Instrument in Different Languages
Discover 'Instrument' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
An instrument is a powerful tool, both in its literal and metaphorical senses. In its most basic form, an instrument is a device used to perform a specific function, such as a musical instrument used to create beautiful music or a scientific instrument used to conduct experiments. But the word 'instrument' also carries a deeper significance, as it can refer to a means or agency by which something is accomplished or brought about. This could be a person, a group, or even an intangible force, such as the 'instrument of change' in society.
The cultural importance of instruments cannot be overstated. From ancient civilizations to modern times, instruments have been used to express ourselves, to communicate with each other, and to understand the world around us. The significance of instruments extends beyond their practical uses, as they often hold deep cultural and historical meanings.
For those interested in language and culture, knowing the translation of 'instrument' in different languages can be fascinating and enlightening. For example, in Spanish, 'instrument' is 'instrumento', while in French, it is 'instrument'. In German, it is 'Instrument', and in Japanese, it is '道具' (dōgu).
In this article, we will explore the translations of 'instrument' in various languages, shedding light on the cultural and historical significance of this important word.
Instrument
Instrument in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | instrument | ||
| The Afrikaans word "instrument" can also mean "tool" or "device". | |||
| Amharic | መሣሪያ | ||
| The word "መሣሪያ" can also refer to a tool, device, or apparatus in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | kayan aiki | ||
| In an alternate, literary sense 'kayan aiki' can refer to the hands of a skilled tradesman | |||
| Igbo | ngwa | ||
| The Igbo word 'ngwa' also loosely refers to musical instruments specifically, and can be an adjective denoting strength, beauty, or other attributes. | |||
| Malagasy | fitaovana | ||
| The word "fitaovana" also means "tool" but can be used in a wider sense. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chida | ||
| The word “chida” is also the name of a traditional Nyanja musical instrument. | |||
| Shona | chiridzwa | ||
| The Shona word "chiridzwa" can also refer to a tool or a weapon, depending on the context. | |||
| Somali | qalab | ||
| The word "qalab" also refers to a tool or device used for a specific purpose. | |||
| Sesotho | seletsa | ||
| Seletsa can also mean 'the act of doing'. | |||
| Swahili | chombo | ||
| In Tanzania the word chombo can also refer to an aeroplane, ship or vehicle. | |||
| Xhosa | isixhobo | ||
| The word "isixhobo" can also refer to a weapon, tool, or machine. | |||
| Yoruba | irinse | ||
| The word "irinse" can also refer to a tool or device used for specific tasks. | |||
| Zulu | insimbi | ||
| In Zulu, "insimbi" can also refer to a musical instrument, especially a stringed instrument like a guitar. | |||
| Bambara | minɛn | ||
| Ewe | mɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | igikoresho | ||
| Lingala | esaleli | ||
| Luganda | ekyuuma | ||
| Sepedi | sedirišwa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | akadeɛ | ||
Instrument in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | أداة | ||
| In Medieval Arabic, 'أداة' could also mean 'a tool to draw lines or write with' | |||
| Hebrew | כלי | ||
| כלי means "vessel" in Aramaic and "weapon" in Ugaritic, Arabic, and Phoenician, and can be used to refer to musical instruments | |||
| Pashto | وسیله | ||
| وسیله (instrument) is also used colloquially to refer to a means of transportation, such as a car or a bus. | |||
| Arabic | أداة | ||
| In Medieval Arabic, 'أداة' could also mean 'a tool to draw lines or write with' | |||
Instrument in Western European Languages
| Albanian | instrument | ||
| In Albanian, "instrument" may also refer to a musical instrument. | |||
| Basque | tresna | ||
| The word "tresna" can also refer to a tool or a device. | |||
| Catalan | instrument | ||
