Profession in different languages

Profession in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

At its core, a 'profession' is an occupation or career that requires specialized knowledge, skills, and training. But it's so much more than just a job – it's a vital part of our cultural identity and personal fulfillment. Throughout history, people have taken pride in their professions, and many have even defined themselves by their work.

The concept of a profession has been around for thousands of years, with the first guilds appearing in the medieval period. These organizations helped to regulate trades, set standards, and provide support for workers. Today, professions continue to play a crucial role in our society, shaping everything from our economy to our social status.

Understanding the translation of 'profession' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights and connections. For example, in Spanish, 'profession' is 'profesión,' while in French, it's 'profession.' In German, it's 'Beruf,' and in Japanese, it's 'shokugyō.'

By learning these translations, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity and complexity of professions around the world. So whether you're a doctor, teacher, artist, or engineer, take pride in your profession and explore its cultural significance in different languages.

Profession


Profession in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansberoep
The Afrikaans word "beroep" has its origins in the Dutch word "beroep", which means "calling" or "vocation".
Amharicሙያ
The word 'ሙያ' also means 'work' or 'occupation', similar to the English word 'profession', which can have a broader meaning than just a specific job or career.
Hausasana'a
In Hausa, 'sana'a' also means 'craft' or 'art'.
Igboaka oru
'Aka oru' can also mean 'trade' or 'craft' in Igbo.
Malagasyasa
The word "asa" in Malagasy can also mean "duty" or "responsibility."
Nyanja (Chichewa)ntchito
Ntchito also means 'work', especially of a manual nature.
Shonabasa
As a prefix, 'basa' means 'good' or 'well'.
Somalixirfad
The word 'xirfad' may also refer to 'calling' or 'occupation'.
Sesothomosebetsi
"Mosebetsi" derives from the verb "sebetša" (to work) and the nominal prefix "mo-" denoting an abstract noun.
Swahilitaaluma
"Taaluma" is derived from the Arabic "tʿālim" meaning "knowledge, learning, education".
Xhosaumsebenzi
The word "umsebenzi" in Xhosa can also refer to a trade, occupation, or calling, indicating a person's specialized skill or work experience.
Yorubaoojo
The word "oojo" can also mean "duty" or "responsibility" in Yoruba.
Zuluumsebenzi
"Umsebenzi" is also used to refer to a work of art or a piece of craftsmanship.
Bambarabaara
Ewedɔwɔwɔ
Kinyarwandaumwuga
Lingalamosala
Lugandaomulimu
Sepediphorofešene
Twi (Akan)adwuma

Profession in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمهنة
The word "مهنة" can also mean "occupation", "job", or "trade" in Arabic.
Hebrewמִקצוֹעַ
The word "מִקצוֹעַ" can also mean "craft" or "trade".
Pashtoمسلک
The word "مسلک" also means "path" or "way of life" in Pashto.
Arabicمهنة
The word "مهنة" can also mean "occupation", "job", or "trade" in Arabic.

Profession in Western European Languages

Albanianprofesioni
The word "profesioni" in Albanian originates from the Italian word "professione" but also has the alternate meaning of "occupation".
Basquelanbidea
The Basque word 'lanbidea' also means 'path to work' or 'road to a job'.
Catalanprofessió
In Catalan, "professió" also means "religious order" or "religious vows".
Croatianprofesija
In Croatian, 'profesija' originally meant a religious oath, and is related to 'profes' (confession), 'profet' (prophet), and 'proricati' (to prophesy).
Danisherhverv
The word "erhverv" derives from the Proto-Germanic word "*arbizjoz", meaning "work, effort".
Dutchberoep
The word "beroep" originally meant "calling" or "vocation", and still has this meaning in some contexts.
Englishprofession
The word 'profession' derives from the Latin 'professio', meaning 'to declare publicly' or 'to acknowledge'. In ancient Rome, it referred to a person's declared trade or occupation.
Frenchprofession
In French, "profession" can also refer to a statement or declaration, similar to the English "make a profession of faith".
Frisianberop
The Frisian word 'berop' is cognate with the Dutch 'beroep', which also means 'vocation' or 'calling'.
Galicianprofesión
In Galician, "profesión" can also refer to a person's expertise or occupation regardless of formal training or qualifications.
Germanberuf
"Beruf" derives from a Middle High German word meaning "calling" and shares its etymological roots with the English word "career."
Icelandicstarfsgrein
The Icelandic word "starfsgrein" derives from "störf" (work) and "grein" (branch), signifying a specialized branch of work.
Irishgairm
"Gaírm" is cognate with the word "gair" (battle cry), reflecting the ancient Celtic concept that a person's true profession is expressed through their actions in battle.
Italianprofessione
"Professione" in Italian can also refer to one's conduct or behavior, especially in a particular situation.
Luxembourgishberuff
In some rural areas of Luxembourg, the term "Beruff" can also refer to the "cattle trade".
Malteseprofessjoni
The word "professjoni" in Maltese is derived from the Italian word "professione", which in turn comes from the Latin word "professio" meaning "public declaration", "avowal", "promise".
Norwegianyrke
The word 'yrke' is derived from the Old Norse word 'verk', meaning 'work' or 'deed'.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)profissão
In Latin, "professio" means "declaration or promise".
Scots Gaelicdreuchd
The Scots Gaelic word "dreuchd" has its origins in the Old Irish word "drucht", meaning "skill" or "craft".
Spanishprofesión
The term "profesión" originally meant "acknowledging publicly" and "solemn declaration", hence the modern day meaning of declaring an occupation
Swedishyrke
"Yrke" originally meant "work, task" and was related to "verk", "verkstad" ("tool, workshop").
Welshproffesiwn
The root of the Welsh word 'proffesiwn' is 'proffes', which originally meant 'a promise' or 'a vow', reflecting the strong connection between occupations and guilds in the Middle Ages.

