to a dish made with minced meat and buckwheat. | |||
| Bosnian | pokušaj | ||
| "Pokušaj" also means "test" in Bosnian, as in "pokušajni ispit" (trial exam). | |||
| Bulgarian | опит | ||
| The word "опит" also means "experience" or "test" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | pokus | ||
| While pokus means "attempt" in Czech, it also originated from the German word "pochen", meaning "to knock". | |||
| Estonian | katse | ||
| The word "katse" (attempt) comes from the word "katsuma" (to try, attempt), which is related to the verb "katsoa" (to look at). | |||
| Finnish | yrittää | ||
| Cognate to "try" in English, "trycka" in Swedish and "træ" in Norwegian; may derive from Proto-Germanic *trewwan-, meaning to draw back or retreat. | |||
| Hungarian | kísérlet | ||
| The Hungarian word "kísérlet" can also refer to scientific experiments, trials or ordeals. | |||
| Latvian | mēģinājums | ||
| The word "mēģinājums" comes from the root "mēģināt", meaning "to try". It can also refer to an "experiment" or a "sample". | |||
| Lithuanian | bandymas | ||
| The Lithuanian word "bandymas" is cognate with the Latvian word "bandījums", both derived from the Proto-Baltic root *band- ("to try"). | |||
| Macedonian | обид | ||
| The word "обид" in Macedonian can also mean "insult" or "affront". | |||
| Polish | próba | ||
| "Próba" also means "sample" in the sense of a small representative amount or specimen. | |||
| Romanian | atentat, încercare | ||
| The Romanian word "atentat, încercare" comes from the French word "attentat", which originally meant "attack" or "assault". | |||
| Russian | попытка | ||
| Derived from the Old Russian “потъ” meaning “way,” it can also mean 'trial', 'exam', or 'task.' | |||
| Serbian | покушај | ||
| The Serbian word "покушај" ("attempt") also conveys the notion of "trial". | |||
| Slovak | pokus | ||
| The origin of the word “pokus” in Slovak is connected to the word “kus” which means “to try” in Proto-Slavic language, which is its ancestor. | |||
| Slovenian | poskus | ||
| "Poskus" is a derivative from "pokusiti", and it also has the same root in most of the Slavic languages. | |||
| Ukrainian | спроба | ||
| In Ukrainian, "спроба" not only means "attempt" but also refers to a "sample" or "specimen," like a blood test or geological sample. | |||
Attempt in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | চেষ্টা | ||
| চেষ্টা (attempt) comes from the Sanskrit word | |||
| Gujarati | પ્રયાસ | ||
| The Gujarati word "પ્રયાસ" is borrowed from Sanskrit, and is related to the Sanskrit words "प्र (pra)" meaning "forward," "प्रयय् (prayay)" meaning "effort, exertion, endeavor, trial," "प्रयास (prayasa)" meaning "strenuous effort, exertion," and "प्रयास्य (prayasya)" meaning "to be striven for, to be exerted for," and is also cognate with the Avestan word "fryāδa" which means "effort, zeal, activity." | |||
| Hindi | प्रयास | ||
| "प्रयास" also means "effort" or "struggle". | |||
| Kannada | ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ | ||
| "ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ" (prayatna) originated from "pra" (forward) and "yata" (to strive), meaning "striving forward." | |||
| Malayalam | ശ്രമം | ||
| The word "ശ്രമം" (śramaṃ) in Malayalam comes from the Sanskrit word "श्रम" (śrama), meaning "exertion, labor, diligence". It can also refer to "effort, endeavor, or enterprise". | |||
| Marathi | प्रयत्न | ||
| 'प्रयत्न' also means 'effort', 'endeavor', or 'exertion' in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | प्रयास | ||
| The term 'प्रयास' is derived from the root 'प्र ('pra), meaning 'forward' and 'यस' ('yas), meaning 'to endeavor,' indicating an attempt to make progress or achieve a desired outcome. | |||
| Punjabi | ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ | ||
| The word "ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼" is derived from the Sanskrit word "कोश" meaning "sheath" or "covering", and also has the alternate meaning of "effort" or "exertion" in Punjabi. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උත්සාහය | ||
| The word 'උත්සාහය' in Sinhala comes from the Sanskrit word 'utsaha', which also means 'ardour', 'zeal', or 'enthusiasm'. | |||
| Tamil | முயற்சி | ||
| Telugu | ప్రయత్నం | ||
| The word "ప్రయత్నం" (prayatnam) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "prayatna" which means "effort, endeavor, or exertion." | |||
| Urdu | کوشش | ||
| کوشش can refer either to an "attempt" or an "endeavor". | |||
Attempt in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 尝试 | ||
| 嘗試的原意為「分開嘗試」，後來引申為「試著去做」（英文: attempt） | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 嘗試 | ||
| The Chinese character "嘗試" (attempt) was originally used to refer to tasting food or drink. | |||
