Parking in Different Languages
Discover 'Parking' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Parking is an essential aspect of modern transportation, allowing vehicles to be temporarily left in designated spaces. This simple concept has significant cultural importance, shaping the way we navigate and interact with our urban environments. From the valet parking of luxury hotels to the street parking of bustling cities, the concept of parking is a universal language that transcends borders.
Moreover, understanding the translation of parking in different languages can be particularly useful for travelers and international drivers. For instance, the Spanish translation of parking is 'aparcamiento,' while in French, it's 'parking' or 'parc de stationnement.' In Germany, you would look for a 'Parkplatz' or 'Parkhaus,' and in Japan, '駐車場' (chūshajō) is the term you would need to know.
In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of parking in different languages, exploring the historical context, cultural significance, and interesting facts associated with this everyday term. So buckle up and join us on this global journey of discovery!
Parking
Parking in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | parkering | ||
| Parkering is of Dutch origin, and it can also mean "embarking". | |||
| Amharic | የመኪና ማቆሚያ | ||
| In Amharic, the word "የመኪና ማቆሚያ" can also refer to a parking meter or a designated parking space in a garage. | |||
| Hausa | filin ajiye motoci | ||
| The name for the space where vehicles are parked, "filin ajiye motoci," can also refer to a small yard outside a house where livestock may be kept overnight. | |||
| Igbo | adọba ụgbọala | ||
| Despite its recent association with car parks, "adọba ụgbọala" literally means "resting of the vehicle" and was originally used to describe the overnight storage of animals | |||
| Malagasy | fijanonana | ||
| The Malagasy word 'fijanonana' is a verbal form meaning 'to be placed or put' and can also refer to 'a place to put things'. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuyimika | ||
| Kuyimika is derived from the verb yimika, meaning to stand, and the prefix ku-, indicating location or direction, thus describing the act of standing or staying in a place. | |||
| Shona | kupaka | ||
| 'Kupaka' derives from the verb '-paka' which means 'to fasten' or 'to bind'. | |||
| Somali | dhigashada | ||
| The word "dhigashada" initially referred to the spot where animals rested in the shade. | |||
| Sesotho | ho paka makoloi | ||
| The word "ho paka makoloi" literally means "to put away cars". | |||
| Swahili | maegesho | ||
| The Swahili word 'maegesho' also refers to a stopping point or resting place along a journey, particularly for caravans or travelers on foot. | |||
| Xhosa | yokupaka | ||
| The term "yokupaka" is derived from the verb "kupaka," meaning "to put or place," implying that parking is an act of placing a vehicle in a designated area. | |||
| Yoruba | ibi iduro | ||
| The word "ibi iduro" in Yoruba literally means "a place to stand" or "a resting place." | |||
| Zulu | ukupaka | ||
| The Zulu word 'ukupaka' can also mean 'to be crowded', 'to be jammed', or 'to be stuck'. | |||
| Bambara | bolifɛnw jɔyɔrɔ | ||
| Ewe | ʋutɔɖoƒe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | parikingi | ||
| Lingala | parking ya motuka | ||
| Luganda | okusimba mmotoka | ||
| Sepedi | go phaka dikoloi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | baabi a wɔde kar sisi | ||
Parking in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | موقف سيارات | ||
| The word "موقف سيارات" "parking" derives from the verb "وقف""waqafa" which means "to stand" or "to stop". | |||
| Hebrew | חֲנָיָה | ||
| The Hebrew word "חֲנָיָה" is derived from the verb "חָנָה," which means "to camp" or "to rest," reflecting the temporary nature of parking. | |||
| Pashto | پارکینګ | ||
| In Pashto, "پارکینګ" can also refer to the act of parking a vehicle. | |||
| Arabic | موقف سيارات | ||
| The word "موقف سيارات" "parking" derives from the verb "وقف""waqafa" which means "to stand" or "to stop". | |||
Parking in Western European Languages
| Albanian | parkim | ||
| The Albanian word “parkim” comes from the Italian word “parco”, meaning “park” or “public square”. | |||
| Basque | aparkalekua | ||
| The Basque word "aparkalekua" is derived from the Spanish word "aparcamiento" and the Basque suffix "-lekua" (place). | |||
| Catalan | aparcament | ||
| The word "aparcament" is borrowed from Spanish and derives from the French word "apparaître" (to appear), referring to the emergence of vehicles from their parking spaces. | |||
