Central in different languages

Central in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'central' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting something that is at the center or of great importance. Its cultural importance is evident in various fields, from architecture and design to geography and urban planning. Understanding the concept of 'central' is crucial as it helps us grasp the idea of focus, priority, and interconnectivity.

Moreover, the translation of 'central' in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how diverse cultures perceive and prioritize concepts. For instance, in Spanish, 'central' translates to 'central', in French it is 'central', while in German, it is 'zentral'. These translations not only help in cross-cultural communication but also offer a glimpse into the unique linguistic nuances of various languages.

So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural researcher, or someone interested in expanding your linguistic repertoire, understanding the translation of 'central' in different languages can be a rewarding journey. Let's explore these translations and more!

Central


Central in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanssentraal
The word "sentraal" in Afrikaans, like its cognate "central" in English, can also mean "main" or "principal".
Amharicማዕከላዊ
The word "ማዕከላዊ" can also refer to a central place or location.
Hausatsakiya
The word "tsakiya" also refers to the middle part of a body like the chest, waist, or head
Igboetiti
'Eti' also means 'heart', referring to the heart of a matter.
Malagasyfoibe
The word "foibe" in Malagasy means "central", but can also refer to the central highlands of the country known as the "Central Plateau".
Nyanja (Chichewa)chapakati
The word "chapakati" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also refer to a place where people gossip or gather.
Shonapakati
"Pakati" in Shona also means "the main part" or "the heart of the matter."
Somalidhexe
The word "dhexe" also means "middle".
Sesothobohareng
The word "bohareng" in Sesotho originates from the verb "ho boha" meaning "to give" or "to donate".
Swahilikatikati
The word “katikati” in Swahili also means "in the middle" or "among".
Xhosaembindini
The word 'embindini' also has the alternate meaning of 'middle' or 'in the middle'.
Yorubaaarin
Aarin can mean 'middle' in context.
Zulumaphakathi
The word "maphakathi" can also refer to a gathering place or a center.
Bambaracɛmancɛ la
Ewetitina
Kinyarwandahagati
Lingalana katikati
Lugandawakati
Sepedibogareng bja
Twi (Akan)mfinimfini

Central in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicوسط
The word "وسط" can also refer to the waist or middle of the body, an intermediary, a middleman, a moderator, a broker or go-between, or the middle of anything.
Hebrewמֶרכָּזִי
מֶרכָּזִי may also mean 'focal', 'leading', or 'chief', and its root can also mean 'to gather' or 'to focus'.
Pashtoمرکزي
The word "مرکزي" (markazi) is derived from the Arabic word "مركز" (markaz), which means "center" or "headquarters."
Arabicوسط
The word "وسط" can also refer to the waist or middle of the body, an intermediary, a middleman, a moderator, a broker or go-between, or the middle of anything.

Central in Western European Languages

Albanianqendrore
The Albanian word "qendrore" (central) originally referred to the midpoint of a bowstring, and is related to the Latin "centrum" (center).
Basquezentrala
The Basque word "zentrala" can also refer to a hydro-electric power plant.
Catalancentral
The Catalan word "central" comes from the Latin "centralis", meaning "of the center".
Croatiansredišnji
The Croatian word 'središnji' originally meant 'in the middle', which later shifted to 'central'.
Danishcentral
The Danish word "central" has the same meaning as the English word, and can also refer to a central point or a center of activity.
Dutchcentraal
The word "centraal" in Dutch can also refer to a central government or authority.
Englishcentral
The word "central" originates from the Latin word "centrum," meaning "center" or "middle," and is related to the Greek word "kentron," meaning "point."
Frenchcentral
In French, the word "central" can also refer to a telephone exchange or a headquarters.
Frisiansintraal
The word "sintraal" also means "midst" or "middle" in Frisian.
Galiciancentral
“Central” also means “telephone exchange” in Galician.
Germanzentral
In German, the word "zental" can mean either "central" or "ten thousand".
Icelandicmiðsvæðis
The word is a compound of "mið" and "svæði", which means "area", so "miðsvæðis" literally means "middle-area" or "central area".
Irishlárnach
The word "lárnach" in Irish is derived from the Proto-Celtic root *larno-.
Italiancentrale
"Centrale" in Italian retains its Latin root and can refer to a place (like "power station"), an institution (like "a bank's HQ"), or someone or something holding a central position (like the "main artery").
Luxembourgishzentral
The Luxembourgish word "zentral" is derived from the French word "central" and can also refer to a place where public services are concentrated.
Malteseċentrali
Maltese word ċentrali can mean either 'central' or 'nerve center' depending on the context.
Norwegiansentral
The word "sentral" in Norwegian originally meant "seat" or "throne".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)central
"Central" can also mean "telephone exchange" or "telephone operator" in Portuguese.
Scots Gaelicmeadhan
The word “meadhan” also connotes a physical middle, a centre point between two others and a point of balance and equilibrium.
Spanishcentral
The word "central" in Spanish can also mean "main" or "principal."
Swedishcentral
The Swedish word "central" derives from the Latin word "centrum" which means "center" or "middle". The term "central" implies something at the center or core of a system, organization, geographic location, or concept and can refer to a headquarters, a main office, or a hub.
Welshcanolog
Canalog derives from the Welsh words "can" (middle) and "awl" (all)

