Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'clinical', derived from the Greek word 'kline' meaning 'bed', has evolved to signify a sense of precision, objectivity, and detachment in various cultural contexts. Originally used to describe a patient's bedside, it now extends to medical and scientific fields, indicating a methodical, evidence-based approach. This shift in meaning reflects the significance of empirical data and analytical thinking in modern society.
Beyond its technical connotations, the term 'clinical' also carries cultural weight. In literature and film, a 'clinical' style often denotes a sense of coldness or emotional distance. This usage highlights the word's broader implications, suggesting a lack of personal involvement or warmth.
Given its wide-ranging significance, understanding the translation of 'clinical' in different languages can be enlightening. It not only broadens our linguistic repertoire but also offers insights into how diverse cultures perceive and interpret this multifaceted term.
Here are some translations of 'clinical' in various languages, demonstrating the term's global reach and cultural importance:
Afrikaans | klinies | ||
In Afrikaans, "klinies" can also refer to someone who is sickly or frail. | |||
Amharic | ክሊኒካዊ | ||
ክሊኒካዊ derives from the Greek word “κλινικός” meaning “bedside”. | |||
Hausa | na asibiti | ||
The Hausa word "asibiti" is also used in other contexts, such as to describe something that is "serious" or "important". | |||
Igbo | adakarị | ||
The word "adakarị" can also refer to a "hospital" or "clinic" in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | pitsaboana | ||
"Pitsaboana" is a Malagasy word that also means "hospital" or "clinic". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuchipatala | ||
The word "kuchipatala" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also mean "to go to the hospital." | |||
Shona | kiriniki | ||
The Shona word "kiriniki" also means "scientific" or "technical" | |||
Somali | caafimaad | ||
The Somali word "caafimaad" not only means "clinical", but also encompasses the broader concept of wellness and health. | |||
Sesotho | tsa bongaka | ||
Swahili | kliniki | ||
"Kliniki" in Swahili can also mean "hospital" or "dispensary." | |||
Xhosa | kwiklinikhi | ||
In Xhosa, 'kwiklinikhi' may refer to someone who is unwell, and can also be used to describe an ailment. | |||
Yoruba | isẹgun | ||
The word "isẹgun" in Yoruba is derived from the words "iṣẹ" (work) and "ogun" (medicine), implying that clinical practice involves the application of medical knowledge and techniques. | |||
Zulu | imitholampilo | ||
The word "imitholampilo" is derived from the Zulu word "imithi" meaning "medicines" and "lampilo" meaning "knowledge". | |||
Bambara | kɛnɛyaso la | ||
Ewe | atikewɔƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | ivuriro | ||
Lingala | ya kliniki | ||
Luganda | eby’obujjanjabi | ||
Sepedi | ya kliniki | ||
Twi (Akan) | ayaresabea | ||
Arabic | مرضي | ||
In Arabic, the word "مرضي" is also used to describe someone who is sick or ill. | |||
Hebrew | קליני | ||
The Hebrew word "קליני" (clinical) derives from the Greek word "κλινική" (klinikē), which in turn comes from "κλίνη" (klinē), meaning "bed". This is because ancient Greek physicians often taught and practiced medicine at the bedside of their patients. | |||
Pashto | کلینیکي | ||
In this context, “клинический” means “experimental” and has no relation to medicine. | |||
Arabic | مرضي | ||
In Arabic, the word "مرضي" is also used to describe someone who is sick or ill. |
Albanian | klinike | ||
The word "klinike" comes from the Greek word "κλινική", which means "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Basque | klinikoa | ||
