Exception in different languages

Exception in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'exception' holds great significance in many cultures and languages, denoting something that is not typical or common. It's a word that represents uniqueness, individuality, and difference. From a philosophical perspective, exceptions can challenge our assumptions and biases, encouraging us to think more deeply and critically about the world around us.

Historically, the concept of exceptions has played a crucial role in shaping legal and judicial systems. The Latin phrase

Exception

Exception in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansuitsondering
Uitsondering in Afrikaans also means reservation or exception from the rule.
Amharicበስተቀር
The word "በስተቀር" can also mean "apart from", "aside from", "excluding", "leaving aside", or "except".
Hausabanda
Hausa "banda" comes from Proto-Afro-Asiatic "*bund-a", with its reflexes in other Afro-Asiatic languages being "*b-n-d" and "*b-n-t".
Igboewezuga
The Igbo word "ewezuga" is derived from the verb "ezu" (to escape) and the noun "uga" (fate), hence its meaning of "exception."
Malagasyafa-tsy
The word "afa-tsy" in Malagasy originates from the verb "afa-ka" (to leave out, to exclude).
Nyanja (Chichewa)kupatula
The word "kupatula" can also refer to the act of taking something out of a place or group.
Shonakunze
The word 'kunze' can also refer to a 'hole'.
Somalimarka laga reebo
The Somali word "marka laga reebo" ("exception") implies "other than when".
Sesothomokhelo
Mokhelo can also refer to a rule or law that cannot be broken.
Swahiliubaguzi
In Tanzania, 'ubaguzi' can also refer to a social or economic disparity between groups.
Xhosangaphandle
Ngaphandle comes from 'ukunga' and 'phakathi' (out of/from + middle), hence, something outside/away from the norm.
Yorubaimukuro
The word "imukuro" can also mean "deviation" or "departure" in Yoruba.
Zuluokuhlukile
The word "okuhlukile" in Zulu can refer to either an exception or a difference.
Bambarafɔ
Eweesi do le emm
Kinyarwandabidasanzwe
Lingalalongola
Lugandaokujjako
Sepedifapanago
Twi (Akan)deɛ ɛnka ho

Exception in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicاستثناء
استثناء also means "exclusion" or "omission" in Arabic and is derived from the root word "ن-س-ي" (n-s-y), meaning "to forget".
Hebrewיוצא מן הכלל
"יוצא מן הכלל" is also the Hebrew expression meaning "outstanding or exceptional". (lit., "going out from the whole")
Pashtoاستثنا
"استثنا" means both "exception" and "extravagance" or "excess".
Arabicاستثناء
استثناء also means "exclusion" or "omission" in Arabic and is derived from the root word "ن-س-ي" (n-s-y), meaning "to forget".

Exception in Western European Languages

Albanianpërjashtim
"Përjashtim" is a word of Latin origin, derived from the word "exceptio," meaning "objection" or "defense."
Basquesalbuespena
In Basque, "salbuespena" is a compound word derived from "salbu" (avoiding) and "poena" (punishment), highlighting its meaning as an exemption from a penalty.
Catalanexcepció
The word "excepció" in Catalan derives from the Latin "exceptio", meaning "objection" or "defense".
Croatianiznimka
Croatian "iznimka" comes from the Persian language, where it means "permission" or "leave".
Danishundtagelse
The word "undtagelse" derives from the Old Norse word "undantaka," which means "to except" or "to exempt."
Dutchuitzondering
"Uitzondering" literally means "out-sitting" and is related to the words "zitten" (to sit) and "uitzitten" (to serve one's sentence).
Englishexception
The word "exception" comes from the Latin "excipere," meaning "to take out" or "to exclude"
Frenchexception
The French word "exception" is derived from the Latin verb "excipere," meaning "to seize" or "to take up". In French, it can also mean an objection or reservation.
Frisianútsûndering
The Frisian word
Galicianexcepción
En galego, "excepción" significa "excepción" pero también "exención".
Germanausnahme
"Ausnahme" also means "expulsion" and "banishment".
Icelandicundantekning
Undantekning comes from the Old Norse word "undantekja", meaning "to distinguish," and is also used to describe a special permit or a contract exemption.
Irisheisceacht
The Irish word "eisceacht" can also refer to "a warning" or "an obstacle".
Italianeccezione
The etymology of the Italian word "eccezione" traces back to the Latin "excipere," meaning "to take up," which reflects its legal usage as an objection.
Luxembourgishausnam
The word "Ausnam" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*uz-namjan", meaning "to take out" or "to exempt".
Malteseeċċezzjoni
The word "eċċezzjoni" comes from the Latin word "exceptio", meaning "objection".
Norwegianunntak
"Unntak" derives from the Old Norse "undanteka" (to avoid, to escape), formed by the prefix "und" (away, not) and "teka" (seize, take, make).
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)exceção
The word "exceção" in Portuguese can also mean "excuse" or "apology".
Scots Gaeliceisgeachd
"Eisgeachd" is the past tense or conditional tense of the verb "easgaidh," which also refers to a person who has escaped from justice, a runaway.
Spanishexcepción
In Spanish the word "excepción" also means "defense," a usage which comes from Latin.
Swedishundantag
The Swedish word 'undantag' originates from the prefix 'und-' (out, under) and the noun 'tag' (taken), making it 'taken out' or 'exempted'.
Welsheithriad
The Welsh word "eithriad" is cognate with the Irish "eisceacht" and "aithreachas," all with meanings related to penitence and repentance.

