Executive in Different Languages
Discover 'Executive' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'executive' carries a significant weight in our modern vocabulary. Signifying authority, leadership, and decision-making, it's a term that embodies the very essence of power and responsibility in both business and government contexts. But did you know that the concept of an 'executive' has deep historical roots, dating back to the Roman Republic's executive magistrates? Or that in many languages, the word for 'executive' incorporates cultural nuances that reflect unique approaches to leadership and governance?
For instance, in Spanish, the term for 'executive' is 'ejecutivo,' which also refers to the upper management of a company. Meanwhile, in German, 'der Geschäftsführer' translates to 'business leader' or 'executive director,' reflecting the country's emphasis on collaboration and consensus-building. And in Japanese, '経営幹部' (keiei kambu) refers to 'management executives,' highlighting the importance of teamwork and hierarchy in Japanese corporate culture.
Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of translations for the word 'executive' in various languages, shedding light on the fascinating cultural and historical contexts that shape our understanding of leadership and authority around the world.
Executive
Executive in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | uitvoerende | ||
| It may refer to the executive branch or an executor, or may also be a verb meaning "to carry out." | |||
| Amharic | ሥራ አስፈፃሚ | ||
| "ሥራ አስፈፃሚ" translates as "executive," in English but can also refer to a "minister" or any "person in a position of authority". | |||
| Hausa | zartarwa | ||
| Hausa zartarwa (also spelled zarta) came from the Fulani word "sarataa" (to execute) via the Arabic-influenced form of Fulfulde. | |||
| Igbo | onye isi | ||
| In some contexts, the word 'onye isi' also means 'first or leading son,' indicating the head of a family or group. | |||
| Malagasy | executive | ||
| In Malagasy, the word "Executive" also means "government official". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wotsogolera | ||
| Wotsogolera means both 'prime minister' and 'executive', and originates from the word 'tsogola', meaning 'to gather' | |||
| Shona | executive | ||
| The Shona word "executive" can also mean "the person in charge of a department or organization" | |||
| Somali | fulinta | ||
| Fulinta is an Arabic loanword found in Somali which also means 'clever' or 'intelligent' and is used to describe someone who is resourceful or has a lot of know-how. | |||
| Sesotho | motsamaisi | ||
| In Sesotho, "motsamaisi" is originally derived from "tsamaiso", meaning "administration" or "management", implying a position of responsibility. | |||
| Swahili | mtendaji | ||
| "Mtendaji" is also used to refer to "envoy" in a diplomatic context, but can mean "runner" in other situations. | |||
| Xhosa | ulawulo | ||
| The Xhosa word "ulawulo" is also used to describe a political system where the government is ruled by a council of elders. | |||
| Yoruba | adari agba | ||
| "Adari agba" can also be translated literally as "the head who leads/directs" (dari: direct/lead, agba: elder/older people). | |||
| Zulu | umphathi | ||
| "Umhpathi" literally means "road" or "path" in Zulu, suggesting that the executive holds the responsibility of guiding and leading the organization. | |||
| Bambara | ɲɛmɔgɔ | ||
| Ewe | kplɔlawo | ||
| Kinyarwanda | nyobozi | ||
| Lingala | mokambi | ||
| Luganda | akakiko akakulu | ||
| Sepedi | phethiši | ||
| Twi (Akan) | mpanin | ||
Executive in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تنفيذي | ||
| In Ottoman Turkish, the word "تنفيذي" ("executive") originally referred to the "executor" of a will. | |||
| Hebrew | מְנַהֵל | ||
| The word מְנַהֵל, meaning "executive," is derived from the verb נָהַל, which means "to lead," and the suffix ֵל. | |||
| Pashto | اجرایوي | ||
| In Pashto, "اجرایوي" can also refer to the "chief of a tribe or clan". | |||
| Arabic | تنفيذي | ||
| In Ottoman Turkish, the word "تنفيذي" ("executive") originally referred to the "executor" of a will. | |||
Executive in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ekzekutiv | ||
