Updated on March 6, 2024
Cable is a versatile word with a rich history and cultural significance. At its core, 'cable' refers to a thick, strong rope or wire, often used to transmit electrical signals or provide support. This word has been instrumental in shaping modern communication, as it laid the foundation for cable television and the internet.
The cultural impact of cable is undeniable. It has transformed the way we consume media, enabling us to access countless channels and streaming services at our fingertips. From historical dramas to reality TV, cable has brought a diverse range of programming into our homes.
For language enthusiasts and cultural explorers, understanding the translation of 'cable' in different languages can offer fascinating insights into how various cultures have adapted this concept. Here are a few examples:
Stay tuned for more translations and cultural insights about the fascinating world of 'cable'!
Afrikaans | kabel | ||
Its alternative meaning 'line' or 'cord' in Afrikaans relates to a type of mooring or rope. | |||
Amharic | ገመድ | ||
The word "ገመድ" in Amharic can also refer to a rope or string, and is related to the verb "መገመድ" meaning "to tie" or "to bind". | |||
Hausa | kebul | ||
"Kebul" is also a word for "rope" and comes from the Arabic "kabl" (Arabic word for "rope"). | |||
Igbo | usb | ||
In Igbo, the word 'USB' also refers to 'a pen drive'. | |||
Malagasy | tariby | ||
The Malagasy word for 'cable', tariby, has its roots in the Arabic term for 'chain', tarib. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chingwe | ||
In Zambian Nyanja, "chingwe" also refers to a type of fishing net used in Lake Kariba. | |||
Shona | waya | ||
Shona slang for cable or wire. | |||
Somali | fiilo | ||
The word "fiilo" can also mean "rope" or "wire" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | thapo | ||
The word "thapo" in Sesotho also means "cord", "string", or "rope". | |||
Swahili | kebo | ||
"Kebo" also means "buffalo" in Swahili, possibly due to the resemblance of a bundled cable to a buffalo's horns. | |||
Xhosa | intambo | ||
"Intambo" can also mean "thread" or "string" in Xhosa. | |||
Yoruba | okun | ||
"Òkùn" in Yoruba can also refer to a type of rope used for tying or a measuring instrument | |||
Zulu | ikhebula | ||
The noun "ikhebula" also alludes to a "string" or "line" (e.g., a line of cars). | |||
Bambara | kabali | ||
Ewe | kaƒomɔ̃ | ||
Kinyarwanda | umugozi | ||
Lingala | câble | ||
Luganda | cable | ||
Sepedi | thapo | ||
Twi (Akan) | cable | ||
Arabic | كابل | ||
The word 'كابل' ('cable') comes from Persian and is also used in Kurdish and Turkish to mean 'rope' or 'line'. | |||
Hebrew | כֶּבֶל | ||
Originally, כֶּבֶל referred to a rope made of several strings twisted together | |||
Pashto | کیبل | ||
The Pashto word "کیبل" is derived from the English word "cable" and is also commonly used in Pashto to refer to an internet broadband connection. | |||
Arabic | كابل | ||
The word 'كابل' ('cable') comes from Persian and is also used in Kurdish and Turkish to mean 'rope' or 'line'. |
Albanian | kabllo | ||
The word "kabllo" in Albanian can also refer to a "rope" or "wire" | |||
Basque | kablea | ||
The Basque word "kablea" also means "rope" or "wire". | |||
Catalan | cable | ||
The Catalan word "cable" can also refer to a wire or a rope. | |||
Croatian | kabel | ||
In Croatian, "kabel" can also refer to a "rope" or "towline". | |||
Danish | kabel | ||
In Danish, "kabel" can also refer to a braid of hair, a coil of yarn, or a type of sausage. | |||
Dutch | kabel | ||
The Dutch word "kabel" can also refer to a rope, cord, or wire, akin to its original meaning in nautical contexts. | |||
English | cable | ||
The word “cable” derives from a Latin word which denoted the anchor rope of a ship. | |||
French | câble | ||
In French, the word "câble" can also refer to a telegram or a television program that is transmitted via cable. | |||
Frisian | kabel | ||
In Frisian, "kabel" can also refer to a rope or a chain. | |||
Galician | cable | ||
En galego, la palabra "cable" también puede referirse a un conjunto de redes que conectan dispositivos o a una unidad de medida de longitud equivalente a 185,2 metros. | |||
German | kabel | ||
In nautical terms, the German word “Kabel” can refer to the length of the ship’s anchor chain, which is approximately 240 meters. | |||
Icelandic | kapall | ||
The Icelandic word "kapall" derives from the Low German "kabel" and has the alternate meaning "a chain of metal rings." | |||
Irish | cábla | ||
