Machine in Different Languages
Discover 'Machine' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A 'machine' is a remarkable invention, a testament to human ingenuity and innovation. It's a tool that amplifies our physical or mental abilities, enabling us to achieve tasks that would otherwise be impossible. From the simple lever to the complex computer, machines have shaped our world and our cultures in profound ways.
Did you know that the first programmable machine, the Jacquard loom, was invented in 1801? Or that the word 'machine' comes from the Latin 'machina', meaning 'device' or 'contrivance'? Understanding the translation of 'machine' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic abilities but also offers a window into the cultural significance of machines in various societies.
For instance, in Spanish, 'machine' is 'máquina', in French it's 'machine', in German it's 'Maschine', in Italian it's 'macchina', in Japanese it's 'マシーン (mashīn)', in Chinese it's '机器 (jīqì)', in Arabic it's 'ماكينة (mākīnä)', and in Russian it's 'машина (mashina)'.
Machine
Machine in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | masjien | ||
| The word 'masjien' in Afrikaans is derived from the French word 'machine', which has the same meaning. | |||
| Amharic | ማሽን | ||
| The Amharic word ማሽን (machine) is derived from the French word "machine" and was introduced to Amharic through contact with French-speaking missionaries in the 19th century. | |||
| Hausa | inji | ||
| The word 'inji' can also refer to an engine or a motor in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | igwe | ||
| The Igbo word "igwe" can also refer to a type of traditional Igbo musical instrument. | |||
| Malagasy | milina | ||
| The word "milina" in Malagasy may also refer to a "tool" or an "instrument." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | makina | ||
| Makina can also mean "spirit" or "ghost" in Nyanja (Chichewa), indicating a belief in the supernatural. | |||
| Shona | muchina | ||
| The Shona word "muchina" also refers to a group of people working together for a common goal. | |||
| Somali | mashiinka | ||
| Sesotho | mochini | ||
| Some dialects use 'mochini' to refer to agricultural equipment specifically. | |||
| Swahili | mashine | ||
| The Swahili word "mashine" also means "cleverness" or "intelligence". | |||
| Xhosa | umatshini | ||
| This word shares the same root as 'thina' ('we') and 'umnini' ('owner'). In its original context, it meant something along the lines of 'a tool used by us all,' a 'communal tool.' | |||
| Yoruba | ẹrọ | ||
| Ẹrọ relates to the concept of 'spinning', referring to the rotational motion of traditional tools and later, the engines of Western machinery. | |||
| Zulu | umshini | ||
| The word 'umshini' comes from the click sound the Zulu used to make in describing a machine or engine. | |||
| Bambara | mansin | ||
| Ewe | mɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | imashini | ||
| Lingala | mashine | ||
| Luganda | masiini | ||
| Sepedi | motšhene | ||
| Twi (Akan) | afidie | ||
Machine in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | آلة | ||
| The word "آلة" (machine) in Arabic also refers to instruments, tools, and devices, indicating its broad usage. | |||
| Hebrew | מְכוֹנָה | ||
| The Hebrew word "מְכוֹנָה" (machine) is derived from the root "כּוּן" (to establish, to prepare), implying its role in shaping or transforming materials. | |||
| Pashto | ماشین | ||
| The word for 'machine' in Pashto ('ماشین') is derived from the French word 'machine', which in turn comes from the Greek 'mēkhanē' (tool). It can also refer to the 'mechanism' or 'system' of something. | |||
| Arabic | آلة | ||
| The word "آلة" (machine) in Arabic also refers to instruments, tools, and devices, indicating its broad usage. | |||
Machine in Western European Languages
| Albanian | makinë | ||
| The Albanian word "makinë" derives from the Turkish word "makine", which in turn originates from the Arabic word "mākināh", meaning "something that moves". | |||
