Fate in Different Languages
Discover 'Fate' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Fate is a powerful concept that has captivated humans for centuries. It refers to the predetermined course of events, or the inevitable and unavoidable circumstances that shape one's life. The significance of fate is evident in various cultures, religions, and philosophies around the world.
Throughout history, fate has been personified as a supernatural power, often depicted as a divine entity controlling the destiny of humans. This cultural importance has led to the development of various interpretations of fate in different languages, each with its unique nuances and connotations.
For instance, in Spanish, fate is translated as 'destino,' which also means 'purpose' or 'end.' Meanwhile, in German, fate is translated as 'Schicksal,' which carries a sense of inevitability and unchangeable circumstances. In Japanese, fate is translated as 'unmei,' which is often associated with the concept of predetermined luck or fortune.
Understanding the translation of fate in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural nuances and beliefs surrounding this powerful concept. Keep reading to explore how fate is interpreted in various languages and cultures around the world.
Fate
Fate in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | noodlot | ||
| The word "noodlot" in Afrikaans derives from the Dutch word "noodlot", meaning "necessity" or "destiny". | |||
| Amharic | ዕጣ ፈንታ | ||
| In Amharic, "ዕጣ ፈንታ" can also refer to a predetermined destiny or purpose in life. | |||
| Hausa | rabo | ||
| The word "rabo" can also refer to a person's destiny or portion in life. | |||
| Igbo | akara aka | ||
| The Igbo word "akara aka" can also refer to a predetermined course of events or a guiding principle. | |||
| Malagasy | anjara | ||
| The noun "anjara" derives from the verb "manjara" which means "to follow" and also denotes "destiny". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | tsogolo | ||
| In Chichewa, "tsogolo" also carries the meanings of "tomorrow," "future," and "destiny," reflecting its multifaceted nature in the language and culture. | |||
| Shona | mugumo | ||
| "Mugumo" in Shona also means "a wild fig tree" or "a secret or hidden thing". | |||
| Somali | qaddar | ||
| The Somali word "qaddar" also means "proportion" or "ratio". | |||
| Sesotho | qetello | ||
| The word "qetello" in Sesotho derives from the verb "qeta", meaning "to finish or complete", implying the idea of a predetermined outcome. | |||
| Swahili | hatima | ||
| The Swahili word "hatima" also refers to the conclusion of a story or a conclusion in a series of events. | |||
| Xhosa | isiphelo | ||
| The Xhosa word "isiphelo" can also refer to the "end" or "conclusion" of something. | |||
| Yoruba | ayanmọ | ||
| The Yoruba word "ayanmọ" also means "destiny" and is derived from the verb "yan" (to choose) and the noun "mọ" (knowledge). | |||
| Zulu | isiphetho | ||
| In the Zulu belief system, isiphetho, meaning "fate," refers to a divine plan or destiny that governs an individual's life from birth. | |||
| Bambara | dakan | ||
| Ewe | nyadzᴐɖeamedzi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | iherezo | ||
| Lingala | makambo ekanama | ||
| Luganda | entuuko | ||
| Sepedi | pheletšo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nkrabea | ||
Fate in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مصير | ||
| "مصير" can also mean "destination" or "outcome" in Arabic. | |||
| Hebrew | גוֹרָל | ||
| In Hebrew the word "גוֹרָל" (goral), meaning "fate", also means "pebble" and "lot", suggesting a connection between chance and destiny. | |||
| Pashto | برخليک | ||
| In Pashto, the word "برخليک" (bakhlik) not only means "fate," but also refers to "luck" or "chance." | |||
| Arabic | مصير | ||
| "مصير" can also mean "destination" or "outcome" in Arabic. | |||
Fate in Western European Languages
| Albanian | fatin | ||
| The word "fatin" can also be interpreted as "destiny" or "predetermined course of events", suggesting a sense of inevitability or the influence of external forces in shaping one's life. | |||
