Candidate in Different Languages
Discover 'Candidate' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'candidate' holds great significance in many cultures and languages around the world. Originating from the Latin 'candida,' meaning 'white' or 'pure,' the term was historically used to describe those seeking public office in ancient Rome, who would often wear white to symbolize their purity and integrity. Today, a candidate refers to any person who is being considered for a job, promotion, or election.
Understanding the translation of 'candidate' in different languages can be both fascinating and practical. For instance, in Spanish, a candidate is known as 'un candidato' or 'una candidata,' depending on the gender. In French, the term is 'un candidat' or 'une candidate,' while in German, it is 'ein Kandidat' or 'eine Kandidatin.' In Mandarin Chinese, the word is '候选人' (hòu xuǎn rén), and in Japanese, it is '候補生' (kouhoosei).
Exploring the nuances of this term in various languages can provide valuable insights into different cultural perspectives and societal values. Join us as we delve deeper into the translations of 'candidate' in a range of languages, shedding light on the rich history and diversity of this important term.
Candidate
Candidate in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | kandidaat | ||
| The Afrikaans word 'kandidaat' originates from the Latin phrase 'candidatus', meaning 'clothed in white', because Roman citizens seeking office traditionally wore white togas. | |||
| Amharic | እጩ | ||
| "እጩ" may also refer to a 'person or thing nominated, elected, or designated for an office, honor, or position' | |||
| Hausa | dan takara | ||
| In Hausa, the word "dan takara" literally means "child of treasure". | |||
| Igbo | nwa akwukwo | ||
| {"text": "The Igbo word "nwa akwukwo" literally means "child of paper," a reference to the ballot papers they vote with."} | |||
| Malagasy | kandidà | ||
| The word "kandidà" in Malagasy is derived from the Latin word "candidatus," which originally meant "clothed in white". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wosankhidwa | ||
| The word "Wosankhidwa" is derived from the verb "kusankha" meaning "to choose". This suggests that a "Wosankhidwa" is literally "one who has been chosen". | |||
| Shona | mumiriri | ||
| The word "mumiriri" may derive from the verb "mirira," meaning "to seek or to desire," suggesting that a candidate is one who seeks a position. | |||
| Somali | musharax | ||
| The term is derived from 'mushar', meaning 'one who intends' | |||
| Sesotho | mokhethoa | ||
| This noun can also refer to a "person who is sent"} | |||
| Swahili | mgombea | ||
| From -gombana (to compete), hence a candidate is a contestant in an election. | |||
| Xhosa | umgqatswa | ||
| The word "umgqatswa" also means "the one who is chosen" and "the one who is set apart". | |||
| Yoruba | oludije | ||
| Oludije relates to the Yoruba word "oluwa" which means "owner" and "ije" which means "intention". This explains why an "Oludije" is one who has the intention to be a chieftain. | |||
| Zulu | ozobhalwa | ||
| The word "ozobhalwa" in Zulu, also means "one who is being tried". | |||
| Bambara | kandida ye | ||
| Ewe | ame si di be yeaxɔ ɖoƒea | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umukandida | ||
| Lingala | candidat | ||
| Luganda | eyeesimbyewo | ||
| Sepedi | nkgetheng | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ɔkannifo | ||
Candidate in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مرشح | ||
| مرشح is derived from the root ر-ش-ح, which means "to filter or purify." | |||
| Hebrew | מוּעֲמָד | ||
| מוּעֲמָד (candidate) is derived from the Hebrew word מוֹעֵד, meaning "appointment", and also refers to a "festival" or "holiday." | |||
| Pashto | نوماندان | ||
| The word "نوماندان" (numāndān) in Pashto also means "a person who is nominated for an election or position". | |||
| Arabic | مرشح | ||
| مرشح is derived from the root ر-ش-ح, which means "to filter or purify." | |||
Candidate in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kandidat | ||
| The Albanian word "kandidat" originates from the Latin word "candidatus", meaning "dressed in white", referring to the white robes worn by Roman candidates seeking office. | |||
| Basque | hautagaia | ||
| The Basque word "hautagaia" derives from the verb "hautatu" (to select) and the suffix "-gaia" (one who). | |||
| Catalan | candidat | ||
| In Catalan, "candidat" can also mean "suitor" or "lover". | |||
| Croatian | kandidat | ||
