Updated on March 6, 2024
Maintenance is a vital concept that touches every aspect of our lives, from the upkeep of our homes and vehicles to the care of our health and relationships. Its significance lies in the preservation and continuity it provides, ensuring that the things we value remain functional and efficient. This cultural importance is reflected in various languages and traditions around the world.
Did you know that the English word 'maintenance' stems from the Old French 'maintenir,' meaning 'to hold' or 'to keep'? Or that in ancient Rome, the term 'manutentio' was used to describe the art of preserving public buildings? Understanding the translation of 'maintenance' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic abilities but also deepens our appreciation for the global significance of this concept.
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of 'maintenance' translations, from the French 'entretien' and Spanish 'mantenimiento' to the German 'Wartung' and Japanese '整え upkeep'.
Afrikaans | instandhouding | ||
"Instandhouding" is derived from the Dutch word "onderhoud" and used by Afrikaans speakers in South Africa. The word can also mean "repair" or "upkeep." | |||
Amharic | ጥገና | ||
The word | |||
Hausa | kiyayewa | ||
"Kiyayewa" in Hausa means "maintenance," synonymous with "upkeep," "servicing," and "support." | |||
Igbo | mmezi | ||
The Igbo word "mmezi" also means "the act of repairing something", and this meaning of the word is closely related to its meaning as "maintenance". | |||
Malagasy | fikarakarana | ||
The Malagasy word "fikarakarana" can also mean "care", "protection", or "maintenance". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kukonza | ||
In Nyanja, "kukonza" can also mean "to preserve" or "to protect" something. | |||
Shona | kuchengetedza | ||
The word 'kuchengetedza' may also refer to a monthly or annual fee collected by traditional chiefs in some parts of Zimbabwe. | |||
Somali | dayactirka | ||
In Somali, 'dayactir' also means 'support', as in providing financial assistance to someone in need. | |||
Sesotho | tlhokomelo | ||
The Sesotho word "tlhokomelo" is derived from "ho hlokomela", meaning to care for or look after something. | |||
Swahili | matengenezo | ||
"Matengenezo" also translates to "creations" or "innovations" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | isondlo | ||
'Isondlo' is derived from the Nguni root '-ndl', meaning 'to sustain' or 'to nurture'. | |||
Yoruba | itọju | ||
The noun "itọju" also signifies being taken care of or well-being | |||
Zulu | isondlo | ||
Though the term isondlo in Zulu means "maintenance," it can also mean "rations" or "food provisions". | |||
Bambara | labɛn | ||
Ewe | nu dzadzraɖo | ||
Kinyarwanda | kubungabunga | ||
Lingala | kobongisa | ||
Luganda | okulabirira | ||
Sepedi | tlhokomelo | ||
Twi (Akan) | nsiesie | ||
Arabic | اعمال صيانة | ||
The word "اعمال صيانة" literally means "works of maintenance" in Arabic, but it can also refer to repair or servicing. | |||
Hebrew | תחזוקה | ||
Maintenance derives on the root "חזק", which can be used in a similar sense with the word "חוזק" or “embrace”. | |||
Pashto | ساتنه | ||
The word "ساتنه" ("maintenance") in Pashto comes from the Persian word "सतना" ("to keep in order") and is related to the Sanskrit word "सातन" ("to make perfect"). | |||
Arabic | اعمال صيانة | ||
The word "اعمال صيانة" literally means "works of maintenance" in Arabic, but it can also refer to repair or servicing. |
Albanian | mirëmbajtja | ||
The word 'mirëmbajtja' is also used to mean 'preservation' or 'conservation' in Albanian | |||
Basque | mantentze-lanak | ||
"Mantentze" translates to both "maintenance" and "nourishment, sustenance, or support" in Basque. | |||
Catalan | manteniment | ||
The Catalan word "manteniment" is derived from the Latin "manutenere" meaning "to hold in the hand". | |||
Croatian | održavanje | ||
The Croatian word "održavanje" (maintenance) derives from the verb "održavati" (to maintain), which itself stems from the noun "država" (state), implying the act of maintaining a state or condition. | |||
