Afrikaans aansporing | ||
Albanian nxitje | ||
Amharic ማበረታቻ | ||
Arabic حافز | ||
Armenian խթան | ||
Assamese উত্সাহ প্ৰদান | ||
Aymara amtayiri | ||
Azerbaijani təşviq | ||
Bambara kɔnɔnasuli | ||
Basque pizgarri | ||
Belarusian стымул | ||
Bengali উদ্দীপনা | ||
Bhojpuri प्रोत्साहन | ||
Bosnian poticaj | ||
Bulgarian стимул | ||
Catalan incentiu | ||
Cebuano insentibo | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 激励 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 激勵 | ||
Corsican incentive | ||
Croatian poticaj | ||
Czech pobídka | ||
Danish tilskyndelse | ||
Dhivehi ބޯނަސް | ||
Dogri प्रोत्साहन | ||
Dutch stimulans | ||
English incentive | ||
Esperanto instigo | ||
Estonian stiimul | ||
Ewe ŋusedoamenu | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) insentibo | ||
Finnish kannustin | ||
French motivation | ||
Frisian stimulearring | ||
Galician incentivo | ||
Georgian სტიმული | ||
German ansporn | ||
Greek κίνητρο | ||
Guarani mokyre'ỹ | ||
Gujarati પ્રોત્સાહન | ||
Haitian Creole ankourajman | ||
Hausa ihisani | ||
Hawaiian hoʻouluulu | ||
Hebrew תַמרִיץ | ||
Hindi प्रोत्साहन | ||
Hmong kev txhawb siab | ||
Hungarian ösztönző | ||
Icelandic hvatning | ||
Igbo ihe mkpali | ||
Ilocano insentibo | ||
Indonesian insentif | ||
Irish dreasacht | ||
Italian incentivo | ||
Japanese インセンティブ | ||
Javanese insentif | ||
Kannada ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹಕ | ||
Kazakh ынталандыру | ||
Khmer ការលើកទឹកចិត្ត | ||
Kinyarwanda gushigikira | ||
Konkani प्रोत्साहन | ||
Korean 자극 | ||
Krio rizin | ||
Kurdish dilkêş | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) هاندەر | ||
Kyrgyz стимул | ||
Lao ແຮງຈູງໃຈ | ||
Latin incitamentum | ||
Latvian stimuls | ||
Lingala kolamusa | ||
Lithuanian paskata | ||
Luganda ekintu ekikuzamu amanyi okukola ekintu | ||
Luxembourgish ureiz | ||
Macedonian поттик | ||
Maithili प्रोत्साहन | ||
Malagasy mandrisika | ||
Malay insentif | ||
Malayalam പ്രോത്സാഹനം | ||
Maltese inċentiv | ||
Maori akiaki | ||
Marathi प्रोत्साहन | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯄꯨꯛꯅꯤꯡ ꯊꯧꯒꯠꯄ | ||
Mizo lawmman | ||
Mongolian урамшуулал | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) မက်လုံး | ||
Nepali प्रोत्साहन | ||
Norwegian insentiv | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) chilimbikitso | ||
Odia (Oriya) ପ୍ରୋତ୍ସାହନ | ||
Oromo deeggarsa maallaqaa hamilee tumsuuf godhamu | ||
Pashto هڅونکی | ||
Persian مشوق | ||
Polish zachęta | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) incentivo | ||
Punjabi ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕ | ||
Quechua kallpachay | ||
Romanian stimulent | ||
Russian стимул | ||
Samoan faaosofia | ||
Sanskrit प्रोत्साहन | ||
Scots Gaelic brosnachadh | ||
Sepedi tšhušumetšo | ||
Serbian подстицај | ||
Sesotho khothatso | ||
Shona kukurudzira | ||
Sindhi ترغيب | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) දිරි දීමනා | ||
Slovak podnet | ||
Slovenian spodbudo | ||
Somali dhiirigelin | ||
Spanish incentivo | ||
Sundanese insentif | ||
Swahili motisha | ||
Swedish incitament | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) insentibo | ||
Tajik ҳавасмандкунӣ | ||
Tamil ஊக்கத்தொகை | ||
Tatar стимул | ||
Telugu ప్రోత్సాహకం | ||
Thai แรงจูงใจ | ||
Tigrinya መተባብዒ | ||
Tsonga hakelo | ||
Turkish teşvik | ||
Turkmen höweslendirmek | ||
Twi (Akan) nnwanam | ||
Ukrainian стимулювання | ||
Urdu حوصلہ افزائی | ||
Uyghur رىغبەتلەندۈرۈش | ||
Uzbek rag'batlantirish | ||
Vietnamese khích lệ | ||
Welsh cymhelliant | ||
Xhosa inkuthazo | ||
Yiddish ינסעניוו | ||
Yoruba iwuri | ||
Zulu isisusa |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The word "aansporing" can also mean "motivation" or "excitement". |
| Albanian | "Nxjtje" is also used to refer to a small gift or token of appreciation. |
