Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'dependent' carries great significance in our daily lives, emphasizing our reliance on others or external factors. Its cultural importance is evident across various societies, as the concept of interdependence is a universal aspect of the human experience. Understanding the translation of 'dependent' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures view and express this concept.
For instance, in Spanish, 'dependent' translates to 'dependiente', which is also a term used for a store employee who assists customers. This dual meaning highlights the role of assistance and support in the concept of dependence. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'dependent' translates to 'いたずら (itazura)', which also means 'mischief', reflecting the potential challenges and complications that can arise from dependence.
Exploring the translations of 'dependent' in various languages can enrich our understanding of this fundamental concept and deepen our appreciation for the richness and diversity of human culture. Here are some translations of 'dependent' in different languages:
Afrikaans | afhanklik | ||
"Afhanklik" is derived from the Dutch "aanhangen," meaning "to follow," and also denotes "addiction" as a dependence on an external substance. | |||
Amharic | ጥገኛ | ||
The word 'ጥገኛ' has historical meanings such as 'beggar' and 'indigent'. | |||
Hausa | dogara | ||
The word 'dogara' in Hausa also refers to a type of traditional headgear worn by Hausa men. | |||
Igbo | dabere | ||
The Igbo word “dabere” can also mean “support” or “be responsible for”. | |||
Malagasy | miantehitra | ||
The word "miantehitra" in Malagasy is derived from the word "iantehitra", meaning "to rest upon" or "to lean on". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wodalira | ||
"Wodalira" can also mean "someone who is not well off". | |||
Shona | kutsamira | ||
The word "kutsamira" can also refer to "leaning against" an object or person and "supporting oneself" with a stick or other object. | |||
Somali | ku tiirsan | ||
"Tiirsan" can also mean "leaning on" or "depending on" something. | |||
Sesotho | itshetlehileng | ||
The Sesotho word "itshetlehileng" can also refer to a person who is always relying on others for help. | |||
Swahili | tegemezi | ||
The Swahili word "tegemezi" comes from the root "-teg-" meaning "to lean on". | |||
Xhosa | oxhomekeke kuye | ||
The Xhosa word "oxhomekeke kuye" can also mean "to lean on" or "to rely on" | |||
Yoruba | ti o gbẹkẹle | ||
The Yoruba word "ti o gbẹkẹle" literally translates to "what is leaned on". | |||
Zulu | oncikile | ||
This word may have derived from a term referring to hanging or dangling below something. | |||
Bambara | a bɛ tali kɛ a la | ||
Ewe | ame si dzi woanɔ te ɖo | ||
Kinyarwanda | biterwa | ||
Lingala | oyo etali yango | ||
Luganda | eyeesigama ku muntu | ||
Sepedi | itšetlehile ka | ||
Twi (Akan) | a ɔde ne ho to so | ||
Arabic | يعتمد | ||
The word "يعتمد" can also mean "rely on" or "depend on" in Arabic. | |||
Hebrew | תלוי | ||
The Hebrew word "תלוי" (pronounced "ta-loo-ee") derives from the root "תלה" (pronounced "ta-lah"), which means "to hang" or "to suspend". | |||
Pashto | منحصر | ||
"منحصر" derives from the Arabic word "نَحْصَرُ", meaning "to confine, restrict, or surround." | |||
Arabic | يعتمد | ||
The word "يعتمد" can also mean "rely on" or "depend on" in Arabic. |
Albanian | i varur | ||
"I varur" originates from the Proto-Albanian word *waru(̯)-, meaning "bad, evil, poor, miserable". | |||
Basque | menpekoa | ||
"Menpekoa" comes from a Medieval Latin term for a feudal dependent of a knight or noble, via the Old Asturleonese form "menpengo". | |||
Catalan | dependent | ||
