Influence in Different Languages
Discover 'Influence' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'influence' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting the power to affect or change someone's actions, beliefs, or decisions. Its cultural importance is undeniable, as we see it woven into the fabric of society, from social media influencers to political influencers. Understanding the translation of 'influence' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and express this concept.
Did you know that the word 'influence' originally comes from the Latin 'influentia,' meaning 'a flowing in'? This historical context highlights the gradual and persistent nature of influence. Moreover, influence is not limited to humans; it can also refer to the effect of one entity on another, such as the influence of the moon on the tides.
Given the global and cross-cultural relevance of influence, exploring its translations can broaden our perspectives and deepen our appreciation for the nuances of this powerful concept. Here are some sample translations to pique your curiosity:
Influence
Influence in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | invloed | ||
| The Afrikaans word "invloed" (influence) derives from the Middle Dutch "invloet" (influx, flow), which in turn comes from the Latin "influentia" (influence). | |||
| Amharic | ተጽዕኖ | ||
| The Amharic word ተጽዕኖ, meaning "influence," traces its roots back to the Geʿez term "ṣäwna," which carried similar connotations. | |||
| Hausa | tasiri | ||
| "Tasiri" can also mean "advice" or "impact" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | mmetụta | ||
| The word "mmetụta" in Igbo can also refer to the act of borrowing or lending. | |||
| Malagasy | hery miasa mangina | ||
| The word "hery miasa mangina" literally means "a word that makes you work", and can refer to magic spells or persuasion. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mphamvu | ||
| Nyanja's "mphamvu" draws from the concept of "phamphvu", meaning "being in charge" or "having power" | |||
| Shona | pesvedzero | ||
| In Shona, 'pesvedzero' can also mean 'a mediator' or 'one who intercedes'. | |||
| Somali | saameyn | ||
| The word "saameyn" can also refer to a "mark" or "sign" in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | tshusumetso | ||
| The word tshusumetso is derived from "tshusa" meaning "to help, incite, or move," and "metso" meaning "place, or set." | |||
| Swahili | ushawishi | ||
| In Swahili, "ushawishi" is a loanword from Arabic, derived from "shawsh," meaning "to dominate or persuade." | |||
| Xhosa | impembelelo | ||
| The word "impembelelo" in Xhosa also carries connotations of power, persuasion, and control, emphasizing the nuanced nature of influence. | |||
| Yoruba | ipa | ||
| The word ípà derives from the word pà (to spread), and thus can also refer to "the spread of something." | |||
| Zulu | ithonya | ||
| The word "ithonya" can also mean "power" or "authority" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | kɔnɔnasuruku | ||
| Ewe | wᴐ dᴐ ɖe nu dzi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ingaruka | ||
| Lingala | bopusi | ||
| Luganda | amaanyi | ||
| Sepedi | khuetšo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nkɛntɛnsoɔ | ||
Influence in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تأثير | ||
| "تأثير" (influence) is the active participle of "أثر" (to impact) and literally refers to the mark left on a surface after something comes into contact with it. | |||
| Hebrew | לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ | ||
| The Hebrew word "לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ" also means to "be poured out". | |||
| Pashto | نفوذ | ||
| The Pashto word "نفوذ" ultimately derives from Arabic and also means "penetration" or "infiltration". | |||
| Arabic | تأثير | ||
| "تأثير" (influence) is the active participle of "أثر" (to impact) and literally refers to the mark left on a surface after something comes into contact with it. | |||
Influence in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ndikimi | ||
| "Nd'ikim" (influence) derives from Latin "im + dico" (I say upon, I order), and is also used to refer to an influence of money, power, or authority. | |||
| Basque | eragina | ||
| The etymology and alternate meanings of "eragina" are uncertain and may have Indo-European or Basque origins, with possible connections to words meaning "power", "strength", or "ability." | |||
