Updated on March 6, 2024
An 'introduction' is a crucial first step in many aspects of life. It is a formal or informal act of presenting or becoming familiar with something or someone new. The significance of an introduction cannot be overstated, as it can set the tone for relationships, experiences, and even entire careers.
Introductions hold cultural importance across the globe. In many African cultures, introductions are used to establish social hierarchy and build relationships. In Japan, business introductions are formal and follow strict etiquette. And in many Western cultures, introductions are used to break the ice and initiate conversation.
Knowing the translation of 'introduction' in different languages can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. Whether you're traveling, studying a foreign language, or conducting international business, understanding this concept in multiple languages can help you navigate new situations and build connections with people from diverse backgrounds.
Here are a few sample translations of 'introduction' to pique your interest:
Afrikaans | inleiding | ||
Inleiding means a part in between in Dutch (a prelude to a hymn). | |||
Amharic | መግቢያ | ||
The word "መግቢያ" can also mean "beginning" or "entrance". | |||
Hausa | gabatarwa | ||
"Gabatarwa" is also the name for a type of Hausa drum. | |||
Igbo | iwebata | ||
Iwebata derives from the Igbo word "we bata", meaning "to open a path". | |||
Malagasy | sava lalana | ||
The word "Sava lalana" can also be interpreted as "opening the door" in Malagasy, signifying the beginning of something new. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mawu oyamba | ||
Shona | sumo | ||
The word sumo can also mean "to start" or "to begin" in Shona. | |||
Somali | hordhac | ||
The word "hordhac" is a nominalized form of the verb "hordhin," which means "to lead" or "to guide." | |||
Sesotho | matseno | ||
The word 'matseno' can also refer to a traditional dance performed by boys and young men. | |||
Swahili | utangulizi | ||
The word "utangulizi" is derived from the verb "kutanguliza," which means "to place in front" or "to precede." | |||
Xhosa | intshayelelo | ||
The word 'intshayelelo' is derived from the verb 'intshaya' meaning 'to start' or 'to begin'. | |||
Yoruba | ifihan | ||
Ifihan is a Yoruba word used in the context of introducing someone or something, but it also refers to a type of Yoruba folktale. | |||
Zulu | isingeniso | ||
Isingeniso comes from the Zulu word "singena" meaning "let's enter". | |||
Bambara | daminɛ kuma | ||
Ewe | kpɔkplɔyiɖeme | ||
Kinyarwanda | intangiriro | ||
Lingala | maloba ya ebandeli | ||
Luganda | okwanjula | ||
Sepedi | matseno | ||
Twi (Akan) | nnianimu | ||
Arabic | المقدمة | ||
"المقدمة" comes from the root word "قدم" meaning "to put forward" or "to approach". | |||
Hebrew | מבוא | ||
"מבוא" is an acronym of the opening words of the Mishnah, משנה תורה שבעל פה, "Mishnah Torah Sheb'al Peh", "Oral Torah, Mishnah." | |||
Pashto | پیژندنه | ||
The word "پیژندنه" in Pashto also means "recognition" or "identification". | |||
Arabic | المقدمة | ||
"المقدمة" comes from the root word "قدم" meaning "to put forward" or "to approach". |
Albanian | prezantimi | ||
The word "prezantimi" also denotes the presentation or disclosure of something for the purpose of providing information or to create a certain impression. | |||
Basque | sarrera | ||
The Basque word "sarrera" originally meant "entrance" or "threshold" and is related to the verb "sartu" (to enter). | |||
Catalan | introducció | ||
The word "introducció" in Catalan is derived from the Latin word "introducere", meaning "to lead in" or "to bring into". | |||
Croatian | uvod | ||
The word 'Uvod' derives from the Old Church Slavonic word 'vъvodъ', meaning 'leading in' or 'entry'. | |||
Danish | introduktion | ||
The Danish word "introduktion" is derived from the Latin word "introductio," meaning "a leading in" or "a presentation." | |||
Dutch | invoering | ||
The word "invoering" can also refer to the process of "implementation" or "enforcement" of a law or regulation. | |||
English | introduction | ||
"Introduction" is derived from the Latin word "intro" (inward) and "ducere" (to lead), meaning "to lead inward." | |||
French | introduction | ||
In French, "introduction" can also mean "foreword" or "preface". | |||
Frisian | ynlieding | ||
"Ynlieding" literally means "in leading" and is related to the English "inlet" and German "Einleitung". | |||
Galician | introdución | ||
In Galician, "introdución" also means "induction" or "beginning". | |||
German | einführung | ||
In German, "Einführung" can also refer to inserting something (like a rod or tool) into something else, based on its literal meaning "leading in". | |||
Icelandic | kynning | ||
The word "kynning" derives from the Old Norse word "kunning", meaning "acquaintance" or "knowledge". | |||
Irish | réamhrá | ||
This Irish word also means "preface" or "prologue". | |||
