Updated on March 6, 2024
At its core, a 'clinic' is a place where people go to receive medical care and attention. But clinics are so much more than that - they are pillars of communities, providing essential healthcare services to those who need them most. The significance of clinics cannot be overstated, as they are often the first point of contact for individuals seeking medical help.
Clinics hold cultural importance as well, with many communities relying on them for education and prevention efforts around critical health issues. From providing vaccinations to hosting health fairs, clinics play a vital role in promoting wellness and disease prevention.
For those who are curious about language and culture, understanding the translation of 'clinic' in different languages can be fascinating. For example, in Spanish, a clinic is called 'clínica', while in French, it is 'clinique'. In German, the translation is 'Klinik', and in Japanese, it is 'クリニック' (kurinikku).
Understanding these translations can give us insight into how different cultures view healthcare and medical services. It can also help us better communicate with patients and healthcare providers from around the world.
Afrikaans | kliniek | ||
The Afrikaans word "kliniek" derives from the Dutch word "kliniek", which in turn comes from the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning "bed". | |||
Amharic | ክሊኒክ | ||
The word 'ክሊኒክ' is derived from the Greek word 'κλίνη', meaning 'bed', and refers to a place where the sick or injured receive medical treatment. | |||
Hausa | asibitin | ||
'Ashibiti' is derived from 'shiba' meaning 'to heal', and can also refer to a dispensary or hospital. | |||
Igbo | ụlọọgwụ | ||
Malagasy | toeram-pitsaboana | ||
The term 'toeram-pitsaboana' literally means 'a place to treat the sick' in Malagasy. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chipatala | ||
The word "chipatala" also refers to a hospital, dispensary or infirmary in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | kiriniki | ||
The word 'kiriniki' in Shona originates from the word 'kirina', meaning 'to heal'. | |||
Somali | bukaan socod eegtada | ||
The term "bukaan socod eegtada" literally translates to "the place where the sick walk" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | tliliniki | ||
"Tlini" in Sesotho means "a small thing", so a "tlini-niki" would mean "a very small thing". | |||
Swahili | kliniki | ||
In Swahili, 'kliniki' can also refer to a dispensary or a hospital, indicating its broader healthcare context. | |||
Xhosa | ikliniki | ||
The word "ikliniki" is derived from the Greek word "klinikos", meaning "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Yoruba | iwosan | ||
The Yoruba word "iwosan" can also refer to a traditional healer or a place where traditional medicine is practiced. | |||
Zulu | umtholampilo | ||
The Zulu 'umtholampilo' may have originally referred to the act of consulting a diviner or herbalist. | |||
Bambara | dɔgɔtɔrɔso la | ||
Ewe | atikewɔƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | ivuriro | ||
Lingala | kliniki ya monganga | ||
Luganda | eddwaaliro | ||
Sepedi | kliniki | ||
Twi (Akan) | ayaresabea | ||
Arabic | عيادة | ||
عيادة, a place to which sick people turn for relief, derives from the verb “to visit” and signifies a place someone turns to for healing. | |||
Hebrew | מרפאה | ||
The word מרפאה (clinic) derives from the root רפא (heal) and originally referred to a place where the sick were brought to be healed. | |||
Pashto | کلینیک | ||
In Pashto, "کلینیک" can also refer to a small medical facility or a private doctor's office. | |||
Arabic | عيادة | ||
عيادة, a place to which sick people turn for relief, derives from the verb “to visit” and signifies a place someone turns to for healing. |
Albanian | klinika | ||
The word "klinika" in Albanian is derived from the German word "Klinik", which in turn comes from the Greek word "κλινική" (klinikē), meaning "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Basque | klinika | ||