Klinikoa, a word meaning "clinical" in Basque, likely originated in ancient Greek, as the word "κλινικος" ("klinikos") means "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Catalan | clínica | ||
In Catalan, "clínica" can also refer to a medical consultation or a private medical practice. | |||
Croatian | klinički | ||
The Croatian word 'klinički' is derived from 'κλίνη' (klínē), the Ancient Greek word for 'bed'. | |||
Danish | klinisk | ||
Klinisk stammer fra græsk "klinē", der betyder "seng" og henviser til den traditionelle måde at undersøge patienter på ved deres sengekant. | |||
Dutch | klinisch | ||
In Dutch, "klinisch" can also mean "hygienic" or "sterile" in a medical context. | |||
English | clinical | ||
The word "clinical" is derived from the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning "bed" or "couch", and refers to the practice of medicine at the bedside. | |||
French | clinique | ||
Clinique is also a term used in France to denote a small private hospital, as opposed to a public one (hôpital) | |||
Frisian | klinysk | ||
The word "klinysk" in Frisian can also mean "surgical", "medical", or "related to medicine". | |||
Galician | clínica | ||
In Galician, "clínica" also retains its original Greek meaning of "a bed" or "place to lie down". | |||
German | klinisch | ||
The word "klinisch" can also refer to the cleanliness or purity of a space or object. | |||
Icelandic | klínískt | ||
The Icelandic word "klínískt" ultimately derives from the Greek word "klinikos" meaning "pertaining to a bed", and is also used to refer to the "practical application of medicine". | |||
Irish | cliniciúil | ||
"Cliniciúil" (clinical) derives from the Latin "clinicus," meaning "pertaining to the sickbed". | |||
Italian | clinico | ||
Clinico is an archaic term meaning sickly, ill, or unhealthy. | |||
Luxembourgish | klinesch | ||
Maltese | kliniku | ||
"Kliniku" comes from the Ancient Greek word "κλινή" (klinē), which means "bed" or "couch", and refers to the practice of examining patients in bed. | |||
Norwegian | klinisk | ||
Klinisk in Norwegian also means 'musical' and is related to the word 'klang' (sound). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | clínico | ||
The word "clínico" in Portuguese can also mean "medical" or "physician". | |||
Scots Gaelic | clionaigeach | ||
The word "clionaigeach" in Scots Gaelic also refers to a person who is fastidious or meticulous in their work. | |||
Spanish | clínico | ||
Derived from Greek klinikos (κλινικός) meaning "bedside", from kline (κλίνη) "bed". | |||
Swedish | klinisk | ||
The Swedish word "klinisk" derives from the Greek "klinikos," meaning "bedside" or "pertaining to a bed," reflecting its original association with patient care and medical practice. | |||
Welsh | clinigol | ||
The English word 'clinical' derives from the Greek, and the Welsh word 'clinigol' has the more specific meaning of 'medical'. |
Belarusian | клінічны | ||
This word comes from the Greek word "klinikos," which means "belonging to a bed," and is related to the word "kline," which means "bed." | |||
Bosnian | klinički | ||
The word "klinički" can also be used to describe a person's demeanor or behavior, often in a negative sense. | |||
Bulgarian | клинична | ||
The word "clinical" comes from the Greek "klinos", meaning "bed", referring to the observation of patients at the bedside. | |||
Czech | klinický | ||
The word "klinický" is derived from the Greek word "κλινικός", meaning "bedside" or "pertaining to a sickbed". | |||
Estonian | kliiniline | ||
The word "kliiniline" in Estonian originates from the Greek word "kline", meaning bed, relating to observations made on patients in bed | |||
Finnish | kliininen | ||
"Kliininen" also means "free from sin" in Finnish. | |||
Hungarian | klinikai | ||
The word "klinikai" in Hungarian derives from the Greek word "klinikos", meaning "pertaining to a bed or couch" and the suffix "-ai", indicating "related to". | |||
