Frustration in different languages

Frustration in Different Languages

Discover 'Frustration' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Frustration: a word that resonates with people all over the world. It signifies the feeling of being obstructed or thwarted, often leading to disappointment and anger. This emotion is universal, making the term 'frustration' a crucial component of many languages.

But why would someone want to know the translation of frustration in different languages? Understanding this term in various languages can help bridge cultural gaps, foster empathy, and promote effective communication. It can also provide insight into how different cultures express and cope with this common human experience.

For instance, in Spanish, frustration translates to 'frustración,' while in French, it's 'frustration.' In German, it's 'Frustration,' and in Japanese, it's 'フラストレーション' (furasturēshon). These translations not only reflect linguistic differences but also cultural nuances in expressing and addressing frustration.

In this article, we delve deeper into the translations of frustration in various languages, shedding light on its significance, cultural importance, and historical contexts. Stay tuned to learn more about this universal emotion and how it's expressed around the world.

Frustration


Frustration in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansfrustrasie
"Frustrasie" is etymologically derived from the Latin word "frustrari," which means "to disappoint, deceive, or thwart."
Amharicብስጭት
"ብስጭት" can also mean "despair" or "despondency".
Hausatakaici
In Hausa, the word 'takaici' has a second, related meaning, namely 'to be put in a difficult situation'.
Igbonkụda mmụọ
"Nkụda mmụọ" shares its root word with the verb "kụda," which means "to come down" or "to lower."
Malagasyfahasosorana
Nyanja (Chichewa)kukhumudwa
The name originates from the act of a lizard continuously bobbing its head or a crocodile shaking its head after missing its prey.
Shonakushungurudzika
The word "kushungurudzika" can also mean "to be in a state of confusion or bewilderment".
Somalijahwareer
The word "jahwareer" in Somali is thought to be derived from the Arabic "jawr", which means "injury" or "injustice".
Sesothotsieleho
In Sesotho, "tsieleho" is also used to describe a feeling of being stuck or unable to progress
Swahilikuchanganyikiwa
"Kuchanganyikiwa" in Swahili can also mean "to confuse" or "to be confused."
Xhosaunxunguphalo
In Xhosa, 'unxunguphalo' can also refer to a 'dilemma' or 'a predicament'.
Yorubaibanuje
"ibanuje" is often used to describe a painful experience.
Zuluukukhungatheka
The word 'ukukhungatheka' literally means 'being made crooked or warped', referring to the feeling of frustration.
Bambaradusukasi
Ewedziɖeleameƒo
Kinyarwandagucika intege
Lingalakozanga bosepeli
Lugandaokwetamwa
Sepedigo nyamišwa
Twi (Akan)abasamtu a ɛma obi yɛ basaa

Frustration in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالإحباط
The word "الإحباط" can also refer to the state of being discouraged or defeated, especially due to a series of failures or setbacks.
Hebrewתסכול
The Hebrew word תסכול, meaning frustration, comes from a root meaning "to cut off" or "to block".
Pashtoخفه کیدل
The Pashto word "خفه کیدل" literally means "smothered heart".
Arabicالإحباط
The word "الإحباط" can also refer to the state of being discouraged or defeated, especially due to a series of failures or setbacks.

Frustration in Western European Languages

Albanianzhgënjimi
The Albanian word "zhgënjimi" can also mean "disappointment".
Basquefrustrazioa
In Basque, "frustrazioa" can refer to either frustration or disillusionment.
Catalanfrustració
The word "frustració" comes from Latin "frustrāre", meaning "to deceive" or "to disappoint", and also has a secondary meaning of "to annul" or "to make void".
Croatianfrustracija
In Croatian, frustracija is a loanword from Latin, where it originally meant 'deceiving' or 'disappointing'.
Danishfrustration
In Danish "frustration" can also mean "boldness" or "impudence".
Dutchfrustratie
In Dutch, "frustratie" can also mean "disappointment" or "annoyance".
Englishfrustration
The word "frustration" comes from the Latin word "frustrari," meaning "to deceive" or "to disappoint."
Frenchfrustration
In French, "frustration" can also mean "obstruction" or "thwarting".
Frisianfrustraasje
Originally borrowed as a Latin abstract noun of quality meaning "uselessly, in vain"
Galicianfrustración
In Galician, the word "frustración" can also refer to annoyance or disappointment.
Germanfrustration
In German, "Frustration" also refers to frustration experienced when the outcome of an event deviates from its expected result.
Icelandicgremja
The word 'gremja' in Icelandic also means 'anger' or 'rage'.
Irishfrustrachas
The term "frustrachas" shares the same root "frust" with the Latin "frustrari" (to frustrate), which comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "bhreu-s" (to roar, howl), suggesting a connection to frustration with the inability to make oneself heard.
Italianfrustrazione
The Italian word "frustrazione" derives from the Latin verb "frustrari," meaning "to deceive," "to disappoint," or "to thwart."
Luxembourgishfrustratioun
Maltesefrustrazzjoni
Maltese word "frustrazzjoni" derives from Latin, meaning "thwarting, hindering, breaking".
Norwegianfrustrasjon
The word "frustrasjon" shares its root with the Latin verb "frustrari", meaning "to deceive" or "to make void".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)frustração
In Portuguese, 'frustração' also refers to a hole in the ground made for planting trees or vines.
Scots Gaelicfrustrachas
The Scots Gaelic word "frustrachas" is derived from the Latin word "frustratio", meaning "something vain or useless".
Spanishfrustración
In Latin, "frustratio" meant deceiving, disappointing or annulling, while in Spanish it also refers to the feeling of disappointment.
Swedishfrustration
Frustration kommer från latinets 'frustratio', vilket betyder 'att göra något värdelöst'
Welshrhwystredigaeth
The word "rhwystredigaeth" is derived from the Welsh verb "rhwystro" meaning "to hinder" or "to obstruct" and can also refer to a state of disappointment or annoyance.

