Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'consume' holds great significance in our lives, as it describes the act of using up resources or energy, or the purchase and use of goods and services. This concept is universal and forms the backbone of economies worldwide. Moreover, 'consume' carries cultural importance, as it reflects our societal values and behaviors around material possessions and resource management.
Understanding the translation of 'consume' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights. For instance, in Spanish, 'consume' translates to 'consumir,' which sounds similar but carries slightly different connotations. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'consume' becomes 'shōhi suru,' reflecting the language's unique phonetic and grammatical structures.
Knowing the translation of 'consume' in various languages can also be practical for travelers, businesspeople, or anyone interested in global affairs. By using the correct terminology, you can better communicate and connect with people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Here are some translations of 'consume' in various languages:
Afrikaans | verteer | ||
The Afrikaans word "verteer" is derived from the Dutch word "verteren", which also means "to consume" in English. | |||
Amharic | ይበሉ | ||
The word "ይበሉ" also means "to spend" or "to waste" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | cinye | ||
"Cinye" derives from the Proto-West-Niger-Congo verb root "-ci" with the addition of an object prefix "n" indicating "consumption of" | |||
Igbo | rie | ||
In certain Igbo dialects, "rie" also means "to eat or drink slowly and deliberately." | |||
Malagasy | handevona | ||
"Handevona" is related to the word "hanina" meaning "to have". It also means "to destroy" or "to finish". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | dya | ||
The noun 'dya' can also refer to food or a meal. | |||
Shona | kupedza | ||
It is cognate with the word 'kupedza' in Luganda, meaning 'to end' or 'to finish'. | |||
Somali | cunid | ||
The Somali word "cunid" also means "to use up" or "to exhaust". | |||
Sesotho | jang | ||
The verb 'jang' can refer to burning, cooking, or the consumption of food. | |||
Swahili | tumia | ||
The word 'tumia' also means 'to use' or 'to apply' in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | tya | ||
The word 'tya' in Xhosa can also refer to the act of swallowing or absorbing something. | |||
Yoruba | jẹ | ||
In Yoruba, "jẹ" also means "to bewitch" and is related to the word "ẹjẹ" (blood). | |||
Zulu | kudle | ||
'kudla' is often confused with 'dla', but it carries a sense of 'biting off' something in chunks. | |||
Bambara | ka dun | ||
Ewe | ɖu | ||
Kinyarwanda | kumara | ||
Lingala | kozikisa | ||
Luganda | okukozesa | ||
Sepedi | šomiša | ||
Twi (Akan) | di | ||
Arabic | تستهلك | ||
The Arabic verb "تستهلك" is thought to derive from the triliteral root "ث ك ل," which refers to a state of "being heavy" or "burdened." | |||
Hebrew | לִצְרוֹך | ||
לצרוך is a Hebrew verb which can mean to `spend`, `utilize`, or `devote`, derived from the word for `need` (צֹרֶך). | |||
Pashto | مصرف کړئ | ||
The Pashto word "مصرف کړئ" also means "to use up" or "to exhaust". | |||
Arabic | تستهلك | ||
The Arabic verb "تستهلك" is thought to derive from the triliteral root "ث ك ل," which refers to a state of "being heavy" or "burdened." |
Albanian | konsumoj | ||
In Albanian, the word 'konsumoj' also refers to the act of purchasing goods and services. | |||
Basque | kontsumitu | ||
While kontsumitu can mean "consume" in Basque, it can also mean "wear out" or "finish off." | |||
Catalan | consumir | ||
In Catalan, "consumir" also means "to use up" or "to destroy". | |||
Croatian | konzumirati | ||
The Croatian verb 'konzumirati' also has the meaning of 'to use up', as in 'konzumirati vodu' ('to use up water'). | |||
Danish | forbruge | ||
"Forbruge" is etymologically related to Old Norse "freysta" meaning "to try, attempt" or "to enjoy." | |||
Dutch | consumeren | ||
Dutch word "consumeren" comes from the Latin "consumere", meaning "to complete, to use up". | |||
English | consume | ||
"Consume" can also mean waste or destroy. | |||
French | consommer | ||
In French, "consommer" has the alternate meaning of "to spend (time)" akin to the English "pass the time". | |||
Frisian | konsumearje | ||
The word 'konsumearje' also means 'use up', 'devour' or 'destroy' in Frisian. | |||
Galician | consumir | ||
The Galician word "consumir" can also mean "to finish" or "to end". | |||
German | verbrauchen | ||
"Verbrauchen" is derived from the Middle High German "verbrûchen," which means "to break," and "verbrâchen," which means "to use up." | |||
Icelandic | neyta | ||
The word 'neyta' can also be used to describe the process of 'using' or 'spending'. | |||
Irish | ithe | ||
