Updated on March 6, 2024
A 'fighter' is an individual who has the courage and determination to face challenges head-on. Throughout history, fighters have been celebrated for their strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit. This word transcends cultural boundaries and is a universal symbol of bravery and perseverance.
From ancient gladiators to modern-day athletes, fighters have captivated audiences and inspired generations. They represent the indomitable human spirit and the relentless pursuit of victory. Moreover, the word 'fighter' carries a significant cultural weight in various languages and regions.
For instance, in Spanish, a fighter is a 'luchador', which also means a professional wrestler, adding a layer of cultural significance to the word. Meanwhile, in Japanese, a fighter is a 'tou-shi', which embodies the spirit of the samurai. In Russian, a fighter is a 'boyets', reflecting the country's rich history of military valor.
Discovering the translations of the word 'fighter' in different languages can provide valuable insights into various cultures and traditions. Join us as we explore the many facets of this powerful word.
Afrikaans | vegter | ||
The word "vegter" in Afrikaans can also refer to a person who keeps watch or guards something, or to something that protects or defends. | |||
Amharic | ተዋጊ | ||
In addition to its literal meaning 'fighter', 'ተዋጊ' (tāwāgī) can also be used figuratively to mean 'argumentative', 'contentious', or 'combative'. | |||
Hausa | mai faɗa | ||
The word "mai faɗa" in Hausa has an alternate meaning of "bully" or "aggressor." | |||
Igbo | fighter | ||
The Igbo word 'fighter' can also be used to refer to a 'defender' or a 'warrior'. | |||
Malagasy | mpiady | ||
The word “mpiady” is also used in Malagasy to refer to a “warrior” or a “champion” | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | womenya | ||
Womenya also means "she who fights" in Nyanja, highlighting the active role women play in combat. | |||
Shona | murwi | ||
In Shona, "murwi" also connotes "one who is strong" or "one who is a defender."} | |||
Somali | dagaalyahan | ||
The word "dagaalyahan" is derived from the verb "dagaal", meaning "fight" or "battle". | |||
Sesotho | mohlabani | ||
Mohlabani originates from the Sotho word "ho loana" meaning to fight or war, and is related to the word "ntoa" meaning war or battle. | |||
Swahili | mpiganaji | ||
The Swahili word "mpiganaji" is derived from "kupigana," meaning "to fight" or "to wrestle." | |||
Xhosa | umlwi | ||
In certain contexts, "umlwi" can refer to an executioner or assassin rather than a soldier fighting on the front lines. | |||
Yoruba | onija | ||
"Onija" also means "warrior" or "soldier" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | umlweli | ||
The Zulu word 'umlweli' also refers to a 'stick fighter', a type of traditional Zulu martial art. | |||
Bambara | kɛlɛcɛ | ||
Ewe | aʋawɔla | ||
Kinyarwanda | umurwanyi | ||
Lingala | mobundi ya bitumba | ||
Luganda | omulwanyi | ||
Sepedi | mohlabani | ||
Twi (Akan) | ɔkofo | ||
Arabic | مقاتل | ||
The word "مقاتل" (fighter) in Arabic can also refer to a person engaged in a political or religious struggle. | |||
Hebrew | לוֹחֶם | ||
The Hebrew word "לוֹחֶם" is a derivation of the root "לחם", meaning "to fight" or "to wage war", and can also refer to a "warfare" or "military combatant" | |||
Pashto | جنګیالي | ||
Etymology unclear but commonly considered to be derived from Persian "jang" (war) + Pashto suffix "-wali" (possessor). | |||
Arabic | مقاتل | ||
The word "مقاتل" (fighter) in Arabic can also refer to a person engaged in a political or religious struggle. |
Albanian | luftëtar | ||
"Luftëtar" also means "warrior" and is a popular name in Albania. | |||
Basque | borrokalaria | ||