In Basque, “klinika” comes from the Greek “kline,” meaning “bed,” and originally meant “hospital.” | |||
Catalan | clínica | ||
Clínica in Catalan originates from the Greek word "κλινική" meaning "bedside" or "pertaining to a bed." | |||
Croatian | klinika | ||
"Klinika" also refers to a private hospital and a medical school department. | |||
Danish | klinik | ||
The Danish word "klinik" can also refer to a hospital ward or a private hospital. | |||
Dutch | kliniek | ||
Kliniek, which is used in Dutch for 'clinic', is derived from the Greek word 'κλινική' (klinikē), meaning 'bedside'. This word is related to 'κλίνη' (klinē), which means 'bed' or 'couch'. | |||
English | clinic | ||
In ancient Greece, a "clinic" was a place where patients were examined - the word comes from "klinê" meaning "bed" or "couch". | |||
French | clinique | ||
In French, "clinique" can also mean "outpatient clinic" or "private hospital ward". | |||
Frisian | klinyk | ||
It shares a root with the English word "clean" and the Frisian word for "clean": "klyn". | |||
Galician | clínica | ||
The Galician word "clínica" can also refer to a funeral chapel. | |||
German | klinik | ||
In German, "Klinik" can also refer to a medical department in a hospital or the hospital itself. | |||
Icelandic | heilsugæslustöð | ||
The word "heilsugæslustöð" is derived from the Old Norse words "heill" (health), "sjúkr" (sick), and "staðr" (place), and thus literally means "a place for the sick to heal." | |||
Irish | clinic | ||
In Irish, the word "clinic" also means "religious community". | |||
Italian | clinica | ||
In Italian, "clinica" also means "gynecological or obstetrical hospital". | |||
Luxembourgish | klinik | ||
Klinik' can also refer to a medical facility that is not a hospital, such as a nursing home or a hospice. | |||
Maltese | klinika | ||
The Maltese word "klinika" derives from the Greek "klinikos", meaning "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Norwegian | klinikk | ||
Klinikk comes from the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning "bed" or "couch". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | consultório | ||
The word "consultório" in Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil) derives from the Latin word "consultorĭum" which means "place of consultation or meeting". | |||
Scots Gaelic | clionaig | ||
"Clionaig" also refers to a "small head" or "small hill" | |||
Spanish | clínica | ||
"Clínica" comes from the Greek word "κλινική", meaning "pertaining to a bed." | |||
Swedish | klinik | ||
In the older sense of the Swedish language, a "klinik" was an academic subject that formed part of clinical education, such as the subjects "clinical medicine", "clinical surgery" or "clinical obstetrics". | |||
Welsh | clinig | ||
In Welsh, "clinig" retains its original meaning of "sanctuary" and can refer to both medical facilities and places of religious worship. |
Belarusian | клініка | ||
"Клініка" is derived from the Greek word "κλίνη" (bed), meaning "a place where the sick are treated." | |||
Bosnian | klinika | ||
The word "klinika" in Bosnian originates from the Greek word "klinikos," meaning "bedside." It can also refer to a hospital ward or a medical school. | |||
Bulgarian | клиника | ||
The word "клиника" also has the meaning "mental hospital" in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | klinika | ||
In Czech, "klinika" can also refer to a specialized department of a hospital. | |||
Estonian | kliinikus | ||
The word "kliinikus" has Greek roots originating from the term "κλίνη" meaning "bed" or "couch." | |||
Finnish | klinikka | ||
Klinikka derives from the Greek word "kline," meaning "a bed for the sick," via German "klinik," referring to a hospital ward. | |||
Hungarian | klinika | ||
The Hungarian word "klinika" derives from the Greek word "κλινική", which originally meant "bedside teaching" in medical schools. | |||
Latvian | klīnikā | ||
Klīnikā (clinic) is derived from the Greek word "κλινική" (klinikē), meaning "bedside teaching" or "treatment," and in Latvian it also refers specifically to a university hospital or department. | |||
