Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'online' has become an integral part of our daily lives, connecting us to a world of information and opportunities. Its significance extends far beyond the digital realm, as it represents a cultural shift towards global interconnectedness and instant access to knowledge.
Did you know that the term 'online' was first used in the 1960s to describe a computer's status when connected to a network? Today, it's hard to imagine a world without this essential piece of vocabulary, which has been translated into various languages to accommodate the growing need for cross-cultural communication.
Understanding the translation of 'online' in different languages can help break down barriers and foster a sense of global unity. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | aanlyn | ||
The Afrikaans word "aanlyn" is etymologically derived from the English word "online", although it can also refer to physical connections such as telephone lines. | |||
Amharic | በመስመር ላይ | ||
The word "መስመር ላይ" in Amharic, originally meaning "on the line," now primarily means "online." | |||
Hausa | kan layi | ||
The Hausa word 'kan layi' originated from the English phrase 'can lie,' likely referring to the potential for deception in digital communications. | |||
Igbo | n'ịntanetị | ||
The word "n'ịntanetị" is derived from the English word "Internet", which in turn is derived from the Latin words "inter" (between) and "net" (network). | |||
Malagasy | -tserasera | ||
-tserasera in Malagasy is derived from the onomatopoeia for the sound of water flowing, and can also mean \ | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | pa intaneti | ||
The word 'paintaneti' comes from the English word 'internet' and is commonly used in Malawi. | |||
Shona | online | ||
Somali | khadka tooska ah | ||
The phrase 'khadka tooska ah' can also refer to an active power line. | |||
Sesotho | inthaneteng | ||
In Sesotho, "Inthaneteng" directly translates to "network", but it is most commonly used in the context of the internet. | |||
Swahili | mkondoni | ||
The word "mkondoni" can also mean "internet" or "computer network" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | kwi-intanethi | ||
The word "kwi-intanethi" comes from the English word "internet" and the Xhosa word "kwi" (in). | |||
Yoruba | lori ayelujara | ||
In Yoruba, “lori ayelujara” translates to “on top of the world wide web,” highlighting the internet’s vast reach. | |||
Zulu | online | ||
The word "online" in Zulu does not have any meanings outside of the technological sense. | |||
Bambara | bɔlɔlɔ san fɛ | ||
Ewe | le kadzi | ||
Kinyarwanda | kumurongo | ||
Lingala | na internet | ||
Luganda | ku mukutu | ||
Sepedi | inthaneteng | ||
Twi (Akan) | ntanɛte | ||
Arabic | عبر الانترنت | ||
Hebrew | באינטרנט | ||
"באינטרנט" is also used in Hebrew to refer to the internet itself, not just being connected to it. | |||
Pashto | آنلاین | ||
The Pashto word "آنلاین" is derived from the English word "online" and has the same meaning in both languages. | |||
Arabic | عبر الانترنت | ||
Albanian | në internet | ||
"Në internet" is a compound word in Albanian, consisting of the preposition "në" (in) and the noun "internet". It is used to indicate that someone or something is connected to or accessible via the internet. | |||
Basque | linean | ||
The Basque word "linean" means "in line" or "online," but it can also refer to a "line" or "border." | |||
Catalan | en línia | ||
The Catalan phrase "en línia" is also used to describe a queue or line of people. | |||
Croatian | na liniji | ||
"Na liniji" is a Croatian phrase that can also mean "on the line" or "in line". | |||
Danish | online | ||
Online in Danish can also mean in the queue. | |||
Dutch | online | ||
In Dutch, "online" can also refer to a type of fishing net. | |||
English | online | ||
"Online" can also mean "available for purchase or order." | |||
French | en ligne | ||
The French phrase "en ligne" has multiple meanings, including "online" but also "on the line" and "on the front line". | |||
Frisian | online | ||
Galician | en liña | ||
En Galician, "en liña" ('online') derives from the verb "liñar" ('to mark, draw a line') | |||
German | online | ||
Als "online" bezeichnet man außerdem eine Verbindung oder einen Zustand, in dem Geräte oder Systeme miteinander verbunden sind und Daten austauschen können. | |||
Icelandic | á netinu | ||
The word "á netinu" is derived from the Latin word "interne" and the Icelandic word "net". | |||
Irish | ar líne | ||
The Irish word "ar líne" can also mean "on the phone" or "in the queue." | |||
Italian | in linea | ||
In Italian, "in linea" also means "in line" or "in queue". | |||
Luxembourgish | online | ||
The Luxembourgish word "online" is borrowed from the French "en ligne", which means "in line" or "on a line". | |||
Maltese | online | ||
The word 'online' comes from the English word 'online', meaning 'connected to a computer network' or 'available on the internet'. | |||
Norwegian | på nett | ||
