Consciousness in different languages

Consciousness in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Consciousness is a fascinating concept that has been explored and debated throughout history, playing a significant role in various fields such as psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience. It generally refers to an individual's awareness of their unique thoughts, memories, feelings, and experiences, as well as their perception and understanding of the world around them.

The idea of consciousness holds immense cultural importance, as it is deeply intertwined with human values, beliefs, and self-perception. Its exploration can lead to a better understanding of our own identities and our connection to the universe. Moreover, consciousness serves as a bridge between different languages and cultures, allowing us to communicate, empathize, and learn from one another.

Delving into the translations of consciousness in different languages can reveal intriguing insights into how various cultures perceive and interpret this complex concept. For instance, in Spanish, consciousness is 'consciencia,' while in German, it is 'Bewusstsein.' In Mandarin, it is '意识 (yìshí),' and in Japanese, it is '意識 (ishiki).'

Join us as we embark on a linguistic and cultural journey to explore the many facets of consciousness and its translations in diverse languages.

Consciousness


Consciousness in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbewussyn
The word "bewussyn" is derived from the Dutch word "bewustzijn" and originally meant "awareness" or "knowledge".
Amharicንቃተ-ህሊና
"ንቃተ-ህሊና" can carry other meanings like "rehabilitation"
Hausasani
Sani is also a common name given to Hausa men and can mean 'son of Sani' if the first name is of his father.
Igbomaara
The Igbo word "maara" also signifies a sense of being aware, alert, or awake.
Malagasyfahatsiarovan-tena
The Malagasy word "fahatsiarovan-tena" translates literally to "being awake with oneself."
Nyanja (Chichewa)chikumbumtima
The word "chikumbumtima" derives from "kumbumtima," meaning "to feel something inside," suggesting the introspective nature of consciousness.
Shonakuziva
'Kuziva' is a compound of 'ku- (to)' + '-ziva (day)', meaning 'to be in the light of day' and thus 'to be conscious'.
Somalimiyir-qabka
This multipartite Somali word, "miyir-qabka," suggests the "mind's" role in comprehension.
Sesothotlhokomeliso
Tlhokomeliso derives from the root word "tlhokomela," meaning "to be aware" or "to have knowledge."
Swahilifahamu
The Swahili word 'fahamu' also means 'understanding' and 'comprehension'.
Xhosaukwazi
In Xhosa philosophy, the term "ukwazi" additionally refers to a spiritual realm where ancestors reside and wisdom is acquired.
Yorubaaiji
Yoruba word "aiji" can also refer to "knowledge", particularly the knowledge of traditional healing practices.
Zuluukwazi
This Zulu word can be broken into u-kwazi (<from> kwazi - know), hence the meaning, 'awareness'. It is not to be confused with u-kwazi (<from> kweza - to arrive), which means 'ability'.
Bambaralàadirima
Eweŋutenɔnɔ
Kinyarwandaubwenge
Lingalakosala mosala malamu
Lugandaokutegeera
Sepeditemogo
Twi (Akan)anidahɔ

Consciousness in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicوعي - إدراك
Derived from the verb "وعى" meaning "to understand, to grasp".
Hebrewתוֹדָעָה
The Hebrew word for consciousness, "תוֹדָעָה," also means "recognition" or "acknowledgment."
Pashtoشعور
In Pashto, "شعور" also carries the connotation of intelligence, wisdom, and understanding
Arabicوعي - إدراك
Derived from the verb "وعى" meaning "to understand, to grasp".

