Circumstance in Different Languages
Discover 'Circumstance' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'circumstance' carries significant weight in our vocabulary, denoting the conditions or circumstances that surround a particular event or action. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, philosophy, and everyday conversation, as we often use it to understand and describe the context of our experiences.
But what about the world beyond English? Knowing the translation of 'circumstance' in different languages can open up new avenues of understanding and connection. For example, in Spanish, 'circumstance' is 'circunstancia', while in French, it's 'circonstance'. In German, it's 'Umstand', and in Japanese, it's '状況 (joukyou).'
Delving into the translations of 'circumstance' also reveals fascinating cultural and historical contexts. In many languages, the word for 'circumstance' is closely linked to concepts of fate, destiny, or chance, reflecting the age-old philosophical question of how much control we have over our lives. By exploring these connections, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of human language and thought.
So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a world traveler, or simply curious, read on to discover the many translations of 'circumstance' and the cultural significance they hold.
Circumstance
Circumstance in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | omstandigheid | ||
| The word "omstandigheid" is derived from Middle Dutch "omstandigheid", from Middle High German "um bestant", meaning 'situation' and is etymologically related to "stand" and "position". | |||
| Amharic | ሁኔታ | ||
| The word "ሁኔታ" can also refer to a person's health, appearance, or situation in life. | |||
| Hausa | yanayi | ||
| "Yanayi" may also be used in the plural to refer to the physical state, condition or situation of something. | |||
| Igbo | ọnọdụ | ||
| The morpheme ọ̀ means 'to be' or 'to exist' and nọ̀ means 'to sit' or 'to dwell'. | |||
| Malagasy | toe-javatra iainantsika | ||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zochitika | ||
| The word "zochitika" can also refer to a situation or condition, or to a person's status or position in life. | |||
| Shona | mamiriro ezvinhu | ||
| The word "mamiriro ezvinhu" in Shona is derived from the verb "mamira" meaning "to stand" and "zvinhu" meaning "things", signifying a state of affairs or a set of conditions. | |||
| Somali | duruuf | ||
| The word "duruuf" can also refer to the natural environment or the physical conditions in which someone lives. | |||
| Sesotho | maemo | ||
| The word "maemo" also means "situation" or "condition". | |||
| Swahili | hali | ||
| The Swahili word "hali" can also mean "condition", "state", or "weather". | |||
| Xhosa | imeko | ||
| The word “imeko” also has a second meaning: “to go out to work (in the fields). | |||
| Yoruba | ayidayida | ||
| The word 'Àyìdáyídá' in Yoruba can also refer to 'something that happens by chance' or 'coincidence'. | |||
| Zulu | isimo | ||
| The Zulu word "isimo" is also used to refer to a "custom" or "tradition." | |||
| Bambara | ko kɛlenw | ||
| Ewe | nɔnɔme si me wole | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ibihe | ||
| Lingala | ezalela ya likambo | ||
| Luganda | embeera | ||
| Sepedi | maemo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tebea a ɛwɔ hɔ | ||
Circumstance in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | ظرف | ||
| The Arabic word "ظرف" also means "container" or "vessel", reflecting its origin in the root word meaning "to contain". | |||
| Hebrew | נסיבות | ||
| In Hebrew, "נסיבות" not only refers to external conditions but also to legal or financial "circumstances" or "events" that affect the ability to fulfill obligations. | |||
| Pashto | حالات | ||
| In Pashto, "حالات" also means "conditions" or "states". | |||
| Arabic | ظرف | ||
| The Arabic word "ظرف" also means "container" or "vessel", reflecting its origin in the root word meaning "to contain". | |||
Circumstance in Western European Languages
| Albanian | rrethana | ||
| "Rrethana" (circumstance) in Albanian is thought to be related to the Slavic words for "border" or "circle." | |||
| Basque | egoera | ||
