Element in Different Languages
Discover 'Element' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'element' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting something fundamental or essential. It's a concept that transcends cultural boundaries, making it a vital term in various languages. From the basic elements of life, like earth, air, water, and fire, to the chemical elements that make up our universe, this term is deeply ingrained in our understanding of the world.
Moreover, 'element' has a rich historical context. In ancient philosophy, it referred to the basic constituents of matter. In modern science, it's the building blocks of the periodic table. This word's cultural importance is further highlighted in various art forms, literature, and even in popular culture, such as the four elements in alchemy or the elements of design in art.
Given its significance, you might be interested in knowing the translation of 'element' in different languages. This can be a fun and enlightening journey, offering insights into how different cultures interpret and translate this fundamental concept.
Here are a few examples:
- Spanish: elemento
- French: élément
- German: Element
- Mandarin: 元素 (yuán sù)
- Japanese: 元素 (genso)
Stay tuned for more translations and cultural insights about the word 'element'!
Element
Element in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | element | ||
| In Afrikaans, the word "element" can also refer to a basic or fundamental part of something, such as the "elements" of a story or a mathematical problem. | |||
| Amharic | ንጥረ ነገር | ||
| The word "ንጥረ ነገር" (element) is derived from the Ge'ez word "ንፅር" (form, nature), and can also refer to the basic principles or substances of something. | |||
| Hausa | kashi | ||
| Hausa word "kashi" refers to the basic elements that make up the world, as well as the four cardinal directions. | |||
| Igbo | mmewere | ||
| Mmerewe also means creation, birth, or origin in Igbo. | |||
| Malagasy | singa | ||
| Singa also means "part" and "a bit" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chinthu | ||
| "Chinthu" can also mean "issue", "matter", or "problem" in Nyanja | |||
| Shona | element | ||
| The word 'element' in Shona can also refer to 'a constituent part of a whole' or 'a person or thing regarded as essential or fundamental'. | |||
| Somali | cunsur | ||
| The word "cunsur" is used to denote not only the English concept of element, but also the chemical element used in traditional Somali medicine. | |||
| Sesotho | elemente | ||
| Elemente can also mean "part" or "piece" in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | kipengele | ||
| "Kipengele" (element) derives from the Kibena root "-penge" (to distinguish). | |||
| Xhosa | element | ||
| The Xhosa word "into" can also refer to people or animals as a group or class. | |||
| Yoruba | ano | ||
| The Yoruba word "ano" can also refer to a "part" or "ingredient" in a larger whole. | |||
| Zulu | isici | ||
| The Zulu word "isici" can also refer to a group of people or a class of things. | |||
| Bambara | fɛn | ||
| Ewe | na | ||
| Kinyarwanda | element | ||
| Lingala | eloko | ||
| Luganda | ekintu | ||
| Sepedi | ntlha | ||
| Twi (Akan) | adeɛ | ||
Element in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | جزء | ||
| Originally, جزء meant "part" and "whole". Later, during the Abbasid caliphate, it acquired the meaning of "element" under the influence of Greek philosophy and scholars. | |||
| Hebrew | אֵלֵמֶנט | ||
| The Hebrew word for "element" is "אֵלֵמֶנט" and derives from the Latin word "elementum," meaning "base" or "foundation." | |||
| Pashto | عنصر | ||
| The Pashto word "عنصر" "element" is derived from the Arabic word "عنصـر" meaning "origin", "principle", or "agent". | |||
| Arabic | جزء | ||
| Originally, جزء meant "part" and "whole". Later, during the Abbasid caliphate, it acquired the meaning of "element" under the influence of Greek philosophy and scholars. | |||
Element in Western European Languages
| Albanian | element | ||
| The Albanian word 'element' is derived from the Latin word 'elementum', meaning 'principle' or 'constituent part'. | |||
| Basque | elementua | ||
| Ancient Basque elementua originally had no relation to natural elements but rather referred to the fundamental components of a whole such as the members of a group. | |||
| Catalan | element | ||
| In Catalan, "element" also means "spell". The word is derived from Latin "elementum", meaning "first principle". | |||
| Croatian | element | ||
| The Croatian word 'element' (element) originates from the Latin word 'elementum', which means 'first principle' or 'constituent part'. Its usage in Croatian is also aligned with its meaning in English, as it refers to a fundamental constituent of matter or a basic part of something. | |||
| Danish | element | ||
| In chemistry, an element is a pure substance that can't be separated into chemically simpler components by any means; element in Danish can also refer to 'the weather'. | |||
| Dutch | element | ||
| In Dutch, "element" can also refer to a member of a group or community. | |||
| English | element | ||
| "Element" stems from the Latin word elementum, meaning "constituent part". | |||
| French | élément | ||
| The French word "élément" comes from the Latin "elementum", meaning "first principle" or "constituent part". | |||
| Frisian | elemint | ||
| Frisian "elemint" comes from the Middle Dutch word "elment" (element, basic substance) and ultimately from the Ancient Greek "στοιχεῖον" (letter, primary element). | |||
