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.
Afrikaans | frustrasie | ||
"Frustrasie" is etymologically derived from the Latin word "frustrari," which means "to disappoint, deceive, or thwart." | |||
Amharic | ብስጭት | ||
"ብስጭት" can also mean "despair" or "despondency". | |||
Hausa | takaici | ||
In Hausa, the word 'takaici' has a second, related meaning, namely 'to be put in a difficult situation'. | |||
Igbo | nkụda mmụọ | ||
"Nkụda mmụọ" shares its root word with the verb "kụda," which means "to come down" or "to lower." | |||
Malagasy | fahasosorana | ||
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. | |||
Shona | kushungurudzika | ||
The word "kushungurudzika" can also mean "to be in a state of confusion or bewilderment". | |||
Somali | jahwareer | ||
The word "jahwareer" in Somali is thought to be derived from the Arabic "jawr", which means "injury" or "injustice". | |||
Sesotho | tsieleho | ||
In Sesotho, "tsieleho" is also used to describe a feeling of being stuck or unable to progress | |||
Swahili | kuchanganyikiwa | ||
"Kuchanganyikiwa" in Swahili can also mean "to confuse" or "to be confused." | |||
Xhosa | unxunguphalo | ||
In Xhosa, 'unxunguphalo' can also refer to a 'dilemma' or 'a predicament'. | |||
Yoruba | ibanuje | ||
"ibanuje" is often used to describe a painful experience. | |||
Zulu | ukukhungatheka | ||
The word 'ukukhungatheka' literally means 'being made crooked or warped', referring to the feeling of frustration. | |||
Bambara | dusukasi | ||
Ewe | dziɖeleameƒo | ||
Kinyarwanda | gucika intege | ||
Lingala | kozanga bosepeli | ||
Luganda | okwetamwa | ||
Sepedi | go nyamišwa | ||
Twi (Akan) | abasamtu a ɛma obi yɛ basaa | ||
Arabic | الإحباط | ||
The word "الإحباط" can also refer to the state of being discouraged or defeated, especially due to a series of failures or setbacks. | |||
Hebrew | תסכול | ||
The Hebrew word תסכול, meaning frustration, comes from a root meaning "to cut off" or "to block". | |||
Pashto | خفه کیدل | ||
The Pashto word "خفه کیدل" literally means "smothered heart". | |||
Arabic | الإحباط | ||
The word "الإحباط" can also refer to the state of being discouraged or defeated, especially due to a series of failures or setbacks. |
Albanian | zhgënjimi | ||
The Albanian word "zhgënjimi" can also mean "disappointment". | |||
Basque | frustrazioa | ||
In Basque, "frustrazioa" can refer to either frustration or disillusionment. | |||
Catalan | frustració | ||
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". | |||
Croatian | frustracija | ||
In Croatian, frustracija is a loanword from Latin, where it originally meant 'deceiving' or 'disappointing'. | |||
Danish | frustration | ||
In Danish "frustration" can also mean "boldness" or "impudence". | |||
Dutch | frustratie | ||
In Dutch, "frustratie" can also mean "disappointment" or "annoyance". | |||
English | frustration | ||
The word "frustration" comes from the Latin word "frustrari," meaning "to deceive" or "to disappoint." | |||
French | frustration | ||
In French, "frustration" can also mean "obstruction" or "thwarting". | |||
Frisian | frustraasje | ||
Originally borrowed as a Latin abstract noun of quality meaning "uselessly, in vain" | |||
Galician | frustración | ||
In Galician, the word "frustración" can also refer to annoyance or disappointment. | |||
German | frustration | ||
In German, "Frustration" also refers to frustration experienced when the outcome of an event deviates from its expected result. | |||
Icelandic | gremja | ||
The word 'gremja' in Icelandic also means 'anger' or 'rage'. | |||
Irish | frustrachas | ||
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. | |||
Italian | frustrazione | ||
The Italian word "frustrazione" derives from the Latin verb "frustrari," meaning "to deceive," "to disappoint," or "to thwart." | |||
Luxembourgish | frustratioun | ||
Maltese | frustrazzjoni | ||
Maltese word "frustrazzjoni" derives from Latin, meaning "thwarting, hindering, breaking". | |||
Norwegian | frustrasjon | ||
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 Gaelic | frustrachas | ||
The Scots Gaelic word "frustrachas" is derived from the Latin word "frustratio", meaning "something vain or useless". | |||
Spanish | frustración | ||