| "Instrument" derives from the Latin "instrumentum", meaning "tool" or "device", and in Catalan it retains its original meaning, but also has the extended meaning of "musical instrument" | |||
| Croatian | instrument | ||
| In Croatian, the word "instrument" can also refer to a tool or a device used for a specific purpose. | |||
| Danish | instrument | ||
| In Danish, "instrument" can also refer to an official document or a legal act. | |||
| Dutch | instrument | ||
| In Dutch, "instrument" can also mean a musical instrument or a legal document. | |||
| English | instrument | ||
| The term 'instrument' is used in law to refer to a document that serves as evidence or a way of transfering ownership. | |||
| French | instrument | ||
| In French, "instrument" can also mean a legal document or a musical instrument. | |||
| Frisian | ynstrumint | ||
| The Frisian word “ynstrumint” can refer to any tool or device, but it can also specifically refer to a musical instrument. | |||
| Galician | instrumento | ||
| In Galician, the word 'instrumento' means not only an object used for making music, but also a legal document. | |||
| German | instrument | ||
| The German word "Instrument" also signifies a musical instrument in English, and may denote a legal document. | |||
| Icelandic | hljóðfæri | ||
| The word "hljóðfæri" literally translates to "sound transporter" in Icelandic. | |||
| Irish | ionstraim | ||
| The word for "instrument" in Irish, "ionstraim," was first derived from the Old Irish "instram." | |||
| Italian | strumento | ||
| "Strumento" derives from Latin, where it originally meant a "thing cut" or "cut off", but can now mean either a "tool" or a "musical instrument". | |||
| Luxembourgish | instrument | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Instrument" can also refer to an official document or a musical ensemble. | |||
| Maltese | strument | ||
| The Maltese word "strument" originates from the Italian word "strumento" and also means "tool". | |||
| Norwegian | instrument | ||
| The word "instrument" in Norwegian can also refer to a musical instrument or a tool. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | instrumento | ||
| In Portuguese, "instrumento" can also mean a legal document or a musical instrument | |||
| Scots Gaelic | ionnstramaid | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word 'ionnstramaid' also means 'a tool' or 'a machine'. | |||
| Spanish | instrumento | ||
| In Spanish, the word "instrumento" also has a legal meaning, referring to a document that establishes a right or obligation. | |||
| Swedish | instrument | ||
| In Swedish, the word "instrument" can also mean "legal document". | |||
| Welsh | offeryn | ||
| The word "offeryn" can also refer to an offering or a gift. | |||
Instrument in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | інструмент | ||
| The word "інструмент" can also be used to refer to a musical instrument or a tool for medical procedures. | |||
| Bosnian | instrument | ||
| The word „instrument” was derived from the Latin word 'instrumentum', which means something serving as a means or assistance to accomplish, contribute to accomplish, or provide information. | |||
| Bulgarian | инструмент | ||
| In Bulgarian, "инструмент" can also mean a "tool" or a "device" used to perform a task. | |||
| Czech | nástroj | ||
| Nástroj, kromě významu 'muzikální nástroj', také v obecném jazyce znamená 'prostředek ke dosažení něčeho'. | |||
| Estonian | pill | ||
| Estonian word "pilli" also means "instrument" but derives from Germanic word "pill" used to define a reed in a wind instrument | |||
| Finnish | väline | ||
| Finnish "väline" is cognate with "valve". | |||
| Hungarian | hangszer | ||
| The Hungarian word "hangszer" is derived from the root "hang", meaning sound, and the suffix "-szer", denoting a tool or device. | |||
| Latvian | instruments | ||
| "Instrumenti" means instruments in Latvian, but the word can also refer to money in the context of economics, which has to do with its original Latin roots. | |||
| Lithuanian | instrumentas | ||
| In Lithuanian, "instrumentas" can also refer to a musical instrument or a measuring device. | |||
