Move in Different Languages
Discover 'Move' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'move' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting a wide range of actions from physical relocation to emotional stirring. Its cultural importance is evident in various art forms, from dance and music to literature and film, where 'move' is a central theme.
Understanding the translation of 'move' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures express this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'move' translates to 'mover,' while in French, it becomes 'déplacer.' In German, 'move' is 'bewegen,' and in Japanese, 'undō' (運動) captures the essence of the word, often used in the context of physical exercise.
Moreover, knowing the translation of 'move' in various languages can enrich your communication skills and foster cross-cultural understanding. Imagine being able to express your emotions or intentions accurately in a foreign language, making your interactions more meaningful and impactful.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'move' in a variety of languages, from the familiar to the exotic, and discover the unique ways different cultures convey this universal concept.
Move
Move in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skuif | ||
| 'Skuif' is also a South African measurement equal to 750 ml or 910 g. | |||
| Amharic | አንቀሳቅስ | ||
| The word 'አንቀሳቅስ' has a literal meaning of 'to shake', as well as a more abstract meaning of 'to be active or restless'. | |||
| Hausa | motsa | ||
| In Hausa, "motsa" can refer to both physical movement and emotional stirring. | |||
| Igbo | kpalie | ||
| "Kpalie" also refers to a type of dance popular among the Igbo people of Nigeria. | |||
| Malagasy | fihetsika | ||
| The word "fihetsika" can also mean "to change" or "to transform". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kusuntha | ||
| "Kusuntha" can also mean to change or to shift. | |||
| Shona | famba | ||
| The word "famba" in Shona can also refer to a journey or trip. | |||
| Somali | dhaqaaq | ||
| The verb dhaqaaq can also mean 'change', 'alter' or 'modify'. | |||
| Sesotho | tsamaya | ||
| The word 'tsamaya' has an extension to mean 'go for a walk or stroll'. | |||
| Swahili | hoja | ||
| "Hoja" in Swahili can also mean "to shift" or "to transfer". | |||
| Xhosa | hamba | ||
| The word "hamba" has multiple meanings, including to leave, go, or run | |||
| Yoruba | gbe | ||
| The Yoruba word "gbe" can also mean "take" or "carry" in certain contexts. | |||
| Zulu | hamba | ||
| The word "hamba" also means "to visit" or "to go to someone's house" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | yɛlɛma | ||
| Ewe | ɖe zᴐ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kwimuka | ||
| Lingala | koningana | ||
| Luganda | okutambula | ||
| Sepedi | sepela | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kɔ fa | ||
Move in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | نقل | ||
| Etymology: Possibly from the verb "to remove" or "to carry". | |||
| Hebrew | מהלך \ לזוז \ לעבור | ||
| The root of the word 'מהלך' ('move') in Hebrew is 'הלך' ('to go'), which is also the root of the word 'הלכה' ('law'), suggesting a connection between movement and legal code. | |||
| Pashto | خوځول | ||
| In Pashto, the word “خوځول” also means “to churn” or “to stir”. | |||
| Arabic | نقل | ||
| Etymology: Possibly from the verb "to remove" or "to carry". | |||
Move in Western European Languages
| Albanian | lëviz | ||
| The Albanian word "lëviz" is cognate with the Latin "levare" (to lift, raise), and is also related to the English word "lever". | |||
| Basque | mugitu | ||
| "Mugitu" also means "to change" or "to be different" and is the origin for the name of the political movement Mugimendu Sozialista (Socialists' Movement). | |||
| Catalan | moure | ||
| The Catalan word 'moure' can also refer to stirring or changing, as in 'moure la cua' (wagging the tail). | |||
| Croatian | potez | ||
| The verb "potez" in Croatian can also mean "move" in the sense of "a strategic maneuver in a game" or "a chess move". | |||
| Danish | bevæge sig | ||
| "Bevæge sig" can also mean "to touch" or "to influence" in Danish. | |||
| Dutch | actie | ||
| The Dutch word "actie" originally meant "an action in a game" and later acquired the meaning of "a movement or activity in general". | |||
| English | move | ||
| The noun "move" can denote a series of individual "moves," such as a chess move, or an attempt to elicit emotion within an audience. | |||
| French | bouge toi | ||
| In French, 'bouge toi' literally means 'shake yourself', but is usually used to tell someone to hurry up or move out of the way. | |||
| Frisian | ferhúzje | ||
| In the Frisian language, the word "ferhúzje" derives from the Old Frisian term "ferhūsa, | |||
| Galician | mover | ||
| The Galician word "mover" also means "to show", deriving from the Latin "monstrare". | |||
| German | bewegung | ||
| The word "Bewegung" also means "movement" or "activity" in the context of social or political change. | |||
| Icelandic | færa | ||
