Colleague in Different Languages
Discover 'Colleague' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A colleague is more than just a coworker - they're a partner in achieving shared goals and a source of support and inspiration in the workplace. The significance of this relationship cannot be overstated, as colleagues can greatly impact our job satisfaction, productivity, and overall career success. In many cultures, building strong relationships with colleagues is crucial for long-term professional growth and success.
Understanding the translation of 'colleague' in different languages can help break down barriers and foster stronger connections with people from diverse backgrounds. For example, in Spanish, a colleague is 'un colega,' while in French, it's 'un collègue.' In German, the word is 'ein Kollege' and in Japanese, it's '同僚 (dōryō).'
Not only is learning these translations a sign of respect and cultural sensitivity, but it can also help you navigate international business environments and collaborate more effectively with global teams. So, whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, expanding your vocabulary to include the word 'colleague' in different languages is a valuable investment in your personal and professional growth.
Colleague
Colleague in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | kollega | ||
| "Kollega" is derived from the Latin word "collega", meaning "a companion, fellow worker, or associate." | |||
| Amharic | የሥራ ባልደረባዬ | ||
| የሥራ ባልደረባዬ can mean 'someone who works with you' or 'someone who is always annoying you' depending on the context. | |||
| Hausa | abokin aiki | ||
| The Hausa word "abokin aiki" literally means "workmate," highlighting the shared labor aspect of collegial relationships in Hausa culture. | |||
| Igbo | onye otu | ||
| Igbo word "onye otu" translates directly to "one group" indicating a person with the same goal, a workmate or fellow group member. | |||
| Malagasy | mpiara-miasa | ||
| The word comes from the merging of two terms: "mpiara" (companion) and "miasa" (work) | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mnzake | ||
| The word 'mnzake' is also used to refer to a friend or acquaintance. | |||
| Shona | shamwari | ||
| Somali | asxaab | ||
| The word "asxaab" in Somali originally meant "a person with whom one shares a common interest or purpose". | |||
| Sesotho | mosebetsi-'moho | ||
| The word 'mosebetsi-'moho' is literally translated as 'working together' or 'co-operating'. | |||
| Swahili | mwenzako | ||
| "Mwenzako" originally meant "sibling" or "companion" and was used to refer to a close friend or associate. | |||
| Xhosa | ugxa wakho | ||
| The term "ugxa wakho" can also be used to refer to a friend or confidant. | |||
| Yoruba | alabaṣiṣẹpọ | ||
| The word "alabaṣiṣẹpọ" is a compound word made up of "ala-baṣiṣẹ-pọ", meaning "those-who-share-work". It is also used to refer to a group of people who work together in a friendly or cooperative manner. | |||
| Zulu | uzakwethu | ||
| Uzalo translates to 'the coming out of the sun' in Zulu. Wethu means 'our' in Zulu, hence uzakwethu means 'our coming out of the sun', referring to the beginning of a new and collaborative work day. | |||
| Bambara | baarakɛɲɔgɔn | ||
| Ewe | hati | ||
| Kinyarwanda | mugenzi wawe | ||
| Lingala | moninga | ||
| Luganda | omuntu gw'omanyi | ||
| Sepedi | mošomimmogo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tipɛn | ||
Colleague in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | زميل | ||
| The word "زميل" can also refer to a friend, companion, or classmate. | |||
| Hebrew | עמית | ||
| The word 'עמית' (colleague) is derived from the Hebrew root 'עמד' (to stand), referring to someone who stands by your side. | |||
| Pashto | همکار | ||
| The Pashto word "همکار" can also mean "partner" or "associate". | |||
| Arabic | زميل | ||
| The word "زميل" can also refer to a friend, companion, or classmate. | |||
Colleague in Western European Languages
| Albanian | koleg | ||
| In Albanian, "koleg" derives from the Latin word "collegium" (a community of persons), cognate with the English "colleague". | |||
| Basque | lankide | ||
| The word "lankide" originally meant "companion" or "friend". | |||
