Burden in different languages

Burden in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'burden' carries a significant weight in our daily lives, representing responsibilities, obligations, and difficulties that we all face. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, music, and art, where the concept of burden is often explored as a means to express struggle, perseverance, and triumph. Understanding the translation of 'burden' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other cultures perceive and address life's challenges.

For instance, the German word 'Last' translates to 'burden,' reflecting the country's emphasis on hard work and dedication. Meanwhile, in Japan, 'onus' is translated as 'onsha,' emphasizing the individual's responsibility in carrying their burden. In Spain, 'carga' not only means 'burden' but also refers to a 'load' or 'charge,' reflecting the country's rich history of exploration and discovery.

Below, you will find a comprehensive list of translations of 'burden' in various languages, shedding light on the diverse ways that cultures around the world conceptualize and address life's challenges.

Burden


Burden in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanslas
The word "las" can also refer to a type of trap or snare used for hunting.
Amharicሸክም
"ሸክም" also refers to a person or thing that is a source of trouble or annoyance.
Hausanauyi
Hausa speakers may also use «nauyi» to mean «tax» or a «present».
Igboibu
The Igbo word "ibu" may also refer to a homestead or a community.
Malagasyizay manavesatra
The word "Izay Manavesatra" can also mean "the weight of responsibility" or "the burden of guilt".
Nyanja (Chichewa)cholemetsa
The word "cholemetsa" also means "difficult" or "hard".
Shonamutoro
Mutoro in Shona may also refer to a gift of appreciation given in return for a favor.
Somaliculays
Somali culays 'burden' may be cognate with Proto-Cushitic *qaw 'to carry on the back'.
Sesothomoroalo
The word "moroalo" in Sesotho also refers to a problem or difficulty, suggesting that burdens can be both physical and emotional.
Swahilimzigo
The word "mzigo" can also refer to a person's responsibilities or their obligations to others.
Xhosaumthwalo
"Umthwalo" can also mean "responsibility" or "obligation" in Xhosa.
Yorubaẹrù
Ẹ̀rù is also used to refer to a person who is responsible for carrying burdens or performing difficult tasks.
Zuluumthwalo
'Umthwalo' is also used to refer to a traditional Zulu dance that celebrates the harvest
Bambaradoni
Eweagba
Kinyarwandaumutwaro
Lingalabozito
Lugandaomugugu
Sepedimorwalo
Twi (Akan)adesoa

Burden in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicعبء
The Arabic word "عبء" ("burden") is derived from the root "ع ب ب" ("to bind" or "to tie").
Hebrewנטל
"נטל" (burden) is related to the word "נטל" (to plant), suggesting that burdens are often like seeds that grow over time.
Pashtoبار
The word "بار" ("burden") in Pashto also commonly refers to "fruit" or "crop".
Arabicعبء
The Arabic word "عبء" ("burden") is derived from the root "ع ب ب" ("to bind" or "to tie").

Burden in Western European Languages

Albanianbarrë
Albanian's word "barrë" meaning "burden" comes from Greek "βάρος" (varos) meaning burden, weight, "βαρύνω" (varino) meaning to weigh down, overburden, make heavy, harass, vex, trouble, load, oppress, "βαρύς" (varis) meaning heavy, burdensome, oppressive, grievous, serious, grievous, important, dignified, etc.
Basquezama
The Basque word “zama” (burden) derives from “sama” (equal)
Catalancàrrega
The term "càrrega" in Catalan, derived from the Latin "carricare", also refers to a person's obligations or responsibilities.
Croatianteret
The word "teret" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *tertъ, meaning "to rub" or "to grind."
Danishbyrde
The Danish word "byrde" can also refer to a ship's cargo or a person's responsibilities.
Dutchlast
The Dutch word "last" can also refer to a ship's cargo or a person's obligations.
Englishburden
The word "burden" comes from the Old English word "byrd" which means "load" or "weight".
Frenchfardeau
The Old French word "fardel" referred to a bundle carried by a traveler, while the modern French word "fardeau" can also mean a charge or responsibility.
Frisianlêst
It is derived from Middle Dutch 'lest' and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hlaiþ-staz 'loaded thing' (cognates: Latin 'onus' (burden) and Icelandic 'hlast' (burden).
Galiciancarga
Galician "carga" comes from Latin "carica" and can also mean "load" or "cargo".
Germanbelastung
The word "Belastung" in German can also mean "stress" or "load".
Icelandicbyrði
The term "byrði" has different meanings, from "weight" to "carrying load" in modern Icelandic, whereas in medieval Icelandic it could also mean "freight" or "ship cargo".
Irishualach
Ualach is also used as a way of referring to a person who is carrying a burden
Italianfardello
The word 'fardello' may also refer to a bundle or package, or in a figurative sense, a difficult or troublesome matter.
Luxembourgishbelaaschtung
Belaaschtung's roots lie in the Indo-European root "*bher-/*bherg-", meaning "to bear" or "to carry".
Maltesepiż
"Piż" is the same word as "weight" in Italian and French, and also related to the English word "poise".
Norwegianbyrde
The Norwegian word "byrde" can also refer to a child or a descendant.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)fardo
The word "fardo" also means "bale" or "package" in Portuguese.
Scots Gaeliceallach
The word "eallach" can also refer to a beast of burden or a portage.
Spanishcarga
The Spanish word "carga" originally meant a load carried on the back of an animal, and is derived from the Latin word "carrus," meaning "cart".
Swedishbörda
The word "börda" is derived from the Old Norse word "byrðr", which means "load" or "responsibility".
Welshbaich
Welsh 'baich' may derive from an Old Irish word meaning either 'fettered' or 'captive'.

