Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'external' is a common term that carries significant meaning in our daily lives. It refers to anything that is not inside or part of a particular thing, but rather, it is something that is separate or independent. This concept is crucial in various fields such as science, engineering, and even in our social interactions.
Culturally, the idea of 'external' has been explored in many ways. For instance, in some Eastern philosophies, the concept of 'external' is closely related to the idea of detachment and non-attachment, which encourages individuals to focus on their inner selves rather than being overly dependent on external factors. This highlights the importance of striking a balance between our internal and external worlds.
Given the significance and cultural importance of the word 'external', it is not surprising that many people are interested in knowing its translation in different languages. Here are a few sample translations: 'extern' in French, 'extern' in German, 'externo' in Spanish, and 'esterno' in Italian.
Afrikaans | ekstern | ||
The word "ekstern" in Afrikaans originates from the Dutch word "extern" and retains its original meaning of "outside" or "external". | |||
Amharic | ውጫዊ | ||
ውጫዊ originates from the root word "ወጣ" (to come out), meaning something outside of a given boundary. | |||
Hausa | na waje | ||
In Arabic, the root word "wajh" means "face" or "direction," suggesting that "na waje" may originally have referred to something's outward appearance or orientation. | |||
Igbo | mpụga | ||
"Mpụga" can also mean a place where water is scooped from a natural water body such as a lake or stream | |||
Malagasy | ivelany | ||
The word "ivelany" can also refer to the outdoors or the outside of something. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kunja | ||
The word "kunja" in Nyanja can also mean "away from home". | |||
Shona | zvekunze | ||
"Zvekunze" can also mean "the other side" or "the outside". | |||
Somali | dibedda | ||
Bedda is also an Arabic word that means 'appearance' and is used in Somali to describe someone's physical characteristics. | |||
Sesotho | kantle | ||
In Sesotho, "kantle" also refers to the "outdoors" or "open air". | |||
Swahili | ya nje | ||
The Swahili word "ya nje" can also mean "strangers" and is related to the Arabic word "naji" meaning "stranger" or "guest." | |||
Xhosa | ngaphandle | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "external," "ngaphandle" can also refer to "the outside" or "the surface" | |||
Yoruba | ita | ||
The word "ita" can also refer to a "village" or "town" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | kwangaphandle | ||
Kwanga is a prefix of the word kwangaphandle, which translates to "something that is not part of the original. | |||
Bambara | kɔfɛla | ||
Ewe | le egodo | ||
Kinyarwanda | hanze | ||
Lingala | ya libanda | ||
Luganda | wabweeru | ||
Sepedi | ka ntle | ||
Twi (Akan) | abɔnten | ||
Arabic | خارجي | ||
The Arabic word "خارجي" also means "rebel" or "insurgent". | |||
Hebrew | חיצוני | ||
The word "חיצוני" can also refer to a person who is not a member of a particular group or organization. | |||
Pashto | باندنۍ | ||
"باندنۍ" (external) comes from the Persian word "بند" (closed, confined), which in turn comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *bhendh- (to tie, to bind). | |||
Arabic | خارجي | ||
The Arabic word "خارجي" also means "rebel" or "insurgent". |
Albanian | të jashtme | ||
The Albanian word "të jashtme" is derived from the Proto-Albanian root *jă- "outside," and is related to the Latin word "exterus" meaning "outer," and the English word "exterior." | |||
Basque | kanpokoa | ||
The word "kanpokoa" can also mean "superficial" or "apparent" in Basque. | |||
Catalan | extern | ||
Extern in Catalan can also mean foreign or external to oneself | |||
Croatian | vanjski | ||
The word "vanjski" in Croatian also means "foreign" or "external force". | |||
Danish | ekstern | ||
Ekstern, "external" in Danish, is related to the word "exterior" in French and "extro" in Latin, both meaning "outside". | |||
Dutch | extern | ||
The Dutch word "extern" also means "guest" or "outsider" in addition to "external". | |||
English | external | ||
The word 'external' derives from the Latin word 'externus', which means 'outward' or 'foreign'. | |||
French | externe | ||
The French word "externe" also means "medical student" or "hospital orderly". | |||
Frisian | ekstern | ||
In addition to the obvious meaning, "ekstern" is used in Frisian to also mean "stranger" and "non-domestic animal". | |||
Galician | externo | ||
A Galician term "externo", comes from the Latin noun “externus” which means “stranger”. | |||
German | extern | ||
