Updated on March 6, 2024
Afrikaans | klaskamer | ||
The Afrikaans word "klaskamer" shares its roots with the Dutch word "klaar", meaning "ready" or "prepared". | |||
Amharic | የመማሪያ ክፍል | ||
The Amharic word "የመማሪያ ክፍል" can also refer to a "study hall" or "lecture hall" | |||
Hausa | aji | ||
In Hausa, "aji" can also refer to a place of rest or a place for relaxation. | |||
Igbo | klasị | ||
"Klasị" is a borrowing from English "class", so it doesn't have any etymological meaning in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | efitrano fianarana | ||
"Efitrano fianarana" literally means "house for learning" in the Malagasy language. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kalasi | ||
The word "kalasi" in Nyanja (Chichewa) originally meant "a place where people gather to learn". | |||
Shona | mukirasi | ||
Mukirasi is a Shona word derived from the verb 'kukira', meaning 'to learn', implying a place where knowledge is acquired. | |||
Somali | fasalka | ||
The word "fasalka" is derived from the Arabic word "fasl", meaning "separation" or "division". | |||
Sesotho | ka tlelaseng | ||
In Sesotho, "ka tlelaseng" literally means "place of teaching and learning". | |||
Swahili | darasa | ||
"Darasa" also means "lesson" or "study" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | eklasini | ||
The word "eklasini" can also refer to a church, a school, or a place of learning. | |||
Yoruba | yara ikawe | ||
The term 'yara' has its origin in the Yoruba concept of 'knowledge as the ability to do', suggesting that the classroom is seen as a place to gain practical skills. | |||
Zulu | ekilasini | ||
The Zulu word "ekilasini" is also used to refer to a group of people who have come together to study or learn, like a workshop or seminar. | |||
Bambara | kalanso kɔnɔ | ||
Ewe | sukuxɔ me | ||
Kinyarwanda | icyumba cy'ishuri | ||
Lingala | kelasi ya kelasi | ||
Luganda | ekibiina | ||
Sepedi | phapoši ya borutelo | ||
Twi (Akan) | adesuadan mu | ||
Arabic | قاعة الدراسة | ||
"قاعة الدراسة" is also a synonym for "مدرسة" (school) and "مكتبة" (library), and derives from the Arabic root "درس" (to study or learn). | |||
Hebrew | כיתה | ||
The Hebrew word "כיתה" originally meant a group of students or soldiers, and only later came to refer to a classroom. | |||
Pashto | ټولګی | ||
In Pashto, the word "ټولګی" can also refer to a "class" in the sense of a category or group of people sharing a common characteristic. | |||
Arabic | قاعة الدراسة | ||
"قاعة الدراسة" is also a synonym for "مدرسة" (school) and "مكتبة" (library), and derives from the Arabic root "درس" (to study or learn). |
Albanian | klasë | ||
The word "klasë" can also refer to a group of students, a class in a school, or a class in society. | |||
Basque | ikasgela | ||
The name 'ikasgela' in Basque derives from 'ikas' (student) and 'gela' (room), indicating a space dedicated to learning. | |||
Catalan | aula | ||
"Aula" in Catalan is related to the Latin word "aulē" meaning "courtyard" or "porch". | |||
Croatian | učionica | ||
Učionica (classroom) originates from the word "učiti" (to teach) and the suffix "-nica" (denoting a place), and can also mean "study room". | |||
Danish | klasseværelset | ||
The word "klasseværelset" in Danish derives from the two words "klasse" (class) and "værelse" (room), meaning "the room where the class is held". | |||
Dutch | klas | ||
The Dutch word "klas" can also refer to a group of students who receive lessons together, or to the lessons themselves. | |||
English | classroom | ||
In the 16th century, the word "classroom" referred to a small room where students attended private lessons. | |||
French | salle de classe | ||
In French, 'salle de classe' also means 'schoolroom' or 'auditorium' depending on context. | |||
Frisian | klaslokaal | ||
The Frisian word "klaslokaal" is made up of the word "klas", meaning "class", and "lokaal", meaning "room". | |||
Galician | clase | ||
The Galician word "clase" also means "class" or "rank". | |||
German | klassenzimmer | ||
Klassenzimmer comes from the Latin word classis, which means "class of citizens" and Zimmer, which means "room", and also historically referred to the location of a guild. | |||
Icelandic | kennslustofa | ||
The word was first used as a translation of "gymnasium", where young men trained for physical contests. | |||
Irish | seomra ranga | ||
The word 'seomra ranga' comes from the Irish words 'seomra', meaning 'room', and 'ranga', meaning 'rank' or 'class'. | |||
Italian | aula | ||
"Aula" can also mean "court" or "hall" in Italian. | |||
Luxembourgish | klassesall | ||
Derived from French word 'classe' and originally referred to a school grade, not a room. | |||
Maltese | klassi | ||
The word 'klassi' in Maltese derives from the Italian 'classe', ultimately from the Latin 'classis', meaning 'division' or 'rank'. | |||
Norwegian | klasserom | ||
Klasserom is derived from the Old Norse words 'klassa' (class) and 'rom' (room). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | sala de aula | ||
