Updated on March 6, 2024
At the very heart of things, you'll find the 'core' - a word that signifies the most essential part of something. This concept is so fundamental that it has been translated into countless languages, each with its own unique cultural context. In English, 'core' can refer to the center of an apple or the vital aspects of a subject. In Spanish, the translation is 'núcleo,' which also means 'nucleus' in science, emphasizing the centrality of this concept in various fields.
Throughout history, the 'core' has held great significance. In ancient Greek philosophy, the 'core' was associated with the idea of 'substance' or 'essence.' In modern times, the 'core' is a crucial aspect of many disciplines, from computer science to anatomy. The 'core' is also a vital aspect of physical fitness, with 'core strength' being a key component of overall health.
Given the importance of the 'core' in various aspects of life, it's no wonder that people might want to know its translation in different languages. Whether you're traveling, studying, or simply expanding your cultural knowledge, understanding the 'core' in various languages can be a rewarding experience.
Afrikaans | kern | ||
Afrikaans "kern" meaning "core" derives from the Dutch "kern" meaning "nucleus". | |||
Amharic | እምብርት | ||
The word "እምብርት" (core) also means "essence" or "substance" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | gindi | ||
In Hausa, 'gindi' can also refer to the centre or essence of something. | |||
Igbo | isi | ||
Isi is also the name of the god of the earth and the underworld in Igbo mythology. | |||
Malagasy | fototra | ||
Malagasy word 'fototra' also means 'to be in the middle of' or 'to be located in the center of' | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | pachimake | ||
The word "pachimake" also means "inside" or "center" in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | core | ||
In Shona, "mwoyo" is the word for "core" as well as for "heart". | |||
Somali | xudunta | ||
In addition to referring to the core, "xudunta" can signify the heart or innermost point. | |||
Sesotho | mokokotlo | ||
The word "mokokotlo" can also mean "the heart of the matter" or "the essential part". | |||
Swahili | msingi | ||
The word "msingi" can also mean "foundation" or "source" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | undoqo | ||
Undoqo (core) is also used to describe the heart, centre, and essence of a thing. | |||
Yoruba | mojuto | ||
"Mojuto" can also refer to the heartwood (central core) of a mature tree in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | umnyombo | ||
Umnyombo is also the name of a plant used for divination and traditional medicine. | |||
Bambara | kìsɛ | ||
Ewe | tometi | ||
Kinyarwanda | intangiriro | ||
Lingala | mokokoli | ||
Luganda | entobo | ||
Sepedi | mooko | ||
Twi (Akan) | tintiman | ||
Arabic | النواة | ||
Hebrew | הליבה | ||
The word "הליבה" originally referred to the kernel of grain, but came to mean "core" through its association with the heart. | |||
Pashto | اصلي | ||
In Persian, "اصل" (pronounced the same as the Pashto word "اصلي") also means "original". | |||
Arabic | النواة | ||
Albanian | bërthamë | ||
The Albanian word "bërthamë" also means "nucleus" or "center" in a metaphorical sense. | |||
Basque | muina | ||
The word “muina” is thought to derive from an ancient Basque root that is related to “root,” “origin,” and “foundation”. | |||
Catalan | nucli | ||
"Nucli" derives from the Latin word "nucleus", meaning "kernel" or "core", and also refers to the central part of an atom. | |||
Croatian | jezgra | ||
The word "jezgra" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "jьdro", meaning "inner part of something". | |||
Danish | kerne | ||
The Danish word 'kerne' can also refer to a type of medieval Irish mercenary. | |||
Dutch | kern | ||
The word 'kern' in Dutch can also refer to a small, hard fruitstone or a central part or person in a group. | |||
English | core | ||
The word 'core' originates from the Latin word 'cor,' meaning 'heart,' and has expanded to encompass various metaphorical meanings. | |||
French | coeur | ||
The word "coeur" in French also means "heart" and derives from the Latin word "cor" with the same meaning. | |||
Frisian | kearn | ||
The Frisian word "kearn" is cognate to the English word "kern," meaning "grain." | |||
Galician | núcleo | ||
In Galician, "núcleo" can also refer to a town or a group of houses. | |||
German | ader | ||
While the word "Ader" primarily refers to the core of something in German, it can also mean "vein" in the context of vascular anatomy. | |||
Icelandic | kjarni | ||
"Kjarni" is related to the word "kjarna" (kernel) and is thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*kurnaz" (grain). | |||
Irish | croí | ||
