Graduate in Different Languages
Discover 'Graduate' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word “graduate” holds significant weight in our lexicon, symbolizing achievement and transition. It marks the culmination of years of dedication, learning, and personal growth. Graduation is not just a cultural milestone, but a universal rite of passage that transcends borders and unites us in celebration.
Delving into the global significance of this term, one might wonder: what is the translation of “graduate” in different languages? The word's resonance extends far beyond English-speaking countries, and understanding its equivalent in various tongues can foster connections and deepen cultural appreciation.
For instance, in Spanish, the word “graduado” signifies a graduate, while in French, it's “diplômé” that captures the essence of this accomplishment. In German, the term “Absolvent” is used, and in Mandarin Chinese, the translation is “ài guò” (艾果).
Join us as we embark on a linguistic journey, exploring the translations of “graduate” in a multitude of languages, and illuminating the shared values and aspirations that underpin our diverse human experience.
Graduate
Graduate in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | gegradueerde | ||
| The Afrikaans word "gegradueerde" also has the meaning of "graduand" or "person being graduated" in addition to "graduate." | |||
| Amharic | ምረቃ | ||
| The word "ምረቃ" also has the alternate meaning of "someone who has been selected or chosen." | |||
| Hausa | kammala karatu | ||
| Kammala karatu means 'finished learning' and also refers to a certificate or diploma in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | gụsịrị akwụkwọ | ||
| The word "gụsịrị akwụkwọ" translates to "graduate" in English, but it is commonly used in Igbo to refer to the act of completing an educational program and graduating. | |||
| Malagasy | nahazo diplaoma | ||
| Malagasy "nahazo diplaoma" can translate as "receive a degree", "become skilled or learned", or "achieve an academic distinction". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | womaliza maphunziro | ||
| The word "womaliza maphunziro" also means "complete" or "finish" a task or program. | |||
| Shona | akapedza kudzidza | ||
| The word "akapedza kudzidza" can also be used to refer to someone who has completed a particular task or project. | |||
| Somali | qalinjabiyey | ||
| The word "qalinjabiyey" is derived from the Arabic word "gālib"," meaning "victorious" or "triumphant." | |||
| Sesotho | ea phethileng lithuto tse holimo | ||
| The word can also refer to the traditional Sesotho gown worn by graduates and dignitaries. | |||
| Swahili | hitimu | ||
| "Hitimu" is used to refer to graduates in both medicine and other disciplines. | |||
| Xhosa | isithwalandwe | ||
| "Isithwalandwe" derives from the Xhosa verb "thwala," meaning "to carry," and literally translates to "carrier of knowledge." | |||
| Yoruba | ile-iwe giga | ||
| The Yoruba word 'ile-iwe giga' literally means 'large house of learning'. | |||
| Zulu | iziqu | ||
| The word "iziqu" can also refer to a person who has completed a traditional rite of passage or initiation ceremony. | |||
| Bambara | ka dipilomu sɔrɔ | ||
| Ewe | do le suku | ||
| Kinyarwanda | barangije | ||
| Lingala | kozwa diplome | ||
| Luganda | okutikkirwa | ||
| Sepedi | sealoga | ||
| Twi (Akan) | wie | ||
Graduate in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | يتخرج | ||
| يتخرج also means "to free a slave" and derives from the root "خرق" meaning "to rip" or "to tear". | |||
| Hebrew | בוגר | ||
| The word בוגר derives from the root בגר, which also means 'to ripen' or 'to mature' in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | فارغ | ||
| The word "فارغ" in Pashto is derived from the Arabic word "فراغ" meaning "leisure" or "free time," indicating that a graduate has completed their education and now has time to pursue other interests. | |||
| Arabic | يتخرج | ||
| يتخرج also means "to free a slave" and derives from the root "خرق" meaning "to rip" or "to tear". | |||
Graduate in Western European Languages
| Albanian | diplomim | ||
| The word "diplomim" in Albanian also means "to become a diplomat" or "to obtain a diploma." | |||
| Basque | lizentziatua | ||
| "Lizentziatua" derives from Latin "licentia", meaning license, which refers to a degree earned after completing a certain level of education. | |||
| Catalan | graduat | ||
| The Catalan word "graduat" can also mean "equipped" or "provided with." | |||