| The word 'egoera' (circumstance) stems from the Proto-Basque root '*egor-', which also gave the words 'egoa' (character, being, essence), 'egite' (to do), and 'egoz' (to make). | |||
| Catalan | circumstància | ||
| The word "circumstància" originates from the Latin "circumstare", meaning "to stand around", referring to the surrounding conditions and situations. | |||
| Croatian | okolnost | ||
| The word "okolnost" also means "surrounding" and "environment" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | omstændigheder | ||
| The Danish word "omstændigheder" has its roots in the Old Norse word "omstendr, | |||
| Dutch | omstandigheid | ||
| In Dutch, the word "omstandigheid" also connotes situational characteristics, conditions, and factors. | |||
| English | circumstance | ||
| The word 'circumstance' derives from the Latin 'circumstare', meaning 'to stand around'. | |||
| French | circonstance | ||
| The word "circonstance" comes from the Latin word "circumstantia", meaning "that which stands around" or "surrounding condition." | |||
| Frisian | omstannichheid | ||
| No alternate meanings or etymological information available for the word "omstannichheid" in the Frisian language. | |||
| Galician | circunstancia | ||
| In Galician, "circunstancia" can also mean "evidence" or "detail" | |||
| German | umstand | ||
| The word “Umstand” also means “pregnancy”, as in the phrase “in Umständen sein” (to be pregnant). | |||
| Icelandic | kringumstæður | ||
| Kringumstæður is the Icelandic word for circumstance, and it is also the root of the words kringla (a type of pastry) and kringla (a circle). | |||
| Irish | imthoisc | ||
| The Old Irish word "imthoisc" is a compound of the prefix "im-" ("around") and the noun "toisc" ("knowledge, understanding"), hence "surrounding knowledge" or "circumstance." | |||
| Italian | circostanza | ||
| "Circostanza" derives from the Latin *circumstantia*, from *circumstare* (literally "to stand around") and means a set of facts and conditions. | |||
| Luxembourgish | ëmstänn | ||
| The word "Ëmstänn" can also refer to "situation" or "state of affairs". | |||
| Maltese | ċirkustanza | ||
| The Maltese word "ċirkustanza" is derived from the Latin word "circumstantia," which means "condition, environment, or situation," and also relates to the English word "circumstance." | |||
| Norwegian | omstendighet | ||
| "Omstendighet" derives from Old Norse "umstendr", meaning "something that stands around". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | circunstância | ||
| In Portuguese, "circunstância" can also refer to "conjuncture" or "opportunity". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | suidheachadh | ||
| The Gaelic word "suidheachadh" (circumstance) is also used in Scots Gaelic to describe a person's "situation", "position" or "station". | |||
| Spanish | circunstancia | ||
| Circumstance comes from the Latin word "circumstantia" meaning "that which stands around something", referring to the things that surround an event or situation. | |||
| Swedish | omständighet | ||
| Omständighet can also mean "ceremony," "pomp," or "ostentation" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | amgylchiad | ||
| The word "amgylchiad" in Welsh can also mean "entourage" or "retinue." | |||
Circumstance in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | акалічнасць | ||
| Bosnian | okolnost | ||
| The word "okolnost" is derived from the Slavic word Oko, meaning "eye", and has the additional meaning of "environment" or "setting". | |||
| Bulgarian | обстоятелство | ||
| "Обстоятелство" in Bulgarian derives from the Slavic "obъ-" denoting "around" or "near" and "stojati" meaning "to stand" or "be situated". | |||
| Czech | okolnost | ||
| In Czech, "okolnost" also means "environment" or a "certain situation" | |||
| Estonian | asjaolu | ||
| The word comes from the Finnish word "asia", meaning "thing" or "matter". | |||
| Finnish | olosuhteissa | ||
| In the archaic sense, "olosuhteissa" meant "living conditions (e.g., poverty)." | |||
| Hungarian | körülmény | ||
| Its original meaning is 'circle', from which several other meanings branched out in the course of the language's history. | |||
| Latvian | apstāklis | ||
| In Lithuanian "aplinkybė" is also used for "environment". | |||
| Lithuanian | aplinkybė | ||
