License in Different Languages
Discover 'License' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
At its core, a 'license' represents permission to do, act, or use something in a particular way. This concept is significant across cultures, as it enables individuals and organizations to operate within established guidelines and regulations. The word 'license' has historical roots in the Old French 'licencier,' meaning 'to set free.' Today, it's a crucial term in various fields, from business and law to art and technology.
Did you know that the word 'license' has been adopted in many languages around the world? Its cultural importance and widespread use make understanding its translations valuable for global citizens. For instance, in Spanish, 'license' is 'licencia,' while in German, it's 'Lizenz.' In French, the term is 'licence,' and in Japanese, it's 'ライセンス (raisensu).'
Explore the many faces of 'license' in different languages and broaden your understanding of this essential concept. Keep reading to uncover more translations and cultural insights!
License
License in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | lisensie | ||
| The Afrikaans word "lisensie" originated from medieval Dutch "licencie", and was later influenced semantically by English "license", which broadened its meaning in Afrikaans. | |||
| Amharic | ፈቃድ | ||
| The word 'ፈቃድ' primarily means 'permission' but also signifies 'consent', 'approval', and 'authority'. | |||
| Hausa | lasisi | ||
| The Hausa word 'lasisi' also means 'permission' or 'authority'. | |||
| Igbo | ikike | ||
| The word 'ikike' in Igbo also means 'power' or 'authority'. | |||
| Malagasy | mombamomba ny mpanoratra | ||
| The phrase "Mombamomba ny mpanoratra" comes from the words "momba" (about) and "mba" (master), so it literally means "about the master". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | layisensi | ||
| In Nyanja (Chichewa) the word "layisensi" is also used to refer to permits from the government. | |||
| Shona | rezinesi | ||
| The Shona word "rezinesi" is derived from the Portuguese word "licença", meaning "permission" or "authorization". | |||
| Somali | shati | ||
| Shati can also mean 'permission', 'right', or 'authority'. | |||
| Sesotho | lengolo la tumello | ||
| Swahili | leseni | ||
| The Swahili word "leseni" also means "permission" or "approval". | |||
| Xhosa | iphepha-mvume | ||
| The word "iphepha-mvume" in Xhosa can also refer to a passbook or permit, highlighting the broader concept of authorisation. | |||
| Yoruba | iwe-aṣẹ | ||
| In the context of traditional Yoruba society, "iwe-aṣẹ" also refers to a document of authority or a royal decree. | |||
| Zulu | ilayisense | ||
| The Zulu word 'ilayisense' can also refer to a permit or authorization. | |||
| Bambara | lase | ||
| Ewe | mɔɖegbalẽ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | uruhushya | ||
| Lingala | licence ya kosala | ||
| Luganda | layisinsi | ||
| Sepedi | laesense | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tumi krataa | ||
License in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | رخصة | ||
| The word 'license' comes from the Latin word 'licere', meaning 'to be permitted' or 'to be allowed'. | |||
| Hebrew | רישיון | ||
| The word 'רישיון' ('license') is derived from the Latin word 'licere,' meaning 'to be permitted.' | |||
| Pashto | منښتليک | ||
| The word "منښتليک" in Pashto can also refer to "permit" or "certificate". | |||
| Arabic | رخصة | ||
| The word 'license' comes from the Latin word 'licere', meaning 'to be permitted' or 'to be allowed'. | |||
License in Western European Languages
| Albanian | liçensë | ||
| Albanian “licensë” derives from Turkish “lisans” and was first used for a “certificate” or “diploma” before developing its modern connotation of “license”. | |||
| Basque | lizentzia | ||
| Basque "lizentzia" comes from Latin "licentia," but also means "permission, liberty" in the wider sense and "farewell" in its original sense. | |||
| Catalan | llicència | ||
| Llicència in Catalan has many meanings, including 'release from obligation' and 'permission or authority to do something'. | |||
| Croatian | licenca | ||
| In Croatian, "licenca" can also refer to a driving permit. | |||
| Danish | licens | ||
| The Danish word "licens" derives from the Latin "licentia," meaning both "permission" and "wantonness." | |||
