Evidence in different languages

Evidence in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Evidence is a powerful word that carries significant weight in many realms, from legal proceedings to scientific research. It refers to the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. The significance of evidence cannot be overstated, as it forms the backbone of our understanding and decision-making processes in various aspects of life.

Throughout history, the concept of evidence has played a pivotal role in shaping cultures and societies. From ancient civilizations relying on eyewitness accounts to modern forensic science, the pursuit of evidence has driven humanity to uncover truths and solve mysteries. Moreover, evidence serves as a universal language, transcending borders and connecting people across the globe.

Given the importance of evidence in different cultures and languages, it's fascinating to explore how this term translates in various tongues. For instance, in Spanish, evidence translates to 'evidencia,' while in French, it becomes 'preuve.' In German, the word for evidence is 'Beweis,' and in Mandarin Chinese, it's '证据' (zhèngjué).

Discovering the nuances of how evidence translates in different languages not only broadens our linguistic knowledge but also enriches our appreciation for the cultural significance of this vital concept.

Evidence


Evidence in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansgetuienis
Getuienis is derived from Dutch getuigenis and was used in legal contexts since the 17th century. It also came to mean "proof" in the form of eyewitness accounts.
Amharicማስረጃ
The Amharic word ማስረጃ (masreja) has roots in the Semitic language and also means 'to establish' or 'cause to exist'
Hausashaida
The word shaida, meaning evidence in Hausa, has the additional connotation of proof or testimony, often used in a legal context.
Igboihe akaebe
Ihe akaebe also refers to a physical object or document presented as proof or verification of the truth of a statement
Malagasyporofo
The Malagasy word "POROFO" also means "the proof of a thing".
Nyanja (Chichewa)umboni
The word "umboni" in Nyanja (Chichewa) also means "testimony" or "proof".
Shonahumbowo
The Shona word “humbowo” also means a footprint or a mark left by someone or something.
Somalicaddayn
The word "caddayn" in Somali can also refer to testimony, a witness, or a piece of information
Sesothobopaki
The term 'bopaki' has alternate meanings in legal contexts, referring to evidence submitted during court trials.
Swahiliushahidi
The Swahili word "ushahidi" also means "testimony" and "proof".
Xhosaubungqina
"Ubungqina" is also used to describe a witness in a legal context.
Yorubaẹri
The word "ẹri" (evidence) in Yoruba can also mean "witness" or "testimony".
Zuluubufakazi
The word ubufakazi has different interpretations depending on how it is used, e.g. as an idiom.
Bambaraseereya
Ewekpeɖodzi
Kinyarwandaibimenyetso
Lingalaelembeteli
Lugandaobukakafu
Sepedibohlatse
Twi (Akan)adanseɛ

Evidence in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicدليل
دليل, the Arabic word for evidence, also means 'guide'.
Hebrewעֵדוּת
The word also carries the connotation of the testimony of witnesses in a legal setting, as in the phrase "לעשות עֵדוּת" (to bear witness).
Pashtoثبوت
In Pashto, "ثبوت" can also mean "proof" or "testimony."
Arabicدليل
دليل, the Arabic word for evidence, also means 'guide'.

Evidence in Western European Languages

Albanianprova
"Prova" comes from the Latin word "proba," which means "test" or "examination."
Basquefrogak
"Frogak" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "bhrēĝh-", meaning "to break", hence the meanings "fragment" and "proof".
Catalanproves
The Catalan word "proves" not only means "evidence" but also "test" and "exam".
Croatiandokaz
The Croatian word "dokaz" also means "proof" or "argument".
Danishbeviser
The Danish word "beviser" also refers to a "proof" in mathematics or logic.
Dutchbewijs
'Bewijs' (evidence) also means 'proof', 'demonstration', and 'certificate'.
Englishevidence
The word evidence derives from the Latin term "evidentia", meaning "clearness" or "visibility," and also carries the connotation of "proof" or "demonstration."
Frenchpreuve
The French word "preuve" derives from the Latin word "probare," meaning "to test, try out, or approve."
Frisianbewiis
The word 'bewiis' is cognate to 'bewize' in West Frisian and to 'bewijs' in Dutch, but unlike in Dutch it is only used in the sense of 'written document'.
Galicianevidencia
In Galician, "evidencia" can also mean "appearance", "look" or "semblance". In this sense, it is similar to the Spanish "evidencia" meaning "appearance."
Germanbeweise
The German word "Beweise" can also refer to a mathematical demonstration, as in "Beweis einer Behauptung" (proof of a proposition).
Icelandicsönnunargögn
The Icelandic word "sönnunargögn" derives from the Old Norse words "sönnun" (truth) and "gögn" (data), meaning "data that establishes the truth"
Irishfianaise
The word "fianaise" can also refer to the process of giving evidence.
Italianprova
"Prova" comes from the Latin word "probare," which means "to test" or "to prove".
Luxembourgishbeweiser
In the sense of “evidence,” Beweiser also means “certificate,” as in a medical certificate or a birth certificate.
Malteseevidenza
Maltese word "evidenza" is derived from Latin word "evidentia", meaning both "evidence" and "obviousness".
Norwegianbevis
The word «bevis» means both «burden of proof» and «evidence». Both these words are connected to the Latin *vis* that means both force and sight; but in the word «bevis» force is the primary meaning; in «visibility» sight is.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)provas
In Latin, "probare" means "to prove"; in Portuguese, "provar" also means "to taste".
Scots Gaelicfianais
"Fianais" literally translates as "witnessing" or "testifying" in Gaelic.
Spanishevidencia
In Spanish, "evidencia" also means "fact, data, or proof", "certainty", and "clarity or obviousness".
Swedishbevis
The Swedish word "bevis" is derived from an Old Norse word "bevi" meaning "reason," "cause," and "proof," and is related to "bewies" meaning "to prove, show."
Welshtystiolaeth
The Welsh word "tystiolaeth" can also mean "testimony" or "proof".

