Foundation in Different Languages
Discover 'Foundation' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
At its core, 'foundation' is a simple word, yet it holds immense significance across cultures and languages. Its meaning as a base or starting point extends beyond construction; it represents the very essence of concepts, beliefs, and institutions that underpin our world.
Through history, foundations have been crucial in establishing societies, shaping civilizations, and defining cultural norms. From ancient Greek philosophers laying the groundwork for Western thought to African proverbs emphasizing the importance of a solid start, foundations echo in our collective consciousness.
Understanding the translation of 'foundation' in different languages not only enriches our vocabulary but also offers insights into diverse perspectives. For instance, the Spanish 'fundamento' shares the same Latin root as its English counterpart, while the Chinese '基础' (jīchǔ) literally means 'bottom-support'.
Join us as we delve into the multifaceted world of 'foundation' in various languages, from Arabic to Zulu, uncovering fascinating nuances along the way.
Foundation
Foundation in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | fondament | ||
| The word "fondament" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "fundament", which also means "foundation". | |||
| Amharic | መሠረት | ||
| The word መሠረት is also used to refer to the basic principles of a subject, the essential elements of a system, or the underlying assumptions of an argument. | |||
| Hausa | tushe | ||
| The word "tushe" in Hausa ultimately derives from the Arabic word "tasha" and can also refer to the basis or origin of something. | |||
| Igbo | ntọala | ||
| The Igbo word "ntọala" can also mean "root", "cause", "principle", or "origin". | |||
| Malagasy | foundation | ||
| The Malagasy word 'fototra' not only means 'foundation' but also 'tradition' or 'base' in a more general sense. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | maziko | ||
| The word 'maziko' also has the alternate meanings of 'base', 'cause', and 'root'. | |||
| Shona | nheyo | ||
| Nheyo, the Shona word for 'foundation', is derived from the verb 'kuheya', meaning 'to establish' or 'to build'. | |||
| Somali | aasaaska | ||
| The Somali word "aasaaska" is derived from the Arabic word "asas" which means "root" or "base". | |||
| Sesotho | motheo | ||
| The word 'motheo' in Sesotho, meaning 'foundation', is derived from the verb 'ho thea' meaning 'to establish' or 'to lay down' | |||
| Swahili | msingi | ||
| In some contexts, "msingi" can also refer to the base of a tree or the root of a word. | |||
| Xhosa | isiseko | ||
| The Xhosa word “isiseko” also means “the sole of a foot,” which serves as a foundation for the body. | |||
| Yoruba | ipilẹ | ||
| "Ipilẹ" can also refer to the foundation of a building or a metaphor for the basis of something | |||
| Zulu | isisekelo | ||
| "IsiseKelo" is also a traditional Zulu musical instrument, a gourd with a single string. | |||
| Bambara | jusigilan | ||
| Ewe | gɔmeɖokpe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umusingi | ||
| Lingala | fondation | ||
| Luganda | omusingi | ||
| Sepedi | motheo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | fapem | ||
Foundation in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مؤسسة | ||
| The word "مؤسسة" (foundation) in Arabic also refers to an institution, establishment, or organization. | |||
| Hebrew | קרן | ||
| The Hebrew word "קרן" (pronounced "keren") can also mean "horn" or "ray of light". | |||
| Pashto | بنسټ | ||
| In addition, "بنسټ" (foundation) may also mean "base" or "establishment" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | مؤسسة | ||
| The word "مؤسسة" (foundation) in Arabic also refers to an institution, establishment, or organization. | |||
Foundation in Western European Languages
| Albanian | themeli | ||
| The word "themeli" can also mean "basis" or "principle" in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | oinarria | ||
| Oinarria is an ancient Basque word that can also refer to the "earth" or "land". | |||
| Catalan | fonament | ||
| The Catalan word "fonament" ultimately derives from the Latin word "fundamentum", meaning 'foundation' or 'base'. | |||
| Croatian | temelj | ||
| The word "temelj" in Croatian also means "a basis for an argument or theory" | |||
| Danish | fundament | ||
| Dutch | fundament | ||
| English | foundation | ||
| The term 'foundation' derives from the Latin 'fundus' (land, base, support) and is linked to the concept of establishing a solid base for something. | |||
| French | fondation | ||
| In French, "fondation" can also refer to a non-profit organization, a trust fund, or the foundation garment of undergarments. | |||
| Frisian | stichting | ||
| In Frisian, "stichting" is not only a foundation but also an establishment, institution or endowment. | |||
| Galician | fundación | ||
| In Galician, "fundación" also means "memorial service" or "scholarship". | |||
| German | stiftung | ||
| The word "Stiftung" also means "endowment" or "charitable trust" in German. | |||
| Icelandic | grunnur | ||
| The word "grunnur" is derived from the Old Norse word "grundr," which means "ground" or "bottom." | |||
| Irish | bunús | ||
| Italian | fondazione | ||
