Disability in Different Languages
Discover 'Disability' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Disability is a significant and culturally important term that refers to physical or mental conditions that limit a person's movements, senses, or activities. The word has a wide range of meanings and connotations across different cultures and languages. Understanding the translation of disability in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other societies view and accommodate people with disabilities.
For instance, in Spanish, the word for disability is 'discapacidad,' which reflects the medical model of disability that focuses on an individual's impairment. In contrast, the sign language used by the Deaf community in many countries, including the United States, views deafness as a cultural and linguistic identity rather than a disability.
By learning the translations of disability in different languages, we can appreciate the diversity of perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities around the world. Here are some sample translations of disability in various languages:
Disability
Disability in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | gestremdheid | ||
| The Afrikaans word "gestremdheid" originates from the Dutch word "gestremd" and refers to a physical or mental impairment. | |||
| Amharic | የአካል ጉዳት | ||
| In Amharic, "የአካል ጉዳት" (disability) literally translates to "lack of body." | |||
| Hausa | nakasa | ||
| The word 'nakasa' can also refer to 'poverty' or 'lack of resources'. | |||
| Igbo | nkwarụ | ||
| The Igbo word | |||
| Malagasy | fahasembanana | ||
| The Malagasy word "fahasembanana" is also used to refer to the state of being in poor health or being weakened from sickness. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kulemala | ||
| The word “kulemala” can also mean 'to be weak', 'to be lazy', or 'to be sick'. | |||
| Shona | kuremara | ||
| "Kuremara" can also mean "to be paralyzed" or "to be unable to move a limb." | |||
| Somali | naafonimo | ||
| The word "naafonimo" can also be used to imply temporary physical impairment, such as injury. | |||
| Sesotho | bokooa | ||
| Swahili | ulemavu | ||
| The Swahili word "ulemavu" also refers to a person with a disability or impairment. | |||
| Xhosa | ukukhubazeka | ||
| The word "ukukhubazeka" can also mean "to be limited" or "to be unable to do something". | |||
| Yoruba | ailera | ||
| The Yoruba word "ailera" can also refer to a misfortune or an affliction that befalls someone. | |||
| Zulu | ukukhubazeka | ||
| The Zulu word 'ukukhubazeka' comes from the verb 'khubazeka,' which means 'to be crippled' or 'to be disabled.' | |||
| Bambara | bololabaara | ||
| Ewe | nuwɔametɔnyenye | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ubumuga | ||
| Lingala | bozangi makoki ya nzoto | ||
| Luganda | obulemu | ||
| Sepedi | bogole bja mmele | ||
| Twi (Akan) | dɛmdi | ||
Disability in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | عجز | ||
| The word "عجز" comes from the root "ع ج ز" which can also mean "to be unable to do something" or "to lack something". | |||
| Hebrew | נָכוּת | ||
| The Hebrew word "נָכוּת" (nakhut) originally referred to being "struck by something" and later took on the meaning of "disability." | |||
| Pashto | معلولیت | ||
| The word 'معلولیت' in Pashto can also mean 'inability' or 'disadvantage'. | |||
| Arabic | عجز | ||
| The word "عجز" comes from the root "ع ج ز" which can also mean "to be unable to do something" or "to lack something". | |||
Disability in Western European Languages
| Albanian | paaftësia | ||
| The word "paaftësia" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*peh₂-", meaning "to seize" or "to hold". This suggests that the original meaning of "paaftësia" may have been "weakness" or "inability". | |||
| Basque | minusbaliotasuna | ||
| The word “minusbaliotasuna” has an etymological relationship meaning “less strength” and “inferiority” | |||
| Catalan | discapacitat | ||
| The Catalan word "discapacitat" derives from the Latin "discapacitare", meaning "to disable" or "to hinder". | |||
| Croatian | invaliditet | ||
| The Croatian word “invaliditet” also refers to the legal status of individuals with disabilities. | |||
| Danish | handicap | ||
| Handicap derives from the Middle French 'handicape' meaning hindrance or impediment. | |||
