Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'payment' holds great significance in our daily lives, as it represents the exchange of goods, services, or money in a transaction. This cultural importance is reflected in various languages and societies around the world. For instance, in Spanish, 'payment' is 'pago'; in French, it's 'paiement'; and in German, it's 'Zahlung'.
Understanding the translation of 'payment' in different languages can be beneficial in various scenarios. Whether you're traveling abroad, conducting international business, or simply exploring the world of linguistics and culture, knowing these translations can be a valuable tool. Moreover, it can provide an interesting glimpse into the historical contexts of different languages and their evolution over time.
Here's a list of translations of the word 'payment' in different languages, showcasing the diversity and richness of the world's languages and cultures.
Afrikaans | betaling | ||
The Afrikaans word "betaling" is derived from the Dutch word "betaling", which in turn comes from the French word "paiement". | |||
Amharic | ክፍያ | ||
Besides "payment", "ክፍያ" can also mean "accountability" or "responsibility" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | biya | ||
In some contexts, "biya" can also refer to a fine or compensation paid for an offense or wrong. | |||
Igbo | ugwo | ||
In some Igbo dialects, "ugwo" translates as "appreciation" or "gratitude," while in others it signifies "compensation" or "settlement." | |||
Malagasy | fanomezana | ||
"Fanomezana" can also refer to a bribe, tip, or reward. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | malipiro | ||
The word "malipiro" can also refer to a compensation paid to the family of a person who has been killed. | |||
Shona | mubhadharo | ||
Mubhadharo, meaning 'payment,' derives from the verb 'kubhadhara,' translating to 'to bear' or 'to carry.' | |||
Somali | lacag bixinta | ||
The term "lacag bixinta" can also refer to a type of compensation in the Somali customary law system, known as "diya"} | |||
Sesotho | tefo | ||
The Sesotho word 'tefo' also means 'to pay' or 'to give' and is derived from the Proto-Bantu root '-fV'. | |||
Swahili | malipo | ||
The word derives from the verb -lipa (to pay) with the addition of the noun class prefix ma- (representing an abstract noun) and the suffix -o (which changes the meaning to a place where something happens). | |||
Xhosa | intlawulo | ||
The word 'intlawulo' also means 'reward' or 'prize' in Xhosa. | |||
Yoruba | isanwo | ||
The term isanwo also signifies the gift a father gives his bride at a traditional Yoruba wedding as a symbol of love and support. | |||
Zulu | inkokhelo | ||
The Zulu word 'inkokhelo' can also be translated as 'reward' or 'compensation'. | |||
Bambara | sarali | ||
Ewe | fexexe | ||
Kinyarwanda | kwishura | ||
Lingala | lifuti | ||
Luganda | okusasula | ||
Sepedi | tefelo | ||
Twi (Akan) | sikatua | ||
Arabic | دفع | ||
Etymology: دفع is derived from the verb دفع ( دفع ), which means to push away or repel. | |||
Hebrew | תַשְׁלוּם | ||
The Hebrew word "תַשְׁלוּם" ("payment") comes from the root "שלם" ("complete, whole"), possibly referring to the completion of a transaction or the settling of a debt. | |||
Pashto | تادیه | ||
The Pashto word "تادیه" can also refer to the repayment of a debt. | |||
Arabic | دفع | ||
Etymology: دفع is derived from the verb دفع ( دفع ), which means to push away or repel. |
Albanian | pagesa | ||
The word 'pagesa' is derived from the Latin word 'pacare', which means 'to satisfy' or 'to fulfill an obligation'. | |||
Basque | ordainketa | ||
The Basque word "ordainketa" also means "order" or "command". | |||
Catalan | pagament | ||
The Catalan word "pagament" derives from the Latin "pagare", meaning "to fix" or "to establish". | |||
Croatian | plaćanje | ||
The Croatian word 'plaćanje' also means 'crying' or 'lamenting', derived from the verb 'plakati' meaning 'to cry' or 'to lament'. | |||
