Composition in Different Languages
Discover 'Composition' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Composition, a simple word yet holds great significance in various fields. It is the act of combining elements to create a cohesive whole, which is vital in art, music, and writing. The cultural importance of composition is evident in how it has shaped human civilizations' artistic and intellectual landscapes.
Throughout history, compositions have been used to express complex ideas, emotions, and stories. From Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' to Ludwig van Beethoven's 'Symphony No. 9,' compositions have left an indelible mark on humanity's cultural heritage.
Understanding the translation of composition in different languages can open up new perspectives and insights into how other cultures view and approach the concept. For instance, in Spanish, composition translates to 'composición,' while in French, it is 'composition.' In Mandarin, it is '组成' (Zǔxìng), and in Japanese, it is '作品' (sakuhin).
Exploring the nuances of composition in various languages can enrich one's understanding of this fundamental concept and its cultural significance. So, let's delve into the world of composition and discover its beauty in different languages!
Composition
Composition in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | samestelling | ||
| The verb 'samen te stellen' (meaning 'to compose') is derived from the word 'stellen' (meaning 'to put' or 'to place'). | |||
| Amharic | ጥንቅር | ||
| The word "ጥንቅር" ("composition") also means "a plot of land" or "a field" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | abun da ke ciki | ||
| In Hausa, the word "abun da ke ciki" not only means "composition" but also "ingredients" when referring to food. | |||
| Igbo | mejupụtara | ||
| The word "mejupụtara" can also mean "to form" or "to constitute" in Igbo. | |||
| Malagasy | fifehezan | ||
| The word "fifehezan" in Malagasy can also refer to a song or a poem. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kapangidwe | ||
| The etymology of the Nyanja word 'kapangidwe' relates to 'the act of creating' or 'putting together'. | |||
| Shona | kuumbwa | ||
| "Kuumbwa" has two meanings in Shona. Firstly, it means the action of putting together or writing, and secondly, an assembly or an object put together. | |||
| Somali | halabuur | ||
| Halabuur also means 'to compose' in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | sebopeho | ||
| 'Sebopeho' may also mean 'a book' or 'a piece of writing' in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | muundo | ||
| "Muundo" in Swahili also references an object's structure | |||
| Xhosa | ukwakhiwa | ||
| Ukwakhiwa can also refer to a musical arrangement. | |||
| Yoruba | tiwqn | ||
| The word "tiwqn" can also mean "a piece of writing" or "a speech". | |||
| Zulu | ukwakheka | ||
| "Ukukheka" can also mean "to write (of a writer)" or "to type" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | kɛ fɛnw | ||
| Ewe | nuƒoƒu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ibihimbano | ||
| Lingala | biloko ezali na kati | ||
| Luganda | okuyiiya | ||
| Sepedi | tlhamo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | susutwerɛ | ||
Composition in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تكوين | ||
| تكوين (tarkīb) also means "to make up" and "to form" in Arabic. | |||
| Hebrew | הרכב | ||
| In Hebrew, the word "הרכב" has the additional meanings of "vehicle" and "musical ensemble". | |||
| Pashto | جوړښت | ||
| The Pashto word "جوړښت" can also mean "structure" or "framework". | |||
| Arabic | تكوين | ||
| تكوين (tarkīb) also means "to make up" and "to form" in Arabic. | |||
Composition in Western European Languages
| Albanian | përbërja | ||
| Basque | konposizioa | ||
| The word 'konposizioa' is a compound word in Basque language, composed of two words: 'kon' (with) and 'posizioa' (position). | |||
| Catalan | composició | ||
| The Catalan word "composició" derives from the Latin "compōsĭtio", meaning "a putting together" or "an arrangement". | |||
| Croatian | sastav | ||
| Sastav can also mean 'ingredient' or 'component' in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | sammensætning | ||
| The Danish word "sammensætning" can also mean "synthesis" or "makeup (cosmetics)"} | |||
| Dutch | samenstelling | ||
| In Dutch, "samenstelling" also refers to a mixture of substances and a musical or literary work. | |||
| English | composition | ||
| The word "composition" stems from the Latin verb "componere," meaning "put together" or "compose." | |||
| French | composition | ||
| The French word 'composition' originally referred to the arrangement or grouping of parts to create a whole. | |||
| Frisian | komposysje | ||
| In Frisian, "komposysje" also refers to the process of composing something, as opposed to the finished product. | |||
| Galician | composición | ||
| "Composición" tamén significa acordo ou concerto e ven do latín "compositio" que significa "acción e efecto de componer". | |||
| German | komposition | ||
| Komposition also means "fertilizer" in German. | |||
