Defendant in different languages

Defendant in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'defendant' carries significant legal weight, referring to the person or entity accused in a court of law. Its cultural importance is evident in the countless courtroom dramas that captivate audiences worldwide. Understanding the defendant's role is crucial for navigating legal systems and appreciating the intricacies of justice.

Delving into 'defendant' in different languages uncovers fascinating cultural nuances. For instance, in Spanish, it's 'el demandado' or 'la demandada,' depending on the gender. In German, it's 'der Angeklagte,' emphasizing the gravity of the accusation. In French, it's 'le prévenu,' reflecting the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Language and culture intertwine intriguingly when examining 'defendant.' For instance, in Japanese, the term 'tsuuchou sha' also applies to the accused in a criminal trial. In Russian, 'obviniaemyi' denotes the defendant, while in Chinese, 'bei su' carries the same meaning.

Join us as we explore 'defendant' in various languages, providing a global perspective on justice and cultural nuances.

Defendant


Defendant in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansverweerder
Verweerder shares a common etymology with "defender", deriving from the Latin "defendere" (to protect).
Amharicተከሳሽ
The word "ተከሳሽ" can also mean "the one who is revealed" in Amharic.
Hausawanda ake kara
"wanda ake kara" in Hausa can also mean "one who is charged with a crime".
Igboonye ikpe
"Onye ikpe" can also refer to "a witness" and "a judge."
Malagasyvoampanga
The word "voampanga" can also refer to "the person who receives" or "the person who is given something".
Nyanja (Chichewa)wotsutsa
The term "wotsutsa" in Nyanja is also used to describe an accused person or a suspect in a crime.
Shonamupomeri
Etymology: from the verb -mupomera - to defend (oneself)
Somalieedaysanaha
The word "eedaysanaha" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "edna", meaning "to swear" or "to promise."
Sesothomoqosuwa
The word "moqosuwa" in Sesotho is also used to refer to a person who is being accused or a suspect in a legal case.
Swahilimshtakiwa
Mshtakiwa (defendant) comes from the verb 'shtaki' (to accuse), and can also be used to describe an 'accused' person.
Xhosaummangalelwa
In the Xhosa language, the word "ummangalelwa" carries additional meanings beyond "defendant," signifying someone who is subject to blame, criticism, or misfortune.
Yorubaolugbeja
The word "olugbeja" also means "a person who answers on behalf of another" in Yoruba.
Zuluummangalelwa
The word "ummangalelwa" in Zulu also means "one who is accused or being sued, a respondent, and a subject of a law suit."
Bambarajalakilen don
Eweamesi ŋu wotsɔ nya ɖo
Kinyarwandauregwa
Lingalamofundami
Lugandaomuwawaabirwa
Sepedimosekišwa
Twi (Akan)nea wɔde asɛm no kɔdan no

Defendant in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالمدعى عليه
The word "المدعى عليه" (defendant) derives from the root "دعوى" (claim) and its active participle "مدعٍ" (claimant).
Hebrewנֶאְשָׁם
The word נֶאְשָׁם is derived from the verb נָאֵשׁ, meaning 'to be accused'.
Pashtoمدافع
The Pashto word "مدافع" can also be used to refer to a lawyer or an attorney.
Arabicالمدعى عليه
The word "المدعى عليه" (defendant) derives from the root "دعوى" (claim) and its active participle "مدعٍ" (claimant).

