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
| Afrikaans | adjunk | ||
| "Adjunk" comes from Latin "adjunctus" (joined), via Dutch "adjunct" | |||
| Amharic | ምክትል | ||
| "In Amharic, the word for "deputy," ምክትል (məktəl), also means "aid" or "help" | |||
| Hausa | mataimakin | ||
| The Hausa word "mataimakin" originally meant "one who walks before the emir". | |||
| Igbo | osote | ||
| The word "osote" in Igbo has cognates with the word "oso" meaning "to replace". | |||
| Malagasy | lefitra | ||
| 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." | |||
| Shona | mutevedzeri | ||
| Somali | kuxigeen | ||
| The word "kuxigeen" in Somali originates from the Arabic word "wakīl", meaning "representative" or "agent". | |||
| Sesotho | motlatsi | ||
| The word "motlatsi" is also used to refer to a chief's assistant or advisor. | |||
| Swahili | naibu | ||
| The word "naibu" can also mean "assistant" or "representative" in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | usekela | ||
| The word "usekela" originally referred to a person who acted for a chief during their absence and later came to mean "deputy". | |||
| Yoruba | igbakeji | ||
| Igbakeji, which literally means 'one who acts instead of another' in Yoruba, is used to refer to a substitute or replacement. | |||
| Zulu | isekela | ||
| "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." | |||
| Bambara | depite ye | ||
| Ewe | teƒenɔla | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umudepite | ||
| Lingala | député | ||
| Luganda | omumyuka | ||
| Sepedi | motlatšamohlankedi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | abadiakyiri | ||
Deputy in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | النائب | ||
| The word 'النائب' can also refer to a parliamentary representative or a replacement for someone. | |||
| Hebrew | סְגָן | ||
| Although the original meaning is "chief", the word "סגן" ("deputy") took on the meaning of "second-in-command" in many contexts. | |||
| Pashto | معاون | ||
| The term "معاون" in Pashto can also refer to an assistant, helper, or partner, highlighting its multifaceted role in supporting individuals or institutions. | |||
| Arabic | النائب | ||
| The word 'النائب' can also refer to a parliamentary representative or a replacement for someone. | |||
Deputy in Western European Languages
| Albanian | zv | ||
| The word "zv" in Albanian has its origins in the Latin word "vice," meaning "in place of." | |||
| Basque | diputatu | ||
| The word "diputatu" derives from the Latin word "deputatus", which means "delegate" or "representative". | |||
| Catalan | diputat | ||
| The Catalan word "diputat" derives from the Latin "deputatus" meaning "sent" or "delegated" and also refers to a local politician representing a certain constituency. | |||
| Croatian | zamjenik | ||
| The word "zamjenik" comes from the Slavic root "zam", meaning "in place of", and the suffix "-nik", indicating a person or thing. | |||
| Danish | stedfortræder | ||
| 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. | |||
| Dutch | plaatsvervanger | ||
| Plaatsvervanger derives from the Dutch words 'plaats' (place) and 'vervanger' (replacement). | |||
| English | deputy | ||
| The word "deputy" originates from the Latin word "deputare," meaning "to assign" or "to appoint." | |||
| French | adjoint | ||
| In French, the word "adjoint" can also refer to a person who assists a mayor or a professor and is not necessarily a deputy. | |||
| Frisian | deputearre | ||
| The Frisian word "deputearre" originates from the French word "député" and also means "member of parliament". | |||
| Galician | deputado | ||
| The word 'deputado' can also refer to a member of the Cortes, which is the region's legislative assembly. | |||
| German | stellvertreter | ||
| The German word “Stellvertreter” literally means “representative of a position” and is often used to denote deputies in positions of authority. | |||
| Icelandic | staðgengill | ||
| The word is also used in the sense of "representative" or "envoy". | |||
| Irish | leas | ||
| The word "leas" in Irish is derived from the Old Irish word "lías", meaning "lieutenant" or "vassal". | |||
| Italian | vice | ||
| The word "vice" in Italian derives from the Latin word "vicarius", meaning "substitute" or "deputy". | |||
| Luxembourgish | stellvertrieder | ||
| The word "Stellvertrieder" in Luxembourgish means "deputy" in English. It is derived from the German word "Stellvertreter", which means "substitute" or "representative." | |||