"På nett" is an idiom meaning "online" that refers to a net thrown out into the water and the subsequent catch of fish. This usage is comparable to "to be online" in English | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | conectados | ||
In Portuguese, "conectados" also means "connected" and "interconnected" | |||
Scots Gaelic | air-loidhne | ||
Spanish | en línea | ||
In its original Spanish usage, "en línea" referred to being in a queue or waiting in line, but has since taken on the meaning of "online" in the digital sense. | |||
Swedish | uppkopplad | ||
The Swedish word "uppkopplad" literally means "connected up," and is also used to describe someone who is highly strung or tense. | |||
Welsh | ar-lein | ||
Welsh ar-lein comes from ar "on" and llin "line," which were combined via a "linking element" -ei- that is commonly used in modern words. |
Belarusian | у інтэрнэце | ||
"Інтэрнэт" (Internet) is borrowed from English and refers to computer networks. | |||
Bosnian | online | ||
Bosnian's "online" is a loanword from English with the same meaning as the original. | |||
Bulgarian | на линия | ||
“На линия” in Bulgarian also means "on the phone." | |||
Czech | online | ||
"Online" in Czech can also mean "fishing line" or "tram overhead line with trolleybus poles" | |||
Estonian | võrgus | ||
The Estonian word "võrgus" also refers to the mesh of a net or seine and is a metaphor for the interconnected nature of the internet. | |||
Finnish | verkossa | ||
The word "verkossa" is derived from "verkko," meaning "net" or "web," and can also refer to a physical network or entanglement. | |||
Hungarian | online | ||
Az online magyar eredetű szó, és eredetileg egy sor végére állított kötőszót jelentett. | |||
Latvian | tiešsaistē | ||
The word is originally an adverb (of place) meaning "straight" or "directly" and the prefix "tieš-", meaning "straight" or "direct". | |||
Lithuanian | prisijungęs | ||
The word "prisijungęs" in Lithuanian originally meant "attached" or "connected" and was first used to describe the state of being connected to a computer network in the early 21st century. | |||
Macedonian | преку интернет | ||
The Macedonian word "преку Интернет" is derived from the Slavic root "прек", meaning "through" or "across", and the English word "Internet". It is also used to describe activities that take place on the internet, such as shopping, banking, and gaming. | |||
Polish | online | ||
"Online" (w sieci) to także określenie na osobę działającą na rzecz organizacji podziemnych. | |||
Romanian | pe net | ||
"Pe net" means "in the network" and is cognate with the Russian "паутина" (spiderweb). | |||
Russian | онлайн | ||
В русском языке слово "онлайн" также обозначает "в сети" или "на связи".} | |||
Serbian | на мрежи | ||
The Serbian word for "online" ("на мрежи") literally translates to "on the network" in English. | |||
Slovak | online | ||
In Slovak, "online" can also mean "at hand" or "available." | |||
Slovenian | na spletu | ||
The phrase "na spletu" literally translates to "on the web" in English. | |||
Ukrainian | онлайн | ||
"Онлайн" is an example of a Russian loanword, words and expressions borrowed from other languages |
Bengali | অনলাইন | ||
ইন্টারনেট ব্যতীত অনলাইনের আরো একটি অর্থ আছে: এমন সংযোগ যা কোনো নির্দিষ্ট সময় বা মুহূর্তে ব্যবহারের জন্য রয়েছে। | |||
Gujarati | ઓનલાઇન | ||
The Gujarati term “ઓનલાઇન” is a transliteration of the English word “online” and retains the original meaning and usage. | |||
Hindi | ऑनलाइन | ||
ऑनलाइन शब्द ऑफ़लाइन का ही विलोम शब्द है जो लैटिन के 'अनस' से आया है जिसका अर्थ है ऊपर या 'ऑन' और 'लाइन' जिसका अर्थ है रेखा से मिलकर बना है और ऑनलाइन का मतलब रेखा पर होता है. | |||
Kannada | ಆನ್ಲೈನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ | ||
The word "online" is derived from the Latin word "linea," meaning "line". It originally referred to being connected to a telephone line, but now it is used to refer to any type of electronic connection. | |||
Malayalam | ഓൺലൈൻ | ||
The Malayalam word "ഓൺലൈൻ" derives from the English word "online" and retains the same essential meaning. | |||
Marathi | ऑनलाइन | ||
The Marathi word "ऑनलाइन" is derived from the English word "online" and has the same meaning. | |||
Nepali | अनलाइन | ||
The word "अनलाइन" comes from the English word "online". In Nepali, it is also used to mean "digital". | |||
Punjabi | ਆਨਲਾਈਨ | ||
The word "online" is also used to refer to a state of being connected to the internet or a network. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මාර්ගගතව | ||
Tamil | நிகழ்நிலை | ||
The word "நிகழ்நிலை" (online) in Tamil can also refer to "real-time" or "present time". | |||
Telugu | ఆన్లైన్ | ||
The word "ఆన్లైన్" (online) in Telugu is derived from the English word "online", which means "connected to a computer network". However, it can also be used to refer to a physical store or event that has an online presence, such as an "online store" or an "online event". | |||
Urdu | آن لائن | ||
آن لائن (online) is derived from the English word "online" and has the same meaning in Urdu, indicating a connection to the internet or a digital network. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 线上 | ||
