Defense in Different Languages
Discover 'Defense' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The concept of 'defense' is a fundamental aspect of cultures and societies around the world. It refers to the action of defending oneself or others, protecting something of value, or opposing an attack or threat. Defense is a universal theme, present in every corner of the globe, and is often associated with notions of security, strength, and resilience.
Throughout history, defense has played a crucial role in shaping the course of human events. From ancient fortifications and medieval castles to modern-day military installations and cybersecurity systems, the ability to defend oneself and one's community has been a key factor in determining the outcome of conflicts and the survival of civilizations.
Given its significance, it's no surprise that the word 'defense' has been translated into countless languages, each with its own unique cultural and linguistic nuances. Understanding these translations can provide valuable insights into the ways that different cultures approach the concept of defense, and can help to build bridges of understanding between people of diverse backgrounds.
Here are some translations of the word 'defense' in different languages:
Defense
Defense in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | verdediging | ||
| The word "verdediging" is derived from the medieval Latin "defensio", meaning shield or protection. | |||
| Amharic | መከላከያ | ||
| Hausa | tsaro | ||
| There is an alternate form, "tsari", which carries the additional meaning of shield. | |||
| Igbo | agbachitere | ||
| The Igbo word "agbachitere" (defense) can also refer to a person or object that provides protection or serves as a barrier. | |||
| Malagasy | fiarovana | ||
| The word "fiarovana" can also mean "protection" or "shelter" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chitetezo | ||
| The word "chitetezo" can also refer to a defensive position used by warriors in traditional African warfare. | |||
| Shona | kudzivirira | ||
| Kudzivirira is also used to describe protection from danger or harm. | |||
| Somali | difaaca | ||
| In context, "difaaca" can also mean "shield" or "protection" in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | tshireletso | ||
| Tshireletso also means 'to prevent' and 'to protect'. | |||
| Swahili | ulinzi | ||
| The term "ulinzi" also carries the connotation of "sanctuary" or "refuge" in Swahili, conveying a broader concept of protection. | |||
| Xhosa | ukuzikhusela | ||
| In Xhosa, "ukuzikhusela" can also mean "to protect oneself or something". | |||
| Yoruba | olugbeja | ||
| The Yoruba word 'olugbeja' also means 'someone who is prepared for battle or danger'. | |||
| Zulu | ukuzivikela | ||
| The word "ukuzivikela" also means "to protect oneself" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | lafasali | ||
| Ewe | ametakpɔkpɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kwirwanaho | ||
| Lingala | défense na yango | ||
| Luganda | okwekuuma | ||
| Sepedi | tšhireletšo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | defense a wɔde bɔ wɔn ho ban | ||
Defense in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | دفاع | ||
| In Arabic, "defense" can also refer to a lawyer's pleading or a doctor's diagnosis. | |||
| Hebrew | הֲגָנָה | ||
| The Hebrew word "הֲגָנָה" (defense) can also mean "protection" | |||
| Pashto | دفاع | ||
| The Pashto word "دفاع" (defense) is derived from the Arabic word "دفع" (to repel or ward off), also the root word for "Daf" (a frame drum). | |||
| Arabic | دفاع | ||
| In Arabic, "defense" can also refer to a lawyer's pleading or a doctor's diagnosis. | |||
Defense in Western European Languages
| Albanian | mbrojtje | ||
| The word "mbrojtje" is related to the word "brojtë", which means "to count". | |||
| Basque | defentsa | ||
| In Basque, "defentsa" can also mean "right" or "justice." | |||
| Catalan | defensa | ||
| The Catalan word "defensa" is commonly used in football to refer to the back line of a team. | |||
| Croatian | obrana | ||