| Arabic | حافز also means 'spur' in Arabic, referring to its use in encouraging action or effort. |
| Armenian | The Armenian word "խթան" comes from the Persian word "khest" meaning "quick" and the Arabic word "nathr" meaning "sprinkle" and was used in both languages as "spurs" to horses and "stimulation" generally. |
| Azerbaijani | The word "təşviq" can also mean "encouragement" or "motivation" in Azerbaijani. |
| Basque | The Basque word "pizgarri" comes from the verb "piztu" (to light) and means something that "ignites" or "motivates". |
| Belarusian | The word "стымул" is derived from the Latin word "stimulus", meaning "goad" or "prick", and has the same meaning in Belarusian. |
| Bengali | Derived from Sanskrit 'uddipan', meaning 'kindling', 'uddīpana' (উদ্দীপনা) denotes not just 'incentive' but also 'inspiration' in Bengali. |
| Bosnian | Bosnian "poticaj" also means "motivation" and comes from "poticati" ("to motivate"). |
| Bulgarian | The word "стимул" in Bulgarian originates from the Latin word "stimulus", meaning "goad" or "prod". |
| Catalan | "Incentiu" is the word for "incentive", but it's also used to refer to "interest" or "gain". |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 激励的词根是“激”和“励”,有鼓舞、鞭策、推动之意 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 激勵 is used in Chinese to mean to encourage or motivate, but is also related to the idea of a tidal wave. |
| Corsican | In corsican, the word "incentive" can also mean "incitement" or "persuasion". |
| Croatian | In Croatian, the word "poticaj" can also mean "motive" or "stimulus". |
| Czech | The Czech word "pobídka" is derived from the verb "pobízet", which means "to urge" or "to incite." |
| Danish | The Danish word "tilskyndelse" originates from the German word "Zuschießen", meaning "to add (money) to a fund". |
| Dutch | Dutch "stimulans" can also mean "stimulant" (as in coffee or drugs). |
| Esperanto | "Instigo" derives from the Latin "in" (in/into) and "stigo" (to cause to stand), and has alternate meanings of "incitement" and " instigation." |
| Estonian | The Estonian word "stiimul" originates from the Latin word "stimulus", meaning "goad" or "prick", reflecting the idea of something that prompts or motivates action. |
| Finnish | The word "kannustin" comes from the Proto-Finnic word "kannus" meaning "spur"} |
| French | In French, "motivation" can also mean "cause" or "reason". |
| Frisian | The word "stimulearring" in Frisian is derived from the Latin word "stimulus", meaning "a goad or prod". |
| Galician | In Galician, "incentivo" can also mean "motive", "reason", or "purpose". |
| Georgian | The noun “სტიმული” originally meant “punishment” in Georgian before adopting its modern meaning of “incentive.” |
| Greek | "Κίνητρο” is a Greek word meaning “incentive” and also “motive”, coming from “κινώ” (set in motion), with the ending -τρο (instrument). |
| Haitian Creole | The word "ankourajman" derives from the French word "encouragement", meaning "act of encouraging, or inspiring someone." |
| Hausa | In Hausa, the word "ihisani" (incentive) originates from the Arabic word "ihsān", meaning "doing good" or "benefiting others." |
| Hawaiian | In Hawaiian, 'hoʻouluulu' can also refer to the gathering or assembling of people or resources. |
| Hebrew | The word תַמרִיץ (tamaritz) is derived from the root מר (mar), which means "bitter," and may have originally referred to a bitter substance used to stimulate animals. |
| Hindi | The word "प्रोत्साहन" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रोत्साह" meaning "to encourage or stimulate". |
| Hmong | The term "kev txhawb siab" is also used to refer to bonuses and other forms of remuneration. |