In Brazilian Portuguese, "sala de aula" can also refer to the staff room or the principal's office. | |||
Scots Gaelic | seòmar-sgoile | ||
The word 'seòmar-sgoile' shares its root with 'seòmar' (room) and was originally associated with the study of religion. | |||
Spanish | aula | ||
In Latin, "aula" refers to a royal court or magnificent hall, which later evolved to mean "classroom" in Spanish. | |||
Swedish | klassrum | ||
"Klassrum" is a compound word from "klass" ("class") and "rum" ("room"). | |||
Welsh | ystafell ddosbarth | ||
The word 'ystafell ddosbarth' in Welsh comes from the words 'ystafell' (room) and 'dosbarth' (class), but it can also refer to a specific room in a school or college where classes are held. |
Belarusian | класная | ||
The word "класная" also means "cool" in Belarusian, a usage not found in modern Russian. | |||
Bosnian | učionica | ||
The word "učionica" derives from the Slavic root "učiti", meaning "to learn" and the suffix "-nica", designating a place, thus literally meaning "a place for learning." | |||
Bulgarian | класна стая | ||
The word "класна стая" comes from the Old Bulgarian word "стая", which means "room". | |||
Czech | třída | ||
The word ‘třída’ originally meant the rank assigned to a person by society. | |||
Estonian | klassiruumis | ||
The word "klassiruumis" likely comes from the word "klassi" which means "class" in Estonian as well as many other languages. | |||
Finnish | luokkahuoneessa | ||
In Finnish, luokkahuoneessa can also mean "in the class" or "during the lesson". | |||
Hungarian | tanterem | ||
Etymology unknown; first attested in 14th century; 'tanter', a verb of obscure etymology, meant 'to hold meetings' in the 15th century whereas 'terem' meant 'room' | |||
Latvian | klasē | ||
Derived from French "classe", the word "klasē" can also refer to a social group or hierarchy in Latvian. | |||
Lithuanian | klasė | ||
The word 'klasė' is derived from 'klausa' meaning 'to listen', signifying a place where one gathers to listen and learn. | |||
Macedonian | училница | ||
The word "училница" can also refer to a "teacher" or a "school" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | klasa | ||
"Klasa" is a Latinate word common to most Slavic languages and is related to Latin "classis", meaning a group of people, an assembly, or a social order. | |||
Romanian | clasă | ||
In Romanian 'clasă' also refers to 'class' as in a group of students. | |||
Russian | школьный класс | ||
"Школьный класс" in Russian also refers to the class or grade of students learning together. | |||
Serbian | учионица | ||
The word 'учионица' is derived from the Serbian word 'учитељ', meaning teacher, and the suffix '-ница'. It can also refer to a workshop or a room where people learn a specific skill or subject. | |||
Slovak | učebňa | ||
In the past, the word "učebňa" was used in the meaning "study room" as the place for reading, writing, or other intellectual occupation. | |||
Slovenian | učilnica | ||
The word "učilnica" is derived from the verb "učiti" (to teach) and the suffix "-nica" (place), and it originally referred to the room where a teacher taught. | |||
Ukrainian | клас | ||
"Клас" (classroom) also means "cool, awesome, great, excellent, classy" in Ukrainian slang. |
Bengali | শ্রেণিকক্ষ | ||
The word "শ্রেণিকক্ষ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "श्रेणी" meaning "row" and "কক্ষ" meaning "room", referring to a room where students are arranged in rows. | |||
Gujarati | વર્ગખંડ | ||
In the 19th century, the word also referred to a class of students or an assembly of people for a common purpose. | |||
Hindi | कक्षा | ||
The word कक्षा (kakṣā) in Hindi shares its root with the Sanskrit word for | |||
Kannada | ತರಗತಿ | ||
The first part of the word, "tara", means "order," and the second part, "gadi," means "place". Thus, "taragadi" can be interpreted as "an ordered place of learning." | |||
Malayalam | ക്ലാസ് റൂം | ||
The word 'ക്ലാസ് റൂം' is derived from the English word 'classroom' and has no other meanings in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | वर्ग | ||
The word 'वर्ग' in Marathi can also refer to a caste, class, or a group. | |||
Nepali | कक्षा कोठा | ||
"कक्षा कोठा" is derived from the Sanskrit term "kaśā koṣṭh", meaning "teaching hall" or "study chamber". | |||
Punjabi | ਕਲਾਸਰੂਮ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පන්ති කාමරය | ||
Tamil | வகுப்பறை | ||
The word 'வகுப்பறை' is also used to refer to a group of students who are learning together, or to the curriculum that is taught in a particular classroom. | |||
Telugu | తరగతి గది | ||
"తరగతి గది" is also used to refer to a class or a group of students learning together. | |||
Urdu | کلاس روم | ||
کلاس روم (Classroom) originates from the Latin word "classroom" which means "a room for learning." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 课堂 | ||
课堂 originally referred to a 'teaching hall', now typically refers to a 'study hall' (classroom). | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 課堂 | ||
