Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'perform' holds a significant place in our lives, as it represents the act of carrying out a task or a role to the best of our abilities. It's a concept that transcends cultures and languages, and is just as important in the world of art and entertainment as it is in our everyday lives. From delivering a presentation at work to putting on a spectacular show, the ability to perform is crucial to success.
Did you know that the word 'perform' has roots in ancient Rome? The Latin word 'perficio' means 'to complete' or 'to finish,' which is fitting, as performing often involves bringing something to its completion. Over time, the word has evolved to encompass a wide range of meanings and connotations, reflecting the many ways in which we express ourselves through action.
Understanding the translation of 'perform' in different languages can open up new cultural perspectives and help us better connect with people from around the world. Here are just a few examples:
Afrikaans | presteer | ||
The Afrikaans word "presteer" originates from the Dutch "presteren", which means "to accomplish" or "to achieve". | |||
Amharic | ማከናወን | ||
In Amharic, "ማከናወን" can also mean "to fulfill" or "to carry out". | |||
Hausa | yi | ||
The Hausa verb 'yi' is cognate to other Chadic verbs, including Kanuri 'ye' and Mubi 'je'. | |||
Igbo | rụọ | ||
The word "rụọ" is derived from the Igbo word "ụrụ", meaning "work". This suggests that the act of performing is seen as a form of work in Igbo culture. | |||
Malagasy | manao | ||
"Manao" also means "to prepare," "to make," or "to get"} | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chitani | ||
The word "chitani" can also mean "to play" or "to dance". | |||
Shona | ita | ||
The word 'ita' in Shona can also refer to "playing music" and is related to the word "ngoma" which means "dance" in other Bantu languages. | |||
Somali | fuliyaan | ||
"Fuliyaan" is a homonym with multiple meanings, including "to act" and "a dance performed in rows". | |||
Sesotho | phetha | ||
The word "phetha" in Sesotho shares a root word origin and thus shares a meaning with the word in other Nguni languages such as isiXhosa, where it also means to "reach" or "attain" | |||
Swahili | fanya | ||
"Fanya" also means "to make" and is related to the word "faida" which means "benefit" or "use". | |||
Xhosa | yenza | ||
The verb 'yenza' has cognates in several other Nguni languages, such as 'enza' in Zulu and Swati. | |||
Yoruba | ṣe | ||
Ṣe can also mean "do" "make" "act" "behave" "conduct" "fabricate" "construct" "compose" "create" or "render". | |||
Zulu | yenza | ||
In Zulu, "yenza" is also used to refer to creation or making something. | |||
Bambara | ka baara | ||
Ewe | wᴐ nu | ||
Kinyarwanda | gukora | ||
Lingala | kosala | ||
Luganda | okwolesa | ||
Sepedi | phethagatša | ||
Twi (Akan) | yɛ ma yɛnhwɛ | ||
Arabic | نفذ | ||
The verb نفذ (nafidha) in Arabic is derived from the root "n-f-d", which means both "to penetrate" and "to pass through". | |||
Hebrew | לְבַצֵעַ | ||
The modern verb לבצע, 'to perform' or 'to execute', stems from the Mishnaic Hebrew word ביצוע, referring to the cutting of bread. | |||
Pashto | ترسره کول | ||
The word "ترسره کول" can also refer to the act of "acting in a drama" or "playing a game". | |||
Arabic | نفذ | ||
The verb نفذ (nafidha) in Arabic is derived from the root "n-f-d", which means both "to penetrate" and "to pass through". |
Albanian | kryej | ||
"Kryej" in Albanian also means "to give birth," possibly drawing inspiration from the idea of "performing" a task. | |||
Basque | burutu | ||
"Burutu" can also refer to the act of doing a task "willingly" in the sense of not being "obligated". This usage dates from the 18th century, and is distinct from "performing". | |||
Catalan | realitzar | ||
"Realitzar" in Catalan comes from the Latin "realizare" which also means "to achieve" or "to accomplish". | |||
Croatian | izvoditi | ||
The verb "izvoditi" is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb *iz-vesti and also means "to draw out" or "to deduce" | |||
Danish | udføre | ||
It is cognate with the Swedish word | |||
Dutch | uitvoeren | ||
In 16th-century Dutch, **uitvoeren** meant both 'to perform' and 'to execute' (someone). | |||
English | perform | ||
Perform has Latin origins, meaning 'to carry out' or 'to accomplish'. | |||
French | effectuer | ||
"Effectuer" ultimately originates from the Latin verb "efficere", meaning "to cause to happen". | |||
Frisian | útfiere | ||
The word 'útfiere' can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root *uz-werkaną, which has the meaning of 'to work out' or 'to complete'. | |||
Galician | realizar | ||