It shares a root with the word | |||
Italian | nucleo | ||
The Italian word "nucleo" derives from the Latin word "nucleus", meaning "kernel" or "core". | |||
Luxembourgish | kär | ||
The word "Kär" is derived from the Proto-Germanic "*kernaz", meaning "the innermost part of something". | |||
Maltese | qalba | ||
The word "qalba" in Maltese is a cognate of the Arabic word "qalb", meaning "heart", suggesting a deep-seated connection between the physical and emotional cores in Maltese culture. | |||
Norwegian | kjerne | ||
The Norwegian word "kjerne" is derived from the Old Norse "kjarni," meaning "kernel" or "seed." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | testemunho | ||
The Portuguese word "testemunho" derives from the Latin "testimonium", meaning "evidence," and has come to mean "core" in the sense of a central or essential element. | |||
Scots Gaelic | cridhe | ||
The word 'cridhe' in Scots Gaelic, also means 'heart' or 'affection' in a figurative sense. | |||
Spanish | núcleo | ||
In addition to "core", "núcleo" can mean "nucleus" in biology or the "kernel" in computer science. | |||
Swedish | kärna | ||
The word "kärna" in Swedish can also refer to a spinning top or a churning device, highlighting its rotational nature. | |||
Welsh | craidd | ||
In Welsh, "craidd" is derived from Proto-Celtic "*kred-," meaning "heart, core." |
Belarusian | стрыжань | ||
"Стрэжань" in Belarusian initially denoted a tree trunk and then became a figurative term referring to the core of a person or phenomenon. | |||
Bosnian | jezgro | ||
The word 'jezgro' comes from the Proto-Slavic root *jędro, meaning 'strong point'. | |||
Bulgarian | ядро | ||
"Ядро" can also mean "nucleus" (of a cell, atom, etc.) or "kernel" (of a fruit or nut). | |||
Czech | jádro | ||
The word "jádro" also means "nucleus", "kernel", and "essence" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | tuum | ||
"Tuum" also means "room" in Estonian. | |||
Finnish | ydin | ||
Ydin also refers to the center or focal point of a matter or situation in Finnish. | |||
Hungarian | mag | ||
The Hungarian word "mag" also refers to a type of seed in a cherry or plum. | |||
Latvian | kodols | ||
The word "kodols" also has the alternate meaning of "essence" or "fundamental part". | |||
Lithuanian | šerdis | ||
The word "šerdis" also means "center", "nucleus", or "gist" in Lithuanian, highlighting its different dimensions. | |||
Macedonian | јадро | ||
The Macedonian word "јадро" can also refer to a nucleus or kernel of something. | |||
Polish | rdzeń | ||
"Rdzeń" in Polish can also refer to a kernel (computing), essence, or marrow. | |||
Romanian | nucleu | ||
The word `nucleu` comes from the Latin word `nucleus`, which means `kernel` or `core`. | |||
Russian | ядро | ||
"Ядро" also means "nucleus" in Russian, referring to the central part of an atom. | |||
Serbian | језгро | ||
The word "језгро" can also mean "nucleus" in Serbian, referring to the central part of an atom. | |||
Slovak | jadro | ||
"Jadro" also means "nuclear power plant" and is related to the German word "Atomkern" (atomic nucleus). | |||
Slovenian | jedro | ||
The word "jedro" derives from Proto-Slavic *jьdro, meaning "essence" or "gist". | |||
Ukrainian | ядро | ||
Alternate meaning of the Ukrainian word "ядро" is "nucleus" (of an atom or cell). |
Bengali | মূল | ||
"মূল" also means "root" or "base". | |||
Gujarati | મૂળ | ||
The Gujarati word "મૂળ" also means root, base, source, origin, or foundation. | |||
Hindi | कोर | ||
In Hindi, the word "कोर" (core) can also refer to a group of individuals or the central part of something. | |||
Kannada | ಮೂಲ | ||
The word "ಮೂಲ" (mūla) in Kannada can also refer to a root, origin, or source. | |||
Malayalam | കോർ | ||
In Malayalam, "കോർ" can also refer to the husk or skin of certain fruits or seeds. | |||
Marathi | गाभा | ||
The Marathi word 'गाभा' shares a common etymology with the Sanskrit word 'गर्भ' meaning womb, and can also refer to the core or central portion of something, as in 'गाभा मंदिराचा' (core of the temple). | |||
Nepali | कोर | ||
The word "कोर" can also refer to a seed or a kernel, such as the kernel of a maize cob. | |||
Punjabi | ਕੋਰ | ||
The word "ਕੋਰ" ("core") in Punjabi can also mean "the innermost part of something", or "the essence or heart of something". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | හරය | ||
The Sinhala word "හරය" can also refer to the central point or focus of something. | |||
Tamil | கோர் | ||
The word "கோர்" (core) in Tamil also refers to the inside of a fruit or vegetable, like the pith of an orange. | |||
Telugu | కోర్ | ||
"కోర్" also means 'centre', 'nucleus' and 'interior' in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | لازمی | ||
The Urdu word "لازمی" (core) derives from the Arabic word "لزوم" (adherence, necessity), denoting its essential and inseparable nature. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 核心 | ||
