Champion in Different Languages
Discover 'Champion' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'champion' holds a special place in our hearts and minds, symbolizing victory, excellence, and inspiring stories of resilience. Originating from the Old French 'champiun,' meaning 'fighter in a battle or contest,' the term has transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries to become a universal signifier of success.
Champions are not just confined to the sports arena; they exist in every walk of life, from business and science to arts and humanities. The spirit of championing a cause or standing up for one's beliefs is a powerful force that drives progress and positive change in society.
Delving into the translations of 'champion' in different languages offers a fascinating glimpse into how various cultures perceive and celebrate this concept. For instance, in Spanish, a champion is a 'campeón,' while in German, it's a 'Sieger.' In Russian, the term is 'чемпион' (chyempiyon), and in Japanese, it's 'チャンピオン' (chanpion).
Join us as we embark on a linguistic journey to explore the many facets of this remarkable word and its translations across the globe.
Champion
Champion in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | kampioen | ||
| In South Africa, "kampioen" can also informally refer to a skilled or experienced person, regardless of whether they are competing. | |||
| Amharic | ሻምፒዮን | ||
| In Amharic, "ሻምፒዮን" can also mean "master" or "expert" in a particular field. | |||
| Hausa | zakara | ||
| The word zakara also means 'to boast' in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | onye mmeri | ||
| The term "onye mmeri" literally means "owner of the dance" in Igbo, as the champion is often the master of the dance floor. | |||
| Malagasy | tompon-daka | ||
| The word "Tompon-daka" originates from the Malay word "tuan" (master) and the Malagasy word "daka" (tall). | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | ngwazi | ||
| Ngwazi (Chichewa) derives from an original verb form 'kugaza' (to win or overcome), and signifies the quality of triumph or victory. | |||
| Shona | shasha | ||
| In Shona, the word "shasha" also refers to a type of tree frog known for its loud croaking. | |||
| Somali | horyaal | ||
| Sesotho | 'mampoli | ||
| 'Mampoli' is derived from the name of a type of tree, the 'mampoli' tree, which is known for its strength and resilience. | |||
| Swahili | bingwa | ||
| The word "bingwa" in Swahili can also refer to a skilled person or expert in a certain field. | |||
| Xhosa | intshatsheli | ||
| In Xhosa, the word intshatsheli literally means 'one who makes noise', indicating the boisterous celebration that typically accompanies victory. | |||
| Yoruba | aṣaju | ||
| The word "aṣaju" also means "captain" or "leader" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | iqhawe | ||
| In some southern Nguni dialects, "iqhawe" was a special title reserved for great warriors. | |||
| Bambara | champion | ||
| Ewe | ʋiʋlidziɖula | ||
| Kinyarwanda | nyampinga | ||
| Lingala | champion | ||
| Luganda | nnantameggwa | ||
| Sepedi | mmotšwapele | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ɔkannifo | ||
Champion in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | بطل | ||
| بطل also refers to an 'outlaw', and in Maghrebi Arabic specifically a rebel or freedom fighter, rather than a 'champion'. | |||
| Hebrew | אַלוּף | ||
| The word "אַלוּף" ( אלוף ) in Hebrew can also refer to a military commander or a leader of a tribe or group. | |||
| Pashto | اتل | ||
| In Pashto, "اتل" not only means "champion" but also "leader" or "head of a group." | |||
| Arabic | بطل | ||
| بطل also refers to an 'outlaw', and in Maghrebi Arabic specifically a rebel or freedom fighter, rather than a 'champion'. | |||
Champion in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kampion | ||
| The Albanian word "kampion" is borrowed from Latin "campio," ultimately from the ancient Greek "κάμπτω," meaning "to bend"} | |||
| Basque | txapeldun | ||
| The Basque word txapeldun derives from "txapel", meaning "beret", as berets were worn by winners of rural sports competitions. | |||
| Catalan | campió | ||
| The word "campió" comes from the Vulgar Latin word "campus," which originally meant "plain" or "field," and later came to refer to a battlefield. | |||