| Macedonian | инструмент | ||
| The word "инструмент" in Macedonian can also refer to a person who plays a musical instrument. | |||
| Polish | instrument | ||
| The Polish word "instrument" can also mean "a person who plays a musical instrument". | |||
| Romanian | instrument | ||
| The Romanian word "instrument" also has the meaning of "legal document". | |||
| Russian | инструмент | ||
| The Russian word "инструмент" also refers to a legal document or statute passed by a governing body. | |||
| Serbian | инструмент | ||
| The word "instrument" can also refer to a tool or device used for performing a task. | |||
| Slovak | nástroj | ||
| The word "nástroj" in Slovak can also refer to a tool or device used for a specific purpose. | |||
| Slovenian | instrument | ||
| The Slovenian word "instrument" also has a second, metaphorical meaning of "means, tool". | |||
| Ukrainian | інструмент | ||
| In Ukrainian, "інструмент" also means a tool or device, similar to the connotation of the English word "implement". | |||
Instrument in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | যন্ত্র | ||
| In Sanskrit, 'যন্ত্র' means 'tool' or 'mechanism', and is related to the verb 'यम (yam)', meaning 'to hold' or 'to control'. | |||
| Gujarati | સાધન | ||
| The word "સાધન" can also mean "means" or "way" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | यंत्र | ||
| Hindi word 'यंत्र' originally referred to 'restraint' or 'control' and was a synonym for 'nigraha'. Its later sense of 'apparatus' or 'machine' is a secondary development. | |||
| Kannada | ಉಪಕರಣ | ||
| The word 'ಉಪಕರಣ' in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word 'उपकरण', meaning 'that which is used for' or 'a tool'. | |||
| Malayalam | ഉപകരണം | ||
| "ഉപകരണം," when used in the context of "measuring instruments" and its use in the performing arts is borrowed from the English word "Instrument". | |||
| Marathi | इन्स्ट्रुमेंट | ||
| The Marathi word "इन्स्ट्रुमेंट" (instrument) can also refer to a legal document or a musical instrument. | |||
| Nepali | उपकरण | ||
| In Nepali, the word "उपकरण" ("instrument") is also used in contexts like "organ" in a body or in a machine. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਾਧਨ | ||
| The word "ਸਾਧਨ" (instrument) in Punjabi can also refer to a "means" or "way" of doing something. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උපකරණය | ||
| The word පුමවරුයන්, meaning "instrument", derives from *upakarana*, the same word as in Sanskrit. | |||
| Tamil | கருவி | ||
| "கருவி" can also mean "tool", "means" or "agent" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | పరికరం | ||
| The word "పరికరం" is derived from the Sanskrit word "परिकरः", which means "apparatus", "implement", or "device". | |||
| Urdu | آلہ | ||
| The word "آلہ" derives from Arabic and originally meant "a thing"} | |||
Instrument in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 仪器 | ||
| "仪器" (instrument) derives from the ancient Chinese word "器", meaning "vessel", "tool", or "apparatus." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 儀器 | ||
| The original meaning of the Chinese character 儀 was "ceremony" or "ritual". | |||
| Japanese | 楽器 | ||
| The word "楽器" (instrument) is derived from the Chinese word "楽器" (musical instrument), which in turn comes from the Sanskrit word "आलय" (vessel, container). | |||
| Korean | 악기 | ||
| 악기 can also refer to musical instruments specifically and is composed of 악, meaning music, and 기, meaning a machine. | |||
| Mongolian | хэрэгсэл | ||
| The word "хэрэгсэл" can also refer to tools, equipment, or materials used for a specific purpose. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | တူရိယာ | ||
| The word "တူရိယာ" (instrument) in Myanmar (Burmese) is derived from the Sanskrit word "turiya," which also means "the fourth." | |||
Instrument in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | instrumen | ||
| The word "instrumen" in Indonesian also means "document", "proof", or "evidence". | |||
| Javanese | instrumen | ||
| In Javanese, “instrumen” also means “measure” and “scale”. | |||
