Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'protect' holds immense significance in our lives as it represents the act of safeguarding something or someone we value. This cultural importance is reflected in various languages and traditions around the world. For instance, the Latin translation of 'protect' is 'tutari', which is derived from the word 'tutus', meaning safe or secure. Similarly, in Japanese, 'protect' is translated as ' Mamoru', a term deeply rooted in their culture of honor and respect.
Understanding the translation of 'protect' in different languages can open doors to cross-cultural communication and foster a sense of global community. For instance, the Finnish translation of 'protect' is 'suojella', a word that embodies their commitment to social welfare and equality. Meanwhile, in Hebrew, 'protect' is translated as 'L'hitpalel', a term that also means 'to pray', reflecting the spiritual significance of protection in their culture.
Join us as we delve deeper into the translations of 'protect' in various languages, providing you with a unique perspective on cultural diversity and linguistic richness.
Afrikaans | beskerm | ||
The word "beskerm" in Afrikaans derives from the Dutch word "beschermen" and is also cognate with the English word "berserk". | |||
Amharic | ይጠብቁ | ||
In Tigrinya, the similar word 'ጠፍአ' means 'to be in need', while in Arabic, 'حافظ' means 'supervisor' or 'guardian'. | |||
Hausa | kare | ||
In Fulfulde, the word 'kare' is etymologically linked to the word 'karewa', which means 'to guard' or 'to defend'. | |||
Igbo | chebe | ||
In Igbo, 'chebe' also refers to a protective talisman or amulet. | |||
Malagasy | hiarovana | ||
The word "hiarovana" can also refer to a protective talisman or charm in Malagasy culture. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuteteza | ||
The word "kuteteza" also means "to guard" or "to preserve" in Nyanja (Chichewa). | |||
Shona | kudzivirira | ||
The word 'kudzivirira' also means 'to defend', 'to guard', 'to shield', or 'to take care of' in Shona. | |||
Somali | ilaali | ||
The word "ilaali" can also mean "to cover" or "to shield". | |||
Sesotho | sireletsa | ||
The word 'sireletsa' in Sesotho is derived from the Proto-Bantu root '-lela', meaning 'to guard' or 'to keep watch'. | |||
Swahili | kulinda | ||
The word 'kulinda' also has alternate meanings including 'to watch', 'to guard', and 'to take care of'. | |||
Xhosa | khusela | ||
Some Xhosa speakers also use "khusela" to describe the act of blessing or praying over a person or a group of people. | |||
Yoruba | dáàbò bò | ||
The Yoruba word "dáàbò bò" can also mean to prevent or obstruct something. | |||
Zulu | vikela | ||
The word 'vikela' also means 'to hide' or 'conceal' in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | ka lakana | ||
Ewe | tɔ kpɔ ƒo xlã | ||
Kinyarwanda | kurinda | ||
Lingala | kobatela | ||
Luganda | okukuuma | ||
Sepedi | šireletša | ||
Twi (Akan) | bɔ ban | ||
Arabic | يحمي | ||
"يحمي" can also mean to carry out a plan or strategy. | |||
Hebrew | לְהַגֵן | ||
The verb "להגן" is cognate to the Arabic word "حَجَنَ" (ḥajana), meaning "to shelter" or "to protect". It is also related to the Assyrian word "ḫagānu" ("to protect") and the Akkadian word "ḫagû" ("a protective deity"). | |||
Pashto | ساتنه | ||
"ساتنه" also means "to watch over, to care for, to guard, to preserve, to keep safe." | |||
Arabic | يحمي | ||
"يحمي" can also mean to carry out a plan or strategy. |
Albanian | mbroj | ||
The word "mbroj" comes from the Proto-Albanian "*mbr-e-j", which also meant "to close" and "to lock". | |||
Basque | babestu | ||
"Babetes" is a variation used in Lower Navarrese and Souletin which refers to the shelter built from the branches of trees. | |||
Catalan | protegir | ||
The verb "protegir" comes from the Latin word "protegere", which means "to cover or shield from harm". | |||
Croatian | zaštititi | ||
"Zaštititi" is derived from the Slavic root "Štit", meaning "shield", and can also refer to "guarding" or "preserving" in Croatian. | |||
Danish | beskytte | ||
The word "beskytte" derives from the Old Norse word "skjöldr", meaning "shield". | |||
Dutch | beschermen | ||
In Old High German, "beschermen" also meant "to strengthen, make strong, fortify" | |||
English | protect | ||
The word | |||
French | protéger | ||
Protéger, from Latin protegere, initially meant to cover or provide a shelter against the cold, before taking on the meaning of moral or judicial protection. | |||
Frisian | beskermje | ||
The Frisian word "beskermje" originates from the Old Frisian word "baskermia", meaning "to cover", "to shelter" or "to defend". | |||
Galician | protexer | ||
The verb "protexer" in Galician language also means "to benefit", from the Latin word "protegere" and ultimately from the Greek "pro" (before) and "tegere" (cover). | |||
German | schützen | ||
The German word "schützen" also means "marksman," suggesting its original role in protecting against attack. | |||
Icelandic | vernda | ||
