Updated on March 6, 2024
Conduct (n): the way in which someone behaves, especially toward others. The significance of conduct extends beyond personal actions, as it also encompasses group behavior, cultural norms, and even national identity. A society's conduct reflects its values, traditions, and beliefs, shaping its cultural importance in the global context.
Throughout history, conduct has been a focal point in various societies, leading to the development of etiquettes, codes of honor, and laws. For instance, the ancient Chinese text Li Ji (
Understanding the translation of conduct in different languages can provide valuable insights into various cultures, fostering global understanding and cooperation. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | gedrag | ||
Afrikaans “gedrag” (“conduct”) also signifies “behavior” or “actions” and is cognate with Dutch “gedrag” and German “tragen” (“to carry”). | |||
Amharic | ምግባር | ||
The term "ምግባር" also refers to the path along which a person or animal walks. | |||
Hausa | hali | ||
In addition to meaning "conduct," "hali" can also mean "condition, state," or "circumstance" in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | omume | ||
Omume can also mean behavior, manners, or attitude. | |||
Malagasy | fitondran-tena | ||
FITONDRAN-TENA has alternate meanings like "deportment" and "bearing". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | khalidwe | ||
The word "khalidwe" in Nyanja also implies behavior or demeanour. | |||
Shona | mufambiro | ||
The noun, "mufambiro," also means "the state of behaving well." | |||
Somali | anshax marin | ||
The term 'anshax marin' can also refer to a moral or ethical standard in Somali society. | |||
Sesotho | boitsoaro | ||
Boitsoaro can also refer to the process or act of conducting oneself in a particular manner. | |||
Swahili | mwenendo | ||
The word "mwenendo" is derived from the verb "enda" (to go) and the prefix "mwe" (manner), implying a person's way of going about things. | |||
Xhosa | indlela yokuziphatha | ||
In Xhosa, the word "indlela yokuziphatha" can also mean "the way of life" or "customs". | |||
Yoruba | ihuwasi | ||
"Ìhùwásì" (conduct) in Yoruba also means "demeanor" or "the way one carries oneself". | |||
Zulu | ukuziphatha | ||
The word "ukuziphatha" in Zulu is also used to refer to the concept of "self-governance" or "self-control."} | |||
Bambara | kɛwale | ||
Ewe | agbenᴐnᴐ | ||
Kinyarwanda | imyitwarire | ||
Lingala | kotambwisa | ||
Luganda | okulabiriza | ||
Sepedi | maitshwaro | ||
Twi (Akan) | suban | ||
Arabic | سلوك | ||
In Classical Arabic, "سلوك" could also refer to "journeying on the road" and "traveling". | |||
Hebrew | התנהגות | ||
The Hebrew word התנהגות (hitnahagut) also carries the connotation of movement or action. | |||
Pashto | چلول | ||
"چلول/ Chalol" is also a verb that means to move around as water in a stream or waves in the sea. | |||
Arabic | سلوك | ||
In Classical Arabic, "سلوك" could also refer to "journeying on the road" and "traveling". |
Albanian | sjellje | ||
The word "sjellje" in Albanian is also related to "sjellim" meaning hearing, listening, or perceiving. | |||
Basque | jokaera | ||
The term "jokaera," which translates to "conduct" in English, has additional meanings such as "performance," "behavior," and "procedure." | |||
Catalan | conducta | ||
In Catalan, "conducta" can refer to both behavior and a conduit for fluids | |||
Croatian | ponašanje | ||
The word 'ponašanje' is a derivative of the verb 'ponositi se' (to be proud) and can also mean 'behavior'. | |||
Danish | adfærd | ||
The word "adfærd" can also mean "deportment" or "bearing". | |||
Dutch | gedrag | ||
The word "gedrag" is derived from the old verb "dragen" (to carry), which is also the root of the word "drag" in English. | |||
English | conduct | ||
The word "conduct" derives from the Latin "conduco," meaning "to lead, guide, or accompany." | |||
French | conduite | ||
In French, "conduite" can also refer to a pipe or duct. | |||
Frisian | gedrach | ||
The Frisian word "gedrach" can also refer to behavior or way of living. | |||
Galician | conduta | ||
In Galician, "conduta" also refers to a pipe or duct for carrying fluids. | |||
German | verhalten | ||
The word "Verhalten" in German can also refer to a person's demeanor, behavior, or attitude. | |||
Icelandic | háttsemi | ||
The word "háttsemi" can also mean "behaviour" or "demeanour". | |||
Irish | iompar | ||
The word "iompar" in Irish can also refer to transportation or movement. | |||
Italian | condotta | ||
The Italian word 'condotta' can also refer to a water conduit or a type of cheese made from sheep's milk. | |||
Luxembourgish | féieren | ||
The term "féieren" may also refer to the act of transporting or carrying. | |||
Maltese | kondotta | ||
