Doctor in different languages

Doctor in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'doctor' holds immense significance in our lives, often associated with healing, care, and medical expertise. Derived from the Latin term docere, meaning 'to teach', a doctor is not just a practitioner but also an educator who enlightens us about our health and well-being. Throughout history, doctors have been revered for their knowledge and skills, from Hippocrates, the 'Father of Medicine', to modern-day healthcare professionals.

Understanding the translation of 'doctor' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic abilities but also deepens our appreciation for cultural diversity and global interconnectedness. For instance, in Spanish, 'doctor' is doctor; in French, it's docteur; in German, Arzt; in Russian, врач (vrač); in Japanese, 医者 (Isha); and in Chinese, 医生 (yīshēng).

Exploring these translations offers intriguing insights into how various cultures perceive and respect medical professionals, revealing shared values and unique perspectives. So, let's embark on this linguistic journey and learn more about the world through the prism of a single, universally significant word: 'doctor'.

Doctor


Doctor in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansdokter
The word "dokter" can also refer to a traditional healer or a diviner in some African cultures.
Amharicዶክተር
The Amharic word "ዶክተር" can also mean "teacher" or "scholar".
Hausalikita
The Hausa word 'likita' is also used to refer to traditional healers who do not have formal medical training.
Igbodibia
The word "dibia" in Igbo, meaning "doctor" in English, is derived from the word "di" meaning "to heal" and "bia" meaning "person".
Malagasydoctor
The word "Doctor" in Malagasy can also refer to a traditional healer or diviner.
Nyanja (Chichewa)dokotala
The word "dokotala" is derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-kotala, meaning "to cure" or "to heal".
Shonachiremba
The word "chiremba" is also used to refer to a traditional healer, indicating the overlap between traditional and modern medicine in Shona society.
Somalidhakhtar
In some contexts, "dhakhtar" can also refer to a veterinarian or a dentist
Sesothongaka
In Sesotho, "ngaka" can also refer to a traditional healer or diviner.
Swahilidaktari
The word "daktari" has its origins in the Arabic word "daktur," meaning "one who knows".
Xhosaugqirha
The word "ugqirha" can also refer to a traditional healer or diviner.
Yorubadokita
Dokita, in Yoruba, is a term derived from the Portuguese word 'doutor', meaning 'learned one'.
Zuluudokotela
The word "udokotela" has its roots in the Bantu language and is related to the concept of "healing" or "making well".
Bambaradɔgɔtɔrɔ
Eweɖɔkta
Kinyarwandaumuganga
Lingalamonganga
Lugandaomusawo
Sepedingaka
Twi (Akan)dɔkotani

Doctor in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicطبيب
The Arabic word "طبيب" (doctor) has historically also been used with the meanings "wise," "sage," and "healer."
Hebrewדוֹקטוֹר
The Hebrew term "דוֹקטוֹר" also means "a teacher".
Pashtoډاکټر
In Pashto, "ډاکټر" (doctor) derives from the Persian word "دكتور" (doktor), both ultimately originating from the Latin "doctor" (teacher).
Arabicطبيب
The Arabic word "طبيب" (doctor) has historically also been used with the meanings "wise," "sage," and "healer."

Doctor in Western European Languages

Albaniandoktor
In Albanian, the word "doktor" has also been used to refer to "teacher" or "scholar" in the past, especially in religious contexts.
Basquemedikua
The Basque word 'medikua' is derived from the Latin word 'medicus', meaning 'a physician' or 'a healer'.
Catalanmetge
The term "metge" is derived from the Greek word "iatros," meaning "physician".
Croatianliječnik
In Croatian, 'liječnik' originates from 'lijek', meaning 'cure' or 'medicine', signifying their role in healing.
Danishlæge
The word "læge" is related to the Dutch word "leggen", meaning "to lay", reflecting the historical role of doctors in setting bones, performing surgery, and midwifery.
Dutchdokter
In Dutch, "dokter" can also refer to a veterinarian or a notary public.
Englishdoctor
In Latin, "doctor" originally meant "teacher", and still retains this meaning in some contexts.
Frenchdocteur
In its original meaning, the term
Frisiandokter
The Frisian word "dokter" can also mean "preacher" or "teacher" in English.
Galiciandoutor
In Galician, "doutor" also refers to a respected elder, while in Brazil it means someone with a PhD.
Germanarzt
The word "Arzt" originates from the Old High German word "ârast," meaning "one who assists," and shares its root with the English "artist."
Icelandiclæknir
The Icelandic word "læknir" derives from the Proto-Germanic root *lekijaz, meaning "to heal," and is cognate with the English word "leech."
Irishdochtúir
The Gaelic word "dochtúir" derives from the Latin "doctor", meaning "teacher" or "learned one".
Italianmedico
The word 'medico' in Italian comes from the Latin word 'medicus', meaning 'healer' or 'physician'.
Luxembourgishdokter
In Luxembourgish, the word "Dokter" can also refer to a university professor or a person with a high level of education.
Maltesetabib
The ultimate origin of 'tabib' is thought to be the ancient Egyptian root 'db3' meaning 'to treat, to heal' and it is shared with related terms for 'medicines' from Morocco to India; 'tabib' also denotes a 'healer who employs magic, herbs, and prayer'
Norwegiandoktor
Doktor is also a synonym for the word 'magister', meaning someone who teaches at a 'university'
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)médico
In Portuguese, "médico" derives from the Latin word "medicus," meaning "one who heals" and in some contexts it may also refer to an individual with specialized knowledge.
Scots Gaelicdotair
The term 'dotair' in Scots Gaelic originally meant 'learned one' and could refer to a doctor, teacher, or scholar.
Spanishmédico
The Spanish word "médico" derives from the Latin "medicus," meaning both "physician" and "healer."
Swedishläkare
The word "läkare" is derived from the Old Swedish word "lækiare", which means "healer".
Welshmeddyg
The Welsh word 'meddyg' may derive from either 'meddu' ('to heal') or 'medd' ('physician'), but 'meddyg' specifically refers to a medical doctor.

