Balance in Different Languages
Discover 'Balance' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The concept of balance is universal, yet its interpretation varies across cultures and languages. Derived from the Old French word balancer, it generally refers to an equal distribution of weight or a state of equilibrium. But balance transcends physics, extending into our daily lives and various cultural contexts.
In many Eastern philosophies, balance is the key to inner peace and harmony. For instance, the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang represents the balance of opposing forces, while the Japanese term Wabi-Sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection and transience. Similarly, in Western cultures, balance is often associated with fairness, justice, and moderation.
Given the significance and cultural importance of balance, it's no wonder that people might want to know its translation in different languages. After all, understanding this term in various languages can open doors to new perspectives and cultural insights.
Here are a few translations to pique your curiosity:
- Spanish: equilibrio
- French: équilibre
- German: Gleichgewicht
- Italian: equilibrio
- Russian: равновесие (ravnovesie)
Balance
Balance in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | balanseer | ||
| "Balans(eer)" is derived from the French word "balance" and entered the Afrikaans vocabulary via Dutch. | |||
| Amharic | ሚዛን | ||
| The word "ሚዛን" can also mean "justice" or "judgment". | |||
| Hausa | daidaitawa | ||
| It refers to the state of being equal or in equilibrium, or an instrument used to weigh objects. | |||
| Igbo | itule | ||
| "Itule" in Igbo can also refer to a type of traditional wrestling match. | |||
| Malagasy | mila mahay mandanjalanja | ||
| In Malagasy, the word "Mila mahay mandanjalanja" is an idiom meaning "to be in balance" or "to be in order". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kulinganiza | ||
| The Nyanja word 'kulinganiza' originates from the verb 'linga,' meaning 'to swing' or 'to weigh,' implying a state of equilibrium. | |||
| Shona | bharanzi | ||
| The Shona word "bharanzi" can also refer to the act of balancing or maintaining equilibrium. | |||
| Somali | dheelitirnaan | ||
| In its broader sense, dheelitirnaan in Somali can also refer to impartiality, fairness, or equity. | |||
| Sesotho | leka-lekanya | ||
| Swahili | usawa | ||
| The Swahili word 'usawa' also means 'equity' or 'fairness', as in 'usawa wa kijinsia' (gender equality). | |||
| Xhosa | ibhalansi | ||
| "Iibhalansi" (pl.) comes from the verb "ukubhalansa" (to balance) and is also used to mean "scales". | |||
| Yoruba | iwontunwonsi | ||
| The Yoruba word 'iwontunwonsi' literally translates to 'that which weighs itself evenly' | |||
| Zulu | ibhalansi | ||
| The word "ibhalansi" also means "equality" in Zulu, denoting a sense of fairness and equilibrium. | |||
| Bambara | ka bɛrɛbɛn | ||
| Ewe | le te | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kuringaniza | ||
| Lingala | solde | ||
| Luganda | balansi | ||
| Sepedi | palantshe | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nsesa | ||
Balance in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | توازن | ||
| The word "توازن" (balance) in Arabic also means "equilibrium", "harmony", or "symmetry". | |||
| Hebrew | איזון | ||
| "איזון" can also mean "verification" or "confirmation" in Hebrew | |||
| Pashto | توازن | ||
| The Pashto word 'توازن' has roots in Arabic and Persian and can also refer to 'equilibrium', 'proportion', or 'harmony' in various contexts. | |||
| Arabic | توازن | ||
| The word "توازن" (balance) in Arabic also means "equilibrium", "harmony", or "symmetry". | |||
Balance in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ekuilibër | ||
| 'Ekuilibër' comes from the Latin word 'aequilibrium' meaning 'equal weight' and is cognated with 'equilibrium' in English. | |||
| Basque | oreka | ||
| The Basque word "oreka" also refers to a state of symmetry or equilibrium. | |||
| Catalan | equilibri | ||
