Updated on March 6, 2024
A prosecutor is a legal professional who represents the government in criminal proceedings, bringing charges against those suspected of committing crimes and arguing the case in court. The role of a prosecutor is crucial in upholding the law and ensuring justice is served. The significance of this position extends beyond the courtroom, as prosecutors also play a vital role in shaping public policy and promoting community safety.
The concept of a prosecutor has cultural importance worldwide, with many legal systems having their own version of this role. For example, in France, a prosecutor is known as a 'procureur de la République', while in Germany, they are called a 'Staatsanwalt'. In Japan, the term is 'kenji' and in Russia, 'прокурор' (prokuror).
Understanding the translation of the word 'prosecutor' in different languages can provide insight into the cultural and legal systems of other countries. It can also be useful for those working in international law or traveling for legal purposes.
Afrikaans | aanklaer | ||
The Afrikaans word "aanklaer" derives from the Dutch word "aanklager", meaning "one who accuses". | |||
Amharic | ዐቃቤ ሕግ | ||
The word "ዐቃቤ ሕግ" can also refer to a "procurator, advocate, or attorney" rather than specifically a prosecutor. | |||
Hausa | mai gabatar da kara | ||
In Hausa, 'mai gabatar da kara' is derived from 'gaba' meaning 'to present' and 'kara' meaning 'case'. It literally translates to 'one who presents a case'. | |||
Igbo | onye ikpe | ||
"Onye ikpe" directly translates to "owner of the case" or "one who has the case". | |||
Malagasy | mpampanoa lalàna | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wozenga mlandu | ||
"Wozenga" means "one who holds the stick". | |||
Shona | muchuchisi | ||
"Muchuchisi" also means "one who is persistent" in Shona, reflecting the prosecutor's determined pursuit of justice. | |||
Somali | dacwad ooge | ||
The word "dacwad ooge" is derived from the Somali words "dacwad" (prosecution) and "ooge" (owner). | |||
Sesotho | mochochisi | ||
The word 'mochochisi' in Sesotho is related to 'hohisa', meaning 'to accuse', and 'mochochisi' also means 'a person who investigates'. | |||
Swahili | mwendesha mashtaka | ||
The Swahili word "mwendesha mashtaka" is derived from the verb "endesha," meaning "to drive" or "to move," and the noun "mashtaka," meaning "charge" or "accusation." | |||
Xhosa | umtshutshisi | ||
The word "umtshutshisi" in Xhosa is derived from the verb "tshutsha," meaning "to accuse" or "to charge." | |||
Yoruba | abanirojọ | ||
The word 'abanirojọ' can also mean to 'to speak incoherently' in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | umshushisi | ||
The word "umshushisi" is derived from the verb "shushisa," meaning "to charge" or "accuse" in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | jalakilikɛla | ||
Ewe | senyalagã | ||
Kinyarwanda | umushinjacyaha | ||
Lingala | procureur | ||
Luganda | omuwaabi wa gavumenti | ||
Sepedi | motšhotšhisi | ||
Twi (Akan) | mmaranimfo | ||
Arabic | المدعي العام | ||
Historically, 'al-mudda'i al-'aamm' ('the prosecutor') often referred to the ruler or a person deputized by them to represent the interests of the public. | |||
Hebrew | תוֹבֵעַ | ||
In Mishnaic Hebrew, "תובע" also meant "plaintiff." | |||
Pashto | څارنوال | ||
څارنوال (Tsarnawal) is derived from the Persian word "tashr" (watch) and "nawal" (keeper). It also means "supervisor" or "overseer" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | المدعي العام | ||
Historically, 'al-mudda'i al-'aamm' ('the prosecutor') often referred to the ruler or a person deputized by them to represent the interests of the public. |
Albanian | prokurori | ||
The Albanian word "prokurori" is derived from the Latin word "procurator", which means "one who takes care of". It is also cognate with the Italian word "procuratore" and the French word "procureur". | |||
Basque | fiskala | ||
In Basque, "fiskala" is an amalgamation of the words "fiskal" (prosecutor) and "ala" (wing or member), highlighting the prosecutor's role as a member of the prosecution's wing. | |||