| Basque | makina | ||
| The Basque word "makina" is derived from the Latin "machina" and has also been used to refer to a type of folk music and dance. | |||
| Catalan | màquina | ||
| "Máquina" has etymological roots in Greek 'mekhānē', which referred to a clever invention or device. | |||
| Croatian | mašina | ||
| From Italian 'macchina' 'engine, device', from Late Latin 'machina' 'machine, device', itself from Greek μηχάνη (mēkhanē) 'machine, device, contrivance, cunning or skill' (in geometry, 'mechanical problem'). | |||
| Danish | maskine | ||
| In Danish, "maskine" can also mean "disguise" or "costume." | |||
| Dutch | machine | ||
| The Dutch word "machine" can also refer to a vehicle or a device. | |||
| English | machine | ||
| The word “machine” derives from the Greek “μηχανή” (mēkhanē), originally meaning a device or contrivance. | |||
| French | machine | ||
| The French word "machine" derives from the Greek word "mēkhanē", meaning "device" or "contrivance." | |||
| Frisian | masine | ||
| The Frisian word "masine" comes from the Greek word "mēkhanē" (μηχανή), meaning "contrivance, machine, engine". | |||
| Galician | máquina | ||
| In Galician, "máquina" can also refer to a type of traditional Galician bagpipe. | |||
| German | maschine | ||
| The German word for 'machine' 'Maschine' originates from the Latin word 'machina', which means 'ingenious device'. | |||
| Icelandic | vél | ||
| In the Icelandic language, 'vél' also refers to a device, apparatus, or tool used for a specific purpose. | |||
| Irish | meaisín | ||
| The Irish word "meaisín" can also refer to a small or insignificant thing, such as a tiny creature or a trivial matter. | |||
| Italian | macchina | ||
| Macchina in Italian can also refer to a car, while in English it can mean an elaborate deception or plot. | |||
| Luxembourgish | maschinn | ||
| The word "Maschinn" in Luxembourgish is derived from the French word "machine" and the German word "Maschine", both meaning "machine". | |||
| Maltese | magna | ||
| Magna may also refer to the large millstone of a mill or a mill in general. | |||
| Norwegian | maskin | ||
| The word "maskin" is derived from the Latin "machina", which originally meant "engine" or "device". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | máquina | ||
| The word "máquina" comes from Latin and originally meant "device, contrivance". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | inneal | ||
| The word 'inneal' can also refer to a tool, implement, or engine, showcasing its versatility in describing mechanical devices. | |||
| Spanish | máquina | ||
| In Spanish, "máquina" also refers to a clever scheme, trick, or ruse | |||
| Swedish | maskin | ||
| Despite spelling, the word has no relation to 'mask' and is the result of a spelling reform in the 1900s | |||
| Welsh | peiriant | ||
| The word "peiriant" can also refer to a "trick" or a "contrivance" in Welsh. | |||
Machine in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | машына | ||
| The term "машына" in Belarusian can also refer to a vehicle or a bicycle, similar to the English word "machine". | |||
| Bosnian | mašina | ||
| The word "mašina" also means "witch" or "fortune teller" and is rooted in the verb "mašiti" meaning "to wave one's hands or to juggle". | |||
| Bulgarian | машина | ||
| In Bulgarian, "машина" can also refer to a car. | |||
| Czech | stroj | ||
| The Czech word "stroj" can also refer to an engine, an apparatus, a mechanism, a device, or an instrument. | |||
| Estonian | masin | ||
| The word "masin" also refers to a deity in Estonian mythology. | |||
| Finnish | kone | ||
| The word "kone" is borrowed from the Swedish word "kon" or "kån" which means "to carry" | |||
| Hungarian | gép | ||
| 'Gép' comes from 'gépez', a verb meaning 'to walk', and originally referred to a device that facilitates walking, such as a crutch. | |||
| Latvian | mašīna | ||
