Motor in Different Languages
Discover 'Motor' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'motor' holds immense significance in our modern world, powering everything from vehicles to appliances. Its cultural importance is undeniable, with motorized transportation revolutionizing how we live, work, and play. But have you ever wondered how 'motor' translates in different languages?
Understanding the word 'motor' in various languages can open up new cultural experiences and insights. For instance, in Spanish, 'motor' becomes 'motor', while in German, it's 'Motor'. In French, it's 'moteur', and in Japanese, it's 'モーター' (mōtā).
Did you know that the first practical motor was invented by Nikola Tesla in 1887? Or that the word 'motor' comes from the Latin 'movere', meaning 'to move'? Exploring the translations of 'motor' in different languages can lead to fascinating historical and linguistic discoveries.
Whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply curious, read on to discover how 'motor' translates in a variety of global languages!
Motor
Motor in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | motor | ||
| The Afrikaans word "motor" can also mean "engine", "motive" or "stimulus". | |||
| Amharic | ሞተር | ||
| The Amharic word ሞተር "motor" ultimately derives from the German "Motor" via English or French, and is also a cognate of the Greek "μοτέρ" "motive power," meaning "mover." | |||
| Hausa | mota | ||
| "Mota" is a word in Hausa meaning "motor" and can also refer to the heart or center of something. | |||
| Igbo | moto | ||
| In Igbo, the word 'moto' can also refer to a person's demeanor or character. | |||
| Malagasy | maotera | ||
| The word "maotera" can also refer to a type of boat or a machine in general. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | galimoto | ||
| The word 'galimoto' in Nyanja originates from the English word 'gallop', due to the sound of early car engines resembling galloping horses. | |||
| Shona | mota | ||
| The word "mota" can also mean "engine" or "machine" in Shona. | |||
| Somali | matoorka | ||
| The Somali word "matoorka" can also mean "car" or "vehicle". | |||
| Sesotho | dilenaneo | ||
| It appears that this word likely originates from the Afrikaans "dril" or Sesotho "tšerilo" meaning "exercise" or "drill". Other possibilities include derivation from the Afrikaans "dryf" meaning "to drive". | |||
| Swahili | motor | ||
| The Swahili word "motor" can also refer to the human body or the soul. | |||
| Xhosa | iimoto | ||
| "Iimoto" also refers to a type of traditional dance or song. | |||
| Yoruba | motor | ||
| In Yoruba, the word "motor" can also refer to a car or a machine. | |||
| Zulu | imoto | ||
| In Zulu, the word "imoto" can also refer to a younger sister. | |||
| Bambara | motɛri | ||
| Ewe | motor | ||
| Kinyarwanda | moteri | ||
| Lingala | moteur ya moteur | ||
| Luganda | motor | ||
| Sepedi | enjene ya | ||
| Twi (Akan) | motor no | ||
Motor in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | محرك | ||
| The Arabic word "محرك" (motor) literally means "mover" and can also refer to an "engine" or "generator." | |||
| Hebrew | מָנוֹעַ | ||
| מָנוֹעַ also means "a lever" in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | موټر | ||
| The Pashto word “موټر” or “موتور” can refer to either a car or motorcycle depending on context | |||
| Arabic | محرك | ||
| The Arabic word "محرك" (motor) literally means "mover" and can also refer to an "engine" or "generator." | |||
Motor in Western European Languages
| Albanian | motorike | ||
| Motorike is also used to describe someone who is clumsy or ungraceful in their movements. | |||
| Basque | motorra | ||
| It comes from the Latin "motor" and also means "cause". | |||
| Catalan | motor | ||
| "Motor" derives from the Latin "movere," meaning "to move". | |||
| Croatian | motor | ||
| The word 'motor' also means "electric train" in Croatia. | |||
| Danish | motor | ||
| In Danish, "motor" can also mean "engine" or "machine". | |||
| Dutch | motor | ||
| "Motor" can mean "fun" or "engine" in Dutch | |||
| English | motor | ||
| Motor ultimately derives from the Latin "movere," meaning "to move," but may also refer colloquially to a person who talks or acts excessively. | |||
| French | moteur | ||
| In French, "moteur" can also refer to a combustion engine, a driving force, or a prime mover. | |||
| Frisian | motor | ||
| The Frisian word for 'motor' is cognate with English 'mud,' both deriving from a Proto-Indo-European root. | |||
| Galician | motor | ||
| In Galician, "motor" can mean both "motor" in English, as well as an "engine" or "machine" in different contexts. | |||
| German | motor- | ||
| The German word "Motor" (meaning "motor") also shares its root with "Motivation" (meaning "motivation") and "Motorik" (meaning "motor skills"). | |||
| Icelandic | mótor | ||
| In Icelandic, the word "mótor" can also refer to a "whisperer" or an "engine of a boat". | |||
| Irish | mótair | ||
| The Irish word 'mótair' also refers to a pump, waterwheel, or dynamo. | |||
| Italian | il motore | ||
