Ceremony in Different Languages
Discover 'Ceremony' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A ceremony is a formal event or ritual, often with a special significance or cultural importance. From weddings and graduations to religious observances and state functions, ceremonies mark important milestones in our lives and bring communities together. The word 'ceremony' has roots in both Latin and Old French, and its translation varies widely across languages and cultures. In Spanish, for example, ceremony is 'ceremonia,' while in German it's 'Zeremonie.' In Japan, a ceremony is 'seremoni' in the native language, and the term is often associated with the country's rich tradition of tea ceremonies. Understanding the translation of ceremony in different languages can help deepen our appreciation for the cultural significance of these events and foster greater cross-cultural understanding. In the following list, you'll find the translations of ceremony in 10 different languages, from Arabic to Vietnamese.
Ceremony
Ceremony in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | seremonie | ||
| The Afrikaans word "seremonie" is derived from the French word "cérémonie", which in turn comes from the Latin word "caerimonia", meaning "religious rite". | |||
| Amharic | ሥነ ሥርዓት | ||
| The word "ሥነ ሥርዓት" also refers to the study of rituals, religious laws, and customs. | |||
| Hausa | bikin | ||
| Hausa 'bikin' (ceremony) < Arabic 'bayān' (proclamation, explanation). | |||
| Igbo | emume | ||
| The word 'emume' ('ceremony') also refers to a dance performed at the burial of a man whose wealth and accomplishments are celebrated after his death. | |||
| Malagasy | lanonana | ||
| The Malagasy word 'lanonana' is cognate to the Indonesian "larona" ("to run") and the Malay "lari" ("to run away"), suggesting a historical connection between Malagasy and Malayo-Polynesian languages | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mwambo | ||
| The word "mwambo" also refers to a type of traditional dance in Nyanja culture. | |||
| Shona | mhemberero | ||
| The word "mhemberero" can also refer to a formal gathering or occasion, such as a meeting or a banquet. | |||
| Somali | xaflad | ||
| The term "xaflad" in Somali derives from the Arabic word "khafla," meaning "to gather"} | |||
| Sesotho | mokete | ||
| The word 'mokete' comes from the Proto-Sotho word 'okota', meaning 'to gather' or 'to assemble'. | |||
| Swahili | sherehe | ||
| The word 'sherehe' in Swahili can also refer to a 'party' or 'celebration' | |||
| Xhosa | umsitho | ||
| The word 'umsitho' derives from the Zulu word 'isitho', which refers to a sacred place or altar. | |||
| Yoruba | ayeye | ||
| "Ayeye" is an abstract noun which in Yoruba language also denotes "character" and "behaviour" as it embodies the total way of life of the people. | |||
| Zulu | umkhosi | ||
| The Zulu word "umkhosi" also means "army" or "regiment" and is derived from the word "khosi," meaning "chief" or "lord." | |||
| Bambara | ɲɛnajɛ | ||
| Ewe | azãnuwɔna | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuhango | ||
| Lingala | molulu | ||
| Luganda | omukolo | ||
| Sepedi | moletlo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | fahyɛ | ||
Ceremony in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مراسم | ||
| The Arabic word “مراسم” (marāsim) can also refer to religious or social rituals, customs, and traditions, not just formal events. | |||
| Hebrew | טֶקֶס | ||
| The word "טֶקֶס" (ṭēqeṣ) in Hebrew is derived from the Akkadian "taqistu" meaning "portion" or "share". | |||
| Pashto | مراسم | ||
| In Pashto, "مراسم" is also used to refer to the rituals and customs associated with a particular event or occasion. | |||
| Arabic | مراسم | ||
| The Arabic word “مراسم” (marāsim) can also refer to religious or social rituals, customs, and traditions, not just formal events. | |||
Ceremony in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ceremoni | ||
| Albanian word "ceremoni" is of Latin origin and is used to refer to customs or rituals, a formal or solemn occasion, or a rite. | |||
| Basque | ekitaldia | ||
| The origin of the word “ekitaldia” may date back to an old term in Proto-Basque meaning “activity.” The word can still carry this general significance as well as its specialized, religious meanings in certain contexts. | |||
| Catalan | cerimònia | ||