Danish | vedligeholdelse | ||
"Vedligeholdelse" comes from the Old Norse words "veðr" and "halda" meaning "to protect against the elements". In some dialects, the word can also refer to a person's appearance or personal hygiene. | |||
Dutch | onderhoud | ||
In Dutch, 'onderhoud' also refers to the act of staying abreast of current events or knowledge, known as 'keeping oneself well-informed'. | |||
English | maintenance | ||
The word "maintenance" comes from the Old French word "maintenance", which means "assistance, support, or sustenance." | |||
French | entretien | ||
The word "entretien" comes from the Latin word "intertenere", meaning "to hold between", and can also mean "interview" or "conversation" in French. | |||
Frisian | ûnderhâld | ||
The Frisian word "ûnderhâld" has an alternate meaning in English: "underside, bottom of something". | |||
Galician | mantemento | ||
. Mantemento derives from the verb "manter," which means "to hold" or "to keep" something in a particular state. | |||
German | instandhaltung | ||
"Instandhaltung" is a compound noun derived from the words "in stand" meaning "in good working order" and "Haltung" meaning "condition". In German culture, it also refers to a comprehensive approach to maintaining facilities and equipment in optimal condition. | |||
Icelandic | viðhald | ||
The word "viðhald" is derived from the Old Norse word "viðhalda," meaning "to hold on to" or "to preserve." | |||
Irish | cothabháil | ||
Cothabháil is also an obsolete term for the practice of supporting an ecclesiastical establishment by levying local taxes. | |||
Italian | manutenzione | ||
The term “manutenzione” derives from the Latin “manus tenere”, meaning “to hold something with one's hand”. | |||
Luxembourgish | ënnerhalt | ||
Derived from the German word "unterhalten", meaning "to support" or "to keep up", it also refers to the upkeep or preservation of a building or object. | |||
Maltese | manutenzjoni | ||
"Manutenzjoni" is derived from the Italian word "manutenzione", which in turn comes from the Latin "manus" (hand) and "tenere" (to hold). | |||
Norwegian | vedlikehold | ||
In Danish and Swedish "ved" also means wood and "like" means similar. There is a similar but not quite the same word, "vedligeholdelse" (literally wood-similar-keeping), which specifically refers to the maintenance of ships made from wood. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | manutenção | ||
In Portuguese, "manutenção" also means "sustenance". | |||
Scots Gaelic | cumail suas | ||
The word 'cumail suas' is derived from the Gaelic words 'cumhail' (help, support) and 'suas' (upward) | |||
Spanish | mantenimiento | ||
The term "mantenimiento" in Spanish also refers to the support or sustenance of an abstract concept, such as a theory or belief. | |||
Swedish | underhåll | ||
Underhåll means 'maintenance' in Swedish, but literally translates to 'below hold' | |||
Welsh | cynnal a chadw | ||
The Welsh word "cynnal a chadw" has an alternate meaning of "to sustain and preserve" and is derived from the words "cynnal" (to hold up) and "cadw" (to keep). |
Belarusian | тэхнічнае абслугоўванне | ||
Maintenance comes from the Old French word "maintenance," meaning "to hold in place." | |||
Bosnian | održavanje | ||
"Održavanje" also means "retaining" in the sense of preserving, holding, or keeping something. | |||
Bulgarian | поддръжка | ||
The Bulgarian word "поддръжка" derives from the verb "поддържам," meaning to "support" or "keep up." | |||
Czech | údržba | ||
The term "údržba" derives from the Old Czech word "držeti", meaning "to hold" or "to keep", emphasizing the concept of preserving a condition or state. | |||
Estonian | hooldus | ||
The word "hooldus" is also related to the Estonian word "hool", meaning "care" or "attention." | |||
Finnish | huolto | ||
Finnish 'huolto' derives from 'huoltaa' (to maintain, take care of) and can also mean 'care' or 'support'. | |||
Hungarian | karbantartás | ||
