Command in Different Languages
Discover 'Command' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'command' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting the power to control, lead, and take action. Its cultural importance is evident in various fields, from the military to technology, where giving and following commands are crucial for smooth functioning. 'Command' has also made its way into popular culture, with phrases like 'to come under command' or 'at your command' being used to express authority and submission respectively.
Understanding the translation of 'command' in different languages can be a fascinating exploration of linguistic and cultural diversity. For instance, in Spanish, 'command' translates to 'orden', while in German, it's 'Befehl'. In French, it's 'commande', and in Japanese, it's '命令' (meirei).
This understanding can be particularly useful for those working in international environments, where clear communication is key. It can also be a fun way to learn a new language or appreciate the nuances of your own. So, let's delve into the world of 'command' in different languages and discover the richness of global linguistics and culture.
Command
Command in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | bevel | ||
| The Afrikaans word "bevel" originates from the Dutch word "bevelen", which means "to order" or "to command." | |||
| Amharic | ትእዛዝ | ||
| The Amharic word "ትእዛዝ" not only means "command", but also "order", "decree", "law", "instruction", and "precept." | |||
| Hausa | umarni | ||
| "Umurni" also means "to order" or "to instruct". | |||
| Igbo | iwu | ||
| Iwu can also be a short form of 'Iwu Anya' which directly translates to the 'pupil of the eye'. | |||
| Malagasy | didy | ||
| The word "didy" can also mean "to direct" or "to order". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | lamulo | ||
| "Lamulo" may also be defined as "a call to arms" or "an appeal for assistance". | |||
| Shona | raira | ||
| The word 'raira' is derived from the Proto-Bantu verb *-lali, which also means 'speak'. | |||
| Somali | amar | ||
| In the context of traditional governance, "amar" can also refer to the office or position of a chief or leader. | |||
| Sesotho | taelo | ||
| The word "taelo" can also mean "to speak" or "to talk". | |||
| Swahili | amri | ||
| The word "amri" can also refer to a royal decree or an order given by a superior. | |||
| Xhosa | umyalelo | ||
| The Xhosa word "umyalelo" has roots in the Nguni language family, stemming from the word "yalela" meaning "to tell, inform, or instruct." | |||
| Yoruba | pipaṣẹ | ||
| The word 'pipaṣẹ' derives from the verbs 'pa' (to do) and 'ṣẹ' (to perform), reflecting the authoritative nature of a command. | |||
| Zulu | umyalo | ||
| Um-yalo can also refer to a chief's official spokesperson or to his messenger. | |||
| Bambara | ka kɔmande | ||
| Ewe | gbeɖeɖe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | itegeko | ||
| Lingala | mobeko | ||
| Luganda | okulagira | ||
| Sepedi | laela | ||
| Twi (Akan) | hyɛ | ||
Command in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | أمر | ||
| The Arabic word "أمر" ("command") also means "affair" or "thing", emphasizing the idea of something that needs to be addressed or dealt with. | |||
| Hebrew | פקודה | ||
| The word "פקודה" can also refer to a "census", derived from the root word "פקד", meaning "to count" or "to visit". | |||
| Pashto | امر | ||
| The word "امر" (command) in Pashto can also mean "order", "decree", or "edict". | |||
| Arabic | أمر | ||
| The Arabic word "أمر" ("command") also means "affair" or "thing", emphasizing the idea of something that needs to be addressed or dealt with. | |||
Command in Western European Languages
| Albanian | komandës | ||
| The Albanian word “komandë” is cognate with the Romance term “command” and the Greek word “κύκλος/kíklos” (“circle”). | |||
| Basque | agindu | ||
| "Agintzen" in Goierri also refers to a small wooden spoon or a thin wooden board used to spread cream, jam, butter or similar foods. | |||
| Catalan | comandament | ||
| The Catalan word "comandament" derives from the Latin "comandamentum", meaning both "command" and "advice." | |||
| Croatian | naredba | ||
| The word "naredba" comes from the Slavic root "red", meaning "order" or "row". The Croatian word "nared" can be used to mean "a row of people" or "an order (of events)", while "naredba" specifically refers to a command or instruction. | |||
| Danish | kommando | ||
| In Danish, "kommando" can also refer to a military unit or an elite police force. | |||
| Dutch | opdracht | ||
| The Dutch word "opdracht" can also refer to an assignment or task. | |||
| English | command | ||
| The word "command" ultimately derives from the Latin "commendare," meaning "to entrust" or "to put into someone's care." | |||
| French | commander | ||
| The French word "commander" originally meant "to order" or "to entrust," but it also came to mean "to command" in a military context. | |||
| Frisian | befel | ||
| In Frisian, `befel` originally meant to order or command but now means to experience or suffer. | |||
| Galician | mando | ||
| Mando in Galician can refer to a group of musicians playing traditional Galician music | |||
| German | befehl | ||
| In Middle High German, "Befehl" also denoted a recommendation, advice, or request. | |||
| Icelandic | skipun | ||
