Afrikaans intellektueel | ||
Albanian intelektual | ||
Amharic ምሁራዊ | ||
Arabic ذهني | ||
Armenian մտավորական | ||
Assamese বুদ্ধিমান | ||
Aymara amuykaya | ||
Azerbaijani intellektual | ||
Bambara mɔgɔ kalannen | ||
Basque intelektuala | ||
Belarusian інтэлектуальны | ||
Bengali বৌদ্ধিক | ||
Bhojpuri बुद्धिजीवी | ||
Bosnian intelektualni | ||
Bulgarian интелектуална | ||
Catalan intel · lectual | ||
Cebuano intellectual | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 知识分子 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 知識分子 | ||
Corsican intellettuale | ||
Croatian intelektualni | ||
Czech intelektuální | ||
Danish intellektuel | ||
Dhivehi ބުއްދީގެ ގޮތުން | ||
Dogri बचारक | ||
Dutch intellectueel | ||
English intellectual | ||
Esperanto intelektulo | ||
Estonian intellektuaalne | ||
Ewe nunyala | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) intelektwal | ||
Finnish älyllinen | ||
French intellectuel | ||
Frisian yntellektueel | ||
Galician intelectual | ||
Georgian ინტელექტუალი | ||
German intellektuell | ||
Greek διανοούμενος | ||
Guarani iñarandúva | ||
Gujarati બૌદ્ધિક | ||
Haitian Creole entelektyèl | ||
Hausa mai hankali | ||
Hawaiian ʻepekema | ||
Hebrew אִינטֶלֶקְטוּאַלִי | ||
Hindi बौद्धिक | ||
Hmong kev txawj ntse | ||
Hungarian szellemi | ||
Icelandic vitrænn | ||
Igbo ọgụgụ isi | ||
Ilocano intelektual | ||
Indonesian intelektual | ||
Irish intleachtúil | ||
Italian intellettuale | ||
Japanese 知的 | ||
Javanese intelektual | ||
Kannada ಬೌದ್ಧಿಕ | ||
Kazakh интеллектуалды | ||
Khmer បញ្ញា | ||
Kinyarwanda abanyabwenge | ||
Konkani बौधीक | ||
Korean 지적인 | ||
Krio pɔsin wit sɛns | ||
Kurdish rewşenbîr | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) هزریی | ||
Kyrgyz интеллектуалдык | ||
Lao ສິນທາງປັນຍາ | ||
Latin intellectualis | ||
Latvian intelektuāls | ||
Lingala moto ya mayele | ||
Lithuanian intelektualus | ||
Luganda yintelekicho | ||
Luxembourgish intellektuell | ||
Macedonian интелектуалец | ||
Maithili बुद्धिजीवी | ||
Malagasy ara-tsaina | ||
Malay intelektual | ||
Malayalam ബൗദ്ധിക | ||
Maltese intellettwali | ||
Maori hinengaro | ||
Marathi बौद्धिक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯋꯥꯈꯜ ꯂꯩꯕ ꯃꯤ | ||
Mizo mifing | ||
Mongolian оюуны | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) အသိပညာ | ||
Nepali बौद्धिक | ||
Norwegian intellektuell | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) waluntha | ||
Odia (Oriya) ବ intellectual ଦ୍ଧିକ | ||
Oromo hayyuu | ||
Pashto عقلي | ||
Persian پر فکر | ||
Polish intelektualny | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) intelectual | ||
Punjabi ਬੌਧਿਕ | ||
Quechua yachaq | ||
Romanian intelectual | ||
Russian интеллектуальный | ||
Samoan atamai | ||
Sanskrit बुद्धिजीवी | ||
Scots Gaelic inntleachdail | ||
Sepedi -bohlale | ||
Serbian интелектуални | ||
Sesotho kelello | ||
Shona njere | ||
Sindhi دانشور | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) බුද්ධිමය | ||
Slovak intelektuálne | ||
Slovenian intelektualna | ||
Somali indheer garad ah | ||
Spanish intelectual | ||
Sundanese intelektual | ||
Swahili kiakili | ||
Swedish intellektuell | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) intelektuwal | ||
Tajik зиёӣ | ||
Tamil அறிவுசார் | ||
Tatar интеллектуаль | ||
Telugu మేధావి | ||
Thai ปัญญาชน | ||
Tigrinya ምሁራዊ | ||
Tsonga vutlharhi | ||
Turkish entelektüel | ||
Turkmen intellektual | ||
Twi (Akan) nwomanimni | ||
Ukrainian інтелектуальна | ||
Urdu دانشور | ||
Uyghur زىيالىي | ||
Uzbek intellektual | ||
Vietnamese trí thức | ||
Welsh deallusol | ||
Xhosa ngokwasengqondweni | ||
Yiddish אינטעלעקטועל | ||
Yoruba ọgbọn | ||
Zulu ubuhlakani |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The Afrikaans word "intellektueel" can also refer to a person who is regarded as a public intellectual or thought leader. |
| Albanian | The word "intelektual" is derived from the Latin word "intellectus", meaning "understanding" or "knowledge". |
| Amharic | The word "ምሁራዊ" (intellectual) is derived from the verb "ምሁር" (to study, learn), and is also used to describe someone who is wise or knowledgeable. |
| Arabic | The word "ذهني" (intellectual) in Arabic derives from the root word "ذهن" (mind), which also carries the meanings of "memory", "intelligence", and "consciousness" in the language. |
