Updated on March 6, 2024
Guidelines are essential tools that help us navigate various aspects of life, providing us with established and proven ways to accomplish tasks and achieve our goals. They hold immense cultural importance, as they often reflect the values, beliefs, and collective wisdom of a community or society. By understanding and following guidelines, we can foster cooperation, promote best practices, and ensure the smooth functioning of our communities.
Moreover, the significance of guidelines transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries. In today's interconnected world, knowing the translation of the word 'guideline' in different languages can be incredibly useful, particularly for professionals working in international environments, students studying abroad, or travelers seeking to immerse themselves in new cultures.
For instance, the French translation of 'guideline' is 'ligne directrice,' while in Spanish, it's 'línea guía.' In German, the word 'Richtlinie' captures the essence of this concept. By familiarizing ourselves with these translations, we not only expand our linguistic repertoire but also deepen our appreciation for the richness and diversity of global cultures.
Afrikaans | riglyn | ||
The word "riglyn" also means "straight line" and originates from the Dutch word "richtlijn". | |||
Amharic | መመሪያ | ||
The word "መመሪያ" can also mean "direction" or "instruction" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | jagora | ||
The word "jagora" also refers to a type of dance performed by women during weddings and other celebrations. | |||
Igbo | ndu | ||
"Ndu" in Igbo also means "life" or "way of life". | |||
Malagasy | tondrozotra | ||
The word 'tondrozotra' in Malagasy is derived from the verb 'mandroso', meaning 'to guide' and is also used to describe a guiding principle or a rule. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | malangizo | ||
The word 'malangizo' may also refer to a rule, regulation, or instruction. | |||
Shona | nhungamiro | ||
The word "nhungamiro" also means a principle or rule. | |||
Somali | tilmaamaha | ||
The word "tilmaamaha" is derived from the Arabic word "dalil" meaning "guide" or "indication". | |||
Sesotho | tataiso | ||
The word tataiso in Sesotho also refers to a path, route, direction, or course. | |||
Swahili | mwongozo | ||
The word 'mwongozo' can also be used to refer to a 'compass' or a 'map' in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | isikhokelo | ||
A variant of the word is 'isikhohloko', meaning 'a rule or principle' | |||
Yoruba | ìtọnisọnà | ||
"Ìtọnisọnà" literally means "that which makes a path straight" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | umhlahlandlela | ||
"Umhlahlandlela" is derived from the Zulu verb "ukulahla", meaning "to throw" or "to guide". | |||
Bambara | bilasiralikan ye | ||
Ewe | mɔfiame | ||
Kinyarwanda | umurongo ngenderwaho | ||
Lingala | litambwisi ya litambwisi | ||
Luganda | obulagirizi | ||
Sepedi | tlhahlo | ||
Twi (Akan) | akwankyerɛ | ||
Arabic | المبدأ التوجيهي | ||
The word is derived from the Arabic word ''مبدأ'' (principle) and ''توجيهي'' (directive). This word is not used in the Quran, but it is used in the Hadith, which are the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. | |||
Hebrew | קַו מַנחֶה | ||
"קַו מַנחֶה" is a phrase that literally translates to "lead line." | |||
Pashto | لارښود | ||
The word ″لارښود″ is also used metaphorically to describe "a mentor" or "a spiritual guide." | |||
Arabic | المبدأ التوجيهي | ||
The word is derived from the Arabic word ''مبدأ'' (principle) and ''توجيهي'' (directive). This word is not used in the Quran, but it is used in the Hadith, which are the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. |
Albanian | udhëzues | ||
