Chairman in different languages

Chairman in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word chairman holds great significance in many cultures and languages around the world. Originating from the concept of a person who leads a meeting while seated in a chair, the term 'chairman' has evolved to represent leadership, authority, and responsibility. From a historical context, the role of a chairman has been crucial in various settings such as business, politics, and education. In many cultures, the chairman is considered a symbol of power and respect.

Given the cultural importance of the chairman, it's no surprise that the term has been translated into various languages, each with its unique connotations and nuances. For instance, in Spanish, the translation of chairman is 'presidente', while in German, it's 'Vorsitzender'. In French, the term is 'président', and in Chinese, it's '会长' (Huì zhǎng).

Understanding the translation of chairman in different languages can help bridge cultural gaps and foster better communication. Whether you're traveling to a foreign country, conducting international business, or simply interested in language and culture, knowing the translation of chairman can be a valuable tool in your linguistic arsenal.

Chairman


Chairman in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansvoorsitter
The word "voorsitter" is of Dutch origin and literally means "sitter in front".
Amharicሊቀመንበር
The word 'ሊቀመንበር' ('chairman') also refers to a church deacon who is responsible for administering the Eucharist.
Hausashugaba
In some local governments and NGOs the word "shugaba" can also refer to a "president"
Igboonye isi oche
The Igbo phrase "Onye isi oche" literally means "head (isi) of the seat (oche)", signifying authority and leadership.
Malagasympitari-draharaha
"Mpitarika dia raharaha" is also used to refer to the chief of a clan or village, or the head of an association
Nyanja (Chichewa)wapampando
The word "wapampando" is derived from the root word "pampando", which means to rule, control, or lead.
Shonasachigaro
The word "sachigaro" in Shona can also refer to the head of a household or clan.
Somaligudoomiye
In the Somali language, "gudoomiye" also means "leader" or "head of an organization"
Sesothomolula-setulo
In the Sesotho language, the word “molula-setulo” is derived from the term “molula,” which means “chief,” and “setulo,” which means “chair.”
Swahilimwenyekiti
The word "mwenyekiti" is derived from the root -enye- meaning "to have" and -kiti- meaning "throne" or "seat", implying a position of authority.
Xhosausihlalo
Also used as a term of address for male elders, even when they are not in a position of authority.
Yorubaalaga
The word 'alaga' is derived from the Yoruba word 'lagba', which means 'head' or 'leader'.
Zuluusihlalo
"Usihlalo" derives from the verb "hlala" (sit), implying the chairman's positional authority.
Bambaraɲɛmɔgɔba
Ewezimenɔla
Kinyarwandaumuyobozi
Lingalamokambi ya eteyelo
Lugandassentebe wa ssentebe
Sepedimodulasetulo
Twi (Akan)oguamtrani

Chairman in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicرئيس
The word "رئيس" also means "head" or "leader" and is derived from the Arabic root "رءس" meaning "to be at the top".
Hebrewיושב ראש
יושב ראש literally means 'one who sits at the head'
Pashtoرییس
The Pashto word "رییس" can also be spelled "رايس", which means "chieftain, ruler, leader".
Arabicرئيس
The word "رئيس" also means "head" or "leader" and is derived from the Arabic root "رءس" meaning "to be at the top".

Chairman in Western European Languages

Albaniankryetari
The Albanian word "kryetari" also means "leader" and derives from "krye" (head) and "tar" (holder).
Basquepresidentea
In Basque, the word "presidentea" is derived from the Spanish word "presidente" and also refers to the head of an association or group.
Catalanpresident
The word "president" in Catalan comes from the Latin word "praesidere", meaning "to sit in front".
Croatianpredsjednik
The word "predsjednik" comes from the Slavic word "prěděti" meaning "to lead" and is used in some Slavic languages with the meaning of "president".
Danishformand
The Danish word "formand" is derived from the German "Vorsitzender" (chairman) and can also refer to the head of an association, organization or committee.
Dutchvoorzitter
In Dutch, 'Voorzitter' is also used in the context of a judge presiding over a court, or a professor leading a meeting.
Englishchairman
In the 17th century, “chairman” referred to people who carried chairs or litters for hire.
Frenchprésident
The French word "président" derives from the Latin "praesidere", meaning "to preside over" or "to lead".
Frisianfoarsitter
The word "foarsitter" is made up of the base "foar" meaning "before" or "first" and "sitter" meaning "sitter".
Galicianpresidente
The Galician word "presidente" can also mean "leader" or "chief" in other contexts.
Germanvorsitzende
The term "Vorsitzende" in German also refers to a presiding officer, moderator, chairperson, chairwoman or president of a meeting or organization.
Icelandicformaður
Formaður, a word derived from Proto-Norse *furmaðuz 'first person,' also designates a 'crew chief' on a fishing boat or a 'team leader' in sports.
Irishcathaoirleach
"Cathaoirleach" is derived from the Irish word "cathaoir" meaning "chair", and also has the meaning of "cathedral canon" or "professor at a university".
Italianpresidente
In Italian, "presidente" can also refer to the chief executive of a nation or a corporate board.
Luxembourgishpresident
President derives from the Latin word "praesidere" meaning "to preside".
Maltesepresident
The Maltese word "president" originated from the Italian "presidente," meaning "person who presides".
Norwegianformann
The word "Formann" comes from the Old Norse word "formanni", meaning "leader of a group."
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)presidente
The word "presidente" derives from the Latin "praesidere", meaning "to sit before or over"
Scots Gaeliccathraiche
The word `cathraiche` in Scots Gaelic is also sometimes used to refer to the chairman of a meeting or gathering.
Spanishpresidente
The Spanish word "presidente" can also mean "president" or "head of state".
Swedishordförande
The term "ordförande" in Swedish originally referred to the presiding officer of a court or other legal body before becoming synonymous with "chairman"
Welshcadeirydd
The word 'cadeirydd' in Welsh is derived from the Latin word 'cathedra', meaning 'chair'.

