Chain in Different Languages
Discover 'Chain' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Chains have been an essential part of human culture and technology for thousands of years. From the chains used in ancient Roman warships to the bicycle chains that power modern transportation, this word holds significant meaning across the globe. But what about the word 'chain' in different languages? Understanding the translation of this word can provide insight into the cultural importance of chains in various societies and deepen our appreciation for the diversity of human experience.
For example, in Spanish, 'chain' is 'cadena,' while in French, it's 'chaîne.' In German, the word for chain is 'Kette,' and in Japanese, it's '連鎖 (rensa).' Each of these translations reflects the unique history and cultural context of the language, offering a glimpse into the ways that chains have been used and understood in different parts of the world.
So why should you care about the translation of 'chain' in different languages? Understanding the nuances of this word can help you better communicate with people from different cultures, appreciate the diversity of human experience, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around you.
Chain
Chain in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | ketting | ||
| "Ketting" may also refer to a group of dancers in a line or circle holding hands, especially in folk dancing. | |||
| Amharic | ሰንሰለት | ||
| The word ሰንሰለት (chain) can also refer to a series of connected events or circumstances. | |||
| Hausa | sarka | ||
| In some contexts, "sarka" can refer to a string of pearls. | |||
| Igbo | yinye | ||
| The Igbo word 'yinye' can also mean 'rope' or 'cord'. | |||
| Malagasy | rojo | ||
| The Malagasy word "rojo" can also mean "string" or "rope". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | unyolo | ||
| The word "unyolo" can also refer to a "line" or a "row" in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | cheni | ||
| In the Shona language, the word "cheni" not only refers to a chain, but also to a group of people who are closely connected. | |||
| Somali | silsilad | ||
| The word "silsilad" is also used in Somali to refer to a "family lineage" or "genealogy". | |||
| Sesotho | ketane | ||
| The word "ketane" in Sesotho can also refer to a fence, boundary, or barrier. | |||
| Swahili | mnyororo | ||
| "Mnyororo" also refers to a connected series of people or things, or a succession of events. | |||
| Xhosa | ikhonkco | ||
| "Ikhokonco" is derived from the word "khokonco" (a knot), emphasizing the interconnectedness and unbreakable bond represented by a chain. | |||
| Yoruba | pq | ||
| "Pq" also means "to carry" or "to take along" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | uchungechunge | ||
| The word “uchungechunge” also means “a series of connected events or circumstances” in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | jɔlɔkɔ | ||
| Ewe | kɔsɔkɔsɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | urunigi | ||
| Lingala | chene | ||
| Luganda | olujegere | ||
| Sepedi | tšhaene | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kyen | ||
Chain in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | سلسلة | ||
| 'سلسلة' in Arabic not only means 'chain' but also 'series' or 'lineage'. | |||
| Hebrew | שַׁרשֶׁרֶת | ||
| The word "שרשרת" (chain) is derived from the root "שר" (to bind) and the suffix "-ת" (female noun), indicating a "binding thing." | |||
| Pashto | ځنځیر | ||
| The word "ځنځیر" originates from the Persian word "زنجیر" (zanjīr), which in turn derives from the Old Persian word "zangišara" (a chain forged of iron), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root "*gʰeng-/*gʰengʰ-" (to bind, fetter). | |||
| Arabic | سلسلة | ||
| 'سلسلة' in Arabic not only means 'chain' but also 'series' or 'lineage'. | |||
Chain in Western European Languages
| Albanian | zinxhir | ||
| The Albanian word "zinxhir" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰenǵʰ-, meaning "to bind". | |||
| Basque | katea | ||
| Katea also means "bond" or "tie" in a metaphoric sense, e.g., marriage or friendship. | |||
| Catalan | cadena | ||
| The word 'cadena' in Catalan can also refer to a string of characters or a sequence of events. | |||
| Croatian | lanac | ||
| The word "lanac" also means "acre" in the context of land measurement. | |||
| Danish | lænke | ||
| In Old Norse, "lænke" meant "to link" | |||
| Dutch | ketting | ||
| The word "ketting" in Dutch can also refer to a series of mountains or hills. | |||
| English | chain | ||
| The word "chain" originated from the Old French word "chaine" and Latin word "catena," meaning "a fetter" or "bond." | |||
| French | chaîne | ||
| The word "chaîne" comes from the Latin "catena," meaning "chain," and also refers to a sequence of mountains or a television or radio broadcast network. | |||
| Frisian | ketting | ||
| The word 'ketting' also refers to a 'row of people' in Frisian. | |||
| Galician | cadea | ||
| The word "cadea" likely derives from the Latin word "catena" or the Proto-Celtic word "katus" both meaning "chain" | |||
| German | kette | ||
| The word "Kette" traces back to the Ancient Greek word "seira" meaning "cord"} | |||
| Icelandic | keðja | ||
| The word 'keðja' in Icelandic is derived from the Old Norse term 'keðja', meaning 'a series of linked rings' or 'a bond' | |||
