Updated on March 6, 2024
The concept of 'judgment' is a fundamental aspect of human cognition and social interaction. It refers to the process of forming an opinion or decision after considering evidence or arguments. Judgment is significant in various cultural contexts, as it shapes our perspectives, values, and behaviors.
Throughout history, the notion of judgment has been explored in philosophy, literature, and religion. For instance, in Judeo-Christian tradition, the Day of Judgment is a future event in which God will judge the actions of all humanity. Meanwhile, in legal contexts, judgment refers to the final decision made by a judge or jury in a court case.
Understanding the translation of 'judgment' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other cultures perceive and approach this complex concept. Here are a few examples:
Exploring the nuances of 'judgment' in different languages can enrich our understanding of this concept and deepen our appreciation for the diversity of human thought and expression.
Afrikaans | oordeel | ||
The word "oordeel" in Afrikaans derives from the Middle Dutch "oordel", meaning "sentence" or "verdict". | |||
Amharic | ፍርድ | ||
"ፍርድ" can also mean "fate, destiny, or retribution." | |||
Hausa | hukunci | ||
In Arabic, the word 'hukunci' means 'legal', and in Turkish, it means 'verdict'. | |||
Igbo | ikpe | ||
"Ikpe" can also mean "case" or "lawsuit" in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | fitsarana | ||
"Fitsarana" may also refer to a Malagasy dance involving divination through trance. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chiweruzo | ||
The word "chiweruzo" can also refer to a "fine" or "penalty". | |||
Shona | mutongo | ||
Mutongo also refers to a traditional court or gathering place where judgments and rulings are made in Shona culture. | |||
Somali | xukunka | ||
The word "xukunka" is derived from the Arabic word "hukm", meaning "rule" or "decree". | |||
Sesotho | kahlolo | ||
The word "kahlolo" is not a noun, but the present-progressive form of the verb "ho ahlola" (to judge). | |||
Swahili | hukumu | ||
The word 'hukumu' in Swahili can also mean a law, a decree, or a verdict, and it is derived from the Arabic word 'hukm'. | |||
Xhosa | umgwebo | ||
The word "umgwebo" also means "a boundary" or "a division" in Xhosa. | |||
Yoruba | idajọ | ||
The Yoruba word "idajọ" not only means "judgment," but also "court." | |||
Zulu | ukwahlulela | ||
Ukwahlulela is also used as a synonym for 'punishment' when referring to a sentence carried out on someone who has been found guilty of an offense. | |||
Bambara | kiritigɛ | ||
Ewe | ʋɔnudɔdrɔ̃ | ||
Kinyarwanda | urubanza | ||
Lingala | kosambisama | ||
Luganda | okusalawo | ||
Sepedi | kahlolo | ||
Twi (Akan) | atemmu a wɔde ma | ||
Arabic | حكم | ||
The word "حكم" can also mean "rule", "decree", or "sentence". | |||
Hebrew | פְּסַק דִין | ||
In Biblical Hebrew, פְּסַק דִין also meant "lawsuit" or "legal matter" | |||
Pashto | قضاوت | ||
In Pashto, the word "قضاوت" (judgment) also has extended meanings, including "decision" and "conclusion". | |||
Arabic | حكم | ||
The word "حكم" can also mean "rule", "decree", or "sentence". |
Albanian | gjykim | ||
The Albanian word "gjykim" is derived from the Latin word "iudicium", meaning "judgment" or "court decision". | |||
Basque | epaia | ||
Epaia comes from the Proto-Basque *ebai, which also means "sentence," "norm," and "law." | |||
Catalan | judici | ||
The Catalan word "judici" ultimately derives from the Latin word "iudicium," which also means "lawsuit" or "trial." | |||
Croatian | osuda | ||
The word 'osuda' is of Slavic origin and originally meant both 'condemnation' and 'sentence'. | |||
Danish | dom | ||
The Danish word "dom" originates from the Old Norse "dómr" meaning both "judgment" and "decision of a court." | |||