| The Croatian word "kandidat" is derived from the Latin word "candidatus". which initially meant "dressed in white", referring to the white togas worn by Roman politicians seeking office. | |||
| Danish | kandidat | ||
| The term 'kandidat' originally referred to the lowest academic degree in Denmark until 1848 | |||
| Dutch | kandidaat | ||
| The word "kandidaat" derives from the Latin word "candidatus," which means "clothed in white," referring to the white robes worn by candidates in ancient Roman elections. | |||
| English | candidate | ||
| "Candidate" stems from Latin "candidatus" meaning "dressed in white" due to the white clothing Roman political figures wore while campaigning. | |||
| French | candidat | ||
| The word "candidat" comes from the Latin "candidatus", meaning "clothed in white", as candidates for public office in ancient Rome wore white togas. | |||
| Frisian | kandidaat | ||
| Frisian word "kandidaat" (candidate) comes from Latin "candidatus" ("dressed in white") referring to white robes worn by Roman candidates seeking office | |||
| Galician | candidato | ||
| The Galician word "candidato" also means "suitor" like in English, coming from the Latin "candidatus" meaning "clothed in white". | |||
| German | kandidat | ||
| In German, the word "Kandidat" (candidate) is derived from the Latin word "candidatus", meaning "dressed in white", referring to the white robes worn by Roman candidates seeking office. | |||
| Icelandic | frambjóðandi | ||
| The word "frambjóðandi" is derived from the Old Norse word "fram" (forward) and "bjóða" (to offer), meaning "one who offers themselves forward". | |||
| Irish | iarrthóir | ||
| "Iarrthóir" (candidate) comes from the Old Irish "iarraid" (to ask), and can also mean a "supplicant" or "applicant". | |||
| Italian | candidato | ||
| "The Italian "candidato" derives from Latin "candidus" meaning "white," as candidates in ancient Rome wore white togas." | |||
| Luxembourgish | kandidat | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Kandidat" comes from the Latin word "candidatus", which means "white-robed" or "shining." | |||
| Maltese | kandidat | ||
| The word "kandidat" in Maltese ultimately derives from the Latin word "candidatus," meaning "one clothed in white," as white was the color of the clothing worn by Roman office seekers. | |||
| Norwegian | kandidat | ||
| The Norwegian word “kandidat” derives from the Latin word “candidus”, meaning “white”, and refers to the white robes worn by Roman candidates for office. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | candidato | ||
| "Candidato" comes from the Latin word "candidatus", meaning "clothed in white". In Ancient Rome, candidates for office wore white togas to symbolize their purity and innocence. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | tagraiche | ||
| The Gaelic word "tagraiche" could originally have meant "seeker" or "demander". | |||
| Spanish | candidato | ||
| The word "candidato" is derived from the Latin word "candidus," meaning "white" or "shining," referring to the white robes worn by Roman candidates for office. | |||
| Swedish | kandidat | ||
| The Swedish word "kandidat" has its roots in Latin, meaning "shining white" or "pure". | |||
| Welsh | ymgeisydd | ||
| The root of the word 'ymgeisydd' is 'cws', which shares Indo-European roots with terms for 'love' and 'desire'. | |||
Candidate in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | кандыдат | ||
| Кандыдат ultimately comes from the Latin word | |||
| Bosnian | kandidat | ||
| It derives from Italian 'candidato' of Latin origin meaning 'white-robed', referring to the white robes worn by ancient Roman office seekers. | |||
| Bulgarian | кандидат | ||
| The word "кандидат" comes from the Latin word "candidatus", which means "clothed in white". This refers to the practice in ancient Rome of candidates for office wearing white robes. | |||
| Czech | kandidát | ||
| The word "kandidát" is derived from the Latin word "candidus," meaning "white" or "bright." | |||
| Estonian | kandidaat | ||
| The word "kandidaat" derives from the Latin "candidatus," meaning "clothed in white," referring to the white robes worn by Roman political candidates. | |||
| Finnish | ehdokas | ||
| The word 'ehdokas' is derived from the Proto-Finnic word '*ehto', which means 'condition' or 'requirement'. | |||
| Hungarian | jelölt | ||
| In Hungarian, "jelölt" also means "mark" or "sign"} | |||
| Latvian | kandidāts | ||
| The Latvian "kandidāts" comes from the Latin word "candidatus," meaning "clothed in white." | |||
| Lithuanian | kandidatas | ||