Lithuanian | klinika | ||
The word "klinika" also refers to the "clinical" in the sense of a branch of a medical school focusing on patient care. | |||
Macedonian | клиника | ||
The word "клиника" also means "hospital" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | klinika | ||
Klinika is derived from the Greek word 'klinikos', meaning 'pertaining to a bed' or 'connected with treatment'. | |||
Romanian | clinică | ||
The Romanian word "clinică" shares its etymology with the English word "clinical", as both derive from the Greek word "κλίνη" (klinē) meaning "bed". | |||
Russian | клиника | ||
In Russian, 'клиника' (literally 'inclining') refers not only to medical clinics, but also to the process of diagnosing and monitoring illnesses, or to a patient's clinical observations. | |||
Serbian | клиника | ||
The word "клиника" (clinic) in Serbian also means "hospital ward" or "department of a hospital". | |||
Slovak | poliklinika | ||
The word "poliklinika" is derived from the Greek words "polis" (city) and "klinikos" (bed), and originally referred to a hospital that provided outpatient care to the urban population. | |||
Slovenian | kliniko | ||
The word "kliniko" also refers to the clinical field, as opposed to the theoretical or experimental. | |||
Ukrainian | клініка | ||
The Ukrainian word "клініка" is derived from the Greek word "κλινική," meaning "bedside instruction." |
Bengali | ক্লিনিক | ||
The root of the word ক্লিনিক refers to lying down, as patients usually lie down to receive medical treatment. | |||
Gujarati | ક્લિનિક | ||
Hindi | क्लिनिक | ||
The word "क्लिनिक" is derived from the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning "bed", and originally referred to a place where the sick were cared for, especially in ancient Greece. | |||
Kannada | ಕ್ಲಿನಿಕ್ | ||
The word 'clinic' is derived from the Greek word 'κλίνη' (kline), meaning 'bed' or 'couch,' as clinics were originally places where patients were received for examination and treatment. | |||
Malayalam | ക്ലിനിക് | ||
Marathi | चिकित्सालय | ||
In Sanskrit, चिकित्सालय means 'a house for healing', while in Marathi it refers to 'a hospital or a clinic'. | |||
Nepali | क्लिनिक | ||
The Nepali word "क्लिनिक" (clinic) originates from the Greek word "κλινική" (klinikē), meaning "pertaining to a bed" or "of a patient's bed". In modern usage, it refers to a medical facility where patients receive outpatient care. | |||
Punjabi | ਕਲੀਨਿਕ | ||
The word "ਕਲੀਨਿਕ" (clinic) in Punjabi is derived from the Greek word "κλινική" (klinikē), meaning "bedside" or "pertaining to a sickbed". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සායනය | ||
The word "සායනය" (clinic) is derived from the Sanskrit word "śālā", meaning "house" or "hall". | |||
Tamil | சிகிச்சையகம் | ||
The term "clinic" originated from the Greek word "κλίνη" meaning "bed". | |||
Telugu | క్లినిక్ | ||
The word "క్లినిక్" has its roots in the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning a reclining bed or couch used by a patient or doctor. | |||
Urdu | کلینک | ||
In Urdu, the word "کلینک" also means "a small room or chamber". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 诊所 | ||
在日语中,诊所也可称为「クリニック」或「診療所」 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 診所 | ||
診所 originally meant 'a place where the wealthy can seek medical help' and came from the word 診療 'giving medical care'. | |||
Japanese | 診療所 | ||
The word "診療所" can also refer to a small hospital or a dispensary. | |||
Korean | 진료소 | ||
"진료소" originally meant a place where Taoist hermits studied and lived. | |||
Mongolian | клиник | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ဆေးခန်း | ||
Indonesian | klinik | ||
The word 'klinik' in Indonesian is derived from the Greek word 'klinike', meaning 'bed'. It can also refer to a private hospital or a medical practice. | |||
Javanese | klinik | ||
"Klinik" is a loanword from Dutch, originally derived from the Greek "κλινική", meaning "bedside teaching." | |||
Khmer | គ្លីនិក | ||
