Initiative in Different Languages
Discover 'Initiative' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Initiative
Afrikaans inisiatief | ||
Albanian iniciativë | ||
Amharic ተነሳሽነት | ||
Arabic مبادرة | ||
Armenian նախաձեռնություն | ||
Assamese উদ্যোগ লোৱা | ||
Aymara qalltawi | ||
Azerbaijani təşəbbüs | ||
Bambara hakilinan | ||
Basque ekimena | ||
Belarusian ініцыятыва | ||
Bengali উদ্যোগ | ||
Bhojpuri पहल | ||
Bosnian inicijativa | ||
Bulgarian инициатива | ||
Catalan iniciativa | ||
Cebuano inisyatiba | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 倡议 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 倡議 | ||
Corsican iniziativa | ||
Croatian inicijativa | ||
Czech iniciativa | ||
Danish initiativ | ||
Dhivehi އިސްނެގުން | ||
Dogri पैहल | ||
Dutch initiatief | ||
English initiative | ||
Esperanto iniciato | ||
Estonian initsiatiiv | ||
Ewe dze nu gɔme | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) inisyatiba | ||
Finnish aloite | ||
French initiative | ||
Frisian inisjatyf | ||
Galician iniciativa | ||
Georgian ინიციატივა | ||
German initiative | ||
Greek πρωτοβουλία | ||
Guarani apopyrã moñepyrũ | ||
Gujarati પહેલ | ||
Haitian Creole inisyativ | ||
Hausa himma | ||
Hawaiian hoʻoholomua | ||
Hebrew יוזמה | ||
Hindi पहल | ||
Hmong teg num | ||
Hungarian kezdeményezés | ||
Icelandic frumkvæði | ||
Igbo ebumnuche | ||
Ilocano panangikurri | ||
Indonesian prakarsa | ||
Irish tionscnamh | ||
Italian iniziativa | ||
Japanese 主導権 | ||
Javanese inisiatif | ||
Kannada ಉಪಕ್ರಮ | ||
Kazakh бастама | ||
Khmer គំនិតផ្តួចផ្តើម | ||
Kinyarwanda kwibwiriza | ||
Konkani फुडाकार | ||
Korean 발의 | ||
Krio ɛp fɔ stat | ||
Kurdish serkêşî | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) دەستپێشخەری | ||
Kyrgyz демилге | ||
Lao ຂໍ້ລິເລີ່ມ | ||
Latin marte | ||
Latvian iniciatīvs | ||
Lingala likanisi | ||
Lithuanian iniciatyva | ||
Luganda ekikwekweeto | ||
Luxembourgish initiativ | ||
Macedonian иницијатива | ||
Maithili पहल | ||
Malagasy fandraisana an-tanana | ||
Malay inisiatif | ||
Malayalam മുൻകൈ | ||
Maltese inizjattiva | ||
Maori kōkiri | ||
Marathi पुढाकार | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯈꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡ | ||
Mizo hmalakna | ||
Mongolian санаачилга | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) ပဏာမခြေလှမ်း | ||
Nepali पहल | ||
Norwegian initiativ | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) kanthu | ||
Odia (Oriya) ପଦକ୍ଷେପ | ||
Oromo kaka'umsa | ||
Pashto نوښت | ||
Persian ابتکار عمل | ||
Polish inicjatywa | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) iniciativa | ||
Punjabi ਪਹਿਲ | ||
Quechua iniciativa | ||
Romanian inițiativă | ||
Russian инициатива | ||
Samoan taulamua | ||
Sanskrit आरम्भः | ||
Scots Gaelic iomairt | ||
Sepedi boitlhagišetšo | ||
Serbian иницијатива | ||
Sesotho bohato ba pele | ||
Shona danho | ||
Sindhi شروعات | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) මුලපිරීම | ||
Slovak iniciatíva | ||
Slovenian pobuda | ||
Somali dadaal | ||
Spanish iniciativa | ||
Sundanese inisiatif | ||
Swahili mpango | ||
Swedish initiativ | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) pagkukusa | ||
Tajik ташаббус | ||
Tamil முயற்சி | ||
Tatar инициатива | ||
Telugu చొరవ | ||
Thai ความคิดริเริ่ม | ||
Tigrinya መለዓዓሊ | ||
Tsonga sungula | ||
Turkish girişim | ||
Turkmen inisiatiwasy | ||
Twi (Akan) deɛ obi de aba | ||
Ukrainian ініціатива | ||
Urdu پہل | ||
Uyghur تەشەببۇسكارلىق بىلەن | ||
Uzbek tashabbus | ||
Vietnamese sáng kiến | ||
Welsh menter | ||
Xhosa inyathelo | ||
Yiddish איניציאטיוו | ||
Yoruba ipilẹṣẹ | ||
Zulu isinyathelo |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | In Afrikaans, 'inisatief' can also refer to a person who is willing to take the lead. |
| Albanian | The word "iniciativë" (initiative) in Albanian is derived from the Latin word "initiativa" and also means "momentum" or "impulse". |
| Arabic | The Arabic word "مبادرة" can also refer to a "starting point" or a "preliminary action". |
| Azerbaijani | The word “təşəbbüs” in Azerbaijani is derived from the Arabic word “shuru” which means “beginning” or “inception”. |
