Intelligence in different languages

Intelligence in Different Languages

Discover 'Intelligence' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Intelligence is a fascinating concept that has been explored and celebrated across cultures and languages. It refers to the ability to acquire and apply knowledge, as well as the capacity to reason, plan, solve problems, and comprehend complex ideas. This fundamental human trait is not only essential for individual success but also plays a crucial role in societal progress.

Throughout history, intelligent individuals have been revered and studied, from ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle to modern-day neuroscientists. The significance of intelligence is further highlighted by its inclusion in various cultural narratives, myths, and legends, showcasing its universal appeal and importance.

Understanding the translation of intelligence in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and value this trait. For instance, in Spanish, intelligence is called 'inteligencia,' while in French, it's 'intelligence.' In Mandarin, it's '智慧' (zhìhuì), and in Japanese, it's '知恵' (chi-e).

Delving into the nuances of these translations can reveal fascinating cultural differences and similarities, making it a worthwhile pursuit for anyone interested in language, culture, and the human mind.

Intelligence


Intelligence in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansintelligensie
The word "intelligensie" in Afrikaans comes from the Latin word "intelligentia", which means "understanding" or "knowledge".
Amharicብልህነት
The word 'ብልህነት' can be broken down into two parts, the verb 'בלע' ('to swallow') and the noun 'חן' ('grace') to form the meaning 'one who swallows grace'.
Hausahankali
"Hankali" also means "cunning" or "shrewdness".
Igboọgụgụ isi
The Igbo word 'ọgụgụ isi' also means 'reading the mind', highlighting the connection between intelligence and understanding others' thoughts.
Malagasyfahiratan-tsaina
The word "fahiratan-tsaina" can also mean "wisdom" or "cleverness".
Nyanja (Chichewa)luntha
"Luntha" derives from the Bantu root "-lundu" meaning "to comprehend" or "to know", and the prefix "a-" forming the noun. It also denotes "understanding" and "reason".
Shonanjere
The word "njere" can also mean "sharpness" or "cleverness".
Somalisirdoonka
Sirdoon is also a species of acacia tree found in the Horn of Africa.
Sesothobohlale
The word "bohlale" is cognate with the word "hlalefa" which refers to the art and skill of smelting and working iron, and also to "hloka," meaning to think or ponder.
Swahiliakili
The word "akili" in Swahili also means "clever" or "shrewd".
Xhosaubukrelekrele
The term 'Ubukrelekrele' may also refer to the intelligence unit in traditional Xhosa society.
Yorubaoye
The word "oye" can also refer to "lineage" or "descent" in Yoruba.
Zuluubuhlakani
The word 'ubuhlakani' also means 'wisdom' or 'cleverness' in Zulu.
Bambarakegunya
Eweaɖaŋudede
Kinyarwandaubwenge
Lingalamayele
Lugandaamagezi
Sepedibohlodi
Twi (Akan)nyansa

Intelligence in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالذكاء
"الذكاء" also means "the act of remembering" in Classical Arabic.
Hebrewאינטליגנציה
השימוש במילה "אינטליגנציה" בעברית מיועד לרוב לתאר את יכולות שכליות, אך היא יכולה גם לתאר איכות נפשית או יכולות אחרות.
Pashtoاستخبارات
The word for "intelligence" in Pashto, "استخبارات," also means "information" and "news."
Arabicالذكاء
"الذكاء" also means "the act of remembering" in Classical Arabic.

Intelligence in Western European Languages

Albanianinteligjencën
The Albanian word "inteligjencën" is derived from the Latin word "intelligentia," which means "understanding" or "knowledge."
Basqueadimena
The meaning "intelligence" is not original; it was borrowed from Spanish or French.
Catalanintel·ligència
The Catalan word "intel·ligència" derives from the Latin word "intellegere", meaning "to understand", and is also used to refer to the secret services and police investigations.
Croatianinteligencija
In Croatian, the word "inteligencija" initially denoted the educated upper class but now also refers to secret agents, or intelligence operatives.
Danishintelligens
In Danish, "intelligens" is also used to refer to the ability to understand complex ideas or solve problems.
Dutchintelligentie-
The Dutch word "intelligentie" also means "understanding" or "insight".
Englishintelligence
The word "intelligence" derives from the Latin words "inter" (among) and "legere" (to read or gather), referring to the ability to make connections and draw conclusions.
Frenchintelligence
In French, « intelligence » also refers to a type of secret agent working for a government, similar to the English « intelligence ».
Frisianyntelliginsje
The Frisian word "yntelliginsje" is derived from the Latin word "intelligentia", which means "understanding" or "comprehension".
Galicianintelixencia
The word "intelixencia" comes from the Latin word "intelligentia", meaning "understanding or reasoning"
Germanintelligenz
"Intelligenz" in German also refers to the upper class social group with high education.
Icelandicgreind
Cognate with Old Norse "greind," also meaning "branch".
Irishintleacht
In Old Irish, 'intleacht' also referred to spiritual revelation and religious understanding.
Italianintelligenza
In Italian, "intelligenza" can also refer to understanding or sharpness, rather than just cognitive ability.
Luxembourgishintelligenz
In Luxembourgish, "Intelligenz" also refers to a narrow circle of educated people who were part of the old ruling class or the higher civil service.
Malteseintelliġenza
The word "intelliġenza" in Maltese also has the alternate meaning "secret service" and derives from the Italian "intelligence", which in turn derives from the Latin "intelligentia" meaning "understanding".
Norwegianintelligens
The Norwegian word intelligens, besides meaning 'intelligence', can also refer to 'a secret agent or spy', derived from Latin 'intellegens, intellegentis', meaning 'one who understands' or 'who has knowledge of'.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)inteligência
In Portuguese, "inteligência" also means "news" or "information".
Scots Gaelicinntleachd
Derived from the Gaelic 'inntinn' – 'mind' – 'inntleachd' signifies the faculty of comprehending.
Spanishinteligencia
"Inteligencia" in Spanish can also mean "understanding", "comprehension", or "knowledge."
Swedishintelligens
In Swedish, "intelligens" also refers to the intelligence service, often in the context of spying.
Welshdeallusrwydd
"Deallusrwydd" also refers to the spiritual and emotional aspects of intellect and the mind.

