Concern in different languages

Concern in Different Languages

Discover 'Concern' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'concern' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting a worry, interest, or issue that matters to us. Its cultural importance is evident in various contexts, from everyday conversations to formal speeches, as it bridges the gap between personal and collective experiences. Understanding the translation of 'concern' in different languages can enrich our cross-cultural communication and foster global understanding.

Historically, 'concern' has been used to express empathy, responsibility, and accountability. For instance, the phrase 'without concern for' highlights a lack of interest or consideration towards something. This versatile term has also been adopted in various fields such as business, healthcare, and education, emphasizing the need for attention and problem-solving.

Considering the global audience interested in language and culture, knowing the translations of 'concern' can facilitate more effective and respectful dialogue. Here are a few examples:

  • French: inquiétude
  • Spanish: preocupación
  • German: Sorge
  • Mandarin: 关心 (guānxīn)
  • Japanese: 心配 (shinpai)

Concern


Concern in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanskommer
In Afrikaans, the word "kommer" has its roots in the medieval Dutch word "kommer," meaning "worry" or "grief."
Amharicመጨነቅ
The word "መጨነቅ" derives from the Proto-Semitic root "*ṣʿn", meaning "to be anxious" or "to be troubled".
Hausadamuwa
The word "damuwa" also means "thought" and "consideration" in Hausa.
Igbonchegbu
The word "nchegbu" in Igbo shares its etymology with the word "nche" (thought), suggesting a deeper connection between concern and cognitive processes.
Malagasyolana
The word "olana" can also mean "affair" or "matter".
Nyanja (Chichewa)nkhawa
The word "nkhawa" derives from the Proto-Bantu root *-kapa-, meaning "to seize" or "to catch".
Shonakunetseka
The word “kunetseka” is also used to refer to a situation where someone is facing difficulties or challenges.
Somaliwalaac
The Somali word "walaac" is also used to describe a type of mental illness characterized by anxiety and fear.
Sesothongongoreho
'Ngongoreho' derives from a Sesotho expression emphasizing 'a matter that weighs heavily on the heart'.
Swahiliwasiwasi
The Swahili word "wasiwasi" can also refer to "hesitation".
Xhosainkxalabo
In older Xhosa inkxalabo only referred to an individual's concerns.
Yorubaibakcdun
The word "ibakcdun" can also mean "worry" or "anxiety" in Yoruba.
Zuluukukhathazeka
Ukukhathazeka in Zulu refers to a deep sense of worry or preoccupation, extending beyond mere concern.
Bambarahanminanko
Ewedzitsitsi
Kinyarwandaimpungenge
Lingalakomitungisa
Lugandaokweraliikirira
Sepedipelaelo
Twi (Akan)dadwene

Concern in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالاهتمام
The Arabic word "الاهتمام" is derived from the root word "hem", meaning "to care or tend to," and can also refer to "attention" or "interest."
Hebrewדְאָגָה
The Hebrew word "דְאָגָה" can also mean "worry" or "anxiety" in the sense of a care or burden on the mind.
Pashtoاندیښنه
اندیښنه originates from the Indo-Aryan root word "andist" but also carries an additional meaning of "doubt" or "uncertainty".
Arabicالاهتمام
The Arabic word "الاهتمام" is derived from the root word "hem", meaning "to care or tend to," and can also refer to "attention" or "interest."

Concern in Western European Languages

Albanianshqetësim
"Shqetësim" has the alternative meaning of "worry" and derives from the verb "shqetësoj" which means "to disturb," "to vex," "to trouble" or "to cause anxiety".
Basquekezka
The word "kezka" in Basque also means "fear" or "worry".
Catalanpreocupació
The Catalan word "preocupació" comes from the Latin "praeoccupatio", meaning "to take possession of something beforehand".
Croatianzabrinutost
The word "zabrinutost" may also refer to "anxiety" or "worry".
Danishbekymring
The Danish word "bekymring" originally meant "care" or "attention", and is related to the word "bekvem" meaning "comfortable".
Dutchbezorgdheid
The word "bezorgdheid" in Dutch originally meant "protection" or "care", but over time it came to mean "worry" or "concern".
Englishconcern
The word 'concern' derives from Old French 'concerner' meaning 'to pertain to' or 'to belong to'. It can also refer to a business or organization.
Frenchpréoccupation
Préoccupation derives from "préoccuper" (to preoccupy), from Latin "praeoccupare" (to seize beforehand).
Frisiansoarch
The Frisian word "soarch" is derived from the Proto-West Germanic word *surgan, which also meant "care" or "anxiety."
Galicianpreocupación
In Galician, "preocupación" comes from the Latin "praeoccupare", meaning "to take possession of beforehand".
Germanbesorgnis, sorge
"Besorgnis" and "Sorge" both stem from the Old High German word "sorga", meaning "care", "grief", or "anxiety".
Icelandicáhyggjur
The word “áhyggjur” is derived from the Old Norse verb “hugga,” meaning “to think” or “to be concerned.”
Irishimní
The alternate meaning of the Irish word "imní" is "fear" from Latin "timor" (fear, reverence)
Italianpreoccupazione
Preoccupazione, meaning 'concern' in Italian, literally translates to 'pre-' ('before') and 'occupazione' ('occupation'), referring to preoccupation as something that comes before any other activity or thought.
Luxembourgishsuerg
The word "Suerg" in Luxembourgish is derived from the Latin word "cura", meaning "care" or "concern".
Maltesetħassib
The verb "tħassib" is related to the noun "ħsieb" (thought), suggesting a cognitive process underlying concern.
Norwegianbekymring
The word "bekymring" comes from the Old Norse word "bekymrð", meaning "anxiety" or "trouble".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)preocupação
"Preocupação" comes from the Latin "praeoccupare," meaning "to take possession of beforehand" and "to take care of".
Scots Gaelicdragh
The Scots word "dragh" also means "distress" or "sorrow" and is derived from the Old Irish word "drag".
Spanishpreocupación
The word "preocupación" comes from the Latin word "praeoccupare," which means "to take possession of beforehand" or "to preoccupy."
Swedishoro
"Oro" is related to the word "åra" (oar) and may have originally meant "anxiety over rowing in turbulent waters"
Welshpryder
The Welsh word "pryder" also means "anxiety" or "worry".