| Catalan | influència | ||
| "Influència" can be synonymous with another noun in Catalan: "gripau" (toad). Both words are used to indicate a nuisance; the former, a moral one, the latter, a physical one. | |||
| Croatian | utjecaj | ||
| The word "utjecaj" in Croatian is derived from the Latin word "influentia", which originally meant "flowing in". | |||
| Danish | indflydelse | ||
| "Indflydelse" originates from the Old Norse word "indflœði" meaning "inflow" or "afflux" and is related to the Old English word "flod" meaning "flood" or "stream". | |||
| Dutch | invloed | ||
| "Invloed" is also a Dutch word for "influx" which can refer to the inflow of water into a body of water. | |||
| English | influence | ||
| The word "influence" derives from the Latin word "influentia," which means "a flowing in" and signifies the power to affect or alter something. | |||
| French | influence | ||
| The name of the French philosopher Claude-Adrien Helvétius (1715-1771) was made from the Latin word “Helvetius” which in turn was derived from the name of his native country, Switzerland, which is called “Helvetia” in Latin. | |||
| Frisian | ynfloed | ||
| As a noun, ynfloed also refers to the action of flooding. | |||
| Galician | influencia | ||
| In Galician, the word "influencia" has the same etymology as in Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and French, deriving from the Latin word "influentia", meaning "flowing in". | |||
| German | beeinflussen | ||
| "Beeinflussen" contains the word "Einfluss" (influence). | |||
| Icelandic | áhrif | ||
| The word "áhrif" is cognate with English "arrive" and derives from a Proto-Germanic root related to "reach" and "attack". | |||
| Irish | tionchar | ||
| It is thought to derive from the Old Irish word tionnscartha, meaning 'persuasion, influence, or entreaty'. | |||
| Italian | influenza | ||
| Derived from the Latin word 'influentia,' which means 'an inflow,' influenza was thought to be caused by an imbalance of the four bodily humors. | |||
| Luxembourgish | afloss | ||
| The word "Afloss" can also mean "payment" or "redemption" in Luxembourgish. | |||
| Maltese | influwenza | ||
| The Maltese word "influwenza" is derived from the Italian word "influenza" and retains its original meaning of "influence" in the context of personal or social interactions. | |||
| Norwegian | innflytelse | ||
| The Norwegian word «innflytelse» comes from the German word «Einfluss» (meaning «flow into»), and can also describe the influence that water exerts on a boat's movement. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | influência | ||
| "Influência" in Portuguese can also mean "cold," "flu," or "nasal congestion." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | buaidh | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, “buaidh” can also mean “victory” or “power”. | |||
| Spanish | influencia | ||
| The Spanish verb "influir" traces back to the Latin "influere", a combination of "in" (in) and "fluere" (to flow). | |||
| Swedish | inflytande | ||
| In Swedish, the word "inflytande" can also refer to a type of fungus or mold. | |||
| Welsh | dylanwad | ||
| The Welsh word 'dylanwad' can also refer to a 'flood' or 'inundation', originating from the verb 'dylifo' meaning 'to flood'. | |||
Influence in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | уплыў | ||
| The Belarusian word "уплыў" (influence) is cognate with the Polish "wpływ" and Russian "влияние", all derived from the Proto-Slavic *vьlijajǫ, meaning "to pour in" or "to flow into". | |||
| Bosnian | utjecaj | ||
| The word "utjecaj" is derived from the Latin word "influentia", meaning "an inflow or influx". | |||
| Bulgarian | влияние | ||
| The word "влияние" (vliyanie) is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "влiяти" (vliyati), meaning "to pour" or "to flow into." | |||
| Czech | vliv | ||
| "Vliv" in Czech comes ultimately from the Proto-Slavic word "vlěti," which can still be found (as "влет" or just "в") in Russian to mean simply "into. | |||
| Estonian | mõjutada | ||
| The word "mõjutada" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*moitta-", meaning "to understand". | |||
| Finnish | vaikutus | ||
| The word "vaikutus" derives from the verb "vaikuttaa" meaning "to have an effect on". | |||
