Device in Different Languages
Discover 'Device' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A 'device' is a tool or instrument, specifically engineered to perform a group of functions. These gadgets, from the mundane to the magnificent, have become integral to our daily lives. From the smartphone in your pocket to the satellites orbiting high above, devices shape our cultural experiences and interactions.
Consider the television, a device that transformed the entertainment landscape. Invented in the 1920s, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon, altering how we consume news, entertainment, and advertising. Or take the computer, a device that revolutionized communication, education, and work. Its invention and evolution have been a driving force behind the digital age.
Understanding the translation of 'device' in different languages not only broadens our vocabulary but also offers a glimpse into how various cultures categorize and interact with tools and technology.
Here are a few translations to pique your curiosity:
- German: 'Gerät'
- Spanish: 'Dispositivo'
- French: 'Appareil'
- Mandarin: '器具' ('qì jù')
- Japanese: 'デバイス' ('debaisu')
Device
Device in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | toestel | ||
| The word "toestel" in Afrikaans, meaning "device," originates from the Dutch word "toestel," which in turn comes from the Middle Dutch word "toegestel," meaning "prepared" or "ready to use." | |||
| Amharic | መሣሪያ | ||
| "መሣሪያ" is a Ge'ez word that literally means "an implement that scratches". | |||
| Hausa | na'urar | ||
| "Na'urar" in Hausa also refers to the internal mechanisms or structure of an object or organization. | |||
| Igbo | ngwaọrụ | ||
| "Ngwaọrụ" also means an innovation, gadget, apparatus, appliance, invention, or tool. | |||
| Malagasy | fitaovana | ||
| The word "fitaovana" in Malagasy also means "means", "method", or "way". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chipangizo | ||
| Chipangizo comes from the verb "kupanga" (to set up) + "-izo" (a thing that is used to do something), referring to something set up for a purpose. | |||
| Shona | mudziyo | ||
| The word 'mudziyo' in Shona can also refer to a 'weapon' or 'instrument' depending on the context. | |||
| Somali | qalab | ||
| "Qalab" can also refer to a trap, mechanism, instrument, equipment, utensil, or tool. | |||
| Sesotho | sesebedisoa | ||
| The etymology of the Sesotho word "sesebedisoa" ("device") is similar to that of the word "sesebo", meaning "invention". | |||
| Swahili | kifaa | ||
| The Swahili word "kifaa" can also refer to a tool, instrument, or apparatus. | |||
| Xhosa | isixhobo | ||
| The word "isixhobo" is derived from the verb "ukushoboza", meaning "to be able", suggesting a broader concept of a tool or instrument that enables something to be done. | |||
| Yoruba | ẹrọ | ||
| Ẹrọ originally meant "trap" and could refer to an "engine" in a broader sense. | |||
| Zulu | idivayisi | ||
| Idivayisi can also mean 'method', 'plan' or 'scheme' in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | minɛn | ||
| Ewe | mᴐ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | igikoresho | ||
| Lingala | apareyi | ||
| Luganda | ekyuuma | ||
| Sepedi | setlabela | ||
| Twi (Akan) | afidie | ||
Device in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | جهاز | ||
| The Arabic word "جهاز" (device) also denotes the dowry of a bride or trousseau. | |||
| Hebrew | התקן | ||
| The Hebrew word "התקן" can also refer to an arrangement, a structure, or an institution. | |||
| Pashto | توکی | ||
| "توکی" can also mean "a trap" or "a snare for birds" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | جهاز | ||
| The Arabic word "جهاز" (device) also denotes the dowry of a bride or trousseau. | |||
Device in Western European Languages
| Albanian | pajisje | ||
| It is also spelled as "pajishje" and "pajise". It shares etymology with the word "pajë" (a bet). | |||
| Basque | gailua | ||
| "Gailua" is also the name of a town in the province of Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain. | |||
