Afrikaans les | ||
Albanian mësim | ||
Amharic ትምህርት | ||
Arabic درس | ||
Armenian դաս | ||
Assamese পাঠ | ||
Aymara yatiyachawi | ||
Azerbaijani dərs | ||
Bambara kalansen | ||
Basque ikasgaia | ||
Belarusian урок | ||
Bengali পাঠ | ||
Bhojpuri सबक | ||
Bosnian lekcija | ||
Bulgarian урок | ||
Catalan lliçó | ||
Cebuano leksyon | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 课 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 課 | ||
Corsican lezziò | ||
Croatian lekcija | ||
Czech lekce | ||
Danish lektie | ||
Dhivehi ފިލާވަޅު | ||
Dogri ध्याऽ | ||
Dutch les | ||
English lesson | ||
Esperanto leciono | ||
Estonian õppetund | ||
Ewe nufiafia | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) aralin | ||
Finnish oppitunti | ||
French leçon | ||
Frisian les | ||
Galician lección | ||
Georgian გაკვეთილი | ||
German lektion | ||
Greek μάθημα | ||
Guarani mbo'epy | ||
Gujarati પાઠ | ||
Haitian Creole leson | ||
Hausa darasi | ||
Hawaiian haʻawina | ||
Hebrew שיעור | ||
Hindi सबक | ||
Hmong zaj lus qhia | ||
Hungarian lecke | ||
Icelandic kennslustund | ||
Igbo ihe | ||
Ilocano leksion | ||
Indonesian pelajaran | ||
Irish ceacht | ||
Italian lezione | ||
Japanese レッスン | ||
Javanese piwulang | ||
Kannada ಪಾಠ | ||
Kazakh сабақ | ||
Khmer មេរៀន | ||
Kinyarwanda isomo | ||
Konkani धडो | ||
Korean 교훈 | ||
Krio lɛsin | ||
Kurdish ders | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) وانە | ||
Kyrgyz сабак | ||
Lao ບົດຮຽນ | ||
Latin lectio | ||
Latvian nodarbība | ||
Lingala liteya | ||
Lithuanian pamoka | ||
Luganda essomo | ||
Luxembourgish lektioun | ||
Macedonian лекција | ||
Maithili अध्याय | ||
Malagasy lesona | ||
Malay pelajaran | ||
Malayalam പാഠം | ||
Maltese lezzjoni | ||
Maori akoranga | ||
Marathi धडा | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯄꯔꯥ | ||
Mizo zirlai | ||
Mongolian хичээл | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) သင်ခန်းစာ | ||
Nepali पाठ | ||
Norwegian lekse | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) phunziro | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଶିକ୍ଷା | ||
Oromo barumsa | ||
Pashto درس | ||
Persian درس | ||
Polish lekcja | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) lição | ||
Punjabi ਪਾਠ | ||
Quechua yachakuna | ||
Romanian lecţie | ||
Russian урок | ||
Samoan lesona | ||
Sanskrit पाठ | ||
Scots Gaelic leasan | ||
Sepedi thutwana | ||
Serbian лекција | ||
Sesotho thuto | ||
Shona chidzidzo | ||
Sindhi سبق | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) පාඩම | ||
Slovak lekcia | ||
Slovenian lekcija | ||
Somali cashar | ||
Spanish lección | ||
Sundanese palajaran | ||
Swahili somo | ||
Swedish lektion | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) aral | ||
Tajik дарс | ||
Tamil பாடம் | ||
Tatar дәрес | ||
Telugu పాఠం | ||
Thai บทเรียน | ||
Tigrinya ትምህቲ | ||
Tsonga dyondzo | ||
Turkish ders | ||
Turkmen sapak | ||
Twi (Akan) adesuadeɛ | ||
Ukrainian урок | ||
Urdu سبق | ||
Uyghur دەرس | ||
Uzbek dars | ||
Vietnamese bài học | ||
Welsh gwers | ||
Xhosa isifundo | ||
Yiddish לעקציע | ||
Yoruba ẹkọ | ||
Zulu isifundo |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | In Afrikaans, "les" also refers to a university lecture or a period of instruction in a school or university. |
| Albanian | "Mësim" is cognate to many Slavic languages, where it has the same meaning, and may be itself derived from Latin "missa." |
| Arabic | The word "درس" also means "to study" or "to learn" in Arabic, and is related to the word "مدرسه" (school). |
| Armenian | The Armenian word "դաս" not only means "lesson", but also "class" as in "a group of students", or "category" as in "the category of mammals". |
| Azerbaijani | In Azerbaijani, "dərs" not only refers to "lesson" but also can mean "chapter" and "lecture." |
