Memory in different languages

Memory in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Memory, a powerful concept that has shaped civilizations and cultures throughout history. It is the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information, a fundamental process that allows us to learn, remember, and navigate the world. Memories can be personal, collective, or historical, and they help us understand our past, present, and future.

The significance of memory extends beyond the individual, playing a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage. From oral traditions to written records, memory has been a vital tool for preserving the stories, values, and knowledge of communities around the world. Moreover, the study of memory has revealed fascinating insights into the workings of the human mind and the nature of consciousness.

As global citizens, understanding the translation of memory in different languages can help us appreciate the richness and diversity of human experience. For instance, the word for memory in Spanish is 'memoria,' in French 'mémoire,' in German 'Erinnerung,' in Russian 'память' (pamyat'), and in Japanese '記憶' (kioku).

In this article, we delve into the translations of memory in various languages, shedding light on the cultural nuances and historical contexts that shape our understanding of this universal concept.

Memory


Memory in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansgeheue
The Afrikaans word "geheue" is borrowed from the Dutch word "geheugen", meaning "memory" and "recollection".
Amharicትውስታ
The Amharic word ትውስታ (memory) also means 'remembrance' and 'commemoration'.
Hausaƙwaƙwalwar ajiya
In Hausa, the word "ƙwaƙwalwar ajiya" denotes not only memory but also storage and repository.
Igbonchekwa
The Igbo word 'nchekwa' is rooted in the verb 'che' ('to know'), implying memory as a form of retained knowledge.
Malagasyfahatsiarovana
Fahatsiarovana, or memory in Malagasy, derives from the verb 'hatsiaro' which means to 'remember' or 'recall'.
Nyanja (Chichewa)kukumbukira
"Kukumbukira" is also used to refer to the act of recalling or remembering something.
Shonandangariro
In some dialects, "ndangariro" also refers to the place where one remembers something or a place where something was hidden.
Somalixusuusta
The word 'xusuusta' is derived from the Arabic word 'xassa' ('special')
Sesothomohopolo
The word "mohopolo" also means "a place where people have lived for a long time".
Swahilikumbukumbu
"Kumbukumbu" is derived from the verb "kukumbuka," meaning "to remember" or "recall."
Xhosaimemori
In Xhosa, the word "imemori," while commonly understood to mean "memory", can also refer to "a reminder" or "a memento of something or someone."
Yorubairanti
"Ìrànti" is the name of a traditional Yoruba fabric worn on special occasions, representing the remembrance of ancestors
Zuluinkumbulo
The Zulu word "inkumbulo" also means "a memorial" or "a reminder".
Bambarahakili
Ewesusu
Kinyarwandakwibuka
Lingalaboongo
Lugandaokujjukira
Sepedikgopolo
Twi (Akan)nkaeɛ

Memory in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicذاكرة
ذاكرة literally means recollection or remembrance in Arabic, and can refer to memory in general.
Hebrewזיכרון
Though "זיכרון" means "memory" in Hebrew, it also means a "monument"
Pashtoحافظه
The Pashto word "حافظه" is derived from the Arabic word "حفظ," which means "to memorize," "to safeguard," or "to protect."
Arabicذاكرة
ذاكرة literally means recollection or remembrance in Arabic, and can refer to memory in general.

Memory in Western European Languages

Albaniankujtesa
Basquememoria
In Basque, "memoria" means both "memory" and "memorial of the dead".
Catalanmemòria
The word "memòria" in Catalan comes from the Latin word "memoria" meaning 'memory', 'remembrance', 'mindful', 'commemoration' or 'record'.
Croatianmemorija
Though 'memorija' most commonly means 'memory', it can also mean 'memorandum' or 'memorial', deriving from the Latin 'memoria' with the same meanings.
Danishhukommelse
'Hukommelse' derives from the verb 'at huske,' meaning 'to remember,' related to the English verb 'to get' and noun 'ghost' via Proto-Indo-European '*ǵʰeu̯-,' meaning 'to call forth'
Dutchgeheugen
Dutch word "geheugen" has roots in "gehug" (mind), which also meant "stomach", as this was believed to be the seat of emotions.
Englishmemory
The word 'memory' derives from the Latin word 'memoria', which originally meant 'mindful' or 'remembrance'. The term is also frequently used to refer to a computer's storage capacity.
Frenchmémoire
In old French, 'mémoire' also meant 'reminder' or 'evidence', a meaning still found in legal contexts.
Frisianoantinken
Oantinken also means 'remembrance', the ability to recall from memory.
Galicianmemoria
Galician "memoria" derives from the Latin "memoria" and in Spanish means both "memory" and "reminder".
Germanerinnerung
Erinnerung', which is the German word for 'memory', also refers to the act of reminding or recollecting something and has a connotation of nostalgia.
Icelandicminni
The word "minni" can also refer to memory or remembrance, or even a memory or keepsake.
Irishcuimhne
The word "cuimhne" means both "memory" and "conscience" in Irish, reflecting the close connection between the two concepts in Celtic culture.
Italianmemoria
"Memoria" is also used to refer to the register in a computer or the storage unit in an electronic device.
Luxembourgisherënnerung
Maltesememorja
Maltese 'memorja' derives from Latin 'memoria' via Sicilian, but also means 'remarkable' or 'extraordinary'
Norwegianhukommelse
The Norwegian word "hukommelse" derives from the Old Norse noun "hugr", meaning "mind, intellect" rather than "memory".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)memória
In Portuguese, "memória" also refers to a computer's RAM or to notes written in a book, letter, or electronic device
Scots Gaeliccuimhne
The Scots Gaelic word 'cuimhne' is cognate with the Irish word 'cuimhne', meaning 'memory', and is a derivative of the Proto-Celtic *kom-mneh₂
Spanishmemoria
The word "memoria" derives from the Latin "memorare" ("to remember"), and its secondary meanings include "report" or "reminder".
Swedishminne
In Old Swedish, "minne" also meant "love" or "affection".
Welshcof
The Welsh word "cof" also means "remembrance" or "recollection".

