Leader in Different Languages
Discover 'Leader' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A leader is someone who guides, inspires, and influences others to achieve a common goal. The significance of a leader cannot be overstated, as they play a critical role in shaping the direction of societies, organizations, and communities. Throughout history, we have seen the impact of great leaders, from Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent resistance to Nelson Mandela's fight against apartheid.
The concept of leadership transcends cultural boundaries and is vital to every society. In different languages, the word for leader may have nuanced meanings that reflect cultural values and beliefs. For instance, in Spanish, a leader is translated as 'líder,' which comes from the Latin word 'laxis,' meaning to guide or direct. Meanwhile, in Japanese, a leader is referred to as 'shunin,' which means someone who serves others before themselves.
Understanding the translation of leader in different languages can provide valuable insights into a culture's values and beliefs. It can also help build cross-cultural connections and foster global understanding.
Leader
Leader in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | leier | ||
| The word "leier" may have originated from the Dutch word "Leider" which means "alas" or "unfortunately." | |||
| Amharic | መሪ | ||
| The word 'መሪ' can also refer to a 'guide' or a 'pathway'. | |||
| Hausa | shugaba | ||
| In Hausa, "shugaba" can also mean "chief" or "head of a family." | |||
| Igbo | onye ndu | ||
| The Igbo word "onye ndu" can also refer to a head, chieftain, master, or one who rules. | |||
| Malagasy | mpitarika | ||
| The term "mpitarika" is derived from the Malagasy word "mitarika," meaning "to lead or guide." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mtsogoleri | ||
| In Nyanja, "mtsogoleri" (leader) derives from "tsogolo" (future) hence suggesting someone who guides people towards the future. | |||
| Shona | mutungamiri | ||
| The word "mutungamiri" can also refer to a spiritual leader or guide. | |||
| Somali | hogaamiye | ||
| The term “hogaamiye” is also used to refer to a political party or organization, or to a chief or head of a clan. | |||
| Sesotho | moetapele | ||
| "Moetapele" also means "head of family," "head of clan," or "head of tribe". | |||
| Swahili | kiongozi | ||
| The word "kiongozi" in Swahili originally referred to a herdsman or guide. | |||
| Xhosa | inkokeli | ||
| In Zulu and other Nguni idioms 'umkhokeli', the leader, is associated with the notion of 'going before'. | |||
| Yoruba | olori | ||
| The word 'olori' in Yoruba can also refer to a queen, a wife of a chief, or a woman of high status. | |||
| Zulu | umholi | ||
| "Umholi" is derived from the Zulu word "ukukhokhela," meaning "to take responsibility for" or "to lead." | |||
| Bambara | ɲɛmɔgɔ | ||
| Ewe | ŋgɔnɔla | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuyobozi | ||
| Lingala | mokambi | ||
| Luganda | omukulembeze | ||
| Sepedi | moetapele | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kannifoɔ | ||
Leader in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | زعيم | ||
| The word زعيم can also mean a patron, a chief, or a head of a tribe or group. | |||
| Hebrew | מַנהִיג | ||
| The Hebrew word "מַנהִיג" also denotes a "conductor". | |||
| Pashto | مشر | ||
| The Pashto word "مشر" can also refer to "chief" or "head of a village or community". | |||
| Arabic | زعيم | ||
| The word زعيم can also mean a patron, a chief, or a head of a tribe or group. | |||
Leader in Western European Languages
| Albanian | udhëheqës | ||
| "Udhëheqes" derives from the Albanian word "udhë" (way), and can also refer to "guide," "commander" or "head." | |||
| Basque | liderra | ||
| Liderra originates from French "leader" or Latin "dux", the former having become prevalent in Basque. | |||
| Catalan | líder | ||
| In Catalan, "líder" specifically implies someone in a position of leadership in politics or labor unions. | |||