| Azerbaijani | The word "intellektual" in Azerbaijani is derived from the French word "intellectuel" and is synonymous with the Russian word "интеллигент" (intelligentsia). |
| Basque | The Basque word "intelektuala" is derived from the Latin word "intellectualis", which means "pertaining to the intellect". In Basque, the word can also be used to refer to a person who is intelligent or educated. |
| Bengali | A colloquial alternate meaning of "বৌদ্ধিক" is "nerd" or "geek." |
| Bosnian | The word "intelektualni" can also be used to describe someone who is well-educated and knowledgeable, or who has a high level of intelligence or understanding. |
| Bulgarian | The Bulgarian word "интелектуална" also means "intelligent". |
| Catalan | In Catalan, "intel - lectual" (pronounced "intel - ləkt - u - al") can also mean "scholarly" or "pertaining to the intellect." |
| Cebuano | The word 'Intellectual' can also refer to a person who uses their intellect to justify their own actions or beliefs. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese philosopher Hu Shih coined the term in 1919, combining "knowledgeable" and "molecule" to signify a person who could use scientific methods to understand the world |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The term was coined in the early 20th century by Chinese scholars as a translation of the Western term "intellectual," but it later took on a broader meaning, encompassing both intellectuals and the educated elite. |
| Corsican | Corsican "intellettuale" comes from Italian, and retains its primary meaning of "man of letters", whereas the contemporary English and French "intellectual" refers primarily to somebody who applies academic knowledge practically. |
| Croatian | The Croatian word "intelektualni" not only means "intellectual", but also "rational" and "logical". |
| Czech | In Czech, the word "intelektuální" can also mean "high-brow" or "academic", indicating a preference for intellectual pursuits and theories. |
| Danish | The Danish word "intellektuel" can also refer to a person with a high level of education who is not necessarily engaged in intellectual pursuits. |
| Dutch | It is sometimes used as a noun for members of academic staff at Dutch universities which may not necessarily be intellectuals. |
| Esperanto | The word "intelektulo" also means "intellectual worker" or "member of the intelligentsia" in Esperanto. |
| Estonian | In Estonian, "intellektuaalne" can also mean "intelligent" or "intellectualized" |
| Finnish | The word "älyllinen" also means "intelligent" and derives from the word "äly", meaning "intelligence" or "mind". |
| French | In French, 'intellectuel' can also refer to a left-wing or progressive thinker. |
| Frisian | The word "yntellektueel" in Frisian also has the alternate meaning of "wise" or "knowledgeable". |
| Galician | In Galician, "intelectual" can also mean "intellectual person" or "educated person". |
| Georgian | The term ინტელექტუალი (intellectual) entered Georgian from Russian, and earlier, from Latin, where intellectus meant "understanding, reason, thought, comprehension". |
| German | The word "intellektuell" can also mean "spiritual" or someone involved in "intellectual pursuits". |
| Greek | "Διανοούμενος" is the Greek rendering of Latin "intelligentsia", coined in 1890s to describe a social class in Tsarist Russia. |
| Gujarati | From the Sanskrit word बुद्धि (buddhi), meaning "understanding" or "intellect," and refers to a person with a high level of understanding and knowledge. |
| Haitian Creole | The word 'entelektyèl' in Haitian Creole derives from the French 'intellectuel', and can also refer to someone who is well-educated or knowledgeable. |
| Hausa | The Hausa word 'mai hankali' can also refer to someone with good judgment or a wise person. |
| Hawaiian | In addition to its primary meaning, ʻepekema can also refer to a book or a clever or sly person. |
| Hebrew | אִינטֶלֶקְטוּאַלִי, like many other Modern Hebrew words for concepts, is a borrowing from European languages (in this case, from Russian), and was not derived from Biblical Hebrew. |
| Hindi | The word "बौद्धिक" in Hindi derives from the Sanskrit word "बुद्धि" (buddhi), meaning "intellect" or "understanding". |
| Hmong | "Kev txawj ntse" is also used to refer to someone who has the ability to write or read books or documents. |
