Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'list' holds significant importance in our daily lives, serving as a tool to organize, prioritize, and communicate. From to-do lists to guest lists, this word has become a cultural cornerstone in many parts of the world. But have you ever wondered how 'list' translates in different languages?
Understanding the translation of 'list' in various languages can provide unique insights into different cultures and their ways of organization. For instance, in German, 'list' translates to 'Liste,' while in Spanish, it's 'lista.' In Japanese, it's 'リスト (risuto),' and in Mandarin, it's '列表 (liè biǎo).'
Moreover, the word 'list' has a rich history. It originates from the Old English 'liste,' meaning 'border or edge.' Over time, its meaning evolved, and now it's a fundamental component of our modern vocabulary. So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or just curious, exploring the translations of 'list' is a fascinating journey.
Afrikaans | lys | ||
In Old English, the word "lys" originally meant "boundary", "fence" or "border". | |||
Amharic | ዝርዝር | ||
The Amharic word "ዝርዝር" can also mean "outline" or "draft". | |||
Hausa | jerin | ||
The Hausa word "jerin" can also refer to a row, line, or series. | |||
Igbo | ndepụta | ||
Ndụputa is a derivative of the Igbo verb 'pụta' which means 'to stand', 'to stick out' or 'to appear'. | |||
Malagasy | lisitra | ||
The Malagasy word "lisitra" can also refer to a tally or count. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mndandanda | ||
In Nyanja, "mndandanda" also refers to an "inventory" or "catalogue". | |||
Shona | rondedzero | ||
'Rondedzero' in Shona means 'list', and possibly refers to the ordering or sequencing of items as if in a series. | |||
Somali | liiska | ||
The Somali word "liiska" can also mean "a line of demarcation" or "a border". | |||
Sesotho | lenane | ||
The word "lenane" in Sesotho has the same origin as the word "lehlohonolo" (blessing), both derived from the root "-lehla-" (to be fruitful). | |||
Swahili | orodha | ||
The Swahili word "orodha" (list) is derived from the Arabic word "urdhah" (row), suggesting its original meaning as an organized arrangement of items. | |||
Xhosa | uluhlu | ||
In Xhosa, "uluhlu" is also an idiom referring to a group of people who share a common purpose or a list of names, as in "uluhlu lwabantu abafileyo" (list of deceased people). | |||
Yoruba | atokọ | ||
The Yoruba word "atokọ" also refers to a "catalogue". | |||
Zulu | uhlu | ||
The word "uhlu" in Zulu can refer to a physical list or to a register of items. | |||
Bambara | lisi | ||
Ewe | nuleɖi | ||
Kinyarwanda | urutonde | ||
Lingala | liste | ||
Luganda | lisiti | ||
Sepedi | lenaneo | ||
Twi (Akan) | ahodoɔ | ||
Arabic | قائمة | ||
The word "قائمة" (list) in Arabic can also refer to a menu, a roster, or a register. | |||
Hebrew | רשימה | ||
The word רשימה (list) likely comes from the word רשם (to write) with the addition of the suffix ־מה indicating an object, thus a writing or record. | |||
Pashto | لړليک | ||
The word "لړليک" (list) in Pashto can also refer to a "row" or "series". | |||
Arabic | قائمة | ||
The word "قائمة" (list) in Arabic can also refer to a menu, a roster, or a register. |
Albanian | listë | ||
The word "listë" (list) in Albanian is derived from the Latin word "littera" (letter) and is related to the Italian word "lista". | |||
Basque | zerrenda | ||
The origin of the Basque word "zerrenda" is debated, with some theorizing a pre-Romance Celtic root meaning "path" or "trail". | |||
Catalan | llista | ||
The Catalan word "llista" derives from the Latin word "lista," meaning "strip" or "border," and can also refer to a "borderline" or "edge" | |||
Croatian | popis | ||
The word "popis" in Croatian has no relation to the word "pope" in English. | |||
Danish | liste | ||
In Danish, the word "liste" can also mean a border, a frame, or a hem, all derived from the Middle French "liste" meaning a strip or band. | |||
Dutch | lijst | ||
The Dutch word "lijst" comes from the Proto-Germanic word *listô, meaning "edge" or "frame". It is related to the English word "list", which means a border or edge. | |||
English | list | ||
The word "list" can also refer to a strip of cloth or leather used to hold things together, which derives from the Old English word "list", meaning "border". | |||
French | liste | ||
In Old French, "liste" also signified "border" or "side" | |||
Frisian | list | ||
The Frisian word "list" can also refer to a strip of land separating two bodies of water. | |||
Galician | lista | ||
The Galician word "lista" can also mean "clever" or "shrewd" in the sense of being quick-witted or having a sharp mind. | |||
German | aufführen | ||
Despite its literal meaning of "to perform", the word "aufführen" can also be used to describe the action of making a list. | |||
Icelandic | lista | ||
The Icelandic word "lista" is derived from the Old Norse word "listi", meaning "cunning" or "skillful". | |||