Consciousness in Western European Languages

Albanianvetëdija
The Albanian word "vetëdija" is derived from the Proto-Albanian word *wēt-ēdī, meaning "inner knowledge".
Basquekontzientzia
The Basque word kontzientzia is derived from the Latin word conscientia, meaning "knowledge" or "awareness".
Catalanconsciència
"Consciència" has the alternate meaning "awareness" in Catalan.
Croatiansvijest
In Croatian, the word 'svijest' is etymologically related to 'svjetovati', meaning to advise, and 'svijetlo', meaning light, suggesting the enlightenment of the mind.
Danishbevidsthed
The Danish word "bevidsthed" is etymologically related to the German word "Bewusstsein" which also shares similar meanings.
Dutchbewustzijn
The word "bewustzijn" in Dutch refers not only to the state of being conscious, but also to the mind or the intellect, and is derived from the ancient Greek word "no?s" meaning "understanding".
Englishconsciousness
"Consciousness" is derived from the Latin word "conscire," which means "to know together".
Frenchconscience
"Conscience" (meaning "consciousness") in French has also been historically linked to the concepts of knowledge, awareness, and perception.
Frisianbewustwêzen
The word "bewustwêzen" derives from the Old Frisian "biwitia," meaning "to know" or "to understand."
Galicianconciencia
En gallego, «conciencia» también denota memoria o acuerdo y «concienzudo» a quien ejecuta una operación con cuidado en sus detalles (conste de «cien» y «ciencia»).
Germanbewusstsein
The word "Bewusstsein" comes from the Middle High German word "bewisten," which means "to witness" or "to be aware of."
Icelandicmeðvitund
"Meðvitund" is derived from the verb "meðvita," meaning "to be aware" or "to perceive," and the noun "vitund," meaning "mind" or "understanding."
Irishchonaic
Chonaic is also the Irish name for the Greek hero Ulysses, known in English as Odysseus after the Latin variation of the name.
Italiancoscienza
"Coscienza" comes from the Latin word "conscientia" meaning "knowledge within one's own mind or heart".
Luxembourgishbewosstsinn
In Luxembourgish, "Bewosstsinn" does not only refer to consciousness as awareness, but also to perception or sense
Maltesesensi
The word "sensi" is also used to refer to a person's personality, temperament, or frame of mind.
Norwegianbevissthet
"Bevissthet", which is a compound of the words bevis (proof, evidence, demonstration, test, certification, etc.) and -het, which is the suffix that makes nouns from adjectives, literally means provenness or demonstratedness."
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)consciência
The word "consciência" in Portuguese is derived from the Latin word "conscientia" and can also mean "awareness" or "knowledge".
Scots Gaelicmothachadh
The term "mothachadh" in Scots Gaelic is derived from the Old Irish "mothaigid," meaning "to perceive" or "to feel," emphasizing the perception and awareness aspects of consciousness.
Spanishconciencia
The Spanish word "conciencia" is derived from the Latin "conscientia," which means "knowledge with oneself" or "awareness within oneself."
Swedishmedvetande
Det svenska ordet "medvetande" kommer från "med-veten".
Welshymwybyddiaeth
The Welsh word "ymwybyddiaeth" literally means "state of being aware", and is related to the words "bod" (to be) and "gwybod" (to know).

Consciousness in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianсвядомасць
The word 'свядомасць' ('consciousness') in Belarusian is cognate with 'сознание' ('consciousness') in Russian, both deriving from the Proto-Slavic '*sъznь', meaning 'understanding' or 'cognition'.
Bosniansvijest
The word "svijest" also means "consciousness" in Croatian and Serbian.
Bulgarianсъзнание
The word "съзнание" in Bulgarian also has a meaning of "awareness" or "self-awareness".
Czechvědomí
The word "vědomí" is also used in Czech to denote "knowledge" or "awareness".
Estonianteadvus
In Estonian, "teadvus" can also mean "knowledge" or "awareness".
Finnishtietoisuus
The word "tietoisuus" is derived from the root "tieto", meaning "knowledge" or "information."
Hungarianöntudat
Öntudat is also a philosophical concept referring to the self-awareness of one's own identity.
Latvianapziņa
The word “apziņa” originated from the prefix “ap-” which means “around” and the noun “ziņa” which stands for “knowledge” or “intelligence”.
Lithuaniansąmonė
Sąmonė is derived from the Lithuanian word "samti" meaning "to acquire wisdom" or "to understand" and is also related to the word "sąmonis" meaning "to awaken".
Macedonianсвеста
The word can also be used in a figurative sense to refer to clarity or awareness.
Polishświadomość
The Polish word "świadomość" comes from a Proto-Indo-European root that also means "to know".
Romanianconstiinta
"Constiinta" comes from the Latin word "conscientia", meaning "with knowledge".
Russianсознание
The word "сознание" in Russian can also mean "awareness" or "understanding".
Serbianсвест
The word "свест" also means "light", and is related to the word "свjетло" (light)
Slovakvedomie
The term 'vedomie' also translates to 'knowledge,' 'intelligence,' and 'understanding' in Slovak.
Slovenianzavest
Zavest derives from the Proto-Slavic "sъvĕstь" (knowledge, conscience), which also gave rise to the words "vest" (news) and "vedeti" (know).
Ukrainianсвідомість
In addition to "consciousness", the noun "свідомість" can also mean "awareness" or "conscience".

Consciousness in South Asian Languages

Bengaliচেতনা
"চেতনা" (consciousness) in Bengali, is also the name of a famous Bengali magazine and a female given name.
Gujaratiચેતના
The Gujarati word "ચેતના" also has the alternate meanings of "awareness", "knowledge", "intelligence", and "understanding".
Hindiचेतना
In Sanskrit, the word 'चेतना' also means 'the state of being alive' or 'the vital force'.
Kannadaಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ
The word “ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ” in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word “प्रज्ञ” meaning “wisdom” or “intelligence” and can also refer to “awareness” or “understanding”.
Malayalamബോധം
The word "ബോധം" ("consciousness") in Malayalam can also refer to the state of alertness, awareness, and understanding.
Marathiशुद्धी
The word शुद्धी (śuddhi) can also mean purification, cleanliness, or perfection.
Nepaliचेतना
The word
Punjabiਚੇਤਨਾ
The term "ਚੇਤਨਾ" (chetna), meaning consciousness, is a derivative of Sanskrit, and its other meanings are mind, intellect, awareness, and memory.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වි .ානය
"වි .ානය" has the alternate Sinhala meaning "a vessel or container."
Tamilஉணர்வு
"உணர்வு" (consciousness) in Tamil also means "perception," "knowledge," "sensation," and "awareness."
Teluguతెలివిలో
Urduشعور
The word "شعور" originates from the Arabic root "شع", which means "to perceive" or "to feel".

