Proof in different languages

Proof in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Proof is a powerful word, denoting the evidence or argument that establishes something as true or false. Its significance extends beyond the realm of logic and mathematics, touching on the very essence of how we perceive and interact with the world. Throughout history, the concept of proof has been intertwined with the development of human knowledge and culture. From legal systems to scientific discoveries, proof has been the cornerstone of our understanding and progress.

Given its importance, it's no surprise that the word 'proof' has been translated into countless languages around the world. Each translation offers a unique perspective on the concept, reflecting the cultural nuances and linguistic traditions of the people who use it. For example, in Spanish, 'proof' is translated as 'prueba', while in French, it becomes 'preuve'. In German, the word is 'Beweis', and in Mandarin Chinese, it is '证据'.

In this article, we'll explore the translations of 'proof' in a variety of languages, shedding light on the fascinating cultural and historical contexts that shape our understanding of this fundamental concept.

Proof


Proof in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbewys
Bewys is cognate with the English "evidence" and both descend from the Latin "videre" (to see).
Amharicማረጋገጫ
The word ማረጋገጫ can also mean 'verification' or 'confirmation' in Amharic.
Hausahujja
The word "hujja" in Hausa is the singular form of "hujjoji", which means "evidence" or "signs"
Igboakaebe
The Igbo word "akaebe" also has the alternate meanings of "demonstration" and "assurance".
Malagasyfamantarana
"Famantarana" is also used in Malagasy to refer to a "sign" or "indication".
Nyanja (Chichewa)umboni
In Nyanja (Chichewa), the word "umboni" can also refer to a witness or evidence.
Shonahumbowo
The word "humbowo" can also mean "evidence" or "testimony" in Shona.
Somalicadayn
Somali word "Cadayn" (proof) also means "sign," "trace," or "evidence."
Sesothobopaki
The word 'bopaki' can also refer to a 'certificate' or a 'receipt'.
Swahiliuthibitisho
The word "uthibitisho" can also mean "evidence" or "confirmation" in Swahili.
Xhosaubungqina
Proof is derived from the verb "ubungaqina" which means "to be certain" in Xhosa.
Yorubaẹri
The word "ẹri" can also mean "a mark," "a witness," or "a trace."
Zuluubufakazi
It has no direct translation but its etymology may be from 'to bring forth'.
Bambaraséereya
Ewekpeɖodzi
Kinyarwandagihamya
Lingalaelembeteli
Lugandaobukakafu
Sepedibohlatse
Twi (Akan)nnyinasoɔ

Proof in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicدليل - إثبات
In the Quran, the word دليل is commonly used in the context of "evidence" and it is also sometimes used interchangeably with the word "argument".
Hebrewהוכחה
The Hebrew word "הוכחה" ("proof") originally meant "argument", and is related to the verb "להוכיח" ("to argue").
Pashtoثبوت
The Pashto word "ثبوت" can also refer to "certainty" or "stability".
Arabicدليل - إثبات
In the Quran, the word دليل is commonly used in the context of "evidence" and it is also sometimes used interchangeably with the word "argument".

Proof in Western European Languages

Albanianprova
The word "prova" in Albanian is derived from the Latin word "proba" meaning "test".
Basquefroga
The etymological origin of the word "froga" is unknown and it also means a type of frog, possibly due to its small size in relation to the other types of frogs.
Catalanprova
"Prova", "proof" in Catalan, also refers to a "test" or a "trial" or to the act of "trying".
Croatiandokaz
In the context of mathematics, "dokaz" also means "theorem" or "proposition".
Danishbevis
The Danish word "bevis" derives from the Latin word "bivia", meaning "crossroads" or "fork in the road".
Dutchbewijs
The Dutch word 'bewijs' can also mean 'document used in a court of law' or 'evidence'.
Englishproof
The word 'proof' derives from the Latin word 'probare,' meaning 'to test' or 'to approve.'
Frenchpreuve
Preuve derives from the Latin 'probare', which originally meant 'to test', before becoming 'to approve'.
Frisianbewiis
Bewiis is also an archaic word for 'poison' or 'toxic substance' in West Frisian, derived from the Middle Dutch word 'bewijs', meaning 'substance' or 'ingredient'.
Galicianproba
The word "proba" also refers to the act of tasting food or a liquid.
Germanbeweis
"Beweis" also means "evidence" and derives from the Old High German word "biwīsan," meaning "to make wise".
Icelandicsönnun
The word "sönnun" is derived from the Old Norse word "sannr," meaning "true," and can also refer to the act of verifying or confirming something.
Irishcruthúnas
In Medieval Irish, a 'cruthúnas' was not just 'proof' but also any type of historical evidence for a claim to land ownership, or other privileges.
Italianprova
The Italian word prova ('proof') derives from the Latin proba ('test').
Luxembourgishbeweis
In German, the cognate word "Beweis" can also refer to "evidence" or "argument".
Malteseprova
The Maltese word "prova" is derived from the Italian "prova", meaning "trial" or "test", and has the additional meaning of "evidence" or "proof" in Maltese.
Norwegianbevis
The Norwegian word "bevis" is derived from the Old Norse word "beiðask," meaning "to ask" or "to seek".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)prova
In Portuguese, the word "prova" also means "test" or "exam".
Scots Gaelicdearbhadh
The Gaelic word "dearbhadh" also means "demonstration" or "trial".
Spanishprueba
"Prueba" in Spanish is derived from the Latin word "probare" meaning to test or examine.
Swedishbevis
In addition to "bevis" meaning proof, it can also be used to mean "document"}
Welshprawf
In Welsh, the word "prawf" can also mean "trial" or "attempt."