The word "គ្លីនិក" can also refer to a small hospital or a place where people can receive medical treatment. | |||
Lao | ຄລີນິກ | ||
In Lao, "ຄລີນິກ" can also refer to a small pharmacy or a place where one goes to take herbal medicine. | |||
Malay | klinik | ||
Klinik can also be a colloquial term for a hospital. | |||
Thai | คลินิก | ||
The word "คลินิก" is derived from the Greek word "κλινική" (klinikē), meaning "bedside" or "pertaining to a sickbed". | |||
Vietnamese | phòng khám bệnh | ||
"Phòng khám bệnh" translates to "examination room for the sick." "Phòng" means "room" and "khám bệnh" means "to examine the sick." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | klinika | ||
Azerbaijani | klinika | ||
In Azerbaijani, Klinika can also refer to a mental health institution. | |||
Kazakh | клиника | ||
Слово "клиника" происходит от греческого слова "κλίνη", что означает "кровать" или "ложе". | |||
Kyrgyz | клиника | ||
The word "клиника" in Kyrgyz also refers to a "hospital department". | |||
Tajik | клиника | ||
Слово " клиника " имеет греческий корень, что переводится как "кровать" и обозначает учреждение для диагностики, лечения и ухода за пациентами, размещёнными на стационаре. | |||
Turkmen | klinika | ||
Uzbek | klinika | ||
"Klinika" (clinic) derives from the ancient Greek "klinikos" (bed), referring to the place where patients were examined and treated. | |||
Uyghur | شىپاخانا | ||
Hawaiian | hale hana kino | ||
The phrase “hale hana kino” can be broken down into three words: “hale” (house), “hana” (work), and “kino” (body). | |||
Maori | whare haumanu | ||
The word also means 'house of healing' or 'house of relief' in Maori. | |||
Samoan | falemaʻi | ||
The word "falemaʻi" in Samoan also means "hospital" or "lying-in house". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | klinika | ||
Tagalog word "klinika" derives from the Spanish word "clínica," which means "bedside teaching" or "practical instruction in medicine." |
Aymara | clínica ukanxa | ||
Guarani | clínica-pe | ||
Esperanto | kliniko | ||
The word "kliniko" is derived from the Greek word "κλινική", meaning "bedside", and is used in Esperanto to refer to a hospital or other medical facility. | |||
Latin | clinic | ||
The word "clinic" is derived from the Greek word "klinikos," meaning "pertaining to a bed," and was originally used to refer to a place where sick people were treated. |
Greek | κλινική | ||
The word "clinic" comes from the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning "bed" or "couch", as clinics were originally places where patients were treated while lying down. | |||
Hmong | chaw kho mob | ||
"Chaw kho mob" literally means "place to be treated by rubbing" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | nexweşxane | ||
Nexweşxane is a compound word consisting of 'nexweş' (patient) and 'xane' (house), indicating a place for patient care. | |||
Turkish | klinik | ||
Klinik in Turkish also refers to "a small group of physicians who engage in a specialized practice". | |||
Xhosa | ikliniki | ||
The word "ikliniki" is derived from the Greek word "klinikos", meaning "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Yiddish | קליניק | ||
"קליניק is the Yiddish version of a "public place", which is what "clinic" means, and can mean any kind of public space. | |||
Zulu | umtholampilo | ||
The Zulu 'umtholampilo' may have originally referred to the act of consulting a diviner or herbalist. | |||
Assamese | ক্লিনিক | ||
Aymara | clínica ukanxa | ||
Bhojpuri | क्लिनिक में भइल | ||
Dhivehi | ކްލިނިކެއްގައެވެ | ||
Dogri | क्लिनिक च | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | klinika | ||
Guarani | clínica-pe | ||
Ilocano | klinika | ||
Krio | klinik | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | کلینیک | ||
Maithili | क्लिनिक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀ꯭ꯂꯤꯅꯤꯀꯇꯥ ꯂꯩ꯫ | ||
Mizo | clinic-ah a awm a | ||
Oromo | kilinika | ||
Odia (Oriya) | କ୍ଲିନିକ୍ | ||
Quechua | clínica nisqapi | ||
Sanskrit | चिकित्सालये | ||
Tatar | клиника | ||
Tigrinya | ክሊኒክ | ||
Tsonga | tliliniki | ||