Learning in Different Languages
Discover 'Learning' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Learning is a fundamental human activity that transcends cultures and languages. It is the process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes, and it is essential for personal growth, success, and fulfillment. Throughout history, learning has been highly valued in every civilization, and it continues to be a central focus in modern societies.
Interestingly, the word 'learning' can be translated differently in various languages, reflecting the unique cultural perspectives and linguistic traditions of each language. For example, in Spanish, 'learning' is 'aprendizaje,' while in French, it is 'apprentissage.' In German, it is 'Lernen,' and in Mandarin Chinese, it is '学习 (xuéxí).'
Understanding the translation of 'learning' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural significance of learning in various parts of the world. It can also help learners appreciate the diversity and richness of human languages and cultures.
In this article, we will explore the translations of 'learning' in 25 different languages, shedding light on the fascinating world of language and culture.
Learning
Learning in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | leer | ||
| The word "leer" in Afrikaans can also refer to reading, understanding, or teaching. | |||
| Amharic | መማር | ||
| The Amharic word "መማር" can also refer to the act of teaching, indicating a bidirectional nature in the concept of knowledge transfer. | |||
| Hausa | koyo | ||
| Hausa koyo "to learn" may correspond to the Serer term "koy" "to know" but this remains uncertain in the absence of clear evidence. | |||
| Igbo | mmụta | ||
| "Mmụta" is also an alternative form of the word "mmata" which means "wisdom". | |||
| Malagasy | fianarana | ||
| The word "fianarana" shares its root with the word "fia" (to know), suggesting a deep connection between learning and knowledge in Malagasy culture. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuphunzira | ||
| The word 'kuphunzira' can also refer to 'teaching' in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | kudzidza | ||
| The Shona word "kudzidza" also means "to acquire knowledge through experience or study." | |||
| Somali | barashada | ||
| In Somali 'barashada' means 'learning,' but the root word 'bar' means 'to break apart', suggesting that learning is a process of breaking apart knowledge into understandable parts. | |||
| Sesotho | ho ithuta | ||
| The word derives from an ancient root "ithuta" and has the alternate meanings "to cultivate" and "to acquire skills". | |||
| Swahili | kujifunza | ||
| The word 'kujifunza' can also mean 'to study' or 'to get knowledge'. | |||
| Xhosa | ukufunda | ||
| The word "ukufunda" can also refer to teaching, education, or studying, and its root is "funda", meaning "to teach". | |||
| Yoruba | eko | ||
| 'Èkọ' (learning) has the additional meanings of 'tradition', 'culture', and 'education' in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ukufunda | ||
| The word 'ukufunda' also means 'to follow' or 'to understand' | |||
| Bambara | kalan | ||
| Ewe | nusɔsrɔ̃ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kwiga | ||
| Lingala | koyekola | ||
| Luganda | okuyiga | ||
| Sepedi | go ithuta | ||
| Twi (Akan) | resua adeɛ | ||
Learning in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تعلم | ||
| The Arabic word "تعلم" not only means "learning", but it also refers to "teaching" or "studying", as the root "علم" can have these different connotations. | |||
| Hebrew | לְמִידָה | ||
| The word לִמְדָה also means "to measure; to calculate." | |||
| Pashto | زده کړه | ||
| In Pashto, "زده کړه" can also mean "to become knowledgeable" or "to get educated." | |||
| Arabic | تعلم | ||
| The Arabic word "تعلم" not only means "learning", but it also refers to "teaching" or "studying", as the root "علم" can have these different connotations. | |||
Learning in Western European Languages
| Albanian | të mësuarit | ||
| The word "të mësuarit" in Albanian also refers to the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through study, experience, or instruction. | |||
