Lift in different languages

Lift in Different Languages

Discover 'Lift' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'lift' holds a significant place in our daily lives, often associated with transportation, physical effort, and even emotional upliftment. Its cultural importance is evident in its use in various phrases and idioms, such as 'lift someone's spirits' or 'lift off' in space travel. Understanding its translation in different languages can provide unique insights into how different cultures view and utilize this concept.

Did you know that the English word 'lift' is derived from the Old English 'lyft' meaning 'air, sky'? This historical context highlights the word's association with elevation and ascension. Intriguingly, the same word in Dutch, 'lift', refers to a 'elevator'!

Moreover, exploring the translations of 'lift' can be a fun and enlightening experience for language enthusiasts and travelers alike. Here are a few examples:

  • Spanish: 'levantar'
  • French: 'lever'
  • German: 'heben'
  • Mandarin: '提起' ('tí qǐ')
  • Japanese: '掲げる' ('kakeru')

Lift


Lift in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanslig
The Afrikaans word "lig" (lift) has the same root as the English word "lift", and can also mean "easy" or "light".
Amharicማንሳት
The verb "ማንሳት" in Amharic also carries meanings of "remove," "abduct" and "steal" in certain contexts.
Hausadagawa
The word "dagawa" in Hausa also means "to carry on one's shoulder" or "to bear on one's back."
Igbobulie
In Igbo, the word "bulie" has a second meaning, "to help someone to do something."
Malagasyatraka
The Malagasy word "atraka" not only means "lift" but it also means "elevator" and "to raise".
Nyanja (Chichewa)kwezani
The word "kwezani" can also mean "to raise" or "to elevate" in Nyanja.
Shonasimudza
The word 'simudza' also means 'to support', 'to assist', and 'to help' in Shona.
Somalikor u qaadid
"Kor u qaadid" can also be used to refer to a person who is wealthy or of high status.
Sesothophahamisa
Swahilikuinua
"Kuinua" also means "to raise" in Swahili.
Xhosanyusa
The word "Nyusa" also means "elevate" in Xhosa.
Yorubagbe soke
Gbe soke also means 'take responsibility' or 'face the consequences' when used figuratively in Yoruba.
Zuluphakamisa
"Phakamisa" in Zulu can also refer to 'elevate' or 'promote' someone or something in a metaphorical sense.
Bambaraka lawili
Ewekᴐe dzi
Kinyarwandakuzamura
Lingalakotombola
Lugandaokuyimusa
Sepedikuka
Twi (Akan)pagya

Lift in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمصعد
The Arabic word "مصعد" (lift) comes from the verb "صعد" (to ascend), which also gives rise to the word "صعيد" (upper Egypt).
Hebrewמעלית
Hebrew word מעלית (lift) originally meant 'elevate', and now denotes a 'machine for elevating'
Pashtoلفټ
In Pashto, the word "لفټ" can also refer to an elevator or a hoist.
Arabicمصعد
The Arabic word "مصعد" (lift) comes from the verb "صعد" (to ascend), which also gives rise to the word "صعيد" (upper Egypt).

Lift in Western European Languages

Albanianngre
The verb "ngre" may derive from Proto-Albanian *na-greh₂ (to elevate).
Basquealtxatu
The word "altxatu" in Basque originally meant "uncover" or "raise up".
Catalanaixecar
"Aixecar" also means "to build" in carpentry, as to build a house.
Croatianlift
The Croatian word 'lift' comes from the German word 'Luft', meaning air or sky.
Danishløfte op
The Danish word "løfte op" has the same origin as "to lift" in English, and both can also mean "elevate"}
Dutchoptillen
The word "optillen" also means "to take up" or "to raise up" in Dutch.
Englishlift
"Lift" can also refer to a ride in an elevator, or, in British English, to a ride in a car.
Frenchascenseur
"Ascenseur" derives from the Latin verb "ascendo," meaning "to climb" or "to mount," which evokes its primary function of transporting people and objects vertically.
Frisianlift
The Frisian word "lift" can also mean "elevator" or "to steal".
Galicianlevantar
In Galician, "levantar" also means "to rise" or "to get up".
Germanaufzug
In early New High German, "Aufzug" also referred to the action of raising something, or a procession.
Icelandiclyfta
In Icelandic, 'lyfta' also means 'to raise' or 'to elevate'.
Irishardaitheoir
Italiansollevamento
In Italian, the word "sollevamento" can also refer to a "riot" or "uprising".
Luxembourgishophiewen
"Opfewen" is cognate with the German "aufheben" and the English "heave".
Malteselift
The Maltese word "lift" originates from the English word "lift", but in Maltese, it also means "elevator".
Norwegianløfte
From Old Norse **lopt**, meaning elevation or height, also from Proto-Germanic **luftizan** meaning to lift, air or elevate, also related to Old English **lyft**.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)lift
In Portuguese, “lift” also means elevator (lift in British English)
Scots Gaelictogail
Togail is also a Gaelic word meaning "to take or bring".
Spanishascensor
The Spanish word "ascensor" (lift) comes from the Latin word "ascendere" (to climb), which also gave rise to the English word "ascend".
Swedishhiss
The Swedish word "hiss" can also mean "elevator" or "hoist".
Welshlifft
Welsh "lifft" or "sylfaen" can also mean "shelf" or "ledge", and has historically referred to a "platform of a dresser".

