Punishment in Different Languages
Discover 'Punishment' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Punishment, a word that carries significant weight in every culture and language. It refers to the penalty or consequences imposed on an individual for breaking rules or committing wrongdoings. The concept of punishment is deeply rooted in our societal structures, serving as a deterrent and a means of maintaining law and order.
Throughout history, the form and significance of punishment have evolved, reflecting cultural shifts and societal values. From ancient civilizations to modern times, punishment has been a topic of intense debate, with philosophers, lawmakers, and psychologists all contributing to the discourse. The word 'punishment' itself has been translated into various languages, each with its own unique cultural context and nuance.
For instance, in Spanish, punishment is 'castigo', in French, it's 'punition', while in German, it's 'Strafe'. These translations not only provide a linguistic insight but also offer a peek into how different cultures perceive and deal with the idea of punishment.
Understanding the translation of punishment in different languages can be fascinating for language enthusiasts, cultural researchers, and anyone interested in the global context of this significant concept. So, let's delve into the world of 'punishment' and explore its translations in various languages.
Punishment
Punishment in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | straf | ||
| The word "straf" can also mean "tight" or "rigorous" in Afrikaans, a usage derived from the Dutch word "straf". | |||
| Amharic | ቅጣት | ||
| The word "ቅጣት" can also mean "justice", highlighting the connection between retribution and fairness in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | azaba | ||
| The word "azaba" in Hausa also means "hardship" or "suffering" | |||
| Igbo | ntaramahụhụ | ||
| The Igbo word "ntaramahụhụ" also means "a state of being disciplined". | |||
| Malagasy | sazy | ||
| In Madagascar, the word "sazy" also means "lesson". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chilango | ||
| The word "chilango" also means "a person from Mexico City" in Spanish. | |||
| Shona | chirango | ||
| The word "chirango" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Bantu root "-lang-," meaning "to punish or chastise." | |||
| Somali | ciqaab | ||
| The word "ciqaab" is closely related to "caaqil", meaning an assembly of elders, as punishment is often determined by the deliberations of the community. | |||
| Sesotho | kotlo | ||
| "Kotlo" also means "oven" or "cooking pot". | |||
| Swahili | adhabu | ||
| The term 'adhabu' is likely derived from the Arabic 'adab,' meaning instruction or discipline. | |||
| Xhosa | isohlwayo | ||
| "Isohlwayo" is derived from the verb "sohla", meaning "to punish", and can also refer to a fine or compensation paid to the victim of a crime. | |||
| Yoruba | ijiya | ||
| "Ijiya" also means "debt" in Yoruba, indicating the strong connection between wrongdoing and the need for restitution. | |||
| Zulu | isijeziso | ||
| "I-sijeziso" is related to "isiso" to correct, to set right, to make someone realize their sin or mistake | |||
| Bambara | ɲangili | ||
| Ewe | tohehe na ame | ||
| Kinyarwanda | igihano | ||
| Lingala | kopesa etumbu | ||
| Luganda | ekibonerezo | ||
| Sepedi | kotlo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | asotwe a wɔde ma | ||
Punishment in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | عقاب | ||
| The word "عقاب" also means "eagle" in Arabic, with the latter meaning potentially originating from the bird's perceived harshness towards its prey. | |||
| Hebrew | עֲנִישָׁה | ||
| The Hebrew word for "punishment" ("עֲנִישָׁה") also means "correction" or "discipline" | |||
| Pashto | سزا ورکول | ||
| The Pashto word "سزا ورکول" also means "reward or compensation". | |||
| Arabic | عقاب | ||
| The word "عقاب" also means "eagle" in Arabic, with the latter meaning potentially originating from the bird's perceived harshness towards its prey. | |||
Punishment in Western European Languages
| Albanian | dënimi | ||