Burden in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianцяжар
In Belarusian, "цяжар" (burden) also means "weight" or "importance".
Bosnianteret
The word "teret" in Bosnian is also used to refer to a musical instrument resembling a drum, made of goat or calf skin stretched tightly over a circular wooden frame.
Bulgarianтежест
The word "тежест" is also used to refer to weight, gravity, or importance.
Czechzátěž
The original meaning of the Czech word 'zátěž' referred to the weight of heavy armor used in combat.
Estoniankoorem
In addition to its literal meaning of "burden", "koorem" can also be used figuratively to refer to a heavy task or responsibility.
Finnishtaakka
The word "taakka" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*takka" meaning "load" or "baggage".
Hungarianteher
"Teher" also means "load" in the sense of a ship's cargo, as in "a ship laden with merchandise was lost at sea" or "a plane carries a heavy teher of fuel for its trip".
Latvianslogs
"Slodzs" means a burden in Latvian.
Lithuaniannašta
"Našta" also means "corpse" in Polish and "freight" in German.
Macedonianтовар
The word "товар" originally meant "property" or "assets" in Old Church Slavonic.
Polishobciążenie
In Polish, "obciążenie" can also mean "load" in the context of engineering or "mortgaging" referring to property ownership.
Romanianpovară
The word "povară" in Romanian also means "heavy responsibility".
Russianбремя
The Russian word "бремя" originally meant "log, timber" before acquiring its current meaning of "burden".
Serbianтерет
The word "терет" can also mean "difficulty" or "hardship" in Serbian.
Slovakbremeno
In Slovak, "bremeno" can refer to both a physical burden or a moral one
Slovenianbreme
The word 'breme' in Slovenian also means 'load', 'weight', or 'responsibility'.
Ukrainianтягар
"Тягар" is cognate with the Greek word "temenos," meaning a piece of land set apart for a temple and the gods and thus reserved for their use only.

Burden in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবোঝা
বোঝা can also mean 'to understand' or 'to carry on one's shoulders'.
Gujaratiબોજ
The word "બોજ" ("burden") in Gujarati also refers to a specific unit of weight, typically used to measure agricultural produce.
Hindiबोझ
The word "बोझ" (bojh) also means "load", "weight", or "responsibility" in Hindi.
Kannadaಹೊರೆ
The word "ಹೊರೆ" (hoore) can also refer to a load or a responsibility.
Malayalamഭാരം
Derived from Sanskrit 'bhara' meaning 'to carry', 'bhāram' also refers to heaviness, duty, obligation, or responsibility in Malayalam.
Marathiओझे
The Marathi word "ओझे" can also refer to "responsibilities" or "troublesome situations."
Nepaliबोझ
The word "बोझ" can also mean "a responsibility" or "a task".
Punjabiਬੋਝ
The word "ਬੋਝ" can also mean "trouble" or "anxiety" in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)බර
The word "බර" (burden) is derived from the Sanskrit word "भार" (bhara), meaning "to carry" or "to lift."
Tamilசுமை
The word "சுமை" also means "total weight of a vehicle" in Tamil.
Teluguభారం
భారం in Telugu can also mean "importance" or "responsibility".
Urduبوجھ
The word "بوجھ" can also mean "responsibility" or "duty" in Urdu.