| Dutch | licentie | ||
| The Dutch word "licentie" can also refer to a driver's license or a bachelor's degree. | |||
| English | license | ||
| The word 'license' originates from the Latin word 'licere', meaning 'to be permissible'. | |||
| French | licence | ||
| The French word "licence" can also mean a university degree, notably in law or medicine. | |||
| Frisian | fergunning ferliene | ||
| The word "fergunning ferliene" in Frisian means "license", but it can also refer to "permission" or "approval". | |||
| Galician | licenza | ||
| In Galician, "licenza" can also refer to a student's leave of absence from school. | |||
| German | lizenz | ||
| The word "Lizenz" in German comes from the Latin word "licentia", which means "freedom" or "permission". | |||
| Icelandic | leyfi | ||
| The word 'leyfi' comes from the Old Norse word 'leyfi', which means 'permission'. | |||
| Irish | ceadúnas | ||
| Italian | licenza | ||
| The Italian word "licenza" comes from the Latin word "licentia," meaning "freedom" or "permission." In Italian, it can also mean a "degree" or a "diploma." | |||
| Luxembourgish | lizenz | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Lizenz" can also refer to a permit or authorization, such as a driver's license. | |||
| Maltese | liċenzja | ||
| Maltese 'liċenzja' originates from the Latin word 'licentia' meaning 'freedom' or 'permission'. | |||
| Norwegian | tillatelse | ||
| The word "tillatelse" is derived from the Old Norse word "tillaten" meaning "permission" or "consent." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | licença | ||
| The word "licença" (license) in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) derives from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "freedom" or "permission." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cead | ||
| A less common use of "cead" is to give permission in the sense of "I grant you leave to do something", which was once common in both English and Scots Gaelic | |||
| Spanish | licencia | ||
| The word "licencia" derives from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "freedom" or "permission", and also has the meaning of "boldness" or "impudence". | |||
| Swedish | licens | ||
| The word "licens" can also mean "license fee" or "permit" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | trwydded | ||
| The word "trwydded" can derive from the Latin "transitus" (transit) and the French "traite" (treaty). | |||
License in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | ліцэнзія | ||
| In Belarusian, the word "ліцэнзія" (license) is borrowed from Russian, and it can also refer to a document granting permission to carry out a specific activity. | |||
| Bosnian | licenca | ||
| The Latin word “licentia” means both “license” and “freedom”, although the latter is primarily used in academic contexts. | |||
| Bulgarian | разрешително | ||
| The Slavic root *razrešiti* also meant | |||
| Czech | licence | ||
| In Czech, "licence" can also mean "ticket" or "permit". | |||
| Estonian | litsents | ||
| "litsents" is a loanword from the German word "Lizenz" with the same meaning, which itself originated from the Latin word "licentia" meaning "freedom". | |||
| Finnish | lisenssi | ||
| In German, "lisenssi" refers to a border permit rather than official permission. | |||
| Hungarian | engedély | ||
| Engedély originates from the Mongolian word "engüd", which means freedom, permission. | |||
| Latvian | licence | ||
| In Latvian, the word "licence" also refers to a document that allows someone to hunt or fish. | |||
| Lithuanian | licencija | ||
| The Lithuanian word "licencija" derives from the Latin "licet" ("it is permitted") via German or Russian. | |||
| Macedonian | лиценца | ||
| The Macedonian word "лиценца" is derived from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "freedom". In addition to its primary meaning of "license", it can also refer to a "certificate" or "permit". | |||
| Polish | licencja | ||
| The word "licencja" comes from the Latin "licentia", meaning "permission". In Polish, it can also refer to "a degree" (e.g. a bachelor's degree) or "a literary license" (e.g. the use of certain literary devices). | |||
| Romanian | licență | ||