| The Italian word 'il motore' derives from the Latin 'motor', meaning 'mover' or 'driving force' | |||
| Luxembourgish | motor | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Motor" not only refers to motors, but also to motorcycles. | |||
| Maltese | mutur | ||
| The term "mutur" can also refer to an electric generator in the engineering context but in a non-automotive context refers specifically to an internal-combustion engine. | |||
| Norwegian | motor | ||
| In Norwegian, "motor" also refers to a small boat powered by an electric motor, and "elmotor" specifically to an electric motor. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | motor | ||
| In Portuguese, "motor" can also refer to a person who provides the driving force or energy for an action or operation. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | motair | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word ‘motair’ derives from the French ‘moteur’ and is also used to refer to the part of a spinning wheel that drives the spindle. | |||
| Spanish | motor | ||
| The word "motor" comes from the Latin word "movere," meaning "to move." | |||
| Swedish | motor- | ||
| "Motor-" can also mean "engine" or "machine" in Swedish, and is derived from the French word "moteur", meaning "something that moves". | |||
| Welsh | modur | ||
| The alternative meaning of 'modur' in Welsh is 'a person who makes' | |||
Motor in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | рухавік | ||
| The word "рухавік" (motor) in Belarusian is also used to refer to the engine of a car or other vehicle. | |||
| Bosnian | motor | ||
| In Bosnian, the word 'motor' can also refer to an electric engine or the part of a machine that generates power. | |||
| Bulgarian | мотор | ||
| In Bulgarian, "мотор" can also refer to a person who talks a lot and is always in action. | |||
| Czech | motor | ||
| In Czech, "motor" is not only used to denote a machine that generates motion through rotation, but also refers to a person who provides the driving force in a business or team. | |||
| Estonian | mootor | ||
| The word “mootor” also refers to one’s engine or spirit, akin to the English expression “go-getter”. | |||
| Finnish | moottori | ||
| The Finnish word "moottori" originally meant a spinning wheel and also referred to a steam locomotive | |||
| Hungarian | motor | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "motor" can also refer to a streetcar or tram. | |||
| Latvian | motors | ||
| In Latvian, "motor" is a loanword from German, where it originally meant "engine". | |||
| Lithuanian | variklis | ||
| The word "variklis" is derived from the verb "varyti" ("to drive"), which in turn comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*wer-" ("to turn, to move"). | |||
| Macedonian | мотор | ||
| The Macedonian word "мотор" also refers to a machine, engine, or device that produces motion or power. | |||
| Polish | silnik | ||
| The Polish word "silnik" derives from the German "silnîc", which in turn comes from the Latin "salinare", meaning "salt producer". | |||
| Romanian | motor | ||
| In Romanian, "motor" can also refer to a train engine or a motorcycle. | |||
| Russian | мотор | ||
| Originally, the word "мотор" in Russian was used to refer to the engines of steam locomotives. | |||
| Serbian | моторни | ||
| The Serbian word "моторни" can also mean "motorized" or "motive". | |||
| Slovak | motor | ||
| The Slovak word 'motor' is cognate with its English counterpart and can also refer to an individual who operates machinery. | |||
| Slovenian | motor | ||
| The word motor, meaning both an engine and a driving force, comes from the Latin word "motus," which means "movement". | |||
| Ukrainian | двигун | ||
| The Ukrainian word "двигун" (motor) originally meant "mover" or "driving force" before it was commonly applied to mechanical motors | |||
Motor in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | মোটর | ||
| The word "মোটর" (motor) comes from the Latin word "motor," which means "mover" or "engine." | |||
| Gujarati | મોટર | ||
| "મોટર" is also used in Gujarati to refer to a person who drives a car or a bus. | |||
| Hindi | मोटर | ||
| Originally borrowed from English, the word "मोटर" can also refer to a vehicle with an engine, such as a car, bike, or scooter. | |||
| Kannada | ಮೋಟಾರ್ | ||
| The word "ಮೋಟಾರ್" (motor) is derived from the Latin word "motor", meaning "mover". | |||
| Malayalam | മോട്ടോർ | ||
| The Malayalam word "മോട്ടോർ" can also refer to a person who drives a vehicle or operates a machine. | |||
| Marathi | मोटर | ||
| The word 'मोटर' is borrowed from English and is not originally a Marathi word. | |||
| Nepali | मोटर | ||
| The word "मोटर" in Nepali can also refer to an engine or a pump. | |||
| Punjabi | ਮੋਟਰ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਮੋਟਰ" (motor) also refers to a kind of large, heavy pestle used to crush sugarcane and extract its juice. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මෝටර් | ||
| The word "මෝටර්" (motor) in Sinhala can also mean a "machine" or "engine". | |||
| Tamil | மோட்டார் | ||