The word "kondotta" is derived from the Italian word "condotta", and it originally meant "escort" or "convoy". | |||
Norwegian | oppførsel | ||
The word "oppførsel" comes from the Old Norse word "uppfæra", meaning "to bring up" or "to educate." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | conduta | ||
In Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil), "conduta" can also mean duct, conduit or channel, which derives from Latin "conductus," meaning a leading or bringing together. | |||
Scots Gaelic | giùlan | ||
Scots Gaelic 'giùlan' can also refer to behaviour, morality, carriage, bearing and deportment | |||
Spanish | conducta | ||
In Spanish, "conducta" also refers to plumbing, sewage, and behavior while driving. | |||
Swedish | uppträdande | ||
The word "uppträdande" can also mean "performance" or "demeanor" | |||
Welsh | arwain | ||
The Welsh word "arwain" also means "to lead" or "to guide". |
Belarusian | праводзіць | ||
"Праводзіць" can also mean to "see someone off", "accompany", or "guide". | |||
Bosnian | ponašanje | ||
Ponašanje can also mean pride in one's behavior or way of thinking in Bosnian, but not arrogance. | |||
Bulgarian | поведение, ръководене | ||
The word "conduct" has several different meanings, including how someone behaves or acts, the management of a business, or the process of guiding or directing something. | |||
Czech | chování | ||
The word "chování" in Czech is derived from the Old Czech word "chovati", which means "to bring up" or "to raise" and has also been used to mean "to behave" since the 14th century. | |||
Estonian | käitumine | ||
"Käitumine" also has the meaning of "way of life" and is related to the word "käia" meaning "to go" or "to keep going". | |||
Finnish | käytös | ||
The word "käytös" is derived from the verb "käydä," meaning "to walk" or "to behave." | |||
Hungarian | magatartás | ||
Magatartás: ’viselkedésmódot tart’, ’magán tart’, azaz ’nem mutatja ki’ | |||
Latvian | uzvedība | ||
The word "uzvedība" derives from the Latvian verb "uzvesties" which means "to behave", "to conduct oneself", and "to behave well". | |||
Lithuanian | elgesys | ||
In some contexts, "elgesys" translates to "behavior" or "deed". | |||
Macedonian | однесување | ||
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it originated as a term denoting a safe conduct and came to mean conduct in the 14th century. | |||
Polish | przeprowadzić | ||
The Polish word "przeprowadzić" originally meant "to lead through" or "to guide through" and later acquired the meaning of "to conduct". | |||
Romanian | conduce | ||
In Romanian, "conduce" can also mean "to drive" or "to lead" in the sense of a leader leading their followers. | |||
Russian | поведение | ||
The word "поведение" (conduct) has the same root as "вид" (view) and "видеть" (to see). | |||
Serbian | спровести | ||
The word "спровести" (conduct) in Serbian also has the alternate meaning of "to escort". | |||
Slovak | správanie | ||
The word "správanie" is a verbal noun deriving from the verb "spraviť" (meaning "to make" or "to do") and the suffix "-anie" denoting the course of action of the verb stem. | |||
Slovenian | ravnanje | ||
The verb 'ravnati' (to conduct) is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word 'raviti', meaning 'to do, to act'. | |||
Ukrainian | проведення | ||
The word “проведення” can also mean 'escort', 'accompaniment', or 'convoy' and derives from the Old Church Slavonic verb 'водити' (to lead). |
Bengali | পরিচালনা | ||
The word 'পরিচালনা' can also refer to management or administration. | |||
Gujarati | આચરણ | ||
"આચરણ" can also mean 'behavior', 'demeanor', or 'practice'. | |||
Hindi | आचरण | ||
The word "आचरण" (conduct) is also used in Hindi to refer to the act of practicing or performing a particular action. | |||
Kannada | ನಡವಳಿಕೆ | ||
The word "ನಡವಳಿಕೆ" can also mean "behavior" or "attitude" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | പെരുമാറ്റം | ||
The word "പെരുമാറ്റം" literally means "great behavior" in Malayalam, referring to the conduct expected of royalty. | |||
Marathi | आचरण | ||
The word "आचरण" in Marathi has the same root as the English word "character". | |||
Nepali | आचरण | ||
The word "आचरण" in Nepali also means "behavior" or "activity". | |||
Punjabi | ਆਚਰਣ | ||
"ਆਚਰਣ" also refers to a person's character and behavior in Sikhism. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | හැසිරීම | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "conduct," "හැසිරීම" can also refer to "behavior" or "demeanor." | |||
Tamil | நடத்தை | ||
The word "நடத்தை" can be broken down into "நட" (to walk) and "தத்தை" (to hold or support), implying "the manner in which one carries oneself" | |||
Telugu | ప్రవర్తన | ||
