Occasion in Different Languages
Discover 'Occasion' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'occasion' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting a particular event or opportunity that stands out from the everyday routine. Its cultural importance is evident in the way we mark occasions with celebrations, rituals, and traditions that vary across the globe. Understanding the translation of 'occasion' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other cultures perceive and commemorate special moments.
For instance, in Spanish, 'ocasión' (oh-kah-see-OHN) reflects the same sense of importance and uniqueness associated with the word in English. In French, 'occasion' (oh-kah-zee-OHN) carries a similar meaning, but with a subtle nuance that suggests a fortunate or favorable event. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'occasion' is translated as 'jihen' (jee-hen), which also means 'incident' or 'event', but with a more formal connotation.
Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of translations of the word 'occasion' in various languages, from Arabic to Zulu, each with its own unique cultural significance and historical context.
Occasion
Occasion in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | geleentheid | ||
| Geleentheid is a loanword from Dutch, where it also means "occasion". The -heid suffix denotes an abstract noun, similar to the English "-hood". | |||
| Amharic | ዕድል | ||
| The word ዕድል can also mean "opportunity" or "chance". | |||
| Hausa | damar | ||
| "Damar" can also refer to a time or a season. | |||
| Igbo | ohere | ||
| Ohere, in Igbo also means 'a story of past events' | |||
| Malagasy | fahafahana | ||
| In Malagasy, the word "fahafahana" also means "opportunity" or "chance". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mwayi | ||
| In some contexts, "mwayi" can also refer to a funeral or a period of mourning. | |||
| Shona | mukana | ||
| The word 'mukana' in Shona can also refer to a group of people gathered together for a specific purpose. | |||
| Somali | fursad | ||
| The Somali word "fursad" can also mean "luck" or "fortune". | |||
| Sesotho | monyetla | ||
| Swahili | fursa | ||
| "Fursa" also means "opportunity" in Swahili and comes from the Arabic word "fursa," which means "open space." | |||
| Xhosa | ithuba | ||
| The Xhosa word "ithuba" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance." | |||
| Yoruba | anfani | ||
| The word "anfani" also means "opportunity" or "chance" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ithuba | ||
| The Zulu word 'ithuba' also refers to a 'chance' or 'opportunity,' and is closely related to the concept of 'timeliness.' | |||
| Bambara | sababu ye | ||
| Ewe | wɔna aɖe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umwanya | ||
| Lingala | libaku | ||
| Luganda | omukolo | ||
| Sepedi | tiragalo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | adeyɛ | ||
Occasion in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | فرصة | ||
| The word "فرصة" in Arabic can also mean "chance" or "opportunity". | |||
| Hebrew | הִזדַמְנוּת | ||
| The word הִזדַמְנוּת (occasion) derives from Arabic "damana" which means to guarantee or to be sure. | |||
| Pashto | فرصت | ||
| Although the word "فرصت" is translated as "occasion" in Pashto, it can also refer to a "favorable time" or a "good opportunity. | |||
| Arabic | فرصة | ||
| The word "فرصة" in Arabic can also mean "chance" or "opportunity". | |||
Occasion in Western European Languages
| Albanian | mundësi | ||
| The Albanian word "mundësi" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance". | |||
| Basque | aukera | ||
| The Basque word "aukera" also means "opportunity" and is rooted in the verb "auk" (to have). | |||
| Catalan | oportunitat | ||
| The word "oportunitat" in Catalan also means "opportunity" and derives from the Latin "opportunitas," meaning "suitability" or "convenience." | |||
| Croatian | prilika | ||
| The Croatian word “prilika” is also used to indicate an opportunity or a situation that is favorable for something. | |||