| Croatian | diplomirati | ||
| The verb 'diplomirati' is derived from the Greek word 'diploma', meaning 'folded document', which is a reference to the document that university graduates receive. | |||
| Danish | bestå | ||
| Bestå, an Old Norse word, literally means to 'stand by' or 'take a stand' in Danish. | |||
| Dutch | afstuderen | ||
| In addition to meaning "to graduate," "afstuderen" also means "to leave school." | |||
| English | graduate | ||
| Graduate as an adjective in the sense of 'high quality' comes from its Latin origin gradus (step, stage). | |||
| French | diplômé | ||
| "Diplômé" comes from the Greek word "diploma" meaning "double folded", referring to the folded parchment on which official documents were written. | |||
| Frisian | ôfstudearje | ||
| The word "ôfstudearje" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*uftiudōn", which means "to hasten" or "to hurry". | |||
| Galician | graduado | ||
| The Galician word 'Graduado' can also refer to a person receiving a degree or diploma. | |||
| German | absolvent | ||
| In German, the word "Absolvent" can also refer to someone who has completed a course of study or training. | |||
| Icelandic | útskrifast | ||
| Útskrifast, 'graduate', derives from the verb 'skrifa', 'write', and was originally used to refer to the act of being written out of a school registry. | |||
| Irish | céimí | ||
| The word "céimí" originated from the Latin word "gradus" which translates to "step up" or "increment". | |||
| Italian | diplomato | ||
| Despite its meaning as "graduate" today, "diplomato" originally meant "recipient of a diploma." | |||
| Luxembourgish | diplom | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Diplom" can also refer to a "diploma" or "certificate" issued by an educational institution. | |||
| Maltese | gradwat | ||
| The root of 'gradwat' lies in the Arabic word 'jarada', meaning 'to cut' or 'to sever', as a graduation symbolizes the end of a stage of education. | |||
| Norwegian | uteksamineres | ||
| The word "uteksamineres" is derived from the Latin word "examinare", meaning "to weigh" or "to test". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | graduado | ||
| The word "graduado" in Portuguese can also refer to a military rank, a university degree, or a professional qualification. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | ceumnaiche | ||
| In some texts, the word can also refer to a religious disciple or student of learning | |||
| Spanish | graduado | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "graduate", "graduado" can also refer to a "degree holder" or someone who has completed a certain level of education. | |||
| Swedish | examen | ||
| The word "examen" also means "test" or "examination" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | graddedig | ||
| Welsh "graddedig" ultimately comes from the Latin "gradus" (step), and it can also mean "step" or "degree" in Welsh. | |||
Graduate in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | скончыць навучальную установу | ||
| Bosnian | diplomirati | ||
| The word "diplomirati" is derived from the French word "diplôme" and German word "Diplom", both meaning "certificate". | |||
| Bulgarian | завършвам | ||
| The verb "завършвам" can also mean "to complete, to finish" or "to end" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | absolvovat | ||
| The word 'absolvovat' in Czech, meaning 'to graduate', derives from the Latin verb 'absolvō', meaning 'to loosen, release, or set free'. | |||
| Estonian | lõpetama | ||
| "Lõpetama" also means "to complete" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | valmistua | ||
| In the 1970s the Finnish military started using | |||
| Hungarian | érettségizni | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "érettségizni" also means to reach adulthood, since obtaining a high school diploma was once perceived as the milestone of becoming an adult. | |||
| Latvian | absolvents | ||
| The word "absolvents" in Latvian refers to someone who has successfully completed a higher education program, but it can also mean "absolver" or "acquittor" in legal contexts. | |||
| Lithuanian | baigęs | ||
| The word "baigęs" in Lithuanian can also mean "finished" or "completed". | |||
| Macedonian | дипломира | ||
| The word "дипломира" in Macedonian comes from the Greek word "δίπλωμα" (diploma), which means "folded double" and refers to the ancient practice of folding official documents in two. | |||
