Updated on March 6, 2024
An “editor” is a person who reviews, revises, and rewrites content for publication, such as books, articles, or blog posts. This role is of great cultural significance, as editors play a crucial part in shaping the way we communicate ideas and information. They ensure that the content we consume is not only engaging but also accurate and free of errors.
The significance of editors extends beyond the world of publishing. In journalism, for instance, editors are the last line of defense against misinformation, ensuring that the news we consume is truthful and unbiased. In the digital age, editors are even more vital, curating the vast amount of information available online and making it accessible to a global audience.
Given the importance of editors, it’s no surprise that the term has been translated into many languages around the world. Here are a few examples:
Understanding the translation of “editor” in different languages can provide valuable insights into the culture and language of the people who use them. It can also help build bridges of communication and understanding between different cultures and communities.
Afrikaans | redakteur | ||
The Afrikaans word "redakteur" is derived from the Dutch word "redacteur" and can also refer to a journalist who compiles, edits, and arranges written material. | |||
Amharic | አርታኢ | ||
The word "አርታኢ" can also mean "reviewer" or "critic". | |||
Hausa | edita | ||
The root word is "edi" and it refers to the act, or instance in which one reads something | |||
Igbo | nchịkọta akụkọ | ||
Malagasy | mpamoaka lahatsoratra | ||
"Mpamoaka lahatsoratra" is a compound word meaning "one who publishes writing" in Malagasy | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mkonzi | ||
The word “mkonzi” can also mean “writer” or “author” in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | mupepeti | ||
The word 'mupepeti' is also used in Shona to refer to the person who is responsible for editing and preparing a text for publication. | |||
Somali | tifaftiraha | ||
The term "tifaftiraha" in Somali can also refer to the action of editing or the process of reviewing and making changes to a written work. | |||
Sesotho | mohlophisi | ||
"Mohlophisi" is derived from "hlopha" (to edit) and "motho" (person), indicating someone who makes changes to a text. | |||
Swahili | mhariri | ||
The word 'mhariri' is derived from the Arabic word 'muharrir' which means 'writer' or 'scribe'. | |||
Xhosa | umhleli | ||
The word "umhleli" in Xhosa shares a root with the word for "order" or "arrangement". | |||
Yoruba | olootu | ||
In the Yoruba language, the word "olootu" can mean "editor," "sculptor," "writer," or "creator." | |||
Zulu | umhleli | ||
The word "umhleli" in Zulu originates from the verb "hlela," meaning "to arrange" or "to put in order." | |||
Bambara | sɛbɛnnikɛla | ||
Ewe | nuŋlɔla | ||
Kinyarwanda | muhinduzi | ||
Lingala | mobongisi-nzela | ||
Luganda | omuwandiisi w’ebitabo | ||
Sepedi | morulaganyi | ||
Twi (Akan) | samufo | ||
Arabic | محرر | ||
The word "محرر" in Arabic can also mean "emancipator" | |||
Hebrew | עוֹרֵך | ||
עוֹרֵך in Hebrew can also refer to "a person who fixes, prepares or arranges something"} | |||
Pashto | سمونګر | ||
In Pashto, "سمونګر" can also refer to a tailor or a carpenter. | |||
Arabic | محرر | ||
The word "محرر" in Arabic can also mean "emancipator" |
Albanian | redaktor | ||
"Redaktor" in Albanian also means "person who sets bones" | |||
Basque | editorea | ||
The word "editorea" may derive from the Latin word "editor," meaning "one who publishes," or from the Basque word "editore," meaning "one who writes." | |||
Catalan | editor | ||
The Catalan word "editor" can also mean "publisher". | |||
Croatian | urednik | ||
"Urednik" also means "administrator", "manager" or "clerk". | |||
Danish | redaktør | ||
In Danish, "redaktør" may also refer to a person who edits or revises a text without necessarily being an editor in the traditional sense. | |||
Dutch | editor | ||
The Dutch word "editor" comes from the Latin word "editor" and has the alternate meaning of "publisher." | |||
English | editor | ||
The word 'editor' originates from the Latin verb 'edere', meaning 'to give out' or 'to publish', reflecting its role in the publishing industry. | |||
French | éditeur | ||
In French, "éditeur" can also refer to a publishing house or a publisher's imprint. | |||
Frisian | redakteur | ||
The Frisian word "redakteur" is derived from Latin "redigere" meaning "to put back into order". | |||
Galician | editor | ||
German | editor | ||
The word "editor" in German can also refer to a software program used to create and edit digital content. | |||
Icelandic | ritstjóri | ||
The word "ritstjóri" is derived from Old Norse "ritari", meaning "scribe" or "writer." | |||
Irish | eagarthóir | ||