Frustration in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianрасчараванне
The word расчараванне originates from the Russian word расстройство, which itself stems from the Old Church Slavonic word разорениѥ "devastation", "destruction"
Bosnianfrustracija
The word "frustracija" stems from Latin "frustrari", meaning "to deceive, disappoint, or thwart" and is also used to describe the action of removing or reducing the effect of a spell or curse.
Bulgarianразочарование
In Bulgarian, the word "разочарование" also means "disappointment".
Czechfrustrace
In Czech, "frustrace" can also mean "a waste" or "a loss".
Estonianfrustratsioon
It is derived from Latin frustra, meaning "in vain" or "to no avail".
Finnishturhautumista
The word "turhautumista" means "frustration" in Finnish and is derived from the verb "turhautua" ("to become frustrated"), which in turn may come from the word "tulla", meaning "to become". It can also refer to being annoyed or disappointed.
Hungariancsalódottság
The Hungarian word "csalódottság" can also refer to "disappointment", and originates from the word "csalód", meaning "deception", or "illusion."}
Latvianneapmierinātība
The word "neapmierinātība" comes from "ne" (not) and "apmierināt" (to satisfy), and is also used to describe disappointment, dissatisfaction, or even resentment.
Lithuaniannusivylimas
The Lithuanian word "nusivylimas" shares a root with the word "vilt(i)", meaning "hope", suggesting a sense of disappointment or dashed expectations.
Macedonianфрустрација
The Macedonian word "фрустрација" is derived from the Latin word "frustrari" which means "to deceive, cheat or disappoint."
Polishudaremnienie
"Udaremnienie" derives from a Polish word "udarem" meaning "failure, ruin, harm", from a Proto-Indo-European word "*h₃d̯er-" ("failure, ruin").
Romanianfrustrare
Romanian "frustrare" derives from Latin "frustrari," meaning "deceive" or "disappoint," and carries the meaning of "to prevent the accomplishment of something"}
Russianразочарование
The word "разочарование" originally meant "disenchantment" and was related to the word "чары" (spells)
Serbianфрустрација
The word фрустрација in Serbian is derived from the Latin word
Slovakfrustrácia
The word frustrácia in Slovak originates from Latin frustrāri, meaning 'to deceive, disappoint or baffle'.
Slovenianfrustracija
Izraz 'frustracija' izhaja iz latinske besede 'frustratio', ki pomeni 'izničiti', 'preprečiti', 'zlomiti'. V psihologiji se uporablja za opis občutka nezadovoljstva in razočaranja, ki nastane, ko so osebina pričakovanja ali želje ovirane.
Ukrainianрозчарування
The word "розчарування" originates from the Old Slavic word "čarъ", meaning "charm" or "spell".

Frustration in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপরাজয়
The word 'পরাজয়' literally means 'defeat', and can also refer to 'failure' or 'disappointment'.
Gujaratiહતાશા
The word "હતાશા" can also refer to "despair" or "hopelessness".
Hindiनिराशा
The word "निराशा" has alternate meanings of "despair" and "hopelessness" in Hindi.
Kannadaಹತಾಶೆ
The word "ಹತಾಶೆ" (hatāśe) in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word "हताश" (hatāśa), which means "despair", "disappointment", or "loss of hope".
Malayalamനിരാശ
The word "നിരാശ" can also mean "despair" or "hopelessness" in Malayalam.
Marathiनिराशा
The etymology of "निराशा" in Marathi derives from the prefix "निर्-" denoting negation, indicating "devoid of hope" or "without solace."
Nepaliनिराशा
Although it is often translated as "frustration", निराशा may also mean "hopelessness" or "despair".
Punjabiਨਿਰਾਸ਼ਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කලකිරීම
The word 'කලකිරීම' can also refer to 'excitement' or 'agitation' in certain contexts
Tamilவிரக்தி
The Tamil word 'விரக்தி' originates from the Sanskrit word 'विरक्ति' (virakti) and primarily denotes 'detachment' or 'dispassion' rather than the modern meaning of 'frustration'.
Teluguనిరాశ
The Telugu word "నిరాశ" can also mean "despair" or "hopelessness".
Urduمایوسی
The word مایوسی comes from an Arabic word which literally means "despair".

