Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'cope', meaning 'to deal effectively with something difficult', is a small but powerful part of the English language. Its significance lies in its recognition of the challenges we face and our ability to overcome them. This concept is not unique to English speakers, as many other languages have their own words to express the idea of coping.
Culturally, the idea of coping is deeply ingrained in our collective psyche, as it speaks to our resilience and determination in the face of adversity. From ancient philosophies to modern self-help books, the ability to cope has been celebrated as a key component of a fulfilling life.
For language enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike, understanding the translation of 'cope' in different languages can offer a fascinating glimpse into how other cultures approach this universal concept. For example, in Spanish, 'cope' translates to 'enfrentar', while in German, it is 'fertig werden'. In French, the word is 'faire face', and in Japanese, it is 'たのむ' (tanomu).
Join us as we explore the many translations of 'cope' and delve into the fascinating cultural contexts that surround them.
Afrikaans | hanteer | ||
The origin of the word "hanteer" is thought to be the Middle Dutch word "hanttieren" (to trade) | |||
Amharic | መቋቋም | ||
The word መቋቋም in Amharic can also refer to resistance, confrontation or opposition. | |||
Hausa | jimre | ||
The word "jimre" in Hausa can also mean "to survive" or "to endure". | |||
Igbo | nagide | ||
The word "nagide" in Igbo, meaning "cope," also connotes the idea of patiently enduring a difficult situation. | |||
Malagasy | hiatrika | ||
The Malagasy word "hiatrika" also means "to take care of" or "to protect". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kupirira | ||
The word "kupirira" can also mean "to endure" or "to tolerate" in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | kutsungirira | ||
Kutsungirira derives from the verb 'kutsunga', which also means 'to cultivate' or 'to support'. | |||
Somali | la qabsan | ||
The Somali word "la qabsan" derives from the Arabic "qabada", meaning "to seize" or "to grasp". | |||
Sesotho | sebetsana ka katleho | ||
The word "sebetsana ka katleho" literally means "to work with death". | |||
Swahili | kukabiliana | ||
The Swahili verb 'kukabiliana' derives from the root '-kabiliana,' meaning 'to face or to confront,' emphasizing the active and confronting nature of coping. | |||
Xhosa | ukumelana | ||
The Xhosa verb "ukumelana" also means "to bear", "to withstand", "to endure", or "to tolerate". | |||
Yoruba | farada | ||
"Farada" also means "to cover" or "to conceal" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | ukubhekana | ||
Zulu word "ukubhekana" can also refer to the process of "confronting" or "dealing with" something | |||
Bambara | ka ku | ||
Ewe | ato eme | ||
Kinyarwanda | guhangana | ||
Lingala | kobunda | ||
Luganda | okusobola | ||
Sepedi | katana | ||
Twi (Akan) | gyina mu | ||
Arabic | التأقلم | ||
The word "التأقلم" is derived from the root "قلم (Q.L.M)", meaning to trim or to cut, and it implies the adjustment and modification of something to fit a certain circumstance. | |||
Hebrew | להתמודד | ||
In the Talmud, the term להתמודד refers to studying in a synagogue rather than studying in a house of study. | |||
Pashto | مقابله کول | ||
" مقابله کول " has the extended alternate meaning, "to be able; have power over, be capable" or "to be capable of" in Dari. | |||
Arabic | التأقلم | ||
The word "التأقلم" is derived from the root "قلم (Q.L.M)", meaning to trim or to cut, and it implies the adjustment and modification of something to fit a certain circumstance. |
Albanian | përballoj | ||
In Albanian, "përballoj" can also mean "to endure" or "to withstand". | |||
Basque | aurre egin | ||
It shares its origin with the word for 'horse' (zaldi), also used to indicate something that stands above the rest. | |||
Catalan | fer front | ||