| Obrana is also the name of the Croatian word for cucumber, likely deriving from the Slavic root "ob" (around) and "braniti" (defend). | |||
| Danish | forsvar | ||
| The word "forsvar" in Danish, originally meant to "guard" or "keep safe". | |||
| Dutch | verdediging | ||
| The Dutch word "verdediging" comes from the verb "verdedigen" meaning "to defend" or "to protect". | |||
| English | defense | ||
| The word 'defense' derives from the Latin 'defensare', meaning 'to ward off, protect' | |||
| French | la défense | ||
| La défense, meaning 'defense,' also refers to the famous modern arch in Paris. | |||
| Frisian | definsje | ||
| Definsje, a Frisian cognate of the English defense, can also denote "permission, agreement, mandate" in Dutch. | |||
| Galician | defensa | ||
| "Defensa" in Galician also means "forbidden", which comes from the Latin "defensa" ('protection') | |||
| German | verteidigung | ||
| The word "Verteidigung" is derived from the Old High German word "weren," meaning "to guard" or "to protect." | |||
| Icelandic | vörn | ||
| The word "vörn" can also refer to a type of Icelandic traditional glove made of sheepskin. | |||
| Irish | cosaint | ||
| The Irish word "cosaint" (defense) is cognate with the Welsh word "cyrch" (expedition). | |||
| Italian | difesa | ||
| The word 'difesa' can also mean 'protection' or 'justification', and derives from the Latin word 'defensio', meaning 'to ward off'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | verdeedegung | ||
| In the context of fortification techniques, "Verdededegung" refers to the defensive arrangements implemented during the construction of fortresses or military strongholds. | |||
| Maltese | difiża | ||
| The Maltese word "difiża" also signifies "protection", "guard", or "support". | |||
| Norwegian | forsvar | ||
| The word 'forsvar' is cognate with the English 'forswear', suggesting an oath to abstain from attack. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | defesa | ||
| The Portuguese word "defesa" comes from the Latin word "defensio" meaning protection. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | dìon | ||
| Scots Gaelic "dìon" is an altered form of the Middle Irish "dían", from an Indo-European root *d(e)i- meaning "protect", | |||
| Spanish | defensa | ||
| "Defensa" also means "fencing" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | försvar | ||
| The word 'försvar' is derived from the Old Norse word 'varð,' meaning 'caution' or 'watchfulness'. | |||
| Welsh | amddiffyn | ||
| "Amddiffyn" is the Welsh word for "defense" and is derived from the root "am" meaning "around" and "diffyn" meaning "to protect". | |||
Defense in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | абароны | ||
| The word "абароны" can also mean "fortresses" or "defensive structures". | |||
| Bosnian | odbrana | ||
| "Odbrana" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *obbraniti, which means "to protect" or "to defend." | |||
| Bulgarian | защита | ||
| The word "защита" can also mean "protection", "cover", or "refuge" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | obrana | ||
| The word "obrana" is derived from the Slavic root "bor" meaning "struggle, fight," and is cognate with the Russian "oborona" and the Polish "obrona". | |||
| Estonian | kaitse | ||
| The word "kaitse" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *kaita-, meaning "to protect". | |||
| Finnish | puolustus | ||
| The word "puolustus" in Finnish shares its root with the word "puoli", meaning "half", indicating the protective nature of defense. | |||
| Hungarian | védelem | ||
| The Hungarian word "védelem" originally meant "shield". | |||
| Latvian | aizsardzība | ||
| In Latvian, "aizsardzība" is a homonym of the word "sardze" (guard), both derived from the same root "sard" (to protect). | |||
| Lithuanian | gynyba | ||
| The Lithuanian word "gynyba" originates from two different roots that mean "to guard, to protect" and "to be born, to come to being", suggesting the dual nature of defense as both protection and creation. | |||
| Macedonian | одбрана | ||
