Career in Different Languages
Discover 'Career' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A 'career' is a journey, a path that we consciously choose and navigate, filled with learning, growth, and fulfillment. It's a vital part of our lives, shaping our identities and contributing to our overall well-being. The significance of a career extends beyond personal achievement, as it plays a crucial role in our societies and cultures.
Throughout history, careers have evolved and adapted to societal needs, leading to an ever-expanding array of professional opportunities. From ancient artisans to modern-day tech entrepreneurs, careers have been a testament to human innovation and progress.
Understanding the translation of 'career' in different languages not only showcases the global reach of this concept but also offers a glimpse into diverse cultural perspectives. For instance, in Spanish, 'career' is 'carrera'; in French, it's 'carrière'; in German, it's 'Karriere'; in Mandarin, it's 'career' (yes, it's the same!); and in Japanese, it's 'karieru'.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'career' in various languages, providing insights into the global workforce and the unique value that each culture brings to the table.
Career
Career in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | loopbaan | ||
| In Afrikaans, the word "loopbaan" can also refer to a racing track, suggesting the idea of a race or journey in one's professional life. | |||
| Amharic | ሙያ | ||
| "ሙያ" originates from the Ge'ez word ሙያ፡ (muya) meaning "trade" or "profession". | |||
| Hausa | aiki | ||
| In 1939, the term 'aiki' was translated as 'calling' by the missionary and Hausa scholar John Edgar. | |||
| Igbo | ọrụ | ||
| "Ọrụ" also means "work" or "job" in Igbo, derived from the verb "rụ" meaning "to do" or "to work" | |||
| Malagasy | asany | ||
| The word "asany" also means "road". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | ntchito | ||
| The word "ntchito" in Nyanja can also mean any kind of work, especially paid work. | |||
| Shona | basa | ||
| The word basa refers to the profession, trade, or calling one pursues. | |||
| Somali | shaqo | ||
| The Somali word "shaqo" not only means "career" but also "work" or "occupation." | |||
| Sesotho | mosebetsi | ||
| Swahili | kazi | ||
| The word "kazi" can also mean "work" or "occupation" in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | umsebenzi | ||
| In Xhosa, the word "umsebenzi" not only refers to a career but also means "work" or "occupation." | |||
| Yoruba | iṣẹ | ||
| "Iṣẹ" also means "work" or "labour" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | umsebenzi | ||
| Despite the word 'umsebenzi' being translated as 'career,' its literal translation is 'that which keeps one busy' or 'work'. | |||
| Bambara | baara | ||
| Ewe | dᴐwᴐna | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umwuga | ||
| Lingala | mosala | ||
| Luganda | omulimu | ||
| Sepedi | boiphedišo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | adwuma | ||
Career in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مسار مهني مسار وظيفي | ||
| The Arabic word "\u0645سار مهني \u0645سار وظيفي" ("career") also refers to "a way, route, or path". | |||
| Hebrew | קריירה | ||
| The Hebrew word "קריירה" derives from the Aramaic word "קריר" meaning "cold" or "detached" and originally referred to a path or direction rather than a profession. | |||
| Pashto | مسلک | ||
| The word "مسلک" can also be used to refer to a person's profession, occupation, or trade. | |||
| Arabic | مسار مهني مسار وظيفي | ||
| The Arabic word "\u0645سار مهني \u0645سار وظيفي" ("career") also refers to "a way, route, or path". | |||
Career in Western European Languages
| Albanian | karriera | ||
| The word "karriera" in Albanian also means "ladder" or "stepladder." | |||
| Basque | karrera | ||
| In Basque, the word "karrera" can refer to both a path or road and a competition or race. | |||
| Catalan | carrera | ||