The Albanian word "udhëzues" originally meant "pathway" and is related to the word "udhë" (road). | |||
Basque | jarraibide | ||
The term "jarraibide" is also used to refer to an experimental or trial procedure. | |||
Catalan | pauta | ||
The word pauta shares a common root with the word pausa and has meanings related to musical rhythm. | |||
Croatian | smjernica | ||
The word "smjernica" is derived from the verb "smjeriti" meaning "to point" or "to direct". It can also refer to a principle or rule that guides one's actions or thoughts. | |||
Danish | retningslinje | ||
In Danish the word "retningslinje" comes from the word "retning" which means direction and "linje" which means line. | |||
Dutch | richtlijn | ||
In Dutch "richtlijn" shares its root with "richting," meaning direction, and can mean guideline, direction or rule. | |||
English | guideline | ||
In the construction industry, 'guideline' means a horizontal member that guides a window sash, as well as an architectural drawing that shows a vertical section of a building. | |||
French | ligne directrice | ||
The word 'ligne directrice' in French also means 'directrix' in English, a straight line that guides the motion of a plane curve. | |||
Frisian | rjochtline | ||
The word 'rjochtline' is derived from the Old Frisian words 'rjocht' (straight) and 'line' (line). It can also refer to a principle or rule that guides someone's actions. | |||
Galician | pauta | ||
The toponym 'Pauta', Galician for 'guideline', is thought to derive from a term meaning 'the highest point in a mountain range', in reference to its status as a boundary maker. | |||
German | richtlinie | ||
Richtlinie is derived from the German words 'Richt' (direction) and 'Linie' (line), originally referring to a physical line of guidance. | |||
Icelandic | leiðbeiningar | ||
The word "leiðbeiningar" derives from the Old Norse word "leið" (path) and "beining" (direction). | |||
Irish | treoirlíne | ||
The Irish word "treoirlíne" is derived from the Latin word "trahere," meaning "to draw" or "to pull." | |||
Italian | orientamento | ||
The word "orientamento" also means "sexual orientation" in Italian. | |||
Luxembourgish | richtlinn | ||
Maltese | linja gwida | ||
"Linja gwida" is the Maltese phrase for "guideline", derived from the Italian "linea guida" (literally "guiding line"). | |||
Norwegian | retningslinje | ||
The Norwegian word "retningslinje" is also a directional compass marker on roads and trails. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | diretriz | ||
The Portuguese word "diretriz" comes from the Latin "dirigere," meaning "to direct" and is related to the English words "direct" and "direction." | |||
Scots Gaelic | stiùireadh | ||
The word "stiùireadh" can also refer to "steering" or "the action of steering or directing". | |||
Spanish | guía | ||
The Spanish word "guía" comes from the Latin word "via" (road), and in addition to meaning "guideline", it can also mean "guide", "path", or "direction". | |||
Swedish | riktlinje | ||
The word "riktlinje" in Swedish is derived from the German word "Richtlinie" and means "a set of rules or principles that guide action or behavior." | |||
Welsh | canllaw | ||
Canllaw derives from the Old English word 'candelweg' meaning 'candle road', and refers to the practice of placing candles in windows or along paths to guide travellers during dark winter nights. |
Belarusian | арыенцір | ||
"Арыенцір" means "guideline" in Belarusian, but it also has other meanings, such as "landmark" or "reference point." | |||
Bosnian | smjernica | ||
"Smjernica" can also mean "compass" or "pointer" in Bosnian | |||
Bulgarian | насока | ||
"Насока" has 2 meanings in Bulgarian: "guideline" and "direction". The word is derived from the Old Slavic word "наськъ", meaning "direction, way, instruction." | |||
Czech | pokyn | ||