Chairman in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianстаршыня
The Belarusian word `старшыня` is cognate with Polish `starszy` meaning `elder`.
Bosnianpredsjedavajući
The word "predsjedavajući" is derived from the Slavic root "sed-," meaning "to sit," and the suffix "-avajući," which indicates an ongoing action.
Bulgarianпредседател
In Bulgarian, the word "председател" can also refer to a person who leads a meeting or organization.
Czechpředseda
The word "předseda" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *predьsěda*, meaning "one who sits in front".
Estonianesimees
Esimees is also used as a title for the head of a household or estate, or the head of a family, or as a title for a foreman or manager.
Finnishpuheenjohtaja
The word "puheenjohtaja" literally means "the leader of speeches" in Finnish and is used to refer to the person who chairs a meeting or discussion.
Hungarianelnök
In Hungarian, the word "elnök" originated from the old Germanic verb "*walhón" meaning "to elect, to choose".
Latvianpriekšsēdētājs
"Priekšsēdētājs" (chairman) comes from the Latvian verb "sēdēt" (to sit), referring to a person who literally sits in front of a meeting and leads it.
Lithuanianpirmininkas
The word "pirmininkas" is derived from "pirma" ("first") and "-ininkas", a suffix indicating the head of an organization.
Macedonianпретседател
In Macedonian the word претседател can also mean "president" or "speaker".
Polishprzewodniczący
The word "przewodniczący" is derived from the verb "przewodniczyć", which means "to preside over a meeting".
Romanianpreşedinte
The Romanian word "preşedinte" comes from the French word "président" and can also mean "president" in Romanian.
Russianпредседатель
The word "председатель" is derived from the verb "председать", meaning "to preside", and originally referred to the head of a council or meeting.
Serbianпредседавајући
The word "председавајући" (chairman, chair) is derived from the Church Slavonic word "предсѣдати" (to sit before, to preside) and literally means "the one who sits before".
Slovakpredseda
The word "predseda" in Slovak also means "chairman" or "president".
Slovenianpredsednik
The word "predsednik" in Slovenian, in addition to meaning "chairman", is the term used to refer to the president of a country.
Ukrainianголова
In Ukrainian, "голова" also means "head" and can refer to the leader of an organization or community.

Chairman in South Asian Languages

Bengaliচেয়ারম্যান
চেয়ারম্যান শব্দটি চেয়ার (কর্মকাণ্ডের পরিচালনাকারী) এবং ম্যান (পুরুষ) অর্থাৎ "কর্মকাণ্ডের পরিচালনাকারী পুরুষ" থেকে এসেছে।
Gujaratiઅધ્યક્ષ
The word "અધ્યક્ષ" (adhyaksh) in Gujarati originally meant "president or head of an organization"
Hindiअध्यक्ष
The Hindi word "अध्यक्ष" comes from "अधि" meaning "over" and "क्ष" meaning "to protect".
Kannadaಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ
The word 'ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ' in Kannada also means 'president' if it refers to the head of a nation or an organization.
Malayalamചെയർമാൻ
ചെയർമാൻ (Chairman in English) is derived from the word 'chair', which refers to the seat of authority or leadership.
Marathiअध्यक्ष
The word 'अध्यक्ष' in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'अधि' meaning 'over' or 'on top of', and 'क्ष' meaning 'to rule or govern'. Hence, the word literally translates to 'one who presides over' or 'a superior'.
Nepaliअध्यक्ष
The Sanskrit word "अध्यक्ष" can also refer to a deity, a leader, a president, a sovereign, a speaker, or a director.
Punjabiਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ
ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ (chairman) is derived from the English word 'chair,' meaning a seat for one person, and 'man,' a person who holds a position of authority.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)සභාපති
සභාපති is derived from the Sanskrit words 'sabha' ('assembly') and 'pati' ('lord'), and has alternate meanings such as 'president' or 'speaker'.
Tamilதலைவர்
The word "தலைவர்" also means "leader" or "head" in Tamil.
Teluguచైర్మన్
"చైర్మన్" comes from the English word "chairman", which originally meant the person presiding over a meeting or group.
Urduچیئرمین
The Urdu word چیئرمین can also refer to a chair used by someone who leads a meeting.

