Operator in different languages

Operator in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'operator' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting a person who operates a machine, a mathematical function, or a telecommunication device. Its cultural importance is evident in various fields, from the early days of telephone switchboards to the present-day control rooms of power plants and manufacturing units.

Did you know that the first telephone operator was a young girl named Emma Nutt in 1878? Her employment marked a pivotal moment in the world of telecommunications. Since then, the role of operators has evolved dramatically, thanks to technological advancements.

Understanding the translation of 'operator' in different languages can be intriguing and useful, especially for those working in global industries or studying linguistics. Here are a few examples:

  • Spanish: operador
  • French: opérateur
  • German: Operator
  • Mandarin: 操作员 (cāo az Yuán)
  • Japanese: オペレータ (operēta)
  • Russian: оператор (operátor)

Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of 'operator' translations in various languages, providing insights into the global usage and cultural significance of this versatile term.

Operator

Operator in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansoperateur
The word "operateur" in Afrikaans can also refer to a surgeon or a physician.
Amharicኦፕሬተር
The word "ኦፕሬተር" can also refer to a mathematical operation or a person who controls a machine.
Hausama'aikaci
The word "ma'aikaci" in Hausa can also refer to a laborer or a worker.
Igboonye ọrụ
In Igbo, 'onye ọrụ' can also refer to a worker or laborer, as well as an employee or agent.
Malagasympandraharaha
The Malagasy word "mpandraharaha" is derived from the root "randra", meaning "to handle" or "to operate".
Nyanja (Chichewa)woyendetsa
The word 'woyendetsa' in Nyanja can also mean 'driver' or 'one who causes to move'.
Shonaanoshanda
The word "Anoshanda" in Shona also refers to a conductor on a bus.}
Somalihawl wade
In Somali, the word "hawl wade" literally translates to "one who wields the power".
Sesothoopareitara
The Sesotho word "opareitara" is derived from the English word "operator," which in turn comes from the Latin word "operari," meaning "to work."
Swahilimwendeshaji
Mwendeshaji, meaning 'driver, rider, operator', is related to the Swahili verb 'endesha', which means 'to move or drive'.
Xhosaumqhubi
The word "umqhubi" in Xhosa can also be used to refer to a person who causes problems or conflict.
Yorubaonišẹ
Zuluopharetha
The Zulu word "opharetha" comes from the Greek word "operatorias" meaning "one who carries out or achieves something, an agent."
Bambarabaarakɛla
Ewedɔwɔla
Kinyarwandaumukoresha
Lingalamosali ya mosala
Lugandaomuddukanya emirimu
Sepediopareitara e
Twi (Akan)adwumayɛfo a wɔyɛ adwuma

Operator in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالمشغل أو العامل
The word "المشغل أو العامل" (operator) means 'one who operates or works' and can refer to someone carrying out a task through control or manipulation as well as someone operating a machine.
Hebrewמַפעִיל
The word מפעיל (operator) also means "activator" or "agent" in Hebrew.
Pashtoچلونکی
The Pashto word "چلونکی" originates from the Persian word "چلاندن," which means "to drive" or "to operate."
Arabicالمشغل أو العامل
The word "المشغل أو العامل" (operator) means 'one who operates or works' and can refer to someone carrying out a task through control or manipulation as well as someone operating a machine.

Operator in Western European Languages

Albanianoperatori
The Albanian word "operatori" can also refer to a telephone exchange operator or a surgical technician.
Basqueoperadorea
The Basque word "operadorea" can also mean "surgeon" or "engineer"
Catalanoperador
The word "operador" has multiple meanings in Catalan, including "operator", "driver" and "machinist".
Croatianoperater
The Croatian word "operater" can also refer to a telephone operator or a mathematical operator.
Danishoperatør
The Danish word "operatør" originated in the 1800s and can also refer to a telephone switchboard operator.
Dutchoperator
In Dutch, "operator" can also refer to a person who operates a machine or system.
Englishoperator
The word 'operator' derives from the Latin 'operari', meaning 'to work' or 'to perform'.
Frenchopérateur
In French, the word "opérateur" can also mean "surgeon" or "telephone operator".
Frisianoperator
In Frisian, "operator" also refers to a person who drives a bus or tram and collects the fares.
Galicianoperador
In Galician, "operador" can also refer to the person who carries out a specific task or job.
Germanoperator
The German word for 'operator' ('Operator' or 'Operateur' in German) also has a musical meaning, referring to a singer in an opera.
Icelandicrekstraraðili
The word "rekstraraðili" is derived from the Old Norse word "rekstrarað", meaning "operator" or "executor."
Irishoibreoir
The word "oibreoir" is derived from the verb "obair", meaning "to work".
Italianoperatore
The Italian word "operatore" can also refer to a surgeon or a member of a religious order.
Luxembourgishbedreiwer
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the word "Bedreiwer" was also used to refer to a worker who operated farm machinery, particularly steam-powered threshing machines.
Malteseoperatur
The Maltese word "operatur" comes from the Latin "operatus" and can also mean "worked" or "processed."
Norwegianoperatør
The Norwegian word "operatør" has its roots in the Latin word "operator," meaning to create or accomplish something.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)operador
In Portuguese, "operador" can also refer to a telecommunications company or a stock market trader.
Scots Gaelicghnìomhaiche
It derives from the Irish – and ultimately Latin – word ‘agentivus’ (agent), a form of the noun ‘agens’ (operator).
Spanishoperador
In telephony, an "operador" is the switchboard operator who manually connects telephone calls.
Swedishoperatör
Operator also refers to a mathematical or logical symbol that denotes an operation, or to someone who operates something.
Welshgweithredwr
In the 20th century the word 'gweithredwr' started to mean an 'operator of machinery'.