The Spanish word "dependiente" is not etymologically related to the Catalan "dependent," a noun referring to a mathematical relationship or an adjective for something that hangs, which derives from the Latin word for "hang." | |||
Croatian | ovisna | ||
The Latin root "ovisna" is related to a sheep; it came to refer to a person in thrall of someone who could protect them. The Latin verb ""ovis"" means "to protect" but also "to make someone a slave", which reflects the ancient reality that serfdom offered many peasants in exchange for security. | |||
Danish | afhængig | ||
Danish word “afhængig” was derived from | |||
Dutch | afhankelijk | ||
"Het Nederlandse woord "afhankelijk" is etymologisch verwant aan "afhangen" (hangen aan), en betekent naast afhankelijkheid ook "hangend" (bv. een hangend schaap)." | |||
English | dependent | ||
"Dependent" derives from Latin "dependere," meaning both "to hang" and "to be contingent upon." | |||
French | dépendant | ||
The French word « dépendant » can also mean « slope » in geometric contexts. | |||
Frisian | ôfhinklik | ||
The word "ôfhinklik" has multiple meanings in Frisian, including "dependent," "contingent," and "subordinate." | |||
Galician | dependente | ||
In Galician, the word "dependente" can also mean "employee" or "worker" in a shop or business. | |||
German | abhängig | ||
The German word "abhängig" can also mean "inclined" or "sloping" in reference to a surface. | |||
Icelandic | háð | ||
"Háð" in Icelandic originally referred to animals kept in a herd or flock, and can still be used to describe domesticated or semi-domesticated grazing livestock. | |||
Irish | spleách | ||
The Gaelic word "spleách" not only means "dependent," but also "spleen," suggesting a connection between the physical and emotional states of being dependent. | |||
Italian | dipendente | ||
The Italian word for "dependent" ("dipendente") also means an "employee". | |||
Luxembourgish | ofhängeg | ||
In French, one of the meanings of "dépendant" is "leaning", reflecting the etymological origin of "ofhängeg" in Luxembourgish. | |||
Maltese | dipendenti | ||
The word "dipendenti" in Maltese comes from the Latin word "dependens", meaning "hanging down" or "attached to". | |||
Norwegian | avhengig | ||
The Norwegian word "avhengig" can also mean "addicted". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | dependente | ||
In Portuguese, "dependente" can also mean "clerk" or "employee", particularly in the context of a store or office. | |||
Scots Gaelic | an urra | ||
'An urra' is a Gaelic word for someone who is dependent on others, such as a child or an elder. | |||
Spanish | dependiente | ||
In Spanish, "dependiente" also means "sales clerk" or "shop assistant" | |||
Swedish | beroende | ||
The word "beroende" in Swedish can also mean "addiction". | |||
Welsh | dibynnol | ||
The word "dibynnol" in Welsh can also refer to "reliance" or "trust". |
Belarusian | залежны | ||
In some dialects, "залежны" means "remote" or "backwater". | |||
Bosnian | zavisni | ||
"Zavisni" can also refer to a type of traditional Bosnian folk music. | |||
Bulgarian | зависим | ||
The Bulgarian word "зависим" ultimately comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "зависити", meaning "to hang" or "to depend". | |||
Czech | závislý | ||
Závislý can also mean "addicted" and has roots similar to its meaning as "dependent" but the original meaning may be related more to being suspended from something. | |||
Estonian | ülalpeetav | ||
"Ülalpeetav" is derived from the Estonian word "ülal pidama", meaning "to support" or "to maintain". | |||
Finnish | riippuvainen | ||
Finnish "riippuvainen" is not related to its cognate in Hungarian, meaning "envious". This is due to an early semantic shift. | |||
Hungarian | függő | ||
In Hungarian and Estonian, the word for "dependent" or "hanging" can also refer to the "curtain." | |||
