Character in Different Languages
Discover 'Character' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'character' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, encompassing a range of meanings related to personality traits, moral qualities, and literary figures. Its cultural importance is undeniable, as it helps us understand and describe the people we interact with and the stories we tell.
Delving into the translations of 'character' in different languages can offer fascinating insights into how other cultures view and express this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'character' is 'carácter', reflecting a similar emphasis on distinct personal traits. In Japanese, the term ' tsuchou' (通帳) is used to describe one's character, but it also refers to a ledger or account book, suggesting a sense of continuity and consistency in one's behavior.
Understanding the nuances of 'character' in various languages can enrich our global perspective and enhance our cross-cultural communication. Here are some translations of 'character' in different languages to explore:
Character
Character in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | karakter | ||
| The word "karakter" in Afrikaans can also mean "typeface" or "font". | |||
| Amharic | ባህሪ | ||
| The word "ባህሪ" can also mean "nature" or "disposition" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | hali | ||
| In Hausa, "hali" also refers to a person's moral or ethical disposition, and can be translated as "nature" or "personality." | |||
| Igbo | agwa | ||
| Igbo 'agwa', which can also be translated to 'image' or 'picture', shares a semantic root with the word 'awa', meaning a 'dream', a 'phantom' or 'vision' | |||
| Malagasy | toetra | ||
| Toetra can also mean "mark", "trace", "sign", "proof", "evidence", or "indication". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | khalidwe | ||
| The word "khalidwe" can also mean "nature" or "behavior" in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | hunhu | ||
| In the Shona language, "hunhu" also means "the essential being of a person, place or thing." | |||
| Somali | dabeecad | ||
| "Dabeecad" is a derivative of the word "dabe", which means 'footprint'. | |||
| Sesotho | semelo | ||
| "Semelo" can also mean "person" or "human being". | |||
| Swahili | tabia | ||
| Swahili 'tabia' originates from Arabic 'tabi'a', which means 'nature' or 'disposition,' implying that character is inherent and innate. | |||
| Xhosa | uphawu | ||
| The Xhosa word 'uphawu' can also mean 'a mark, a sign, a brand' or 'a badge' | |||
| Yoruba | ohun kikọ | ||
| The Yoruba word "ohun kikọ" also means "the thing that is written" or "the writing itself". | |||
| Zulu | uhlamvu | ||
| The Zulu word "uhlamvu" also means "personality" and "reputation." | |||
| Bambara | jogo | ||
| Ewe | nᴐnᴐme | ||
| Kinyarwanda | imiterere | ||
| Lingala | ezaleli | ||
| Luganda | enneyisa | ||
| Sepedi | semelo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | suban | ||
Character in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | حرف | ||
| In Arabic, the word "حرف" (harf) also means "letter of the alphabet" or "edge, border". | |||
| Hebrew | דמות | ||
| The Hebrew word 'דמות' ('demuth') derives from the root meaning 'image' or 'likeness', and its alternate meanings include 'form', 'statue', 'figure', and 'appearance'. | |||
| Pashto | لوښه | ||
| The word "لوښه" (character) in Pashto also refers to a stamp used for signing documents. | |||
| Arabic | حرف | ||
| In Arabic, the word "حرف" (harf) also means "letter of the alphabet" or "edge, border". | |||
Character in Western European Languages
| Albanian | karakteri | ||
| In Albanian, "karakteri" also means "temperament" or "personality". | |||
| Basque | pertsonaia | ||
| The word "pertsonaia" comes from the Latin "persona," originally meaning "mask" (used in ancient theatre). | |||
| Catalan | personatge | ||
| It can mean "role" instead of "character," "person," and also "figure," among other alternate meanings | |||
| Croatian | lik | ||
| The word "lik" in Croatian also refers to a person's physical appearance or nature. | |||
| Danish | karakter | ||
| The word "Karakter" is derived from the Greek word "charakter," meaning "an engraved mark, a distinguishing mark, a characteristic." | |||
| Dutch | karakter | ||
| In Dutch, "karakter" can also refer to the temperament or personality of someone or something. | |||
| English | character | ||
| "Character" is derived from Greek "kharaktēr" meaning "an engraved mark, a device, an instrument for marking, hence a distinguishing quality or feature, especially of personal behaviour" | |||
| French | personnage | ||
| Originally, the word "personnage" meant "mask" in French, coming from the Latin "persona". | |||
| Frisian | personaazje | ||
| The word "personaazje" is derived from Latin persona, meaning "mask", and referred to the dramatic roles played by actors who wore masks. | |||
| Galician | personaxe | ||
| In Galician, the word "personaxe" also refers to a person who has a significant role or influence in society. | |||
| German | charakter | ||
| The German word "Charakter" derives from the Ancient Greek word "charaktēr" and originally meant "engraving tool" or "distinctive mark". | |||
| Icelandic | persóna | ||