| Irish | slabhra | ||
| The Irish word "slabhra" can also refer to a link or bond, or a series of linked events. | |||
| Italian | catena | ||
| The Latin word 'catena' means not only 'chain' but also 'link' and 'connection'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | kette | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Kette" also means "line" as in "queue" or "line of text." | |||
| Maltese | katina | ||
| The Maltese word "katina" comes from the Arabic "qatina", meaning "fetter". It can also refer to a prison or a period of imprisonment. | |||
| Norwegian | kjede | ||
| "Kjede" can also refer to a gang or a string of beads. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | corrente | ||
| The word "corrente" in Portuguese also means "electric current" and "trend or fashion" | |||
| Scots Gaelic | slabhraidh | ||
| The word "slabhraidh" is cognate with the Irish word "slabra" and the Welsh word "slafr", all meaning "chain", and is thought to be derived from the Proto-Celtic word *slabro-. | |||
| Spanish | cadena | ||
| Spanish word "cadena" derives from Latin "catena" meaning "chain" but also refers to a "radio or TV network". | |||
| Swedish | kedja | ||
| The word "kedja" also means "range" or "series" in Swedish, and is related to the German word "Kette" and the English word "chain". | |||
| Welsh | cadwyn | ||
| The Welsh word "cadwyn" is derived from the Proto-Celtic root *kad-, meaning "bind" or "tie". | |||
Chain in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | ланцужок | ||
| The word "ланцужок" can also refer to a small chain or a necklace. | |||
| Bosnian | lanac | ||
| The word "lanac" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*lъnъ", which also means "rope". This suggests that chains were originally made of rope or other fibrous materials. | |||
| Bulgarian | верига | ||
| The word "верига" can also refer to a group of people who are connected or dependent on each other. | |||
| Czech | řetěz | ||
| The word "řetěz" is derived from Proto-Slavic "*retъ" meaning "order, row, series" and is related to words such as "řád" (order) and "řádka" (line). | |||
| Estonian | kett | ||
| The word "kett" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *ketju and is related to the Finnish word "ketju" and the Hungarian word "kötö". | |||
| Finnish | ketju | ||
| In Finnish, the word 'ketju' is also used colloquially to describe the spread of information through gossip and social networks. | |||
| Hungarian | lánc | ||
| The word "lánc" in Hungarian, meaning "chain" can also refer to a link or a part of a series. | |||
| Latvian | ķēde | ||
| The Latvian word “ķēde” is a cognate of the Sanskrit word “śṛṅkhala” and also has other meanings, such as “order” and “group”. | |||
| Lithuanian | grandinė | ||
| In Lithuanian, "grandinė" also refers to a type of dance in which participants form a long line holding hands and perform various steps. | |||
| Macedonian | ланец | ||
| The word “ланец” may also refer to the rank of the soldier who wore chain armour. | |||
| Polish | łańcuch | ||
| In Polish, "łańcuch" is a homonym for a "chain" or a "chain of command". | |||
| Romanian | lanţ | ||
| The Romanian word "lanţ" originated from the Latin word "vinculum" meaning "bond" or "fetter". | |||
| Russian | цепь | ||
| The Russian word "цепь" can also refer to "a succession of events" or "a group of people united by a common interest." | |||
| Serbian | ланац | ||
| The word 'ланац' also means 'link' or 'ring' | |||
| Slovak | reťaz | ||
| The word "reťaz" can also refer to a set of interconnected items or a logical sequence. | |||
| Slovenian | veriga | ||
| "Veriga" also means "rope" or "series" in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | ланцюжок | ||
| The word `ланцюжок` is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *ľantъ*, meaning 'chain' or 'fetter'. | |||
Chain in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | চেইন | ||
| চেইন (chain) is a borrowing from English and can also mean 'a series of connected things or events' | |||
| Gujarati | સાંકળ | ||
| The word "સાંકળ" can also mean a "line" or a "connection" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | जंजीर | ||
| The word "जंजीर" is derived from the Sanskrit word "जंजीरिका," meaning "a series of connected links". | |||
| Kannada | ಸರಪಳಿ | ||
| In Kannada, the word "ಸರಪಳಿ" can also refer to a series of events or situations that are interconnected. | |||
| Malayalam | ചങ്ങല | ||
| The Malayalam word "ചങ്ങല" is also used to refer to a series of interlinked people or things, similar to the English idiom "chain of command". | |||
| Marathi | साखळी | ||
| The Marathi word 'साखळी' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'शृंखला', meaning 'chain' or 'series'. | |||
| Nepali | चेन | ||
| The word "चेन" also means "an ornamental necklace" in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਚੇਨ | ||
| The word "ਚੇਨ" (chain) in Punjabi also refers to a kind of musical instrument, a type of necklace, and a unit of measurement for land. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දාමය | ||
| The word "දාමය" in Sinhala can also refer to a garland, a necklace, a thread, or a rope. | |||
| Tamil | சங்கிலி | ||
| The Tamil word சங்கிலி (chain) originates from the Sanskrit word "sanghili," which refers to a group or assembly. | |||
| Telugu | గొలుసు | ||
