Ban in different languages

Ban in Different Languages

Discover 'Ban' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'ban' carries significant weight in our daily lives, often denoting a restriction or prohibition that can shape our behavior and experiences. Its cultural importance is evident in various contexts, from societal norms to legal frameworks. Understanding its translation in different languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures approach the concept of restriction and control.

For instance, the French translation of 'ban' is 'interdiction,' which stems from the Latin 'interdire,' meaning 'to forbid.' In German, 'ban' becomes 'Verbot,' reflecting the forceful nature of a prohibition. Meanwhile, in Spanish, 'ban' is translated as 'prohibición,' emphasizing the preventative aspect of such a restriction.

Delving into the translations of 'ban' across languages not only enriches our linguistic repertoire but also sheds light on the fascinating cultural nuances that shape our understanding of this powerful word.

Ban

Ban in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansverbod
The word "verbod" in Afrikaans also means "prohibition" in legal contexts.
Amharicእገዳ
The term እገዳ originated from the word for 'boundary'. Its primary definition referred to the limitations within the boundaries as much as to the prohibition of crossing it.
Hausahana
The Hausa word "hana" also has a meaning of 'to forbid' or 'to prevent'.
Igbommachibido iwu
The literal meaning of "mmachibido" is "one that will prevent trouble," and is often used to imply the avoidance of conflict.
Malagasyfandrarana
The word "fandrarana" in Malagasy also means "disorder" or "confusion".
Nyanja (Chichewa)chiletso
The word "chiletso" is used to specify a ban or prohibition in Nyanja, originating from the root word "leta" meaning "to forbid, prohibit or obstruct"
Shonakurambidza
Kurambidza derives from the word 'kuramba' meaning 'to hold' or 'to catch', thus the literal translation of 'kurambidza' is 'to cause to hold' or 'to cause to catch', or in other words, 'to ban'.
Somalimamnuucid
The word mamnuuc is derived from the Arabic noun 'mamnun', which originally meant 'grace', but has a more negative connotation in Somali.
Sesothothibelo
The word "thibelo" in Sesotho also means "prohibition, interdiction, or restraint".
Swahilimarufuku
"Marufuku" is also used by Swahili speakers with reference to something that's been forbidden (haraam in Arabic), or prohibited.
Xhosaukuvalwa
The Xhosa word "ukuvalwa" is derived from the verb "ukuvula" meaning "to hide" and can also refer to "isolation" or "concealment."
Yorubagbesele
Gbesele, derived from 'gbe' meaning 'to hold/take/receive' and 'ese' meaning 'leg,' initially referred to the symbolic gesture of holding one's foot to bar entry.
Zuluukuvinjelwa
The Zulu word 'ukuvinjelwa' shares its root with 'inselele', meaning 'fence', 'stockade', 'fort', and 'fortification'. This suggests that a ban is seen as a kind of protective barrier.
Bambaraban
Ewemɔxexe ɖe enu
Kinyarwandakubuza
Lingalakopekisa
Lugandaokuwera
Sepedithibelo
Twi (Akan)ban a wɔabara

Ban in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالمنع
"المنع" also means "to hold back", "to prevent", "to forbid".
Hebrewלֶאֱסוֹר
The root אסר ('asar) in Hebrew means 'to tie' and is related to the word אסיר ('asir), meaning 'prisoner'.
Pashtoبندیز
The Pashto word "بندیز" ("ban") could originally mean "an enclosure, a hedge".
Arabicالمنع
"المنع" also means "to hold back", "to prevent", "to forbid".