Doctor in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianурач
The word "урач" is derived from the Latin word "medicus" and also means "healer" or "physician" in Belarusian.
Bosniandoktore
The word "doktore" in Bosnian also means "professor" or "learned person".
Bulgarianлекар
The word "лекар" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "lěčiti", meaning "to heal".
Czechdoktor
"Doktor" also means "graduate" as it originated from the Latin word "docere," which means "to teach."
Estonianarst
Arst is also a term for "wise person" and was formerly used for "priest" and "healer".
Finnishlääkäri
Lääkäri may also mean "healer", denoting a wide range of roles within the medical field.
Hungarianorvos
The Hungarian word 'orvos' comes from the Proto-Slavic word 'vъlkhvъ', which referred to pagan priests.
Latvianārsts
Ārsts is derived from Old East Slavic вьрачи (vьрачи), which ultimately comes from Proto-Germanic *lêkezi, meaning "leech" or "healer."
Lithuaniangydytojas
The word "gydytojas" is derived from the Lithuanian word "gydymas", meaning "healing".
Macedonianдоктор
The Macedonian word "доктор" (doctor) derives from the Greek word "διδάκτωρ" (didáktōr), meaning "teacher" or "instructor"
Polishlekarz
In Polish, 'lekarz' can refer specifically to a medical doctor or to any person who heals or repairs.
Romaniandoctor
In Romanian, "doctor" can also refer to a person who has completed a doctoral degree, known as a Ph.D.
Russianдоктор
The word "доктор" can also refer to a PhD holder in Russian.
Serbianдокторе
The term 'докторе' comes from the German word 'Doktor' and is commonly used as a formal address for medical professionals.
Slovaklekára
The word "lekár" in Slovak originates from the Proto-Slavic word "lěkari", meaning "healer".
Slovenianzdravnik
The word "zdravnik" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *zъdravъ, meaning "healthy".
Ukrainianлікар
The Ukrainian word "лікар" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "lěkarь", which originally meant "healer" or "herbalist".

Doctor in South Asian Languages

Bengaliডাক্তার
"ডাক্তার" শব্দটি "ডাকে" এবং "তার" শব্দের সন্ধি থেকে এসেছে, এবং এর অর্থ "যে ব্যক্তি ডাকে"
Gujaratiડ doctorક્ટર
The word "ડ doctorક્ટર" is derived from the Latin word "doctor", meaning "teacher". In Gujarati, it is also used to refer to a physician or a person with a PhD.
Hindiचिकित्सक
The word "चिकित्सक" in Hindi can also refer to a healer or therapist who uses traditional or alternative medicine.
Kannadaವೈದ್ಯರು
The term 'ವೈದ್ಯರು' (vaidyaru) is also used to refer to traditional practitioners of Ayurveda in Kannada.
Malayalamഡോക്ടർ
In Malayalam, the word ഡോക്ടർ can also mean 'learned person' or 'scholar'.
Marathiडॉक्टर
डॉक्टर (डॉ.) शब्द संस्कृत से आता है जिसका अर्थ है "शिक्षित" या "विद्वान" और इसका उपयोग किसी भी व्यक्ति के लिए किया जा सकता है जिसके पास विशेष ज्ञान या कौशल हो।
Nepaliचिकित्सक
The word "चिकित्सक" is derived from the Sanskrit word "चिकित्सा" (chikitsā), meaning "healing" or "treatment".
Punjabiਡਾਕਟਰ
While in modern times ਡਾਕਟਰ (Doctor) is almost exclusively reserved for someone with a medical degree, historically it also referred to a scholar of religion.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වෛද්‍යවරයා
Tamilமருத்துவர்
Teluguవైద్యుడు
The origin of the word వైద్యుడు can be traced back to a Sanskrit term meaning 'skilled' or 'one who has studied' and can also refer to 'an expert' or 'a teacher' in some contexts.
Urduڈاکٹر