Danish | betaling | ||
The word "betaling" is derived from the Old Norse word "bota", meaning "to make amends or pay compensation". | |||
Dutch | betaling | ||
The word "betaling" comes from the Middle Dutch word "betalinge", which means "to pay off" or "to settle a debt" and is related to the Old English word "betalan", meaning "to pay" and the Old Saxon word "betalon", meaning "to pay, to recompense" (which is ultimately derived from the Latin root "pacare", meaning "to appease, to satisfy") | |||
English | payment | ||
The word 'payment' originates from the Latin word 'pax' meaning 'peace', as in ancient times payments were offered as a form of appeasement or settlement. | |||
French | paiement | ||
The word "Paiement" originates from the Latin word "pactio," meaning "agreement" or "covenant." | |||
Frisian | betelling | ||
"Betelling" is derived from the Old Frisian word "bitte" meaning "petition," "fine," or "penalty," and is related to the Dutch term "betalen" meaning "to pay." | |||
Galician | pagamento | ||
In Galician, "pagamento" can also refer to a place of payment, a place where cattle or other animals are kept, or a large tract or area of land. | |||
German | zahlung | ||
The noun "Zahlung" also denotes the number of times a certain musical note is played | |||
Icelandic | greiðsla | ||
The Icelandic word "greiðsla" is derived from the Old Norse word "greiða", meaning "to pay" or "to settle a debt." | |||
Irish | íocaíocht | ||
The word 'íocaíocht' also means 'payment' in the context of a religious offering or a tribute. | |||
Italian | pagamento | ||
"Pagamento" (payment) also means "district" or "neighborhood" in Italian, which refers to the original meaning of the word, when payments were made at specific geographic locations. | |||
Luxembourgish | bezuelen | ||
The word "Bezuelen" originally referred to a fee paid to the lord of the manor specifically for the use of a mill to grind grain. | |||
Maltese | ħlas | ||
The word "ħlas" is derived from the Arabic word "ḥalāl", meaning "permitted, lawful". | |||
Norwegian | innbetaling | ||
The word "innbetaling" originates from the two Norwegian words "inn" (in) and "betaling" (payment), and it means the act of transferring money into an account. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | forma de pagamento | ||
The term "Forma de pagamento" in Portuguese can also refer to the specific method or instrument used to make a payment, such as cash, credit card, or bank transfer. | |||
Scots Gaelic | pàigheadh | ||
The Scots Gaelic word "pàigheadh" is derived from the Old Gaelic word "pàighid", meaning "to pay", and also has the alternative meaning of "hire". | |||
Spanish | pago | ||
The word "pago" in Spanish can also refer to a small village or a district of a town. | |||
Swedish | betalning | ||
"Betalning" is also a noun referring to the "act of paying something" which is used especially in the phrase "vid betalning" meaning "when paying" | |||
Welsh | taliad | ||
The word "taliad" can also refer to "compensation" or "recompense". |
Belarusian | аплата | ||
"Аплата" comes from the Latin word "applicatio", but it can also mean "application" in the context of university education in Russian and Belarusian. | |||
Bosnian | plaćanje | ||
The word 'plaćanje' is derived from the verb 'plaćati', which means 'to pay' | |||
Bulgarian | плащане | ||
The word 'плащане' can also refer to a 'placenta'. | |||
Czech | způsob platby | ||
The word "Způsob platby" literally translates to "Method of payment". In addition to its primary meaning, it can also refer to the way in which a payment is made, such as by cash, credit card, or bank transfer. | |||
Estonian | makse | ||
The word "makse" can also mean "tax" or "fee". | |||
Finnish | maksu | ||
In addition to its monetary uses, "maksu" in Finnish can refer to an atonement or sacrifice in a religious context. | |||
Hungarian | fizetés | ||