| The word "одбрана" comes from the verb "одбранити" which has two meanings: 1. To protect and 2. to defend. | |||
| Polish | obrona | ||
| "Obrona" is also a name for a specific type of Polish dance. | |||
| Romanian | apărare | ||
| The word "apărare" in Romanian also means "protection" or "shelter", originating from the Latin "apparatus" meaning "equipment" or "defense mechanism". | |||
| Russian | защита | ||
| Originally spelled as "за щита" ("behind the shield"), the word "защита" preserves its etymological link to protection and guarding. | |||
| Serbian | одбрана | ||
| The Serbian word "одбрана" (defense) derives from the Slavic root "braniti" (to protect), and can also refer to a fortress or stronghold. | |||
| Slovak | obrana | ||
| The Slovak word "obrana" derives from the Proto-Slavic root *oborъ, meaning "protection, enclosure, fortified place". | |||
| Slovenian | obramba | ||
| The word 'obramba' is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word 'oborona', meaning 'protection'. | |||
| Ukrainian | оборони | ||
| The Ukrainian word "оборони" is derived from a verb meaning "to protect". | |||
Defense in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রতিরক্ষা | ||
| The word "প্রতিরক্ষা" in Bengali comes from the Sanskrit "प्रतिरक्ष" (pratiraksh) meaning "protection", "defense", or "resistance". | |||
| Gujarati | સંરક્ષણ | ||
| {"text": "સંરક્ષણ is derived from the Sanskrit word "samrakshana," meaning protection or preservation."} | |||
| Hindi | रक्षा | ||
| The word "रक्षा" in Hindi, meaning "defense," comes from the Sanskrit root "raksh," meaning "to protect" or "to guard." | |||
| Kannada | ರಕ್ಷಣಾ | ||
| ರಕ್ಷಣಾ is a derivative of the Sanskrit word 'rakṣa', which means 'to protect' or 'to guard'. In addition to its literal meaning as 'defense', it can also be figuratively used in the sense of 'protection' or 'safety'. | |||
| Malayalam | പ്രതിരോധം | ||
| The term "പ്രതിരോധം" can also imply opposition, resistance to something. | |||
| Marathi | संरक्षण | ||
| The Marathi word "संरक्षण" is derived from the Sanskrit word "संरक्ष्" (to guard, protect), and it also carries the connotation of "patronage" or "support." | |||
| Nepali | रक्षा | ||
| The Nepali word "रक्षा" is cognate with the Sanskrit word "रक्षण", which also means "protection" or "preservation." | |||
| Punjabi | ਬਚਾਅ | ||
| In Hindi, the word "बचाना" (bachana) means "to protect" or "to save". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආරක්ෂක | ||
| The word 'ආරක්ෂක' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'रक्षक' (rakṣaka), meaning 'protector' or 'defender'. | |||
| Tamil | பாதுகாப்பு | ||
| The term "பாதுகாப்பு" can also refer to protection, safeguard, or security in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | రక్షణ | ||
| The word రక్షణ (defense) is derived from the root word రక్ష (to protect), and also means 'protection' or 'safety'. | |||
| Urdu | دفاع | ||
| The Urdu word "دفاع" (defense) also has the alternate meaning of "prohibition". | |||
Defense in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 防御 | ||
| The characters 防御 combine the characters for “protect” (防) and “to defend” (御). | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 防禦 | ||
| 防禦 originally referred to an embankment built to block against water. | |||
| Japanese | 防衛 | ||
| 防衛 is composed of two characters: 防, meaning "prevent", and 衛, meaning "guard". | |||
| Korean | 방어 | ||
| The Korean word 방어 means not only "defense" but also "fishing with a net" or "defense against enemies or a siege. | |||
| Mongolian | батлан хамгаалах | ||
| The word "батлан хамгаалах" can also mean "to defend one's honor". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကာကွယ်ရေး | ||
Defense in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | pertahanan | ||
| The Indonesian word "pertahanan" comes from the Malay word "pertahanan" which in turn comes from the Sanskrit word "prati-haraṇa" meaning "to protect or defend". | |||
| Javanese | nimbali | ||
| The word "nimbali" in Javanese is also used to refer to a fence or fortification. | |||
| Khmer | ការការពារក្តី | ||