The word "fer front" in Catalan can also refer to a confrontation or to facing something difficult. | |||
Croatian | snaći se | ||
In Croatian, "snaći se" means not only "to cope" but also "to find oneself" or "to orient oneself in a situation". | |||
Danish | klare | ||
This word also means “to get along with” and derives from the Low German word “klaren”. | |||
Dutch | het hoofd bieden | ||
Literally meaning "to offer the head," "het hoofd bieden" was originally a military term meaning "to confront an enemy with one's head bared" | |||
English | cope | ||
The word "cope" originates from the Latin "cappa," meaning "cloak" or "hood." | |||
French | chape | ||
In French, the word "chape" also means "the metal fitting at the end of a scabbard" and "a kind of cap worn by monks". | |||
Frisian | omgean | ||
"Omgean" in Frisian can also mean "to turn around" or "to take care of someone". | |||
Galician | facer fronte | ||
The origin of "facer fronte" relates to the Latin word "facies" and the Celtic root fronti which means "forehead". | |||
German | bewältigen | ||
The word "bewältigen" comes from the Middle High German "beweltigen," meaning "to overcome" or "to master". | |||
Icelandic | takast á við | ||
The word 'takast á við' can also refer to the act of taking over a role or responsibility. | |||
Irish | dul i ngleic | ||
The word 'dul' comes from the Old Irish word 'dul' meaning 'sorrow', and 'ingleic' is a derivative of the word 'iongail' meaning 'forgiving'. | |||
Italian | far fronte | ||
The word "far fronte" in Italian can also mean "to face" or "to confront". | |||
Luxembourgish | eens ginn | ||
"Eens ginn" is a Luxembourgish word that comes from an old French word and also means "to do" or "to arrange" in certain regional dialects. | |||
Maltese | ilaħħqu | ||
"Ilaħħqu" can also mean "to pursue" or "to keep up with something" in Maltese. | |||
Norwegian | håndtere | ||
The word "håndtere" also means "to manage" or "to handle" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | enfrentar | ||
The verb “enfrentar” can also mean “to face” in Portuguese, and “to confront” in English. | |||
Scots Gaelic | dèiligeadh | ||
"Dèiligeadh" ultimately comes from the Greek word for "to take," and also means "forgiveness" or "pardon" in Gaelic. | |||
Spanish | capa pluvial | ||
Despite its name, capa pluvial does not mean "raincoat" but rather the "cope" worn by priests during religious ceremonies. | |||
Swedish | klara | ||
In addition to meaning "cope" in Swedish, "klara" can also mean "clear" or "bright", and the two words share the same root. | |||
Welsh | ymdopi | ||
The origin of the Welsh word “ymdopi” for “cope” is uncertain, but may derive from an older Celtic word meaning “covering” or “cloak”. |
Belarusian | справіцца | ||
The Belarusian word "справіцца" has the same root as the Russian word "справиться", both coming from the Proto-Slavic word "sъpraviti", meaning "to put in order". | |||
Bosnian | snaći se | ||
Bosnian word "snaći se" also means "to find one's place in life, to manage, to make do." | |||
Bulgarian | се справят | ||
The word "се справят" in Bulgarian literally means "they can do it". | |||
Czech | zvládnout | ||
The Czech word "zvládnout" derives from the Proto-Slavic root *vold- ("to rule, govern"), and originally meant "to conquer, subdue". | |||
Estonian | hakkama saama | ||
The word "hakkama saama" in Estonian derives from the verb "hakkama" meaning "to do", "to manage", or "to be able to". | |||
Finnish | selviytyä | ||
Etymology: from selvitä ('clarify, unravel, unravel, solve, cope, get along with someone') + -y- (a suffix forming verbal nouns) | |||
Hungarian | megbirkózni | ||
The Hungarian word "megbirkózni" has Slavic roots and originally meant "to wrestle" or "to fight", implying a challenging or combative process. | |||
Latvian | tikt galā | ||
"Tikt galā" is also used colloquially to mean "to understand" or "to agree". | |||
Lithuanian | susitvarkyti | ||
