Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'expert' carries great significance in our modern vernacular, denoting a special level of skill, knowledge, or training in a particular area. It's a term we use to describe those who have gone above and beyond to master their craft, and it's a title that is highly respected and admired in many cultures.
Throughout history, experts have played a crucial role in shaping societies and advancing civilizations. From the ancient Greek philosophers to the modern-day scientists, experts have been at the forefront of discovery, innovation, and progress. And as our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the importance of experts only continues to grow.
For those interested in language and culture, understanding the translation of 'expert' in different languages can be a fascinating and enlightening exploration. Not only does it provide insight into the nuances and subtleties of different languages, but it also offers a glimpse into the cultural values and beliefs of different societies.
Here are just a few examples of how 'expert' is translated in some of the world's most widely spoken languages:
Afrikaans | kenner | ||
The word "kenner" has the same origin as the English word "to know" and also means "acquaintance" in Afrikaans. | |||
Amharic | ባለሙያ | ||
ባለሙያ is derived from the Ge'ez word meaning 'lord' or 'master'. | |||
Hausa | gwani | ||
The word "gwani" can also mean "someone who knows a lot about something" or "a master of a craft" | |||
Igbo | ọkachamara | ||
"Ọkachamara" derives from the verb "chawara," meaning "to know" or "to be familiar with," implying deep understanding and proficiency. | |||
Malagasy | manam-pahaizana | ||
The word "manana-pahaizana" can mean either "expert" or "specialist". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | katswiri | ||
The term 'katswiri' may also refer to 'a knowledgeable person' in the context of traditional medicine. | |||
Shona | nyanzvi | ||
While the word "nyanzvi" in Shona means "expert," it also denotes "a person who is knowledgeable in various fields," or "a polymath." | |||
Somali | khabiir | ||
An alternate meaning of "khabiir" in Somali is "experienced." | |||
Sesotho | setsebi | ||
"Setsebi" also means "one who knows everything" in Sesotho. | |||
Swahili | mtaalam | ||
The word "mtaalam" originates from the Arabic root "ʿilm" meaning "knowledge" and is cognate with the Hebrew "talmid" meaning "student". | |||
Xhosa | ingcali | ||
Ingcali may refer to a doctor, craftsman, or someone who excels in their field. | |||
Yoruba | amoye | ||
The Yoruba word 'amoye' can mean either 'expert' or 'one who has been tested'. | |||
Zulu | uchwepheshe | ||
In Zulu, the word "uchwepheshe" can also mean someone who is knowledgeable and has a deep understanding of a certain subject or field. | |||
Bambara | dɔnnibaga | ||
Ewe | nunyala | ||
Kinyarwanda | umuhanga | ||
Lingala | moto ya mayele | ||
Luganda | omukugu | ||
Sepedi | setsebi | ||
Twi (Akan) | ɔbenfoɔ | ||
Arabic | خبير | ||
خبير, in the sense of "well-versed or skillful," is etymologically related to "خَبَر," meaning "news" in Arabic. | |||
Hebrew | מוּמחֶה | ||
The word "מוּמחֶה" (expert) is derived from the root "מֻם" (blemish), and originally referred to someone who had a physical or mental impairment that made them particularly skilled in a specific area. | |||
Pashto | کارپوه | ||
The Pashto word "کارپوه" can also refer to a person who is well-versed in a particular subject or field. | |||
Arabic | خبير | ||
خبير, in the sense of "well-versed or skillful," is etymologically related to "خَبَر," meaning "news" in Arabic. |
Albanian | eksperti | ||
The Albanian word "eksperti" is the masculine form of "ekspert," which derives from the Latin word "expertus," meaning "experienced" or "knowledgeable." | |||
Basque | aditua | ||
The Basque word "aditua" may have descended from the Proto-Basque root "*aditu- " meaning "to know." | |||
