Depression in Different Languages
Discover 'Depression' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Depression is a significant mental health issue that affects people all around the world. It is a serious condition that can have a profound impact on an individual's quality of life, relationships, and overall well-being. While the experience of depression can be universal, the way we talk about and understand it can vary greatly from one culture to another.
Understanding the translation of depression in different languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures conceptualize and address mental health. For example, in Spanish, the word for depression is 'depresión,' while in French, it is 'dépression.' In Mandarin Chinese, the term for depression is '抑郁症' (yíyè zhèng), which literally translates to 'suppressive illness.' In Japanese, the word is 'デプレッション' (depureshon), which is a direct transliteration of the English term.
By exploring the translation of depression in different languages, we can deepen our appreciation for the cultural importance of mental health and gain a greater understanding of the diverse ways in which people experience and cope with this challenging condition.
Depression
Depression in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | depressie | ||
| The Afrikaans word “depressie” is also used to describe a meteorological low-pressure area. | |||
| Amharic | ድብርት | ||
| The Amharic word "ድብርት" originally referred to a physical cavity or pit, and only later came to be used metaphorically for "depression" in the psychological sense. | |||
| Hausa | damuwa | ||
| "Damuwa" is also used to refer to a state of being weary or exhausted. | |||
| Igbo | ịda mba | ||
| The Igbo word "ịda mba" also denotes feelings of sadness, dejection, or discouragement. | |||
| Malagasy | ketraka | ||
| The Malagasy word "ketraka" originally meant "a state of being crushed" or "a feeling of oppression," but it has come to be used more generally to refer to depression. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kukhumudwa | ||
| The term 'kukhumudwa' in Nyanja (Chichewa) encompasses not only clinical depression but also feelings of sadness, dejection, and low spirits. | |||
| Shona | kuora mwoyo | ||
| The Shona word 'kuora mwoyo' literally means 'to remove the heart' or 'to take away the spirit', capturing the emotional and spiritual weight associated with depression. | |||
| Somali | niyad jab | ||
| The word "niyad jab" also means "sadness" or "grief" and is derived from the Somali word "niyad" meaning "mind" and "jab" meaning "bad". | |||
| Sesotho | ho tepella maikutlo | ||
| Swahili | huzuni | ||
| Huzuni also refers to the feeling of sadness, sorrow, or dejection | |||
| Xhosa | ukudakumba | ||
| "Ukudakumba" also means "to dig" in Xhosa, suggesting that depression is seen as a deep hole or pit from which it is difficult to escape. | |||
| Yoruba | ibanujẹ | ||
| "Ibanuje" may also refer to "downheartedness", "sorrow", "grief", or "desolation" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ukudana | ||
| The word 'ukudana' shares the same root with 'ukudana', meaning 'to dig', implying a deep emotional pit. | |||
| Bambara | farifaga | ||
| Ewe | teteɖeanyi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kwiheba | ||
| Lingala | konyokwama na makanisi | ||
| Luganda | ennaku | ||
| Sepedi | kgatelelo ya monagano | ||
| Twi (Akan) | hahaahayɔ | ||
Depression in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | كآبة | ||
| كآبة (depression) derives from the verb "كاب (to restrain, suppress)" and implies heaviness, narrowness, and restriction. | |||
| Hebrew | דִכָּאוֹן | ||
| The word "דיכאון" is derived from the Hebrew verb "דכדך" (dikdekh), meaning "to break down", "to crush", or "to humiliate". | |||
| Pashto | خپګان | ||
| Depression in Pashto is called 'خپګان' because it gives a sense of suffocation and constriction. | |||
| Arabic | كآبة | ||
| كآبة (depression) derives from the verb "كاب (to restrain, suppress)" and implies heaviness, narrowness, and restriction. | |||
Depression in Western European Languages
| Albanian | depresioni | ||