| Dutch | onbekwaamheid | ||
| The word "onbekwaamheid" originally meant "inability" or "unsuitability" in Dutch, not specifically "disability." | |||
| English | disability | ||
| The word "disability" originally meant "lack of ability" but has since taken on a new meaning of "a physical or mental impairment that limits a person's ability to do certain activities." | |||
| French | invalidité | ||
| "Invalidité" also includes invalid status (e.g.: of elections). | |||
| Frisian | beheining | ||
| "Beheining" in Frisian originally meant "hinderance" or "obstruction", and only later came to mean "disability". | |||
| Galician | discapacidade | ||
| "Discapacidade" derives from the Latin "capax, capācis" and "dis- " meaning "without ability". | |||
| German | behinderung | ||
| The word "Behinderung" comes from the Old High German word "hindarūn", meaning "to obstruct" or "to prevent". This word is related to the English word "hinder". The root word "hindar" means "behind" and is also present in the English words "behind" and "hinderance." | |||
| Icelandic | fötlun | ||
| The Icelandic word "fötlun" originated from the Proto-Norse root *futlun-, which originally referred to foot paralysis. | |||
| Irish | míchumas | ||
| The word "míchumas" in Irish also means "infirmity" or "weakness". | |||
| Italian | disabilità | ||
| "Disabilità" (disability) comes from the Latin "dis-habilitas", meaning "lack of ability". | |||
| Luxembourgish | behënnerung | ||
| The word "Behënnerung" derives from the Germanic root "hinth" meaning "deficient" and shares a common origin with the English word "hinder". | |||
| Maltese | diżabilità | ||
| “Diżabilità” originates from the Italian word “disabilità”, which itself comes from Latin “dishabilitas”, meaning “unsuitability”. | |||
| Norwegian | uførhet | ||
| The word "uførhet" derives from the Old Norse word "ufœrr", meaning "unable to travel". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | incapacidade | ||
| In Portuguese, 'incapacidade' can refer to both physical and legal limitations, as well as the condition of being under someone else's authority. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | ciorram | ||
| "Ciorram" is also used to refer to a person with a disability, as opposed to the disability itself. | |||
| Spanish | discapacidad | ||
| “Discapacidad” derives from the Latin word “capacitas”, meaning “capacity” or “ability”. Thus, discapacidad implies a lack or limitation of capacity. | |||
| Swedish | handikapp | ||
| The word handikapp is derived from the German word 'Handicap', which in turn is derived from the Middle English word 'handycap', meaning 'a disadvantage given to a superior competitor in a race or game'. | |||
| Welsh | anabledd | ||
| The Welsh word "anabledd" is derived from the root "gallu" (power), suggesting the idea of "lacking power" or being "without ability." | |||
Disability in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | інваліднасць | ||
| This is derived from the Belarusian word "інвалідаў'' meaning an invalidated or injured person. | |||
| Bosnian | invaliditet | ||
| Invaliditet comes from the Latin word 'invalidus', which means 'weak' or 'powerless'. | |||
| Bulgarian | увреждане | ||
| The Bulgarian word "увреждане" has the same root as "вред" and "поражение", which mean harm, injury, and defeat. | |||
| Czech | postižení | ||
| Czech postižení, like Russian postignutye, retains the sense of 'suffering'. | |||
| Estonian | puue | ||
| The word "puue" is derived from the word "puu" (tree) and refers to the stumps of trees that were left in the field after felling which made it difficult for farmers to work the land. | |||
| Finnish | vammaisuus | ||
| The Finnish word "vammaisuus" (disability) is related to the word "vamma", which means "defect" or "impairment". | |||
| Hungarian | fogyatékosság | ||
| The word "fogyatékosság" in Hungarian comes from the verb "fogyatkozni," meaning "to decrease" or "to become deficient," and the suffix "-ság," meaning "state" or "condition." | |||
| Latvian | invaliditāte | ||
| The Latvian word "invaliditāte" derives from the Latin word "invalidus", meaning "weak" or "powerless". | |||
| Lithuanian | negalios | ||
| The word "negalios" in Lithuanian is derived from the word "galia" which means "power, ability" and the prefix "ne-" which means "not," indicating a lack of power or ability. | |||