| Croatian | parkiralište | ||
| The word "parkiralište" comes from the German word "Parkplatz," meaning a place to park. | |||
| Danish | parkering | ||
| Danish "parkering" comes from French "parquer", meaning "to enclose or pen in"} | |||
| Dutch | parkeren | ||
| In Dutch, "parkeren" comes from the French "parquer", meaning "to enclose", and shares a root with "park" in English | |||
| English | parking | ||
| The word 'parking' derives from the Middle English word 'parke', meaning an enclosed area of land, and also a place to keep deer. | |||
| French | parking | ||
| The word "parking" in French is derived from the Old French word "parc", meaning "enclosure" or "paddock". | |||
| Frisian | parkearplak | ||
| The Frisian word "parkearplak" is derived from the Dutch word "parkeerplaats", which also means "parking spot". | |||
| Galician | aparcamento | ||
| The word "aparcamento" derives from the Latin "apparere" (to appear), alluding to the visibility of parked vehicles. | |||
| German | parken | ||
| The word "parken" derives from the French "parquer" (to enclose), indicating the act of protecting vehicles in a designated area. | |||
| Icelandic | bílastæði | ||
| The word bílastæði is derived from the Old Norse words 'bil' and 'staðr', meaning 'car' and 'place'. | |||
| Irish | páirceáil | ||
| The Irish word "páirceáil" shares an origin with "park", referring originally to an enclosed place for animals. | |||
| Italian | parcheggio | ||
| The Italian word "parcheggio" derives from the French "parquer" and also means "enclosure." | |||
| Luxembourgish | parking | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Parking" can also refer to a garden or park. | |||
| Maltese | ipparkjar | ||
| The word "ipparkjar" comes from the Italian word "parcheggio", which means "parking lot". | |||
| Norwegian | parkering | ||
| The Norwegian word "parkering" can also refer to a place where vehicles are parked. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | estacionamento | ||
| In Portuguese, "estacionamento" also means "railway station" or "resting place on a pilgrimage route". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | pàirceadh | ||
| Spanish | estacionamiento | ||
| In Spain, "estacionamiento" also refers to a waiting place for public transport. | |||
| Swedish | parkering | ||
| The word "parkering" in Swedish has its origins in French, where it means "to park" or "to station". In Swedish, "parkering" specifically refers to parking vehicles. | |||
| Welsh | parcio | ||
| "Parcio" originates from the word "Parc," a large enclosed place or field. | |||
Parking in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | паркоўка | ||
| The Belarusian word "паркоўка" originated from the Russian "парковка" which meant horse pasture or corral. | |||
| Bosnian | parking | ||
| Although it was introduced from English, a secondary meaning of "parking" in the Bosnian context is "to park" as a verb (3rd person), so the sentence "Auta su parkirala" can mean either "The cars are parked" or "The cars parked (themselves)". | |||
| Bulgarian | паркинг | ||
| In Bulgarian, the word "паркинг" can also refer to a type of coat or jacket. | |||
| Czech | parkoviště | ||
| "Parkoviště" derives from the Czech word "park" (meaning "garden" or "forest"), reflecting the historical association of parking areas with green spaces or former hunting grounds. | |||
| Estonian | parkimine | ||
| "Parkimine" in Estonian also means "foraging", "pasture", or "meadow". | |||
| Finnish | pysäköinti | ||
| "Pysäköinti" derives from "pysäkki" (stop), but its original meaning referred to a horse stable. | |||
| Hungarian | parkolás | ||
| "Parkolás" is used not only for parking but also to refer to a gathering or a place of gathering, such as a park. | |||
| Latvian | autostāvvieta | ||
| The word "autostāvvieta" is derived from the Greek "auto" (self) and the Latin "statio" (standing). | |||
| Lithuanian | automobilių stovėjimo aikštelė | ||
| "Automobilių stovėjimo aikštelė" translates to "car parking lot" in English, and comes from the Lithuanian words "automobilis" (car), "stovėjimas" (standing), and "aikštelė" (area). | |||
| Macedonian | паркирање | ||
| The word "паркирање" in Macedonian, meaning "parking," shares its etymological roots with the Old Slavic word "parkъ" (fenced-in area, enclosure), giving it the additional meaning of a designated area for keeping animals. | |||
| Polish | parking | ||