Concern in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзанепакоенасць
Bosnianzabrinutost
The word "zabrinutost" in Bosnian also means "absorption" or "engrossment".
Bulgarianзагриженост
"Загриженост" comes from the verb "гръжа", which means "to gnaw", suggesting that "concern" is something that gnaws at the mind.
Czechznepokojení
The Czech word "znepokojení" can also be used to express anxiety or disquiet.
Estonianmuret
The word "muret" in Estonian also has the alternate meaning of "wall" or "hedge".
Finnishkoskea
The word "koskea" also means "to touch" in Finnish, and is related to the word "kosketus" (touch).
Hungarianvonatkozik
In German and Dutch "vonatkozik" also refers to a certain type of tax.
Latvianbažas
The word "bažas" is cognate with the Lithuanian word "baimė", meaning "fear". It can also mean "worry" or "anxiety" in Latvian.
Lithuaniansusirūpinimą
The Lithuanian word for concern can also refer to care, anxiety, or worry.
Macedonianзагриженост
Macedonian word "загриженост" derives from the Church Slavonic word "загризти", which means "to seize".
Polishsprawa
In Polish, the word "sprawa" has a range of meanings beyond "concern," including "affair," "case," and "matter."
Romanianîngrijorare
The Romanian word "îngrijorare" ultimately derives from the Latin verb "curare" (to care for, to attend to), suggesting a sense of preoccupation or anxiety.
Russianбеспокойство
"Беспокойство" (concern) is derived from "покоить", meaning "to rest", so "беспокойство" literally translates to "lack of peace".
Serbianзабринутост
The Serbian word "забринутост" comes from the verb "забринути се", which means "to become worried or concerned".
Slovakznepokojenie
The Slovak word "znepokojenie" comes from the verb "znepokojovať" meaning "to disturb" and originally meant "a state of being disturbed".
Slovenianskrb
The word “skrb” likely comes from the Slavic word “skorb” meaning “pain, anxiety, or sorrow.”
Ukrainianзанепокоєння
'Занепокоєння' comes from the verb 'непокоїти', which means 'to disturb' or 'to bother'.

Concern in South Asian Languages

Bengaliউদ্বেগ
The word "উদ্বেগ" (concern) originates from the Sanskrit word "उद्वेग" (agitation, excitement)
Gujaratiચિંતા
The Gujarati word "ચિંતા" also means "anxiety" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "चिन्ता" (chinta) which has the same meaning.
Hindiचिंता
चिंता's root word is 'चिन्तायति', which means 'to think', 'to consider', or 'to care'.
Kannadaಕಾಳಜಿ
The Kannada word "ಕಾಳಜಿ" ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "कृपा". It is the equivalent of the English word "compassion".
Malayalamആശങ്ക
"ആശങ്ക" is related to "ശങ്ക" (doubt) and can also mean a vague hope or longing.
Marathiचिंता
चिंता is a feminine noun derived from the Sanskrit word 'chintana' meaning 'thinking' or 'worry'.
Nepaliचासो
The word "चासो" can also mean "interest" or "attention".
Punjabiਚਿੰਤਾ
The word "चिंता" is also used in Sanskrit and Hindi to mean "thought, anxiety or worry".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)සැලකිලිමත්
Tamilஅக்கறை
In Tamil, "அக்கறை" can also refer to "care", "attention", "thoughtfulness", or "kindness"
Teluguఆందోళన
The word "ఆందోళన" comes from the Sanskrit word "उदवेला" (udvela), meaning "agitation, excitement, or anxiety".
Urduتشویش
Its root is 'shaush' in Persian meaning 'noise, tumult, disorder, confusion'