| Icelandic | samsetning | ||
| Icelandic "samsetning" can also mean "setting" or "arrangement" of objects or texts. | |||
| Irish | comhdhéanamh | ||
| Italian | composizione | ||
| In Italian, "composizione" can also refer to a legal agreement or settlement. | |||
| Luxembourgish | zesummesetzung | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Zesummesetzung" can also refer to the summary of an event or document. | |||
| Maltese | kompożizzjoni | ||
| Norwegian | sammensetning | ||
| The Norwegian word "sammensetning" can also refer to a chemical compound or a grammatical construction consisting of several words. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | composição | ||
| In Brazil, "composição" can refer to a type of lottery ticket, while in Portugal it means a musical group. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sgrìobhadh | ||
| The word 'sgrìobhadh' derives from the Old Irish 'scríbad', meaning 'writing' or 'a written document'. | |||
| Spanish | composición | ||
| In Spanish, as in English, "composición" can also refer to a settlement of differences, as in a lawsuit. | |||
| Swedish | sammansättning | ||
| The word sammansättning also means "addition" or "combination" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | cyfansoddiad | ||
| The Welsh word "cyfansoddiad" is derived from the Latin "compositio," meaning both "composition" and "agreement". | |||
Composition in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | склад | ||
| The word “склад” in Belarusian also means "warehouse". | |||
| Bosnian | sastav | ||
| "Sastav" can also refer to a group of people, such as a band or a team. | |||
| Bulgarian | състав | ||
| In Bulgarian, "състав" also means "ingredients" or "staff". | |||
| Czech | složení | ||
| The Czech word "složení" can also mean "ingredients" or "makeup". | |||
| Estonian | kompositsioon | ||
| The word “kompositsioon” also means a combination of parts and a musical piece in Estonian | |||
| Finnish | sävellys | ||
| The word "sävellys" comes from the verb "säveltää" meaning "to compose" and has alternate meanings of "melody" and "tune". | |||
| Hungarian | fogalmazás | ||
| The word "fogalmazás" can also refer to "formulation" or "drafting" of a document in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | sastāvs | ||
| The Latvian term "sastāvs" can also refer to the formation of a government or other organization. | |||
| Lithuanian | kompozicija | ||
| Lithuanian word "kompozicija" also refers to written works or musical pieces. | |||
| Macedonian | состав | ||
| The word "состав" also means "train" or "consist" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | kompozycja | ||
| The word "kompozycja" can also refer to a compromise or agreement, deriving from the Latin "compositio" meaning "putting together". | |||
| Romanian | compoziţie | ||
| In Romanian, "compoziţie" derives from Latin "componĕre" ("to put togheter") and may also refer to a school essay. | |||
| Russian | сочинение | ||
| The Russian word "сочинение" also means "literary work/piece" and derives from the verb "сочинять," meaning "to write," and the noun "сочин," meaning "piece of writing." | |||
| Serbian | састав | ||
| In Polish, "skład" can also refer to a musical ensemble | |||
| Slovak | zloženie | ||
| In Slovak, "zloženie" can also mean "ingredient" or "construction". | |||
| Slovenian | sestava | ||
| The word "sestava" can also indicate a group of people that work to achieve the goals of their work organisation. | |||
| Ukrainian | склад | ||
| The word "склад" can also refer to a warehouse or storage facility in Ukrainian. | |||
Composition in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | রচনা | ||
| The word "রচনা" can also refer to "writing", "literature", or "a body of work" in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | રચના | ||
| The Gujarati word 'રચના' (composition) comes from the Sanskrit word 'रचना' (creation, work). | |||
| Hindi | रचना | ||
| The word "रचना" also means "to create" or "to make", derived from the Sanskrit root "रच्" (rac), meaning "to arrange" or "to put together. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಂಯೋಜನೆ | ||
| Malayalam | ഘടന | ||
| The word "ഘടന" can also refer to constitution in Malayalam | |||
| Marathi | रचना | ||
| The Marathi word "रचना" (composition) also means "creation", "product", or "work of art". | |||
| Nepali | रचना | ||
| "रचना" in Nepali can also refer to a piece of creative writing, specifically a literary work like a poem, story, or play. | |||
| Punjabi | ਰਚਨਾ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਰਚਨਾ" can be traced back to the Sanskrit word "रचना" (rachanā), which means "building," "making," or "composing." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සංයුතිය | ||
| Tamil | கலவை | ||
| கலவை (composition) also means "admixture" or "a collection of different ingredients" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | కూర్పు | ||
| The word "కూర్పు" can also mean "arrangement" or "organization" in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | مرکب | ||
| The word "مرکب" also means "ink" or "a mixture" in Urdu. | |||