| Hungarian | "Szellemi" comes from "szellem", which also means "spirit" in addition to "mind". |
| Icelandic | Vitrænn was also used in the Old Norse period to describe a seer or one with the second sight; this meaning is obsolete in modern Icelandic. |
| Igbo | The Igbo word "ọgụgụ isi" also means "the act of reading and writing", highlighting the importance of literacy in Igbo culture. |
| Indonesian | The word "intelektual" is derived from the Latin word "intellectus", meaning "understanding" or "knowledge". |
| Irish | The Irish word "intleachtúil" derives from the Latin "intellectus", meaning "understanding" or "knowledge" |
| Italian | The word "intellettuale" in Italian also means "well-educated" or "thoughtful". |
| Japanese | "知的" is commonly used in a narrow sense and refers to human intelligence in Japanese. |
| Javanese | In Javanese, the word "intelektual" also refers to a person who is a source of knowledge or wisdom, such as a teacher or elder. |
| Kannada | The Kannada word "ಬೌದ್ಧಿಕ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "बौद्धिक" ("buddhikam"), meaning "related to the intellect" or "pertaining to knowledge or reason". |
| Khmer | The word "បញ្ញា" derives from Sanskrit and means not only "intelligence" but also "wisdom" and "knowledge" |
| Korean | The word "지적인" shares its roots with the Chinese word "知", meaning "knowledge". The word is used to describe not only those who work with complex ideas but also those who are learned. |
| Kurdish | The term "rewşenbîr" in Kurdish originally referred to a "village elder" or "village chief." |
| Kyrgyz | The word |
| Latin | In Latin, "intellectualis" also denotes something "relating to perception or discernment". |
| Latvian | In Latvian, "intelektuāls" can also refer to people engaged in intellectual work or the intelligentsia. |
| Lithuanian | The word "intelektualus" in Lithuanian derives from the Latin word "intellectus", meaning "understanding" or "reason". |
| Luxembourgish | In Luxembourgish, the word "intellektuell" can also mean "intellectual property". |
| Macedonian | The Macedonian word "интелектуалец" derives from the Latin word "intellectus", meaning "understanding". In Macedonian, it also has the alternate meaning of "a person who is well-educated and knowledgeable about a particular subject". |
| Malagasy | In Malagasy, "ara-tsaina" originally referred to learned or wise people, particularly those who excelled in public speaking or oratory. |
| Malay | "Intelektual" (intellectual) derives from the Latin "intellectus" (understanding), which also gave rise to the Malay word "akal" (reason). |
| Malayalam | 'ബൗദ്ധിക' is cognate to 'Buddhi' (Sanskrit), meaning intellect or understanding. |
| Maltese | The word "intellettwali" is derived from the Italian word "intellettuale" which in turn is derived from the Latin word "intellectus", meaning "understanding" or "knowledge". |
| Maori | Hinengaro, derived from "hine" (female) and "aro" (face), originally referred to female chiefs exhibiting great intelligence or leadership qualities. |
| Marathi | "बौद्धिक" can also mean "philosopher" or "scholar" in some contexts |
| Mongolian | The word оюуны derives from оюун (thought), originally meaning a person with an оюун or a good mind. |
| Myanmar (Burmese) | The term can also refer to someone who is proficient in a particular field or subject. |
| Nepali | The word 'बौद्धिक' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'बुद्धि', which means 'intellect' or 'understanding'. |
| Norwegian | "Intellektuell" is the Norwegian form of the French word "intellectuel," which is the modern version of the Latin word "intellectualis" |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | "Waluntha" is possibly derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-lund-* meaning "to speak, say". |
| Pashto | The Pashto word 'عقلي' is derived from the Arabic word 'عقل', which means 'mind' or 'intellect'. |
| Persian | The Persian word "پر فکر" (intellectual) derives from the Arabic word "فكر" (thought), denoting an individual engrossed in contemplation and analysis. |
| Polish | In Russian, 'intelektualnyi' can also mean 'relating to intellect', while in Polish, its Polish cognate 'inteligentny' can mean both 'intelligent' and 'well-mannered'. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Portuguese, “intelectual” is often used to refer to a “professor” or an “academic”. |