Central in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianцэнтральны
The word "цэнтральны" in Belarusian can also mean "main" or "most important".
Bosniancentralno
The word "centralno" can also refer to the central part of a region or country.
Bulgarianцентрален
The word "централен" can also mean "principal" or "main" in Bulgarian.
Czechcentrální
The word "centrální" in Czech is an adjective meaning "central" and can also be used metaphorically to refer to something that is at the center of something else.
Estoniankeskne
"Keskne" is related to "keskmine" and "keskkond", and derives from the Proto-Finnic word *keks-
Finnishkeskeinen
Keskeinen derives from the word "keski", which means "middle" or "center".
Hungarianközponti
The word also means “public”, which may be related to the original meaning of “central” in Hungarian: “pertaining to or shared by all.”
Latviancentrālā
The word "centrālā" can also refer to a telephone exchange or a power plant.
Lithuaniancentrinis
The word “centrinis” originates from the word “centras” (centre), but can also mean "medium", "neutral" or "moderate."
Macedonianцентрално
Централно може да значи и "главно" како у административном, тако и у значењу најбитније.}
Polishcentralny
In Polish, the word "centralny" also has the meaning of "middle", as in "the middle finger" (palec centralny).
Romaniancentral
In Romanian, "central" can also refer to a central power plant or the center of a city or administrative division.
Russianцентральный
The word "центральный" ("central") in Russian can also refer to the main office of an organization or institution.
Serbianцентрални
The word "централни" can also mean "main" or "principal" in Serbian.
Slovakcentrálny
Besides 'central', centrálny can also mean 'centrifugal' or 'centralizing' in Slovak.
Slovenianosrednji
The word "osrednji" comes from the Latin word "centralis", which means "relating to the center".
Ukrainianцентральний
The word "центральний" can also mean "main" or "principal" in Ukrainian

Central in South Asian Languages

Bengaliকেন্দ্রীয়
The Bengali word "কেন্দ্রীয়" derives from the Sanskrit word "केन्द्रिय" (kendra), which means "organ of sense" or "center of attention."
Gujaratiકેન્દ્રીય
The word "કેન્દ્રીય" (central) in Gujarati can also mean "related to the center or hub of something".
Hindiकेंद्रीय
In Sanskrit, "केंद्रीय" is derived from the root "कंद", meaning "to glow" or "to shine, indicating the radiance or importance of something central.
Kannadaಕೇಂದ್ರ
ಕೇಂದ್ರ can also mean center, core, and focus in Kannada.
Malayalamകേന്ദ്ര
The word "കേന്ദ്ര" (kēndra) in Malayalam, meaning "central," is also used in astrology to refer to the 12 houses of the zodiac, each of which represents a different aspect of life.
Marathiमध्यवर्ती
The word "मध्यवर्ती" can also refer to an intermediary or middleman.
Nepaliकेन्द्रीय
The word "केन्द्रीय" is derived from the Sanskrit word "केन्द्र" meaning "center" or "core". It can also mean "main", "chief", or "principal".
Punjabiਕੇਂਦਰੀ
ਕੇਂਦਰੀ (kendrī) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kendra', meaning a 'place' or 'region'. It can also refer to a 'pivot' or 'turning-point'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)මධ්යම
The Sinhala word "මධ්යම" (madhyama) derives from Sanskrit "मध्यम" (madhyama), meaning "middle, central" and is cognate with English "medium".
Tamilமைய
In Tamil, the word மைய "central" also refers to an inked center dot used for drawing.
Teluguకేంద్ర
కేంద్ర can also mean principal, cardinal, central figure, or essential.
Urduمرکزی
The word "مرکزی" (markazī) in Urdu also means "the center of a circle", "the middle point", and "the main point or focus of something".