Ban in Western European Languages

Albanianndalim
The Albanian word "ndalim" (ban) also means "stoppage" or "suspension" in some contexts.
Basquedebeku
The word "debeku" also has the meaning of "duty" or "obligation" in Basque.
Catalanprohibició
The Catalan word "prohibició" derives from the Latin "prohibitio," meaning "to prevent or forbid."
Croatianzabrana
In Croatian, the word 'zabrana' has an additional meaning of 'fence' or 'barrier', derived from the verb 'zabraniti' ('to forbid' or 'to block').
Danishforbyde
The Danish word "forbyde" is cognate with the English word "forbid" and shares its common Germanic root meaning "to order" or "to command"
Dutchverbod
The word "verbod" shares its origin with "verbieden", which means "to prohibit" or "to forbid".
Englishban
The word 'ban' originates from the Frankish word 'bannan' meaning 'to command' or 'to proclaim'
Frenchinterdire
The verb 'interdire' (ban) derives from Latin 'interdicere', meaning 'to forbid by a religious ceremony'. It can also be used in non-legal contexts to indicate strict disapproval or a prohibition on certain behaviors.
Frisianferbod
The word “ferbod” in Frisian, besides meaning “ban,” also has the meaning “forbid” in English.
Galicianprohibición
Galician "prohibición" is a homograph meaning "prohibition", "forbidding" and "interdiction" in Portuguese, Spanish and Galician respectively, and also an antonym of the verb "permitir" (allow).
Germanverbot
The word "Verbot" is derived from the Proto-Germanic verb *werb- meaning "to prevent" from which English words like "forbid" are also derived
Icelandicbanna
The word "banna" in Icelandic can also refer to a strip of land or a pasture.
Irishtoirmeasc
In Ulster, "toirmeasc" can also mean "prohibition" or "restraint", with its etymology likely deriving from "toirmeasg", meaning "hindrance" or "obstruction".
Italianbandire
The verb "bandire" comes from the Greek "pandein", meaning "to declare publicly".
Luxembourgishverbidden
In the 13th century Middle Low German "verbieden" also had the meaning "to denounce".
Malteseprojbizzjoni
The Maltese word "projbizzjoni" is derived from the Italian word "proibizione" and means "ban" or "prohibition."
Norwegianforby
The word "forby" in Norwegian also means "to pass by" and "to prevent or hinder."
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)banimento
In Portuguese, "banimento" also refers to a period of exile or banishment.
Scots Gaeliccasg
The Scots Gaelic word "casg" can also mean "case", "frame", or "shell".
Spanishprohibición
"Prohibición" also means "prohibition" in the sense of the American Prohibition era of the 1920s-1930s.
Swedishförbjuda
The Swedish word "förbjuda" is derived from the Old Norse word "forbjuða", meaning "to forbid or outlaw".
Welshgwaharddiad
The word "gwaharddiad" can also refer to a prohibition or a denial.

Ban in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзабарона
The Belarusian word "забарона" can mean "barrier" or "prohibition".
Bosnianzabraniti
Zabraniti shares its etymological root with the words 'forbid' and 'prohibit'
Bulgarianзабрана
"Забрана" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*zabraniti", meaning "to defend", and also means "prohibition".
Czechzákaz
The word "zákaz" in Czech can also refer to a "prohibition" or a "restriction".
Estoniankeeld
The verb “keelama” (“to forbid”) originally meant “to prohibit speech” and is related to the word “keel” (“tongue”).
Finnishkieltää
The word "kieltää" also means "to deny" or "to refuse".
Hungariantilalom
"Tilalom" has a second, rarely used, meaning in Hungarian: "a charm or spell".
Latvianaizliegt
"Aizliegt" is a homonym, also meaning "to fly away" or "to sail off".
Lithuanianuždrausti
The word "uždrausti" also means "to forbid" and is the etymology of the Lithuanian word for "law", "įstatymas".
Macedonianзабрана
The word "забрана" in Macedonian comes from the Proto-Slavic word *zaprěti, meaning "to forbid".
Polishzakaz
The word "zakaz" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *za-kazati, meaning "to prohibit" or "to forbid".
Romanianinterzice
The Romanian word "interzice" derives from the Latin "interdicere" which also means "to forbid" or "to prohibit".
Russianзапретить
The verb запретить (zapretit) means 'to forbid' or 'to prohibit' and is related to the noun запрет (zapret), which means 'prohibition' or 'ban'.
Serbianзабранити
The word "забранити" also means "forbid" and "prohibit"
Slovakzákaz
The word "zákaz" also has the alternate meaning of "prohibition" in Slovak.
Slovenianprepoved
The word 'prepoved' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'zaprěti', which means 'to close off, forbid, or prohibit'.
Ukrainianзаборона
Заборона is also used to describe a period of prohibition or restriction.

Ban in South Asian Languages

Bengaliনিষেধাজ্ঞা
The word "নিষেধাজ্ঞা" in Bengali has its roots in the Sanskrit word "निषेध", which means "prohibition" or "injunction."
Gujaratiપ્રતિબંધ
The word "प्रतिबंघ" in Gujarati also means "hindrance" and "obstacle".
Hindiप्रतिबंध
The word "प्रतिबंध" has its root in Sanskrit, meaning "to restrict" or "to limit."
Kannadaನಿಷೇಧ
The word "ನಿಷೇಧ" has roots in Sanskrit and is also used in other Dravidian languages, such as Tamil and Malayalam, where it carries similar meanings related to prohibition or restriction.
Malayalamനിരോധനം
The word "നിരോധനം" (ban) in Malayalam originally meant "to prohibit" or "to forbid" certain actions or practices.
Marathiबंदी
In Marathi, the word "बंदी" also refers to a type of religious hymn sung by female singers.
Nepaliप्रतिबन्ध
प्रतिबन्ध originated from Sanskrit प्रति+बन्ध which means 'against fetters', it also means prohibition and restriction.
Punjabiਪਾਬੰਦੀ
The word "paabandi" in Punjabi can also refer to a restriction or limitation.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)තහනම් කරන්න
The word can also mean 'to cancel' or 'to put an end to' something.
Tamilதடை
"தடை" (ban) in Tamil can also mean "obstacle" or "hindrance."
Teluguనిషేధం
The word "నిషేధం" can also mean "prohibition" or "restriction".
Urduپابندی
Origin (Persian "pa-bandi" meaning "foot restraint" or "tying of the feet"): A prohibition or constraint on an action.

