Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'cycle' carries a significant weight in our vocabulary, representing a recurring series of events or a rotating mechanism. Its cultural importance is evident in various aspects of life, from the changing seasons to the bicycles we ride. But have you ever wondered how 'cycle' is translated in different languages?
Understanding the translation of 'cycle' in various languages can provide unique cultural insights. For instance, in Spanish, 'cycle' translates to 'ciclo,' which is also used to describe a literary or artistic movement. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'cycle' is 'サイクル (saikuru),' reflecting their love for technology and efficiency.
Moreover, knowing the translation of 'cycle' can be practical when traveling or communicating with people from different linguistic backgrounds. Imagine navigating the streets of Paris on a 'vélo' (bicycle) or discussing ecological cycles in German-speaking countries using the term 'Zyklus.'
Join us as we delve into the translations of 'cycle' in various languages, from the romantic Italian 'ciclo' to the scientific Swedish 'cykel.'
Afrikaans | siklus | ||
The word "siklus" in Afrikaans originates from the Malay word "siklus", but has a narrower meaning, referring specifically to a menstrual cycle. | |||
Amharic | ዑደት | ||
The word "ዑደት" has a dual meaning in Amharic, also referring to the concept of a "cycle of life". | |||
Hausa | sake zagayowar | ||
While "sake zagayowar" means "cycle" in Hausa, it also means "to take turns" or "to circulate" | |||
Igbo | okirikiri | ||
In Igbo, an alternate meaning of the word "okirikiri" is a circle. | |||
Malagasy | tsingerin'ny | ||
The word "tsingerin'ny" in Madagascan derives from the French word "singulier" meaning "individual" and "unique". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuzungulira | ||
Shona | kutenderera | ||
The etymology of the word 'kutenderera' is uncertain but it is thought to be derived from the verb 'kutendera', meaning 'to go round and round' | |||
Somali | wareegga | ||
The Somali word "wareegga" is a cognate of the Arabic word "dawran", both meaning "rotation". | |||
Sesotho | potoloho | ||
The word "potoloho" can also refer to a "wheelbarrow" or "cart". | |||
Swahili | mzunguko | ||
The word "mzunguko" in Swahili can also refer to an orbit or a whirlwind. | |||
Xhosa | umjikelo | ||
The Xhosa word 'umjikelo' also means 'a group of people who gather to support or care for a particular person or family during a difficult time.' | |||
Yoruba | kẹkẹ | ||
Kẹkẹ is also a Yoruba word for "small child" or "baby". | |||
Zulu | umjikelezo | ||
The Zulu word "umjikelezo" means "cycle" and implies ongoing repetition or the rotation of something. | |||
Bambara | sikili | ||
Ewe | si yina gagbɔna | ||
Kinyarwanda | ukwezi | ||
Lingala | sikle | ||
Luganda | ggaali | ||
Sepedi | sediko | ||
Twi (Akan) | kanko | ||
Arabic | دورة | ||
دورة means "turn" or "period" in Arabic, and also refers to the menstrual cycle and academic semesters. | |||
Hebrew | מחזור | ||
The Hebrew word "מחזור" can also refer to: - a menstrual cycle - a liturgical cycle | |||
Pashto | دور | ||
The Pashto word "دور" also means "age" or "era". | |||
Arabic | دورة | ||
دورة means "turn" or "period" in Arabic, and also refers to the menstrual cycle and academic semesters. |
Albanian | cikli | ||
The word "cikli" in Albanian is borrowed from Turkish and ultimately originates from the Greek word "κύκλος". In Turkish, "çevre" is also used and has the same origin. | |||
Basque | zikloa | ||
The Basque word "zikloa" is derived from the Greek "kyklos" meaning "circle or wheel". | |||
Catalan | cicle | ||
The Catalan word "cicle" has additional meanings such as "circle" and "series". | |||
Croatian | ciklus | ||
In Croatian, "ciklus" also means "series" or "sequence". | |||
Danish | cyklus | ||
Ordet "cyklus" på dansk stammer fra latin "cyclus", som betyder "ring" eller "hjul". | |||
Dutch | fiets | ||
The Dutch word "fiets" derives from the French "vélocipède," meaning "fast foot"} | |||
English | cycle | ||
The word 'cycle' comes from the Greek word 'kyklos' meaning 'circle', and it can refer to anything that repeats, or to the components of a system that moves or operates | |||
French | cycle | ||
The word "cycle" comes from the Ancient Greek "kyklos" meaning "wheel" or "circle". | |||
Frisian | syklus | ||
In Frisian, the word "syklus" is a loan from Greek "kyklos" ("circle"), and also means "group" or "series". | |||
Galician | ciclo | ||
"Ciclo" in Galician can also refer to a type of traditional dance or folk song. | |||
German | zyklus | ||
In Ancient Greek, "kuklos" meant "wheel", "circle", or "cycle", and referred to the daily path of the sun. | |||
Icelandic | hringrás | ||
The Icelandic word "hringrás" can also refer to a circular process or a series of events that repeat themselves over time. | |||