| Maltese | deputat | ||
| In Maltese, "deputat" can also refer to a member of the House of Representatives. | |||
| Norwegian | nestleder | ||
| 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 Gaelic | leas-cheannard | ||
| Alternate meaning of the word "leas-cheannard" ("deputy") in Scots Gaelic is "sub-chief". | |||
| Spanish | diputado | ||
| 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. | |||
| Swedish | vice | ||
| The Swedish word "vice" comes from the Latin word "vicarius," meaning "one who takes the place of another." | |||
| Welsh | dirprwy | ||
| 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
| Belarusian | намеснік | ||
| The word “намеснік” also means “representative” or “agent” in Belarusian. | |||
| Bosnian | zamjenik | ||
| The word "zamjenik" also means "placeholder" and "temporary substitute." | |||
| Bulgarian | депутат | ||
| "Депутат" derives from the Late Latin word "deputatus", meaning "chosen, selected, or appointed as a representative". | |||
| Czech | náměstek | ||
| The word "náměstek" comes from the Old Slavonic word "naměstьnikъ" which means "regent" or "representative". | |||
| Estonian | asetäitja | ||
| "Asetäitja" is derived from "ase" ( | |||
| Finnish | sijainen | ||
| Sijainen is a common noun in Finnish that can also refer to a "stand-in", "replacement", or "substitute". | |||
| Hungarian | helyettes | ||
| The word "helyettes" also means "substitute" in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | vietnieks | ||
| The word "vietnieks" in Latvian also has the alternate meaning of "representative" or "agent" | |||
| Lithuanian | pavaduotojas | ||
| In Lithuanian, the term “pavaduotojas” etymologically derives from the word meaning “help” or “substitute”. | |||
| Macedonian | заменик | ||
| The word "заменик" also means "substitute" or "replacement" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | zastępca | ||
| The word "zastępca" in Polish also means "substitute" or "replacement." | |||
| Romanian | adjunct | ||
| In Romanian, the word "adjunct" can also refer to an additional subject studied in a school or university curriculum. | |||
| Russian | заместитель | ||
| The word заместитель derives from the Russian word заместить, meaning to replace or take the place of another. | |||
| Serbian | заменик | ||
| The word "заменик" (deputy) also means "substitute" or "replacement" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | poslanec | ||
| The word "poslanec" comes from "poslat" - to send, so it is "one who is sent" to represent somebody. | |||
| Slovenian | namestnik | ||
| Namestnik is derived from the Slavic word | |||
| Ukrainian | заступник | ||
| "Заступник" also means "defender" or "protector" in Ukrainian. | |||
Deputy in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সহকারী | ||
| The word "সহকারী" originates from the Sanskrit word "सहकार" (sahakara), meaning "co-operation" or "working together" | |||
| Gujarati | નાયબ | ||
| In Sanskrit, 'naib' refers to 'near' while in French 'nayib' is a governor under the Turkish Empire | |||
| Hindi | डिप्टी | ||
| The word 'डिप्टी' ('deputy') in Hindi originates from the French word 'député', meaning 'representative' or 'agent'. | |||
| Kannada | ಉಪ | ||
| The word "ಉಪ" ("upa") in Kannada can also mean "near", "attached", or "secondary" | |||
| Malayalam | ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി | ||
| In Malayalam, "ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി" (deputy) can also refer to the assistant or deputy head of a department. | |||
| Marathi | उप | ||
| The Marathi word "उप" can also mean "near" or "close to". | |||
| Nepali | सहायक | ||
| "सहायक" also refers to an "assistant", "help" or "support". | |||
| Punjabi | ਡਿਪਟੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නියෝජ්ය | ||
| Tamil | துணை | ||
| "துணை" is a Tamil word that has multiple meanings and shares an etymological root with other Dravidian languages. | |||
| Telugu | డిప్యూటీ | ||
| 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. | |||
| Urdu | نائب | ||
| نائب is also used to denote a viceroy, lieutenant or a representative | |||
Deputy in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 副 | ||
| 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) | 副 | ||
| The character 副 can also have the alternate meaning of 'additional' or 'assistant'. | |||
| Japanese | 副 | ||
