Lab in Different Languages
Discover 'Lab' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'lab' is a ubiquitous term in modern vernacular, referring to a place where scientific research and experiments are conducted. The cultural significance of labs extends beyond the realm of science, as they symbolize human curiosity, innovation, and the pursuit of knowledge. From chemistry labs to computer labs, these spaces have been instrumental in shaping the course of human history.
Moreover, the word 'lab' has an interesting etymology, derived from the Latin word 'laboratorium,' which means 'a place for working.' This historical context highlights the importance of laboratories as sites of productivity and creativity.
Given the global prevalence of scientific research and technological advancements, it's no surprise that the word 'lab' has been translated into various languages around the world. Understanding these translations can provide valuable insights into different cultures and their approaches to scientific inquiry.
Here are some translations of the word 'lab' in different languages:
Lab
Lab in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | laboratorium | ||
| In Afrikaans, "laboratorium" originally meant a "place to endure pain" or a "place of torment," but it now also refers to a laboratory. | |||
| Amharic | ላብራቶሪ | ||
| "ላብራቶሪ" (lab) is a loanword from Latin "laboratorius" which means "relating to labor or work". | |||
| Hausa | dakin gwaje-gwaje | ||
| The term "gwaje-gwaje" in Hausa can also refer to the surface of a lake during the rainy season and to the act of paddling a canoe. | |||
| Igbo | ụlọ nyocha | ||
| Malagasy | laboratoara | ||
| This word originally meant "library" in Malagasy, a meaning which is still attested in the related word "laboratoriana." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | labu | ||
| The word "labu" also means "a large lake" in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | lab | ||
| In Shona, "lab" also means "to wash or clean clothes". | |||
| Somali | shaybaarka | ||
| Although "shaybaarka" literally means "lip" in Somali, it is also used figuratively to refer to a "laboratory". | |||
| Sesotho | lab | ||
| The word "lab" in Sesotho is derived from the English word "laboratory", referring to a room in a university, school, or other academic institution where scientific experiments or research take place. | |||
| Swahili | maabara | ||
| Maabara's etymology stems from 'abara', meaning 'to create' or 'to shape', highlighting the lab's role in crafting new ideas and innovations. | |||
| Xhosa | ilebhu | ||
| The Xhosa word "ilebhu" also refers to a type of sweet potato, reflecting the plant's cultivation by Xhosa farmers. | |||
| Yoruba | yàrá | ||
| "Yàrá" can also refer to the space between the lips and the teeth. | |||
| Zulu | ilebhu | ||
| In isiZulu, "ilebhu" denotes both "lab" and "lip," with the latter meaning being more common. | |||
| Bambara | laboratuwari | ||
| Ewe | lab | ||
| Kinyarwanda | laboratoire | ||
| Lingala | laboratoire | ||
| Luganda | lab | ||
| Sepedi | lab | ||
| Twi (Akan) | lab | ||
Lab in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مختبر | ||
| The Arabic word مختبر (makhtabar) originally referred to a place for testing gold, and its current meaning of "lab" is a loan translation from English. | |||
| Hebrew | מַעבָּדָה | ||
| The word "מַעבָּדָה" (lab) in Hebrew can also refer to a factory or a workshop. | |||
| Pashto | لابراتوار | ||
| The Pashto word "لابراتوار" is a loanword from French meaning "laboratory". | |||
| Arabic | مختبر | ||
| The Arabic word مختبر (makhtabar) originally referred to a place for testing gold, and its current meaning of "lab" is a loan translation from English. | |||
Lab in Western European Languages
| Albanian | laborator | ||
| In Albanian, the word "laborator" is a false friend of the English word "laboratory" and actually means "researcher" or "technician". | |||
| Basque | laborategia | ||
| "Laborategia" is the Basque word for "laboratory" and is derived from the Latin word "laborare," meaning "to work." | |||
| Catalan | laboratori | ||