Proof in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдоказ
In the 16th-18th centuries, the word "доказ" could also mean "evidence" or "testimony"
Bosniandokaz
The word 'dokaz' has different etymologies in Bosnian, including an Old-Slavic derivation meaning 'proof' and a Turkish derivation which translates as 'document'.
Bulgarianдоказателство
"Proof" in Bulgarian is a Slavic loanword and is related to the verb "доказать", which means to "show" or "demonstrate".
Czechdůkaz
The word "důkaz" in Czech also means "evidence" or "argument".
Estoniantõend
The Estonian word "tõend" is a derivative of "tõdeda" (to prove), and also has the meaning of "certificate".
Finnishtodiste
In addition to its primary meaning, "todiste" can also refer to a document or testimony that supports a claim.
Hungarianbizonyíték
The word "bizonyíték" originally meant "means of proof" and was later specialized to mean "proof".
Latvianpierādījums
The word "pierādījums" also means "evidence" or "justification" in Latvian.
Lithuanianįrodymas
The Lithuanian word "įrodymas" shares its root with the word meaning "evidence," "indication," or "sign."
Macedonianдоказ
The word "доказ" comes from the Proto-Slavic root *dok- "to point out" and has the same root as the word "документ" (document).
Polishdowód
In Polish, the word "dowód" can also mean "document", highlighting the concept of evidence as a tangible manifestation of proof.
Romaniandovada
The Romanian word "dovada" derives from the Latin word "proba", meaning "test" or "trial" but in modern Romanian it can also refer to a formal or legal document supporting a claim or allegation.
Russianдоказательство
The Russian word "доказательство" can also mean "evidence" or "argument".
Serbianдоказ
The Serbian word "доказ" can also mean evidence, argument, testament, proof of guilt, and demonstration.
Slovakdôkaz
"Dôkaz" is also used to refer to the process or activity of verifying or demonstrating something
Sloveniandokaz
The word "dokaz" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *dokazъ*, meaning "evidence" or "testimony".
Ukrainianдоказ
Ukrainian word "доказ" stems from the Old East Slavic "доказати" meaning "to indicate" and "to point out".

Proof in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপ্রমাণ
In Sanskrit, the word 'प्रमाण' means 'measure', 'knowledge', and 'criterion' and is related to the Bengali word 'প্রমাণ' meaning 'proof'.
Gujaratiસાબિતી
Hindiप्रमाण
The Sanskrit word 'प्रमाण' additionally means 'measure, norm, standard', implying that 'proof' is what measures or establishes the validity of an assertion.
Kannadaಪುರಾವೆ
The word "ಪುರಾವೆ" ("proof") in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रमाण" ("pramāṇa") and also means "evidence" or "testimony".
Malayalamതെളിവ്
The Malayalam word 'തെളിവ്' can also mean 'clarity', 'evidence', or 'confirmation'.
Marathiपुरावा
The word "पुरावा" is also used as an antonym of the word "कावा" (which means "rum") in Marathi.
Nepaliप्रमाण
The Sanskrit origin of "प्रमाण" translates as "measure, standard" and has broader connotations than its English counterpart.
Punjabiਸਬੂਤ
The word "ਸਬੂਤ" can also refer to the quality of being strong or durable.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)සාක්ෂි
Tamilஆதாரம்
In addition to its primary meaning as "proof," the Tamil word "ஆதாரம்" can also refer to "source," "basis," or "evidence."
Teluguరుజువు
The word
Urduثبوت
The term derives from the Arabic "θ-b-t", meaning "to be firm, established, proven, or fixed".