"प्रवर्ర్తన" is the Telugu form of the word "Pravartan." This Sanskrit word also forms the root for the Hindi word "pravartan" and means "act" or "movement." | |||
Urdu | طرز عمل | ||
The word طرز عمل "conduct" in Urdu literally means "way of working" or "method of doing something". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 进行 | ||
The word "进行" in Chinese can also mean "to make progress" or "to carry out a task or operation." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 進行 | ||
The word 進行 ('conduct') is derived from Latin 'peragere', meaning 'to lead all the way through'. | |||
Japanese | 行動 | ||
The kanji "行" (こう) in "行動" (こうどう) also means "to move," indicating the dynamic nature of conduct. | |||
Korean | 행위 | ||
"행위" also means 'act', 'behavior', or 'deed'" | |||
Mongolian | явуулах | ||
Явуулах derives from a Middle Mongolian root and originally meant "to move forward on a horse." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အပြုအမူ | ||
Indonesian | mengadakan | ||
The word "mengadakan" can also mean "to hold" or "to organize" (an event). | |||
Javanese | tumindak | ||
"Tumindak" (Javanese) also means "to behave" and is related to the word "tindak" (Indonesian) meaning "action". | |||
Khmer | ការប្រព្រឹត្ដ | ||
In Khmer, the term "ការប្រព្រឹត្ដ" also refers to the overall manner in which someone behaves or carries themselves, encompassing their actions, words, and demeanor. | |||
Lao | ການປະພຶດ | ||
Malay | kelakuan | ||
The word "kelakuan" derives from the Arabic word "khulq" meaning "character" or "disposition". | |||
Thai | ความประพฤติ | ||
As the verb ประพฤติ is rooted from สันดาน meaning 'innate qualities' the noun form thus also implies habitual behavior | |||
Vietnamese | hạnh kiểm | ||
The word "hạnh kiểm" in Vietnamese is a homonym with two distinct meanings: "morality" and "performance record." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pag-uugali | ||
Azerbaijani | aparmaq | ||
The word "aparmaq" (conduct) in Azerbaijani also has the meaning of "to lead" or "to guide." | |||
Kazakh | жүргізу | ||
In the Kazakh language, "жүргізу" can also mean "to carry out" or "to implement a plan." | |||
Kyrgyz | жүрүм-турум | ||
The word "жүрүм-турум" can also refer to customs, traditions, and behaviour in Kyrgyz society. | |||
Tajik | рафтор | ||
The word "рафтор" comes from the Persian word "رفتار" (raftār), which means "behaviour" or "action". | |||
Turkmen | alyp barmak | ||
Uzbek | xulq-atvor | ||
In Uzbek, "xulq-atvor" also refers to etiquette, character, or behavior. | |||
Uyghur | conduct | ||
Hawaiian | hana | ||
The word "hana" in Hawaiian also means "work" or "occupation". | |||
Maori | whanonga | ||
The word whanonga also connotes the meanings of 'to cause' and 'to direct'. | |||
Samoan | amio | ||
A related word is "amio" which means to "follow" or "go towards". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pag-uugali | ||
In the 20th century, "pag-uugali" also came to refer to "behavior" not necessarily stemming from moral standards. |
Aymara | kuntunkta | ||
Guarani | teko | ||
Esperanto | konduto | ||
The Esperanto word "konduto" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *weǵʰ-, meaning "to go, to carry". | |||
Latin | moribus | ||
"Moribus" in Latin can also mean "character" or "customs". |
Greek | συμπεριφορά | ||
"Συμπεριφορά" comes from the Greek word "συμφέρω," meaning "to bring together" or "to contribute." | |||
Hmong | kev coj ua | ||
"Kev coj ua" literally means "the way of doing" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | perwerdetî | ||
The word "perwerdetî" in Kurdish also refers to "education" and "training". | |||
Turkish | yönetmek | ||
In Old Anatolian Turkish, 'yönetmek' meant 'to guide', 'to lead' and 'to rule' as well. | |||
Xhosa | indlela yokuziphatha | ||
In Xhosa, the word "indlela yokuziphatha" can also mean "the way of life" or "customs". | |||
Yiddish | פירונג | ||
The Yiddish word "פירונג" may derive from the Hebrew "פרנסה" meaning livelihood, or from the German "Führung" meaning guidance. | |||
Zulu | ukuziphatha | ||
The word "ukuziphatha" in Zulu is also used to refer to the concept of "self-governance" or "self-control."} | |||
Assamese | ব্যৱহাৰ | ||
Aymara | kuntunkta | ||
Bhojpuri | चाल चलन | ||
Dhivehi | އަޚުލާޤު | ||
Dogri | चाल-चलन | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pag-uugali | ||
Guarani | teko | ||
Ilocano | aramiden | ||
Krio | biev | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەنجامدان | ||
Maithili | आयोजन | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯥꯡꯊꯣꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | kalphung | ||
Oromo | dabarsuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଆଚରଣ | ||
Quechua | allin kay | ||
Sanskrit | निर्वहणम् | ||
Tatar | тәртип | ||
Tigrinya | ኣግባብ | ||
Tsonga | matikhomelo | ||