Catalan | fiscal | ||
The Catalan word “fiscal” derives from the Latin word “fiscus” which referred to the Roman imperial treasury, which may also be the origin of the English word “fiscal”. | |||
Croatian | tužitelja | ||
The word "tužitelj" in Croatian is derived from the verb "tužiti", meaning "to sue" or "to prosecute", and ultimately comes from the Proto-Slavic root *tuditi, meaning "to grieve" or "to complain." | |||
Danish | anklager | ||
In Danish, the word 'anklager' originated from the Old Norse word 'aenklageri', which meant 'one who accuses' or 'one who brings a charge against someone'. | |||
Dutch | aanklager | ||
The word "aanklager" originates from the Old Dutch "anklegher," which means "one who brings a charge." | |||
English | prosecutor | ||
The word "prosecutor" derives from the Latin word "prosequi," meaning "to follow up" or "to pursue." | |||
French | procureur | ||
The French word "procureur" originally meant "attorney", and still has this meaning in Quebec, Canada. | |||
Frisian | oanklager | ||
The word 'oanklager' is derived from the Old Frisian words 'oan' and 'klager', meaning 'one who accuses'. | |||
Galician | fiscal | ||
In Galician, "fiscal" can also refer to the Treasury or the public revenue. | |||
German | staatsanwalt | ||
The word Staatsanwalt is derived from the German words "Staat" (state) and "Anwalt" (lawyer), and can also refer to a state's attorney or a public prosecutor. | |||
Icelandic | saksóknari | ||
In Old Norse, the word saksóknari meant "the one who is to prosecute the case" and referred to the person chosen by the injured party to bring the case to trial. | |||
Irish | ionchúisitheoir | ||
The word "ionchúisitheoir" is derived from the Old Irish word "inchúsquedaim", meaning "to investigate" or "to question". It can also be used to refer to a person who conducts an inquisition or investigation. | |||
Italian | procuratore | ||
Procuratore derives from the Latin verb "procurare," which means "to take care of," and in Italian it also has the meaning of "agent". | |||
Luxembourgish | procureur | ||
The term "Procureur" in Luxembourgish can also refer to a legal representative of the state in civil matters. | |||
Maltese | prosekutur | ||
The word "prosekutur" is derived from the Italian word "prosecutor", which in turn comes from the Latin word "prosequi", meaning "to follow up" or "to pursue". | |||
Norwegian | aktor | ||
The word 'aktor' in Norwegian has its roots in the Latin word 'actor', meaning 'doer' or 'agent'. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | promotor | ||
In Portuguese, "promotor" can also mean "promoter" or "proponent". | |||
Scots Gaelic | neach-casaid | ||
The word 'neach-casaid' can also refer to an attorney or advocate. | |||
Spanish | fiscal | ||
In Spanish the term "fiscales" can refer to tax inspectors or prosecutors, which is why it is advisable to add clarifying information to avoid confusion. | |||
Swedish | åklagare | ||
"Åklagare" is derived from the Old Norse "áklægi" meaning "accusation", and is related to the verb "åklaga" meaning "to accuse". | |||
Welsh | erlynydd | ||
The word "erlynydd" in Welsh is also used to refer to someone who is pursuing a case or cause. |
Belarusian | пракурор | ||
The word 'пракурор' ('prosecutor') is derived from the Latin word 'procurator', meaning 'agent' or 'manager', and has historically had both legal and ecclesiastical connotations. | |||
Bosnian | tužioče | ||
Bosnian word "tužioče" originated from the verb "tužiti" which means "to sue" or "to prosecute" in English. | |||
Bulgarian | прокурор | ||
The word "прокурор" ultimately derives from the Ancient Greek term "προκατηγόρος", which literally translates as 'one who accuses publicly'. | |||
Czech | žalobce | ||
The Czech word "žalobce" originates from the same root as the word "žalost" (sadness), implying that the prosecutor seeks to "bring sadness" to the wrongdoer. | |||
Estonian | prokurör | ||
The word "prokurör" originally comes from Latin and means "one who looks after". It can also refer to a government official who is responsible for enforcing the law. | |||