課堂, literally "curtain hall", refers to a private room set up to teach students in ancient times, and hence a modern classroom | |||
Japanese | 教室 | ||
The word "教室" (kyoushitsu) originally meant "a place for lecturing on sutras". | |||
Korean | 교실 | ||
'교실' is borrowed from the Japanese word 'kyoshitsu' which means 'teaching room'. | |||
Mongolian | анги | ||
Originally meaning “temple” before becoming “monastery” in the 18th century, in the 20th century this word began being used for “classroom”. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | စာသင်ခန်း | ||
Indonesian | kelas | ||
The Indonesian word "kelas" shares etymology with the Malay "kelas", both of which mean "class" in the socioeconomic sense, and ultimately deriving from the Portuguese word "classe" | |||
Javanese | kelas | ||
"Kelas" is also a term for "room" in general. | |||
Khmer | ថ្នាក់រៀន | ||
The word ថ្នាក់រៀន ('classroom') derives from the Sanskrit word "stanaka" ('resting place'), reflecting the traditional role of the classroom as a place for students to rest and learn. | |||
Lao | ຫ້ອງຮຽນ | ||
Malay | bilik darjah | ||
In Malay, the word 'bilik darjah' may also refer to a 'class year' or 'grade level'. | |||
Thai | ห้องเรียน | ||
“ห้องเรียน” derives from “หอ” meaning “building” and “เรียน” meaning “learning” so literally means “learning building”. | |||
Vietnamese | lớp học | ||
The word lớp học, meaning "classroom" in Vietnamese, is derived from the Chinese word lớp ( lớp ) meaning "layer" and học (学) meaning "study" or "learn." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | silid-aralan | ||
Azerbaijani | sinif otağı | ||
The word "sınıf otağı" (classroom) in Azerbaijani literally means "a place where classes are held" and is derived from the Persian words "sınıf" (class) and "otağı" (room). | |||
Kazakh | сынып | ||
The word "сынып" in Kazakh originally meant "to break" or "to split," and hence came to mean "classroom" as a place where knowledge is broken down and disseminated. | |||
Kyrgyz | класс | ||
In Kyrgyz, "класс" also means "grade" or "year of study". | |||
Tajik | синфхона | ||
The word "синфхона" is derived from the Arabic word "синф", which means "class" or "group". It can also be used to refer to a place where classes are held. | |||
Turkmen | synp otagy | ||
Uzbek | sinf | ||
The word "sinf" is borrowed from the Arabic word "صنف" meaning "category", "group" or "sort". | |||
Uyghur | دەرسخانا | ||
Hawaiian | lumi papa | ||
The word "lumi" in "lumi papa" also means "eye" and refers to the opening of the hale (house) to the outside. | |||
Maori | akomanga | ||
In Māori, the word "akomanga" has an alternate meaning: a platform for public speaking. | |||
Samoan | potuaoga | ||
The term 'potuaoga' is derived from the Samoan words 'potu' (group) and 'aoga' (school). | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | silid aralan | ||
The word silid aralan (classroom) is derived from the Spanish word "sala" (room) and the Tagalog word "aralan" (study). |
Aymara | yatiqañ utanxa | ||
Guarani | mbo’ehakotýpe | ||
Esperanto | klasĉambro | ||
The Esperanto word "klasĉambro" (classroom) comes from the Latin words "classis" (class) and "camera" (room). | |||
Latin | curabitur aliquet ultricies | ||
Greek | αίθουσα διδασκαλίας | ||
The word "αίθουσα διδασκαλίας" (classroom) in Greek literally means "room of teaching" or "room of learning." | |||
Hmong | chav kawm | ||
"Chav kawm" literally means "to eat words." | |||
Kurdish | dersxane | ||
The Kurdish word "dersxane" is also used to refer to a place of instruction for any subject matter. | |||
Turkish | sınıf | ||
The word "sınıf" is originally an Arabic word and also means "rank" or "level" in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | eklasini | ||
The word "eklasini" can also refer to a church, a school, or a place of learning. | |||
Yiddish | קלאַסצימער | ||
The Yiddish word 'קלאַסצימער' is derived from the German word 'Klassenzimmer', which itself is a compound of 'Klasse' ('class') and 'Zimmer' ('room'). | |||
Zulu | ekilasini | ||
The Zulu word "ekilasini" is also used to refer to a group of people who have come together to study or learn, like a workshop or seminar. | |||
Assamese | শ্ৰেণীকোঠা | ||
Aymara | yatiqañ utanxa | ||
Bhojpuri | कक्षा के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ކްލާސްރޫމްގައެވެ | ||
Dogri | कक्षा च | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | silid-aralan | ||
Guarani | mbo’ehakotýpe | ||
Ilocano | siled-pagadalan | ||
Krio | klasrum | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پۆل | ||
Maithili | कक्षा मे | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀ꯭ꯂꯥꯁꯔꯨꯃꯗꯥ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | classroom-ah dah a ni | ||
Oromo | daree barnootaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଶ୍ରେଣୀଗୃହ | ||
Quechua | aulapi | ||
Sanskrit | कक्षा | ||
Tatar | сыйныф бүлмәсе | ||
Tigrinya | ክፍሊ ትምህርቲ | ||
Tsonga | tlilasi | ||