Updated on March 6, 2024
Dialogue is a vital tool for communication and connection across cultures. It refers to a conversation between two or more people, where ideas, emotions, and perspectives are exchanged. The significance of dialogue extends beyond daily interactions, as it also plays a crucial role in various cultural, artistic, and philosophical contexts.
Throughout history, dialogue has been used as a means of exploring complex ideas and fostering understanding. For instance, the Socratic dialogues, named after the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, are a series of philosophical discussions that delve into questions about ethics, epistemology, and human nature. Similarly, in literature, dialogue serves as a powerful device for revealing character and advancing plot.
Given the importance of dialogue in cross-cultural communication and understanding, it's no wonder that people around the world are interested in learning its translation in different languages. By doing so, they can deepen their appreciation for the richness and diversity of human language and culture.
Here are some translations of the word 'dialogue' in various languages:
Afrikaans | dialoog | ||
Afrikaans "gesprek" is a doublet of "dialoog" borrowed from Dutch and is more common in speech, while "dialoog" is more formal and often used in writing. | |||
Amharic | ውይይት | ||
Hausa | tattaunawa | ||
Tattaunawa can also mean 'to be together in a place'. | |||
Igbo | mkparịta ụka | ||
The term derives from the phrase 'ịkpata ụka' (literally, 'to call a meeting to find a solution'). | |||
Malagasy | fifanakalozan-kevitra | ||
The word "fifanakalozan-kevitra" also means "exchange of ideas" and "conversation" in Malagasy. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kukambirana | ||
The word 'kukambirana' in Nyanja has an alternate meaning of 'to communicate' or 'to talk to each other'. | |||
Shona | nhaurirano | ||
The word "nhaurirano" is derived from the verb "nhaura", meaning "to agree" or "to come to an understanding". | |||
Somali | wadahadal | ||
Wadahadal is also used figuratively to refer to a back-and-forth conversation or exchange of ideas | |||
Sesotho | puisano | ||
"Puisano" is an archaic form of "buisano," which comes from "ho bua," meaning "to give birth." The "p" prefix adds emphasis and respect, so "puisano" literally means "noble speech." | |||
Swahili | mazungumzo | ||
Mazungumzo can also refer to a 'conversation', 'debate', or 'discussion' in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | ingxoxo | ||
The Xhosa term "ingxoxo" can refer to a debate, a discussion, or a conversation, and its root "-xoxa" signifies "to talk" or "to confer." | |||
Yoruba | ijiroro | ||
Ijiroro, an uncommon name for "dialogue" in Yoruba, may originate from the term "Iji" (discussion) or "Roro" (to converse). | |||
Zulu | inkhulumomphendvulwano | ||
The word 'inkhulumomphendvulwano' literally translates to 'a discussion that leads to understanding'. | |||
Bambara | kumaɲɔgɔnya | ||
Ewe | dzeɖoɖo | ||
Kinyarwanda | ibiganiro | ||
Lingala | masolo ya kosolola | ||
Luganda | okuteesa | ||
Sepedi | poledišano | ||
Twi (Akan) | nkɔmmɔbɔ | ||
Arabic | حوار | ||
The word "حوار" in Arabic, meaning "dialogue," also has the connotation of "conversation" or "debate". | |||
Hebrew | דו שיח | ||
The Hebrew word דו שיח (du-shiakh) can also mean a duet or a conversation between two people. | |||
Pashto | خبرې | ||
The Pashto word "خبرې" can also mean "news" or "information." | |||
Arabic | حوار | ||
The word "حوار" in Arabic, meaning "dialogue," also has the connotation of "conversation" or "debate". |
Albanian | dialogu | ||
The word "dialogu" is also used in Albanian to refer to a "conversation" or "discussion". | |||
Basque | elkarrizketa | ||
The word "elkarrizketa" is derived from the Basque words "elkar" (together) and "rizketa" (to speak). | |||