The first part of the word "susitvarkyti", "su", is a prefix meaning "with" and the second part, "tvarkytis", comes from "tvarka" (order), so the word literally means "to get one's affairs in order" or "to get organized". | |||
Macedonian | се справат | ||
The verb "се справат" can also mean "to manage" or "to deal with something" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | sprostać | ||
The word "sprostać" also means "to fulfil an obligation", as in "sprostać oczekiwaniom" ("to meet expectations"). | |||
Romanian | face față | ||
The etymology of the Romanian word "față" is uncertain, but it may be related to the Latin word "facies" or the Slavic word "lica". | |||
Russian | справиться | ||
The word "справиться" can also mean "to succeed" or "to manage," and is cognate with the word "справа" (right). | |||
Serbian | савладати | ||
The verb "савладати" (cope) in Serbian shares the same root with the noun "власт" (power), suggesting the idea of overcoming or controlling something. | |||
Slovak | vyrovnať sa | ||
"Vyrovnať sa" also means "to equalize" in Slovak. | |||
Slovenian | spoprijeti | ||
The word 'spoprijeti' in Slovenian originates from the Proto-Slavic verb '*soprěti', meaning 'to resist' or 'to withstand', cognate with the Latin '*obsistere'. In modern Slovenian, it has come to assume the broader meaning of 'to cope' or 'to deal with'. | |||
Ukrainian | впоратися | ||
The word "впоратися" in Ukrainian is derived from the Old Slavic root "*porti", meaning "to cross" or "to get through." |
Bengali | সামলাতে | ||
"সামলাতে" in Bengali traces its origin to the Persian word "سامان" meaning "order or condition" and is also used to describe "managing or handling" something. | |||
Gujarati | સામનો | ||
The word "સામનો" can also mean "to endure" or "to bear up under" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | सामना | ||
The word "सामना" can also mean "to face" or "to confront." | |||
Kannada | ನಿಭಾಯಿಸಲು | ||
ನಿಭಾಯಿಸಲು (nibhāyisalu) is derived from the Sanskrit word "nibhā", meaning "to support" or "to sustain". | |||
Malayalam | നേരിടാൻ | ||
The word "നേരിടാൻ" can also mean "to face" or "to confront" in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | झुंजणे | ||
The word "झुंजणे" in Marathi can also mean a "skirmish" or "mock fight". | |||
Nepali | सामना | ||
The word 'सामना' (sāmanā) means 'face' or 'encounter' in Sanskrit, and is related to the English word 'confront'. | |||
Punjabi | ਮੁਕਾਬਲਾ | ||
The word "cope" is derived from the Old English word "cappa", which means "cloak". It can also mean "to deal with or manage something difficult". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දරාගන්න | ||
The Sinhala word "දරාගන්න" also refers to the act of bearing, carrying or enduring something. | |||
Tamil | சமாளிக்கவும் | ||
The Tamil verb | |||
Telugu | భరించవలసి | ||
భరించవలసి is a Telugu word derived from the Sanskrit root 'bhri', meaning 'to bear' or 'to carry', but it also conveys the idea of enduring or tolerating a situation. | |||
Urdu | نمٹنے | ||
The word "نمٹنے" is derived from the Sanskrit word "nivr̥t" (to turn away or cease) and is also cognate with the English word "neat" (tidy or well-organized) |
Chinese (Simplified) | 应付 | ||
应付 is often used to refer to someone who is trying to get by or avoid doing something unpleasant. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 應付 | ||
應付 (cope) is used for both "coping with" something ("解決") and "being perfunctory" ("敷衍"). | |||
Japanese | 対処 | ||
"対処" literally translates to "to deal towards" and connotes taking action to handle or overcome a challenge. | |||
Korean | 코프 | ||
In Korean, 코프 can also mean a type of straw hat. | |||
Mongolian | даван туулах | ||
The word "даван туулах" also means "to manage" or "to handle" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ရင်ဆိုင်ဖြေရှင်းနိုင်ခဲ့သည် | ||
This Burmese translation of cope is derived from ဆိုင်, which translates as "to be connected to something." |
Indonesian | menghadapi | ||
"Menghadapi" is an Indonesian word that means "to confront" or "to face" something. It can also mean "to cope with" or "to handle" a situation. | |||