Catalan | expert | ||
It derives from Old French *expertus, from Latin expertus (past participle of experiri, "to try") and expertus (adjective, "experienced"). | |||
Croatian | stručnjak | ||
"Stručnjak" derives from the Slavic root "str" meaning "current" and "know", thus the term literally means "one who possesses current knowledge". | |||
Danish | ekspert | ||
In Danish, "ekspert" has several meanings, among them "experienced" and "skilled." | |||
Dutch | deskundige | ||
"Deskundige" is derived from the Old Dutch word "kunnen," meaning "to know". | |||
English | expert | ||
The word "expert" derives from the Latin word "expertus," meaning "experienced" or "tested." | |||
French | expert | ||
The word "expert" comes from the Latin word "expertus," meaning "experienced" or "skilled." | |||
Frisian | saakkundige | ||
The Frisian word "saakkundige" is derived from the Dutch word "zakelijk" meaning "pertaining to business" and also from "deskundige" meaning "expert". | |||
Galician | experto | ||
In Galician, the word "experto" also means "experienced" or "skilled". | |||
German | experte | ||
The German word "Experte" is cognate with the Latin word "expertus," meaning "experienced" or "tested." | |||
Icelandic | sérfræðingur | ||
The Icelandic word "sérfræðingur" is derived from the Old Norse word "serfræðingr", meaning "one who has special knowledge or skill". | |||
Irish | saineolaí | ||
Italian | esperto | ||
In Italian, the word "esperto" can also mean a type of fish, specifically a small Mediterranean shark. | |||
Luxembourgish | expert | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Expert" also refers to a specialist consultant for financial or tax matters. | |||
Maltese | espert | ||
The word "espert" is derived from the Italian word "esperto" meaning "experienced" and can also refer to someone who has specialised knowledge or skill in a particular area. | |||
Norwegian | ekspert | ||
The word 'Ekspert' in Norwegian derives from the Latin word 'expertus', meaning 'tried and tested'. It can also refer to someone who has special knowledge or skills in a particular field. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | especialista | ||
The word "especialista" in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) comes from the Latin "specialista", meaning "one who specializes in a particular subject". | |||
Scots Gaelic | eòlaiche | ||
The Gaelic word "eòlaiche" is a borrowing from the Middle English word "yoman", which originally meant a servant or attendant to a noble. | |||
Spanish | experto | ||
"Experto" can also mean "tested" or "experienced". | |||
Swedish | expert- | ||
The Swedish word "expert" derives from the Latin word "expertus", meaning "experienced or tested". | |||
Welsh | arbenigwr | ||
The word "arbenigwr" can also refer to a skilled person in a particular field, such as a craftsman or artisan. |
Belarusian | эксперт | ||
The word "эксперт" in Belarusian also refers to a type of mushroom or a person who is well-versed in a particular field. | |||
Bosnian | stručnjak | ||
The word "stručnjak" in Bosnian also means "pod" (meaning "pea pod"). | |||
Bulgarian | експерт | ||
The word "експерт" is derived from the Latin word "expertus", meaning "experienced" or "tried and tested". | |||
Czech | expert | ||
Expert meaning "to experiment" is derived from Latin "experiri". | |||
Estonian | asjatundja | ||
The word "asjatundja" can also refer to a specialist or someone who is knowledgeable in a particular field or subject matter. | |||
Finnish | asiantuntija | ||
The word "asiantuntija" is derived from the Finnish words "asia" (matter) and "tuntija" (knower). | |||
Hungarian | szakértő | ||
The word "szakértő" also means "authority" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | eksperts | ||
“Eksperts” in Latvian derives from “expert” in French, but also means “test” or “exam”. | |||