The Irish word "ithe" is also used as a noun meaning "meal". | |||
Italian | consumare | ||
In ancient Rome, "consumare" also meant "to sacrifice". | |||
Luxembourgish | verbrauchen | ||
Verbrauchen means "to use up" in Luxembourgish, and derives from the Old High German "firbrahhon" (to use up). | |||
Maltese | tikkonsma | ||
The noun "tikkonsma" originally referred to the act of "consumptio", i.e. the "use up" of the eucharistic bread and wine. | |||
Norwegian | forbruke | ||
"Forbruke" (literally: "to use up") in Norwegian also has the alternate meaning of "to use up by fire," i.e., to burn (transitively). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | consumir | ||
In Portuguese, "consumir" can also mean "to waste" or "to spend money or time on something unnecessarily" | |||
Scots Gaelic | ithe | ||
The word "ithe" in Scots Gaelic can also refer to "eating" or "feeding" something. | |||
Spanish | consumir | ||
The verb "consumir" in Spanish also means to "complete" or "achieve" something, or to "use up" or "exhaust" something. | |||
Swedish | konsumera | ||
The word "konsumera" in Swedish also means "to use up" or "to exhaust". | |||
Welsh | bwyta | ||
The word 'bwyta' has origins in Proto-Celtic and Old British but can also refer to a portion or a meal. |
Belarusian | спажываць | ||
The word "спажываць" in Belarusian is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb *požirati, meaning "to devour, to eat up". | |||
Bosnian | konzumirajte | ||
The verb 'konzumirati' also translates to 'spend', so a sign that says 'Konzumirajte domaće proizvode' could be translated as 'Buy domestic products'. | |||
Bulgarian | консумирайте | ||
"Консумирайте" is a loanword from Russian, meaning both "to consume" and "to use up resources." | |||
Czech | konzumovat | ||
The word "konzumovat" in Czech can also mean "to use up" or "to exhaust". | |||
Estonian | tarbima | ||
The word "tarbima" also means "to use up" or "to exhaust" in Estonian, highlighting the notion of depleting something through consumption. | |||
Finnish | kuluttaa | ||
Kuluttaa can also refer to "expense", "expend", or "use up". | |||
Hungarian | fogyaszt | ||
The Hungarian word "fogyaszt" originally meant "to use up, exhaust", and is related to the word "fogy" (to lose weight). | |||
Latvian | patērē | ||
The word "patērēt" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*peh₂-tér-i-", meaning "to feed, nourish, or fatten." | |||
Lithuanian | vartoti | ||
The verb "vartoti" is derived from the word "varta", meaning "gate" or "watchtower", suggesting the idea of observing or utilizing something. | |||
Macedonian | консумираат | ||
The verb 'консумираат' can be also be used to describe the act of taking up space. | |||
Polish | konsumować | ||
"Konsumować" in Polish can also mean "to marry" or "to accomplish, to fulfil". | |||
Romanian | a consuma | ||
In Romanian, "a consuma" can also mean "to finish", "to spend", or "to use up". | |||
Russian | потреблять | ||
Although it has a negative connotation in modern Russian, "потреблять" comes from the Old Church Slavonic "треб" meaning "sacrifice" | |||
Serbian | трошити | ||
The verb "трошити" is derived from the word "троха" meaning "crumb" and suggests breaking something into small pieces. | |||
Slovak | konzumovať | ||
The original meaning of the word "konzumovať" was "to use for a certain purpose". | |||
Slovenian | porabijo | ||
The word "porabiti" (consume) in Slovenian also has the alternate meaning of "to use up". | |||
Ukrainian | споживати | ||
The word "споживати" in Ukrainian can also mean to "use up" or "expend". |
Bengali | গ্রাস করা | ||
Bengali word গ্রাস করা can also mean "to seize or swallow something quickly or eagerly". | |||
Gujarati | વપરાશ | ||
The word "વપરાશ" can also mean "use" or "expenditure". | |||
Hindi | उपभोग करना | ||
The Hindi word "उपभोग करना" is derived from the Sanskrit root "bhuj," which means "to eat" or "to enjoy." | |||
Kannada | ಸೇವಿಸಿ | ||
The word "ಸೇವಿಸಿ" can also mean "to utilize" or "to make use of". | |||
Malayalam | ഉപഭോഗം | ||
ഉപഭോഗം (upakhogam) in Malayalam has additional meanings like 'enjoyment', 'use', or 'appropriation'. | |||
Marathi | उपभोगणे | ||
The word "उपभोगणे" can also mean to enjoy or to experience something. | |||
Nepali | उपभोग गर्नु | ||
"उपभोग गर्नु" in Nepali can also mean to "enjoy," "experience," or "use" something. | |||
Punjabi | ਸੇਵਨ ਕਰੋ | ||
The word "ਸੇਵਨ ਕਰੋ" in Punjabi also denotes the intake of religious food offerings or holy water, akin to partaking in a sacred practice. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පරිභෝජනය | ||
The word "පරිභෝජනය" could also refer to the process of utilizing or exploiting something. | |||
Tamil | நுகரும் | ||
The word "நுகரும்" also means "to enjoy" or "to experience" in Tamil. | |||
Telugu | తినే | ||