Italian | introduzione | ||
The Italian word "introduzione" comes from the Latin word "introducere," meaning "to lead into". | |||
Luxembourgish | aféierung | ||
Maltese | introduzzjoni | ||
The word "introduzzjoni" in Maltese comes from the Latin word "introductio" and also means "lead-in" or "prelude". | |||
Norwegian | introduksjon | ||
'Introduksjon' comes from Latin introducere, meaning to lead into.' | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | introdução | ||
In Portuguese, "introdução" (introduction) can also mean a musical prelude or a preface of a book. | |||
Scots Gaelic | ro-ràdh | ||
Spanish | introducción | ||
In Spanish, the word "Introducción" means both "introduction" and "a brief presentation of a topic to stimulate discussion". | |||
Swedish | introduktion | ||
"Introduktion" can also mean a kind of fruit brandy in Swedish. | |||
Welsh | cyflwyniad | ||
The Welsh word "cyflwyniad" can also refer to a presentation or a preface. |
Belarusian | увядзенне | ||
The Belarusian word увядзенне comes from the Old Slavic word *vъvedenie, meaning "to lead in". | |||
Bosnian | uvod | ||
The word "uvod" also means "entrance", coming from the root of the verb šti "to enter". | |||
Bulgarian | въведение | ||
The word "Въведение" can refer to both the "Presentation of the Virgin Mary" religious holiday and the act of introducing someone or something. | |||
Czech | úvod | ||
The word "úvod" is derived from the Old Czech word "uvodit", meaning "to lead into" or "to introduce". | |||
Estonian | sissejuhatus | ||
The word "sissejuhatus" derives from the verbs "sisse" (in) and "juhatada" (to direct), suggesting the idea of leading someone into a subject or concept. | |||
Finnish | esittely | ||
The word "esittely" can also mean "demonstration" or "presentation". | |||
Hungarian | bevezetés | ||
The word “bevezetés” is also used in Hungarian to mean a “preface.” | |||
Latvian | ievads | ||
The word "ievads" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ei-/*i-", meaning "to go". It is cognate with the English word "intro" and the German word "Einleitung". | |||
Lithuanian | įvadas | ||
"Įvadas" comes from the same Proto-Indo-European root as the Latin "introductus," meaning "to lead in" | |||
Macedonian | вовед | ||
The Macedonian word "вовед" (introduction) is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "въвѣдъ", which has the same meaning and is ultimately derived from the Proto-Slavic word *vъvesti, meaning "to lead in" or "to introduce". | |||
Polish | wprowadzenie | ||
The word "wprowadzenie" in Polish also means "admission", "induction", or "incorporation". | |||
Romanian | introducere | ||
The Romanian word "introducere" derives from the Latin word "introducere", meaning "to lead or bring in". | |||
Russian | введение | ||
Originally meaning “to lead in,” “введение” is also used as the term for “Epiphany” in Russian. | |||
Serbian | увод | ||
In Serbian, “увод” (“uvod”) also denotes an excerpt in a book or a musical prelude. | |||
Slovak | úvod | ||
The word "úvod" in Slovak is a cognate of the word "exit" in English, both ultimately deriving from the Latin word "exitus" meaning "a going out". | |||
Slovenian | uvod | ||
The Slovenian word "uvod" comes from the Latin word "introitus", meaning "entrance" or "beginning." | |||
Ukrainian | вступ | ||
The word "вступ" in Ukrainian also means "entry" or "joining". |
Bengali | ভূমিকা | ||
ভূমিকা derives from Sanskrit and also means 'basis, reason, or foundation,' or 'the ground on which something rests'. | |||
Gujarati | પરિચય | ||
The word "परिचय" also means "acquaintance" or "familiarity" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | परिचय | ||
The word परिचय (parichay) also means 'presentation', 'exposition', or 'acquaintance' in Hindi. | |||
Kannada | ಪರಿಚಯ | ||
ಪರಿಚಯ originates from the Sanskrit word 'parichaya', meaning 'proximity' or 'intimacy', and it also means 'knowledge' or 'familiarity'. | |||
Malayalam | ആമുഖം | ||
ആമുഖം, from the Sanskrit word 'āmukha', also means 'prologue' or 'preface'. | |||
Marathi | परिचय | ||
The word 'परिचय' ('introduction') in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit words 'परि' (around) and 'इज' (to go), suggesting a 'going around' or 'familiarizing' with something. | |||
Nepali | परिचय | ||
परिचय comes from Sanskrit "pari" meaning "around" or "thoroughly" and "chaya" meaning "to cover" or "to introduce". | |||
Punjabi | ਜਾਣ ਪਛਾਣ | ||
The word ‘ਜਾਣ ਪਛਾਣ’ has an alternate meaning ‘introduction of a boy and girl or a man and woman to each other for the purpose of marriage’. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | හැදින්වීම | ||
Although 'හැදින්වීම' most commonly means 'introduction', it can also mean 'presentation' or 'invitation'. | |||
Tamil | அறிமுகம் | ||
The term 'அறிமுகம்' not only means 'introduction' but also refers to 'cognition', indicating both the process of introducing oneself and the knowledge gained from that encounter. | |||