| Basque | "Ikasgaia" means both "lesson" and "field of knowledge," highlighting the integral approach to education in Basque culture. |
| Belarusian | The Belarusian word "урок" also means "fate" or "destiny." |
| Bengali | "পাঠ" also means "reading", and it comes from the Sanskrit word "पाठ" (पाठः) meaning "recitation" or "reading". |
| Bosnian | "Lekcija" derives from the Latin word "lectio" meaning "a reading" or "a passage selected to be read" |
| Bulgarian | In Bulgarian, "урок" can also mean a "lesson to be learned," similar to its English cognate "lesson." |
| Catalan | The word "lliçó" can also mean "sermon" or "lecture", and it comes from the Latin word "lectio", meaning "reading". |
| Cebuano | Although "leksyon" is a cognate of "lesson" in English, it also means "study session" in Cebuano. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 课 can also mean ‘tax’ and ‘course’. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | "課" originally meant "labor" or "tax". Its meaning shifted to "lesson" during the Tang Dynasty. |
| Corsican | The word "lezziò" in Corsican, deriving from the Greek word "lezeo", could also refer to a ritualistic purification ceremony performed in ancient Greece. |
| Croatian | The word "lekcija" in Croatian has multiple etymological origins, including Latin, Greek, and Slavic, with possible alternate meanings such as "lecture" or "reading". |
| Czech | The word "lekce" is derived from the Latin word "lectio," meaning "reading," and can also refer to a religious scripture or a lecture. |
| Danish | Lektie is derived from Swedish and was originally used to describe a reading or text read aloud by the teacher. |
| Dutch | The name of the river Lesse and some Dutch first names like Leslie derive from the word les. |
| Esperanto | The Esperanto word "leciono" originates from the Latin word "lectio" meaning "reading" or "lecture." |
| Estonian | Originally, 'õppetund' did not imply the meaning of teaching but referred to the learning itself. |
| Finnish | The word "oppitunti" is a compound word consisting of "oppi" (knowledge) and "tunti" (hour). |
| French | The French word "leçon" also means a "reading" and derives from the Latin "lectio" (reading). |
| Frisian | In Frisian, "les" can also refer to a specific time or occasion, such as a "reading les" (reading time) or a "sang les" (singing time). |
| Galician | The Spanish word "lección" comes from the Latin word "lectio", meaning "reading", and still retains that meaning in Galician, where it can refer to a reading from the Bible during worship. |
| Georgian | The word "გაკვეთილი" in Georgian can refer to a "lesson" or a "cut", indicating its dual meaning of "cutting" and "learning". |
| German | In German, "Lektion" is derived from the Latin word "lectio", meaning "reading," and can also refer to a religious reading or passage. |
| Greek | The word "μάθημα" (lesson) in Greek also means "subject" or "field of study". |
| Gujarati | The word "પાઠ" can also mean "a reading of a sacred text". |
| Haitian Creole | The word "leson" in Haitian Creole can also mean "reading". |
| Hausa | The Hausa term darasi ultimately derives from the Arabic "dars" (lecture, lesson), introduced to the language via Islamic education. |
| Hawaiian | The Hawaiian word "haʻawina" primarily means "lesson," but it has additional connotations of "instruction," "teaching," and "help." |
| Hebrew | The word "שיעור" (lesson) also means "measure" or "proportion" in Hebrew, reflecting its historical use in measuring the amount of Torah or Talmud studied by a student during a session. |
| Hindi | The Hindi word "सबक" (lesson) is also used in Persian to mean a "warning" or "admonition." |
| Hmong | The Hmong phrase “zaj lus qhia” means both “lesson” and “to be taught”. |
| Hungarian | "Lecke" derives from the medieval German "lekzie" and refers to a religious text for reading aloud. |