| Japanese | 試みる | ||
| 試みる also means "to experience" or "to expose oneself to something" | |||
| Korean | 시도 | ||
| The word 시도 in Korean can also refer to the administrative unit of a province. | |||
| Mongolian | оролдлого | ||
| "Оролдлого" can be a noun and a verb depending on the form, and is etymologically connected to the Mongolian "оруулах" ("to enter or to put something somewhere"). | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကြိုးပမ်းမှု | ||
Attempt in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | mencoba | ||
| Mencoba means to 'try' or 'attempt' in Indonesian, but also has a secondary meaning of 'to test' or 'to examine'. | |||
| Javanese | nyoba | ||
| "Nyoba" in Javanese is derived from the Old Javanese word "nyobha", which means "to test" or "to try". | |||
| Khmer | ការប៉ុនប៉ង | ||
| Lao | ຄວາມພະຍາຍາມ | ||
| The Lao word ຫ້ສນຫິດ຺ ("attempt") comes from the Sanskrit word ສ້ສນຫິດ຺ ("effort"). | |||
| Malay | cubaan | ||
| The word "cubaan" is a derivative of the Javanese word "cubah" meaning "to try or attempt" | |||
| Thai | พยายาม | ||
| พยายาม's etymology is 'พยา' (sickness) + 'ยาม' (time). It also means 'try to heal sickness' and 'take care of sickness' | |||
| Vietnamese | cố gắng | ||
| In Vietnamese, 'cố gắng' can also mean 'trying one's best', 'making an effort', or 'doing one's utmost'. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tangka | ||
Attempt in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | cəhd | ||
| The word "cəhd" in Azerbaijani is ultimately derived from the Persian word "جهيد", meaning "effort" or "endeavor". It also has the alternate meaning of "struggle" or "resistance" in some contexts. | |||
| Kazakh | әрекет | ||
| "Әрекет" also means "action" or "activity" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | аракет | ||
| The word "araket" also has the meaning of "movement" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | кӯшиш | ||
| "Кӯшиш" is derived from the Persian word "کوشش" (koshish), which means "effort" or "endeavor". | |||
| Turkmen | synanyşyk | ||
| Uzbek | urinish | ||
| "Urinish" also means "experiment", "endeavour" and "trial". | |||
| Uyghur | try | ||
Attempt in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoʻāʻo | ||
| "Hoʻāʻo" in Hawaiian also means to try, test, challenge, prove, and tempt. | |||
| Maori | nganatanga | ||
| Alternate meanings of "nganatanga" ("attempt") include "try","endeavor","aim at","strive", and "essay." | |||
| Samoan | taumafaiga | ||
| "Taumafaiga" also means "a person who makes an attempt" or "a trial of strength or skill" | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tangka | ||
| In some contexts, the Tagalog word "tangka" can refer to a rough sketch or outline. | |||
Attempt in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | yant'aña | ||
| Guarani | ñeha'ãjey | ||
Attempt in International Languages
| Esperanto | provo | ||
| The Esperanto verb "provo" can also mean "to test" or "to examine". | |||
| Latin | conatus | ||
| "Conatus" also signifies a continuous effort, a striving, an endeavor, or an impulse. | |||
Attempt in Others Languages
| Greek | απόπειρα | ||
| The word "απόπειρα" (attempt) derives from the Ancient Greek word "αποπειράομαι" (I try), which is composed of the prefix "από" (from) and the verb "πειράομαι" (I try). | |||
| Hmong | sim | ||
| "Sim" can mean "to try to do something" or "to make an attempt." | |||
| Kurdish | ceribandinî | ||
| Ceribandinî also means 'to try something out' in Kurdish | |||
| Turkish | girişim | ||
| The Turkish word "girişim" is also used to refer to a "commercial establishment", a "firm" or a "business". | |||
| Xhosa | ukuzama | ||
| Uk zama is also used to describe setting, as is the similar Nguni word gcwala. | |||
| Yiddish | פּרווון | ||
| The Yiddish word 'פרווון' (attempt) comes from Middle High German 'proben' (to test), also related to English 'prove'. | |||
| Zulu | umzamo | ||
| The Zulu word "umzamo" is derived from the verb "zama" (to try) and carries the idea of exertion or effort. | |||
| Assamese | চেষ্টা কৰা | ||
| Aymara | yant'aña | ||
| Bhojpuri | कोशिश | ||
| Dhivehi | މަސައްކަތް | ||
| Dogri | जतन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tangka | ||
| Guarani | ñeha'ãjey | ||
| Ilocano | padasen | ||
| Krio | tray | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | هەوڵ | ||
| Maithili | प्रयास | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯣꯠꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | bei | ||
| Oromo | yaalii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଚେଷ୍ଟା | ||
| Quechua | yaqay | ||
| Sanskrit | यत्नः | ||
| Tatar | омтылыш | ||
| Tigrinya | ሙከራ | ||
| Tsonga | ringeta | ||