The word "తినే" also means "to eat" or "to devour" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | بسم | ||
In Urdu, "بسم" can also refer to a type of sweetmeat |
Chinese (Simplified) | 消耗 | ||
消耗 (xiāohao) can also mean 'to destroy', 'to exhaust', or 'to use up'. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 消耗 | ||
The character 消 (consume) is derived from a depiction of food and fire, suggesting its original meaning of "to use up". | |||
Japanese | 消費する | ||
"消費する" also means "to sell out" or "to use up" in Japanese. | |||
Korean | 바싹 여위다 | ||
"바싹 여위다" originally meant to become totally dried up, and now is used to mean to become exhausted from using up all of one's energy. | |||
Mongolian | хэрэглэх | ||
The term "хэрэглэх" can also mean "use" or "utilize" in Mongolian, indicating an action that involves employing something. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | စားသုံး | ||
Indonesian | konsumsi | ||
"Konsumsi" also means "consumption" and comes from the Dutch "consumptie" | |||
Javanese | nganggo | ||
Ngenggo is also a slang in Indonesian that refers to the consumption of marijuana. | |||
Khmer | ប្រើប្រាស់ | ||
Lao | ບໍລິໂພກ | ||
Malay | memakan | ||
The word "memakan" is related to "makan" ("to eat") and can figuratively mean "to use up time, money, etc." | |||
Thai | บริโภค | ||
บริโภค (consume) is a Thai word derived from Pali and Sanskrit and can also mean 'to enjoy' or 'to use up'. | |||
Vietnamese | tiêu thụ | ||
"Tiêu thụ" in Vietnamese can also mean "to suffer", reflecting the idea of consumption as a process that can diminish or deplete resources. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | ubusin | ||
Azerbaijani | istehlak etmək | ||
The word "istehlak etmək" is derived from the Arabic word "istihlāk", which means "destruction" or "waste". However, in Azerbaijani, the word has a more general meaning, referring to the use or consumption of goods and services. | |||
Kazakh | тұтыну | ||
"Тұтыну" means "to consume" in Kazakh, but it also has the meaning of "to use up" or "to wear out". | |||
Kyrgyz | керектөө | ||
"Керектөө" derives from the Turkic verb *kir-, meaning "to enter", and the suffix *-t-, turning it into the nominal "that which is entered", hence "consumption." | |||
Tajik | истеъмол кардан | ||
Истеъмол кардан derives from the Persian word "مصرف کردن" (masraf kardan), meaning "to spend" or "to use up." | |||
Turkmen | sarp et | ||
Uzbek | iste'mol | ||
The word "iste'mol" in Uzbek also refers to "usage", "use", "utilization", "expenditure", and "consumption". | |||
Uyghur | ئىستېمال قىلىڭ | ||
Hawaiian | e hoopau | ||
"E hoopau" can also mean "to make fast" or "to fasten firmly." | |||
Maori | pau | ||
The Maori word "pau" not only means "consume," but also has the additional meanings of "to finish" and "to be exhausted." | |||
Samoan | faʻaumatia | ||
The term "faʻaumatia" is derived from the Proto-Polynesian word *faamu* meaning "to eat or devour". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | ubusin | ||
"Ubusin" and "ubos" (consumed) in Tagalog come from the Proto-Austronesian word for "burn", i.e. "*hubus". |
Aymara | tukuchaña | ||
Guarani | u | ||
Esperanto | konsumi | ||
Konsumi in Esperanto comes from Latin "consumo", which also has a meaning "destroy or ruin, waste". | |||
Latin | consume | ||
The Latin verb 'consumere' also means 'to spend' or 'to use completely'. |
Greek | καταναλώνω | ||
The word "καταναλώνω" derives from the Greek words "κατα-" (down) and "αναλίσκω" (to spend), and its alternate meanings include "to destroy", "to exhaust", and "to waste" | |||
Hmong | haus | ||
The Hmong word "haus" also means "to eat". | |||
Kurdish | dixwe | ||
The verb "dixwe" can also refer to the act of drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes. | |||
Turkish | tüketmek | ||
The Turkish verb "tüketmek" also has the archaic meaning of "finish" and "complete". | |||
Xhosa | tya | ||
The word 'tya' in Xhosa can also refer to the act of swallowing or absorbing something. | |||
Yiddish | פאַרנוצן | ||
The Yiddish word "פאַרנוצן" ("farnutzen") is derived from the German "vernutzen" meaning "to use up" or "to exploit". | |||
Zulu | kudle | ||
'kudla' is often confused with 'dla', but it carries a sense of 'biting off' something in chunks. | |||
Assamese | গ্ৰাস কৰা | ||
Aymara | tukuchaña | ||
Bhojpuri | खपत कईल | ||
Dhivehi | ބޭނުންކުރުން | ||
Dogri | खपत करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | ubusin | ||
Guarani | u | ||
Ilocano | usaren | ||
Krio | yuz | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | بەکارهێنان | ||
Maithili | खपत करनाइ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯤꯖꯤꯟꯅꯕ | ||
Mizo | hmang | ||
Oromo | soorrachuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଖାଆନ୍ତୁ | | ||
Quechua | hapiy | ||
Sanskrit | प्लक्ष् | ||
Tatar | куллану | ||
Tigrinya | ምውሳድ | ||
Tsonga | ku tirhisa | ||