Guard in Different Languages
Discover 'Guard' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'guard' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, symbolizing protection and vigilance. From ancient watchmen to modern-day security personnel, guards have been essential in maintaining safety and order. This concept is so universal that many languages have their own unique translations for the word 'guard'.
For instance, in Spanish, a guard is referred to as 'guardia'. In French, it's 'garde', which also means 'keep' or 'preserve'. In German, the word is 'Wache', which can also mean 'watch'. These translations not only provide linguistic insights but also cultural contexts.
Understanding the translation of 'guard' in different languages can be beneficial in various scenarios. Whether you're traveling, studying languages, or simply expanding your cultural knowledge, knowing the local term for 'guard' can be a handy piece of information.
Here's a list of translations for the word 'guard' in different languages:
Guard
Guard in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | wag | ||
| The Afrikaans word "wag" comes from the Middle Dutch word "wacht", meaning "watch" or "guard". | |||
| Amharic | ጥበቃ | ||
| "ጥበቃ" also refers to the protection or safeguarding of something. | |||
| Hausa | tsaro | ||
| The word "tsaro" can also mean "protection", "shelter", or "safety" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | nche | ||
| The word "nche" can also refer to a type of traditional Igbo dance or a type of festival. | |||
| Malagasy | mitandrema | ||
| Mitandrema may also refer to a type of tree native to Madagascar, known as the 'guard tree' due to its protective properties. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mlonda | ||
| - | |||
| Shona | chengetedza | ||
| The word "chengetedza" is also used in Shona to mean "protect" or "care for." | |||
| Somali | ilaaliya | ||
| The word "ilaaliya" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "hifz" meaning "protection". | |||
| Sesotho | molebeli | ||
| Molebeli means "protector" or "defender" in Sesotho and is associated with traditional warriors tasked with guarding communities. | |||
| Swahili | mlinzi | ||
| "Mlinzi" also carries the additional meaning of 'protector,' hinting at the broader role guards play in safeguarding communities. | |||
| Xhosa | unogada | ||
| The word 'unogada' can also be used as a possessive determiner, meaning 'his' or 'her'. | |||
| Yoruba | oluso | ||
| The Yoruba word 'oluso' derives from 'so', meaning to protect or save. | |||
| Zulu | unogada | ||
| The word "unogada" can also refer to a type of traditional Zulu dance performed by young men. | |||
| Bambara | ka kɔlɔsi | ||
| Ewe | dzɔla | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuzamu | ||
| Lingala | kokengela | ||
| Luganda | omukuumi | ||
| Sepedi | leta | ||
| Twi (Akan) | bammɔfoɔ | ||
Guard in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | حارس | ||
| "حارس" (guard) also means "keeper" or "custodian". | |||
| Hebrew | שומר | ||
| שומר (guard) comes from the root word "שמר," meaning "to watch over," and also refers to a "watchman" or "steward." | |||
| Pashto | ساتونکی | ||
| In Pashto, the word "ساتونکی" has origins in the Pashto word "ساتون" meaning "protection" or "cover." | |||
| Arabic | حارس | ||
| "حارس" (guard) also means "keeper" or "custodian". | |||
Guard in Western European Languages
| Albanian | roje | ||
| The word 'roje' shares the same base with the Persian 'razm' and English 'army' | |||
| Basque | zaindari | ||
| The word "zaindari" is rooted in the Basque language's "zaindu" ("take care") + "-dar(e)" ("person"); it primarily relates to caregiving. | |||
| Catalan | guàrdia | ||
| The Catalan word "guàrdia" comes from the Germanic word "warda", which means "to guard" or "to watch over". | |||