In Galician, "realizar" also means "to become aware of" or "to understand." | |||
German | ausführen | ||
The German word "ausführen" can also mean "to execute" or "to carry out". | |||
Icelandic | framkvæma | ||
In the 12th century, "framkvæma" referred to the public announcement of laws or legal judgments. | |||
Irish | taibhiú | ||
The Irish word "taibhiú" also means "to show" or "to exhibit". | |||
Italian | eseguire | ||
The term "eseguire" in Italian can also refer to carrying out an order or completing a task. | |||
Luxembourgish | ausféieren | ||
The word "ausféieren" can also mean "to carry out", "to execute", or "to complete". | |||
Maltese | iwettaq | ||
The word "iwettaq" also means "to fulfill" or "to complete" in Maltese. | |||
Norwegian | utføre | ||
The word "utføre" can also mean "to carry out" or "to execute". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | executar | ||
The term 'executar' can also mean 'execute' or 'kill', originating from the Latin term 'exsequi', meaning 'to pursue' or 'to carry out'. | |||
Scots Gaelic | dèan | ||
The Gaelic verb "dèan" could also mean "make", "effect", or "cause to happen" depending on context. | |||
Spanish | realizar | ||
Spanish "realizar" shares a history with Portuguese "realizar" and Catalan "realitzar" (all meaning "to perform") and the Latin "realis" (meaning "real") | |||
Swedish | prestera | ||
Prestera is also a noun that refers to performance, achievement, or output. | |||
Welsh | perfformio | ||
The word "perfformio" (perform) is derived from the Latin word "perfectum" (perfect, accomplished), suggesting the idea of carrying out an action with skill and precision |
Belarusian | выконваць | ||
The Belarusian word "выконваць" can also mean "to execute" or "to fulfill" a task or duty. | |||
Bosnian | izvesti | ||
In Bosnian, 'izvesti' means not only 'to perform', but also 'to get rid of', 'to finish' or 'to use up'. | |||
Bulgarian | изпълнява | ||
The verb "изпълнява" also means "to fulfill" in Bulgarian, and is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "исплъньнъ" meaning "full". | |||
Czech | provést | ||
The verb "provést" in Czech comes from the Old Czech word "provoditi", meaning "to accompany", and also contains the meaning of "to do something through an action". | |||
Estonian | esinema | ||
The word "esinema" in Estonian also means "to act" or "to appear" in a play or film. | |||
Finnish | suorittaa | ||
In Finnish, "suorittaa" also means "to pay off" or "to fulfill (a task or obligation)". | |||
Hungarian | végre | ||
"Végre" is also a homonym of "at last" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | uzstāties | ||
The verb "uzstāties" also means "to speak publicly" or "to address an audience." | |||
Lithuanian | atlikti | ||
Atlikti, meaning "to perform" in Lithuanian, derives from the Old Lithuanian word "atlic", denoting "remainder" or "rest". | |||
Macedonian | изведува | ||
The word "изведува" can also mean "to destroy" or "to exhaust". | |||
Polish | wykonać | ||
Wykonać, meaning 'to perform,' derives from the Proto-Slavic word věn-, meaning 'to get,' 'to acquire' | |||
Romanian | a executa | ||
In the past, the word "a executa" was also used in Romanian to refer to the act of carrying out a death sentence. | |||
Russian | выполнять | ||
The word "выполнять" comes from the Old Slavic word "вълнити", meaning "to pull" or "to drag". | |||
Serbian | изводити | ||
The word "изводити" derives from the noun "извод," meaning "extract" or "excerpt", hinting at the act of performing as a form of distilling essence or knowledge. | |||
Slovak | hrať | ||
Other meanings of "hrať" include "to play a game"} | |||
Slovenian | izvesti | ||
"Izvesti" (to pull out and bring, take or move away - pull off) is also to take something somewhere. | |||
Ukrainian | виконувати | ||
"Виконувати" can also mean "to complete" or "to fulfill". |
Bengali | সম্পাদন | ||
"সম্পাদন" can mean both "to edit" and "to perform" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | કરો | ||
The Gujarati word "કરો" also has an alternative meaning of "take". | |||
Hindi | प्रदर्शन | ||
प्रदर्शन' शब्द का मूल संस्कृत शब्द 'दृश्' है जिसका अर्थ है देखना या प्रकट करना। | |||
Kannada | ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಿ | ||
The term 'perform' is also used in other contexts, including 'to play a role', 'to fulfil an action or duty', and 'to complete a task successfully' | |||
Malayalam | പ്രകടനം | ||
In Malayalam, "പ്രകടനം" (prakaṭanam) also means manifestation, revelation, or public performance. | |||
Marathi | सादर करणे | ||
The Marathi word "सादर करणे" also means "to present" or "to offer". | |||
Nepali | प्रदर्शन | ||
The word "प्रदर्शन" ("perform") in Nepali can also mean "demonstrate" or "parade". | |||