| In Albanian, "ekzekutiv" (executive) can also refer to a person given the power to execute a task or decision. | |||
| Basque | exekutiboa | ||
| The Basque word "exekutiboa" is not native to Basque and is a loanword from the Spanish "ejecutivo". | |||
| Catalan | executiu | ||
| "Executiu" in Catalan can refer to the executive branch of government, a person with executive authority, or the act of carrying out a task. | |||
| Croatian | izvršni | ||
| The Croatian word 'izvršni', meaning 'executive', is derived from the verb 'izvršiti', meaning 'to carry out' or 'to execute'. | |||
| Danish | udøvende | ||
| In Danish, "udøvende" also refers to music and the arts, as in the phrase "udøvende kunstner" (performing artist). | |||
| Dutch | uitvoerend | ||
| "Uitvoerend" can also mean "performing", relating to the execution of a piece of music. | |||
| English | executive | ||
| The term executive derives from the Latin root exsequi, meaning "to carry out" or "to perform". | |||
| French | exécutif | ||
| L'équivalent en anglais du mot français "exécutif" (le pouvoir exécutif) est "executive power". | |||
| Frisian | liedingjaand | ||
| Liedingjaand, the Frisian word for executive, originally meant 'one who leads people'. | |||
| Galician | executivo | ||
| 'Executivo' is also used to refer to the branch of government in charge of carrying out the laws. | |||
| German | exekutive | ||
| In German, 'Exekutive' is not only used for 'executive' but also as a term for the judicial enforcement of a legal claim. | |||
| Icelandic | framkvæmdastjóri | ||
| The term framkvæmdastjóri, often used to describe an executive, literally translates to 'implementation manager' | |||
| Irish | feidhmiúcháin | ||
| Italian | esecutivo | ||
| The word "esecutivo" derives from the Latin "exsequi," meaning "to follow out" or "to execute." | |||
| Luxembourgish | exekutiv | ||
| The word "exekutiv" in Luxembourgish has an alternate meaning of "executive branch". | |||
| Maltese | eżekuttiv | ||
| The Maltese word "eżekuttiv" derives from the Latin "exsequor", meaning "to follow up" or "to carry out". | |||
| Norwegian | utøvende | ||
| This word is derived ultimately from the Latin verb "exequi", meaning "to carry out" or "to perform". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | executivo | ||
| Executivo (executive) derives from Late Latin "exsequor", meaning "to follow up to completion", and in Portuguese it can also refer to the administrative body of a company or an administrative or public agency. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | gnìomh | ||
| The word "gnìomh" can also refer to a deed, action, or business. | |||
| Spanish | ejecutivo | ||
| In Spanish, "ejecutivo" can also mean an executioner, a person who performs executions. | |||
| Swedish | verkställande | ||
| The Swedish word "verkställande" ultimately derives from the German "vollstrecken" (to execute) via Middle Low German "volstrecken". | |||
| Welsh | gweithredol | ||
| In Welsh the word 'gweithredol' is also used to mean 'active'. | |||
Executive in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | выканаўчая | ||
| The term "выканаўчая" in Belarusian, derived from the verb "выконваць" (to execute, to implement), relates to the role of carrying out or fulfilling decisions and responsibilities. | |||
| Bosnian | izvršni | ||
| The word 'izvršni' comes from the Slavic root 'vršiti' which means 'to perform' or 'to carry out' | |||
| Bulgarian | изпълнителен | ||
| The word "изпълнителен" can also mean "performer", "accomplishing", or "carrying out" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | výkonný | ||
| The word "výkonný" in Czech also means "powerful". | |||
| Estonian | tegevjuht | ||
| The word "tegevjuht" is derived from the Estonian verb "tegema" (to do) and the noun "juht" (leader), and can also refer to a manager or director. | |||
| Finnish | johtaja | ||
| The word 'johtaja' derives from the verb 'johtaa' ('to lead') and shares its root with the noun 'johto' ('leadership'). | |||
| Hungarian | végrehajtó | ||
| Derived from the verb "végrehajt" (to implement), "végrehajtó" can also mean "executor" when describing a person responsible for carrying out a decision. | |||
| Latvian | izpilddirektors | ||