Latvian | klīniskā | ||
The word "klīniskā" is derived from the Greek word "klinikos", meaning "belonging to a bed" or "pertaining to a sick person". | |||
Lithuanian | klinikiniai | ||
The word "klinikiniai" has Greek roots and refers to activities related to treating patients in hospitals or clinics. | |||
Macedonian | клинички | ||
The word "клинички" can also refer to a hospital department or a medical record. | |||
Polish | kliniczny | ||
The word "kliniczny" in Polish can also mean "hospital-related" or "pertaining to a clinic". | |||
Romanian | clinic | ||
In Romanian, the word "clinic" refers to a private healthcare facility, often specialising in a particular area of medicine. | |||
Russian | клинический | ||
The Russian adjective "клинический" (clinical) can also mean "extremely negative, catastrophic, or absurd". | |||
Serbian | клинички | ||
'Clinical' in Serbian can also refer to medical records | |||
Slovak | klinické | ||
The word "klinické" in Slovak also refers to a part of a hospital where patients receive treatment, similar to an infirmary or ward. | |||
Slovenian | klinični | ||
The Slovenian word 'klinični' can also refer to the use of a medical bed or the medical care provided to a patient in a clinic or hospital setting. | |||
Ukrainian | клінічний | ||
The word "клінічний" derives from the Greek word "κλίνη" (bed) and originally referred to the bedside care of patients. |
Bengali | ক্লিনিকাল | ||
ক্লিনিকাল শব্দটি গ্রীক शब्द 'κλίνη' থেকে এসেছে যার অর্থ 'যাত্রা বিছানা'। | |||
Gujarati | તબીબી | ||
The Gujarati word "તબીબી" derives from the Persian word "tabībī", which means "medical". | |||
Hindi | क्लीनिकल | ||
The Hindi word "क्लीनिकल" can also mean "mechanical" or "pertaining to a machine". | |||
Kannada | ಕ್ಲಿನಿಕಲ್ | ||
Malayalam | ക്ലിനിക്കൽ | ||
The word 'ക്ലിനിക്കൽ' is derived from the Greek word 'κλίνη', meaning 'bed' or 'couch'. | |||
Marathi | क्लिनिकल | ||
The word 'क्लिनिकल' comes from the Greek word 'κλινικός' (klinikos), meaning 'of a bed'. In Marathi, this word is used to describe something that is related to a hospital or medical care. | |||
Nepali | क्लिनिकल | ||
The word "clinical" is derived from the Greek word "κλινική" (klinikē), which means "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Punjabi | ਕਲੀਨਿਕਲ | ||
The word "ਕਲੀਨਿਕਲ" ("clinical") comes from the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning "bed," and was originally used to refer to medical treatment given at the bedside. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සායනික | ||
The word සායනික has a double meaning in Sinhala, and it also refers to 'fever'. | |||
Tamil | மருத்துவ | ||
"மருத்துவ" is the name of a 12th century Tamil medical treatise, written by a physician named Agathiyar. | |||
Telugu | క్లినికల్ | ||
The word "క్లినికల్" is derived from the Greek word "κλίνη" (kline), meaning "bed" or "couch", and refers to the practice of medicine at the bedside of a patient. | |||
Urdu | طبی | ||
The word "طبی" in Urdu has an alternate meaning: "physical". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 临床 | ||
"临床"本意为床边,后引申为疾病治疗的实践场所或方法。 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 臨床 | ||
臨床一詞源自古希臘語 κλίνη(klínē),意指「床」或「病榻」 | |||
Japanese | 臨床 | ||
The word "臨床" (clinical) is also used in Japanese to describe a "bedside," or an examination or treatment given by a doctor at a patient's bedside. | |||
Korean | 객관적인 | ||
객관적인 also means “objective” in English. | |||
Mongolian | эмнэлзүйн | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လက်တွေ့ | ||
Indonesian | klinis | ||
Kata 'klinis' (clinical) dalam bahasa Indonesia berasal dari bahasa Yunani 'klinikos', yang berarti 'tempat tidur' atau 'kasur'. | |||
Javanese | klinis | ||
The Javanese word "klinis" can also mean "neat" or "orderly". | |||