"核心" in Chinese can be traced back to the oracle bone script, originally meaning "center of the heart" and later extended to mean "central, crucial, and fundamental". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 核心 | ||
In traditional Chinese medicine, 核心 can also refer to 'heart' or a vital point in the body. | |||
Japanese | 芯 | ||
芯 also means the pith of a rush; the wick of a candle or lamp; or the innermost part or core. | |||
Korean | 핵심 | ||
The word '핵심' can also refer to the main point or essence of something. | |||
Mongolian | үндсэн | ||
The Mongolian term 'үндсэн' (core) comes from the verb 'үндэслэх' (to found, to base) and is cognate with the Turkish term 'öz' (essence, core). | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အဓိက | ||
Although the word is now used exclusively to refer to "core," "အဓိက" originally meant "chief," "great," or "important." |
Indonesian | inti | ||
'Inti' also refers to the main element or part of something or even its essence as in the case of 'doa inti' (main prayer) or 'inti inti sari' (concise summary). | |||
Javanese | inti | ||
"Inti" can also mean "the essence, soul, or nature of something" in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | ស្នូល | ||
"ស្នូល" (snoul) is also a term for the inner part of a fruit or vegetable or the meat inside a shell. | |||
Lao | ຫຼັກ | ||
"ຫຼັກ" is not only the Lao word for "core," it also means "post," "pole," or "stake." | |||
Malay | teras | ||
The word "teras" can also refer to the heart, or the essence of something. | |||
Thai | แกนกลาง | ||
แกนกลาง is also used to refer to a leader or central figure in a group or organization. | |||
Vietnamese | cốt lõi | ||
The Vietnamese word "cốt lõi" is also used to mean "the essence" or "the most important part of something" | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | core | ||
Azerbaijani | əsas | ||
The word "əsas" is also used to describe the 'basis' or 'foundation' of something, indicating its central role or importance. | |||
Kazakh | өзек | ||
"Özek" can also mean "main point" or "substance" in Kazakh | |||
Kyrgyz | негизги | ||
In geology and mining, "негизги" also refers to the bedrocks found underneath all types of topsoil. | |||
Tajik | аслӣ | ||
In Tajik, "аслӣ" can also mean "true" or "original". | |||
Turkmen | ýadrosy | ||
Uzbek | yadro | ||
In Uzbek, the word "yadro" can also refer to the nucleus of an atom or a central part of something. | |||
Uyghur | يادرولۇق | ||
Hawaiian | kumu | ||
"Kumu" can also mean "foundation", "origin", "teacher", or "expert" in Hawaiian. | |||
Maori | matua | ||
In traditional Maori art, the "matua" of a design refers to the central element or "heart" of the work. | |||
Samoan | autu | ||
The word "autu" in Samoan also means "heart" or "soul". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | core | ||
In Tagalog, "core" can be used as a slang term for "money" |
Aymara | taypi | ||
Guarani | mbyte | ||
Esperanto | kerno | ||
"Kerno" is derived from the Greek word "kardia," meaning "heart". | |||
Latin | core | ||
The word "core" derives from the Latin word "cor," meaning "heart" or the "central part" of something. |
Greek | πυρήνας | ||
The ancient Greek word "πυρήνας" also had the meaning of "stone of a fruit", and in the sense of "nucleus", it was first mentioned by Anaxagoras (500-428 BC) and Democritus (460-370 BC) | |||
Hmong | tub ntxhais | ||
Hmong people may also use "tub ntxhais" to describe a close friend, a sibling, or someone who holds an esteemed place in the community. | |||
Kurdish | navik | ||
The word "navik" is also used to refer to the innermost part of something, such as the core of a fruit or the kernel of a nut. | |||
Turkish | çekirdek | ||
"Çekirdek" (core) also refers to sunflower seeds in Turkish, as it is the seed's core that is eaten. | |||
Xhosa | undoqo | ||
Undoqo (core) is also used to describe the heart, centre, and essence of a thing. | |||
Yiddish | האַרץ | ||
The Yiddish word "האַרץ" comes from the Hebrew word "ארץ", meaning "land" or "earth." | |||
Zulu | umnyombo | ||
Umnyombo is also the name of a plant used for divination and traditional medicine. | |||
Assamese | মুখ্য | ||
Aymara | taypi | ||
Bhojpuri | मरम | ||
Dhivehi | މައިގަނޑު | ||
Dogri | मुक्ख | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | core | ||
Guarani | mbyte | ||
Ilocano | bugas | ||
Krio | men | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | کڕۆک | ||
Maithili | मूल | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯌꯥꯏ | ||
Mizo | laimu | ||
Oromo | ijoo | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ମୂଳ | ||
Quechua | sunqu | ||
Sanskrit | अन्तर्भाग | ||
Tatar | үзәк | ||
Tigrinya | ማእኸል | ||
Tsonga | xivindzi | ||