Finnish | syyttäjä | ||
Syyttäjä is also an obsolete Finnish word for 'accuser'; the 'accusative' case in Finnish is 'syyttävä'. | |||
Hungarian | ügyész | ||
"Ügyész" can also mean "advocate" or "lawyer" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | prokurors | ||
In Latin, the word "procurator" refers to an agent or manager, while in Latvian, it has the narrower meaning of "prosecutor". | |||
Lithuanian | kaltintojas | ||
The Lithuanian word "kaltintojas" is derived from the word "kaltė", which means "guilt". | |||
Macedonian | обвинител | ||
The root of the word обвинител is “вина”, which also means “fault”. In legal context it signifies someone who is guilty as a result of someone else’s accusation. | |||
Polish | prokurator | ||
The word "prokurator" derives from Latin "procurator", meaning "one who takes care of or manages something". | |||
Romanian | procuror | ||
The Romanian word "procuror" derives from the Latin term "procurator", which originally referred to a manager or agent acting on behalf of another person. | |||
Russian | прокурор | ||
Прокурор (Russian for "prosecutor") comes from Latin "prōcūrōr," meaning "one who takes care of another's affairs"} | |||
Serbian | тужиоца | ||
The word "тужиоца" in Serbian is related to the word "туга" (sorrow), as in the past, prosecutors were responsible for investigating and punishing crimes that caused sorrow or harm to individuals or society. | |||
Slovak | prokurátor | ||
The word "prokurátor" comes from the Latin word "procurator," meaning "agent" or "manager." | |||
Slovenian | tožilec | ||
The Slovenian word "tožilec" is directly derived from the verb "tožiti", meaning "to sue someone" and is cognate with the Latin "testis", meaning "a witness". | |||
Ukrainian | прокурор | ||
The word "прокурор" in Ukrainian comes from the Latin word "procurator", meaning "one who cares for another's interests". |
Bengali | প্রসিকিউটর | ||
প্রসিকিউটর শব্দটি 'অভিশাসন' (to persecute) শব্দটি থেকে এসেছে, যার অর্থ 'পরিবেশন করা' বা 'অভিযোগ করা'। | |||
Gujarati | ફરિયાદી | ||
The word "ફરિયાદી" is derived from the Arabic word "فرية" meaning "false accusation". | |||
Hindi | अभियोक्ता | ||
The word "अभियोक्ता" can also refer to someone who accuses or charges someone with a crime. | |||
Kannada | ಪ್ರಾಸಿಕ್ಯೂಟರ್ | ||
Malayalam | പ്രോസിക്യൂട്ടർ | ||
പെർസിക്കൂട്ടർ is derived from 'persequi' and 'prosequi' - "to pursue". In ancient Roman law, "prosecutor" was the name given to the legal guardian of an orphaned heir. | |||
Marathi | फिर्यादी | ||
The word "फिर्यादी" can also mean "complainant" or "victim" in a legal context. | |||
Nepali | अभियोजक | ||
In Sanskrit, the word 'अभियोजक' also means 'a complainant' or 'an accuser'. | |||
Punjabi | ਵਕੀਲ | ||
In addition to 'prosecutor', the Punjabi word 'ਵਕੀਲ' can also mean 'lawyer' or 'attorney'. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නඩු පවරන්නා | ||
Tamil | வழக்கறிஞர் | ||
The word "வழக்கறிஞர்" can also refer to a lawyer who represents the defendant in a legal case. | |||
Telugu | ప్రాసిక్యూటర్ | ||
The word "ప్రాసిక్యూటర్" ultimately comes from the Latin word "prosequi," meaning "to follow after" or "to pursue." | |||
Urdu | استغاثہ | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 检察官 | ||
"检察官" is an abbreviated form of "检察机关工作人员" in Chinese. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 檢察官 | ||
檢察官源自《易经·乾》的“允执厥中”,意指秉公执法、公正无私。 | |||
Japanese | 検察官 | ||
検察官 (kensatsukan) literally means "official who inspects." | |||
Korean | 수행자 | ||
The word '수행자' can also refer to a performer in traditional Korean performing arts. | |||
Mongolian | прокурор | ||
In Mongolian, the word "прокурор" can also be used in the sense of a "legal adviser" or "chief of staff" in a criminal court. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အစိုးရရှေ့နေ | ||
Indonesian | jaksa | ||
"Jaksa" is derived from the Sanskrit word "jakṣa," meaning "a guardian spirit or a demigod." | |||
Javanese | jaksa | ||
"Jaksa" in Javanese also refers to a type of traditional Javanese puppet. | |||
Khmer | ព្រះរាជអាជ្ញា | ||