| Telugu | మోటారు | ||
| The word "మోటారు" also refers to a machine that grinds grain or other substances. | |||
| Urdu | موٹر | ||
| The word موٹر derives from the Latin word motus (motion), and the Arabic word مطر (rain, water). | |||
Motor in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 发动机 | ||
| The word 发动机 literally means "that which initiates movement". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 發動機 | ||
| The word "發動機" can also mean "engine" or "motivation" in Chinese. | |||
| Japanese | モーター | ||
| The Japanese word 'モーター' (mootoru) derives from the English 'motor', which has an alternate meaning of 'someone who stirs up, incites, or provokes.' | |||
| Korean | 모터 | ||
| The word "모터" derives from the Latin word "mōtor", meaning "mover" or "activator". | |||
| Mongolian | мотор | ||
| Mongolian word "мотор," meaning "motor," can also refer to an "engine" or "machine." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မော်တာ | ||
| The word "မော်တာ" (motor) in Myanmar (Burmese) may also refer to a pestle or a mortar, showcasing the versatile nature of the term. | |||
Motor in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | motor | ||
| In Indonesian, the word "motor" can also refer to a motorcycle, not just an engine. | |||
| Javanese | motor | ||
| The Javanese word "motor" can also refer to a "motorcycle" or "engine". | |||
| Khmer | ម៉ូតូ | ||
| The Khmer word "ម៉ូតូ" ("motorcycle") also refers to any motorized vehicle without four wheels. | |||
| Lao | ມໍເຕີ | ||
| Malay | motor | ||
| In Malay, "motor" can also refer to a vehicle engine, but in a more general sense than its English counterpart. | |||
| Thai | เครื่องยนต์ | ||
| เครื่องยนต์ (motor) in Thai also refers to a 'mechanism' or 'device' that drives or powers something. | |||
| Vietnamese | động cơ | ||
| The word "động cơ" in Vietnamese can also mean "motive" or "intention". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | motor | ||
Motor in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | motor | ||
| The word "motor" in Azerbaijani can also refer to a "pump" or a "fan" | |||
| Kazakh | мотор | ||
| In Kazakh, "мотор" can also refer to "engine" or "device that produces motion". | |||
| Kyrgyz | мотор | ||
| In Kyrgyz, "мотор" (motor) can also refer to a person who is always on the go or has a lot of energy. | |||
| Tajik | муҳаррик | ||
| Turkmen | motor | ||
| Uzbek | vosita | ||
| The word "vosita" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | motor | ||
Motor in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaʻa | ||
| In Polynesian, "kaʻa" also means "carriage" or "sled". | |||
| Maori | motuka | ||
| The word "motuka" in Maori can also refer to a small island or islet. | |||
| Samoan | afi | ||
| The word "afi" in Samoan is derived from the Proto-Polynesian word "*afi" which meant "fire." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | motor | ||
| The Tagalog word "motor" is derived from French "moteurs ", which is the plural of "moteur" meaning ‘an engine’. | |||
Motor in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | motor ukampi | ||
| Guarani | motor rehegua | ||
Motor in International Languages
| Esperanto | motoro | ||
| The word "motoro" can also refer to a person who drives a vehicle or operates a machine. | |||
| Latin | motricium | ||
| The Latin word 'motricium', meaning 'motor', comes from the verb 'movere' ('to move') and the suffix '-trix' ('agent'), suggesting its function as an impeller or mover. | |||
Motor in Others Languages
| Greek | μοτέρ | ||
| Μοτέρ derives from "motion", and also means a "motorcycle" | |||
| Hmong | lub cev muaj zog | ||
| "Lub cev muaj zog" literally means "machine with wings". | |||
| Kurdish | motor | ||
| The Kurdish word 'motor' is a loanword from Arabic, which itself comes from Latin and means 'mover' or 'causer of motion'. | |||
| Turkish | motor | ||
| In Turkish, the word "motor" comes from the French word "moteur" and has the same meaning, but it can also refer to an engine or a person who drives a vehicle. | |||
| Xhosa | iimoto | ||
| "Iimoto" also refers to a type of traditional dance or song. | |||
| Yiddish | מאָטאָר | ||
| In Yiddish, "מאָטאָר" (motor) can also refer to a "loudmouth" or "talkative person." | |||
| Zulu | imoto | ||
| In Zulu, the word "imoto" can also refer to a younger sister. | |||
| Assamese | মটৰ | ||
| Aymara | motor ukampi | ||
| Bhojpuri | मोटर के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | މޮޓޯ | ||
| Dogri | मोटर | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | motor | ||
| Guarani | motor rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | motor | ||
| Krio | motoka | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ماتۆڕ | ||
| Maithili | मोटर | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯣꯇꯣꯔꯗꯥ ꯆꯠꯂꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | motor hmanga siam a ni | ||
| Oromo | mootora | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ମୋଟର | ||
| Quechua | motor | ||
| Sanskrit | मोटर | ||
| Tatar | мотор | ||
| Tigrinya | ሞተር | ||
| Tsonga | motor | ||