Irish | timthriall | ||
Timthriall is a compound word, derived from “tim”, meaning “time” + “thriall”, meaning “turn”. Its alternative meaning is “turn”, as in a change in events. | |||
Italian | ciclo | ||
In Italian, "ciclo" can also refer to a period of time, a series of events, or a group of people with a common interest. | |||
Luxembourgish | zyklus | ||
The word "Zyklus" in Luxembourgish can also refer to a set of songs or poems that are related to each other. | |||
Maltese | ċiklu | ||
ċiklu is also related to the root of the word 'to circle'. | |||
Norwegian | syklus | ||
The word "syklus" can also refer to a spiral staircase or a whirlpool in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | ciclo | ||
The Portuguese word "ciclo" can also mean "series" or "set". | |||
Scots Gaelic | cearcall | ||
The word "cearcall" can also refer to a generation, a period, or a journey in Scots Gaelic. | |||
Spanish | ciclo | ||
The Spanish word "ciclo" can also refer to a group of students taking classes together over multiple years or to a series of literary works connected by a common theme. | |||
Swedish | cykel | ||
The word "cykel" in Swedish also carries the connotations of a "gang" or "group of friends," often associated with young people or subcultural activities. | |||
Welsh | beicio | ||
The word 'beicio' is also used to refer to a tricycle or a bicycle built for two people. |
Belarusian | цыкла | ||
Слово «цыкла» в белорусском языке может иметь и другое значение - «петля». | |||
Bosnian | ciklus | ||
Bosnian word "ciklus" can also refer to a "cycle of songs", a collection of poems or literary works published together. | |||
Bulgarian | цикъл | ||
The word "цикъл" can also mean "period" or "series". | |||
Czech | cyklus | ||
Estonian | tsükkel | ||
In Estonian, the word "tsükkel" can also refer to a "bicycle" or a "cycle of events." | |||
Finnish | sykli | ||
The word "sykli" in Finnish is derived from the Greek word "kyklos," meaning "circle" or "ring." | |||
Hungarian | ciklus | ||
In Hungarian, the word "ciklus" also means a series of historical events that occur in a repeatedly similar pattern, such as "the business cycle." | |||
Latvian | cikls | ||
Cikls can also refer to a period of time, especially one that is repeated regularly. | |||
Lithuanian | ciklas | ||
The word "ciklas" in Lithuanian also refers to a round dance or a set of songs or poems sung in a specific order. | |||
Macedonian | циклус | ||
The word циклус may also refer to a series of events that occur in a predetermined order or a collection of related literary works. | |||
Polish | cykl | ||
In Polish, "cykl" also means "a series of literary or artistic works related to a common theme or character." | |||
Romanian | ciclu | ||
The Romanian word "ciclu" can also mean a period in history or a circle. | |||
Russian | цикл | ||
The word "цикл" can also mean "a series of events that are repeated in the same order". | |||
Serbian | циклус | ||
The Serbian word "циклус" also means "series". | |||
Slovak | cyklu | ||
The Slovak word cyklu derives from the Proto-Slavic *kolk, meaning 'wheel', and is cognate with the English word 'cycle'. | |||
Slovenian | cikel | ||
The Slovenian word "cikel" can also refer to a menstrual cycle or a group of cyclists. | |||
Ukrainian | циклу | ||
"Циклу" in Ukrainian can also refer to a bicycle or motorcycle, and derives from the Polish "cykl". |
Bengali | সাইকেল | ||
The word "সাইকেল" literally means "wheel cycle" in Bengali, highlighting its primary function of having wheels. | |||
Gujarati | ચક્ર | ||
The Gujarati word "ચક્ર" ("chakra") is derived from the Sanskrit word "चक्र" ("cakra"), meaning "wheel" or "circle", and also has the alternate meanings of "group" or "assemblage". | |||
Hindi | चक्र | ||
"चक्र" can also refer to a wheel, a disk, or a circle in Hindi. | |||
Kannada | ಚಕ್ರ | ||
The word ಚಕ್ರ in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word 'chakra', and it also means 'wheel' or 'circle'. | |||
Malayalam | ചക്രം | ||
"ചക്രം" in Malayalam is also a measure of time, equal to 24 minutes. | |||
Marathi | सायकल | ||
The word "सायकल" (cycle) is derived from the Greek word "kuklos," meaning "circle," and is also related to the English word "wheel." | |||
Nepali | चक्र | ||
The word "चक्र" can also refer to a wheel, a disc, or a circle, and is often used in religious or spiritual contexts, such as the chakra system in yoga. | |||
Punjabi | ਚੱਕਰ | ||
The Punjabi word "ਚੱਕਰ" (chakkar) shares a common origin with the English word "chakra", and both refer to a recurring or revolving pattern or motion. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | චක්රය | ||
The Sinhala word "චක්රය" (cycle) has Sanskrit origins and also means "wheel" or "circle". | |||
Tamil | மிதிவண்டி | ||
The Tamil word for cycle, 'மிதிவண்டி', literally means 'foot-rolling-vehicle'. | |||
Telugu | చక్రం | ||