The word "cábla" is cognate with the Latin word "capulum"} | |||
Italian | cavo | ||
Italian 'cavo' can refer to a tooth in addition to an electric wire | |||
Luxembourgish | kabel | ||
Maltese | kejbil | ||
Kejbil can also mean 'cable car', 'pulley' or 'rope' (in this sense also written as kejbel). | |||
Norwegian | kabel | ||
"Kabel" is derived from the Dutch word "kabel" and has had the meaning "rope" since the Middle Ages. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cabo | ||
Cabo derives from Latin and can also denote a "headland". Its root word is caput (capitis - "head") | |||
Scots Gaelic | càball | ||
The word "càball" in Scots Gaelic can also refer to a twisted rope or a chain. | |||
Spanish | cable | ||
In addition to its common meaning, "cable" can also refer to a telegraph or to the punishment of towing a convict behind a ship. | |||
Swedish | kabel- | ||
Kabel could come from the Proto-Indo-European word for "cable". | |||
Welsh | cebl | ||
A 'cebl' can be either a cable or a horse, but not a bicycle, because bicycles are 'beiciau'. |
Belarusian | кабель | ||
The word “кабель” (cable) originates from the Dutch word “kabel” meaning “rope.” | |||
Bosnian | kabel | ||
The word "kabel" in Bosnian can also refer to a type of electrical wiring known as a "coaxial cable". | |||
Bulgarian | кабел | ||
The word "кабел" is also used to refer to a type of steel rope or wire. | |||
Czech | kabel | ||
In Czech, "kabel" can also refer to a horse's tail or a type of dance. | |||
Estonian | kaabel | ||
The word "kaabel" in Estonian originates from the German word "Kabel", which in turn stems from the Latin "capulum", meaning "rope". | |||
Finnish | kaapeli | ||
The word "kaapeli" may originally be derived from the Proto-Germanic word "kapulja" meaning "rope" or "cord". | |||
Hungarian | kábel | ||
The Hungarian word "kábel" is likely of Turkish origin, from "kebel", which means rope or chain | |||
Latvian | kabelis | ||
"Kabelis" means not only a "cable", but also a "cableway" or a "channel". | |||
Lithuanian | kabelis | ||
In Lithuanian, "kabelis" can also refer to a rope or string, or a bundle of straw, further highlighting its connection to cordage and binding. | |||
Macedonian | кабел | ||
The word "кабел" can also refer to a type of rope or cord used for binding or tying. | |||
Polish | kabel | ||
The word “kabel” originated in the Latin "capulum", meaning "halter" | |||
Romanian | cablu | ||
The word "cablu" in Romanian derives from the Turkish "kablo", which is in turn derived from the Arabic "qabl", meaning "rope" or "chord" | |||
Russian | кабель | ||
The Russian word "кабель" comes from the Dutch "kabel" and can also mean "rope" | |||
Serbian | кабл | ||
The Serbian word "кабл" (cable) originates from Turkish "kablo" which ultimately comes from Arabic "qābil" meaning "something that leads or conducts". | |||
Slovak | kábel | ||
The word "kábel" is borrowed from Hungarian "kábel", the name of a river in Slovakia, the name of which is likely derived from the Turkic word "kavil", meaning "riverbed". | |||
Slovenian | kabel | ||
"Kabel" in Slovenian can also refer to a rope for pulling a raft. | |||
Ukrainian | кабель | ||
The word "кабель" in Ukrainian can also refer to a rope used for docking ships or pulling large objects. |
Bengali | তারের | ||
The word "তারের" can also refer to a wire or a string. | |||
Gujarati | કેબલ | ||
The word "કેબલ" can also refer to a type of rope or wire, specifically one made of metal strands twisted together. | |||
Hindi | केबल | ||
The Hindi word 'केबल' (cable) originates from the Dutch word 'kabel', meaning 'rope' or 'cord'. | |||
Kannada | ಕೇಬಲ್ | ||
"ಕೇಬಲ್" (cable) is derived from the Latin word "capere", meaning "to seize or hold". | |||
Malayalam | കേബിൾ | ||
In Malayalam, the word "കേബിൾ" (cable) also holds the meaning of a 'rope', 'wire', or 'chain'. | |||
Marathi | केबल | ||
The Marathi word केबल (cable) comes from the Sanskrit word for 'rope', 'कपिल' (kapil), and also means 'message' or 'telegram'. | |||
Nepali | केबल | ||
In Nepali, ''cable'' can also refer to a ''rope'' or a ''chain''. | |||
Punjabi | ਕੇਬਲ | ||
ਕੇਬਲ can also mean a written statement or document, such as a contract or agreement. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කේබල් | ||
The word "කේබල්" (cable) in Sinhala also means "a large rope" | |||
Tamil | கேபிள் | ||
The Tamil word 'கேபிள்' has alternate meanings like chains, fetters, or shackles. | |||
Telugu | కేబుల్ | ||
Cable can also refer to the message sent using a cable. | |||
Urdu | کیبل | ||
