Radio in Different Languages
Discover 'Radio' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Radio: a simple word, yet it holds a world of significance. Since its inception in the early 20th century, radio has been a revolutionary medium of communication, shaping cultures and influencing society. It was the first technology to provide real-time, long-distance communication, making it an essential part of our historical and cultural narrative.
Even in today's digital age, radio remains relevant and popular, reaching an estimated 2.5 billion listeners worldwide. Its ability to provide news, music, and entertainment to a global audience, free of charge, has ensured its enduring appeal and importance.
Given its global impact, it's no surprise that the word 'radio' has been translated into various languages, reflecting its cultural significance in different regions. For instance, in Spanish, it's 'radio'; in French, 'radio'; in German, 'Radio'; in Mandarin, '收音机' (Shōu yīn jī); in Japanese, ラジオ (Rajio); in Hindi, रेडियो (Rediyo); and in Arabic, راديو (Rādīō).
Exploring the translations of 'radio' offers a fascinating glimpse into the cultural diversity of the world. Join us as we delve into the different languages and cultures that have embraced this remarkable technology.
Radio
Radio in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | radio | ||
| In Afrikaans, "radio" can also refer to a bicycle or a type of tree (the "radio bush"). | |||
| Amharic | ሬዲዮ | ||
| The word "ሬዲዮ" can also mean "wireless" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | rediyo | ||
| In Hausa, "rediyo" can also refer to music or entertainment broadcasting, such as on the radio. | |||
| Igbo | redio | ||
| In many Igbo dialects, "redio" also means "a tale" or "a story". | |||
| Malagasy | fampielezam-peo | ||
| Fampielezam-peo is derived from the word "fampielezana," meaning "to talk" or "to tell something." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wailesi | ||
| 'Wailesi' is also the word for 'wireless' in Nyanja, which comes from the original function of a radio being to listen to wireless broadcasts. | |||
| Shona | redhiyo | ||
| The word "redhiyo" is derived from the English word "radio" and also refers to a loudspeaker in Shona. | |||
| Somali | raadiyaha | ||
| The Somali word "raadiyaha" (radio) is derived from Arabic and also refers to a "transmitter" or "broadcaster." | |||
| Sesotho | seea-le-moea | ||
| The word "seea-le-moea" in Sesotho, meaning "radio", is derived from the English word "see-all-more". | |||
| Swahili | redio | ||
| The word radio (redio in Swahili) can also mean 'broadcast' or 'announcement' in the context of a public address system. | |||
| Xhosa | unomathotholo | ||
| In Xhosa, "unomathotholo" derives from "umtholotholo" (a rumble, thunder) via the addition of the prefix "uno-" (a sound). | |||
| Yoruba | redio | ||
| The word "redio" (radio) in Yoruba also means "to spread news". | |||
| Zulu | umsakazo | ||
| The word "umsakazo" in Zulu, originally meaning "messenger", evolved to mean "radio" due to its ability to transmit messages over long distances. | |||
| Bambara | arajo la | ||
| Ewe | radio dzi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | radiyo | ||
| Lingala | radio | ||
| Luganda | leediyo | ||
| Sepedi | radio | ||
| Twi (Akan) | radio so | ||
Radio in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مذياع | ||
| The word "مذياع" comes from the Arabic verb "أذاع" meaning "to publicize" or "to broadcast". | |||
| Hebrew | רָדִיוֹ | ||
| The Hebrew word "רָדִיוֹ" is derived from the Latin word "radius", meaning "ray", referring to the electromagnetic waves used in radio transmission. | |||
| Pashto | راډیو | ||
| The Pashto word "راډیو" ultimately derives from the Latin word "radius", meaning "ray" or "spoke". | |||
| Arabic | مذياع | ||
| The word "مذياع" comes from the Arabic verb "أذاع" meaning "to publicize" or "to broadcast". | |||
Radio in Western European Languages
| Albanian | radio | ||
| While the term "radio" in English refers to wireless communication, in Albanian it also means "x-ray". | |||
