Afrikaans algemeen | ||
Albanian gjeneral | ||
Amharic አጠቃላይ | ||
Arabic جنرال لواء | ||
Armenian գեներալ | ||
Assamese সাধাৰণ | ||
Aymara taqpacha | ||
Azerbaijani ümumi | ||
Bambara zenerali | ||
Basque orokorra | ||
Belarusian агульны | ||
Bengali সাধারণ | ||
Bhojpuri साधारन | ||
Bosnian generalno | ||
Bulgarian общ | ||
Catalan general | ||
Cebuano kinatibuk-an | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 一般 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 一般 | ||
Corsican generale | ||
Croatian općenito | ||
Czech všeobecné | ||
Danish generel | ||
Dhivehi އާންމު | ||
Dogri आम | ||
Dutch algemeen | ||
English general | ||
Esperanto ĝenerala | ||
Estonian üldine | ||
Ewe gbadza | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) pangkalahatan | ||
Finnish yleinen | ||
French général | ||
Frisian algemien | ||
Galician xeral | ||
Georgian ზოგადი | ||
German allgemeines | ||
Greek γενικός | ||
Guarani opavavépe | ||
Gujarati સામાન્ય | ||
Haitian Creole jeneral | ||
Hausa janar | ||
Hawaiian laulā | ||
Hebrew כללי | ||
Hindi आम | ||
Hmong dav dav | ||
Hungarian tábornok | ||
Icelandic almennt | ||
Igbo izugbe | ||
Ilocano sapasap | ||
Indonesian umum | ||
Irish ginearálta | ||
Italian generale | ||
Japanese 一般 | ||
Javanese umume | ||
Kannada ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ | ||
Kazakh жалпы | ||
Khmer ទូទៅ | ||
Kinyarwanda rusange | ||
Konkani सर्वसादारण | ||
Korean 일반 | ||
Krio kɔmɔn | ||
Kurdish giştî | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) گشتی | ||
Kyrgyz жалпы | ||
Lao ທົ່ວໄປ | ||
Latin generalis | ||
Latvian vispārīgi | ||
Lingala mbala mingi | ||
Lithuanian generolas | ||
Luganda okutwaaliza awamu | ||
Luxembourgish allgemeng | ||
Macedonian генерал | ||
Maithili सामान्य | ||
Malagasy general | ||
Malay umum | ||
Malayalam ജനറൽ | ||
Maltese ġenerali | ||
Maori whanui | ||
Marathi सामान्य | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯃꯌꯥꯝꯒꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯕ | ||
Mizo tlanglawn | ||
Mongolian ерөнхий | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) ယေဘူယျ | ||
Nepali सामान्य | ||
Norwegian generell | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) ambiri | ||
Odia (Oriya) ସାଧାରଣ | ||
Oromo waliigala | ||
Pashto عمومي | ||
Persian عمومی | ||
Polish generał | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) geral | ||
Punjabi ਆਮ | ||
Quechua llapan | ||
Romanian general | ||
Russian генеральная | ||
Samoan lautele | ||
Sanskrit सामान्य | ||
Scots Gaelic coitcheann | ||
Sepedi kakaretšo | ||
Serbian генерал | ||
Sesotho ka kakaretso | ||
Shona general | ||
Sindhi عام | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) පොදු | ||
Slovak všeobecne | ||
Slovenian splošno | ||
Somali guud | ||
Spanish general | ||
Sundanese umum | ||
Swahili jumla | ||
Swedish allmän | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) pangkalahatan | ||
Tajik генерал | ||
Tamil பொது | ||
Tatar гомуми | ||
Telugu సాధారణ | ||
Thai ทั่วไป | ||
Tigrinya ሓፈሻዊ | ||
Tsonga angarhela | ||
Turkish genel | ||
Turkmen umumy | ||
Twi (Akan) daa daa | ||
Ukrainian загальний | ||
Urdu عام | ||
Uyghur general | ||
Uzbek umumiy | ||
Vietnamese chung | ||
Welsh cyffredinol | ||
Xhosa ngokubanzi | ||
Yiddish אַלגעמיין | ||
Yoruba gbogboogbo | ||
Zulu jikelele |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | Afrikaans "algemeen" derives from Dutch "algemeen" meaning "common" and is cognate with English "common" and "allege" (to assert publicly). |
| Albanian | The word "gjeneral" in Albanian comes from the French word "général", which ultimately derives from the Latin word "generālis" meaning "of a kind" or "common". |
| Amharic | The Amharic word "አጠቃላይ" (general) is derived from the verb "ጠቀለ" (to collect, to gather together), likely referring to the role of generals as overseers or leaders of a collective. |