| Icelandic | 'Kennslustund' means 'lesson' in Icelandic, and it is composed of the words 'kennsla' (knowledge) and 'stund' (period). |
| Igbo | "Ihe" also means "thing" or "object" in Igbo. |
| Indonesian | "Pelajaran" also means "teachings" or "knowledge" in Indonesian, deriving from the root word "ajar" meaning "to teach". |
| Irish | The word "ceacht" can also mean "a reproof" or "a warning". |
| Italian | Deriving from Latin "lectio," "lezione" in Italian also means "reading" within a musical context |
| Japanese | The word "レッスン" (lesson) is derived from the Dutch word "les", meaning "study" or "exercise". It can also refer to a piece of music that is studied or practiced. |
| Javanese | The word 'piwulang' also refers to teachings, instructions, or guidance in Javanese language. |
| Kannada | The word 'ಪಾಠ' can also refer to a religious or philosophical discourse, or a part or section of a text. |
| Kazakh | “Сабақ” has another meaning in Kazakh, which is “a part of plant stalk” |
| Khmer | "មេរៀន" derives from the Sanskrit word "meru" meaning "summit" or "mountain", likely referring to the elevated position of a teacher in imparting knowledge. |
| Korean | The word "교훈" (lesson) in Korean derives from the Chinese word "訓" (xun), meaning "to teach" or "to give instructions". |
| Kurdish | The word "ders" comes from the Persian word "dars" which means "teaching" or "instruction". It can also refer to a "subject" or "course" of study. |
| Kyrgyz | The Kyrgyz word "сабак" can also mean "plant" or "stalk". |
| Lao | The word "ບົດຮຽນ" can also refer to a section of a book or a part of a speech. |
| Latin | Lectio is also a term used to describe the reading of a sacred text within a religious or academic setting. |
| Latvian | "Nodarbība" (lesson) originates from the Latvian word "darbs" (work), suggesting that learning is a form of work. |
| Lithuanian | "Pamoka" also means "a reprimand, a scolding" in Lithuanian. |
| Luxembourgish | The word "Lektioun" is derived from the Latin word "lectio", meaning "reading". |
| Macedonian | The word "лекција" derives from the Latin "lectio" and also means "reading". |
| Malagasy | Malagasy word "lesona" came from the French language which is also pronounced the same way |
| Malay | Pelajaran is also used to refer to academic disciplines, such as mathematics or history. |
| Malayalam | പാഠം can also mean 'reading out' or 'reciting', both as nouns and as verbs. |
| Maltese | The word "lezzjoni" also refers to a biblical reading in the Maltese language. |
| Maori | The word 'akoranga' can also refer to a 'teacher' in Maori. |
| Marathi | The word "धडा" is derived from the Sanskrit word "धृ" meaning "to hold" and is also used in Marathi to refer to a "chapter" in a book. |
| Mongolian | The Mongolian word "хичээл" can also refer to a 'task' or 'duty'. |
| Nepali | The word 'पाठ' also refers to a Hindu religious text or a reading from such a text. |
| Norwegian | The word "lekse" derives from the Old Norse word "lausa", meaning "to loosen up" or "to break up". This reflects the idea of breaking down knowledge into smaller, manageable parts for learning. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word 'phunziro' also means 'to learn' or 'to study' in Nyanja. |
| Pashto | The Pashto word "درس" can also refer to a sermon or a religious teaching. |
| Persian | The Persian word “درس” comes from the Arabic word “درس” which means “to tread, to beat” and is often used to refer to a religious sermon. |
| Polish | "Lekcja" comes from the Latin word "lectio", which means "reading" or "study." |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | The Portuguese word "lição" may also refer to a sermon, a reading from scripture, or a reprimand. |
