Challenge in Different Languages
Discover 'Challenge' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'challenge' holds a special significance in our lives. It represents a call to action, a test of one's abilities, or a problem to be solved. Culturally, it's a concept that transcends borders, resonating with people worldwide. Embracing a challenge can lead to personal growth, innovation, and progress. Therefore, understanding its translation in different languages can be enlightening and empowering.
Historically, the Latin word 'calare' means 'to call' or 'to summon', which forms the basis of the word 'challenge'. This linguistic root signifies the summons to a combat in medieval times, a clear example of a challenge. Interestingly, in Japanese, the word 'challenge' is translated as 'charenji' (チャレンジ), reflecting the influence of Western culture on their language.
So, why should you learn the translation of 'challenge' in various languages? Knowing this term can help you appreciate cultural nuances, communicate more effectively, and even foster global connections. By understanding the word in different languages, you're not only expanding your vocabulary but also embracing the spirit of overcoming obstacles and striving for success.
Here are some translations of the word 'challenge' in various languages:
Challenge
Challenge in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | uitdaging | ||
| "Uitdaging" is also an Afrikaans term for an invitation. | |||
| Amharic | ተግዳሮት | ||
| Hausa | kalubale | ||
| "Kalubale" in Hausa has an additional meaning of "a place to sit" or "a sitting place". | |||
| Igbo | ịma aka | ||
| Igbo word ịma aka has the double meaning of "challenge" and "knowledge of the hand" | |||
| Malagasy | challenge | ||
| The Malagasy word "fanamby" means both "challenge" and "to try, attempt, endeavor" in English. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chovuta | ||
| The word "chovuta" is derived from the root word "vuta", which means "to fight", indicating its association with a competitive or confrontational situation. | |||
| Shona | kupokana | ||
| "Kupokana" can also mean "to compete" in the context of sports or games. | |||
| Somali | caqabad | ||
| In Somali, "caqabad" shares etymological roots with "caqab," meaning "to trip" or "to hinder." | |||
| Sesotho | phephetso | ||
| The word 'phephetso' in Sesotho is derived from the root 'phepha', which means 'to blow', suggesting a challenge as something that requires effort to overcome. | |||
| Swahili | changamoto | ||
| The Swahili word "changamoto" can also be used to describe a mental obstacle, difficulty, or trial. | |||
| Xhosa | umngeni | ||
| The Xhosa word "umngeni" also refers to a "boundary" or "demarcation line". | |||
| Yoruba | ipenija | ||
| "Ipenija" also means "a call to arms". | |||
| Zulu | inselele | ||
| The word "inselele" (challenge) in Zulu also refers to a type of game or competition. | |||
| Bambara | gɛlɛya | ||
| Ewe | ʋli ho | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ingorane | ||
| Lingala | komekama | ||
| Luganda | okusoomozebwa | ||
| Sepedi | tlhotlo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ko tia | ||
Challenge in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | التحدي | ||
| In a secondary sense, التحدي also means "a call to a fight," which might explain the "fight" sense of the English word "challenge." | |||
| Hebrew | אתגר | ||
| "אתגר" is the Hebrew word for 'challenge' but it can also mean 'to encourage' or 'to provoke." | |||
| Pashto | ننګونه | ||
| The word "ننګونه" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *lengʰ-, meaning "to bind" or "to fasten." | |||
| Arabic | التحدي | ||
| In a secondary sense, التحدي also means "a call to a fight," which might explain the "fight" sense of the English word "challenge." | |||
Challenge in Western European Languages
| Albanian | sfidë | ||
| The word "sfidë" (Albanian for "challenge") also denotes a type of traditional Albanian folk dance primarily performed in the north of the country. | |||
| Basque | erronka | ||
| The word 'erronka' comes from the Basque word 'eron', which means 'to throw', and is related to the concept of 'throwing down the gauntlet'. | |||
| Catalan | desafiament | ||
