Updated on March 6, 2024
Consensus, a simple word with a profound meaning, is a concept that has been woven into the fabric of societies and cultures around the world. It signifies agreement or accord, a unifying force that brings people together in the pursuit of common goals or shared values.
Throughout history, consensus has played a vital role in shaping our cultural and social landscapes. From ancient tribal councils to modern-day boardrooms, the power of consensus has been harnessed to foster unity, drive progress, and resolve conflicts. It's a testament to our innate desire for harmony and cooperation, a universal language that transcends borders and cultures.
Understanding the translation of consensus in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural nuances and values of various societies. For instance, in Spanish, consensus is translated as 'consenso,' which shares its roots with the English word, reflecting a shared understanding of the concept. Meanwhile, in Chinese, consensus is rendered as '共识' (gòngshì), emphasizing the collective nature of the agreement.
Join us as we explore the translations of consensus in various languages, shedding light on the fascinating cultural contexts that shape our understanding of this powerful concept.
Afrikaans | konsensus | ||
In Afrikaans, "konsensus" is also used in a legal context to refer to the agreement of all parties involved in a transaction. | |||
Amharic | መግባባት | ||
The word "መግባባት" is also used in the specific context of traditional Ethiopian marriage customs to refer to a legal agreement made between two families. | |||
Hausa | yarjejeniya | ||
"Yarjejeniya" also refers to a covenant, treaty, pact, or agreement. | |||
Igbo | otutu mmadu kwenyere | ||
The Igbo phrase "otutu mmadu kwenyere" is a compound word that literally means "the standing of the people's belief". | |||
Malagasy | fifanarahana | ||
The word "fifanarahana" also refers to a type of Malagasy musical instrument and has connotations of "collective harmony". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mgwirizano | ||
Shona | kubvumirana | ||
Kubvumirana, meaning 'consensus', is derived from the verb 'kubvumirana' ('to agree') and the prefix 'ku' ('to') and the suffix '-ana' ('to cause'). | |||
Somali | is afgarad | ||
The Somali word "is afgarad" is derived from the Arabic word "ijmāʿ", meaning "consensus" or "agreement of scholars". | |||
Sesotho | tumellano | ||
The term `tumellano` also carries connotations of unity and agreement between parties. | |||
Swahili | makubaliano | ||
The word 'makubaliano' in Swahili is derived from the Arabic word 'muqabala', meaning 'to face' or 'to agree'. | |||
Xhosa | imvumelwano | ||
"Imvumelwano" can also refer to agreement or unity. | |||
Yoruba | ipohunpo | ||
The word "ipohunpo" in Yoruba is derived from the phrase "iwo po, fun mi po", meaning "I have spoken, you have spoken". | |||
Zulu | ukuvumelana | ||
"Ukuvumelana" derives from the verb "ukuvuma" (to agree) and the noun "imel" (speech), suggesting an agreement established through verbal communication. | |||
Bambara | bɛnkansɛbɛn | ||
Ewe | nukpɔsusu ɖeka dzi | ||
Kinyarwanda | ubwumvikane | ||
Lingala | boyokani ya bato | ||
Luganda | okukkaanya | ||
Sepedi | kwano ya go dumelelana | ||
Twi (Akan) | adwene a ɛwɔ mu | ||
Arabic | إجماع | ||
إجماع (إجماع): agreement among a group of people, especially when reached through discussion or debate. | |||
Hebrew | קוֹנסֶנזוּס | ||
The word "קוֹנסֶנזוּס" in Hebrew can also refer to a group of people who have reached a common agreement. | |||
Pashto | اتفاق | ||
The word "اتفاق" can also mean "concurrence" or "assent" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | إجماع | ||
إجماع (إجماع): agreement among a group of people, especially when reached through discussion or debate. |
Albanian | konsensusi | ||
