Principle in different languages

Principle in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

At its core, the word principle refers to a fundamental truth or rule that forms the basis of something. It's a concept that guides our actions, beliefs, and values, and it's universally relevant across cultures and languages. Principles can be moral, ethical, philosophical, or scientific, and they often serve as the foundation for the way we understand and interact with the world around us.

Throughout history, principles have been a source of inspiration and guidance for individuals and societies alike. From the ancient Greek philosophers to modern-day thought leaders, principles have been used to articulate and promote important ideas and values. By understanding and embracing the principles that underpin our lives, we can cultivate a deeper sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

Given the importance of principles, it's not surprising that the word has been translated into many different languages around the world. Here are just a few examples:

  • In Spanish, the word for principle is principio.
  • In French, it's principe.
  • In German, it's Prinzip.
  • In Mandarin Chinese, it's 原则 (yuán zé).
  • In Japanese, it's 原則 (gensoku).

Principle


Principle in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbeginsel
The Afrikaans word "beginsel" is derived from the Old French word "principe", which is in turn derived from the Latin word "principium", meaning "beginning" or "origin".
Amharicመርህ
The alternate meaning of መርህ in Amharic is 'measure'.
Hausaka'ida
Hausa word 'ka'ida', meaning 'principle', comes from Arabic, and means 'base' or 'foundation'
Igboụkpụrụ
Ụkpụrụ (principle) is derived from the verb
Malagasytoro lalan'ny
The term toro lalan’ny is also used in Madagascar to describe the 'main road' in a village or town.
Nyanja (Chichewa)mfundo
"Mfundo" is also the name of a traditional dance performed by the Tumbuka people of Malawi and Zambia.
Shonamusimboti
"Musimboti" is also a Shona verb which means to establish, create or build.
Somalimabda '
The word "mabda'" is also used to refer to a place of origin or a starting point.
Sesothomolao-motheo
The noun 'molao-motheo' originates from the verb 'ho laola' meaning 'to govern,' implying a governing principle.
Swahilikanuni
"Kanuni" can refer to a rule, law, regulation, or principle in legal, ethical, or social contexts.
Xhosaumgaqo
Umgaqo can also signify an 'axiomatic rule' or 'norm' that is not necessarily self-evident.
Yorubaopo
The Yoruba word "opo" (principle) originates from the word "opolopo" meaning "much" or "abundance".
Zuluisimiso
"Isimiso" also means "origin" or "beginning" in Zulu.
Bambarasariyakolo
Ewegɔmeɖose
Kinyarwandaihame
Lingalaetinda ya etinda
Lugandaomusingi
Sepedimolao-motheo
Twi (Akan)nnyinasosɛm

Principle in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالمبدأ
In Arabic, "المبدأ" (al-mabda) not only refers to a principle but can also mean origin, source, beginning, or premise.
Hebrewעִקָרוֹן
The Hebrew word "עִקָרוֹן" also refers to the Philistine city of Ekron, and the root "עקר" can also mean "to uproot" or "to extirpate."
Pashtoاصول
The Pashto word "اصول" can also refer to "root" or "origin".
Arabicالمبدأ
In Arabic, "المبدأ" (al-mabda) not only refers to a principle but can also mean origin, source, beginning, or premise.

Principle in Western European Languages

Albanianparimi
"Parimi" derives from the Greek word "paramýthion," meaning "example" or "model."
Basqueprintzipioa
It can also mean 'base,' 'foundation,' 'origin,' or 'element'
Catalanprincipi
In Catalan, "principi" can also refer to a prince or the beginning of a film, book, etc.
Croatiannačelo
The word "načelo" in Croatian can also mean "beginning" or "origin" and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *na-čęti "to begin, start".
Danishprincip
Princip in Danish can also refer to the original amount on a loan, a sum of money invested, or a main or essential part of something.
Dutchbeginsel
The Dutch word "beginsel" also has the archaic or poetic meaning "seed".
Englishprinciple
The word "principle" can also refer to a sum of money or a principal amount, or to a person who is the head of a school or college.
Frenchprincipe
In French, "principe" can also mean "prince" or "boss".
Frisianprinsipe
"Prinsipe" in Frisian also refers to a ruler, or the person in charge.
Galicianprincipio
"Principio" is used in its Latin acceptation, meaning origin, start or source.
Germanprinzip
The word "Prinzip" in German can also mean "rule" or "law".
Icelandicmeginregla
The word "meginregla" originally meant "the main rule" in Norse mythology, then came to mean "principle" in Icelandic.
Irishprionsabal
The Irish word "prionsabal" can also refer to a "pattern of behavior" or a "model to be followed".
Italianprincipio
In Italian, "principio" also means "beginning, start, or origin"
Luxembourgishprinzip
Malteseprinċipju
The Maltese word "prinċipju" comes from the Latin word "principium" which means "beginning" or "source" and can also refer to a "rule" or "guideline
Norwegianprinsipp
"Prinsipp" also means a spice in Norwegian, especially in the expression "å få eller gi noen sitt prinsipp" (to give someone a piece of one's mind).
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)princípio
In the Portuguese language, "princípio" also means the first phase or stage of a process or event.
Scots Gaelicprionnsapal
The Scots Gaelic word "prionnsapal" derives from Old French "principel" meaning "beginning" or "first".
Spanishprincipio
In Spanish, "principio" can also refer to a beginning or a time when something starts.
Swedishprincip
In Swedish, "princip" can also refer to a melody that forms the foundation of a composition.
Welshegwyddor
The word "egwyddor" can also mean "doctrine" or "axiom" in Welsh.