| Croatian | vođa | ||
| The word "vođa" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*vodь", meaning "guide" or "one who leads". | |||
| Danish | leder | ||
| In Danish, "leder" can also refer to a specific type of newspaper article that combines news and opinion. | |||
| Dutch | leider | ||
| The Dutch word "leider" can also mean "unfortunately" or "alas" in English. | |||
| English | leader | ||
| The word "leader" derives from the Old English word "lædan," meaning "to guide" or "to show the way." | |||
| French | chef | ||
| The French word "chef" can also refer to the head of a government, a political party, or a religious group. | |||
| Frisian | lieder | ||
| The Frisian word "lieder" can also mean "ladder" or "staircase". | |||
| Galician | líder | ||
| "Líder" comes from the Latin word "līber," which meant "free," and "dūcō," which meant "to guide." | |||
| German | führer | ||
| In Nazi Germany, 'Führer' was also used as a title for Adolf Hitler, carrying additional connotations of supreme authority and leadership of the nation. | |||
| Icelandic | leiðtogi | ||
| In Icelandic, the word "leiðtogi" also refers to the North Star, serving as a guiding light and a symbol of direction. | |||
| Irish | ceannaire | ||
| The word "ceannaire" is derived from the Proto-Celtic word "*kannarjos," meaning "lord" or "chief." | |||
| Italian | capo | ||
| In music, "capo" is an abbreviation for "capo tasto", meaning "head of the fingerboard". | |||
| Luxembourgish | leader | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Leader" can also refer to a type of children's toy consisting of a string attached to a plastic horse or a whistle. | |||
| Maltese | mexxej | ||
| The word "mexxej" is derived from the Arabic word "muxiyya" meaning "will" or "intention." | |||
| Norwegian | leder | ||
| In Norwegian, the word 'leder' can also refer to a wire, as it comes from the same root as 'lead' in English, which means to guide or direct. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | líder | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "líder" also means "book" in reference to a religious text (e.g., the Bible). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | stiùiriche | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, the word "stiùiriche" can also refer to a "tiller" or a "steersman". | |||
| Spanish | líder | ||
| Líder derives from Latin "ducere" (to lead) and can also refer to "guide"} | |||
| Swedish | ledare | ||
| The word “ledare” also means “to lead” as a verb and “editorial” as a noun in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | arweinydd | ||
| The Welsh word "arweinydd" can also mean "pioneer" or "guide". | |||
Leader in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | правадыр | ||
| "Правадыр" [pravadyr] originated as a religious term, meaning the head of an Orthodox monastic order. | |||
| Bosnian | vođa | ||
| The term “vođa” is also a derivative from the Old Slavic term “voditi”, which refers to the practice of guiding or directing someone. | |||
| Bulgarian | лидер | ||
| "Лидер" comes from the French word "leader", which comes from the Latin word "ducere", which means "to lead" or "to guide." | |||
| Czech | vůdce | ||
| "Vůdce" shares the same root with the German word "führen", meaning "to lead". | |||
| Estonian | juht | ||
| The word "juht" in Estonian can also mean "wire" or "conductor". | |||
| Finnish | johtaja | ||
| The word "johtaja" can also mean "leader" in the sense of a pack leader of animals. | |||
| Hungarian | vezető | ||
| "Vezető" is a Hungarian word that means "leader" but also refers to a wire or conductor. | |||
| Latvian | vadītājs | ||
| Vadītājs in Latvian originates from "vadīt" meaning "to lead" but also has alternate meanings such as "conductor" or "driver". | |||
| Lithuanian | lyderis | ||
| The word "lyderis" is derived from the Old Prussian word "līders", meaning "leader" or "chieftain". | |||
| Macedonian | лидер | ||