| Polish | ukończyć | ||
| The word "ukończyć" also means "to end, to complete" and comes from the Proto-Slavic word "konьčiti", which means "to finish, to end". | |||
| Romanian | absolvent | ||
| The Romanian word "absolvent" also refers to a university faculty member who has finished their research work and has the right to supervise postgraduate students. | |||
| Russian | выпускник | ||
| "Выпускник" also refers to the final volume in Turgenev's "Записки охотника" and to the final part of a concert or show | |||
| Serbian | дипломирани | ||
| Дипломирани in Serbian comes from the Ancient Greek "diplóo", meaning to "double", as graduates would receive double-rolled diplomas. | |||
| Slovak | absolvent | ||
| "Absolvent" in Slovak can also refer to a person who has completed a period of military service or who has been released from prison. | |||
| Slovenian | diplomant | ||
| The word "diplomat" in Slovenian has an additional meaning of "a person who holds a diploma". | |||
| Ukrainian | випускник | ||
| The word “випускник” (“graduate”) also refers to the year of graduation or commencement or the school class that graduated in that year. | |||
Graduate in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | স্নাতক | ||
| স্নাতক (graduate) শব্দটি এসেছে মূলত সংস্কৃত শব্দ 'স্নাতন' থেকে, যার অর্থ 'স্নান করা'। | |||
| Gujarati | સ્નાતક | ||
| In Sanskrit, the term "स्नातक" means "one who has bathed", emphasizing purity and academic accomplishment | |||
| Hindi | स्नातक | ||
| The Hindi word 'स्नातक' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'स्ना' meaning 'bath' and 'तक' meaning 'up to', reflecting its original meaning of 'a ritual bath'. However, its connotation has shifted through the centuries to exclusively signify 'higher education'. | |||
| Kannada | ಪದವಿಧರ | ||
| ಪದವಿಧರ(padavidhara) is a compound word that combines the words 'pada' (meaning 'foot') and 'vidhara' (meaning 'to carry'). In the context of education, it signifies 'one who has completed a course of study and received a degree or diploma'. | |||
| Malayalam | ബിരുദധാരി | ||
| The term birudadhari has a double etymological meaning - 'the crown bearer' as well as 'titled scholar'. | |||
| Marathi | पदवीधर | ||
| The Marathi word पदवीधर (padvidhar) literally means 'one who holds a foot', but figuratively refers to a university graduate. | |||
| Nepali | स्नातक | ||
| The Sanskrit root 'snat' meaning 'to drip, flow' also gives rise to the word 'snana', which means 'to bathe'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਗ੍ਰੈਜੂਏਟ | ||
| ਗ੍ਰੈਜੂਏਟ is a Punjabi word that can also refer to a person who has completed a certain level of education, such as a high school diploma or a college degree. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උපාධිධාරියා | ||
| Meaning 'one who holds a degree', 'උපාධි' can also refer to a 'title' | |||
| Tamil | பட்டதாரி | ||
| The term 'பட்டதாரி' in Tamil, derived from the root word 'பட்டம்', can also refer to a skilled practitioner in various fields, such as music or dance, rather than exclusively denoting academic qualification holders. | |||
| Telugu | ఉన్నత విద్యావంతుడు | ||
| Urdu | گریجویٹ | ||
Graduate in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 毕业 | ||
| The word "毕业" is composed of two characters that when separated literally mean "to leave and follow the division". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 畢業 | ||
| 畢業 can also refer to the act or period of leaving a place or group, or a departure or separation. | |||
| Japanese | 卒業 | ||
| "卒業" derives from "卒" meaning "leaving" and "業" meaning "study" or "work", suggesting "leaving one's educational or professional pursuits" | |||
| Korean | 졸업하다 | ||
| In Korean, "졸업하다" derives from Chinese characters meaning "to emerge from a nest" and initially referred to "leaving the family home". | |||
| Mongolian | төгсөх | ||
| The word "төгсөх" also means "to finish". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဘွဲ့ရသည် | ||
| Its literal meaning is “wearer of a cap”. | |||
Graduate in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | lulus | ||
| "Lulus" in Indonesian shares its root with "luluh" and "larut," indicating a process of disintegration or transformation. | |||
| Javanese | lulusan | ||
| In Javanese, "lulusan" can also refer to a person who has successfully completed a task or achieved a goal. | |||
| Khmer | បញ្ចប់ការសិក្សា | ||
| Lao | ຈົບການສຶກສາ | ||