Catalan | diàleg | ||
The word "diàleg" in Catalan has its origins in the Latin word "dialogus," which means "conversation between two or more people." | |||
Croatian | dijalog | ||
Dijalog, meaning 'dialogue', also refers to two or more people sharing ideas and experiences. | |||
Danish | dialog | ||
In Danish "Dialog" can also refer to a specific church bell ring technique. | |||
Dutch | dialoog | ||
The suffix '-loog' can also be found in the Dutch words 'monoloog' (monologue) and 'datalog' (dialogue). | |||
English | dialogue | ||
"Dialogue" comes from the Greek "dialogos" meaning "conversation" or "discourse" | |||
French | dialogue | ||
Dialogue in French can also mean 'exchange of blows' and derives from the Greek 'dialogos' (conversation). | |||
Frisian | dialooch | ||
Galician | diálogo | ||
In Galician, the word “diálogo” can also refer to a conversation between two people, or to a discussion or debate. | |||
German | dialog | ||
In German, the term "Dialog" also refers to a type of musical composition for two solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra. | |||
Icelandic | samtöl | ||
The word "samtöl" in Icelandic is derived from the Old Norse word "samtal", which meant "conversation or discussion" and "legal proceeding." | |||
Irish | idirphlé | ||
The Irish word "idirphlé" can also mean "discussion" or "lecture". | |||
Italian | dialogo | ||
The Italian word 'dialogo', derived from Greek, originally meant 'conversation through words'. | |||
Luxembourgish | dialog | ||
In Luxembourgish, “Dialog” can refer to an address or a sermon as well as a dialogue. | |||
Maltese | djalogu | ||
The Maltese word "djalogu" originates from the Ancient Greek "dialogos", which means "conversation or discussion." | |||
Norwegian | dialog | ||
The Norwegian word "dialog" originally meant a dialogue between two people, but has since expanded to include conversations involving more than two people. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | diálogo | ||
The etymology of Portuguese "diálogo" comes from Greek "dialogos", which was an early literary genre based on conversation. | |||
Scots Gaelic | còmhradh | ||
Spanish | diálogo | ||
In its etymology, 'diálogo' combines the Greek 'dia-' ('through, across, apart, in different ways') with 'logos' ('speech, discourse, discussion, thought, philosophy') to refer to a 'speech or communication that traverses or goes from one part to another'. | |||
Swedish | dialog | ||
The word "dialog" in Swedish can also refer to a type of fabric used in upholstery. | |||
Welsh | deialog | ||
The word "deialog" in Welsh also refers to a conversation between two or more people in a literary or dramatic work. |
Belarusian | дыялог | ||
The word | |||
Bosnian | dijalog | ||
Dijalog is derived from the Greek word 'dialogos', meaning 'conversation between two people'. | |||
Bulgarian | диалог | ||
In Bulgarian, "диалог" originally meant "conversation" but in the 19th century also acquired the meaning of "literary genre". | |||
Czech | dialog | ||
The word "dialog" in Czech also means "conversation". | |||
Estonian | dialoog | ||
The word "dialoog" can also refer to a discussion or debate. | |||
Finnish | vuoropuhelua | ||
The word "vuoropuhelua" also refers to a genre of Finnish folk music characterized by its alternating verses and chorus. | |||
Hungarian | párbeszéd | ||
"Párbeszéd" derives from the Hungarian word "pár" (a pair) and "beszéd" (speech), indicating a conversation between two parties. | |||
Latvian | dialogs | ||
The Latvian word "dialogi" is derived from the Greek word "dialogos", meaning "conversation" or "discussion". | |||
Lithuanian | dialogą | ||
The word "dialogą" in Lithuanian also means "conversation" or "discussion" | |||
Macedonian | дијалог | ||