| The Romanian word "licență" is derived from the French word "licence", which in turn originates from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "permission or freedom". | |||
| Russian | лицензия | ||
| The word "лицензия" in Russian derives from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "freedom" or "permission", and is often used in contexts related to legal authorizations or permits. | |||
| Serbian | лиценца | ||
| The word "лиценца" in Serbian comes from the Latin word "licentia", which means "permission". The word has retained this meaning in Serbian but can also be used to mean "license plate". | |||
| Slovak | preukaz | ||
| In other Slavic languages this word usually means a 'certificate' in the sense of evidence or a document proving a qualification or a permission but in Slovak it primarily means a 'driving license'. | |||
| Slovenian | dovoljenje | ||
| In Slovenian, dovoljenje also means 'permission', 'authorization', 'consent', or 'approval'. | |||
| Ukrainian | ліцензія | ||
| "Ліцензія" means "license" in Ukrainian and comes from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "freedom" or "permission." | |||
License in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | লাইসেন্স | ||
| লাইসেন্স শব্দটি ইংরেজি 'লাইসেন্স' থেকে এসেছে, যার আক্ষরিক অর্থ 'অনুমতি' বা 'স্বাধীনতা'। | |||
| Gujarati | લાઇસન્સ | ||
| The word "license" derives from the Latin "licere," meaning "to be permitted," and is also related to the words "liberty" and "libertine." | |||
| Hindi | लाइसेंस | ||
| "लाइसेंस" शब्द "लाई" (bind) और "सेंस" (allow) से मिलकर बना है, जिसका अर्थ है किसी कार्य को करने की अनुमति देना। | |||
| Kannada | ಪರವಾನಗಿ | ||
| ಪರವಾನಗಿ also means "opportunity" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "pramana" meaning "proof" or "authority." | |||
| Malayalam | ലൈസൻസ് | ||
| The word 'license' in Malayalam ('ലൈസൻസ്') also means 'freedom' or 'permission' | |||
| Marathi | परवाना | ||
| The word 'परवाना' is derived from the Persian word 'parwāna', which originally meant 'permission' or 'decree' and was used in the context of royal orders. | |||
| Nepali | लाइसेन्स | ||
| The Nepali word "लाइसेन्स" originates from the English word "license" and has similar meanings, including permission or authority to do something. | |||
| Punjabi | ਲਾਇਸੈਂਸ | ||
| The word "license" is derived from the Latin word "licentia", which means "freedom" or "permission." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | බලපත්රය | ||
| The word "බලපත්රය" (license) can also refer to a permit or certificate that grants permission to do something. | |||
| Tamil | உரிமம் | ||
| "உரிமம்" also refers to a document or certificate issued by a competent authority, granting permission to do something, such as a driver's license or a marriage license. | |||
| Telugu | లైసెన్స్ | ||
| The word "license" in Telugu is derived from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "freedom or permission", and has similar connotations in both languages. | |||
| Urdu | لائسنس | ||
| In Urdu, the word "لائسنس" (laisans) also refers to a document that allows one to drive a vehicle. | |||
License in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 执照 | ||
| 执照 (zhízhào) can also refer to a certificate, permit, or legal document that grants permission or authority to do something. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 執照 | ||
| 執照 can also refer to holding a candle in a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony. | |||
| Japanese | ライセンス | ||
| The term "ライセンス" is borrowed from English and its original meaning is "freedom". | |||
| Korean | 특허 | ||
| 특허 is cognate with the Chinese term 專利, which can also mean "monopoly". | |||
| Mongolian | тусгай зөвшөөрөл | ||
| The word "тусгай зөвшөөрөл" has the same etymological meaning with “license" that has meanings “freedom to perform certain kinds of acts, or to use something". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လိုင်စင် | ||
License in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | lisensi | ||
| The Indonesian word lisensi derives from the Dutch word licentie and the English word licence, both of which have the same meaning of "permission" or "authorization." | |||
| Javanese | lisensi | ||
| The Javanese word "lisensi" can also mean "permission" or "approval". | |||
| Khmer | អាជ្ញាប័ណ្ណ | ||
| Lao | ໃບອະນຸຍາດ | ||