Lao | ໄອຍະການ | ||
The Lao word ໄອຍະການ (prosecutor) shares the same origin with กัลยาณมิตร (good friend) as derived from the Sanskrit word कल्याण (kalyāṇa, 'good' or 'auspicious'). | |||
Malay | pendakwa raya | ||
The Malay word 'pendakwa raya' literally translates as 'plaintiff's deputy', with 'dakwa' meaning 'to sue' and 'raya' meaning 'plaintiff'. | |||
Thai | อัยการ | ||
The word "อัยการ" is a Thai word borrowed from the Pali language in which the word "ajjakara" means "plaintiff's friend." | |||
Vietnamese | công tố viên | ||
Công tố viên (prosecutor) in Vietnamese shares the same root word as tố cáo (to accuse), suggesting their connection in the legal system. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tagausig | ||
Azerbaijani | ittihamçı | ||
The word "ittihamçı" is a compound noun, formed from the root "ittih" (meaning accusation), and the suffix "-çı" (meaning person who does something). In this way, "ittihamçı" literally means "person who accuses". | |||
Kazakh | прокурор | ||
In Kazakh, "прокурор" also means "chief prosecutor" and originated from the Russian word. | |||
Kyrgyz | прокурор | ||
The word "прокурор" originally referred to the official in charge of the state treasury in the Russian Empire. | |||
Tajik | прокурор | ||
The word "prokuror" in Tajik initially denoted a person responsible for overseeing public order, but its meaning evolved to refer specifically to a prosecutor. | |||
Turkmen | prokuror | ||
Uzbek | prokuror | ||
The word "prokuror" in Uzbek derives from the Latin "procurator" and also refers to a representative or person responsible for carrying out a task. | |||
Uyghur | ئەيىبلىگۈچى | ||
Hawaiian | loio | ||
It originally meant "to accuse", "to charge", or "to threaten" but later came to describe a particular occupation. | |||
Maori | hāmene | ||
The word 'hāmene' also refers to an advocate or speaker in a tribal meeting. | |||
Samoan | loia | ||
In a different context, “loia” also means 'a man who serves others'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | tagausig | ||
Tagausig is also another term for 'executioner' and 'collector of forest products'. |
Aymara | fiscal sata jaqina | ||
Guarani | fiscal rehegua | ||
Esperanto | prokuroro | ||
"Prokuroro" comes from the Latin word procurātor meaning "one acting on another's behalf." | |||
Latin | accusator | ||
The word "accusator" in Latin originates from the verb "accusare," meaning "to summon" before a judge or authority. |
Greek | κατήγορος | ||
The term "κατήγορος" derives from the root "κατά-", meaning "against", and "αγορεύω", meaning "to speak", signifying one who formally accuses and argues against someone. | |||
Hmong | tus liam txhaum | ||
The word "tus liam txhaum" in Hmong is derived from the verb "liam," meaning "to accuse," and the noun "txhaum," meaning "criminal. | |||
Kurdish | nûnerê gilîyê | ||
Turkish | savcı | ||
"Savcı" also means "bloodletter" in Ottoman Turkish | |||
Xhosa | umtshutshisi | ||
The word "umtshutshisi" in Xhosa is derived from the verb "tshutsha," meaning "to accuse" or "to charge." | |||
Yiddish | פּראָקוראָר | ||
The Yiddish word "פראָקוראָר" is cognate with the Latin word "procurator" and originally meant "administrator" in the Russian Empire. | |||
Zulu | umshushisi | ||
The word "umshushisi" is derived from the verb "shushisa," meaning "to charge" or "accuse" in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | অভিযুক্ত | ||
Aymara | fiscal sata jaqina | ||
Bhojpuri | अभियोजक के ह | ||
Dhivehi | ޕީޖީ އެވެ | ||
Dogri | अभियोजक ने दी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tagausig | ||
Guarani | fiscal rehegua | ||
Ilocano | piskal | ||
Krio | prɔsɛkyuta | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | داواکاری گشتی | ||
Maithili | अभियोजक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄ꯭ꯔꯣꯁꯤꯛꯌꯨꯇꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | prosecutor a ni | ||
Oromo | abbaa alangaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଓକିଲ | ||
Quechua | fiscal | ||
Sanskrit | अभियोजकः | ||
Tatar | прокурор | ||
Tigrinya | ዓቃቢ ሕጊ | ||
Tsonga | muchuchisi | ||