| Croatian | straža | ||
| "Straža" is a Croatian noun that can also mean "watch" or "outpost". | |||
| Danish | vagt | ||
| The Danish word "vagt" derives from an Old Low Franconian root "*wahta" and is cognate to the English "wait". | |||
| Dutch | bewaker | ||
| The Dutch word "bewaker" also has the meaning "prison guard" and "watchman". | |||
| English | guard | ||
| "Guard" is also a verb that means to protect or defend something. | |||
| French | garde | ||
| "Garde" in French has its roots in the Old French term "warder", meaning "one who watches or protects", and has extended meanings such as "care" or "custody". | |||
| Frisian | beskermje | ||
| The word "beskermje" can also mean "protection" in Frisian. | |||
| Galician | garda | ||
| In Galician, "garda" can also mean "watch" or "care" and is derived from the Germanic word "warda" meaning "watchman". | |||
| German | bewachen | ||
| "Bewachen" is related to the English word "watch" and the Old English word "wacian", meaning "to keep awake". | |||
| Icelandic | vörður | ||
| The Icelandic word "vörður" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *warduz, meaning "watchman" or "guardian" | |||
| Irish | garda | ||
| In Irish, the word "garda" originally meant "watchman" or "sentinel". | |||
| Italian | guardia | ||
| "Guardia" derives from the old Germanic word "warda" meaning "protection" or "custody". | |||
| Luxembourgish | garde | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "garde" comes from the Proto-Germanic word *wardoz, meaning "watchman" or "guardian." | |||
| Maltese | gwardja | ||
| The Maltese word "gwardja" is ultimately derived from the Italian word "guardia", which in turn comes from the Germanic word "*wardōn" (meaning "to watch"). | |||
| Norwegian | vakt | ||
| The word "vakt" derives from the Proto-Germanic "*wahti" meaning "watchman" and is distantly related to the Old Norse "vaka" meaning "to be awake". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | guarda | ||
| The word "guarda" in Portuguese derives from the Germanic term "warda", meaning "watch" or "lookout". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | geàrd | ||
| The word “geàrd” can also mean boundary, edge, hedge, enclosure, margin or protection. | |||
| Spanish | guardia | ||
| The Spanish word "Guardia" can also refer to a watch, a guard, or a sentry. | |||
| Swedish | vakt | ||
| Vakt is also a term for the room where a guard is stationed, and can also refer to a watch or a period of time on duty. | |||
| Welsh | gwarchod | ||
| The word 'gwarchod' is thought to derive from the Proto-Celtic root *werg-, meaning 'to protect'. | |||
Guard in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | ахоўнік | ||
| "Ахоўнік" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*xotьnъ", meaning "eager" or "desirous", and is related to the Russian word "хотение" (desire). | |||
| Bosnian | straža | ||
| The word "straža" also means "watch" or "observance" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | пазач | ||
| "Пазач" is cognate with "пазител" - he who keeps and with "пазя" - to keep, to guard, to watch over." | |||
| Czech | hlídat | ||
| The word "hlídat" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*xŭlditi", which means "to watch" or "to observe." | |||
| Estonian | valvur | ||
| "Valvur" in Estonian has no alternate meanings but is cognate with Old Norse "vǫrðr" meaning "watchman" and "warden" | |||
| Finnish | vartija | ||
| The name of the 70s rock band Hurriganes is derived from Finnish 'hurrigani' ('vartija') | |||
| Hungarian | őr | ||
| The Hungarian word "őr" has been interpreted as being derived from the Turkic word "örük" meaning "watchman" or "guard." | |||
| Latvian | sargs | ||
| The Latvian word "sargs" is a homonym of the word "sargi", which means "watchmen" or "guards" in Russian and other Slavic languages. | |||