Burden in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)负担
The word “负担” is composed of two characters: “负” (fù), meaning “to bear” or “to carry,” and “担” (dàn), meaning “a load” or “a burden.”
Chinese (Traditional)負擔
負擔 can also mean to ‘afford’ something.
Japanese負担
The word 負担 (futan) literally means "divide equally" in Japanese, indicating its origins as a communal responsibility.
Korean부담
'부담' is a Sino-Korean word that literally means 'to bear something on one's back' or 'to carry a load'
Mongolianачаа
The word "ачаа" can refer to a load carried by a pack animal or a person, or figuratively to a problem or task that demands attention.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဝန်ထုပ်ဝန်ပိုး

Burden in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbeban
In Malay, "beban" also means "debt".
Javanesemomotan
"Momotan" can also refer to a wooden beam on a house's roof used for hanging things.
Khmerបន្ទុក
The Khmer word បន្ទុក can also mean 'responsibility' or 'charge'.
Laoພາລະ
The word 'ພາລະ' can also refer to a duty, obligation, or responsibility.
Malaybeban
"Beban" also means "weight," especially with regards to importance or significance.
Thaiภาระ
The word "ภาระ" in Thai can also mean "duty" or "responsibility".
Vietnamesegánh nặng
"Gánh nặng" is also the name of a traditional wooden carrying frame used in Vietnam, usually carried on one's shoulders with two baskets attached at its ends.
Filipino (Tagalog)pasan

Burden in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniyük
"Yük" also means "upwards/up" in Azerbaijani, indicating its use as a directional reference in addition to its primary meaning of "burden."
Kazakhауыртпалық
The Kazakh word "ауыртпалық" can also refer to a "difficulty" or a "problem".
Kyrgyzжүк
The word 'жүк' is also used to refer to 'cargo' or 'load' in Kyrgyz.
Tajikбори
The word 'бори' can also refer to a type of heavy load or responsibility.
Turkmenýük
Uzbekyuk
The word "yuk" can also refer to a unit of weight equal to approximately 66 pounds or a tax or levy, especially one that is burdensome.
Uyghurيۈك

Burden in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianukana
"Ukana" also means "to bend or bow" in Hawaiian, as in bowing one's head in respect.
Maoritaumahatanga
In Maori, 'taumahatanga' also refers to the spiritual burden of caring for others.
Samoanavega
The word "avega" can also refer to a heavy load that is carried on the back or shoulders.
Tagalog (Filipino)pasan
The word "pasan" can also refer to a "share or portion allotted to an individual within a larger cooperative effort".

Burden in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraq'ipi
Guaranimba'erepy

Burden in International Languages

Esperantoŝarĝo
The word "ŝarĝo" may also mean "rank" or "load" in Esperanto.
Latinonus
"Onus" also means "divine message" or "prophecy" in Latin.

Burden in Others Languages

Greekβάρος
The word "βάρος" in Greek can also refer to a heavy object or a weight.
Hmongnra hnyav
The Hmong word "nra hnyav" originates from the Proto-Hmong-Mien word *braːŋ "heavy"
Kurdishbar
In Kurdish, "bar" can also refer to a load carried on the head.
Turkishsorumluluk
The word "sorumluluk" in Turkish can also refer to "responsibility" or "duty."
Xhosaumthwalo
"Umthwalo" can also mean "responsibility" or "obligation" in Xhosa.
Yiddishאָנוואַרפן
The Yiddish word "אָנוואַרפן" (burden) is derived from the German word "aufwerfen" (to impose, to cast upon), which in turn originates from the Middle High German word "üfe werfen" (to throw on).
Zuluumthwalo
'Umthwalo' is also used to refer to a traditional Zulu dance that celebrates the harvest
Assameseবোজা
Aymaraq'ipi
Bhojpuriबोझा
Dhivehiބުރައެއް
Dogriभार
Filipino (Tagalog)pasan
Guaranimba'erepy
Ilocanobaklay
Kriolod
Kurdish (Sorani)بار
Maithiliबोझ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄꯣꯠꯂꯨꯝ
Mizophurrit
Oromoba'aa
Odia (Oriya)ଭାର
Quechuaqipi
Sanskritभारः
Tatarйөк
Tigrinyaሓላፍነት
Tsongandzwalo

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