Punjabi | ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඉටු කරන්න | ||
Tamil | செய்ய | ||
The Tamil word "செய்ய" is cognate to several terms across Dravidian languages and can also mean "to make" or "to do". | |||
Telugu | ప్రదర్శించండి | ||
Urdu | انجام دیں | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 执行 | ||
The word '执行' in Simplified Chinese is also used in a legal context, meaning 'execute' or 'implement'. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 執行 | ||
"執行" is derived from "執" (holding) and "行" (action). It also means to carry out, perform, or execute. | |||
Japanese | 実行する | ||
実行する originally meant “to run,” but now also means “to implement.” | |||
Korean | 행하다 | ||
The word 행하다 "perform" is derived from the Middle Korean word 향하다 "to go toward". | |||
Mongolian | гүйцэтгэх | ||
"Гүйцэтгэх" derives from "гүй", which also means "run" and is also related to the noun "галь" (horse or cow run). | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | စွမ်းဆောင်ရည် | ||
Indonesian | melakukan | ||
The word "melakukan" can also mean "to carry out" or "to do". | |||
Javanese | nindakake | ||
The word "nindakake" in Javanese can also mean "to practice" or "to fulfill". | |||
Khmer | អនុវត្ត | ||
The Khmer word អនុវត្ត (perform) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'anuvartate', which means 'to follow' or 'to carry out'. | |||
Lao | ປະຕິບັດ | ||
The word 'ປະຕິບັດ' is translated into English as 'perform', but it can also refer to the act of 'obeying' or 'complying with' something. | |||
Malay | membuat persembahan | ||
The word 'membuat persembahan' can also mean 'to make an offering' or 'to pay homage'. | |||
Thai | ดำเนินการ | ||
"ดำเนินการ" comes from Sanskrit word "ดำเนิน" (dāminē) which means "to go" or "to proceed". It can also mean "to undertake" or "to execute". | |||
Vietnamese | biểu diễn | ||
"Biểu diễn" also means "to express (one's emotions, opinions, etc.) through verbal or nonverbal means." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | gumanap | ||
Azerbaijani | yerinə yetirmək | ||
The verb "yerinə yetirmək" can also mean "to accomplish", "to complete", or "to fulfill" in English. | |||
Kazakh | орындау | ||
Орындау can also mean "position" or "post" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | аткаруу | ||
In some contexts, "аткаруу" can refer to "carrying out" or "completing" a task. | |||
Tajik | иҷро мекунанд | ||
Turkmen | ýerine ýetirmek | ||
Uzbek | ijro etish | ||
The word "ijro etish" also means "to execute" or "to carry out" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | ئىجرا قىلىڭ | ||
Hawaiian | hana | ||
The Hawaiian word "hana" can also mean "work" or "occupation." | |||
Maori | whakamana | ||
Whakamana can also mean 'to prepare food'. | |||
Samoan | faatino | ||
"Faatino" also means "to act out, to present, to exhibit, to display". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | gumanap | ||
The word "gumanap" in Tagalog also means "to enact" or "to act out" a role or character. |
Aymara | luraña | ||
Guarani | apo | ||
Esperanto | plenumi | ||
The Esperanto word "plenumi" also means "to carry out, to accomplish". | |||
Latin | praestare | ||
"Praestare" in Latin also means "to excel, be superior, or guarantee." |
Greek | εκτελώ | ||
In Byzantine Greek, "εκτελώ" originally meant "to fulfill" or "to complete", and later acquired the additional meaning of "to kill". | |||
Hmong | ua | ||
The word "ua" in Hmong also means "to dance" or "to play music". | |||
Kurdish | birêvebirin | ||
The verb "birêvebirin" has also been used to mean "to repeat". | |||
Turkish | icra etmek | ||
"Icra etmek" was originally an accounting term used to record the completion of a transaction. | |||
Xhosa | yenza | ||
The verb 'yenza' has cognates in several other Nguni languages, such as 'enza' in Zulu and Swati. | |||
Yiddish | דורכפירן | ||
The Yiddish word "דורכפירן" derives from the German word "durchführen" and also means "to carry out" or "to execute." | |||
Zulu | yenza | ||
In Zulu, "yenza" is also used to refer to creation or making something. | |||
Assamese | সম্পাদন কৰা | ||
Aymara | luraña | ||
Bhojpuri | तमाशा कईल | ||
Dhivehi | ހުށަހެޅުން | ||
Dogri | कारकर्दगी करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | gumanap | ||
Guarani | apo | ||
Ilocano | aramiden | ||
Krio | pafɔm | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەنجامدان | ||
Maithili | प्रदर्शन | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯥꯡꯊꯣꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | thil ti | ||
Oromo | hojjechuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ | ||
Quechua | ruway | ||
Sanskrit | प्रदर्शन | ||
Tatar | башкару | ||
Tigrinya | ግበር | ||
Tsonga | ku endla | ||