Lift in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпадняць
The word "падняць" also means "to raise" or "to elevate".
Bosnianlift
Bosnian 'lift' can also mean the elevator that moves people or goods between floors of a building.
Bulgarianвдигам
The Slavic verb "вдигам" is also used to mean "to take off (clothes)" or "to raise (children)".
Czechvýtah
In Czech, "výtah" also refers to an extract or summary.
Estoniantõstke
The word "tõstke" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Uralic root *toγ- ('to raise, lift') and is related to the Estonian word "tõusma" ('to rise').
Finnishhissi
"Hissi" is a derivative of the Swedish word "hiss", which means "elevator".
Hungarianemel
"Emel" also means "hope" or "desire" in Hungarian, highlighting the connection between physical elevation and aspirations.
Latvianpacelt
The word "pacelt" in Latvian comes from the Lithuanian word "kelti".
Lithuanianpakelti
"Pakelti" comes from the word "kelti" which means "to rise".
Macedonianлифт
The word "лифт" (lift) in Macedonian can also refer to an elevator or a transportation method.
Polishwinda
The Polish word 'winda' originally referred to a hoist or winch, and is related to the German word 'winden' (to wind).
Romanianlift
The Romanian word "lift" ("lift") can also mean elevator or to shoplift.
Russianлифт
The word "лифт" also means "elevator" in Russian.
Serbianлифт
In some Slavic languages, such as Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian, "лифт" means "elevator".
Slovakvýťah
The term "výťah" evolved from the Slovak verb "vyťahovať", which means "to pull up" or "to lift".
Sloveniandvig
The word "dvig" in Slovenian also refers to movement, change of position, or ascent.
Ukrainianпідняти
The Ukrainian verb "підняти" also means "to raise" or "to increase" something, such as a price, a voice, or a mood.

Lift in South Asian Languages

Bengaliউত্তোলন
In Sanskrit, the word "উত্তোলন" means "to raise up or extract".
Gujaratiલિફ્ટ
The Gujarati word "લિફ્ટ" (lift) can also mean an elevator or a hoist.
Hindiलिफ़्ट
In addition to the meaning 'lift' in the sense of raising or moving, 'lift' can also refer to an elevator, a device that raises and lowers people and objects in a building.
Kannadaಎತ್ತುವ
ಎತ್ತುವ can also refer to lifting a person's spirits, elevating their position or status, or supporting their cause.
Malayalamഉയർത്തുക
The word "ഉയർത്തുക" has multiple meanings in Malayalam. It can mean to "lift" something, to "raise" something up, or to "exalt" something.
Marathiलिफ्ट
In Marathi, the word "लिफ्ट" is etymologically derived from the English word "lift" and also signifies an 'elevator'.
Nepaliलिफ्ट
In English the term 'lift' has multiple meanings; it can mean an elevator, an upward push or pull or even the act of stealing.
Punjabiਲਿਫਟ
In Punjabi, the word "ਲਿਫਟ" can also refer to an elevator or an act of giving someone a ride.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ඔසවන්න
"ඔසවන්න" may mean to lift in some contexts and to carry in others.
Tamilதூக்கு
The word "தூக்கு" comes from the Tamil root "தூ" meaning "to lift" and can also mean "to weigh" or "to hang".
Teluguఎత్తండి
The Telugu word "ఎత్తండి" can also mean "to elevate" or "to raise", and derives from the Proto-Dravidian root *ett(u)- "to raise".
Urduلفٹ
The Urdu word "لفٹ" also refers to a type of elevator used in buildings or mines.