Latvian | atkarīgs | ||
In Latvian, "atkarīgs" can also mean "inclined" or "addicted." | |||
Lithuanian | priklausomas | ||
"Priklausomas" in Lithuanian derives from the word "priklausoti," meaning "to belong" or "to be connected to." | |||
Macedonian | зависни | ||
The word "зависни" can also mean "addicted" or "hooked" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | zależny | ||
The etymology of the Polish word "zależny" traces back to the Old Church Slavonic root "legti", meaning "to lie" or "to recline". | |||
Romanian | dependent | ||
The Romanian word "dependent" can also mean "annex" or "outbuilding". | |||
Russian | зависимый | ||
"Зависимый" also means "addict" in Russian. | |||
Serbian | зависни | ||
The word "зависни" in Serbian can also mean "addicted" or "addictive". | |||
Slovak | závislý | ||
The Slovak word "závislý" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "zavisъ", which meant "connected" or "attached". | |||
Slovenian | odvisni | ||
The word "odvisni" may also refer to "dependents" in a tax context. | |||
Ukrainian | залежний | ||
The Ukrainian word "залежний" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "длъгъ", which means "debt" or "obligation", and it originally referred to a person who was bound to another by a debt or Verpflichtung. |
Bengali | নির্ভরশীল | ||
The word "নির্ভরশীল" can also be used to describe a person who is reliant on others for their livelihood. | |||
Gujarati | આશ્રિત | ||
"આશ્રિત" भी एक ऐसा शब्द है जो हिंदू धर्म और संस्कृति में कई अर्थ रखता है। | |||
Hindi | आश्रित | ||
'आश्रित' (aashrit) in Sanskrit means 'one who has taken shelter'. | |||
Kannada | ಅವಲಂಬಿತ | ||
The word also conveys meanings such as 'reliant' and 'leaning'. | |||
Malayalam | ആശ്രിത | ||
The word "ആശ്രിത" (āśrita) in Malayalam is derived from the Sanskrit word "आश्रित" (āśrita), which also means "dependent" or "reliant", but can also refer to a "disciple" or "follower". Additionally, in Malayalam, "ആശ്രിത" (āśrita) can refer to a "poor person" or "menial laborer". | |||
Marathi | अवलंबून | ||
The word "अवलंबून" comes from the Sanskrit root "lamb" meaning "to hang". As a result, it also means "suspended" or "hanging" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | आश्रित | ||
The word 'आश्रित' can also mean 'refugee' or 'dependent on' in Nepali. | |||
Punjabi | ਨਿਰਭਰ | ||
ਨਿਰਭਰ (nirbhar) in Punjabi translates to | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | යැපෙන්නන් | ||
The term 'යැපෙන්නන්' (yaepennan) in Sinhalese refers to individuals who rely on others for financial support or sustenance. | |||
Tamil | சார்ந்தது | ||
The word சார்ந்தது is derived from the verb சார் (join), implying a state of being attached or connected. | |||
Telugu | ఆధారపడి ఉంటుంది | ||
Urdu | منحصر | ||
"منحصر" derives from the Arabic word "حصر" meaning "restriction" or "confinement," reflecting the idea of dependence on something that confines or limits one's options. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 依赖的 | ||
依赖的 can also mean “rely” or “trust”. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 依賴的 | ||
「依賴的」一詞亦可解作「寄生的」或「倚賴的」 | |||
Japanese | 依存 | ||
The word 依存 (izon) can also mean "to adhere to" or "to rely on". | |||
Korean | 매달린 | ||
매달린 can also mean "hanging" or "suspended". | |||
Mongolian | хамааралтай | ||
The word "хамааралтай" also means "related to" or "connected to" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | မှီခို | ||
မှီခို originates from Pali, and has alternate meanings as “to adhere”, “to rely”, or “to trust”. |
Indonesian | tergantung | ||
Tergantung is derived from the Javanese word | |||
Javanese | gumantung | ||
The word "gumantung" (dependent) in the Javanese language can also refer to "hung" or "suspended". | |||
Khmer | ពឹងផ្អែក | ||