Consciousness in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)意识
"意识"也指主观能动地意识到事物或思想、感情和意志活动的内在心理状态和过程。
Chinese (Traditional)意識
意識 (consciousness) literally means 'to know and think' in Chinese.
Japanese意識
The term 意識 (ishiki) was adopted from German Bewusstsein and originally meant 'knowledge' or 'being aware'.
Korean의식
The term "의식" can also refer to ceremonies or rituals in Korean.
Mongolianухамсар
In Mongolian, 'ухамсар' ('consciousness') can also mean 'mind, heart, soul', and 'inner essence'.
Myanmar (Burmese)သတိ
The word "သတိ" (consciousness) can also mean "attention" or "mindfulness" in Burmese.

Consciousness in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankesadaran
The word 'kesadaran' also means 'awareness' or 'realization' in Indonesian.
Javaneseeling
The word "eling" in Javanese has connotations of alertness, mindfulness, and being attuned to the present moment.
Khmerមនសិការ
The word "មនសិការ" also has the alternate meanings of "mind" and "heart".
Laoສະຕິ
In Lao, the word “ສະຕິ” refers not only to consciousness, but also to awareness, mindfulness and alertness.
Malaykesedaran
The word 'kesedaran' in Malay also carries meanings of 'awareness' and 'realization'.
Thaiสติ
Thai “สติ” may stem from Sanskrit “smrti” (“memory, remembrance”) as Thai has borrowed several words from Sanskrit.
Vietnameseý thức
The word "ý thức" in Vietnamese has multiple meanings, including "consciousness," "awareness," "intention," and "purpose."
Filipino (Tagalog)kamalayan

Consciousness in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanişüur
The word "şüur" in Azerbaijani also refers to "the senses" or "awareness".
Kazakhсана
The word "сана" can also mean "mind" or "reason" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzаң-сезим
The Kyrgyz word for consciousness, «аң-сезим», has a root meaning of «mind-feeling» and a secondary meaning of «conscience».
Tajikшуур
"Shuur" in Tajik is ultimately derived from the Old Persian word "hushiyara-", meaning "intelligence, caution".
Turkmen
Uzbekong
The Uzbek word "ong" initially meant "memory" and is related to the Uyghur word "oŋ"
Uyghurئاڭ

Consciousness in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianʻike
ʻIke may also refer to perception, wisdom, or knowledge depending on the context it is used in.
Maorimahara
Another interpretation of "mahara" is that it means "the act of thinking", or "memory".
Samoanmalamalama
Malauma means 'a flash of light', mama refers to something that's light and can ascend, and la means 'above'
Tagalog (Filipino)kamalayan
The Tagalog word "kamalayan" shares a Sanskrit etymology with the terms "bodhi" (Sanskrit for "awakening") and "karma" (Sanskrit for "action"), connecting it to concepts of spiritual attainment and action.

Consciousness in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarachuymanki
Guaraniapytu'ũjera

Consciousness in International Languages

Esperantokonscio
"Konscio" derives from the Latin "conscius" (knowing) and is related to words like "science" and "conscious" in English.
Latinconsciousness
The Latin word "conscientia" originally meant "knowledge gained through personal experience".

Consciousness in Others Languages

Greekσυνείδηση
The Greek word "συνείδηση" (syneidēsis) originally meant "joint knowledge" and is related to the word "conscience."
Hmongkev nco qab
The word "kev nco qab" can also be translated as "the act of knowing something" or "the state of being aware of something."
Kurdishbîrbirî
"Bîrbirî" in Kurdish is derived from the Proto-Indo-European form "*bhudh-i-", meaning mind or intellect.
Turkishbilinç
Bilinç, "bilmek" fiilinden türemiştir ve hem "bilme" hem de "farkında olma" anlamlarına gelir.
Xhosaukwazi
In Xhosa philosophy, the term "ukwazi" additionally refers to a spiritual realm where ancestors reside and wisdom is acquired.
Yiddishבאוווסטזיין
The Yiddish word "באוווסטזיין" can also refer to "awareness" or "realization."
Zuluukwazi
This Zulu word can be broken into u-kwazi (<from> kwazi - know), hence the meaning, 'awareness'. It is not to be confused with u-kwazi (<from> kweza - to arrive), which means 'ability'.
Assameseচেতনা
Aymarachuymanki
Bhojpuriचेतना
Dhivehiހޭވެރިކަން
Dogriसुध-बुध
Filipino (Tagalog)kamalayan
Guaraniapytu'ũjera
Ilocanokinasiririing
Kriono
Kurdish (Sorani)هۆشیاری
Maithiliचेतना
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯋꯥꯈꯜ ꯇꯥꯕ
Mizorilru harhna
Oromodammaqina
Odia (Oriya)ଚେତନା
Quechuaukunchik
Sanskritचेतना
Tatarаң
Tigrinyaንቕሓተ ሕሊና
Tsongamatitwelo

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