Camera in Different Languages
Discover 'Camera' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The camera, a device that captures moments in time, has become an essential tool in our daily lives. From documenting personal memories to capturing professional photographs, cameras have transformed the way we perceive and share the world around us. Moreover, the cultural significance of cameras extends beyond their practical uses, as they have also played a crucial role in shaping art, journalism, and social interactions.
Given the global impact of cameras, it's fascinating to explore how this word is translated into different languages. For instance, the Spanish translation of camera is 'cámara,' while in French, it's 'appareil photo.' In Mandarin Chinese, the word for camera is '相机,' which is pronounced as 'xiàngjī.' Meanwhile, in Japanese, the word for camera is 'カメラ,' which is pronounced as 'kamera.'
In this article, we will delve into the translations of the word camera in various languages, shedding light on the cultural nuances and historical contexts associated with this ubiquitous device. Stay tuned to learn more about how the world says 'camera' in their native tongues!
Camera
Camera in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | kamera | ||
| "Kamera" also means "comrade" in Afrikaans. | |||
| Amharic | ካሜራ | ||
| The word ካሜራ (camera) is derived from the Latin word "camera", which originally referred to a room or chamber. | |||
| Hausa | kyamara | ||
| "Kyamara" originated from the Hausa word "kama," meaning "to take" or "to capture," which aligns with the function of a camera as a capturing device. | |||
| Igbo | igwefoto | ||
| "Igwefoto" is a portmanteau of "igwe" (eye) and "foto" (photo), a literal translation of the English word "camera." | |||
| Malagasy | fakan-tsary | ||
| The Malagasy word for camera, "fakan-tsary," literally means "machine for writing images." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kamera | ||
| Kamera comes from the Arabic word "qamara" meaning "dark room." | |||
| Shona | kamera | ||
| In Shona, 'kamera' not only means 'camera', but also refers to a type of traditional head wrap worn by women, particularly in rural areas. | |||
| Somali | kamarad | ||
| The word 'kamarad' (camera) in Somali is thought to derive from the Arabic word 'qamara' meaning 'moon', as the camera is used to capture images of light. | |||
| Sesotho | khamera | ||
| In Sesotho, 'khamera' can also mean 'a cave where the sun's rays don't reach'. | |||
| Swahili | kamera | ||
| The Swahili word 'kamera' originates from the English word 'camera' and originally referred to a 'room', but its meaning has since shifted to exclusively mean a 'camera'. | |||
| Xhosa | ikhamera | ||
| The word "ikhamera" is derived from the Greek word "kamara", which means "chamber" or "room", and refers to the darkroom in which photographic film is processed. | |||
| Yoruba | kamẹra | ||
| In Yoruba, "kamẹra" can also mean "one who watches or observes". | |||
| Zulu | ikhamera | ||
| The Zulu word 'ikhamera' may also refer to an 'instrument of divination'. | |||
| Bambara | kamera | ||
| Ewe | fotoɖemɔ̃ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kamera | ||
| Lingala | kamera | ||
| Luganda | kamera | ||
| Sepedi | khamera | ||
| Twi (Akan) | mfoninitwa afiri | ||
Camera in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الة تصوير | ||
| The word "camera" comes from the Latin word "camera", which means "room". In the early days of photography, cameras were large and box-shaped, and they were often used in a dark room or a "camera obscura". | |||
| Hebrew | מַצלֵמָה | ||
| The word מצלמה (camera) is derived from the Hebrew word צלם (image) and the Latin word camera (room), both referring to the dark chamber used in early photography. | |||
| Pashto | کیمره | ||
| Etymology: Ultimately from the Greek word 'kamara' meaning 'chamber' or 'room', via the Arabic 'qamara' and the Persian 'kamra'. | |||
| Arabic | الة تصوير | ||
| The word "camera" comes from the Latin word "camera", which means "room". In the early days of photography, cameras were large and box-shaped, and they were often used in a dark room or a "camera obscura". | |||
Camera in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kamera | ||