Italian | editore | ||
The Italian word "editore" also means "publisher". | |||
Luxembourgish | editeur | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Editeur" is a loan from French "Éditeur", and can also refer to someone who publishes or distributes printed matter. | |||
Maltese | editur | ||
In Maltese, 'editur' can also refer to a publisher, as in the context of a newspaper or magazine. | |||
Norwegian | redaktør | ||
In Norwegian, "redaktør" could refer to an editor, the chief editor, or a newspaper editor-in-chief | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | editor | ||
"Editor" can also mean "publisher" in the context of publishing or "magazine" in the context of journalism in Portuguese. | |||
Scots Gaelic | neach-deasachaidh | ||
The Scots Gaelic word "neach-deasachaidh" derives from "deasach", "to make proper or in order" and can also mean a supervisor or referee | |||
Spanish | editor | ||
The word "editor" comes from the Latin word "edere," meaning "to give out" or "to publish." | |||
Swedish | redaktör | ||
"Redaktör" has its origins in Latin and can also mean "redactor" or "arranger". | |||
Welsh | golygydd | ||
Golygydd comes from the verb golygu, meaning to shape or edit, and ultimately the Latin coagulare, to curdle. |
Belarusian | рэдактар | ||
The Belarusian word "рэдактар" is derived from the Russian word "редактор" and also means "leader of a guerrilla unit". | |||
Bosnian | urednik | ||
The word “urednik” is also used for a person who gives direction or advice, as in a mentor or a coach. | |||
Bulgarian | редактор | ||
In Bulgarian, the word "редактор" can also refer to a "redactor", someone who alters or adapts written text. | |||
Czech | editor | ||
The Czech word “editor” comes from Latin and means “one who gives out”. | |||
Estonian | toimetaja | ||
The Estonian word "toimetaja" also means "commissioner" or "agent". | |||
Finnish | toimittaja | ||
The Finnish word "toimittaja" can also refer to a "journalist". | |||
Hungarian | szerkesztő | ||
The word "szerkesztő" is derived from the verb "szerkeszt", meaning "to edit, to arrange, to organize". | |||
Latvian | redaktors | ||
The Latvian word "redaktors" derives from the Latin word "redactus" (meaning "to bring back" or "to put in order"). | |||
Lithuanian | redaktorius | ||
The word "redaktorius" is derived from the Latin word "redactor", meaning "one who restores" or "one who puts together." | |||
Macedonian | уредник | ||
In Old Church Slavonic, "уредник" also meant "ruler", "governor" or "prince". | |||
Polish | redaktor | ||
The Polish word 'redaktor' derives from the Latin word 'redactor', meaning 'one who puts things in order' or 'compiler'. | |||
Romanian | editor | ||
The Romanian word "editor" can also refer to a type of bird known as the whinchat. | |||
Russian | редактор | ||
The word "редактор" (editor) can also mean "compiler", "editor-in-chief", and "proofreader" in Russian. | |||
Serbian | уредник | ||
"Уредник" is derived from the Slavic word "ред", meaning "order" or "arrangement", and its root is related to the word "редити," meaning "to edit" or "to arrange." | |||
Slovak | editor | ||
The word "editor" also has a meaning of "proof-reader" in Slovak. | |||
Slovenian | urednik | ||
The word urednik (editor) is derived from the verb urejati (to edit, to arrange, to tidy up) and ultimately from the Proto-Slavic word *oredъ (order). | |||
Ukrainian | редактор | ||
The cognate Polish word "redaktor" was borrowed from Latin, where it meant "publisher". |
Bengali | সম্পাদক | ||
Gujarati | સંપાદક | ||
The Gujarati word 'સંપાદક' also means compiler, composer, and arranger. | |||
Hindi | संपादक | ||
संपादक ('editor') refers to one who edits (edit: to prepare for publication) but also refers to a person who composes (compose: to create or write) or is an author (author: a writer). | |||
Kannada | ಸಂಪಾದಕ | ||
ಸಂಪಾದಕ ('editor') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'sampadaka', meaning 'compiler' or 'arranger'. | |||
Malayalam | എഡിറ്റർ | ||
"എഡിറ്റർ" comes from the Latin word "editor," meaning "publisher" or "arranger." | |||
Marathi | संपादक | ||
The Marathi word "संपादक" can also refer to a compiler or an arranger. | |||
Nepali | सम्पादक | ||
Nepali सम्पादक (sampadak) is borrowed from the Sanskrit word सम्पादन (sampādana) meaning "accomplishing, producing" and is related to सम्पत्ति (sampatti) or "wealth". | |||
Punjabi | ਸੰਪਾਦਕ | ||
The word "ਸੰਪਾਦਕ" can also refer to a compiler or a person who prepares a book for publication. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සංස්කරණය හෝ | ||
The term සංස්කරණය හෝ can also refer to the process of editing or the result of editing, such as a revised or improved version of a text. | |||
Tamil | ஆசிரியர் | ||
In Tamil, 'ஆசிரியர்' means a teacher as well as an editor. Both meanings come from the core sense of 'one who guides'. | |||