| The word "laboratori" in Catalan is a derivative, with the same meaning, of "laboratory" in English, which in turn comes from the Latin "labōrātōrĭum", a place of work. | |||
| Croatian | laboratorija | ||
| The Croatian word laboratorija (lab) comes from the Latin word 'laborare', meaning 'to work' or 'to toil'. | |||
| Danish | lab | ||
| In Danish, the word "lab" can also refer to a small fish, specifically the common bleak (Alburnus alburnus). | |||
| Dutch | laboratorium | ||
| Het woord "laboratorium" is afgeleid van het Latijnse "laborare", wat "werken" betekent. | |||
| English | lab | ||
| "Lab" is short for "laboratory", but it can also refer to a workplace where illegal activities take place. | |||
| French | laboratoire | ||
| The word "laboratoire" in French derives from the Latin word "laborare" (to work), also the root of the word "labour." | |||
| Frisian | lab | ||
| In Frisian, "lab" can also mean "flatfish" or "sole", possibly derived from the Old Frisian word "labbe" or "labbe". | |||
| Galician | laboratorio | ||
| In Galician, "laboratorio" can also refer to a prison cell. | |||
| German | labor | ||
| In German, the word "Labor" can also mean "toil" or "drudgery." | |||
| Icelandic | rannsóknarstofa | ||
| The second part of "rannsóknarstofa" is connected to the verb "rannsaka", meaning to examine or to research. | |||
| Irish | saotharlann | ||
| "Saotharlann" can also refer to a workshop, studio or other place of work, particularly one where creative or intellectual work is carried out. | |||
| Italian | laboratorio | ||
| The Italian word "laboratorio" derives from the Latin word "laborare," meaning "to work," and is also used to refer to a workshop or a place where students complete practical work. | |||
| Luxembourgish | labo | ||
| Labo can also refer to a building used for laboratory activities. | |||
| Maltese | laboratorju | ||
| Laboratorju ultimately derives from a Latin word meaning "place of hard work". | |||
| Norwegian | lab | ||
| The word "lab" is a shortened form of "laboratory", a room or building used for scientific research, experimentation, or teaching. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | laboratório | ||
| The Portuguese word "laboratório" comes from the Latin word "laborare," meaning "to work." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | lab | ||
| The Gaelic word "lab" can also refer to a lump or a large piece. | |||
| Spanish | laboratorio | ||
| In Spanish, "laboratorio" can refer to a place of scientific research, a workshop, or a prison. | |||
| Swedish | labb | ||
| The word "labb" in Swedish can also refer to a "paw" or "foot". | |||
| Welsh | lab | ||
| The Welsh word "lab" can also mean "a place of work", such as a workshop or studio. | |||
Lab in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | лабараторыя | ||
| The word "лабараторыя" in Belarusian comes from the Latin word "laboratorium", meaning "a place to work". | |||
| Bosnian | lab | ||
| The word "lab" in Bosnian can also mean "a small room" or "a workshop". | |||
| Bulgarian | лаборатория | ||
| In its original meaning, "лаборатория" referred to the space where scholars would pray and perform spiritual practices. | |||
| Czech | laboratoř | ||
| The Czech word "laboratoř" derives from the Latin "laborare" (to work) and originally referred to a workshop or study. | |||
| Estonian | labor | ||
| In Estonian, "labor" also refers to a group of people working together, like a team or crew. | |||
| Finnish | lab | ||
| In Finnish, the word "lab" can also refer to a short form of the word "laboratory". | |||
| Hungarian | labor | ||
| The Hungarian word "munka" has the same root as "labor" and "lab", and also means "work" or "labor". | |||
| Latvian | laboratorija | ||
| The word "laboratorija" comes from Latin "laboratorium" and is a place where scientists conduct experiments or do research. | |||
| Lithuanian | laboratorija | ||
| The word "laboratorija" comes from the Latin "laborare" (to work), and also refers to a facility where chemists and alchemists worked. | |||
| Macedonian | лабораторија | ||