Khmer | គ្លីនិក | ||
“Clinic”, in Khmer, is a loan word from the Greek “klinikos” which meant “of a bed” and, by extension, a medical meeting held by the bedside. | |||
Lao | ທາງດ້ານການຊ່ວຍ | ||
Malay | klinikal | ||
The Malay word "klinikal" comes from the Greek word "klinikos," meaning "pertaining to a bed". | |||
Thai | ทางคลินิก | ||
In the field of medicine, the word "clinical" refers to actual patient care, as opposed to theoretical knowledge or laboratory research. | |||
Vietnamese | lâm sàng | ||
The term lâm sàng ultimately derives from the ancient Greek word 'κλίνη'/'klínī', meaning bed and couch | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | klinikal | ||
Azerbaijani | klinik | ||
The word | |||
Kazakh | клиникалық | ||
Kyrgyz | клиникалык | ||
Tajik | клиникӣ | ||
"Клиникӣ" (clinical) derives from the Greek "κλινική" (klinikē), meaning "pertaining to a bed" or "of a sickbed". | |||
Turkmen | kliniki | ||
Uzbek | klinik | ||
In Uzbek, "klinik" derives from the French "clinique" and the Latin "clinicus," but also bears the meaning of "ambulatory ward" in medical terminology. | |||
Uyghur | كلىنىكىلىق | ||
Hawaiian | kālaikaʻi | ||
"Kālaikaʻi" in Hawaiian refers to something that is both clinical and spiritual, connecting the physical and metaphysical realms. | |||
Maori | haumanu | ||
Haumanu originates from an older word, hau, which means 'a party of people'. | |||
Samoan | falemaʻi | ||
The word "falemaʻi" in Samoan also means "hospital" or "clinic". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | klinikal | ||
The word "klinikal" in Tagalog (Filipino) is derived from the Ancient Greek word "klinikos," meaning "of the bed," and initially referred to those with sicknesses that confined them to bed. |
Aymara | clínico ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Guarani | clínico rehegua | ||
Esperanto | klinika | ||
In Esperanto, the word "klinika" can also mean "hospital ward" | |||
Latin | orci | ||
The word "orci" can also refer to a type of marine mammal, the orca. |
Greek | κλινικός | ||
The word "κλινικός" also means "pertaining to a bed" in Greek, as it derives from the word "κλίνη" (bed). | |||
Hmong | soj ntsuam | ||
The Hmong word "soj ntsuam" is also used to mean "traditional" or "customary" in a medical context. | |||
Kurdish | nexweşxaneyî | ||
The word "nexweşxaneyî" in Kurdish has roots in the Persian compound "بیمارخانه" (bimar-khaneh), meaning "place of the sick"} | |||
Turkish | klinik | ||
In Turkish, the word "klinik" also means "university hospital" or "teaching hospital". | |||
Xhosa | kwiklinikhi | ||
In Xhosa, 'kwiklinikhi' may refer to someone who is unwell, and can also be used to describe an ailment. | |||
Yiddish | קליניש | ||
The Yiddish word "קליניש" can also mean "crazy" or "ridiculous". | |||
Zulu | imitholampilo | ||
The word "imitholampilo" is derived from the Zulu word "imithi" meaning "medicines" and "lampilo" meaning "knowledge". | |||
Assamese | ক্লিনিকেল | ||
Aymara | clínico ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Bhojpuri | क्लिनिकल के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ކްލިނިކަލް އެވެ | ||
Dogri | क्लिनिकल ऐ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | klinikal | ||
Guarani | clínico rehegua | ||
Ilocano | klinikal nga | ||
Krio | klinik | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | کلینیکی | ||
Maithili | नैदानिक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀ꯭ꯂꯤꯅꯤꯀꯦꯜ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ ꯌꯥꯏ꯫ | ||
Mizo | clinical lam a ni | ||
Oromo | kilinikaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | କ୍ଲିନିକାଲ୍ | ||
Quechua | clínico nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | नैदानिकः | ||
Tatar | клиник | ||
Tigrinya | ክሊኒካዊ ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
Tsonga | ya tliliniki | ||