| Croatian | prvak | ||
| The word 'prvak' is derived from the Croatian word 'prvo', meaning 'first', or the Proto-Slavic word 'pьrvъ', with the suffix '-ak'. | |||
| Danish | champion | ||
| In Danish, "champion" can also refer to a horse or dog that has won a competition. | |||
| Dutch | kampioen | ||
| In Dutch, the word 'kampioen' also refers to a type of mushroom, specifically the champignon, which is popular in Dutch cuisine. | |||
| English | champion | ||
| In the Middle Ages, a champion was a fighter who fought for a cause or person rather than for personal gain. | |||
| French | champion | ||
| In French, "champion" also refers to a type of mushroom or a support beam used in construction. | |||
| Frisian | kampioen | ||
| The word "kampioen" in Frisian has its roots in the Old Frisian word "kampe", meaning "fighter" or "warrior". | |||
| Galician | campión | ||
| "Campión" derives from Greek "agōn" (contest) and Latin "campus" (plain, field), hence its alternate meaning "battlefield". | |||
| German | champion | ||
| In German, the word "Champion" comes from the French word "champion" meaning "fighter" or "combatant". | |||
| Icelandic | meistari | ||
| The word "meistari" in Icelandic has roots in the Proto-Germanic "maistaraz," meaning both "teacher" and "craftsman." | |||
| Irish | curadh | ||
| The word "curadh" is also used to refer to a "hero" or "warrior" in Irish. | |||
| Italian | campione | ||
| The word "campione" derives from the Latin "campus," meaning "field" or "battlefield," and originally referred to a soldier who fought in a single combat to decide the outcome of a battle. | |||
| Luxembourgish | champion | ||
| Champion can also mean "a piece of meat from the leg of a calf" | |||
| Maltese | champion | ||
| The Maltese word "champion" was originally used to refer to a champion of a particular cause or person, rather than a winner of a competition. | |||
| Norwegian | champion | ||
| The Norwegian word "kjempe" can mean both "champion" and "giant." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | campeão | ||
| The word "campeão" is derived from the Latin word "campus", meaning "field of battle", and originally referred to a soldier who had fought bravely in battle. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | curaidh | ||
| The word "curaidh" can also refer to a guardian or protector. | |||
| Spanish | campeón | ||
| "Campeón" can also mean "field" or "countryside" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | mästare | ||
| The Swedish word "mästare" can also refer to someone who has achieved a high level of skill in a particular craft or profession. | |||
| Welsh | pencampwr | ||
| The word 'pencampwr' shares its root with 'pen', meaning 'head', and 'cawr', meaning 'giant' or 'hero'. | |||
Champion in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | чэмпіён | ||
| The word 'чэмпіён' is of French origin and is cognate with the words 'camp' and 'champion'. It originally meant 'a fighter who fights on behalf of another', and has since come to mean 'a person who has achieved the highest level of success in a particular field'. | |||
| Bosnian | prvak | ||
| The word "prvak" in Bosnian can also refer to a leader or a pioneer. | |||
| Bulgarian | шампион | ||
| The word "шампион" in Bulgarian also means "a person who is recognized for their outstanding skills or qualities in a particular field" | |||
| Czech | mistr | ||
| The origin of the Czech word "mistr" (champion) is uncertain, but it may be related to the Proto-Slavic root "*meistrъ", meaning "master" or "craftsman". | |||
| Estonian | meister | ||
| The word "meister" in Estonian can also mean "master" or "expert" in a craft or trade. | |||
| Finnish | mestari | ||
| Derived from the Old Estonian word "meistar" and Proto-Uralic "*mehtar" (literally meaning teacher or skilled person). | |||
| Hungarian | bajnok | ||
| The word "bajnok" is derived from the Hungarian word "baj", meaning "battle", denoting a person who "wins" in a battle | |||
| Latvian | čempions | ||
| In Latvian, the word "čempions" can also mean "fighter" or "soldier". | |||
| Lithuanian | čempionas | ||
| The word "čempionas" is derived from the French word "champion", which comes from the Medieval Latin word "campio", meaning "warrior" or "combatant". | |||