Irish | liosta | ||
The Irish word "liosta" can also refer to a battle-field, or to a burial ground. | |||
Italian | elenco | ||
The Italian word 'elenco' (list) comes from the late Latin 'elenchus', meaning 'argument, proof' and 'roll, list'. | |||
Luxembourgish | lëscht | ||
Lëscht can refer to both an actual list of items as well as an inventory of goods, such as a grocery list or inventory of a store's stock. | |||
Maltese | lista | ||
The Maltese word "lista" originates from the Italian word "lista", which in turn comes from the Frankish word "*lîsta", meaning "border" or "strip". | |||
Norwegian | liste | ||
"Liste" in Norwegian can also mean "cunning", "sly", or "clever", especially when used to describe a person's character. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | lista | ||
In Portuguese, "lista" can also mean "stripe" or "line". | |||
Scots Gaelic | liosta | ||
The word "liosta" in Scots Gaelic, derived from Middle Irish, also means "army" or "retinue", suggesting a sense of order and organization. | |||
Spanish | lista | ||
In Spanish, the word "lista" not only means "list", but also "clever" or "smart". | |||
Swedish | lista | ||
The word "lista" in Swedish can also refer to a border, hem, or edge. | |||
Welsh | rhestr | ||
The Welsh word "rhestr" can also mean an array, a directory, or a ledger. |
Belarusian | спіс | ||
Bosnian | lista | ||
The term "lista" can alternately mean "line" or "border" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | списък | ||
The Bulgarian word "списък" also refers to a roll or catalogue of a military force. | |||
Czech | seznam | ||
The Czech word seznam has Indo-European origins and may be connected to the Sanskrit word saṁsya 'gathering' | |||
Estonian | nimekirja | ||
The word "nimekiri" originated as a compound word meaning "to write a name". | |||
Finnish | lista | ||
The Finnish word "lista" has the same origin as the Italian word "lista" and the French word "liste", all deriving from the Germanic word "lista", meaning "strip of cloth". | |||
Hungarian | lista | ||
The Hungarian word "lista" comes from the Czech word "lístek" meaning "small sheet of paper" or "note". | |||
Latvian | sarakstā | ||
The word 'sarakstā' is related to the concept of 'counting' in Latvian. | |||
Lithuanian | sąrašą | ||
The word "sąrašą" can also refer to a "catalogue" or a "register". | |||
Macedonian | список | ||
The word "список" in Macedonian can also mean "inventory" or "schedule". | |||
Polish | lista | ||
"Lista" also means a border separating one administrative unit from another. | |||
Romanian | listă | ||
"Listă" derives from the French "liste" and the Italian "lista" | |||
Russian | список | ||
Слово "список" происходит от старославянского "съписати" — "переписать", "сделать копию". | |||
Serbian | листа | ||
The Serbian word "листа" (list) is derived from the Old Slavic word "listъ", meaning "leaf" or "sheet of paper". | |||
Slovak | zoznam | ||
The Slovak word "zoznam" is derived from a Proto-Slavic root, cognate with other Slavic words meaning "sign" or "mark". | |||
Slovenian | seznam | ||
The Slovenian word 'seznam' derives from 'sezati,' meaning to 'reach out,' suggesting a sense of selection and organization. | |||
Ukrainian | список | ||
The word "список" comes from the Old Slavic word "списати", which means "to write off" or "to copy". |
Bengali | তালিকা | ||
"তালিকা" is of Sanskrit origin, also meaning "palm tree" or "a bunch of flowers" | |||
Gujarati | યાદી | ||
The word 'યાદી' can also mean 'memory' or 'remembrance' in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | सूची | ||
Hindi word सूची also refers to a document showing the property of a married woman. | |||
Kannada | ಪಟ್ಟಿ | ||
"ಪಟ್ಟಿ" also means a scroll, or a strip of cloth. | |||
Malayalam | പട്ടിക | ||
The Malayalam word "പട്ടിക" also refers to an inventory of an estate or property. | |||
Marathi | यादी | ||
The word यादी comes from the Persian word | |||
Nepali | सूची | ||
The word "सूची" (list) in Nepali is likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leud- meaning "to grow". | |||
Punjabi | ਸੂਚੀ | ||
The word "list" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *lis-, meaning "border, edge". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ලැයිස්තුව | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "list", the word "ලැයිස්තුව" can also refer to a "catalogue", "register", or "schedule". | |||
Tamil | பட்டியல் | ||
"பட்டியல்" also means an army, a row of trees, the rank of a soldier, an index, the side of a dice, an inventory, an inscription, an account or a catalogue of items. | |||
Telugu | జాబితా | ||
The word "జాబితా" (jābitā) in Telugu originated from the Persian word "zabita" meaning "order" or "regulation". | |||
Urdu | فہرست | ||
The Urdu word "فہرست" (list) is derived from the Arabic word "فهرست" (index, table of contents), which in turn comes from the Greek word "πίναξ" (tablet, writing board). |
Chinese (Simplified) | 清单 | ||