The word "дијалог" is derived from the Greek word "διάλογος" (dialogos), which means "conversation". It can also refer to a literary work in which two or more characters engage in conversation. | |||
Polish | dialog | ||
In Polish, "dialog" can also mean "conversation" or "interview". | |||
Romanian | dialog | ||
The Romanian word "dialog" can also mean "speech" or "conversation". | |||
Russian | диалог | ||
"Диалог" can also refer to a kind of folk song. | |||
Serbian | дијалог | ||
The noun 'дијалог' ('dialogue') in Serbian can also refer to a conversation between more than two people. | |||
Slovak | dialóg | ||
The Slovak word "dialóg" also refers to a type of theatrical play or screenplay. | |||
Slovenian | dialoga | ||
The word 'dialoga' in Slovenian is related to the Ancient Greek word 'dialogue', originally meaning 'conversation'. | |||
Ukrainian | діалог | ||
The Ukrainian word "діалог" (dialogue) also refers to a kind of two-wheeled horse-drawn cart. |
Bengali | সংলাপ | ||
সংলাপ (samlap) originates from the Sanskrit root 'samlap' meaning confluence or mixing. | |||
Gujarati | સંવાદ | ||
"સંવાદ" can also mean "conversation" or "discussion" in Gujarati, highlighting its broader scope beyond just scripted exchanges. | |||
Hindi | संवाद | ||
The Hindi word "संवाद" (dialogue) is derived from the Sanskrit word "सं" (together) and "वद" (to speak), signifying a conversation or exchange of ideas between two or more individuals. | |||
Kannada | ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ | ||
ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ is derived from the Sanskrit root 'sam' meaning 'together' and 'bhash' meaning 'to speak'. | |||
Malayalam | ഡയലോഗ് | ||
The word 'dialogue' has also been used in Malayalam to mean 'conversation', 'parley', and 'discussion'. | |||
Marathi | संवाद | ||
"संवाद" also means 'conversation' or 'communication' in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | सम्वाद | ||
In Sanskrit, the word "सम्वाद" (samvād) additionally means "agreement" or "understanding". | |||
Punjabi | ਸੰਵਾਦ | ||
Derived from Sanskrit, the word also refers to an organized format for philosophical debate | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දෙබස් | ||
The word "දෙබස්" can also refer to a conversation between two or more people, or a discussion. | |||
Tamil | உரையாடல் | ||
"உரையாடல்" (dialogue) is derived from the Tamil word "உரையாடுதல்" (conversation) and also means "a literary composition involving a conversation between two or more characters". | |||
Telugu | సంభాషణ | ||
The word "సంభాషణ" can also mean "conversation", "discourse", or "discussion". | |||
Urdu | مکالمہ | ||
مکالمہ (Dialogue): A conversation between two or more people or characters in a story or play; an exchange of ideas or opinions |
Chinese (Simplified) | 对话 | ||
"对话" 的汉语词根是指 "对答" 或 "交谈"; 它也可以指一种艺术形式,如戏剧中的角色互动或哲学讨论。 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 對話 | ||
"對話" (dialogue) is a compound word with "對" meaning "facing" and "話" meaning "speech". | |||
Japanese | 対話 | ||
"対" means "to face" and "話" means "speech", so "対話" can also mean "to speak to each other" or "to converse". | |||
Korean | 대화 | ||
The Korean word "대화" can also refer to a conversation between two or more people. | |||
Mongolian | харилцан яриа | ||
In Mongolian, "харилцан яриа" can also refer to a meeting or conference where multiple people engage in discussions. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တွေ့ဆုံဆွေးနွေးရေး | ||
The term "dialogue" is derived from the Latin word "dialogus", which means "conversation between two or more people". |
Indonesian | dialog | ||
The Indonesian word "dialog" can also mean "conversation", "discussion", or "speech." | |||
Javanese | dialog | ||
In Javanese, "dialog" means "a conversation between two or more people", but it can also refer to "the art of communicating effectively" or "a style of writing that uses conversation to convey information". | |||