| The word "aplinkybė" can also refer to "surroundings" or "environment". | |||
| Macedonian | околност | ||
| The Macedonian word "околност" is of Slavic origin, with cognates in other Slavic languages (i.e. Polish "okolicznosc", Russian "обстоятельство" ). | |||
| Polish | okoliczność | ||
| okoliczność derives from the Proto-Slavic word *okolicь, meaning "surrounding" or "environment." | |||
| Romanian | circumstanţă | ||
| "Circumstanță" derives from Lat. "circumstare" (to surround, to besiege). | |||
| Russian | обстоятельство | ||
| The word “обстоятельство” (“circumstance”) in Russian can also mean “a fact, condition, or event that influences a decision or action.” | |||
| Serbian | околност | ||
| The Serbian word 'околност' (circumstance) also has the meaning of 'surrounding' or 'neighborhood'. | |||
| Slovak | okolnosť | ||
| In the Moravian dialect of Slovak, "okolnosť" can also refer to a specific time or event. | |||
| Slovenian | okoliščina | ||
| The Slovene word 'okoliščina' comes from the prefix 'oko-' (around), and the noun 'stan' (state), meaning that which surrounds or affects a given state. | |||
| Ukrainian | обставина | ||
| "Обставина" is a derivative of "обстава" - an environment, situation. | |||
Circumstance in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | পরিস্থিতি | ||
| The word "পরিস্থিতি" is derived from the Sanskrit words "परि" (around) and "स्थिति" (situation). | |||
| Gujarati | સંજોગો | ||
| The word "સંજોગો" can also refer to "event" or "situation" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | परिस्थिति | ||
| The word "परिस्थिति" originates from the Sanskrit word "स्थिति" (meaning "position") and the prefix "परि" (meaning "around"). | |||
| Kannada | ಸಂದರ್ಭ | ||
| ಸಂದರ್ಭ is derived from the Sanskrit word 'sandarbha' and means 'context' or 'connection'. It also implies 'reason' or 'cause'. | |||
| Malayalam | സാഹചര്യം | ||
| Marathi | परिस्थिती | ||
| The word "परिस्थिती" can also refer to the environment, especially the social or economic conditions in which someone lives. | |||
| Nepali | परिस्थिति | ||
| परिस्थिति ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "sthiti" (स्थिति), meaning "existence" or "state of being." | |||
| Punjabi | ਹਾਲਾਤ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තත්වය | ||
| The Sinhala word 'තත්වය' ('circumstance') can also refer to 'state', 'condition', or 'situation'. | |||
| Tamil | சூழ்நிலை | ||
| The Tamil word "சூழ்நிலை" is derived from the root "சூழ்" meaning "to surround". It can refer to both external conditions and mental states. | |||
| Telugu | పరిస్థితి | ||
| పరిస్థితి is derived from the Sanskrit word 'परिस्थिति' ('parsisthiti'), meaning 'standing around' or 'surrounding'. | |||
| Urdu | حالات | ||
| The Urdu word "حالات" can also refer to the spiritual and mental states of a person. | |||
Circumstance in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 环境 | ||
| 环境's original meaning was "surroundings" and now it also has the extended meaning of "condition" or "situation" | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 環境 | ||
| 環境 is an alternative word for 環境（かんきょう）, which means "environment". | |||
| Japanese | 状況 | ||
| 「状況」 (jōkyō) is derived from the Buddhist term, 「常況」 (jōkyō), meaning "consistent state"} | |||
| Korean | 상황 | ||
| "상황" is derived from the Chinese word "情況" (qíngkuàng), which literally means "situation" or "condition". | |||
| Mongolian | нөхцөл байдал | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning, "нөхцөл байдал" can also refer to a condition of being as well as a natural environment. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အခြေအနေ | ||
Circumstance in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | keadaan | ||
| In Old Javanese, "kaadaan" refers to the state of being or existence. | |||
| Javanese | kahanan | ||
| In Javanese, 'kahanan' is closely related to 'kana' which means 'to happen', highlighting the concept of events and their impact on the situation. | |||
| Khmer | កាលៈទេសៈ | ||
| កាលៈទេសៈ originates from Sanskrit and in ancient times referred to the time and place of a religious festival. | |||
| Lao | ສະພາບການ | ||
| Malay | keadaan | ||
| The Indonesian "keadaan" is also used figuratively in Malay and Indonesian meaning "affairs" | |||
| Thai | สถานการณ์ | ||