Telugu | పరిచయం | ||
The word "పరిచయం" in Telugu can also mean "acquaintance" or "familiarity". | |||
Urdu | تعارف | ||
"تعارف" can also mean "the act of becoming acquainted" or "the act of getting to know someone new" |
Chinese (Simplified) | 介绍 | ||
While 介绍 can mean "introduction" in English, it can also mean "to introduce" or "to recommend". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 介紹 | ||
The verb form of 介紹 can mean "to introduce," "to give an account of," or "to hand over to someone's care." | |||
Japanese | 前書き | ||
前書き (maeがき) can also mean "prologue" or "preface". | |||
Korean | 소개 | ||
Originally borrowed from Japanese "紹介", "소개" was spelled without an "오" in Korean until standardized by the National Language Institute in 1933. | |||
Mongolian | танилцуулга | ||
In Mongolian, танилцуулга is also used to refer to someone's social circle or acquaintances. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | နိဒါန်း | ||
Indonesian | pengantar | ||
The word pengantar in Indonesian can also mean a preface, preamble, or foreword in a book. | |||
Javanese | pitepangan | ||
"Pitepangan" comes from "pitepi" meaning "edge" and "tepa" meaning "hit" or "touch". | |||
Khmer | ការណែនាំ | ||
ការណែនាំ is derived from the Sanskrit word "nivesa", meaning "to place" or "to establish" and is related to the Khmer word "ណែ" (nae), meaning "to instruct" or "to teach". | |||
Lao | ການແນະ ນຳ | ||
Malay | pengenalan | ||
Pengenalan (introduction) also means 'knowledge' or 'recognition' in Malay and is derived from the root word 'kenal' (to know). | |||
Thai | บทนำ | ||
The word "บทนำ" can also refer to the prologue of a play or a preface to a book. | |||
Vietnamese | giới thiệu | ||
Giới thiệu originally meant "to offer or present" and is often used in the context of presenting someone or something. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpapakilala | ||
Azerbaijani | giriş | ||
The word "giriş" in Azerbaijani can also mean "entrance" or "access". | |||
Kazakh | кіріспе | ||
The Kazakh word "кіріспе" can also refer to the "prologue" of a story or the "preamble" of a document. | |||
Kyrgyz | киришүү | ||
The Kyrgyz word "киришүү" can also mean "access" or "entrance" in certain contexts. | |||
Tajik | муқаддима | ||
The word «муқаддима» also refers to the preface of a book or other written work. | |||
Turkmen | giriş | ||
Uzbek | kirish | ||
The word "kirish", meaning "introduction" in Uzbek, comes from the Persian word "kirish", which refers to the act of entering or approaching. | |||
Uyghur | تونۇشتۇرۇش | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻolauna | ||
The word "hoʻolauna" is also used to refer to a "greeting" or "salutation" in Hawaiian. | |||
Maori | whakataki | ||
In Maori, 'whakataki' can also mean 'to reveal' or 'to make evident'. | |||
Samoan | folasaga | ||
The word 'folasaga' in Samoan is derived from the Polynesian root 'fala', meaning 'to speak', and the suffix '-saga', meaning 'story' or 'account'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pagpapakilala | ||
Aymara | qallta | ||
Guarani | moñepyrũmby | ||
Esperanto | enkonduko | ||
Derived from 'enkonduki', a verb meaning 'to conduct in, into, or within'. | |||
Latin | introduction | ||
The Latin word "introductio" means "a bringing in, an entrance" and is related to the verb "introducere", which means "to lead or bring in." |
Greek | εισαγωγή | ||
The term "εισαγωγή" (introduction) is derived from the Greek verb "εισάγω", meaning "to bring in, to introduce", and refers to the initial section of a work that serves to provide background information or context | |||
Hmong | taw qhia | ||
The word "taw qhia" can also mean "to tell a story" or "to explain something". | |||
Kurdish | pêşkêş | ||
The word "pêşkêş" in Kurdish has the alternate meaning of "tribute" or "offering". | |||
Turkish | giriş | ||
The Turkish word 'Giriş' also refers to the entrance to a place, a gate or doorway. | |||
Xhosa | intshayelelo | ||
The word 'intshayelelo' is derived from the verb 'intshaya' meaning 'to start' or 'to begin'. | |||
Yiddish | הקדמה | ||
In the language Yiddish the word "הקדמה" also means a preface, a foreword, or a prolegomena, while in English it means only "an introduction". | |||
Zulu | isingeniso | ||
Isingeniso comes from the Zulu word "singena" meaning "let's enter". | |||
Assamese | পাতনি | ||
Aymara | qallta | ||
Bhojpuri | परिचय | ||
Dhivehi | ތަޢާރަފު | ||
Dogri | परिचे | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpapakilala | ||
Guarani | moñepyrũmby | ||
Ilocano | pauna | ||
Krio | sho | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پێشەکی | ||
Maithili | परिचय | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯛꯇꯥꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | inhmelhriattirna | ||
Oromo | seensa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପରିଚୟ | ||
Quechua | qallariy | ||
Sanskrit | आमुख | ||
Tatar | кереш сүз | ||
Tigrinya | መእተዊ | ||
Tsonga | manghenelo | ||