| The word "kandidatas" in Lithuanian is derived from the Latin word "candidatus", which originally meant "clothed in white" and referred to Roman political candidates who wore white togas during their campaigns. | |||
| Macedonian | кандидат | ||
| The word "кандидат" is cognate with both the Russian word "кандидат" and the Polish word "kandydat", all three meaning "candidate". The word "кандидат" is also used in Macedonia to refer to a person who is running for an election or a person who is seeking a position of trust or honor. | |||
| Polish | kandydat | ||
| The word "kandydat" comes from the Latin word "candidatus," meaning "one who wears white clothing," as candidates for office in ancient Rome wore white robes. | |||
| Romanian | candidat | ||
| In Romanian, "candidat" also means "suitor", deriving from the Latin "candidatus", meaning "clothed in white", a reference to the white robes worn by Roman candidates for public office. | |||
| Russian | кандидат | ||
| Кандидат, in Russian, is a word derived from the Latin | |||
| Serbian | кандидат | ||
| The word "кандидат" derives from the Latin "candidatus", meaning "clothed in white", and was originally used to describe Roman candidates for office who would wear white robes to distinguish themselves. | |||
| Slovak | kandidát | ||
| Kandidát, pôvodne biely odev kandidátov na úrad. | |||
| Slovenian | kandidat | ||
| The word "kandidat" in Slovenian can also refer to a person who is running for an elected office. | |||
| Ukrainian | кандидат | ||
| In Ancient Greek, the word "kandidat" meant "clothed in white", referring to the white togas worn by Roman candidates seeking public office. | |||
Candidate in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রার্থী | ||
| "প্রার্থী" (candidate) comes from the Sanskrit word "pra-arth", meaning "to solicit" or "to request", indicating the candidate's appeal for votes. | |||
| Gujarati | ઉમેદવાર | ||
| The word | |||
| Hindi | उम्मीदवार | ||
| In Persian, the word 'ummedwar' means "hopeful" or "one who awaits," reflecting its original connotation as a person seeking a position. | |||
| Kannada | ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿ | ||
| The word "ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "abhyartha" meaning "one who seeks"} | |||
| Malayalam | സ്ഥാനാർത്ഥി | ||
| Marathi | उमेदवार | ||
| The Marathi word 'उमेदवार' ('candidate') comes from Persian 'ummidvār', which originally means "person with a desire". In Sanskrit it also meant a person with aspiration, expectation or hope. Later it got the limited connotation of 'candidate'. | |||
| Nepali | उम्मेदवार | ||
| Historically, the term "उम्मेदवार" also referred to a person who sought a bride's hand in marriage. | |||
| Punjabi | ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ | ||
| The word "ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ" comes from the Persian word "omidvar" meaning "hopeful," and the Arabic word "qandil" meaning "lamp." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අපේක්ෂකයා | ||
| The word අපේක්ෂකයා (candidate) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'apekshya' meaning 'expectation' or 'desire'. | |||
| Tamil | வேட்பாளர் | ||
| Telugu | అభ్యర్థి | ||
| In Sanskrit, "abhyarthi" means "one who seeks" or "one who is entitled to." | |||
| Urdu | امیدوار | ||
| امیدوار can also mean "hopeful" or "optimistic" when used as an adjective | |||
Candidate in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 候选人 | ||
| 候选人 (hòuxuǎnrén) is also used to refer to a person who is nominated for a position, but is not the only one being considered. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 候選人 | ||
| The character 候 means “watch” and the character 選 means “select”, so 候選人 literally means “person who is being watched to be selected”. | |||
| Japanese | 候補者 | ||
| 候補者 can also mean "nominated person," "prospective person," or "prospective customer." | |||
| Korean | 후보자 | ||
| '후보자' is a compound of '후보(候補)' (candidate) and '자(者)' (person); this latter element also appears in 학생 (student), 근로자 (worker) and 환자 (patient). | |||
| Mongolian | нэр дэвшигч | ||
| The Mongolian word “нэр дэвшигч” (candidate) literally means “one who puts their name forward.” | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကိုယ်စားလှယ်လောင်း | ||
Candidate in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kandidat | ||
| In the past, 'kandidat' was also used to refer to a container for spices or a box for tobacco. | |||
| Javanese | calon | ||
| The word "calon" is derived from the Sanskrit word "kalyāna" meaning "auspicious" or "good". It can also mean "prospective" or "potential". | |||
| Khmer | បេក្ខជន | ||