| The Albanian word "dënimi" also has a religious connotation, referring to God's judgment or retribution | |||
| Basque | zigorra | ||
| "Zigorra", meaning "punishment" in Basque, derives from the Latin "jus" (law), signifying a just or deserved retribution. | |||
| Catalan | càstig | ||
| In Catalan, the word "càstig" can also refer to a type of traditional folk music from the Valencian Community. | |||
| Croatian | kazna | ||
| The word “kazna” comes from the Greek word “kolasis,” which means “punishment” or “chastisement.” | |||
| Danish | straf | ||
| The word "straf" is derived from the Old Norse word "stráff", which means "severe" or "hard". | |||
| Dutch | straf | ||
| The word "straf" in Dutch also has the archaic meaning of "remedy" or "cure". | |||
| English | punishment | ||
| 'Punishment' derives from the Latin 'poena', meaning either 'atonement' or 'suffering'. Thus it can denote both retribution and penalty or suffering. | |||
| French | châtiment | ||
| The French word « châtiment » derives from the Latin « castigatio » (correction) | |||
| Frisian | straf | ||
| The word "straf" in Frisian has Germanic roots and is related to the English word "strike". | |||
| Galician | castigo | ||
| In Galician, "castigo" can also refer to a type of traditional dance. | |||
| German | bestrafung | ||
| The word "Bestrafung" derives from the Old High German word "strefon", meaning "to strengthen" or "to discipline". | |||
| Icelandic | refsing | ||
| The word "refsing" is derived from the Old Norse word "refsa", meaning "to punish or chastise". It can also refer to a penalty or fine imposed for an offense. | |||
| Irish | pionós | ||
| The word "pionós" can also mean "penance" or "satisfaction" in a religious context. | |||
| Italian | punizione | ||
| The Italian word for "punishment", "punizione", comes from the Latin word "punire", which means "to purify" or "to make clean". | |||
| Luxembourgish | bestrofung | ||
| Bestrofung is derived from the German verb bestrafen, meaning to punish or penalize. | |||
| Maltese | piena | ||
| Maltese "piena" derives from the Arabic "bayn" meaning "separation", as punishment involves being separated from society. | |||
| Norwegian | avstraffelse | ||
| The word "avstraffelse" is derived from the Old Norse "afstrá" meaning "to put right" and "straff" meaning "strict". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | punição | ||
| The Portuguese word "punição" (punishment) derives from the Latin "punitio" (action of punishing, revenge), related to the root "poen" (pain). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | peanas | ||
| "Peanas" is also a term for a "large, heavy load" or a "penalty". | |||
| Spanish | castigo | ||
| The Spanish word "castigo" originates from the Latin "castigare," which means "to correct or improve." | |||
| Swedish | bestraffning | ||
| The word 'bestraffning' is derived from the Old Norse word 'straff' meaning 'reproach' or 'disgrace'. | |||
| Welsh | cosb | ||
| Cosb is cognate with the Breton "kozh" meaning "old," perhaps connecting the concept of "ancient punishment" with "punishment." | |||
Punishment in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | пакаранне | ||
| Пакаранне can also mean a 'sentence' given by a court or a 'fine' paid for an offense. | |||
| Bosnian | kazna | ||
| The word 'kazna' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'kaza', which also means 'fate' or 'destiny'. | |||
| Bulgarian | наказание | ||
| The word "наказание" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "наказати", meaning "to instruct" or "to correct". | |||
| Czech | trest | ||
| The word "trest" in Czech also means "sentence (legal)" and is derived from the Latin word "tribunal". | |||
| Estonian | karistus | ||
| "Karistus" is possibly a loanword from Northern German via Swedish "karrest" (prison) and means initially "place of detention". | |||
| Finnish | rangaistus | ||
| The word rangaistus is derived from the verb "rangata", meaning "to torment" or "to torture." | |||
| Hungarian | büntetés | ||
| The word "büntetés" also has the alternate meaning of "expiation". | |||
| Latvian | sods | ||