| Basque | ikaskuntza | ||
| "Ikaskuntza" derives from the Basque verb "ikasi" (to learn), which in turn comes from the Proto-Basque root "*ekasi" (to know). | |||
| Catalan | aprenentatge | ||
| Its original meaning was "the act of grasping" and refers to both the grasp of an idea and the grasp of objects with the hand. | |||
| Croatian | učenje | ||
| Učenje can also mean 'teaching' or 'studying', and can refer to the process of learning something or the content that is being learned. | |||
| Danish | læring | ||
| The Danish word "læring" derives from the Old Norse "læra", meaning both "to learn" and "to teach". | |||
| Dutch | aan het leren | ||
| Aan het leren is the Dutch term for "studying" or "learning a skill or subject" | |||
| English | learning | ||
| "Learning" comes from Old English "leornian," meaning "to study" or "acquire knowledge." | |||
| French | apprentissage | ||
| The word "apprentissage" in French also refers to the system of training young workers through internships or apprenticeships. | |||
| Frisian | learen | ||
| In Frisian the word "learen" also has the alternate meaning of "teaching" | |||
| Galician | aprendizaxe | ||
| "Aprendizaxe" is derived from "prender," meaning "to catch" or "to seize" in Galician, highlighting the active process of acquiring knowledge. | |||
| German | lernen | ||
| In German, "Lernen" also refers to teaching or informing someone about something. | |||
| Icelandic | nám | ||
| The word "nám" also means "mine" or "quarry" in reference to the old practice of extracting ore from the earth to use in teaching rune carving. | |||
| Irish | ag foghlaim | ||
| The Irish word "ag foghlaim" derives from the Old Irish "fo-gleim" meaning "perception, insight, understanding." | |||
| Italian | apprendimento | ||
| The Italian word "apprendimento" derives from the Latin verb "apprehendere," meaning "to grasp" or "to seize hold of." | |||
| Luxembourgish | léieren | ||
| The verb “léieren” shares an etymology with the French loanword “lecteur”, and in traditional spelling and pronunciation it used to mean “to read” rather than “to learn”. | |||
| Maltese | tagħlim | ||
| In Arabic, its cognate "taʿlīm" also means "to be a follower of Muhammad and to perform obligatory actions." | |||
| Norwegian | læring | ||
| The Old Norse word "læring" was originally gender-neutral, and could also refer to a poem, story, or other written material | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | aprendendo | ||
| Aprendendo can also mean "by learning" or "while learning". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | ionnsachadh | ||
| In Scots Gaelic the word ionnsachadh means "gathering" of knowledge and wisdom. | |||
| Spanish | aprendizaje | ||
| The word "aprendizaje" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "apprehendere," which means "to take hold of" or "to seize." | |||
| Swedish | inlärning | ||
| Swedish inlärning, "receiving into", reflects an older usage of the verb lära that meant "to teach". | |||
| Welsh | dysgu | ||
| In Welsh, "dysgu" also pertains to "education" or "study". | |||
Learning in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | навучанне | ||
| The Belarusian word "навучанне" can also refer to a training session or a lesson. | |||
| Bosnian | učenje | ||
| "Učenje" can also be understood as "getting to know" or "becoming acquainted with". | |||
| Bulgarian | изучаване на | ||
| In Old Church Slavonic, "изучаване на" meant "to study", "to investigate", "to examine", and "to interpret" | |||
| Czech | učení se | ||
| The Czech word "učení se" can also mean "teaching" or "studying". | |||
| Estonian | õppimine | ||
| The Estonian word "õppimine" derives from the verb "õppima," meaning "to study" and "to acquire knowledge." | |||
| Finnish | oppiminen | ||
| The word "oppiminen" is derived from the verb "oppia," meaning "to learn" or "to acquire knowledge." | |||
| Hungarian | tanulás | ||
| The Hungarian word "tanulás" is cognate with the Finnish word "tunne" and the Sami word "duottar", all meaning "knowledge" or "skill". | |||
| Latvian | mācīšanās | ||
| The word "mācīšanās" also refers to "teaching", as in the phrase "mācīšanās process" ("the learning/teaching process"). | |||