Dutch | oordeel | ||
The Dutch word "oordeel" derives from the Old Germanic "or-deil", meaning "origin or source" (compare "ordeal"). | |||
English | judgment | ||
The word "judgment" can also refer to the process of making a decision or forming an opinion. | |||
French | jugement | ||
The French word “jugement” has an alternate legal meaning of 'a judgment call' or 'a professional opinion'. | |||
Frisian | oardiel | ||
Oardiel is derived from the Old Frisian word "ordil", meaning "judgment" or "verdict". | |||
Galician | xuízo | ||
In Galician, "xuízo" also means "intellect, understanding, or reason". | |||
German | beurteilung | ||
The word "Beurteilung" is derived from the Old High German word "biot", meaning "act of judging" or "opinion". | |||
Icelandic | dómur | ||
The word "dómur" in Icelandic also means "cathedral" and derives from the Latin word "domus" meaning "house". | |||
Irish | breithiúnas | ||
The Irish word "breithiúnas" also means "sovereignty" and derives from the Proto-Celtic root *bretix, meaning "judgment" or "sovereign power." | |||
Italian | giudizio | ||
An alternate meaning of the word "giudizio" in Italian is "good sense or prudence." | |||
Luxembourgish | uerteel | ||
The word “Uerteel” likely comes from the French “arbitraire”, meaning “judgment”, or from the German “Urteil”, which has the same meaning. | |||
Maltese | ġudizzju | ||
The Maltese word "ġudizzju" originates from the Arabic word "quḍḍī" and also means "divine judgment". | |||
Norwegian | dømmekraft | ||
The Norwegian word "dømmekraft" derives from the verb "dømme", which means "to judge" and also refers to a person's "discernment or good sense". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | julgamento | ||
The word "julgamento" originally meant a "gathering" before acquiring its current meaning of "judgment" or "sentence". | |||
Scots Gaelic | breitheanas | ||
Breitheanas is also the genitive plural of breith, meaning "birth" or "origin". | |||
Spanish | juicio | ||
"Juicio" can also mean trial, process, lawsuit, sense, understanding, opinion, discretion, maturity, sanity, reason, or wisdom. | |||
Swedish | dom | ||
The Swedish word "dom" can also refer to a cathedral, especially the Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden. | |||
Welsh | barn | ||
The word 'barn' in Welsh can also refer to the judgment made by a court or a decision reached in a contest. |
Belarusian | меркаванне | ||
"Меркаванне" can also mean "belief" or "opinion". | |||
Bosnian | osuda | ||
The word "osuda" in Bosnian also means "fate" or "destiny" | |||
Bulgarian | преценка | ||
The word "преценка" can also refer to an evaluation or an assessment in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | rozsudek | ||
"Rozsudek" in Czech can also refer to the act of judging or the process of forming an opinion. | |||
Estonian | kohtuotsus | ||
"Kohtuotsus" derives from "koht" (place) and "otsus" (decision), thus reflecting the act of reaching a decision in court. | |||
Finnish | tuomio | ||
In Finnish, the word "tuomio" also refers to rowan or mountain ash trees and their berries. | |||
Hungarian | ítélet | ||
"Ítélet" not only means "judgment" but also "sentence" and "opinion". | |||
Latvian | spriedumu | ||
In addition to "judgment," "spriedumu" can also mean "a decision made by a court of law". | |||
Lithuanian | sprendimas | ||
It is related to the Proto-Indo-European words | |||
Macedonian | судење | ||
The Macedonian word "судење" (judgment) shares the same root with the word "судбина" (destiny) and can also mean "trial" (a legal proceeding). | |||
Polish | osąd | ||
"Osąd" derives from the verb "osądzić" meaning "to judge, to settle, to pass sentence" and is related to the word "siedzieć" - "to sit". | |||
Romanian | hotărâre | ||