| Basque | In Basque, "ekimena" also refers to a "project" or "activity". |
| Belarusian | The word ініцыятыва (initiative) in Belarusian derives from the Latin word "initiare" (to begin, to initiate), and in modern usage it also carries the meaning of "self-starter". |
| Bengali | The word "উদ্যোগ" in Bengali is derived from the Sanskrit word "उद्योग" (udyoga), which means "effort, work, or enterprise." |
| Bosnian | Inicijativa is a Latin loanword meaning 'act of beginning something' or 'a proposal for a new law or policy'. |
| Bulgarian | The Bulgarian word "инициатива" is derived from the Latin word "initiativa", meaning "a beginning". |
| Catalan | The Catalan word “iniciativa” has the same origin as the English word “initiative” and also means “inauguration” and “beginning”. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | In Chinese, "倡议" not only means "initiative" but also "proposal" or "suggestion". |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The word "倡議" can also mean "to advocate" or "to promote" an idea. |
| Corsican | In Corsican, 'iniziativa' can also mean 'proposal'. |
| Croatian | The root of the word "inicijativa" in Croatian is the Latin word "initium", meaning "beginning" or "inception". |
| Czech | In Czech, iniciativa means 'initiative', but can also refer to a 'draft' or 'motion' in a formal setting. |
| Danish | The Danish word "initiativ" can also mean "step taken by a political party to form a government". |
| Dutch | The Dutch word 'initiatief' comes from the Latin verb 'initiare', meaning 'to set in motion' or 'to begin'. |
| Esperanto | Esperanto 'iniciato' comes from Latin 'initiare', meaning 'to begin' or 'to start' |
| Estonian | The Estonian word "initsiatiiv" can also mean "drive" or "ambition". |
| Finnish | In archaic Finnish, particularly in runic poetry, aloite can also refer to a charm, incantation, or magical spell. |
| French | The word “initiative” comes from the Latin word “initium”, meaning “beginning” or “commencement”. |
| Frisian | The Frisian word "inisjatyf" is derived from the Latin word "initiativa", which means "beginning" or "commencement". |
| Galician | In Galician, "iniciativa" can mean both "initiative" and "engagement". |
| Georgian | The word |
| German | The German word "Initiative" can also mean "introductory act". |
| Greek | Πρωτοβουλία derives from Late Latin *primitiva, which meant an act of priority or being first, from Latin *primus (*first). |
| Gujarati | The Gujarati word "પહેલ" (initiative) is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रथम" (first) and can also refer to the beginning of a ceremony or event. |
| Haitian Creole | The word 'inisyativ' in Haitian Creole also means 'undertaking' or 'project'. |
| Hausa | The Hausa word "himma" also means "resolution" and "ambition" in Arabic. |
| Hawaiian | In Hawaiian, "hoʻoholomua" means "to take a step forward" or "to progress," implying action and movement. |
| Hebrew | The word "יוזמה" in Hebrew can also mean "project" or "activity." |
| Hindi | In Sanskrit, the word "पहल" comes from the verb "प्रतिहन" meaning "to take up" or "to undertake", and shares the same root with Hindi word "प्रयत्न" (effort) with the same connotation of commencing something. |
| Hmong | "Teg num" translates as "initiative". In Hmong, it also means "a thought or plan". |
| Hungarian | The word "kezdeményezés" literally means "the act of beginning" or "the first step" in Hungarian. |
| Icelandic | In Old Norse, frumkvæði meant "creation" and was derived from the words frumr (meaning beginning or origin) and kvæði (meaning poetry or song). |
| Igbo | In Igbo, "ebumnuche" can also mean "a good beginning or a commendable start." |
| Indonesian | "Prakarsa" comes from the Sanskrit word "prakrti" (nature), suggesting that initiative arises from one's natural inclinations or circumstances. |
| Irish | The word 'tionscnamh' also means 'origin' or 'beginning' in Irish. |
| Italian | The word "iniziativa" is derived from the Latin "initiare," meaning "to begin" or "to start," and has a broader meaning in Italian, encompassing not only personal or individual initiatives but also those of organizations, institutions, or even the government. |