Frustration in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)挫折
The word "挫折" (frustration) is also a compound of "cut" and "break".
Chinese (Traditional)挫折
挫折一詞在中文(繁體)中包含「折斷」、「挫敗」等含義,凸顯了其對個人或團體進程的阻礙和心理影響。
Japanese欲求不満
The term "欲求不満" (frustration) is composed of two kanji, "欲求" (desire) and "不満" (dissatisfaction), and refers to the psychological state of wanting something but being unable to obtain it.
Korean좌절
The word "좌절" (frustration) originally meant "to be blocked or hindered" in Middle Korean.
Mongolianбухимдал
In Mongolian, the word "бухимдал" can also mean "annoyance" or "irritation."
Myanmar (Burmese)စိတ်ပျက်စရာ

Frustration in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianfrustrasi
"Frustasi" can also mean 'failure' or 'disappointment' in Indonesian.
Javanesefrustasi
The word 'frustasi' (frustration) is derived from the Javanese word 'frustasi' (difficulty).
Khmerការខកចិត្ត
This word means "disappointment" in Thai.
Laoຄວາມອຸກອັ່ງ
Malaykekecewaan
"Kekecewaan" is also an archaic term for 'disappointment' in Malay.
Thaiแห้ว
The Thai word "แห้ว" (frustration) is thought to come from the name of a bitter fruit of the same name, or an old Thai term for "to have a hole in the middle"}
Vietnamesethất vọng
The word "thất vọng" literally means "lost hope" or "disappointment", reflecting its emotional connotation of failed expectations.
Filipino (Tagalog)pagkabigo

Frustration in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniməyusluq
"Məyusluq" also refers to disappointment or discouragement specifically related to hope being dashed.
Kazakhкөңілсіздік
The word "көңілсіздік" can also refer to "unpleasantness," "disappointment," or "boredom" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzкөңүл калуу
The Kyrgyz term "köңül kaluu" can also refer to a feeling of disappointment or sadness.
Tajikноумедӣ
The word "ноумедӣ" can also refer to "despair" or a "sense of loss" in the Tajik language.
Turkmenlapykeçlik
Uzbekumidsizlik
Ümidsizlik is derived from the word "ümid", meaning "hope". It denotes a state of hopelessness or despondency.
Uyghurئۈمىدسىزلىك

Frustration in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhoʻohoka
In Hawaiian, the word "hoʻohoka" also means "to deceive" or "to trick," suggesting that frustration often stems from unmet expectations or broken promises.
Maorihōhā
Hōhā can also refer to a feeling of discontent or dissatisfaction.
Samoanle fiafia
The Samoan word "le fiafia" can also refer to a type of traditional dance or performance.
Tagalog (Filipino)pagkabigo
The root 'bigo' of "pagkabigo" means "to fail" or "to be unsuccessful," while 'kabiguan' refers to the "state of failure."

Frustration in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarafrustración ukat juk’ampinaka
Guaranifrustración rehegua

Frustration in International Languages

Esperantofrustriĝo
Latinvanitati
The Latin word "vanitati" can also mean "emptiness" or "futility".

Frustration in Others Languages

Greekεκνευρισμός
"Εκνευρισμός" is derived from the Greek word "νεύρο" (nerve), referring to the irritation or agitation caused by something that gets on one's nerves.
Hmongkev ntxhov siab
The Hmong word "kev ntxhov siab" can mean not only frustration but also anger or depression depending on the cultural context.
Kurdishhevîşikestinî
The word "hevîşikestinî" in Kurdish also refers to the feeling of disappointment or discouragement.
Turkishhüsran
The word 'hüsran' is derived from the Arabic word 'husran', which means disappointment or failure.
Xhosaunxunguphalo
In Xhosa, 'unxunguphalo' can also refer to a 'dilemma' or 'a predicament'.
Yiddishפראַסטריישאַן
According to YIVO, פֿראַסטריישאַן (frustration) comes from Old French, where it meant 'to shatter, crash' with its root in Latin for 'to break'
Zuluukukhungatheka
The word 'ukukhungatheka' literally means 'being made crooked or warped', referring to the feeling of frustration.
Assameseহতাশা
Aymarafrustración ukat juk’ampinaka
Bhojpuriकुंठा के भाव पैदा हो जाला
Dhivehiމާޔޫސްކަމެވެ
Dogriकुंठा
Filipino (Tagalog)pagkabigo
Guaranifrustración rehegua
Ilocanopannakaupay
Kriofrustrashɔn we pɔsin kin gɛt
Kurdish (Sorani)بێزاری
Maithiliकुंठा
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯐ꯭ꯔꯁ꯭ꯠꯔꯦꯁꯟ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫
Mizolungawi lohna a awm
Oromomufannaa qabaachuu
Odia (Oriya)ନିରାଶା
Quechuafrustración nisqa
Sanskritकुण्ठनम्
Tatarөметсезлек
Tigrinyaብስጭት ምህላው
Tsongaku vilela

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