| Khmer | ឧបករណ៍ | ||
| The word "ឧបករណ៍" can also refer to the equipment used in the production of a particular item. | |||
| Lao | ເຄື່ອງມື | ||
| This word is derived from Thai and Sanskrit, and in a more restricted sense also means 'tool' or 'utensil'. | |||
| Malay | alat | ||
| The word "alat" in Malay can also refer to a device or tool used for a specific purpose, such as a camera or a knife. | |||
| Thai | เครื่องดนตรี | ||
| The term "เครื่องดนตรี" (instrument) derives from "เครื่อง" (machine) and "ดนตรี" (music), indicating an object primarily designed for creating musical sounds. | |||
| Vietnamese | dụng cụ | ||
| The word "dụng cụ" can also mean a tool or device | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | instrumento | ||
Instrument in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | alət | ||
| The word "alət" can mean "device", "tool", "means of doing something", or even "body part" in Azerbaijani, depending on the context. | |||
| Kazakh | құрал | ||
| "Құрал" (instrument) has an alternate meaning of "means" or "device" and is cognate with the Mongolian word "хурал" (council). | |||
| Kyrgyz | аспап | ||
| The word "аспап" in Kyrgyz also means "tool" or "device". | |||
| Tajik | асбоб | ||
| The word "асбоб" in Tajik can also refer to a tool, device, or apparatus. | |||
| Turkmen | gural | ||
| Uzbek | asbob | ||
| The word "asbob" is derived from the Persian word "âsbâb," meaning "tools" or "equipment." | |||
| Uyghur | ئەسۋاب | ||
Instrument in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mea kani | ||
| In the hula context, a "mea kani" is a musical instrument rather than a tool. | |||
| Maori | taputapu | ||
| The word "taputapu" can also refer to a sacred object used in religious rituals. | |||
| Samoan | mea faigaluega | ||
| "Mea faigaluega" also means equipment, tool, utensil, or device. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | instrumento | ||
| The Tagalog word "instrumento" comes from the Spanish word "instrumento", also meaning "instrument", and can also refer to legal documents. | |||
Instrument in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | istrumintu | ||
| Guarani | tembiporu | ||
Instrument in International Languages
| Esperanto | instrumento | ||
| "Instrumento" can also refer to a musical instrument in Portuguese. | |||
| Latin | musicorum | ||
| The Latin word "musicorum" can also refer to a choir or ensemble of musicians. | |||
Instrument in Others Languages
| Greek | όργανο | ||
| The word "όργανο" can also refer to a human body part, typically one that is used for a specific purpose or function. | |||
| Hmong | ntsuas | ||
| The Hmong word "ntsuas" can also refer to a tool or a weapon. | |||
| Kurdish | alet | ||
| The word "alet" in Kurdish is cognate with the Persian word "ālāt", which also means "instrument", and ultimately derives from the Arabic word "آلة" ("āla"), meaning "tool" or "device". | |||
| Turkish | enstrüman | ||
| "Enstrüman" also refers to a musical instrument or a mechanism designed to provide a specific function or measurement | |||
| Xhosa | isixhobo | ||
| The word "isixhobo" can also refer to a weapon, tool, or machine. | |||
| Yiddish | קיילע | ||
| The word "קיילע" in Yiddish is derived from the Hebrew word "כלי" ("vessel"), which can refer to any tool, utensil, or object used for a specific purpose. | |||
| Zulu | insimbi | ||
| In Zulu, "insimbi" can also refer to a musical instrument, especially a stringed instrument like a guitar. | |||
| Assamese | সঁজুলি | ||
| Aymara | istrumintu | ||
| Bhojpuri | औजार | ||
| Dhivehi | އިންސްޓްރޫމަންޓް | ||
| Dogri | उपकरण | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | instrumento | ||
| Guarani | tembiporu | ||
| Ilocano | instrumento | ||
| Krio | yuz ple myuzik | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئامراز | ||
| Maithili | यंत्र | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯠꯂꯥꯏ | ||
| Mizo | hmanrua | ||
| Oromo | meeshaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଯନ୍ତ୍ର | ||
| Quechua | rawkana | ||
| Sanskrit | साधन | ||
| Tatar | корал | ||
| Tigrinya | መሳርሒ | ||
| Tsonga | xitirhisiwa | ||