Javanese | ngatasi | ||
"Ngatasi" derives from the word "atasi" which means "to overcome" and "ng" is a prefix meaning "to do". | |||
Khmer | ទប់ទល់ | ||
The word "ទប់ទល់" in Khmer can also mean to resist or oppose, derived from the root word "ទប់" meaning to block or obstruct. | |||
Lao | ຮັບມື | ||
Malay | mengatasi | ||
Mengatasi (cope) is derived from the Proto-Austronesian root *atuq, meaning "cover" or "protect." | |||
Thai | รับมือ | ||
รับมือ, meaning 'to cope,' can also mean 'to welcome' or 'to deal with,' which are more general terms for managing a situation. | |||
Vietnamese | đương đầu | ||
The word "đương đầu" can also mean "to confront" or "to face". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | makayanan | ||
Azerbaijani | öhdəsindən gəlmək | ||
The Azerbaijani verb "öhdəsindən gəlmək" not only means "to cope", but also can mean "to manage" or "to fulfill a responsibility" | |||
Kazakh | еңсеру | ||
"Еңсеру" means "to be able to overcome (do something)" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | чечүү | ||
In Kyrgyz, "чечүү" can also refer to "answering, replying". In proverbs, it can signify "having the last word". | |||
Tajik | тоб овардан | ||
The word "тоб овардан" derives from Persian "تاب (tâb) " meaning "endurance" or "patience" and the Tajik "овардан" (ovar(a)dan) "to bring". | |||
Turkmen | başar | ||
Uzbek | engish | ||
In Uzbek, “engish” (cope) may also refer to a person who is coping well with a difficult situation | |||
Uyghur | cope | ||
Hawaiian | kūpale | ||
Kūpale, meaning both "cope" and "to be patient," can describe bearing burdens, enduring suffering, or waiting persistently. | |||
Maori | akakoromaki | ||
The word "akakoromaki" in Maori also refers to a type of traditional Maori cloak worn by women. | |||
Samoan | feagai | ||
The word "feagai" in Samoan can also mean "to correspond to", "to be equal to", or "to be similar to". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | makaya | ||
"Makaya" may be derived from the Tagalog word "kaya" meaning "to be able". |
Aymara | litayar | ||
Guarani | mbohovake | ||
Esperanto | elteni | ||
"Elteni" is derived from Latin "pallium" "to cover." | |||
Latin | cope | ||
The Latin root of "cope" is "capere," which means "to take hold of" or "to grasp." |
Greek | αντιμετωπίζω | ||
The word "αντιμετωπίζω" derives from the Ancient Greek words "αντί" (against) and "μέτωπον" (forehead), originally meaning "to face (something) head-on." | |||
Hmong | paub daws | ||
"Paub daws" translates literally to "know how to say [it]", and is sometimes used figuratively to mean "smart". | |||
Kurdish | li ber xwe didin | ||
The Kurdish word "li ber xwe didin" derives from the Persian word "cope", meaning "to strive". | |||
Turkish | başa çıkmak | ||
The Turkish word "başa çıkmak" originally meant "to rise to the top of something" and still has this meaning in some contexts. | |||
Xhosa | ukumelana | ||
The Xhosa verb "ukumelana" also means "to bear", "to withstand", "to endure", or "to tolerate". | |||
Yiddish | קאָפּע | ||
The Yiddish word "קאָפּע" (cope) derives etymologically from the Middle High German word "kappe" (cap or hood) and originally described a type of cape worn by monks. | |||
Zulu | ukubhekana | ||
Zulu word "ukubhekana" can also refer to the process of "confronting" or "dealing with" something | |||
Assamese | সমুখীন হোৱা | ||
Aymara | litayar | ||
Bhojpuri | सामना कईल | ||
Dhivehi | ކެތްކުރުން | ||
Dogri | सामना करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | makayanan | ||
Guarani | mbohovake | ||
Ilocano | benbenan | ||
Krio | bia | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | گونجان | ||
Maithili | सामना | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯥꯏꯌꯣꯛꯅꯕ | ||
Mizo | hneh | ||
Oromo | ittiin qabuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ମୁକାବିଲା | ||
Quechua | atipay | ||
Sanskrit | प्रतिसमास् | ||
Tatar | җиңәргә | ||
Tigrinya | ምጽዋር | ||
Tsonga | tiyisela | ||