Efficiency in Different Languages
Discover 'Efficiency' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Efficiency is a concept that has captivated thinkers, leaders, and innovators for centuries. At its core, efficiency signifies the optimization of resources, time, and energy to achieve the greatest possible outcome. This cultural importance transcends borders and languages, making the understanding of its translation in different languages essential for global communication and collaboration.
Throughout history, the pursuit of efficiency has driven some of the most significant advancements in technology, science, and society. From the industrial revolution to the digital age, our ability to do more with less has shaped the world we live in today.
For instance, the German word for efficiency, Effizienz, reflects their engineering prowess and precision. Meanwhile, the French translation, Efficacité, highlights the importance of effectiveness alongside efficiency.
Below, you will find a comprehensive list of efficiency's translations in various languages, shedding light on the global significance of this concept and its cultural implications.
Efficiency
Efficiency in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | doeltreffendheid | ||
| The term "doeltreffendheid" derives from the Dutch word "doel" meaning "goal" and "treffend" meaning "effective" or "striking the mark". | |||
| Amharic | ውጤታማነት | ||
| "ውጤታማነት" originates from the root word "ውጥ", which means "to exchange" or "to give and receive," emphasizing the exchange of input and output in the concept of efficiency. | |||
| Hausa | inganci | ||
| In the Hausa language, the term "inganci" is also used to describe the act of doing something with skill and dexterity. | |||
| Igbo | arụmọrụ | ||
| Malagasy | fahombiazana | ||
| The word fahombiazana in Malagasy is composed of faha (to know) and voniana, meaning 'the state of being well informed' | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mwachangu | ||
| The term "Mwachangu" in Nyanja can also imply a sense of speed and productivity. | |||
| Shona | kunyatsoshanda | ||
| The word 'kunyatsoshanda' in Shona is derived from the verb 'kunyatsa', meaning 'to cut short' or 'to save time', and the noun 'shanda', meaning 'work' or 'effort'. | |||
| Somali | hufnaan | ||
| Hufnaan also means 'fast', 'quick', or 'speedy' in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | bokgoni | ||
| Bokgoni' shares etymological roots with 'bokgola', meaning wisdom or intelligence. | |||
| Swahili | ufanisi | ||
| The term 'ufanisi' may also refer to 'accomplishment' or 'excellence' in certain contexts. | |||
| Xhosa | ukusebenza ngokufanelekileyo | ||
| Uku-sebenza-ngokufanelekileyo is derived from the verb 'ukusebenza' (to work) and the noun 'ifanelekileyo' (appropriately), thus implying 'working appropriately'. In some contexts, it can also refer to 'optimizing work' or 'working effectively'. | |||
| Yoruba | ṣiṣe | ||
| "Ṣiṣe" can refer not only to efficiency, but also to speed, dispatch, promptness, or the ability to get things done. | |||
| Zulu | ukusebenza kahle | ||
| The literal meaning of 'ukusebenza kahle' is 'to do proper or good work' | |||
| Bambara | nɔ kaɲi | ||
| Ewe | dɔ wɔwɔ nyuie | ||
| Kinyarwanda | gukora neza | ||
| Lingala | ebongi | ||
| Luganda | amaanyi | ||
| Sepedi | bokgoni | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ɛso | ||
Efficiency in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | كفاءة | ||
| In Arabic, "كفاءة" (efficiency) also means self-sufficiency, competence, and capability. | |||
| Hebrew | יְעִילוּת | ||
| The Hebrew word "יְעִילוּת" (efficiency) comes from the root "יעל" (ibex), which is known for its agility and speed. | |||
| Pashto | وړتیا | ||
| The Pashto word "وړتیا" also means "capability" or "skill". | |||
| Arabic | كفاءة | ||
| In Arabic, "كفاءة" (efficiency) also means self-sufficiency, competence, and capability. | |||
Efficiency in Western European Languages
| Albanian | efikasitetin | ||
| The Albanian word "efikasitetin" is derived from the Latin word "efficiens", meaning "effective" or "producing an effect." | |||
| Basque | eraginkortasuna | ||
| The Basque word "eraginkortasuna" is derived from the Latin word "efficax", meaning "effective". | |||
