Immigration in different languages

Immigration in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Immigration: it's a word that carries significant weight in today's globalized world. Defined as the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country, immigration shapes the cultural landscape of our societies, contributing to the rich tapestry of languages, traditions, and ideas that make up our world. Understanding immigration in different languages is not just a linguistic exercise, but a way to appreciate the diverse experiences and stories of immigrants around the globe.

Immigration has been a part of human history since the dawn of time, with people moving from one place to another in search of better opportunities, safety, or simply adventure. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to the modern-day migrants seeking refuge from war-torn countries, immigration has played a crucial role in shaping the course of human civilization.

For example, the English word 'immigration' comes from the Latin 'immigrare', meaning 'to move into'. In Spanish, the term is 'inmigración', while in French it's 'immigration'. In German, it's 'Zuwanderung', and in Mandarin Chinese, it's '移民'. Each language offers a unique perspective on this universal phenomenon.

In this article, we'll explore the translations of the word 'immigration' in 10 different languages, shedding light on the cultural nuances and historical contexts that shape our understanding of this important concept.

Immigration


Immigration in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansimmigrasie
The word "immigrasie" (immigration) in Afrikaans comes from the Latin word "immigratio", meaning "the act of entering a country to live there permanently".
Amharicኢሚግሬሽን
The Amharic word "ኢሚግሬሽን" is derived from the Latin "immigratio", meaning "a coming in".
Hausashige da fice
The word "shige da fice" can also refer to the process of migrating or settling in a new place, or to the movement of people from one place to another.
Igbombata na ọpụpụ
Malagasyfifindrà-monina
"Fifindrà-monina", which means "the place where we go back and forth", was originally used by the Betsileo from the highlands to describe seasonal migration to the coast for fishing.
Nyanja (Chichewa)alendo
The word 'alendo' is derived from the verb 'lenda', which means 'to go or travel'.
Shonakutama
The word "kutama" also means "to gather" in Shona.
Somalisocdaalka
The Somali word "socdaalka" also means "travel" and "journey".
Sesothobojaki
The word 'bojaki' is derived from the verb 'ho boja' meaning 'to come or arrive', and the noun class prefix 'bo-' indicating a group of people.
Swahiliuhamiaji
The word "uhamiaji" in Swahili is derived from the Arabic word "hijra", meaning "migration" or "flight".
Xhosaukufudukela kwelinye ilizwe
As a noun, "ukufudukela kwelinye ilizwe" also refers to the act of going into exile or fleeing your homeland for political or religious reasons.
Yorubaiṣilọ
"Iṣilọ" is derived from the word "ilọ" meaning "to go". It also shares a root with the verb "ṣilẹ" meaning "to leave". Thus, "Iṣilọ" could be interpreted as the act of "going away" or "leaving a place".
Zuluukuthuthela kwelinye izwe
The Zulu word "ukuthuthela kwelinye izwe" has its roots in the verb "thuthela," meaning "to move" or "to transport," and the noun "izwe," meaning "country" or "land."
Bambaraimmigration (bɔli) ye
Eweʋuʋu yi dukɔ bubuwo me
Kinyarwandaabinjira n'abasohoka
Lingalaimmigration ya mboka
Lugandaokuyingira mu nsi
Sepedibofaladi
Twi (Akan)atubrafo ho nsɛm

Immigration in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالهجرة
The Arabic word "الهجرة" can also refer to the Prophet Muhammad's migration in 622 CE
Hebrewעלייה
The Hebrew word עלה also means to "go up" and can refer to both the ascent to Jerusalem or to religious elevation.
Pashtoامیګریشن
The word "امیګریشن" (immigration) in Pashto comes from the Arabic word "أمم" (umm), meaning "mother", and "جرش" (gursh), meaning "to live in a place".
Arabicالهجرة
The Arabic word "الهجرة" can also refer to the Prophet Muhammad's migration in 622 CE