| Punjabi | The word 'ਬੌਧਿਕ' comes from the Sanskrit word 'बौद्धिक' meaning 'pertaining to understanding', which is in turn derived from the word 'बुद्धि' meaning 'intellect' or 'understanding'. |
| Romanian | In Romanian, "intelectual" can also mean "smart" or "clever". |
| Russian | The Russian word "интеллектуальный" also has the alternate meaning of "intelligentsia". |
| Samoan | The word "atamai" in Samoan also refers to a person who is clever or resourceful. |
| Scots Gaelic | The word "inntleachdail" (intellectual) derives from Latin "intellectus" (understanding) and "intelligere" (to understand). |
| Serbian | The term 'интелектуални' can also be used to describe something that requires or displays a high level of mental ability or discernment. |
| Sesotho | The word "kelello" in Sesotho can also mean "cleverness" or "skill". |
| Shona | "Njere" in Shona can also refer to a wise person, a seer, or an elder. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The Sinhala word "බුද්ධිමය" can also refer to "enlightenment" or "wisdom" in a religious context. |
| Slovak | The word "intelektuálne" in Slovak can also refer to a person who works in the field of intellectual property. |
| Slovenian | The Slovenian word "intelektualna" originates from the Latin word "intellectualis", which means "relating to the intellect or the mind". |
| Somali | The term "indheer garad ah" has a literal meaning of "deep thought" in Somali. |
| Spanish | The Spanish word "intelectual" can also refer to a member of the intellectual elite or a person who uses their intellect for the greater good. |
| Sundanese | In Sundanese, the word "intelektual" can also refer to a knowledgeable or well-educated person. |
| Swahili | "Kiakili" also means "the mind" in Swahili. |
| Swedish | Intellektuell, a loanword from German, initially carried the connotation of "rationalist" in Swedish. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The Tagalog word "intelektuwal" can also refer to a person who is clever or intelligent. |
| Tajik | The word "зиёӣ" in Tajik is ultimately derived from the Arabic "ziya'a", meaning "brilliance" or "light", and is related to the Persian word "zaya", also meaning "light" or "brightness." |
| Telugu | The word "మేధావి" is derived from the Sanskrit root "medha," meaning "intellect" or "wisdom." |
| Thai | The word "ปัญญาชน" (intellectual) in Thai can also refer to a person who is knowledgeable, wise, or educated. |
| Turkish | "Entelektuel" sözcüğü Arapçada akıl veya idrak anlamına gelen "akl" kökünden türemiştir. |
| Ukrainian | The word "інтелектуальна" (intellectual) in Ukrainian is derived from the Latin word "intellectus" (understanding), and can also mean "rational" or "reasonable". |
| Urdu | The word “دانشور” derives from Persian and, depending on context, can refer to a scholar, philosopher, wise person or even physician. |
| Uzbek | Интеллектуал (intellektual) в узбекском языке также означает «человек с широким кругозором». |
| Vietnamese | The word "trí thức" in Vietnamese derives from the Chinese word "知識", meaning "knowledge" or "wisdom". It can also refer to a person who has acquired extensive knowledge or expertise in a particular field. |
| Welsh | The Welsh word 'deallusol' also means 'intelligent' in English. |
| Xhosa | "Ngqokwasengqondweni" literally means an individual who is in possession of "uQokwasengqondweni" which is intellectual ability and is typically used to acknowledge someone who is knowledgeable. |
| Yiddish | "אינטעלעקטועל" (intellectual) is Yiddish for "intellectual" and also connotes someone who engages in "high-flown" speech or behavior. |
| Yoruba | Ọgbọn also refers to the esoteric knowledge associated with the Ifa oracle and other traditional Yoruba belief systems. |
| Zulu | The Zulu word 'ubuhlakani' can also refer to 'wisdom', 'astuteness' or 'knowledge of ancient laws' |
| English | "Intellectual" originally referred to someone who worked in the intellect industry, i.e. someone with a high level of education or expertise, but it has also been used in a more colloquial sense to mean someone who is especially interested in ideas and theories. |