| The word «cerimònia» comes from the Latin «caerimonia», which in turn comes from the Etruscan word «caerimonia» meaning «religious rite». | |||
| Croatian | ceremonija | ||
| Croatian "ceremonija" derives from Latin "caerimonia", meaning "a religious rite" | |||
| Danish | ceremoni | ||
| The word "ceremoni" in Danish has its roots in the Latin word "caerimonia", which refers to religious rites and rituals. | |||
| Dutch | ceremonie | ||
| In Dutch, "ceremonie" also refers to a group of people assigned to perform official functions at an event. | |||
| English | ceremony | ||
| From the Old French 'ceremonie', a ritual or formal act, in turn from the Latin 'caerimonia', a religious rite or observance. | |||
| French | la cérémonie | ||
| The French word "la cérémonie" derives from the Latin word "caerimonia", meaning "a sacred rite". | |||
| Frisian | seremoanje | ||
| The Frisian word "seremoanje" is derived from the Latin word "caerimonia" and also has the meaning of "religious service". | |||
| Galician | cerimonia | ||
| In Galician, the word "cerimonia" means "a formal or ritualistic act or practice", with its origins in the Latin word "caerimonia", which originally referred to religious rites and observances. | |||
| German | zeremonie | ||
| The German word "Zeremonie" derives from the Latin word "caerimonia", meaning "religious rite". | |||
| Icelandic | athöfn | ||
| According to the University of Iceland's Online Dictionary, athöfn can also mean "activity". | |||
| Irish | searmanas | ||
| The Irish word "searmanas" is derived from the verb "sear" (to bind) and the suffix "-anas" (act of), suggesting a ceremonial act that seals or binds a transaction or event. | |||
| Italian | cerimonia | ||
| The Italian word "cerimonia" derives from the Latin "caerimonia", a term related to public religious rituals. | |||
| Luxembourgish | zeremonie | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Zeremonie" comes from the French word "cérémonie," which itself comes from the Latin word "caerimonia," meaning "rite" or "religious ceremony." | |||
| Maltese | ċerimonja | ||
| "Ċerimonja" comes from the Latin "caerimonia," meaning "religious rite" or "sacred observance." | |||
| Norwegian | seremoni | ||
| The Norwegian word «seremoni» derives from the Latin sermo, which means "speech" or "talk". In the Middle Ages it referred to a public religious service accompanied by music, and still retains that association in the word "sermon". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cerimônia | ||
| In Portuguese, "cerimônia" also refers to a formal procedure or meeting. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | deas-ghnàth | ||
| The word deas-ghnàth is derived from Old Irish deisiu 'right hand' or 'south', and gnàth meaning 'custom', thus it originally meant 'a custom done with the right hand' or 'a southern custom'. | |||
| Spanish | ceremonia | ||
| The word "ceremonia" derives from the Latin "caerimonia," meaning "religious rite or observance." | |||
| Swedish | ceremoni | ||
| The word 'ceremoni' in Swedish also means 'a formal act or occasion'. | |||
| Welsh | seremoni | ||
| The word 'seremoni' in Welsh derives from the Latin word 'ceremonia', meaning 'religious rite' or 'sacred act'. | |||
Ceremony in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | цырымонія | ||
| The word "цырымонія" in Belarusian ultimately derives from the Latin "caerimonia" (via Polish), and has retained its original meaning of "ritual" or "formal observance" in addition to its more common meaning of "ceremony" | |||
| Bosnian | ceremonija | ||
| Derived from the Latin word 'caeremonia' (ceremony), which itself is derived from the Etruscan word 'caerimonia' (religious ritual). | |||
| Bulgarian | церемония | ||
| The word "церемония" also means "etiquette" and derives from Old Church Slavonic. | |||
| Czech | obřad | ||
| The word 'obřad' has the same root as the word 'obrať', which means 'to turn'. This is a reference to the fact that many ceremonies involve a change of state or status. | |||
| Estonian | tseremoonia | ||
| "Tseremoonia" is derived from the Latin word "caerimonia", which means "form or ritual". | |||
| Finnish | seremonia | ||
| The word 'seremonia' comes from Latin and refers to religious rituals and observances. | |||
| Hungarian | szertartás | ||