Immigration in Western European Languages

Albanianimigrimi
The word "imigrimi" derives from the Albanian word "imigrant" which means person that has moved to another country to settle down.
Basqueimmigrazioa
The Basque word “immigrazioa” derives from the Latin word “immigrate”, meaning “move into a new country to live there permanently”.
Catalanimmigració
The term "immigració" is Catalan for immigration but may also refer to migration.
Croatianimigracija
"Imigracija" is a borrowed word from Latin, meaning "migration". It is a noun which refers to the process of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.
Danishindvandring
The word "indvandring" is also used to refer to the movement of people from rural areas to cities.
Dutchimmigratie
In Dutch, "immigratie" can also refer to the act or process of emigration.
Englishimmigration
The word 'immigration' comes from the Latin word 'immigrare,' which means 'to move into.'
Frenchimmigration
The French word "immigration" also means "emigration".
Frisianymmigraasje
The Frisian word "ymmigraasje" is derived from the Latin word "immigratio" and the Dutch word "immigratie".
Galicianinmigración
In Galician, "inmigración" can also mean "transmigration of souls" in a religious context.
Germaneinwanderung
The word 'Einwanderung' ('immigration') is derived from the German words 'ein' ('into') and 'wandern' ('to wander').
Icelandicinnflytjendamál
The Icelandic word for immigration, innflytjendamál, translates literally to "language of those flowing into."
Irishinimirce
The Irish word "inimirce" is derived from the Latin word "immigratio," which means "to migrate into a country."
Italianimmigrazione
In Italian, "immigrazione" can also refer to the entry of foreign goods into a country.
Luxembourgishimmigratioun
Immigratioun in Luxembourgish is derived from the French word immigration, which itself comes from the Latin word immigrare, meaning 'to move into' or 'to migrate'.
Malteseimmigrazzjoni
The word "immigrazzjoni" is derived from the Latin word "immigrare", meaning "to move into".
Norwegianinnvandring
The word is derived from the Old Norse "inn" (in) and "vandring" (walking), referring to the act of coming into a country to settle.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)imigração
Although "imigração" means "immigration", it can also mean "Emigration" in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil).
Scots Gaelicin-imrich
The word "in-imrich" can also refer to the act of returning to one's homeland after living abroad.
Spanishinmigración
Inmigración refers to an arrival or entrance into a country, not necessarily from abroad.
Swedishinvandring
The word "invandring" can also refer to a migration of animals or plants.
Welshmewnfudo
The word 'mewnfudo' comes from the Middle Welsh words 'mewn' (in) and 'fudo' (abode), which were first combined in the 17th century.

Immigration in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianіміграцыя
The word "іміграцыя" in Belarusian derives from Latin and originally referred to the migration of peoples, not necessarily into a foreign country.
Bosnianimigracija
The word "imigracija" comes from the Latin word "immigrare", meaning "to move into". It can also refer to the act of moving from one country to another.
Bulgarianимиграция
The Bulgarian word "имиграция" (immigration) also means "inflow", "arrival" or "recruitment."
Czechpřistěhovalectví
The word "přistěhovalectví" (immigration) derives from the Czech word "přistěhovat" (to move to a new place of residence).
Estoniansisseränne
Sisseränne (literally "coming in") is a loanword from Finnish, where it means "migration". In Estonian, the word has acquired the more specific meaning of "immigration".
Finnishmaahanmuutto
"Maahanmuutto" is a compound of the words "maa" (land) and "muutto" (move), meaning "moving into a land."
Hungarianbevándorlás
In Hungarian, the word "bevándorlás" can also refer to the process of settling in a new place or moving from one place to another.
Latvianimigrācija
The word "imigrācija" is also used to refer to the process of moving people into a new country or region.
Lithuanianimigracija
The word "imigracija" is the Lithuanian word for "immigration", though it can also be used in the plural sense "immigrations".
Macedonianимиграција
The Macedonian word "имиграција" (immigration) derives from the Latin word "migrare" (to move), and can also refer to the act of settling in a new place.
Polishimigracja
"Immigracja'' is derived from Latin "immigrare'' meaning to settle in.
Romanianimigrare
The Romanian word "imigrare" derives from the Latin word "migrare," meaning "to move," which in turn has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European word "meiǵ-," also meaning "to move."
Russianиммиграция
The Russian word “иммиграция” ultimately derives from Latin “migrare,” meaning “to move.”
Serbianимиграција
The word "имиграција" in Serbian comes from the Latin word "immigratio", which means "to move into" or "to settle in".
Slovakprisťahovalectvo
The word "prisťahovalectvo" can also refer to a person who has immigrated to Slovakia, or to the process of immigrating to Slovakia.
Slovenianpriseljevanje
Priseljevanje is derived from the verb "priseljevati se", meaning "to immigrate", and shares a root with the noun "priseljenec", meaning "immigrant."
Ukrainianімміграція
The word "імміграція" (immigration) in Ukrainian is derived from the Latin word "immigrare", which means "to move into".