| The word "deputy" can also mean "vice" or "assistant" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 대리인 | ||
| "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. | |||
| Mongolian | орлогч | ||
| "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
| Indonesian | wakil | ||
| The word "wakil" in Indonesian comes from the Arabic word "wakil" meaning "representative" or "agent". | |||
| Javanese | wakil | ||
| The Javanese word `wakil` is derived from the Arabic word `wakil` meaning "representative" and is also used to refer to a spouse or partner. | |||
| Khmer | អនុ | ||
| The word 'អនុ' can also refer to a 'subordinate' or 'assistant'. | |||
| Lao | ຮອງ | ||
| The Lao word "ຮອງ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "अरोग्य" (arogya), meaning "health" or "well-being". | |||
| Malay | timbalan | ||
| In addition to "deputy," "timbalan" also means "vice" and "assistant" in Malay. | |||
| Thai | รอง | ||
| "รอง" also refers to the "back" of the body | |||
| Vietnamese | phó | ||
| The word "phó" is derived from the Chinese word "副", meaning "assistant" or "helper". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | deputy | ||
Deputy in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | müavin | ||
| The word "müavin" in Azerbaijani ultimately derives from the Arabic word "mu'āwin" meaning "helper, assistant". | |||
| Kazakh | орынбасары | ||
| "Орынбасары" is also a term for a leader or a member of an organization's governing body | |||
| Kyrgyz | депутат | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "депутат" originally meant "person sent on a mission" and is derived from the Latin word "deputatus" with the same meaning. | |||
| Tajik | депутат | ||
| The word депутат ("deputy") entered the Tajik language from Russian and is a borrowing from the Latin "deputatus" ("elected"). | |||
| Turkmen | orunbasary | ||
| Uzbek | deputat | ||
| 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. | |||
| Uyghur | ۋەكىل | ||
Deputy in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hope | ||
| In Hawaiian, “hope” means “deity that brings good things.” | |||
| Maori | tuarua | ||
| 'Tuarua' means 'second', and is the traditional Maori word for a deputy, assistant, or supporter. | |||
| Samoan | sui | ||
| 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
| Aymara | diputado ukhamawa | ||
| Guarani | diputado rehegua | ||
Deputy in International Languages
| Esperanto | deputito | ||
| The Esperanto word "deputito" comes from the Latin word "deputare" which means "to assign" and is used in English as "deputy" and "deputation". | |||
| Latin | vicarium | ||
| Latin 'vicarium' is a derivative of 'vicis,' signifying turn, place or exchange. | |||
Deputy in Others Languages
| Greek | αναπληρωτής | ||
| Originally, the term ἀναπληρωτής could refer to either a replacement or a substitute for a military officer. | |||
| Hmong | tus 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. | |||
| Kurdish | wekîl | ||
| The word "wekîl" can also mean "representative" or "agent" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | vekil | ||
| The Turkish word 'vekil' derives from the Arabic term meaning 'attorney', 'agent' or 'representative'. | |||
| Xhosa | usekela | ||
| The word "usekela" originally referred to a person who acted for a chief during their absence and later came to mean "deputy". | |||
| Yiddish | דעפּוטאַט | ||
| The Yiddish word "דעפּוטאַט" ("deputat") is derived from the Russian word депутат, which in turn derives from the Latin word deputāre, meaning "to assign". | |||
| Zulu | isekela | ||
| "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." | |||
| Assamese | ডেপুটি | ||
| Aymara | diputado ukhamawa | ||
| Bhojpuri | डिप्टी के ह | ||
| Dhivehi | ޑެޕިއުޓީ އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | डिप्टी जी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | deputy | ||
| Guarani | diputado rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | diputado | ||
| Krio | diputi | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | جێگر | ||
| Maithili | डिप्टी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯗꯤꯄꯨꯇꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯧ ꯄꯨꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | deputy a ni | ||
| Oromo | itti aanaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଡେପୁଟି | ||
| Quechua | diputado nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | उपः | ||
| Tatar | урынбасары | ||
| Tigrinya | ምክትል ምዃኑ ይፍለጥ | ||
| Tsonga | mupfuni | ||