| The Khmer word for "candidate", បេក្ខជន, is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhikṣu", meaning "mendicant" or "religious ascetic." | |||
| Lao | ຜູ້ສະ ໝັກ | ||
| Malay | calon | ||
| The Malay word "calon" is borrowed from its Portuguese cognate "candidato". | |||
| Thai | ผู้สมัคร | ||
| The term "ผู้สมัคร" (candidate) in Thai is derived from the Pali word "samkata", which means "to be fit for" or "to be qualified for". | |||
| Vietnamese | ứng cử viên | ||
| "Ứng cử viên" also refers to a type Vietnamese noodle made with rice flour and ground shrimp. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kandidato | ||
Candidate in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | namizəd | ||
| The word "namizəd" in Azerbaijani is derived from the Arabic word "namizūd", which means "an opponent or rival in a contest or election." | |||
| Kazakh | кандидат | ||
| The word "кандидат" has its roots in Latin, where it originally meant "white-clothed one", referring to candidates for public office who wore white togas. | |||
| Kyrgyz | талапкер | ||
| The word "талапкер" is a Kyrgyz word that can also mean "seeker", "aspirant", or "applicant." | |||
| Tajik | номзад | ||
| The word "номзад" is derived from the Persian word "نوماند" and the Arabic word "مزد" and also means "guest". | |||
| Turkmen | dalaşgär | ||
| Uzbek | nomzod | ||
| It is cognate with "namzad" in Persian. | |||
| Uyghur | كاندىدات | ||
Candidate in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | moho | ||
| The term 'moho' may have originated from the verb 'moe,' which means 'to lie' or 'to propose,' as in to propose one's candidacy. | |||
| Maori | kaitono | ||
| Kaitono is also a Maori word for "a person who receives a gift" or "a person who has something given to them." | |||
| Samoan | sui tauva | ||
| The word 'sui tauva' is derived from the Proto-Polynesian term 'sui tauva', meaning 'messenger' or 'representative'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kandidato | ||
| The Tagalog word "kandidato" is derived from the Spanish word "candidato", which itself comes from the Latin word "candidus" meaning "white" or "pure." | |||
Candidate in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | candidato ukhamawa | ||
| Guarani | candidato rehegua | ||
Candidate in International Languages
| Esperanto | kandidato | ||
| The word "kandidato" in Esperanto is derived from the Latin word "candidatus", which means "white-clad". In Roman times, candidates for office wore white togas. | |||
| Latin | candidatum | ||
| The Latin word "candidatum" originates from "candere," meaning "to shine" or "to be white," referring to the white robes worn by Roman political candidates during elections. | |||
Candidate in Others Languages
| Greek | υποψήφιος | ||
| In addition to 'candidate,' the Greek word "υποψήφιος" can also mean 'suspect' or 'prospective buyer' | |||
| Hmong | neeg sib tw | ||
| The word "neeg sib tw" can also mean "person who runs for office" or "aspirant." | |||
| Kurdish | namzêd | ||
| Namzêd is also used to refer to a potential son- or daughter-in-law. | |||
| Turkish | aday | ||
| Aday is a compound word in Turkish that is derived from the words "at" and "day," but its meaning has evolved over time. | |||
| Xhosa | umgqatswa | ||
| The word "umgqatswa" also means "the one who is chosen" and "the one who is set apart". | |||
| Yiddish | קאנדידאט | ||
| The Yiddish word "קאנדידאט" ultimately derives from the Latin "candidatus", meaning "clothed in white", which referred to Roman politicians who wore white robes to distinguish themselves during elections. | |||
| Zulu | ozobhalwa | ||
| The word "ozobhalwa" in Zulu, also means "one who is being tried". | |||
| Assamese | প্ৰাৰ্থী | ||
| Aymara | candidato ukhamawa | ||
| Bhojpuri | उम्मीदवार के रूप में बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ކެންޑިޑޭޓެވެ | ||
| Dogri | उम्मीदवार दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kandidato | ||
| Guarani | candidato rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | kandidato | ||
| Krio | kandidet fɔ di pɔsin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کاندید | ||
| Maithili | उम्मीदवार | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯦꯟꯗꯤꯗꯦꯠ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | candidate tur a ni | ||
| Oromo | kaadhimamaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରାର୍ଥୀ | ||
| Quechua | candidato nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | अभ्यर्थी | ||
| Tatar | кандидат | ||
| Tigrinya | ሕጹይ ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | muhlawuriwa | ||