| The original meaning of "færa" in Old Norse was likely "to go", which makes this word a cognate with modern English "fare". | |||
| Irish | bogadh | ||
| The verb 'bogadh' can also mean 'to go away'. | |||
| Italian | mossa | ||
| The Italian word "mossa" (meaning "move") is related to the French verb "mouvoir" and the Italian noun "moto" (meaning "motion"). | |||
| Luxembourgish | réckelen | ||
| The word "réckelen" is derived from the Old High German word "recken," meaning "to stretch or extend." | |||
| Maltese | imxi | ||
| The verb “imxi” can be used as an imperative for the verb “to go”, but it can also be used to describe a state of being, or to describe a person who is moving around a lot. | |||
| Norwegian | bevege seg | ||
| The word "bevege seg" comes from the Old Norse word "bevega", meaning "to move" or "to shake". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | mover | ||
| The word 'mover' in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) derives from the Latin 'movere', also meaning 'to excite', 'to stir', 'to cause emotion'. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | gluasad | ||
| Gluasad can also mean "glide" or "flow". | |||
| Spanish | moverse | ||
| The word "moverse" can also mean "to move one's bowels" or "to change one's mind" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | flytta | ||
| The Swedish word "flytta" is related to the German word "fliehen" and the English word "flee". | |||
| Welsh | symud | ||
| The Welsh word "symud" has the same root as the word "simbyl," meaning "a whirling motion." | |||
Move in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | рухацца | ||
| The word "рухацца" also means "get moving" in Belarusian. | |||
| Bosnian | pomakni se | ||
| The word "pomakni se" can also mean "make a move" or "make a decision" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | ход | ||
| In Bulgarian, 'ход' can also refer to a 'way' or 'manner', as well as a 'course of action' or 'progress'. | |||
| Czech | hýbat se | ||
| The verb “hýbat se” has cognates in other Slavic languages such as Polish and Serbo-Croatian. | |||
| Estonian | liikuma | ||
| The word “liikuma” derives from the Proto-Uralic verb *lik- and denotes motion and movement. | |||
| Finnish | liikkua | ||
| The word **liikkua** is related to the Finnish word **liike** (movement), which in turn is related to the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷʰei-*, meaning 'to move' or 'to go'. | |||
| Hungarian | mozog | ||
| The Hungarian word "mozog" also encompasses "shake", "stir", and "wiggle". | |||
| Latvian | kustēties | ||
| Kustēties comes from kustēt, which means "to move": the root "kust" is shared with Lithuanian "judėti" and Old Prussian "costan". It can mean both to move in a place or to move from one place to another | |||
| Lithuanian | judėti | ||
| The Lithuanian word "judėti" can also refer to the movement of liquids, gases, or thoughts. | |||
| Macedonian | се движат | ||
| The word "се движат" is related to the verb "движам" (to move), which is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *dъvъgati. | |||
| Polish | ruszaj się | ||
| "Ruszaj się" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *rusati, meaning "to move". | |||
| Romanian | mișcare | ||
| In Romanian, "mişcare" can also mean a military maneuver, a gesture, a theatrical play, a movement, a dance, or a piece of music. | |||
| Russian | переехать | ||
| The verb "переехать" in Russian can also mean "to die", derived from the literal meaning of "to move to the other side" referring to the afterlife. | |||
| Serbian | потез | ||
| "Потез" can also mean "a course of action; a maneuver" | |||
| Slovak | pohnúť sa | ||
| The word "pohnúť sa" in Slovak literally means "to move something" and can refer to both physical and figurative movement. | |||
| Slovenian | premakniti | ||
| Though 'premakniti' primarily means 'to move', it can also be used in the context of 'to touch' or 'to affect'. | |||
| Ukrainian | рухатися | ||
| "Рухатися" can also mean "to make progress" or "to proceed". | |||
Move in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সরানো | ||
| The word "সরানো" ("move") derives from the Sanskrit root "sṛ" meaning "to flow" or "to go". | |||
| Gujarati | ચાલ | ||
| The Gujarati word "ચાલ" can also refer to a "gait" or a "melody" in music. | |||
| Hindi | चाल | ||
| The Hindi word 'चाल' (move) is often used in the context of chess or other games with similar rules, to refer to the act of moving a piece or a group of pieces on the board. | |||
| Kannada | ಸರಿಸಿ | ||
| ಸರಿಸಿ is also used to indicate a change in location or position. | |||
| Malayalam | നീക്കുക | ||
| The word "നീക്കുക" can also mean "to remove" or "to dismiss". | |||
| Marathi | हलवा | ||
| The word "move" in Marathi, "हलवा," also means "to stir" or "to mix." | |||
| Nepali | चल्नु | ||
| The Newari word चल्न ('to move') also exists in Nepali but is used only in compounds, such as चल्नबल ('mobile') and आचलन ('agitation'). | |||
| Punjabi | ਮੂਵ | ||
| The word "ਮੂਵ" also has connotations of change, transformation, or progress. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | චලනය | ||
| චලනය also connotes a shift in mindset or stance. | |||
