Debate in different languages

Debate in Different Languages

Discover 'Debate' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Debate: it's a word that sparks curiosity and intrigue, invoking images of passionate arguments, intellectual discourse, and the clash of ideas. Its significance lies in its ability to facilitate critical thinking, encourage open-mindedness, and promote the free exchange of opinions. Throughout history, debates have shaped societies, influenced policies, and even determined the outcomes of elections.

The cultural importance of debate is undeniable, as it is a fundamental component of democratic societies and a cornerstone of intellectual growth. From political debates to philosophical discussions, this concept has been a catalyst for change and progress.

Understanding the translation of debate in different languages is not only a fascinating exploration of linguistic diversity but also a valuable tool for cross-cultural communication. For instance, the French translation of debate is 'débat,' the Spanish translation is 'debate,' and the German translation is 'Debatte.'

Join us as we delve into the multifaceted world of debate, discovering its translations in various languages and shedding light on the cultural nuances that shape this powerful concept.

Debate

Debate in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansdebat voer
"Debat voer" is actually also a term used to describe animal feed.
Amharicክርክር
In Amharic, the word "ክርክር" also means "research" or "investigation."
Hausamuhawara
The Hausa word "muhawara" also means "conversation" or "argument".
Igboarụmụka
"Arụmụka" (debate) is derived from the word "ọnụ" (mouth), suggesting the importance of verbal exchange and articulation in a debate.
Malagasyadihevitra
The Malagasy word "adihevitra" shares its roots with the verb "hevitra", meaning "to think" or "to ponder".
Nyanja (Chichewa)kutsutsana
'Kutsutsana' is derived from the verb 'kutsutsuka,' meaning 'to argue' or 'to dispute'.
Shonagakava
The word 'gakava' in Shona also means 'to make a noise' or 'to shout'.
Somalidood
"Dood" also means "discussion", "argument", or "discourse" in Somali.
Sesothongangisano
The Sesotho word "ngangisano" derives from the verb "nganga" (to argue), and can also refer to a dispute or disagreement.
Swahilimjadala
The word "mjadala" can also mean "a discussion between two or more people who have different opinions, especially in a formal setting".
Xhosampikiswano
The term "mpikiswano" in Xhosa can also mean "controversy" or a "dispute".
Yorubaijiroro
"Ijiroro" is a Yoruba word that can also mean "argument" or "dispute."
Zulumpikiswano
The Zulu word "mpikiswano" can also refer to a verbal contest, argument, or quarrel.
Bambarasɔsɔli
Ewenyahehe
Kinyarwandaimpaka
Lingalalisolo
Lugandaokuwakana
Sepedingangišano
Twi (Akan)gye kyin

Debate in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالنقاش
The word 'النقاش' (al-niqash) can also refer to 'decoration' or 'engraving'.
Hebrewעימות
The Hebrew word "עימות" is derived from the verb "עָמַת" which means "to face", "to confront", or "to oppose".
Pashtoبحث
The Pashto word "بحث" can also refer to a 'dissertation' or a 'disputation'
Arabicالنقاش
The word 'النقاش' (al-niqash) can also refer to 'decoration' or 'engraving'.

Debate in Western European Languages

Albaniandebat
The word
Basqueeztabaida
In 16th-century Lapurdian Basque literature, "eztabaida" was used for "dispute", "trial", "judgment", and "sentence".
Catalandebat
The Catalan word "debat" evolved from the Occitan word "debat", meaning a public dispute or discussion, itself derived from the Latin "debattuere", meaning to beat down, or to fight.
Croatianrasprava
"Rasprava" can also mean "liquidation" or "reprisal", reflecting the violent political climate of Croatian history.
Danishdebat
"Debat" can also mean "floor covering".
Dutchdebat
In Dutch, "debat" can also refer to a "debate club" or a "disputation".
Englishdebate
The word "debate" derives from the Old French word "debatre," meaning "to fight."
Frenchdébat
"Débat" derives from the Old French "debatre," meaning "to fight" or "to dispute."
Frisiandebat
De term debat komt in het Fries ook voor in de betekenis van 'strijd'.
Galiciandebate
"Debate" in Galician comes from the Latin "debattuere" (to beat down) and is used to describe an argument or contest.
Germandebatte
Debatte is the German counterpart of the French word 'débat' and thus ultimately derived from the Latin word 'debattuere' (to beat down, fight, struggle). Today, the word refers to a public or formal dispute about a particular issue.
Icelandicrökræður
The word "rökræður" comes from the Old Norse word "rókr" meaning "smoke" and "ræða" meaning "conversation" or "speech", possibly referring to the smoke from fires burning during debates in halls.
Irishdíospóireacht
The word "díospóireacht" also means "dispute" and may derive from a pre-Celtic *dis-pat- which means to "divide".
Italiandiscussione
The Italian word "discussione" derives from Latin, where it meant to scatter, shake, or jolt something.
Luxembourgishdebatt
The Luxembourgish word "Debatt" also historically meant "fight" or "quarrel".
Maltesedibattitu
The Maltese word "dibattitu" may derive from Arabic's "dabat", meaning "striking".
Norwegiandebatt
The word "debatt" in Norwegian can also refer to a discussion or conversation.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)debate
From Latin debattuere, meaning to “beat down,” debatendo, debating, arguing
Scots Gaelicdeasbad
The word 'deasbad' is derived from the Old Irish 'deisiud' meaning 'to decide' and 'bad' meaning 'to strike' or 'to kill'.
Spanishdebate
The Spanish word "debate" also means "fight" or "dispute".
Swedishdebatt
"Debatt" can also mean a small pond in Swedish.
Welshdadl
The word "dadl" also derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*dʰeh₁-", meaning "to put, set, do".