In Latin, "frustratio" meant deceiving, disappointing or annulling, while in Spanish it also refers to the feeling of disappointment. | |||
Swedish | frustration | ||
Frustration kommer från latinets 'frustratio', vilket betyder 'att göra något värdelöst' | |||
Welsh | rhwystredigaeth | ||
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. |
Belarusian | расчараванне | ||
The word расчараванне originates from the Russian word расстройство, which itself stems from the Old Church Slavonic word разорениѥ "devastation", "destruction" | |||
Bosnian | frustracija | ||
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. | |||
Bulgarian | разочарование | ||
In Bulgarian, the word "разочарование" also means "disappointment". | |||
Czech | frustrace | ||
In Czech, "frustrace" can also mean "a waste" or "a loss". | |||
Estonian | frustratsioon | ||
It is derived from Latin frustra, meaning "in vain" or "to no avail". | |||
Finnish | turhautumista | ||
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. | |||
Hungarian | csalódottság | ||
The Hungarian word "csalódottság" can also refer to "disappointment", and originates from the word "csalód", meaning "deception", or "illusion."} | |||
Latvian | neapmierinātība | ||
The word "neapmierinātība" comes from "ne" (not) and "apmierināt" (to satisfy), and is also used to describe disappointment, dissatisfaction, or even resentment. | |||
Lithuanian | nusivylimas | ||
The Lithuanian word "nusivylimas" shares a root with the word "vilt(i)", meaning "hope", suggesting a sense of disappointment or dashed expectations. | |||
Macedonian | фрустрација | ||
The Macedonian word "фрустрација" is derived from the Latin word "frustrari" which means "to deceive, cheat or disappoint." | |||
Polish | udaremnienie | ||
"Udaremnienie" derives from a Polish word "udarem" meaning "failure, ruin, harm", from a Proto-Indo-European word "*h₃d̯er-" ("failure, ruin"). | |||
Romanian | frustrare | ||
Romanian "frustrare" derives from Latin "frustrari," meaning "deceive" or "disappoint," and carries the meaning of "to prevent the accomplishment of something"} | |||
Russian | разочарование | ||
The word "разочарование" originally meant "disenchantment" and was related to the word "чары" (spells) | |||
Serbian | фрустрација | ||
The word фрустрација in Serbian is derived from the Latin word | |||
Slovak | frustrácia | ||
The word frustrácia in Slovak originates from Latin frustrāri, meaning 'to deceive, disappoint or baffle'. | |||
Slovenian | frustracija | ||
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. | |||
Ukrainian | розчарування | ||
The word "розчарування" originates from the Old Slavic word "čarъ", meaning "charm" or "spell". |
Bengali | পরাজয় | ||
The word 'পরাজয়' literally means 'defeat', and can also refer to 'failure' or 'disappointment'. | |||
Gujarati | હતાશા | ||
The word "હતાશા" can also refer to "despair" or "hopelessness". | |||
Hindi | निराशा | ||
The word "निराशा" has alternate meanings of "despair" and "hopelessness" in Hindi. | |||
Kannada | ಹತಾಶೆ | ||
The word "ಹತಾಶೆ" (hatāśe) in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word "हताश" (hatāśa), which means "despair", "disappointment", or "loss of hope". | |||
Malayalam | നിരാശ | ||
The word "നിരാശ" can also mean "despair" or "hopelessness" in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | निराशा | ||
The etymology of "निराशा" in Marathi derives from the prefix "निर्-" denoting negation, indicating "devoid of hope" or "without solace." | |||
Nepali | निराशा | ||
Although it is often translated as "frustration", निराशा may also mean "hopelessness" or "despair". | |||
Punjabi | ਨਿਰਾਸ਼ਾ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කලකිරීම | ||
The word 'කලකිරීම' can also refer to 'excitement' or 'agitation' in certain contexts | |||
Tamil | விரக்தி | ||
The Tamil word 'விரக்தி' originates from the Sanskrit word 'विरक्ति' (virakti) and primarily denotes 'detachment' or 'dispassion' rather than the modern meaning of 'frustration'. | |||
Telugu | నిరాశ | ||
The Telugu word "నిరాశ" can also mean "despair" or "hopelessness". | |||
Urdu | مایوسی | ||
The word مایوسی comes from an Arabic word which literally means "despair". |