| Macedonian | шампион | ||
| The Macedonian word "шампион" derives from the French "champion" and can also refer to a tournament winner. | |||
| Polish | mistrz | ||
| The Polish word "mistrz" originates from an Italian term meaning "master," and can also denote a teacher in various fields such as music or cooking | |||
| Romanian | campion | ||
| In Romanian, "campion" can also refer to wild carnations, an unrelated plant belonging to the genus Silene. | |||
| Russian | чемпион | ||
| "Чемпион" comes from the Old Slavic word "къmpii" meaning "battlefield" and has the alternate meaning of "winner of a tournament or contest." | |||
| Serbian | првак | ||
| The Serbian word "prvak" can also refer to a "first-born child" or a "leader of a group or organization" | |||
| Slovak | majster | ||
| "Majster" in Slovak also means "master" in English, as in "master of ceremonies". | |||
| Slovenian | prvak | ||
| "Prvak" has the secondary meaning of "first". | |||
| Ukrainian | чемпіон | ||
| The word “чемпіон” is derived from Old French “champion”, meaning 'knight' or 'warrior'. | |||
Champion in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | রক্ষক | ||
| The word 'রক্ষক' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'rakṣ', meaning 'to protect'. | |||
| Gujarati | ચેમ્પિયન | ||
| Did you know that the Gujarati word "ચેમ્પિયન" (champion) also means "a person who is admired and respected by others"? | |||
| Hindi | चैंपियन | ||
| The Hindi word चैंपियन (champion) originates from the French word 'champion', which originally meant 'a fighter' or 'a knight'. | |||
| Kannada | ಚಾಂಪಿಯನ್ | ||
| Its alternate meaning is 'an attendant of a royal personage or a person of distinction'. | |||
| Malayalam | ചാമ്പ്യൻ | ||
| Though meaning 'winner' in English, the Malayalam word 'ചാമ്പ്യൻ' literally means 'flattened rice' or 'beaten rice'. | |||
| Marathi | विजेता | ||
| The Marathi word "विजेता" (champion) also means "victorious" or "winner" in Sanskrit, and is derived from the root word "विज" (to conquer). | |||
| Nepali | च्याम्पियन | ||
| Punjabi | ਜੇਤੂ | ||
| The word "ਜੇਤੂ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "jaya", meaning "victory". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ශූරයා | ||
| The Sinhala term 'ශූරයා' can also refer to a brave or strong person, or even a legendary hero. | |||
| Tamil | சாம்பியன் | ||
| "சாம்பியன்" is the Tamil equivalent of the English word "champion" and is derived from the French word "champion". | |||
| Telugu | ఛాంపియన్ | ||
| The word "champion" comes from the Old French word "champion", which in turn comes from the Latin word "campus", meaning "field". This is because in the Middle Ages, champions were often knights who fought in tournaments held on fields. | |||
| Urdu | چیمپیئن | ||
| The word 'چیمپیئن' is derived from the Old French word 'champion', which means 'warrior' or 'fighter'. | |||
Champion in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 冠军 | ||
| 冠军最初仅指角力中获胜者，后引申为在竞赛中获胜者 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 冠軍 | ||
| The Chinese word "冠軍" (champion) derives from the military term "冠軍將軍" (champion general), meaning a commander of the elite vanguard. | |||
| Japanese | チャンピオン | ||
| In Japanese, "チャンピオン" can also denote a professional boxer regardless of the weight division or title. | |||
| Korean | 챔피언 | ||
| The term 챔피언 (champion) in Korean is derived from the Japanese word チャンピオン (champion), which in turn comes from the English word 'champion'. | |||
| Mongolian | аварга | ||
| The word "аварга" can also mean "warrior" or "hero". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ချန်ပီယံ | ||
| The word "ချန်ပီယံ" (champion) in Myanmar (Burmese) is derived from the French word "champion", which originally meant "a warrior who fights on behalf of another". | |||
Champion in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | juara | ||
| The Indonesian "juara" derives from the Portuguese "jaguar", or chief in Tupi | |||
| Javanese | juara | ||
| The word 'juara' may also mean 'teacher' or a 'leader of a group' in Javanese. | |||
| Khmer | ជើងឯក | ||
| The word “champion” comes from the Latin word “campio,” meaning warrior or fighter. | |||
| Lao | ແຊ້ມ | ||
| Malay | juara | ||
| The word "juara" is derived from the Sanskrit word "jaya" meaning "victory" and also has the connotation of "superiority" or "excellence" | |||
