Purpose in different languages

Purpose in Different Languages

Discover 'Purpose' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'purpose' holds great significance in our lives, guiding our actions and decisions towards a specific aim or goal. It's a concept that transcends cultures and languages, yet is interpreted and expressed differently around the world.

Purpose is not just a philosophical concept; it's also a cultural cornerstone that has shaped societies and civilizations throughout history. For instance, in ancient Egypt, finding one's purpose was closely linked to the belief in the afterlife and the pursuit of ma'at, or balance and harmony.

Understanding the translation of 'purpose' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other cultures perceive and approach this fundamental concept. For example, in Spanish, 'purpose' is 'propósito', while in French, it's 'but' or 'finalité'. In Mandarin Chinese, it's '目的' (mùdì), and in Japanese, it's '目的' (mokuteki).

By exploring the many translations of 'purpose', we can deepen our appreciation for the richness and diversity of human culture and language. Keep reading to discover more fascinating translations of this important word.

Purpose


Purpose in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansdoel
The Afrikaans word "doel" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "doel", which also means "target".
Amharicዓላማ
The word "ዓላማ" can also mean "target" or "aim".
Hausamanufa
The Hausa word "manufa" can also refer to intention, motive, or aspiration
Igbonzube
The word “nzube” also means “mark” or “print” in Igbo, as in “ịkọ aka nzube” (to leave a mark with your hand).
Malagasyzava-kendreny
The word "Zava-kendreny" also means "reason" or "cause" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)cholinga
The Nyanja word 'cholinga' also means 'to intend', a relationship that is absent in English.
Shonachinangwa
Somaliujeedada
The Somali word 'ujeedada' is derived from the Arabic word 'waḍīʿa', which also means 'purpose', and is also related to the French word 'objectif' and the English word 'object'
Sesothomorero
In Sesotho, the word 'morero' can also mean 'responsibility' or 'obligation'.
Swahilikusudi
The word 'kusudi' derives from the Arabic word 'qasd' ('intent') and also means 'aim' and 'goal'.
Xhosainjongo
Injongo is also used to refer to a 'mission' or a 'reason for being'.
Yorubaidi
The word "idi" also means "destiny" or "fate" in Yoruba.
Zuluinjongo
The word 'injongo' also encompasses the idea of intention, aim, or objective in Zulu
Bambarakun
Ewetaɖodzi
Kinyarwandaintego
Lingalamokano
Lugandaomugaso
Sepedimorero
Twi (Akan)botaeɛ

Purpose in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicهدف
The word "هدف" can also mean "target" or "goal".
Hebrewמַטָרָה
The Hebrew word "מַטָרָה" (matarah) also means "target" and derives from the Aramaic word "מַטְרָתָא" (matrata), meaning "place of the arrow".
Pashtoموخه
The Pashto word "موخه" also has the alternate meaning of "intention".
Arabicهدف
The word "هدف" can also mean "target" or "goal".

Purpose in Western European Languages

Albanianqëllimi
The Albanian word "qëllimi", meaning "purpose", is a derivative of the Proto-Indo-European root *kel- "to turn, drive, set in motion".
Basquexedea
The Basque word "xedea" has been borrowed from Spanish "idea", and originally meant "mental image or concept"
Catalanpropòsit
"Propòsit" is related to the Latin preposition "propositum," meaning "in front of, forth," and also with the verb "proponere," meaning "to place before, to put forward."
Croatiansvrha
The Slavic root `svr` signifies “something above-lying” and thus “above, over. beyond”; this same root is found in the word `svrha` but also in the Czech word `vrch` (“top”) and the Russian word `verx` (“top, extremity, summit, height”). From this root, a verbal root `svrsh`- (“to finish, complete, accomplish”) was formed; from this, `svrha` signifies “that which is finished or accomplished” — specifically, “the goal, the thing aimed at, the purpose.”
Danishformål
The word "formål" is derived from the Old Norse word "formáli", which means "goal" or "intention."
Dutchdoel
"Doel" also means "target" in archery, as it derives from Old French "dol", meaning "pain" or "suffering".
Englishpurpose
The word "purpose" derives from the Latin word "propositum," which means "to put forward as a goal or plan."
Frenchobjectif
French "objectif" derives from Latin "obiectivus" (set before), via medieval Latin "objectivus" and Old French "objectif" (placed in front).
Frisiandoel
The word "doel" in Frisian shares an origin with the Dutch word "doel" meaning "target".
Galicianpropósito
In Galician, 'propósito' can also mean 'intention', 'resolve' or 'design'.
Germanzweck
The word "Zweck" dates back to Proto-Germanic "*tweh-“ meaning “to divide, to split".
Icelandictilgangur
The word "tilgangur" derives from "til" (to) and "gangr" (pathway), thus implying a direction or goal.
Irishcuspóir
Cuspóir can also mean 'object' or 'desire', in addition to its primary meaning of 'purpose'.
Italianscopo
The word "scopo" comes from the Latin "scopus", meaning "target" or "aim."
Luxembourgishzweck
Zweck, a loanword from German, can also mean "target" or "aim" in Luxembourgish.
Maltesegħan
The word 'għan' (purpose) in Maltese has Semitic roots and also refers to the destination of a journey.
Norwegianhensikt
The word "hensikt" is derived from the Old Norse word "hyggja", meaning "to think" or "to intend". It has a broader meaning than "purpose" in English, encompassing both the aim or intention of an action and the underlying reason or cause.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)objetivo
In Portuguese, 'objetivo' also means 'lens', related to its original meaning of 'something aimed at'.
Scots Gaelicadhbhar
The Gaelic word 'adhbhar' also means 'cause' or 'reason'.
Spanishpropósito
Propósito can also mean "intention," "reason," or "aim."
Swedishsyfte
The word "syfte" in Swedish is derived from the Old Norse word "skyfta", meaning "divide" or "distribute."
Welshpwrpas
Welsh "pwrpas" comes from Middle English "porpos" meaning "the thing one sets before oneself as a goal".