| Hungarian | "Ösztönző" (meaning "incentive" in Hungarian) also means a "goad" that is used to drive an animal, a fact which is also implied by the etymology of the word: "ösz" "(ox)" + "tény" "(stick)". |
| Icelandic | The Icelandic word "hvatning" is derived from the Old Norse word "hvöttr," meaning "sharp" or "keen." |
| Igbo | The Igbo word "ihe mkpali" can literally translate to "one that motivates to surpass," indicating its role in encouraging excellence and achievement. |
| Indonesian | Insentif can also mean "additional pay" in Indonesian. |
| Irish | The Irish 'dreasacht' also means desire, covetousness, avarice or greed. |
| Italian | Italian "incentivo" derives from Latin "incentus" meaning "set on fire", and also "impulse," "incitement" (as in "incendiary"). |
| Japanese | インセンティブ comes from the Latin "incentivum," originally "a song that drives onwards". |
| Javanese | 'Insentif' in Javanese also means a 'tip'. |
| Kannada | The word "ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹಕ" means "encouragement" in Sanskrit and is used to refer to any form of motivation or reward that encourages a person to perform a certain action or achieve a certain goal. |
| Kazakh | The Kazakh word for "incentive" (ынталандыру) is ultimately derived from the Persian word "intelang" meaning "to be willing." |
| Korean | The word "자극" (incentive) also means "stimulation" or "irritation" in Korean. |
| Kurdish | The word "dilkêş" in Kurdish originally meant "heart-pulling" or "heart-wrenching". |
| Kyrgyz | The word "стимул" is derived from the Latin word "stimulus", meaning "goad" or "prick". |
| Latin | The Latin word "incitamentum" originally referred to a goad used to drive animals. |
| Latvian | "Stimuls" is also used as an idiomatic expression meaning "to inspire". |
| Lithuanian | "Paskata" is derived from the Lithuanian word "paskata", which means "to urge, incite, or encourage." |
| Luxembourgish | The Luxembourgish word "Ureiz" is derived from the Latin word "horriō" (to bristle or dread). |
| Macedonian | The word "поттик" can also be used to refer to a small bribe. |
| Malagasy | The word "mandrisika" can also refer to the reward or payment given for a service or a task |
| Malay | The word "insentif" comes from the Latin word "incentivus", meaning "to encourage". In Malay, "insentif" can also refer to a bonus or reward. |
| Maltese | The Maltese word "inċentiv" is derived from the Latin word "incentivum", which means "something that stirs up or encourages." |
| Maori | In Maori, 'akiaki' also means 'to urge' or 'to encourage', reflecting the idea of incentives being used to motivate action. |
| Marathi | The word "प्रोत्साहन" comes from the Sanskrit root "sah", meaning "to endure" or "to bear." |
| Mongolian | The word "урамшуулал" can also mean "motivation" or "encouragement". |
| Nepali | The word प्रोत्साहन (protsahan) is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रोत्साहनम्" (protsahanam), meaning "encouragement" or "excitement."} |
| Norwegian | In Norwegian, 'insentiv' relates to 'sinn' (mind) and originally meant 'what's on one's mind' but has come to mean 'incentive'. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word "chilimbikitso" comes from the verb "limbikitsa," which means "to encourage" or "to motivate." |
| Pashto | The word "هڅونکی" in Pashto also means "motivation" or "encouragement". |
| Persian | The Persian word "مشوق" is related to the Arabic verb "شَوَّقَ" meaning to arouse desire, longing, or interest, thus giving the connotation of encouragement or reward in the context of incentives. |
| Polish | The name ‘Zachęta’ is a reference to the ‘Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych’ ("Association for the Promotion of Fine Arts"), which originally occupied the building (founded in 1860). |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Portuguese, "incentivo" can also refer to a "tax exemption" or an "income tax deduction". |