| "Equilibri" likely comes from the Latin word "aequilibrĭum", meaning "equal weight". | |||
| Croatian | ravnoteža | ||
| In modern Croatian, "ravnoteža" can also refer to balance in a figurative sense, such as financial or emotional balance. | |||
| Danish | balance | ||
| In Danish, "balance" can also refer to a device used to weigh objects, such as a scale. | |||
| Dutch | balans | ||
| The word balans in Dutch can also refer to the act of weighing or comparing. | |||
| English | balance | ||
| The word 'balance' originates from the Latin word 'bilanx', meaning 'two scales'. | |||
| French | équilibre | ||
| The word "équilibre" in French can also mean "state of mind" or "equilibrium of forces" | |||
| Frisian | lykwicht | ||
| The Frisian word "lykwicht" comes from the Old Frisian word "likawicht", which means "equal weight". | |||
| Galician | equilibrio | ||
| The word "equilibrio" in Galician means "balance" and also refers to equilibrium. | |||
| German | balance | ||
| The German word "Bilanz" can mean not only "balance" but also "balance sheet" in accounting contexts. | |||
| Icelandic | jafnvægi | ||
| The word jafnvægi derives from the Old Norse words "jafn" (equal) and "vægi" (weight). | |||
| Irish | cothromaíocht | ||
| The term 'cothromaíocht' can also refer to stability or equilibrium in a general sense. | |||
| Italian | equilibrio | ||
| The word "equilibrio" in Italian also means "equal weight" or "equipoise". | |||
| Luxembourgish | gläichgewiicht | ||
| The word "Gläichgewiicht" is also used to describe a state of equilibrium in which opposing forces cancel each other out. | |||
| Maltese | bilanċ | ||
| The Maltese word "bilanċ" is derived from the Italian word "bilancia" | |||
| Norwegian | balansere | ||
| Norwegian "balansere" originates from Latin "libra" (scales, balance) and came into Norwegian via "balanser" in French. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | saldo | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "Saldo" also refers to the difference between the debit and credit in an account. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cothromachadh | ||
| Cothromachadh is a term in Scots Gaelic used to describe the state of being balanced, but can also refer to something that is "right" or "just". | |||
| Spanish | equilibrar | ||
| 'Equilibrar' derives from the Latin 'aequilibrium,' meaning both 'balance' and 'equinox.' | |||
| Swedish | balans | ||
| "Balans" can also mean "circus" or "tightrope walking" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | cydbwysedd | ||
| An older meaning of "cydbwysedd" is "equal weight", with "cyd" meaning "co" or "together" and "pwysedd" meaning "weight". | |||
Balance in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | баланс | ||
| In Polish "bilans" means "financial report" and in Russian it's also "final exam results". | |||
| Bosnian | ravnoteža | ||
| The word 'ravnoteža' means both 'balance' and 'equilibrium' in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | баланс | ||
| "Баланс", кроме первичной семантики, имеет ряд устойчивых сочетаний, таких как "торговый баланс" (внешнеторговый оборот) или "баланс интересов". | |||
| Czech | zůstatek | ||
| Zůstatek also means "remnant" or "residue". | |||
| Estonian | tasakaal | ||
| The word "tasakaal" originates from the verb "tasakaalustama" meaning "to put in balance or equilibrium". | |||
| Finnish | saldo | ||
| Saldo is a loanword from Italian meaning "balance" or "rest". | |||
| Hungarian | egyensúly | ||
| The word "egyensúly" is derived from the Hungarian words "egy" (one) and "súly" (weight), and can also refer to a state of equilibrium or harmony. | |||
| Latvian | līdzsvars | ||
| The word "līdzsvars" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *swe-, meaning "to balance" or "to weigh". It shares a common origin with the English word "scale" and the French word "équilibre". | |||
| Lithuanian | pusiausvyra | ||
| The word "pusiausvyra" (balance) is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂ebs-wi-ros" (well-being, balance). | |||
| Macedonian | рамнотежа | ||
