Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'intend' is a small but powerful part of our vocabulary, denoting a firm decision or purpose in English. Its significance extends beyond language, as it reflects our inner resolve and commitment to a particular course of action. This concept has been culturally important across time and place, as seen in various translations of 'intend' in different languages.
For instance, in Spanish, 'intend' becomes 'tener la intención de', while in French, it's 'avoir l'intention de'. In German, it's 'beabsichtigen', and in Japanese, it's '의도하다' (uiwowanai). These translations not only provide linguistic insights but also cultural contexts, as they reveal how different languages and cultures conceptualize and express the idea of intent.
Understanding the translation of 'intend' in various languages can be beneficial for global communication and cultural appreciation. It can help us better comprehend diverse perspectives, foster mutual respect, and bridge language barriers.
Afrikaans | van plan is | ||
The Afrikaans word "van plan is" originally comes from the Dutch "van plan zijn," and has a slightly more formal connotation than the English "intend." | |||
Amharic | አስቧል | ||
The original meaning of "አስቧል" (asvwal) was "to give advice". | |||
Hausa | yi niyya | ||
The word “yi niyya” also means “to wish” and “to desire”. | |||
Igbo | bu n'obi | ||
The Igbo word "bu n'obi" also means "having in mind" and "thinking". | |||
Malagasy | mikasa | ||
The word "mikasa" can also mean "to want" or "to desire". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | konzekerani | ||
The word 'konzekerani' is derived from the verb 'konzeka', meaning 'to follow or pursue'. | |||
Shona | chinangwa | ||
Chinangwa is also the name given to a type of traditional Shona drum, known for its loud and resonating sound. | |||
Somali | damacsan tahay | ||
No information was found about the etymology or the alternate meanings of the word "damacsan tahay". | |||
Sesotho | ikemisetsa | ||
The word 'ikemisetsa' is derived from the verb 'ikema', which means 'to make ready', suggesting the idea of preparing or intending to do something. | |||
Swahili | nia | ||
"Nia" is related to "nia" meaning "will" in Kikuyu and "ni" meaning "to be" in Hausa, Songhai, and Wolof. | |||
Xhosa | jonga | ||
"Jonga" can also mean "look" or "watch". | |||
Yoruba | pinnu | ||
'Pinnu' can also mean 'expect' or 'await' in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | hlose | ||
The word 'hlose' can also refer to a person's will or determination. | |||
Bambara | ka ŋaniya | ||
Ewe | ɖo | ||
Kinyarwanda | umugambi | ||
Lingala | kokana | ||
Luganda | okugenderera | ||
Sepedi | ikemišetša | ||
Twi (Akan) | tirimpɔ | ||
Arabic | اعتزم | ||
The Arabic word "اعتزم" also means "to gather together or form a group". | |||
Hebrew | מתכוונים | ||
The Hebrew word "מתכוונים" can also refer to "planning" or "preparing"} | |||
Pashto | اراده | ||
The Pashto word “اراده” can also mean “willpower” or “determination”. | |||
Arabic | اعتزم | ||
The Arabic word "اعتزم" also means "to gather together or form a group". |
Albanian | synoj | ||
The word "synoj" has an alternate meaning of "to intend" in Albanian. | |||
Basque | asmoa | ||
The word "asmoa" also means "pretend" or "simulate" in Basque. | |||
Catalan | pretén | ||
The verb "pretén" comes from Latin "praetendo" and has the double meaning of "intend/aim" (literal sense when the object is a thing) and "claim/pretend" (metaphorical sense when the object is a person). | |||
Croatian | namjeravati | ||
Namjeravati shares the same Indo-European root *men- ('mind, think, remember') as the English words "mind", "memory" and "remember". | |||
Danish | har til hensigt | ||
The Danish word "har til hensigt" (intend) comes from the Old Norse "at ha til hyggi," meaning "to have in mind." | |||
Dutch | van plan zijn | ||
"Van plan zijn" literally means "to be of a plan" and is a fixed expression analogous to the English expression "to intend". | |||
English | intend | ||
Intend derives from the Latin intendere, meaning "to stretch" or "to direct," which is the origin of the homophone "intend," as in "to intend on doing something." | |||
French | avoir l'intention | ||
The verb "avoir l'intention" also means "to have a plan or to have a purpose" | |||
Frisian | fan doel | ||
"Fan doel" is an altered spelling of "van doelen" (from the verb "doeljen" (to intend)) to avoid confusion with "van doel" (from "doel", goal). | |||
Galician | pretende | ||
The Galician word "pretende" also means "to plan" or "to foresee". | |||
German | wollen | ||
"Woll(e)" is a variant spelling of "well(en)", which itself is a contraction to the Old High German word for „wish". | |||
Icelandic | ætla | ||
The word “ætla” is derived from the Old Norse word “ætlun”, which means “intention” or “purpose”. | |||