Lao | ຂຶ້ນກັບ | ||
Malay | bergantung | ||
The word "bergantung" in Malay can also mean "hanging" or "suspended". | |||
Thai | ขึ้นอยู่กับ | ||
The Thai word “ขึ้นอยู่กับ” (dependent) is literally translated as “to rise with” or “to be above.” | |||
Vietnamese | phụ thuộc | ||
"Dân tộc phụ thuộc" (dependent people) is used for the people of color (blacks) in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | umaasa | ||
Azerbaijani | asılıdır | ||
The word "asılıdır" also means 'hanged' or 'hung' in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | тәуелді | ||
The word 'тәуелді' in Kazakh can also refer to a person who is addicted to a substance or activity. | |||
Kyrgyz | көз каранды | ||
The first part of the word, «көз», translates to «eye,» while the second part, «каранды», can also mean «darkness» or «blindness». | |||
Tajik | вобаста | ||
The word "вобаста" in Tajik is derived from the Persian word "وابسته" meaning "reliant" or "attached". | |||
Turkmen | baglydyr | ||
Uzbek | qaram | ||
The word "qaram" in Uzbek is derived from the Old Turkic word "qara", meaning "black" or "dark", and can also refer to a person who is under the protection or guardianship of another. | |||
Uyghur | بېقىنىش | ||
Hawaiian | kaukaʻi | ||
"Kaukaʻi" has its root in the Proto-Oceanic root word "*taukai" which also means to "feed or nourish" | |||
Maori | whakawhirinaki | ||
The term "whakawhirinaki" in Māori can also refer to someone who is reliant or beholden to another individual or entity. | |||
Samoan | faʻalagolago | ||
The Samoan word "faʻalagolago" derives from the root "faʻa", meaning "to do" or "to make", and "golago", meaning "to hang" or "to be suspended". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | umaasa | ||
The word "umaasa" can also mean "to depend on" or "to trust". |
Aymara | ukat dependiente ukhamawa | ||
Guarani | dependiente rehegua | ||
Esperanto | dependa | ||
The Esperanto word 'dependa' can also refer to a person who relies heavily on others for support, especially a spouse or family member. | |||
Latin | dependens | ||
"Dependens" in Latin comes from the verb "dependere," meaning "to hang." |
Greek | εξαρτώμενος | ||
The word “εξαρτώμενος” (dependent) is derived from the verb “εξαρτάω” (to hang from), and can also mean “attached to” or “subordinate.” | |||
Hmong | vam khom | ||
The second and third syllables of vam khom, "khom," may refer to a younger relative, such as a child or nephew. | |||
Kurdish | pêvgrêdane | ||
The word "pêvgrêdane" is derived from the Persian word "paband" which means "dependent" or "tied up". | |||
Turkish | bağımlı | ||
The word "bağımlı" in Turkish can also mean "addict" or "substance abuser." | |||
Xhosa | oxhomekeke kuye | ||
The Xhosa word "oxhomekeke kuye" can also mean "to lean on" or "to rely on" | |||
Yiddish | אָפענגיק | ||
אָפענגיק derives from the German word abhängig, meaning "dependent" or "subordinate." | |||
Zulu | oncikile | ||
This word may have derived from a term referring to hanging or dangling below something. | |||
Assamese | নিৰ্ভৰশীল | ||
Aymara | ukat dependiente ukhamawa | ||
Bhojpuri | निर्भर बा | ||
Dhivehi | ޑިޕެންޑެންޓް | ||
Dogri | आश्रित | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | umaasa | ||
Guarani | dependiente rehegua | ||
Ilocano | agpannuray | ||
Krio | dipɛndent | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | وابەستە | ||
Maithili | आश्रित | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯗꯤꯄꯦꯟꯗꯦꯟꯇ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | dependent a ni | ||
Oromo | hirkataa ta’uu isaati | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ନିର୍ଭରଶୀଳ | | ||
Quechua | dependiente nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | आश्रितः | ||
Tatar | бәйле | ||
Tigrinya | ጽግዕተኛ እዩ። | ||
Tsonga | swi titshege hi swona | ||