Principle in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпрынцыповасць
The word "прынцыповасць" also has the meaning of "fundamentalism", indicating adherence to a strict set of beliefs.
Bosnianprincip
The word "princip" also means "leader" in Bosnian.
Bulgarianпринцип
In Bulgarian, the word "принцип" can also refer to a rule of thumb or a basic law of nature.
Czechzásada
The word "zásada" derives from the Old Czech word "zázda," meaning "support" or "foundation."
Estonianpõhimõttel
Alternately, "põhimõttel" can also mean "rule" or "axiom".
Finnishperiaate
Finnish word "periaate" is derived from Greek word "principium" meaning "beginning, first principle, chief foundation"
Hungarianelv
The word "elv" is Hungarian for "principle" but it also refers to a river delta.
Latvianprincips
Latvian “princips” and its synonyms “sākums” (“beginning”), “pamats” (“foundation”), and “vadlīnija” (“guideline”) all originate from the same root “principium”, which means “beginning” in Latin.
Lithuanianprincipas
The Lithuanian word "principas" is an older version of the borrowed word "principas'", meaning "the first one".
Macedonianпринцип
The Macedonian word "принцип" derives from the Greek word "αρχή" (arkhē), originally meaning "beginning, source, or root", and has also been used in Christianity to refer to the "origin, cause, or source of all things".
Polishzasada
The Polish word "zasada" can also refer to an ambush, a trap or an ambush position.
Romanianprincipiu
The Romanian word "principiu" directly evolved from the Latin "principium" - "beginning", a meaning which is now considered its secondary meaning in Romanian.
Russianпринцип
In Russian, “принцип” can also refer to a musical note or an elementary particle
Serbianпринцип
The word "принцип" can also refer to the moral guidelines of an organization or the fundamental structure of a system.
Slovakprincíp
The word "princíp" in Slovak also means "the basis, the starting point".
Sloveniannačelo
The word 'načelo' in Slovenian also means 'beginning' or 'foundation'.
Ukrainianпринцип
The word "принцип" (principle) also has an alternate meaning in Ukrainian, which is "interest"}

Principle in South Asian Languages

Bengaliনীতি
The word "নীতি" (Neeti) has Sanskrit origins and also means "ethics" or "morality".
Gujaratiસિદ્ધાંત
સિદ્ધાંત shares cognates with the Indo-Aryan word 'sat' meaning 'being', 'existence'.
Hindiसिद्धांत
The Hindi word "सिद्धांत" ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "सिद्धान्त" meaning "conclusive reason" or "established tenet".
Kannadaತತ್ವ
The word "ತತ್ವ" in Kannada is cognate with "tattva" in Sanskrit, which also means "element" or "essence".
Malayalamതത്വം
The word "തത്വം" in Malayalam is derived from the Sanskrit word "तत्व" which means "principle" or "element", and it can also refer to "reality", "truth" or "nature of something".
Marathiतत्व
Though 'तत्व' literally means 'element', it is metaphorically used as 'principle' and 'essence' in Marathi.
Nepaliसिद्धान्त
The word "सिद्धान्त" is derived from the Sanskrit root "सिद्ध" meaning "to establish" or "to prove", and the suffix "-ान्त" meaning "that which is established" or "an established principle or doctrine".
Punjabiਸਿਧਾਂਤ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)මූලධර්මය
The word is derived from the Sanskrit word "mūladharma", which means the fundamental law or the basis of anything.
Tamilகொள்கை
The Tamil word "கொள்கை" (principle) can also refer to a policy, rule, or maxim, and derives from the Sanskrit word "कुलक" (kulaka), meaning "family" or "lineage."
Teluguసూత్రం
The Telugu word "సూత్రం" derives from the Sanskrit word "सूत्र" (sūtra), which has various meanings including "thread," "rule," or "aphorism."
Urduاصول
Derived from Arabic word 'أصول' (roots), 'اصول' in Urdu also refers to Islamic jurisprudence and legal doctrines.