| The word "лабораторија" comes from the Latin word "laboratorium", which means "a place where one works". | |||
| Polish | laboratorium | ||
| In Polish, "laboratorium" also refers to a hospital room where laboratory tests are conducted. | |||
| Romanian | laborator | ||
| Laboratory is a word that entered Romanian through French and has an unknown etymology. | |||
| Russian | лаборатория | ||
| The word "лаборатория" is derived from the Latin word "laborare", meaning "to work". It can also refer to a place where alchemists worked. | |||
| Serbian | лаб | ||
| In Serbian, "лаб" (lab) can also refer to a type of freshwater fish. | |||
| Slovak | laboratórium | ||
| Slovak word "laboratórium" originates from Middle Latin "laboratorius" meaning "working place" and Latin "laborare" meaning "to work". | |||
| Slovenian | laboratorij | ||
| In Slovenian, 'laboratorij' also refers to a place where alchemy was practiced, suggesting its historical connection to chemistry. | |||
| Ukrainian | лабораторія | ||
| The word "лабораторія" in Ukrainian ultimately derives from the Latin word "laborare" meaning "to work" | |||
Lab in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ল্যাব | ||
| The Bengali word "ল্যাব" (lab) derives from the English word "laboratory", which itself originates from the Latin word "laborare" meaning "to work". | |||
| Gujarati | લેબ | ||
| The word 'lab' can also refer to a place for developing and testing new products or ideas, as in 'research lab'. | |||
| Hindi | प्रयोगशाला | ||
| Although "प्रयोगशाला" means "lab" in Hindi, it literally translates to "place of experimentation". | |||
| Kannada | ಲ್ಯಾಬ್ | ||
| "ಲ್ಯಾಬ್" is also the informal way of saying "laboratory" in Kannada, a language spoken in India." | |||
| Malayalam | ലാബ് | ||
| The word 'lab' is derived from the Latin word 'laboratorium', meaning 'a place of work'. | |||
| Marathi | प्रयोगशाळा | ||
| The Marathi word “प्रयोगशाळा” may also refer to an “area for experimenting,” “a field of operations,” or “a proving ground.” | |||
| Nepali | प्रयोगशाला | ||
| "प्रयोगशाला" is derived from the Sanskrit word "prayoga" meaning "experiment" and "shala" meaning "hall". | |||
| Punjabi | ਲੈਬ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਲੈਬ" (lab) can also refer to a laboratory assistant or technician. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විද්යාගාරය | ||
| It is derived from the Sanskrit words 'vidya' (knowledge) and 'agara' (house). | |||
| Tamil | ஆய்வகம் | ||
| The Tamil word "ஆய்வகம்" can also mean "an examination hall" or "a place where people study or work together". | |||
| Telugu | ప్రయోగశాల | ||
| In English, the word "lab" can also refer to "labor" or "laboratory". In Telugu, "ప్రయోగశాల" specifically refers to a scientific or research laboratory. | |||
| Urdu | لیب | ||
| The word 'لیب' ('lab') in Urdu is derived from the Arabic word 'lābir', which means 'a place of work or study'. | |||
Lab in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 实验室 | ||
| “实验室”的本意指进行化学实验或研究的地方，现在也用于指任何进行科学实验或研究的地方 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 實驗室 | ||
| 實驗室在中文中還可以指「實驗室劇場」（experimental theater） | |||
| Japanese | ラボ | ||
| The word "ラボ" (rab) is also used to refer to a "laboratory" in Japanese, similar to its usage in English. | |||
| Korean | 랩 | ||
| 랩 (lab) may also refer to rapping in Korean popular music, derived from the English word "rap". | |||
| Mongolian | лаборатори | ||
| In Mongolian, the word "лаборатори" ultimately derives from the Classical Latin word "laborare", meaning "to work" or "to toil". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဓာတ်ခွဲခန်း | ||
Lab in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | laboratorium | ||
| Laboratorium's root word 'laborare' in Latin means 'to work'. So the word denotes a place of work. | |||
| Javanese | lab | ||
| In Javanese, "lab" also refers to a place of work or study, or to a group of people engaged in an activity together. | |||
| Khmer | មន្ទីរពិសោធន៍ | ||
| The term "មន្ទីរពិសោធន៍" originally referred to a place where Ayurvedic medicine was practiced, and later came to mean a laboratory. | |||
| Lao | ຫ້ອງທົດລອງ | ||