| Albanian "depresioni" derives from the Latin "depressio," meaning "lowering"} | |||
| Basque | depresioa | ||
| The word “depresioa” likely derives from the Basque “depresibo” (“depressive”) and the Proto-Indo-European root *dep- (“to sink or dive”), giving it a similar etymology to the English “depression”. | |||
| Catalan | depressió | ||
| In Catalan, the noun "depressió" means both "depression" and a low-pressure weather system. | |||
| Croatian | depresija | ||
| In Croatian, "depresija" can also refer to a hollow or depression in the ground. | |||
| Danish | depression | ||
| Depression derives from the Latin deprimere, meaning to press down. | |||
| Dutch | depressie | ||
| In Dutch, "depressie" can also refer to a low atmospheric pressure system, commonly known as a depression or a cyclone. | |||
| English | depression | ||
| The word "depression" derives from the Latin "deprimere", meaning "to press down" or "to sink". | |||
| French | la dépression | ||
| In French, "la dépression" can also refer to a valley or a geographical depression. | |||
| Frisian | depresje | ||
| The word 'depresje' has other meanings in Frisian, such as 'low atmospheric pressure' or 'trough' | |||
| Galician | depresión | ||
| In Galician, the word “depresión” also means a sink or hollow in the land, a low point or a place where water accumulates | |||
| German | depression | ||
| The word "Depression" in German can also refer to a low atmospheric pressure area. | |||
| Icelandic | þunglyndi | ||
| Þunglyndi is literally translated as 'heaviness of mind'. | |||
| Irish | dúlagar | ||
| The term 'dúlagar' originates from the Irish word 'dólás', meaning 'sorrow' or 'grief', and is distinct from the modern word 'depression' used in English. | |||
| Italian | depressione | ||
| The word "depressione" derives from the Latin word "depressio", meaning "a pressing down". | |||
| Luxembourgish | depressioun | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Depressioun" can also refer to a valley or a low point in topography. | |||
| Maltese | depressjoni | ||
| The Maltese term “depressjoni” comes from the Latin root “deprimere” which means to press down or weigh upon. | |||
| Norwegian | depresjon | ||
| In Norwegian, "depresjon" also has a second meaning, namely the low point or base of something. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | depressão | ||
| The Portuguese word "depressão" also means "hollow" or "cavity" in the context of terrain, anatomy, or a technical object. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | trom-inntinn | ||
| "Trom-inntinn" is a literal Gaelic term meaning "heaviness of mind." | |||
| Spanish | depresión | ||
| In Spanish "depresión" also refers to a geographical depression | |||
| Swedish | depression | ||
| The Swedish word "depression" can also refer to a low-lying area of land. | |||
| Welsh | iselder | ||
| The Welsh word "iselder" can also refer to a state of lowliness or humility. | |||
Depression in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | дэпрэсія | ||
| The Belarusian word "дэпрэсія" is derived from the Latin word "depressio", meaning "a pressing down" or "a lowering". | |||
| Bosnian | depresija | ||
| Depresija also means 'sunken in', 'depressed', 'low-lying' or 'crushed' in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | депресия | ||
| Depression is borrowed from the English "depression". | |||
| Czech | deprese | ||
| The word "deprese" in Czech also means "concavity" or "groove". | |||
| Estonian | depressioon | ||
| The word "depressioon" in Estonian is a derivative of the Latin word "depressus", meaning low or downcast. | |||
| Finnish | masennus | ||
| The word "masennus" derives from "masentaa" (to depress/dishearten), which in turn comes from "masentava" (depressing) | |||
| Hungarian | depresszió | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "depresszió" has a secondary meaning of "recession" or "economic downturn". | |||
| Latvian | depresija | ||
| The word "depresija" originates from the Latin word "deprimere", meaning "to press down". | |||
| Lithuanian | depresija | ||
| In Lithuanian, "depresija" can also mean a hollow, low-lying area, or a place where water collects. | |||
