Dining in different languages

Dining in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Dining is more than just eating; it's an experience that transcends borders and cultures. This simple word encapsulates the act of sharing food, stories, and traditions with others. From fine dining restaurants to family kitchens, dining holds a significant place in our daily lives and cultural celebrations.

Historically, dining has been a symbol of community and social status. In ancient Rome, lavish banquets were held to display wealth and power. Today, dining continues to be an essential part of our social fabric, bringing people together to celebrate special occasions or simply enjoy a meal.

Given its significance, it's no surprise that the word 'dining' has been translated into various languages around the world. For instance, in Spanish, dining is 'cenar', while in French, it's 'dîner'. In German, the word is 'essen', and in Japanese, it's '食事' (pronounced 'shokuji').

Understanding the translation of dining in different languages can enhance your travel experiences, deepen your cultural knowledge, and even help you connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

Dining


Dining in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanseetkamer
The word “eetkamer” originates from the Dutch language, and its literal translation is “room to eat”.
Amharicመመገቢያ
The Amharic word "መመገቢያ" can also refer to a meal or food.
Hausacin abinci
Cin abinci may have originated from 'cin' (eat) and 'afin' (palace), indicating a special meal reserved for the nobility.
Igbona-eri nri
The Igbo word "na-eri nri" ("dining") is derived from the verb "ri," meaning "to eat".
Malagasyfisakafoana
"Fisakafoana" is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhojana" meaning "meal".
Nyanja (Chichewa)chodyera
Chodyera, meaning 'dining', can also refer to a 'feast' or 'banquet' in Nyanja (Chichewa).
Shonakunodya
The Shona word 'kunodya' can also be used to mean 'to cook' and 'to serve food'.
Somalicuntada
Somali "cuntada" is also used in the context of food portions, sharing, and feeding young children, as well as a form of charity or alms.
Sesothoho jela
The word "ho jela" is literally means "to eat" but is more commonly used to refer to the evening meal.
Swahilikula
Kula in Swahili can also refer to "to eat" or "to have a meal."
Xhosayokutyela
"Yokutyela" can also mean a place to eat, such as a restaurant or canteen
Yorubaile ijeun
The term "Ile ijeun" is etymologically linked to the Yoruba phrase "i wo e je un", meaning "come and eat your food".
Zuluyokudlela
The word 'yokudlela' is also sometimes colloquially used to refer to a particular meal of the day, especially breakfast or dinner.
Bambaradumunikɛyɔrɔ
Ewenuɖuɖu
Kinyarwandakurya
Lingalakolya
Lugandaokuliira
Sepedigo jela
Twi (Akan)adidibea

Dining in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicتناول الطعام
The word 'تناول الطعام' can also refer to the process of consuming information, such as reading a book or watching a film.
Hebrewאוכל
אוכל (okhel) is a Hebrew word that can also mean 'food' and is related to the Arabic word 'akl ('consumption').
Pashtoخواړه
In Pashto, "خواړه" (khwāra) also refers to a "meal" or "food" in general.
Arabicتناول الطعام
The word 'تناول الطعام' can also refer to the process of consuming information, such as reading a book or watching a film.

Dining in Western European Languages

Albanianngrënie
The word 'ngrënie' is also used to refer to the place where people eat.
Basquejantokia
The etymology of 'jantokia' is unclear, it could derive from 'egin' ('do') and '-gokia' ('place')
Catalanmenjador
The Catalan word ‘menjador’ derives from Vulgar Latin *mandicātōrium, a derivative of *manducāre, ‘to eat’.
Croatianblagovaonica
Blagovaonica can also mean "dining saloon", "refectory" or "canteen" in Croatian.
Danishspisning
"Spisning", meaning "dining" in English, originates from the Proto-Germanic "*spisô", also meaning "feeding".
Dutchdineren
The word "dineren" in Dutch has the same root as the English word "dinner" and derives from the Latin word "dīcēre" meaning "to say".
Englishdining
The word "dining" originates from the Old English word "digen", meaning "to dine" or "to eat a meal."
Frenchà manger
'À manger' not only means 'dining', but also means 'food' or 'something to eat'.
Frisianite
Frisian "ite" also means "to eat" or "to consume," from the Proto-Germanic "*etan".
Galiciancomedor
"Comedor" is the common word for the room in Galician, but it can also be used to refer to the group of persons eating together or to the time of the day they do so.
Germanessen
The German word "Essen" can also refer to the city of Essen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Icelandicborðstofa
Derived from the Old Norse word “borðstofa,” which referred to both the room where people ate and the table itself.
Irishbia
In Irish, the word "bia" can also refer to sustenance or nourishment, and historically referred to food prepared for livestock.
Italiancenare
"Cenare" derives from the Latin word "cena," meaning "dinner," and originally referred to the evening meal.
Luxembourgishiessen
The verb 'iessen' is derived from the Old High German word 'ezzan', meaning 'to eat', and is related to the English word 'eat' and the German word 'essen'.
Malteseikla
The word "ikla" is also used in Maltese to refer to the table at which one dines.
Norwegianservering
Servering is a Norwegian word derived from Old Norse which also means 'to serve'
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)jantar
The word "jantar" comes from the Latin word "iantare", which means "to break the fast". In modern Portuguese, "jantar" refers to the main evening meal.
Scots Gaelicdìnnear
In Gaelic, the word "dìnnear" can also mean "supper" or "dinnertime."
Spanishcomida
The word "comida" in Spanish can also mean "food".
Swedishmatsal
Matsal, meaning 'dining' in Swedish, is derived from the Old Norse word 'mat' meaning 'food' and 'sal' meaning 'hall'. In modern Swedish, it also refers to a meal, food, or eating arrangement.
Welshbwyta
The Welsh word "bwyta" can also mean "to eat" or "to feed".