Intelligence in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianінтэлект
The word "інтэлект" in Belarusian is derived from the Latin word "intellectus" meaning "understanding" and is semantically similar to the Russian word "интеллект" and the English word "intelligence".
Bosnianinteligencija
The word 'inteligencija' in Bosnian shares its root with the Latin word 'intelligere', meaning 'to understand'.
Bulgarianинтелигентност
Интелигентност (intelligence) derives from the Latin word 'intellegere', meaning 'to understand, perceive'.
Czechinteligence
Inteligence in Czech refers to a police department, which is different from "inteligence" which means "intelligence" in English.
Estonianintelligentsus
The Estonian word "intelligentsus" also bears the archaic but still extant meaning of "perception" or "intuition" which is now mostly found in compounds containing the term "intelligibly" which means "intuitively"
Finnishälykkyys
The word "älykkyys" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *äly, which means "mind" or "understanding".
Hungarianintelligencia
In Hungarian the word "intelligencia" refers to a stratum of society consisting of educated people with high social status.
Latvianinteliģence
"Inteliģence" is more precise than its English cognate and may refer to information, rather than mental capacity.
Lithuanianintelektas
Inteligencija in Lithuanian has a more specific and higher connotation than intelligence in English, referring to the educated elite and often used in the context of intellectuals.
Macedonianинтелигенција
"Интелигенција" is also used to denote a social group, especially one that is educated or well-informed, or which has some type of authority or status on the basis of their education and/or occupation.
Polishinteligencja
Inteligencja derives from Latin 'legere' and originally denoted the ability to read and write in Polish.
Romanianinteligență
"Inteligență" can mean "intelligence" or, less frequently, "understanding" in Romanian.
Russianинтеллект
The word "интеллект" is derived from the Latin word "intellectus", meaning "understanding" or "discernment".
Serbianинтелигенција
In Serbian, the word "интелигенција" not only refers to mental prowess but also encompasses the educated and cultured elite of society.
Slovakinteligencia
According to the Slovak etymological dictionary, the word "inteligencia" comes from the Latin word "intelligentia" meaning "understanding" or "knowledge".
Slovenianinteligenca
In Slovenian, "inteligenca" can also mean "knowledge" or "intellect", and is derived from the Latin word "intelligere", meaning "to understand".
Ukrainianінтелект
The word "інтелект" in Ukrainian traces its roots back to the Latin word "intellectus," which means "understanding" or "perception."

Intelligence in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবুদ্ধি
The Bengali term "বুদ্ধি" (buddhi) originates from the Sanskrit "budh" meaning "to awaken" or "to be conscious," and it can also refer to the faculty of reason, intellect, or understanding.
Gujaratiબુદ્ધિ
The Gujarati word
Hindiबुद्धि
'बुद्धि' is also the name of a Hindu goddess and a lunar mansion.
Kannadaಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತಿಕೆ
The word "ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತಿಕೆ" also refers to the ability to understand and apply knowledge and skills.
Malayalamബുദ്ധി
"ബുദ്ധി" (intelligence) shares its origin with "to become enlightened or conscious" in Sanskrit and in a broader sense, it could also mean "the soul" or even "the mind".
Marathiबुद्धिमत्ता
The word 'बुद्धिमत्ता' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'बुद्धि', which means 'knowledge' or 'understanding'.
Nepaliबुद्धिमत्ता
The word "बुद्धिमत्ता" is derived from the Sanskrit word "बुद्धि" meaning "intellect", "understanding" or "knowledge".
Punjabiਬੁੱਧੀ
The word "buddhi" can also mean "consciousness" or "awareness"
Sinhala (Sinhalese)බුද්ධිය
The word "බුද්ධිය" (intelligence) in Sinhala can also refer to wisdom, knowledge, or understanding.
Tamilஉளவுத்துறை
The primary meaning of "உளவுத்துறை" is "Intelligence department or agency" in Tamil. The term also means "espionage or spying".
Teluguతెలివితేటలు
Urduذہانت
The word "intelligence" derives from the Latin word "intelligentia," which means "understanding, knowledge, or discernment."