Concern in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)关心
In Chinese, "\u5173\u5b98" can also mean "to care for" or "to be anxious about".
Chinese (Traditional)關心
關心 (Traditional Chinese) is derived from a combination of characters: 關 (to shut or close) and 心 (heart or mind), implying the idea of shutting out distractions and focusing one's heart and mind on a particular matter.
Japanese懸念
"懸念" derives from Buddhist terminology, specifically from the Sanskrit word "klesha," meaning "affliction" or "suffering."
Korean관심사
'관심' ('concern') is borrowed from the Japanese 'kwansimi', which comes from the Classical Chinese '關係' ('relation')
Mongolianсанаа зовох
The word "санаа зовох" (concern) is directly translated to "worry about" in English.
Myanmar (Burmese)စိုးရိမ်ပူပန်မှု

Concern in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianperhatian
The term "perhatian" derives from the Sanskrit root "hri," meaning "heart" or "emotion," signifying that concern arises from the depths of our being.
Javaneseprihatin
The word 'prihatin' in Javanese shares the same etymology as 'prihatna' in Sanskrit, both meaning 'saddened' or 'depressed'.
Khmerការព្រួយបារម្ភ
This word is of Pali origin, 'santāpa', which also means 'grief, affliction, sorrow'.
Laoຄວາມກັງວົນໃຈ
Malaykeprihatinan
The word "keprihatinan" in Malay is derived from the Arabic word "ikhtiar" which means "concern" or "anxiety".
Thaiกังวล
The term "กังวล" in Thai finds historical lineage with the Pali phrase "kaṅgala" implying a thorny branch.
Vietnameseliên quan
"Liên quan" in Vietnamese originated from the Chinese phrase "連關", meaning "interconnectedness" or "relationship".
Filipino (Tagalog)alalahanin

Concern in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqayğı
The word "qayğı" in Azerbaijani is derived from the Proto-Turkic word "qayγï", meaning "anxiety", and is related to the Turkish word "kaygı", meaning "worry".
Kazakhалаңдаушылық
The Kazakh word "алаңдаушылық" is derived from the verb "алаңдау" meaning "to worry" or "to be anxious", and it carries the same connotation of apprehension or anxiety.
Kyrgyzтынчсыздануу
Tajikташвиш
"Ташвиш" is also used to refer to a type of traditional Tajik embroidery, featuring elaborate geometric patterns and vibrant colors.
Turkmenaladasy
Uzbektashvish
The word "tashvish" has Persian origin and can also have the alternate meaning of "worry" in Uzbek.
Uyghurئەندىشە

Concern in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhopohopo
"Hopohopo" also means "to be suspicious of".
Maoriāwangawanga
Āwangawanga stems from the same root as whakaaro, meaning thought or intention.
Samoanpopolega
The noun 'popolega' can also be used to refer to 'trouble', 'problem' or 'affair'.
Tagalog (Filipino)pag-aalala
"Pag-aalala" in Tagalog can also mean "care", "worry", "anxiety", or "solicitude" depending on the context.

Concern in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajan aliqt'a
Guaranijepy'apy

Concern in International Languages

Esperantomaltrankvilo
"Maltrankvilo" is derived from the root "mal-" (bad) and "trankvilo" (peace), meaning a state of unrest or agitation.
Latinde
The Latin word 'de' can also mean 'down from', 'out of' or 'away from', as in 'de monte' (down from the mountain).

Concern in Others Languages

Greekανησυχία
Αν comes from “ἀντί,” which means “against” or “opposite to,” and ησυχία represents tranquility and “being at rest.”
Hmongkev txhawj xeeb
The word "kev txhawj xeeb" can also refer to a state of worry or anxiety.
Kurdishşik
Şik originates from the Persian word 'şeyy', meaning 'object' or 'thing'.
Turkishilgilendirmek
"İlgilenmek" is also used colloquially to mean "to be interested in something or someone" or "to pay attention to something or someone".
Xhosainkxalabo
In older Xhosa inkxalabo only referred to an individual's concerns.
Yiddishדייַגע
The Yiddish word "דייַגע" is derived from the German word "Ding", meaning "thing", and can also refer to a "legal claim" or a "suit".
Zuluukukhathazeka
Ukukhathazeka in Zulu refers to a deep sense of worry or preoccupation, extending beyond mere concern.
Assameseউদ্বেগ
Aymarajan aliqt'a
Bhojpuriचिंता
Dhivehiކަންބޮޑުވުމެއް
Dogriचैंता
Filipino (Tagalog)alalahanin
Guaranijepy'apy
Ilocanobiang
Kriobisin
Kurdish (Sorani)نیگەرانی
Maithiliचिन्ता
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯈꯟꯖꯤꯟꯕ
Mizochanpual
Oromodhimma
Odia (Oriya)ଚିନ୍ତା
Quechuallaki
Sanskritपरिदेवना
Tatarборчылу
Tigrinyaስግኣት
Tsongaxivilelo

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