Dining in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianсталовая
The word “сталовая” (dining room) comes from the Old Belarusian word “стол” (table) and originally meant “a place where people gather around a table to eat.”
Bosnianblagovaonica
The term "blagovaonica" is derived from the Slavic word "blago" meaning "good" or "well," and "vaonica" meaning "room," so it can also signify "a well-lit room" or "a room for guests."
Bulgarianтрапезария
The term "трапезария" comes from the Greek word "τράπεζα" and also denotes "table, banker".
Czechstolování
The word "stolování" derives from the Czech word "stůl", meaning "table", and originally referred to the act of setting the table or eating at a table.
Estoniansöömine
"Söömine" is related to "sööma" ("to eat"), originating from Proto-Uralic *śöge- or *śöga-
Finnishruokailu
Etymology of "ruokailu" is "ruoka" (food) + "-ilu" (suffix expressing action, state or result), but it can also refer specifically to a dining service offered by an institution (e.g., a hospital).
Hungarianétkezés
The word "étkezés" is derived from the verb "enni" (to eat) and the suffix "-és" (action or process), and can also mean "meal" or "feeding".
Latvianpusdienas
Pusdienas, derived from "pusdien" ("half day")
Lithuanianpietauti
The word "pietauti" also means "to treat" or "to feed" in Lithuanian.
Macedonianјадење
The word "јадење" comes from Old Church Slavonic "ѧдение" and is related to the word "jelo", meaning meal or course (from Proto-Balto-Slavic "*ed-lo").
Polishjadalnia
The word "jadalnia" comes from the Proto-Slavic root "*jad" meaning "food" and was originally synonymous with "kitchen", as in Old Church Slavonic "*jadъ" and Czech "jídelna"
Romanianmasa
In Romanian, "masa" also has the following meanings: * Dough * Mass
Russianобедать
The word "обедать" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "обѣдъ", meaning "midday meal" or "lunch".
Serbianтрпезарија
The word 'трпезарија' (dining) is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word 'трпеза' (table), which is cognate with the Latin word 'tripes' (tripod).
Slovakstolovanie
In Slovak, the verb 'stolovat' (to dine) derives from 'stol' (table), highlighting the communal aspect of dining.
Slovenianjedilnico
"jedilnico" also means "a room for dining" in Slovenian.
Ukrainianїдальня
The word "їдальня" (dining) in Ukrainian is related to the word "їсти" (to eat) and also has connotations of a communal or public eating space.

Dining in South Asian Languages

Bengaliভোজন
"ভোজন" can also refer to the act of offering food to a deity or a guest.
Gujaratiજમવું
In addition to meaning "dining," "જમવું" can also mean "to eat."
Hindiभोजन
The word "भोजन" also refers to food offered to Hindu deities and consumed afterwards as "prasad"
Kannada.ಟ
The word ".ಟ" in Kannada comes from the Sanskrit word "" which means "to serve". Hence, ".ಟ" also means "serving of food" and "feast".
Malayalamഡൈനിംഗ്
The Malayalam word "ഡൈനിംഗ്" (dining) comes from the English word "dining" meaning "relating to meals".
Marathiजेवणाचे
"जेवणाचे" (dining) is derived from the Sanskrit word "जीवन" (life), indicating the nourishment that sustains life.
Nepaliभोजन
The word "भोजन" (dining) is derived from the root "भुज" (to eat) and also means any food eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Punjabiਡਾਇਨਿੰਗ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කෑම
The Sinhala word "කෑම" ("dining") is sometimes used to refer to food in general, rather than the act of eating.
Tamilசாப்பாட்டு
Teluguభోజన
The word 'bhojana' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'bhuj', meaning 'to eat'. It can also refer to a meal or a feast.
Urduکھانے
The word "کھانے" (khane) in Urdu can also refer to a "meal" or "food".