| Basque | irratia | ||
| The word "irratia" literally means "the one that transmits news", alluding to the primary purpose of radio in its early days. | |||
| Catalan | ràdio | ||
| Catalan "ràdio" derives from Latin "radius," originally meaning a spoke of a wheel. | |||
| Croatian | radio | ||
| In Croatian, "radio" can also mean "broadcast" or "transmission". | |||
| Danish | radio | ||
| The word "radio" in Danish also means "loudspeaker". | |||
| Dutch | radio- | ||
| In Dutch, "radio" is a suffix that can indicate a large or wide area, as in "radiotelescoop" (radio telescope) | |||
| English | radio | ||
| Radio derives from Latin "radius", meaning "ray", after early wireless transmissions resembling radiated rays. | |||
| French | radio | ||
| The French word "radio" comes from the Latin word "radius," meaning "spoke" or "ray." | |||
| Frisian | radio | ||
| Frisian uses "radio" for "bicycle" and "fyts" for "bicycle racing". | |||
| Galician | radio | ||
| In Galician, the word "radio" can also refer to a frog or toad. | |||
| German | radio | ||
| "Radio" in German can also refer to a type of play, or a piece of music written for a play. | |||
| Icelandic | útvarp | ||
| The word "útvarp" literally means "out throwing" in Icelandic, but the word is derived from the Old Norse word "útvarp", which can also mean "a throw" or "an exclamation." | |||
| Irish | raidió | ||
| Italian | radio | ||
| In Italian, "radio" can also mean "ray" or "spoke", as in a wheel's spokes. | |||
| Luxembourgish | radio | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Radio" can also refer to a "radius" or a "bicycle wheel". | |||
| Maltese | radju | ||
| The word "radju" (radio) comes from the Latin word "radius," which means "ray." | |||
| Norwegian | radio | ||
| The Norwegian word "radio" can also refer to a type of bicycle handlebar or a type of fish. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | rádio | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "rádio" can also mean "radius" or "spokes of a wheel". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | rèidio | ||
| It also means "noise", "prattle" and "chattering". | |||
| Spanish | radio | ||
| «Radio» en español también puede referirse a una rueda o a un rayo. | |||
| Swedish | radio | ||
| Swedish "radio" originally meant "wireless telegraphy". In the 1920s it was replaced by "radio" for broadcasts. | |||
| Welsh | radio | ||
| "Radio" in Welsh also means "transmitter". | |||
Radio in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | радыё | ||
| The word «радыё» comes from the Latin «radius» which means «ray» or «spoke». | |||
| Bosnian | radio | ||
| The word "radio" can also refer to a type of communication device used in the military or by police officers. | |||
| Bulgarian | радио | ||
| The word "radio" can also refer to a "radius" or "spoke" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | rádio | ||
| In Czech, "rádio" also means "radiator" or "receiver". | |||
| Estonian | raadio | ||
| "Raadio" in Estonian also relates to the "radium" element or "radius" bone in the body, while "radiaator" means "radiator". | |||
| Finnish | radio | ||
| In Finnish, the word "radio" also refers to a bicycle shop. | |||
| Hungarian | rádió | ||
| The word "rádió" in Hungarian also refers to a radio program or broadcast. | |||
| Latvian | radio | ||
| The Latvian word "radio" also refers to a radio-like device for measuring blood pressure. | |||
| Lithuanian | radijas | ||
| The term "radijas" in Lithuanian was originally borrowed from Latin "radius", meaning "ray" or "spoke". | |||
| Macedonian | радио | ||
| "Radio" is a loanword from French, meaning "transmission by means of electromagnetic waves." | |||
| Polish | radio | ||
| In Polish, "radio" also refers to a type of exercise equipment used for cardiovascular training, known as a "radio bike" or "exercise bike." | |||
| Romanian | radio | ||
| The Romanian word "radio" can also refer to a type of traditional folk dance. | |||
| Russian | радио | ||
| The word "радио" derives from the French "radio" or the Latin "radius", meaning "ray". | |||