| Lithuanian | apsauga | ||
| The word "apsauga" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂eps- meaning "to bind, protect". | |||
| Macedonian | чувар | ||
| The Macedonian word "чувар" (guard) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *čuvati, which also means "to watch over". | |||
| Polish | strzec | ||
| The word 'strzec' is derived from the Proto-Slavic term 'sterti', meaning 'to watch' or 'to oversee'. | |||
| Romanian | paznic | ||
| "Paznic" is most likely derived from the Proto-Slavic *poti-/*pet- (meaning "master, lord"), also found in the Bulgarian "пазител" ("guardian"), "пазя" ("keep, guard") and the Serbo-Croatian "пазити" ("to guard, keep safe") | |||
| Russian | охранять | ||
| "Охранять" also means "to protect", "to defend", or "to keep safe". | |||
| Serbian | стражар | ||
| "Стражар" also refers to a medieval military unit guarding a border or a fort. | |||
| Slovak | strážiť | ||
| The word "strážiť" also means "to watch" or "to keep an eye on" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | stražar | ||
| In Serbo-Croatian, the word "stražar" also means "lighthouse keeper" and "sentry". | |||
| Ukrainian | вартовий | ||
| "Вартовий" also has the archaic meaning of "worthy, deserving" and is related to the noun "вартість" ("value, cost"). | |||
Guard in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রহরী | ||
| Derived from Sanskrit word 'prahara', meaning "a division of the day or night." | |||
| Gujarati | રક્ષક | ||
| The Gujarati word "રક્ષક" comes from the Sanskrit word "रक्ष" meaning "to protect" or "to defend". It can also refer to a guardian or custodian, or to a security guard. | |||
| Hindi | रक्षक | ||
| The Sanskrit origin of the Hindi word "रक्षक" suggests its deeper meaning as "one who protects or shields" beyond the concept of a guard. | |||
| Kannada | ಗಾರ್ಡ್ | ||
| The word 'ಗಾರ್ಡ್' ('guard') in Kannada also means a type of traditional Indian garment worn as a cloak or wrap. | |||
| Malayalam | കാവൽ | ||
| "കാവൽ" is also the name of a traditional form of martial art practised in Kerala. | |||
| Marathi | रक्षक | ||
| The word 'रक्षक' can also refer to a deity or a guardian angel. | |||
| Nepali | गार्ड | ||
| The word "गार्ड" ("guard") comes from the French word "guarde", which means "watch". | |||
| Punjabi | ਗਾਰਡ | ||
| The word 'ਗਾਰਡ' ('guard') in Punjabi is derived from the Persian word 'گارد' ('guard'), which ultimately comes from the French word 'garder' ('to keep'). | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආරක්ෂකයා | ||
| The word ආරක්ෂකයා, meaning "guard" in Sinhala, is derived from Sanskrit and Pali, where it originally meant a "protester" or "protector". | |||
| Tamil | காவலர் | ||
| Telugu | గార్డు | ||
| The word "గార్డు" can also refer to a police officer or a security guard. | |||
| Urdu | گارڈ | ||
| The word | |||
Guard in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 守卫 | ||
| The character '守' in '守卫' originally meant to protect a city with walls. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 守衛 | ||
| The character "衛" is a pictophonetic character, combining the radical "亻" (person) with the phonetic "韋" (to surround). | |||
| Japanese | ガード | ||
| "ガード" (guard) in Japanese can also mean "fence," "barrier," or "watch." | |||
| Korean | 가드 | ||
| The Korean word "가드" comes from the French word "garde", meaning "to protect or defend". | |||
| Mongolian | хамгаалагч | ||
| In Mongolian, the word "хамгаалагч" can literally mean "shield protector". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အစောင့် | ||
| The word "အစောင့်" can also refer to an animal that protects a place or a person, such as a dog or a cat. | |||
Guard in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | menjaga | ||