Irish | rún | ||
"Rún" is cognate with Welsh "rhun", Old Irish "rún", Old Breton "run", Old Gaulish "runos" (meaning "secret") and Old High German "rūna" (meaning "whisper") | |||
Italian | avere intenzione | ||
The Italian phrase "avere intenzione di" derives from the Latin verb "intendere," meaning to stretch or direct towards. | |||
Luxembourgish | plangen | ||
The Luxembourgish verb "plangen" also means "to make plans" and probably stems from the French "plan," meaning design or plan. | |||
Maltese | intenzjoni | ||
The Maltese word "intenzjoni" derives from the Latin "intentio", meaning "an intention, purpose, design". | |||
Norwegian | har tenkt | ||
The word "har tenkt" can also mean "har ment" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | pretender | ||
In Portugese (Brazil and Portugal), "pretender" can also mean: to pretend/ to feign or to claim/ to expect. | |||
Scots Gaelic | an dùil | ||
The word "an dùil" is formed from the prefix "an" meaning "the" and the verb "dùil" meaning "to expect" or "to want". | |||
Spanish | intentar | ||
Intentar comes from the Latin word "intendere," which originally meant "to stretch out." It can also mean "to attempt," or "to propose." | |||
Swedish | tänker | ||
Tänker may also refer to a female member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. | |||
Welsh | bwriadu | ||
"Bwriadu" is also used to refer to the intentional causing of harm, or malicious intent. |
Belarusian | маюць намер | ||
The word "маюць намер" can also mean "have the intention" or "plan to do something" in Belarusian. | |||
Bosnian | namjeravati | ||
Namjeravati comes from the verb "namjeriti" (to measure), and originally meant "to take measurements". | |||
Bulgarian | възнамерявам | ||
"Възнамерявам" can also mean 'to plan' or 'to have in mind' in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | zamýšlet | ||
The verb "zamýšlet" originally meant to aim or point something (at someone/something) but has acquired the secondary meaning "intend". | |||
Estonian | kavatsema | ||
"Kavatsus" and "kavatsuslik" mean intent and intentional, respectively and these words are related to the word "kavatsema" that means "intend." | |||
Finnish | aikovat | ||
The Finnish word "aikovat" also means to plan and is related to the word "aika", meaning "time." | |||
Hungarian | szándékozik | ||
The word "szándékozik" derives from "szándék", meaning "intention", and the suffix "-ozik", indicating an ongoing action. | |||
Latvian | nodomā | ||
The verb “nodomāt” originates from the word “nodoms” which means “intent”. | |||
Lithuanian | ketina | ||
The word "ketina" in Lithuanian also means "design", "purpose", or "intention". | |||
Macedonian | намера | ||
The Macedonian verb "намера" also has the secondary meaning "to guess". | |||
Polish | zamierzać | ||
The word "zamierzać" also means "to die" or "to intend to die". | |||
Romanian | intenționează | ||
"Intenționează" means "intend," but is literally translated to "he/she/it stresses/emphasizes". | |||
Russian | намереваться | ||
The word "намереваться" is derived from the Old Russian word "намерение", which meant "plan" or "intention." | |||
Serbian | намеравам | ||
This word is derived from the Slavic root *naměr- "to intend" and is cognate with Russian “намеренье” (namereṇiye), meaning "intention". | |||
Slovak | zamýšľať | ||
The word "zamýšľať" also means "to think deeply about" or "to contemplate". | |||
Slovenian | nameravam | ||
The word 'nameravam' is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb *naměriti, meaning 'to aim at' or 'to intend'. | |||
Ukrainian | мають намір | ||
Mayut namir is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *nam-, meaning "to take" or "to intend." |
Bengali | অভিপ্রায় | ||
The word 'অভিপ্রায়' ('intend') derives from the Sanskrit word 'अभिप्रेत' ('desired or intended'). | |||
Gujarati | ઇરાદો | ||
The Gujarati word "ઇરાદો" (iraado) originates from the Arabic word "irādah," meaning "will" or "intention," and can also refer to a "plan" or "purpose" | |||
Hindi | इरादा करना | ||
In linguistics, the Hindi word "इरादा करना" comes from the Sanskrit term "इरति", meaning "to go" or "to proceed". | |||
Kannada | ಉದ್ದೇಶ | ||
Malayalam | ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നു | ||
Marathi | हेतू | ||
The word "हेतू" in Marathi is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word "हेतु", which means "cause, reason, or motive" | |||
Nepali | इरादा | ||
The Nepali word "इरादा" originates from the Sanskrit word "इष्ट" meaning "to desire" or "to wish". | |||
Punjabi | ਇਰਾਦਾ | ||
ਇਰਾਦਾ, जिसका अर्थ है किसी कार्य को करने का विचार या उद्देश्य, संस्कृत शब्द 'इर' से लिया गया है, जिसका अर्थ है 'इच्छा' या 'मनोकामना'। | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අදහස් කරන්න | ||