Lift in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)电梯
The Chinese word "电梯" also means "elevate".
Chinese (Traditional)電梯
電梯 (diantí) literally means "electric ladder" (電 diàn = electric; 梯 tí = ladder).
Japaneseリフト
リフト (lift) は英語で「上げる」という意味を持つだけでなく、スキー場などで使用する「リフト (スキーリフト)」や、フェイスリフトに使われる「リフト (フェイスリフト)」などの意味も持つ。
Korean승강기
The Sino-Korean word "승강기" (lift) is a compound word combining "승강" (to go up and down) and "기" (machine).
Mongolianөргөх
The verb "өргөх" can also mean "to raise" (a topic), "to hoist" (a sail), or "to promote" (a person).
Myanmar (Burmese)မသည်
The word “မသည်” can also mean “help someone carry something” or “support someone or something” from the verb “မ”. 

Lift in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmengangkat
"Mengangkat" also means "to install" when used in a technical context.
Javaneseangkat
The word 'angkat' in Javanese also refers to the act of lifting someone or something higher in social status or position.
Khmerលើក
The noun "លើក" can also refer to a time, an instance, or a round.
Laoຍົກ
'ຍົກ' (lift) also means to offer or present something respectfully, or to elevate or promote someone or something.
Malaylif
"Lif" is an archaic Malay word that also means 'sky' or 'heavens'.
Thaiยก
In Thai, "ยก" also means "to abolish" or "to repeal."
Vietnamesethang máy
The word "thang máy" (lift) comes from the French word "ascenseur", which itself comes from the Latin word "ascendere" (to climb).
Filipino (Tagalog)angat

Lift in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqaldırın
"Qaldırın" also means "pick up" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhкөтеру
The Kazakh word "көтеру" has multiple meanings including to lift, to carry, and to raise.
Kyrgyzкөтөрүү
'Көтөрүү' also means 'to raise' or 'to elevate' in Kyrgyz.
Tajikбардоред
The word "бардоред" comes from the Persian word "برداشتن" which means "to take" or "to pick up."
Turkmengötermek
Uzbekko'tarish
The word "ko'tarish" can also mean "to endure" or "to bear (a burden)" in Uzbek.
Uyghurlift

Lift in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhāpai hāpai
Hāpai, meaning "to carry or lift," can also refer to a group of people helping carry something heavy.
Maorihiki
The word "hiki" in Maori also means "to ascend" or "to climb".
Samoansiʻi i luga
The word "siʻi i luga" can also mean "to exalt" or "to respect" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)buhatin
The Tagalog word "buhatin" can also refer to carrying a burden or responsibility.

Lift in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarawaytaña
Guaranimopu'ã

Lift in International Languages

Esperantolevi
The Esperanto word "levi" is derived from the Latin word "levare", which means "to lift" or "to raise".
Latinvitae
"Vitae" also means "life" in Latin and it is related to the English words "vital" and "vivacious."

Lift in Others Languages

Greekανελκυστήρας
The word ανελκυστήρας comes from the Greek verb ανάγω ('anago') meaning 'to lead or draw up' combined with the Greek noun ελκυστήρ ('elkystēr') meaning 'extractor' or 'puller'.
Hmongnqa
The word "nqa" can also mean "to carry" or "to transport" something.
Kurdishesansor
The word "esansor" derives from the French word "ascenseur" and retains its original meaning.
Turkishasansör
In Turkish, "asansör" is derived from the French word "ascenseur" and also refers to a "paternoster" lift, a type of continuously moving circular lift.
Xhosanyusa
The word "Nyusa" also means "elevate" in Xhosa.
Yiddishהייבן
The Yiddish word 'הייבן' (lift) is derived from the Middle Low German word 'heven' (to lift or raise)
Zuluphakamisa
"Phakamisa" in Zulu can also refer to 'elevate' or 'promote' someone or something in a metaphorical sense.
Assameseওঠোৱা
Aymarawaytaña
Bhojpuriउठावल
Dhivehiއުފުލުން
Dogriलिफ्ट
Filipino (Tagalog)angat
Guaranimopu'ã
Ilocanobakkaten
Krioes
Kurdish (Sorani)بەرزکەرەوە
Maithiliउठाउ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯊꯥꯡꯒꯠꯄ
Mizochawi
Oromokaasuu
Odia (Oriya)ଲିଫ୍ଟ
Quechuahuqariy
Sanskritउन्नयनी
Tatarлифт
Tigrinyaምልዓል
Tsongalifiti

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