| Macedonian | депресија | ||
| The Macedonian word "депресија" can also refer to a low-lying area or a dip in the terrain. | |||
| Polish | depresja | ||
| The Polish word "depresja" derives from the Latin "depressus," meaning "pressed down" or "lowered." | |||
| Romanian | depresie | ||
| In Romanian, "depresie" also means "valley," highlighting the connection between low mood and feelings of being at a low point. | |||
| Russian | депрессия | ||
| In Russian, "депрессия" can also mean a geographical depression, valley, or hollow. | |||
| Serbian | депресија | ||
| The word "депресија" (depresija) derives from the Latin word "depressus", meaning "pressed down" or "sunk down". | |||
| Slovak | depresia | ||
| The Slovak word "depresia" derives from Latin "depressus," meaning "pressed down" and "low-spirited." | |||
| Slovenian | depresija | ||
| The word "depresija" also means "hollow" in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | депресія | ||
| The Ukrainian word "депресія" also means "low-lying area" and is related to the word "дипресія" meaning depression in Polish and "depression" in English. | |||
Depression in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিষণ্ণতা | ||
| বিষণ্ণতা literally means 'poisonous' and can also refer to a 'poisonous plant' or an 'antidote' depending on the context. | |||
| Gujarati | હતાશા | ||
| The Gujarati word 'હતાશા' ('depression') can be traced back to the Sanskrit word 'हताश' ('hatasha'), meaning 'despair.' | |||
| Hindi | डिप्रेशन | ||
| The word 'डिप्रेशन' in Hindi can also mean 'recession' or 'economic downturn' in English. | |||
| Kannada | ಖಿನ್ನತೆ | ||
| The word "ಖಿನ್ನತೆ" is of Sanskrit origin, and it can also mean "sadness" or "grief". | |||
| Malayalam | വിഷാദം | ||
| The word "വിഷാദം" in Malayalam can also mean "sorrow" or "grief". | |||
| Marathi | औदासिन्य | ||
| The noun "औदासिन्य" derives from the Sanskrit words "उद्" and "अस" (outward, away from), and "आसीन" (to sit), hence it means "looking away, indifference."} | |||
| Nepali | डिप्रेसन | ||
| Nepali "डिप्रेसन" also means "crushing" (of something) | |||
| Punjabi | ਤਣਾਅ | ||
| The word "ਤਣਾਅ" can also mean a "stretch" of something, such as rope or cloth. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මානසික අවපීඩනය | ||
| Tamil | மனச்சோர்வு | ||
| The term "manachorvu" in Tamil has ancient roots, dating back to the Sangam era, where it referred to a state of "feeling low" or "being dispirited." | |||
| Telugu | నిరాశ | ||
| The word "నిరాశ" can also mean "hopelessness" or "despair". | |||
| Urdu | ذہنی دباؤ | ||
Depression in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 萧条 | ||
| Its original meaning refers to a withered tree, and later extended to mean a situation of economic downturn. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 蕭條 | ||
| 蕭條 literally means 'the sound of falling leaves', connoting a sense of desolation and decline. | |||
| Japanese | うつ病 | ||
| うつ病 ('depression') is also used in Japanese to describe a state of physical and mental exhaustion. | |||
| Korean | 우울증 | ||
| "우울증" means depression in Korean, but it is also a compound word meaning "gloom + condition". | |||
| Mongolian | сэтгэлийн хямрал | ||
| The word сэтгэлийн хямрал directly translates to "heartbreak" and initially referred to the physical pain people experienced from grief. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စိတ်ကျရောဂါ | ||
Depression in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | depresi | ||
| The Indonesian word "depresi" is derived from the Latin word "depressus," meaning "pressed down" or "low." | |||
| Javanese | depresi | ||
| The Javanese word "depresi" can also mean "to sink down" or "to be submerged." | |||
| Khmer | ការធ្លាក់ទឹកចិត្ត | ||
| The Sanskrit word "daurmanasya", used in Ayurvedic scriptures, means both an upset stomach as well as depression; both meanings persist in Sanskrit-derived languages today, including Khmer. | |||
| Lao | ອາການຊຶມເສົ້າ | ||
| Malay | kemurungan | ||
| The word "kemurungan" can also refer to a type of herbal medicine used to treat depression. | |||
| Thai | โรคซึมเศร้า | ||