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. | |||
Korean | 좌절 | ||
The word "좌절" (frustration) originally meant "to be blocked or hindered" in Middle Korean. | |||
Mongolian | бухимдал | ||
In Mongolian, the word "бухимдал" can also mean "annoyance" or "irritation." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | စိတ်ပျက်စရာ | ||
Indonesian | frustrasi | ||
"Frustasi" can also mean 'failure' or 'disappointment' in Indonesian. | |||
Javanese | frustasi | ||
The word 'frustasi' (frustration) is derived from the Javanese word 'frustasi' (difficulty). | |||
Khmer | ការខកចិត្ត | ||
This word means "disappointment" in Thai. | |||
Lao | ຄວາມອຸກອັ່ງ | ||
Malay | kekecewaan | ||
"Kekecewaan" is also an archaic term for 'disappointment' in Malay. | |||
Thai | แห้ว | ||
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"} | |||
Vietnamese | thất vọng | ||
The word "thất vọng" literally means "lost hope" or "disappointment", reflecting its emotional connotation of failed expectations. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagkabigo | ||
Azerbaijani | məyusluq | ||
"Məyusluq" also refers to disappointment or discouragement specifically related to hope being dashed. | |||
Kazakh | көңілсіздік | ||
The word "көңілсіздік" can also refer to "unpleasantness," "disappointment," or "boredom" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | көңүл калуу | ||
The Kyrgyz term "köңül kaluu" can also refer to a feeling of disappointment or sadness. | |||
Tajik | ноумедӣ | ||
The word "ноумедӣ" can also refer to "despair" or a "sense of loss" in the Tajik language. | |||
Turkmen | lapykeçlik | ||
Uzbek | umidsizlik | ||
Ümidsizlik is derived from the word "ümid", meaning "hope". It denotes a state of hopelessness or despondency. | |||
Uyghur | ئۈمىدسىزلىك | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻohoka | ||
In Hawaiian, the word "hoʻohoka" also means "to deceive" or "to trick," suggesting that frustration often stems from unmet expectations or broken promises. | |||
Maori | hōhā | ||
Hōhā can also refer to a feeling of discontent or dissatisfaction. | |||
Samoan | le 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." |
Aymara | frustración ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Guarani | frustración rehegua | ||
Esperanto | frustriĝo | ||
Latin | vanitati | ||
The Latin word "vanitati" can also mean "emptiness" or "futility". |
Greek | εκνευρισμός | ||
"Εκνευρισμός" is derived from the Greek word "νεύρο" (nerve), referring to the irritation or agitation caused by something that gets on one's nerves. | |||
Hmong | kev ntxhov siab | ||
The Hmong word "kev ntxhov siab" can mean not only frustration but also anger or depression depending on the cultural context. | |||
Kurdish | hevîşikestinî | ||
The word "hevîşikestinî" in Kurdish also refers to the feeling of disappointment or discouragement. | |||
Turkish | hüsran | ||
The word 'hüsran' is derived from the Arabic word 'husran', which means disappointment or failure. | |||
Xhosa | unxunguphalo | ||
In Xhosa, 'unxunguphalo' can also refer to a 'dilemma' or 'a predicament'. | |||
Yiddish | פראַסטריישאַן | ||
According to YIVO, פֿראַסטריישאַן (frustration) comes from Old French, where it meant 'to shatter, crash' with its root in Latin for 'to break' | |||
Zulu | ukukhungatheka | ||
The word 'ukukhungatheka' literally means 'being made crooked or warped', referring to the feeling of frustration. | |||
Assamese | হতাশা | ||
Aymara | frustración ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Bhojpuri | कुंठा के भाव पैदा हो जाला | ||
Dhivehi | މާޔޫސްކަމެވެ | ||
Dogri | कुंठा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagkabigo | ||
Guarani | frustración rehegua | ||
Ilocano | pannakaupay | ||
Krio | frustrashɔn we pɔsin kin gɛt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | بێزاری | ||
Maithili | कुंठा | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐ꯭ꯔꯁ꯭ꯠꯔꯦꯁꯟ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | lungawi lohna a awm | ||
Oromo | mufannaa qabaachuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ନିରାଶା | ||
Quechua | frustración nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | कुण्ठनम् | ||
Tatar | өметсезлек | ||
Tigrinya | ብስጭት ምህላው | ||
Tsonga | ku vilela | ||