| Catalan | company | ||
| The Catalan word "company" can also mean "companion" or "friend", highlighting the close bond between colleagues in Catalan culture. | |||
| Croatian | suradnik | ||
| Suradnik, meaning "co-worker," derives from the Proto-Slavic "surabota," meaning "to work together." | |||
| Danish | kollega | ||
| "Kollega" derives from Medieval Latin and is related to the word "college" and the Latin term "collega," meaning "one who shares the same rank, duty, or profession." | |||
| Dutch | collega | ||
| In modern Dutch "collega" primarily means someone one works with, however it is also used to indicate someone one studies with, like at university. | |||
| English | colleague | ||
| The word "colleague" originates from the Latin word "conlega," which means "one who shares a duty." | |||
| French | collègue | ||
| In French, the word "collègue" can also refer to a member of a professional or academic society or to a student in the same year of study. | |||
| Frisian | kollega | ||
| The Old Frisian word for 'collega' was 'kolle', | |||
| Galician | colega | ||
| In Galician, "colega" can also be used to refer to a friend, usually in a close or affectionate context. | |||
| German | kollege | ||
| The German word "Kollege" can also refer to a dormitory or a boarding school. | |||
| Icelandic | samstarfsmaður | ||
| The word "samstarfsmaður" is literally "man working together" from the Icelandic words "sam" (together) and "starf" (work) | |||
| Irish | comhghleacaí | ||
| The term comhghleacaí, which originally referred to fellow members of a religious order, later came to be associated with individuals working together in any field. | |||
| Italian | collega | ||
| Collega originally meant a co-monk or fellow member of a religious community. | |||
| Luxembourgish | kolleg | ||
| The word "Kolleg" can also refer to a group of people with the same profession or interests. | |||
| Maltese | kollega | ||
| In Maltese, "kollega" also means "team member" or "partner". | |||
| Norwegian | kollega | ||
| The word "kollega" (colleague) originates from the Latin word "collega", meaning "one who is chosen together with another". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | colega | ||
| The Portuguese word "colega" can also refer to a classmate or a fellow student, similar to the English word "peer". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | co-obraiche | ||
| Also used affectionately to describe a spouse or close friend | |||
| Spanish | colega | ||
| In Spanish, the word "colega" can also refer to a "confederate" or "accomplice". | |||
| Swedish | kollega | ||
| "Kollega" literally means "club-fellow" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | cydweithiwr | ||
| The word "cydweithiwr" can also refer to "a fellow or companion" or "a collaborator or associate". | |||
Colleague in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | калега | ||
| The word "калега" (colleague) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *kolega, which means "friend" or "companion." | |||
| Bosnian | kolega | ||
| The word 'kolega' is also used to refer to a friend or acquaintance. | |||
| Bulgarian | колега | ||
| The word "колега" comes from the Greek word "κολληγος" (kollegos), meaning "one who speaks together; associate; comrade."} | |||
| Czech | kolega | ||
| The word "kolega" derives from the Latin "collega" which means "coworker" and is related to the word "legare" (to tie). | |||
| Estonian | kolleeg | ||
| Estonian “kolleeg” derives from the French term “collègue” or the Latin “collega” denoting fellow members of a group. | |||
| Finnish | kollega | ||
| In Finnish, the word "kollega" can also refer to a person of the same rank or social class. | |||
| Hungarian | kolléga | ||
| In Hungarian "kolléga" originally meant "roommate, flatmate", from the Latin "collegium" (a group of people living in the same place). | |||
| Latvian | kolēģis | ||
| The word "kolēģis" is derived from the Latin word "collega", meaning "one who is chosen together". | |||
| Lithuanian | kolega | ||
| "Kolega" originally meant "fellow monk" and also had a humorous connotation meaning "someone who has been through the same ordeals" | |||
| Macedonian | колега | ||
