Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'limitation' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, signifying the boundaries or constraints that shape our experiences. It's a concept that transcends cultures, making it a valuable term to understand in various languages. Understanding the translation of 'limitation' in different languages can provide us with a unique perspective on how different cultures perceive and address constraints.
Throughout history, the idea of limitations has been explored in philosophy, art, and science. For instance, the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates famously said, 'The unexamined life is not worth living,' implying that self-imposed limitations can hinder personal growth. Similarly, in literature, characters' limitations often drive the plot, highlighting the importance of understanding and overcoming constraints.
Given the cultural significance of 'limitation,' it's no surprise that people worldwide seek to understand this term in their native languages. Here are a few sample translations:
Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of 'limitation' translations in various languages, providing you with a global perspective on this important concept.
Afrikaans | beperking | ||
Beperking is derived from Dutch and means a restriction, a constraint or a limitation. | |||
Amharic | ውስንነት | ||
The Amharic term "ውስንነት" also carries the connotation of "shortcoming" or "failing." | |||
Hausa | iyakancewa | ||
In Hausa, "iyakancewa" can also refer to the boundaries or outskirts of something. | |||
Igbo | mmachi | ||
In the Igbo language, the word "mmachi" also translates roughly to "taboo" in English. | |||
Malagasy | mahasakana | ||
"Mahasakana" (limitation) derives from "asa" (boundary) and the perfective verbal prefix "ma-" ( | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | malire | ||
In Nyanja, "malire" can also mean a fine, as a punishment for breaking the law. | |||
Shona | kukamurwa | ||
The word "kukamurwa" can also refer to a boundary, obstacle, or restriction. | |||
Somali | xaddidaadda | ||
Sesotho | pehelo ya moedi | ||
The word "pehelo ya moedi" can also refer to a period of time, such as a deadline or an appointment. | |||
Swahili | kiwango cha juu | ||
The Swahili word "kiwango cha juu" (limitation) literally means "the highest level". | |||
Xhosa | ukusikelwa umda | ||
The word 'ukusikelwa umda' shares the same root as the word 'umda' (spear), suggesting a connection between limitation and the need to protect or defend. | |||
Yoruba | idiwọn | ||
"Ìdìwọn" also means "edge" (i.e. of knife or razor blade), "extent", "boundary" or "restriction" depending on the context. | |||
Zulu | ukulinganiselwa | ||
"Ukulinganiselwa" is derived from the verb "ukulinganisa" (to limit), which in turn stems from the noun "ilinga" (fence, boundary). | |||
Bambara | dantigɛli | ||
Ewe | seɖoƒe si woɖo ɖi | ||
Kinyarwanda | kugarukira | ||
Lingala | ndelo oyo ezali na ndelo | ||
Luganda | okukoma | ||
Sepedi | moedi | ||
Twi (Akan) | anohyeto a ɛwɔ hɔ | ||
Arabic | تحديد | ||
The Arabic word "تحديد" can also mean "determination" or "definition". | |||
Hebrew | הַגבָּלָה | ||
The word "הַגבָּלָה" is derived from the root "גב" (גבול), meaning "border" or "limit". It can also refer to a restriction or constraint. | |||
Pashto | محدودیت | ||
The word "محدودیت" means "limitation" in Pashto and comes from the Arabic word "حد" which means "boundary" or "limit". It is also related to the word "حدد" which means "to determine" or "to define". | |||
Arabic | تحديد | ||
The Arabic word "تحديد" can also mean "determination" or "definition". |
Albanian | kufizim | ||
Kufizim, meaning "limitation", originates from the Latin "confinium," meaning "boundary" or "limit." | |||
Basque | muga | ||
The word "muga" also shares a root with the word "mugatu", which means "boundary" in Spanish. | |||
Catalan | limitació | ||