| “Sods” originally meant “judgment” and its meaning hasn't changed much today. | |||
| Lithuanian | bausmė | ||
| "Bausmė" comes from "baudžia", a form of servitude in the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania. | |||
| Macedonian | казна | ||
| The word "казна" in Macedonian is used to describe a punishment or penalty, but it also has the alternate meaning of "the treasury" or "the state budget". | |||
| Polish | kara | ||
| The word "kara" can also mean "penalty" in a legal context. | |||
| Romanian | pedeapsă | ||
| The word "pedeapsă" derives from the Latin "poena" and is also related to the verb "pedeapsi" and the noun "pedeapsă" in Albanian. | |||
| Russian | наказание | ||
| "Наказание" can also mean "order" coming from the root "казнить" meaning "to execute". | |||
| Serbian | казна | ||
| The word "казна" in Serbian has Slavic roots and is also related to the word "казнить", which means "to execute". | |||
| Slovak | trest | ||
| The word "trest" also means "burden" or "trouble" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | kazen | ||
| Kazen is also a name associated with the Slavic goddess of punishment and revenge, Perperuna. | |||
| Ukrainian | покарання | ||
| The word “покарання” evolved from “кара” meaning “retribution,” a punishment for wrongdoing. | |||
Punishment in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | শাস্তি | ||
| From Sanskrit "shasti" meaning "instruction, command, discipline, control, chastisement, punishment" and ultimately from the root "śās" meaning "to command, regulate." | |||
| Gujarati | સજા | ||
| "સજા" is rooted in "Su" meaning "well" or "good" and "Jati" meaning "birth" or "origin". It thus refers to the idea of refining something for the greater good. | |||
| Hindi | सज़ा | ||
| The word "सज़ा" (punishment) is derived from the Sanskrit word "सज़ा" (correction) and implies the notion of rectifying or straightening an individual's behaviour. | |||
| Kannada | ಶಿಕ್ಷೆ | ||
| The Kannada word "ಶಿಕ್ಷೆ" also refers to education and training, as it shares its root with the Sanskrit word "शिष्य" (student). | |||
| Malayalam | ശിക്ഷ | ||
| "ശിക്ഷ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "śikṣā", meaning "instruction" or "discipline". | |||
| Marathi | शिक्षा | ||
| The Marathi word "शिक्षा" originates from the Sanskrit word "शिष्या", meaning teaching or instruction, and has undergone a semantic shift over time. | |||
| Nepali | सजाय | ||
| The word "सजाय" can also mean “ornament”. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਜ਼ਾ | ||
| The word "ਸਜ਼ਾ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "śikṣā", meaning "instruction" or "discipline". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ද .ුවම් | ||
| The word "ද.ුවම්" ("dunam") literally means "the act of burning" in Pali, the language of ancient Buddhist scriptures. | |||
| Tamil | தண்டனை | ||
| "தண்டனை" (tandaṉai) literally means "act of hitting" in Tamil and is related to the word "தண்டு" (taṇṭu), meaning "staff". | |||
| Telugu | శిక్ష | ||
| The word 'శిక్ష' also means 'instruction' or 'discipline' | |||
| Urdu | سزا | ||
| The word "سزا" is derived from the Arabic word "سزاد" meaning "requital" or "retribution". It can also refer to the "consequences" of an action. | |||
Punishment in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 惩罚 | ||
| In Chinese, the character "惩罚" can also mean "to punish by law" or "a legal penalty." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 懲罰 | ||
| 懲罰 can also mean "to punish oneself" or "to warn others from making the same mistake." | |||
| Japanese | 罰 | ||
| 罰 (batsu) can also mean "sin" or "suffering." | |||
| Korean | 처벌 | ||
| 처벌 originates from the term '처분', which refers to the act of disposing of someone through punishment. | |||
| Mongolian | шийтгэл | ||
| The word "шийтгэл" can also refer to a "taxation" or "fine" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ပြစ်ဒဏ် | ||
Punishment in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | hukuman | ||
| The word "hukuman" in Indonesian can also refer to a judicial decision or sentence. | |||
| Javanese | ukuman | ||
| "Ukuman" is also the Javanese word for "measure", and is related to the Sanskrit word "uktha" (verse, rule). | |||
