Updated on March 6, 2024
An institution is an established organization or practice that is an integral part of a society or culture. It can take many forms, such as educational institutions like schools and universities, financial institutions like banks, or cultural institutions like museums and libraries. These institutions play a crucial role in shaping and preserving a society's values, norms, and traditions. They also provide important services and resources that benefit individuals and communities.
The significance of institutions extends beyond their practical functions. They also hold cultural importance as symbols of stability, continuity, and progress. For example, the British Museum in London is not only an institution that houses and preserves historical artifacts, but it is also a symbol of Britain's rich cultural heritage and its commitment to the arts and humanities.
Understanding the translation of the word 'institution' in different languages can provide insight into how different cultures conceptualize and value these important entities. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | instelling | ||
The Afrikaans word "instelling" derives from the Dutch word "instelling" which can also mean 'attitude' or 'inclination'. | |||
Amharic | ተቋም | ||
The word 'ተቋም' is derived from the Semitic root 'QWM', meaning 'to establish' or 'to set up.' | |||
Hausa | ma'aikata | ||
The term "ma'aikata" in Hausa can also refer to a place of work or employment. | |||
Igbo | ụlọ ọrụ | ||
Malagasy | fikambanana | ||
The word "fikambanana" also means "association" or "organization" in Malagasy. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | bungwe | ||
In the past, a "bungwe" would often be associated with the head of the family, and thus in its earliest use, it could often also mean "father of a family". | |||
Shona | institution | ||
‘Institution’ in ChiShona (Chikaranga dialect) may also refer to a group of people or animals gathered for a particular purpose. | |||
Somali | hay'ad | ||
The Somali word "hay'ad" shares its root with the Arabic word "hay'a" which means "form" or "body" and the word "hay'ah" which means "fear". This suggests that the concept of an institution in Somali culture may be linked to the idea of a body or a form that is feared or respected. | |||
Sesotho | setheo | ||
The word 'setheo' in Sesotho shares its root with the word 'thehwa' meaning 'to create' or 'to establish'. | |||
Swahili | taasisi | ||
The Swahili word "taasisi" can also refer to an establishment or organization that serves a particular purpose. | |||
Xhosa | iziko | ||
In Xhosa, “iziko” means both “institution” and “treasure,” signifying the preservation and remembrance of cultural heritage. | |||
Yoruba | igbekalẹ | ||
Igbekalẹ in Yoruba means "institution" but may also refer to a place where someone lives or works. | |||
Zulu | isikhungo | ||
The Zulu word "isikhungo" also means "a receptacle" or "a container". | |||
Bambara | baarada | ||
Ewe | dɔwɔƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | ikigo | ||
Lingala | institution | ||
Luganda | ekitongole | ||
Sepedi | setheo | ||
Twi (Akan) | asoɛe | ||
Arabic | المعهد | ||
The word "المعهد" also means "the covenant" in Arabic. | |||
Hebrew | מוֹסָד | ||
The word "מוסד" can also refer to a "foundation" or "establishment" in Hebrew. | |||
Pashto | بنسټ | ||
The word "بنسټ" can also refer to a foundation or an establishment, particularly one that is charitable or educational. | |||
Arabic | المعهد | ||
The word "المعهد" also means "the covenant" in Arabic. |
Albanian | institucioni | ||
The Albanian word "institucioni" comes from the Latin word "institutio", meaning "establishment". It can also refer to a social or political organization. | |||
Basque | erakunde | ||
In Basque, the word "erakunde" also means "organization" or "establishment." | |||
Catalan | institució | ||
The word "institució" in Catalan has the same Latin root as the English word "institute" and originally meant "to establish something". | |||
Croatian | institucija | ||
The word "institucija" can also refer to a person or organization that is highly respected and influential in a particular field. | |||
Danish | institution | ||
In Danish, the word 'institution' can also refer to an asylum or a prison, highlighting its broader societal implications beyond a formal organization or establishment. | |||
Dutch | instelling | ||
The Dutch word "instelling" can also refer to "attitude" or "disposition". | |||
English | institution | ||
The word 'institution' is derived from the Latin word 'instituere', meaning 'to establish' or 'to set up'. It can also refer to a belief or practice that is widely accepted and followed within a society. | |||
French | institution | ||
In French, the word "institution" also means "establishment" or "organization" | |||
Frisian | ynstelling | ||
The Frisian word 'ynstelling' can also refer to an attitude or frame of mind. | |||
Galician | institución | ||
German | institution | ||
The German word "Institution" can also refer to a charitable foundation or an establishment, such as a hospital or university. | |||
Icelandic | stofnun | ||
The word 'stofnun' (institution) derives from the Old Norse word 'stofna', meaning 'to establish'. | |||
Irish | institiúid | ||