| Arabic | The word "جنرال لواء" (general) is derived from the Persian word "سردار" (leader of an army). |
| Armenian | The Armenian word |
| Azerbaijani | Ümumi also means public, common, ordinary, and general in Azerbaijani. |
| Basque | In Basque, the word |
| Bengali | "সাধারণ" can be a noun meaning "community, society, or world" or an adjective meaning "ordinary, or common." |
| Bosnian | The word 'generalno' has an alternate meaning in Bosnian, referring to something that is 'overall' or 'in general'. |
| Bulgarian | "Общ" in Bulgarian can mean "common" or "total". |
| Catalan | Catalan "general" derives from the Latin "generalis" and also means "ordinary" or "common". |
| Cebuano | The word "kinatibuk-an" comes from the root word "kinatibuk-an" which refers to the whole or totality of something. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 一般 means not special or usual in Chinese, and can refer to a specific type of traditional Chinese medicine. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | In Chinese, "一般" (general) also means "ordinary" or "average", but it can be more formal than "普通" (common). |
| Corsican | The Corsican word "generale" can also mean "main" or "principal". |
| Croatian | The word "Općenito" in Croatian can also refer to the "general public" or "in general". |
| Czech | “Všeobecné” is also used in Czech for “universal” or “all-purpose.” |
| Danish | While spelled "generel" in Danish, the word is pronounced "general" and has all the same meanings as the word in English. |
| Dutch | In the context of the Dutch language, "algemeen" can also refer to a general assembly or a generalization. |
| Esperanto | The word "ĝenerala" comes from the Latin word "generalis", meaning "of a kind" or "common". |
| Estonian | The word "üldine" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *yle, meaning "higher, upper, over, above", and is related to the Finnish word "yleinen" and the Karelian word "yleine". |
| Finnish | The word "yleinen" can also refer to "public", such as "yleinen tie" ("public road"). |
| French | "Général" in French can also refer to a person in charge of a group of people or to the overall nature of something. |
| Frisian | The Frisian word "algemien" is most likely of French origin, deriving from the French word "algémene," meaning "universal, general." |
| Galician | The word "xeral" in Galician can also refer to a type of traditional Galician farmhouse or a type of chestnut tree. |
| Georgian | The word "ზოგადი" not only means "general", but also "ordinary" or "common". |
| German | The word "Allgemeines" can also refer to the general public, general affairs, or general information. |
| Greek | The word "γενικός" in Greek also means "generic" or "of or relating to a genus or group". |
| Gujarati | સામાન્ય (general) is derived from the Latin word 'generalis', meaning 'of all kinds', and is also an alternative form of 'ordinary' in Gujarati. |
| Haitian Creole | The word "jeneral" in Haitian Creole also means "boss" or "chief". |
| Hausa | The Hausa word "janar" is derived from the Arabic word "jeneral" and can also mean "commander" or "leader". |
| Hawaiian | Laulā means 'general' in Hawaiian, and also 'flower' in Samoan. |
| Hebrew | The Hebrew word "כללי" (general) shares its root with "כלל" (rule), emphasizing its role in establishing and enforcing norms. |
| Hindi | आम means mango in Hindi, and is related to the word आमा in Sanskrit, which means raw |
| Hmong | The word "dav dav" is also used to address an elder in Hmong. |
| Hungarian | The word "Tábornok" derives from the Turkish word "Teftirden" meaning "head of the troop list". |
| Icelandic | The word 'almennt' can also mean 'public' or 'common' and is related to the Old Norse word 'almenningr' meaning 'common to all'. |
| Igbo | The word "izugbe" is an Igbo word that has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It can mean "general" in some contexts, but it can also mean "leader", "head", or "chief" in other contexts. |
