Class in Different Languages
Discover 'Class' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'class' carries significant weight in our daily lives, shaping our social, educational, and cultural experiences. It represents a group of individuals sharing common characteristics, typically in an educational setting, but also in society at large. The concept of 'class' has been explored in various cultural contexts, including literature, film, and philosophy, revealing its profound impact on our understanding of hierarchy, power, and identity.
Given the global prevalence of 'class' as a social and educational construct, understanding its translation in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other cultures perceive and engage with this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'class' translates to 'clase', while in French, it becomes 'classe'. In German, the word 'Klasse' is used, and in Japanese, 'クラス' (kurasu) is the corresponding term.
Delving into the translations of 'class' in various languages not only enriches our linguistic repertoire but also deepens our appreciation for the cultural nuances that shape our perceptions of this complex and multifaceted concept.
Class
Class in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | klas | ||
| In Afrikaans, "klas" can refer to a school lesson, a classroom, or a specific group of students. | |||
| Amharic | ክፍል | ||
| The word "ክፍል" also means "room" or "compartment" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | aji | ||
| Hausa word "aji" shares the same root as "ajiya" which means "time" and "aiki" which means "work." | |||
| Igbo | klas | ||
| "Klas" is also a traditional Igbo musical instrument made from hollowed gourds, producing a resonant sound when struck. | |||
| Malagasy | kilasy | ||
| The word "kilasy" is of Arabic origin and also has the meaning of "lesson" in Malagasy | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kalasi | ||
| The word "kalasi" in Chichewa can also mean "course" or "lesson". | |||
| Shona | kirasi | ||
| In Shona, the word "kirasi" can also mean "rank" or "group". | |||
| Somali | fasalka | ||
| Derived from Arabic fasl, a division, fasalka also means 'section' or 'lesson' in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | sehlopha | ||
| "Sehlopha" also refers to a small gathering of friends or acquaintances. | |||
| Swahili | darasa | ||
| The Swahili word "darasa" not only means "class," but also refers to a series of sessions where specific subjects are taught. | |||
| Xhosa | iklasi | ||
| The word 'iklasi' comes from the verb 'uklasi' meaning to divide or sort. | |||
| Yoruba | kilasi | ||
| "Kilasi" means "group" or "category" and can also be employed in a broader sense to express "kind, sort, or type of category." | |||
| Zulu | isigaba | ||
| The word "isigaba" in Zulu can also mean "a group of people with a common interest or purpose". | |||
| Bambara | kilasi | ||
| Ewe | nusrɔ̃ƒe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | icyiciro | ||
| Lingala | kelasi | ||
| Luganda | essomo | ||
| Sepedi | phapoši | ||
| Twi (Akan) | klaase | ||
Class in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | صف دراسي | ||
| The word "صف دراسي" in Arabic can also refer to a queue or a row. | |||
| Hebrew | מעמד | ||
| In Hebrew, "מעמד" can also refer to a status, rank, or a social group. | |||
| Pashto | ټولګی | ||
| The Pashto word ټولګی (also spelled ټوګه) derives from the Persian word 'toliyeh', which originally meant a pack of animals sent together, hence a company, troop, or division. | |||
| Arabic | صف دراسي | ||
| The word "صف دراسي" in Arabic can also refer to a queue or a row. | |||
Class in Western European Languages
| Albanian | klasa | ||
| The Albanian word "klasë" comes from the Latin "classis", meaning "a group of people sharing a common characteristic". | |||
| Basque | klasea | ||
| The word "klasea" in Basque also means "rank" or "order". | |||
| Catalan | classe | ||
| Classe, in Catalan, can mean a group, a room, a rank, or a tax. | |||
| Croatian | razred | ||
| The Croatian noun "razred" comes from the verb "razrediti" meaning "to separate" and originally only referred to the separation of students into ability groups. | |||
| Danish | klasse | ||
| In Danish, the word "klasse" has a secondary meaning, namely "division" in the sense of a category or grade | |||
| Dutch | klasse | ||
| In Dutch, "klasse" can also refer to a social or economic group, or to the quality or rank of something. | |||
| English | class | ||
| The word "class" derives from the Latin "classis", originally referring to a division of Roman citizens based on wealth and military service. | |||
| French | classe | ||
| The French word "classe" derives from the Latin "classis", meaning "rank" or "distinction", and is also used to refer to a military unit or a school group. | |||
| Frisian | klasse | ||
| Frisian 'klasse' derives from the Old Frisian 'klase' which could mean either 'group of people' or 'tax group'. | |||
| Galician | clase | ||
| In Galician, "clase" can also refer to a group of students studying together or a subject taught at a school. | |||
| German | klasse | ||
| The word "Klasse" in German is also used to refer to a group of people with similar characteristics or interests, such as a social class or a school class. | |||