Profession in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпрафесія
"Прафесія" (profession) comes from Latin "professio," meaning "a public declaration" or "to declare openly."
Bosnianprofesija
"Profes(ija)" is derived from Latin via French "professi(on)", from the verb "profitērī" (to make known), and is cognate with the English "professor".
Bulgarianпрофесия
The word професия also means 'confession', referring to the religious affiliation of an individual.
Czechprofese
In Czech
Estonianelukutse
"Elukutse" comes from the words "elu" (life) and "kutse" (call), implying a calling in life.
Finnishammatti
The word 'ammatti' is derived from the Proto-Uralic word '*ammata', meaning 'to know how to do something' or 'to be skilled at something'.
Hungarianszakma
"Szakma" also means "guild" or "union" in certain contexts, e.g. "pékipar szakma" for "the baker's guild".
Latvianprofesija
In Latvian the term "profesija" comes from the German "Profession", and means either 'career,' 'profession' or 'vocation,' while its plural "profesijas" can refer to 'occupations' and 'professional fields.'
Lithuanianprofesija
The word "profesija" is derived from the Latin "professio", meaning "public declaration", and is often used in Lithuanian to describe an occupation or calling that requires specialized training and knowledge.
Macedonianпрофесија
Like "professor," "profession" comes from the Latin "profiteri," which means "to declare publicly" or "to make known."
Polishzawód
While "zawód" initially meant "a calling" or "vocation," it gradually came to signify "profession."
Romanianprofesie
The Romanian word "profesie" derives from Latin "professio" with the meaning of "public declaration" or "avowal of faith".
Russianпрофессия
The word "профессия" comes from the Latin word "professio" and initially meant "a public statement of faith"
Serbianпрофесија
The word 'професија' is a borrowing from the Latin word 'professio' meaning 'public declaration' or 'confession of faith'.
Slovakpovolanie
The Slovak word 'povolanie' also means 'calling' or 'destiny', reflecting the idea of a profession as something one is meant to do.
Slovenianpoklic
The word “poklic” originates from the Old Slavonic word “pokloniti”, meaning “to bow down” or “to submit to.”
Ukrainianпрофесія
The word "професія" comes from the Latin word "professio", meaning "declaration" or "public statement of one's faith".

Profession in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপেশা
The word "পেশা" also refers to a trade, craft or occupation, especially a skilled one.
Gujaratiવ્યવસાય
Hindiव्यवसाय
The word व्यवसाय (vyavasāya) can also mean 'occupation', 'business', or 'practice'.
Kannadaವೃತ್ತಿ
The word 'ವೃತ್ತಿ' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'वृत्ति' (vritti), meaning 'means of livelihood' or 'occupation'.
Malayalamതൊഴിൽ
The word "തൊഴിൽ" can also refer to "work" or "labor" in Malayalam.
Marathiव्यवसाय
The word "व्यवसाय" comes from the Sanskrit root "वृत्" (vṛt), meaning "to choose," and is a cognate of the English word "vocation.
Nepaliपेशा
"पेशा" (profession) has no alternate meanings in Nepali, being a tatsama loan from Sanskrit.
Punjabiਪੇਸ਼ੇ
The word 'ਪੇਸ਼ੇ' (profession) in Punjabi also refers to the act of presenting or displaying something.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වෘත්තිය
In Sinhala, "වෘත්තිය" literally means "a circle" and can also refer to "a profession or occupation that requires specialized knowledge and training."
Tamilதொழில்
The Tamil word தொழில் also means 'industry' and is derived from the root 'to do'.
Teluguవృత్తి
In Telugu, the word "వృత్తి" (vrtti) can also refer to a person's occupation, livelihood, or means of earning a living.
Urduپیشہ
The word "پیشہ" in Urdu can also mean "lineage" or "trade".