The Romanian word "hotărâre" can also mean "determination" or "resolution", derived from the Latin "hortari" (to urge, to encourage). | |||
Russian | суждение | ||
The Russian word "суждение" (judgment) is derived from the Old Church Slavonic "судити" (to judge), which is cognate with the English "suit" (legal action). | |||
Serbian | пресуда | ||
The word "пресуда" is derived from the Slavic root "sąd", which means "court" or "lawsuit". | |||
Slovak | rozsudok | ||
In Slovak, "rozsudok" also refers to a statement of conclusion in a logical argument or a decision in a court case. | |||
Slovenian | obsodba | ||
The word 'obsodba' also means 'condemnation' in Slovenian, emphasizing the negative connotation associated with judgment. | |||
Ukrainian | судження | ||
The Ukrainian word "судження" can also mean "opinion" or "inference". |
Bengali | রায় | ||
The word "রায়" in Bengali has multiple meanings, including a legal decision, a monarch's order, or an opinion. | |||
Gujarati | ચુકાદો | ||
"ચુકાદો" (judgment) in Gujarati comes from the Sanskrit word "śakta","meaning able or competent. | |||
Hindi | प्रलय | ||
The word "प्रलय" comes from the Sanskrit root "pra" (destruction) and "li" (dissolution), and can refer to the end of the world or a major catastrophe. | |||
Kannada | ತೀರ್ಪು | ||
The Kannada word "ತೀರ್ಪು" (tīrpu) can also refer to a settlement or a decision made by a court of law. | |||
Malayalam | ന്യായവിധി | ||
The word ന്യായവിധി comes from the Sanskrit word 'nyāya', meaning 'justice', and 'vidhi', meaning 'rule' or 'law'. | |||
Marathi | निर्णय | ||
The word "निर्णय" also means "decision", "conclusion", and "determination" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | निर्णय | ||
The word "निर्णय" is derived from the Sanskrit word "नि" (ni), meaning "to lead down" or "to settle", and "रण" (ran), meaning "battle" or "contest", hence signifying a final decision or conclusion. | |||
Punjabi | ਨਿਰਣਾ | ||
"ਨਿਰਣਾ" (judgment) is also used to refer to the final decision or verdict made by a court or jury. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විනිශ්චය | ||
විනිශ්චය ('viṉishchaya') in Sinhala also denotes 'firm determination', akin to its Sanskrit root that translates to 'firm' | |||
Tamil | தீர்ப்பு | ||
The Tamil word "தீர்ப்பு" can also refer to an opinion or belief. | |||
Telugu | తీర్పు | ||
The Telugu word "తీర్పు" can also refer to a verdict or sentence passed by a court or judge. | |||
Urdu | فیصلہ | ||
The root meaning of "فیصلہ" in Urdu is "decision" and it is derived from the Arabic word "فصل", which means "to separate". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 判断 | ||
"判" can also mean to distinguish or discern. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 判斷 | ||
"判斷" can also mean "to guess" or "to estimate" | |||
Japanese | 判定 | ||
The kanji "定" in "判定" means "fixed" and "不" means "not", implying the finality of the judgment. | |||
Korean | 심판 | ||
"심판" (judgment) in Korean also means a referee, umpire, or judge in a sports match. | |||
Mongolian | шүүлт | ||
Шүүлт may derive from "шигтэх" ("to penetrate"), indicating its function in separating right from wrong. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တရားသဖြင့်စီရင်ခြင်း | ||
The word "judgment" originates from the Latin "iudicium" or "iūs," and is often used interchangeably with terms such as "verdict," "sentence," and "ruling." |
Indonesian | pertimbangan | ||
The word "pertimbangan" in Indonesian also means "consideration" or "deliberation". | |||
Javanese | pangadilan | ||
The Javanese word "pangadilan" can also refer to a "law enforcement officer" or a "magistrate". | |||
Khmer | ការវិនិច្ឆ័យ | ||
The word "ការវិនិច្ឆ័យ" can also refer to the act of evaluating something or to the opinion or decision that is formed as a result of evaluation. | |||
Lao | ການຕັດສິນໃຈ | ||