| The word "izpilddirektors" derives from the Latin word "exsequor," meaning "to carry out". | |||
| Lithuanian | vykdomasis | ||
| "Vykdomasis" (executive) derives from the verb "vykdyti" (to execute), meaning 'to carry out' or 'to implement' a decision or order. | |||
| Macedonian | извршен | ||
| The word "извршен" can also mean "performed" or "accomplished" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | wykonawczy | ||
| The word "wykonawczy" can also mean "implementing" or "performing" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | executiv | ||
| In Romanian, the word "executiv" can also refer to a type of administrative body or a person in charge of such a body. | |||
| Russian | должностное лицо | ||
| "Должностное лицо" is derived from the Old Russian word "должность," meaning "duty" or "obligation." | |||
| Serbian | извршни | ||
| The word 'извршни' can also mean 'implementing', 'carrying out', or 'putting into effect'. | |||
| Slovak | výkonný | ||
| The Slovak word "výkonný" also means "powerful" or "effective". | |||
| Slovenian | izvršni | ||
| The word 'izvršni' in Slovenian derives from the verb 'izvršiti', meaning 'to execute' or 'to carry out'. | |||
| Ukrainian | виконавчий | ||
| The Ukrainian word 'виконавчий' ('executive') originates from the verb 'виконувати' ('to perform'), signifying its role in carrying out decisions and administering duties. | |||
Executive in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | কার্যনির্বাহী | ||
| The word "কার্যনির্বাহী" can also refer to someone who is in charge of carrying out a task or project and can also mean "manager" or "official". | |||
| Gujarati | એક્ઝિક્યુટિવ | ||
| The word "executive" comes from the Latin "exsequi", meaning "to carry out, execute, or perform." | |||
| Hindi | कार्यपालक | ||
| "कार्यपालक" comes from the Sanskrit word "karyam", meaning "doing" or "working". | |||
| Kannada | ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಾಹಕ | ||
| "ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಾಹಕ" (executive) is derived from the Latin word "exsequi" meaning "to follow out" or "to carry out". | |||
| Malayalam | എക്സിക്യൂട്ടീവ് | ||
| The word "executive" is used for the top level of administration or management within organizations, both in Malayalam and English, and thus shares the same meaning. | |||
| Marathi | कार्यकारी | ||
| कार्यकारी शब्द का दूसरा अर्थ 'सशस्त्र बलों में वरिष्ठ अधिकारी' है। | |||
| Nepali | कार्यकारी | ||
| The Nepali word "कार्यकारी" comes from the Sanskrit word "कार्यकारी," which means "one who does work." | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਾਰਜਕਾਰੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විධායක | ||
| The word "විධායක" ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "विधि" (vidhi), meaning 'law' or 'method'. | |||
| Tamil | நிர்வாகி | ||
| The word "நிர்வாகி" (executive) in Tamil is derived from the Sanskrit word "निवृत्ति" (nivritti), meaning "cessation" or "withdrawal". It originally referred to a person who had retired from active service, but later came to be used in the sense of an "executive" or "administrator". | |||
| Telugu | ఎగ్జిక్యూటివ్ | ||
| Urdu | ایگزیکٹو | ||
| The word 'executive' is derived from the Latin word 'exsequi', meaning 'to follow out'. | |||
Executive in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 行政人员 | ||
| "行政人员" 在汉语中除了指「行政人員」外，还指「执行人员」。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 行政人員 | ||
| The term "行政人員" encompasses a broader meaning of "administrative personnel" or "officials" in Chinese. | |||
| Japanese | エグゼクティブ | ||
| In Japanese, | |||
| Korean | 행정부 | ||
| The Korean word "행정부" directly translates to "administrative department". | |||
| Mongolian | гүйцэтгэх | ||
| "Гүйцэтгэх" is derived from the verb "гүйцэтгэх" meaning "to accomplish" and refers to the authority to carry out a set of tasks. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အလုပ်အမှုဆောင် | ||
Executive in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | eksekutif | ||
| "Eksekutif" means not only "executive" but also "a member of a football team that plays a forward position" in Indonesian. | |||
| Javanese | eksekutif | ||
| In Javanese, "eksekutif" also refers to something that is outstanding, excellent, or first-class. | |||