| The Macedonian word "рамнотежа" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "рамень", meaning "level" or "equal". | |||
| Polish | saldo | ||
| The word "saldo" in Polish has cognates in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. | |||
| Romanian | echilibru | ||
| "Echilibru": from Italian "equilibrio" (15th c.), from Latin "aequilibrium" (4th c. AD) "equal weight." | |||
| Russian | остаток средств | ||
| The Russian word "остаток средств" literally means "remnants of funds". | |||
| Serbian | равнотежа | ||
| The Serbian word "равнотежа" can also refer to a state of equilibrium or stability. | |||
| Slovak | rovnováha | ||
| In Slovak, "rovnováha" also refers to the state of two or more opposing forces or influences being in equilibrium, often used in the context of politics or social issues. | |||
| Slovenian | ravnovesje | ||
| The word 'ravnovesje' is derived from the Slavic words 'ravno' (even) and 'vesje' (weight), and also means 'equilibrium' in physics. | |||
| Ukrainian | баланс | ||
| The word "баланс" in Ukrainian derives from the French word "balance", which means "weighing scale" and ultimately comes from the Latin word "bis" meaning "twice". | |||
Balance in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ভারসাম্য | ||
| ভারসাম্য originally referred to 'load' and 'carriage' in 16th century, from Sanskrit भर (bhar) 'to carry', 'support' | |||
| Gujarati | સંતુલન | ||
| Hindi | संतुलन | ||
| The word "संतुलन" in Hindi can also refer to harmony, equilibrium, or stability. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಮತೋಲನ | ||
| In Kannada, the word "ಸಮತೋಲನ" can also refer to a "state of equilibrium" or a "stable condition". | |||
| Malayalam | ബാലൻസ് | ||
| The word also shares the secondary meaning of 'remaining' or 'surplus' as in ‘ബാലൻസ് കാശ്’ (balans kaash, i.e., balance money). | |||
| Marathi | शिल्लक | ||
| The Marathi word "शिल्लक" (balance) also has the alternate meaning of "remainder" or "leftover" in certain contexts. | |||
| Nepali | सन्तुलन | ||
| The word "सन्तुलन" is derived from the Sanskrit word "तुल" meaning "to weigh" and the suffix "-न" indicating "result of an action". | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੰਤੁਲਨ | ||
| The word "ਸੰਤੁਲਨ" (balance) in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word "सन्तुलन" (equilibrium), which also means "harmony" or "proportion". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ශේෂය | ||
| The word "ශේෂය" (balance) in Sinhala can also mean "remainder" or "excess". | |||
| Tamil | சமநிலை | ||
| 'SamaniLai,' a derivative from samanam, means both balance in weight or equality and tranquility of mind. | |||
| Telugu | సంతులనం | ||
| The word "సంతులనం" is also used in the context of scales, indicating a state of equilibrium or being evenly balanced. | |||
| Urdu | بقیہ | ||
| While the original connotation of بقية was "the remainder," the word is now widely used in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, and Indonesian to refer to any balance or remainder that is due or unpaid. | |||
Balance in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 平衡 | ||
| 平衡 also means “harmony” and “coordination”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 平衡 | ||
| 平衡 can also mean "to adjust" or "to reconcile" in some contexts. | |||
| Japanese | 残高 | ||
| The word "残高" (zandaka) in Japanese can also refer to the amount of money left in a bank account after a withdrawal or to a balance of payments with another country. | |||
| Korean | 밸런스 | ||
| The word '밸런스' in Korean can also refer to a state of equilibrium or harmony. | |||
| Mongolian | тэнцэл | ||
| The word "тэнцэл" can also refer to "a balance used for weighing" or "a level on a measuring instrument". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ချိန်ခွင်လျှာ | ||
Balance in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | keseimbangan | ||
| The word "keseimbangan" in Indonesian is derived from the Old Javanese word "simbang" which means "to weigh". | |||
| Javanese | imbangan | ||
| "Imbang" (balance) also means "to be fair". | |||