| This word can also be used to refer to graduating from kindergarten, primary school, or secondary school. | |||
| Malay | siswazah | ||
| The Malay word "siswazah" is a loanword from the Arabic word "shahada", which means "a testimony" or "a certificate". | |||
| Thai | จบการศึกษา | ||
| In Thai, the word "จบการศึกษา" can mean both "graduate" from an educational institution and "finish" a task or project. | |||
| Vietnamese | tốt nghiệp | ||
| The word "tốt nghiệp" can also be used as a transitive verb to confer a degree on a person, similar to the English phrase "to graduate someone." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | graduate | ||
Graduate in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | məzun | ||
| "Məzun" (graduate) comes from the Arabic word "mazūn", meaning "given permission" or "authorized", suggesting that graduating represents the completion of authorized studies. | |||
| Kazakh | түлек | ||
| The word "түлек" originally meant "a person who has successfully passed an exam or test" and still carries this meaning in modern Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | бүтүрүү | ||
| The word "бүтүрүү" in Kyrgyz can also mean "completion" or "ending". | |||
| Tajik | хатм кунанда | ||
| The word "хатм кунанда" can also mean "executor of a task" or "one who completes something" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | uçurym | ||
| Uzbek | bitirmoq | ||
| The word "bitirmoq" in Uzbek also means "to complete" or "to finish". | |||
| Uyghur | ئاسپىرانت | ||
Graduate in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | puka kula | ||
| Puka kula is also the Hawaiian name for the flowering native Hawaiian plant known as the torchwood. | |||
| Maori | paetahi | ||
| The word "paetahi" originates from the Maori word "pae" meaning "step" and "tahi" meaning "one", indicating the first step in the journey of higher education. | |||
| Samoan | faʻauʻu | ||
| The term also describes the final step of a traditional Samoan tattoo process where dye is applied with a burning torch. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | nagtapos | ||
| The Tagalog word "nagtapos" can also refer to the act of finishing or completing something, such as a task or project. | |||
Graduate in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | yatiqañ tukuyata | ||
| Guarani | mba'ekuaaru'ã | ||
Graduate in International Languages
| Esperanto | diplomiĝinto | ||
| The word "diplomiĝinto" also means "diplomat" in Esperanto, highlighting the dual nature of the root "diplom-" in both English and Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | graduati | ||
| Latin "graduati" can mean those that have "stepped forward" into a higher rank or privilege. | |||
Graduate in Others Languages
| Greek | αποφοιτώ | ||
| "Αποφοιτώ" is a compound verb derived from "από" (from) and "φοιτώ" (to attend), thus describing the completion of a period of formal education. | |||
| Hmong | kawm tiav | ||
| The Hmong word "kawm tiav" also means "climb over" or "step over" and is related to the word "tawm" meaning "bridge". | |||
| Kurdish | xelasker | ||
| Xelasker is derived from Greek "scholēstikos," meaning "pertaining to school or study." | |||
| Turkish | mezun olmak | ||
| The word "mezun olmak" in Turkish, meaning "to graduate", can also refer to the completion of compulsory military service, indicating a transition from one stage of life to another. | |||
| Xhosa | isithwalandwe | ||
| "Isithwalandwe" derives from the Xhosa verb "thwala," meaning "to carry," and literally translates to "carrier of knowledge." | |||
| Yiddish | גראַדזשאַוואַט | ||
| The Yiddish word "גראַדזשאַוואַט" is derived from the Old High German "gradu, " which translates to "step." | |||
| Zulu | iziqu | ||
| The word "iziqu" can also refer to a person who has completed a traditional rite of passage or initiation ceremony. | |||
| Assamese | স্নাতক | ||
| Aymara | yatiqañ tukuyata | ||
| Bhojpuri | स्नातक | ||
| Dhivehi | ގްރެޖުއޭޓް | ||
| Dogri | ग्रैजुएट | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | graduate | ||
| Guarani | mba'ekuaaru'ã | ||
| Ilocano | agturpos | ||
| Krio | gradyuet | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دەرچوو | ||
| Maithili | स्नातक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯒ꯭ꯔꯦꯖꯨꯋꯦꯠ | ||
| Mizo | zirchhuak | ||
| Oromo | eebbifamuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସ୍ନାତକ | ||
| Quechua | graduado | ||
| Sanskrit | स्नातक | ||
| Tatar | тәмамлау | ||
| Tigrinya | ምሩቕ | ||
| Tsonga | thwasana | ||