| Catalan "carrera" derives from Latin "carrus" (cart), also denoting "racetrack" or "street". | |||
| Croatian | karijera | ||
| In Croatian, 'karijera' also means 'quarry' or 'mine'. | |||
| Danish | karriere | ||
| "Karriere", the Swedish word for "Career, can also mean, "a groove or furrow," or sometimes, "rut." | |||
| Dutch | carrière | ||
| In the Netherlands, "carrière" can refer to the "gutter" in the road | |||
| English | career | ||
| The word "career" comes from the Latin word "carrus," meaning "wheel" or "cart," and originally referred to a chariot racecourse. | |||
| French | carrière | ||
| In Old French, "carrière" also meant a road or path. | |||
| Frisian | karriêre | ||
| In Frisian, "karriêre" can also mean "a rut in the ice". | |||
| Galician | carreira | ||
| In Galician, "carreira" also means "road" or "track," suggesting a journey or path one follows in life or work. | |||
| German | werdegang | ||
| "Werdegang" also means "development" and can refer to either personal or professional growth. | |||
| Icelandic | feril | ||
| The Icelandic word "ferill" can also mean "path" or "journey". | |||
| Irish | gairme | ||
| The Irish word "gairme" can also refer to a summons, call, or outcry. | |||
| Italian | carriera | ||
| The word "carriera" in Italian shares the same etymology as the French word "carrière" and originally referred to a race track or a place for running. | |||
| Luxembourgish | carrière | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Carrière" can also refer to a narrow country road or a ravine. | |||
| Maltese | karriera | ||
| The word "karriera" in Maltese is derived from the Italian word "carriera", which originally meant a "street" or "racecourse". | |||
| Norwegian | karriere | ||
| The related Norwegian word “kjör,” meaning “driving,” shares the same historical root as “career.” | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | carreira | ||
| In Portuguese, "carreira" also means "race" or "run". The word derives from the Latin "carrus", meaning "cart", and originally referred to a track for horse races. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | dreuchd | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word "dreuchd" can also refer to a turn or direction, alluding to the twists and turns of a career path. | |||
| Spanish | carrera | ||
| The Spanish word "carrera" comes from the Latin word "carraria," meaning "road" or "pathway," and also refers to a horse race or chariot race. | |||
| Swedish | karriär | ||
| The Swedish word 'karriär' originates from the French word 'carrière', meaning 'racecourse'. | |||
| Welsh | gyrfa | ||
| The word 'gyrfa' also means "orbit" in Welsh, reflecting an older meaning of "course" or "path." | |||
Career in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | кар'ера | ||
| In Belarusian, "кар'ера" can also refer to a gravel pit or quarry. | |||
| Bosnian | karijera | ||
| The word "karijera" can also refer to a "quarry", "mine", "gravel", "stone". | |||
| Bulgarian | кариера | ||
| The word "кариера" (career) in Bulgarian comes from the French word "carrière" which means "race" or "course". | |||
| Czech | kariéra | ||
| The word "kariéra" in Czech comes from the Italian word "carriera", meaning "race" or "path". | |||
| Estonian | karjäär | ||
| The Estonian word "karjäär" can also refer to a quarry. | |||
| Finnish | ura | ||
| The first written mention of ura appears in 1489 in a German-Latin vocabulary. | |||
| Hungarian | karrier | ||
| In Hungarian, "karrier" also means "trolley" or "tram" as a reference to its origin as a military vehicle used to transport troops. | |||
| Latvian | karjeru | ||
| The word "karjeru" is derived from the French word "carrière", which also means "quarry". This is because the first "careers" were in mines and quarries. | |||
| Lithuanian | karjerą | ||
| In Lithuanian, "karjerą" can also refer to a quarry or a rock formation. | |||
| Macedonian | кариера | ||
| The Macedonian word "кариера" can also refer to a rock quarry or a quarry where raw materials are extracted. | |||