The word "fizetés" is derived from the Old Hungarian verb "fizetni" meaning "to pay" and also "to earn". | |||
Latvian | maksājums | ||
Latvian "maksājums" means "deduction" and "forgiveness" in Old Prussian. | |||
Lithuanian | mokėjimas | ||
The Lithuanian word "mokėjimas" can also mean "ability" or "skill". | |||
Macedonian | плаќање | ||
Плаќање "plaćanje" originally comes from the old-Slavic word for fear "plahi" which may refer to the fear associated with making a payment | |||
Polish | zapłata | ||
The word "zapłata" also has a secondary meaning of "revenge" or "punishment" in Polish. | |||
Romanian | plată | ||
In modern Romanian, "plată" can also mean "dish" or "plate". | |||
Russian | оплата | ||
"Оплата" derives from the Old Slavic "plata" which meant both "payment" and "salary". | |||
Serbian | плаћање | ||
The etymology of 'plaćanje' is unknown, but its derivatives mean 'to pay', 'to give a bribe', and 'to kill'. | |||
Slovak | platba | ||
The Slovak word "platba" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root "*platъ", which also means "salary" or "fee". | |||
Slovenian | plačilo | ||
"Plačilo" in Slovenian also means 'a payment to the widow(er) after the death of her/his spouse,' and a 'penalty or a fine.' | |||
Ukrainian | оплата | ||
The word "оплата" is derived from the Old Russian word "платити", meaning "to pay". It can also refer to the act of paying or the amount of money paid. |
Bengali | প্রদান | ||
প্রদান ('payment') is cognate with Sanskrit 'पदान' ('foot' or 'base') and is related to 'प्रतिदा' ('give in return') and 'दी' ('donate'). | |||
Gujarati | ચુકવણી | ||
The Gujarati word "ચુકવણી" can also refer to "a loan" or "money given to a person who is going away on a long journey". | |||
Hindi | भुगतान | ||
The word "भुगतान" is derived from the Sanskrit root "bhuj" meaning "to enjoy" or "to receive". | |||
Kannada | ಪಾವತಿ | ||
The term 'ಪಾವತಿ' in Kannada is also used to denote a 'receipt', 'payment voucher' or 'a written acknowledgement of receipt of payment'. | |||
Malayalam | പേയ്മെന്റ് | ||
Marathi | देय | ||
The word "देय" in Marathi can also refer to a debt or obligation. | |||
Nepali | भुक्तानी | ||
The Sanskrit word 'bhujyā', meaning 'to eat,' is the root of 'भुक्तानी,' connecting payment to sustenance and consumption. | |||
Punjabi | ਭੁਗਤਾਨ | ||
The word "ਭੁਗਤਾਨ" (payment) in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word "भोगदान" (offering), which in turn comes from the root "भोग" (enjoyment). | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ගෙවීම | ||
The word "ගෙවීම" also means "expenditure" or "expense" in Sinhala. | |||
Tamil | கட்டணம் | ||
The word 'கட்டணம்' (payment) derives from the Tamil verb 'கட்ட' (to tie), signifying a 'binding' obligation. | |||
Telugu | చెల్లింపు | ||
"చెల్లింపు" is used to refer to both the act of paying and the amount being paid. | |||
Urdu | ادائیگی | ||
The word "ادائیگی" (payment) in Urdu derives from the Persian "اداء" (performance), signifying the fulfillment of a duty or obligation. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 付款 | ||
付款, as a noun, can also mean 'money order', 'remittance' or 'bill of exchange'. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 付款 | ||
付款的“付”字,由“贝”和“付”字组成,表示以贝壳物品作为交换。“款”字,由“水”和“全”字组成,表示水满为全。引申为金钱或物品的全部支付。 | |||
Japanese | 支払い | ||
The word "支払い" can also refer to the act of paying or making a payment. | |||
Korean | 지불 | ||
The word "지불" can also mean "to pay tribute". | |||
Mongolian | төлбөр | ||
{"text": "Төлбөр (payment) derives from the Mongolian word "төл", meaning "to give, pay, bear fruit, or reproduce."} | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ငွေပေးချေမှု | ||
The term "ငွေပေးချေမှု" has several meanings within Burmese: it can describe a settlement of a financial debt, the payment of wages or compensation, a monetary penalty for a crime, or the offering of money to a temple or monastery. |
Indonesian | pembayaran | ||
