Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'provide' holds a significant place in our daily lives and conversations, as it relates to the act of giving or supplying something necessary. Its cultural importance is evident across various societies, languages, and traditions, often signifying care, generosity, and responsibility.
Delving into the historical context of 'provide,' we find that its roots can be traced back to the Latin word providere, meaning 'to foresee.' This etymology highlights the proactive nature of providing, emphasizing preparation and foresight in ensuring others' needs are met.
Understanding the translation of 'provide' in different languages can be both fascinating and useful. For instance, in Spanish, 'provide' is «proporcionar', in French, it's «fournir', while in German, it's «bereitstellen'. These translations not only offer insights into the linguistic nuances of various cultures but also enable more effective communication and collaboration in our increasingly interconnected world.
In the following list, discover how this simple yet powerful word is expressed in a variety of languages, fostering curiosity and appreciation for the richness of human language and culture.
Afrikaans | voorsien | ||
It is probably connected to 'voorzien' ('anticipate') in Dutch. | |||
Amharic | ያቅርቡ | ||
The word "ያቅርቡ" can also mean "to give" or "to offer". | |||
Hausa | samar | ||
` Samar ` shares a common root with the Hausa word `sama`, both meaning | |||
Igbo | weta | ||
Weta also means 'to put on' as in clothing or shoes | |||
Malagasy | omeo | ||
Omeo is closely related to the word “omeo” which means “to live” or “to be at home”. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | perekani | ||
The word 'perekani' also has other meanings like 'give' or 'feed' in Nyanja (Chichewa). | |||
Shona | kupa | ||
Shona word 'kupa' also means 'to fetch water' or 'to draw water from a well' | |||
Somali | bixi | ||
Somali "bixi" also means "to be able" | |||
Sesotho | fana ka | ||
The word 'fana ka' is a compound of 'fana' (to produce or make) and 'ka' (for or on behalf of). | |||
Swahili | kutoa | ||
Kutoa can also mean 'to give', 'to offer', or 'to release'. | |||
Xhosa | ukubonelela | ||
In Xhosa, the word 'ukubonelela' is a verb that means to provide, supply, or furnish. | |||
Yoruba | pese | ||
Pese also means "to help" and "to assist" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | hlinzeka | ||
The verb 'hlinzeka' can also mean 'to take care of' or 'to nurse'. | |||
Bambara | k'a di | ||
Ewe | na | ||
Kinyarwanda | gutanga | ||
Lingala | kopesa | ||
Luganda | okugabirira | ||
Sepedi | nea | ||
Twi (Akan) | ma | ||
Arabic | تزود | ||
تزود (provide): From the verb زاد (zāda) meaning 'to go', 'to march', 'to travel', 'to furnish something', 'to supply', and 'to equip'. | |||
Hebrew | לְסַפֵּק | ||
The Hebrew word "לְסַפֵּק" (lispók) is derived from the root "סַפַּק" (sápak), which can also mean "to doubt" or "to question". | |||
Pashto | برابرول | ||
The word "برابرول" in Pashto can also mean "to prepare" or "to make ready, especially with effort or care." | |||
Arabic | تزود | ||
تزود (provide): From the verb زاد (zāda) meaning 'to go', 'to march', 'to travel', 'to furnish something', 'to supply', and 'to equip'. |
Albanian | siguroj | ||
The word "siguroj" is derived from the Latin word "securus", meaning "free from care" or "secure". | |||
Basque | eman | ||
The form "eman" has other meanings in specific contexts, such as "to give birth" in the case of animals. | |||
Catalan | proporcionar | ||
The noun "proporcion" in Catalan language means "proportion" or "ratio" and it comes from the Latin term "proportiō". | |||
Croatian | pružiti | ||
The Croatian word "pružiti" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *pъrtъ, meaning "to spread" or "to extend." | |||
Danish | give | ||
The Danish word 'give' is derived from the Old Norse word 'gefa' | |||
Dutch | voorzien | ||
Voorzien, meaning "to provide" in Dutch, can also mean "to foresee" or "to predict". | |||
English | provide | ||
The word "provide" is derived from the Latin word "providere, | |||
French | fournir | ||
"Fournir" originates from "fornire" (Latin), meaning to furnish, equip or store. | |||
Frisian | foarsjen | ||
Frisian "foarsjen" traces back to Old Frisian "forsiæn" and "forsian" and Middle Dutch "vorsen" and "voersien", and means "to provide" or "to see to". | |||
Galician | proporcionar | ||
The Galician verb "proporcionar" can also mean "to supply" or "to furnish" | |||
German | zur verfügung stellen | ||
In German, "zur Verfügung stellen" also means "to make available" or "to offer". | |||
Icelandic | veita | ||
