Deputy in different languages

Deputy in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'deputy' carries great significance in many cultural and professional contexts worldwide. A deputy is someone appointed or elected to act on behalf of another person or group, often holding important responsibilities in various settings such as government, law enforcement, or corporations. The concept of a deputy has been present in many societies throughout history, from ancient Roman governors to modern-day legislative aides.

Understanding the translation of 'deputy' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and utilize this role. For instance, in Spanish, a deputy is known as 'diputado,' while in French, it's 'député.' In German, the term is 'Stellvertreter,' and in Mandarin Chinese, it's '代表' (dàibiǎo).

Exploring these translations can also offer a fascinating glimpse into the historical and cultural contexts associated with the word 'deputy.' For example, in some languages, the term has roots in feudal systems, where lords appointed deputies to manage their estates. In other cases, the word reflects more modern democratic principles, emphasizing representation and accountability.

Join us as we delve into the multifaceted world of deputies and discover the rich tapestry of language and culture that surrounds this important concept.

Deputy


Deputy in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansadjunk
"Adjunk" comes from Latin "adjunctus" (joined), via Dutch "adjunct"
Amharicምክትል
"In Amharic, the word for "deputy," ምክትል (məktəl), also means "aid" or "help"
Hausamataimakin
The Hausa word "mataimakin" originally meant "one who walks before the emir".
Igboosote
The word "osote" in Igbo has cognates with the word "oso" meaning "to replace".
Malagasylefitra
The word "lefitra" means "deputy" in Malagasy, and originates from the Arabic word "wakil" - a term used historically to refer to a person appointed and vested with authority.
Nyanja (Chichewa)wachiwiri
The word "wachiwiri" may have originated from the Yao language, where it means "assistant" or "second in command."
Shonamutevedzeri
Somalikuxigeen
The word "kuxigeen" in Somali originates from the Arabic word "wakīl", meaning "representative" or "agent".
Sesothomotlatsi
The word "motlatsi" is also used to refer to a chief's assistant or advisor.
Swahilinaibu
The word "naibu" can also mean "assistant" or "representative" in Swahili.
Xhosausekela
The word "usekela" originally referred to a person who acted for a chief during their absence and later came to mean "deputy".
Yorubaigbakeji
Igbakeji, which literally means 'one who acts instead of another' in Yoruba, is used to refer to a substitute or replacement.
Zuluisekela
"Isekelakhe is derived from the suffix 'isela', the verb stem meaning 'to act for or on behalf of', and the agentive suffix '-khe', which refers to 'the one who acts for or on behalf of' someone else."
Bambaradepite ye
Eweteƒenɔla
Kinyarwandaumudepite
Lingaladéputé
Lugandaomumyuka
Sepedimotlatšamohlankedi
Twi (Akan)abadiakyiri

Deputy in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالنائب
The word 'النائب' can also refer to a parliamentary representative or a replacement for someone.
Hebrewסְגָן
Although the original meaning is "chief", the word "סגן" ("deputy") took on the meaning of "second-in-command" in many contexts.
Pashtoمعاون
The term "معاون" in Pashto can also refer to an assistant, helper, or partner, highlighting its multifaceted role in supporting individuals or institutions.
Arabicالنائب
The word 'النائب' can also refer to a parliamentary representative or a replacement for someone.