The word "borrokalaria" can also refer to a "warrior" or a "contender" in Basque. | |||
Catalan | lluitador | ||
The word "lluitador" in Catalan comes from the Latin word "luctator", meaning "wrestler". It can also refer to a person who fights for a cause or an idea. | |||
Croatian | borac | ||
"Borac" also means pine in Croatian | |||
Danish | fighter | ||
In Danish, the word "fighter" can also refer to a fire hose or a fighter jet. | |||
Dutch | vechter | ||
In the Limburgish dialect of Dutch, "vechter" can also refer to a young horse or foal. | |||
English | fighter | ||
'fighter' can also refer to someone who fights fires, or a training aircraft used to simulate aerial combat. | |||
French | combattant | ||
Le mot "combattant" en français peut également désigner une personne chargée de combattre les incendies (pompier). | |||
Frisian | fjochter | ||
Galician | loitador | ||
The word "loitador" is also used metaphorically in Galician to refer to someone who is very strong-willed or determined | |||
German | kämpfer | ||
Kämpfer can also mean athlete, soldier, or combatant in German. | |||
Icelandic | bardagamaður | ||
The word "bardagamaður" can also refer to a wrestler, a swordsman, or a warrior in general. | |||
Irish | trodaire | ||
"Trod" can also mean "foot" or "path," and thus "trodaire" can also mean "traveler" or "walker." | |||
Italian | combattente | ||
The word "combattente", while commonly used to refer to a fighter, can also refer to a champion or a participant in a contest (particularly a duel). | |||
Luxembourgish | kämpfer | ||
In Luxembourgish, "kämpfer" can also refer to a male animal that is not castrated, or to a person who is overly attached to something. | |||
Maltese | ġellied | ||
The word "ġellied" in Maltese also means "jelly-like". | |||
Norwegian | jagerfly | ||
Jagerfly is also known as 'stor jagerroe' (big hunting roe) and 'jaegerroe' (hunting roe). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | lutador | ||
The word "lutador" is derived from the Latin word "luctator", meaning "wrestler". | |||
Scots Gaelic | trodaiche | ||
The word "tròdaiche" can also mean "skirmisher" or "raider". | |||
Spanish | combatiente | ||
In Mexican Spanish, "combatiente" can refer to a "homosexual male". | |||
Swedish | kämpe | ||
The word "kämpe" can also refer to a giant or a troll in folklore. | |||
Welsh | ymladdwr | ||
The word "ymladdwr" can also refer to a gladiator or a combatant. |
Belarusian | баец | ||
The word "баец" in Belarusian has an alternate meaning of "storyteller" or "singer". | |||
Bosnian | borac | ||
The word "borac" also refers to a substance used in welding and soldering. | |||
Bulgarian | боец | ||
The word "боец" is also a loanword from the Turkish language, derived from the verb "boğmak" meaning "to strangle" or "to choke". | |||
Czech | bojovník | ||
The word "bojovník" can also refer to a warrior, soldier, gladiator, combatant, or champion. | |||
Estonian | võitleja | ||
The word "võitleja" also has the alternate meaning of "complainant" in legal contexts | |||
Finnish | taistelija | ||
The word "taistelija" can also mean "warrior", "defender", or "champion". | |||
Hungarian | harcos | ||
The Hungarian word "harcos" ultimately derives from the Turkish root "harç-," meaning "war tax" or "military expenditure." | |||
Latvian | cīnītājs | ||
The word "cīnītājs" in Latvian can also mean "competitor" or "athlete". | |||
Lithuanian | kovotojas | ||
The word "kovotojas" (fighter) derives from the Lithuanian verb "kovoti" (to fight), and is related to the word "kovas" (battle). | |||
Macedonian | борец | ||
In Ancient Greek, the word "boreas" means north wind or the mythical personification of that wind. | |||
Polish | wojownik | ||
The etymology of "wojownik" is "wojski", meaning "member of a military unit". | |||