The word "చక్రం" can also mean "wheel", "circle", or "disk" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | سائیکل | ||
The word "سائیکل" (cycle) in Urdu can also refer to a group or series of events that repeat regularly |
Chinese (Simplified) | 周期 | ||
周期 originally referred to musical rhythms and is now used in other contexts such as astronomy or human biology. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 週期 | ||
The word "週期" also means "week" and is derived from the ancient Chinese belief that the world was renewed every seven days. | |||
Japanese | サイクル | ||
The Japanese word "サイクル" can also mean "circumstance". | |||
Korean | 주기 | ||
"주기" is not only a noun but also a verb meaning "to give", and its root is "주다" (to give). | |||
Mongolian | мөчлөг | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | သံသရာ | ||
The term "သံသရာ" is derived from Sanskrit, where it also refers to reincarnation and the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. |
Indonesian | siklus | ||
The word "siklus" is derived from the Sanskrit word "cakra", meaning "wheel" or "circle". | |||
Javanese | siklus | ||
The word "siklus" in Javanese derives from the Sanskrit word "chakra" meaning "wheel"} | |||
Khmer | វដ្ត | ||
Besides "cycle", "វដ្ត" also means a Buddhist monastery or temple in Khmer, which derives from Pali "vatta" meaning "circle". | |||
Lao | ວົງຈອນ | ||
Malay | kitar | ||
The Malay word "kitar" comes from the Sanskrit word "chakra", which means "wheel" or "circle". | |||
Thai | วงจร | ||
In Thai, "วงจร" (cycle) can also refer to electronic circuits, as a corruption of "วงจรไฟฟ้า" (electrical circuit). | |||
Vietnamese | đi xe đạp | ||
The word "đi xe đạp" can also mean "to go by bicycle". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | ikot | ||
Azerbaijani | dövrü | ||
"Dövrü" also means "turning, spinning" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | цикл | ||
В тюркских языках слово "цикл" происходит от глагола "cyk", что означает "вращать, крутить", и связано с понятием времени. | |||
Kyrgyz | цикл | ||
In Kyrgyz, "цикл" can also refer to a "set of repeating events or actions" or "a series of events or actions that follow one another in a regular or predictable way". | |||
Tajik | давра | ||
The Persian word “davra” comes from the Old Turkic word “tabghach”, meaning "wheel; round body, shape; sphere". | |||
Turkmen | aýlaw | ||
Uzbek | tsikl | ||
The Uzbek word "tsikl" has additional meanings such as "circulation", "spinning", and "periodic movement". | |||
Uyghur | دەۋرىيلىك | ||
Hawaiian | pōʻaiapuni | ||
"Pōʻaiapuni" is a compound word derived from "pō" (darkness) and "ʻaiapuni" (to encircle), figuratively meaning "night encompassing." | |||
Maori | huringa | ||
A "huringa" is also a small native tree and is also used for a type of flax basket. | |||
Samoan | taʻamilosaga | ||
The Samoan word "taʻamilosaga" is a compound word that derives from "taʻamilosa" (to make a circle), which in turn derives from "taʻami" (a circle). | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | ikot | ||
"Ikot" comes from the Proto-Austronesian word *gəlikəd, which also means "to surround" or "to encircle". |
Aymara | siklu | ||
Guarani | vore | ||
Esperanto | ciklo | ||
"Ciklo" also means "wheel" in Esperanto, derived from the Greek word "kyklos". | |||
Latin | exolvuntur | ||
(Latin) exolvuntur: "to unwind," "to unfurl," "to disband," "to depart," "to pay" "to solve" "to unravel" "to discharge" |
Greek | κύκλος | ||
The Greek word "κύκλος" (kýklos) also means "wheel" or "hoop" and is the root of the words "circus" and "cyclops." | |||
Hmong | phaum | ||
The word "phaum" also means "to go around" or "to surround" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | zîvirok | ||
In Kurdish, "zîvirok" is also a term for a period of time or an era. | |||
Turkish | döngü | ||
The word 'döngü' also means 'loop' or 'turn' in Turkish, suggesting its cyclical nature. | |||
Xhosa | umjikelo | ||
The Xhosa word 'umjikelo' also means 'a group of people who gather to support or care for a particular person or family during a difficult time.' | |||
Yiddish | ציקל | ||
In Yiddish, "ציקל" has a second meaning, "a journey or pilgrimage" | |||
Zulu | umjikelezo | ||
The Zulu word "umjikelezo" means "cycle" and implies ongoing repetition or the rotation of something. | |||
Assamese | চক্ৰ | ||
Aymara | siklu | ||
Bhojpuri | साइकिल | ||
Dhivehi | ސައިކަލް | ||
Dogri | सैकल | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | ikot | ||
Guarani | vore | ||
Ilocano | siklo | ||
Krio | abit | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سووڕ | ||
Maithili | साइकिल | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯣꯏꯗꯥꯅꯕ | ||
Mizo | thirsakawr | ||
Oromo | marsaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଚକ୍ର | ||
Quechua | bicicleta | ||
Sanskrit | द्विचक्रिका | ||
Tatar | цикл | ||
Tigrinya | ዑደት | ||
Tsonga | ndzendzeleko | ||