The Albanian word "konsensusi" is derived from the Latin word "consensus" meaning "agreement" or "harmony". | |||
Basque | adostasuna | ||
The word "adostasuna" in Basque also means "unity", "agreement", "conformity", and "harmony". | |||
Catalan | consens | ||
In Catalan, "consens" (consensus) can also refer to the act of giving one's consent or agreement. | |||
Croatian | konsenzus | ||
The word 'konsenzus' is borrowed from Latin and has the same meaning in Croatian as in English, but it can also refer to a general agreement or decision reached after discussion and negotiation. | |||
Danish | konsensus | ||
In Danish, the word 'konsensus' has the additional connotation of 'harmony' or 'agreement'. | |||
Dutch | consensus | ||
Consensus in Dutch can mean either "consensus" or "concert", possibly due to a shared root in the Latin verb "consentire". | |||
English | consensus | ||
The word "consensus" comes from the Latin word "consentire", meaning "to agree together". | |||
French | consensus | ||
Le mot "consensus" vient du latin "consentire", qui signifie "être d'accord". Il peut aussi désigner un accord général sur une question ou une décision. | |||
Frisian | konsensus | ||
In Frisian, "konsensus" can also refer to a "church council". | |||
Galician | consenso | ||
German | konsens | ||
Consensus was borrowed from Latin and originally referred to an agreement or understanding between two parties. | |||
Icelandic | samstaða | ||
Samstaða means 'consensus' in Icelandic but has other meanings, including agreement, concordance, or unanimity. | |||
Irish | comhthoil | ||
Comhthoil can also mean 'gathering' or 'assembly', and it derives from the Old Irish comthoil, meaning 'meeting'. | |||
Italian | consenso | ||
The English cognate of consenso is | |||
Luxembourgish | konsens | ||
Konsens, a German loanword meaning "agreement" in Luxembourgish, is unrelated to the English word "consensus", which comes from Latin. | |||
Maltese | kunsens | ||
The etymology of the Maltese word "kunsens" is uncertain, but it may be related to the Italian word "consenso" or the Spanish word "consenso", both meaning "consensus." | |||
Norwegian | konsensus | ||
The Norwegian noun "konsensus" can also imply a "lack" of something (such as resources) which is why when "å konsenses" is used as verb it means "run out" | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | consenso | ||
In Portuguese, "consenso" can also refer to the "unanimous agreement" of a group. | |||
Scots Gaelic | co-aontachd | ||
The Gaelic word "co-aontachd" also translates to "unity," highlighting the collective aspect of reaching an agreement. | |||
Spanish | consenso | ||
Consenso in Spanish can also refer to a 'census' or a 'rental agreement'. | |||
Swedish | konsensus | ||
In Swedish, the word "konsensus" can also refer to the result of a vote in which there is a clear majority but not unanimity. | |||
Welsh | consensws | ||
The word 'consensus' is derived from the Latin verb 'consentire' which means 'to agree' or 'to unite'. |
Belarusian | кансенсус | ||
Bosnian | konsenzus | ||
Bosnian "konsenzus" derives from Latin "consensus" (agreement, harmony, concord). | |||
Bulgarian | консенсус | ||
"Консенсус" in Bulgarian also means "harmony of opinions". | |||
Czech | shoda | ||
"Shoda" derives from the Proto-Slavic *sъ-xoda and means "coming together" or "agreement". | |||
Estonian | konsensus | ||
The word "konsensus" in Estonian is derived from the Latin word "consensus", which means "agreement" or "harmony". | |||
Finnish | yhteisymmärrys | ||
The word "yhteisymmärrys" is a compound word meaning "shared understanding" or "agreement". It is composed of the words "yhteinen" (common) and "ymmärrys" (understanding). | |||
Hungarian | konszenzus | ||
A "konszenzus" szó a latin "consentire" (egyetérteni) igéből származik, és a magyar nyelvbe a német "Konsens" szón keresztül került. | |||