| สถานการณ์ shares the same etymology with the Sanskrit word 'sthānakaraṇa', meaning 'causing to stand'. | |||
| Vietnamese | hoàn cảnh | ||
| The word "hoàn cảnh" has its origins in Chinese and literally means "complete situation". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pangyayari | ||
Circumstance in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | hal | ||
| The word "Hal" in Azerbaijani derives from the Proto-Turkic word *hal, meaning "condition, situation, circumstance, state". | |||
| Kazakh | жағдай | ||
| "Жағдай" also means "state" in Kazakh, and can be used to describe the state of a country, person, or thing. | |||
| Kyrgyz | жагдай | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "жагдай" is derived from the Mongolian word "загдай" meaning "fate, destiny" or "condition, state". It also carries the alternate meanings of "situation, event", "case, fact", "occurrence, incident", "occasion, episode", and "circumstance, condition". | |||
| Tajik | вазъият | ||
| Tajik "вазъият" ("circumstance") is derived from the Arabic-Persian "wazi'ah" (situation, state of affairs). | |||
| Turkmen | ýagdaý | ||
| Uzbek | holat | ||
| Holat is also a word in the Persian language, and means “situation” or “state of being.” | |||
| Uyghur | ئەھۋال | ||
Circumstance in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hanana | ||
| A variant of hanana, hana refers to an event or an accomplishment; in English, its closest meaning is "feat," "deed," or "action." | |||
| Maori | tupuranga | ||
| The Maori word 'tupuranga' also means 'the process of development' or 'to bring to completion' | |||
| Samoan | tulaga | ||
| The word 'tulaga' in Samoan can also refer to a 'situation', 'event', or 'condition', highlighting its broad semantic range. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pangyayari | ||
| The word "pangyayari" originally meant "event" or "occurrence" in Tagalog, but has since taken on the broader meaning of "circumstance". | |||
Circumstance in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | circunstancia ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Guarani | circunstancia rehegua | ||
Circumstance in International Languages
| Esperanto | cirkonstanco | ||
| "Cirkonstanco" is derived from Latin "circumstare" (to stand around), which is the combination of Latin "circum" (around) and "stare" (to stand). | |||
| Latin | rerum | ||
| The word 'rerum' also means 'the course of things' and 'the world' or 'universe' in Latin. | |||
Circumstance in Others Languages
| Greek | περίσταση | ||
| Originally meant "standing around" and developed meanings like "contingency" and "predicament". | |||
| Hmong | dab tsi | ||
| The Hmong word "dab tsi" also refers to a person's situation, condition or status. | |||
| Kurdish | rewş | ||
| In Kurdish folklore, 'rewş' refers to supernatural entities that influence human affairs and possess the ability to grant wishes. | |||
| Turkish | durum | ||
| The Turkish word "durum" also means "state", "condition", or "situation". | |||
| Xhosa | imeko | ||
| The word “imeko” also has a second meaning: “to go out to work (in the fields). | |||
| Yiddish | ומשטאַנד | ||
| The Yiddish word "umstand" comes from the German word "Umstand" which can also mean "pregnancy". | |||
| Zulu | isimo | ||
| The Zulu word "isimo" is also used to refer to a "custom" or "tradition." | |||
| Assamese | পৰিস্থিতি | ||
| Aymara | circunstancia ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Bhojpuri | परिस्थिति के बारे में बतावल गइल बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ހާލަތެވެ | ||
| Dogri | हालात दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pangyayari | ||
| Guarani | circunstancia rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | kasasaad | ||
| Krio | di tin we de apin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بارودۆخ | ||
| Maithili | परिस्थिति | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯤꯚꯃꯗꯥ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | dinhmun (circumstance) a ni | ||
| Oromo | haala | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପରିସ୍ଥିତି | ||
| Quechua | circunstancia nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | परिस्थितिः | ||
| Tatar | шарт | ||
| Tigrinya | ኩነታት ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | xiyimo xa kona | ||