Debate in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдыскусія
The word дыскусія has two roots in Old Belarusian, дышаць “breathe” and кут “angle” which gives a meaning similar to “a conversation from two opposing angles.”
Bosniandebata
Debata also means 'squabble' or 'argument' in Bosnian, while the verb 'debatirati' means 'to squabble', 'to argue', or 'to debate'.
Bulgarianдебат
In Bulgarian, "дебат" can also mean "dispute" or "argumentation".
Czechrozprava
The Czech word "rozprava" also refers to a type of legal proceeding or trial.
Estonianarutelu
"Arutelu" is a derived word from "aru", meaning "mind".
Finnishkeskustelu
"Keskustelu" is also used colloquially in Finnish to refer to a casual conversation or a chat, not just a formal or structured debate.
Hungarianvita
The word 'vita' also means 'life' or 'fate' in Hungarian.
Latviandebates
The word "debates" in Latvian, "debates", also means "discussions" or "arguments"
Lithuaniandiskusijos
The word "diskusijos" finds its roots in the term "discutio," a Latin verb meaning "to scatter, separate, or divide."
Macedonianдебата
The word "дебата" in Macedonian also has the meaning of "discussion".
Polishdebata
In Polish, "debata" may refer to a formal dispute between opposing viewpoints or to the discussion of a topic in public.
Romaniandezbate
In Romanian, "dezbate" can also refer to a type of traditional folk dance.
Russianдебаты
The Russian word "дебаты" (debate) originates from the Old Slavonic "дьбати," meaning "dispute" or "controversy."
Serbianрасправа
The word "расправа" can also mean "massacre" in Serbian, highlighting its dual nature of both intellectual discourse and violence.
Slovakdebata
"Debata" also means "talk" in Slovak.
Slovenianrazprava
"Razprava" also denotes an execution in Slovenian.
Ukrainianдебати
The Ukrainian word "дебати" has multiple meanings, including "debate", "dispute", and "discussion".

Debate in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবিতর্ক
The word 'বিতর্ক' can also mean 'argument', 'dispute', 'controversy' or 'discussion'.
Gujaratiચર્ચા
The word "ચર્ચા" (debate) in Gujarati originates from the Sanskrit word "चर्चा" (carcha), meaning "a discussion or conversation".
Hindiबहस
In Hindi, "बहस" also means "discussion" or "argumentation".
Kannadaಚರ್ಚೆ
The word 'ಚರ್ಚೆ' is not native to Kannada, it is a recent borrowing from English or Hindi.
Malayalamചർച്ച
The Malayalam word "ചർച്ച" is also used to refer to a "religious lecture".
Marathiवादविवाद
The word 'वादविवाद' in Marathi comes from 'Vaad', meaning a case, argument, or lawsuit, and 'Vivad', meaning a dispute or quarrel.
Nepaliबहस
"बहस" is derived from the Sanskrit word "वाद" (vāda), which means "argument" or "discussion"
Punjabiਬਹਿਸ
"Bahs" or "debate" in Punjabi came to be during the 19th century and is ultimately of Persian origin, deriving from "bahs", meaning the act or art of argument or discussion of a subject to establish truth
Sinhala (Sinhalese)විවාදය
විවාදය comes from the Sanskrit word 'vividha', meaning 'different' or 'varied', and refers to a discussion involving different opinions or arguments.
Tamilவிவாதம்
The Tamil word "விவாதம்" is derived from Sanskrit "विवाद" (vivid), meaning "to know" or "to distinguish."
Teluguచర్చ
The word "చర్చ" (debate) in Telugu can also mean "discussion".
Urduبحث
The word "بحث" (bahs) also carries the meaning of "dissertation" or "investigation" in the context of academic research.