| The word "колега" also means "companion" or "friend" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | współpracownik | ||
| Współpracownik derives from the Polish words "współ" (together) and "pracować" (to work), highlighting the collaborative nature of the role. | |||
| Romanian | coleg | ||
| Colleague in Romanian may also refer to students in the same school year or in the same year of study at a higher education institution | |||
| Russian | коллега | ||
| The word "коллега" also means "collegiate" and derives from the Latin word "collegium", meaning "association" or "society". | |||
| Serbian | колега | ||
| The word "колега" also means "friend" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | kolega | ||
| In Slovak, "kolega" can also refer to a coworker, partner, or associate. | |||
| Slovenian | kolega | ||
| The Slovene word 'kolega' originates from the Latin word 'collegium', meaning a 'body of colleagues'. | |||
| Ukrainian | колега | ||
| The word "колега" comes from the Polish word "kolega" and the Russian word "коллега". | |||
Colleague in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সহকর্মী | ||
| The word "সহকর্মী" (sahkormee) in Bengali literally translates to "co-worker" or "co-laborer", highlighting the shared nature of work and responsibilities among colleagues. | |||
| Gujarati | સાથીદાર | ||
| The word "સાથીદાર" has an alternative meaning of "friend" or "companion" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | साथ काम करने वाला | ||
| The word 'साथ काम करने वाला' ('colleague') in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'सहकर्मी' ('co-worker') and it can also refer to a fellow student or a companion. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಹೋದ್ಯೋಗಿ | ||
| The word "ಸಹೋದ್ಯೋಗಿ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sahaudhyogi" meaning co-worker or a co-religionist who belongs to the same organization or religion. | |||
| Malayalam | സഹപ്രവർത്തകൻ | ||
| The word "സഹപ്രവർത്തകൻ" comes from the Sanskrit words "saha" (together) and "pravritti" (activity or work), hence it literally means "one who works together". | |||
| Marathi | सहकारी | ||
| Meaning literally as 'the doer together,' सहकारी (sahākārī) also signifies a 'partner in trade, a copartner, a fellow-merchant or trader' as per Molesworth's Marathi-English Dictionary. | |||
| Nepali | सहयोगी | ||
| "सहयोगी" is a Nepali word derived from the Sanskrit word "sahayogi", meaning "helper" or "assistant." | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਾਥੀ | ||
| The word 'sathee' in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'sathi' which means companion, associate or fellow. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සගයා | ||
| The word සගයා (colleague), originates from the Sanskrit word 'sangha', meaning 'a community' or a group of people working together. | |||
| Tamil | சக | ||
| In Sanskrit, 'sakha' means 'friend' or 'companion', which is the origin of the Tamil word 'சக'. | |||
| Telugu | సహోద్యోగి | ||
| సహోద్యోగి, which originally meant 'co-worker,' later started to mean 'co-worker in the same office', due to the changing employment landscape | |||
| Urdu | ساتھی | ||
| The word "ساتھی" not only means colleague but also companion, partner, associate, and friend. | |||
Colleague in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 同事 | ||
| 同事 in Chinese originally meant a fellow official, and can also mean `a fellow monk` in Buddhism. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 同事 | ||
| 同事 (Colleague) is a term that was originally used to describe fellow students or people who share the same goal. | |||
| Japanese | 同僚 | ||
| The word "同僚" (dōryō) in Japanese originally meant "a person who has the same rank or position", but now it commonly refers to a "colleague" more generally. | |||
| Korean | 동료 | ||
| "동료" is a Sino-Korean word that literally means "the same nest". It can also be used to refer to people who share a similar goal or interest. | |||
| Mongolian | хамтран ажиллагч | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လုပ်ဖော်ကိုင်ဖက် | ||
Colleague in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | rekan | ||
| "Rekan" can also mean "partner" in the context of marriage or business. | |||
| Javanese | rowange | ||