Dining in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)用餐
"用餐",除了指吃饭,还可以指参加宴会。
Chinese (Traditional)用餐
用餐 in Chinese (Traditional) can also refer to a formal dinner or banquet.
Japaneseダイニング
ダイニング comes from Latin "discipulus", "student"
Korean식사
먹고 사는 것이라 하여 식사를 뜻하게 되었다.
Mongolianхооллох
The Mongolian word "хооллох" directly translates to "to eat", "to feed", "to graze" and "to have food; to be fed" in English.
Myanmar (Burmese)ထမင်းစားခန်း

Dining in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmakan
Makan can also mean 'to eat' or 'food' in Indonesian, related to similar words in Polynesian languages and possibly deriving from an Austronesian root.
Javanesemangan
The word "mangan" also means "to eat" or "to swallow" in Javanese.
Khmerបរិភោគអាហារ
បរិភោគអាហារ is derived from the Sanskrit words "para" (around) and "bhojana" (food), meaning "eating around" or "eating together".
Laoກິນເຂົ້າ
The Lao phrase "ກິນເຂົ້າ" (gin khao) literally means "to eat rice" and is commonly used to refer to the act of dining or eating a meal.
Malaymakan
The Malay word "makan" shares the same etymological root with its Indonesian and Hawaiian cognates, suggesting a shared Austronesian language heritage.
Thaiรับประทานอาหาร
The Thai word "รับประทานอาหาร" (dining) literally means "to receive and consume food".
Vietnameseăn uống
In Vietnamese, "ăn uống" can also be used to mean "eating out".
Filipino (Tagalog)kainan

Dining in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniyemək
In Azerbaijani, 'yemək' literally translates to 'to eat' and is the primary verb used to refer to the act of consuming food.
Kazakhасхана
"Асхана" is also used as an alternate term for "cuisine" or "gastronomy" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzашкана
The word "ашкана" may also refer to a kitchen or a canteen.
Tajikошхона
The word "ошхона" ("dining") is a combination of the Tajik words "osh" ("food") and "khona" ("room").
Turkmennahar
Uzbekovqatlanish
The Uzbek word "ovqatlanish" literally translates to "feeding", suggesting that dining is considered an act of nourishment in Uzbek culture.
Uyghurتاماق

Dining in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianʻainaʻaina
'Aina'aina' can also mean 'to eat', 'meal', or 'food' in Hawaiian.
Maorikai
Kai also refers to food in Maori, and is cognate with the Hawaiian word 'ai' meaning 'to eat'.
Samoan'aiga
The word "aiga" in Samoan also means "family" or "group of people", signifying the communal aspect of dining.
Tagalog (Filipino)kainan
The word "kainan" in Tagalog can also refer to a place where people eat, such as a restaurant or canteen.

Dining in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaramanq’añanaka
Guaraniokaru haguã

Dining in International Languages

Esperantomanĝado
In Esperanto, the word 'manĝado' can also refer to a group of people eating together or a type of food that is served at a particular time of day.
Latintriclinium
The word 'triclinium' comes from the Latin word 'tres' (three), as it originally referred to a dining room with three couches.

Dining in Others Languages

Greekφαγητό
Φαγητό (dining) is derived from the verb τρώγω (to eat) and has the alternate meaning of 'food' or 'meal'.
Hmongnoj mov
The word 'noj mov' has multiple meanings in Hmong, including 'to eat' and 'to gather for a meal'.
Kurdishnanxwarin
The Kurdish word "nanxwarin" may also refer to hospitality and having guests over for meals in Kurdish culture.
Turkishyemek
Yemek derives from the Persian word 'yamak', meaning 'to eat' or 'to consume'.
Xhosayokutyela
"Yokutyela" can also mean a place to eat, such as a restaurant or canteen
Yiddishדיינינג
Yiddish "דיינינג" also refers to hiring workers or servants, a usage dating back to the Middle Ages.
Zuluyokudlela
The word 'yokudlela' is also sometimes colloquially used to refer to a particular meal of the day, especially breakfast or dinner.
Assameseডাইনিং
Aymaramanq’añanaka
Bhojpuriभोजन करे के बा
Dhivehiކެއުމެވެ
Dogriखाने दा
Filipino (Tagalog)kainan
Guaraniokaru haguã
Ilocanopanganan
Kriowe dɛn kin it
Kurdish (Sorani)نانخواردن
Maithiliभोजन करब
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯆꯥꯛ ꯆꯥꯕꯥ꯫
Mizochaw ei a ni
Oromonyaata nyaachuu
Odia (Oriya)ଭୋଜନ
Quechuamikhuy
Sanskritभोजनम्
Tatarашау
Tigrinyaመመገቢ ቦታ
Tsongaku dya

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