| The Italian word "fondazione" can also refer to a cultural institution or charity. | |||
| Luxembourgish | fondatioun | ||
| Maltese | pedament | ||
| The word "pedament" is a borrowing from Sicilian "pidamentu" which also means "foundation" but is ultimately derived from Latin "pēdis" meaning foot or base. | |||
| Norwegian | fundament | ||
| "Fundament" is also an archaic term for "backside" in Norwegian. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | fundação | ||
| In Portuguese, "fundação" can also refer to an endowment, scholarship, or institution established to support a specific purpose. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | bunait | ||
| Bunait, meaning "foundation," also refers to the "ground plan" or "layout" of a house in Scots Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | fundación | ||
| In Spanish, the word "Fundación" can also refer to a charity or non-profit organization. | |||
| Swedish | fundament | ||
| The Swedish word "fundament" also means "bottom" or "rear end". | |||
| Welsh | sylfaen | ||
| Sylfaen is also an old Welsh word that refers to the act of founding or laying down. | |||
Foundation in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | падмурак | ||
| Historically, "падмурак" (foundation) could also refer to a part of a stove or a basement. | |||
| Bosnian | temelj | ||
| In Turkish, 'temel' means 'basis' or 'principle', while 'temsil' means 'representation'. | |||
| Bulgarian | основа | ||
| The word "основа" in Bulgarian can also mean "basis", "principle", "ground", or "background". | |||
| Czech | nadace | ||
| The word "nadace" in Czech can also mean "endowment" or "charity organization." | |||
| Estonian | vundament | ||
| Vundament in Estonian also means "the bottom part of something", "base" and "ground". | |||
| Finnish | säätiö | ||
| In chemistry, _säätiö_ refers to a substance added to a solution to maintain a particular pH range. | |||
| Hungarian | alapítvány | ||
| Alapítvány" comes from the word "alapítani," meaning "to establish" or "to set up". | |||
| Latvian | pamats | ||
| Etymology: Middle Low German pamant (m.), "foundation," ultimately from Latin pavimentum (n.), "pavement," "floor." | |||
| Lithuanian | pamatai | ||
| The Lithuanian word "pamatai" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bʰeh₂ǵ-," meaning "to establish, to fix". | |||
| Macedonian | основа | ||
| The word "основа" can also mean "basis", "principal" or "principle" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | fundacja | ||
| The Polish word "fundacja" originally referred to a deed of endowment for the establishment of a charitable or educational institution, rather than the institution itself. | |||
| Romanian | fundație | ||
| In Romanian, "fundație" can also refer to a charity or non-profit organization. | |||
| Russian | фонд | ||
| In Ukrainian, "Фонд" can also mean a "pool" of money or resources, not just a foundation in the sense of an organization. | |||
| Serbian | темељ | ||
| The word 'темељ' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'temeljь', meaning 'foundation', and is a cognate of the Greek word 'θέμεθλος' ('foundation'). | |||
| Slovak | nadácia | ||
| The Slovak word "nadácia" ultimately stems from the Latin word "natus," meaning "birth" or "creation."} | |||
| Slovenian | temelj | ||
| The word 'temelj' comes from the Slavic word 'temja', which means 'top' or 'crown'. | |||
| Ukrainian | фундамент | ||
| The word "фундамент" (fundament) is a loanword from the Latin "fundamentum", meaning "ground, foundation, base, mainstay", and is also related to the verb "fundare", meaning "to found, to establish, to base". | |||
Foundation in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ভিত্তি | ||
| The Bengali word 'ভিত্তি' can also refer to a base or support on which something rests. | |||
| Gujarati | પાયો | ||
| "પાયો" in Gujarati may also refer to a meter used in Gujarati poetry or a kind of sweet dish. | |||
| Hindi | आधार | ||
| The word "आधार" can also refer to an identity document issued by the Indian government or the underlying support for something. | |||
| Kannada | ಅಡಿಪಾಯ | ||
| "ಅಡಿಪಾಯ" also refers to the part of a building that directly touches the ground, and to a base layer of plaster applied on walls before further layers are added. | |||
| Malayalam | അടിസ്ഥാനം | ||
| The word "അടിസ്ഥാനം" in Malayalam, meaning "foundation," can also refer to "principles" or "basis." | |||
| Marathi | पाया | ||
| The word 'पाया' in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'पाद' meaning 'foot' or 'base', suggesting its original connotation of supporting a structure or serving as its grounding. | |||
| Nepali | जग | ||
| The word "जग" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "जगति" meaning "world" or "earth" and also refers to the "base" or "support" of something. | |||
| Punjabi | ਬੁਨਿਆਦ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පදනම | ||
| The word 'පදනම' (padanama) also means 'basis' and 'principle' in Sinhala (Sinhalese). | |||
| Tamil | அடித்தளம் | ||
| The word "அடித்தளம்" also means "base", "bottom", or "footing" when used to describe a structure. | |||
| Telugu | పునాది | ||
| "పునాది" is the word for foundation in Telugu. It also relates to the root "పున", which means "again", and "అది", meaning "that", suggesting a repeated action of setting something in place. | |||