| Lithuanian | mokymasis | ||
| The word mokymasis (learning) originates from the Lithuanian root "mok", meaning "to know" or "to be able to". | |||
| Macedonian | учење | ||
| Учење (learning) comes from the Proto-Slavic root *učiti, which also means "to teach". | |||
| Polish | uczenie się | ||
| The Polish word "uczenie się" not only means "learning", but also "teaching" in some contexts. | |||
| Romanian | învăţare | ||
| The Romanian word "învăţare" is derived from the Latin word "impārare," meaning "to acquire knowledge or skill". | |||
| Russian | обучение | ||
| The word "обучение" in Russian can also mean "training" or "education". | |||
| Serbian | учење | ||
| "Учење" in Serbian is derived from the Proto-Slavic "*učiti" meaning "to teach" and can also refer to the process of learning. | |||
| Slovak | učenie | ||
| "Učenie" comes from the verb "učiť sa", which also means to learn or study. | |||
| Slovenian | učenje | ||
| The verb 'učenje' is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *učiti, which means 'to learn, teach, or know'. | |||
| Ukrainian | навчання | ||
| The Ukrainian word "навчання" can also refer to the process of preparing for exams or taking on new skills. | |||
Learning in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | শেখা | ||
| Related to 'শিষ্য' (disciple), শেখা (learning) likely shares its roots with 'শিক্ষা' (education). | |||
| Gujarati | શીખવાની | ||
| The word "શીખવાની" can also refer to the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through study or experience. | |||
| Hindi | सीख रहा हूँ | ||
| सीख रहा हूँ literally means "getting cooked" in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ಕಲಿಕೆ | ||
| The term 'ಕಲಿಕೆ' can also refer to the process of acquiring knowledge or skills, or to the knowledge or skills acquired through this process. | |||
| Malayalam | പഠനം | ||
| The word പഠനം comes from the Sanskrit word 'पठ' (patha), which means 'to read'. In Malayalam, പഠനം can also refer to the process of studying or acquiring knowledge and skills. | |||
| Marathi | शिकत आहे | ||
| The Marathi word 'शिकत आहे' also means 'is practising' or 'is training' in English. | |||
| Nepali | सिक्दै | ||
| सिक्दै has cognates in Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali, all meaning 'learning'. In Hindi it also means 'educate' or 'teach'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਿੱਖਣਾ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਸਿੱਖਣਾ" is derived from the Sanskrit root "śiksh", meaning "to teach" or "to learn". It can also mean "to understand" or "to comprehend". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඉගෙනීම | ||
| The word “ඉගෙනීම” is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘adhigamana’ meaning 'acquire' or 'acquire knowledge'. | |||
| Tamil | கற்றல் | ||
| The verb கற்றல் not only means 'to learn' but also 'to study' and 'to acquire knowledge'. | |||
| Telugu | నేర్చుకోవడం | ||
| The word "నేర్చుకోవడం" also means "to acquire knowledge or skills through study, experience, or practice." | |||
| Urdu | سیکھنا | ||
| The word 'سیکھنا' (seekhna) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'śikṣ-' which means 'to learn' or 'to teach'. It can also mean 'to be taught' or 'to be instructed'. | |||
Learning in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 学习 | ||
| 学习 is also sometimes interpreted as 'imitating' or 'copying'. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 學習 | ||
| In Chinese, 學習 (learning) literally means "studying practice". | |||
| Japanese | 学習 | ||
| The kanji "学" in "学習" can also mean "to imitate" or "to copy". | |||
| Korean | 배우기 | ||
| In Korean, "배우기" also means "to become an actor", which is reflected in its etymology (배우 actor + 기 to become). | |||
| Mongolian | сурах | ||
| The word "сурах" in Mongolian can also refer to "letters" or "scripture." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သင်ယူခြင်း | ||
Learning in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | belajar | ||
| Belajar (Indonesian: 'learning') is also used as a term for a ritual of exorcism in Balinese Hinduism, derived from a Sanskrit word. | |||
| Javanese | sinau | ||
| The word 'sinau' in Javanese also means 'to understand' and 'to practice'. | |||