| "Desafiament" comes from the Latin "diffidare," meaning "to distrust" or "to question someone's good faith." | |||
| Croatian | izazov | ||
| In Croatian, "izazov" also means "provocation" and "incitement". | |||
| Danish | udfordring | ||
| "Udfordring" means both "challenge" and "provocation" in Danish, reflecting its dual nature as both an obstacle and an opportunity. | |||
| Dutch | uitdaging | ||
| Dutch "uitdaging" derives from "uit" (out) and "dagen" (to summon) and carries a secondary meaning of "duel". | |||
| English | challenge | ||
| "Challenge" comes from the Medieval French "chalonge", meaning "to accuse" or "to summon for combat." | |||
| French | défi | ||
| In French, the word "défi" can also refer to a physical or mental test, or to a situation that is difficult to overcome. | |||
| Frisian | útdaging | ||
| The word "útdaging" in Frisian is derived from the Old Frisian word "utdagunge", meaning "accusation" or "denunciation". | |||
| Galician | reto | ||
| The word "reto" in Galician originally meant "return" in Latin, and it's related to the word "retorno" in Spanish. | |||
| German | herausforderung | ||
| In German, the word "Herausforderung" can also mean "provocation" or "dare". | |||
| Icelandic | áskorun | ||
| The word "áskorun" in Icelandic derives from the Old Norse word "áskora," meaning "to clamor or shout," and ultimately from the Proto-Germanic root *askôn- meaning "to ask or demand." | |||
| Irish | dúshlán | ||
| It is also the term used in a chess match to describe being in an attacking position with the opponent's monarch. | |||
| Italian | sfida | ||
| "Sfida" is derived from the Latin word for "agreement": "spondere," thus implying the idea of a competition where two opponents agree on the rules before engaging in a conflict. | |||
| Luxembourgish | erauszefuerderen | ||
| Maltese | sfida | ||
| In Maltese, "sfida" can also mean "wager" or "bet". | |||
| Norwegian | utfordring | ||
| "Utfordring" is derived from "ut", meaning "out" and "foring", meaning "to go" or "trying", and carries the nuanced connotation of a "setting forth" or "going beyond one's current limits". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | desafio | ||
| The word "desafio" in Portuguese can also mean a "dare" or a "provocation". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | dùbhlan | ||
| The word "dùbhlan" also means "obstacle" or "difficulty" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | desafío | ||
| In Spanish, "desafío" is a cognate of the English word "defy," and also means "disrespect"} | |||
| Swedish | utmaning | ||
| Utmana, meaning 'to challenge', stems from the Old Norse word 'útmana', meaning 'to call out' or 'to summon' someone. | |||
| Welsh | her | ||
| Her in Welsh can also refer to a 'trial', something which tests one's capabilities, or to a journey or adventure. | |||
Challenge in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | выклік | ||
| "Выклік" also has a more colloquial meaning in Belarusian, referring to a verbal altercation or argument. | |||
| Bosnian | izazov | ||
| The word 'izazov' is also used to refer to a provocation or a dare. | |||
| Bulgarian | предизвикателство | ||
| Пре́дизвика́телство, "challenge" in English, comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "съпротива" meaning "resistance". | |||
| Czech | výzva | ||
| The Slavic root *vykъz* of the word "výzva" also means "call, invite" or "proclamation". | |||
| Estonian | väljakutse | ||
| The word "väljakutse" can also refer to a proposal of marriage in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | haaste | ||
| Haaste is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *hāsti meaning "difficulty" or "trouble". | |||
| Hungarian | kihívás | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "kihívás" also means "calling". So it can refer to both a task that tests one's abilities, and the act of summoning someone to do something. | |||
| Latvian | izaicinājums | ||
| The Latvian word "izaicinājums" comes from the prefix "iza" ("from") and the noun "caina" ("fight") and thus originally meant "invitation to fight", evolving into "challenge" in the modern language. | |||
| Lithuanian | iššūkis | ||
| The Lithuanian word "iššūkis" originated from the verb "iššauti" meaning "to shoot" or "to fire", reflecting the idea of a challenge as a test of skills or a confrontation. | |||