Operator in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianаператар
In addition to its primary meaning, "аператар" can also refer to "telephone operator" or "computer operator" in Belarusian.
Bosnianoperater
In Bosnian, "operater" can refer to an operator of a machine, a mathematical operator, or the operator of a telephone exchange.
Bulgarianоператор
The word "оператор" can also refer to a telephone operator or a mathematical operation.
Czechoperátor
In Czech, "operátor" can also refer to a cellular service provider or a mathematical operation.
Estonianoperaator
In Estonian, the word "operaator" can also refer to a telephone exchange or a telecommunications company.
Finnishoperaattori
"Operaattori" has an alternate meaning, "algebraic operator", from Swedish "operator" and ultimately Latin "operator" (one who works).
Hungarianoperátor
The Hungarian term "operátor" can also refer to a telephone exchange, as in "hírmondó- és távbeszélő kezelő operátor" (news and telephone operator).
Latvianoperators
In Latvian, operators can also refer to mobile phone service providers similar to the "carriers" in English.
Lithuanianoperatorius
In Lithuanian, "operatorius" can also refer to a telephone operator or a mathematical operator.
Macedonianоператор
The word "оператор" in Macedonian also means "manager" or "director".
Polishoperator
In Polish, "operator" also refers to a phone company customer service representative and to a math symbol such as "+" or "-".
Romanianoperator
Operator is also used to designate a telephone exchange in Romanian.
Russianоператор
The word "оператор" also means "surgeon" in Russian.
Serbianоператер
The root of the word „operater” is the French word „opérateur”, which entered the Serbian language via Russian
Slovakoperátor
The word "operátor" in Slovak can also refer to a mathematical operation or a mobile or landline network provider.
Slovenianoperater
In Slovenian, the word "operater" also means "telephone operator".
Ukrainianоператора
The word "оператора" in Ukrainian, derived from Latin, can refer to someone performing a religious rite or a surgical procedure, among other uses.

Operator in South Asian Languages

Bengaliঅপারেটর
In Bengali, "অপারেটর" ("operator") can also refer to a mathematical operator or a person who operates a machine or device.
Gujaratiઓપરેટર
The word "ઓપરેટર" ("operator") in Gujarati can also refer to an "instrument" or "machine" that operates something, such as a "switch" or "control panel."
Hindiऑपरेटर
"ऑपरेटर" (operator) can also refer to a mathematical symbol or a computer programming command.
Kannadaಆಪರೇಟರ್
The Kannada word 'ಆಪರೇಟರ್' is derived from the English word 'operator', but it also has alternate meanings such as 'driver' or 'surgeon'.
Malayalamഓപ്പറേറ്റർ
The word "ഓപ്പറേറ്റർ" can also refer to a telephone operator or a mathematical operator in Malayalam.
Marathiऑपरेटर
"ऑपरेटर" (operator) is also the name for a kind of sweet in Marathi.
Nepaliअपरेटर
The word "अपरेटर" can also refer to a mathematical symbol or a person who operates a machine.
Punjabiਚਾਲਕ
The word 'ਚਾਲਕ' (operator) in Punjabi also refers to a person who makes something move or function, or to the act of causing something to move or function
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ක්රියාකරු
The Sinhala word "ක්රියාකරු" can also refer to a person who engages in a particular activity or a member of a particular group.
Tamilஆபரேட்டர்
Teluguఆపరేటర్
The word "ఆపరేటర్" in Telugu is derived from the English word "operator", with its alternate meaning being "surgical physician".
Urduآپریٹر
The word "آپریٹر" can also refer to a telephone exchange operator or a surgical operator.