| The word "persóna" in Icelandic has its roots in Latin and originally meant "mask" or "role". | |||
| Irish | carachtar | ||
| The Irish word "carachtar" has two spellings and also means "print", "type" and "writing" in addition to "character". | |||
| Italian | personaggio | ||
| In Italian, the word "personaggio" can also refer to a famous or important person. | |||
| Luxembourgish | charakter | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Charakter" can also refer to the handwriting style of a person. | |||
| Maltese | karattru | ||
| The Maltese word "karattru" also means "feature" or "trait". | |||
| Norwegian | karakter | ||
| The word "karakter" in Norwegian can also refer to a grade or mark, particularly in an academic setting. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | personagem | ||
| In Latin, "personagem" refers to an actor's mask; hence its double meaning of 'character' (a person in a narrative) and 'persona' (a person's outward appearance). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | caractar | ||
| The word "caractar" in Scots Gaelic can also mean 'mark' or 'incision'. | |||
| Spanish | personaje | ||
| The Spanish word "personaje" can refer to a theatrical role, a literary figure, a fictional character, or a person of note or interest. | |||
| Swedish | karaktär | ||
| The word "karaktär" comes from the Greek word "kharakter", which means "engraved mark" or "distinctive feature". | |||
| Welsh | cymeriad | ||
| The word 'cymeriad' may derive from the Proto-Celtic root *gwer-, meaning 'crooked' or 'bent', suggesting an etymological connection to 'person' or 'individual'. | |||
Character in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | характар | ||
| Bosnian | karakter | ||
| The word "karakter" can also refer to a person's nature or personality. | |||
| Bulgarian | характер | ||
| The word 'характер' also means 'temperament' or 'disposition' in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | charakter | ||
| The word "charakter" can also mean "nature" or "disposition" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | iseloomu | ||
| In Estonian, "iseloomu" not only means "character" but also "disposition, nature, temperament". | |||
| Finnish | merkki | ||
| The word "merkki" also means "mark", "trademark", and "sign" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | karakter | ||
| In Hungarian, "karakter" can also mean "mark" or "grade". | |||
| Latvian | raksturs | ||
| The word "raksturs" is derived from the Middle Low German word "character", meaning "insignia, distinguishing mark, written sign". | |||
| Lithuanian | charakteris | ||
| The word "charakteris" can also refer to a stamp or impression used to mark something. | |||
| Macedonian | карактер | ||
| In Macedonian, the word “карактер” can also refer to one's temperament or personality. | |||
| Polish | postać | ||
| In the historical context, "postać" can also refer to a statue or sculpture. | |||
| Romanian | caracter | ||
| "Caracter" in Romanian has other meanings besides "character": 1) "mark, trace, feature" 2) "sign" 3) "nature" 4) "quality, property" 5) "proof". | |||
| Russian | персонаж | ||
| The word "персонаж" comes from the Latin "persona", meaning "mask", and originally referred to theatrical roles. | |||
| Serbian | карактер | ||
| In Serbian, the word "карактер" can also mean "temper" or a person's "moral or ethical quality." | |||
| Slovak | znak | ||
| "Znak" also means "sign" in Slovak; it is the source of the name of the traffic sign, "značka". | |||
| Slovenian | znak | ||
| "Znak" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰnéǵʰ-, meaning "to beget, produce, or create" and also appears in words like "to know" and "name." | |||
| Ukrainian | характер | ||
| The Ukrainian word "характер" also means "temperament" and is derived from the Greek word "charakter," meaning "distinctive mark." | |||
Character in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | চরিত্র | ||
| চরিত্র (character) comes from the Sanskrit word 'char', meaning 'move' or 'act', and is related to the word 'chara' (behavior, conduct). | |||
| Gujarati | પાત્ર | ||
| The Gujarati word “પાત્ર” not only refers to a character in a story, but also to a vessel or container. | |||
| Hindi | चरित्र | ||
| The Sanskrit term "चरित्र" can also refer to deeds or one's conduct. | |||
| Kannada | ಪಾತ್ರ | ||
| The Kannada word "ಪಾತ್ರ" (paatra) also means "vessel" or "container", highlighting the idea of a person as a vessel for experiences and qualities. | |||
| Malayalam | പ്രതീകം | ||
| The word "പ്രതീകം" in Malayalam can also mean "a symbol" or "a sign". | |||
| Marathi | वर्ण | ||
| The Sanskrit word "वर्ण" (varṇa) also refers to the ancient Indian caste system in Sanskrit texts. | |||
| Nepali | चरित्र | ||
| The word "चरित्र" in Nepali derives from Sanskrit and can also mean "nature," "disposition," or "conduct." | |||
| Punjabi | ਅੱਖਰ | ||
| The word 'ਅੱਖਰ' can also refer to the marks made on a surface, such as letters or symbols. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ස්වභාවය | ||
| Tamil | தன்மை | ||
| The Tamil word "தன்மை" means "character" but it can also mean "essence" or "nature". | |||
| Telugu | పాత్ర | ||
| The Telugu word "పాత్ర" (character) shares its etymology with the Tamil word "பாத்திரம்", which can refer to a container or vessel. | |||