Memory in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпамяць
The word
Bosnianmemorija
In Bosnian, "memorija" can also refer to a person's ability to remember or their faculty of memory.
Bulgarianпамет
The Bulgarian word "памет" is also used to refer to an object that serves as a memento or reminder.
Czechpaměť
The word "Paměť" derives from the Proto-Slavic word *pamtь, meaning "memory, mind".
Estonianmälu
Estonian "mälu" has cognates in Finnish "muisti" and Hungarian "emlék".
Finnishmuisti
Muisti is a Finnish word that also means "paint" or "dye". While etymologically not related to the English "memory", it shares an Indo-European root for "measure" with the Latin "memini" and the Greek "mnaomai" from which the English word is derived.
Hungarianmemória
In Hungarian, the word "memória" not only means "memory" but also "notebook" or "record book".
Latvianatmiņa
Atmiņa is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *men- meaning "to think" or "to remember".
Lithuanianatmintis
The word "atmintis" derives from the Proto-Indo-European "men-," meaning "to think" as well as the "men-ti," meaning "mind or spirit."
Macedonianмеморија
The word "меморија" in Macedonian is derived from the Greek word "μνήμη" and is related to the Latin word "memoria", both meaning "memory".
Polishpamięć
The Polish word "pamięć" derives from the Proto-Slavic root *pamtь, also meaning "mind", "intellect", and "remembrance".
Romanianmemorie
In Romanian, "memorie" can refer to memories, but can also encompass the notion of recollection and retrieval in the mind.
Russianобъем памяти
In Russian, объем памяти, literally meaning "volume of memory," can refer to both computer memory as well as the human ability to remember.
Serbianмеморија
The term 'меморија' derives from the Old Slavonic language and can also refer to a place dedicated to the commemoration of a person or event.
Slovakpamäť
The Slovak word "Pamäť" comes from the Proto-Slavic "*pamtь" meaning "remembrance" or "mind".
Slovenianspomin
The Slovene word "spomin" also means "recollection".
Ukrainianпам'яті
The Ukrainian word "пам'яті" can also refer to a monument or memorial to commemorate someone or something

Memory in South Asian Languages

Bengaliস্মৃতি
The word "স্মৃতি" in Bengali also has a historical sense of "sacred knowledge" or "tradition", derived from the Sanskrit "smriti".
Gujaratiમેમરી
The Gujarati word "મેમરી" also has the meaning of "reminder".
Hindiयाद
Some alternate meanings of "याद" include "remembrance" and "missing someone."
Kannadaಮೆಮೊರಿ
The word "ಮೆಮೊರಿ" in Kannada can also refer to a reminder or a note to remember something, similar to the English word "memo"
Malayalamമെമ്മറി
The term മെമ്മറി also refers to "tradition" and "inheritance" in Malayalam.
Marathiस्मृती
स्मृती (smṛti) is also a technical term in Hinduism referring to the body of traditional religious texts in Sanskrit.
Nepaliमेमोरी
The word "मेमोरी" is derived from the Latin word "memoria," meaning "the act of remembering."
Punjabiਮੈਮੋਰੀ
In Punjabi,
Sinhala (Sinhalese)මතකය
The word "මතකය" (memory) also means "opinion" or "idea" in Sinhala.
Tamilநினைவு
The Tamil word 'நினைவு' can also refer to 'a thought' or 'an impression'
Teluguమెమరీ
The Telugu word "మెమరీ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "स्मृति" (smr̥ti), which also means "memory."
Urduیاداشت
The word 'یاداشت' is derived from the Persian word 'یاد' meaning 'to remember'; it also refers to a 'note' or 'memo'.