| Catalan | dispositiu | ||
| The word "dispositiu" in Catalan can also refer to a legal or administrative provision or measure. | |||
| Croatian | uređaj | ||
| The word "uređaj" also bears the meaning "disposition, inclination" | |||
| Danish | enhed | ||
| The word "enhed" also means "unity" in Danish, highlighting the device's role in connecting components into a cohesive whole. | |||
| Dutch | apparaat | ||
| The word 'apparaat' can also refer to a group of officials or experts, such as a government department or a scientific committee. | |||
| English | device | ||
| The word 'device' comes from the Latin word 'dividere' meaning 'to divide' and originally referred to a separation, parting, or division. | |||
| French | dispositif | ||
| "Dispositif" is also used in French to refer to a set of concepts or theories that are used to interpret a certain phenomenon. | |||
| Frisian | apparaat | ||
| In Frisian it also denotes a 'person in a particular trade or profession'. | |||
| Galician | dispositivo | ||
| The Spanish word "dispositivo" derives from the Latin word "dispositivus" with the meaning of "ready" or "arranged."} | |||
| German | gerät | ||
| The German word "Gerät" is derived from an old Germanic verb, "garaidjan" or "giredan," which referred to prepare, make fit, or furnish, and is also a cognate term to the English word "gear". | |||
| Icelandic | tæki | ||
| Tæki is cognate with the Dutch word 'tuig' (gear) and the German word 'Zeug' (stuff) | |||
| Irish | gléas | ||
| The word "gléas" can also mean "noise" or "sound". | |||
| Italian | dispositivo | ||
| The word "dispositivo" also means "clause" or "arrangement" in some contexts. | |||
| Luxembourgish | apparat | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Apparat" has a variety of connotations, including "machinery", "furniture", and "device". | |||
| Maltese | apparat | ||
| The Maltese word "apparat" originates from the Italian word "apparecchio," meaning "apparatus" or "equipment." | |||
| Norwegian | enhet | ||
| The word "enhet" in Norwegian can also refer to a unit of measurement. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | dispositivo | ||
| "Dispositivo" shares its etymology with the English word "dispose", and can also mean "arrangement", "plan", or "intention". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | inneal | ||
| "Inneal" has been used to refer to a tool, a machine, or other mechanical contrivance since at least the 14th century. | |||
| Spanish | dispositivo | ||
| "Dispositivo" can also refer to a legal or formal instrument or document. | |||
| Swedish | enhet | ||
| The word "enhet" can also mean "unit" or "entity" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | ddyfais | ||
| The word "ddyfais" derives from the Welsh word "dyfais", meaning "to invent" or "to contrive". | |||
Device in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | прылада | ||
| The word "прылада" can also refer to a device for making rope or string. | |||
| Bosnian | uređaja | ||
| The word "uređaja" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*orędie" meaning "tool", "implement". | |||
| Bulgarian | устройство | ||
| The Bulgarian word "устройство" can also mean "structure" or "system", similar to the English word "device". | |||
| Czech | přístroj | ||
| The term "přístroj" (device) is derived from the Czech word "přistrojit" (to equip) and shares its origin with the German word "apparat" (apparatus) | |||
| Estonian | seade | ||
| The word "seade" in Estonian originally meant "order" or "arrangement" and is related to the Finnish word "sääntö" which means "rule". | |||
| Finnish | laite | ||
| The word "laite" in Finnish also refers to the reproductive organs of male fish. | |||
| Hungarian | eszköz | ||
| The word "eszköz" in Hungarian has historical roots in the phrase "eszébe jut", meaning "it comes to his/her mind", and is ultimately derived from the Old Turkish word "öz" (meaning "mind"). | |||
| Latvian | ierīci | ||
| The word 'ierīci' is derived from the Old High German word 'girāt' which means 'to prepare'. | |||