The word "cable" is derived from the Latin word "capulus" meaning "rope" or "halter". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 电缆 | ||
“电缆”源自英语“cable”,意为“粗绳、线缆”,也指“传电或通讯用的线缆”。 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 電纜 | ||
電纜本意指以電線繞於軸心形成之物件,後引申為傳遞電能的電線. | |||
Japanese | ケーブル | ||
The Japanese word "ケーブル" (cable) can also refer to a TV subscription, or to a person's connections and influential relationships. | |||
Korean | 케이블 | ||
The Korean word "케이블" (cable) is derived from the French "câble" | |||
Mongolian | кабель | ||
The word "кабель" can also refer to a thick rope or chain, or to a person who is tied up. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကေဘယ်လ် | ||
The word "ကေဘယ်လ်" (cable) is derived from the English word "cable" and ultimately from the Latin word "capere" meaning "to hold". |
Indonesian | kabel | ||
The Indonesian word "kabel" can also refer to a string, rope, or cord used to bind or tie objects together. | |||
Javanese | kabel | ||
In Javanese, "kabel" also means "thread" or "wire used to tie something." | |||
Khmer | ខ្សែ | ||
The word "ខ្សែ" can also refer to a rope, a cord, or a thread. | |||
Lao | ສາຍໄຟ | ||
Malay | kabel | ||
The Malay word "kabel" originated from the Dutch "kabel", meaning "rope" or "wire". | |||
Thai | สายเคเบิล | ||
The Thai word "สายเคเบิล" can also refer to "wire" or "rope" in English. | |||
Vietnamese | cáp | ||
The word "cáp" is derived from the French word "câble" and also means "rope" or "cord" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kable | ||
Azerbaijani | kabel | ||
In Azerbaijani, "kabel" comes from the Arabic "qabl" ("rope, cord") and can also refer to a "tie, bond, relationship". | |||
Kazakh | кабель | ||
In Kazakh, "кабель" can also refer to a large rope or string used for mooring ships or towing heavy objects. | |||
Kyrgyz | кабель | ||
The word "кабель" in Kyrgyz, meaning "cable", is of Russian origin and is also used to refer to ropes and wires | |||
Tajik | кабел | ||
The word кабел in Tajik has Persian origins as well, where it means "strong" or simply "rope". | |||
Turkmen | kabel | ||
Uzbek | kabel | ||
In Uzbek, "kabel" can also mean "rope", "wire", or "line". | |||
Uyghur | سىم | ||
Hawaiian | uwea | ||
The word "uwea" in Hawaiian is a cognate of the word "uva" in Tahitian, which means "rope" or "line." | |||
Maori | taura | ||
The Maori word "taura" also means "rope" or "string". | |||
Samoan | uaea | ||
Uaea is the term used especially for the electrical wires which connect two points, as the telephone, while filo is the general term for a cord or string. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | kable | ||
The word "kable" is also used in Tagalog to refer to a type of rope or cord made from natural fibers. |
Aymara | cable | ||
Guarani | cable rehegua | ||
Esperanto | kablo | ||
In Esperanto, "kablo" shares its root with "kabalo" (rope) and "kapti" (to catch), suggesting a connection between cables and binding or transmission. | |||
Latin | funem | ||
The word "funem" can also mean "rope" or "cord" in Latin. |
Greek | καλώδιο | ||
The word καλώδιο originally meant 'rope' and 'string', but now also refers to 'cable'. | |||
Hmong | txoj sia hlau | ||
The Hmong word "txoj sia hlau" derives from "txoj sia," 'rope,' and "hlau" 'iron' and originally meant 'wire rope,' but is now used for any kind of cable. | |||
Kurdish | kablo | ||
"Kablo" can also refer to a wire or a rope in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | kablo | ||
In Turkish, the word "kablo" is also colloquially used to refer to a "wire" or a "rope". | |||
Xhosa | intambo | ||
"Intambo" can also mean "thread" or "string" in Xhosa. | |||
Yiddish | קאַבלע | ||
The Yiddish word "קאַבלע" also refers to a rope or a bond of any kind. | |||
Zulu | ikhebula | ||
The noun "ikhebula" also alludes to a "string" or "line" (e.g., a line of cars). | |||
Assamese | কেবল | ||
Aymara | cable | ||
Bhojpuri | केबल के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ކޭބަލް އެވެ | ||
Dogri | केबल | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kable | ||
Guarani | cable rehegua | ||
Ilocano | kable | ||
Krio | kebul | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | کێبڵ | ||
Maithili | केबल | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯦꯕꯜ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | cable hmanga siam a ni | ||
Oromo | keebilii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | କେବୁଲ୍ | | ||
Quechua | cable | ||
Sanskrit | केबल | ||
Tatar | кабель | ||
Tigrinya | ገመድ | ||
Tsonga | cable | ||