| Hungarian | befolyás | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "influence," "befolyás" can also mean "flow," referring to the movement of liquids or gases. | |||
| Latvian | ietekme | ||
| In Latvian, "ietekme" is also used in the sense of "effect" or "consequence". | |||
| Lithuanian | įtaką | ||
| Įtaką, a Lithuanian word for 'influence', originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *teik-, meaning 'to touch'. | |||
| Macedonian | влијание | ||
| The Macedonian word "влијание" also means "impact", "authority", and "consequence." | |||
| Polish | wpływ | ||
| The Polish word "wpływ" comes from the Proto-Slavic root *plyti, which also meant "to float" or "to flow." | |||
| Romanian | influență | ||
| The Romanian word "influență" can also mean "cold" or "flu", reflecting its Latin origin where it meant "flowing in". | |||
| Russian | оказать влияние | ||
| "Оказать влияние" also means to provide medical help in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | утицаја | ||
| The word "утицаја" can also mean "impact" or "effect" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | vplyv | ||
| The noun 'vplyv' derives from the verb 'vplývať', which means 'to flow or enter into'. Figuratively, it denotes the flow of ideas or information into the mind of a person or group. | |||
| Slovenian | vpliv | ||
| Slovenian "vpliv" (influence) also relates to "swim" and the act of "floating on the water surface". | |||
| Ukrainian | вплив | ||
| "Вплив" in Ukrainian is cognate with "вплыв", meaning "flow" or "entering". | |||
Influence in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রভাব | ||
| "প্রভাব" is cognate with "প্রভা" (“lustre”, “effluence”, "aura") and means "the effect produced by one thing upon another, or by a person or thing upon a person"} | |||
| Gujarati | પ્રભાવ | ||
| The Gujarati word "પ્રભાવ" is cognate with Sanskrit, also meaning "authority" and "renown." | |||
| Hindi | प्रभाव | ||
| प्रभाव's alternate meaning is 'impression', which is also a result of external factors. | |||
| Kannada | ಪ್ರಭಾವ | ||
| "ಪ್ರಭಾವ" comes from the Sanskrit word "प्रभावा", which means "authority" or "power". | |||
| Malayalam | സ്വാധീനം | ||
| The word 'സ്വാധീനം' can also mean 'domination' or 'control' in Malayalam | |||
| Marathi | प्रभाव | ||
| The Marathi word "प्रभाव" (influence) comes from the Sanskrit word "प्रभावा" (power, might). | |||
| Nepali | प्रभाव | ||
| प्रभाव can also mean impact, effect, or impression in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ | ||
| "ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ" comes from the Sanskrit word "प्रभावः" which also means "force, might, prestige". Its alternate meanings in Punjabi also include "effect, impact". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | බලපෑම | ||
| The term "බලපෑම" can also refer to "force" or "power", suggesting its multifaceted implications on the actions or decisions of individuals or entities. | |||
| Tamil | செல்வாக்கு | ||
| The word செல்வாக்கு (selvāku) in Tamil not only means 'influence' but also 'wealth', 'prosperity', and 'good fortune'. | |||
| Telugu | పలుకుబడి | ||
| The verb 'పలుకుబడి' is derived from the word 'పలుకు', meaning 'speech', and the suffix 'బడి', indicating a verbal noun, together conveying the idea of 'ability to speak' or 'influence'. | |||
| Urdu | اثر و رسوخ | ||
| In Urdu, "اثر و رسوخ" also refers to the impact or mark left by something on someone or something else. | |||
Influence in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 影响 | ||
| 影响 can also mean "cast a shadow over" or "have an effect on". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 影響 | ||
| The word "影響" originally meant "to affect or be affected by," with the former meaning becoming more common over time | |||
| Japanese | 影響 | ||
| The Japanese word "影響" ("eikyō") also means "effect," "impression," or "impact." | |||
| Korean | 영향 | ||
| 영향 literally means 'receive light' in Korean, but now means 'influence' because a powerful person was once compared to the sun. | |||
| Mongolian | нөлөөлөл | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သြဇာလွှမ်းမိုးမှု | ||
| The word is derived from Sanskrit and means "to rain down" or "to pour heavily", referring to the pervasive and overwhelming nature of influence. | |||
Influence in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | mempengaruhi | ||
| "Memengaruhi" comes from the root "pengaruh", which also means "charm" or "attraction". | |||