| Icelandic | bekk | ||
| An alternate meaning of "bekk" is "class" in the sense of a group of people with similar characteristics. | |||
| Irish | rang | ||
| It is a homophone of "rang" ("ring") and is related to "rung" ("division") in Scottish Gaelic. | |||
| Italian | classe | ||
| In Italian, 'classe' means social standing, but can also be 'tax group', 'school year', or an 'elegant party'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | klass | ||
| 'Klass' also means 'toad' in Luxembourgish, stemming from the Latin 'classis,' referring to a gathering or group. | |||
| Maltese | klassi | ||
| Maltese "klassi" derives from Italian "classe" or Latin "classis" which could also mean "group" or "category". | |||
| Norwegian | klasse | ||
| "Klasse" in Norwegian can also mean "embrace" or "hug", and is used in a similar way to "klem" but can be seen as more loving and affectionate. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | classe | ||
| The Portuguese word "classe" can also refer to a group of people or things with similar characteristics. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | clas | ||
| Clas in Scots Gaelic can also mean 'trench', possibly deriving from 'clais' which means 'ditch' or 'channel'. | |||
| Spanish | clase | ||
| In Spanish, "clase" can also refer to a group of people sharing a social or economic status. | |||
| Swedish | klass | ||
| The Swedish word "klass" can also mean "gender" or "type". | |||
| Welsh | dosbarth | ||
| The word 'dosbarth' is derived from the Welsh word 'dosparth', meaning 'two parts', and originally referred to a group of students divided into two sections for teaching. | |||
Class in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | клас | ||
| In Belarusian, "клас" can also refer to a group of students who study together or a type of rank or status. | |||
| Bosnian | razred | ||
| The word "razred" in Bosnian can also mean "level" or "rank". | |||
| Bulgarian | клас | ||
| "Клас" also means "class" in Serbian, Croatian, and Macedonian. | |||
| Czech | třída | ||
| The word "třída" is cognate with the Russian "тропа" (tropa), meaning "path". | |||
| Estonian | klassi | ||
| The word "klassi" derives from the Latin "classis", meaning "division" or "rank". | |||
| Finnish | luokassa | ||
| The word "luokassa" originally referred to a specific room, but gradually obtained also its current meaning. | |||
| Hungarian | osztály | ||
| The word "osztály" in Hungarian is also used to refer to a department or division within an organization. | |||
| Latvian | klasē | ||
| The word "klasē" also means "grade" or "year group" in Latvian | |||
| Lithuanian | klasė | ||
| The Lithuanian word "klasė" also means "room" or "group of similar things, e.g. a tax, a social or economic stratum" | |||
| Macedonian | класа | ||
| The word "класа" can also mean a group or rank of society. | |||
| Polish | klasa | ||
| "Klasa" (class) originally meant "group" or "tribe" and was derived from the Latin word "classis", which referred to a division of citizens based on wealth or social status. | |||
| Romanian | clasă | ||
| The Romanian word "clasă" can also refer to a "grade" in school or to a "group of people with a common characteristic" | |||
| Russian | класс | ||
| The Russian word "класс" is derived from the Latin word "classis", and can also refer to a group of pupils who study together | |||
| Serbian | класа | ||
| In addition to its common meaning, "класа" can also refer to a military rank or a type of boat. | |||
| Slovak | trieda | ||
| The word "trieda" can also refer to a "group" or "category". | |||
| Slovenian | razred | ||
| The word 'razred' has roots in Old Slavic and refers to division or distinction, but in modern Slovenian, it specifically pertains to educational divisions. | |||
| Ukrainian | клас | ||
| The word "клас" in Ukrainian, meaning "class," comes from the Latin word "classis," which referred to a group of citizens of the same social rank or property class. | |||
Class in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ক্লাস | ||
| The Bengali word "ক্লাস" also refers to a group of students taught together in a school, college, or university as a unit, or the period in which they are taught. | |||
| Gujarati | વર્ગ | ||
| The word "વર્ગ" in Gujarati also derives from the Sanskrit word "वर्ग" which means group or category. | |||
| Hindi | कक्षा | ||
| The word ''कक्षा'' also means the orbit of a celestial body. | |||
| Kannada | ವರ್ಗ | ||
| The Kannada word "ವರ್ಗ" can also refer to a group of similar items, a category, or a division. | |||
| Malayalam | ക്ലാസ് | ||
| The Malayalam word "ക്ലാസ്" is derived from the English "class", but is also used as a synonym for "type" or "category". | |||
| Marathi | वर्ग | ||
| The Marathi word 'वर्ग' (varg) also means 'a group of singers' or 'a group of animals'. | |||
| Nepali | कक्षा | ||
| The word "कक्षा" in Nepali can also refer to an orbit or a circle. | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਲਾਸ | ||
| The word "ਕਲਾਸ" can also refer to a type of musical instrument. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පන්තිය | ||
| The word "පන්තිය" (class) is a loanword from Sanskrit and originally meant "series, order, or row." | |||
| Tamil | வர்க்கம் | ||
| While the word "வர்க்கம்" primarily means "class" in Tamil, it also has alternate meanings such as "lineage", "family", and "profession". | |||