| Szertartás (ceremony) originally comes from the Latin "sacra" (holy), which reflects its religious origin. | |||
| Latvian | ceremonija | ||
| The word "ceremonija" is derived from the Latin word "caerimonia", which means "religious rite" or "sacred observance." | |||
| Lithuanian | ceremonija | ||
| The word "ceremonija" in Lithuanian comes from the Latin word "caerimonia", meaning "religious rite or observance". | |||
| Macedonian | церемонија | ||
| The word "церемонија" comes from the Latin word "ceremonia", which means "religious rite". | |||
| Polish | ceremonia | ||
| "Ceremonia" is a loanword from the Latin word "caerimonia," which means "sacred rite or form". | |||
| Romanian | ceremonie | ||
| In Romanian, "ceremonie" also refers to a type of traditional Romanian dance. | |||
| Russian | церемония | ||
| The Russian word "церемония" ultimately derives from the Latin word "caerimonia", meaning "religious rite", and carries connotations of solemnity and ritual. | |||
| Serbian | церемонија | ||
| The word "церемонија" comes from the Latin word "caerimonia", which means "religious rite or observance". | |||
| Slovak | obrad | ||
| The word “obrad” comes from the Proto-Slavic root *ob-rędъ, which also means "custom," "rite," or "order". | |||
| Slovenian | slovesnost | ||
| The word "slovesnost" can also mean "literature" or "solemnity" in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | церемонія | ||
| The word "церемонія" is rooted in the Latin word "caerimonia", meaning "rite" or "religious observance." | |||
Ceremony in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | অনুষ্ঠান | ||
| The word "অনুষ্ঠান" likely derives from the Sanskrit word "अनुष्ठान" (anuṣṭhāna), meaning "religious or ceremonial observance." | |||
| Gujarati | વિધિ | ||
| In Gujarati, 'વિધિ' also means 'manner' or 'process' | |||
| Hindi | समारोह | ||
| The Hindi word 'समारोह' originates from the Sanskrit word 'समाराधना', meaning 'reverential offering'. | |||
| Kannada | ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ | ||
| The word "ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ" has multiple meanings in Kannada and is often used in a context describing a specific type of event. | |||
| Malayalam | ചടങ്ങ് | ||
| "ചടങ്ങ്" is also used in Malayalam to refer to rituals, customs, and observances. | |||
| Marathi | समारंभ | ||
| The Marathi word समारंभ comes from the Sanskrit समारम्भ, which means 'commencement' or 'beginning'. The word समारंभ also has the alternate meaning of 'festival' or 'celebration'. | |||
| Nepali | समारोह | ||
| The word "समारोह" in Nepali can also refer to a gathering or assembly of people. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਮਾਰੋਹ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උත්සවය | ||
| The word 'උත්සවය' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'उत्सव' meaning 'festival' or 'joyful occasion'. | |||
| Tamil | விழா | ||
| "விழா" means "fall" in Tamil, possibly related to the idea of a grand event "falling" upon a group of people. | |||
| Telugu | వేడుక | ||
| వేడుక also means 'festival' or 'celebration', and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'utsava'. | |||
| Urdu | تقریب | ||
| The word "تقریب" also means "approximation" in Urdu. | |||
Ceremony in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 仪式 | ||
| "仪式", written as " церемо́ния" in Russian, means "ceremony". It is derived from the Latin word "caerimonia", which means "religious rite". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 儀式 | ||
| 儀式 (cìshì) in Chinese refers to formal rituals or ceremonies, and originates from the ancient practice of offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors. | |||
| Japanese | 式 | ||
| "式" also appears in the word "式神" (shikigami), a familiar spirit that serves a certain individual. | |||
| Korean | 의식 | ||
| The term 의식 ('euisik,' also 'yishi' in Mandarin) is rooted in Taoism, where it signifies 'consciousness' or 'being fully aware'. | |||
| Mongolian | ёслол | ||
| The word "ёслол" can also refer to a ritual or a rite. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အခမ်းအနား | ||
Ceremony in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | upacara | ||
| "Upacara" in Indonesian shares roots with "sepu" in Sanskrit meaning "to purify, consecrate". | |||
| Javanese | upacara | ||
