Container in Different Languages
Discover 'Container' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Containers have been an essential part of human civilization for thousands of years. From ancient amphorae used to transport wine and oil, to the modern shipping containers that facilitate global trade, these vessels have played a significant role in shaping our world. The word 'container' itself is a testament to human ingenuity, as it represents a simple yet powerful concept that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Understanding the translation of 'container' in different languages not only broadens our vocabulary but also offers insights into how different cultures have approached the idea of containment. For instance, the Spanish translation, 'contenedor,' reflects a similar Latin root as its English counterpart. Meanwhile, in Mandarin, '容器' (róngqì) combines the characters for 'container' and 'space,' highlighting the importance of spatial reasoning in Chinese culture.
By exploring the many translations of 'container,' we can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of this humble word. Here are some translations of 'container' in various languages:
Container
Container in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | houer | ||
| The Afrikaans word "houer" shares the same Proto-Germanic root as the English "hour", indicating a connection with the passage of time and duration. | |||
| Amharic | መያዣ | ||
| "መያዣ" can also mean "holder" or "receptacle" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | akwati | ||
| In its alternative form, “kwati” in Hausa means “to receive”, highlighting the containers' function of accommodating. | |||
| Igbo | akpa | ||
| "Akpa" in Igbo also refers to the concept of "carrying" or "holding," signifying not just a physical container but also a broader notion of responsibility or containment. | |||
| Malagasy | fitoeran-javatra | ||
| The word "fitoeran-javatra" is also used to refer to a place where something is stored. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chidebe | ||
| The word 'chidebe' can also refer to a type of basket woven from palm leaves. | |||
| Shona | mudziyo | ||
| The word 'mudziyo' also refers to a clay pot specifically used to fetch water from the well. | |||
| Somali | weel | ||
| The Somali word "weel" is derived from the Arabic word "wala", meaning "to contain". | |||
| Sesotho | setshelo | ||
| Setshelo is derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-celo meaning 'to hold' and thus can also mean 'bag' or 'purse'. | |||
| Swahili | chombo | ||
| The word "chombo" can also refer to a boat or a vehicle in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | isikhongozeli | ||
| The word "isikhongozeli" can also refer to a type of woven basket used for carrying items. | |||
| Yoruba | eiyan | ||
| The word "eiyan" can also refer to a type of basket used for carrying goods. | |||
| Zulu | isitsha | ||
| "Isitsha" can sometimes refer to a specific type of container used for water. | |||
| Bambara | minɛn kɔnɔ | ||
| Ewe | nugoe me | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kontineri | ||
| Lingala | eloko oyo batyaka na kati | ||
| Luganda | ekibya | ||
| Sepedi | setshelo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ade a wɔde gu mu | ||
Container in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | حاوية | ||
| The Arabic حاوية (container) comes from the verb حوى (to contain) | |||
| Hebrew | מְכוֹלָה | ||
| The Hebrew word "מְכוֹלָה" (container) is derived from the root "כל" (to contain), and it also carries the meaning of "vessel" or "receptacle". | |||
| Pashto | لوښی | ||
| The Pashto word "لوښی" also refers to a type of cooking pot, often made of clay or metal, used for preparing and serving dishes. | |||
| Arabic | حاوية | ||
| The Arabic حاوية (container) comes from the verb حوى (to contain) | |||
Container in Western European Languages
| Albanian | enë | ||
| The word "enë" is likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁nes-, meaning "vessel." | |||
| Basque | edukiontzia | ||
| "Ontzia" is a word that means "vessel" or "ship" and "Edu" is a Basque word that is used as a diminutive. | |||
| Catalan | contenidor | ||
| The word 'contenidor' derives from the Latin 'continere', meaning 'to hold', and shares a root with 'content' in English. | |||
| Croatian | kontejner | ||
| In Croatian, 'kontejner' can also refer to a 'dumpster' or 'waste bin'. | |||
| Danish | beholder | ||
| In Danish, "beholder" can also refer to a holder for a flag or a weapon, or a container for tobacco. | |||
| Dutch | container | ||
| In Dutch, "container" can also refer to a specific type of ship designed to carry large loads of cargo. | |||
| English | container | ||
| In the 1950s the word "container" (for shipping) was shortened from "containerization," which in turn was derived from "container," which ultimately derived from the Latin, "continere," or "to hold together." | |||
| French | récipient | ||
| Récipient in French derives from Latin 'recipientis' "receiving." In 1381 it became used not only for objects made to receive but also in anatomy (1549), in pharmacy (1594), or for "recipient" (since 1878); while in chemistry, "receptaculum," meaning "place where one receives," from Late Latin, also exists as "réceptacle." | |||
| Frisian | kontener | ||
| It also means 'containment', 'hold', 'envelope', 'receptacle', 'canister', 'tin', or 'case' in Frisian. | |||
| Galician | envase | ||
| The word "envase" in Galician is also used to refer to the contents of a container. | |||
| German | container | ||
| In German, the word "Container" also refers to a trash bin or garbage can. | |||
| Icelandic | ílát | ||
| The word "ílát" can also refer to a tool used for separating cream from milk. | |||
| Irish | coimeádán | ||
| The word "coimeádán" can also refer to a box or a case, or a small room or chamber. | |||
| Italian | contenitore | ||
| "Contenitore" also means "vessel", "recipient", or "receptacle" in Italian. | |||
| Luxembourgish | container | ||
| Maltese | kontenitur | ||
| In Maltese, the word "kontenitur" is derived from the English word "container", and can also refer to a specific type of container used for transporting goods. | |||
| Norwegian | container | ||
| In Norwegian, "container" can mean "container", "box" or "vessel".} | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | recipiente | ||
| The Portuguese word "recipiente" is derived from the Latin word "recipiens," which means "receiving vessel" or "receptacle." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | container | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, "container" can also refer to a coffin. | |||
| Spanish | envase | ||
| The word "envase" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*enh₁-" meaning "to put in" and is related to the English word "nest". | |||
| Swedish | behållare | ||
| The Swedish word "behållare" can also refer to a receptacle, reservoir or retainer. | |||
| Welsh | cynhwysydd | ||
| Welsh word 'cynhwysydd' possibly derives from either 'cyf and 'wys' (containing a space) or 'cyn and 'hys' (before shadow), meaning either 'that which contains a space' or 'that which exists before the darkness'. | |||
Container in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | кантэйнер | ||
| The Belarusian word кантэйнер is derived from the English word “container.” | |||
| Bosnian | kontejner | ||
| The word "kontejner" in Bosnian can also refer to a "dumpster" or a "trash can". | |||
| Bulgarian | контейнер | ||
| The word "контейнер" can also refer to a type of ship or a storage unit. | |||
| Czech | kontejner | ||
| In Czech, the word "kontejner" can also be used to refer to a dumpster. | |||
| Estonian | konteiner | ||
| The Estonian word "konteiner" has multiple meanings, including "container," "shipping container," and "dumpster." | |||
| Finnish | astiaan | ||
| The word "astiaan" is likely derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*astijainen", meaning "a vessel used for holding liquids" | |||
| Hungarian | tartály | ||
| The Hungarian word "tartály" ('container') is thought to originate from the Proto-Turkic word *tart- ('to hold') (cf. Mongolian тархалгах (tarkhalgah) ('to scatter'), Turkish dartmak ('to scatter'). | |||
| Latvian | konteiners | ||
| 'Konteiners' also means 'bin' or 'vessel' in Latvian. | |||
| Lithuanian | konteinerį | ||
| The word "konteinerį" is borrowed from the English word "container" and has the same meaning. | |||
| Macedonian | контејнер | ||
| "Контејнер" is derived from the French word "contenir" (to hold) and ultimately from the Latin "continere" (to restrain), and can be used for a variety of meanings. | |||
| Polish | pojemnik | ||
| The word "pojemnik" in Polish is derived from the verb "pojmować" meaning "to contain" and has related terms such as "pojemność" and "pojemności" which refer to "capacity" and "volume". | |||
| Romanian | container | ||
| In Romanian, “container” can also refer to an administrative territorial structure or to a document holding a certificate. | |||
| Russian | контейнер | ||
| “Контейнер” — заимствованное из англ. container «резервуар; вместилище», от лат. continere «сдерживать; удерживать». | |||
| Serbian | контејнер | ||
| The word "контејнер" (container) in Serbian also means "a type of boat". | |||
| Slovak | kontajner | ||
| In Slovak, "kontajner" can also refer to a type of wardrobe used to store clothing or other items. | |||
| Slovenian | posoda | ||
| The word "posoda" also means "vessel" or "ship" in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | контейнер | ||
| The word "контейнер" can also refer to a shipping container or a receptacle for holding something. | |||
Container in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ধারক | ||
| The word "ধারক" in Bengali is derived from the Sanskrit word "धृ" (dhri), meaning "to hold" or "to bear". | |||
| Gujarati | કન્ટેનર | ||
| Hindi | पात्र | ||
| In Sanskrit, 'पात्र' also refers to a worthy person or a character in a play. | |||
| Kannada | ಧಾರಕ | ||
| The word "ಧಾರಕ" (dhāraka) is derived from the Sanskrit word "dhṛ" (to hold) and is also used to refer to a person who "bears" or "carries" something. | |||
| Malayalam | കണ്ടെയ്നർ | ||
| The word "കണ്ടെയ്നർ" can also refer to a prison cell or a shipping container. | |||
| Marathi | कंटेनर | ||
| The word "कंटेनर" (container) is derived from the Latin word "continere," meaning "to hold together". | |||
| Nepali | कन्टेनर | ||
| The word "कन्टेनर" comes from the English word "container", which ultimately derives from the Latin word "continere", meaning "to hold". | |||
| Punjabi | ਕੰਟੇਨਰ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කන්ටේනරය | ||
| In Sinhala, the word “කන්ටේනරය” can also refer to a lunch box or a case for carrying something. | |||
| Tamil | கொள்கலன் | ||
| Telugu | కంటైనర్ | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning, "కంటైనర్" can also refer to a "birth control device" in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | کنٹینر | ||
| The word کنٹینر comes from the English word "container" which itself is derived from the Latin "continere" meaning to hold together. | |||
Container in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 容器 | ||
| In ancient Chinese, 容 means "to tolerate" and 器 means "instrument," so 容器 originally meant "an item that can hold or tolerate something." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 容器 | ||
| 容器 (róngqì) could also mean 'recipient' in the sense of being the person receiving something. | |||
| Japanese | コンテナ | ||
| The word "コンテナ" (container) comes from the English word "container", though it can also mean "box" or "crate" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 컨테이너 | ||
| The word "컨테이너" derives from the English word "container" and is used similarly in Korean, referring to a receptacle or vessel for holding or transporting goods. | |||
| Mongolian | сав | ||
| The Mongolian word "сав" is a homophone that is used to refer to "container" and "container with milk or milk products" | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကွန်တိန်နာ | ||
Container in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | wadah | ||
| The word "wadah" also means "uterus" in Old Javanese. | |||
| Javanese | wadhah | ||
| The term 'wadhah' can also refer to a container used for storing food, especially in ritual or ceremonial contexts, or a specific type of container used in traditional Javanese architecture for holding liquids or other materials. | |||
| Khmer | កុងតឺន័រ | ||
| The Khmer word “កុងតឺន័រ” (“container”) is derived from the English word “container,” which in turn comes from the Latin word “continere,” meaning “to hold together.” | |||
| Lao | ພາຊະນະ | ||
| Malay | bekas | ||
| The word "bekas" is also used to refer to a container or a vessel. | |||
| Thai | ภาชนะ | ||
| The word "ภาชนะ" can also mean "uterus" or a "vessel", and is derived from the Sanskrit "pātra" which means "vessel", "utensil", or "container". | |||
| Vietnamese | thùng đựng hàng | ||
| The word container in Vietnamese "thùng đựng hàng" means a box or a crate which is used to hold and transport goods. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lalagyan | ||
Container in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | konteyner | ||
| In Azerbaijani, | |||
| Kazakh | контейнер | ||
| In Kazakh, "контейнер" is borrowed from Russian and refers not only to containers but also to a "box" or "case" in a wider sense. | |||
| Kyrgyz | контейнер | ||
| В кыргызском языке слово "контейнер" также может означать "ёмкость для хранения сыпучих продуктов или жидкости". | |||
| Tajik | контейнер | ||
| In Tajik, the word “контейнер” can also refer to a type of packaging used to transport goods, such as a cardboard box or a wooden crate. | |||
| Turkmen | gap | ||
| Uzbek | idish | ||
| The word "idish" can also refer to a type of small, handheld container made of metal or glass. | |||
| Uyghur | قاچا | ||
Container in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ipu | ||
| The Hawaiian word **ipu** can also refer to a place or enclosure, making it a multipurpose term with various layers of meaning. | |||
| Maori | ipu | ||
| The word "ipu" in Māori can also refer to the body of a person or a group's identity | |||
| Samoan | koneteina | ||
| The word “koneteina” may also refer to a place where something is kept in a permanent or semi-permanent way | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | lalagyan | ||
| The word 'lalagyan' in Tagalog also refers to a place or receptacle for something. | |||
Container in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ukatsti uka phukhu | ||
| Guarani | mba’yru | ||
Container in International Languages
| Esperanto | ujo | ||
| “Ujo” is also occasionally used in the sense of a “group”, particularly of people with a close relationship to each other. | |||
| Latin | continens | ||
| In Classical Latin, "continens" also meant "self-restrained" or "moderate" and was used as a translation of the Greek word "enkratēs". | |||
Container in Others Languages
| Greek | δοχείο | ||
| Δοχείο is a Greek word derived from the verb δέχομαι (déchomai), which means to receive or accept. | |||
| Hmong | ntim | ||
| The word "ntim" in Hmong can also refer to a basket or a bag. | |||
| Kurdish | têrr | ||
| The word "têrr" in Kurdish also refers to the land on which a house is built or a space enclosed by walls. | |||
| Turkish | konteyner | ||
| The word "konteyner" is derived from the French word "conteneur", which means "to hold" or "to contain". | |||
| Xhosa | isikhongozeli | ||
| The word "isikhongozeli" can also refer to a type of woven basket used for carrying items. | |||
| Yiddish | קאנטעינער | ||
| The Yiddish word "קאנטעינער" (container) derives from the English word "container". | |||
| Zulu | isitsha | ||
| "Isitsha" can sometimes refer to a specific type of container used for water. | |||
| Assamese | পাত্ৰ | ||
| Aymara | ukatsti uka phukhu | ||
| Bhojpuri | कंटेनर के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ކޮންޓެއިނަރެވެ | ||
| Dogri | कंटेनर दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lalagyan | ||
| Guarani | mba’yru | ||
| Ilocano | pagkargaan | ||
| Krio | kɔntena we dɛn kin put insay | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دەفرێک | ||
| Maithili | पात्र | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯟꯇꯦꯅꯔ ꯑꯃꯥ ꯌꯥꯑꯣꯔꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | container-ah dah a ni | ||
| Oromo | qabduu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପାତ୍ର | ||
| Quechua | waqaychana | ||
| Sanskrit | पात्रम् | ||
| Tatar | контейнер | ||
| Tigrinya | መትሓዚ | ||
| Tsonga | xigwitsirisi | ||