| In Albanian, "kamera" can also refer to a "room" or "chamber", possibly derived from the Latin "camera" meaning "vault" or "arched room". | |||
| Basque | kamera | ||
| "Kamera" in Basque is used to refer to the room in a farm dedicated to the storage of tools. | |||
| Catalan | càmera | ||
| In Catalan, "càmera" can refer to a photographic apparatus or a room in a building. | |||
| Croatian | fotoaparat | ||
| The word "fotoaparat" comes from the Greek words "phōs" (light) and "aparat" (instrument) | |||
| Danish | kamera | ||
| The Danish word "kamera" derives from the Latin "camera", meaning "room" or "chamber", referring to the camera obscura, a darkened room used as an early form of camera. | |||
| Dutch | camera | ||
| Dutch "camera" can mean both "camera" and "room". | |||
| English | camera | ||
| The term 'camera' originates from the Latin word 'camera', meaning 'room' or 'chamber'. | |||
| French | caméra | ||
| In French, "caméra" can also refer to a room in a hospital or prison used for solitary confinement. | |||
| Frisian | kamera | ||
| In addition to its meaning as "camera," "kamera" in Frisian can mean "comrade" or "friend." | |||
| Galician | cámara | ||
| In Galician, "cámara" not only means "camera", but also "room" or "chamber". | |||
| German | kamera | ||
| In German, "Kamera" can also refer to a video camera or a speed camera. | |||
| Icelandic | myndavél | ||
| The word "myndavél" literally translates as "image machine" in Icelandic. | |||
| Irish | ceamara | ||
| In Irish folklore, Ceamara is the name of a mythical creature believed to capture the souls of dying people with its camera-like eyes. | |||
| Italian | telecamera | ||
| Telecamera derives from Greek 'tele' ('far') and Latin 'camera' ('room'), referring to the concept of capturing distant images within a darkened chamber. | |||
| Luxembourgish | kamera | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Kamera" also means "photo or video recording device" and "room or space where photos or videos are taken" | |||
| Maltese | kamera | ||
| In Maltese, "kamera" can also refer to a prison cell or a person who is a member of a particular political party. | |||
| Norwegian | kamera | ||
| "Kamera" in Norwegian also refers to a closet for food storage. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | câmera | ||
| The word "Câmera" in Portuguese can also refer to a space or room, particularly a legislative chamber or a courtroom. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | camara | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word "camara" can also refer to a vaulted chamber or a hiding place. | |||
| Spanish | cámara | ||
| Cámara also means "room" in Spanish, and is related to "chamber" in English, both sharing a common Latin etymology. | |||
| Swedish | kamera | ||
| In Swedish, the word "kamera" can also refer to a "comrade" or a "friend". | |||
| Welsh | camera | ||
| Welsh "camera" can also refer to various curved or vaulted objects, like a cave or a vault. | |||
Camera in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | фотаапарат | ||
| Bosnian | kamera | ||
| In Bosnian, besides its primary meaning, "kamera" can also mean a "prison cell" or a "brothel". | |||
| Bulgarian | камера | ||
| The word "камера" can also mean "room" or "chamber" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | fotoaparát | ||
| "Fotoaparát" is Czech for "camera", which comes from Greek "photós" meaning "light" and Latin "apparatus" meaning "device". | |||
| Estonian | kaamera | ||
| In Estonian, "kaamera" relates to "kammer" (room) and originally referred to the dark room used in photography. | |||
| Finnish | kamera | ||
| The word "kamera" derives from the Greek word "kamara" meaning "chamber" or "room", reflecting the camera's function as a darkened chamber where light creates an image. | |||
| Hungarian | kamera | ||
| {"text": "Kamera comes from the Latin "camera," meaning both "room" and "chamber," possibly alluding to a camera being a type of room or chamber which produces images."} | |||
| Latvian | kamera | ||
| In ancient Greek, "kamera" originally referred to a "vaulted ceiling," and in medieval Latin, the word was applied specifically to the "chamber or private room of a pope or cardinal." | |||
| Lithuanian | fotoaparatas | ||