| Thai | แชมป์ | ||
| แชมป์ (champion) comes from the Old French word "champion," which originally meant "a warrior who fights for another person." | |||
| Vietnamese | quán quân | ||
| The word "quán quân" comes from the Chinese word "冠軍" (guàn jūn), which originally meant "to take the first place in a competition." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kampeon | ||
Champion in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | çempion | ||
| The word "çempion" in Azerbaijani is derived from the French word "champion", ultimately from the Latin "campio", meaning "fighter" or "warrior". | |||
| Kazakh | чемпион | ||
| The Kazakh word "чемпион" is derived from the French word "champion", which ultimately comes from the Latin word "campus", meaning "field" or "battleground" | |||
| Kyrgyz | чемпион | ||
| The word "чемпион" in Kyrgyz also means "the head of a large family" or "the leader of a group of people or animals". | |||
| Tajik | чемпион | ||
| Кроме значения "чемпион", слово "чемпион" в таджикском языке также означает "победитель". | |||
| Turkmen | çempion | ||
| Uzbek | chempion | ||
| The Uzbek word "chempion" can also refer to a person who is the best at a particular activity or skill, or to a person who is generally admired or respected. | |||
| Uyghur | چېمپىيون | ||
Champion in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | champion | ||
| In Hawaiian, the word "champion" also refers to a skilled surfer, especially one who rides large waves. | |||
| Maori | toa | ||
| In Maori, the word 'toa' can also mean 'brave' or 'strong', and is often used to describe warriors or heroes. | |||
| Samoan | siamupini | ||
| The word 'siamupini' (champion) in Samoan is derived from 'sia' (one) and 'mu' (strong, powerful). | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kampeon | ||
| "Kampeon", in Tagalog, is a derivative of the Spanish word "campéon", meaning a victor or a winner in a contest. | |||
Champion in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | campeón ukax wali ch’amawa | ||
| Guarani | campeón rehegua | ||
Champion in International Languages
| Esperanto | ĉampiono | ||
| It is related to the Old French word 'campio', meaning 'fighter', and the Latin 'campus', meaning 'field'. | |||
| Latin | champion | ||
| In Latin, "campio" means "to fight" but it also meant "to demand justice or property." | |||
Champion in Others Languages
| Greek | πρωταθλητής | ||
| "πρωταθλητής" is derived from the words "πρῶτος" (first) and "ἆθλος" (contest), meaning "first in the contest". | |||
| Hmong | tus yeej | ||
| The phrase "tus yeej" is used to describe someone who has overcome great obstacles, or who is particularly skilled or talented. | |||
| Kurdish | hoste | ||
| The word "hoste" can also refer to a "hero" or a "warrior" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | şampiyon | ||
| The word "şampiyon" is derived from the French word "champion", meaning "a fighter who fights for a cause". | |||
| Xhosa | intshatsheli | ||
| In Xhosa, the word intshatsheli literally means 'one who makes noise', indicating the boisterous celebration that typically accompanies victory. | |||
| Yiddish | מייַסטער | ||
| The Yiddish word "מייַסטער" is of German origin, where it means "master" or "craftsman." | |||
| Zulu | iqhawe | ||
| In some southern Nguni dialects, "iqhawe" was a special title reserved for great warriors. | |||
| Assamese | চেম্পিয়ন | ||
| Aymara | campeón ukax wali ch’amawa | ||
| Bhojpuri | चैंपियन बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ޗެމްޕިއަން | ||
| Dogri | चैंपियन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kampeon | ||
| Guarani | campeón rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | kampeon | ||
| Krio | champion | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پاڵەوان | ||
| Maithili | चैंपियन | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯦꯝꯄꯤꯌꯟ ꯑꯣꯏꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | champion a ni | ||
| Oromo | shaampiyoonaa ta’e | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଚାମ୍ପିଅନ୍ | | ||
| Quechua | campeón nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | champion | ||
| Tatar | чемпион | ||
| Tigrinya | ሻምፕዮን ምዃኑ ይፍለጥ | ||
| Tsonga | nghwazi | ||