The Indonesian word "pembayaran" originates from the Malay word "bayar" meaning "to pay", and also has the alternate meaning of "expenses". | |||
Javanese | pambayaran | ||
The word "pambayaran" also means "sacrifice" or "offering" in Javanese culture, reflecting the importance of payment as a ritual exchange. | |||
Khmer | ការទូទាត់ | ||
Lao | ການຈ່າຍເງິນ | ||
Malay | pembayaran | ||
Payment (pembayaran) in Malay comes from the word "bayar" which also means "colour" or "dye" | |||
Thai | การชำระเงิน | ||
The word "การชำระเงิน" can also mean "to wash away" or "to discharge a debt". | |||
Vietnamese | thanh toán | ||
The word "thanh toán" also means "to solve" in Vietnamese, a meaning influenced by Chinese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagbabayad | ||
Azerbaijani | ödəniş | ||
The word "ödəniş" in Azerbaijani comes from the Persian word "ادا" (ada), meaning "performing an obligation". | |||
Kazakh | төлем | ||
"Төлем" (Kazakh for "payment") originates from the Turkic word "töl" meaning "to fill" or "to pay". | |||
Kyrgyz | төлөө | ||
In Kyrgyz, "төлөө" also refers to the act of fulfilling a duty or obligation. | |||
Tajik | пардохт | ||
The word "пардохт" ultimately derives from the Persian word "پرداخت" (pardākht), which means "payment" or "settlement." | |||
Turkmen | töleg | ||
Uzbek | to'lov | ||
In Uzbek, the word "to'lov" is derived from the Old Turkic word "töl" meaning "due", also found in the Mongolian word "töl" and the Kalmyk word "tөл" | |||
Uyghur | پۇل تۆلەش | ||
Hawaiian | hookaa | ||
'Hookaa' can mean either to 'pay' or 'be paid,' thus making 'hooka aku' (payment given) and 'hooka mai' (payment received) grammatically correct forms. | |||
Maori | utunga | ||
Utanga also means 'debt', and in the past could refer to the physical pledge or token given in exchange for a loan, such as a carved artifact. | |||
Samoan | totogi | ||
The Samoan word "totogi" originates from the word "togi", meaning "to cut" or "to sever", suggesting that payments were seen as a way of cutting or severing a debt. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | bayad | ||
Bayad' is derived from the Spanish word 'pagar', meaning 'to pay' and its alternative spelling is ‘bayaran’. |
Aymara | payllawi | ||
Guarani | hepyme'ẽ | ||
Esperanto | pago | ||
The Esperanto word "pago" can also mean "country" or "region". | |||
Latin | solucionis | ||
Solucionis, in addition to its primary meaning of 'payment,' can also refer to a discharge or acquittal. |
Greek | πληρωμή | ||
The word "πληρωμή" is derived from the ancient Greek verb "πληρόω" meaning "to fill". | |||
Hmong | them nyiaj | ||
The word "them nyiaj" literally means "to give money" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | diravdanî | ||
The word 'diravdanî' is the Kurmanji form of the Persian word 'dīrah-dānī', meaning 'rent' or 'tribute'. | |||
Turkish | ödeme | ||
"Ödeme" also means "edema" in Turkish, a medical condition characterized by the abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues. | |||
Xhosa | intlawulo | ||
The word 'intlawulo' also means 'reward' or 'prize' in Xhosa. | |||
Yiddish | צאָלונג | ||
צאָלונג has an alternate meaning, "punishment", as in "a day of reckoning"—the day we will pay for our misdeeds on the day of judgment. | |||
Zulu | inkokhelo | ||
The Zulu word 'inkokhelo' can also be translated as 'reward' or 'compensation'. | |||
Assamese | পৰিশোধ | ||
Aymara | payllawi | ||
Bhojpuri | भुगतान | ||
Dhivehi | ފައިސާދެއްކުން | ||
Dogri | भुगतान | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagbabayad | ||
Guarani | hepyme'ẽ | ||
Ilocano | bayad | ||
Krio | pe | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پارەدان | ||
Maithili | भुगतान केयल गेल पाई | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯦꯜ ꯄꯤꯕ | ||
Mizo | pe | ||
Oromo | kaffaltii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଦେୟ | ||
Quechua | huntachiy | ||
Sanskrit | वेतन | ||
Tatar | түләү | ||
Tigrinya | ክፍሊት | ||
Tsonga | hakelo | ||