Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'guide' holds immense significance in our daily lives, serving as a beacon of direction and knowledge. Guides can be people, books, or even digital resources that help us navigate through unfamiliar territories, be it physical or conceptual. The concept of a guide has been culturally important across various civilizations, from the ancient Greek philosophers to Native American trail guides. In many ways, a guide is a translator, interpreting the world for us and helping us make sense of it.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'guide' in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how different cultures perceive and utilize the concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'guide' translates to 'guía', in French to 'guide', and in German to 'Führer'. Each language's translation not only reflects the linguistic nuances but also the cultural contexts.
So, whether you're a globetrotter seeking to explore new lands, a language enthusiast broadening your vocabulary, or a cultural researcher delving into societal norms, knowing the translation of 'guide' in different languages can be a rewarding journey.
Afrikaans | gids | ||
The word "gids" originates from the Dutch word "leidsman," which refers to a person who leads the way. | |||
Amharic | መመሪያ | ||
The Amharic word "መመሪያ" can also mean "order, instruction, lesson, or tutorial". | |||
Hausa | jagora | ||
Jagora, which literally means "someone who shows the way," can also be used figuratively to refer to leaders who provide guidance and direction. | |||
Igbo | ndu | ||
Igbo 'ndụ' (guide) derives from the verb 'du' (to stay), with the prefix 'n-' meaning 'in a state of'. | |||
Malagasy | torolalana | ||
The Malagasy word "Torolalana" also means "one who shows the way". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wotsogolera | ||
The word 'wotsogolera' is also used in Nyanja to refer to a leader or a person who provides direction. | |||
Shona | nhungamiro | ||
The word "nhungamiro" is derived from the verb "kunga", which means "to go" or "to travel". | |||
Somali | hage | ||
The word "hage" also means "leader" or "shepherd" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | tataisa | ||
In Zulu and Xhosa, the equivalent term 'tataisa' is also a slang word for a policeman. | |||
Swahili | mwongozo | ||
The word "mwongozo" in Swahili is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "-ongola", meaning "to follow, lead, or show the way". It is related to the verb "-ongoza", which means "to guide, lead, or direct". It can also refer to a person who provides guidance or direction. | |||
Xhosa | isikhokelo | ||
The term "Isikhokelo" in Xhosa can also refer to a leader or a teacher. | |||
Yoruba | itọsọna | ||
Zulu | umhlahlandlela | ||
The Zulu word "umhlahlandlela" is rooted in the word "hlahlandlela" meaning "to guide," and can also refer to a person who shows others the way. | |||
Bambara | bereminɛbaa | ||
Ewe | fia afɔɖoƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | umuyobozi | ||
Lingala | kokamba | ||
Luganda | okulungamya | ||
Sepedi | hlahla | ||
Twi (Akan) | kyerɛ kwan | ||
Arabic | يرشد | ||
The noun "مرشد" (guide) also signifies a "teacher" who instructs students in religious disciplines. | |||
Hebrew | להנחות | ||
The word "להנחות" in Hebrew can also mean "to take for granted" or "to assume". | |||
Pashto | لارښود | ||
In Pashto, "لارښود" can also refer to a spiritual or moral leader, mentor, or advisor. | |||
Arabic | يرشد | ||
The noun "مرشد" (guide) also signifies a "teacher" who instructs students in religious disciplines. |
Albanian | udhëzues | ||
Derived from Proto-Albanian *udhi, meaning “way, path, journey” | |||
Basque | gida | ||
"Gida" is also the Basque word for "food or sustenance." | |||
Catalan | guia | ||
The word "guia" in Catalan derives from the Latin "guida", itself derived from the Indo-European root "weh_", meaning "to lead". | |||
Croatian | vodič | ||
In Serbian, the word 'vodič' has two meanings: 'a water supply' and 'a guide'. | |||
Danish | guide | ||
Its etymology may also suggest the meanings of 'signpost' or 'landmark' | |||
Dutch | gids | ||
The Dutch word "gids" originates from the Old French "guide" and has a cognate in the English word "guide" but also refers to a theatrical program. | |||
English | guide | ||
The word "guide" comes from the Old French "guier," meaning "to lead or direct," which in turn derives from the Latin "ducere," meaning "to lead". | |||
French | guider | ||
The word "guider" in French can also refer to a thread or string used to guide a needle or a line in fishing. | |||
Frisian | gids | ||
"Gids" is derived from the West Frisian "gîdse" or Middle Dutch "gidse", and originally meant messenger, envoy or diplomat. | |||
Galician | guía | ||
The Galician word 'guía' also means 'string of animals being led by a herdsman or shepherd', from the Latin 'viam', meaning 'way'. | |||