Debate in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)辩论
辩论 can also mean 'argument' or 'discourse'
Chinese (Traditional)辯論
The word "辯論" originally meant "to judge" but came to mean "debate" during the Qing dynasty.
Japaneseディベート
The word "ディベート" (debate) is derived from the Latin word "debattuere," meaning "to beat down or thresh out."
Korean논쟁
The word '논쟁' (debate) in Korean can also mean 'argument' or 'dispute'.
Mongolianмэтгэлцээн
Myanmar (Burmese)အငြင်းအခုန်

Debate in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianperdebatan
The Indonesian word "perdebatan" is derived from the Sanskrit word "vivaada", meaning "dispute" or "quarrel".
Javanesedebat
The Javanese word "debat" can also refer to a traditional Javanese dance.
Khmerការជជែកវែកញែក
Laoການໂຕ້ວາທີ
The Lao word for 'debate', ການໂຕ້ວາທີ, is closely related to the Thai word 'vitavat', which has a similar meaning but can also refer to a 'controversy' or a 'dispute'.
Malayperbahasan
Perbahasan, derived from the Sanskrit word 'paribhasa', originally meant 'explanation' or 'exposition' before acquiring its current meaning in Malay.
Thaiอภิปราย
อภิปราย originates from Sanskrit word "abhiprāy" which means intention, purpose and opinion.
Vietnamesetranh luận
"Tranh" means "to fight" and "luận" means "to discuss".
Filipino (Tagalog)debate

Debate in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanimübahisə
The word "mübahisə" is derived from the Arabic word "mubahasa", which means "discussion" or "argumentation". It can also mean "dispute" or "quarrel".
Kazakhпікірталас
The first element means "to search" and the second one refers to a "word".
Kyrgyzдебат
'Дебат' is a loanword from French that first appeared in Kyrgyz in the early 20th century.
Tajikмубоҳиса
The verb “мубоҳиса” comes from the Middle Persian verb “mōhītan” which means “to make clear”.
Turkmenjedel
Uzbekmunozara
The Uzbek word "munozara" can also refer to a "discussion" or "conversation".
Uyghurمۇنازىرە

Debate in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpaio
"Paio" also refers to a traditional form of chanting and poetry in ancient Hawaii.
Maoritautohe
The word 'tautohe' can also refer to a 'disagreement, dispute, or disagreement'.
Samoanfinauga
The word 'finauga' may derive from 'finau' (to compete) and 'ga' (collective noun), suggesting a competitive discussion or contest of ideas.
Tagalog (Filipino)debate
The Tagalog word "debate" is derived from the Spanish word "debate", which in turn is derived from the Latin word "debattere", meaning "to fight down."

Debate in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraaruskipawi
Guaraniñembohovake

Debate in International Languages

Esperantodebato
The term "debato" in Esperanto also translates to "argument" or "dispute" in English.
Latindisputandum
Disputandum (debate) is also used to refer to a formal academic exercise involving argumentation and disputation.

Debate in Others Languages

Greekδημόσια συζήτηση
The Greek word "δημόσια συζήτηση" comes from the words "δημόσια" (public or common) and "συζήτηση" (conversation), referring to a public or group conversation where ideas are exchanged and discussed.
Hmongsib cav tswv yim
The phrase "sib cav tswv yim" can also refer to a group of people or an institution charged with carrying out a debate.
Kurdishberhevdan
The term 'berhevdan' may also refer to 'controversy', 'argument', 'disagreement', or an 'intellectual confrontation'.
Turkishtartışma
Tartışma comes from the Arabic word "tarh", meaning "to throw out" or "to propose".
Xhosampikiswano
The term "mpikiswano" in Xhosa can also mean "controversy" or a "dispute".
Yiddishדעבאַטע
The Yiddish word “דעבאטן” (“debatan”) is derived from the French word “débattre,” meaning "to discuss".
Zulumpikiswano
The Zulu word "mpikiswano" can also refer to a verbal contest, argument, or quarrel.
Assameseতৰ্ক
Aymaraaruskipawi
Bhojpuriबहस
Dhivehiބަހުސްކުރުން
Dogriबैहस
Filipino (Tagalog)debate
Guaraniñembohovake
Ilocanodebate
Krioagyu
Kurdish (Sorani)دیبەیت
Maithiliवाद-विवाद
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯃꯔꯩ ꯌꯦꯠꯅꯕ
Mizoinhnialna
Oromofalmii
Odia (Oriya)ବିତର୍କ
Quechuarimanakuy
Sanskritविवादः
Tatarбәхәс
Tigrinyaኽትዕ
Tsonganjekanjekisano

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