| Khmer | រៀន | ||
| The verb រៀន (learn) can also be used to refer to the act of teaching or studying. | |||
| Lao | ການຮຽນຮູ້ | ||
| Malay | belajar | ||
| The word 'belajar' derived from Old Javanese 'ma-lajār' meaning 'to exercise/practice', while in Sundanese it also means 'reading a book'. | |||
| Thai | การเรียนรู้ | ||
| "การเรียนรู้" also means "knowledge" or "education". | |||
| Vietnamese | học tập | ||
| "Học tập" is a word that can be used in a variety of contexts in Vietnamese, but it does not mean "learning" in all cases. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pag-aaral | ||
Learning in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | öyrənmək | ||
| The word 'öyrənmək' in Azerbaijani also means 'to gain knowledge or skills through study or experience'. | |||
| Kazakh | оқыту | ||
| The verb "оқыту" also has the meaning of "to teach" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | үйрөнүү | ||
| үйрөнүү is also related to the Kyrgyz word for 'custom' or 'habit' (үрп-адат), suggesting a connection between learning and the establishment of patterns or behaviors. | |||
| Tajik | омӯзиш | ||
| The word "омӯзиш" is derived from the Persian word "آموزیدن" (âmuzidan), which means "to teach" or "to learn." | |||
| Turkmen | öwrenmek | ||
| Uzbek | o'rganish | ||
| The word "o'rganish" in Uzbek also means "to get used to something" or "to become accustomed to something". | |||
| Uyghur | ئۆگىنىش | ||
Learning in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ke aʻo ʻana | ||
| Historically, "ke aʻo ʻana" also meant "to make or prepare food" and "to be wise or adept." | |||
| Maori | ako | ||
| In Maori, the word "ako" can also refer to the act of teaching or transmitting knowledge. | |||
| Samoan | aʻoaʻoga | ||
| "Aʻoaʻoga" can also mean "to teach" or "instruction". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pag-aaral | ||
| "Pag-aaral" has various meanings depending on context. It can refer to education, a study or a thesis. | |||
Learning in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | yatiqawi | ||
| Guarani | ñembokatupyrykuévo | ||
Learning in International Languages
| Esperanto | lernado | ||
| The -n- in 'lernado' is not a diminutive suffix but indicates a process or state, similar to the English '-ing' in 'running'. | |||
| Latin | doctrina | ||
| Doctrina is Latin for 'doctrine' and is the root of words such as 'doctor', 'document' and 'indoctrinate'. | |||
Learning in Others Languages
| Greek | μάθηση | ||
| "Μάθηση" can also mean the act of getting to know something or someone or the knowledge and skills gained from studying | |||
| Hmong | kev kawm | ||
| The word "kev kawm" originates from the words "kev" (taking) and "kawm" (progress), together symbolizing the continuous acquisition of knowledge. | |||
| Kurdish | fêrbûn | ||
| Fêrbûn, 'learning' in Kurdish, stems from the Proto-Indo-European root *bher-, 'to bear, carry', and also signifies 'bringing up, educating', hinting at the nurturing aspect of education. | |||
| Turkish | öğrenme | ||
| The Turkish word "öğrenme" also means "to get to know" or "to become acquainted with". | |||
| Xhosa | ukufunda | ||
| The word "ukufunda" can also refer to teaching, education, or studying, and its root is "funda", meaning "to teach". | |||
| Yiddish | לערנען | ||
| The Yiddish word "לערנען" is derived from the German word "lernen" and originally meant "to read" or "to study". | |||
| Zulu | ukufunda | ||
| The word 'ukufunda' also means 'to follow' or 'to understand' | |||
| Assamese | শিক্ষণ | ||
| Aymara | yatiqawi | ||
| Bhojpuri | ज्ञानार्जन | ||
| Dhivehi | އުގެނުން | ||
| Dogri | पढ़ाई | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pag-aaral | ||
| Guarani | ñembokatupyrykuévo | ||
| Ilocano | panagadal | ||
| Krio | de lan | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | فێربوون | ||
| Maithili | अधिगम | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯝꯂꯤꯕ | ||
| Mizo | zir | ||
| Oromo | barachuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଶିଖିବା | ||
| Quechua | yachakuy | ||
| Sanskrit | शिक्षण | ||
| Tatar | өйрәнү | ||
| Tigrinya | ምምሃር | ||
| Tsonga | ku dyondza | ||