Intelligence in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)情报
The word "情报" also means "information" and is often used in military contexts.
Chinese (Traditional)情報
情报 in Chinese can also mean "information" or "news".
Japaneseインテリジェンス
In Japanese, "インテリジェンス" can alternatively mean "a report about the enemy in war."
Korean지성
지성 can also mean "essence" or "nature," depending on the context.
Mongolianоюун ухаан
The word “оюун ухаан” can also mean “sense of humor” or “wit” depending on the context it is used in.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဉာဏ်ရည်

Intelligence in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianintelijen
The word "intelijen" in Indonesian is derived from the Dutch word "intelligentie", which means "intelligence" but also has a wider meaning of "understanding" or "knowledge".
Javaneseintelijen
"Intelijen" in Javanese has a literal and secondary meaning of "inner essence" and "knowledge that's understood by feeling or intuition" respectively.
Khmerភាពវៃឆ្លាត
The term "ភាពវៃឆ្លាត" can also refer to an individual's cunning or cleverness in a particular situation.
Laoປັນຍາ
The word "ປັນຍາ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "prajña" which carries the meanings of wisdom, insight, understanding, or intelligent discernment.
Malaykepintaran
In Malay, the word 'kepintaran' not only means 'intelligence,' but also 'cleverness' and 'shrewdness'.
Thaiสติปัญญา
The word "สติปัญญา" also means "mindpower" or "conscience".
Vietnamesesự thông minh
"Sự thông minh" literally means "to communicate/inform each other" in Sino-Vietnamese. Therefore, it can also mean "news".
Filipino (Tagalog)katalinuhan

Intelligence in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanizəka
In ancient Turkic, "zəka" meant "knowledge", "mind", or "understanding".
Kazakhақыл
In Old Kazakh, "ақыл" also meant "reason" or "rational thought"
Kyrgyzакылдуулук
Tajikзиёӣ
The word "зиёӣ" (intelligence) derives from the Persian word "زيو" meaning "light" and conveys the idea of enlightenment and cognition.
Turkmenakyl
Uzbekaql
The word "aql" can also mean "mind" or "reason" in Uzbek.
Uyghurئەقىل

Intelligence in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianʻike ʻike
ʻIke can also mean `to know` or `to see`, highlighting a connection between knowledge and sensory perception.
Maorimaramarama
The word "maramarama" in Maori denotes not only "intelligence," but also "lightning" and "the brain substance."
Samoanatamai
"Ata" could also mean "brain" or "knowledge".
Tagalog (Filipino)katalinuhan
"Katalinuhan" comes from the root word "talino," which can also mean "sense" or "consciousness."

Intelligence in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarach'iqhi amuyu
Guaranikatupyry

Intelligence in International Languages

Esperantointeligenteco
Esperanto's “inteligenteco” relates to Latin “intellectus” and to English “intellect” and “integrity”.
Latinintelligentia,
The Latin word "intelligentia" also means "understanding" or "comprehension."

Intelligence in Others Languages

Greekνοημοσύνη
**"Νοημοσύνη"** (intelligence) also means "meaning" or "significance" in Greek.
Hmongtxawj ntse
The Hmong word "txawj ntse" literally means "knowing how to solve problems" and is also used to describe someone who is wise or knowledgeable.
Kurdishnûçe
The word "nûçe" in Kurdish is also used to refer to a secret or a piece of news.
Turkishzeka
The word "zeka" comes from the Arabic word "zakā'ah", which means "intelligence, wisdom, brilliance, cleverness, sharpness, perspicacity, penetration, acumen, ingenuity, wit"
Xhosaubukrelekrele
The term 'Ubukrelekrele' may also refer to the intelligence unit in traditional Xhosa society.
Yiddishסייכל
The Yiddish word "סייכל" can also refer to an individual or the mind.
Zuluubuhlakani
The word 'ubuhlakani' also means 'wisdom' or 'cleverness' in Zulu.
Assameseবুদ্ধিমত্তা
Aymarach'iqhi amuyu
Bhojpuriअकलमंदी
Dhivehiތޫނުފިލިކަން
Dogriअकल
Filipino (Tagalog)katalinuhan
Guaranikatupyry
Ilocanokinalaing
Kriosɛns
Kurdish (Sorani)هەواڵگری
Maithiliबुद्धि
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯍꯩ ꯁꯤꯡꯕ
Mizofinna
Oromodandeettii beekumsa argatanii hojiitti hiikuu
Odia (Oriya)ବୁଦ୍ଧି
Quechuayuyaysapa
Sanskritचपलता
Tatarинтеллект
Tigrinyaምስትውዓል
Tsongavunhlorhi

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