Illness in different languages

Illness in Different Languages

Discover 'Illness' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Illness is a significant aspect of the human experience, affecting individuals, families, and communities worldwide. Its impact transcends physical suffering, often intertwining with cultural, social, and psychological dimensions. Understanding the word 'illness' in different languages not only broadens our vocabulary but also offers insights into diverse cultural perspectives on health and healing.

For instance, the French 'maladie' and Spanish 'enfermedad' reflect their respective cultures' acceptance of illness as an unfortunate but natural part of life. Meanwhile, the German 'Krankheit' and Russian 'болезнь' (boleyzn') etymologically relate to the concept of 'damage' or 'harm', emphasizing the negative effects of disease.

Delving into the translations of 'illness' also uncovers fascinating historical contexts. For example, in Old English, ' illness' was referred to as 'untrumness', reflecting a time when health was perceived as a balance of bodily humors.

Join us as we explore various translations of 'illness', journeying through languages and cultures to enhance our global understanding of this universal experience.

Illness


Illness in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanssiekte
Afrikaans "siekte" derives from Dutch "siekte" and originally referred to a cattle disease but later came to mean any illness.
Amharicህመም
"ህመም" is derived from the Proto-Ethiopic root ḥmm, meaning 'to burn' or 'to be feverish', and is cognate with other Semitic words for 'heat' or 'fever', such as the Arabic "حُمّى" (ḥummā), the Hebrew "חום" (ḥōm), and the Syriac "ܚܘܡܐ" (ḥūmā).
Hausarashin lafiya
The word "rashin lafiya" can also mean "bad luck" or "misfortune" in Hausa.
Igboọrịa
"Ọrịa" also means "debt" in many Igbo dialects due to the physical and financial toll illness can take.
Malagasyfaharariana
The word
Nyanja (Chichewa)kudwala
The word 'kudwala' can also be used to mean 'to be unwell' or 'to be sick'.
Shonaurwere
The word 'urwere' is also used to mean 'affliction' in Shona.
Somalijiro
In Somali, "jiro" can mean not only "illness" but also "pain" or "suffering".
Sesothobokudi
The term 'bokudi' in Sesotho also refers to an epidemic or outbreak of an illness.
Swahiliugonjwa
In Swahili, 'ugonjwa' refers to both a physical illness and a social problem that causes harm.
Xhosaisigulo
The Xhosa word "isigulo" is commonly translated to "illness" in English. However, it has a much broader meaning and can also refer to a variety of conditions, including misfortune, poverty, and even death.
Yorubaàìsàn
The Yoruba word "àìsàn" is derived from the root "sàn" or "sààn", which means "to be afflicted" or "to suffer."
Zuluukugula
The Zulu word "ukugula" can also mean "a state of being unclean or impure"
Bambarabana
Ewedɔléle
Kinyarwandauburwayi
Lingalamaladi
Lugandaendwadde
Sepedibolwetši
Twi (Akan)yareɛ

Illness in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمرض
The word "مرض" also means "disease" and carries the connotation of something undesirable or unwanted.
Hebrewמחלה
The Hebrew word "מחלה" (illness) has a dual etymology, deriving both from the root "חלה" (to weaken) and from "מכה" (to strike or afflict).
Pashtoناروغي
The word "ناروغي" in Pashto also refers to diseases, mental disorders, and other ailments.
Arabicمرض
The word "مرض" also means "disease" and carries the connotation of something undesirable or unwanted.

Illness in Western European Languages

Albaniansëmundje
The word "sëmundje" in Albanian contains the root "mund" (struggle), implying the fight against an adverse condition.
Basquegaixotasuna
"Gaixotasuna" is a word that originally meant "lack of strength", although its meaning has evolved over time to also refer to "illness".
Catalanmalaltia
"Malaltia" originates from the Latin word "male," meaning bad, and "latus," meaning side. Thus, "malaltia" refers to a condition affecting a person's well-being.
Croatianbolest
The Croatian word "bolest" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "bolěti" meaning "to feel pain" or "to ache".
Danishsygdom
In Old Norse, "sjúkr" referred to a disease that was not caused by an external force.
Dutchziekte
The Dutch word "ziekte" derives from "siekte", meaning a sudden change in mood or physical condition and dates back at least as far as the 12th century.
Englishillness
The word "illness" comes from the Latin word "inversus," meaning "to turn inward."
Frenchmaladie
The word 'maladie' is derived from the Latin word 'malus', meaning 'bad' or 'evil'
Frisiansykte
The word "sykte" is a cognate of the English word "sick" and the German word "siechen".
Galicianenfermidade
The Galician word "enfermidade" comes from the Latin word "infirmitas", which means "weakness" or "frailty".
Germanerkrankung
The word "Erkrankung" in German ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic word "krank", meaning "sick" or "sore".
Icelandicveikindi
In Icelandic, the word "veikindi" can also refer to a disease or infirmity.
Irishtinneas
The Welsh word 'tin' has the same root as 'tinneas' meaning 'out of place', or 'lacking'.
Italianmalattia
The word "malattia" is derived from the Latin "male" (bad) and "actum" (done), connoting a negative action or condition.
Luxembourgishkrankheet
Luxembourgish word Krankheet, meaning "illness," is related to the German "krank," but shares no etymological connection with the English "krank."
Maltesemard
The Maltese word "mard" shares its etymological roots with the Italian "male" and the English "malady", all referring to various forms of affliction.
Norwegiansykdom
The word "sykdom" in Norwegian can also mean "disease" or "condition".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)doença
"Doença" means "illness" in Portuguese and its origin is disputed
Scots Gaelictinneas
Tinneas shares a root, 'tin', with the word 'teine', meaning fire, with the literal meaning of illness being 'fire' or 'heat'.
Spanishenfermedad
The word _enfermedad_ in Spanish comes from the Latin word _infirmitas_, which referred to a lack of strength or capacity; as well as the French term _enfer_, which originally meant _hell_.
Swedishsjukdom
"Sjukdom" i svenskan kommer från fornnordiskans "sjúkr" som betyder 'sjuk' och "dómr" som betyder 'dom',
Welshsalwch
The word "salwch" is related to the verb "sau," which means "to heal," and the noun "sôn," which means "sound."