| Malay | makmal | ||
| Makmal originates from the Arabic word "makmal" which also means "laboratory". | |||
| Thai | ห้องปฏิบัติการ | ||
| In Thai, "ห้องปฏิบัติการ" (lab) is also used to refer to "labor" (as in, "hard physical work") and "toilet" | |||
| Vietnamese | phòng thí nghiệm | ||
| "Phòng thí nghiệm" is a Vietnamese translation of "laboratory", derived from Latin "laborare" (to toil) and "laboratorium" (workshop), but it can also refer to "trial" or "test" in a legal context | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lab | ||
Lab in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | laboratoriya | ||
| The word "laboratoriya" is derived from Latin, meaning "a place of toil or work". | |||
| Kazakh | зертхана | ||
| The word "зертхана" is also used in Kazakh to refer to a test kitchen or a testing site for drugs or cosmetics. | |||
| Kyrgyz | лаборатория | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "лаборатория" (lab) is derived from the Russian word "лаборатория" (laboratoriya), which in turn comes from the Latin word "laborare" (to work). | |||
| Tajik | озмоишгоҳ | ||
| The word "озмоишгоҳ" also means "testing ground" or "experimentation site" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | laboratoriýasy | ||
| Uzbek | laboratoriya | ||
| In Uzbek, "laboratoriya" is also used to refer to a place where experiments are conducted, such as a science fair. | |||
| Uyghur | تەجرىبىخانا | ||
Lab in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hale hana | ||
| "Hale hana" literally means "work house" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | taiwhanga | ||
| The term 'taiwhanga' initially denoted the meeting house for a marae before acquiring its contemporary meaning, 'lab' or 'workshop'. | |||
| Samoan | fale suesue | ||
| The Samoan word "fale suesue" also refers to a "study" or "classroom". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | lab | ||
| "Lab" in Tagalog can also mean "poison" or "venom". | |||
Lab in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | laboratorio | ||
| Guarani | laboratorio | ||
Lab in International Languages
| Esperanto | laboratorio | ||
| The Esperanto word “laboratorio” is derived from Latin “laboratorium” (workshop) and has alternate meanings including “workroom” and “laboratory”. | |||
| Latin | lab | ||
| In Latin, "lab" can also refer to a fall, slip, or fault. | |||
Lab in Others Languages
| Greek | εργαστήριο | ||
| εργαστήριο originally meant a workshop where artisans produced handcrafted goods or a place where scholars pursued intellectual work. | |||
| Hmong | lab | ||
| The Hmong word "lab" can also mean "to take" or "to get". | |||
| Kurdish | taqîgeh | ||
| The term Taqîgeh is related to other Kurdish terms such as the word Teq, meaning face. | |||
| Turkish | laboratuar | ||
| The Turkish word 'laboratuar' ('lab') is derived from the Latin word 'laboratorium', which means 'a place of work'. | |||
| Xhosa | ilebhu | ||
| The Xhosa word "ilebhu" also refers to a type of sweet potato, reflecting the plant's cultivation by Xhosa farmers. | |||
| Yiddish | לאַב | ||
| The Yiddish term "לאַב" (lab), besides its literal meaning of "laboratory," is used figuratively to refer to a workshop or even to a place full of activity. | |||
| Zulu | ilebhu | ||
| In isiZulu, "ilebhu" denotes both "lab" and "lip," with the latter meaning being more common. | |||
| Assamese | লেব | ||
| Aymara | laboratorio | ||
| Bhojpuri | लैब के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ލެބް | ||
| Dogri | लैब | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lab | ||
| Guarani | laboratorio | ||
| Ilocano | lab | ||
| Krio | lab | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تاقیگە | ||
| Maithili | लैब | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯦꯕꯇꯥ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ ꯌꯨ.ꯑꯦꯁ | ||
| Mizo | lab-ah a awm | ||
| Oromo | lab | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଲ୍ୟାବ | ||
| Quechua | laboratorio | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रयोगशाला | ||
| Tatar | лаборатория | ||
| Tigrinya | ቤተ ፈተነ | ||
| Tsonga | lab | ||