| Khmer | នាយកប្រតិបត្តិ | ||
| Lao | ຜູ້ບໍລິຫານ | ||
| Malay | eksekutif | ||
| In Malay, 'eksekutif' can also mean 'top-level' or 'high-ranking'. | |||
| Thai | ผู้บริหาร | ||
| "ผู้บริหาร" also refers to the top-level management of a company or organization. | |||
| Vietnamese | điều hành | ||
| Điều hành comes from the Chinese characters 執行, which mean "to carry out" or "to implement". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapagpaganap | ||
Executive in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | icraçı | ||
| The word "icraçı" in Azerbaijani is derived from the Arabic word "icra" meaning "to carry out, to execute" and ultimately from the root "cr" meaning "to perform, to do". | |||
| Kazakh | атқарушы | ||
| Атқарушы - "исполняющий" - может также означать "уполномоченный," "представитель" | |||
| Kyrgyz | аткаруучу | ||
| The word "аткаруучу" can also mean "performer" or "executor" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | иҷроия | ||
| The word "иҷроия" can also refer to the executive branch of government. | |||
| Turkmen | ýerine ýetiriji | ||
| Uzbek | ijro etuvchi | ||
| The word "ijro etuvchi" is derived from the Persian word "ijrā" meaning "execution" and the Uzbek suffix "-chi" denoting a person who performs an action. | |||
| Uyghur | ئىجرائىيە ئەمەلدارى | ||
Executive in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | luna hoʻokō | ||
| "Luna hoʻokō" was a Hawaiian term that could refer to a government official, a high-ranking employee, or a business leader. | |||
| Maori | kaiwhakahaere | ||
| The word "kaiwhakahaere" can also be used to refer to a leader, a manager, or a supervisor. | |||
| Samoan | pulega | ||
| The word "pulega" can also mean "rule" or "authority" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | ehekutibo | ||
| In Filipino, "ehekutibo" also means "the branch of government that carries out the laws". | |||
Executive in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ijikutiwu | ||
| Guarani | japopya'éva | ||
Executive in International Languages
| Esperanto | ekzekutivo | ||
| The root of "ekzekutivo" is the Latin "sequi" (to follow), indicating one who carries out decisions. | |||
| Latin | exsecutivam | ||
| The word "exsecutivam" is derived from the Latin verb "sequi," meaning "to follow," and originally meant "following up" or "carrying out a decision." | |||
Executive in Others Languages
| Greek | εκτελεστικός | ||
| "Εκτελεστικός" can also mean "performable" or "actionable" in Greek. | |||
| Hmong | tus tswjhwm | ||
| Tus tswjhwm is a word that has been around for centuries, and its meaning has changed over time. | |||
| Kurdish | bikaranînî | ||
| The word 'bikaranînî' is derived from the Persian word 'karvân' (caravan), which refers to a group of people traveling together, particularly for trade or pilgrimage. | |||
| Turkish | yönetici | ||
| The word yönetici means 'executive', 'administrator' or 'manager' and is the present participle of the verb yönetmek, which means 'to administer' or 'to manage'. | |||
| Xhosa | ulawulo | ||
| The Xhosa word "ulawulo" is also used to describe a political system where the government is ruled by a council of elders. | |||
| Yiddish | יגזעקיאַטיוו | ||
| The Yiddish word "יגזעקיאַטיוו" is related to the Latin word "exequor," meaning "to carry out" or "to execute." | |||
| Zulu | umphathi | ||
| "Umhpathi" literally means "road" or "path" in Zulu, suggesting that the executive holds the responsibility of guiding and leading the organization. | |||
| Assamese | কাৰ্যবাহী | ||
| Aymara | ijikutiwu | ||
| Bhojpuri | कार्यकारी | ||
| Dhivehi | އެގްޒެކެޓިވް | ||
| Dogri | कारजकारी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapagpaganap | ||
| Guarani | japopya'éva | ||
| Ilocano | ehekutibo | ||
| Krio | bigman | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | جێبەجێکار | ||
| Maithili | कार्यकारी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯝꯅꯥꯏꯕ | ||
| Mizo | thuneitu | ||
| Oromo | oogganaa ol-aanaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | କାର୍ଯ୍ୟନିର୍ବାହୀ | ||
| Quechua | kamachiq | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रणायकः | ||
| Tatar | башкаручы | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣካያዲ ስራሕ | ||
| Tsonga | xiyimo xa le henhla | ||