Defendant in Western European Languages

Albaniani pandehur
"I pandehur", meaning "defendant", comes from the Latin verb "defendere" but also means "the accused" in some contexts.
Basqueauzipetua
The word "auzipetua" comes from the verb "auzi" ("to hear" or "to judge") and the suffix "-petua" ("one who is"), so it refers to the person that listens to or judges someone.
Catalanacusat
The word "acusat" can mean "charged with a crime" in Catalan.
Croatianoptuženik
The Croatian word "optuženik" also has a second, more formal register, where it can be used to refer to someone who is being held in prison.
Danishtiltalte
The word "tiltalte" means literally "one who is being prosecuted", from "tiltale", to prosecute.
Dutchverweerder
The word 'verweerder' is derived from the Middle Dutch 'verweren,' meaning to defend, and can also refer to a respondent or opponent in a legal proceeding.
Englishdefendant
The word "defendant" originates from the Latin word "defendere," meaning "to ward off or protect."
Frenchdéfendeur
The word 'défendeur' is derived from the Latin word 'defendere', meaning 'to defend' or 'to protect'.
Frisianfoarroppene
The word "foarroppene" is derived from the Old Frisian word "forriucht", meaning "right before the law".
Galicianacusado
The word "acusado" in Galician has the same root as the word "accusare" in Latin, meaning "to accuse" or "to charge."
Germanbeklagte
The word "Beklagte" is derived from the verb "beklagen" (to complain), implying that the defendant has been complained against.
Icelandicstefndi
The Icelandic word "stefndi" originally meant "one who is summoned (to court)"
Irishcosantóir
The word "cosantóir" can also mean "protector" or "advocate".
Italianimputato
The word "imputato" originally meant "accused" or "incriminated" in Italian.
Luxembourgishbekloten
The term "Bekloten" is derived from the Latin word "accusatus", meaning "one who is accused" or "defendant".
Malteseakkużat
In Maltese, the word "akkużat" (defendant) derives from the Arabic word "al-qāḍī" (judge), indicating the adversarial nature of the legal process.
Norwegiananklagede
The word "anklagede" is derived from the Old Norse word "ánklǫku", meaning "accusation", and is related to the English word "ankle".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)réu
The word réu derives from the Latin reus, meaning "guilty", and is cognate with the Spanish reo.
Scots Gaelicneach-dìon
The word neach-dìon also means 'one who is sheltered' in Scots Gaelic.
Spanishacusado
The Spanish word "acusado" comes from the Latin word "accusare," which means "to accuse or charge".
Swedishsvarande
In the past, 'svarande' has been used to describe both the accused in a criminal case and the defendant in a civil case.
Welshdiffynnydd
In Welsh, the word "diffynnydd" can also refer to a "protector" or "defender".

Defendant in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianадказчык
The etymology of the word "адказчык" (defendant) in Belarusian is related to its role in legal proceedings, as the person who "отвечает" or responds to a claim in court.
Bosnianokrivljeni
The word "okrivljeni" in Bosnian also has the meaning of "accused" or "indicted person".
Bulgarianответник
The word "ответник" (defendant) is derived from the Bulgarian word "ответ" (answer), and also means "respondent" in a legal context.
Czechžalovaný
Žalovaný is derived from the Latin word "accusare," meaning "to accuse". The word can also mean "the accused" in Czech.
Estoniankaitstav
"Kaitstav" contains the root "kaitse-," which is also found in "kaitsekiri" (defense statement), and "kaitsekõne" (defense speech).
Finnishvastaaja
The word "vastaaja" in Finnish also has the meaning of "answerer".
Hungarianalperes
The word "alperes" in Hungarian can also refer to someone who is guilty or condemned.
Latvianapsūdzētais
The word "apsūdzētais" in Latvian is derived from the word "apsūdzēt", which means "to accuse". It can also refer to a person who has been charged with a crime.
Lithuanianatsakovas
"Atsakovas" is also used to refer to a person who responds or reacts to something.
Macedonianобвинетиот
"Обвинетиот" stems from the Slavic root "vin-", meaning "guilt", and its original meaning was "the guilty one".
Polishpozwany
The word 'pozwany' is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb 'poznati', meaning 'to recognize'.
Romanianpârât
The Romanian word "pârât" is etymologically related to the French word "paraître", meaning "to appear".
Russianответчик
The word "ответчик" is derived from the verb "отвечать" (to answer), as the defendant is the person who is required to answer the allegations made in a lawsuit.
Serbianокривљени
The word "окривљени" is derived from the verb "кривити" meaning "to blame" or "to accuse" and literally means "the one who is blamed" or "the one who is accused".
Slovakobžalovaný
Obžalovaný originated in Church Slavonic as the one who has been accused, from the noun žaloba or žala and the suffix -n.
Slovenianobdolženec
The Slovene word 'obdolženec' derives from the Proto-Slavic root *dolgъ, meaning 'debt', and initially referred to someone who had incurred a debt and could not repay it, making them legally liable.
Ukrainianвідповідач
The word "відповідач" in Ukrainian originally meant "one who answers" or "one who responds".