| "Parkowanie" (parking) wywodzi się od łacińskiego "parochia", które oznaczało "parafię". | |||
| Romanian | parcare | ||
| In Romanian, the cognate of "parking" is "parcare," which is derived from the French "parquer" and also means "to fence in" or "to enclose." | |||
| Russian | стоянка | ||
| The word "стоянка" (parking) in Russian can also refer to a place or time for standing or waiting. | |||
| Serbian | паркинг | ||
| "Паркинг" can also mean "park" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | parkovisko | ||
| The word "parkovisko" is derived from the Russian word "парковка" (parkovka), which means "parking." | |||
| Slovenian | parkirišče | ||
| The word "parkirišče" is derived from the German word "Parkplatz," which means "parking place." | |||
| Ukrainian | парковка | ||
| The Ukrainian word "парковка" comes from the French word "parquer", which means "to enclose". | |||
Parking in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | পার্কিং | ||
| পার্কিং শব্দটি ইংরেজি 'park' থেকে এসেছে যার অর্থ কেবল গাড়ি দাঁড় করানো নয় বরং বিনোদনের জন্য উদ্যানে সময় কাটানোও বোঝায়। | |||
| Gujarati | પાર્કિંગ | ||
| The word "પાર્કિંગ" comes from the root "પાર્ક" meaning "to protect" or "to put to sleep", likely in reference to the storage of vehicles in one place. | |||
| Hindi | पार्किंग | ||
| The word "पार्किंग" is derived from the French word "parc", meaning "enclosure" or "paddock". | |||
| Kannada | ಪಾರ್ಕಿಂಗ್ | ||
| The word "parking" can also mean "to cause (a vehicle) to stand and wait". | |||
| Malayalam | പാർക്കിംഗ് | ||
| In Malayalam, "പാർക്കിംഗ്" can also refer to the act of leaving something temporarily, like leaving a vehicle in a "പാർക്കിംഗ്" (parking) spot or setting down an object for a moment. | |||
| Marathi | पार्किंग | ||
| The Marathi word 'पार्किंग' (parking) is derived from the English word 'parking' which in turn comes from the Old French word 'parquer' meaning 'to enclose' or 'to pen'. The alternate meaning of 'पार्किंग' in Marathi is 'the act of leaving a vehicle in a designated area'. | |||
| Nepali | पार्कि | ||
| The word "पार्कि" in Nepali has no other meanings or etymological origins. | |||
| Punjabi | ਪਾਰਕਿੰਗ | ||
| The word 'parking' comes from the Middle Dutch word 'parken', meaning to enclose or fence off. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වාහන නැවැත්වීම | ||
| In Sinhala, the word "වාහන නැවැත්වීම" (vāhana nævæthvīma) literally translates to "stopping of a vehicle", reflecting its root meaning of bringing a vehicle to a halt and leaving it unattended. | |||
| Tamil | வாகன நிறுத்துமிடம் | ||
| The word 'வாகன நிறுத்துமிடம்' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'वाहन' (vāhana) meaning 'vehicle' and 'निर्धारण' (niṣṭhāpana) meaning 'to fix' or 'to establish'. It can also refer to a place where animals are kept. | |||
| Telugu | పార్కింగ్ | ||
| The word "పార్కింగ్" comes from the English word "parking", which itself comes from the French word "parquer". In Telugu, the word can also refer to a place where a vehicle is parked. | |||
| Urdu | پارکنگ | ||
| پارکنگ is derived from the English word "parking" and literally means "a place where vehicles are parked" in Urdu. | |||
Parking in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 停车处 | ||
| The word “停车处” means literally “stop car place”, and is sometimes seen in traditional Chinese characters as “停車處”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 停車處 | ||
| 停車處 can be literally translated as "stop car place" but is used to refer to parking lots or parking spaces. | |||
| Japanese | パーキング | ||
| "パーキング" can also refer to a place where cars are waiting for passengers or where food trucks are parked. | |||
| Korean | 주차 | ||
| 주차's '주' can also mean 'to stay' or 'to reside', thus making the word mean 'the act of staying' or 'residential land'. | |||
| Mongolian | зогсоол | ||
| The Mongolian word "зогсоол" derives from the verb "зогсох" (to stop), and has the alternate meaning of "place to stop". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကားရပ်နားသည် | ||
| ကားရပ်နားသည် is a compound word that literally means "to stop a car from moving". In addition to its primary meaning, it can also be used figuratively to refer to the act of pausing or interrupting something. | |||
Parking in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | parkir | ||
| The word 'parkir' derives from the Dutch word 'parkeer', which itself comes from French 'parquer', originally meaning 'to enclose' or 'to pen'. | |||
| Javanese | parkiran | ||