Purpose in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianмэта
Belarusian "мэта" originates from the Polish "meta", meaning "finish line".
Bosniansvrha
In Slavic languages, including Bosnian, the word 'svrha' also refers to 'a match' or 'a connection'.
Bulgarianпредназначение
The word "prednaznachenie" also means "predestination" in Bulgarian.
Czechúčel
Czech 'účel' is also used with the meaning of 'interest' as in the case with Polish 'użytek', which comes from Old Church Slavonic and meant 'profit'.
Estonianeesmärk
The word "eesmärk" in Estonian is derived from "eesmärk", meaning "mark in front", or "goal".
Finnishtarkoitus
The word "tarkoitus" can also refer to the intended use or function of something.
Hungariancélja
The archaic meaning of the Hungarian word "célja" is "aim" or "target".
Latvianmērķim
Derived from Proto-Indo-European *merǵ (to wipe, rub), akin to Old Norse and Old English *mark (boundary)
Lithuaniantikslas
The word "tikslas" is derived from the Lithuanian word "tikti", which means "to suit" or "to be appropriate".
Macedonianцел
The word "цел" in Macedonian also means "aim" or "goal"
Polishcel, powód
The Polish word "cel" can also mean "target" or "goal".
Romanianscop
The Romanian word "scop" can also mean "target" or "aim", and is related to the verb "a scopi", meaning "to shoot" or "to throw".
Russianцель
The word "цель" also means "aim", "goal", or "target".
Serbianсврха
Сврха can also refer to the top or end of something, as in 'на сврси села' (at the edge of the village).
Slovakúčel
"Účel posvěcuje prostředky" (The end justifies the means) is the main meaning of "účel", but it can also stand for "aim" or even "goal."
Sloveniannamen
The word "namen" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*namъ", meaning "intent" or "design".
Ukrainianпризначення
The word "призначення" in Ukrainian comes from the verb "призначати" meaning "to assign" or "to designate", indicating its original meaning as a "designation" or "assignment".

Purpose in South Asian Languages

Bengaliউদ্দেশ্য
In Bengali, উদ্দেশ্য is an abstract noun with an archaic meaning of "subject", "topic" or "aim".
Gujaratiહેતુ
The word "હેતુ" also means "cause" or "reason" in Gujarati.
Hindiउद्देश्य
उद्देश्य originally meant "to throw into".
Kannadaಉದ್ದೇಶ
The word "ಉದ್ದೇಶ" can also mean "aim", "intention", or "object".
Malayalamഉദ്ദേശ്യം
The word ഉദ്ദേശ്യം in Malayalam can also refer to an objective, a goal, or an intention.
Marathiहेतू
The Marathi word "हेतू" derives from the Sanskrit word "हेतु", meaning "cause" or "reason".
Nepaliउद्देश्य
The word "उद्देश्य" (uddeshya) has different meaning depending on context, primarily as "purpose" but also "aim, intention, or object."
Punjabiਉਦੇਸ਼
The word "ਉਦੇਸ਼" is derived from the Sanskrit word "uddiś" meaning "to point out" or "to declare".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අරමුණ
The Sinhala word "අරමුණ" (purpose) also means "target" or "goal".
Tamilநோக்கம்
The Tamil word "நோக்கம்" not only means "purpose" but also "intention" and "aim."
Teluguప్రయోజనం
ప్రయోజనం may originate from the Sanskrit "pravyojana" and its alternate meaning is to take advantage of something
Urduمقصد
As a verb "مقصد" means "to intend" or "to aim at".