| The Thai word "โรคซึมเศร้า" (depression) is derived from the Sanskrit word "เศร้า" (sorrow) and refers to a state of constant sadness or melancholy. | |||
| Vietnamese | phiền muộn | ||
| "Phiền muộn" can also mean "vexation", "annoyance" or "disappointment." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | depresyon | ||
Depression in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | depressiya | ||
| The word “depressiya” in Azerbaijani is derived from the French word “dépression” meaning “a low point” or “a decline”. It can also be used to refer to a geographical depression, such as a valley or a basin. | |||
| Kazakh | депрессия | ||
| "Депрессия" в казахском также означает "опустошение" или "углубление" | |||
| Kyrgyz | депрессия | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "депрессия" can also refer to a low point in a valley or a state of sadness or despondency. | |||
| Tajik | депрессия | ||
| Слово «депрессия» происходит от латинского «depressio», означающего «угнетение» или «подавление». | |||
| Turkmen | depressiýa | ||
| Uzbek | depressiya | ||
| "Depressiya" is also used to describe a geographical depression such as a hollow or a basin. | |||
| Uyghur | چۈشكۈنلۈك | ||
Depression in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaumaha | ||
| In Hawaiian, the word "kaumaha" can also refer to a form of physical exhaustion or fatigue. | |||
| Maori | pouri | ||
| In Maori mythology, "pouri" refers to the darkness that existed before the creation of the world. | |||
| Samoan | faanoanoa | ||
| The word “faanoanoa” means a heavy weight that affects someone mentally in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pagkalumbay | ||
| The word "pagkalumbay" also means "gloominess" or "sadness", but it can also refer to a state of physical weakness or illness. | |||
Depression in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | pächasiña | ||
| Guarani | ãngakangy | ||
Depression in International Languages
| Esperanto | depresio | ||
| "Depresio" can also mean "depression" in the sense of an area of land that is lower than the surrounding area. | |||
| Latin | exanimationes incidamus | ||
| The Latin word "exanimationes" means "depression" and is derived from the verb "exanimare", meaning "to deprive of life or spirit." | |||
Depression in Others Languages
| Greek | κατάθλιψη | ||
| The word "κατάθλιψη" derives from the Greek words "κατά" (down) and "θλίβω" (press), signifying a state of being pressed down or overwhelmed. | |||
| Hmong | kev nyuaj siab | ||
| "Kev nyuaj siab" means "depression" but is composed of the words "kev nyuaj": "pain" and "siab": "mind," thus literally meaning "pain of the mind." | |||
| Kurdish | hişleqî | ||
| The term "hişleqî" in Kurdish shares a root with the Arabic word "ḥuznīyah" (sadness), underscoring the emotional aspects of depression. | |||
| Turkish | depresyon | ||
| Depresyon is also a Turkish verb meaning "to flatten or press down" and "to squeeze or wring" as well as a noun that means "flatness". | |||
| Xhosa | ukudakumba | ||
| "Ukudakumba" also means "to dig" in Xhosa, suggesting that depression is seen as a deep hole or pit from which it is difficult to escape. | |||
| Yiddish | דעפּרעסיע | ||
| The Yiddish word "דעפּרעסיע" originates from the German "Depression" and means a depression in the ground, while in English it primarily refers to a mental state. | |||
| Zulu | ukudana | ||
| The word 'ukudana' shares the same root with 'ukudana', meaning 'to dig', implying a deep emotional pit. | |||
| Assamese | উদাস | ||
| Aymara | pächasiña | ||
| Bhojpuri | अवसाद | ||
| Dhivehi | ފިކުރުބޮޑުވުން | ||
| Dogri | दुआसी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | depresyon | ||
| Guarani | ãngakangy | ||
| Ilocano | depresion | ||
| Krio | pwɛl at | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | خەمۆکی | ||
| Maithili | अवसाद | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯋꯥꯈꯜ ꯑꯋꯥꯕ ꯈꯟꯖꯤꯟꯕ | ||
| Mizo | lungngaihna | ||
| Oromo | mukuu hamaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଉଦାସୀନତା | ||
| Quechua | depresion | ||
| Sanskrit | निराशा | ||
| Tatar | депрессия | ||
| Tigrinya | ጭንቀት | ||
| Tsonga | ntshikelelo | ||