| Javanese | pengaruhe | ||
| "Pengaruhe" is a Javanese word that can also mean "authority" or "power." | |||
| Khmer | ឥទ្ធិពល | ||
| The word "ឥទ្ធិពល" (influence) in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "इद्धिपल" (iddhipala), meaning "power" or "authority". | |||
| Lao | ອິດທິພົນ | ||
| Malay | pengaruh | ||
| The word 'pengaruh' also means 'power' or 'authority' in Malay. | |||
| Thai | อิทธิพล | ||
| "อิทธิพล" (itthiphon) in Thai comes from Sanskrit and has a related meaning in Pali and Lao as well. | |||
| Vietnamese | ảnh hưởng | ||
| The word "ảnh hưởng" can also mean "effect" or "impact". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | impluwensya | ||
Influence in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | təsir | ||
| "Təsir" is a word of Arabic origin that also means "effect". | |||
| Kazakh | ықпал ету | ||
| The word ықпал ету can also mean 'to have an impact on' or 'to make a difference'. | |||
| Kyrgyz | таасир | ||
| "Таасир" is a loanword from Arabic that has additional meanings such as "impression" and "effect" | |||
| Tajik | таъсир | ||
| The word "таъсир" can also mean "effect" or "impact". | |||
| Turkmen | täsir | ||
| Uzbek | ta'sir | ||
| The word "ta'sir" (influence) in Uzbek also refers to the effects of a medicine or poison. | |||
| Uyghur | تەسىر | ||
Influence in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoʻohuli manaʻo | ||
| "Hoʻohuli manaʻo" literally means "to turn the mind" and can also refer to persuasion or manipulation. | |||
| Maori | whakaaweawe | ||
| "Whakaaweawe" comes from the words "awa" (river) and "weawe" (to weave), suggesting the power to guide and shape like water flowing over obstacles. | |||
| Samoan | faatosinaga | ||
| In Polynesian languages, "faatosinaga" refers specifically to the influence of deities or chiefs. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | impluwensya | ||
| The Tagalog word "impluwensiya" (influence) is derived from the Spanish word "influencia", but it can also refer to the common cold or flu. | |||
Influence in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | katkatiri | ||
| Guarani | ipokatu | ||
Influence in International Languages
| Esperanto | influo | ||
| The Esperanto word "influo" derives from the Latin word "influere" which means "to flow into". | |||
| Latin | potentiam | ||
| The word "potentiam" is derived from the Latin verb "potire", meaning "to be master of" or "to have control over". | |||
Influence in Others Languages
| Greek | επιρροή | ||
| The word "επιρροή" shares its etymology with the word "stream", as it originally referred to the flow of water into a river. | |||
| Hmong | cawv | ||
| The word "cawv" can also mean "advice" or "opinion" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | tesîr | ||
| Tesîr (influence) derives from the Persian 'tasîr', meaning 'impact' or 'effect', and is commonly employed in Kurdish to describe the power or ability to shape or alter events, thoughts, or actions. | |||
| Turkish | etkilemek | ||
| "Etki" is an Arabic word that entered Turkish through Persian. This word, which usually means "effect", is also used in the sense of "reaction", "impression", "impact" and "influence" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | impembelelo | ||
| The word "impembelelo" in Xhosa also carries connotations of power, persuasion, and control, emphasizing the nuanced nature of influence. | |||
| Yiddish | השפּעה | ||
| In Yiddish, "השפּעה" can also refer to a type of spiritual emanation or energy that flows from a superior being to a recipient, often through intermediaries. | |||
| Zulu | ithonya | ||
| The word "ithonya" can also mean "power" or "authority" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | প্ৰভাৱ | ||
| Aymara | katkatiri | ||
| Bhojpuri | चलती | ||
| Dhivehi | ނުފޫޒު | ||
| Dogri | असर-रसूख | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | impluwensya | ||
| Guarani | ipokatu | ||
| Ilocano | panangallukoy | ||
| Krio | afɛkt | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کاریگەری | ||
| Maithili | प्रभाव | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯊꯤꯜ | ||
| Mizo | zirtir | ||
| Oromo | dhiibbaa taasisuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରଭାବ | ||
| Quechua | influencia | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रभावः | ||
| Tatar | йогынты | ||
| Tigrinya | ተፅዕኖ | ||
| Tsonga | hlohlotela | ||