| Polish | kariera | ||
| The Polish word "kariera" originates from the Italian word "carriera" meaning "racecourse" or "street". | |||
| Romanian | carieră | ||
| "Cariera" can also refer to a quarry, an excavation made in the ground to extract rock, stone or minerals. | |||
| Russian | карьера | ||
| The Russian word "карьера" has multiple meanings, ranging from mining excavation and stone quarrying to career advancement. | |||
| Serbian | каријера | ||
| The word "каријера" in Serbian originally meant "a place where carts are made or repaired" and is a cognate of the modern-day English word "career" (referring to a wheeled vehicle). | |||
| Slovak | kariéra | ||
| The word "kariéra" also means "quarry" or "gravel pit" | |||
| Slovenian | kariero | ||
| The word "kariero" is derived from the Latin word "carrus", meaning "cart" or "wagon", and originally referred to the path or direction taken by a wagon or cart. | |||
| Ukrainian | кар'єра | ||
| The Ukrainian word "кар'єра" comes from the French word "carrière", which also means "quarry" and "racecourse". | |||
Career in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | কর্মজীবন | ||
| The word "কর্মজীবন" (career) in Bengali is derived from the Sanskrit word "कर्म" (karma), meaning "action" or "deed". It can also refer to a person's profession or occupation. | |||
| Gujarati | કારકિર્દી | ||
| Originally borrowed from Middle Indian 'karikira' - 'action, occupation'. | |||
| Hindi | व्यवसाय | ||
| The word "व्यवसाय" literally means "to engage in business or a profession" and is a cognate of the English word "business". | |||
| Kannada | ವೃತ್ತಿ | ||
| The Kannada word "ವೃತ್ತಿ" can also refer to a vocation, occupation, or profession. | |||
| Malayalam | കരിയർ | ||
| The word 'കരിയർ' ('career') in Malayalam also means 'charcoal' or 'black' in English. | |||
| Marathi | करिअर | ||
| The Marathi word 'करिअर' ('career') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'करियर्' ('deed' or 'action'), which in turn comes from the Proto-Indo-European root 'kwer-' ('to make' or 'to do'). | |||
| Nepali | क्यारियर | ||
| The word "क्यारियर" derives from the Latin word "carrus", meaning "cart" or "wagon", and originally referred to the profession of a carrier or carter. | |||
| Punjabi | ਕੈਰੀਅਰ | ||
| The word 'ਕੈਰੀਅਰ' comes from the French word 'carriere', meaning 'course' or 'race'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වෘත්තිය | ||
| In the 16th century, it was used to denote a religious vocation | |||
| Tamil | தொழில் | ||
| The word "தொழில்" also means "craft", "profession", and "occupation" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | కెరీర్ | ||
| The word "కెరీర్" is derived from the Latin word "carrus", meaning "cart" or "chariot". | |||
| Urdu | کیریئر | ||
| The Urdu word کیریئر (kayriyar) is derived from the English word 'career', meaning a profession or occupation involving special skills or knowledge. | |||
Career in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 事业 | ||
| "事业" also means "cause" or "goal" in Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 事業 | ||
| 事業 (shìyè) originally meant 'great undertaking' and can also refer to an enterprise or organization. | |||
| Japanese | キャリア | ||
| The Japanese word "キャリア" (career) also means "carrier" (a person or thing that transports something). | |||
| Korean | 직업 | ||
| 직업 is a Sino-Korean word that originally meant "to control or manage" but now refers to one's profession or calling in life. | |||
| Mongolian | ажил мэргэжил | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အသက်မွေးဝမ်းကျောင်း | ||
Career in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | karier | ||
| The word 'karier' is borrowed from the English word 'career', but in Indonesian it can also refer to a field or specialism. | |||
| Javanese | karir | ||
| "Kariir" in Javanese holds alternate meanings, from a 'way' or 'path' to a 'living' or 'trade'. | |||
| Khmer | អាជីព | ||