| The word "fotoaparatas" derives from the Greek words "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), and can also mean "apparatus for writing with light". | |||
| Macedonian | камера | ||
| In Macedonian, "камера" also means "inner room" or "small chamber". | |||
| Polish | aparat fotograficzny | ||
| The word "aparat fotograficzny" is derived from the Greek words "ἀπαρά" (aparά) meaning "away" and "γράφω" (gráphō) meaning "to write". | |||
| Romanian | aparat foto | ||
| The Romanian word "aparat foto" is a borrowing from the French word "appareil photographique", which literally means "photographic apparatus". | |||
| Russian | камера | ||
| In Russian, the word "камера" can also refer to a prison cell or a legislative chamber. | |||
| Serbian | камера | ||
| The word "Камера" can also refer to a prison cell or a room in a monastery. | |||
| Slovak | fotoaparát | ||
| The word "fotoaparát" is derived from the Latin words "foto" (light) and "apparatus" (device). | |||
| Slovenian | kamero | ||
| In Slovenian, the word 'kamero' also refers to a prison cell, possibly due to its resemblance to a 'room'. | |||
| Ukrainian | камери | ||
| The word "камери" in Ukrainian has its roots in the Greek word "kamara", meaning "vault" or "chamber". | |||
Camera in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ক্যামেরা | ||
| The word "ক্যামেরা" is derived from the Latin word "camera", meaning "room" or "chamber", and can also refer to a photographic device. | |||
| Gujarati | ક cameraમેરો | ||
| "Camera" also refers to a person whose profession is to operate the camera in photography or film making. | |||
| Hindi | कैमरा | ||
| The term कैमरा (camera) derives from the Latin word 'camera,' which refers to a room or a vault. | |||
| Kannada | ಕ್ಯಾಮೆರಾ | ||
| The word "ಕ್ಯಾಮೆರಾ" is derived from the Latin word "camera", which means "room" or "chamber". | |||
| Malayalam | ക്യാമറ | ||
| In Malayalam, 'ക്യാമറ' can also refer to a water storage container, a measure of capacity, and a ritual performed before starting a journey. | |||
| Marathi | कॅमेरा | ||
| The Marathi word "कॅमेरा" is derived from the Latin word "camera", meaning "room" or "chamber". | |||
| Nepali | क्यामेरा | ||
| The word "क्यामेरा" also means "room" in Nepali, and comes from the Sanskrit word "कमरा" (kamara), meaning "chamber" or "room." | |||
| Punjabi | ਕੈਮਰਾ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਕੈਮਰਾ" (camera) is based on the Persian word "qamar" meaning 'moon' or 'satellite', and is related to the English word "camera", with a similar meaning. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කැමරා | ||
| The Sinhala word "කැමරා" is also used to refer to a type of traditional Sri Lankan musical instrument. | |||
| Tamil | புகைப்பட கருவி | ||
| The Tamil word புகைப்பட கருவி literally means "smoke-photograph tool" and is used to describe both a camera and a cigarette lighter. | |||
| Telugu | కెమెరా | ||
| The word "కెమెరా" (camera) is most likely derived from the Hindustani word "kamra" (room), referring to the camera obscura, the precursor to the modern camera. | |||
| Urdu | کیمرہ | ||
| کیمرہ (camera) is a loan word from the English language with the original meaning 'chamber'. | |||
Camera in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 相机 | ||
| 相机 (相机) 一词在中文中还有“观察的角度或立场”的意思，而“机”字在古代汉语中还有“观察”的意思。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 相機 | ||
| "相機" (camera) literally means "measuring instrument", as in the past cameras were used to measure distances in surveying. | |||
| Japanese | カメラ | ||
| In Japanese, the word カメラ (kamera) originally referred to a small room rather than a device for taking pictures. | |||
| Korean | 카메라 | ||
| In Korean, 카메라 (camera) derives from the Portuguese word "câmara", meaning chamber or room. | |||
| Mongolian | камер | ||
| Mongolian and Russian "камер" ("camera") both descend from the Persian for "private room" or "vault". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကင်မရာ | ||
| The word 'camera' in Myanmar (Burmese) is derived from the Portuguese word 'camara', which originally referred to a treasury or vault. | |||
Camera in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kamera | ||
| In Indonesian, 'kamera' can also refer to a group of people working together on a specific task. | |||
| Javanese | kamera | ||