| Khmer | ការដាក់ទណ្ឌកម្ម | ||
| Lao | ການລົງໂທດ | ||
| Malay | hukuman | ||
| The word "hukuman" can also mean "sentence (as in a court decision)" in Malay. | |||
| Thai | การลงโทษ | ||
| 'การลงโทษ' literally translates to 'lowering the body,' a reflection of the historical practice of chaining prisoners by the neck in a painful lowering position. | |||
| Vietnamese | sự trừng phạt | ||
| The word "sự trừng phạt" can also refer to the consequences of one's actions or behaviors. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | parusa | ||
Punishment in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | cəza | ||
| The word "cəza" in Azerbaijani also means "fine" or "penalty". | |||
| Kazakh | жазалау | ||
| The Kazakh word “жазалау” (“punishment”) derives from the verb “жазу” (“to write”), implying the act of recording or decreeing a penalty. | |||
| Kyrgyz | жазалоо | ||
| "Жазалоо" means "reproach" in Kyrgyz, and also has meanings like "blame", | |||
| Tajik | ҷазо | ||
| The word "ҷазо" also means "revenge" and "retribution" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | jeza | ||
| Uzbek | jazo | ||
| The word "jazo" in Uzbek can also mean "punishment" or "retribution". | |||
| Uyghur | جازا | ||
Punishment in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoʻopaʻi | ||
| In Hawaiian, "hoʻopaʻi" can also refer to discipline, suffering, or torment. | |||
| Maori | whiu | ||
| The term 'whiu' in Te Reo Māori can also refer to the act of 'turning something upside down', highlighting the transformative nature of punishment. | |||
| Samoan | faʻasalaga | ||
| In Samoan, "faʻasalaga" also means "discipline" or "training". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | parusa | ||
| "Parusa" is of Sanskrit origin and initially meant "severe" or "hard", but the meaning evolved to "punishment" in Tagalog. | |||
Punishment in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | mutuyaña | ||
| Guarani | castigo rehegua | ||
Punishment in International Languages
| Esperanto | puno | ||
| The word "puno" also means "point" or "period" in Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | poena | ||
| Poena is the Latin word for punishment or penalty, and its etymology is linked to the verb pensare, meaning to weigh or ponder, suggesting the idea of balancing or paying for a wrong. | |||
Punishment in Others Languages
| Greek | τιμωρία | ||
| The ancient Greek word 'τιμωρία' ('timoria') originally meant 'vengeance' or 'retribution', and only later acquired the more general meaning of 'punishment'. | |||
| Hmong | kev rau txim | ||
| The term "kev rau txim" is also used to describe a "penalty" in a legal context. | |||
| Kurdish | cezakirin | ||
| The word "cezakirin" is derived from an Armenian word meaning "to hurt" or "injure." | |||
| Turkish | ceza | ||
| "Ceza" is the Turkish word for "punishment", but it also has the same root as the Arabic word for "judgment" | |||
| Xhosa | isohlwayo | ||
| "Isohlwayo" is derived from the verb "sohla", meaning "to punish", and can also refer to a fine or compensation paid to the victim of a crime. | |||
| Yiddish | שטראָף | ||
| The Yiddish word "שטראָף" derives from the German word "Strafe", meaning not only "punishment" but also "fine". | |||
| Zulu | isijeziso | ||
| "I-sijeziso" is related to "isiso" to correct, to set right, to make someone realize their sin or mistake | |||
| Assamese | শাস্তি | ||
| Aymara | mutuyaña | ||
| Bhojpuri | सजा के सजा दिहल जाला | ||
| Dhivehi | އަދަބު | ||
| Dogri | सजा देना | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | parusa | ||
| Guarani | castigo rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | dusa | ||
| Krio | pɔnishmɛnt | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سزا | ||
| Maithili | सजाय | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯩꯔꯥꯛ ꯄꯤꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | hremna pek a ni | ||
| Oromo | adabbii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଦଣ୍ଡ | ||
| Quechua | muchuchiy | ||
| Sanskrit | दण्डः | ||
| Tatar | җәза | ||
| Tigrinya | መቕጻዕቲ | ||
| Tsonga | ku xupuriwa | ||