Principle in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)原理
In addition to its meaning as "principle", "原理" can also refer to "the fundamental laws or truths of a subject".
Chinese (Traditional)原理
原理, from principle in English, also refers to truth or reason, such as in the term 物理原理, physics principles.
Japanese原理
The word 'principle' is derived from the Latin word principium meaning 'beginning' or 'source'.
Korean원리
The Korean word "원리" can also mean "reason", "cause", or "the reason for something".
Mongolianзарчим
The Mongolian word "зарчим" can also mean "foundation" or "basis".
Myanmar (Burmese)နိယာမ

Principle in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianprinsip
In Indonesian, "prinsip" can also mean "stance" or "basic rule" and comes from the Dutch word "principe."
Javaneseprinsip
Javanese word "prinsip" also means the foundation of a building or a house.
Khmerគោលការណ៍
The Khmer word for principle is pronounced "kow-len-kan" and comes from the Sanskrit word "tattva," meaning "essence" or "truth."
Laoຫຼັກການ
Malayprinsip
"Prinsip" is derived from the Sanskrit word "prinsipa", meaning "chief", "head", or "first".
Thaiหลักการ
The word "หลักการ" also means "reason" or "cause" in Thai.
Vietnamesenguyên tắc
The word "nguyên tắc" in Vietnamese can also refer to axioms or foundational concepts in a discipline.
Filipino (Tagalog)prinsipyo

Principle in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniprinsip
In Azerbaijani, "prinsip" can also mean "principled", "fundamental", or "basic".
Kazakhпринцип
The Kazakh word "принцип" can also mean "basis" or "foundation".
Kyrgyzпринцип
"Принцип" (prinsipi) is a Russian loanword meaning both "principle" and "basis" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikпринсип
The Tajik word "принсип" ("principle") comes from the Russian word "принцип" ("principle"), which itself derived from the Latin word "principium" ("first principle").
Turkmenýörelgesi
Uzbekprintsip
The word "printsip" can also refer to the "head" or "origin" of something in Uzbek.
Uyghurپرىنسىپ

Principle in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankumumanaʻo
Kumumanaʻo derives from the Proto-Polynesian root *mana, meaning 'power, authority, or prestige,' and the suffix -o, indicating possession.
Maoriparau tumu
In Maori, 'parau tumu' also refers to the 'seed' of an idea or the 'foundation' of a belief system.
Samoanmataupu silisili
The term "mataupu silisili" in Samoan also refers to a foundation or cornerstone.
Tagalog (Filipino)prinsipyo
The word "prinsipyo" originally came from the Spanish word "principio", which also means "beginning", "basis", and "source".

Principle in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraprincipio
Guaraniprincipio rehegua

Principle in International Languages

Esperantoprincipo
"Principo" in Esperanto can also refer to a musical score or a musical piece.
Latinprinciple
In Latin, the word "principium" can also mean "origin" or "beginning".

Principle in Others Languages

Greekαρχή
The Greek word 'αρχή' means both 'beginning' and 'principle,' capturing the idea that origins can contain guiding principles.
Hmongkuj
"Kuj" is also used to refer to the "truth" or "natural law" that governs the universe and human affairs.
Kurdishrêzman
The Kurdish word "rêzman" can also refer to a ruler, head of household, or foreman.
Turkishprensip
The Turkish word "prensip" comes from the French word "principe" or the Latin word "principium", which both mean "beginning" or "source".
Xhosaumgaqo
Umgaqo can also signify an 'axiomatic rule' or 'norm' that is not necessarily self-evident.
Yiddishפּרינציפּ
The Yiddish word 'פרינציפּ' (principle) also means 'a basic rule or law governing a particular area of knowledge or conduct'.
Zuluisimiso
"Isimiso" also means "origin" or "beginning" in Zulu.
Assameseনীতি
Aymaraprincipio
Bhojpuriसिद्धांत के रूप में बा
Dhivehiއުސޫލުންނެވެ
Dogriसिद्धांत
Filipino (Tagalog)prinsipyo
Guaraniprincipio rehegua
Ilocanoprinsipio
Krioprinsipul
Kurdish (Sorani)بنەما
Maithiliसिद्धांत
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄ꯭ꯔꯤꯟꯁꯤꯄꯜ ꯑꯁꯤꯅꯤ꯫
Mizoprinciple chu a ni
Oromoqajeelfama (principle) jedhu
Odia (Oriya)ନୀତି
Quechuaprincipio nisqamanta
Sanskritसिद्धान्तः
Tatarпринцибы
Tigrinyaመትከል ምዃኑ’ዩ።
Tsongansinya wa nawu

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