| The word អាជីព can also refer to the quality of being professional or expert. | |||
| Lao | ອາຊີບ | ||
| The Lao word ອາຊີບ (อาชีพ) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'ajiva', meaning "livelihood". In Thai, the word อาชีพ (อาชีพ) also means "occupation" or "profession". | |||
| Malay | kerjaya | ||
| The Malay word 'kerjaya' derives from the Sanskrit 'karya' meaning 'work, action, or deed'. | |||
| Thai | อาชีพ | ||
| "อาชีพ" comes from the Sanskrit word "อาชีวะ" which means "livelihood" or "vocation". | |||
| Vietnamese | nghề nghiệp | ||
| The word "nghề nghiệp" in Vietnamese can also mean "vocation" or "occupation." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | karera | ||
Career in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | karyera | ||
| The word "karyera" is derived from the French word "carrière", which means "a racecourse", and originally referred to the path of a horse in a race, but now signifies a person's professional path. | |||
| Kazakh | мансап | ||
| The word "Мансап" in Kazakh can also refer to a "post" or a "position". | |||
| Kyrgyz | мансап | ||
| In Persian, the word "mansap" also means "rank" or "office." | |||
| Tajik | мансаб | ||
| In Persian, "mansab" means "office" or "rank" in addition to "career" | |||
| Turkmen | karýerasy | ||
| Uzbek | martaba | ||
| The word "martaba" also means "stage" or "level" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | كەسپى | ||
Career in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻoihana | ||
| The term ʻoihana originally referred to work in temples or for chiefs but today it means any profession. | |||
| Maori | umanga | ||
| The Maori word 'umanga' (career) originally referred to a path or direction taken for any purpose. | |||
| Samoan | matata | ||
| "Matata" also means "a way of doing things" or "a habit" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | karera | ||
| The word "karera" in Tagalog (Filipino) also means a race or a competition, such as a foot race or horse race. | |||
Career in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | thakhi | ||
| Guarani | mba'apokuaa teéva | ||
Career in International Languages
| Esperanto | kariero | ||
| The word 'kariero' in Esperanto is thought to derive from French 'carrière' ('quarry'), possibly due to the notion of 'extracting' a path in life. | |||
| Latin | vitae | ||
| Vitae also means "life" in Latin, and the plural form, "vitae," can refer to a biography or a curriculum vitae. | |||
Career in Others Languages
| Greek | καριέρα | ||
| The word 'καριέρα' originally referred to a chariot used in races and processions. | |||
| Hmong | kev ua haujlwm | ||
| The word "kev ua haujlwm" in Hmong can also refer to the path or track of something such as an animal or a vehicle. | |||
| Kurdish | pêşveçûnî | ||
| The word "pêşveçûnî" is also used in the sense of "profession" in some Kurdish dialects. | |||
| Turkish | kariyer | ||
| The word 'kariyer' in Turkish derives from the Arabic word 'qarya' meaning 'village'. | |||
| Xhosa | umsebenzi | ||
| In Xhosa, the word "umsebenzi" not only refers to a career but also means "work" or "occupation." | |||
| Yiddish | קאַריערע | ||
| This Yiddish word can also mean "a race" or "running" in English. | |||
| Zulu | umsebenzi | ||
| Despite the word 'umsebenzi' being translated as 'career,' its literal translation is 'that which keeps one busy' or 'work'. | |||
| Assamese | কেৰিয়াৰ | ||
| Aymara | thakhi | ||
| Bhojpuri | करियर | ||
| Dhivehi | ވަޒީފާ | ||
| Dogri | पेशा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | karera | ||
| Guarani | mba'apokuaa teéva | ||
| Ilocano | karera | ||
| Krio | wok | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پیشە | ||
| Maithili | आजीविका | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯨꯟꯁꯤ ꯂꯝꯕꯤ | ||
| Mizo | hnathawh | ||
| Oromo | hojii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବୃତ୍ତି | ||
| Quechua | carrera | ||
| Sanskrit | चरितम् | ||
| Tatar | карьера | ||
| Tigrinya | ሞያ | ||
| Tsonga | ntirhovutomi | ||