The word “清单” can also mean invoice or manifest. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 清單 | ||
清單 (Traditional) is composed of the characters 清 (clear) and 單 (alone), implying a sense of separation and clarity. | |||
Japanese | リスト | ||
"リスト" (list) means "wrist" in English, but it is also used in Japanese to mean "a list of items". | |||
Korean | 명부 | ||
The Korean word "명부" (list) originally referred to a register of the dead, or a roster of civil servants. | |||
Mongolian | жагсаалт | ||
"Жагуулт" also means "declaration". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | စာရင်း | ||
The word စာရင်း derives from Sanskrit sāraṇī (सरणी) meaning "enumeration, register, or catalogue". It also has the alternate meaning of "order". |
Indonesian | daftar | ||
Daftar, the Indonesian word for 'list', originates from the Arabic word daftar, meaning 'a register or roll' or 'a leaf of paper' | |||
Javanese | dhaptar | ||
The Javanese word for "list", 'dhaptar', is cognate with the Sanskrit word "daftar" with the same meaning. | |||
Khmer | បញ្ជី | ||
បញ្ជី has several alternate meanings in Khmer, including 'register' or 'catalog'. | |||
Lao | ບັນຊີລາຍຊື່ | ||
Malay | senarai | ||
The term 'senarai' has been theorized to come from the Tamil word 'chennai' meaning 'group' or 'collection'. | |||
Thai | รายการ | ||
The Thai word 'รายการ' derives from 'ราย', meaning 'row', and 'การ' (a suffix), indicating 'an act or action', thus signifying 'an act or action involving rows' | |||
Vietnamese | danh sách | ||
The word "danh sách" may also refer to a record or catalogue in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | listahan | ||
Azerbaijani | siyahı | ||
The word "siyahı" in Azerbaijani derives from the Persian word "siyah" which means "black". | |||
Kazakh | тізім | ||
The word "тізім" in Kazakh can also refer to an inventory, register, roster, or catalog. | |||
Kyrgyz | тизме | ||
The word "тизме" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a set of rules or instructions. | |||
Tajik | рӯйхат | ||
In Persian, “rūy-hāt” also means “face to face” and is related to “rūy”, meaning “face”. | |||
Turkmen | sanawy | ||
Uzbek | ro'yxat | ||
The word "ro'yxat" (list) in Uzbek also means "roll-call" and "register". | |||
Uyghur | list | ||
Hawaiian | papa inoa | ||
"Papa inoa" (list, roster, record, register) is cognate to "papa": "foundation, base, surface, platform, board, tablet, writing tablet, letter, document, deed, contract, will, record, account, list, inventory, catalog, genealogy, family tree, pedigree, lineage, ancestry, father, parents, elder, senior, chief, ruler, king, sovereign, lord." | |||
Maori | rārangi | ||
The word "rārangi" in Maori can also mean "a row, a line, or a series". | |||
Samoan | lisi | ||
The word "lisi" in Samoan can also refer to a "rope" or a "string of beads". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | listahan | ||
The Tagalog word 'listahan' derives from the Spanish word 'lista', meaning 'a list or roll', and has come to refer to a simple enumeration or itemization of things. |
Aymara | lista | ||
Guarani | rysýi | ||
Esperanto | listo | ||
The Esperanto word "listo" derives from the Spanish word "lista" (meaning "list") and also means "ready" or "prepared" in Esperanto. | |||
Latin | album | ||
The Latin word "album" originally referred to a white tablet used for writing, and later came to mean a book or collection of pages bound together. |
Greek | λίστα | ||
In Greek, the word "λίστα" ("list") can also refer to a roll or register, particularly a military one. | |||
Hmong | sau | ||
The word "sau" can also mean "to gather" or "to bring together" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | rêzok | ||
The word "rêzok" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian word "raizeh", which in turn originates from the Arabic word "rizq", meaning "livelihood" or "provision". | |||
Turkish | liste | ||
In Turkish, "liste" can also refer to a "framework" or "mold" used in construction. | |||
Xhosa | uluhlu | ||
In Xhosa, "uluhlu" is also an idiom referring to a group of people who share a common purpose or a list of names, as in "uluhlu lwabantu abafileyo" (list of deceased people). | |||
Yiddish | רשימה | ||
'רשימה' originally meant 'permission or leave' (from Old French 'respit' [delay] via Polish 'reszta' [rest]) | |||
Zulu | uhlu | ||
The word "uhlu" in Zulu can refer to a physical list or to a register of items. | |||
Assamese | সূচী | ||
Aymara | lista | ||
Bhojpuri | सूची | ||
Dhivehi | ލިސްޓް | ||
Dogri | लिस्ट | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | listahan | ||
Guarani | rysýi | ||
Ilocano | listaan | ||
Krio | list | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | لیست | ||
Maithili | सूची | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯔꯤꯡ | ||
Mizo | ziak tlar | ||
Oromo | tarreeffama | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ତାଲିକା | | ||
Quechua | lista | ||
Sanskrit | सूची | ||
Tatar | исемлеге | ||
Tigrinya | ዝርዝር | ||
Tsonga | nxaxamelo | ||