Lithuanian | ekspertas | ||
"Ekspertas" is derived from the Latin word "expertus", which means "experienced". | |||
Macedonian | експерт | ||
The Macedonian word "експерт" comes from the Latin word "expertus", meaning "experienced". | |||
Polish | ekspert | ||
"Ekspert" is derived from Latin "expertus" meaning "experienced" and can also refer to a magician or fortune teller in Polish. | |||
Romanian | expert | ||
The Romanian word “expert” can also mean “skill”, “specialty”, or “experience”. | |||
Russian | эксперт | ||
The Russian word "эксперт" is derived from the Latin word "expertus", which means "experienced". | |||
Serbian | стручњак | ||
The word "стручњак" (expert) in Serbian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*strokъ", meaning "row" or "line"} | |||
Slovak | expert | ||
"Expert" comes from the Latin "expertus," meaning "tried" or "experienced." | |||
Slovenian | strokovnjak | ||
The term 'strokovnjak' originally referred to a person who worked in a 'stroka' (profession or trade) or had achieved a certain level of expertise in a specific field. | |||
Ukrainian | експерт | ||
The word "експерт" is derived from the Latin word "expertus", meaning "experienced" or "skilled." |
Bengali | বিশেষজ্ঞ | ||
The word "বিশেষজ্ঞ" can also refer to a kind of bird, the Bengal Green Pigeon. | |||
Gujarati | નિષ્ણાત | ||
Hindi | विशेषज्ञ | ||
The term "विशेषज्ञ" originally meant "chief" or "superior" in Sanskrit. | |||
Kannada | ತಜ್ಞ | ||
The word 'ತಜ್ಞ' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'tarjana', meaning 'to terrify or warn'. It is also used in Kannada to refer to someone who has knowledge or experience in a particular area. | |||
Malayalam | വിദഗ്ദ്ധൻ | ||
Marathi | तज्ञ | ||
The word "तज्ञ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "तक्षन्", meaning "carpenter" or "craftsman". | |||
Nepali | विज्ञ | ||
"विज्ञ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "विद्" meaning "to know". | |||
Punjabi | ਮਾਹਰ | ||
The word "ਮਾਹਰ" derives from the Proto-Indo-European term meaning "skillful" and is ultimately related to the word "magic" as well as "myth". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විශේෂ | ||
විශේෂ can also mean exceptional, uncommon or distinct from the norm in Sinhala. | |||
Tamil | நிபுணர் | ||
The word "நிபுணர்" is derived from the Sanskrit word "निपुण" (nipuna), meaning "skilful" or "adept". | |||
Telugu | నిపుణుడు | ||
"నిపుణుడు" also means the stalk or stem of paddy, a needle or a pin in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | ماہر | ||
The word "ماہر" in Urdu can also mean "proficient", "skilled", or "specialist" |
Chinese (Simplified) | 专家 | ||
The Chinese word '专家' ('expert') originates from the phrase '经史专家', referring to scholars who mastered classical texts on history and literature. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 專家 | ||
The word "專家" literally means "special household" or "special family" in Chinese, indicating that experts in ancient China were often highly skilled craftsmen or artisans who specialized in a particular trade or skill and were highly respected within their families and communities. | |||
Japanese | 専門家 | ||
"専門家" can be split into "専" (special) and "門" (field), indicating a person who specializes in a particular area | |||
Korean | 전문가 | ||
The word "전문가" can also mean "professional" or "specialist" in English. | |||
Mongolian | шинжээч | ||
The word | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကျွမ်းကျင်သူ | ||
Indonesian | ahli | ||
The word "ahli" is derived from the Arabic word "ahl" which means "people" or "family" and denotes specialization in a particular field | |||
Javanese | ahli | ||
In Javanese, the word "ahli" can also mean "familiar" or "well-versed". | |||
Khmer | អ្នកជំនាញ | ||
The Khmer word "អ្នកជំនាញ" can also refer to a skilled craftsman or someone who is very knowledgeable about a particular subject. | |||