| Japanese | 主導権 (shudōken) is a compound word made up of the characters 主 (shu), meaning "main" or "principal," and 導 (dō), meaning "to lead" or "to guide." |
| Javanese | The Javanese word "inisiatif" or "inisiyatif" is a loanword from Dutch "initiatief". |
| Kannada | The word "ಉಪಕ್ರಮ" can also be interpreted as "a beginning" or "an undertaking"} |
| Kazakh | The word "бастама" in Kazakh also means "the beginning of something" or "the first step". |
| Korean | 발의/發議 literally means “utterance of initiation,” and the Chinese characters used for 발의 are often rendered in Japanese as hatsui/ハヅイ, which shares a similar etymology. |
| Kurdish | The word "serkêşî" in Kurdish originates from the Persian word "sarkesh" meaning "rebellion" or "defiance". In Kurdish, it has evolved to mean "initiative" or "taking action without permission". The root of the word, "ser", means "head" or "top", implying a sense of leadership or independence. |
| Kyrgyz | Kyrgyz demilge originates from the word "deme" meaning "to begin" and "ilge" meaning "request". Therefore, demilge can sometimes refer to a request. |
| Latin | The word "marte" also means "war" or "battle" in Latin, suggesting a sense of urgency and determination in its application to initiatives. |
| Latvian | "Iniciatīvs" can also mean "the first thing one does when going out." This sense of the word originated in the Baltic German word "Initiative." |
| Lithuanian | Lithuanian "iniciatyva" originates from Latin "initiativa", which itself derives from the verb "inire" (to enter) and means "the act of entering" or "a beginning; first step". |
| Luxembourgish | In Luxembourgish, "Initiativ" also refers to a group of people who join forces to achieve a common goal, similar to an "action group". |
| Macedonian | The word "иницијатива" in Macedonian can also refer to a proposal or suggestion. |
| Malagasy | Originally, the word “fandraisana an-tanana” had no political meaning and referred to “the way to the village”, hence the duty of supporting or welcoming newcomers. |
| Malay | The word 'inisiatif' is borrowed from the English word 'initiative', but it also has a similar meaning to the Malay word 'usaha', which means 'effort'. |
| Malayalam | In Malayalam, the word “മുൻകൈ” can also mean being the first to do something. |
| Maltese | The Maltese word "inizjattiva" is a loan word from Italian and has the same meaning in both languages. |
| Maori | The word 'kōkiri' also refers to a type of traditional Maori canoe. |
| Marathi | "पुढाकार" comes from "पुढे" (ahead) and "कारण" (reason), meaning doing something before others for a reason. |
| Mongolian | The Mongolian word "санаачилга" (initiative) also means "intention" or "idea." |
| Nepali | "पहल" भी एक संस्कृत शब्द है जिसका अर्थ "पहला कदम" या "शुरुआत" होता है। |
| Norwegian | As an uncountable noun, "initiativ" means "the ability, willingness, or power to do something" |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word "kanthu" in Nyanja (Chichewa) also refers to the first fruits of a harvest. |
| Pashto | "نوښت" also refers to a new or innovative creation, a plan or project. |
| Persian | The word "ابتکار عمل" derives from the Arabic word "ابتكار", meaning "beginning" or "commencement". |
| Polish | The word "inicjatywa" in Polish shares the same origin with the Latin word "initio" (to begin) and the French word "initier" (to introduce), showcasing its connotation with initiating actions. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | 'Iniciativa' originates from Latin 'initiativa' which in Portuguese can also mean 'opening' or the 'first action' of a process. |
| Punjabi | The word “ਪਹਿਲ” (initiative) in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word “प्रहल” (prahal), which means “to begin” or “to take the lead.” |
| Romanian | The Romanian word "inițiativă" is derived from the Latin word "initiativa", meaning "beginning" or "commencement". |
| Russian | In Russian, инициатива can also mean 'consecration' or 'sacrament' in a religious context. |