| Telugu | తరగతి | ||
| In Sanskrit, 'targa' means to cross, or overcome, which could be a root of 'taragati' or 'class', as a group coming together with the goal of learning and surpassing obstacles | |||
| Urdu | کلاس | ||
| "کلاس" is an Arabic word that is cognate with the Latin word "classis" (hence "class" in English), and is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kele- ("to call out"). | |||
Class in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 类 | ||
| "类" means 'type', 'kind', 'sort' or 'category' in Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 類 | ||
| The Chinese character 類 (class) can also mean 'category', 'kind', or 'type' | |||
| Japanese | クラス | ||
| The word クラス (kurasu) comes from the Portuguese word "classe" which was introduced to Japan through the Dutch in the 16th century. | |||
| Korean | 수업 | ||
| 수업 (sueop) derives from the Chinese word "授業" which means "to teach". It can also be interpreted as "to receive knowledge". | |||
| Mongolian | анги | ||
| Анг originates from the Persian "آهنگ (āhang, 'tone, tune')" and also may mean "rank, order, row, turn, time" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အတန်းအစား | ||
Class in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kelas | ||
| The word "kelas" can also refer to a grade, rank, or type, as in "kelas berat" (heavyweight class) or "kelas satu" (first class). | |||
| Javanese | kelas | ||
| "Kelas" can also refer to a type of Javanese performing art. | |||
| Khmer | ថ្នាក់ | ||
| The word "ថ្នាក់" (class) in Khmer comes from the Sanskrit word "stanaka", which means "standing" or "station". | |||
| Lao | ຊັ້ນ | ||
| The word 'ຊັ້ນ' ('class') in Lao is a homonym of the word 'ຊັບ' ('property'), and can also be used in the sense of a 'level' or 'layer'. | |||
| Malay | kelas | ||
| The word kelas is also used to refer to a group of people with similar interests or abilities. | |||
| Thai | ชั้นเรียน | ||
| The word "ชั้นเรียน" can also refer to a social stratum or level. | |||
| Vietnamese | lớp học | ||
| "Lớp học" (class) stems from Cantonese "lop" (class), originally meaning a group of people in the same category or level. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | klase | ||
Class in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | sinif | ||
| The word "sinif" in Azerbaijani shares its origin with the Arabic word "sinif" meaning "group, category", and in Turkish it refers to "quality, rank". | |||
| Kazakh | сынып | ||
| "Сынып" (class) comes from the Russian "класс". Its original meaning is "a group of students". | |||
| Kyrgyz | класс | ||
| The word "класс" also means "grade" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | синф | ||
| The word «синф» has the additional meaning of “lesson” (as opposed to “homework”). | |||
| Turkmen | synp | ||
| Uzbek | sinf | ||
| The word "sinf" in Uzbek also means "zero". | |||
| Uyghur | class | ||
Class in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | papa | ||
| Papa can also refer to the ground, foundation, or platform. | |||
| Maori | akomanga | ||
| The Maori word "akomanga" originally meant "to learn" or "to be taught." | |||
| Samoan | vasega | ||
| The word "vasega" in Samoan also refers to a group of people who share a common goal or purpose, such as a team or a club. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | klase | ||
| "Klase" also means "variety, sort, type, kind, category." | |||
Class in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | klasi | ||
| Guarani | mbo'ehakoty | ||
Class in International Languages
| Esperanto | klaso | ||
| The word "klaso" derives from the Latin word "classis" (a division of people), which also gives us the English word "class". | |||
| Latin | genus | ||
| The Latin word "genus" originally referred to birth, kind, or race but also meant a collection of similar things (hence the English term "genus"). | |||
Class in Others Languages
| Greek | τάξη | ||
| "Τάξη" in Greek can also mean "order", "rank", or "grade". | |||
| Hmong | chav kawm | ||
| The word "chav kawm" has an alternate meaning of "group" or "team". | |||
| Kurdish | sinif | ||
| The word "sinif" also means "category" or "sort" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | sınıf | ||
| In some contexts | |||
| Xhosa | iklasi | ||
| The word 'iklasi' comes from the verb 'uklasi' meaning to divide or sort. | |||
| Yiddish | קלאַס | ||
| "קלאַס" in Yiddish, like the English word "class," can also refer to a type or group of things, such as a social class or a class of objects. | |||
| Zulu | isigaba | ||
| The word "isigaba" in Zulu can also mean "a group of people with a common interest or purpose". | |||
| Assamese | শ্ৰেণী | ||
| Aymara | klasi | ||
| Bhojpuri | कक्षा | ||
| Dhivehi | ކްލާސް | ||
| Dogri | जमात | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | klase | ||
| Guarani | mbo'ehakoty | ||
| Ilocano | klase | ||
| Krio | klas | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پۆل | ||
| Maithili | वर्ग | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀ꯭ꯂꯥꯁ | ||
| Mizo | pawl | ||
| Oromo | kutaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଶ୍ରେଣୀ | ||
| Quechua | yachakuna | ||
| Sanskrit | श्रेणी | ||
| Tatar | класс | ||
| Tigrinya | ክፍሊ | ||
| Tsonga | tlilasi | ||