| గొలుసు is a Telugu word derived from the Dravidian root *kol-, meaning 'string, thread' and is cognate with 'collar'. | |||
| Urdu | زنجیر | ||
| The Urdu word "زنجیر" (chain) is derived from the Persian word "زنجیر" (chain) and the Arabic word "سلسلة" (chain). | |||
Chain in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 链 | ||
| The Chinese character "链" (liàn) originally referred to a string of metal links but has extended its meaning to include any connected series or group. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 鏈 | ||
| In addition to its meaning "chain," 鏈 can also refer to a chain of linked rings or a series of connected things. | |||
| Japanese | 鎖 | ||
| The word "鎖" can also mean "lock" or "to lock" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 체인 | ||
| 체인 is borrowed from English and can also mean a necklace or bracelet. | |||
| Mongolian | гинж | ||
| The word "гинж" (chain) also means "line" or "stripe" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကွင်းဆက် | ||
Chain in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | rantai | ||
| The word 'rantai' (chain) derives from the Sanskrit word 'rantika', meaning 'bond' or 'fetter'. | |||
| Javanese | rante | ||
| In Javanese, the word "rante" can also refer to a series of interconnected events or a succession of things. | |||
| Khmer | ខ្សែសង្វាក់ | ||
| Lao | ລະບົບຕ່ອງໂສ້ | ||
| Malay | rantai | ||
| The Malay word "rantai" is of Sanskrit origin, meaning "bound together" | |||
| Thai | เชื่อมต่อ | ||
| เชื่อมต่อ can also refer to a link or connection. | |||
| Vietnamese | chuỗi | ||
| "Chuỗi" is also a word for "string" (like "a string of beads"), "sequence", or "series" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kadena | ||
Chain in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | zəncir | ||
| The word "zəncir" is derived from the Persian word "zanjīr" which also means "chain" and ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "śṛṅkhala" meaning "chain". | |||
| Kazakh | шынжыр | ||
| The word "шынжыр" can also refer to a bond between people or a necklace. | |||
| Kyrgyz | чынжыр | ||
| The word "чынжыр" was originally borrowed from Mongolian, meaning "fetter." | |||
| Tajik | занҷир | ||
| The word "занҷир" in Tajik is ultimately derived from the Persian word "زنجیر" (zanjīr), which in turn is derived from the Greek word "σείρα" (seira), meaning "string" or "rope". | |||
| Turkmen | zynjyr | ||
| Uzbek | zanjir | ||
| In Uzbek, "zanjir" primarily means "chain", but can also refer to "shackles" or "handcuffs". | |||
| Uyghur | زەنجىر | ||
Chain in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaulahao | ||
| The Hawaiian word "kaulahao" also refers to a plant used in traditional medicine and a traditional method of catching fish using a noose. | |||
| Maori | mekameka | ||
| The word 'mekameka' can also mean to join or unite. | |||
| Samoan | filifili | ||
| The 'i' in 'filifili' derives from 'fili', 'to plait', indicating its original use as a braided chain. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kadena | ||
| "Kadena" is a Spanish word that was introduced to Tagalog during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, as it is the word for "chain" in Spanish. | |||
Chain in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | karina | ||
| Guarani | itasã | ||
Chain in International Languages
| Esperanto | ĉeno | ||
| Ĉeno also means 'chain of thought' and is used similarly to the English word 'thread'. | |||
| Latin | torque | ||
| The Latin word "torque" also referred to a twisted necklace worn as a symbol of honor or rank. | |||
Chain in Others Languages
| Greek | αλυσίδα | ||
| The word "αλυσίδα" is derived from the Greek verb "αλύειν" (to ward off) and the suffix "-α" (female agent). It can also refer to a sequence of connected events or a series of linked objects. | |||
| Hmong | txoj saw hlau | ||
| Historically, the word "txoj saw hlau" was used to describe metal chains used to link together ox carts. | |||
| Kurdish | merbend | ||
| The word “merbend” means “chain” in Kurdish, but it also refers to a type of fabric known as “merben” in Persian, used for making clothes and tents. | |||
| Turkish | zincir | ||
| "Zincir" also refers to a type of Ottoman armor that resembles a chain shirt or a type of Ottoman battle formation. | |||
| Xhosa | ikhonkco | ||
| "Ikhokonco" is derived from the word "khokonco" (a knot), emphasizing the interconnectedness and unbreakable bond represented by a chain. | |||
| Yiddish | קייט | ||
| The Yiddish word 'koyt' (קייט) can also mean 'link' or 'connection' | |||
| Zulu | uchungechunge | ||
| The word “uchungechunge” also means “a series of connected events or circumstances” in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | শিকলি | ||
| Aymara | karina | ||
| Bhojpuri | जंजीर | ||
| Dhivehi | ޗެއިން | ||
| Dogri | कड़ी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kadena | ||
| Guarani | itasã | ||
| Ilocano | kawar | ||
| Krio | chen | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | زنجیرە | ||
| Maithili | सिकड़ी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯔꯦꯡ | ||
| Mizo | inzawm | ||
| Oromo | funyoo sibiilaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳା | ||
| Quechua | cadena | ||
| Sanskrit | शृङ्खला | ||
| Tatar | чылбыр | ||
| Tigrinya | ሰንሰለት | ||
| Tsonga | nketana | ||