Exception in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianвыключэнне
Bosnianizuzetak
The word "izuzetak" is derived from the Slavic word "izvъn-", meaning "outside", and "-etak", meaning "act" or "deed".
Bulgarianизключение
"Изуетък" - изтръгване, изхвърляне, изтегляне, изключване, изваждане, изземване, освобождаване, изключване, отчуждаване, премахване, отделяне, изолиране, разделяне, деликт и прочее."
Czechvýjimka
The word výjimka derives from the Old Czech word "vyjímati", meaning to take out, to exempt.
Estonianerand
The Estonian word "erand" is related to the Finnish "ero," meaning "difference" or "separation."
Finnishpoikkeus
"Poikkeus" is derived from the verb "poiketa," meaning "to deviate" or "to visit briefly."
Hungariankivétel
‘Kivétel’ also means ‘advantage’ or ‘privilege’ and is probably derived from the Medieval Latin word ‘exceptio’, meaning ‘objection’.
Latvianizņēmums
Izņēmums in Latvian originates from the verb “ņemt” (“to take”), meaning literally 'something taken out'.
Lithuanianišimtis
The word "išimtis" is cognate with the Latvian word "izņemums" and has the alternate meaning of "withdrawal".
Macedonianисклучок
The Macedonian word "исклучок" also means "objection" or "protest".
Polishwyjątek
The Polish word "wyjątek" comes from the verb "wyjąć", which means "to take out" or "to remove."
Romanianexcepție
"Excepție" derives from Latin "ex-capere" meaning "to remove from the rest" and also can mean "an objection" or "an excuse".
Russianисключение
'Исключение' derives from the verb 'исключать' (to exclude), which in turn comes from 'иск' (out) and 'ключать' (to key, or close). This word may also refer to a derivative in mathematics, an exception in programming, or a privilege.
Serbianизузетак
The word "изузетак" in Serbian also means "extract" and "excerpt".
Slovakvýnimkou
V slovak language the word „výnimkou“ has two meanings – it means both the action of taking something out from something and it also means that it does not apply for someone.
Slovenianizjema
The word 'izjema' can also mean 'exceptional' or 'extraordinary'.
Ukrainianвиняток
The Ukrainian word "виняток" derives from the Old Church Slavonic word "иняти", meaning "to receive" or "to accept"

Exception in South Asian Languages

Bengaliব্যতিক্রম
ব্যতিক্রম is derived from Sanskrit 'vyatikrama', meaning 'to transgress', 'to violate'.
Gujaratiઅપવાદ
The word "અપવાદ" can also refer to an objection or protest.
Hindiअपवाद
The word 'अपवाद' also means 'exclusion' and 'objection'.
Kannadaವಿನಾಯಿತಿ
The word 'ವಿನಾಯಿತಿ' ('exception') in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vinivartaka', meaning 'to avert, to prevent, to ward off'.
Malayalamഒഴിവാക്കൽ
The word "ഒഴിവാക്കൽ" derives from the root "ഒഴി" meaning "to leave out" and the suffix "-ക്കൽ" denoting a process or action, and thus carries the sense of "excluding" or "making an exemption".
Marathiअपवाद
The term 'अपवाद' also refers to a 'restriction' or a 'limitation' in certain contexts.
Nepaliअपवाद
The word "अपवाद" in Nepali has an alternate meaning of "objection" and an etymological root in the Sanskrit word "प्रतिपादन" meaning "establishment".
Punjabiਅਪਵਾਦ
The Punjabi word "ਅਪਵਾਦ" (apvād) is derived from the Sanskrit word "अपवाद" (apavāda), which originally meant "defamation" or "reproach".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ව්යතිරේකය
Tamilவிதிவிலக்கு
Teluguమినహాయింపు
Urduرعایت
The word 'رعایت' is derived from the Arabic word 'راع' meaning 'to see' or 'to look after', and in Urdu it also carries the meaning of 'consideration' or 'regard'.