Chairman in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)主席
主席 is short for 董事主席, meaning 'chairman of the board of directors'.
Chinese (Traditional)主席
主席 in Traditional Chinese is also used to address the chairperson of a group or meeting
Japanese委員長
The term 委員長 can also refer to the leader of a student organization or club in Japan.
Korean의장
In addition to its meaning "chairman," 의장 can also refer to the speaker of the National Assembly or a provincial assembly in South Korea.
Mongolianдарга
The Mongolian word "дарга" (chairman) is derived from the Tibetan word "sgar-ra" meaning "head of a monastery".
Myanmar (Burmese)ဥက္က္ဌ
Pronounced [ʔoʊʔ kʰa̰], it derives from Pali and Sanskrit root word ‘ukh’ and ‘khachcha’ and the suffix ‘a’ indicating a masculine subject.

Chairman in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianketua
The word "ketua" in Indonesian comes from the Sanskrit word "ketu", meaning "a sign or banner".
Javaneseketua
The word "ketua" also denotes a head of a family or a head of a village or district in Javanese.
Khmerប្រធាន
The word "ប្រធាន" can also be used to refer to the head of a monastery, a village chief, or a teacher.
Laoປະທານ
The word "ປະທານ" can also refer to a president or head of an organization in Lao.
Malayketua
The word "ketua" is derived from the Sanskrit word "ketu" meaning "banner" or "standard", and in Malay it can also refer to a leader or chief.
Thaiประธาน
"ประธาน" (prathān) comes from the Sanskrit word "pradhāna", meaning "chief" or "principal".
Vietnamesechủ tịch
In Vietnamese, Chủ tịch can mean either chairman or president, depending on the context
Filipino (Tagalog)tagapangulo

Chairman in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanisədr
"sədr" is derived from Arabic and has different meanings in different languages, including "front", "top", and "chief".
Kazakhтөраға
In Mongolian, 'төраға' means 'to be at the head, to lead' and 'the chief or head of a group, organization, or country'.
Kyrgyzтөрага
Derived from the word тор а - "gathering" or "council", and "-га" - the nominal suffix of action
Tajikраис
The word "раис" is also used to refer to the head of a religious community.
Turkmenbaşlygy
Uzbekrais
In Uzbek, "rais" can also refer to a "chief", "head**, or "leader**.
Uyghurرەئىس

Chairman in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianlunahoomalu
The word "lunahoomalu" has its roots in Hawaiian: "luna," referring to a chief, leader, or overseer, and "hoomalu," meaning to protect, guard, or shield.
Maoriheamana
The Maori word "heamana" can also refer to a leader, chief, or head of a group or organization.
Samoantaitaifono
The Samoan word 'taitaifono' also refers to a 'storyteller' and, historically, a high orator.
Tagalog (Filipino)chairman
In Tagalog, "chairman" comes from the Spanish word "chair" and also means "chair" or "seat."

Chairman in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarap’iqinchiri
Guaranipresidente

Chairman in International Languages

Esperantoprezidanto
The Esperanto word "prezidanto" derives from the Latin word "praesidens" meaning "one who sits before".
Latinpraeses
"Praeses" in Latin can also mean "protector" or "president".

Chairman in Others Languages

Greekπρόεδρος
The word "Πρόεδρος" (chairman) comes from the Greek word "προεδρία" (presidency).
Hmongtus thawj coj
"Tus thawj coj" is a compound word that literally means "head of the people".
Kurdishpêşewar
The word "pêşewar" is derived from the Persian word "peshwar" meaning "leader".
Turkishbaşkan
The word 'başkan' comes from Persian and also means 'chief' or 'leader'.
Xhosausihlalo
Also used as a term of address for male elders, even when they are not in a position of authority.
Yiddishטשערמאן
The Yiddish word "טשערמאן" ("tsherman") derives from the German "vorsitzender", meaning "presiding officer" or "one who sits in front"
Zuluusihlalo
"Usihlalo" derives from the verb "hlala" (sit), implying the chairman's positional authority.
Assameseচেয়াৰমেন
Aymarap’iqinchiri
Bhojpuriअध्यक्ष के रूप में काम कइले बानी
Dhivehiޗެއާމަން އެވެ
Dogriचेयरमैन जी
Filipino (Tagalog)tagapangulo
Guaranipresidente
Ilocanotserman
Kriochiaman fɔ di chiaman
Kurdish (Sorani)سەرۆک
Maithiliअध्यक्ष जी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯆꯦꯌꯔꯃꯦꯟ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯧ ꯄꯨꯈꯤ꯫
Mizochairman a ni
Oromodura taa’aa
Odia (Oriya)ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷ
Quechuaumalliq
Sanskritअध्यक्षः
Tatarпредседателе
Tigrinyaኣቦ መንበር
Tsongamutshama-xitulu

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