| Macedonian | предизвик | ||
| The word "предизвик" can also mean "provocation" or "incitement". | |||
| Polish | wyzwanie | ||
| The noun "wyzwanie" derives from the verb "wyzywać" which means to taunt, insult or provoke. | |||
| Romanian | provocare | ||
| The Romanian word 'provocare' originates from the Latin verb 'provocare', meaning 'to call forth, challenge, or incite'. | |||
| Russian | вызов | ||
| The word "вызов" also means "call out" as in a challenge or duel. | |||
| Serbian | изазов | ||
| The word "изазов" (literally meaning "in front of the call") is also used to mean an opportunity or a task. | |||
| Slovak | výzva | ||
| The word "výzva" comes from the verb "vzít" (to take) and the noun "vývoj" (development), and originally meant "a task that has to be taken on and carried out." | |||
| Slovenian | izziv | ||
| The word "izziv" can also mean "provocation" or "dare". | |||
| Ukrainian | виклик | ||
| The Ukrainian word "виклик", meaning "challenge", is derived from the word "кликати", meaning "to call". This suggests that a challenge is a call to action or a test of one's abilities. | |||
Challenge in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | চ্যালেঞ্জ | ||
| The word "চ্যালেঞ্জ" (challenge) in Bengali may also refer to an invitation to a sporting contest or a request to perform a task. | |||
| Gujarati | પડકાર | ||
| The Gujarati word "પડકાર" can also refer to a dare, a defiance, an invitation, or a provocation. | |||
| Hindi | चुनौती | ||
| The word चुनौती comes from the Sanskrit word 'चल' which means 'to move', suggesting the idea of a test that requires effort or movement. | |||
| Kannada | ಸವಾಲು | ||
| "ಸವಾಲು" is derived from the Persian word "sawal" meaning "inquiry or question". | |||
| Malayalam | വെല്ലുവിളി | ||
| Marathi | आव्हान | ||
| The Marathi word "आव्हान" (avhāṇa) derives from the Sanskrit word "आ+हन" (ā+hana), meaning "to call upon" or "to invoke." | |||
| Nepali | चुनौती | ||
| The word 'चुनौती' in Nepali can also mean 'an opportunity to prove oneself' or 'a task that tests one's abilities'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਚੁਣੌਤੀ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਚੁਣੌਤੀ" can also refer to a dare or a trial, and is derived from the Sanskrit word "चूर्णा" meaning "powdered". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අභියෝගය | ||
| අභියෝගය also means "obstacle" or "difficulty" which is evident in its usage in both written and spoken Sinhala. | |||
| Tamil | சவால் | ||
| "சவால்" also means "to dare" or "to provoke" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | సవాలు | ||
| The word "సవాలు" (challenge) in Telugu also means "an objection to something, or a question asked to verify or test something." | |||
| Urdu | چیلنج | ||
| چیلنج - Derived from the French word "challenjer," meaning "to accuse," "to summon," or "to make a claim against."} | |||
Challenge in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 挑战 | ||
| In Chinese, the word "挑战" (tiaozhan) literally means "leap frog," but is most commonly used as a noun meaning "challenge." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 挑戰 | ||
| 挑戰, challenge in English, comes from the Latin calumnia, meaning "false accusation" or "slander". | |||
| Japanese | チャレンジ | ||
| The Japanese word "チャレンジ" (challenge) also has the alternate meaning of "attempt". | |||
| Korean | 도전 | ||
| The Korean word "도전" (challenge) originated from the Chinese "挑戰" (provocation, defiance), which in turn originated from older meanings of "to invite to a battle, provoke, or entice." | |||
| Mongolian | сорилт | ||
| The word "сорилт" ("challenge") in Mongolian can also refer to "argument" or "dispute". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စိန်ခေါ်မှု | ||
| စိန်ခေါ်မှု is the name of a game in which there are usually two players, a thrower and a receiver; the receiver must throw the ball back before it touches the ground, or else the thrower gains a point. | |||
Challenge in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | tantangan | ||
| The word "tantangan" originates from the Proto-Austronesian word "*taŋaŋ", meaning "to ask" or "to question". | |||
| Javanese | tantangan | ||
| The Javanese word "tantangan" can also mean "competition" or "fight". | |||