Operator in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)算子
算子 can refer to a mathematical transformation that is applied to one or more operands or to an element of a vector space, or to an operator in computer science.
Chinese (Traditional)算子
算子 (suan zi) also means "to consider (as)" or "to regard (as)"
Japaneseオペレーター
In Japanese, "オペレーター" can also refer to a surgical assistant or a technician who operates machinery.
Korean운영자
The Korean word "운영자" can also refer to a "manager," "controller," or "administrator."}
Mongolianоператор
The Mongolian word "оператор" can also refer to an actor or a performer.
Myanmar (Burmese)အော်ပရေတာ

Operator in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianoperator
The Indonesian word "operator" can also refer to a mathematical or logical symbol, such as addition (+) or negation (¬).
Javaneseoperator
In Javanese, "operator" (operator) can also refer to a medical assistant or a person in charge of a traditional game called "dakon".
Khmerប្រតិបត្តិករ
Laoຜູ້ປະກອບການ
Malaypengendali
"Pengendali" is also used to refer to a traditional healer in Malay culture.
Thaiตัวดำเนินการ
The term "ตัวดำเนินการ" in Thai can also refer to a mathematical operator, such as the plus or minus sign.
Vietnamesenhà điều hành
"Nhà điều hành" (operator) is also used in Vietnamese to refer to a telephone exchange.
Filipino (Tagalog)operator

Operator in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanioperator
In Azerbaijani, "operator" also means "surgeon".
Kazakhоператор
The Kazakh word "оператор" can also refer to an individual who is responsible for the operation of a machine or device, similar to its meaning in other languages.
Kyrgyzоператор
In the Kyrgyz language the word "оператор" ("operator") may also refer to a surgeon or doctor.
Tajikоператор
In mathematics, the Tajik word "оператор" also refers to an element of an algebra that combines other elements, similar to the usage in the English language.
Turkmenoperator
Uzbekoperator
In Uzbek, the word "operator" can also refer to a "surgeon" or a "telephone exchange employee".
Uyghurتىجارەتچى

Operator in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmea hana
The literal meaning of mea hana is "thing that does work", with mea meaning "thing" and hana meaning "to make" or "work."
Maorikaiwhakahaere
The term "kaiwhakahaere" in Maori can also refer to a leader or coordinator, highlighting its broader role in management and oversight beyond technical operation.
Samoantagata faʻagaioia
The word "tagata faʻagaioia" can also refer to a person who is operating a machine or vehicle.
Tagalog (Filipino)operator
In Tagalog, "operator" can also refer to a person who assists a doctor or other health professional during a medical procedure.

Operator in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraoperador ukaxa
Guaranioperador rehegua

Operator in International Languages

Esperantooperatoro
In computer science, an operator is a symbol that represents an operation that can be performed on operands.
Latinoperator
Operator, deriving from operari "to work," referred to laborers and tradesmen, including doctors, bankers, and moneylenders during the Roman Empire.

Operator in Others Languages

Greekχειριστής
The word "χειριστής" (operator) in Greek can also refer to a manipulator, a handler, or a surgeon.
Hmongneeg teb xov tooj
The literal meaning of "neeg teb xov tooj" is "people that hold and look after information".
Kurdishmakînevan
"Makînevan" is a Farsi word originally referring to a person that drives or operates a mechanical machine.
Turkishşebeke
In Turkish, "şebeke" also means "network" or "web," highlighting the interconnected nature of operators in the telecommunications industry.
Xhosaumqhubi
The word "umqhubi" in Xhosa can also be used to refer to a person who causes problems or conflict.
Yiddishאָפּעראַטאָר
In Yiddish, "אָפּעראַטאָר" ("operator") can also refer to a person who operates a machine or performs a specific task.
Zuluopharetha
The Zulu word "opharetha" comes from the Greek word "operatorias" meaning "one who carries out or achieves something, an agent."
Assameseঅপাৰেটৰ
Aymaraoperador ukaxa
Bhojpuriसंचालक के ह
Dhivehiއޮޕަރޭޓަރެވެ
Dogriऑपरेटर दा
Filipino (Tagalog)operator
Guaranioperador rehegua
Ilocanooperator ti
Krioɔpreshɔn pɔsin
Kurdish (Sorani)ئۆپەراتۆر
Maithiliसंचालक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯣꯄꯔꯦꯇꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯈꯤ꯫
Mizooperator a ni
Oromooperetera
Odia (Oriya)ଅପରେଟର୍
Quechuaoperador nisqa
Sanskritसंचालकः
Tatarоператор
Tigrinyaኦፕሬተር
Tsongamutirhisi

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