Telugu | ఎడిటర్ | ||
ఎడిటర్ was derived from the Latin word “editio” meaning “the act of publishing”. | |||
Urdu | ایڈیٹر | ||
The word "ایڈیٹر" originates from the Latin word "editor" meaning "arranger" or "publisher". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 编辑 | ||
编辑 (biānjí) also means "to compile" and "to compile and publish." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 編輯 | ||
The word **編輯** (biānjí) first appeared in the Western Han Dynasty as a term for scribes who assisted government officials. | |||
Japanese | 編集者 | ||
In Japanese, "編集者" also refers to a person who selects and compiles content, such as music or video, for a publication or broadcast. | |||
Korean | 편집자 | ||
편집자 can also mean 'compiler' or 'assembler' in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | редактор | ||
The Mongolian word "редактор" also means "proofreader". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အယ်ဒီတာ | ||
Indonesian | editor | ||
The word "editor" in Indonesian can also mean "publisher" or "owner of a publication". | |||
Javanese | editor | ||
In Javanese, the word "editor" also means "father" or "older brother". | |||
Khmer | កម្មវិធីនិពន្ធ | ||
Lao | ບັນນາທິການ | ||
Malay | penyunting | ||
"Penyunting" is derived from the Indonesian word "unting", meaning "to arrange". | |||
Thai | บรรณาธิการ | ||
บรรณาธิการ (banna thi kan) originated from the Sanskrit word "vr̥nta," meaning a group or association, and "adhikāra," denoting authority or control. | |||
Vietnamese | biên tập viên | ||
**Biên tập viên** is also known as **chủ bút** (chief editor) or **phụ trách biên tập** (editing manager). | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | editor | ||
Azerbaijani | redaktor | ||
Redaktor also means "conductor" or "leader" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | редактор | ||
In Kazakh, the word "редактор" can also refer to a "chief editor" or "editor-in-chief." | |||
Kyrgyz | редактор | ||
The Kyrgyz word "редактор" is derived from the Russian word "редактор", which in turn is derived from the Latin word "redigo," meaning "to put in order" or "to edit." | |||
Tajik | муҳаррир | ||
The Tajik word "муҳаррир" can also mean "compiler" or "writer". | |||
Turkmen | redaktor | ||
Uzbek | muharriri | ||
"Muharriri" is also the Uzbek word for "compiler". | |||
Uyghur | تەھرىر | ||
Hawaiian | luna hoʻoponopono | ||
"Luna hoʻoponopono" is a Hawaiian term that originally meant "the leader of a religious temple" and later took on the meaning of "editor". | |||
Maori | etita | ||
In Māori, the noun "etita" translates to "editor" in English, while a "heta" is a "chief" or "leader". | |||
Samoan | faatonu | ||
In Samoan mythology, Faatonu is also the deity of earthquakes. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | editor | ||
The word "editor" in Tagalog (Filipino) also means "master" or "leader". |
Aymara | editor ukham uñt’atawa | ||
Guarani | editor rehegua | ||
Esperanto | redaktoro | ||
Redaktoro, from Latin's "redactum," is also used to imply the role of "corrector." | |||
Latin | editor | ||
Latin "editor" originally meant "publisher" or "issuer". |
Greek | συντάκτης | ||
The word "συντάκτης" (editor) in Greek also means "author" or "writer". | |||
Hmong | editor | ||
The word "editor" in Hmong ("tus tshaj") can also refer to the person who makes the final decision on the content of a publication. | |||
Kurdish | weşanvan | ||
"Weşanvan" is a Kurdish word that can also mean "publisher," "press," or "media outlet." | |||
Turkish | editör | ||
Editör is ultimately derived from the Latin word 'edere', meaning 'to publish'. It can also refer to a compiler or a text editor in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | umhleli | ||
The word "umhleli" in Xhosa shares a root with the word for "order" or "arrangement". | |||
Yiddish | רעדאַקטאָר | ||
The Yiddish word "רעדאַקטאָר" can also refer to an editor of a newspaper or magazine, or a compiler of a book. | |||
Zulu | umhleli | ||
The word "umhleli" in Zulu originates from the verb "hlela," meaning "to arrange" or "to put in order." | |||
Assamese | সম্পাদক | ||
Aymara | editor ukham uñt’atawa | ||
Bhojpuri | संपादक के रूप में काम कइले बानी | ||
Dhivehi | އެޑިޓަރެވެ | ||
Dogri | संपादक जी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | editor | ||
Guarani | editor rehegua | ||
Ilocano | editor ti | ||
Krio | ɛditɔ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دەستکاریکەر | ||
Maithili | संपादक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯦꯗꯤꯇꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | editor a ni | ||
Oromo | gulaalaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସମ୍ପାଦକ | ||
Quechua | editor | ||
Sanskrit | सम्पादक | ||
Tatar | редактор | ||
Tigrinya | ኣሰናዳኢ | ||
Tsonga | muhleri | ||