The German word "extern" can also refer to a "temporary worker" or "student teacher". | |||
Icelandic | ytri | ||
The word ytri also means outer or surface in the Icelandic language. | |||
Irish | seachtrach | ||
Seachtrach, meaning 'external' or 'outsider', originates from the Middle Irish word 'sechtraid' ('outside'). | |||
Italian | esterno | ||
The Italian word "esterno" also means "foreign" or "outsider". | |||
Luxembourgish | extern | ||
"Ausse" is both the Luxembourgish word for something external and a verb meaning "to remove the outside of something". | |||
Maltese | esterni | ||
In medical contexts, "esterni" can also refer to superficial body parts, such as the face or hands. | |||
Norwegian | utvendig | ||
The word "utvendig" derives from the Old Norse word "útvendigr", meaning "outer" or "on the outside". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | externo | ||
Originating from Latin 'externus', 'externo' can also mean 'foreign' or 'outsider'. | |||
Scots Gaelic | taobh a-muigh | ||
The Gaelic word "taobh a-muigh" ("external") also means "out of doors" or "out in the open". | |||
Spanish | externo | ||
The noun "externo" also means "one who is outside the country" or "foreigner." | |||
Swedish | extern | ||
Extern (external) in Swedish can also mean "outside" or "outward", as in "den externa världen" (the outside world). | |||
Welsh | allanol | ||
In the Brythonic languages, "allanol" is derived from the Proto-Celtic "*allo-nālos" (meaning "in front") and is cognate with the Latin "ante" (meaning "before"). |
Belarusian | знешні | ||
The word "знешні" also means "foreign" or "external" in Belarusian. | |||
Bosnian | vanjski | ||
The word "vanjski" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *vъnьšьni, which also means "outside" or "foreign". | |||
Bulgarian | външен | ||
The word "външен" can also refer to someone or something that is not related to a particular group or organization. | |||
Czech | externí | ||
The word "externí" in Czech can also mean "external storage" or "external device". | |||
Estonian | väline | ||
The word "väline" can also refer to a tool, instrument, or means of accomplishing something. | |||
Finnish | ulkoinen | ||
Ulkoinen ('external') shares a root with ulkoa ('outdoors') and is cognate with Polish ulga ('relief'). | |||
Hungarian | külső | ||
This word is derived from the word "kül", which means "out(side)", and adds the suffix "-só", indicating a state or condition. | |||
Latvian | ārējs | ||
The word “ārējs” also means “outer” and “exterior” in Latvian. | |||
Lithuanian | išorinis | ||
The word "išorinis" can also be used to refer to something that is not internal or essential to something else. | |||
Macedonian | надворешни | ||
It may also be used to refer to something that is not internal to the body or mind. | |||
Polish | zewnętrzny | ||
The word "zewnętrzny" (external) is derived from "ze" (outside) and "wntrz" (interior). | |||
Romanian | extern | ||
The Romanian word "extern" can also mean "student". This is because in the past, medical students were often required to work in hospitals as externs before they could graduate. | |||
Russian | внешний | ||
"Внешний" (external) is a Russian word that can also mean "external appearance", "external manifestation", or "external influence". | |||
Serbian | спољни | ||
"Spoљни" can also mean outer or foreign. | |||
Slovak | externý | ||
The word "externý" can also refer to something that is located outside of or beyond something else. | |||
Slovenian | zunanji | ||
" Zunânji " derives from " zunaj " (outside) but also means "foreign", "abroad" or "external". | |||
Ukrainian | зовнішній | ||
The root of "зовнішній" is "з" which gives the word the meaning of "from the outside". |
Bengali | বাহ্যিক | ||
The word "বাহ্যিক" also means "outward" or "manifest" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | બાહ્ય | ||
"બાહ્ય" is the Sanskrit word for "external", "outer", or "of a particular group". | |||
Hindi | बाहरी | ||
The Sanskrit root of "बाहरी" (external) is "bahi," which also means "outside" or "beyond." | |||
Kannada | ಬಾಹ್ಯ | ||
The Kannada word "ಬಾಹ್ಯ" can also refer to "foreign" or "outsider." | |||
Malayalam | ബാഹ്യ | ||
The word "external" in Malayalam comes from the Sanskrit word "bahir" meaning "outward" or "on the outside." | |||
Marathi | बाह्य | ||
The word "बाह्य" is often used to mean "worldly" or "material" in spiritual contexts. | |||
Nepali | बाह्य | ||
The word 'बाह्य' derives from the Sanskrit word 'bahir', meaning 'outside' or 'external', and is also used in Maithili, Bengali, and Assamese. | |||
Punjabi | ਬਾਹਰੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | බාහිර | ||
"බාහිර" can also mean "outside" or "outer" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "bāhya." | |||
Tamil | வெளிப்புறம் | ||
Telugu | బాహ్య | ||