Evidence in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдоказы
In Polish, the root "dokaz" has the meaning of "proof" and is a synonym for the word "dowód"
Bosniandokazi
The word "dokazi" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*dokazъ", meaning "proof".
Bulgarianдоказателства
The Bulgarian word "доказателства" comes from the root "доказвам" meaning "to prove" and shares its root with the verb "доказвам се" meaning "to prove oneself".
Czechdůkaz
The word "důkaz" can also refer to "proof" or "verification".
Estoniantõendid
Estonian word "tõendid" is derived from the Proto-Finnic *toténa - to prove, to establish, to bear witness
Finnishtodisteet
Todisteet means not only evidence but can also refer to means of proving something, like a witness or a receipt.
Hungarianbizonyíték
"Bizonyíték" is derived from the verb "bizonyít" which means to prove, certify, demonstrate, establish, show, or verify.
Latvianpierādījumi
The Latvian word "pierādījumi" comes from the verb "pierādīt" (to prove), which itself is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁rew- (to speak), suggesting that evidence was originally something that was spoken or declared.
Lithuanianįrodymas
The word "įrodymas" derives from the verb "rodyti," meaning "to show" or "to indicate," and also relates to the words "rodyklė" (arrow) and "įrodyti" (to prove).
Macedonianдоказ
Доказ in Macedonian can also mean proof, testimony, document, or a legal instrument.
Polishdowód
"Dowód" in Polish originally meant a soldier's proof of service and was only later extended to mean evidence in court.
Romaniandovezi
The Romanian word "dovezi" originates from the Polish word "dowod", meaning "proof".
Russianсвидетельство
The Russian word "свидетельство" can also refer to a document, such as a birth certificate, which is an official record of a particular fact or event, or to the ceremony of witnessing a marriage or other event.
Serbianдоказ
The word "доказ" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *dok-, meaning "to show" or "to point out."
Slovakdôkazy
Dôkazy also means "proof" in Slovak, and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *dokazъ, which means "witness".
Sloveniandokazi
The Slovenian word "dokazi" is cognate with the Russian word "доказательство" (dokazatelstvo), both ultimately deriving from the Proto-Slavic root *dokazati, meaning "to prove".
Ukrainianдокази
The word 'докази' is connected to the verbs 'доказати' ('to prove') and 'докукати' ('to pester').

Evidence in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপ্রমান
প্রমান (evidence) is also used to refer to a measurement, a standard, or a proof.
Gujaratiપુરાવા
The word "પુરાવા" may also refer to proof, testimony, or confirmation.
Hindiसबूत
The word
Kannadaಪುರಾವೆಗಳು
The word "ಪುರಾವೆಗಳು" can also refer to "proof" or "testimony" in Kannada.
Malayalamതെളിവ്
The word തെളിവ്, meaning 'evidence', is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word *teḷi, meaning 'to appear' or 'to be visible'. It is related to the Tamil word தெளிவு (teḷivu), meaning 'clarity' or 'brightness'.
Marathiपुरावा
The Marathi word "पुरावा" can also mean "old" or "ancient"
Nepaliप्रमाण
The word 'प्रमाण' (pramāṇa) in Nepali can also mean 'proof', 'authority', 'measurement', 'criterion', 'sign', or 'knowledge'.
Punjabiਸਬੂਤ
The Punjabi word "ਸਬੂਤ" (sabūt) originates from the Sanskrit word "प्रमाण" (pramāna), meaning "measure" or "proof".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)සාක්ෂි
The word "සාක්ෂි" (evidence) in Sinhala originates from the Sanskrit word "साक्षी" (witness, knowledge), ultimately derived from the root "सच्" (to tell, to speak).
Tamilஆதாரம்
The word can also mean 'proof', 'reason', 'cause', or 'basis'.
Teluguసాక్ష్యం
The verb form of సాక్ష్యం, साक्ष, comes from the Sanskrit language and means to witness or observe.
Urduثبوت
The word "ثبوت" also means "stability" or "firmness".

