Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'compose' holds a significant place in our linguistic and cultural landscape. Derived from the Latin 'componere' (to put together), it signifies the act of creating or forming something by combining various elements. This could be a piece of music, a written piece, or even a complex idea.
Compose has been a vital tool in human expression and communication, allowing us to convey thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a structured and meaningful way. From Beethoven's symphonies to Shakespeare's sonnets, the power of composition has shaped our cultural heritage.
Understanding the translation of 'compose' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic abilities but also offers a window into diverse cultural perspectives. For instance, in Spanish, 'componer' means to compose or to adjust, reflecting the language's rich vocabulary and cultural nuances.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'compose' in various languages, from French and German to Mandarin and Japanese. This journey will enrich your understanding of this versatile word and deepen your appreciation for the richness of global languages and cultures.
Afrikaans | komponeer | ||
Afrikaans "komponeer" also means "to assemble" or "to put together". | |||
Amharic | መጻፍ | ||
In Amharic, "compose" has the alternate meaning of "to make a bed". | |||
Hausa | shirya | ||
"Shirya" also means "prepare" or "assemble" in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | ikpegara | ||
The verb "ikpegara" can also be used to mean "to construct" or "to build." | |||
Malagasy | mamboatra | ||
The word "Mamboatra" in Malagasy also means "to write", "to design", or "to create". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | lembani | ||
Lembani is related to 'lemba', which means weave or write. | |||
Shona | kunyora | ||
In addition to meaning "compose," "kunyora" can also mean "write" or "draw." | |||
Somali | curiso | ||
The Somali word "curiso" can also mean "to arrange" or "to organize". | |||
Sesotho | ngola | ||
"Ngola" may be related to the Sesotho word "ngo" meaning "to join together". | |||
Swahili | tunga | ||
The word "tunga" in Swahili can also mean "to mix" or "to combine". | |||
Xhosa | qamba | ||
In addition to "compose," "qamba" also means "to lie" or "to steal". | |||
Yoruba | ṣajọ | ||
Ṣajọ, meaning "compose" in Yoruba, originates from the verb "ṣa," which means "to create" or "to make," and the noun "ọ̀rọ̀," which means "speech" or "language." | |||
Zulu | qamba | ||
The Zulu word "qamba" originally meant "to plait" or "to weave", suggesting a connection between composing and the intricate patterns of speech. | |||
Bambara | ka daɲɛw labɛn | ||
Ewe | hakpakpa | ||
Kinyarwanda | guhimba | ||
Lingala | kosala composer | ||
Luganda | okuyiiya | ||
Sepedi | hlama | ||
Twi (Akan) | hyehyɛ nnwom | ||
Arabic | مؤلف موسيقى | ||
"Compose" derives from the Latin"componere," meaning "to put together." | |||
Hebrew | לְהַלחִין | ||
"לחן" is derived from a root meaning "charm", "grace", or "song", hinting at the power of composition to elevate and inspire. | |||
Pashto | کمپوز | ||
The word "کمپوز" (compose) is also used to mean "arrangement" or "combination" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | مؤلف موسيقى | ||
"Compose" derives from the Latin"componere," meaning "to put together." |
Albanian | kompozoj | ||
In Albanian, "kompozoj" also means "to create a work of art" or "to make up a story". | |||
Basque | konposatu | ||
"Konposatu" comes from the Latin verb componere, meaning "to put together" or "to arrange", and in Basque it is also used in expressions of good behavior. | |||
Catalan | compondre | ||
The Catalan word "compondre" also means "combine" or "form". | |||
Croatian | sastaviti | ||
The root of 'sastaviti' is the verb 'staviti' ('to put'), which reflects its original meaning of 'to put together' or 'to assemble'. | |||
Danish | komponere | ||
Komponere can also mean compile, plan or constitute something in Danish. | |||
Dutch | componeren | ||
The word "componeren" in Dutch can also mean "to make up" or "to fabricate". | |||
English | compose | ||
"Compose" comes from the Latin word "componere," meaning "to put together" or "to arrange." | |||
French | composer | ||
The French word "compositeur" (composer) derives from the Latin word "componere" (to put together, assemble). | |||
Frisian | komponearje | ||
It is a loanword which originally meant `to collect`. | |||
Galician | compoñer | ||
Galician word "compoñer" derives from Latin "componere" which means "to put together" and "to reconcile". | |||
German | komponieren | ||
"Komponieren" (compose) derives from the Latin "componere" (to put together) and originally meant "to assemble" or "to create". | |||
Icelandic | yrkja | ||
The word "yrkja" in Icelandic is cognate with the Old Norse word "yrkja, | |||
Irish | chum | ||