| In addition to meaning "command," the word "skipun" also refers to a musical term meaning "tune," and a nautical term for "sheave." | |||
| Irish | ordú | ||
| The Irish word 'ordú' comes from the Old Irish 'ord', meaning 'order' or 'arrangement'. | |||
| Italian | comando | ||
| The word "comando" in Italian shares the same etymology as the English word "command", both coming from the Latin word "commandare" meaning "to entrust"} | |||
| Luxembourgish | kommando | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Kommando" can also refer to a group of people or a military unit, with "Kommandant" being the leader. | |||
| Maltese | kmand | ||
| The word "kmand" comes from the Arabic word "amr", which means "order" or "decree". | |||
| Norwegian | kommando | ||
| Used in Norwegian as a term for the army's ranger corps, kommandosoldater, not to be confused with the Afrikaan word kommando, a paramilitary unit used e.g. against ANC activists during apartheid. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | comando | ||
| "Comando" can also refer to a special forces unit, likely due to its use during the Portuguese Colonial War. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | àithne | ||
| The Gaelic word "àithne" also means "knowledge" or "acquaintance". | |||
| Spanish | mando | ||
| In Tagalog, "mando" also means "to drive". | |||
| Swedish | kommando | ||
| The word "kommando" can also mean "special forces" or "commando squad". | |||
| Welsh | gorchymyn | ||
| The word 'gorchymyn' is derived from the verb 'gorchymyn' which means 'to order', 'to command', or 'to direct'. | |||
Command in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | каманда | ||
| In the military context, "каманда" can also refer to a detachment of troops carrying out a specific task. | |||
| Bosnian | naredba | ||
| The word "naredba" can also refer to a regulation or decree issued by a government or other authority. | |||
| Bulgarian | команда | ||
| The word "команда" has the dual meaning of "team" and "command" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | příkaz | ||
| The word "příkaz" in Czech can also mean "order", "decree", or "instruction". | |||
| Estonian | käsk | ||
| Originally meaning 'order' or 'decision', it is cognate with Finnish 'käsky' and 'käskin' and Votic 'kõsk' (plural 'kõsõq'). | |||
| Finnish | komento | ||
| The word "komento" is derived from the French word "commandement" and also means "order" or "decree" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | parancs | ||
| Magyarul a parancs szót eredetileg a parancsoló hadsereg vezénylő tisztjére értették, akinek szavára a többieknek parancsolni kellett. Tehát nem a parancs szót adta ki, hanem ő maga volt a parancs. | |||
| Latvian | komandu | ||
| The word "komandu" also means "team" in Latvian, reflecting its military origins. | |||
| Lithuanian | komandą | ||
| Lithuanian word "komanda" (command) is a false friend with Russian "команда" (team), both derived from French "commandement" | |||
| Macedonian | команда | ||
| In Russian, the word "команда" can also mean "team" and "collective". | |||
| Polish | komenda | ||
| "Komenda" also means "police station" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | comanda | ||
| The Romanian word "comanda" is derived from the Turkish word "komut", which also means "command". | |||
| Russian | команда | ||
| The word "команда" can also refer to a sport team, group of people working together, or a set of instructions in a computer program. | |||
| Serbian | команда | ||
| In Serbian, "команда" can also mean "team" or "group". | |||
| Slovak | príkaz | ||
| The word "príkaz" also denotes an official written document or order. | |||
| Slovenian | ukaz | ||
| "Ukaz" is related or cognate to words such as "order" in English or Russian; in Slovene its plural is irregular: ukazi (as opposed to standard -i plural). | |||
| Ukrainian | команди | ||
| "Команда" is derived from the French word "commande", meaning "order" or "instruction." | |||
Command in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আদেশ | ||
| "আদেশ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "ādeśa" (instruction, message), which can also refer to a ritual or religious precept. | |||
| Gujarati | આદેશ | ||
| "આદેશ" (command) in Gujarati comes from the Sanskrit word "ādeśa" which also means "an order, instruction, or advice". | |||
| Hindi | आदेश | ||
| The word "आदेश" can also mean "order", "decree", or "instruction" in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ಆಜ್ಞೆ | ||
| "ಆಜ್ಞೆ" derives from the Sanskrit "ajna" meaning "order, precept, mandate" and is sometimes used to refer to religious scripture. | |||
| Malayalam | കമാൻഡ് | ||
| The word 'കമാൻഡ്' ('command') in Malayalam can also refer to a type of musical composition. | |||
| Marathi | आज्ञा | ||
| The word "आज्ञा" in Marathi comes from the Sanskrit word "आज्ञा", meaning "order" or "command." | |||
| Nepali | आदेश | ||
| The word "aadesha" is derived from the Sanskrit root "aaj", which means "to urge or impel." | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਮਾਂਡ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਕਮਾਂਡ" can also refer to a piece of land granted to a Sikh by the government in the 18th century and is cognate with the English word "command". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විධානය | ||
| Tamil | கட்டளை | ||
| In Tamil, the term "கட்டளை" also refers to a "law" or "rule", implying the authoritative nature of a command. | |||