| Lithuanian | prietaisą | ||
| "Prietaisą" tiesiogiai siejama su „aparatėlis“, „mašinėlė“. | |||
| Macedonian | уред | ||
| The word "уред" can also refer to a tool or an instrument | |||
| Polish | urządzenie | ||
| The word 'urządzanie' in Polish originally meant 'setting up', and still retains this meaning in the field of law. | |||
| Romanian | dispozitiv | ||
| "Dispozitiv" is also used in Romanian for "mood" and "frame of mind". | |||
| Russian | устройство | ||
| Устройство, помимо основного значения "прибор", также может употребляться в значении "государственное учреждение" или "механизм". | |||
| Serbian | уређаја | ||
| The Serbian word "уређаја" (device) comes from the Proto-Slavic word *ǫdrędъ, meaning "order" or "arrangement". | |||
| Slovak | zariadenie | ||
| The Slovak word "zariadenie" is related to the Czech "zařízení" and ultimately to the root of "řied" ("order"). | |||
| Slovenian | naprave | ||
| "Naprava" can also mean "device" or "instrument" in the sense of a mechanism or tool. | |||
| Ukrainian | пристрою | ||
| The word 'пристрою' in Ukrainian also refers to an extension or addition to a building. | |||
Device in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | যন্ত্র | ||
| The word "যন্ত্র" is derived from the Sanskrit word "यंत्र" (yantra), meaning "instrument" or "tool". | |||
| Gujarati | ઉપકરણ | ||
| The word "ઉપકરણ" can also mean "tool" or "instrument" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | युक्ति | ||
| "युक्ति" can also mean "tactics" or "strategy" in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಾಧನ | ||
| The word "ಸಾಧನ" in Kannada can also mean "an instrument", "a means", or "a tool". | |||
| Malayalam | ഉപകരണം | ||
| The Malayalam word "ഉപകരണം" can also be literally translated as "sub-tool", highlighting its secondary role in supporting the main tool. | |||
| Marathi | डिव्हाइस | ||
| In Marathi, the term 'डिव्हाइस' originated from the English word 'device' and has acquired additional meanings, including 'scheme,' 'trick,' or 'plan'. | |||
| Nepali | उपकरण | ||
| The word 'उपकरण' (device) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'उप' (near) and 'करण' (action), meaning 'an object used to perform an action'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਜੰਤਰ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਜੰਤਰ" (device) is derived from Sanskrit "यन्त्र" (machine, tool), which also means "mechanism" and "object (of a plan or scheme)" in Punjabi. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උපාංගය | ||
| The word 'උපාංගය' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'उपाय' meaning 'means or expedient'. In Sinhala, 'උපාංගය' is not only used to refer to a 'device' but also to refer to an 'limb' or part of the body, especially in the context of a 'member' of a group or organization. | |||
| Tamil | சாதனம் | ||
| The word 'சாதனம்' comes from the Sanskrit word 'साधन' (sādhana), which means 'means' or 'instrument' | |||
| Telugu | పరికరం | ||
| The word "పరికరం" (device) in Telugu can also refer to a mechanism or an instrument used for a specific purpose. | |||
| Urdu | آلہ | ||
| In Urdu, 'آلہ' is not only a 'device' but also a 'musical instrument' or a 'tool'. | |||
Device in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 设备 | ||
| 设备 may also refer to "facility" or "equipment". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 設備 | ||
| 設備 is a combination of the characters '設 (shè)' meaning 'to set up' and '備 (bèi)' meaning 'to prepare' or 'to provide'. | |||
| Japanese | 端末 | ||
| The word "端末" (tansho) originally meant "end point" or "terminus" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 장치 | ||
| In Korean, "장치" can also refer to a system or arrangement, such as a lighting system or a seating arrangement. | |||
| Mongolian | төхөөрөмж | ||
| The word "төхөөрөмж" can also refer to a mechanism, system, or instrument. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စက်ကိရိယာ | ||
Device in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | alat | ||