| It is derived from the Javanese words "upa" (near) and "acara" (event), thus carrying the meaning of "being near an event" (i.e. being present at an event). | |||
| Khmer | ពិធី | ||
| The word "ពិធី" (ceremony) in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "vidhi" meaning "rule, law, or ordinance." | |||
| Lao | ພິທີ | ||
| "ພິທີ" is cognate to "พิธี" in Thai and "พิธีการ" meaning "protocol". | |||
| Malay | majlis | ||
| The Malay word "majlis" is derived from the Arabic word for "gathering" or "assembly". | |||
| Thai | พิธี | ||
| พิธี (phithee) derives from Sanskrit and also shares common meanings in other regional languages like Khmer, Burmese, Lao, and Pali. | |||
| Vietnamese | lễ | ||
| "Lễ" has multiple meanings, including "rite," "sacrament," and "etiquette." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | seremonya | ||
Ceremony in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | mərasim | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "mərasim" ultimately derives from the Old Persian "marshyāma", meaning literally "memory, remembrance or monument", and in this sense is also cognates with the word for mausoleum ("məqbərə"/"məzar"/"mərqəd"). | |||
| Kazakh | рәсім | ||
| The word "рәсім" also means "custom", "tradition", "rite", and "procedure" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | азем | ||
| In Kyrgyz, "азем" can also mean "a gathering of people" or "a ritual". | |||
| Tajik | маросим | ||
| The word "маросим" in Tajik, meaning "ceremony," is derived from the Persian word "marasim" and is related to the Arabic word "rasm," which means "custom" or "ritual." | |||
| Turkmen | dabarasy | ||
| Uzbek | marosim | ||
| The word "marosim" is a derivative of the Persian word "marasim," which means "custom" or "rite". | |||
| Uyghur | مۇراسىم | ||
Ceremony in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻahaʻaina | ||
| ʻAhaʻaina derives from the words ʻaha (assembly) and ʻaina (food). It can also mean "feast" or "banquet." | |||
| Maori | huihuinga | ||
| The word "huihuinga" can also refer to a gathering of people, such as a meeting or a party. | |||
| Samoan | sauniga | ||
| The word "sauniga" in Samoan can also refer to a festival or gathering of people. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | seremonya | ||
| Seremonya also means "ritual; formality; practice" and is likely derived from the Spanish word "ceremonia". | |||
Ceremony in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | sirimunya | ||
| Guarani | atypavẽ | ||
Ceremony in International Languages
| Esperanto | ceremonio | ||
| The Esperanto word "ceremoniōn" is derived from the Latin word "cerimōnia," and means "a formal act or proceeding." | |||
| Latin | ceremonia | ||
| In Latin, "ceremonia" also signified "religious awe or devotion". | |||
Ceremony in Others Languages
| Greek | τελετή | ||
| Related to 'telos' (τέλος) or 'fulfillment,' a 'ceremony' (τελετή) in Greek represents a symbolic ritual marking a significant transition or event. | |||
| Hmong | kab ke | ||
| The Hmong word "kab ke" also refers to the "place where the ceremony is held". | |||
| Kurdish | şênayî | ||
| The word "şênayî" comes from the Kurdish verb "şênavin", which means "to entertain" or "to give pleasure." | |||
| Turkish | tören | ||
| In Turkish, "tören" also refers to the formal assembly and seating arrangements in the Ottoman court. | |||
| Xhosa | umsitho | ||
| The word 'umsitho' derives from the Zulu word 'isitho', which refers to a sacred place or altar. | |||
| Yiddish | צערעמאָניע | ||
| It likely derives from the Latin "caerimonia," meaning "religious rite." | |||
| Zulu | umkhosi | ||
| The Zulu word "umkhosi" also means "army" or "regiment" and is derived from the word "khosi," meaning "chief" or "lord." | |||
| Assamese | উপলক্ষ | ||
| Aymara | sirimunya | ||
| Bhojpuri | समारोह | ||
| Dhivehi | ޙަފްލާ | ||
| Dogri | समारोह् | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | seremonya | ||
| Guarani | atypavẽ | ||
| Ilocano | seremonia | ||
| Krio | sɛrimɔni | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاهەنگ | ||
| Maithili | समारोह | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯧꯔꯝ | ||
| Mizo | hunserh | ||
| Oromo | ayyyaaneffannaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସମାରୋହ | ||
| Quechua | raymi | ||
| Sanskrit | उत्सव | ||
| Tatar | тантана | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣከባብራ | ||
| Tsonga | nkhuvo | ||