The word "pokyn" comes from the Old Czech word "pokynyti", meaning "to beckon" or "to nod". | |||
Estonian | juhtnöör | ||
The Estonian word "juhtnöör" is a compound word consisting of "juht" (guide) and "nöör" (cord), and originally meant a guiding rope or a rope that leads the way. | |||
Finnish | ohje | ||
In addition to its literal meaning, "ohje" can also refer to a recipe, instruction, or advice. | |||
Hungarian | irányelv | ||
The word "irányelv" is also used to refer to a political directive or a principle of conduct. | |||
Latvian | vadlīnijas | ||
The word "vadlīnijas" in Latvian derives from the French word "ligne" meaning "line" and refers to a line that guides or directs, such as a boundary line. | |||
Lithuanian | gairės | ||
Lithuanian "gairės" derives from the verb "vesti" (to guide), suggesting its role as a guiding principle. | |||
Macedonian | упатство | ||
The word 'упатство' in Macedonian has its Slavic root in the word 'put' (meaning 'path'), suggesting its original meaning as 'direction' or 'guidance'. | |||
Polish | wytyczna | ||
The word "wytyczna" comes from the verb "wytyczyć", meaning "to mark out" or "to trace". | |||
Romanian | ghid | ||
The Romanian word "ghid" originally stemmed from the Hungarian word "guide". | |||
Russian | руководство | ||
The original meaning of "руководство" is "hand-writing". | |||
Serbian | смерница | ||
Alternately, "смерница" can mean either a "boundary line between two villages or fields" or a "boundary between different types of forests". | |||
Slovak | vodítko | ||
Vodítko is also a Slovak word for leash, or a rope used to tie an animal. | |||
Slovenian | smernica | ||
The word "smernica" is derived from the verb "smeriti," meaning to direct or guide. | |||
Ukrainian | орієнтир | ||
The word "орієнтир" in Ukrainian is also used figuratively to describe guiding principles or standards of conduct or thought. |
Bengali | গাইডলাইন | ||
গাইডলাইন শব্দটি মূলত ইংরেজি "guideline" থেকে এসেছে। | |||
Gujarati | માર્ગદર્શિકા | ||
Hindi | दिशानिर्देश | ||
The word "दिशानिर्देश" is derived from the Sanskrit words "दिशा" ("direction") and "निर्देश" ("instruction"). | |||
Kannada | ಮಾರ್ಗಸೂಚಿ | ||
The Kannada word "ಮಾರ್ಗಸೂಚಿ" is also used in Kannada texts in its Sanskrit sense of a guideline for behavior and conduct. | |||
Malayalam | മാർഗരേഖ | ||
മാർഗരേഖ is derived from Sanskrit 'marga' meaning path or way and 'rekha' meaning line, hence 'guideline'. | |||
Marathi | मार्गदर्शक सूचना | ||
The term 'मार्गदर्शक सूचना' derives from the Sanskrit words 'मार्ग' (path) and 'दर्श' (to show), indicating its role as a guiding principle. | |||
Nepali | दिशानिर्देश | ||
In Sanskrit, "दिशानिर्देश" means "guide" (दिशा : direction; निर्देश : giving) or "instruction" (निर्देश : command) | |||
Punjabi | ਸੇਧ | ||
The word "ਸੇਧ" (guideline) in Punjabi is derived from the word "ਸਧ" (to direct) and originally meant "a way, a path". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මාර්ගෝපදේශය | ||
The word is derived from the Sanskrit word “Mārga” (path) and “Upadēśa” (instruction). | |||
Tamil | வழிகாட்டல் | ||
Telugu | మార్గదర్శకం | ||
మార్గదర్శకం is derived from the Sanskrit word 'मार्ग', meaning 'path', and 'दर्शक', meaning 'showing'. It can also refer to a code of conduct or a set of principles. | |||
Urdu | ہدایت نامہ | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 指导方针 | ||
指导方针作为中医术语时,意为疾病的诊断和治疗原理,相当于西医中的'指南' | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 指導方針 | ||
指導方針 can have other meanings such as advice, direction, suggestion, or policy. | |||
Japanese | ガイドライン | ||
The word "ガイドライン" (gaidorain) is derived from the English word "guideline", and it can also mean "principle" or "standard" in Japanese. | |||
Korean | 지침 | ||
The word "지침" (guideline) in Korean also has the meaning of "compass" | |||