| Serbian | радио | ||
| The word "радио" derives from the Greek word "αέρας," meaning "air". | |||
| Slovak | rádio | ||
| "Rádio" also comes from the Latin word "radius" and originally meant "spoke" or "radius". | |||
| Slovenian | radio | ||
| The word "radio" is derived from the Latin word "radius," meaning "ray" or "spoke," and refers to the transmission of signals through space. | |||
| Ukrainian | радіо | ||
| The word "радіо" is derived from the Latin word "radius," meaning "ray" or "spoke," and is ultimately related to the Sanskrit word "radi." It also shares a root with the Greek word "rodos," meaning "rose," alluding to the shape of early radio antennas. | |||
Radio in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | রেডিও | ||
| "রেডিও" is ultimately derived from the Latin "radius" meaning "spoke" or "ray". As a term for wireless transmission, it first appeared in the early 20th century. | |||
| Gujarati | રેડિયો | ||
| "રેડિયો" comes from the Latin "radius," meaning "ray" or "beam," referring to the electromagnetic waves used in radio communication. | |||
| Hindi | रेडियो | ||
| "रेडियो" का अर्थ लैटिन शब्द "रेडियस" से आया है जिसका अर्थ है "त्रिज्या" या "किरण"। | |||
| Kannada | ರೇಡಿಯೋ | ||
| "ರೇಡಿಯೋ" means both "the medium of radio broadcasting" and "the receiver used to listen to radio broadcasts" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | റേഡിയോ | ||
| The Malayalam word 'റേഡിയോ' ('radio') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'राडियो' (rāḍiō), which in turn comes from the Latin word 'radius,' meaning 'ray' or 'beam'. | |||
| Marathi | रेडिओ | ||
| रेडिओ (radio) word in Marathi is derived from the Latin word 'radius', which means 'ray'. It refers to the transmission of electromagnetic waves through space, forming a beam or ray. | |||
| Nepali | रेडियो | ||
| The word "रेडियो" ultimately derives from Latin "radius", meaning "ray" or "spoke", referring to the radiating nature of radio waves. | |||
| Punjabi | ਰੇਡੀਓ | ||
| The word 'ਰੇਡੀਓ' is derived from the Latin word 'radius', meaning 'ray', referring to the electromagnetic waves used in radio transmissions. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ගුවන් විදුලි | ||
| The word "ගුවන් විදුලි" (radio) is derived from the Sanskrit words "गुह्य" (secret) and "विद्युत" (electricity), as it was originally used to refer to secret communication via electrical signals. | |||
| Tamil | வானொலி | ||
| The word "வானொலி" literally means "sound of the sky" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | రేడియో | ||
| "రేడియో" (radio) is derived from the Latin word "radius," which means "ray," referring to the electromagnetic waves used in radio transmission. | |||
| Urdu | ریڈیو | ||
| The word "ریڈیو" in Urdu ultimately derives from the Latin word "radius," meaning "ray" or "spoke," and refers to the radiation emitted by radio waves. | |||
Radio in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 无线电 | ||
| "无线电"由"无线"和"电"组成，原意为不依靠电线传输的电，后引申为用无线电波传递信息的通信技术。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 無線電 | ||
| 無線電 can also mean "wireless broadcasting" or "radio broadcasting" | |||
| Japanese | 無線 | ||
| "無線" also refers to the absence of ties or obligations. | |||
| Korean | 라디오 | ||
| 라디오는 원래 그리스어로 "소리"를 뜻하는 낱말입니다. | |||
| Mongolian | радио | ||
| In Mongolian, "радио" can also refer to a "radio receiver" or "radio station". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ရေဒီယို | ||
| The word "ရေဒီယို" (radio) in Burmese is derived from the English word "radio" and also refers to traditional Burmese musical instruments such as the "saing waing" (a type of gong) or "pattala" (a type of drum). | |||
Radio in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | radio | ||
| The word "radio" comes from the Latin word "radius", meaning "spoke of a wheel" or "ray", referring to the radiating pattern of radio waves. | |||
| Javanese | radio | ||
| The Javanese word "radio" can also refer to a person who spreads gossip or broadcasts information. | |||
| Khmer | វិទ្យុ | ||
| The term "វិទ្យុ" can also refer to wireless communication devices, telecommunication, or the field of radio broadcasting. | |||