| The word alat in Indonesian can also mean "organ" or "limb" | |||
| Javanese | piranti | ||
| 'Piranti' also means a kind of rice mill or a milling apparatus. | |||
| Khmer | ឧបករណ៍ | ||
| The word "ឧបករណ៍" is derived from the Sanskrit word "उपकरण" which literally means "something that is put to work". | |||
| Lao | ອຸປະກອນ | ||
| Malay | peranti | ||
| The word "peranti" also means "equipment" or "tool". | |||
| Thai | อุปกรณ์ | ||
| The Thai word "อุปกรณ์" also implies the idea of a "tool" or "instrument". | |||
| Vietnamese | thiết bị | ||
| "Thiết bị" literally means "iron equipment," indicating the original meaning of devices as objects made of iron. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | aparato | ||
Device in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | qurğu | ||
| The word "qurğu" also refers to a "mechanism" or "contrivance" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | құрылғы | ||
| "Құрылғы" (device) originates from the word "құру" (to establish), implying something constructed or assembled with a specific purpose. | |||
| Kyrgyz | түзмөк | ||
| The word "түзмөк" can also mean "structure" or "construction". | |||
| Tajik | дастгоҳ | ||
| The word "дастгоҳ" (dastgoh) in Tajik can also refer to a musical instrument ensemble. | |||
| Turkmen | enjam | ||
| Uzbek | qurilma | ||
| "Qurilma" also means "construction" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | ئۈسكۈنە | ||
Device in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hāmeʻa | ||
| The term 'hāmeʻa' can also refer to tools, instruments, utensils, or objects employed for a specific purpose. | |||
| Maori | taputapu | ||
| In Maori, "taputapu" originates from the Proto-Austronesian word *tapu,* meaning "sacred" or "prohibited," and has extended meanings including "sacred object" or "ritual object." | |||
| Samoan | masini | ||
| The word "masini" in Samoan derives from the English word "machine". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | aparato | ||
| "Aparato" can also refer to a set-up or arrangement, especially of a theatrical or festive nature. | |||
Device in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | tispusitiwu | ||
| Guarani | tembiporu | ||
Device in International Languages
| Esperanto | aparato | ||
| The word "aparato" also has the connotation of "pomp" or "extravagance" in Spanish. | |||
| Latin | fabrica | ||
| Fabrica in Latin also means factory, workshop, and construction. | |||
Device in Others Languages
| Greek | συσκευή | ||
| The word "συσκευή" can also mean "preparation" or "arrangement" in Greek. | |||
| Hmong | ntaus ntawv | ||
| In Hmong, the word "ntaus ntawv" carries the additional meaning of "tool", signifying its broader application in various crafts and everyday tasks. | |||
| Kurdish | sazî | ||
| "Sazî" is a Kurdish word that also means "thing", "item", and "object". | |||
| Turkish | cihaz | ||
| The Ottoman Turkish word "cihaz" is often used in modern Turkish to refer to the dowry of a bride. | |||
| Xhosa | isixhobo | ||
| The word "isixhobo" is derived from the verb "ukushoboza", meaning "to be able", suggesting a broader concept of a tool or instrument that enables something to be done. | |||
| Yiddish | מיטל | ||
| The word מיטל (mitl) in Yiddish can also refer to a measure of volume, equivalent to a liter. | |||
| Zulu | idivayisi | ||
| Idivayisi can also mean 'method', 'plan' or 'scheme' in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | ডিভাইচ | ||
| Aymara | tispusitiwu | ||
| Bhojpuri | जंतर | ||
| Dhivehi | ޑިވައިސް | ||
| Dogri | डिवाइस | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | aparato | ||
| Guarani | tembiporu | ||
| Ilocano | ramit | ||
| Krio | ilɛktronik tul | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئامێر | ||
| Maithili | यंत्र | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯠꯂꯥꯏ | ||
| Mizo | hmanrua | ||
| Oromo | meeshaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଉପକରଣ | ||
| Quechua | dispositivo | ||
| Sanskrit | उपकरणम् | ||
| Tatar | җайланма | ||
| Tigrinya | መሳርሒ | ||
| Tsonga | xitirhisiwa | ||