| Tamil | நகர்வு | ||
| The word "நகர்வு" can also refer to a "city" or "town" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | కదలిక | ||
| The noun 'కదలిక' is also used in Telugu for 'agitation' and for 'emotion'. | |||
| Urdu | اقدام | ||
| The word "قدام" also means "foot" or "step" in Urdu. | |||
Move in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 移动 | ||
| 移动(yídòng) was originally composed of 易 and 动, representing moving houses with ease and the mobility of horses respectively. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 移動 | ||
| 移動 (yìdòng) also means "mobile" in Chinese. | |||
| Japanese | 移動する | ||
| The Japanese word "移動する" also has connotations of displacement or removal. | |||
| Korean | 움직임 | ||
| The term 움직임 can also be used in a metaphorical sense, referring to the movement of an idea or concept. | |||
| Mongolian | шилжих | ||
| The word "шилжих" is also used to mean "to change one's place of residence." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ရွှေ့ပါ | ||
Move in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | pindah | ||
| The word "pindah" can also refer to a change of religion or social status. | |||
| Javanese | ngalih | ||
| The word "ngalih" also means "to change" or "to transform" in Javanese. | |||
| Khmer | ផ្លាស់ទី | ||
| Lao | ຍ້າຍ | ||
| The word "ຍ້າຍ" has additional meanings beyond just movement, like changing jobs or residence. | |||
| Malay | bergerak | ||
| Bergerak translates to "move" in English, but also means "progress" or "change". | |||
| Thai | ย้าย | ||
| The word “ย้าย” can also refer to the act of migrating or relocating to a different place. | |||
| Vietnamese | di chuyển | ||
| The Vietnamese word "di chuyển" originally meant "to carry on the shoulder", but now it means "to move" in general. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | gumalaw | ||
Move in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | hərəkət et | ||
| The word "hərəkət et" can also mean "to start moving" or "to set in motion". | |||
| Kazakh | қозғалу | ||
| "Қозғалу" also refers to the activity of a specific group or movement, or a state of agitation. | |||
| Kyrgyz | жылуу | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "жылуу" also refers to "to flow" and can be applied figuratively to concepts like time. | |||
| Tajik | ҳаракат кардан | ||
| The word "ҳаракат кардан" is borrowed from Russian and Persian and its original meaning is "to be in motion". | |||
| Turkmen | hereket et | ||
| Uzbek | harakat qilish | ||
| The word "harakat qilish" in Uzbek also means "to take action" or "to do something." | |||
| Uyghur | يۆتكەش | ||
Move in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | neʻe | ||
| The word "neʻe" can refer to the motion of a living creature, or the movement of an inanimate object, such as a wheel turning. | |||
| Maori | neke | ||
| In Māori, the verb 'neke' has cognates in other Polynesian languages, such as 'ne'e' in Hawaiian, which means 'walk'. | |||
| Samoan | minoi | ||
| The word "minoi" also means "to carry" or "to bring" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | gumalaw | ||
| The word 'gumalaw' in Tagalog means 'move,' while its etymology is traced to the Proto-Austronesian term 'galaw'. | |||
Move in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | unxtayaña | ||
| Guarani | mongu'e | ||
Move in International Languages
| Esperanto | movi | ||
| The Esperanto word "movi" can also mean to stir, agitate, or shake. | |||
| Latin | move | ||
| The Latin word "moveo" also means "to disturb, to set in motion, to stir up". | |||
Move in Others Languages
| Greek | κίνηση | ||
| The Greek word 'κίνηση' ('move') can also refer to traffic or a protest. | |||
| Hmong | txav mus | ||
| In addition to meaning "to move," "txav mus" also means "to move in a hurry" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | barkirin | ||
| Barkirin, meaning "move," is cognate with the Persian verbs "raftan" and "burdan." | |||
| Turkish | hareket | ||
| "Hareket" in Turkish also signifies a social or political campaign that strives for change or revolution. | |||
| Xhosa | hamba | ||
| The word "hamba" has multiple meanings, including to leave, go, or run | |||
| Yiddish | מאַך | ||
| The noun "מאַך" also means "time" in Yiddish; however, this meaning is rare and is mostly used in the phrase "אַ מאָל אַ מאַך" ("once upon a time"). | |||
| Zulu | hamba | ||
| The word "hamba" also means "to visit" or "to go to someone's house" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | পদক্ষেপ লোৱা | ||
| Aymara | unxtayaña | ||
| Bhojpuri | चलल | ||
| Dhivehi | ދިޔުން | ||
| Dogri | सरक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | gumalaw | ||
| Guarani | mongu'e | ||
| Ilocano | umakar | ||
| Krio | muv | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | جووڵە | ||
| Maithili | चलनाइ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯦꯡꯕ | ||
| Mizo | che | ||
| Oromo | socho'uu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଘୁଞ୍ଚାନ୍ତୁ | | ||
| Quechua | kuyuy | ||
| Sanskrit | चलनम् | ||
| Tatar | хәрәкәтләнү | ||
| Tigrinya | ምንቅስቓስ | ||
| Tsonga | famba | ||