| Khmer | តុល្យភាព | ||
| The word "តុល្យភាព" (balance) in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "tulya" (equal) and "bhāva" (state). It can also refer to equilibrium, harmony, and evenness. | |||
| Lao | ດຸ່ນດ່ຽງ | ||
| Malay | seimbang | ||
| The word "seimbang" in Malay comes from the Old Javanese word "simbang" meaning "even". This is because balance is achieved when two sides are equal. | |||
| Thai | สมดุล | ||
| The Thai word for "balance," สมดุล, also has the meaning of "moderation" or "equilibrium." | |||
| Vietnamese | thăng bằng | ||
| In the sense of a scale, | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | balanse | ||
Balance in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | balans | ||
| "Balans" can also mean "equal" or "equilibrium" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | тепе-теңдік | ||
| "Тепе-теңдік" is a compound word consisting of two words: "тепе" (top, peak) and "теңдік" (equality), meaning "state of being at the same level or height". | |||
| Kyrgyz | баланс | ||
| The word "баланс" also has the alternate meaning "scale". | |||
| Tajik | мувозинат | ||
| The term "мувозинат" (balance) is a borrowing from Persian, with similar cognates in Turkish and Azeri. | |||
| Turkmen | deňagramlylygy | ||
| Uzbek | muvozanat | ||
| In Uzbek, "muvozanat" also refers to the process of weighing something and establishing its weight. | |||
| Uyghur | تەڭپۇڭلۇق | ||
Balance in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | koena | ||
| Koena can also mean 'center' or 'midpoint' | |||
| Maori | toenga | ||
| The word 'toenga' in Māori can also refer to a 'residue' or 'surplus'. | |||
| Samoan | paleni | ||
| The word 'paleni' also means 'equanimity' and 'harmony'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | balanse | ||
| The Tagalog word "balanse" can also refer to a weighing scale or a set of scales. | |||
Balance in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | walansi | ||
| Guarani | mbojoja | ||
Balance in International Languages
| Esperanto | ekvilibro | ||
| Ekvilibro derives from the Latin word 'aequilibrium', which means 'equal weight' or 'balance'. | |||
| Latin | statera | ||
| Statera can also refer to the constellation Libra, representing the scales of justice. | |||
Balance in Others Languages
| Greek | ισορροπία | ||
| The Greek word "ισορροπία" derives from the root "ίσος" (equal) and "ροπή" (inclination) and implies a state of equilibrium or stability in which opposing forces are balanced. | |||
| Hmong | seem | ||
| The word "seem" is derived from the Proto-Hmong-Mien word *hm̥uŋ, meaning "to level" or "to balance". | |||
| Kurdish | bîlanço | ||
| The word 'bîlanço' in Kurdish also refers to 'statement' and carries the connotation of a comparative statement or report. | |||
| Turkish | denge | ||
| The word "denge" comes from the Persian word "deng" meaning "weighing" and can also refer to a sense of poise or equilibrium. | |||
| Xhosa | ibhalansi | ||
| "Iibhalansi" (pl.) comes from the verb "ukubhalansa" (to balance) and is also used to mean "scales". | |||
| Yiddish | וואָג | ||
| The Yiddish word "וואָג" (voog) derives from the Proto-Germanic "wagô" and is related to "wagen" (to weigh) in German and "wagon" in English. | |||
| Zulu | ibhalansi | ||
| The word "ibhalansi" also means "equality" in Zulu, denoting a sense of fairness and equilibrium. | |||
| Assamese | ভাৰসাম্যতা বজাই ৰখা | ||
| Aymara | walansi | ||
| Bhojpuri | संतुलन | ||
| Dhivehi | ބެލެންސް | ||
| Dogri | बकाया | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | balanse | ||
| Guarani | mbojoja | ||
| Ilocano | balanse | ||
| Krio | tink di rayt we | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | هاوسەنگی | ||
| Maithili | संतुलन | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯜ ꯃꯥꯟꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | inbuktawk | ||
| Oromo | madaallii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସନ୍ତୁଳନ | ||
| Quechua | paqtachiy | ||
| Sanskrit | संतुलन | ||
| Tatar | баланс | ||
| Tigrinya | ሚዛን | ||
| Tsonga | ringanisa | ||