Exception in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)例外
The character "例" in "例外" originally meant "bamboo basket" and later evolved to mean "rule" or "law"
Chinese (Traditional)例外
除了最常見的「例外」之外，「例外」一詞在中文中還有一個不太常見的意思，即「法外開恩」。
Japanese例外
"例外" literally means "outside the law" and thus has connotations of a forbidden activity that may result in punishment and is different from the concept in English.
Korean예외
'예외'는 '예사롭지 않은'을 뜻하는 '예'와 '거스를'을 뜻하는 '외'의 합성어
Mongolianонцгой тохиолдол
In Mongolian the word "онцгой тохиолдол" also means a case that occurs only one time.
Myanmar (Burmese)ခြွင်းချက်

Exception in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpengecualian
The Indonesian word "pengecualian" is derived from the root word "kecuali", meaning "except", and the prefix "pen-", which indicates a process or action. Thus, "pengecualian" literally means the "act or process of excepting" something or making an exception for it.
Javanesepangecualian
In Ngoko speech, the word "pangecualian" can also mean "extraordinary" or "abnormal".
Khmerករណី​លើកលែង
The literal meaning of ករណី​លើកលែង is literally "the reason behind lifting" and it means an exceptional circumstance in which a rule does not apply.
Laoຂໍ້​ຍົກ​ເວັ້ນ
Malaypengecualian
The word 'pengecualian' is derived from the root word 'kecuali', which means 'except' or 'excluding'.
Thaiข้อยกเว้น
In Thai, "ข้อยกเว้น" can also mean "a condition that is not the rule" or "an exemption from a rule or obligation."
Vietnamesengoại lệ
The word "ngoại lệ" also means "foreigner" or "outsider" in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)pagbubukod

Exception in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniistisna
The word "istisna" has multiple meanings in Azerbaijani, including "exemption," "privilege," and "immunity."
Kazakhерекшелік
The root word "ерек" in Kazakh is derived from Arabic word "فرق" (faraqa) which originally meant "separating, distinguishing, parting, dividing", but in modern Kazakh it means "separate, different".
Kyrgyzөзгөчө
Öзгөчө also refers to a unique or special person or thing, like an "exceptional student"
Tajikистисно
The word "истисно" is derived from the Persian word استثنى (istithnā), meaning "to except", "to exclude".
Turkmenkadadan çykma
Uzbekistisno
Istisno may also mean "exemption", "excuse", "privilege", or "dispensation" in Uzbek.
Uyghurبۇنىڭدىن مۇستەسنا

Exception in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhoʻokoe
The Hawaiian word hoʻokoe can also refer to being out of harmony with a group, an outcast or being at variance with a rule, and to an abnormal event.
Maoriokotahi
The term 'okotahi' comes from the Maori words 'oko' (separate) and 'tahi' (one), implying a singularity or departure from the norm.
Samoantuusaunoa
The word "tuusaunoa" literally means "to stand out from the crowd" in Samoan, and thus means "exception".
Tagalog (Filipino)pagbubukod
The Filipino word "pagbubukod" is related to the word "bukod" meaning "separate", "apart", or "other". Additionally, it can mean "distinction", "exemption", or "privilege".

Exception in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarayaqha
Guaranipe'apyre

Exception in International Languages

Esperantoescepto
The word "escepto" can also mean "apart from" or "other than".
Latinexceptis
"Exceptis" is the plural form of "exceptus" (adjective, meaning "excepted, set apart") or "exceptum" (neuter substantive, meaning "exception").

Exception in Others Languages

Greekεξαίρεση
The word "εξαίρεση" ("exception") originally meant "a taking out" or "a removal" in ancient Greek.
Hmongtshwj tsis yog
'Tshwj tsis yog' may also mean 'not yet' or 'not at all'.
Kurdishîstîsna
The word 'îstîsna' originates from the Arabic word 'istiṣnā' and its root is 'sana' which means 'to protect'.
Turkishistisna
Also spelled istina, it comes from the Arabic word istithnā’ (استثناء), which means 'exception'. In Islamic jurisprudence, it refers to the exclusion of certain cases from a general rule, which may also be called kharāj (خراج).
Xhosangaphandle
Ngaphandle comes from 'ukunga' and 'phakathi' (out of/from + middle), hence, something outside/away from the norm.
Yiddishויסנעם
"ויסנעם" Yiddish for "exception" derives from German "ausnehmen" "to except, exclude, reserve, make an exception"}
Zuluokuhlukile
The word "okuhlukile" in Zulu can refer to either an exception or a difference.
Assameseব্যতিক্ৰম
Aymarayaqha
Bhojpuriअपवाद
Dhivehiޤަވައިދަށް ނުފެތޭ
Dogriअपवाद
Filipino (Tagalog)pagbubukod
Guaranipe'apyre
Ilocanopanangilaksid
Kriopas
Kurdish (Sorani)بەدەرکردن
Maithiliअपवाद
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯣꯉꯥꯟꯕ
Mizohmaih
Oromoaddatti
Odia (Oriya)ବ୍ୟତିକ୍ରମ
Quechuasapaq
Sanskritव्यपकर्ष
Tatarискәрмә
Tigrinyaዝተፈለየ
Tsongahlawuleka

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