| The Lao word ໃບອະນຸຍາດ, meaning license, is also used to refer to a permit or authorization and is derived from the Pali word อนุญาต meaning 'to permit' or 'to allow'. | |||
| Malay | lesen | ||
| The Malay word 'lesen' is derived from the Dutch word 'licentie', meaning 'permission'. | |||
| Thai | ใบอนุญาต | ||
| ใบอนุญาต comes from the Pali word "bijjati" meaning "to allow". | |||
| Vietnamese | giấy phép | ||
| Giấy phép is also an archaic synonym for 'letter' and 'document'. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lisensya | ||
License in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | lisenziya | ||
| The word "lisenziya" comes from the French word "licence" and has the additional meaning of "permission". | |||
| Kazakh | лицензия | ||
| The Kazakh word "лицензия" is derived from the Russian word "лицензия" which in turn comes from the Latin word "licentia" meaning "freedom" or "permission" | |||
| Kyrgyz | лицензия | ||
| The word "лицензия" comes from the Latin word "licentia", meaning "freedom" or "permission". | |||
| Tajik | иҷозатнома | ||
| Turkmen | ygtyýarnamasy | ||
| Uzbek | litsenziya | ||
| Historically, the word litsenziya was used to refer to a permit or a document allowing someone to engage in a particular activity or profession. | |||
| Uyghur | ئىجازەتنامە | ||
License in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | laikini | ||
| The word "laikini" in Hawaiian can also refer to a fishing or hunting license. | |||
| Maori | raihana | ||
| A licence to reside on marae land and the act of occupation under that licence. | |||
| Samoan | laisene | ||
| The word 'laisene' comes from the English word 'license' and also means 'permission' in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | lisensya | ||
| In the Philippines, the term "lisensya" can also refer to a permit or authorization granted by a government agency. | |||
License in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | licencia ukaxa | ||
| Guarani | licencia rehegua | ||
License in International Languages
| Esperanto | permesilo | ||
| "Permesilo" is derived likely from French "permis," or could mean "permission letter"} | |||
| Latin | licentiam | ||
| The Latin word "licentiam" originated as the feminine singular form of the adjective "licens" (meaning "free, unrestrained") and later took on the meaning of "permission or authorization" as well as "excessive freedom or disregard for rules". | |||
License in Others Languages
| Greek | άδεια | ||
| The word 'άδεια' in Greek shares its root with 'άδω' (to sing) through the Indo-European root *h₂ed- 'to make a sound'. | |||
| Hmong | daim ntawv tso cai | ||
| The Hmong word for “license” contains the words “ntawv” (paper) and “tsev” (house) indicating that historically a license may have been a piece of paper granting permission to enter an establishment. | |||
| Kurdish | îcaze | ||
| "Îcaze" can also be used to refer to the written approval or authorization for something, especially from an official authority. | |||
| Turkish | lisans | ||
| "Lisans," which means "license" in Turkish, is also a colloquial term for a university diploma. | |||
| Xhosa | iphepha-mvume | ||
| The word "iphepha-mvume" in Xhosa can also refer to a passbook or permit, highlighting the broader concept of authorisation. | |||
| Yiddish | דערלויבעניש | ||
| The Yiddish word "דערלויבעניש" is related to the German word "der erlauben", meaning "to permit". | |||
| Zulu | ilayisense | ||
| The Zulu word 'ilayisense' can also refer to a permit or authorization. | |||
| Assamese | অনুজ্ঞাপত্ৰ | ||
| Aymara | licencia ukaxa | ||
| Bhojpuri | लाइसेंस के लाइसेंस दिहल गइल बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ލައިސަންސް | ||
| Dogri | लाइसेंस | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lisensya | ||
| Guarani | licencia rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | lisensia | ||
| Krio | laysens | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | مۆڵەت | ||
| Maithili | लाइसेंस | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯥꯏꯁꯦꯟꯁ ꯄꯤꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | license pek a ni | ||
| Oromo | hayyama hayyama | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଲାଇସେନ୍ସ | ||
| Quechua | licencia | ||
| Sanskrit | अनुज्ञापत्रम् | ||
| Tatar | лицензия | ||
| Tigrinya | ፍቓድ ፍቓድ ምሃብ | ||
| Tsonga | layisense | ||