| Basque | patua | ||
| The noun "patua" can also refer to a prophecy in Basque. | |||
| Catalan | destí | ||
| The word "destí" in Catalan comes from the Latin word "destino", meaning "destination" or "goal." | |||
| Croatian | sudbina | ||
| **Sudbina** is also a term for the 'thread of life' in Slavic mythology, spun by three goddesses around a baby's cradle to determine its destiny. | |||
| Danish | skæbne | ||
| The word "skæbne" is derived from the Old Norse word "sköpun", meaning "creation" or "destiny." | |||
| Dutch | lot | ||
| In Dutch, "lot" also means "piece of land". This is because land was often divided into lots and assigned to people by drawing lots. | |||
| English | fate | ||
| The word "fate" originates from the Latin word "fatum," meaning "that which has been spoken." | |||
| French | sort | ||
| Le mot "sort" vient du latin "sors", qui signifie "destin". Il peut aussi désigner un type de magie ou d'incantation. | |||
| Frisian | lot | ||
| In West Frisian "lot" means "fate", but in East Frisian it is also used to refer to a piece of land. | |||
| Galician | destino | ||
| The Galician noun "destino" also means "address" when applied to a letter or parcel. | |||
| German | schicksal | ||
| The word "Schicksal" is derived from the Old High German word "gisciki", meaning "decree" or "judgment." | |||
| Icelandic | örlög | ||
| "Örlög" derives from Proto-Norse "*ur-lǫg" meaning "above the law" and also meant "death" and "destiny". | |||
| Irish | cinniúint | ||
| The Irish word 'cinniúint' does not have an equivalent in other languages; it is a loan word from a long-lost Proto-Indo-European language. | |||
| Italian | destino | ||
| The Italian word "destino" also means "destination" and is derived from the Latin word "destinare," meaning "to determine," or "to establish." | |||
| Luxembourgish | schicksal | ||
| Due to its Proto-Germanic origins, "Schicksal" shares a connection with the English word "shake". | |||
| Maltese | destin | ||
| The Maltese word 'destin' derives from the Latin 'destinatus', meaning 'determined' or 'appointed'. | |||
| Norwegian | skjebne | ||
| The word «skjebne» originally meant «that which is cut off» and is etymologically related to the word «knife» | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | destino | ||
| "Destino" in Portuguese can also refer to "destination". This is because it comes from the Latin word "destinare", which means "to destine". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | dàn | ||
| Scots Gaelic "dàn" can also mean "poem" or "prophecy". | |||
| Spanish | destino | ||
| From Latin 'destinatio' or 'destinatus' meaning 'fixed', 'set', or 'determined'. | |||
| Swedish | öde | ||
| The word "öde" derives from the Old Norse word "auðr" meaning "wealth" or "fortune". | |||
| Welsh | tynged | ||
| The word "tynged" in Welsh can also mean "destiny", "fortune", or "lot". | |||
Fate in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | лёс | ||
| The Belarusian word "лёс" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "lěsъ", which originally meant "forest". | |||
| Bosnian | sudbina | ||
| The word 'sudbina' can also mean 'destiny' or 'lot' in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | съдба | ||
| The Bulgarian "съдба" can also mean "a judge" or "a judgment". | |||
| Czech | osud | ||
| The word "osud" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *sǫdъ, meaning "verdict," "judgment," or "sentence." | |||
| Estonian | saatus | ||
| "Saatus" derives from "saatma" (to send) and implies something unavoidable or predetermined. | |||
| Finnish | kohtalo | ||
| Related to the Estonian word "kohtama" (to meet), it suggests an encounter with an unknown force or power. | |||
| Hungarian | sors | ||
| The word "sors" also means "lot" in Hungarian, referring to a random selection of something. | |||
| Latvian | liktenis | ||
| The word "liktenis" in Latvian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leikʷ-, meaning "to leave" or "to abandon." | |||
| Lithuanian | likimas | ||