"Chum" in Irish is a homophone for both "compose" and "partner". | |||
Italian | comporre | ||
"Comporre" also means "to settle" or "to compromise" in Italian. | |||
Luxembourgish | komponéieren | ||
The verb "komponéieren" can also mean "to write a piece of music" or "to organize something in a certain way". | |||
Maltese | ikkomponi | ||
The word "ikkomponi" is also used figuratively in Maltese to signify "to arrange". | |||
Norwegian | komponere | ||
"Komponere" also means "to construct" or "to arrange" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | compor | ||
The word "compor" in Portuguese comes from the Latin verb "componere," meaning "to put together" or "to arrange." | |||
Scots Gaelic | compose | ||
In Scots Gaelic, "compose" has the connotation of "write" or "arrange". | |||
Spanish | componer | ||
In Spanish, "componer" can also mean to reconcile, settle a dispute, or correct. | |||
Swedish | komponera | ||
The word "komponera" is derived from the Latin "componere," meaning "to put together" or "to arrange," and is also related to the French "composer" and the Italian "comporre." | |||
Welsh | cyfansoddi | ||
The word "cyfansoddi" derives from "cyfnos" (to join together) and "soddi" (a layer or foundation). |
Belarusian | складаць | ||
The word "складаць" can also mean "to fold" or "to arrange" in Belarusian. | |||
Bosnian | sastaviti | ||
The verb 'sastaviti' in Bosnian can also mean 'to compile' or 'to put together'. | |||
Bulgarian | съставям | ||
The Bulgarian word "съставям" can also mean "compile," "make up," or "form." | |||
Czech | komponovat | ||
In music and art contexts the Czech term "komponovat" also refers to the creation or combination of various elements into a coherent whole. | |||
Estonian | koostama | ||
"Koostama" can also refer to preparing, organizing, or assembling something. | |||
Finnish | säveltää | ||
"Säveltää" in Finnish also means "to compose" in music, with the related noun "sävellys" meaning "musical composition". | |||
Hungarian | összeállít | ||
"Összeállít" derives from "összead" ("to add") and "állít" ("to set"), referring to the process of combining and arranging elements into a cohesive whole. | |||
Latvian | sacerēt | ||
The word "sacerēt" is derived from Latin "sacrāre" meaning "to dedicate to a sacred purpose"} | |||
Lithuanian | kurti | ||
The word "kurti" also means "to mold" or "to shape" in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | компонира | ||
In Macedonian, "компонира" also means "to compose" or "to build". | |||
Polish | komponować | ||
The word "komponować" in Polish derives from the Latin word "componere", meaning "to put together", and also has the alternate meaning of "to arrange". | |||
Romanian | compune | ||
In Romanian "compune" can also mean to create or to write music. | |||
Russian | сочинять | ||
The word "сочинять" can also mean "to invent" or "to make up". | |||
Serbian | саставити | ||
In Russian, the verb "составить" can mean "to compile" or "to make up". In Serbian, its cognate "саставити" retains those meanings but also adds the meaning "to compose". | |||
Slovak | komponovať | ||
The word "komponovať" in Slovak can also mean "to devise" or "to design". | |||
Slovenian | sestavi | ||
The word "sestavi" comes from the Slavic word "sestaviti", which means "to put together". | |||
Ukrainian | складати | ||
In music, "складати" also means "to play". In Ukrainian, the word "складати" is a cognate of the Russian "складывать" (to add up, to fold), while in Polish, "składać" means "to fold" as well as "to put together, assemble". |
Bengali | রচনা করা | ||
The word "রচনা করা" in Bengali can also mean "to write music" or "to create a literary work". | |||
Gujarati | કંપોઝ | ||
The Gujarati word "કંપોઝ" can also mean "to make up or invent" or "to arrange or put together". | |||
Hindi | लिखें | ||
The Hindi word 'लिखें' can also mean 'write' or 'draw', and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'लेख' meaning 'mark' or 'character'. | |||
Kannada | ರಚಿಸಿ | ||
The word "rachisi" is also used to refer to 'creation', 'formation', 'establishment', or 'arrangement'. | |||
Malayalam | രചിക്കുക | ||
The Malayalam word "രചിക്കുക" ("compose") can also mean to write or create literature. | |||
Marathi | लिहा | ||
The word "लिहा" in Marathi also means "to write" or "to draw". | |||
Nepali | रचना | ||
The word "रचना" can also refer to a literary work or a musical composition. | |||
Punjabi | ਲਿਖੋ | ||
The term "ਲਿਖੋ" in Punjabi, meaning "to write," also signifies "to draw" and "to create," showcasing its broader artistic implications. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | රචනා කරන්න | ||
රචනා කරන්න literally translates to "to arrange" in Sinhala, highlighting the fundamental creative act of organizing and structuring ideas. | |||
Tamil | எழுது | ||
எழுது also means 'to write' or 'to draw'. | |||
Telugu | కంపోజ్ చేయండి | ||
The word "compose" can also mean to create poetry or music, or to arrange something in a pleasing way. | |||