| Danish | lejlighed | ||
| The Danish word "lejlighed" originally meant "opportunity" and is related to the German word "Gelegenheit". | |||
| Dutch | kans | ||
| The word "kans" in Dutch is also used to refer to a chance or opportunity. | |||
| English | occasion | ||
| The word "occasion" originally meant "a favorable opportunity" and is derived from the Latin "occasio," meaning "an occurrence or event." | |||
| French | occasion | ||
| Occasion in French has the additional meaning of "bargain" that is not often found in English. | |||
| Frisian | gelegenheid | ||
| The Frisian word "gelegenheid" also means "opportunity", a meaning that is lost in the Dutch word "gelegenheid". | |||
| Galician | oportunidade | ||
| The word "oportunidade" is cognate with "opportunitas" in Latin, and can also mean "chance", "favorable moment" or "convenience". | |||
| German | gelegenheit | ||
| The word "Gelegenheit" is derived from the Middle High German word "gelegen" meaning "to lie" or "to be situated". | |||
| Icelandic | tækifæri | ||
| "Tækifæri" literally means "opportunity to grab" in Icelandic, reflecting its original meaning of a chance to seize something valuable. | |||
| Irish | deis | ||
| The word deis in Irish derives from the Old Irish word deissem, meaning "to happen", and can also refer to a critical juncture or a special event. | |||
| Italian | opportunità | ||
| "Opportunità" derives from Latin's "ob portus," which means "facing the harbour" | |||
| Luxembourgish | méiglechkeet | ||
| Maltese | opportunità | ||
| Maltese opportunita, from Latin opportunitas, also means 'fitness, ability'. | |||
| Norwegian | mulighet | ||
| The word "mulighet" originates from the Old Norse word "málug", meaning "possibility" or "option". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | oportunidade | ||
| "Oportunidade" derives from the Latin "opportūnus" meaning "suitable" or "convenient." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cothrom | ||
| The Gaelic word "cothrom" also means "opportunity" or "chance". | |||
| Spanish | oportunidad | ||
| The word "oportunidad" comes from the Latin word "opportunitas," meaning "suitability" or "convenience." | |||
| Swedish | möjlighet | ||
| The word "möjlighet" is etymologically related to the German word "Möglichkeit", which carries the additional meaning of "possibility" or "potential." | |||
| Welsh | cyfle | ||
| The Welsh noun 'cyfle' is derived from the verb 'cael' (to get) and originally meant a 'happening, occurrence, adventure' or 'chance, opportunity' or 'time, occasion'. | |||
Occasion in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | магчымасць | ||
| In Belarusian, "магчымасць" also means "opportunity" or "possibility", sharing the same root as "могчы" ("to be able to"). | |||
| Bosnian | priliku | ||
| In some old Bosnian writings, 'prilika' sometimes meant 'picture' or 'likeness'. | |||
| Bulgarian | възможност | ||
| "Възможност" in Bulgarian also means "opportunity" or "chance". | |||
| Czech | příležitost | ||
| The Czech word "příležitost" comes from the Slavic root *pri-,* meaning "to arrive at," and *lež-,* meaning "to lie down or be situated." Thus, the original meaning of the word was "an opportune time or place." | |||
| Estonian | võimalus | ||
| "Võimalus" also means "opportunity" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | tilaisuus | ||
| Tilaisuus' is related to 'tila ('space'), and 'tilanne' ('situation'). | |||
| Hungarian | lehetőség | ||
| The Hungarian word "lehetőség" also means "possibility" and comes from the verb "lehet" meaning "to be possible" | |||
| Latvian | iespēju | ||
| "Iespēja" has the same root as "possible" and "potential," reflecting its meaning of "opportunity" | |||
| Lithuanian | galimybė | ||
| Galimybė is derived from the root galė ('to be able') and -ybė (a suffix forming abstract nouns), hence 'possibility'. In earlier periods it had the meaning of a special, rare event, which later narrowed down to 'opportunity'. | |||
| Macedonian | можност | ||