The Icelandic word 'veita' is cognate with the English word 'wit' and originally meant 'to know'. | |||
Irish | sholáthar | ||
The word "sholáthar" also means "to supply," "to furnish," or "to give." | |||
Italian | fornire | ||
The Italian word "fornire" originates from the Latin "fornus" (oven), referring to the provision of basic necessities like warmth and food. | |||
Luxembourgish | verschaffen | ||
Maltese | jipprovdu | ||
"Jipprovidu" originates from Italian "provedere", ultimately from Latin "providere", "look out for". | |||
Norwegian | gi | ||
The word "gi" also means "to give", "to pay" or "to deliver". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | providenciar | ||
In Portuguese, "providenciar" also means "to take steps to make something happen," e.g., "providenciar a sua segurança" (to take steps to ensure his/her safety). | |||
Scots Gaelic | toirt seachad | ||
The etymology of “toirt seachad” (“provide”) is obscure, perhaps deriving from the verb "toirt" (“give”) | |||
Spanish | proporcionar | ||
The verb "proporcionar" also means to "align" or "adjust" in Spanish. | |||
Swedish | förse | ||
The word "förse" is derived from the Old Norse word "fyrsja", meaning "to furnish" or "to equip." | |||
Welsh | darparu | ||
The word "darparu" in Welsh is derived from the Proto-Celtic *dar- "to give". |
Belarusian | забяспечыць | ||
In Polish, the cognate "zapewnić" retains its original sense of "assure" or "guarantee." | |||
Bosnian | pružiti | ||
"Pružiti" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "*protiti", meaning "to be in front of". | |||
Bulgarian | осигури | ||
The word "осигури" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *osěkъ, meaning "to hold" or "to secure". | |||
Czech | poskytnout | ||
Poskytnout's etymology is from 'po' (upon) + 'skytnout' (to provide), akin to Slavic languages e.g. Russian 'skidivat' (throw off), 'othodit' (step back). | |||
Estonian | pakkuma | ||
The word "pakkuma" can also mean "to bid" or "to offer". | |||
Finnish | tarjota | ||
The word "tarjota" can also mean "to make available" or "to offer". | |||
Hungarian | biztosítani | ||
The verb "biztosítani" can also mean to "insure". | |||
Latvian | nodrošināt | ||
The word "nodrošināt" is derived from the Old Prussian word "nodrosīnan", meaning "to make sure" or "to guarantee". | |||
Lithuanian | pateikti | ||
The word "pateikti" in Lithuanian is derived from the Lithuanian word "pateikimas", meaning "presentation" or "delivery". | |||
Macedonian | обезбеди | ||
The verb "обезбеди" ('provide') derives from the noun "беспеченост" ('security, safety, surety'). | |||
Polish | zapewniać | ||
The word 'zapewniać' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *oběťь, meaning 'promise' or 'obligation'. | |||
Romanian | furniza | ||
The Romanian word "furniza" also means "to garnish" and originates from the Turkish word "fırın", meaning "oven". | |||
Russian | предоставлять | ||
The word "предоставлять" is derived from the Old Slavonic word "prědĭstaviti", meaning "to put before" or "to present". | |||
Serbian | обезбедити | ||
The Serbian word "obezbediti" (to provide) derives from the Old Church Slavonic "obezbediti," meaning "to protect" or "to make sure." | |||
Slovak | zabezpečiť | ||
The word "zabezpečiť" in Slovak has Slavic roots and is related to the words "bezepečný" (safe) and "bespečnosť" (security). | |||
Slovenian | zagotoviti | ||
The word "zagotoviti" in Slovenian has cognates in other Slavic languages, such as the Russian word "zagotovat". Both words share the same root, meaning "to prepare" or "to make ready." | |||
Ukrainian | забезпечити | ||
The word "забезпечити" also means "to ensure" or "to guarantee". |
Bengali | সরবরাহ | ||
সরবরাহ শব্দের মূল শব্দ "সর" যা "যাওয়া" বা "চলা" অর্থে ব্যবহৃত হতো। | |||
Gujarati | પ્રદાન કરો | ||
The verb "provide" comes from the Latin word "providere," which means "to foresee" or "to take care of in advance." | |||
Hindi | प्रदान करें | ||
The word "प्रदान करें" is derived from the Sanskrit word "दान", which means "gift" or "donation". | |||
Kannada | ಒದಗಿಸಿ | ||
The word 'ಒದಗಿಸಿ' can also mean 'to arrange' or 'to prepare'. | |||
Malayalam | നൽകാൻ | ||
നൽകാൻ derives from the Proto-Dravidian root *koṭ- which also means 'to cut' or 'to give'. | |||
Marathi | प्रदान | ||
The Marathi word "प्रदान" can also refer to "giving a loan", "conferring a title or honor", or "bestowing a gift." | |||
Nepali | प्रदान गर्नुहोस् | ||
Punjabi | ਮੁਹੱਈਆ | ||
The word "ਮੁਹੱਈਆ" is derived from the Persian word "مهیا" (muhaiya), which means "prepared" or "ready." | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සපයන්න | ||
Sinhalese word සපයන්න can also refer to preparing or getting ready. | |||
Tamil | வழங்க | ||
"வழங்க" also can mean ‘present’, u2018grant or confer ‘ and ‘spend ‘. | |||