Lao | ຊ່ຽວຊານ | ||
The word "ຊ່ຽວຊານ" can also be used to describe someone who is skilled or proficient in a particular area, such as a "specialist" or "professional". | |||
Malay | ahli | ||
The Malay word "ahli" can also refer to a member of a group or organization. | |||
Thai | ผู้เชี่ยวชาญ | ||
The word 'ผู้เชี่ยวชาญ' can also be used to refer to someone who is highly skilled in a particular area, such as a master craftsman or a virtuoso musician. | |||
Vietnamese | chuyên gia | ||
The word "chuyên gia" can also mean "specialist" or "practitioner" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | dalubhasa | ||
Azerbaijani | mütəxəssis | ||
'Mütəxəssis' is derived from the Arabic word 'mutakhaṣṣiṣ', meaning 'specialist' or 'expert' in a particular field. | |||
Kazakh | сарапшы | ||
The word "сарапшы" can also refer to a type of falcon used in hunting. | |||
Kyrgyz | эксперт | ||
The Russian loan "эксперт" also has a second, more specific Kyrgyz loan sense of someone who has undergone religious training. | |||
Tajik | мутахассис | ||
The term "мутахассис" has Arabic origin and can also refer to a "specialist" or someone with "skill or knowledge" in a specific field. | |||
Turkmen | bilermen | ||
Uzbek | mutaxassis | ||
Mutassassis is derived from the Arabic word “mutakhashshis” meaning “specialized”. | |||
Uyghur | مۇتەخەسسىس | ||
Hawaiian | loea | ||
The word "loea" in Hawaiian can also refer to a sorcerer or kahuna whose knowledge is derived from spirits. | |||
Maori | tohunga | ||
The word "tohunga" in Maori also refers to traditional healers, spiritual leaders, and other specialized individuals. | |||
Samoan | tagata poto | ||
In Samoan, the word "tagata poto" was traditionally used for navigators with advanced sailing and stargazing knowledge. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | dalubhasa | ||
"Dalubhasa" is also used to refer to a person who is skilled in a particular field or subject matter. |
Aymara | yatxatata | ||
Guarani | katupyry | ||
Esperanto | sperta | ||
"Sperta" also means "basket" in several Slavic languages, including Polish, Czech, and Slovak. | |||
Latin | peritum | ||
The plural form “periti” was used to refer to an advisory or judicial body. |
Greek | εμπειρογνώμονας | ||
The Greek word "εμπειρογνώμονας" derives from the words "έμπειρος" (having experience) and "γνώμονας" (ruler, guide), meaning someone with expertise and knowledge that guides others. | |||
Hmong | tus kws tshaj lij | ||
The Hmong word "tus kws tshaj lij" literally means "one who knows the way" or "one who has the knowledge to navigate." | |||
Kurdish | pispor | ||
The word 'pispor' in Kurdish shares its origin with the German word 'bishop', both deriving from the Greek word 'episkopos' meaning 'overseer'. | |||
Turkish | uzman | ||
The word "uzman" derives from Persian "huşman" meaning "one who has a good mind or memory," or Arabic "a'zam" meaning "one who is strong, mighty, or powerful." | |||
Xhosa | ingcali | ||
Ingcali may refer to a doctor, craftsman, or someone who excels in their field. | |||
Yiddish | מומחה | ||
"מומחה" also means "crazy" in Yiddish. | |||
Zulu | uchwepheshe | ||
In Zulu, the word "uchwepheshe" can also mean someone who is knowledgeable and has a deep understanding of a certain subject or field. | |||
Assamese | বিশেষজ্ঞ | ||
Aymara | yatxatata | ||
Bhojpuri | विशेषज्ञ | ||
Dhivehi | މާހިރުން | ||
Dogri | माहिर | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | dalubhasa | ||
Guarani | katupyry | ||
Ilocano | eksperto | ||
Krio | masta sabi bukman | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | شارەزا | ||
Maithili | विशेषज्ञ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯈꯪ ꯑꯍꯩ | ||
Mizo | mithiam bik | ||
Oromo | ogeessa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞ | ||
Quechua | yachaq | ||
Sanskrit | निपुण | ||
Tatar | белгеч | ||
Tigrinya | ክኢላ | ||
Tsonga | xitivi | ||