Doctor in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)医生
医生, literally meaning "one who heals people," also means "doctor" in modern usage.
Chinese (Traditional)醫生
The word 醫生 literally translates to “seeing life”, and in Chinese medicine often refers to a master of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Japanese医師
The word "医師" can also refer to a veterinarian.
Korean박사님
박사님 is also used as a title for experts in various fields such as law, literature, and engineering.
Mongolianэмч
The word "эмч" can also mean "healer" or "shaman" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဆရာဝန်
The word ဆရာဝန် (doctor) in Myanmar (Burmese) is derived from Sanskrit and originally meant "teacher" or "professor".

Doctor in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiandokter
The word "dokter" originates from the Dutch "doctor", which in turn comes from Latin "doceo" meaning "to teach".
Javanesedhokter
Javanese word 'dhokter' also means 'astrologer', which relates to the historical role of doctors in Javanese court as astronomers.
Khmerវេជ្ជបណ្ឌិត
Laoທ່ານ ໝໍ
Malaydoktor
The word "doktor" in Malay can also refer to someone who has a doctorate degree, or to a traditional healer.
Thaiหมอ
The word "หมอ" can also refer to a traditional Thai healer or a shaman.
Vietnamesebác sĩ
"Bác sĩ" (doctor) in Vietnamese is a combination of two words: "bác" (uncle) and "sĩ" (scholar). It reflects the traditional respect for doctors in Vietnamese culture.
Filipino (Tagalog)doktor

Doctor in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanihəkim
The word "həkim" is derived from the Arabic word "ḥakīm", which means "wise" or "learned".
Kazakhдәрігер
The Kazakh word "дәрігер" derives from the Persian word "داروگیر" ("dârugîr"), meaning "medicine-taker" or "healer".
Kyrgyzдарыгер
The Kyrgyz word "дарыгер" is thought to be derived from the Persian word "dārūgar", meaning "healer" or "apothecary".
Tajikдухтур
The word "духтур" comes from the Persian word "dukhtar", meaning "daughter" or "female doctor". In Tajik, it can also refer to a male doctor, as well as a teacher or an expert in any field.
Turkmenlukman
Uzbekshifokor
In Zoroastrianism, shifokor was a priest who practiced healing and exorcism.
Uyghurدوختۇر

Doctor in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankauka
The Hawaiian word "kauka" can also refer to healers, sorcerers, or magicians.
Maoritākuta
Samoanfomaʻi
In the past, 'fomaʻi' referred to traditional healers in Samoa, while 'totonu' referred to those trained in Western medicine.
Tagalog (Filipino)doktor
The Tagalog word "doktor" comes from the Spanish word "doctor" which traces its roots to the Proto-Indo-European word "dok-" meaning "to show".

Doctor in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraqulliri
Guaranipohãnohára

Doctor in International Languages

Esperantokuracisto
Esperanto's "kuracisto" shares the root "kurac" ("to heal") with words for "courage" and "cure" in many Slavic languages.
Latinmedicus
The word "medicus" in Latin can also refer to a skilled practitioner in a specific field, such as a veterinarian or architect.

Doctor in Others Languages

Greekγιατρός
The word "γιατρός" derives from the verb "γιαίνω" (to heal) and originally referred to a healer or magician.
Hmongtus kws kho mob
In Hmong, the word "tus kws kho mob" also carries the alternate meanings of "priest" and "shaman."
Kurdishpizişk
The word 'pizişk' derives from the Persian word 'pezešk', which originally meant 'learned man'.
Turkishdoktor
The Turkish word "doktor" is derived from the Greek word "doktor", meaning "scholar" or "teacher".
Xhosaugqirha
The word "ugqirha" can also refer to a traditional healer or diviner.
Yiddishדאָקטער
In Yiddish, "דאָקטער" can also refer to a quack, a faith healer, or a veterinarian.
Zuluudokotela
The word "udokotela" has its roots in the Bantu language and is related to the concept of "healing" or "making well".
Assameseডাক্তৰ
Aymaraqulliri
Bhojpuriडाक्टर
Dhivehiޑޮކްޓަރު
Dogriडाक्टर
Filipino (Tagalog)doktor
Guaranipohãnohára
Ilocanodoktor
Kriodɔktɔ
Kurdish (Sorani)پزیشک
Maithiliचिकित्सक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯗꯥꯛꯇꯔ
Mizodaktawr
Oromodooktora
Odia (Oriya)ଡାକ୍ତର
Quechuahanpiq
Sanskritचिकितसिक
Tatarтабиб
Tigrinyaዶክቶር
Tsongadokodela

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