| The Latvian word “mašīna” also can refer to a “car” and is related to the Russian "машина" with a similar double meaning. | |||
| Lithuanian | mašina | ||
| The word "mašina" in Lithuanian also refers to a car, especially an old or broken-down one. | |||
| Macedonian | машина | ||
| In Macedonian, "машина" also means "car" or "vehicle". | |||
| Polish | maszyna | ||
| Maszyna comes from "mašina, mašenije", a Russian borrowing adopted in the early-mid 16th century. | |||
| Romanian | mașinărie | ||
| Derived from the German word "Maschine" and ultimately from the Latin "machina" meaning "device" or "engine" | |||
| Russian | машина | ||
| "Машина" in Russian can also refer to a car. | |||
| Serbian | машина | ||
| In Serbian, "машина" can mean "car" or "automobile". | |||
| Slovak | stroj | ||
| The word "stroj" in Slovak can also refer to a suit of armor, clothing, or a musical instrument. | |||
| Slovenian | stroj | ||
| The word "stroj" in Slovenian also means "apparatus" or "device". | |||
| Ukrainian | машина | ||
| The Ukrainian word машина (machina) derives from the Proto-Slavic *mašina, originally meaning "device, tool". | |||
Machine in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | যন্ত্র | ||
| যন্ত্র can also refer to a part or accessory, such as a watch or a tool. | |||
| Gujarati | મશીન | ||
| The Gujarati word machine can also mean 'an object used for a particular task'. | |||
| Hindi | मशीन | ||
| "मशीन" derives from the Greek word "mekhane", which means "contrivance, device, or machine", and ultimately from the PIE root "meǵʰ-", meaning "increase, make larger, build". | |||
| Kannada | ಯಂತ್ರ | ||
| The word "ಯಂತ್ರ" has additional meanings beyond "machine" such as "device" or "mechanism". | |||
| Malayalam | യന്ത്രം | ||
| "യന്ത്രം" (machine) is derived from the Sanskrit word "यन्त्र" (yantra), which in turn comes from the root "yam" meaning "to control or restrain." | |||
| Marathi | मशीन | ||
| The Marathi word "मशीन" (machine) originates from the Persian word "ماشین" (māšīn) | |||
| Nepali | मेशीन | ||
| मेशीन (machine) is derived from the Greek word 'mēkhanē', meaning 'contrivance' or 'device'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਮਸ਼ੀਨ | ||
| The word "ਮਸ਼ੀਨ" can also mean "a person who works like a machine, without any thought or feeling" | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | යන්ත්රය | ||
| The word "යන්ත්රය" (yantra) is derived from the Sanskrit word "yantra" meaning "instrument, machine, device". | |||
| Tamil | இயந்திரம் | ||
| The Tamil word "இயந்திரம்" can also refer to a tool, instrument, or mechanism. | |||
| Telugu | యంత్రం | ||
| "యంత్రం" can also mean "device" or "contrivance" in the general sense. | |||
| Urdu | آلہ | ||
| "آلہ" originates from the Arabic word "آل", meaning tools or instruments, and has the alternate meaning of "implement" in English. | |||
Machine in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 机 | ||
| The Hanzi character 机 (jī) originally meant "loom" and was later extended to mean "mechanism" or "machine." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 機 | ||
| 機 can also mean 'opportunity', 'moment', or 'crisis'. | |||
| Japanese | 機械 | ||
| The word "機械" can also refer to a device or a tool, and is often used in the context of mechanics or engineering. | |||
| Korean | 기계 | ||
| The word "기계" can also refer to a system or organization, or to a person or group acting in a mechanical way. | |||
| Mongolian | машин | ||
| The Mongolian word "машин" also means "car" and derives from the Russian word "машина," which itself comes from the French word "machine." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စက် | ||
| The word "စက်" (machine) in Myanmar (Burmese) is derived from the Pali word "yatthi" (stick) and can also refer to a mill, spindle, or screw. | |||
Machine in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | mesin | ||
| In Indonesian, "mesin" can also refer to the internal organs of the human body. | |||
| Javanese | mesin | ||