| Telugu | ఆదేశం | ||
| The word "ఆదేశం" can also mean "order" or "decree" in Sanskrit. | |||
| Urdu | کمانڈ | ||
| The term "کمانڈ" is also used in Urdu to refer to a "bow and arrow". | |||
Command in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 命令 | ||
| 命令, from the Chinese characters 令 (to order) and 命 (fate), can also mean "fate" or "providence." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 命令 | ||
| "命令"在中文中的本意是"命令"，但在日文中也带有"订购"的含义。 | |||
| Japanese | コマンド | ||
| The word "コマンド" (komando) in Japanese can also refer to a special military unit or a remote control device. | |||
| Korean | 명령 | ||
| The word 명령 (command) can also refer to a request or an order. | |||
| Mongolian | тушаал | ||
| The Mongolian word "тушаал" (command) originates from the verb "туших" (to order, to command), and it also has the meaning of "position", "rank", or "title". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | command ကို | ||
| The word "command ကို" can also refer to a military unit, a group of people, or a task to be completed. | |||
Command in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | perintah | ||
| The Indonesian word "perintah" is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "*paRintah", which means "message" or "order". It is cognate with the Malay word "perintah", the Tagalog word "utos", and the Hawaiian word "kauoha". | |||
| Javanese | prentah | ||
| The Javanese word "prentah" not only means "command", but can also mean "request" or "permission" depending on the context. | |||
| Khmer | ពាក្យបញ្ជា | ||
| This word is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vakyaprajna', which means 'a precept' or 'a rule'. | |||
| Lao | ຄຳ ສັ່ງ | ||
| The Lao word for "command" can also mean "order" or "decree". | |||
| Malay | perintah | ||
| The word "perintah" derives from the Sanskrit word "pravrti" meaning "motion, action, or course of action". | |||
| Thai | คำสั่ง | ||
| "คำสั่ง" also refers to a court injunction in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | chỉ huy | ||
| The word "chỉ huy" can also mean "to lead" or "to direct". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | utos | ||
Command in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | əmr | ||
| The word "əmr" also means "order" in a military context and "decree" in an official context. | |||
| Kazakh | команда | ||
| In Kazakh, "команда" can also refer to a "team" or "group of people". | |||
| Kyrgyz | буйрук | ||
| "Буйрук" has a root word "буй" meaning "to give shape or form". | |||
| Tajik | фармон | ||
| The word "фармон" can also refer to a decree or an edict. | |||
| Turkmen | buýruk | ||
| Uzbek | buyruq | ||
| The word "buyruq" derives from the Mongolian word "bugur" meaning "to order". | |||
| Uyghur | بۇيرۇق | ||
Command in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kauoha | ||
| The Hawaiian word 'kauoha' can also refer to love or affection, emphasizing the intimate connection between authority and care in Hawaiian culture. | |||
| Maori | whakahau | ||
| In some contexts, "whakahau" can also mean "bless" or "sanctify". | |||
| Samoan | faʻatonuga | ||
| The word "faʻatonuga" also refers to "a decree, an edict, an ordinance, or a law." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | utos | ||
| Utos is also the Tagalog equivalent of the English word "order" in the sense of a divine command or a decree. | |||
Command in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | supaya | ||
| Guarani | japouka | ||
Command in International Languages
| Esperanto | ordoni | ||
| The word "ordono" in Esperanto is derived from Latin "ordino", meaning "put in order", and has a similar meaning in other languages. | |||
| Latin | mandatum | ||
| "Mandatum" is the origin of "mandate" as well as the name of the Catholic service of foot washing on Maundy Thursday. | |||
Command in Others Languages
| Greek | εντολή | ||
| In addition to "command," εντολή can also mean "order," "decree," or "injunction." | |||
| Hmong | txib | ||
| The Hmong word "txib" can also mean "to speak", "to tell", or "to order" | |||
| Kurdish | ferman | ||
| In Kurdish folklore, 'ferman' also denotes a mythical decree from a fairy queen. | |||
| Turkish | komut | ||
| Komut originated from the Persian "kamun" meaning "wish". In addition to its primary meaning, "komut" can also refer to "instruction" or "order" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | umyalelo | ||
| The Xhosa word "umyalelo" has roots in the Nguni language family, stemming from the word "yalela" meaning "to tell, inform, or instruct." | |||
| Yiddish | באַפֿעלן | ||
| באפעלן also means "to be amazed or shocked" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | umyalo | ||
| Um-yalo can also refer to a chief's official spokesperson or to his messenger. | |||
| Assamese | আদেশ | ||
| Aymara | supaya | ||
| Bhojpuri | आदेश | ||
| Dhivehi | އިރުޝާދު | ||
| Dogri | कमांड | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | utos | ||
| Guarani | japouka | ||
| Ilocano | bilin | ||
| Krio | tɛl | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | فەرمان | ||
| Maithili | आदेश | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯥꯊꯪ ꯄꯤꯕ | ||
| Mizo | thupek | ||
| Oromo | ajaja | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ | ||
| Quechua | kamachina | ||
| Sanskrit | आदेश | ||
| Tatar | боерык | ||
| Tigrinya | ትእዛዝ | ||
| Tsonga | lerisa | ||