| Punjabi | The word ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕ originates from the Sanskrit word 'praeraka' which also means 'urge' or 'stimulus'. The term is commonly used in a variety of contexts including motivation, education, and marketing. |
| Romanian | The Romanian word "stimulent" meaning "incentive" is derived from the French word "stimulant", which in turn comes from the Latin word "stimulus" meaning "goad" or "prod". |
| Russian | The word "стимул" can also refer to a trigger or cause, or to a response to an environmental factor. |
| Samoan | Despite its current meaning, "faaosofia" can also be understood as "an action undertaken solely for its inherent satisfaction." |
| Scots Gaelic | "Brosnachadh" comes from Irish Gaelic, where its meanings include "excitement" and "encouragement." |
| Serbian | The word "подстицај" comes from the verb "подстицати," meaning "to stimulate" or "to encourage." |
| Sesotho | The word may be related to 'khothalatsi' ('a gift'). |
| Shona | Kukurudzira comes from the verb 'kukura' meaning 'to grow' and can also mean an advance payment. |
| Sindhi | "ترغيب" also means to tempt or allure someone. |
| Slovak | The word "podnet" also means "tip" in the context of a payment given to someone for providing information. |
| Slovenian | The word "spodbuda" comes from the verb "spodbuditi," which means "to encourage" or "to motivate." |
| Spanish | In Spanish, the word "incentivo" also means "motive" or "inducement". |
| Sundanese | Sundanese word "insentif" is a loanword from Dutch, meaning "extra income or reward" and is used to refer to a monetary payment given in recognition of performance. |
| Swahili | The word 'motisha' in Swahili also means 'reason' or 'cause'. |
| Swedish | Incitament comes from the Latin word "incitamentum", meaning "a goad, a spur". It can also refer to something that provokes or encourages an action or feeling. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The word "insentibo" in Tagalog is derived from the Spanish word "incentivo", which means "incitement" or "motivation". |
| Thai | แรงจูงใจ can also mean motivation or drive. |
| Turkish | The word "teşvik" originally meant " encouragement" and still has this meaning in Turkish. |
| Ukrainian | "Стимулювання" derives from the Latin "stilus", meaning a writing tool used to inscribe letters on wax tablets, and has alternate meanings such as "punishing" and "rewarding with a pointed stick, which was a common practice in Roman schools" |
| Urdu | حوصلہ افزائی derives from the Arabic word for 'stomach' and connotes giving someone 'courage in the stomach' |
| Uzbek | The word "rag'batlantirish" in Uzbek originates from the Persian verb "raغب" meaning "to desire". It is also used in Turkish with the same meaning |
| Vietnamese | “Khích lệ” means “to encourage” but is also a form of ancient Vietnamese folk singing. |
| Welsh | The Welsh word cymhelliant is cognate with the English word 'compulsion', both derived from the Latin 'compellere' (to drive forward). |
| Xhosa | The word "inkuthazo" can also mean "encouragement" or "motivation" in Xhosa. |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word 'ינסעניוו' ('incentive') is derived from the Latin word 'incentīvum', meaning 'motive' or 'encouragement'. |
| Yoruba | "Iwuri" in Yoruba also means "spirit", "energy", "motivation", or "stimulus". |
| Zulu | 'Isisusa' is an isiZulu word referring to something that prompts a person to make an effort towards a specific goal. |
| English | The word "incentive" is derived from the Latin language, where it means "to begin or to urge." |