Ban in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)ban
Chinese word "ban" comes from a Proto-Sino-Tibetan word meaning "to speak".
Chinese (Traditional)ban
Chinese characters for 'ban' can also refer to laws, prohibitions, or obstacles.
Japanese禁止
The kanji character '禁' (kin), meaning 'prohibit' or 'restrict,' also appears in the word '禁煙' (kinen), meaning 'no smoking,' and '禁句' (kinken), meaning 'taboo word.'
Korean반
The word "반" (ban), most commonly known as "ban" in English, also means "side" or "half" in some contexts, such as "좌반" (joaban, "left side") and "반" (ban, "half").
Mongolianхориглох
The word "хориглох" derives from the verb "хорих" (to forbid) and has the alternate meaning of "prohibition".
Myanmar (Burmese)ပိတ်ပင်ထားမှု

Ban in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmelarang
It seems to derive from the Dutch word "verbieden", which is an Old Germanic word.
Javaneselarangan
The word 'larangan' also means 'prohibition', 'restriction', 'interdiction', and 'embargo' in Javanese.
Khmerហាមឃាត់
The word 'ហាមឃាត់' ('ban') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'nivartana,' meaning 'to turn away' or 'to prevent'.
Laoຫ້າມ
The word "ຫ້າມ" can also refer to a restricted area or zone.
Malaylarangan
"Larangan" (ban) comes from the Malay word "larang" meaning "to forbid" and "to prohibit".
Thaiห้าม
The word "ห้าม" (ban) in Thai can also mean "prohibit" or "prevent".
Vietnameselệnh cấm
The word "lệnh cấm" can also refer to a prohibition or interdiction.
Filipino (Tagalog)pagbabawal

Ban in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqadağa
The word "qadağa" can also mean "prohibition" or "interdiction" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhтыйым салу
The word "тыйым салу" in Kazakh has its origins in the Turkic word "тыйым", meaning "prohibition" or "restriction."
Kyrgyzтыюу салуу
The word "тыюу салуу" in Kyrgyz can also mean to prohibit, forbid, or restrict.
Tajikманъ кардан
The word "манъ кардан" in Tajik also means "to forbid" or "to prohibit".
Turkmengadagan etmek
Uzbektaqiqlash
Taqiqlash can also mean 'restriction' or 'forbiddance'.
Uyghurچەكلەش

Ban in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpāpā
In Hawaiian, the word "pāpā" also refers to a type of stone platform or fence, often found in sacred or historic sites.
Maoriaukati
The Maori word "aukati" also means "to interrupt" or "to cease".
Samoanfaasa
The word "faasa" is also an archaic term for "law".
Tagalog (Filipino)pagbawal
Pagbawal, meaning "ban," is also used in the sense of "prohibition" or "restriction".

Ban in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajark’atäñapawa
Guaraniprohibición rehegua

Ban in International Languages

Esperantomalpermeso
"Malpermeso" originates from the Esperanto words "mal" (bad) and "permeso" (permission/allow).
Latinban
The word "ban" is derived from a Latin word meaning "to proclaim" and has alternate meanings in heraldry, music, and literature.

Ban in Others Languages

Greekαπαγόρευση
In Ancient Greek, the word απαγόρευση meant "to speak out against" or "to forbid."
Hmongtxwv
The word "txwv" in Hmong can also refer to "law", "rule", or "prohibition".
Kurdishqedexe
The term 'qedexe' can refer to the act of banning, prohibiting, or prohibiting something or someone from doing something.
Turkishyasaklamak
The Turkish word "yasaklamak" originates from the Arabic word "yasara" which means "to make it easy" and it can also mean "to forbid", "to prevent" or "to restrict".
Xhosaukuvalwa
The Xhosa word "ukuvalwa" is derived from the verb "ukuvula" meaning "to hide" and can also refer to "isolation" or "concealment."
Yiddishפאַרבאָט
"פאַרבאָט" can also mean "barrier" or "obstacle" in Yiddish.
Zuluukuvinjelwa
The Zulu word 'ukuvinjelwa' shares its root with 'inselele', meaning 'fence', 'stockade', 'fort', and 'fortification'. This suggests that a ban is seen as a kind of protective barrier.
Assameseনিষেধাজ্ঞা
Aymarajark’atäñapawa
Bhojpuriरोक लगा दिहल गइल
Dhivehiމަނާކުރުން
Dogriबैन
Filipino (Tagalog)pagbabawal
Guaraniprohibición rehegua
Ilocanoban
Krioban
Kurdish (Sorani)قەدەغەکردن
Maithiliबैन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯊꯤꯡꯕꯥ ꯊꯝꯂꯤ꯫
Mizoban
Oromouggura
Odia (Oriya)ନିଷେଧ |
Quechuahark’ay
Sanskritban
Tatarтыю
Tigrinyaእገዳ
Tsongaku yirisiwa

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