| The Javanese word "mesin" can also refer to a vehicle, engine, or apparatus. | |||
| Khmer | ម៉ាស៊ីន | ||
| The Khmer word | |||
| Lao | ເຄື່ອງຈັກ | ||
| Malay | mesin | ||
| The word "mesin" is derived from the Dutch word "machine", which itself is derived from the French word "machine". | |||
| Thai | เครื่อง | ||
| "เครื่อง" can also mean a tool, an instrument, or a means to achieve something. | |||
| Vietnamese | máy móc | ||
| "Máy móc" comes from the French word "machine" and in Vietnamese can also mean "automatic, mechanical". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | makina | ||
Machine in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | maşın | ||
| The word "maşın" originally referred to a vehicle or carriage, and is still used in this sense in some dialects. | |||
| Kazakh | машина | ||
| In Kazakh, the word "машина" can also mean "car", "bicycle", or "motorcycle." | |||
| Kyrgyz | машина | ||
| The word "машина" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a bicycle, a motorcycle, or a car. | |||
| Tajik | мошин | ||
| The word "мошин" can also mean "car" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | maşyn | ||
| Uzbek | mashina | ||
| In Uzbek, "mashina" can also refer to an automobile or a piece of equipment. | |||
| Uyghur | ماشىنا | ||
Machine in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mīkini | ||
| Mīkini also means 'vessel' in Hawaiian, referring to ships, canoes, or other watercraft. | |||
| Maori | miihini | ||
| In Māori, the word 'miihini' derives from 'mihini', meaning 'to move, go, or travel' | |||
| Samoan | masini | ||
| The word 'masini' comes from the English word 'machine' and is used to describe any type of mechanical device, from simple to complex. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | makina | ||
| The term "makina" is derived from the Spanish word "maquina" and originally referred to steam engines. | |||
Machine in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | makina | ||
| Guarani | mba'eka | ||
Machine in International Languages
| Esperanto | maŝino | ||
| The word "maŝino" can also refer to a device or process that performs a specific function. | |||
| Latin | machina | ||
| The Latin word "machina" means "device" or "contraption," while its Greek cognate, "mēkhanē," can refer to a military siege engine or even a stage mechanism. | |||
Machine in Others Languages
| Greek | μηχανή | ||
| An alternate meaning of the Ancient Greek word "μηχανή" is "means of expression for emotions, thoughts, and ideas"} | |||
| Hmong | tshuab | ||
| The word "tshuab" also means "gun" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | makîne | ||
| In Turkish, "makîne" is derived from the French word "machine", while in Kurdish it has the additional meaning of "device" or "apparatus". | |||
| Turkish | makine | ||
| In Turkish, the word makine can also refer to a particular device or apparatus. | |||
| Xhosa | umatshini | ||
| This word shares the same root as 'thina' ('we') and 'umnini' ('owner'). In its original context, it meant something along the lines of 'a tool used by us all,' a 'communal tool.' | |||
| Yiddish | מאַשין | ||
| "מאַשין" (machine) derives via German from French and ultimately Latin "machina" | |||
| Zulu | umshini | ||
| The word 'umshini' comes from the click sound the Zulu used to make in describing a machine or engine. | |||
| Assamese | যন্ত্ৰ | ||
| Aymara | makina | ||
| Bhojpuri | मशीन | ||
| Dhivehi | މެޝިން | ||
| Dogri | मशीन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | makina | ||
| Guarani | mba'eka | ||
| Ilocano | makina | ||
| Krio | mashin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئامێر | ||
| Maithili | मसीन | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯦꯁꯤꯟ | ||
| Mizo | khawl | ||
| Oromo | maashinii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଯନ୍ତ୍ର | ||
| Quechua | maquina | ||
| Sanskrit | यंत्रं | ||
| Tatar | машина | ||
| Tigrinya | ማሽን | ||
| Tsonga | muchini | ||