| Catalan | eficiència | ||
| The word "eficiència" derives from the Latin root "efficientia", meaning "power to produce an effect". | |||
| Croatian | učinkovitost | ||
| "Učinkovitost" also means "usefulness" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | effektivitet | ||
| Its English cognate, effective, originally meant "producing an effect" or "working". | |||
| Dutch | efficiëntie | ||
| In addition to its common meaning, "efficiëntie" can also refer to the ability of a person to complete a task or perform a function. | |||
| English | efficiency | ||
| The word "efficiency" originates from the Latin word "efficientia," meaning "the quality of being able to produce a desired result." | |||
| French | efficacité | ||
| Efficace can also mean 'effective' or 'efficacious' in pharmaceutical or beauty contexts. | |||
| Frisian | effisjinsje | ||
| Effisjinsje in Frisian can also refer to effectiveness or productivity. | |||
| Galician | eficiencia | ||
| The Galician word "eficiencia" comes from the Latin "efficientia", meaning "effectiveness". | |||
| German | effizienz | ||
| The word "Effizienz" derives from the Latin word "efficientia" meaning "a producing or effecting". It also relates to the words "efficacy" and "effective" in English. | |||
| Icelandic | skilvirkni | ||
| Skilvirkni ('efficiency') likely comes from the word 'skilvís' ('separation') or 'hvísl' ('squeal'), indicating that something is separating/squealing and thus not working properly. | |||
| Irish | éifeachtúlacht | ||
| The Irish word "éifeachtúlacht" is derived from "éifeacht", meaning "result" or "effect", and is sometimes used to refer to the outcome of a legal proceeding or the enforcement of a law. | |||
| Italian | efficienza | ||
| "Efficienza" can mean "power" or "capability." | |||
| Luxembourgish | effizienz | ||
| "Effizienz" can mean "performance" or "effectiveness" in Luxembourgish. | |||
| Maltese | effiċjenza | ||
| The Maltese word "effiċjenza" is derived from the Italian word "efficienza", which in turn comes from the Latin word "efficientia", meaning "effectiveness" or "capability." | |||
| Norwegian | effektivitet | ||
| I norsk brukes «effektivitet» også om en persons ytelse og effektivitet i arbeidet; at en person er effektiv. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | eficiência | ||
| The Portuguese word for efficiency, "eficiência," originally referred to the effectiveness of military personnel. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | èifeachdas | ||
| "Èifeachdas" can be traced to the same Indo-European root *werg- that yielded the English word "work". | |||
| Spanish | eficiencia | ||
| "Eficiencia": from Latin "efficientia," meaning "power to produce" or "capacity for action." | |||
| Swedish | effektivitet | ||
| Effektivitet originates in Latin as 'effectivus,' meaning 'able to produce an effect'. | |||
| Welsh | effeithlonrwydd | ||
| Effeiithlonrwydd derives from "effaith", a noun form of the phrase “gwneud effaith”, meaning “doing an action”, and “thlon", the agentive suffix to form an actor noun from an action, so “rheidydd" would be an "actor" in that action, and “effeithlon" would thus be an “effective actor.” | |||
Efficiency in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | эфектыўнасць | ||
| Эффектыўнасць comes from the Latin words “effex” (effect) and “facio” (to do, to make). | |||
| Bosnian | efikasnost | ||
| The term 'efikasnost' in Bosnian, meaning 'efficiency', also carries the notion of 'effectiveness' and 'capability'. | |||
| Bulgarian | ефективност | ||
| The Bulgarian word "ефективност" comes from the Latin word "efficiens", meaning "producing an effect". | |||
| Czech | účinnost | ||
| The Czech word "účinnost" also means "validity" or "effectiveness" in some contexts. | |||
| Estonian | tõhusus | ||
| The word "tõhusus" is derived from the verb "tõhutama" meaning "to perform", and also has the alternate meaning of "effectiveness". | |||
| Finnish | tehokkuus | ||
| The word 'tehokkuus' in Finnish is derived from the verb 'tehdä' meaning 'to do'. This reflects the idea of efficiency as the ability to do something in a productive and effective manner. | |||
| Hungarian | hatékonyság | ||