| Samoan | The word 'taulamua' in Samoan is derived from the root word 'taulamu', which means 'to take the lead'. |
| Scots Gaelic | The alternate meaning of 'iomairt' is 'great endeavor'. |
| Serbian | In Serbian, the word "иницијатива" can also refer to the first letter of a name or a monogram. |
| Sesotho | The Sesotho word "Bohato ba pele" is derived from the two words "bohato" which means "responsibility" and "pele" which means "self". Together these words convey the idea of taking responsibility for oneself, thus "initiative". |
| Shona | The word "danho" can also be used to describe someone who is bold, or taking the lead, although it is most commonly used to describe the concept of initiative. |
| Sindhi | The word "شروعات" in Sindhi is borrowed from the Arabic word "شروع," which means "beginning" or "start." |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The word 'මුලපිරීම' originally referred to the first ploughing of a field, and has come to be used metaphorically to describe the act of initiating something new. |
| Slovak | The word "iniciatíva" in Slovak also refers to the right to propose a bill or amendment to the Parliament. |
| Slovenian | The word "pobuda" is rooted in the Old Slavic word "bud", meaning "to be awake" and signifies someone being spurred into action. |
| Somali | The word "dadaal" can also mean "effort" or "struggle" in Somali. |
| Spanish | The Spanish word "iniciativa" is derived from the Latin words "initium" (beginning) and "capere" (to take), implying a sense of starting an action or process. |
| Sundanese | The Sundanese word "inisiatif" ultimately derives from the Arabic word "ibtidā'" meaning "beginning" or "commencement". |
| Swahili | The word "mpango" also means a plan, a project, a scheme, or an intention. |
| Swedish | "Initiativ" can also refer to the first course of a meal or a voluntary army unit in Swedish. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | In Tagalog, the word "pagkukusa" comes from the root word "kusa" which means "will" or "desire". |
| Tajik | The word "ташаббус" can also refer to a "beginning" or "introduction" in Tajik. |
| Tamil | The Tamil word "முயற்சி" (initiative) also implies "effort" and "endeavor", emphasizing the hard work and dedication required to achieve goals. |
| Telugu | The word "చొరవ" is derived from the Sanskrit "char" meaning "to move", and is often used to refer to proactive or resourceful behavior. |
| Thai | The word "ความคิดริเริ่ม" also means "creativity" or "originality" in Thai. |
| Turkish | In Turkish, "girişim" not only refers to "initiative", but also carries the meaning of "attempt" and is often used in a legal context to describe an action undertaken without authority. |
| Ukrainian | The Ukrainian word "ініціатива" comes from the Latin word "initium", meaning "beginning" or "commencement". |
| Urdu | The word "پہل" is borrowed from the Arabic word "بُدء" (buduʾ), which also means "beginning", "origin", or "onset". Both "پہل" and "بُدء" share the root "ب د ء" (b-d-ʾ), which implies "to initiate" or "to commence". |
| Uzbek | The word "tashabbus" in Uzbek has Arabic origins and can also mean "enterprise" or "undertaking." |
| Vietnamese | Sáng kiến is derived from the Chinese word sáng, meaning to create, found, or initiate, and kiến meaning to set up or establish. |
| Welsh | In ancient Welsh, 'menter' referred to 'advice', 'thought' and 'the right course to take'. |
| Xhosa | "Inyathelo" derives from the verb "thenga" (take) and the noun "umthetho" (law) |
| Yiddish | In Yiddish, איניציאטיוו (intsiatyv) can also mean a 'drive' or 'effort' and is often used in the context of social or political movements. |
| Yoruba | 'Ipileṣẹ' also refers to the first fruits of the year, typically dedicated to the gods in traditional Yoruba culture. |
| Zulu | "Isinyathelo" in Zulu also denotes a 'will' or 'intention,' implying a sense of personal agency and self-determination. |
| English | "Initiative" originally meant "action at the beginning of a battle," later "any action by which the person taking it gets an advantage over an adversary." |