Mongolian | удирдамж | ||
The Mongolian word 'удирдамж' can also mean 'instruction' or 'regulation'. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လမ်းပြ | ||
Indonesian | pedoman | ||
"Pedoman" is a borrowing from Dutch, where "ped" refers to "foot" and "oman" to "man" (i.e. an individual who leads the way by walking ahead). | |||
Javanese | pandhuan | ||
The Javanese word "pandhuan" is also used to refer to a "road" or "way". | |||
Khmer | គោលការណ៍ណែនាំ | ||
Lao | ແນວທາງ | ||
Malay | garis panduan | ||
"Garis panduan" means "guideline" in Malay but is literally "a line of guidance". | |||
Thai | แนวปฏิบัติ | ||
แนวปฏิบัติ also translates to rule, principle, or practice in English. | |||
Vietnamese | hướng dẫn | ||
The word "hướng dẫn" is derived from the Chinese word "訓導" (xùn dǎo), which means "to teach and guide." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | patnubay | ||
Azerbaijani | təlimat | ||
An alternate meaning of "təlimat" in Azerbaijani is "instruction". | |||
Kazakh | нұсқаулық | ||
The word "нұсқаулық" can also refer to an instruction manual or a set of rules. | |||
Kyrgyz | колдонмо | ||
"Колдонмо" is also used in the context of religious law to provide guidance within Islamic jurisprudence. | |||
Tajik | дастур | ||
The word "дастур" is derived from the Persian word "دستور" and can also mean "instruction" or "rule". | |||
Turkmen | görkezmesi | ||
Uzbek | ko'rsatma | ||
The word "ko'rsatma" can also refer to a demonstration or a performance. | |||
Uyghur | كۆرسەتمە | ||
Hawaiian | alakaʻi | ||
The word "alakaʻi" in Hawaiian also means "that which lights the way" or "leader." | |||
Maori | aratohu | ||
The word aratohu originally meant 'to make a path' and is related to the word ara ('path') and tohu ('sign'). | |||
Samoan | taiala | ||
"Taiala" also means "a law, a rule, a regulation or a principle". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | patnubay | ||
Aymara | guia ukaxa mä juk’a pachanakwa lurasi | ||
Guarani | ñemboguatarã | ||
Esperanto | gvidlinio | ||
Latin | ratio, | ||
In Latin, "ratio" can also mean "reason" or "proportion." |
Greek | κατευθυντήρια γραμμή | ||
The word κατευθυντήρια γραμμή (plural κατευθυντήριες γραμμές) comes from κατεύθυνση (meaning “direction”) and the noun γραμμή (meaning “line”). | |||
Hmong | cov txheej txheem | ||
Kurdish | rêbername | ||
The Kurdish word "rêbername" is derived from the Persian word "rāhbar" (leader, guide) and can also refer to a "manifesto" or "programmatic document". | |||
Turkish | yönerge | ||
The Turkish word "yönerge" derives from the verb "yöneltmek" meaning "to direct, to guide, to orient" and the suffix "-ge" forming nouns of action, instrument, or place. | |||
Xhosa | isikhokelo | ||
A variant of the word is 'isikhohloko', meaning 'a rule or principle' | |||
Yiddish | גיידליין | ||
גיידליין is also a Yiddish word for 'a way of life' or 'a set of principles'. | |||
Zulu | umhlahlandlela | ||
"Umhlahlandlela" is derived from the Zulu verb "ukulahla", meaning "to throw" or "to guide". | |||
Assamese | গাইডলাইন | ||
Aymara | guia ukaxa mä juk’a pachanakwa lurasi | ||
Bhojpuri | गाइडलाइन के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ގައިޑްލައިން އެވެ | ||
Dogri | दिशा-निर्देश देना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | patnubay | ||
Guarani | ñemboguatarã | ||
Ilocano | pagannurotan | ||
Krio | gaydlayn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕێنمایی | ||
Maithili | दिशानिर्देश | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯒꯥꯏꯗꯂꯥꯏꯅꯁꯤꯡ ꯌꯥꯑꯣꯔꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | kaihhruaina a ni | ||
Oromo | qajeelfama | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶାବଳୀ | ||
Quechua | kamachiy | ||
Sanskrit | मार्गदर्शिका | ||
Tatar | күрсәтмә | ||
Tigrinya | መምርሒ | ||
Tsonga | nkongomiso | ||