| Urdu | بنیاد | ||
| "بنیاد" means "foundation" and comes from the root word "بنا" (to build) | |||
Foundation in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 基础 | ||
| 基础 in Chinese (Simplified) can also mean "basis" or "base". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 基礎 | ||
| The word “基礎” can also mean “basic,” “fundamental,” or “elemental” in some contexts. | |||
| Japanese | 財団 | ||
| 財団, a Japanese word often translated as "foundation," can also refer to a person, organization, or object that is the basis or source of something. | |||
| Korean | 기초 | ||
| The word 기초 (foundation) can also mean 'beginning' or 'basic principle' in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | суурь | ||
| Суурь is also used to refer to the base of a structure or the ground upon which something is built. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အခြေခံအုတ်မြစ် | ||
| In English, the word “foundation” has a wide range of meanings, from a base or groundwork to a principle or belief. | |||
Foundation in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | dasar | ||
| The word "dasar" in Indonesian can also mean "basic principle" or "base of a calculation". | |||
| Javanese | dhasar | ||
| Dhasar is cognate with dhas in Sanskrit, meaning to establish, and is related to the word dhasi, meaning to bear or to carry. | |||
| Khmer | គ្រឹះ | ||
| Cognate with Thai "grund" and Sanskrit "guhā," meaning "cave". | |||
| Lao | ພື້ນຖານ | ||
| Malay | asas | ||
| The word "asas" in Malay is also related to the Arabic word "asās", meaning "basis" or "principle". | |||
| Thai | มูลนิธิ | ||
| มูลนิธิ (Mueang Ni Thee) derives from Sanskrit "mul" (origin, source) + "nidhi" (treasure, depository). | |||
| Vietnamese | nền tảng | ||
| "Nền tảng" can also mean "basis", "platform", or "ground floor". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pundasyon | ||
Foundation in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | təməl | ||
| "Təməl" in Azerbaijani also means the base of a geometric figure, a starting point, or a basis. | |||
| Kazakh | іргетас | ||
| "Іргетас" means "foundation" in Kazakh, but it also has the alternate meaning of "support" or "base". | |||
| Kyrgyz | негиз | ||
| 'Негиз' (foundation) also means 'bottom' and 'source' | |||
| Tajik | таҳкурсӣ | ||
| The word "таҳкурсӣ" can also mean "base" or "groundwork" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | esas | ||
| Uzbek | poydevor | ||
| The Uzbek word "poydevor" is also used to mean "basis" or "principle." | |||
| Uyghur | ئاساس | ||
Foundation in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kahua | ||
| The Hawaiian word “kahua” originally referred to a Hawaiian oven or a foundation stone, later expanded to mean “foundation" or "origin". | |||
| Maori | turanga | ||
| The word "turanga" in Maori not only means "foundation", but also "standing place", "a place to stand on", and "a place of authority or importance." | |||
| Samoan | faʻavae | ||
| "Faʻavae" (foundation) originates from the Polynesian root word "*fawa", meaning "to cause to come". This is possibly a borrowing from Proto-Austronesian "*bawa", "to carry". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pundasyon | ||
| The Tagalog word "pundasyon" can also refer to a dowry or an inheritance. | |||
Foundation in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | wasi | ||
| Guarani | atyguasu ñemopyendarã | ||
Foundation in International Languages
| Esperanto | fundamento | ||
| The Esperanto word "fundamento" also means "the first principles of a science or system." | |||
| Latin | fundamenta | ||
| "Fundamenta" (foundation) also means "the lowest part of a building" or "the underlying principles of a field of knowledge" in Latin. | |||
Foundation in Others Languages
| Greek | θεμέλιο | ||
| "Θεμέλιο" also means "cornerstone" in ecclesiastic Greek and "theme" or "topic" in modern Greek. | |||
| Hmong | lub hauv paus | ||
| The word "lub hauv paus" can also refer to the base of a tree or the bottom of a pot. | |||
| Kurdish | bingeh | ||
| The Kurdish word "bingeh" also refers to the base or core of something. | |||
| Turkish | yapı temeli | ||
| Yapı temeli can also refer to the base of a structure or the initial stage of a project. | |||
| Xhosa | isiseko | ||
| The Xhosa word “isiseko” also means “the sole of a foot,” which serves as a foundation for the body. | |||
| Yiddish | יסוד | ||
| The Yiddish word "יסוד" (yesod) can also refer to an element, principle, or ingredient in a mixture. | |||
| Zulu | isisekelo | ||
| "IsiseKelo" is also a traditional Zulu musical instrument, a gourd with a single string. | |||
| Assamese | ভেঁটি | ||
| Aymara | wasi | ||
| Bhojpuri | नींव | ||
| Dhivehi | ބިންގާ | ||
| Dogri | बुनियाद | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pundasyon | ||
| Guarani | atyguasu ñemopyendarã | ||
| Ilocano | pundasion | ||
| Krio | fawndeshɔn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دامەزراوە | ||
| Maithili | नींव | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯨꯝꯐꯝ | ||
| Mizo | bulthut | ||
| Oromo | hundee | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଭିତ୍ତିପ୍ରସ୍ତର | ||
| Quechua | paqarichiy | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रतिष्ठिका | ||
| Tatar | нигез | ||
| Tigrinya | መሰረት | ||
| Tsonga | masungulo | ||