| Parkiran' comes from the root word 'kir,' meaning 'to lock up,' indicating the purpose of parking, which is to secure vehicles in a designated area. | |||
| Khmer | ចតរថយន្ត | ||
| "ចតរថយន្ត" (parking) originated from Pali which means "to place, set down, or station". | |||
| Lao | ບ່ອນຈອດລົດ | ||
| The word for "parking" in Lao is derived from the Thai word "ที่จอดรถ" (tee-jot-rot), which literally means "place to park a car". | |||
| Malay | tempat letak kenderaan | ||
| "Tempat letak kenderaan" is more literally translated to "place where the vehicle is placed", highlighting the active placement aspect of parking. | |||
| Thai | ที่จอดรถ | ||
| The word "ที่จอดรถ" derives from two Sanskrit words, "sthiti" meaning "to stand" or "to be situated", and "ratha" meaning "chariot". | |||
| Vietnamese | bãi đậu xe | ||
| The word "bãi đậu xe" literally means "a place to park vehicles" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | paradahan | ||
Parking in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | dayanacaq | ||
| The word "dayanacaq" in Azerbaijani comes from the verb "dayanmaq" which means "to lean against" or "to stand". | |||
| Kazakh | көлік тұрағы | ||
| Kyrgyz | унаа токтотуучу жай | ||
| Tajik | таваққуфгоҳ | ||
| Turkmen | awtoulag duralgasy | ||
| Uzbek | avtoturargoh | ||
| The word "avtoturargoh" entered the Uzbek language at the beginning of the 20th century and was borrowed from the Russian "автостоянка". | |||
| Uyghur | ماشىنا توختىتىش | ||
Parking in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaʻa kau kaʻa | ||
| Alternate translation: a vehicle waiting | |||
| Maori | motuka | ||
| Mōtuka, meaning ‘vehicle’, derives from the word waka, meaning ‘canoe’, and the prefix mō, meaning ‘to collect or carry’. | |||
| Samoan | paka taʻavale | ||
| The Samoan word "paka taʻavale" is derived from the verb "paka" meaning "to stop" and the noun "taʻavale" meaning "car". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | paradahan | ||
| "Paradahan" (parking) derives from the verb "pada" (to stop), hence implying not just a space for vehicles, but also the act of stopping the vehicle and leaving it in that space. | |||
Parking in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | parking ukax utjiwa | ||
| Guarani | estacionamiento rehegua | ||
Parking in International Languages
| Esperanto | parkado | ||
| The word "parkado" in Esperanto is derived from the French word "parquer", meaning "to enclose". | |||
| Latin | raedam | ||
| The word "raedam" in Latin, meaning "parking", comes from the phrase "res ad amussim," which refers to a specific method of parking ships by lining them up precisely alongside a dock. | |||
Parking in Others Languages
| Greek | στάθμευση | ||
| The word "στάθμευση" can also refer to a waiting position, as in a theater or queue, or to the act of anchoring a ship. | |||
| Hmong | nres tsheb | ||
| The verb tsheb also means 'to stay', 'to stop', or 'to rest'. | |||
| Kurdish | cîhê parkê | ||
| "Cîhê parkê" (parking) is likely derived from the French word "parc". This word can refer to a park (public open space) or to the act of parking a vehicle. | |||
| Turkish | otopark | ||
| The word "otopark" comes from the Turkish words "oto" (car) and "park" (garden), originally referring to a place for cars to park in a park-like setting. | |||
| Xhosa | yokupaka | ||
| The term "yokupaka" is derived from the verb "kupaka," meaning "to put or place," implying that parking is an act of placing a vehicle in a designated area. | |||
| Yiddish | פארקינג | ||
| Parking in Yiddish also means 'courting' or 'dating'. | |||
| Zulu | ukupaka | ||
| The Zulu word 'ukupaka' can also mean 'to be crowded', 'to be jammed', or 'to be stuck'. | |||
| Assamese | পাৰ্কিং | ||
| Aymara | parking ukax utjiwa | ||
| Bhojpuri | पार्किंग के काम हो रहल बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ޕާކިން ހެދުމެވެ | ||
| Dogri | पार्किंग दी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | paradahan | ||
| Guarani | estacionamiento rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | paradaan | ||
| Krio | fɔ pak motoka dɛn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | وەستانی ئۆتۆمبێل | ||
| Maithili | पार्किंग के लिये | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯥꯔꯀꯤꯡ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | parking a awm bawk | ||
| Oromo | bakka konkolaataa dhaabuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପାର୍କିଂ | ||
| Quechua | estacionamiento | ||
| Sanskrit | पार्किङ्ग | ||
| Tatar | машина кую урыны | ||
| Tigrinya | መኪና ምዕቃብ | ||
| Tsonga | ku paka | ||