| The word "лидер" can also mean "conductor" or "director" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | lider | ||
| The word "lider" can also refer to a type of metal file used for smoothing surfaces in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | lider | ||
| The Romanian word "lider" is borrowed from the French word "leader", which is in turn derived from the English word "lead". | |||
| Russian | лидер | ||
| The Russian word "лидер" comes from the German word "Führer". | |||
| Serbian | вођа | ||
| The word 'вођа' ('leader' in Serbian) is derived from the verb 'водити' ('to lead'). It can also refer to a conductor (of a train or orchestra) or a guide. | |||
| Slovak | vodca | ||
| In Slovak, "vodca" can also refer to a plumber or a conduit. | |||
| Slovenian | vodja | ||
| The term 'vodja' also refers to the leader of a traditional folk dancing group. | |||
| Ukrainian | лідер | ||
| The word "лідер" (leader) in Ukrainian derives from the German word "Führer" (leader), which originally meant "guide" or "one who goes in front". In Ukrainian, the word can also mean "head" or "chief". | |||
Leader in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | নেতা | ||
| The word "নেতা" can also refer to a bridegroom or a conductor on a train in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | નેતા | ||
| The word "નેતા" (leader) in Gujarati is a cognate of the Hindi word "नेता". It is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word "नायक", which means "leader, hero". | |||
| Hindi | नेता | ||
| The Hindi word "नेता" can also refer to a dancer in a dramatic performance or a bridegroom's male friend who participates in the wedding procession. | |||
| Kannada | ನಾಯಕ | ||
| ನಾಯಕ "naya-ka" also refers to a hero in a play. | |||
| Malayalam | നേതാവ് | ||
| In Malayalam, നേതാവ് (leader) derives from 'nettram' (eye) and 'thavan' (guide), referring to the guiding role of a leader. | |||
| Marathi | नेता | ||
| The Marathi word "नेता" (netā), meaning "leader," derives from the Sanskrit word "nayati," meaning "to guide" or "to lead." | |||
| Nepali | नेता | ||
| The word "नेता" derives from the Sanskrit word "nī" meaning "to guide" or "to lead". | |||
| Punjabi | ਲੀਡਰ | ||
| The word "ਲੀਡਰ" in Punjabi could refer to a leader of a group or organization, or it could refer to the string of a kite, which guides its flight. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නායක | ||
| The word “නායක” (nāyaka) in Sinhala originates from the Sanskrit word “nayaka” meaning chief, protector, or leader of a drama | |||
| Tamil | தலைவர் | ||
| The word 'தலைவர்' can also refer to the head of a village or community in Tamil Nadu | |||
| Telugu | నాయకుడు | ||
| The Telugu word "నాయకుడు" (leader) also refers to a "hero" or "protagonist" in the context of performing arts like dramas and movies. | |||
| Urdu | رہنما | ||
| The word "رہنما" can also mean "guide" or "pilot" in Urdu | |||
Leader in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 领导 | ||
| 领导 (lǐngdǎo) can also mean "to guide" or "to manage". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 領導 | ||
| "領導" (literally 'receive lead') also means 'guide' | |||
| Japanese | 盟主 | ||
| The word "盟主" (leader) in Japanese can also refer to the head of a political alliance or an organization. | |||
| Korean | 리더 | ||
| The Korean word '리더' can also refer to a 'reader' or 'editor', especially in the context of publishing. | |||
| Mongolian | удирдагч | ||
| "Удирдагч" is also used to refer to a person who controls or manages something. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ခေါင်းဆောင် | ||
Leader in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | pemimpin | ||
| The word "pemimpin" is derived from the Sanskrit word "pra" meaning "forward" and "mukha" meaning "face or mouth" | |||
| Javanese | pimpinan | ||
| The Javanese word "pimpinan" also refers to a type of traditional puppet theater or wayang | |||
| Khmer | មេដឹកនាំ | ||