| Indonesian | The word "umum" can also mean "public" or "common", and is derived from the Arabic word "umum" which means "universal" or "all-embracing". |
| Irish | The Irish word "ginearálta" derives from the Latin "generalis", meaning "pertaining to the whole". |
| Italian | "Generale" in Italian can also mean "generic" or "total". |
| Japanese | The word "一般" (ippan) also means "ordinary" or "common" when used as a noun. |
| Javanese | The Javanese word "umume" also refers to the collective public or community in a general sense. |
| Kazakh | In Kazakh, "жалпы" can also mean "common, general, or universal" and may be related to the verb "жалу" (to spread, cover). |
| Khmer | The word "ទូទៅ" means "general" in Khmer and can also refer to "all" or "in general". |
| Korean | The word "일반" (general) in Korean has its origins in the Chinese word "一般", which means "common" or "usual." |
| Kurdish | Kurdish "giştî" (general) derives from the Middle Persian term "*gišti-g" meaning "commander" or "chief". |
| Kyrgyz | The word "жалпы" (general) in Kyrgyz is derived from the Persian word "jalp" meaning "army" and ultimately comes from the Sanskrit word "jalpa" meaning "discussion" or "disputation." |
| Latin | "Generalis" is also the name by which the Latin Church refers to its Superior General. |
| Latvian | Vispārīgi originates from Old Slavic “obshtĭ” which is the root for “community”; in Russian “vo obshih chertakh” means the same as English “broadly speaking.” |
| Lithuanian | The Lithuanian word "generolas" comes from the German "General", |
| Luxembourgish | While "allgemeng" in Luxembourgish means "general", it originates from the Old High German word "algemeine", whose root "gemain" meant "community". |
| Macedonian | It derives from the French, Italian and Latin |
| Malagasy | The Malagasy word for "general" is "jeneraly" and can also mean "master" or "leader". |
| Malay | "Umum" also means "common," "ordinary" or "in general" in Malay. |
| Malayalam | The Malayalam word "ജനറൽ" ("general") can also refer to a person who commands an army. |
| Maltese | Maltese 'ġenerali' derives from the Italian 'generale' and can also mean 'in general'. |
| Maori | Whanui can also refer to a large group or tribe, or to the concept of the extended family. |
| Marathi | The Marathi word "सामान्य" can also mean "ordinary" or "common". |
| Mongolian | 'Ерөнхий' can be traced back to Sanskrit 'sarva' and ultimately Proto-Indo-European 'sel-' ('complete'). |
| Nepali | The word “सामान्य” ( सामान्य ) also means ordinary, usual, common. |
| Norwegian | "Generell" is an umbrella term that encompasses the meanings of "universal", "all-inclusive", and "generalizing". |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | In Nyanja (Chichewa), “ambiri” may also refer to the head of a village or a supervisor, underscoring the hierarchical responsibilities of a general. |
| Pashto | The Pashto word "عمومي" ("general") also means "universal" or "public". |
| Persian | The word "عمومی" (general) in Persian can also refer to "public" or "common". |
| Polish | The word "generał" in Polish also means "admiral" and comes from the Latin word "generalis" meaning "common" or "universal". |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Portuguese, "geral" can also mean "common" or "universal". |
| Punjabi | The word "ਆਮ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "सामान्य", meaning "common" or "ordinary". |
| Romanian | "General" (general) originated from the French word "général" and the Latin noun "genus" meaning "race" or "kind." |
| Russian | The word "Генеральная" has a number of meanings and roots in Old Church Slavonic, Proto-Slavic, and Greek that encompass leadership, public assembly, and military matters. |