German | leiten | ||
Leiten, meaning 'to guide' in modern German, originally meant 'to lead water', which is still one of its meanings. | |||
Icelandic | leiðarvísir | ||
Leiðarvísir can also refer to a 'compass' or 'roadmap'. | |||
Irish | treoir | ||
The word 'treoir' not only means 'guide' but also means 'guidebook' or 'directory' in Irish. | |||
Italian | guida | ||
The Italian word "guida" comes from the Latin word "ducere", meaning "to lead". | |||
Luxembourgish | guide | ||
The Luxembourgish word "guide" also means "rope" in English. | |||
Maltese | gwida | ||
In Maltese, "gwida" is both a "guide" and a "rule" or "precept". | |||
Norwegian | guide | ||
In Norwegian, "guide" can also mean "husband," or "a path"} | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | guia | ||
The word "guia" in Portuguese originated from the Latin word "guiare", meaning "to show the way". | |||
Scots Gaelic | stiùireadh | ||
Stiuireadh comes from the Old Irish verb "snaidhim", which means "to direct" and is cognate with the English verb steer. | |||
Spanish | guía | ||
"Guía" can also mean "leash" and comes from the Latin "via" (way, path)" | |||
Swedish | guide | ||
Guide derives from the Old Frankish word "wita", meaning "to observe, to see, know, foresee", from the Proto-Germanic word "witan", to see. | |||
Welsh | canllaw | ||
"Canllaw" can also refer to the act of leading or controlling a process or system. |
Belarusian | кіраўніцтва | ||
Bosnian | vodič | ||
The word 'vodič' (guide) is cognate with 'voditi' (lead), implying a guide's ability to lead a person through a place or process. | |||
Bulgarian | ръководство | ||
The word "ръководство" in Bulgarian also means "management" or "leadership". | |||
Czech | průvodce | ||
The Czech word "průvodce" can also refer to a parade or procession. | |||
Estonian | giid | ||
The Estonian word "giid" also means "lead" or "conduct". | |||
Finnish | opas | ||
The word "opas" may derive from the Sami word "uoppa", meaning "a hole"} | |||
Hungarian | útmutató | ||
The word 'útmutató' literally means 'road-shower' in Hungarian, referring to someone who shows the way by walking ahead and sprinkling water on the path. | |||
Latvian | vadīt | ||
"Vadīt" in Latvian comes from the Proto-Baltic root *wed- meaning "to lead" or "to carry". | |||
Lithuanian | vadovas | ||
"Vadovas" is derived from the Indo-European root "*wed-", meaning "to go" or "to lead." | |||
Macedonian | водич | ||
The word 'водич' is also used in Russian, derived from 'водитель', and in Serbian, likely originating from a common Slavic root. | |||
Polish | przewodnik | ||
The word "przewodnik" also means "conductor" (electricity, heat, etc.), or "transmitter" (e.g. of disease). | |||
Romanian | ghid | ||
The word "ghid" in Romanian also has the alternate meaning of "manual" or "tutorial". | |||
Russian | руководство | ||
The word 'руководство' can also refer to a handbook, manual, or set of instructions. | |||
Serbian | водич | ||
The Serbian word "Водич" (guide) derives from the Old Slavic root "*vodъ," meaning "to lead or guide"} | |||
Slovak | sprievodca | ||
The word "sprievodca" originates from the Proto-Slavic word "*provodь", meaning "one who leads". | |||
Slovenian | vodnik | ||
The word "vodnik" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "vodьnikь", meaning "one who leads". | |||
Ukrainian | путівник | ||
In Ukrainian, "путівник" not only means "guide" but also refers to a "guidebook" or a "navigator". |
Bengali | গাইড | ||
The word "গাইড" can also mean "cow" in Bengali, as it originates from the Sanskrit word "go", meaning "cow". | |||
Gujarati | માર્ગદર્શન | ||
The word "માર્ગદર્શન" is derived from the Sanskrit root "mārga", meaning "path" or "way", and "darśana", meaning "to see" or "to show". | |||
Hindi | मार्गदर्शक | ||
The Hindi word "मार्गदर्शक" (marg darshak) is derived from the Sanskrit terms "मार्ग" (path) and "दर्शक" (shower), together meaning "one who shows the way or guides." | |||
Kannada | ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ | ||
The word "ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ" (mārgadarśi) in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word "मार्गदर्शिन्" (mārga-darśin), which means "one who shows the way" or "a guide". | |||
Malayalam | ഗൈഡ് | ||
The word "ഗൈഡ്" derives from the French word "guider" meaning "to lead" or "to direct." | |||
Marathi | मार्गदर्शन | ||
The word मार्गदर्शन is derived from the Sanskrit word मार्ग ('path') and दर्शन ('sight'), meaning 'to show the way'. | |||
Nepali | गाईड | ||
गाईड ("guide") is a loanword from English, originally derived from Old French "guier". In Nepal, it is used not only for a person leading others, but also as a noun meaning "line" or "rule to guide a carpenter or similar worker." | |||
Punjabi | ਗਾਈਡ | ||
The Punjabi word 'ਗਾਈਡ' has its origins in the English or French word guide meaning 'a person or book giving information on a subject'. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මගපෙන්වීම | ||