Proof in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)证明
"证明" (proof) can also refer to a legal document or a mathematical demonstration.
Chinese (Traditional)證明
"證明" can also mean "evidence" or "demonstration" in Chinese (Traditional).
Japanese証明
"証明" is also used in Japanese to mean "evidence" and "demonstration."
Korean증명
The word "증명" can also mean "evidence" or "testimony".
Mongolianнотолгоо
The word "нотолгоо" can also refer to "evidence" or "document".
Myanmar (Burmese)သက်သေ

Proof in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbukti
"Bukti" in Indonesian can also mean "evidence", "testimony", or "documentary evidence".
Javanesebuktine
Also refers to a wooden plank used to press down on the strings of a 'rebab' (a traditional Javanese string instrument).
Khmerភស្តុតាង
Laoຫຼັກຖານສະແດງ
Malaybukti
"Bukti" also means "evidence" or "sign" in Malay, and is cognate with the Sanskrit word "buddhi" (intellect or understanding).
Thaiหลักฐาน
หลักฐาน is derived from Sanskrit, meaning both 'proof' and 'mark or boundary'.
Vietnamesebằng chứng
"Bằng chứng" can also mean "evidence" or "documentation".
Filipino (Tagalog)patunay

Proof in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanisübut
Sanskrit 'supta' 'asleep', cf. Sanskrit 'sup' 'to sleep'.
Kazakhдәлел
Дәлел can also mean an argument or evidence in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzдалил
The Kyrgyz word "далил" also means "evidence" and "argument"
Tajikдалел
The word "далел" originates from the Arabic word "دليل" meaning "guide" or "evidence".
Turkmensubutnama
Uzbekdalil
In Uzbek, dalil (proof) derives from Arabic "adl" (justice), also referring to an honest witness, and is related to the Turkish "delil" (evidence, sign).
Uyghurئىسپات

Proof in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhooiaio
Hawaiian word "hooiaio" originates from the verb "hooi" (to cause, make) and "iaio" (to be true).
Maoritohu
Tohu is an expression of certainty or a sign of authentication in Maori
Samoanfaamaoniga
The word "faamaoniga" also means "witness" and "evidence" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)patunay

Proof in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarayant'a
Guaranikuaara'ã

Proof in International Languages

Esperantopruvo
Esperanto pruvo, from Russian проба, refers to proof in mathematics, but not in its judicial or quality sense.
Latinprobationem
Etymology: from Latin "probare" ("to test"), itself from "probus" ("good").

Proof in Others Languages

Greekαπόδειξη
The Greek word απόδειξη originally meant “indication, demonstration, explanation, trial” (cf. Latin testimonium) and was applied metaphorically to “proof.”
Hmongpov thawj
The Hmong word "pov thawj" also means "evidence" or "sign".
Kurdishdelîl
The word "delîl" is also used in the sense of "evidence", "indication", "reason", and "argument" in Kurdish.
Turkishkanıt
The Turkish word "kanıt" is also used to refer to "evidence" in a legal context, and it ultimately derives from the Arabic word "qinat", meaning "conviction" or "proof".
Xhosaubungqina
Proof is derived from the verb "ubungaqina" which means "to be certain" in Xhosa.
Yiddishבאווייז
The Yiddish word "באווייז" also means "appearance" or "evidence".
Zuluubufakazi
It has no direct translation but its etymology may be from 'to bring forth'.
Assameseপ্ৰমাণ
Aymarayant'a
Bhojpuriसबूत
Dhivehiހެކި
Dogriसबूत
Filipino (Tagalog)patunay
Guaranikuaara'ã
Ilocanoebidensia
Kriopruf
Kurdish (Sorani)بەڵگە
Maithiliप्रमाण
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯁꯥꯈꯤ
Mizofiahna
Oromoragaa
Odia (Oriya)ପ୍ରମାଣ
Quechuamalliy
Sanskritप्रमाणं
Tatarдәлил
Tigrinyaመረጋገፂ
Tsongavumbhoni

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