"Limitació" in Catalan derives from the Late Latin "limitatiō", meaning "act of bounding". | |||
Croatian | ograničenje | ||
The word 'ograničenje' comes from the verb 'ograničiti', which means to limit. It is related to the word 'granica', which means 'border' or 'boundary'. | |||
Danish | begrænsning | ||
"Begrænsning" means "restriction" in Danish and comes from the Old Norse word "gransi, | |||
Dutch | beperking | ||
"Beperking" in Dutch comes from the verb "beperken" which also means "to surround", "to hem in". | |||
English | limitation | ||
The word "limitation" derives from the Latin words "limitare" (to define a boundary) and "limitatio" (the act of setting limits), which both relate to establishing bounds or constraints. | |||
French | limitation | ||
In French, "limitation" can also mean "restriction" or "constraint". | |||
Frisian | beheining | ||
Frisian 'beheining' ('limitation') comes from Middle Dutch 'behindinge' ('hinderance, impediment'), also found in English 'behinder' (s.v. behind, from c. 1300) and German 'behindern' ('to hinder, obstruct'). | |||
Galician | limitación | ||
The Galician term "limitación" can also mean "obstacle" or "restriction". | |||
German | einschränkung | ||
A derivative of 'schränken' ('to limit, to confine'), 'Einschränkung' can also refer to a 'restriction' or a 'curtailment' in a broader sense. | |||
Icelandic | takmörkun | ||
In chess, "takmörkun" implies a temporary suspension of play to prevent a checkmate from occurring. | |||
Irish | teorannú | ||
The word "teorannú" has a more specific meaning in Irish, referring to a constitutional restriction rather than a general limitation. | |||
Italian | limitazione | ||
The word "limitazione" can also mean "boundary" or "restriction" in Italian. | |||
Luxembourgish | limitatioun | ||
Maltese | limitazzjoni | ||
Limitazzjoni, like the English "limitation" originates from the Latin word "limitare" which means to mark a boundary | |||
Norwegian | begrensning | ||
"Begrensning" is also a Norwegian term in mathematics, where it refers to the concept of "bound". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | limitação | ||
In Portuguese, the word "limitação" can also refer to a disability or impairment. | |||
Scots Gaelic | cuibhreachadh | ||
"Cuibhreachadh" also means "moderation" or "temperance" in Scots Gaelic, derived from the word "cuibhreach" (moderation) and ultimately from the Proto-Celtic root "*ko-wri-k-es-," meaning "to bend." | |||
Spanish | limitación | ||
Limitación derives from the Latin 'limitatio' ('boundary, limit') and is related to 'limite' ('limit, boundary'), both of which share its etymological root in the Proto-Indo-European word 'mei-' ('to cut') | |||
Swedish | begränsning | ||
The Swedish word "begränsning" derives from the Old Swedish "begrensning", meaning "boundary" or "demarcation."} | |||
Welsh | cyfyngiad | ||
The word "cyfyngiad" is derived from the Welsh word "cyfyng," meaning "narrow" or "limited." |
Belarusian | абмежаванасць | ||
Bosnian | ograničenje | ||
The word "ograničenje" in Bosnian comes from the Old Slavic word "granica" meaning "border". It can also refer to a restriction or constraint. | |||
Bulgarian | ограничение | ||
The word "ограничение" is of Slavic origin and is related to the word "граница" (border). | |||
Czech | omezení | ||
Omezit (to limit) was first used in 1406 and is a compound of meze (edge, border, limit) and the verb obmezit, meaning a boundary. | |||
Estonian | piirang | ||
The Estonian word "piirang" is thought to be derived from the word "piir," meaning "boundary" or "edge." | |||
Finnish | rajoitus | ||
Finnish 'rajoitus' derives from a verb meaning 'to restrict', and relates to other words such as 'raaja' ('limb') and 'raja' ('boundary'). | |||
Hungarian | korlátozás | ||
The word "korlátozás" can also mean "restriction" or "curb" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | ierobežojums | ||