| "Kamera" in Javanese also means "eye" or "lens". | |||
| Khmer | កាមេរ៉ា | ||
| The word "កាមេរ៉ា" ("camera") in Khmer comes from the Khmer word "ចាម" which means “to see," and the Sanskrit word "कर्म". It can also be used to refer to a mirror. | |||
| Lao | ກ້ອງຖ່າຍຮູບ | ||
| Malay | kamera | ||
| The word "kamera" in Malay is derived from the Portuguese word "câmera", meaning "room" or "chamber", and is used specifically to refer to a photographic camera. | |||
| Thai | กล้อง | ||
| The Thai word "กล้อง" (camera) is derived from the Malay word "kelong, | |||
| Vietnamese | máy ảnh | ||
| The word "Máy ảnh" literally translates to "eye machine" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | camera | ||
Camera in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | kamera | ||
| In Azerbaijani, the word "kamera" can also refer to one's appearance or style. | |||
| Kazakh | камера | ||
| In Kazakh, the word "камера" can also refer to a prison cell. | |||
| Kyrgyz | камера | ||
| The word "камера" in Kyrgyz also means "room", "chamber", and "cell". | |||
| Tajik | камера | ||
| The word "камера" can also refer to a prison or a chamber in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | kamera | ||
| Uzbek | kamera | ||
| Kamera is an Uzbek word borrowed from Persian, ultimately derived from Arabic qamara "vault, (domed) room". | |||
| Uyghur | كامېرا | ||
Camera in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kāmera | ||
| Kāmera translates from Hawaiian to 'room,' but its original meaning is 'a chamber for the King's advisors to deliberate in.' | |||
| Maori | kāmera | ||
| Some scholars believe the word "kāmera" was originally a term for a type of trap or snare in Maori, possibly from the word "kā" meaning "to bite" or "to catch". | |||
| Samoan | mea puʻe ata | ||
| The literal translation of "mea puʻe ata" as "thing that captures images" highlights its primary function as a device for recording visual representations. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | camera | ||
| The Tagalog word "kamera" can also refer to the "chamber" of a firearm or the "room" in a house. | |||
Camera in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | cámara ukax mä juk’a pachanakanwa | ||
| Guarani | cámara rehegua | ||
Camera in International Languages
| Esperanto | fotilo | ||
| The word 'fotilo' is derived from the Latin word 'fotis', which means 'light'. | |||
| Latin | camera | ||
| In Latin, 'camera' can also mean a vaulted ceiling, chamber, or room. | |||
Camera in Others Languages
| Greek | φωτογραφικη μηχανη | ||
| The Greek term "ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΗ ΜΗΧΑΝΗ" is composed by two words that individually translate as "light" (ΦΩΣ, phōs) and "drawing" (ΓΡΑΦΗ, graphē). | |||
| Hmong | koob yees duab | ||
| The word "koob yees duab" literally means "to see two times" | |||
| Kurdish | kamîra | ||
| The Kurdish word "kamîra" also means "mirror" or "lens". | |||
| Turkish | kamera | ||
| "Kamera" kelimesi Farsçada "mahzen" anlamına gelir. | |||
| Xhosa | ikhamera | ||
| The word "ikhamera" is derived from the Greek word "kamara", which means "chamber" or "room", and refers to the darkroom in which photographic film is processed. | |||
| Yiddish | אַפּאַראַט | ||
| The Yiddish word "אַפּאַראַט" (camera) comes from the German word "Apparat", which refers to a device or instrument. | |||
| Zulu | ikhamera | ||
| The Zulu word 'ikhamera' may also refer to an 'instrument of divination'. | |||
| Assamese | কেমেৰা | ||
| Aymara | cámara ukax mä juk’a pachanakanwa | ||
| Bhojpuri | कैमरा के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ކެމެރާ އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | कैमरा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | camera | ||
| Guarani | cámara rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | kamera | ||
| Krio | kamera | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کامێرا | ||
| Maithili | कैमरा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯦꯃꯦꯔꯥꯗꯥ ꯌꯥꯑꯣꯔꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | camera hmanga siam a ni | ||
| Oromo | kaameraa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | କ୍ୟାମେରା | ||
| Quechua | cámara | ||
| Sanskrit | कॅमेरा | ||
| Tatar | камера | ||
| Tigrinya | ካሜራ | ||
| Tsonga | khamera | ||