| Punjabi | The word "ਪਾਠ" (lesson) in Punjabi can also mean "religious recitation". |
| Romanian | The Romanian word "lecție" can also refer to a religious sermon or a reprimand. |
| Russian | "Урок" (lesson) derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*orkъ", meaning "a share of the harvest" or "a task", hence its extended meaning as a school lesson. |
| Samoan | The word "lesona" in Samoan can also mean "example" or "sign". |
| Scots Gaelic | The Gaelic word leasan also means a "forfeit" or "penalty". |
| Serbian | "Лекција" comes from the Greek word "лексикон" (lexicon), a collection of words and their definitions. |
| Sesotho | The word "thuto" can also refer to teachings or knowledge gained from experience or study. |
| Shona | "Chidzidzo" may also refer to knowledge, wisdom, guidance, or training. |
| Sindhi | In some dialects, "سبق" also means a "school" or an "academic institution." |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | "පාඩම" can also mean "a measure of length (2 1/2 feet)" in Sinhala. |
| Slovak | The Slovak word "lekcia" originally meant "healing" or "cure" and is related to the word "liečiť" (to heal). |
| Slovenian | The word "lekcija" also means "a religious sermon" and is derived from Latin "lectio". |
| Somali | "Cashar" is also a term for a monetary or material reward |
| Spanish | The word "lección" in Spanish derives from the Latin word "lectio", meaning "reading, study, or passage". |
| Sundanese | The word "palajaran" can also mean "education" or "teaching" in Sundanese. |
| Swahili | Somo can also mean subject, class, or session in Swahili. |
| Swedish | The word 'lektion' stems from the Latin word 'lectio', meaning 'reading' or 'instruction'. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | In some Philippine provinces such as Mindoro, 'aral' also means 'to learn' from the root word 'a-ra' ('to acquire information'). |
| Tajik | The word "дарс" also carries the alternate meaning of an area in a mosque dedicated to religious teaching. |
| Tamil | "பாடம்" also means "song" in Tamil, highlighting the ancient significance of music in education. |
| Telugu | The word "పాఠం" (lesson) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "पाठ" (reading, study), indicating its original association with the act of learning or acquiring knowledge. |
| Thai | บทเรียน shares an etymology with the English word 'play', alluding to the idea of lessons being a type of game. |
| Turkish | The word "ders" in Turkish also means "pain" or "suffering" in Ottoman Turkish and some Turkish dialects, reflecting the traditional view of education as a painful process. |
| Ukrainian | The Ukrainian word “урок” also means “magic spell” and comes from the Old Slavic word for “destiny”. |
| Urdu | "سبق" is derived from the Arabic root "سبق" (precede, go before), suggesting a concept that comes before other knowledge. |
| Uzbek | The word "dars" in Uzbek also refers to a "portion" or "segment" of something, such as a book chapter or a section of a meal. |
| Vietnamese | The Vietnamese word "bài học" literally translates to "a portion of study" |
| Welsh | The Welsh word "gwers" also has the connotation of "verse" or "song" due to its Proto-Celtic root, "wers-." |
| Xhosa | The Xhosa word "isifundo" can also mean "the act of learning" or "education". |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word "לעקציע" also means "lecture" or "sermon." |
| Yoruba | Ẹkọ literally means 'to know', and may refer to training, knowledge acquired through study, skill, craft, occupation, etc. |
| Zulu | In Zulu, 'isifundo' also refers to a type of traditional dance and song. |
| English | The word 'lesson' stems from the Latin word 'legere,' meaning 'to read' or 'to choose,' reflecting its original use in describing sections of religious texts. |