Telugu | అందించడానికి | ||
Urdu | فراہم کرتے ہیں | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 提供 | ||
提供 can also mean to 'present' or 'submit' in Chinese. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 提供 | ||
"提供" is derived from "提供", meaning "to extend to, to supply by extending". | |||
Japanese | 提供する | ||
"提供する" (provide) also means "offer" or "present" in Japanese. | |||
Korean | 제공하다 | ||
Originally '제공하다' referred to offering sacrifices to a deity or ancestor. | |||
Mongolian | хангах | ||
The verb 'хангах' (to provide) is derived from the noun 'хан' (care, provision, support), which in turn is cognate with the Chinese word '看' (kàn), meaning 'to look after, to care for'. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပေး | ||
The original meaning of ပေး is 'to cause to come near', and it is also used to mean 'to pay', 'to give', or 'to let'. |
Indonesian | menyediakan | ||
The Indonesian word "menyediakan" is derived from the Sanskrit word "upasthā", which means "to serve or offer". | |||
Javanese | nyedhiyakake | ||
The Javanese word "nyedhiyakake" also means "to prepare" or "to make available". | |||
Khmer | ផ្តល់ | ||
The Khmer word for "provide" (ផ្តល់) originates from the Pali word "patthana" meaning "to furnish" or "support". | |||
Lao | ສະຫນອງ | ||
The word "ສະຫນອງ" also means "to satisfy" or "to meet the needs of" in Lao. | |||
Malay | menyediakan | ||
The word "menyediakan" in Malay derives from the word "sediakan", meaning readiness or preparedness. | |||
Thai | ให้ | ||
ให้ can be a shortened form of the word 'ให้ทาน' meaning 'to give something to charity'. In addition, it can be used to shorten 'ให้การช่วยเหลือ' which means 'to help'. | |||
Vietnamese | cung cấp | ||
"Cung cấp" means "to provide" in Vietnamese. It derives from the Chinese word "供给" (gōngjǐ), which also means "to provide". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | magbigay | ||
Azerbaijani | təmin etmək | ||
"Təmin etmək" can also mean "to ensure" or "to guarantee". | |||
Kazakh | қамтамасыз ету | ||
The word "қамтамасыз ету" (provide) in Kazakh is derived from the Arabic word "qamtam" meaning "to cover" and "to ensure". | |||
Kyrgyz | камсыз кылуу | ||
Tajik | таъмин менамояд | ||
Turkmen | üpjün etmek | ||
Uzbek | ta'minlash | ||
Ta'minlash derives from the Arabic word 'ta'min' (meaning 'guarantee' or 'security'), and also refers to 'supplying' or 'ensuring'. | |||
Uyghur | تەمىنلەش | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻolako | ||
The word "hoʻolako" can also mean "to furnish" or "to equip". | |||
Maori | whakarato | ||
The word 'whakarato' also carries the meanings of 'to serve', 'to supply', and 'to furnish'. | |||
Samoan | tuʻuina atu | ||
The word tuʻuina atu is derived from the word tuʻu, meaning 'to place' or 'to set up'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | magbigay | ||
The word "magbigay" can also mean to "give"} |
Aymara | uñachayaña | ||
Guarani | me'ẽ | ||
Esperanto | provizi | ||
The Esperanto word "provizi" is related to the English word "provision," and also has a legal meaning of "furnish as evidence." | |||
Latin | provide | ||
The Latin verb "providere" initially meant "to foresee". |
Greek | προμηθεύω | ||
The word "προμηθεύω" is derived from the verb "προμηθέομαι", which means "to foresee" or "to take thought for the future". | |||
Hmong | muab | ||
The word "muab" in Hmong also means "transfer". | |||
Kurdish | amadekirin | ||
The word 'amadekirin' also means 'to prepare' or 'to get ready' in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | sağlamak | ||
Sağlamak also means to milk an animal in Turkish | |||
Xhosa | ukubonelela | ||
In Xhosa, the word 'ukubonelela' is a verb that means to provide, supply, or furnish. | |||
Yiddish | צושטעלן | ||
The Yiddish word "צושטעלן" (provide) is derived from the German word "zustellen" (deliver), which in turn comes from the Middle High German word "stellen" (to put, place). | |||
Zulu | hlinzeka | ||
The verb 'hlinzeka' can also mean 'to take care of' or 'to nurse'. | |||
Assamese | প্ৰদান কৰা | ||
Aymara | uñachayaña | ||
Bhojpuri | देईं | ||
Dhivehi | ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުން | ||
Dogri | मुहैया करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | magbigay | ||
Guarani | me'ẽ | ||
Ilocano | agited | ||
Krio | gi | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | دابینکردن | ||
Maithili | उपलब्ध करायब | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯤꯕ | ||
Mizo | pechhuak | ||
Oromo | dhiyeessuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରଦାନ କରନ୍ତୁ | | ||
Quechua | quy | ||
Sanskrit | परिकल्पयतु | ||
Tatar | тәэмин итү | ||
Tigrinya | ምቅራብ | ||
Tsonga | phamela | ||