| The word "rowange" in Javanese can also mean "a group of people who work together" or "a group of people who have a common interest". | |||
| Khmer | មិត្តរួមការងារ | ||
| Lao | ເພື່ອນຮ່ວມງານ | ||
| A friend that also works at the same workplace. | |||
| Malay | rakan sekerja | ||
| The Malay word 'rakan sekerja' is derived from the Arabic word 'rakān', meaning 'companion' or 'friend'. | |||
| Thai | เพื่อนร่วมงาน | ||
| The Thai word "เพื่อนร่วมงาน" can also mean "co-worker" or "teammate". | |||
| Vietnamese | đồng nghiệp | ||
| The word "đồng nghiệp" comes from the Chinese word "同事", which also means "colleague" and literally means "same work". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kasamahan | ||
Colleague in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | həmkar | ||
| The word "həmkar" in Azerbaijani is derived from the Persian word "hamkār", which means "one who works with". | |||
| Kazakh | әріптес | ||
| The word "әріптес" in Kazakh originally meant "accomplice" but has since taken on the meaning of "colleague". | |||
| Kyrgyz | кесиптеш | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "кесиптеш" also means "specialist" or "professional" in certain contexts. | |||
| Tajik | ҳамкор | ||
| The word "ҳамкор" is derived from two Persian words, "ham" (together) and "kār" (work). | |||
| Turkmen | kärdeşi | ||
| Uzbek | hamkasb | ||
| The word "hamkasb" has various meanings, including "partner in trade or profession", "comrade", and "mate". | |||
| Uyghur | خىزمەتدىشى | ||
Colleague in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoa hana | ||
| The word “hoa hana” is a compound word in Hawaiian that originally meant “workmate” and is now often used as a generic term for “co-worker” or “colleague”. | |||
| Maori | hoa mahi | ||
| "Hoa mahi" can also refer to a friend, associate, classmate, or comrade. | |||
| Samoan | paʻaga | ||
| The word "paʻaga" (literally "to bind together") is often used to refer to fellow church members, as well as relatives and friends. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kasamahan | ||
| The word "kasamahan" also means "companionship" and "camaraderie." | |||
Colleague in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | masi | ||
| Guarani | javegua | ||
Colleague in International Languages
| Esperanto | kolego | ||
| The Esperanto word "kolego" is derived from the French "collègue" and can also refer to a member of a group or organization | |||
| Latin | collegam | ||
| The Latin word "collegam" has an alternate meaning of "co-worker". | |||
Colleague in Others Languages
| Greek | συνάδελφος | ||
| Συνάδελφος is etymologically related to the words "brother" and "sister" and can also refer to a fellow monk or nun. | |||
| Hmong | npoj yaig | ||
| "Npoj yaig" derives from the word for "group," "company of soldiers" and "companion." | |||
| Kurdish | karheval | ||
| The word "karheval" also means "person who shares one's bread" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | çalışma arkadaşı | ||
| In Ottoman Turkish, the word "çalışma arkadaşı" was also used to refer to a secretary or assistant. | |||
| Xhosa | ugxa wakho | ||
| The term "ugxa wakho" can also be used to refer to a friend or confidant. | |||
| Yiddish | קאָלעגע | ||
| The Yiddish word "קאָלעגע" can also mean "a person who is of the same age or social status". | |||
| Zulu | uzakwethu | ||
| Uzalo translates to 'the coming out of the sun' in Zulu. Wethu means 'our' in Zulu, hence uzakwethu means 'our coming out of the sun', referring to the beginning of a new and collaborative work day. | |||
| Assamese | সহকৰ্মী | ||
| Aymara | masi | ||
| Bhojpuri | संगे काम करे वाला | ||
| Dhivehi | ކޮލީގް | ||
| Dogri | सैहकर्मी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kasamahan | ||
| Guarani | javegua | ||
| Ilocano | katarabaho | ||
| Krio | kɔmpin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | هاوکار | ||
| Maithili | सहयोगी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯨꯞ | ||
| Mizo | thawhpui | ||
| Oromo | hiriyaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସହକର୍ମୀ | ||
| Quechua | masi | ||
| Sanskrit | सहकारिणी | ||
| Tatar | хезмәттәш | ||
| Tigrinya | መሳርሕቲ | ||
| Tsonga | mutirhi kulorhi | ||