The word "బాహ్య" can also mean "outward" or "foreign" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | بیرونی | ||
بیرونی was originally a Persian word meaning 'stranger' or 'foreigner'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 外部 | ||
外部 (wàibù) can also mean "outsiders" or "foreign countries". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 外部 | ||
The word "外部" can also mean "outsider" or "foreigner" in Chinese. | |||
Japanese | 外部 | ||
In Chinese, 外部 means both “external” and “outside”, while in Japanese it means only “external”. In Chinese, “outside” is 外面. | |||
Korean | 외부 | ||
"The word '외부' is also used to refer to the outside world, especially in contrast to the inside of a building." | |||
Mongolian | гадна | ||
The word гадна can also refer to the outside of something or a foreign country. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပြင်ပ | ||
The word ပြင်ပ “external” is also used in other contexts such as in astrology to signify “outside of the circle of protection of the planets”. This is in contrast with “အတွင်း “inside”, which would refer to being within that circle.} |
Indonesian | luar | ||
The word "luar" also means "outside" and "beyond" in Indonesian. | |||
Javanese | njaba | ||
The word njaba does not only mean external but also means outside, other, another, beyond, else, elsewhere, foreign, strange, unfamiliar, alien, out-of-doors, out-of-the-way, distant, remote, back, rear, behind, after, and beyond. | |||
Khmer | ខាងក្រៅ | ||
The word "ខាងក្រៅ" ("external") in Khmer can also mean "outsider" or "foreigner". | |||
Lao | ພາຍນອກ | ||
Malay | luaran | ||
The Malay word "luaran" is derived from the Arabic word "zāhir" meaning "apparent" or "outward". | |||
Thai | ภายนอก | ||
The word ภายนอก (external) shares an etymology with the word น่า (front) and นอก (outside), hinting at its original meaning of "the front outside". | |||
Vietnamese | bên ngoài | ||
Bên ngoài (external) can also mean 'outdoors' or 'abroad' in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | panlabas | ||
Azerbaijani | xarici | ||
In the Azerbaijani language, "xarici" not only means "external", but also refers to a medical specialist who treats patients from outside the body. | |||
Kazakh | сыртқы | ||
The word "сыртқы" also means "superficial" or "peripheral" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | тышкы | ||
The word "тышкы" can also mean "outside" or "outdoors". | |||
Tajik | беруна | ||
The word "беруна" comes from the Persian word "berūn" which means "outside". | |||
Turkmen | daşarky | ||
Uzbek | tashqi | ||
"Tashqi" comes from the Persian word "tashq" meaning "outside". | |||
Uyghur | سىرتقى | ||
Hawaiian | kūwaho | ||
The Hawaiian word “kūwaho” also means “country” and refers to any place outside the home. | |||
Maori | ā-waho | ||
The word "ā-waho" can also mean "outside" or "abroad". | |||
Samoan | fafo | ||
The word "fafo" can also mean "open" or "exposed" in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | panlabas | ||
Panlabas is also used in Filipino to describe something physical, such as an object's exterior or surface. |
Aymara | thiyaru | ||
Guarani | okapegua | ||
Esperanto | ekstera | ||
In Polish, the word "ekstera" means "outside". | |||
Latin | external | ||
Latin "externus" also means "outsider" or "foreigner." |
Greek | εξωτερικός | ||
The Greek word "εξωτερικός" can also mean "unrelated" or "foreign." | |||
Hmong | sab nraud | ||
The Hmong word "sab nraud" also means "the world outside the village". | |||
Kurdish | xûkirînî | ||
The word "xûkirînî" in Kurdish can also refer to "something that is not internal", such as a disease or an event. | |||
Turkish | dış | ||
Dış can also mean 'except' or 'other than' in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | ngaphandle | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "external," "ngaphandle" can also refer to "the outside" or "the surface" | |||
Yiddish | פונדרויסנדיק | ||
The word `פונדרויסנדיק` originates from German `auswendig` and originally meant `by heart.` | |||
Zulu | kwangaphandle | ||
Kwanga is a prefix of the word kwangaphandle, which translates to "something that is not part of the original. | |||
Assamese | বাহ্যিক | ||
Aymara | thiyaru | ||
Bhojpuri | बाहरी | ||
Dhivehi | ބޭރުފުށުގެ | ||
Dogri | बाहरी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | panlabas | ||
Guarani | okapegua | ||
Ilocano | iti ruar | ||
Krio | ɔda tin | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دەرەکی | ||
Maithili | बाहरी | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯡꯒꯤ | ||
Mizo | pawnlam | ||
Oromo | kan alaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବାହ୍ୟ | ||
Quechua | hawa kaq | ||
Sanskrit | बाह्य | ||
Tatar | тышкы | ||
Tigrinya | ደጋዊ | ||
Tsonga | swale handle | ||