| The Khmer word "មេដឹកនាំ" ("leader") also refers to a "headman" or "chieftain" in a village or community. | |||
| Lao | ຜູ້ ນຳ | ||
| The word ຜູ້ ນຳ (Lao) derives from the Pali word purisa, which means 'person', and the word neyyati, which means 'to lead'. | |||
| Malay | ketua | ||
| Ketua also means 'chief' in Malay and 'head' in Sanskrit. | |||
| Thai | หัวหน้า | ||
| The Thai word "หัวหน้า" can also refer to a priest or monk, highlighting the historical influence of Buddhism on Thai society. | |||
| Vietnamese | lãnh đạo | ||
| "Lãnh đạo" (leader) derives from the Chinese term "統領", meaning "to command and lead". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pinuno | ||
Leader in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | lider | ||
| "Lider" also means "leader" in Turkish and has the same etymology. | |||
| Kazakh | көшбасшы | ||
| The word "köshbasshy" also means "ram" in Kazakh, referring to the ram that leads the flock. | |||
| Kyrgyz | лидер | ||
| The word "лидер" is also used in Kyrgyz to refer to a guide or a person who is in charge of a group. | |||
| Tajik | пешво | ||
| The word "пешво" is derived from the Sanskrit word "peshava", meaning "one who leads". | |||
| Turkmen | lider | ||
| Uzbek | rahbar | ||
| In Uzbek, "rahbar" (leader) originates from the Persian word "rah": path, and "bar": one who goes or carries; hence, "rahbar" refers to one who guides or leads on a path. | |||
| Uyghur | رەھبەر | ||
Leader in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | alakaʻi | ||
| The word "alakaʻi" also means "pathfinder" or "guide" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | kaiarahi | ||
| The Maori word "kaiarahi" derives from the verb "kai" (to eat) and the noun "arahi" (path), symbolizing a leader who guides others on their journey. | |||
| Samoan | taitai | ||
| In the Samoan language, 'taitai' also denotes a master weaver of fine mats | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pinuno | ||
| The Tagalog word "pinuno" likely originates from the Proto-Austronesian word "*punu" meaning "head" or "chief". | |||
Leader in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ipiri | ||
| Guarani | omoakãva | ||
Leader in International Languages
| Esperanto | estro | ||
| "estro" comes from the Greek word "astēr", meaning "star" | |||
| Latin | princeps | ||
| In ancient Rome, "princeps" referred to the head of the senate and the primary political figure, later becoming the title for emperors. | |||
Leader in Others Languages
| Greek | ηγέτης | ||
| The word "ηγέτης" also means "guide, pioneer" and is derived from the verb "ηγέομαι" which means "to lead, guide, be a pioneer". | |||
| Hmong | tus thawj coj | ||
| "Tus thawj coj" originates from the root word "coj" meaning "to command" and "thawj" meaning "first" or "chief". | |||
| Kurdish | birêvebir | ||
| The Kurdish word 'birêvebir' also means 'commander', 'guide', and 'the first one'. | |||
| Turkish | önder | ||
| The word "Önder" is derived from the Proto-Turkic word "öŋ" meaning "front" or "foremost". | |||
| Xhosa | inkokeli | ||
| In Zulu and other Nguni idioms 'umkhokeli', the leader, is associated with the notion of 'going before'. | |||
| Yiddish | פירער | ||
| The word "פירער" in Yiddish can also mean "guide" or "teacher". | |||
| Zulu | umholi | ||
| "Umholi" is derived from the Zulu word "ukukhokhela," meaning "to take responsibility for" or "to lead." | |||
| Assamese | নেতা | ||
| Aymara | ipiri | ||
| Bhojpuri | नेता | ||
| Dhivehi | ލީޑަރު | ||
| Dogri | लीडर | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pinuno | ||
| Guarani | omoakãva | ||
| Ilocano | mangidadaulo | ||
| Krio | lida | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سەرکردە | ||
| Maithili | नेता | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯨꯆꯤꯡꯕ | ||
| Mizo | hruaitu | ||
| Oromo | geggeessaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ନେତା | ||
| Quechua | kamachiq | ||
| Sanskrit | नेता | ||
| Tatar | лидер | ||
| Tigrinya | መራሒ | ||
| Tsonga | murhangeri | ||