| Urdu | کردار | ||
| The word "کردار" can also mean "action" or "behavior" in Urdu. | |||
Character in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 字符 | ||
| The word “字符” was originally a Chinese rendering of the Sanskrit word “varṇa”, meaning “caste” or “color”, and was later used to translate the Greek word “gramma” in the Buddhist text of the 3rd century, which brought the new meaning of “written symbol”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 字符 | ||
| 字符 means not only a 'character' but also 'personality' and 'temperament'. | |||
| Japanese | キャラクター | ||
| Japanese word "キャラクター" also means "mark left by fire" or "mark left by a cut" in some contexts. | |||
| Korean | 캐릭터 | ||
| The word '캐릭터' is derived from the Chinese word ' carattere ', which means 'mark' or 'stamp'. | |||
| Mongolian | тэмдэгт | ||
| "Tэмдэгт" can also refer to a sign, symbol, or mark. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဇာတ်ကောင် | ||
Character in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | karakter | ||
| The Indonesian word "karakter" can also mean "letter". | |||
| Javanese | watake | ||
| The word "watake" can also mean "actor" or "role" in Javanese plays. | |||
| Khmer | តួអក្សរ | ||
| The Khmer word តួអក្សរ (character) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'varṇa', meaning 'letter' or 'sound'. | |||
| Lao | ລັກສະນະ | ||
| Malay | watak | ||
| In Javanese it refers to a puppet, but in Arabic it means 'face'. | |||
| Thai | ตัวละคร | ||
| The word 'ตัวละคร' (character) comes from the Sanskrit word 'patra' ('sheet, canvas, cloth'), referring to a piece of cloth painted with a representation of an actor on stage | |||
| Vietnamese | tính cách | ||
| "Tính cách" also figuratively refers to the essence of a substance, a substance's "nature" as defined by its "characteristic" qualities. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | karakter | ||
Character in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | xarakter | ||
| "Xarakter" in Azerbaijani comes from the Greek word "kharakter," meaning "an engraved mark". | |||
| Kazakh | кейіпкер | ||
| In Kazakh, "кейіпкер" (character) originally meant "image" or "appearance" in the 18th century, and in folklore it also referred to a mythological creature. | |||
| Kyrgyz | мүнөз | ||
| The word "мүнөз" in Kyrgyz can refer to both a person's character and their appearance, highlighting the connection between one's inner and outer qualities in Kyrgyz culture. | |||
| Tajik | хислат | ||
| The word "хислат" (character) in Tajik also refers to a person's qualities, disposition, or temperament. | |||
| Turkmen | häsiýet | ||
| Uzbek | belgi | ||
| The word "belgi" can also mean knowledge, sign, and feature in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | خاراكتېر | ||
Character in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻano | ||
| 'Ano' also means a 'mark, sign' and 'to mark, brand, tattoo'. | |||
| Maori | pūāhua | ||
| "Pūāhua" can also mean "flower" or "blossom" in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | amio | ||
| The word "amio" in Samoan can also mean "form" or "style". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tauhan | ||
| In pre-colonial Philippines, 'tauhan' also meant 'slave' or 'serf'. | |||
Character in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jaqi | ||
| Guarani | heseguáva | ||
Character in International Languages
| Esperanto | rolulo | ||
| The root of "rolulo" is "rol'", which means "to play a role", and it can also refer to a "part" in a play or movie. | |||
| Latin | ingenium | ||
| The Latin word "ingenium" also means "inborn quality," "talent," or "ability." | |||
Character in Others Languages
| Greek | χαρακτήρας | ||
| The Greek word "χαρακτήρας" can also refer to an engraving, a mark, or a stamp. | |||
| Hmong | cim | ||
| The Hmong word "cim" originally meant spirit, or soul. | |||
| Kurdish | şexsîyet | ||
| The word "şexsîyet" (character) derives from Arabic "shaqsīyah" and originally denoted individuality and particularity and was also used to refer to someone's body or external appearance, a meaning still preserved in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | karakter | ||
| The Arabic word 'khātam' meaning 'seal' likely contributed to the Turkish word 'karakter'. | |||
| Xhosa | uphawu | ||
| The Xhosa word 'uphawu' can also mean 'a mark, a sign, a brand' or 'a badge' | |||
| Yiddish | כאראקטער | ||
| The Yiddish word “כאראקטער” is derived from the Greek “kharakter”, meaning “sign or mark”, but it can also mean “nature” or “temperament”. | |||
| Zulu | uhlamvu | ||
| The Zulu word "uhlamvu" also means "personality" and "reputation." | |||
| Assamese | চৰিত্ৰ | ||
| Aymara | jaqi | ||
| Bhojpuri | चरित्तर | ||
| Dhivehi | ޝަޚުސިއްޔަތު | ||
| Dogri | चाल-चलन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | karakter | ||
| Guarani | heseguáva | ||
| Ilocano | karakter | ||
| Krio | karakta | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کاراکتەر | ||
| Maithili | चरित्र | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯤꯆꯠ ꯁꯥꯖꯠ | ||
| Mizo | nunzia | ||
| Oromo | amala | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ | ||
| Quechua | sananpa | ||
| Sanskrit | स्वभावः | ||
| Tatar | характер | ||
| Tigrinya | መልክዕ | ||
| Tsonga | xihlawulekisi | ||