Latvian | vienprātība | ||
Vienprātība literally means “one-mindness” and can also refer to unanimity or like-mindedness. | |||
Lithuanian | sutarimas | ||
Lithuanian "sutarimas" also means "agreement", "harmony", or "concord". | |||
Macedonian | консензус | ||
The word "консензус" is derived from the Latin word "consentire", which means "to agree." | |||
Polish | zgoda | ||
The Polish word "zgoda" originally meant something like "getting together". | |||
Romanian | consens | ||
The Romanian word "consens" derives from the Latin word "consensus" and also means "concord" or "agreement". | |||
Russian | консенсус | ||
"Консенсус" происходит от латинского слова consentio — «соглашаться», «быть согласным» | |||
Serbian | консензус | ||
"Consensus" is derived from the Latin word "con" (with) and "sentire" (to feel), and can also refer to a general agreement among a group of people. | |||
Slovak | konsenzus | ||
"Konsenzus" je z latinčiny, kde "consensio" znamená "súhlas". | |||
Slovenian | konsenz | ||
The word "konsenz" is derived from the Latin word "consensus," which means "agreement". It is also used in Slovenian to refer to a general agreement or consensus of opinion, as well as an official decision made by a majority vote. | |||
Ukrainian | консенсус | ||
"Консенсус" в Ukrainian comes from the Latin “consentire |
Bengali | sensকমত্য | ||
The word "sensকমত্য" is derived from the Sanskrit word "samamati", meaning "agreement", and the Latin word "consensus", meaning "general agreement". | |||
Gujarati | સર્વસંમતિ | ||
Hindi | आम सहमति | ||
The Hindi word आम सहमति (consensus) literally means 'common understanding'. | |||
Kannada | ಒಮ್ಮತ | ||
ಒಮ್ಮತ derives from the Sanskrit word 'Samamati,' meaning 'even mind', emphasizing the equal consideration of all perspectives. | |||
Malayalam | സമവായം | ||
The word "സമവായം" originates from Sanskrit and also means "reconciliation" or "agreement" in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | एकमत | ||
The word 'एकमत' is derived from the Sanskrit words 'एक' meaning 'one' and 'मत' meaning 'opinion', and can also refer to 'unanimity' or 'unanimous agreement'. | |||
Nepali | सहमति | ||
"सहमति" का मूल संस्कृत "सम् + अहम्" से है जिसका अर्थ है "एक साथ + मति (राय) " या "एक ही राय"। | |||
Punjabi | ਸਹਿਮਤੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සම්මුතිය | ||
Tamil | ஒருமித்த கருத்து | ||
ஒருமித்த கருத்து' means an 'assembly of five members', 'a group of people gathered together', 'a place of meeting', 'an agreement between two parties', 'the unanimity of an assembly' and 'the unanimous opinion or resolution' | |||
Telugu | ఏకాభిప్రాయం | ||
Urdu | اتفاق رائے | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 共识 | ||
共识 (simplified Chinese: 共识; traditional Chinese: 共識) is a Chinese word that means "to share a common view" or "to reach a consensus". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 共識 | ||
共識 is borrowed from the Japanese word “共識,” which is itself derived from the English word “consensus.” | |||
Japanese | コンセンサス | ||
コンセンサスはラテン語で「同調」を意味する「consensus」に由来し、合意形成の方法や、合意そのものを指す。 | |||
Korean | 일치 | ||
일치 consists of the Sino-Korean morphemes 일 (合, 'to match') and 치 (致, 'to reach'), so its meaning extends to 'agreement' and 'conformity' | |||
Mongolian | зөвшилцөл | ||
The Mongolian term "зөвшилцөл" can also refer to "agreement" or "compromise". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | သဘောတူညီမှု | ||
Indonesian | konsensus | ||
The Indonesian word "konsensus" originally derives from the Roman "consensus" via the Dutch "consensus" which means "agreement". | |||
Javanese | konsensus | ||
In Javanese, "konsensus" also means "agreement" or "accord". | |||
Khmer | ការមូលមតិគ្នា | ||
Lao | ຄວາມເປັນເອກະພາບ | ||
Malay | kata sepakat | ||