| Hatékonyság (efficiency) comes from the Hungarian verb hatékony (to make efficient or effective, to do something well, with the right method). | |||
| Latvian | efektivitāte | ||
| "Efektīvitāte" in Latvian derives from the Latin word "efficere" (to carry out, to execute). | |||
| Lithuanian | efektyvumas | ||
| The Lithuanian word "efektyvumas" derives from the Latin word "effectus," meaning "effect" or "result." | |||
| Macedonian | ефикасност | ||
| "Ефикасност" comes from the Greek "ephikein" (εφικειν), to reach, and "hikami" in Arabic. | |||
| Polish | wydajność | ||
| The word "wydajność" can also refer to "productivity" or "yield" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | eficienţă | ||
| The Romanian word "eficienţă" originates from the Latin "efficientia", meaning "a bringing about, accomplishing". | |||
| Russian | эффективность | ||
| Эффективность (efficiency) - производительность, действенность, результативность. | |||
| Serbian | ефикасност | ||
| The word "ефикасност" also means "effectiveness" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | efektívnosť | ||
| The word "efektívnosť" also means "effectiveness" and "efficacy". | |||
| Slovenian | učinkovitost | ||
| The term "učinkovitost" may also refer to effectiveness or productivity. | |||
| Ukrainian | ефективність | ||
| The term "effective" originated from the Latin word "efficere," which means "to produce" or "to bring about." | |||
Efficiency in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | দক্ষতা | ||
| দক্ষতা (efficiency) shares the root "দক্ষ" which means skilled or clever, with a related term 'skill' (দক্ষতা), as well as a term referring to competency and readiness, 'proficiency' (দক্ষ). | |||
| Gujarati | કાર્યક્ષમતા | ||
| Hindi | दक्षता | ||
| The word "दक्षता" is derived from the Sanskrit word "दक्ष", meaning "able" or "skilled". | |||
| Kannada | ದಕ್ಷತೆ | ||
| The word "ದಕ್ಷತೆ" in Kannada also has alternate meanings like "cleverness", "skill", and "capability" in addition to its primary meaning of "efficiency." | |||
| Malayalam | കാര്യക്ഷമത | ||
| Marathi | कार्यक्षमता | ||
| कार्यक्षमता (efficiency) is also used to mean 'performance' in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | दक्षता | ||
| The term "दक्षता" derives from the root "दक्ष", meaning "skill" or "competence", hence "efficiency" implies proficiency in execution. | |||
| Punjabi | ਕੁਸ਼ਲਤਾ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කාර්යක්ෂමතාව | ||
| The word "kāryakshamatāva" can also mean "competence" or "capability" in Sinhala. | |||
| Tamil | செயல்திறன் | ||
| The word "செயல்திறன்" ("efficiency") in Tamil can also refer to "effectiveness" or "capability." | |||
| Telugu | సామర్థ్యం | ||
| The word "సామర్థ్యం" (efficiency) is derived from the Sanskrit word "समर्थ" (capable) and literally means "the quality of being capable or competent." | |||
| Urdu | کارکردگی | ||
| The word کارکردگی, also spelled as کار آوری can also mean 'performance'. In some contexts can also be translated to 'utility', 'competence' or 'function'. | |||
Efficiency in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 效率 | ||
| 效率，读音同'效益'，源自'效能'的同音借用，而'效能'源自'功效'。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 效率 | ||
| 效率 (efficiency) originally meant the ability to make good use of time and resources. | |||
| Japanese | 効率 | ||
| The term "効率" is etymologically related to the concept of "effecting" or "doing" (効く) and the suffix "-率" indicating a "rate" or "percentage". Hence, it captures the idea of the "rate of doing" or the "percentage of efficacy" in achieving a desired outcome, conveying the quantitative aspect of effectiveness. | |||
| Korean | 능률 | ||
| 능률 derives from the Chinese word 能率, which denotes capability or yield. | |||
| Mongolian | үр ашиг | ||
| The word "үр ашиг" in Mongolian is derived from the verb "үрших" (to harvest) and the noun "ашиг" (profit), suggesting a literal meaning of "harvesting profit" or "making the most of resources." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ထိရောက်မှု | ||
Efficiency in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | efisiensi | ||
| Efficiency in Indonesian is spelled "efisiensi" and was originally a Dutch word (efficiëntie) before it entered the bahasa Indonesia lexicon. | |||