Deputy in Western European Languages

Albanianzv
The word "zv" in Albanian has its origins in the Latin word "vice," meaning "in place of."
Basquediputatu
The word "diputatu" derives from the Latin word "deputatus", which means "delegate" or "representative".
Catalandiputat
The Catalan word "diputat" derives from the Latin "deputatus" meaning "sent" or "delegated" and also refers to a local politician representing a certain constituency.
Croatianzamjenik
The word "zamjenik" comes from the Slavic root "zam", meaning "in place of", and the suffix "-nik", indicating a person or thing.
Danishstedfortræder
The Danish word "stedfortræder" shares a root with the Old Norse word for "stead", alluding to the deputy's role as a temporary holder of a position.
Dutchplaatsvervanger
Plaatsvervanger derives from the Dutch words 'plaats' (place) and 'vervanger' (replacement).
Englishdeputy
The word "deputy" originates from the Latin word "deputare," meaning "to assign" or "to appoint."
Frenchadjoint
In French, the word "adjoint" can also refer to a person who assists a mayor or a professor and is not necessarily a deputy.
Frisiandeputearre
The Frisian word "deputearre" originates from the French word "député" and also means "member of parliament".
Galiciandeputado
The word 'deputado' can also refer to a member of the Cortes, which is the region's legislative assembly.
Germanstellvertreter
The German word “Stellvertreter” literally means “representative of a position” and is often used to denote deputies in positions of authority.
Icelandicstaðgengill
The word is also used in the sense of "representative" or "envoy".
Irishleas
The word "leas" in Irish is derived from the Old Irish word "lías", meaning "lieutenant" or "vassal".
Italianvice
The word "vice" in Italian derives from the Latin word "vicarius", meaning "substitute" or "deputy".
Luxembourgishstellvertrieder
The word "Stellvertrieder" in Luxembourgish means "deputy" in English. It is derived from the German word "Stellvertreter", which means "substitute" or "representative."
Maltesedeputat
In Maltese, "deputat" can also refer to a member of the House of Representatives.
Norwegiannestleder
The word "nestleder" in Norwegian comes from the words "nest" (next) and "leder" (leader), indicating the role of a deputy as someone second in command.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)deputado
In Portugal, "deputado" can also refer to municipal or regional assemblies.
Scots Gaelicleas-cheannard
Alternate meaning of the word "leas-cheannard" ("deputy") in Scots Gaelic is "sub-chief".
Spanishdiputado
The word "diputado" derives from the Latin word "deputare," meaning "to appoint" or "to send away," and was used in ancient Rome to refer to a representative sent to carry out a specific task or mission.
Swedishvice
The Swedish word "vice" comes from the Latin word "vicarius," meaning "one who takes the place of another."
Welshdirprwy
In Welsh, the word "dirprwy" shares etymological roots with "deputy" in English, but also carries the alternate meaning of "representative".

Deputy in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianнамеснік
The word “намеснік” also means “representative” or “agent” in Belarusian.
Bosnianzamjenik
The word "zamjenik" also means "placeholder" and "temporary substitute."
Bulgarianдепутат
"Депутат" derives from the Late Latin word "deputatus", meaning "chosen, selected, or appointed as a representative".
Czechnáměstek
The word "náměstek" comes from the Old Slavonic word "naměstьnikъ" which means "regent" or "representative".
Estonianasetäitja
"Asetäitja" is derived from "ase" (
Finnishsijainen
Sijainen is a common noun in Finnish that can also refer to a "stand-in", "replacement", or "substitute".
Hungarianhelyettes
The word "helyettes" also means "substitute" in Hungarian.
Latvianvietnieks
The word "vietnieks" in Latvian also has the alternate meaning of "representative" or "agent"
Lithuanianpavaduotojas
In Lithuanian, the term “pavaduotojas” etymologically derives from the word meaning “help” or “substitute”.
Macedonianзаменик
The word "заменик" also means "substitute" or "replacement" in Macedonian.
Polishzastępca
The word "zastępca" in Polish also means "substitute" or "replacement."
Romanianadjunct
In Romanian, the word "adjunct" can also refer to an additional subject studied in a school or university curriculum.
Russianзаместитель
The word заместитель derives from the Russian word заместить, meaning to replace or take the place of another.
Serbianзаменик
The word "заменик" (deputy) also means "substitute" or "replacement" in Serbian.
Slovakposlanec
The word "poslanec" comes from "poslat" - to send, so it is "one who is sent" to represent somebody.
Sloveniannamestnik
Namestnik is derived from the Slavic word
Ukrainianзаступник
"Заступник" also means "defender" or "protector" in Ukrainian.

Deputy in South Asian Languages

Bengaliসহকারী
The word "সহকারী" originates from the Sanskrit word "सहकार" (sahakara), meaning "co-operation" or "working together"
Gujaratiનાયબ
In Sanskrit, 'naib' refers to 'near' while in French 'nayib' is a governor under the Turkish Empire
Hindiडिप्टी
The word 'डिप्टी' ('deputy') in Hindi originates from the French word 'député', meaning 'representative' or 'agent'.
Kannadaಉಪ
The word "ಉಪ" ("upa") in Kannada can also mean "near", "attached", or "secondary"
Malayalamഡെപ്യൂട്ടി
In Malayalam, "ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി" (deputy) can also refer to the assistant or deputy head of a department.
Marathiउप
The Marathi word "उप" can also mean "near" or "close to".
Nepaliसहायक
"सहायक" also refers to an "assistant", "help" or "support".
Punjabiਡਿਪਟੀ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)නියෝජ්‍ය
Tamilதுணை
"துணை" is a Tamil word that has multiple meanings and shares an etymological root with other Dravidian languages.
Teluguడిప్యూటీ
The word "డిప్యూటీ" can also be used to refer to a person who is appointed to act in place of another person, such as a representative or a delegate.
Urduنائب
نائب is also used to denote a viceroy, lieutenant or a representative