Purpose in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)目的
"目的" (mùdì) is a homophone meaning "the end".
Chinese (Traditional)目的
目的 can also mean 'place' or 'goal' depending on the context.
Japanese目的
Although the second character, '的,' is the same as that of '的中' (target), it does not contain the nuance of accuracy.
Korean목적
목적 is also used in a religious context to refer to a specific destination or goal, such as heaven or hell.
Mongolianзорилго
The word 'зорилго' can also refer to a target, aim, or goal.
Myanmar (Burmese)ရည်ရွယ်ချက်

Purpose in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiantujuan
"Tujuan" in Indonesian comes from the Malay word "tuju", which can also mean "to direct" or "to aim at".
Javanesetujuane
'Tujuane' in Javanese is also used to refer to the 'goal' or 'objective' of an activity.
Khmerគោលបំណង
Laoຈຸດປະສົງ
Malaytujuan
In Malay, the word "tujuan" can also refer to a direction or destination.
Thaiวัตถุประสงค์
"วัตถุประสงค์" in Thai comes from the Sanskrit word "vastu" meaning "thing" and "prayojana" meaning "use".
Vietnamesemục đích
"Mục đích" has an alternate meaning: "target" or "objective".
Filipino (Tagalog)layunin

Purpose in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniməqsəd
"Məqsəd" has historical links with „məğz" ("brain") as it was previously believed the brain is where thoughts and goals originate and are realized.
Kazakhмақсаты
The word "мақсаты" can also mean "objective" or "intent" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzмаксаты
The word "максаты" is also used to refer to a goal, ambition, or intention.
Tajikмақсад
The word "мақсад" originated from the Persian word "مقصود" meaning "aim". It has also been influenced by the Arabic word "مقصد" meaning "destination".
Turkmenmaksat
Uzbekmaqsad
The Uzbek word "maqsad" is derived from the Arabic word "maqSad" meaning "destination" or "goal".
Uyghurمەقسەت

Purpose in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankumu
In Hawaiian, the word "kumu" can also refer to the bottom or base of something.
Maorikaupapa
Kaupapa, a Polynesian word for 'purpose', also carries the meaning of 'cause', 'plan', 'system' and 'method'.
Samoanfaʻamoemoe
The word "faʻamoemoe" also means "wish" or "intention" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)layunin
The word "layunin" is derived from the Spanish word "ley", meaning "law", and the suffix "-unin", meaning "action or process". This suggests that the original meaning of "layunin" was "the act of carrying out the law".

Purpose in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraamtawi
Guaranirembipota

Purpose in International Languages

Esperantocelo
The Esperanto word "celo" comes from the Latin word "caelum", meaning "heaven" or "sky".
Latinrem
The word "rem" can also refer to a row in a spreadsheet or database.

Purpose in Others Languages

Greekσκοπός
The word 'σκοπός' originally meant 'watchman' or 'observer', reflecting its role as a guide for human action.
Hmonglub hom phiaj
The word lub hom phiaj has two distinct meanings depending on whether it follows the preposition "nrog" "with, by, along". * "Lub hom phiaj nrog" typically means to do something in addition to another. * "Lub hom phiaj", as used in the rest of this book, typically means doing something that is part of an overall plan or process.
Kurdisharmanc
The word "armanc" also refers to the "meaning of life" in Kurdish.
Turkishamaç
The word 'amaç' originates from Arabic and also translates as 'target' in Turkish.
Xhosainjongo
Injongo is also used to refer to a 'mission' or a 'reason for being'.
Yiddishציל
The word "ציל" (purpose) is derived from Middle High German "zil" (goal, target)
Zuluinjongo
The word 'injongo' also encompasses the idea of intention, aim, or objective in Zulu
Assameseউদ্দেশ্য
Aymaraamtawi
Bhojpuriमाने
Dhivehiމަޤްޞަދު
Dogriउद्देश
Filipino (Tagalog)layunin
Guaranirembipota
Ilocanogandat
Krioplan
Kurdish (Sorani)مەبەست
Maithiliप्रयोजन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄꯥꯟꯗꯝ
Mizochhan
Oromodhimma
Odia (Oriya)ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ
Quechuapropósito nisqa
Sanskritउद्देश्यम्‌
Tatarмаксат
Tigrinyaዕላማ
Tsongaxikongomelo

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter