Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'contribute' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, emphasizing the importance of individual impact in shaping communities, ideas, and progress. Derived from the Latin 'contribuere' meaning 'to bring together,' its cultural significance extends to various languages and traditions.
Throughout history, contributions have been instrumental in advancing human civilization. From the Renaissance to the digital age, individuals have 'contributed' their skills, knowledge, and creativity to enrich our collective experience. Understanding the word in different languages can help us appreciate its global cultural impact and foster a sense of unity in diversity.
For instance, in Spanish, 'contribute' is 'contribuir,' while in French, it's 'contribuer.' In Mandarin, it's '贡献 (gòngxiàn),' and in Japanese, it's '貢献 (kōken).' These translations not only reflect linguistic diversity but also highlight the shared value of collaboration and participation across cultures.
Discover how 'contribute' translates in various languages and broaden your understanding of its global significance. Explore the list below to learn more!
Afrikaans | bydra | ||
The word "bydra" can also mean "assist" or "support". | |||
Amharic | አስተዋፅዖ ያድርጉ | ||
Hausa | ba da gudummawa | ||
In many Chadic languages, ''ba da gudummawa'' means to ''add'' or ''put together'' | |||
Igbo | nye aka | ||
''Aka'' (hand) is used to describe the action of giving or providing, and ''nye'' (give) signifies the transfer of an object from one person to another. | |||
Malagasy | mandray anjara | ||
Mandray anjara contains an alternate meaning, 'offer one's service,' in the context of offering oneself (as a worker or assistant) to someone who needs it. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | perekani | ||
The Nyanja (Chichewa) word 'perekani' can also refer to the act of donating or giving to somebody in need. | |||
Shona | batsira | ||
The word "batsira" in Shona can also refer to "the act of joining or uniting with others." | |||
Somali | wax ku darsado | ||
The Somali verb "wax ku darsado" can also mean "to add" or "to supplement." | |||
Sesotho | tlatsetsa | ||
The word "tlatsetsa" is derived from the verb "latsa," meaning "to carry or support." | |||
Swahili | kuchangia | ||
The Swahili verb 'kuchangia' means 'to contribute,' but it may also refer to adding to an existing quantity or to joining an existing group or organization. | |||
Xhosa | negalelo | ||
The Xhosa word "negalelo" is also used to refer to a contribution made towards a specific purpose. | |||
Yoruba | ṣe alabapin | ||
"Ṣe alabapin" can also mean "to participate" or "to partake (in something)". | |||
Zulu | ukufaka isandla | ||
The Zulu word 'ukufaka isandla' literally means 'to put a hand in' and connotes offering help or assistance. | |||
Bambara | ka bolomafara di | ||
Ewe | dzᴐ nu | ||
Kinyarwanda | umusanzu | ||
Lingala | kopesa | ||
Luganda | okuwaayo | ||
Sepedi | na le seabe | ||
Twi (Akan) | boa | ||
Arabic | مساهمة | ||
مساهمة is also used in Arabic to refer to a contribution to a fund or a cause, or to a person's share in a company or partnership. | |||
Hebrew | לתרום | ||
"לתרום" means also "to sow, cultivate" (from Aramaic), and "to raise, elevate, exalt, support, lift up, assist" (from Latin). | |||
Pashto | ونډه اخیستل | ||
Arabic | مساهمة | ||
مساهمة is also used in Arabic to refer to a contribution to a fund or a cause, or to a person's share in a company or partnership. |
Albanian | kontribuojnë | ||
"Kontribuojnë" (contribute) derives from the Latin "contribuere," meaning "to bring together" or "to share." | |||
Basque | lagundu | ||
The word "lagundu" also means "help". | |||
Catalan | contribuir | ||
The word "contribuir" has the additional meaning of "to attribute" or "to assign" in Catalan. | |||
Croatian | doprinijeti | ||
The verb 'doprinijeti' can also refer to making something impure by adding external elements. | |||
Danish | bidrage | ||
Bidrage shares an etymology with the English words 'bid' and 'bidding'. | |||
Dutch | bijdragen | ||
In addition to its literal meaning of 'contribute', 'bijdragen' can also mean 'to assist' or 'to help'. | |||
English | contribute | ||
"Contribute" derives from Latin "contribuere," meaning "to work together". | |||
French | contribuer | ||
"Contribuer" is derived from the Latin word "contribuere", which originally meant to give or offer, but has also been used in French to refer to providing money or resources. | |||
Frisian | bydrage | ||
The Frisian word "bydrage" is cognate with the Dutch "bijdrage" and the German "Beitrag". | |||
Galician | contribuír | ||
The Galician word "contribuír" has the same meaning as the Spanish word "contribuir," but it can also mean "to help" or "to cooperate." | |||
German | beitragen | ||
"Beitragen" originates from the Old High German "bitragan", which itself formed from "bi" (meaning "near, by, at, to") and "tragen" (meaning "to carry"). | |||
Icelandic | leggja sitt af mörkum | ||
"Leggja sitt af mörkum" literally means "to lay something of the dark", possibly referring to the tradition of offering something from the darkness (e.g., food) during the winter solstice." | |||
Irish | cur | ||
The word "cur" also means "hound" and is thought to be related to "coy". | |||
Italian | contribuire | ||
The Italian word "contribuire" comes from the Latin word "contribuere," meaning "to come together." | |||
Luxembourgish | bäidroen | ||
The verb bäidroen ('to contribute') comes from German 'beitrage', which in turn stems from French 'apport' ('to bring in'). | |||
Maltese | tikkontribwixxi | ||
The etymology of "tikkontribwixxi" is uncertain, but it may derive from the Italian "contribuire" or the French "contribuer." | |||
Norwegian | bidra | ||
The word "bidra" is derived from the Old Norse word "biðja," which means "to ask for" or "to request." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | contribuir | ||
In Portuguese, 'contribuir' can also mean 'help', 'aid', or 'cooperate'. | |||
Scots Gaelic | cuir ris | ||
The word "cuir ris" can also mean "to add" or "to put together" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
Spanish | contribuir | ||
The verb "contribuir" also means "to subscribe" in archaic Spanish (e.g. "Contribuir con una cantidad a favor de una causa") | |||
Swedish | bidra | ||
The word bidraga comes from the Scandinavian root | |||
Welsh | cyfrannu | ||
Cyfrannu's original meaning was 'to deliver or share property' but, by the 16th century, it began to be used more in a moral sense. |
Belarusian | спрыяць | ||
The word "спрыяць" also means "to favor" or "to promote". | |||
Bosnian | doprinijeti | ||
The word "doprinijeti" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *dоpьrьnьti, meaning "to bring". It is also related to the word "doprinos", meaning "a contribution". | |||
Bulgarian | допринесе | ||
The word “допринесе” can also mean “to add to” or “to enhance” in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | přispět | ||
The Czech word "přispět" originates from the Old Czech word "přísti", which meant "to spin" or "to lend", referring to the act of adding to something or giving support. | |||
Estonian | panustama | ||
The word is likely derived from “panustama”, which means “to bet”, implying an element of risk or speculation. | |||
Finnish | osallistua | ||
"Osallistua" is a compound word in Finnish, derived from the words "osa" (part) and "listata" (to add). Hence, it literally means "to add a part". | |||
Hungarian | hozzájárul | ||
"Hozzájárul" originates from the Hungarian word "járul," meaning "to approach," "to come close." In the Middle Ages, this word was commonly used to mean "to give help," "to provide support."} | |||
Latvian | dot savu ieguldījumu | ||
The word "dot savu ieguldījumu" in Latvian was originally a loanword from German "Steuern" (taxes) and has since shifted in meaning. | |||
Lithuanian | prisidėti | ||
The word "prisidėti" is derived from the verb "sidėti", meaning "to sit" or "to stay", and the prefix "pri-", meaning "to add" or "to join". Therefore, the literal meaning of "prisidėti" is "to add oneself" or "to join in". | |||
Macedonian | придонесе | ||
The word "придонесе" can also mean "to bring" or "to offer" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | przyczynić się | ||
The Polish word "przyczynić się" was derived from the Old Polish "czynić się", meaning "to be active" or "to take action." | |||
Romanian | a contribui | ||
In Romanian, "a contribui" also means to "take part in"} | |||
Russian | способствовать | ||
"Способствовать" can also mean "to promote" or "to assist". | |||
Serbian | доприносе | ||
Derived from the Old Church Slavonic word “допринести,” meaning “to carry” or “to bring.” | |||
Slovak | prispieť | ||
"Prispieť" is derived from "prispievať" (to hasten, hurry), meaning to "add to" or "help along". | |||
Slovenian | prispevati | ||
The Slavic word 'prispevati', meaning 'to bring something near', is also related to the German word 'erschaffen', meaning 'to create'. | |||
Ukrainian | внести свій внесок | ||
Bengali | অবদান | ||
The word ‘অবদান’ in Bengali, originating from the Sanskrit term ‘अपदान’, can also refer to an individual's departure or demise. | |||
Gujarati | ફાળો | ||
ফালায় (phalaa), ফালাইয়া (phalaaiyaa) - to burst (a sore), to be torn, to be rent | |||
Hindi | योगदान | ||
The word "योगदान" (contribute) in Hindi also means "addition" and originates from Sanskrit "योजयति" (yojayati), meaning "to join, to add". | |||
Kannada | ಕೊಡುಗೆ ನೀಡಿ | ||
Malayalam | സംഭാവന ചെയ്യുക | ||
Marathi | योगदान | ||
The word "योगदान" in Marathi can also mean "a share" or "a donation." | |||
Nepali | योगदान दिनुहोस् | ||
The Nepali word "योगदान दिनुहोस्" is a loanword from English that means to contribute, but it can also be used more broadly to mean "help" or "assist." | |||
Punjabi | ਯੋਗਦਾਨ | ||
The word "ਯੋਗਦਾਨ" (contribute) in Punjabi is derived from Sanskrit and has the alternate meaning of "offering" or "gift." | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දායක වන්න | ||
The Sinhala word “දායක වන්න” also means “to give aid”, “to support”, "to help", and “to assist.” | |||
Tamil | பங்களிப்பு | ||
"பங்களிப்பு" (contribute) is derived from the Tamil word "பங்கு" (share), meaning "to add a part to a whole or to share a common purpose or goal." | |||
Telugu | సహకరించండి | ||
This word derives from the Sanskrit words "saha" (with), "kri" (to do), and "ta" (a suffix); other meanings include "unite to do something" and "work together." | |||
Urdu | شراکت | ||
The word "شراکت" can also mean "partnership" or "collaboration". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 有助于 | ||
有助于 (yǒu yú zhù) can also mean 'to be conducive to' or 'to help'. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 有助於 | ||
The word "有助於", meaning "contribute", is a combination of the words "助" (help) and "有" (have). | |||
Japanese | 助ける | ||
"助ける" (tasukeru) originally meant "to save or help someone," but now also means "to contribute." | |||
Korean | 기여하다 | ||
기여하다 derives from the Chinese word | |||
Mongolian | хувь нэмэр оруулах | ||
The term хувь нэмэр оруулах can also mean "to add, to put in" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကူညီသည် | ||
The word ကါြခာ် မျိနိင်ပးအရှ ("contribute") derives from Pali, and means "to help." |
Indonesian | menyumbang | ||
"Menyumbang" means "to contribute", but can also refer to giving a donation. | |||
Javanese | nyumbang | ||
"Nyumbang" is taken from a Javanese word that originally meant to give something in a form of food or money to someone who is in a trouble or in a need | |||
Khmer | ចូលរួមចំណែក | ||
Lao | ປະກອບສ່ວນ | ||
Malay | menyumbang | ||
The word "menyumbang" also means "to lend money", a meaning it shares with its Indonesian counterpart "menyumbang". | |||