Romanian | luptător | ||
The Romanian word "luptător" derives from the Slavic root "lupta", meaning "fight" or "battle". | |||
Russian | истребитель | ||
"Истребитель" is the Russian word for fighter, a term originally used to describe an aircraft intended for anti-aircraft combat. | |||
Serbian | борац | ||
Борац can refer to the wind blowing down from mountain passes, especially in regions near the Adriatic. | |||
Slovak | bojovník | ||
The word "bojovník" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *bojь, meaning "battle" or "war". | |||
Slovenian | borec | ||
The word "borec" in Slovenian is derived from the Old Slavic root "bor" and its Proto-Indo-European ancestor "*bher-", both meaning "to carry" or "to endure". | |||
Ukrainian | винищувач | ||
In addition to the military meaning, "винищувач" can also refer to someone who destroys or eradicates something, especially in a figurative sense |
Bengali | যোদ্ধা | ||
The word "যোদ্ধা" is derived from the Sanskrit word "যোধ" meaning "to fight" and also has the alternate meaning of "warrior" or "soldier". | |||
Gujarati | ફાઇટર | ||
The word "ફાઇટર" can also refer to a person who engages in competitive fighting, such as a boxer or wrestler, or a person who is determined and courageous. | |||
Hindi | योद्धा | ||
"योद्धा" (fighter) is a Sanskrit word with its origins in the ancient Vedic texts and is also found in several Indo-European languages, where it denotes a warrior, often one devoted to a specific god or cause. | |||
Kannada | ಫೈಟರ್ | ||
The word "ಫೈಟರ್" (fighter) in Kannada can also mean "a brave or courageous person". | |||
Malayalam | പോരാളി | ||
The word "പോരാളി" can also refer to a 'rival' or a 'competitor' in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | लढाऊ | ||
"लढाऊ" (fighter) is derived from the Sanskrit root "लड्" (laḍ), meaning "to fight" or "to strive". | |||
Nepali | लडाकू | ||
The word 'लडाकू' comes from the Sanskrit root 'lad-' meaning 'to fight', and also refers to a warrior, combatant or soldier. | |||
Punjabi | ਲੜਾਕੂ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සටන්කරුවා | ||
In Sinhala, the word "සටන්කරුවා" not only means "fighter" but also refers to someone who is competitive or persistent in any endeavor, emphasizing their determination and tenacity. | |||
Tamil | போராளி | ||
"போராளி" also refers to a revolutionary, an activist, a struggler, or an athlete who competes aggressively. | |||
Telugu | యుద్ధ | ||
యుద్ధ also signifies fighting, and is etymologically related to యత, one who opposes or withstands. | |||
Urdu | لڑاکا | ||
The Urdu word "لڑاکا" (fighter) is also colloquially used to mean "a young male child". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 战斗机 | ||
The character '斗' in "战斗机" means 'fight', while '机' can refer to 'tool', 'machine', or even 'plane'. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 戰鬥機 | ||
The word 戰鬥機 in Chinese can also refer to a combat knife or a fighter dog. | |||
Japanese | 戦士 | ||
The word "戦士" also has the alternate connotation of "brave," similar to its root "士 (shi)," meaning "man of worth." | |||
Korean | 전투기 | ||
"전투기" (fighter) originally meant a horse-riding warrior in Korean, and has since been extended to mean military aircraft. | |||
Mongolian | сөнөөгч | ||
Сөнөөгч has an alternate meaning, namely "an extinguisher". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တိုက်လေယာဉ် | ||
Indonesian | pejuang | ||
The word "pejuang" in Indonesian comes from the Javanese word "pejuwang", meaning one who fights or struggles. | |||
Javanese | pejuang | ||
Pejuang is also a title for people who fight for a cause, such as social justice or environmental protection. | |||
Khmer | ចម្បាំង | ||
The word ចម្បាំង ('fighter') is also used in Khmer to refer to 'war' | |||
Lao | ນັກຕໍ່ສູ້ | ||
