Updated on March 6, 2024
A proposal is a carefully planned and presented idea, often seeking approval or agreement. Its significance spans across various fields, from business to marriage proposals. Culturally, proposals have been celebrated in many societies as a significant milestone, marking the beginning of new journeys and commitments.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'proposal' in different languages can be a fascinating exploration of linguistic and cultural diversity. For instance, in Spanish, it's 'propuesta'; in French, 'proposition'; in German, 'Vorschlag'; in Mandarin, '建议' (jiàn yì); in Japanese, '提案' (teian); and in Arabic, 'مقترح' (muqtarah).
Did you know that in ancient Rome, a proposal of marriage was often made by the man's father, not the man himself? Or that in some cultures, a dowry was part of the marriage proposal? Understanding these historical contexts and linguistic nuances can enrich our appreciation of this significant word.
Afrikaans | voorstel | ||
The word "voorstel" in Afrikaans also means "proposition" or "statement". | |||
Amharic | ፕሮፖዛል | ||
The word 'ፕሮፖዛል' ('proposal') is derived from the Greek word 'proponere', meaning 'to put forward'. | |||
Hausa | shawara | ||
The Hausa word "shawara" can also refer to the process of seeking advice or counsel. | |||
Igbo | amaghị | ||
"Amaghị" also means "agreement" and derives from "ma" (take) and "ghị" (thing). | |||
Malagasy | tolo-kevitra | ||
The word "tolo-kevitra" in Malagasy is derived from the words "tolo" meaning "three" and "kevitra" meaning "idea". It suggests that a proposal is typically based on multiple ideas coming together. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | pempholo | ||
The word "pempholo" can also refer to a "suggestion" or "advice" in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | chirevo | ||
In Shona, 'chirevo' can also mean 'request' or 'plea'. | |||
Somali | soo jeedin | ||
The word "soo jeedin" has a double meaning, the original meaning is "a question to be asked", while the secondary meaning is "a proposal". | |||
Sesotho | tlhahiso | ||
The word "tlhahiso" is also used in a legal context to describe a formal application or petition. | |||
Swahili | pendekezo | ||
The noun 'pendekezo' (proposal) is derived from the root word 'pendekeza', which means 'to suggest' or 'to recommend'. | |||
Xhosa | isindululo | ||
In Xhosa, "isindululo" also refers to a formal offer or statement of a plan or action, and can be used to discuss matters of business or diplomacy. | |||
Yoruba | imọran | ||
The word "imọran" can also mean "advice" or "suggestion" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | isiphakamiso | ||
The Zulu word 'isiphakamiso' can also refer to a 'suggestion' or 'recommendation'. | |||
Bambara | poropozisiyɔn | ||
Ewe | nyadoɖa | ||
Kinyarwanda | icyifuzo | ||
Lingala | likanisi | ||
Luganda | okiteeso | ||
Sepedi | tšhišinyo | ||
Twi (Akan) | deɛ yɛde ato anim | ||
Arabic | اقتراح | ||
The word "اقتراح" (iqtirāḥ) derives from the Arabic root q-r-ḥ, which means "to draw" or "to delineate". | |||
Hebrew | הצעה | ||
The Hebrew word "הצעה" ('proposal') also has the alternate meaning of "offer" or "suggestion". | |||
Pashto | وړاندیز | ||
In Pashto, "وړاندیز" also means "to put forward an idea" or "to suggest something" | |||
Arabic | اقتراح | ||
The word "اقتراح" (iqtirāḥ) derives from the Arabic root q-r-ḥ, which means "to draw" or "to delineate". |
Albanian | propozim | ||
Propozim (in Albanian) derives from Latin prepositionem and Italian proposizione, meaning "proposition" or "statement". | |||
Basque | proposamen | ||
There is a word "proposamen" in some northern dialects meaning "promise". | |||
Catalan | proposta | ||
In Catalan, "proposta" can also mean "an object put forward for consideration, a motion". | |||
Croatian | prijedlog | ||
A homonym with the word 'prijedlog' is the word 'prijedlog' meaning 'preposition' in Croatian. | |||
Danish | forslag | ||
The Danish word "forslag" derives from the Old Norse word "framslag", meaning "a striking forward". | |||
Dutch | voorstel | ||
The Dutch word "voorstel" also means a "presentation" or an "intention". | |||
English | proposal | ||
The word "proposal" comes from the Late Latin word "propositum" meaning "a thing proposed, plan." | |||
French | proposition | ||
En français, le mot "proposition" peut aussi signifier une partie d'un discours ou un axiome mathématique. | |||
Frisian | foarstel | ||
De foarstel kin ek net steunje - Ik kan het voorstel niet steunen. | |||
Galician | proposta | ||
In Galician, "proposta" can also mean "offer" or "proposition" and is derived from the Latin word "propositum," meaning "plan" or "intention." | |||
German | vorschlag | ||
The German word "Vorschlag" can also refer to an ornament or decoration, particularly in music. | |||
Icelandic | tillaga | ||