Evidence in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)证据
The word "证据" in Chinese is derived from the root word "証", meaning "to witness" or "to testify".
Chinese (Traditional)證據
證據 is a compound word in Chinese that means something that is clear and visible.
Japanese証拠
The word "証拠" (shouko) originally meant "something that has been proved" or "something that is true."
Korean증거
In Middle Korean, "증거" also meant "proof of innocence".
Mongolianнотлох баримт
The Mongolian noun “нотлох баримт”, meaning 'evidence', is derived from “нотлох”, meaning 'to prove', and “баримт”, meaning 'document' or 'proof'
Myanmar (Burmese)သက်သေအထောက်အထား

Evidence in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbukti
Related to or derived from the word "bukti", meaning "to prove" or "proof" in Old Javanese.
Javanesebukti-bukti
In the Javanese language, "bukti-bukti" has alternate meanings relating to clues, signs, or indications, extending beyond its primary meaning of "evidence."
Khmerភស្តុតាង
The word "ភស្តុតាង" (evidence) in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रत्यक्ष" ( प्रत्यक्ष ), which means "direct perception" or "immediate experience".
Laoຫຼັກຖານ
Malaybukti
From the Proto-Austronesian root *bukit, meaning "hill" or "mountain".
Thaiหลักฐาน
หลักฐาน' may also refer to a 'pillar' in architecture or the 'reason' for something in philosophy.
Vietnamesechứng cớ
Chứng cớ in Vietnamese comes from Hán tự 證據,
Filipino (Tagalog)ebidensya

Evidence in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanidəlil
The word “dəlil” has a similar etymology to the Arabic word “dalīl,” meaning “guide” or “proof,” reflecting its role as support for a claim.
Kazakhдәлелдемелер
The Kazakh word "дәлелдемелер" not only means "evidence" but also means "proofs" and "arguments".
Kyrgyzдалил
The word "далил" also has a meaning in Kyrgyz as "proof".
Tajikдалел
The word "далел" in Tajik can also mean a "proof", "sign", or "indication".
Turkmensubutnama
Uzbekdalil
The Uzbek word "dalil" also means "proof", "sign", "argument", or "symptom".
Uyghurدەلىل-ئىسپات

Evidence in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhōʻike hōʻike
The word "hōʻike hōʻike" originates from the Hawaiian term meaning "manifestation" or "showing".
Maoritaunakitanga
Although its primary meaning is 'evidence', 'taunakitanga' has other meanings, such as 'proof', 'sign' and 'confirmation'.
Samoanmolimau
The Samoan word for "evidence" "molimau" also means "witness" and is derived from the verb "moli" meaning "to speak".
Tagalog (Filipino)ebidensya
"Ebidensya" in Tagalog likely originates from the Spanish word "evidencia", reflecting the influence of Spanish on Filipino language and legal system.

Evidence in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarautjirinaka
Guaraniñembojapyre

Evidence in International Languages

Esperantoevidenteco
The Esperanto word “evidenteco” relates to “evido” (“proof”), and it also has the meaning of “obviousness”.
Latinquod
The Latin "quod" originally meant "that which" and could refer to evidence, a circumstance, a legal charge, or a reason.

Evidence in Others Languages

Greekαπόδειξη
The Greek word "απόδειξη" can also refer to a mathematical demonstration, a receipt or a proof.
Hmongpov thawj
"Cov pov thawj" (evidence in Hmong) is etymologically rooted in "tsawj", meaning "to prove" and "pov" meaning "the thing."
Kurdishdelîl
"Delîl" is also used as a term for "guide" or "proof" in Kurdish.
Turkishkanıt
The word "kanıt" in Turkish originated from the Persian word "günahit" meaning "proof" and also "sin".
Xhosaubungqina
"Ubungqina" is also used to describe a witness in a legal context.
Yiddishזאָגן
The Yiddish word "זאָגן" (zogn) also means "to say" or "to tell".
Zuluubufakazi
The word ubufakazi has different interpretations depending on how it is used, e.g. as an idiom.
Assameseপ্ৰমাণ
Aymarautjirinaka
Bhojpuriसबूत
Dhivehiހެކި
Dogriसबूत
Filipino (Tagalog)ebidensya
Guaraniñembojapyre
Ilocanoebidensia
Kriopruf
Kurdish (Sorani)بەڵگە
Maithiliसाक्ष्य
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯁꯥꯈꯤ
Mizofinfiahna
Oromoragaa
Odia (Oriya)ପ୍ରମାଣ
Quechuaevidencia
Sanskritउपपत्तिः
Tatarдәлилләр
Tigrinyaማስረጃ
Tsongavumbhoni

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