Illness in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianхвароба
The word "хвароба" is related to the Old Church Slavonic "хороба", but can also mean "disease" or "epidemic".
Bosnianbolest
The word "bolest" also has an alternate meaning of "pain" or "suffering".
Bulgarianболест
The same word болест can mean "disease" in Bulgarian, "pain" in Croatian, and "fear" in Slovene.
Czechnemoc
From Proto-Slavic *nemǫgъ, from the Proto-Indo-European root *nem- (“to distribute, to allot”).
Estonianhaigus
The Estonian word "haigus" is cognate with the Finnish word "haikku", meaning "sickness", and with the Hungarian word "haj", meaning "hair".
Finnishsairaus
Originates in Proto-Finno-Ugric *šaira "to hurt, become ill"
Hungarianbetegség
The Hungarian word "betegség" comes from the Proto-Turkic word *pȫdäk, which meant "tumor" or "swelling".
Latvianslimība
The cognate "slimnīca" (hospital) is found in Lithuanian "slimnica" and Old Church Slavonic "slъnica" (hospital, sanatorium).
Lithuanianliga
The word "liga" is likely derived from the Proto-Baltic term *leigā, meaning "disease" or "weakness".
Macedonianзаболување
The Macedonian word "заболување" is related to the verb "заболува", meaning "to fall ill" or "to get sick."
Polishchoroba
The Polish word 'choroba' is derived from Proto-Slavic 'xoroba' and may also refer to a 'weakness' in character.
Romanianboală
"*Boală*" can also mean "plague" or "disease."
Russianболезнь
"Болезнь" comes from the Old Slavonic word meaning "pain, suffering or grief". It can refer to mental or physical ill health.
Serbianболест
The word 'болест' comes from the Proto-Slavic word 'bolьstь', which also means 'pain', 'suffering', and 'grief'.
Slovakchoroba
The word "choroba" in Slovak shares the same Slavic root as the words "horror" and "terror".
Slovenianbolezen
The Slovenian word 'bolezen' derives from an old Slavic root meaning 'pain'.
Ukrainianзахворювання
The word "захворювання" in Ukrainian also means "disease" and "ailment".

Illness in South Asian Languages

Bengaliঅসুস্থতা
"অসুস্থতা" can also mean "unhealthiness", "disease", "sickness", "ill-health", or "indisposition" in Bengali.
Gujaratiબીમારી
The word "બીમારી" is derived from the Sanskrit word "bīmara", which means "diseased" or "sick".
Hindiबीमारी
The word 'बीमारी' comes from the Sanskrit root 'व्यथ', which means 'pain'.
Kannadaಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯ
The Kannada word "ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯ" is derived from the Sanskrit root "aroga" meaning "healthy," and the prefix "an-" indicating "not".
Malayalamഅസുഖം
"അസുഖം" can also mean "inconvenience" or "discomfort".
Marathiआजार
In Persian, the word "azar" means "trouble" or "disturbance", while in Marathi it has come to mean "illness".
Nepaliबिरामी
The word 'बिरामी' literally means 'without rest' or 'one who does not sleep', highlighting the restlessness and discomfort associated with illness.
Punjabiਬਿਮਾਰੀ
The Punjabi word 'ਬਿਮਾਰੀ' may also refer to discomfort or unhappiness in non-physical contexts such as 'love-sickness.'
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අසනීපය
The word "අසනීපය" (asanipaya) also means "unhappiness" or "discomfort" in Sinhala.
Tamilஉடல் நலமின்மை
Teluguరోగము
The word "రోగము" (illness) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "roga" (disorder, disease), and also has the alternate meaning of "fault" or "defect".
Urduبیماری
The word 'بیماری' is ultimately derived from the Persian word 'بیمار', meaning 'afflicted' or 'diseased'.