The Sinhala word "මගපෙන්වීම" can also mean "to lead the way" or "to show the way". | |||
Tamil | வழிகாட்டி | ||
Telugu | గైడ్ | ||
The word "గైడ్" can also refer to a manual or book that provides instruction or information. | |||
Urdu | رہنما | ||
The word "رہنما" can also mean "leader" or "conductor" (as of an orchestra). |
Chinese (Simplified) | 指南 | ||
"指南" can refer to the south, a magnet, or a manual depending on the context. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 指南 | ||
"指南"在中文里除了有"指南针"的意思外,还指在行动上起示范作用的行为或人。 | |||
Japanese | ガイド | ||
(In Japanese, ガイド can also refer to a TV guide or travel guide book.) | |||
Korean | 안내서 | ||
안내서 (an-nae-seo) is a compound word of 안내 (an-nae; 'guide') and 서 (seo; 'book') | |||
Mongolian | гарын авлага | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လမ်းပြ | ||
Indonesian | panduan | ||
The word 'panduan' can also refer to a code of conduct or a set of rules. | |||
Javanese | pandhuan | ||
The Javanese word "pandhuan" can also refer to a signpost or a way of guidance. | |||
Khmer | ណែនាំ | ||
The word "ណែនាំ" can also refer to teaching, advising, or giving instructions. | |||
Lao | ຄູ່ມື | ||
Also translates to 'manual' or 'instruction book' | |||
Malay | panduan | ||
The word "panduan" derives from the Sanskrit word "pandita" meaning "learned person" and is also used in Indonesian and Javanese with the same meaning. | |||
Thai | คู่มือ | ||
คู่มือ (guide) comes from the Sanskrit word 'kamala' meaning 'lotus' and the Thai word 'mu' meaning 'hand', likely indicating that the book was traditionally kept in the hand like a lotus flower. | |||
Vietnamese | hướng dẫn | ||
"Hướng dẫn" also means "to instruct" or "to show the way" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | gabay | ||
Azerbaijani | bələdçi | ||
The word "bələdçi" is derived from the Persian word "rahbar" meaning "leader" and also refers to a person who shows the way. | |||
Kazakh | нұсқаулық | ||
The Kazakh word “нұсқаулық” is derived from the Arabic word “نسخه,” which originally referred to a medicinal potion or recipe. | |||
Kyrgyz | гид | ||
Kyrgyz word "гид" (guide) is originated from the Persian word "هدایت" (guidance). | |||
Tajik | дастур | ||
The word "дастур" in Tajik also means "rule", "custom", or "teaching". | |||
Turkmen | gollanma | ||
Uzbek | qo'llanma | ||
The Uzbek word "qo'llanma" traces its roots to the Persian "rūznāme" meaning "journal" or "diary". | |||
Uyghur | يېتەكچى | ||
Hawaiian | alakaʻi | ||
The word "alakaʻi" also refers to a person who leads or directs others in a particular field or area of knowledge. | |||
Maori | kaiarahi | ||
Kaiarahi also means 'navigator' or 'person who finds the way' in Maori. | |||
Samoan | taiala | ||
Tai means 'to lead or to show the way'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | gabay | ||
"Gabay" in Tagalog also means "map" or a "chart" for navigation. |
Aymara | irpiri | ||
Guarani | moakãhára | ||
Esperanto | gvidilo | ||
The Esperanto word "gvidilo" can also refer to a guidebook or manual. | |||
Latin | dux | ||
In the Roman military, the term "dux" also referred to a commander of an auxiliary unit. |
Greek | οδηγός | ||
The name for the Greek national anthem literally translates to “hymn to freedom”. | |||
Hmong | phau ntawv qhia | ||
The Hmong word "phau ntawv qhia" literally means "book that shows the way" or "book to see the way". | |||
Kurdish | birêvebir | ||
The word "birêvebir" is a compound word formed from the roots "bir", meaning "one" or "single", and "êvebir", meaning "path". It suggests the notion of a single or unique path leading to the desired destination. | |||
Turkish | kılavuz | ||
Kökeni "yol gösteren" anlamına gelen Arapça "kılav" kelimesinden gelen "kılavuz" kelimesi, Türkçede "kılavuz kuş", "kılavuz yıldız" gibi tamlamalarda da kullanılmaktadır. | |||
Xhosa | isikhokelo | ||
The term "Isikhokelo" in Xhosa can also refer to a leader or a teacher. | |||
Yiddish | פירער | ||
The Yiddish word "פירער" (pīrer) can also mean "leader" or "director". | |||
Zulu | umhlahlandlela | ||
The Zulu word "umhlahlandlela" is rooted in the word "hlahlandlela" meaning "to guide," and can also refer to a person who shows others the way. | |||
Assamese | নিৰ্দেশনা দিয়া | ||
Aymara | irpiri | ||
Bhojpuri | मार्गदर्शन | ||
Dhivehi | މަގުދައްކައިދިނުން | ||
Dogri | गाइड | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | gabay | ||
Guarani | moakãhára | ||
Ilocano | giya | ||
Krio | gayd | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕێنوێنی | ||
Maithili | मार्गदर्शक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯝꯖꯤꯡ ꯂꯝꯇꯥꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | kaihruai | ||
Oromo | kallattii kennuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଗାଇଡ୍ | ||
Quechua | qatina | ||
Sanskrit | मार्गदर्शकः | ||
Tatar | кулланма | ||
Tigrinya | ሓጋዚ | ||
Tsonga | letela | ||