Institiúid (institution) comes from the Latin word 'institutio', meaning 'custom, practice' and 'establishment, organisation'. | |||
Italian | istituzione | ||
In the Italian language, "istituzione" can refer to a non-profit organization or religious community, as well as a school or other educational establishment. | |||
Luxembourgish | institutioun | ||
Maltese | istituzzjoni | ||
The word "istituzzjoni" derives from the Late Latin word "institutio", meaning "instruction, establishment, or ordinance". | |||
Norwegian | institusjon | ||
In Norwegian, "institusjon" can also refer to a boarding school for orphans or vagrant youth. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | instituição | ||
In Brazil, "instituição" can also mean "nursing home", while in Portugal it refers to "organization or association". | |||
Scots Gaelic | institiud | ||
Institiud derives from the Latin word 'institutum' meaning 'establishment' or 'custom'. | |||
Spanish | institución | ||
The word "institución" derives from the Latin word "institutio", which means "establishment" or "arrangement." | |||
Swedish | institution | ||
The Swedish word 'institution' can also refer to an establishment, organization, or foundation established for a particular purpose. | |||
Welsh | sefydliad | ||
A loanword from Latin 'institutum', meaning 'an establishment, a system' and 'education, training'. |
Belarusian | установа | ||
The word "установа" (institution) in Belarusian can also refer to an establishment, organization, or facility. | |||
Bosnian | institucija | ||
"Institucija" can also refer to a prominent or respected person or thing. | |||
Bulgarian | институция | ||
From the Latin 'institutio', 'establishment', later 'law, ordinance'. | |||
Czech | instituce | ||
Instituce also means "establishment", "agency", "organization" or "facility" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | institutsioon | ||
Institutsioon (institution) can also refer to an established law or principle. | |||
Finnish | instituutio | ||
"Instituutio" is also used in the sense of "educational institution" in Finnish (e.g. "yleissivistävä instituutio" "general education institution"). | |||
Hungarian | intézmény | ||
The word intézmény derives from the verb "intéz", meaning "establish" or "institute", and it can also refer to a practice or system that is established and followed. | |||
Latvian | iestāde | ||
The Latvian word "iestāde" can also refer to a governmental or public body. | |||
Lithuanian | institucija | ||
The word 'institucija' is also used in Lithuanian for a person who holds a high position and is respected in society. | |||
Macedonian | институција | ||
The word 'институција' also has alternate meanings such as 'establishment', 'organization', or 'system', and is derived from the Latin word 'institutio', meaning 'instruction', 'education', or 'foundation'. | |||
Polish | instytucja | ||
The term "instytucja" in Polish may also refer to a type of legal entity established by statute and endowed with specific functions and powers. | |||
Romanian | instituţie | ||
The Romanian word "instituţie" also means "establishment" or "organization". | |||
Russian | учреждение | ||
The word "учреждение" in Russian also means a medical or educational establishment, an organization, an enterprise, or an office. | |||
Serbian | институција | ||
The word 'институција' (institution) in Serbian can also refer to a public or private foundation or endowment. | |||
Slovak | inštitúcia | ||
The word can also mean establishment, organization, or body. | |||
Slovenian | institucija | ||
The word "institucija" in Slovenian can also refer colloquially to a person who is perceived as an authority or expert in a particular field. | |||
Ukrainian | заклад | ||
The Ukrainian word "заклад" can also mean "mortgage" or "pawn". |
Bengali | প্রতিষ্ঠান | ||
"প্রতিষ্ঠান" (/protishthan/) can also refer to the establishment of something or the act of placing or founding it. | |||
Gujarati | સંસ્થા | ||
The word "સંસ્થા" also means "organization" and "establishment" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | संस्थान | ||
The word "संस्थान" in Hindi comes from the Sanskrit root "sthā", meaning "to stand", and can also refer to an established order, system, or foundation. | |||
Kannada | ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ | ||
In ancient Kannada, it also meant to establish a village or town. | |||
Malayalam | സ്ഥാപനം | ||
The word "സ്ഥാപനം" can also mean "establishment" or "organization". | |||
Marathi | संस्था | ||
The word संस्था can also mean 'foundation', 'establishment', or 'organisation'. | |||
Nepali | संस्था | ||
The word 'संस्था' is derived from Sanskrit and means 'foundation', 'establishment' or 'organization'. | |||
Punjabi | ਸੰਸਥਾ | ||
In Punjabi, the word for "institution" also refers to the act of establishing something. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආයතනය | ||
The word 'ආයතනය' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'āyatana', meaning 'seat, abode, or basis'. | |||
Tamil | நிறுவனம் | ||
The word நிறுவனம் in Tamil can also refer to an establishment, an organization, or an institution. | |||
Telugu | సంస్థ | ||
సంస్థ" (institution) is derived from the Sanskrit word "sthā" meaning "to stand", signifying something that is established and enduring. | |||
Urdu | ادارہ | ||