The Latvian word "ierobežojums" is related to the word "robeža" (border), suggesting an etymological connection between limits and physical boundaries. | |||
Lithuanian | apribojimas | ||
The word "apribojimas" comes from the Lithuanian word "apriboti", meaning "to restrict" or "to limit". | |||
Macedonian | ограничување | ||
The word 'ограничување' (limitation) is derived from the Old Church Slavonic (OCS) verb 'граничити (to delimit), and is also cognate with the Russian 'граничить' (to border), and the Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian 'granica' (border). | |||
Polish | ograniczenie | ||
Ograniczenie shares the same root with the verb 'ograniczać' (to restrict) which in turn derives from the old word 'granica' meaning 'border'. | |||
Romanian | prescripţie | ||
The word "prescripţie" also refers to a legal limitation on a person's rights or freedoms. | |||
Russian | ограничение | ||
The Russian word "ограничение" (limitation) is derived from the verb "ограничивать" (to limit), which itself comes from the prefix "о-" (around, surrounding) and the root "грань" (boundary, edge). | |||
Serbian | ограничење | ||
'Ограничење' is a Serbo-Croatian word that derives from the word 'граница' ('border', 'boundary'). | |||
Slovak | obmedzenie | ||
The term "obmedzenie" derives from the verb "obmedzovať," meaning "to restrict" or "to confine." | |||
Slovenian | omejitev | ||
The Slovenian word "omejitev" derives from the root word "meja", meaning "border or boundary". | |||
Ukrainian | обмеження | ||
The Ukrainian word "обмеження" comes from the Slavic root "меж", meaning "boundary" or "border". |
Bengali | সীমাবদ্ধতা | ||
The word "সীমাবদ্ধতা" can also refer to a physical barrier or obstacle. | |||
Gujarati | મર્યાદા | ||
Hindi | परिसीमन | ||
"परिसीमन" is used in several contexts, and its meanings include a limit, boundary, or circumscription. | |||
Kannada | ಮಿತಿಯ | ||
The word "ಮಿತಿಯ" (limitation) in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word "मिति" (measure) and can also refer to a rule or guideline. | |||
Malayalam | പരിമിതപ്പെടുത്താതെ | ||
Marathi | मर्यादा | ||
The word "मर्यादा" originates from the Sanskrit word "मर्याद," which means "boundary" or "line." | |||
Nepali | सीमितता | ||
सीमितता's other meanings include 'restriction' and 'boundary' | |||
Punjabi | ਸੀਮਾ | ||
The word "ਸੀਮਾ" can also refer to a border, boundary, or frontier. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සීමාව | ||
The word සීමාව originated from the Sanskrit word 'Seema' which means 'boundary' or 'frontier'. | |||
Tamil | வரம்பு | ||
The word "வரம்பு" can also refer to a boundary, border, or fence | |||
Telugu | పరిమితి | ||
Urdu | حد | ||
The word "حد" also means 'boundary', 'border', 'frontier', and 'end'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 局限性 | ||
局限性 derives from the word "局", meaning "part" or "segment", and "限", meaning "boundary" or "limit", implying the idea of being confined or restricted to a certain area or extent. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 局限性 | ||
In traditional Chinese, 局限性 can also mean 'the narrowness of a place or view'. | |||
Japanese | 制限 | ||
The word "制限" (limitation) in Japanese is derived from the verb "制限する" (to limit), which in turn comes from the noun "限度" (limit). | |||
Korean | 한정 | ||
'한정' can also mean 'a decisive moment' or 'a critical point' in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | хязгаарлалт | ||
'Хязгаарлалт' can also refer to a restriction, prohibition, or boundary. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကန့်သတ်ချက် | ||
Indonesian | keterbatasan | ||
"Keterbatasan" also means 'crown' in Javanese and was used to address kings in Majapahit era. | |||
Javanese | watesan | ||
The etymology of “watesan” is from the words “wates” (space) and “-an” (belonging to), meaning 'boundaries of one's own space' or 'limitations' | |||
Khmer | ដែនកំណត់ | ||