The Thai word “nak tuu so” (“นักต่อสู้”) was adopted into the Lao language and re-spelled as “nak to: su:”. In Thai, it originally meant “rebel; dissident; partisan or guerilla fighter”, although it has since taken on the meanings of “athlete” or “sportsperson”. | |||
Malay | pejuang | ||
The word 'pejuang' derives from the Sanskrit word 'vijaya', which means 'victory'. | |||
Thai | นักสู้ | ||
The Thai word "นักสู้" comes from the word "สู้" meaning to fight, struggle or compete. | |||
Vietnamese | đấu sĩ | ||
"Đấu sĩ" can also mean "gladiator" or "duellist". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | manlalaban | ||
Azerbaijani | qırıcı | ||
In Azerbaijani, "qırıcı" has alternative meanings such as "destructive" and "damaging." | |||
Kazakh | истребитель | ||
Истребитель (Fighter) in Kazakh originated from the Russian word for exterminate | |||
Kyrgyz | мушкер | ||
The word "мушкер" in Kyrgyz also refers to a type of military firearm, specifically a musket. | |||
Tajik | мубориз | ||
The word "мубориз" in Tajik can also refer to a wrestler or a boxer. | |||
Turkmen | söweşiji | ||
Uzbek | qiruvchi | ||
Qiruvchi is also used to refer to a type of eagle in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | كۈرەشچى | ||
Hawaiian | mea hakakā | ||
Mea hakakā also means "war club" and is likely derived from hakakā (to strike). | |||
Maori | toa | ||
The word 'toa' can also refer to a champion or leader, and is often used in the context of traditional Maori warfare and combat. | |||
Samoan | fitafita | ||
The Samoan word "fitafita" not only means "fighter," but also refers to the Samoan martial art similar to boxing. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | manlalaban | ||
"Manlalaban" can mean either "one who fights" or "one who is injured or hurt" |
Aymara | ch’axwiri | ||
Guarani | ñorairõhára | ||
Esperanto | batalanto | ||
The word batalanto comes from the Esperanto root batal- (to fight) and the suffix -ant- (indicating an agent), and thus means "one who fights" | |||
Latin | pugnator | ||
Pugnator comes from the Latin word 'pugnare', meaning 'to fight', and is also used in biology to denote an organism that fights or defends itself. |
Greek | μαχητής | ||
The Greek word "μαχητής" (fighter) shares a common root with the words "fight" and "battle" in English. | |||
Hmong | neeg tua rog | ||
In Hmong, "neeg tua rog" originally meant "a person who has killed an enemy". | |||
Kurdish | şervan | ||
The word "şervan" in Kurdish also refers to a type of bird known as a "sparrowhawk". | |||
Turkish | dövüşçü | ||
The word "dövüşçü" in Turkish derives from the verb "dövüşmek" (to fight), with the suffix "-cü" denoting profession or agent. | |||
Xhosa | umlwi | ||
In certain contexts, "umlwi" can refer to an executioner or assassin rather than a soldier fighting on the front lines. | |||
Yiddish | פייטער | ||
In Yiddish, "פייטער" can also refer to a "disputant" or someone engaged in a "quarrel". | |||
Zulu | umlweli | ||
The Zulu word 'umlweli' also refers to a 'stick fighter', a type of traditional Zulu martial art. | |||
Assamese | যুঁজাৰু | ||
Aymara | ch’axwiri | ||
Bhojpuri | लड़ाकू के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ހަނގުރާމަވެރިއެކެވެ | ||
Dogri | लड़ाकू | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | manlalaban | ||
Guarani | ñorairõhára | ||
Ilocano | mannakigubat | ||
Krio | pɔsin we de fɛt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | شەڕکەر | ||
Maithili | सेनानी | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯥꯏꯇꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | fighter a ni | ||
Oromo | qabsaa’aa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଯୁଦ୍ଧବିମାନ | | ||
Quechua | maqanakuq | ||
Sanskrit | योद्धा | ||
Tatar | көрәшче | ||
Tigrinya | ተጋዳላይ | ||
Tsonga | mulwi | ||