Tamil | நோக்கம் | ||
While "நோக்கம்" primarily means "intend," it can also refer to a "view," "aim," or "purpose." | |||
Telugu | ఉద్దేశం | ||
It also means "purpose" and "thought" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | ارادہ | ||
The word "ارادہ" can also mean "purpose", "will", or "aim" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 打算 | ||
打算 can literally be translated as "hit idea", indicating an intention to do something. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 打算 | ||
"打算" is formed using the characters "打" (to hit or strike) and "算" (to calculate). While its literal meaning is "to plan or calculate," it can also be used to express "intention" or "purpose". | |||
Japanese | 意図する | ||
意図する also translates to "determination" (意志) as the subject has already determined what they will do next | |||
Korean | 의도하다 | ||
The root word "의" means "heart", suggesting the intention comes from within | |||
Mongolian | зорьж байна | ||
Зорьж байна is related to the Mongolian word "зорь" (star), as stars were once used to determine the time of day and navigate. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ရည်ရွယ်သည် | ||
Indonesian | berniat | ||
"Berniat" can also mean "have an intention or plan". | |||
Javanese | dienggo | ||
Etymology unclear; also means "to try to do something", "to attempt" | |||
Khmer | មានបំណង | ||
"មានបំណង" means "intend" in Khmer, but is also used in the sense of a person holding a particular intention toward or with respect to someone or something else | |||
Lao | ຕັ້ງໃຈ | ||
Malay | berniat | ||
Berniat is also used to describe the intention to marry, as in 'dia berniat menikahi saya' (he/she intends to marry me). | |||
Thai | ตั้งใจ | ||
In Thai, "ตั้งใจ" can also mean "to focus" or "to pay attention". | |||
Vietnamese | dự định | ||
The word "dự định" can also mean "destination" or "plan". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | balak | ||
Azerbaijani | niyyət | ||
The term "niyyət" originates from the Arabic term "niyyah", which refers to both the intention to perform a specific action or the state of intention. | |||
Kazakh | ниеттіміз | ||
The verb "ниеттіміз" is a derivative of the noun "ниет" (intention), which comes from the Arabic word "niyyah" (نية) meaning "intention", "purpose", "design", or "desire". | |||
Kyrgyz | ниет | ||
The word "ниет" also has the alternate meaning of "aim". | |||
Tajik | ният | ||
The Tajik word "ният" also means "plan" or "intention". | |||
Turkmen | niýet etmek | ||
Uzbek | niyat qilmoq | ||
The word "niyat qilmoq" in Uzbek is derived from the Arabic word "niyyah", where it means "intention" or "purpose". | |||
Uyghur | نىيەت | ||
Hawaiian | manaʻo | ||
"Manaʻo" also means 'think' or 'understand', and is related to the Proto-Polynesian word *manawa*, meaning 'mind'. | |||
Maori | whakaaro | ||
The word 'whakaaro' can also mean 'think' or 'consider'. | |||
Samoan | faamoemoe | ||
The word 'faamoemoe' in Samoan can also refer to the act of putting something in a place, such as a basket or a book on a shelf. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | balak | ||
"Balak" in Tagalog can also mean "plan, purpose, scheme, design, contemplation, meditation, thought, reflection, calculation, or deliberation." |
Aymara | mayiña | ||
Guarani | ha'ã | ||
Esperanto | intencas | ||
In Spanish, "intencas" means "intense". | |||
Latin | intend | ||
"Intend" in Latin also means to "stretch out" or "strain." |
Greek | σκοπεύω | ||
The Greek word "σκοπεύω" also means "examine" and "consider". | |||
Hmong | npaj tseg | ||
The word "npaj tseg" can also mean "to plan" or "to prepare". | |||
Kurdish | nêtkirin | ||
The Kurdish word "nêtkirin" has alternate meanings such as "to aim", "to have a goal", and "to plan". | |||
Turkish | niyet etmek | ||
The word "niyet etmek" originates from the Arabic word "niyya" meaning "intention" and is also used to express "to aim" or "to strive for". | |||
Xhosa | jonga | ||
"Jonga" can also mean "look" or "watch". | |||
Yiddish | אויסן | ||
The Yiddish word "אויסן" (oysn), meaning "intend". The word is derived from the German word "ausen" meaning "to out". | |||
Zulu | hlose | ||
The word 'hlose' can also refer to a person's will or determination. | |||
Assamese | অভিপ্ৰায় | ||
Aymara | mayiña | ||
Bhojpuri | इरादा | ||
Dhivehi | އުންމީދުކުރުން | ||
Dogri | लोड़चदा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | balak | ||
Guarani | ha'ã | ||
Ilocano | panggepen | ||
Krio | plan | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | مەبەست | ||
Maithili | उदेश्य रखनाइ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯅꯤꯡꯕ | ||
Mizo | tum | ||
Oromo | yaaduu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ | ||
Quechua | munapakuy | ||
Sanskrit | संकेतन | ||
Tatar | ният | ||
Tigrinya | ትልሚ | ||
Tsonga | tiyimisela | ||