| Galician | elemento | ||
| In Galician, "elemento" can also refer to a mischievous or troublesome person. | |||
| German | element | ||
| In German, "Element" can also refer to a musical instrument or a building block in construction. | |||
| Icelandic | frumefni | ||
| The word "frumefni" not only means "element" in Icelandic, but also "raw material" and "principal component, element." | |||
| Irish | eilimint | ||
| The Irish word "eilimint" is a loanword from the Latin "elementum", which also has the meaning "alphabet". | |||
| Italian | elemento | ||
| In Italian, "elemento" can also refer to a grammatical constituent or a person with a strong personality. | |||
| Luxembourgish | element | ||
| An "element" in Luxembourgish can also mean "pupil" or "child". | |||
| Maltese | element | ||
| The Maltese word "element" comes from the Latin word "elementum", which means "first principle" or "component part". It can also refer to the chemical elements, the basic building blocks of matter. | |||
| Norwegian | element | ||
| In Norwegian, the word "element" can also refer to a person's native environment or a field of expertise. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | elemento | ||
| The word "elemento" in Portuguese can also refer to the members of the military in service, or to an athlete in competition. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | eileamaid | ||
| The word "eileamaid" can also refer to a chemical component or an ingredient of a compound in chemistry. | |||
| Spanish | elemento | ||
| The Spanish word "elemento" can also refer to a member of a social group or class. | |||
| Swedish | element | ||
| The Swedish word "element" has an alternate meaning of "student in the highest class of a school". | |||
| Welsh | elfen | ||
| The word 'elfen' in Welsh can also refer to a mischievous spirit or a fairy. | |||
Element in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | элемент | ||
| The word элемент (element) originally meant "the first principle" in Old Greek, and also "letter of the alphabet". | |||
| Bosnian | element | ||
| In Bosnian, the word "element" (element) can also refer to a chemical substance or a component of a compound. | |||
| Bulgarian | елемент | ||
| Bulgarian "елемент" (element) derives from the Latin "elementum," meaning both "element" and "letter of the alphabet." | |||
| Czech | živel | ||
| "Živel" also means "force of nature" like fire, water, air or earth. | |||
| Estonian | element | ||
| The Estonian word "element" is also used figuratively to denote a person who is a part of a group. | |||
| Finnish | elementti | ||
| The word 'elementti' is related to the Latin word 'elementum', meaning 'fundamental substance' or 'principle.' | |||
| Hungarian | elem | ||
| Elem in Old Hungarian meant "world, universe", and nowadays also means "food"} | |||
| Latvian | elements | ||
| In Latvian, "elements" can also refer to the natural world or the environment. | |||
| Lithuanian | elementas | ||
| The word "elementas" also means "creature" and "world" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | елемент | ||
| The word "елемент" (element) is cognate with the Latin "elementa", which in turn comes from the Greek "στοιχεῖα" (stoikheia), meaning "the simplest form of matter"} | |||
| Polish | element | ||
| The word "element" in Polish can also refer to a fundamental principle or component of something. | |||
| Romanian | element | ||
| The Romanian word "element" ultimately stems from the Latin word "elementum," which denotes the smallest or fundamental unit of something. | |||
| Russian | элемент | ||
| The word "элемент" (element) in Russian also means "the chemical element" and "a unit of something". | |||
| Serbian | елемент | ||
| The word “element” in Serbian is derived from “elementum” in Latin, meaning both “the elements of nature” and “the letters of the alphabet”. | |||
| Slovak | prvok | ||
| "Prvok" in Slovak also means "source" or "primary principle" and originates from the verb "prať" ("to wash", "to rinse") which also gave rise to "pravda" ("truth"). | |||
| Slovenian | element | ||
| Slovene "element" also translates to "constituent" or "ingredient." | |||
| Ukrainian | елемент | ||
| The word "елемент" is derived from the Latin word "elementum", which means "component" or "ingredient". | |||
Element in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | উপাদান | ||
| The term "উপাদান" in Bengali is derived from the Sanskrit root "pad" which means 'to go' or 'to obtain' and is related to the word "উপপাদ্য" ('hypothesis'). | |||
| Gujarati | તત્વ | ||
| The Gujarati word "તત્વ" originally referred to a philosophical principle rather than just an element in chemistry, but its usage has expanded over time. | |||
| Hindi | तत्त्व | ||
| The Sanskrit word "तत्त्व" (tattva) also means "principle", "essence", or "reality". | |||
| Kannada | ಅಂಶ | ||
| "ಅಂಶ" also means "part" or "share" in Kannada, and shares its etymology with words like "amsh" in Sanskrit. | |||
| Malayalam | ഘടകം | ||
| "ഘടകം" may also refer to a component, a constituent, a factor or a cause in Malayalam. | |||
| Marathi | घटक | ||
| The word "घटक" in Marathi can also refer to a component, a part, or an ingredient. | |||
| Nepali | तत्व | ||
| The word "तत्व" also means "principle" or "truth" in Sanskrit. | |||
| Punjabi | ਤੱਤ | ||
| The word "ਤੱਤ" can also mean essence, principle, nature, truth, or reality. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මූලද්රව්යය | ||
| Tamil | உறுப்பு | ||