| Khmer | បញ្ហាប្រឈម | ||
| Lao | ສິ່ງທ້າທາຍ | ||
| The word "thing that blocks" or "obstacle" in Lao is also used to mean "challenge". | |||
| Malay | cabaran | ||
| The Malay word "cabaran" comes from the Javanese word "cobar" which means "to test" or "to try". It can also mean "a bet" or "a dare". | |||
| Thai | ท้าทาย | ||
| The word "ท้าทาย" can also mean "to provoke" or "to invite someone to a contest." | |||
| Vietnamese | thử thách | ||
| The word "thử thách" originates from two Chinese characters: "thử," meaning "to try" or "to test," and "thách," meaning "to dare." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hamon | ||
Challenge in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | meydan oxumaq | ||
| The verb “meydan oxumaq” in Azerbaijani can have different meanings depending on the context, but its primary meaning is “to challenge”. In some contexts, it may mean to provoke or invite someone to a contest, or to make a formal declaration of intent to compete against someone. | |||
| Kazakh | шақыру | ||
| Шақыру also means 'invite' in Kazakh and can have connotations of a social occasion. | |||
| Kyrgyz | чакырык | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "чакырык" also means "to invite" or "to call (someone) to arms". | |||
| Tajik | мушкилот | ||
| The word "мушкилот" also means "difficulty" or "problem" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | kynçylyk | ||
| Uzbek | qiyinchilik | ||
| The Uzbek word "qiyinchilik" shares a common origin with the Uyghur word "qiyinchiliq" and the Kazakh word "qiyinshilik", ultimately tracing back to the Mongolian word "kiyinchilig". | |||
| Uyghur | خىرىس | ||
Challenge in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoʻāʻo | ||
| In Hawaiian "hoʻāʻo" not only means "challenge," but also "to ask," "to request" or "to try something out." | |||
| Maori | wero | ||
| The Maori word "wero" also means "to invite or defy someone to a contest or fight." | |||
| Samoan | luʻi | ||
| The word 'luʻi' can also mean 'to oppose' or 'to defy' in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | hamon | ||
| The word "hamon" in Tagalog can also refer to an invitation to a duel or a competition. | |||
Challenge in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | yant'asiwi | ||
| Guarani | porohekáva | ||
Challenge in International Languages
| Esperanto | defio | ||
| The Esperanto word "defio" derives from Latin "defido" meaning "distrust", "doubt" or "despair". | |||
| Latin | challenge | ||
| The Latin origin, calumniare, referred to deceitful or slanderous accusation. | |||
Challenge in Others Languages
| Greek | πρόκληση | ||
| The Greek word "πρόκληση" (próklesi) ultimately comes from the verb "προκαλέομαι" (prokaléomai), meaning "to call forth, to summon". | |||
| Hmong | kev sib tw | ||
| "Kev sib tw" is derived from the Hmong words "kev" (to do), "sib" (together), and "tw" (to compete). | |||
| Kurdish | meydanxwazî | ||
| The word 'meydanxwazî' in Kurdish can also refer to a duel or an argument. | |||
| Turkish | meydan okuma | ||
| "Meydan okuma" also means "to call someone out to a public space" in Turkish, deriving from the word "meydan" meaning "public square". | |||
| Xhosa | umngeni | ||
| The Xhosa word "umngeni" also refers to a "boundary" or "demarcation line". | |||
| Yiddish | אַרויסרופן | ||
| The Yiddish word "אַרויסרופן" also means "to call out", "to summon", or "to invoke". | |||
| Zulu | inselele | ||
| The word "inselele" (challenge) in Zulu also refers to a type of game or competition. | |||
| Assamese | প্ৰত্যাহবান | ||
| Aymara | yant'asiwi | ||
| Bhojpuri | ललकारल | ||
| Dhivehi | ޗެލެންޖް | ||
| Dogri | चनौती | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hamon | ||
| Guarani | porohekáva | ||
| Ilocano | karit | ||
| Krio | wetin mit yu | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاستەنگی | ||
| Maithili | चुनौती | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯤꯡꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | chona | ||
| Oromo | ittiin qabuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆହ୍ .ାନ | | ||
| Quechua | atipanakuy | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रवादं | ||
| Tatar | авырлык | ||
| Tigrinya | ፃውዒት | ||
| Tsonga | ntlhontlho | ||