The word 'tillaga' (proposal) in Icelandic has its origins in the Old Norse words 'til' (meaning 'to, towards') and 'lag' (meaning 'law, agreement, provision'). | |||
Irish | togra | ||
The word "togra" is a noun that can mean either a proposal or an opinion. | |||
Italian | proposta | ||
The term "proposta" can also refer to a musical exercise where a student prepares and then performs a piece for their teacher's evaluation. | |||
Luxembourgish | propositioun | ||
The Luxembourgish word “Propositioun” derives from the French word “proposition” and is used in the context of a proposal or a motion. | |||
Maltese | proposta | ||
The Maltese word "proposta" originates from the Italian "proposta" meaning "proposition" or "offer". | |||
Norwegian | forslag | ||
The word "forslag" is derived from the Old Norse word "forslagr", meaning "plan" or "purpose". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | proposta | ||
Portuguese 'proposta' comes from medieval Latin 'proposita', meaning 'an object set before one'. | |||
Scots Gaelic | moladh | ||
The Gaelic word 'moladh' shares an etymology with the Irish word 'molaim', meaning 'to praise or recommend'. | |||
Spanish | propuesta | ||
In Spanish, "propuesta" can also refer to a bet or gamble. | |||
Swedish | förslag | ||
The word "förslag" also has the meanings "suggestion" and "proposition". | |||
Welsh | cynnig | ||
The Welsh word 'cynnig' derives from the Proto-Celtic root '*kʷeni-g-', meaning 'to sing' or 'to chant'. |
Belarusian | прапанова | ||
Bosnian | prijedlog | ||
The word "prijedlog" can also mean "preposition" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | предложение | ||
The Bulgarian word "предложение" also means "sentence" in grammar. | |||
Czech | návrh | ||
In 18th and 19th-century Czech, "návrh" could refer not just to a draft, but also a formal complaint. | |||
Estonian | ettepanek | ||
Ettepanek in Estonian originated from the word "ette" which means "in front" and "panek" which means "put", implying bringing something forward as a suggestion. | |||
Finnish | ehdotus | ||
The word 'ehdotus' is derived from the Finnish word 'ehto', meaning condition or term. | |||
Hungarian | javaslat | ||
The Hungarian word "javaslat" not only means "proposal", but also relates to "advice", "suggestion" and "recommendation." | |||
Latvian | priekšlikumu | ||
Latvian "priekšlikumu" also means "preposition" which is quite confusing as prepositions and proposals are totally different things. | |||
Lithuanian | pasiūlymas | ||
The word "pasiūlymas" in Lithuanian can also mean "an offer" or "a suggestion". | |||
Macedonian | предлог | ||
In Old Church Slavonic 'predlog' meant 'preposition' | |||
Polish | wniosek | ||
"Wniosek" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "vъniti", meaning "to bring in," and also shares a root with the Polish word "wniesienie", meaning "putting in, contributing, or introducing." | |||
Romanian | propunere | ||
"Propune" comes from the Latin word "proponere," which means "to set forth, to offer, to make known." | |||
Russian | предложение | ||
В русском языке слово "предложение" также означает грамматическую конструкцию, состоящую из подлежащего и сказуемого. | |||
Serbian | предлог | ||
"Предлог" can also mean "preposition" in a grammatical sense | |||
Slovak | návrh | ||
The noun "návrh" ("proposal") is also used in Czech and Polish with the same meaning. | |||
Slovenian | snubitev | ||
The word "snubitev" also refers to a betrothal ceremony in Slovenian folklore. | |||
Ukrainian | пропозиція | ||
The word "пропозиція" can also mean "offer" and "suggestion". |
Bengali | প্রস্তাব | ||
The word "প্রস্তাব" can also mean "motion" or "resolution" in a formal setting. | |||
Gujarati | દરખાસ્ત | ||
It came into use during the Mughal period, around the 16th century. | |||
Hindi | प्रस्ताव | ||
The term "प्रस्ताव" derives from the Sanskrit root "pra + stha", signifying establishment, placement, or submission. | |||
Kannada | ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ | ||
The Kannada word "ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ" (prastāpa) is borrowed from Sanskrit, where it means "mentioning, presentation, statement". | |||
Malayalam | നിർദ്ദേശം | ||
The Malayalam word "നിർദ്ദേശം" can also mean "recommendation", "suggestion", or "instruction". | |||
Marathi | प्रस्ताव | ||
प्रस्ताव (proposal) refers to a proposal plan in Hindi, but also means "proposition, motion" in Marathi | |||
Nepali | प्रस्ताव | ||
Another meaning of प्रस्ताव is "a paragraph" or "a section". Its etymology also means "to spread out" or "to present". | |||
Punjabi | ਪ੍ਰਸਤਾਵ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | යෝජනාව | ||
The word යෝජනාව "proposal" is derived from the Sanskrit word "yoga", meaning "union" or "connection". | |||
Tamil | திட்டம் | ||
The word "திட்டம்" (proposal) in Tamil also means "scheme", "plan", or "project". | |||
Telugu | ప్రతిపాదన | ||