Defendant in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপ্রতিবাদী
"প্রতিবাদী" can also mean "protester" or "opponent" in Bengali.
Gujaratiપ્રતિવાદી
The word 'પ્રતિવાદી' in Gujarati ultimately derives from Sanskrit, where it means 'one who opposes', 'adversary', or 'contestant'.
Hindiप्रतिवादी
The word "प्रतिवादी" also means "respondent" in a legal context.
Kannadaಪ್ರತಿವಾದಿ
In addition to meaning "defendant" in legal contexts, "ಪ್ರತಿವಾದಿ" can also refer to an opponent or adversary in general.
Malayalamഎതൃകക്ഷി
The word "എതൃകക്ഷി" (defendant) comes from the Sanskrit "pratīkāra" meaning "resistance, opposition, retaliation".
Marathiप्रतिवादी
The word 'प्रतिवादी' (defendant) in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'प्रतिवाद' (denial) and means 'one who denies' or 'opponent'.
Nepaliप्रतिवादी
The word "प्रतिवादी" is derived from the Sanskrit words "प्रति" (against) and "वाद" (speech), meaning "one who speaks against".
Punjabiਬਚਾਓ ਪੱਖ
The word "ਬਚਾਓ ਪੱਖ" literally translates to "defense side" in Punjabi, indicating the party that is defending itself in a legal case.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)විත්තිකරු
The term 'විත්තිකරු' is rooted in Sanskrit and primarily means a 'disputant', 'opponent', or 'one who answers back'.
Tamilபிரதிவாதி
The word
Teluguప్రతివాది
The Telugu word "ప్రతివాది" not only means "defendant" but also an "opponent," "rival," "adversary," or "antagonist." It derives from the Sanskrit word "prativadi," meaning "one who speaks against or contradicts."
Urduمدعا علیہ
The term comes from the Arabic word 'da'awa', meaning 'claim', and 'alayh', meaning 'upon him'.

Defendant in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)被告
In Chinese, the term "被告" (defendant) literally means "accuse or expose defendant" or "person accused or exposed".
Chinese (Traditional)被告
"被告" (defendant) is also used to refer to a witness who is summoned to court to provide testimony.
Japanese被告
The word "被告" (higo) also means "accusation" or "complaint" in Japanese.
Korean피고
"피고"(defendant) originally meant "one who is bound to the court", implying a person who is unable to escape from justice due to his or her crime.
Mongolianяллагдагч
The word "яллагдагч" can also mean "plaintiff" in Mongolian legal contexts.
Myanmar (Burmese)တရားခံ

Defendant in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianterdakwa
The word "terdakwa" is derived from the Javanese word "dakwa", meaning "to accuse" or "to charge".
Javanesedidakwa
The term 'didakwa' is also used to denote 'accusers' in legal contexts, reflecting the Javanese legal principle of mediation, where parties involved in disputes are encouraged to reconcile rather than engage in adversarial proceedings.
Khmerចុងចោទ
ចុងចោទ is a compound word that literally means "tail of the accusation"}
Laoຈຳ ເລີຍ
The word "ຈຳ ເລີຍ" is the Lao word for "defendant" in legal cases, and also means "to remember" or "to keep in mind".
Malaydefendan
The Malay word "defendan" is derived from the English word "defendant" and retains its meaning in Malay legal contexts.
Thaiจำเลย
จำเลย was originally derived from the Sanskrit word `samalaya`, which also means "to complain".
Vietnamesebị cáo
The word "bị cáo" also means "person accused" or "accused person".
Filipino (Tagalog)nasasakdal