| "உறுப்பு" is a Tamil word that can also mean 'part' or 'organ' | |||
| Telugu | మూలకం | ||
| మూలకం derives from the Sanskrit word "mula" meaning "root" or "source" and also refers to the first principles or fundamental concepts of a system. | |||
| Urdu | عنصر | ||
| The word ''عنصر'' means an element, but it could also mean race, species, or gender. | |||
Element in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 元件 | ||
| In Chinese, "元件" can also mean "component" or "part" of a larger system or structure. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 元件 | ||
| The word "元件" (pronounced "yuánjiàn") in Chinese (Traditional) has a different meaning in Traditional Chinese, where it means "component" in electronics. | |||
| Japanese | 素子 | ||
| The character 「子」 in 素子 can also mean "part" or "component," suggesting its role as a fundamental building block. | |||
| Korean | 요소 | ||
| "요소" means "fertilizer" in Chinese characters, while in Korean it means "element". | |||
| Mongolian | бүрэлдэхүүн | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဒြပ်စင် | ||
Element in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | elemen | ||
| The Indonesian word "elemen" can also refer to a group of people or organizations united by a common purpose or belief. | |||
| Javanese | unsur | ||
| In Javanese, "unsur" can also refer to a group of people with similar characteristics or traits. | |||
| Khmer | ធាតុ | ||
| "ធាតុ" in Khmer shares an Indo-European root with words like "idea" and "theology." | |||
| Lao | ອົງປະກອບ | ||
| Malay | unsur | ||
| The word "unsur" in Malay also means "factor", "ingredient", or "principle". | |||
| Thai | ธาตุ | ||
| The word "ธาตุ" can also refer to the four classical elements (ดิน, น้ำ, ลม, ไฟ; i.e. earth, water, air, fire) in Buddhism. | |||
| Vietnamese | thành phần | ||
| The word "thành phần" can also mean "ingredient" or "component" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | elemento | ||
Element in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | element | ||
| The word "element" also means "alphabet" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | элемент | ||
| Казахское слово «элемент» («элемент») происходит от латинского слова «elementum» («элемент»), которое восходит к древнегреческому «στοιχεῖον», означающему «изначальная часть». | |||
| Kyrgyz | элемент | ||
| Kyrgyz "элемент" is also used to describe an energetic, motivated worker | |||
| Tajik | унсур | ||
| The word "унсур" in Tajik has Persian and Arabic roots and also means "ingredient" and "foundation". | |||
| Turkmen | elementi | ||
| Uzbek | element | ||
| Uzbek "element" is similar to the Russian "элемэнт" (element), which comes from the French "élément" meaning "constituent, part, or component". | |||
| Uyghur | ئېلېمېنت | ||
Element in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kumumea | ||
| Kumumea also refers specifically to the earth element in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | huānga | ||
| In Māori mythology, "huānga" can also refer to the physical or spiritual essence of a being, or the innate qualities of a thing. | |||
| Samoan | elemene | ||
| Elemene also means "the whole", "the general", "the totality" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | elemento | ||
| The Tagalog word "elemento" is related to the Spanish "elemento" and could also refer to a person's bad temper, arrogance, or vanity. | |||
Element in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ilimintu | ||
| Guarani | mba'e rehegua | ||
Element in International Languages
| Esperanto | elemento | ||
| "Elemento" also means "creature" or "being" in Esperanto and "spell" or "charm" in Italian. | |||
| Latin | elementum | ||
| Elementum can mean both the material basis of all things and the elemental powers of nature or the universe. | |||
Element in Others Languages
| Greek | στοιχείο | ||
| The Greek noun "στοιχείο" can also refer to a chemical compound ("element composition" in chemistry), a letter or character, or a basic concept, principle, or rudiment. | |||
| Hmong | caij | ||
| The Hmong word for 'element', 'caij', also means 'ingredient' or 'component' in the context of cooking or making something. | |||
| Kurdish | pêve | ||
| The Proto-Indo-European root for "pêve" is also found in the Armenian word for "sky" and the Albanian word for "fire." | |||
| Turkish | element | ||
| The Turkish word "element" comes from the Latin word "elementum", which means both "first principle" and "letter of the alphabet". | |||
| Xhosa | element | ||
| The Xhosa word "into" can also refer to people or animals as a group or class. | |||
| Yiddish | עלעמענט | ||
| "עלעמענט" means "element" but also "elementary school" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | isici | ||
| The Zulu word "isici" can also refer to a group of people or a class of things. | |||
| Assamese | উপাদান | ||
| Aymara | ilimintu | ||
| Bhojpuri | तत्त्व | ||
| Dhivehi | އެއްޗެއްގެ ބައެއް | ||
| Dogri | तत्व | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | elemento | ||
| Guarani | mba'e rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | elemento | ||
| Krio | tin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پێکهاتە | ||
| Maithili | तत्त्व | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯣꯠꯂꯝ | ||
| Mizo | thil bul | ||
| Oromo | qabiyyee | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଉପାଦାନ | ||
| Quechua | imakuna | ||
| Sanskrit | तत्व | ||
| Tatar | элемент | ||
| Tigrinya | ባእታ | ||
| Tsonga | nchumu | ||