Immigration in South Asian Languages

Bengaliঅভিবাসন
The word "অভিবাসন" can also mean "migration" or "emigration" in Bengali.
Gujaratiઇમિગ્રેશન
The word "immigration" comes from the Latin word "immigrare", meaning "to move into".
Hindiआप्रवासन
In Hindi, "आप्रवासन" refers to the act of entering a country legally or illegally, while "उत्प्रवासन" signifies the departure from one's homeland.
Kannadaವಲಸೆ
The Kannada word 'ವಲಸೆ' also has a secondary meaning of 'wandering', referring to the nomadic nature of some immigrants.
Malayalamകുടിയേറ്റം
The Malayalam word "കുടിയേറ്റം" can also refer to the process of settling or residing in a new place, not limited to immigration.
Marathiकायमचे वास्तव्य करण्यासाठी परदेशातून येणे
The word "immigration" comes from the Latin word "immigrare," which means "to move into".
Nepaliअध्यागमन
The word "अध्यागमन" is derived from the Sanskrit words "अधि" (over) and "आगमन" (arrival). It can also refer to the act of entering a place or the process of becoming a citizen of a country.
Punjabiਇਮੀਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ආගමන
In Sinhala, ආගමන (āgamaṇa) also means "arrival" or "the act of coming to a place."
Tamilகுடியேற்றம்
Teluguవలస వచ్చు
The word "వలస వచ్చు" can also mean "to migrate" or "to settle in a new place".
Urduامیگریشن
امیگریشن (immigration) is ultimately derived from the Latin word “migrare,” which means to move from one place to another.

Immigration in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)移民
移民 is also used to refer to non-ethnic Chinese who have settled in China.
Chinese (Traditional)移民
移民 in Chinese (Traditional) means "migrant" and also "emigrant".
Japanese移民
The Japanese word for “immigrant” (移民 imin) literally translates as “person from a different rice paddy” (異国からの米いみ).
Korean이주
The word "이주" can also mean "transferring one's household or residence."
Mongolianцагаачлал
Цагаачлал derives from the Mongolian word "цагаан" (white) and means "to turn white" or "to bleach".
Myanmar (Burmese)လူဝင်မှုကြီးကြပ်ရေး

Immigration in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianimigrasi
The Indonesian word 'imigrasi' originates from the Dutch 'immigratie', and also bears the alternate meaning of 'emigration'.
Javaneseimigrasi
In Javanese, "imigrasi" can also mean "migration" or "the process of moving from one place to another."
Khmerអន្តោប្រវេសន៍
Laoການ​ອົບ​ພະ​ຍົບ
Malayimigresen
The word "imigresen" is derived from the Indonesian word "imigrasi" which means "immigration".
Thaiการอพยพ
The word "การอพยพ" (immigration) also means "emigration" in Thai, but in a formal or literary context.
Vietnamesenhập cư
From Chinese nhập cư, meaning "to enter" or "to arrive".
Filipino (Tagalog)imigrasyon