| Macedonian | попреченост | ||
| The word "попреченост" is also used to describe obstacles, difficulties, or something that prevents something from being done. | |||
| Polish | inwalidztwo | ||
| Etymology: From Old Polish inwalid (meaning 'invalid' or 'disabled'), from Latin invalidus, from in- + validus, from valēre ('to be strong'). | |||
| Romanian | handicap | ||
| In Romanian, "handicap" originally meant "obstruction" or "difficulty", and is still used in this sense in some contexts. | |||
| Russian | инвалидность | ||
| The Russian word "инвалидность" comes from the German word "Invalidität," which in turn comes from the Latin word "invalidus," meaning "not strong." | |||
| Serbian | инвалидитет | ||
| Serbian "инвалидитет" derives from the Latin word invalidus, meaning „weak, infirm" and can also refer to a "pension paid to war invalids". | |||
| Slovak | postihnutie | ||
| The word 'postihnutie' in Slovak can also refer to 'comprehension' or 'grasping' of a concept. | |||
| Slovenian | invalidnost | ||
| The word's original meaning is 'lack of legal force,' from 'in-,' meaning 'not,' and 'validus,' meaning 'strong'. The Latin root also gives rise to 'validity,' 'valor,' and 'value.' | |||
| Ukrainian | інвалідність | ||
| The word "інвалідність" can also mean "weakness" or "defect" in Ukrainian. | |||
Disability in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | অক্ষমতা | ||
| The Bengali word 'অক্ষমতা' not only means 'disability' but also 'inability'. | |||
| Gujarati | અપંગતા | ||
| The word "અપંગતા" comes from the Sanskrit word "अ्पंग" (apanga), which originally meant "not having wings". This etymology suggests that disabilities have been historically associated with impaired movement. | |||
| Hindi | विकलांगता | ||
| The word "विकलांगता" derives from the Sanskrit root "ang" (limb), and originally referred to a physical impairment. | |||
| Kannada | ಅಂಗವೈಕಲ್ಯ | ||
| Malayalam | വികലത | ||
| The word "വികലത" (vikalatha) in Malayalam derives from the Sanskrit root "vikala," meaning "divided" or "imperfect," and can also refer to a "disfigurement" or "abnormality." | |||
| Marathi | दिव्यांग | ||
| दृष्टि से वंचित (दिव + अंग = दिव्यांग) के लिए वैकल्पिक रूप से 'चक्षुश्री' व 'नेत्रहीन' का प्रयोग किया जाता है। | |||
| Nepali | अशक्तता | ||
| The Nepali word "अशक्तता" is derived from the Sanskrit word "शक्ति" (meaning "strength") and the negative prefix "अ" (meaning "not"), indicating a lack or absence of strength. | |||
| Punjabi | ਅਪਾਹਜਤਾ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආබාධිත | ||
| "ආබාධිත" comes from the word "ආපාද:" meaning "from the foot" and the word "හිත" which means "heart". Thus, the term originally meant "physical" or "lame". | |||
| Tamil | இயலாமை | ||
| "இயலாமை" also means "impossibility" or "inability". | |||
| Telugu | వైకల్యం | ||
| The word "వైకల్యం" is derived from the Sanskrit word "विकल" (vikla), meaning "defective" or "imperfect." | |||
| Urdu | معذوری | ||
| The term 'معذوری' can also refer to a person with a disability in Urdu. | |||
Disability in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 失能 | ||
| 失能 can also refer to the loss of function due to injury or illness | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 失能 | ||
| In Chinese, "失能" can mean "incompetent", "unable to perform a function", or "incapable". | |||
| Japanese | 障害 | ||
| 障碍 is the Chinese translation of the English word “handicap.” | |||
| Korean | 무능 | ||
| In Korean, the word "무능" can also mean "lack of ability" or "incompetence". | |||
| Mongolian | хөгжлийн бэрхшээл | ||
| The term "хөгжлийн бэрхшээл" originates from the word "хөгжил" (development), implying a deviation from the expected developmental trajectory for individuals with impaired abilities. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မသန်စွမ်းမှု | ||
Disability in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | disabilitas | ||
| The Indonesian word 'disabilitas' is derived from the Latin word 'disability', meaning 'the state of lacking a particular ability' | |||
| Javanese | cacat | ||
| In Balinese, 'cacat' refers to a physical or mental condition that limits a person's abilities, while in Javanese it also connotes a sense of shame or disgrace. | |||
| Khmer | ពិការភាព | ||