Defendant in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanişübhəli
"Şübhəli" also means "suspicious" in Azerbaijani, indicating the uncertain nature of the defendant's guilt or innocence.
Kazakhсотталушы
"Сотталушы" derives from the Kazakh root "сотта- ("to try") and denotes a person accused of a crime or other offense."
Kyrgyzсоттолуучу
The word "соттолуучу" derives from the verb "соттолуу" meaning "to be accused" and literally means "one who is accused".
Tajikайбдоршаванда
The word "айбдоршаванда" also means "accused", "charged", or "culprit" in Tajik.
Turkmengünäkärlenýän
Uzbeksudlanuvchi
The word "sudlanuvchi" in Uzbek comes from the word "sud" meaning "court" and the suffix "-chi" indicating a person, thus literally meaning "one who is in court".
Uyghurجاۋابكار

Defendant in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmea i hoʻopiʻi ʻia
Historically, "mea i hoʻopiʻi ʻia" referred to the person accusing another of a wrong or an offense.
Maorikaiwhakapae
In Maori, kaiwhakapae can also refer to an opponent, an enemy, or an adversary in general.
Samoanua molia
"Ua molia" may also refer to an object of an action or a victim of a crime or accident.
Tagalog (Filipino)akusado
'Akusado' is also used to refer to the person who has been accused of committing a sin, offense or crime.

Defendant in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajuchanchata jaqi
Guaraniacusado rehegua

Defendant in International Languages

Esperantoakuzito
"Akuzito" is derived from the Esperanto accusative case ending "o" and the verb "akuzi", meaning to accuse.
Latinreus
"Reus" also means "guilty" in Latin.

Defendant in Others Languages

Greekεναγόμενος
The verb εναγόμενος, which is the present passive participle of εναγω, means 'to lead or bring someone to trial.'
Hmongtus tiv thaiv
"Tus Tiv Thaiv" is an idiomatic form in Hmong which originally means "the person who has been summoned to a trial."
Kurdishgilîdar
The word "gilîdar" also means "criminal" or "culprit" in Kurdish.
Turkishsanık
"Sanık" sözcüğü aynı zamanda "tartılan", "ölçülen" ve "denenen" anlamlarına da gelir.
Xhosaummangalelwa
In the Xhosa language, the word "ummangalelwa" carries additional meanings beyond "defendant," signifying someone who is subject to blame, criticism, or misfortune.
Yiddishדיפענדאַנט
The Yiddish word "דיפענדאַנט" also means "dependent" in English.
Zuluummangalelwa
The word "ummangalelwa" in Zulu also means "one who is accused or being sued, a respondent, and a subject of a law suit."
Assameseপ্ৰতিবাদী
Aymarajuchanchata jaqi
Bhojpuriप्रतिवादी के बा
Dhivehiދައުވާ ލިބޭ ފަރާތެވެ
Dogriप्रतिवादी ने दी
Filipino (Tagalog)nasasakdal
Guaraniacusado rehegua
Ilocanonaidarum
Kriodifendant fɔ di pɔsin
Kurdish (Sorani)تۆمەتبار
Maithiliप्रतिवादी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯗꯤꯐꯦꯟꯁꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯄꯤꯈꯤ꯫
Mizodefendant a ni
Oromohimatamaa
Odia (Oriya)ଅଭିଯୁକ୍ତ
Quechuaacusado nisqa
Sanskritप्रतिवादी
Tatarгаепләнүче
Tigrinyaተኸሳሲ
Tsongamumangaleriwa

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