Vernda is derived from the Old Norse word verja, meaning 'to defend', and is related to the German Wehr, meaning 'defense' or 'protection'. | |||
Irish | chosaint | ||
"Chosaint" derives from the Proto-Celtic root "*ko-s-ent-," meaning "to protect, forbid, abstain". | |||
Italian | proteggere | ||
The Italian word "proteggere" derives from the Latin "protegere" meaning "to cover in front". | |||
Luxembourgish | schützen | ||
It also has the connotation of shooting, referring to the protection of hunting grounds. | |||
Maltese | jipproteġi | ||
The Maltese word "jipproteġi" is derived from the Latin word "protegere", which means "to cover or shield". | |||
Norwegian | beskytte | ||
The word 'beskytte' is derived from the Old Norse word 'beskyta', which means 'to cover or shelter'. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | proteger | ||
In Portuguese, "proteger" can also mean to cover or conceal something. | |||
Scots Gaelic | dìon | ||
The word "dìon" could also mean "to save" or "to rescue." | |||
Spanish | proteger | ||
"Proteger" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "protegere," meaning "to cover." It can also mean "to defend, shield, or guard." | |||
Swedish | skydda | ||
The word "skydda" is derived from the Old Norse word "skjöldr, | |||
Welsh | amddiffyn | ||
The word "amddiffyn" can also mean "to shield" or "to defend" |
Belarusian | абараніць | ||
In Belarusian, the word 'абараніць' ('protect') originates from the Proto-Slavic word 'boroniti', meaning 'to defend', 'to prevent'. It can also mean 'to shield', 'to guard', and 'to preserve'. | |||
Bosnian | zaštititi | ||
The word 'zaštititi' also has the alternate meanings of 'shelter', 'defend', and 'save' in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | защита | ||
Bulgarian "защита" (protect) comes from an Old Slavic root that also means "to begin" or "to start". | |||
Czech | chránit | ||
The word “chránit” in Czech derives from the Proto-Slavic word “chorniti”, meaning to keep safe or provide shelter. | |||
Estonian | kaitsta | ||
The word kaitsta also means 'to keep (an animal) from moving by holding it' in Estonian. | |||
Finnish | suojella | ||
"Suojella" is a cognate of "shield" and "silo" and shares an origin with the Sanskrit word "su" meaning "to hide". | |||
Hungarian | véd | ||
The Hungarian word 'véd' is cognate with the Sanskrit word 'avadh', meaning 'to keep away, to ward off'. | |||
Latvian | aizsargāt | ||
The word "aizsargāt" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ser- "to watch over, protect". | |||
Lithuanian | apsaugoti | ||
Apsaugoti derives from the word "saugoti" or "sauga", which can mean both "to protect" and "to save". | |||
Macedonian | заштити | ||
The Macedonian word "заштити" ("protect") comes from the Proto-Slavic "*sъxraniti" ("store up") and is cognate with English "screen," German "schützen," and Albanian "mbroj." | |||
Polish | ochraniać | ||
"Ochrona" also denotes the process of baptism in Polish. | |||
Romanian | proteja | ||
Although "proteja" means "protect" in Romanian, it derives from the Latin word "protegere," which meant "to cover over". | |||
Russian | защищать | ||
The Russian word "защищать" also has a secondary meaning of "to justify" or "to defend" an action or idea. | |||
Serbian | заштитити | ||
The word "заштитити" (protect) in Serbian derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*štititi" meaning "to cover" or "to defend." | |||
Slovak | chrániť | ||
The word "chrániť" in Slovak is related to the Czech word "krýt" meaning "to cover". | |||
Slovenian | zaščititi | ||
In Serbo-Croatian, the term 'zaštititi' carries legal, as well as non-legal, connotations, as it can mean 'to defend oneself in court', and 'to protect a right or interest' at the same time. | |||
Ukrainian | захистити | ||
The Ukrainian word "захистити" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*xostiti", which also meant "to protect" and is related to the Latin word "hostis" (enemy). |
Bengali | রক্ষা করুন | ||
The word "রক্ষা করুন" is derived from the Sanskrit word "rakṣa", which means "to save" or "to preserve." | |||
Gujarati | રક્ષણ | ||
Hindi | रक्षा करना | ||
The word 'रक्षा करना' ('protect') in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'रक्ष' ('to guard') and also means 'to prevent from' or 'to preserve'. | |||
Kannada | ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿ | ||
The word "ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿ" can also mean "to save" or "to rescue" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | പരിരക്ഷിക്കുക | ||
Marathi | संरक्षण | ||
The Marathi word "संरक्षण" can also mean "preservation" or "conservation". | |||
Nepali | रक्षा गर्नुहोस् | ||
रक्षा गर्नुहोस् is derived from Sanskrit roots | |||
Punjabi | ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආරක්ෂා කරන්න | ||
Tamil | பாதுகாக்க | ||
Telugu | రక్షించడానికి | ||
Urdu | حفاظت | ||
حفاظت can also mean protection, safety, preservation, or custody. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 保护 | ||