Khmer | ការសន្ទនា | ||
Lao | ການສົນທະນາ | ||
Malay | dialog | ||
The Malay word "dialog" is derived from the Greek word "dialogos" which means "conversation". | |||
Thai | บทสนทนา | ||
บทสนทนา (bàtsànthanā) literally means 'a group of conversations' from Pali-Sanskrit 'pad' (Sanskrit 'pada') meaning 'foot' and 'santh' (Sanskrit 'sandh') meaning 'joining'. | |||
Vietnamese | hội thoại | ||
The Vietnamese word "hội thoại" originally meant "conversation; talk" but now also means "dialogue" in a literary sense. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | diyalogo | ||
Azerbaijani | dialoq | ||
"Dialoq" in Azerbaijani shares its root with the word for "language" and can also mean "exchange of words". | |||
Kazakh | диалог | ||
The word "диалог" can also mean "conversation" or "discussion" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | диалог | ||
Диалог is often used in Kyrgyz to describe a philosophical debate. | |||
Tajik | муколама | ||
The word "муколама" can also refer to a conversation or discussion. | |||
Turkmen | gepleşik | ||
Uzbek | dialog | ||
"Dialog" also has the alternate meaning of "language"} | |||
Uyghur | دىئالوگ | ||
Hawaiian | kamaʻilio | ||
Kamaʻilio also means "exchange of knowledge" or "conversation" in Hawaiian. | |||
Maori | korerorero | ||
The word "korerorero" also carries the connotation of "telling the truth" in Maori culture. | |||
Samoan | talanoaga | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) | dayalogo | ||
The Tagalog word "dayalogo" is derived from the Spanish word "diálogo", which in turn comes from the Greek word "dialogos" meaning "conversation between two people." |
Aymara | aruskipt’aña | ||
Guarani | ñomongeta rehegua | ||
Esperanto | dialogo | ||
In Esperanto, "dialogo" is derived from the Greek word "dialogos," which means "conversation between two or more people." | |||
Latin | colloquium | ||
The word "colloquium" is derived from the Latin word "colligere," which means "to assemble" or "to gather together." |
Greek | διάλογος | ||
The Greek word "διάλογος" (dialogue) means both a conversation and a debate or argument, reflecting its Socratic roots. | |||
Hmong | kev sib tham | ||
The Hmong word "kev sib tham" (dialogue) is a compound noun formed from the words "kev" (conversation), "sib" (together), and "tham" (ask). | |||
Kurdish | diyalog | ||
In Kurdish, "diyalog" can also refer to a type of traditional folk song or performance. | |||
Turkish | diyalog | ||
Diyalog comes from the Arabic word "diyālug," referring to both a conversation between two people and an exchange of goods. | |||
Xhosa | ingxoxo | ||
The Xhosa term "ingxoxo" can refer to a debate, a discussion, or a conversation, and its root "-xoxa" signifies "to talk" or "to confer." | |||
Yiddish | דיאַלאָג | ||
The Yiddish word for "dialogue" (דיאַלאָג) comes from Greek and literally means "to talk through." | |||
Zulu | inkhulumomphendvulwano | ||
The word 'inkhulumomphendvulwano' literally translates to 'a discussion that leads to understanding'. | |||
Assamese | সংলাপ | ||
Aymara | aruskipt’aña | ||
Bhojpuri | संवाद के बात कइल जाला | ||
Dhivehi | ޑައިލޮގް ކުރުމެވެ | ||
Dogri | संवाद करदे | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | diyalogo | ||
Guarani | ñomongeta rehegua | ||
Ilocano | dialogo ti panagsasarita | ||
Krio | dayalɔg | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دیالۆگ | ||
Maithili | संवाद | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯋꯥꯔꯤ ꯁꯥꯅꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | inbiakna neih a ni | ||
Oromo | marii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସଂଳାପ | ||
Quechua | rimanakuy | ||
Sanskrit | संवादः | ||
Tatar | диалог | ||
Tigrinya | ዝርርብ ምግባር | ||
Tsonga | mbulavurisano | ||