In Chinese, "线上" (xiàn shàng) can also mean "above ground" or "on the surface". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 線上 | ||
線上 originally meant 'above in the mountains' but gained its more recent meaning from English. | |||
Japanese | オンライン | ||
The word "オンライン" (online) in Japanese is also used to describe a state of "being connected to something" or "being part of a network". | |||
Korean | 온라인 | ||
The word 온라인 (online) is derived from the English word "online", and can also mean "connected" or "interconnected" in contexts beyond internet connectivity. | |||
Mongolian | онлайн | ||
The Mongolian word “онлайн” directly translates to “in person.” | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အွန်လိုင်း | ||
Indonesian | on line | ||
"On line" means either "connected to the internet" (daring) or "in a queue" (antri). | |||
Javanese | online | ||
In Javanese, "online" is also used to describe something that is "real" or "genuine". | |||
Khmer | លើបណ្តាញ | ||
This word can also mean 'networked'. | |||
Lao | online | ||
The word 'online' in Lao can also refer to a physical line or connection, often used in phrases like 'the phone line' or 'the electric line'. | |||
Malay | dalam talian | ||
**Dalam talian** is derived from the Malay word **dalam** which means "inside" and **talian** which means "line". It can also mean "within a network" or "connected to the internet". | |||
Thai | ออนไลน์ | ||
The Thai word "ออนไลน์" (online) shares its etymology with the English word "online", both derived from the Latin prefix "in-" and the Greek root "linea" (line). | |||
Vietnamese | trực tuyến | ||
In Vietnamese, "Trực tuyến" literally means "the front line" or "the front edge" of something. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | online | ||
Azerbaijani | onlayn | ||
The word "onlayn" in Azerbaijani is derived from the English word "online" and means "interconnected" or "accessible via the internet." | |||
Kazakh | желіде | ||
The word "желіде" in Kazakh can also mean the Internet or a website. | |||
Kyrgyz | онлайн | ||
Слово «онлайн» в кыргызском языке также обозначает «связь по проводам». | |||
Tajik | онлайн | ||
Слово «онлайн» в таджикском языке может означать не только «в сети», но и «в прямом эфире». | |||
Turkmen | onlaýn | ||
Uzbek | onlayn | ||
Uyghur | توردا | ||
Hawaiian | pūnaewele | ||
Pūnaewele is a combination of "pūnae" (network) and "wele" (web), which accurately captures the interconnected nature of the internet. | |||
Maori | ā-ipurangi | ||
The word "ā-ipurangi" is derived from the Maori words "ā" (cloud) and "ipurangi" (radio), referring to the cloud-based nature of the internet. | |||
Samoan | lugalaina | ||
The Samoan word 'lugalaina' derives from the compound word 'luga', meaning 'place', and 'laina', meaning 'line', suggesting a place connected by lines or cables. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | sa online | ||
The word "sa online" is a Tagalog phrase that means "on the internet" or "connected to the internet". |
Aymara | llikana | ||
Guarani | liñoitére oĩva | ||
Esperanto | interrete | ||
The word "interrete" is based on the Latin "inter" (between) and "rete" (net), referring to the interconnected nature of the internet. | |||
Latin | online | ||
The Latin preposition "in" can mean "on" or "over," so "online" can mean both "in line" and "over a line." |
Greek | σε σύνδεση | ||
The word "Σε σύνδεση" literally translates to "in connection" in Greek. | |||
Hmong | hauv online | ||
The term "Hauv online" in Hmong can also refer to the concept of being connected or engaged in a virtual community or platform. | |||
Kurdish | serhêl | ||
The word "serhêl" originally meant "threshold" in Kurdish, but it has been adopted in the digital age to mean "online". | |||
Turkish | internet üzerinden | ||
The term "internet üzerinden" directly translates to "via internet" in English, emphasizing the use of the internet as a means of transmission or access. | |||
Xhosa | kwi-intanethi | ||
The word "kwi-intanethi" comes from the English word "internet" and the Xhosa word "kwi" (in). | |||
Yiddish | אָנליין | ||
אָנליין, a Yiddish word with Hebrew origins, also means 'in this world'. | |||
Zulu | online | ||
The word "online" in Zulu does not have any meanings outside of the technological sense. | |||
Assamese | অনলাইন | ||
Aymara | llikana | ||
Bhojpuri | ऑनलाइन | ||
Dhivehi | އޮންލައިން | ||
Dogri | आनलाइन | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | online | ||
Guarani | liñoitére oĩva | ||
Ilocano | online | ||
Krio | intanɛt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سەرهێڵ | ||
Maithili | ऑनलाइन | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯣꯅꯂꯥꯏꯅꯗꯥ ꯑꯣꯅꯂꯥꯏꯅꯗꯥ ꯂꯩ꯫ | ||
Mizo | tinung | ||
Oromo | toora intarneetiirraan | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଅନଲାଇନ୍ | | ||
Quechua | tinkisqa | ||
Sanskrit | लब्धसम्पर्क | ||
Tatar | онлайн | ||
Tigrinya | ኦንላይን | ||
Tsonga | eka online | ||