| Javanese | efisiensi | ||
| In Javanese, "efisiensi" also refers to the effectiveness of a traditional medicine or spell. | |||
| Khmer | ប្រសិទ្ធភាព | ||
| Lao | ປະສິດທິພາບ | ||
| Malay | kecekapan | ||
| The Malay word "kecekapan" also has the alternate meaning of "competency" or "proficiency". | |||
| Thai | ประสิทธิภาพ | ||
| The Thai word "ประสิทธิภาพ" comes from Sanskrit and is cognate with the English word "efficacy". | |||
| Vietnamese | hiệu quả | ||
| The word "hiệu quả" originally meant "fruit of an action" but over time it has come to mean "efficiency". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kahusayan | ||
Efficiency in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | səmərəlilik | ||
| The word "səmərəlilik" comes from the Arabic word "səmərə", meaning "fruit", and the suffix "-lik", meaning "state or quality". | |||
| Kazakh | тиімділік | ||
| The Kazakh word "тиімділік" ("efficiency") is a derivative of the Arabic word "تيام", meaning "excellence", "proficiency", or "fitness."} | |||
| Kyrgyz | натыйжалуулук | ||
| The word "натыйжалуулук" ("efficiency") also includes the concept of "fruitfulness", referring to the positive results borne out of actions and efforts. | |||
| Tajik | самаранокӣ | ||
| The word "самаранокӣ" in Tajik can also refer to the concept of "effectiveness" or "productivity." | |||
| Turkmen | netijeliligi | ||
| Uzbek | samaradorlik | ||
| The word "samaradorlik" in Uzbek comes from the Arabic word "samar" (fruit), and originally meant "fruitfulness" or "productivity". | |||
| Uyghur | ئۈنۈم | ||
Efficiency in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ka hoʻokō ʻana | ||
| Ka hoʻokō ʻana can also mean 'the act of completing' or 'the act of finishing'. | |||
| Maori | kakama | ||
| The word "kakama" also means "to save" or "to preserve" in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | lelei atoatoa | ||
| The Samoan word "lelei atoatoa" can also translate to "good all around" in English. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kahusayan | ||
Efficiency in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | iphisinsya | ||
| Guarani | hembiapoporãva | ||
Efficiency in International Languages
| Esperanto | efikeco | ||
| "Efikeco" was originally coined by Antoni Grabowski, and comes from a common Slavic root also appearing in Russian, Polish, Czech, and a number of other languages. | |||
| Latin | efficientiam | ||
| The word "efficientiam" also means "performance" or "efficacy" in Latin. | |||
Efficiency in Others Languages
| Greek | αποδοτικότητα | ||
| The word "αποδοτικότητα" is derived from the Greek word "αποδίδωμι," which means "to give back" or "to pay back." | |||
| Hmong | efficiency | ||
| Kurdish | kêrhatîya bicîanîn | ||
| This word shares its root with the verb “kêra”, which means “to do, to make” and “kêrhatî”, which means “doing, making”. | |||
| Turkish | verimlilik | ||
| The Turkish word "verimlilik" is derived from the Arabic word "wirāthah", which means "inheritance" or "legacy". | |||
| Xhosa | ukusebenza ngokufanelekileyo | ||
| Uku-sebenza-ngokufanelekileyo is derived from the verb 'ukusebenza' (to work) and the noun 'ifanelekileyo' (appropriately), thus implying 'working appropriately'. In some contexts, it can also refer to 'optimizing work' or 'working effectively'. | |||
| Yiddish | עפעקטיווקייַט | ||
| Derived from the Hebrew word 'pa'al,' meaning 'to work,' and has similar connotations to 'effective' or 'productive' in English. | |||
| Zulu | ukusebenza kahle | ||
| The literal meaning of 'ukusebenza kahle' is 'to do proper or good work' | |||
| Assamese | দক্ষতা | ||
| Aymara | iphisinsya | ||
| Bhojpuri | क्षमता | ||
| Dhivehi | އެފިޝެންސީ | ||
| Dogri | म्हारत | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kahusayan | ||
| Guarani | hembiapoporãva | ||
| Ilocano | kinabirtud | ||
| Krio | ɔganayz | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | چوستی | ||
| Maithili | क्षमता | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯕꯒꯤ ꯆꯥꯡ | ||
| Mizo | tlin tak | ||
| Oromo | qisaasama malee hojjechuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଦକ୍ଷତା | ||
| Quechua | kusa kaq | ||
| Sanskrit | कुशलता | ||
| Tatar | эффективлыгы | ||
| Tigrinya | ብቕዓት | ||
| Tsonga | tirheka | ||