| The word "defense" can also refer to the act of protecting or supporting an idea or a belief. | |||
| Lao | ປ້ອງກັນ | ||
| Malay | pertahanan | ||
| The word "pertahanan" in Malay derives from the Sanskrit word "pratihata" and carries the alternate meaning of "barrier or shield". | |||
| Thai | ป้องกัน | ||
| The word "ป้องกัน" can also be used to refer to protection, prevention, or shielding. | |||
| Vietnamese | phòng thủ | ||
| "Phòng thủ" also means "bedroom" or "study" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagtatanggol | ||
Defense in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | müdafiə | ||
| The word "müdafiə" also has the meaning of "protection" and "shelter" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | қорғаныс | ||
| The Kazakh word "қорғаныс" can also refer to a fortress or fortification, highlighting its role as a protective structure. | |||
| Kyrgyz | коргоо | ||
| In Kyrgyz mythology, «коргоо» is also a name for a mythological hero or deity associated with the protection, defense and security of people and nature. | |||
| Tajik | мудофиа | ||
| The Tajik word "мудофиа" can also mean "protection". | |||
| Turkmen | goranmak | ||
| Uzbek | mudofaa | ||
| The word "mudofaa" in Uzbek comes from the Arabic word "difā'", which means "to protect". | |||
| Uyghur | مۇداپىئە | ||
Defense in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pale ʻana | ||
| The Hawaiian word 'pale ʻana' can also refer to a fence, barrier, or fortification. | |||
| Maori | ārai | ||
| (Maori) Arai can also mean "obstacle" or "difficulty". | |||
| Samoan | puipuiga | ||
| Puipuiga also means to protect or guard something or someone. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pagtatanggol | ||
| The Tagalog word "pagtatanggol" comes from the root word "tanggol", which can also mean "to protect" or "to shield". | |||
Defense in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | arxatañataki | ||
| Guarani | defensa rehegua | ||
Defense in International Languages
| Esperanto | defendo | ||
| The Esperanto word "defendo" is derived from the Latin word "defendo," meaning "to ward off" or "to protect." | |||
| Latin | defensionis | ||
| The word "defensio" has legal implications of the right to defend oneself in court | |||
Defense in Others Languages
| Greek | άμυνα | ||
| The word 'άμυνα' is also used to refer to the defense mechanism of the human body against disease. | |||
| Hmong | kev tiv thaiv | ||
| The word "kev tiv thaiv" can also mean "to withstand" or "to resist" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | parastinî | ||
| The Kurdish word "parastinî" also means "shield" and "protection" in Persian. | |||
| Turkish | savunma | ||
| -ve suffixed nominals also express abstract ideas like belief or action, as in inanç (“belief”) from inan (“believe”) or savunma (“defense”) from savun (“defend”). | |||
| Xhosa | ukuzikhusela | ||
| In Xhosa, "ukuzikhusela" can also mean "to protect oneself or something". | |||
| Yiddish | פאַרטיידיקונג | ||
| The Yiddish term "פאַרטיידיקונג" derives from the German word "Verteidigung" (defense) and can also refer to an excuse or justification. | |||
| Zulu | ukuzivikela | ||
| The word "ukuzivikela" also means "to protect oneself" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | প্ৰতিৰক্ষা | ||
| Aymara | arxatañataki | ||
| Bhojpuri | बचाव के काम होला | ||
| Dhivehi | ދިފާޢުގައެވެ | ||
| Dogri | बचाव करना | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagtatanggol | ||
| Guarani | defensa rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | depensa | ||
| Krio | difens fɔ di pɔsin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بەرگری | ||
| Maithili | रक्षा के लिये | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯗꯤꯐꯦꯟꯁ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | defense lam a ni | ||
| Oromo | ittisa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରତିରକ୍ଷା | ||
| Quechua | defensa nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | रक्षा | ||
| Tatar | оборона | ||
| Tigrinya | ምክልኻል | ||
| Tsonga | vusirheleri | ||