In Buddhist philosophy, ການຕັດສິນໃຈ means 'the power of discrimination through which a person can distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil; the ability to make judgments'. | |||
Malay | penghakiman | ||
In Malay, the word "penghakiman" also refers to the process of judging or evaluating. | |||
Thai | วิจารณญาณ | ||
วิจารณญาณ comes from two words, วิจารณ์, meaning analyze or criticize, and ญาณ, meaning wisdom. | |||
Vietnamese | sự phán xét | ||
The Vietnamese word "sự phán xét" can also mean "opinion" or "criticism". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | paghatol | ||
Azerbaijani | mühakimə | ||
The word "mühakimə" in Azerbaijani can also refer to a "dispute" or "argument". | |||
Kazakh | үкім | ||
The Kazakh word "үкім" also carries the meanings of "verdict", "sentence", and "punishment". | |||
Kyrgyz | сот | ||
The word "сот" in Kyrgyz is derived from the Old Turkic word "sot", meaning "to decide" or "to judge". | |||
Tajik | ҳукм | ||
In Tajik, “ҳукм” can also mean “sentence,” “decree,” “command,” “rule,” or “law.” | |||
Turkmen | höküm | ||
Uzbek | hukm | ||
“Hukm” in Uzbek refers to a religious decree, a command from a judge, or a sentence | |||
Uyghur | ھۆكۈم | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻokolokolo | ||
Hoʻokolokolo may also mean "to inquire" and "to interrogate" | |||
Maori | whakawakanga | ||
Whakawakanga's meaning is multifaceted, encompassing adjudication, evaluation, and discernment | |||
Samoan | faamasinoga | ||
In the Bible, faamasinoga is also used to describe God's actions when judging people, as seen in the passage in Leviticus 10:6 where a similar phrase was used to describe God's judgment against Nadab and Abihu. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | paghatol | ||
The word "paghatol" is also used figuratively to mean "verdict" or "a decision that has been reached after consideration or deliberation." |
Aymara | taripañataki | ||
Guarani | juicio rehegua | ||
Esperanto | juĝo | ||
The Esperanto word "juĝo" also shares its root with the Latin word "iudicium", from which the English word "jury" is derived. | |||
Latin | judicium | ||
The term "judicium" in Latin can also refer to a trial or legal proceeding. |
Greek | κρίση | ||
The noun 'κρίση' traces roots to the verb 'κρίνω', which originally meant 'to separate' before acquiring its more specific meaning. | |||
Hmong | kev txiav txim | ||
The Hmong word "kev txiav txim" comes from the Proto-Hmong-Mien word *tʃuŋ *tʃɔŋ, meaning "to guess, to decide, to judge." | |||
Kurdish | biryar | ||
The word "biryar" also refers to a traditional Kurdish meeting where disputes are resolved and consensus is sought. | |||
Turkish | yargı | ||
The word "yargı" in Turkish also refers to the judiciary or court system. | |||
Xhosa | umgwebo | ||
The word "umgwebo" also means "a boundary" or "a division" in Xhosa. | |||
Yiddish | משפּט | ||
The Yiddish word "משפּט" also means "legal proceeding" or "lawsuit". | |||
Zulu | ukwahlulela | ||
Ukwahlulela is also used as a synonym for 'punishment' when referring to a sentence carried out on someone who has been found guilty of an offense. | |||
Assamese | বিচাৰ | ||
Aymara | taripañataki | ||
Bhojpuri | फैसला कइल जाला | ||
Dhivehi | ޙުކުމެވެ | ||
Dogri | फैसला करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | paghatol | ||
Guarani | juicio rehegua | ||
Ilocano | panangukom | ||
Krio | jɔjmɛnt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | حوکمدان | ||
Maithili | निर्णय | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯋꯥꯌꯦꯜ ꯄꯤꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | rorelna a ni | ||
Oromo | murtii kennuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବିଚାର | ||
Quechua | taripay | ||
Sanskrit | न्यायः | ||
Tatar | хөкем | ||
Tigrinya | ፍርዲ | ||
Tsonga | ku avanyisa | ||