Central in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)中央
The Chinese character "中央" can also refer to "the government" or "the highest authority".
Chinese (Traditional)中央
In addition to 'central', "中央" is also an antiquated Chinese architectural term referring to the 'main building' or 'central chamber'.
Japanese中央
中央 (chūō) can also mean "capital city" and is often used to refer to Tokyo, the de facto capital of Japan.
Korean본부
The word "본부" can also mean "headquarters" or "main office".
Mongolianтөв
The word "төв" can also mean "middle" or "centre" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဗဟို
"ဗဟို" can also mean the heart or centre of something.

Central in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpusat
The Indonesian word 'pusat' also has a different meaning, which is navel.
Javanesetengah
The Javanese word "tengah" also means "middle" or "half".
Khmerកណ្តាល
Laoໃຈກາງ
The word "ໃຈກາງ" (central) in Lao is also used to refer to the core or heart of something.
Malaytengah
The word "tengah" in Malay is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *taŋah, meaning "middle" or "centre".
Thaiศูนย์กลาง
ศูนย์กลาง (soonyaklang): the middle or core of something, a point of focus, a meeting point
Vietnamesetrung tâm
"Trung tâm" (central) is also a word of Sino-Vietnamese origin, derived from the Chinese word "中心" (zhongxin).
Filipino (Tagalog)sentral

Central in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanimərkəzi
The word "mərkəzi" is derived from the Persian word "markaz", which means "center".
Kazakhорталық
'Орталық' is not only a Kazakh word meaning 'central', but also refers to a district within a city.
Kyrgyzборбордук
The word "борбордук" is also used to refer to an organization that acts as a center or hub.
Tajikмарказӣ
The word "марказӣ" is derived from the Arabic word "مركز" meaning "center" or "main point".
Turkmenmerkezi
Uzbekmarkaziy
The word "markaziy" shares its root with the Persian word "markaz" meaning "center" or "nucleus", and can also refer to a "central point" or "main place" in Uzbek.
Uyghurcentral

Central in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianwaena
The Hawaiian word "waena" also means "between" or "among".
Maoripokapū
Pokapū refers to both the literal center and the abstract core of something in Maori.
Samoanogatotonu
The word "ogatotonu" can also refer to the middle of a group of people or objects.
Tagalog (Filipino)sentral
In Tagalog, "sentral" also means "essence" or "core" and is often used in the context of defining a person's character or a concept's fundamental nature.

Central in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarachika taypinkiwa
Guaranicentral rehegua

Central in International Languages

Esperantocentra
The Esperanto word "centra" derives from the Latin word "centrum," which means "center," and also has the connotation of "the most important point."
Latincentralis
The term "centralis" ultimately descends from "centrum," which not only means the middle, but also the vital part of any being.

Central in Others Languages

Greekκεντρικός
The word "κεντρικός" comes from the Greek word "κέντρον," meaning "center".
Hmongnruab nrab
The Hmong word "nruab nrab" also refers to someone in a central position in the family, such as an older sibling.
Kurdishnavî
The Kurdish word "navî" also carries connotations of centrality, prominence, or core.
Turkishmerkezi
The word "merkezi" is derived from the Arabic word "markaz" and can also refer to a headquarters or hub.
Xhosaembindini
The word 'embindini' also has the alternate meaning of 'middle' or 'in the middle'.
Yiddishצענטראלע
The Yiddish word צענטראלע ('tsentrale') also means 'telephone exchange' in Yiddish.
Zulumaphakathi
The word "maphakathi" can also refer to a gathering place or a center.
Assameseকেন্দ্ৰীয়
Aymarachika taypinkiwa
Bhojpuriकेंद्रीय बा
Dhivehiސެންޓްރަލް
Dogriकेंद्रीय
Filipino (Tagalog)sentral
Guaranicentral rehegua
Ilocanosentral
Kriosentral
Kurdish (Sorani)ناوەندی
Maithiliकेन्द्रीय
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯁꯦꯟꯠꯔꯦꯂꯒꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ ꯑꯦꯝ
Mizocentral-ah a awm
Oromogiddu galeessa
Odia (Oriya)କେନ୍ଦ୍ରୀୟ |
Quechuachawpi
Sanskritकेन्द्रीय
Tatarүзәк
Tigrinyaማእከላይ
Tsongaexikarhi ka

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