The Malay word 'kata sepakat' ('consensus') derives from the verb 'sepakat' meaning 'to agree' and the noun 'kata' meaning 'word,' emphasizing the mutual understanding and agreement among parties that consensus represents. | |||
Thai | ฉันทามติ | ||
"ฉันทามติ" is a Pali loanword that originally meant "agreement to do something". | |||
Vietnamese | đoàn kết | ||
The word "đoàn kết" originates from the Chinese characters "团结", meaning "unity" or "solidarity". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pinagkasunduan | ||
Azerbaijani | konsensus | ||
In Azerbaijani, "konsensus" ultimately derives from Latin "consentire" meaning "to agree" but is also sometimes used in a legal context to mean "confession". | |||
Kazakh | консенсус | ||
In Kazakh, the word "консенсус" is the result of borrowing from Russian and has no independent etymology or alternate meanings. | |||
Kyrgyz | консенсус | ||
The term "консенсус" derives from the Latin word "consentire", meaning "to agree together" | |||
Tajik | ризоият | ||
The word "ризоият" in Tajik is derived from the Arabic word "رضا" (riḍā), which means "approval" or "satisfaction". | |||
Turkmen | ylalaşyk | ||
Uzbek | kelishuv | ||
Kelishuv is a compound word formed from the Uzbek words 'kelish' ('to agree') and 'uv' ('mutual'). It can also refer to 'mutual understanding', 'cohesion', or 'accord' in certain contexts. | |||
Uyghur | ئورتاق تونۇش | ||
Hawaiian | ʻāelike | ||
ʻāelike, when used as a verb, means to be in accord or in agreement with someone and is related to the word ʻae, which means 'to agree' | |||
Maori | whakaae | ||
In Maori, "whakaae" can also mean "to agree" or "to acknowledge". | |||
Samoan | maliega autasi | ||
Maliega autasi, often used to mean consensus, literally translates to "the gathering of thoughts or opinions". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pinagkasunduan | ||
Aymara | mä amtar puriñkama | ||
Guarani | consenso rehegua | ||
Esperanto | konsento | ||
Esperanto's "konsento" derives from Latin "consentire" meaning "to think together" and English "consent". | |||
Latin | consensus | ||
In Latin, "consensus" also means "agreement," "harmony," or "unity." |
Greek | ομοφωνία | ||
"Ομοφωνία" (omofonia) also means "homophony," indicating that sounds or words which sound like other sounds of words may have different meanings. | |||
Hmong | kev pom zoo | ||
The Hmong word "kev pom zoo" is a compound noun meaning "unity of speech" or "coming to an agreement," and is used to refer to the process of reaching a consensus or agreement among a group of people. | |||
Kurdish | lihevhatin | ||
The word "lihevhatin" in Kurdish also means "to gather" or "to bring together". | |||
Turkish | uzlaşma | ||
"Uzlaşma" also refers to being in a state of compromise. | |||
Xhosa | imvumelwano | ||
"Imvumelwano" can also refer to agreement or unity. | |||
Yiddish | קאָנסענסוס | ||
The Yiddish word "קאָנסענסוס" ("consensus") also shares an etymological root with the Hebrew word for "council", "עצה". | |||
Zulu | ukuvumelana | ||
"Ukuvumelana" derives from the verb "ukuvuma" (to agree) and the noun "imel" (speech), suggesting an agreement established through verbal communication. | |||
Assamese | সহমত | ||
Aymara | mä amtar puriñkama | ||
Bhojpuri | सहमति बन गइल बा | ||
Dhivehi | އިއްތިފާގުން | ||
Dogri | सहमति दे | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pinagkasunduan | ||
Guarani | consenso rehegua | ||
Ilocano | panagtutunos | ||
Krio | kɔnsɛnsus | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | کۆدەنگی | ||
Maithili | सहमति | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯥꯅꯕꯥ ꯄꯨꯔꯀꯄꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | inremna siam a ni | ||
Oromo | waliigaltee uumuudhaan | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସହମତି | ||
Quechua | consenso nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | सहमतिः | ||
Tatar | консенсус | ||
Tigrinya | ምርድዳእ ዝብል እዩ። | ||
Tsonga | ku twanana | ||