Memory in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)记忆
This character is shared with Japanese (記憶, きおく), Korean (기억), and Vietnamese (kí ức)
Chinese (Traditional)記憶
The character 憶 in 記憶 can also mean "to recall" or "to recollect".
Japanese記憶
記憶 can also mean 'experience' or 'knowledge', and is used in compounds like 'historical experience' and 'knowledge of traditional arts'.
Korean기억
The Korean word '기억' also has the alternate meaning of 'trace', as in the trace of a memory.
Mongolianсанах ой
The word “санах ой” derives from the verb “санах”, meaning “to remember”, and the abstract nominalizer suffix “-ой" meaning “thing related to” so “thing related to remembering" and thus "memory".
Myanmar (Burmese)မှတ်ဉာဏ်

Memory in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpenyimpanan
"Penyimpanan" derives from Indonesian "simpan" meaning "to store" related to Malay "simpan" with the same meaning.
Javanesememori
In Javanese, the word "memori" can also refer to a keepsake or memento.
Khmerការចងចាំ
In addition to its primary meaning of "memory," "ការចងចាំ" can also refer to "recollection," "remembrance," or "commemoration."
Laoຄວາມຊົງ ຈຳ
Malayingatan
The Malay word "ingatan" is also used to mean "warning" and "reminder".
Thaiหน่วยความจำ
The Thai word for "memory," หน่วยความจำ, literally translates to "unit of knowledge".
Vietnameseký ức
"Ký" means "record" and "ức" means "heart". So "ký ức" literally means "record in the heart".
Filipino (Tagalog)alaala

Memory in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniyaddaş
"Yaddaş" also means "memorial" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhжады
The word "жады" can also refer to "conscience" or "reputation" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzэс тутум
The word "эс тутум" also means "consciousness" or "mind" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikхотира
Tajik "хотира" also refers to the memory of a person or thing, especially in the sense of their past life or deeds.
Turkmenýat
Uzbekxotira
"Xotira" derives from the Persian word "khāter" meaning "remembrance" which in turn comes from the Arabic word "khāṭir" meaning "thought".
Uyghurئىچكى ساقلىغۇچ

Memory in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhoʻomanaʻo
The word "hoʻomanaʻo" in Hawaiian also means "to remember" or "to commemorate".
Maorimahara
The Māori word 'mahara' not only means 'memory', but also has spiritual connotations implying 'remembrance' and 'remembrance of past deeds'.
Samoanmanatua
The Samoan word "manatua" can also mean "to remember" or "to be mindful of".
Tagalog (Filipino)alaala
The word 'alaala' may have originated from an archaic, onomatopoeic Filipino word that describes the act of recalling something.

Memory in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraamuyu
Guaranimandu'a

Memory in International Languages

Esperantomemoro
The Esperanto word "memoro" comes from the Latin "memoria", and also means "commemoration" in Esperanto.
Latinmemoriae
The Latin word "memoriae" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *men- "to think".

Memory in Others Languages

Greekμνήμη
"Μνήμη" in Greek derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "men-," meaning "to remember" or "to call to mind."
Hmongkev nco
The Hmong word "kev nco" can also mean "spirit" or "soul".
Kurdishbîr
The Kurdish word "bîr" has multiple meanings including "memory", "mind", and "intelligence".
Turkishhafıza
The word "hafıza" in Turkish originates from the Arabic word "hifzh", meaning "protection" or "safekeeping", and is also related to the Persian word "khazneh", meaning "treasury" or "storehouse".
Xhosaimemori
In Xhosa, the word "imemori," while commonly understood to mean "memory", can also refer to "a reminder" or "a memento of something or someone."
Yiddishזכּרון
Yiddish's "זכּרון" originally meant "altar," then "offering" and finally, "memory".
Zuluinkumbulo
The Zulu word "inkumbulo" also means "a memorial" or "a reminder".
Assameseস্মৃতি
Aymaraamuyu
Bhojpuriईयाद
Dhivehiހަނދާން
Dogriजादाश्त
Filipino (Tagalog)alaala
Guaranimandu'a
Ilocanomemoria
Kriomɛmba
Kurdish (Sorani)یادگە
Maithiliखेआल
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯅꯤꯡꯁꯤꯡꯕ
Mizohriatrengna
Oromoyaadannoo
Odia (Oriya)ସ୍ମୃତି
Quechuayuyay
Sanskritस्मृति
Tatarхәтер
Tigrinyaተዘክሮ
Tsongamiehleketo

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