| The word "можност" in Macedonian may also refer to the "possibilities" or "chances" available in a given situation. | |||
| Polish | okazja | ||
| The word "okazja" in Polish can also mean "bargain" or "opportunity". | |||
| Romanian | oportunitate | ||
| The Romanian word "oportunitate" also means "opportunity" in English, derived from the Latin "opportunitas." | |||
| Russian | возможность | ||
| The word "возможность" also means "opportunity". | |||
| Serbian | прилика | ||
| The word "прилика" (occasion) derives from the root "лик" (face), implying an appearance or circumstance that provides an opportunity. | |||
| Slovak | príležitosť | ||
| The word "príležitosť" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance." | |||
| Slovenian | priložnost | ||
| The word 'priložnost' is ultimately derived from the Proto-Slavic root *prilьgъ, which also meant 'opportune moment'. | |||
| Ukrainian | можливість | ||
| The word "можливість" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *mogy-, meaning "able, capable" or "power, strength". | |||
Occasion in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সুযোগ | ||
| Bengali 'সুযোগ' has connotations of 'ability' and 'opportunity' from the Sanskrit word 'su-avasara' (beautiful moment) | |||
| Gujarati | તક | ||
| "તક" also means a joint as a part of the body in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | अवसर | ||
| "अवसर" can also mean "opportunity" or even "the Sun". | |||
| Kannada | ಅವಕಾಶ | ||
| The word "ಅವಕಾಶ" can also mean "space" or "opportunity" in Kannada, derived from the Sanskrit word "avakāśa" with similar meanings. | |||
| Malayalam | അവസരം | ||
| Marathi | संधी | ||
| The Marathi word "संधी" has numerous meanings, including "occasion," "joint," "treaty," "junction," and "opportunity." | |||
| Nepali | अवसर | ||
| "अवसर" has two meanings in Nepali: "opportunity" and "condition". | |||
| Punjabi | ਮੌਕਾ | ||
| The word "ਮੌਕਾ" (occasion) is derived from the Persian word "moqa'a," meaning "opportunity" or "timing." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අවස්ථාවක් | ||
| Tamil | வாய்ப்பு | ||
| Telugu | అవకాశం | ||
| "అవకాశం" is also used to refer to "place or opportunity" which originated from the same root word used in Sanskrit 'अवकाश'/'avakaash' meaning "open space, room, opportunity'" | |||
| Urdu | موقع | ||
| The word also means "place" and derives from the Arabic root "وقـع" (meaning "to happen"). | |||
Occasion in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 机会 | ||
| 机会 (occasion) in Chinese also means "opportunity". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 機會 | ||
| 機會 means 'opportunity' and is a phonetic translation of the Greek word 'οκαισια'; it first appeared in the Tang dynasty (618-907). | |||
| Japanese | 機会 | ||
| The word "機会" (kiki) also refers to machinery, tools, or utensils. | |||
| Korean | 기회 | ||
| "기회" can also mean one's 'luck' or 'lot in life', and is used in idioms like "인생의 기회에 찬물을 끼얹다" (to rain on someone's parade). | |||
| Mongolian | боломж | ||
| "Боломж" is also translated as "opportunity" in English. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အခွင့်အလမ်း | ||
Occasion in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kesempatan | ||
| The Indonesian word 'kesempatan' ('occasion') derives from the Sanskrit word 'ksama' meaning 'opportunity' or 'favorable time'. | |||
| Javanese | kesempatan | ||
| In Javanese, the word "kesempatan" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance." | |||
| Khmer | ឱកាស | ||
| The Khmer word "ឱកាស" ("occasion") is derived from the Sanskrit word "avakāśa", which means "free time" or "opportunity". | |||
| Lao | ໂອກາດ | ||
| ໂອກາດ (occasion) is unrelated to the words ໂอกาส (opportunity) and ໂอกาส (time), but is instead a cognate of the Thai word อโหสิ (forgive). | |||
| Malay | peluang | ||
| The Malay word 'peluang' also means 'opportunity'. | |||
| Thai | โอกาส | ||
| The word "โอกาส" can also mean "chance" or "opportunity" in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | dịp tốt | ||