ప్రతిపాదన or 'proposal' in Telugu can also refer to a formal offer, a plan of action, or a statement of intent. | |||
Urdu | تجویز | ||
The word "تجویز" can also mean "prescription" or "recommendation" in a medical context. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 提案 | ||
The word "提案" can also refer to a plan or a suggestion. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 提案 | ||
"提案" refers to a plan submitted to a higher authority for approval, and can also mean an offer or suggestion to someone. | |||
Japanese | 提案 | ||
"提案" originally referred to "an official document" in the Imperial court, then later "an opinion". | |||
Korean | 신청 | ||
The word "신청" comes from the Chinese characters "申" (to apply) and "請" (to request), and can also mean "application" or "request" in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | санал | ||
The word "санал" can also refer to an idea, thought, or suggestion. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အဆိုပြုချက် | ||
Indonesian | usul | ||
"Usul" is derived from Arabic, where it means "foundation" or "base". | |||
Javanese | proposal | ||
The Javanese word "proposal" can also refer to a "request" or "ask". | |||
Khmer | សំណើរ | ||
The Khmer word “សំណើរ” (proposal) originates from the Sanskrit word “సంప్రस्ताव” (samprastava), meaning “proposition, proposal, motion”. | |||
Lao | ການສະ ເໜີ | ||
Malay | cadangan | ||
The word "cadangan" can also mean "reserve", "stock", or "fund". | |||
Thai | ข้อเสนอ | ||
The word "ข้อเสนอ" can also refer to a "suggestion" or an "offer". | |||
Vietnamese | đề nghị | ||
"Đề nghị" comes from the Chinese word "提議", which means "to propose," "to recommend," or "to bring up for discussion." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | panukala | ||
Azerbaijani | təklif | ||
"Təklif" also means "sacrifice" and is the origin of the name for the holy Muslim holiday, Gurban Bayrami (Feast of the Sacrifice). | |||
Kazakh | ұсыныс | ||
Although "ұсыныс" primarily means "proposal," it can also be used to refer to a "sentence" or a "statement" in the context of grammar. | |||
Kyrgyz | сунуш | ||
"Сунуш" could also mean "offering" or "present" in Kyrgyz, derived from the verb "сунуу" meaning "to offer" or "to present." | |||
Tajik | пешниҳод | ||
In Persian, the word "پیشنهاد" (peshnihād) means "proposal", but it can also mean "suggestion" or "recommendation". | |||
Turkmen | teklip | ||
Uzbek | taklif | ||
The word 'taklif' is derived from the Arabic word 'talab', meaning 'request' or 'demand' | |||
Uyghur | تەكلىپ | ||
Hawaiian | noi | ||
In Hawaiian, 'noi' can also refer to a thought, idea, or intention. | |||
Maori | tono | ||
The origin of the word "tono" in Maori could imply an invitation or agreement | |||
Samoan | faatufugaga | ||
The word faatufugaga can also mean 'request', 'petition', or 'declaration'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | panukala | ||
Panukala comes from the word “pamukala” which means a “shoot” or a “bud”. |
Aymara | amta | ||
Guarani | mba'ekuave'ẽmby | ||
Esperanto | propono | ||
In Esperanto, propono also means "to put forward" or "to suggest". | |||
Latin | rogationem | ||
"Rogatio" (proposal) comes from the Latin word "rogare" (to ask), and was used for any request to the Roman people, including laws. |
Greek | πρόταση | ||
Etymology: The word "πρόταση" also means "sentence" in Greek, derived from the verb "προτιθέναι" ("to put forward") and related to the noun "θέση" ("position"). | |||
Hmong | tswv yim | ||
The Hmong word "tswv yim" can also refer to a traditional marriage negotiation process. | |||
Kurdish | pêşnîyar | ||
In Persian, the word "pêşnîyar" also means "to recommend" or "to introduce". | |||
Turkish | teklif | ||
The word "teklif" in Turkish derives from the Arabic word "taqlīf" meaning "imposing a burden or obligation". | |||
Xhosa | isindululo | ||
In Xhosa, "isindululo" also refers to a formal offer or statement of a plan or action, and can be used to discuss matters of business or diplomacy. | |||
Yiddish | פאָרשלאָג | ||
The Yiddish word "פאָרשלאָג" (proposal) can also mean a "proposition" or "suggestion" in the context of a business or financial transaction. | |||
Zulu | isiphakamiso | ||
The Zulu word 'isiphakamiso' can also refer to a 'suggestion' or 'recommendation'. | |||
Assamese | প্ৰস্তাৱ | ||
Aymara | amta | ||
Bhojpuri | प्रस्ताव | ||
Dhivehi | ހުށަހެޅުން | ||
Dogri | मसौदा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | panukala | ||
Guarani | mba'ekuave'ẽmby | ||
Ilocano | gakat | ||
Krio | aks | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پێشنیار | ||
Maithili | प्रस्ताव | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯋꯥꯍꯧꯗꯣꯛ | ||
Mizo | duangchhin | ||
Oromo | abuura | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ | ||
Quechua | munachiy | ||
Sanskrit | प्रस्ताव | ||
Tatar | тәкъдим | ||
Tigrinya | ሕቶ | ||
Tsonga | ringanyeta | ||