| Likimas also means "shape" or "form" in the sense of destiny, or what is predetermined to happen. | |||
| Macedonian | судбината | ||
| The word "судбината" likely derives from the Persian word "sat"," meaning "luck" or "fortune". | |||
| Polish | los | ||
| The name 'Los' comes from the ancient Polish word 'łos' - a large forest animal similar to a moose. | |||
| Romanian | soarta | ||
| The word "soarta" is derived from the Latin word "sors," which means "lot," and is also related to the English word "sort." | |||
| Russian | судьба | ||
| The word "судьба" in Russian also means "judgment" and originated from the Proto-Slavic word *sǫditi, meaning "to judge". | |||
| Serbian | судбина | ||
| The Serbian word "судбина" can also mean "fortune" or "destiny". | |||
| Slovak | osud | ||
| The Slovak word "osud" can also refer to "destiny" or "lot" | |||
| Slovenian | usoda | ||
| The word “usoda” comes from the Proto-Indo-European root “*aews-”, which also means “time” or “age”. | |||
| Ukrainian | доля | ||
| "Доля" (fate) in Ukrainian also refers to a "share" (of something), a "portion" (of land), and a "lot" (in life). | |||
Fate in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ভাগ্য | ||
| The Bengali word "ভাগ্য" (fate) is also used to describe "luck", especially in negative contexts. | |||
| Gujarati | ભાગ્ય | ||
| The Gujarati word "ભાગ્ય" can also refer to a person's destiny or fortune, as determined by their past actions or circumstances. | |||
| Hindi | किस्मत | ||
| "Qismat" comes from the Arabic word "qisma", meaning "distribution" or "portion", suggesting that fate is a predetermined allotment. | |||
| Kannada | ವಿಧಿ | ||
| "ವಿಧಿ" comes from the Sanskrit word "विधि", meaning "arrangement" or "law". | |||
| Malayalam | വിധി | ||
| The Malayalam word "വിധി" (fate) also has the meaning of "judgment" or "sentence". | |||
| Marathi | प्राक्तन | ||
| The Marathi word 'प्राक्तन' is also used to refer to 'destiny' or 'what is destined to happen'. | |||
| Nepali | भाग्य | ||
| "भाग्य" (fate) is a Nepali word derived from Sanskrit and means both "destiny" and "luck." | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਿਸਮਤ | ||
| ਕਿਸਮਤ (Kismat) derives from the Persian word "kismat," which also means "portion," signifying the predetermined share of life's events assigned to an individual. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දෛවය | ||
| The word දෛවය has alternate meanings in Sinhala, which include 'divine' and 'auspicious'. | |||
| Tamil | விதி | ||
| In Tamil, "விதி" is also used to refer to the concept of "karma" or the consequences of one's actions | |||
| Telugu | విధి | ||
| The word "విధి" is also used in Telugu to refer to a rule or regulation. | |||
| Urdu | قسمت | ||
| قِسْمَت "Fate" is a loanword from Arabic, where it also means "a portion, an allotment or a share." | |||
Fate in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 命运 | ||
| “命运”一词的本义是“丝”，引申义为“安排、注定”。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 命運 | ||
| 命 "mìng" means "life", and "運 "yùn" means "transport" or "fate", so "命運 "mìngyùn" means "the transport of life" or "the fate of life". | |||
| Japanese | 運命 | ||
| The Japanese word "運命" (unmei) can also mean "destiny", "lot", or "fortune". | |||
| Korean | 운명 | ||
| The Korean word "운명" (fate) can also mean "luck" or "fortune". | |||
| Mongolian | хувь заяа | ||
| The word "хувь" can mean "division", "share" or "portion" and "заяа" is a word for "law", "destiny" and "necessity". The meaning of the word "хувь заяа" thus may be interpreted as the division or the portion that is fated or destined for someone. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကံကြမ္မာ | ||
| The term "kamma" in "kamkamma" originates from Pali and means "action," while "amma" refers to "destiny," creating a multifaceted concept of fate shaped by one's actions. | |||
Fate in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | takdir | ||
| Indonesian "takdir" originally implied a heavenly decree, rather than the inevitable destiny of an individual. | |||
| Javanese | nasib | ||