| Samoan | Lautele - a high-ranking chiefly title in Samoa, meaning "head of the village" or "master of the house". |
| Scots Gaelic | "Coitcheann" can also refer to "commonplace" or "common interest," and ultimately derives from the Latin word "communis," meaning "shared among a community." |
| Serbian | The word 'Генерал' is derived from the Latin word 'generalis', meaning 'general' or 'universal'. |
| Sesotho | In some contexts, the word "ka kakaretso" can also refer to a military commander or a leader in general. |
| Shona | The Shona word "general" (jenari) can also refer to a "lieutenant general" or "major general". |
| Sindhi | In Sindhi, "عام" (aam) also means "public" or "common", and is derived from the Arabic word "عام" (aam). |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The Sinhalese word “පොදු” (“general”) means a public thoroughfare, as well as a public privy, with the double meaning originating from the word's root in Sanskrit where “poda” meant “foot” and “podika” meant “a place where feet get placed on,” with those places being public pathways and toilets. |
| Slovak | The word "všeobecne" can also mean "universal" or "common" in Slovak. |
| Slovenian | The term 'splošno', though most often translated as 'general', can also denote 'widespread', or 'common' |
| Somali | Somalis use the term 'guud' in a number of different contexts, each with its own distinct meaning. |
| Spanish | The Spanish word "general" comes from the Latin "generalis," meaning "of a kind" or "common." |
| Sundanese | The word "umum" can also refer to a group of people or a community. |
| Swahili | The word "jumla" entered Swahili from Arabic and initially meant "number" or "collection" before also taking on the meaning of "general" in the military sense. |
| Swedish | In Swedish, "allmän" can also mean "common", "public" or "universal" depending on the context and its usage. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The word "pangkalahatan" comes from the root word "pangkat", which means "rank" or "level". In Philippine history, the term "pangkalahatan" was used to refer to the highest rank of leadership in the indigenous political system. |
| Tajik | Генерал in Tajik (Cyrillic) shares the same root word as 'general' in English, both deriving from the Latin word 'generalis' meaning 'of the whole'. |
| Tamil | The Tamil word "பொது" also means "public" in the context of places, events, or knowledge. |
| Telugu | The Telugu word "సాధారణ" (sādhāraṇa) originates from Sanskrit and means "ordinary, common," or "usual." |
| Thai | "ทั่วไป" can mean "all kinds" or "various" in Thai, and it can be used to refer to a wide range of things, including people, places, and things. |
| Turkish | The Turkish word "genel" not only means "general" but also "wide" and can be used in various contexts like "genel kültür" (general culture). |
| Ukrainian | The word "загальний" can also mean "common" or "universal" in Ukrainian. |
| Urdu | "عام" can also mean "common" or "public". |
| Uzbek | In Uzbek, "umumiy" (general) is derived from the Arabic word "'umūm" (common, general), which refers to the totality or generality of something. |
| Vietnamese | "Chung" can also mean "public" or "common," or can be used as an ordinal numeral for "first". |
| Welsh | The word "cyffredinol" in Welsh has an alternate meaning of "universal". |
| Xhosa | Etymology unknown; also means 'one of many' or 'a person of considerable authority or influence'. |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word "אַלגעמיין" also means "ordinary" or "normal". |
| Yoruba | The word "gbogboogbo" in Yoruba can also mean "widespread", "thorough", or "extensive". |
| Zulu | Some believe the word "jikelele" is derived from the phrase "isikali selikhulu", meaning "great weapon". |
| English | The word "general" shares the same root with "genus" and "generate", indicating a wide-ranging or encompassing nature. |