| Lao | ພິການ | ||
| The Lao word “ພິການ” (disability) can also refer to a physical defect or a flaw in something. | |||
| Malay | kecacatan | ||
| The noun "kecacatan" has a parallel meaning as the noun "defect" or "imperfection" in English. | |||
| Thai | ความพิการ | ||
| The Thai word "ความพิการ" literally means "deviation from the norm". | |||
| Vietnamese | khuyết tật | ||
| "Khuyet tat" originated from "khuyet" (lacking, missing) and "tat" (parts, limbs), referring to a condition of physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapansanan | ||
Disability in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | əlillik | ||
| Əlillik can refer to not only physical disabilities, but also mental disabilities and chronic illnesses | |||
| Kazakh | мүгедектік | ||
| The Kazakh word "мүгедектік" is derived from Persian "مفلوج" (maflūj) meaning "paralyzed" and originally referred to physical impairments. | |||
| Kyrgyz | майыптык | ||
| The word "майыптык" also refers to "inadequacy" and "deformity" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | маъюбӣ | ||
| The word "маъюбӣ" in Tajik can also mean "defectiveness" or "imperfection". | |||
| Turkmen | maýyplyk | ||
| Uzbek | nogironlik | ||
| The word "nogironlik" in Uzbek can also refer to a person with a disability, rather than just the disability itself. | |||
| Uyghur | مېيىپ | ||
Disability in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kīnā ʻole | ||
| Maori | hauātanga | ||
| "Hauātanga" is a Māori word with a rich etymology, encompassing meanings such as "frail" and "weak." | |||
| Samoan | le atoatoa | ||
| Le atoatoa in Samoan can refer to both 'disability' and 'limitation'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kapansanan | ||
| Kapansanan' comes from the word 'kapansin-pansin' (noticeable), implying that a person with a disability is noticeable or different from the norm. | |||
Disability in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | discapacidad ukaxa janiwa utjkiti | ||
| Guarani | discapacidad rehegua | ||
Disability in International Languages
| Esperanto | malkapablo | ||
| "Malkapablo" decomposes into "mal-" (bad) and "kapablo" (capability), reflecting the negative connotation often associated with disability. | |||
| Latin | vitium | ||
| The Latin word "vitium" can also refer to a flaw, defect, or fault, and is the root of the English word "vitiate." | |||
Disability in Others Languages
| Greek | αναπηρία | ||
| Originally referred to a lack of capability but now also means 'invalidity'. | |||
| Hmong | kev tsis taus | ||
| The Hmong word "kev tsis taus" literally translates to "lacking ability". | |||
| Kurdish | karnezanî | ||
| The word 'karnezanî' is derived from the Old Persian word 'karnazan,' meaning 'to be crippled or infirm'. | |||
| Turkish | sakatlık | ||
| The Turkish word "sakatlık" is also related to "sakıt"," which denotes something being worthless or rejected due to defects. | |||
| Xhosa | ukukhubazeka | ||
| The word "ukukhubazeka" can also mean "to be limited" or "to be unable to do something". | |||
| Yiddish | דיסעביליטי | ||
| The Yiddish word "דיסעביליטי" comes from the German word "Unfähigkeit" which means "inability". It can also refer to a person who is unable to work due to a physical or mental impairment. | |||
| Zulu | ukukhubazeka | ||
| The Zulu word 'ukukhubazeka' comes from the verb 'khubazeka,' which means 'to be crippled' or 'to be disabled.' | |||
| Assamese | অক্ষমতা | ||
| Aymara | discapacidad ukaxa janiwa utjkiti | ||
| Bhojpuri | विकलांगता के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ނުކުޅެދުންތެރިކަން | ||
| Dogri | विकलांगता | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapansanan | ||
| Guarani | discapacidad rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | baldado | ||
| Krio | disabiliti | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کەمئەندامی | ||
| Maithili | विकलांगता | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯗꯤꯁꯑꯦꯕꯤꯂꯤꯇꯤ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | rualbanlote an ni | ||
| Oromo | qaama miidhamummaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଅକ୍ଷମତା | ||
| Quechua | discapacidad nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | विकलांगता | ||
| Tatar | инвалидлык | ||
| Tigrinya | ስንክልና | ||
| Tsonga | vulema | ||