| The Javanese word "nasib" also refers to "luck" or "lot in life". | |||
| Khmer | វាសនា | ||
| The word "វាសនា" (fate) derives from Sanskrit "वसन" (dwelling, abode), also meaning "luck". | |||
| Lao | ຊະຕາ ກຳ | ||
| Malay | nasib | ||
| The word "nasib" in Malay can also refer to luck or fortune, depending on the context. | |||
| Thai | ชะตากรรม | ||
| The word ชะตากรรม ('fate') comes from the Sanskrit word 'katama,' which means 'which' or 'what.' | |||
| Vietnamese | số phận | ||
| The word "số phận" is derived from the Chinese word "shuming," which means "life and destiny." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapalaran | ||
Fate in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | taleyi | ||
| In Azerbaijani, the word taleyi is derived from the Arabic word tal'ah, meaning both | |||
| Kazakh | тағдыр | ||
| The word "тағдыр" can also refer to a predetermined outcome or a divine plan. | |||
| Kyrgyz | тагдыр | ||
| The word "тагдыр" in Kyrgyz originates from Arabic and can also mean "destiny" or "fortune". | |||
| Tajik | тақдир | ||
| "Taqdir" is a Farsi loan word, derived from the Arabic root word "qadr" meaning "measure" or "estimation." | |||
| Turkmen | ykbal | ||
| Uzbek | taqdir | ||
| In Uzbek, "taqdir" also has meanings of "decree" and "destiny" and it derives from the Arabic word "qadar" which means "power" or "measure". | |||
| Uyghur | تەقدىر | ||
Fate in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hopena | ||
| Some believe that "hopena" came from the words "ho'o" (to make) and "pena" (a sound) and refers to the chanting of spells to change one's fate. | |||
| Maori | te mutunga | ||
| In Maori, "te mutunga" can also mean "the end" or "the result" of an action or event. | |||
| Samoan | iʻuga | ||
| In addition to "fate", "iʻuga" means "conclusion" and "the place where something ends." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kapalaran | ||
| Kapalaran can also mean 'luck' or 'fortune', though it is most commonly used to refer to one's destiny. | |||
Fate in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | tistinu | ||
| Guarani | jehoha | ||
Fate in International Languages
| Esperanto | sorto | ||
| Sorto also means "to give birth," and is related to the Latin "sors," meaning "lot drawn." | |||
| Latin | fatum | ||
| "Fatum" also meant "divine decree," "prophecy," or "oracle" in Latin. | |||
Fate in Others Languages
| Greek | μοίρα | ||
| The Greek word "μοίρα" (moira), also denotes a "portion", "share" or "apportioned lot", and derives from the verb "μείρομαι" (meiromai), meaning to "get one's share", "obtain a portion" or "allot." | |||
| Hmong | txoj hmoo | ||
| Txhoj translates as 'fate' or 'destiny' whilst hmoob is the Hmong people's designation for themselves, or their language; hence 'destiny of the Hmong peoples' | |||
| Kurdish | qeder | ||
| The word "qeder" in Kurdish is derived from the Arabic word "qadr," meaning "power" or "decree." | |||
| Turkish | kader | ||
| In addition to "fate", "kader" in Turkish also signifies "decree" or "destiny". | |||
| Xhosa | isiphelo | ||
| The Xhosa word "isiphelo" can also refer to the "end" or "conclusion" of something. | |||
| Yiddish | גורל | ||
| The Yiddish word "גורל" (gorl) is derived from the Hebrew word "גורל" (goral), meaning "lot" or "chance." | |||
| Zulu | isiphetho | ||
| In the Zulu belief system, isiphetho, meaning "fate," refers to a divine plan or destiny that governs an individual's life from birth. | |||
| Assamese | ভাগ্য | ||
| Aymara | tistinu | ||
| Bhojpuri | तकदीर | ||
| Dhivehi | ތަޤްދީރު | ||
| Dogri | किसमत | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapalaran | ||
| Guarani | jehoha | ||
| Ilocano | gasat | ||
| Krio | wetin go apin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | چارەنووس | ||
| Maithili | भाग्य | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯥꯏꯕꯛ | ||
| Mizo | khuarel | ||
| Oromo | hiree | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଭାଗ୍ୟ | ||
| Quechua | chayana | ||
| Sanskrit | भाग्य | ||
| Tatar | язмыш | ||
| Tigrinya | ዕፃ ፋንታ | ||
| Tsonga | xiboho | ||