Profession in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)职业
The word "职业" originally referred to a person's official title or status.
Chinese (Traditional)職業
職業 can also mean the duties of a priest, in addition to its meaning of profession.
Japanese職業
The word "職業" (shokugyo) also means "occupation" or "calling" in Japanese.
Korean직업
The word 직업 can also refer to a person's occupation, job, or trade.
Mongolianмэргэжил
The word "мэргэжил" can also refer to a person's skill or expertise in a particular field.
Myanmar (Burmese)အလုပ်အကိုင်
The term can also refer to a job or occupation

Profession in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianprofesi
In Malay, profesi also means "preface" or "foreword".
Javaneseprofesi
The Javanese word "profesi" also means "promise" or "vow".
Khmerវិជ្ជាជីវៈ
"វិជ្ជាជីវៈ" also translates to "intellectual pursuit" and stems from two Pali sources: "vijjā", or "intellect, knowledge or learning" and "jīvika", or "livelihood".
Laoອາຊີບ
The word "ອາຊີບ" (อาชีพ - achip) in Lao may also mean "occupation", "career", or "vocation".
Malayprofesion
"Profesion", from Middle Dutch, can also mean appearance or presence
Thaiวิชาชีพ
วิชาชีพ (วิชา 'ศาสตร์' + ชีพ 'การงาน') เป็นคำที่มีรากศัพท์มาจากภาษาบาลีและสันสกฤต โดยหมายถึง 'ความรู้' หรือ 'ศาสตร์' ที่นำมาประกอบเป็นการงานอาชีพ
Vietnamesenghề nghiệp
The word "nghề nghiệp" in Vietnamese can also mean "vocation" or "career".
Filipino (Tagalog)propesyon

Profession in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanipeşə
The word "peşə" in Azerbaijani is derived from the Persian word "peşa" meaning "occupation" or "trade".
Kazakhмамандық
The word “мамандық” also has a broader meaning, namely “knowledge”, “study”, “skill”, and “occupation”.
Kyrgyzкесип
The word "кесип" is also used to refer to "career", denoting one's line of work or occupation.
Tajikкасб
The Tajik word "касб" (profession) is borrowed from the Persian "کسب" (trade, business), and both ultimately come from the Arabic "کسْبٌ" (acquisition).
Turkmenhünäri
Uzbekkasb
"Kasb" also means "earning" and "gaining".
Uyghurكەسپى

Profession in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianʻoihana
ʻOihana also refers to an office, business, or function, while in ancient times, it signified a district or division of land ruled by a chief.
Maoriumanga
Umanga, a homonym of 'profession', also refers to the Maori word for 'striving' and 'determination'
Samoanmatata
Matata also refers to a meeting of Samoan chiefs, a sacred object, or a place of learning.
Tagalog (Filipino)propesyon
"Propesyon" comes from the Spanish "profesión," which can also mean "religious profession," "public declaration of faith," or "declaration of something's character"

Profession in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarayatxatata
Guaranitembiapo

Profession in International Languages

Esperantoprofesio
"Profesi'" has the original meaning of "to declare one's faith". In modern Esperanto it can also mean "to profess a faith", "to make one's profession of faith" or "to declare".
Latinprofessionis
In Latin, "professionis" refers to open and public declaration of religious vows or belief in a particular creed.

Profession in Others Languages

Greekεπάγγελμα
The word επάγγελμα derives from the ancient Greek word ἐπάγγελμα, meaning 'promise, assurance, guarantee', and originally referred to a solemn declaration of faith or a vow.
Hmongtxoj haujlwm
The Hmong word "txoj haujlwm" literally means "the thing one does," implying both the person and task.
Kurdishsinet
Sinet, in Kurdish, can also refer to a person's trade or skill set.
Turkishmeslek
Meslek in Turkish does not only mean a person's profession but also their moral character, which is also used as a surname.
Xhosaumsebenzi
The word "umsebenzi" in Xhosa can also refer to a trade, occupation, or calling, indicating a person's specialized skill or work experience.
Yiddishפאַך
The Yiddish word "פאַך" (profession) is derived from the Middle High German "fach" meaning "box, compartment, division, subject"}
Zuluumsebenzi
"Umsebenzi" is also used to refer to a work of art or a piece of craftsmanship.
Assameseপেছা
Aymarayatxatata
Bhojpuriपेशा
Dhivehiޕްރޮފެޝަން
Dogriपेशा
Filipino (Tagalog)propesyon
Guaranitembiapo
Ilocanopropesion
Kriowok
Kurdish (Sorani)پیشە
Maithiliपेशा
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯁꯤꯟꯐꯝ
Mizothiamthil hnathawh
Oromoogummaa
Odia (Oriya)ବୃତ୍ତି
Quechuayachasqan
Sanskritव्यवसाय
Tatarһөнәр
Tigrinyaስራሕ
Tsongaphurofexini

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