| The word "dịp tốt" (occasion) comes from the Chinese borrowing "機失" (jíshī), which literally means "missed opportunity" or "critical moment". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | okasyon | ||
Occasion in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | fürsət | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "fürsət" is the cognate of the Persian word "fursat", a derivative of the Arabic word "firṣah", which also means "a good and favourable occasion or opportunity". | |||
| Kazakh | мүмкіндік | ||
| The Kazakh word "мүмкіндік" can also refer to time, opportunity, or ability. | |||
| Kyrgyz | мүмкүнчүлүк | ||
| Tajik | имконият | ||
| Although the word "имконият" in Tajik means "occasion", it can also be used to refer to a "chance" or "opportunity" in other contexts. | |||
| Turkmen | dabarasy | ||
| Uzbek | imkoniyat | ||
| The Uzbek word "imkoniyat" is derived from the Arabic word "imkan", which means "possibility" or "opportunity." | |||
| Uyghur | پۇرسەت | ||
Occasion in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | manawa kūpono | ||
| The Hawaiian word for 'occasion', 'manawa kūpono', translates literally as 'time right' or 'proper time' | |||
| Maori | faingamālie | ||
| The word 'faingamālie' also means 'to make an occasion', 'to mark an occasion', or 'to celebrate an occasion'. | |||
| Samoan | avanoa | ||
| "Avanoa" comes from the word "ava", meaning "ceremonial gathering", and signifies a special occasion where people gather and share food and drink. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pagkakataon | ||
| The word "pagkakataon" is often used to refer to favorable chances, implying a positive perspective on events. | |||
Occasion in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ocasión ukax mä jach’a uñacht’äwiwa | ||
| Guarani | ocasión rehegua | ||
Occasion in International Languages
| Esperanto | okazo | ||
| An "okazo" can also refer to a "bargain" or "opportunity". | |||
| Latin | potestatem | ||
| Potestatem primarily means "power" or "authority" in Latin, and can also refer to "opportunity" or "right." | |||
Occasion in Others Languages
| Greek | ευκαιρία | ||
| The word "ευκαιρία" in Greek is derived from the word "καιρός", which has a broader meaning of "time" and can refer to everything from the present moment to the distant future or past, as well as to the concept of "opportune moment" or "favorable occasion". | |||
| Hmong | sijhawm | ||
| The word "sijhawm" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance" depending on the context. | |||
| Kurdish | fersend | ||
| The word 'fersend' comes from the Persian word 'fursat' meaning 'opportunity' or 'chance'. | |||
| Turkish | fırsat | ||
| Fırsat, also has the secondary meaning of 'an opportunity to steal or swindle', possibly originating from Greek φαρσάτος (farsatos 'a thief', 'a robber') | |||
| Xhosa | ithuba | ||
| The Xhosa word "ithuba" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance." | |||
| Yiddish | געלעגנהייט | ||
| The word "געלעגנהייט" also means "opportunity" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | ithuba | ||
| The Zulu word 'ithuba' also refers to a 'chance' or 'opportunity,' and is closely related to the concept of 'timeliness.' | |||
| Assamese | occasion | ||
| Aymara | ocasión ukax mä jach’a uñacht’äwiwa | ||
| Bhojpuri | मौका पर भइल | ||
| Dhivehi | މުނާސަބަތުގައެވެ | ||
| Dogri | मौके पर | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | okasyon | ||
| Guarani | ocasión rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | okasion | ||
| Krio | okashɔn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بۆنەیەک | ||
| Maithili | अवसर | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯧꯔꯝ ꯑꯁꯤꯗꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | occasion | ||
| Oromo | sababeeffachuun | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଅବସର | ||
| Quechua | ocasión | ||
| Sanskrit | निमित्तम् | ||
| Tatar | вакыйга | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣጋጣሚ | ||
| Tsonga | xiendlakalo | ||