Deputy in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
In the ancient Chinese system of bureaucracy, the term "副" referred to an assistant or subordinate official who supported a senior official in carrying out their duties.
Chinese (Traditional)
The character 副 can also have the alternate meaning of 'additional' or 'assistant'.
Japanese
The word "deputy" can also mean "vice" or "assistant" in Japanese.
Korean대리인
"대리인" can refer to a person entrusted to act as an agent for another, an attorney acting for a client, or a representative sent as a deputy.
Mongolianорлогч
"Орлогч" can also refer to "a representative or agent" and is a term derived from the Mongolian root word "орлох" which means "to replace, substitute, or represent".
Myanmar (Burmese)လက်ထောက်

Deputy in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianwakil
The word "wakil" in Indonesian comes from the Arabic word "wakil" meaning "representative" or "agent".
Javanesewakil
The Javanese word `wakil` is derived from the Arabic word `wakil` meaning "representative" and is also used to refer to a spouse or partner.
Khmerអនុ
The word 'អនុ' can also refer to a 'subordinate' or 'assistant'.
Laoຮອງ
The Lao word "ຮອງ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "अरोग्य" (arogya), meaning "health" or "well-being".
Malaytimbalan
In addition to "deputy," "timbalan" also means "vice" and "assistant" in Malay.
Thaiรอง
"รอง" also refers to the "back" of the body
Vietnamesephó
The word "phó" is derived from the Chinese word "副", meaning "assistant" or "helper".
Filipino (Tagalog)deputy

Deputy in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanimüavin
The word "müavin" in Azerbaijani ultimately derives from the Arabic word "mu'āwin‌" meaning "helper, assistant".
Kazakhорынбасары
"Орынбасары" is also a term for a leader or a member of an organization's governing body
Kyrgyzдепутат
The Kyrgyz word "депутат" originally meant "person sent on a mission" and is derived from the Latin word "deputatus" with the same meaning.
Tajikдепутат
The word депутат ("deputy") entered the Tajik language from Russian and is a borrowing from the Latin "deputatus" ("elected").
Turkmenorunbasary
Uzbekdeputat
The word "deputat" in Uzbek, meaning "deputy," is of French origin and also refers to a type of bread distributed among workers in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the past.
Uyghurۋەكىل

Deputy in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhope
In Hawaiian, “hope” means “deity that brings good things.”
Maorituarua
'Tuarua' means 'second', and is the traditional Maori word for a deputy, assistant, or supporter.
Samoansui
The word 'sui' also refers to a person who acts on behalf of another, or an agent.
Tagalog (Filipino)representante
In Tagalog, "representante" can also refer to individuals who serve as representatives of their communities in various capacities, such as barangay councils or student organizations.

Deputy in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaradiputado ukhamawa
Guaranidiputado rehegua

Deputy in International Languages

Esperantodeputito
The Esperanto word "deputito" comes from the Latin word "deputare" which means "to assign" and is used in English as "deputy" and "deputation".
Latinvicarium
Latin 'vicarium' is a derivative of 'vicis,' signifying turn, place or exchange.

Deputy in Others Languages

Greekαναπληρωτής
Originally, the term ἀναπληρωτής could refer to either a replacement or a substitute for a military officer.
Hmongtus lwm thawj coj
Tus Lwm Thawj Coj is a title of respect similar to "master". It is also used in addressing a teacher or elder.
Kurdishwekîl
The word "wekîl" can also mean "representative" or "agent" in Kurdish.
Turkishvekil
The Turkish word 'vekil' derives from the Arabic term meaning 'attorney', 'agent' or 'representative'.
Xhosausekela
The word "usekela" originally referred to a person who acted for a chief during their absence and later came to mean "deputy".
Yiddishדעפּוטאַט
The Yiddish word "דעפּוטאַט" ("deputat") is derived from the Russian word депутат, which in turn derives from the Latin word deputāre, meaning "to assign".
Zuluisekela
"Isekelakhe is derived from the suffix 'isela', the verb stem meaning 'to act for or on behalf of', and the agentive suffix '-khe', which refers to 'the one who acts for or on behalf of' someone else."
Assameseডেপুটি
Aymaradiputado ukhamawa
Bhojpuriडिप्टी के ह
Dhivehiޑެޕިއުޓީ އެވެ
Dogriडिप्टी जी
Filipino (Tagalog)deputy
Guaranidiputado rehegua
Ilocanodiputado
Kriodiputi
Kurdish (Sorani)جێگر
Maithiliडिप्टी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯗꯤꯄꯨꯇꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯧ ꯄꯨꯈꯤ꯫
Mizodeputy a ni
Oromoitti aanaa
Odia (Oriya)ଡେପୁଟି
Quechuadiputado nisqa
Sanskritउपः
Tatarурынбасары
Tigrinyaምክትል ምዃኑ ይፍለጥ
Tsongamupfuni

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