Lao | ຂໍ້ ຈຳ ກັດ | ||
Malay | had | ||
The word "had" in Malay also means "a measure of capacity", typically for rice and other grains. | |||
Thai | ข้อ จำกัด | ||
The Thai word "ข้อ จำกัด" also translates as "condition." | |||
Vietnamese | giới hạn | ||
The word "giới hạn" also means "horizontal line" in Vietnamese, derived from the Chinese character "限". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | limitasyon | ||
Azerbaijani | məhdudiyyət | ||
The word "məhdudiyyət" stems from the Arabic word "hadd" meaning "boundary". It also has the alternate meaning of "restriction". | |||
Kazakh | шектеу | ||
Шектеу is derived from the verb шектеу, meaning 'to restrain' or 'to restrict' | |||
Kyrgyz | чектөө | ||
The word "чектөө" can also refer to "restriction" or "limitation" in a certain context. | |||
Tajik | маҳдудият | ||
The word "маҳдудият" in Tajik originates from the Arabic word "حدّ" (hadd), meaning "boundary" or "limit". | |||
Turkmen | çäklendirme | ||
Uzbek | cheklash | ||
The word "cheklash" is derived from the Persian word "chek" which means "rope" or "measure". | |||
Uyghur | چەكلىمىسى | ||
Hawaiian | kaupalena | ||
Kaupalena is a homonym, meaning it can be either a noun or a possessive form of the word "kau" (to steal). | |||
Maori | whāititanga | ||
The word "whāititanga" in Maori can also refer to the boundaries or frameworks that guide appropriate behavior. | |||
Samoan | tapulaʻa | ||
The word "tapulaʻa", in addition to "limitation", can also refer to an agreement among people in a community. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | limitasyon | ||
The word "limitasyon" comes from the Spanish word "limitación", which in turn comes from the Latin word "limitatio", meaning "a boundary or border." |
Aymara | limitación ukax utjiwa | ||
Guarani | limitación rehegua | ||
Esperanto | limigo | ||
The word "limigo" originates from the Latin word "limes" meaning "boundary" or "border". | |||
Latin | limitationem, | ||
Limitatio is a Latin word derived from the verb limitare, meaning "to set boundaries". |
Greek | περιορισμός | ||
"Περιορισμός" derives from the verb "περιορ(ι)ώ" (I limit, I confine) and shares the same root as the noun "όριο" (boundary). | |||
Hmong | qhov txwv | ||
The word "qhov txwv" is derived from the verb "txwv," which means "to fence in" or "to confine." | |||
Kurdish | sînor | ||
The word 'sînor' is also used to denote a border between two territories. | |||
Turkish | sınırlama | ||
"Sınırlama" also means "boundary" and "border" in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | ukusikelwa umda | ||
The word 'ukusikelwa umda' shares the same root as the word 'umda' (spear), suggesting a connection between limitation and the need to protect or defend. | |||
Yiddish | באַגרענעצונג | ||
באַגרענעצונג comes from the Yiddish word באַגרענעצן (bagrentsen) which means 'to limit', ultimately deriving from the German word begrenzen which means 'to limit'. | |||
Zulu | ukulinganiselwa | ||
"Ukulinganiselwa" is derived from the verb "ukulinganisa" (to limit), which in turn stems from the noun "ilinga" (fence, boundary). | |||
Assamese | সীমাবদ্ধতা | ||
Aymara | limitación ukax utjiwa | ||
Bhojpuri | सीमा के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ލިމިޓެޝަން | ||
Dogri | सीमा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | limitasyon | ||
Guarani | limitación rehegua | ||
Ilocano | limitasion | ||
Krio | limiteshɔn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سنووردارکردن | ||
Maithili | सीमा | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯤꯃꯤꯇꯦꯁꯟ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | tihkhawtlai a ni | ||
Oromo | daangeffama | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସୀମା | ||
Quechua | limitación nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | सीमा | ||
Tatar | чикләү | ||
Tigrinya | ድሩትነት ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
Tsonga | ku ringaniseriwa | ||