| The Indonesian word "menjaga" (to guard) is cognate with the Malay "menjaga" (to care, to nurse), from the Proto-Austronesian *pajŋa "to watch over, to care for, to treat with medicine". | |||
| Javanese | penjaga | ||
| The word penjaga is derived from the Old Javanese word "pengaji", meaning "to watch over" or "to protect". | |||
| Khmer | យាម | ||
| The word "យាម" is a noun in Khmer which means "guard". | |||
| Lao | ກອງ | ||
| The Lao word "ກອງ" can also mean "a group of people" or "a team". | |||
| Malay | pengawal | ||
| "Pengawal" is also used in the context of a "bodyguard" and an "escort." | |||
| Thai | ยาม | ||
| The Thai word "ยาม" (RTGS: yam) can also refer to a period of the night and a time unit. | |||
| Vietnamese | bảo vệ | ||
| Bảo vệ also carries connotations of protection, care, shelter and preservation in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bantay | ||
Guard in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | gözətçi | ||
| The word "gözətçi" derives from Persian "gōzāt" and the Azerbaijani suffix "-çı" | |||
| Kazakh | күзетші | ||
| The term "күзетші" is also used for a lookout on a ship or a military outpost. | |||
| Kyrgyz | күзөтчү | ||
| Tajik | посбон | ||
| The word 'пасбон' (posbon) has two meanings: 1) guard; 2) sentinel. | |||
| Turkmen | garawul | ||
| Uzbek | qo'riqchi | ||
| Qo'riqchi is an old word for guard in Uzbek, which is derived from the phrase "qo'rqmasdan turish" ("standing without fear"). | |||
| Uyghur | قاراۋۇل | ||
Guard in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kiaʻi | ||
| In Hawaiian, the word "kiaʻi" can also refer to the act of caring for something or someone. | |||
| Maori | kaitiaki | ||
| Kaitiaki is also used in Maori to describe a spiritual guardian or a steward of the land. | |||
| Samoan | leoleo | ||
| The word "leoleo" also means "police officer" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bantay | ||
| "Bantay" also means "look" or "watch" in Tagalog, and is related to the term "bantayog" (literally "one who watches over"), which refers to a monument or statue. | |||
Guard in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | wartya | ||
| Guarani | ñangarekohára | ||
Guard in International Languages
| Esperanto | gardisto | ||
| The Esperanto word "gardisto" comes from the French word "garde", meaning "guard". | |||
| Latin | praesidio | ||
| The Latin word "praesidio" originally referred to a garrison, and was later used to describe a military outpost. | |||
Guard in Others Languages
| Greek | φρουρά | ||
| The word "φρουρά" in Greek derives from the verb "φρουρέω", meaning "to keep watch" or "to protect". | |||
| Hmong | ceev xwm | ||
| The Hmong word 'ceev xwm' ('guard') also signifies 'protector or bodyguard'. | |||
| Kurdish | pêvokê parastinê | ||
| In the past, the word also meant "to give shelter". | |||
| Turkish | koruma | ||
| "Koruma" is not only used with the meaning of "guard" but also with the meaning of "protection". | |||
| Xhosa | unogada | ||
| The word 'unogada' can also be used as a possessive determiner, meaning 'his' or 'her'. | |||
| Yiddish | היטן | ||
| In Yiddish, "היטן" is also a verb meaning "to keep" or "to observe". | |||
| Zulu | unogada | ||
| The word "unogada" can also refer to a type of traditional Zulu dance performed by young men. | |||
| Assamese | ৰক্ষা কৰা | ||
| Aymara | wartya | ||
| Bhojpuri | रक्षक | ||
| Dhivehi | ގާޑް | ||
| Dogri | पैहरेदार | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bantay | ||
| Guarani | ñangarekohára | ||
| Ilocano | guardia | ||
| Krio | gayd | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پاسەوان | ||
| Maithili | पहिरेदार | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯉꯥꯛ ꯁꯦꯟꯕ ꯃꯤ | ||
| Mizo | veng | ||
| Oromo | eegduu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ରାକ୍ଷୀ | ||
| Quechua | harkaq | ||
| Sanskrit | रक्षक | ||
| Tatar | сакчы | ||
| Tigrinya | ሓላዊ | ||
| Tsonga | rindza | ||