In ancient Chinese, "保护" referred to the idea of "hugging a child" and keeping them safe from harm, highlighting its nurturing aspect. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 保護 | ||
(Chinese)保護 is also used in the sense of “to take into custody”, and is written in traditional character form as 保護 and in simplified Chinese form as 保护. | |||
Japanese | 保護する | ||
"保護する" originally meant "to nourish" or "to foster". | |||
Korean | 보호 | ||
The word "보호" (protect) also means "to cherish" or "to foster" in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | хамгаалах | ||
The word is thought to be formed from the root | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကာကွယ်သည် | ||
Indonesian | melindungi | ||
"Melindungi" in the Indonesian language is rooted from the word "lindung", which means shelter. Therefore its meaning also relates to finding a secure place, refuge from danger, or a haven from distress. | |||
Javanese | nglindhungi | ||
The term "nglindhungi" can be traced to the Sanskrit root word "langga", meaning enclosure. | |||
Khmer | ការពារ | ||
ការពារ (kɑɑ pɔɔ) was also used in Old Khmer to mean 'to prevent' or 'to prohibit' | |||
Lao | ປົກປ້ອງ | ||
The Lao word 'ປົກປ້ອງ' ('protect') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'pālayati', which means 'to guard', 'to preserve', or 'to maintain'. | |||
Malay | melindungi | ||
Melindungi comes from the root word "lindung", which also means "shelter" or "cover" in the Malay language. | |||
Thai | ปกป้อง | ||
The Thai word "ปกป้อง" is derived from the Proto-Austroasiatic word "*pa-kɔŋ" meaning "to hide from danger". | |||
Vietnamese | bảo vệ | ||
In Vietnamese, "bảo vệ" can also mean "to defend" or "to guard". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | protektahan | ||
Azerbaijani | qorumaq | ||
"Qorumaq" is also related to the word "qoru" meaning "shelter" or "grove" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | қорғау | ||
The word "қорғау" comes from the Turkic root "ḳor" meaning "to guard, protect", and is also related to the Kazakh word "қорған" meaning "fortress" or "stronghold". | |||
Kyrgyz | коргоо | ||
The word "коргоо" can also mean "fence" or "shield" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | муҳофизат кунед | ||
Turkmen | gora | ||
Uzbek | himoya qilmoq | ||
Uzbek verb "himoya qilmoq" also means "to patronize" and derives from Arabic "ḥimā". | |||
Uyghur | قوغداش | ||
Hawaiian | pale aku | ||
The Hawaiian word "pale aku" initially described the act of shielding oneself from the sun using the forearm and hand, and was later extended to mean protection in a general sense. | |||
Maori | paruru | ||
In Maori, the word 'paruru' can also refer to the act of guarding, sheltering, or providing sanctuary. | |||
Samoan | puipuia | ||
The Samoan word "puipuia" also means "to defend, guard, or shelter." | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | protektahan | ||
The Tagalog word "protektahan" also means "to cover" or "to shield" something, and comes from the Spanish word "proteger". |
Aymara | jark'aña | ||
Guarani | ñangareko | ||
Esperanto | protekti | ||
The word "protekti" in Esperanto comes from the Latin word "protegere" (to protect). | |||
Latin | praesidio | ||
In Medieval Latin, "praesidium" also meant "stronghold" or "fortress." |
Greek | προστατεύω | ||
The word "προστατεύω" comes from the Greek "προστάτης," meaning "one who stands before." Hence, its alternate meaning of "champion" or "vindicator." | |||
Hmong | pov hwm | ||
The Hmong word "pov hwm" can also mean "safe" or "protected". | |||
Kurdish | parastin | ||
The etymology of "parastin" is the Kurdish word "par" which translates to both "face" and "front", therefore "parastin" could literally mean that which "stands at the front" or "shield". | |||
Turkish | korumak | ||
The word korumak originated from the Old Turkic verb 'koru' and also means guard or watch. | |||
Xhosa | khusela | ||
Some Xhosa speakers also use "khusela" to describe the act of blessing or praying over a person or a group of people. | |||
Yiddish | באַשיצן | ||
The Yiddish word "באַשיצן" (protect) derives from the German word "beschützen", which itself comes from the Latin word "protegere". | |||
Zulu | vikela | ||
The word 'vikela' also means 'to hide' or 'conceal' in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | ৰক্ষা কৰা | ||
Aymara | jark'aña | ||
Bhojpuri | बचावल | ||
Dhivehi | ރައްކާތެރިކުރުން | ||
Dogri | हिफाजत करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | protektahan | ||
Guarani | ñangareko | ||
Ilocano | salakniban | ||
Krio | protɛkt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پاراستن | ||
Maithili | परियोजना | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯉꯥꯛꯊꯣꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | humhim | ||
Oromo | eeguu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଦିଅ | | ||
Quechua | harkay | ||
Sanskrit | संरक्षयतु | ||
Tatar | сакла | ||
Tigrinya | ሓሉ | ||
Tsonga | sirhelela | ||