The word 'karbantartás' is derived from the Turkish word 'karban', meaning 'to repair or maintain', and the Hungarian suffix '-tartás', which indicates a state or condition. | |||
Latvian | uzturēšana | ||
The Latvian noun "uzturēšana" is derived from the verb "uzturēt," which means "to maintain, to sustain, to support," and ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ter-," meaning "to hold, to support." | |||
Lithuanian | priežiūra | ||
"Priežiūra" derives from the verb "priežiūrėti", meaning "to look after" or "to care for" something. | |||
Macedonian | одржување | ||
The word "одржување" can also refer to the act of supporting or upholding something. | |||
Polish | konserwacja | ||
"Konserwacja" (Polish for maintenance) can also refer to food canning. | |||
Romanian | întreținere | ||
The Romanian word "întreținere" is derived from the Latin word "intertenere" which means "to hold or keep between". | |||
Russian | поддержание | ||
"Поддержание" (maintenance) also means "preservation", "support", or "advocacy" in Russian. | |||
Serbian | одржавање | ||
The word "одржавање" comes from the Old Slavic root "deržati" which means "to hold" or "to keep". | |||
Slovak | údržba | ||
In modern Slovak, the word "údržba" also refers to the "technical service" which repairs or maintains devices. | |||
Slovenian | vzdrževanje | ||
The word 'vzdrževanje' is derived from the Old Slavic word 'vьzdražati' meaning 'to stir up' or 'to excite'. | |||
Ukrainian | технічне обслуговування | ||
The Ukrainian word 'технічне обслуговування' is derived from the Russian word 'обслуживание' ('service'), which itself is derived from the German word 'Wartung'. In Ukrainian, 'технічне обслуговування' can also refer to 'repair' or 'inspection'. |
Bengali | রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ | ||
রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ comes from the Sanskrit word 'raksha', which means 'protection'. Its alternate meanings include preservation, upkeep, and care. | |||
Gujarati | જાળવણી | ||
The Gujarati term 'જાળવણી' may also refer to sustenance or upkeep, and is derived from the Sanskrit root 'जाल्' (jāli) meaning 'net' | |||
Hindi | रखरखाव | ||
The Hindi word 'रखरखाव' can also refer to preservation, upkeep, repair, or service. | |||
Kannada | ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ | ||
"ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ" (maintenance) is derived from the Sanskrit word "वर्तन" (vartana), meaning "to behave" or "to conduct." | |||
Malayalam | പരിപാലനം | ||
The Malayalam word "പരിപാലനം" can also mean "protection", "care", or "support". | |||
Marathi | देखभाल | ||
The term "देखभाल" can also refer to the care and upkeep of a person, especially an elderly individual. | |||
Nepali | मर्मत | ||
The word 'मर्मत' ('maintenance') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'मर्म,' meaning 'a vital organ or point,' emphasizing the critical nature of maintenance tasks. | |||
Punjabi | ਸੰਭਾਲ | ||
The Punjabi word "ਸੰਭਾਲ" can also refer to caring for someone or something, or protecting against damage. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නඩත්තු | ||
The word "නඩත්තු" can also mean "nourishment" or "sustenance" in Sinhala. | |||
Tamil | பராமரிப்பு | ||
Telugu | నిర్వహణ | ||
The word 'నిర్వహణ' can also mean 'running an organization' or 'management' in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | بحالی | ||
The word 'بحالی' also means 'restoration', 'revival' and 'reinstatement' in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 保养 | ||
"保养" in Chinese can also refer to the maintenance or upkeep of a person's health or appearance | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 保養 | ||
保養 (bǎo yǎng) also means 'body care', 'cultivation of body', and 'health preservation'. | |||
Japanese | メンテナンス | ||
メンテナンス derives from the French "maintenir," meaning "to sustain" or "to support," and is cognate with the English "maintain." | |||
Korean | 유지 | ||
The word '유지' (maintenance) is derived from the Chinese word '維持', which means 'to uphold, to sustain, or to keep in good condition'. | |||