Thai | มีส่วนร่วม | ||
The Thai word "มีส่วนร่วม" can also mean "participate" or "be involved". | |||
Vietnamese | góp phần | ||
The word "Góp phần" in Vietnamese also means "to do one's part" or "to participate". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | mag-ambag | ||
Azerbaijani | töhfə vermək | ||
The term "töhfə" in Azerbaijani also denotes a gift, while the verb "vermək" means "to give", hence the literal translation of "töhfə vermək" is "to give a gift". | |||
Kazakh | жәрдемдесу | ||
The word "жәрдемдесу" also means "to provide assistance" or "to help out" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | салым кошуу | ||
The word "салым кошуу" in Kyrgyz also refers to the practice of collecting money or goods from a community to support a particular cause or individual. | |||
Tajik | саҳм гузоштан | ||
The Tajik word "саҳм гузоштан" is derived from the Persian phrase "sahm guzashtan" which means "to give a share". | |||
Turkmen | goşant goşuň | ||
Uzbek | hissa qo'shmoq | ||
The Uzbek word "hissa qo'shmoq" also means "participate" or "take part". | |||
Uyghur | تۆھپە قوشۇڭ | ||
Hawaiian | kōkua | ||
Kōkua means "to assist" as well as "to carry on the back," indicating the Hawaiian cultural emphasis on mutual support and family. | |||
Maori | takoha | ||
Takoha means 'to contribute', but can also refer to a gift or a payment in return for something. | |||
Samoan | saofaga | ||
The word 'saofaga' also means 'to help' or 'to support' in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | magbigay ng kontribusyon | ||
The word "magbigay ng kontribusyon" is derived from the Spanish word "contribuir", which means "to contribute". |
Aymara | yanpaña | ||
Guarani | pytyvõkuaa | ||
Esperanto | kontribui | ||
"Kontribui" comes from the Latin word "contribuere" and the Esperanto form was borrowed from Russian. | |||
Latin | contribuere | ||
"Contribuere" is derived from "com-" (with) and "tribuere" (offer), originally referring to a gift or a payment to the state and the community. |
Greek | συμβάλλει | ||
The Greek verb "συμβάλλει" has an additional meaning of "agree": in this sense, we find it in the phrase "the city's citizens agreed to a truce" (συνέθεντο οἱ τῆς πόλεως πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους σπονδάς). | |||
Hmong | pab txhawb | ||
The Hmong word "pab txhawb" literally means "to give in return". | |||
Kurdish | paraxwe dayin | ||
"Paraxwe" is a Kurdish verb meaning "provide" or "bring about" and "dayin" translates to "debt" and when they are combined in the phrase "parexwe dayin" it means to pay a debt or help someone in need to the point that the action becomes a debt. | |||
Turkish | katkıda bulunmak | ||
The word "katkıda bulunmak" in Turkish has the same root as "katkı" which means "additive" or "contribution", and "bulunmak" which means "to be located" or "to exist". | |||
Xhosa | negalelo | ||
The Xhosa word "negalelo" is also used to refer to a contribution made towards a specific purpose. | |||
Yiddish | ביישטייערן | ||
The word "ביישטייערן" is derived from the German "beisteuern," meaning "to contribute" or "to provide." | |||
Zulu | ukufaka isandla | ||
The Zulu word 'ukufaka isandla' literally means 'to put a hand in' and connotes offering help or assistance. | |||
Assamese | বৰঙণি দিয়া | ||
Aymara | yanpaña | ||
Bhojpuri | जोगदान कयिल | ||
Dhivehi | ޙިއްސާވުން | ||
Dogri | जोगदान | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | mag-ambag | ||
Guarani | pytyvõkuaa | ||
Ilocano | agited | ||
Krio | gi | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | بەشداریکردن | ||
Maithili | योगदान | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯔꯨꯛ ꯇꯝꯕ | ||
Mizo | thawh | ||
Oromo | gumaachuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସହଯୋଗ କରନ୍ତୁ | | ||
Quechua | quy | ||
Sanskrit | सहयोग | ||
Tatar | өлеш кертү | ||
Tigrinya | ኣዋፅእ | ||
Tsonga | nghenisa | ||