The word 'ادارہ' in Urdu also means 'a person or group of people organized to do something' and 'a way of doing something'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 机构 | ||
机构 (jigou), originally a term for an organism, has come to mean an organization or institution. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 機構 | ||
The word "機構" can also refer to the structure or framework of something, such as "the organization of a government". | |||
Japanese | 機関 | ||
The word "機関" can also mean an organ or a machine. | |||
Korean | 제도 | ||
The word "제도" can also refer to a system, order, or rule. | |||
Mongolian | байгууллага | ||
The word "байгууллага" can also mean "founding" or "establishment." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အဖွဲ့အစည်း | ||
Indonesian | lembaga | ||
The word "lembaga" in Indonesian is derived from "lembaga" in Old Javanese, which means "custom, law, or regulation." | |||
Javanese | lembaga | ||
In Javanese, "lembaga" also refers to a supernatural entity that guards a place or object. | |||
Khmer | ស្ថាប័ន | ||
"ស្ថាប័ន" is also used to refer to schools, hospitals and other public facilities in Khmer. | |||
Lao | ສະຖາບັນ | ||
The Lao word ສະຖາບັນ (institution) is derived from the Sanskrit word स्थापना (sthāpanā) and its meaning can vary depending on context, including establishment, organization, foundation, and institution. | |||
Malay | institusi | ||
The word "institusi" is derived from the Dutch word "instelling", meaning "establishment" or "institution" | |||
Thai | สถาบัน | ||
สถาบัน (s̄athāban) was borrowed from French "institution" which ultimately derives from Latin "instituere" meaning "to found" or "to establish". | |||
Vietnamese | tổ chức | ||
"Tổ chức" (organization) also means "organize" as a verb. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | institusyon | ||
Azerbaijani | təşkilat | ||
The word təşkilat is borrowed from Arabic "تشکیلات" (tashkīlāt), derived from the triliteral root "ش ك ل" (sh-k-l) meaning "to shape" or "to form" and can also refer to an establishment, structure, or organization | |||
Kazakh | мекеме | ||
"мекеме" is the Kazakh equivalent of the Russian term "учреждение". It can refer to institutions in the broad sense, both government and non-governmental. | |||
Kyrgyz | мекеме | ||
The word "мекеме" can also refer to a government agency or a place where people can go to receive services. | |||
Tajik | муассиса | ||
The word "муассиса" (institution) in Tajik originally comes from the Arabic word مؤسسة (mu'assasah), which means "foundation" or "establishment". | |||
Turkmen | edara | ||
Uzbek | muassasa | ||
The word "muassasa" can also refer to an educational institution such as a school or university. | |||
Uyghur | ئورگان | ||
Hawaiian | kula | ||
In Hawaiian, the word "kula" also refers to an agricultural plot where taro is cultivated and a type of traditional fishing net. | |||
Maori | umanga | ||
The word 'umanga' is also used to signify the 'whare umanga', which translates to 'House of Learning' | |||
Samoan | faʻalapotopotoga | ||
Faʻalapotopotoga is derived from the verb faʻalapotopoto meaning 'to gather or assemble' | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | institusyon | ||
In Tagalog, the root word "institusyon" derives from the Spanish word "institución" and also refers to an establishment or a social structure. |
Aymara | institución ukanxa | ||
Guarani | institución rehegua | ||
Esperanto | institucio | ||
The Esperanto word "institucio" also means "establishment" or "organization". | |||
Latin | institutio | ||
In medieval education, it also referred to an introduction to a discipline, such as Quintilian's Institutio Oratoria (Institution of Oratory). |
Greek | ίδρυμα | ||
In Modern Greek ' ίδρυμα' also refers to 'charity' (e.g. ίδρυμα για την προστασία των ζώων means 'an animal shelter') while in Ancient Greek it denoted 'foundation'. | |||
Hmong | lub koom haum | ||
The term "lub koom haum" literally means "place to gather together and help one another." | |||
Kurdish | dayre | ||
The word 'dayre' in Kurdish can also refer to a monastery or a Sufi lodge. | |||
Turkish | kurum | ||
The word 'kurum' also means 'establishment' or 'organisation' in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | iziko | ||
In Xhosa, “iziko” means both “institution” and “treasure,” signifying the preservation and remembrance of cultural heritage. | |||
Yiddish | ינסטיטושאַן | ||
It is also used ironically to mean "an institution of corruption". | |||
Zulu | isikhungo | ||
The Zulu word "isikhungo" also means "a receptacle" or "a container". | |||
Assamese | প্ৰতিষ্ঠান | ||
Aymara | institución ukanxa | ||
Bhojpuri | संस्था के ह | ||
Dhivehi | މުއައްސަސާ އެވެ | ||
Dogri | संस्था | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | institusyon | ||
Guarani | institución rehegua | ||
Ilocano | institusion | ||
Krio | institiushɔn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دامەزراوە | ||
Maithili | संस्था | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯟꯁꯇꯤꯠꯌꯨꯁꯟ ꯑꯁꯤꯅꯥ ꯑꯦꯟ.ꯗꯤ.ꯑꯦ | ||
Mizo | institution tih a ni | ||
Oromo | dhaabbata | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସଂସ୍ଥା | ||
Quechua | institución nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | संस्था | ||
Tatar | институт | ||
Tigrinya | ትካል | ||
Tsonga | nhlangano | ||