Urdu | تحریر کریں | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 撰写 | ||
"撰" originally means "choose", and writing can be composed by selecting and organizing words. Therefore, "撰写" means to write. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 撰寫 | ||
"撰寫" consists of "撰" (select) and "寫" (write), meaning to carefully select words to write. | |||
Japanese | 作曲 | ||
曲 is a component of many Japanese words relating to music including the word for 'score' and the word for 'melody'. | |||
Korean | 짓다 | ||
'짓다' also means to build, erect, make, do, or commit. | |||
Mongolian | зохиох | ||
The Mongolian word "зохиох" (compose) shares its root with "зохион бүтээх" (to create), suggesting a shared concept of structure and organization. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တေးရေး | ||
တေးရေး is sometimes used in Myanmar to refer to the person who sings or performs music instead of the person who writes the music. |
Indonesian | menyusun | ||
The word "menyusun" also means "to compile" and "to arrange" in Indonesian. | |||
Javanese | ngarang | ||
The word "ngarang" can also mean "to arrange" or "to put in order" in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | តែង | ||
"តែង" has different meanings depending on how it is used, including "edit" or "adjust" as in a law. | |||
Lao | ປະກອບ | ||
The word 'ປະກອບ' ('compose') in Lao can also refer to 'mix', 'assemble', or 'consist of'. | |||
Malay | mengarang | ||
'Mengarang' can also refer to weaving a story, creating a dance, making medicine by combining herbs or other ingredients, arranging flowers into a bouquet. | |||
Thai | เขียน | ||
The word | |||
Vietnamese | soạn, biên soạn | ||
In Vietnamese, "soạn" means "arrange" and "biên soạn" means "compile" or "edit". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sumulat | ||
Azerbaijani | bəstələmək | ||
The word "bəstələmək" can also mean "to assemble" or "to put together" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | құрастыру | ||
The Kazakh word "құрастыру" (compose) also means "to assemble" or "to construct". | |||
Kyrgyz | түзүү | ||
Kyrgyz "түзүү" comes from the same root as "to make level" and "to order" and can also mean "to assemble". | |||
Tajik | таълиф кардан | ||
The Tajik word "таълиф кардан" can also mean "compiling" or "composing" in the literary sense. | |||
Turkmen | düzmek | ||
Uzbek | tuzmoq | ||
The word "tuzmoq" (compose) also means "to create" or "to invent" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | compose | ||
Hawaiian | haku mele | ||
The word "haku mele" can also mean "create a chant" or "write a song" in Hawaiian. | |||
Maori | tito | ||
In Maori culture, "tito" can also refer to the act of preparing food or setting a table for a special occasion. | |||
Samoan | tusi | ||
The word 'tusi' has an alternate meaning 'to write', as in the Samoan translation of the Bible. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | bumuo | ||
In Tagalog, "bumuo" also means to create, establish, make or assemble. |
Aymara | composiña | ||
Guarani | ocompone | ||
Esperanto | komponi | ||
The root "kompon" comes from Latin "componere", meaning "to put together or arrange" | |||
Latin | componas | ||
{"text": "Compōnō ultimately derives from com- ("together") and pōnō ("to put"), hence it originally meant "to put together," and only later developed its current meaning."} |
Greek | συνθέτω | ||
The verb "συντίθημι" in Greek can also mean "to combine" or "to arrange" | |||
Hmong | sau | ||
The word "sau" can also mean "to put together" or "to join". | |||
Kurdish | pêkhatin | ||
The word "pêkhatin" is also used to refer to the act of compilation or synthesis, as well as to the creation of a literary or artistic work. | |||
Turkish | oluşturmak | ||
The word "oluşturmak" can also mean "to create" or "to produce". | |||
Xhosa | qamba | ||
In addition to "compose," "qamba" also means "to lie" or "to steal". | |||
Yiddish | צונויפשטעלן | ||
The word "צונויפשטעלן" also refers to creating something new, similar to the English phrase "putting together". | |||
Zulu | qamba | ||
The Zulu word "qamba" originally meant "to plait" or "to weave", suggesting a connection between composing and the intricate patterns of speech. | |||
Assamese | ৰচনা কৰা | ||
Aymara | composiña | ||
Bhojpuri | रचना करे के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ކޮމްޕޯސް ކުރުން | ||
Dogri | रचना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sumulat | ||
Guarani | ocompone | ||
Ilocano | agkomposo | ||
Krio | kɔmpoz | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاوازدانان | ||
Maithili | रचना करब | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯝꯄꯣꯖ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | hla phuah rawh | ||
Oromo | qindeessuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ରଚନା | ||
Quechua | qillqay | ||
Sanskrit | रचयति | ||
Tatar | композиция | ||
Tigrinya | ምድራፍ | ||
Tsonga | ku qambha | ||