Mongolian | засвар үйлчилгээ | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပြုပြင်ထိန်းသိမ်းမှု | ||
Indonesian | pemeliharaan | ||
The Indonesian word "pemeliharaan" can also mean "upkeep" and "preservation." | |||
Javanese | pangopènan | ||
The Javanese word "pangopènan" derives from the Old Javanese word "apupuh" with an additional prefix "pang", where "apupuh" means "to care for" or "to maintain". | |||
Khmer | ថែទាំ | ||
Lao | ການ ບຳ ລຸງຮັກສາ | ||
Malay | penyelenggaraan | ||
The Malay word "penyelenggaraan" can also refer to the preservation or protection of something. | |||
Thai | ซ่อมบำรุง | ||
The word "ซ่อมบำรุง" also means "to fix" or "to repair" something. | |||
Vietnamese | bảo trì | ||
The word "bảo trì" is derived from the Chinese word "保持", meaning "to maintain" or "to preserve". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpapanatili | ||
Azerbaijani | istismar | ||
The word "İstismar" in Azerbaijani language has an Arabic origin and is related to the concept of "exploitation" and "misuse" in English. | |||
Kazakh | техникалық қызмет көрсету | ||
In English, the word "maintenance" can also refer to financial support for a person or organization. | |||
Kyrgyz | тейлөө | ||
The Kyrgyz word "тейлөө" can also refer to the act of "sewing" or "mending" something | |||
Tajik | нигоҳдорӣ | ||
The word “нигоҳдорӣ” can also refer to the act of preserving or keeping something in good condition. | |||
Turkmen | hyzmat etmek | ||
Uzbek | texnik xizmat ko'rsatish | ||
The word "texnik xizmat ko'rsatish" can also refer to servicing or repairing a vehicle. | |||
Uyghur | ئاسراش | ||
Hawaiian | mālama | ||
In Hawaiian, the word "mālama" not only means "maintenance", but also encompasses meanings like "caretaking", "to preserve", and "to honor" | |||
Maori | tiaki | ||
Tiaki has other meanings like 'protecting', 'preserving' or 'sustaining'. | |||
Samoan | tausiga | ||
The word "tausiga" can also mean "to watch over" or "to protect" in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pagpapanatili | ||
"Pagpapanatili" literally means "to keep something going", but it can also refer to preserving or protecting something. |
Aymara | sumachaña | ||
Guarani | ñangareko | ||
Esperanto | bontenado | ||
The word "bontenado" also means "upkeep" or "repair". | |||
Latin | victum | ||
In addition to 'maintenance', 'victum' can mean 'food' or 'provisions' in Latin, and is related to the verb 'vivere' ('to live'). |
Greek | συντήρηση | ||
The Greek word "συντήρηση" also refers to restoration and preservation, especially of antiquities. | |||
Hmong | nkawm | ||
'Nkawm' can also mean 'to nurture' or 'support,' and is used in the phrase 'nkawm peb lub neej' (nurture our lives). | |||
Kurdish | lênerrînî | ||
The Kurdish word "lênerrînî" also means "upkeep" or "preservation". | |||
Turkish | bakım | ||
The word "bakım" in Turkish can also mean "upbringing" or "care" when used in the context of raising children or caring for someone. | |||
Xhosa | isondlo | ||
'Isondlo' is derived from the Nguni root '-ndl', meaning 'to sustain' or 'to nurture'. | |||
Yiddish | וישאַלט | ||
The Yiddish word "וישאַלט" also means "to keep in good condition (esp. buildings)" in English. | |||
Zulu | isondlo | ||
Though the term isondlo in Zulu means "maintenance," it can also mean "rations" or "food provisions". | |||
Assamese | ব্যৱস্থাপনা | ||
Aymara | sumachaña | ||
Bhojpuri | रखरखाव | ||
Dhivehi | ބެލެއްޓުން | ||
Dogri | सांभ-सम्हाल | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpapanatili | ||
Guarani | ñangareko | ||
Ilocano | panangmentenar | ||
Krio | mek say we dɔn pwɛl | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | چاکردنەوە | ||
Maithili | रखरखाव | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯦꯟꯅꯕ | ||
Mizo | enkawlna | ||
Oromo | suphaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ରକ୍ଷଣାବେକ୍ଷଣ | ||
Quechua | allinchay | ||
Sanskrit | अनुरक्षणम् | ||
Tatar | хезмәт күрсәтү | ||
Tigrinya | ፅገና | ||
Tsonga | lunghisa | ||