| Lao | ວິທະຍຸ | ||
| The name comes from Latin where radio literally means beam in the context of a ray or radius or spoke as of a wheel. | |||
| Malay | radio | ||
| In Malay, 'radio' also refers to a traditional theater performance with elements of storytelling, music, and dance. | |||
| Thai | วิทยุ | ||
| "วิทยุ" means "knowledge" or "science" but it also means "broadcast" or "radio" due to the influence of Western technology and ideas. | |||
| Vietnamese | đài | ||
| "Đài" can also refer to a platform, stage, tower, pedestal, or base. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | radyo | ||
Radio in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | radio | ||
| In Azerbaijani, "radio" can also be written as "radiouqqaq", which literally translates to "voice that spreads far and wide". | |||
| Kazakh | радио | ||
| "Радио" также может относиться к вещанию или станции. | |||
| Kyrgyz | радио | ||
| The word "радио" comes from the Greek word "ραδίων", meaning "easily flowing". | |||
| Tajik | радио | ||
| The word "радио" in Tajik can also refer to a "broadcasting station". | |||
| Turkmen | radio | ||
| Uzbek | radio | ||
| In Uzbek, "radio" can also refer to a "sound system" or a "broadcasting station." | |||
| Uyghur | radio | ||
Radio in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | lēkiō | ||
| In Hawaiian, the word "lēkiō" can also refer to "the voice of the ocean". | |||
| Maori | reo irirangi | ||
| Samoan | leitio | ||
| Although a cognate with the English word "radio," "leitio" also means "electric lighting" in Samoan, because it was originally used to power electric lights. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | radyo | ||
| The Tagalog word "radyo" comes from the Spanish word "radio", which in turn comes from the Latin word "radius", meaning "spoke of a wheel". This is likely because the first radios were shaped like wheels. | |||
Radio in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | radio tuqi | ||
| Guarani | radio rupive | ||
Radio in International Languages
| Esperanto | radio | ||
| Latin | radio | ||
| In Latin, "radio" means "radius" or "ray", referring to the radiating pattern of radio waves. | |||
Radio in Others Languages
| Greek | ραδιόφωνο | ||
| The word 'ραδιόφωνο' is a compound of 'ραδίον' ('radium') and 'φωνή' ('voice'), and was originally used to refer to devices that emitted radium rays for medical purposes. | |||
| Hmong | xov tooj cua | ||
| The words "xov" and "tooj" mean "news" and "hear" respectively, implying that the radio is a device for hearing news. | |||
| Kurdish | radyo | ||
| The Kurdish word "radyo" derives from the Persian word "rādyū" which itself comes from the French word "radio". | |||
| Turkish | radyo | ||
| The word "radyo" in Turkish is derived from the Greek word "radion" (ραδιον), meaning "beam" or "ray." | |||
| Xhosa | unomathotholo | ||
| In Xhosa, "unomathotholo" derives from "umtholotholo" (a rumble, thunder) via the addition of the prefix "uno-" (a sound). | |||
| Yiddish | ראַדיאָ | ||
| The word "ראַדיאָ" can also be used to describe a "wheel", reflecting the round shape of some older radios. | |||
| Zulu | umsakazo | ||
| The word "umsakazo" in Zulu, originally meaning "messenger", evolved to mean "radio" due to its ability to transmit messages over long distances. | |||
| Assamese | ৰেডিঅ' | ||
| Aymara | radio tuqi | ||
| Bhojpuri | रेडियो के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ރޭޑިއޯ އިންނެވެ | ||
| Dogri | रेडियो | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | radyo | ||
| Guarani | radio rupive | ||
| Ilocano | radio | ||
| Krio | redio | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕادیۆ | ||
| Maithili | रेडियो | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯔꯦꯗꯤꯑꯣꯗꯥ ꯌꯥꯑꯣꯔꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | radio hmanga tih a ni | ||
| Oromo | raadiyoo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ରେଡିଓ | ||
| Quechua | radio | ||
| Sanskrit | रेडियो | ||
| Tatar | радио | ||
| Tigrinya | ሬድዮ | ||
| Tsonga | xiya-ni-moya | ||