Illness in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)疾病
"疾" in "疾病" means "painful or swift"; "病" means "illness", "fault", or "weakness".
Chinese (Traditional)疾病
The term 疾病 literally means “lack of ease”, suggesting that the state of illness is characterized by physical or mental discomfort.
Japanese病気
Disease; illness; sickness; malady (病) of spirit or society (気)
Korean질병
'질(疾)' from '질병' (illness) means 'swift,' 'fast,' or 'quick' and is used in the term '질주(疾走)' (to hurry)
Mongolianөвчлөл
The word "өвчлөл" can be translated as "illness", "disease", or "sickness" in Mongolian and shares a root with the word "өвчин" which translates to "wound".
Myanmar (Burmese)နာမကျန်းဖြစ်ခြင်း

Illness in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpenyakit
The term "penyakit" is derived from the Javanese word "penyaket", which originally meant "bad odor".}
Javanesepenyakit
The Javanese word "penyakit" not only refers to illness, but also to "a state of suffering, trouble, or hardship".
Khmerជំងឺ
"ជំងឺ" originally meant "rotten" or "decaying matter".
Laoການ​ເຈັບ​ປ່ວຍ
Malaypenyakit
The word 'penyakit' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vyadhi', meaning 'affliction' or 'disease'.
Thaiการเจ็บป่วย
In Thai, "การเจ็บป่วย" may also refer to physical pain or discomfort, not necessarily related to a specific disease or medical condition.
Vietnameseốm
"Ốm" also means "to have a fever" but it is typically used when one's body aches.
Filipino (Tagalog)sakit

Illness in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanixəstəlik
The word "xəstəlik" is derived from the Persian word "xasta", meaning "sick".
Kazakhауру
The Kazakh word 'ауру' (illness) originates from the Proto-Turkic word 'awrï', meaning 'to catch a disease' or 'to be sick'.
Kyrgyzоору
"Оору" (illness) derives from the Turkic root "or", meaning "to hurt" or "to pain."
Tajikкасали
The word "касали" ("illness") in Tajik is derived from the Persian word "كَسَل" ("laziness"), indicating the debilitating nature of illness.
Turkmenkesel
Uzbekkasallik
The word "kasallik" is also used to refer to "sickness", "disease", or "ailment".
Uyghurكېسەل

Illness in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmaʻi
In older Hawaiian, maʻi also referred to the physical symptom of an illness, rather than the underlying disease.
Maorimate
In Maori, 'mate' can also mean 'friend' or 'spouse'.
Samoangasegase
The word "gasegase" in Samoan can also mean "disease" or "sickness".
Tagalog (Filipino)sakit
The Tagalog word "sakit" has other meanings, such as "pain," "ache," or "soreness."

Illness in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarausu
Guaranimba'asy

Illness in International Languages

Esperantomalsano
"Malsano" is a compound of the Latin words "malus" meaning "bad" and "sanus" meaning "healthy".
Latinaegrotatio
The word "aegrotatio" also means "absence due to illness" in Latin, and is related to the word "aeger" (sick).

Illness in Others Languages

Greekασθένεια
"ασθενεια" comes from the ancient Greek verb "ασθενεω," meaning "to be weak." It originally referred to both physical and mental weakness.
Hmongua mob
The Hmong word "ua mob" likely relates to the Chinese word "wu bing," also meaning "illness," but is unrelated to the Hmong word "mob," meaning "spirit."
Kurdishnexweşî
The Kurdish word 'nexweşî' is of Proto-Indo-European origin, likely derived from 'nek-' (death) and 'wes-' (to bind) or from 'ne-' (not) and 'wes-' (to be).
Turkishhastalık
Hastalık derives from the Persian word 'hasta', meaning 'bedridden'.
Xhosaisigulo
The Xhosa word "isigulo" is commonly translated to "illness" in English. However, it has a much broader meaning and can also refer to a variety of conditions, including misfortune, poverty, and even death.
Yiddishקראנקהייט
The Yiddish word "קראנקהייט" can also refer to a specific condition or disease.
Zuluukugula
The Zulu word "ukugula" can also mean "a state of being unclean or impure"
Assameseৰোগ
Aymarausu
Bhojpuriबेमारी
Dhivehiބަލިކަން
Dogriमांदगी
Filipino (Tagalog)sakit
Guaranimba'asy
Ilocanosakit
Kriosik
Kurdish (Sorani)نەخۆشی
Maithiliरोग
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯅꯥꯕ
Mizodamlohna
Oromodhibee
Odia (Oriya)ରୋଗ
Quechuaunquy
Sanskritरोग
Tatarавыру
Tigrinyaሕማም
Tsongavuvabyi

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