Immigration in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniimmiqrasiya
The word "immiqrasiya" in Azerbaijani is borrowed from English and has no alternative meanings.
Kazakhиммиграция
В переводе с латинского «im» — это «внутрь», а «agratio» — это «вхождение», то есть иммиграция — это процесс переселения в другую страну на постоянное место жительства.
Kyrgyzиммиграция
The word "иммиграция" in Kyrgyz is derived from the Russian word "иммиграция", which in turn comes from the Latin word "immigratio", meaning "to move into".
Tajikмуҳоҷират
The word "муҳоҷират" in Tajik comes from the word "migration", denoting an international movement of people.
Turkmenimmigrasiýa
Uzbekimmigratsiya
The word "immigratsiya" is derived from the Latin word "immigrare," meaning "to move into".
Uyghurكۆچمەنلەر

Immigration in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianka hele malihini
"Ka hele malihini" in Hawaiian also refers to someone who has only recently arrived or is new to a place.
Maorihekenga
The Maori word hekenga, derived from the verb heke meaning "to go down," originally referred to descent from a chiefly ancestor, later extended to include migration and, in modern times, immigration.
Samoanfemalagaaʻiga
The word 'femalagaaʻiga' also has connotations of "taking under one's wing" and providing hospitality.
Tagalog (Filipino)imigrasyon
The Tagalog word "imigrasyon" comes from the Spanish word "inmigración", which in turn comes from the Latin word "immigratio".

Immigration in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarainmigración ukat juk’ampinaka
Guaraniinmigración rehegua

Immigration in International Languages

Esperantoenmigrado
"Enmigrado" also means "refugee" in Esperanto, although it is not as common in this sense.
Latinnullam
The word "Nullam" can also mean "no one" in Latin, indicating that immigration could be seen as a "no one" zone or a place where no one is allowed.

Immigration in Others Languages

Greekμετανάστευση
The Greek word 'metanastefsi' comes from the word 'metanaevo,' which literally means 'to move in the middle,' implying movement from one place to another.
Hmongtuaj txawv teb chaws
The first word, tuaj, means 'to come,' and txawv teb chaws means 'different land or country'.
Kurdishmacirî
The word 'macirî' is derived from the Persian word 'muhajir', meaning 'emigrant' or 'refugee'.
Turkishgöç
Turkish "göç" also means "migration", "movement", or "transition" in a broader sense, not just immigration.
Xhosaukufudukela kwelinye ilizwe
As a noun, "ukufudukela kwelinye ilizwe" also refers to the act of going into exile or fleeing your homeland for political or religious reasons.
Yiddishאימיגראציע
The Yiddish word אימיגראציע (immigration) is derived from the German word Einwanderung, which also means immigration.
Zuluukuthuthela kwelinye izwe
The Zulu word "ukuthuthela kwelinye izwe" has its roots in the verb "thuthela," meaning "to move" or "to transport," and the noun "izwe," meaning "country" or "land."
Assameseঅনুপ্ৰৱেশ
Aymarainmigración ukat juk’ampinaka
Bhojpuriआप्रवासन के बारे में बतावल गइल बा
Dhivehiއިމިގްރޭޝަން
Dogriआप्रवासन दा
Filipino (Tagalog)imigrasyon
Guaraniinmigración rehegua
Ilocanoimigrasion
Krioimigrɛshɔn
Kurdish (Sorani)کۆچبەری
Maithiliआप्रवासन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯏꯃꯤꯒ꯭ꯔꯦꯁꯟ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫
Mizoimmigration chungchang a ni
Oromoimmigireeshinii
Odia (Oriya)ଇମିଗ୍ରେସନ
Quechuainmigración nisqamanta
Sanskritआप्रवासनम्
Tatarиммиграция
Tigrinyaኢሚግሬሽን ዝምልከት ምዃኑ’ዩ።
Tsongaku rhurhela ematikweni mambe

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