Composition in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 组成 | ||
| In traditional Chinese medicine, it can also refer to herbal formulas. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 組成 | ||
| 組成 is not only used to refer to the composition of substances or materials, but can also refer to the composition of a group of people or things, or to the structure or layout of something. | |||
| Japanese | 組成 | ||
| 組成 is also used to describe the composition of chemicals, substances, or materials. | |||
| Korean | 구성 | ||
| The word "구성" ("composition") in Korean can also refer to "configuration", "constitution", or "constituents". | |||
| Mongolian | найрлага | ||
| The word "найрлага" is derived from the verb "найрагнах", meaning "to combine" or "to put together". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဖွဲ့စည်းမှု | ||
Composition in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | komposisi | ||
| In Indonesian, 'komposisi' holds additional meanings including arrangement, mixture, and formula. | |||
| Javanese | komposisi | ||
| In Javanese, "komposisi" also refers to a mixture of gamelan instruments played together. | |||
| Khmer | ការតែងនិពន្ធ | ||
| Lao | ສ່ວນປະກອບ | ||
| Malay | komposisi | ||
| The word "komposisi" is derived from the Latin word "compositio", meaning "a putting together". | |||
| Thai | องค์ประกอบ | ||
| องค์ประกอบ (ong pra kop) might sound like a reference to the human body, due to the word องค์ (ong, meaning body). | |||
| Vietnamese | thành phần | ||
| "Thành phần" in Vietnamese can also mean ingredient, element, component, member, or constituent. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | komposisyon | ||
Composition in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | tərkibi | ||
| The word "tərkibi" (composition) also can mean "ingredient" and "chemical compound" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | құрамы | ||
| Құрамы means both "composition" and "group" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | курамы | ||
| The word "Курамы" originated from the Old Turkic word "kura", which originally had the meanings of "to gather" and "to bring together" | |||
| Tajik | таркиб | ||
| The word "таркиб" in Tajik has roots in Arabic and originally meant "arrangement" or "order". | |||
| Turkmen | düzümi | ||
| Uzbek | tarkibi | ||
| "Tarkibi" can also mean "structure" or "system" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | تەركىبى | ||
Composition in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | haku mele | ||
| As a verb, "haku mele" means to compose poetry or chant, and "mele" refers to lyrics or poetry rather than music. | |||
| Maori | hanganga | ||
| The word 'hanganga' derives from the Proto-Polynesian root *fanga, meaning 'to make' or 'to write'. | |||
| Samoan | fatuga | ||
| Fatuga is also used in the context of a 'written document' or a 'letter'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | komposisyon | ||
| "Komposisyon" also refers to an arrangement of flowers, and the word's origin is "componere" - meaning "to place together or arrange" | |||
Composition in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | wakiyawi | ||
| Guarani | oñondiveguáva | ||
Composition in International Languages
| Esperanto | konsisto | ||
| The Esperanto word "konsisto" can also refer to a musical piece or the composition of a group. | |||
| Latin | compositionem | ||
| Compositionem (composition) also means compromise, settlement, reconciliation, pact, covenant, contract, arrangement, plan, scheme, or plot in Latin. | |||
Composition in Others Languages
| Greek | σύνθεση | ||
| In Greek music theory, "σύνθεση" referred to combining melodies to create new harmonies. | |||
| Hmong | muaj pes tsawg leeg | ||
| "Muaj pes tsawg leeg" is a loanword from the Chinese word "zuòwén" (作文), meaning "written work" or "composition." | |||
| Kurdish | pêkhatin | ||
| The word “pêkhatin” is also used to refer to a “contract” or “agreement” in Kurdish | |||
| Turkish | kompozisyon | ||
| Composition in Turkish (kompozisyon) also means a composition of poetry or an essay. | |||
| Xhosa | ukwakhiwa | ||
| Ukwakhiwa can also refer to a musical arrangement. | |||
| Yiddish | זאַץ | ||
| The Yiddish word “ܙאַץ” can also mean “dregs” or “sediment” in addition to “composition”. | |||
| Zulu | ukwakheka | ||
| "Ukukheka" can also mean "to write (of a writer)" or "to type" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | সুৰ-ৰচনা | ||
| Aymara | wakiyawi | ||
| Bhojpuri | संरचना | ||
| Dhivehi | ކޮމްޕޮޒިޝަން | ||
| Dogri | बनावट | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | komposisyon | ||
| Guarani | oñondiveguáva | ||
| Ilocano | komposision | ||
| Krio | aw fɔ arenj sɔntin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | داڕشتن | ||
| Maithili | संयोजन | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯆꯜ | ||
| Mizo | phuahkhawm | ||
| Oromo | walitti makamuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ରଚନା | ||
| Quechua | allichay | ||
| Sanskrit | रचना | ||
| Tatar | композиция | ||
| Tigrinya | ሕዋስ | ||
| Tsonga | xitsalwana | ||