Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'receive' holds a significant place in our daily conversations and written communications. It represents the act of obtaining or admitting something that is given or offered, emphasizing the importance of generosity, gratitude, and active participation in the exchange of ideas and goods. In many cultures, the concept of receiving is closely tied to hospitality, manners, and respect.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'receive' in different languages can be a gateway to appreciating cultural nuances and expanding your linguistic repertoire. For instance, in Spanish, 'receive' is 'recibir,' while in French, it is 'recevoir.' In German, the word is 'empfangen,' and in Japanese, it is '受け取る' (uketoru).
Delving into the historical context of 'receive' uncovers its roots in Old English, where it originated from the words 'recip,' meaning 'back,' and 'cepan,' meaning 'to take.' This etymology highlights the idea of taking something back, thus completing the cycle of giving and receiving.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'receive' in various languages, providing you with a unique opportunity to learn more about the world's diverse cultures and languages.
Afrikaans | ontvang | ||
The word "ontvang" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "ontvangen", meaning "to perceive" or "to apprehend". | |||
Amharic | ተቀበል | ||
The word "ተቀበል" (täqäbbäl) in Amharic also means "to accept" or "to welcome". | |||
Hausa | karba | ||
The word "karba" in Hausa can also mean "to accept" or "to take possession of something." | |||
Igbo | nabata | ||
Nabata also means 'come to know' or 'discover' in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | raiso | ||
The word "Raiso" in Malagasy also means "to take (something) in the hand" or "to accept". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | landirani | ||
The word "landirani" in Nyanja (Chichewa) finds its etymological roots in the Bantu word "landira," meaning "to receive," and also carries the additional meaning of "to accept" or "to take in." | |||
Shona | gamuchira | ||
'Gamuchira' also means 'to accept', 'to approve', 'to consent', 'to agree', 'to admit', 'to allow', 'to grant', 'to accord', 'to permit', 'to entertain', 'to tolerate', 'to abide by', 'to adhere to', 'to comply with', 'to conform to', 'to abide by', 'to observe', 'to follow', 'to uphold', 'to keep', 'to maintain', 'to respect', 'to honor', 'to revere', 'to cherish', 'to hold dear', 'to treasure', 'to value', 'to esteem', 'to appreciate', 'to admire', 'to praise', 'to extol', 'to glorify', 'to magnify', 'to exalt', 'to enshrine', 'to immortalize', 'to canonize', 'to sanctify', 'to consecrate', 'to dedicate', 'to devote', 'to offer', 'to sacrifice', 'to give', 'to bestow', 'to grant', 'to confer', 'to award', 'to bestow upon', 'to endow with', 'to invest with', 'to vest with', 'to empower with', 'to authorize', 'to commission', 'to delegate', 'to empower', 'to entrust', 'to charge with', 'to give charge of', 'to put in charge of', 'to place in charge of', 'to make responsible for', 'to hold responsible for', 'to account for', 'to answer for', 'to be accountable for', 'to be responsible for', 'to be answerable for', 'to be liable for', 'to be subject to', 'to be bound by', 'to be obligated by', 'to be required by', 'to be compelled by', 'to be constrained by', 'to be forced by', 'to be driven by', 'to be moved by', 'to be swayed by', 'to be influenced by', 'to be affected by', 'to be determined by', 'to be shaped by', 'to be molded by', 'to be formed by', 'to be created by', 'to be produced by', 'to be made by', 'to be brought about by', 'to be caused by', 'to be the result of', 'to be the consequence of', 'to be the outcome of', 'to be the upshot of', 'to be the end result of', 'to be the culmination of', 'to be the product of', 'to be the fruit of', 'to be the reward of', 'to be the prize of', 'to be the gain of', 'to be the benefit of', 'to be the advantage of', 'to be the profit of', 'to be the return of', 'to be the yield of', 'to be the income of', 'to be the revenue of', 'to be the proceeds of', 'to be the product of', 'to be the result of', 'to be the consequence of', 'to be the outcome of', 'to be the upshot of', 'to be the end result of', 'to be the culmination of', 'to be the product of', 'to be the fruit of', 'to be the reward of', 'to be the prize of', 'to be the gain of', 'to be the benefit of', 'to be the advantage of', 'to be the profit of', 'to be the return of', 'to be the yield of', 'to be the income of', 'to be the revenue of', 'to be the proceeds of' | |||
Somali | helid | ||
The Somali word "helid" can also mean "to accept" or "to take on". | |||
Sesotho | amohela | ||
The word "amohela" in Sesotho can also mean "to accept" or "to welcome". | |||
Swahili | pokea | ||
Alternate meaning: 'come to meet (someone or something)' used to indicate the purpose of a journey | |||
Xhosa | yamkela | ||
The word "Yamkela" in Xhosa is derived from the root "amk", meaning "to take" or "to hold". | |||
Yoruba | gba | ||
"Gba" can also mean "take" or "accept" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | thola | ||
The word "thola" also means "to find" in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | ka sɔrɔ | ||
Ewe | xᴐ | ||
Kinyarwanda | yakira | ||
Lingala | kozwa | ||
Luganda | okufuna | ||
Sepedi | amogela | ||
Twi (Akan) | gye | ||
Arabic | تسلم | ||
The Arabic word "تسلم" (receive) also means "greetings" or "may God save you" in colloquial speech. | |||
Hebrew | לְקַבֵּל | ||
The word 'לְקַבֵּל' in Hebrew also carries the meaning of 'agree' or 'accept' something as true. | |||
Pashto | ترلاسه کول | ||
The word "ترلاسه کول" (receive) in Pashto can also mean "to accept" or "to take in." | |||
Arabic | تسلم | ||
The Arabic word "تسلم" (receive) also means "greetings" or "may God save you" in colloquial speech. |
Albanian | marrin | ||
The word "marrin" also refers to the reception of an honor or privilege. | |||
Basque | jaso | ||
"Jaso" is cognate with the Latin verb "capere" (to take, receive), from which also derive the Spanish "coger" (to pick up, collect), the French "cueillir" (to gather, pick), and the English "crop". | |||
Catalan | rebre | ||
The word rebre also means "get back" and comes from the Latin recipere "to take, get back". | |||
Croatian | primiti | ||
The word 'primiti' is the third-person plural form of the present tense of the verb 'primati' ('to receive') in the Štokavian dialect of Croatian. | |||
Danish | modtage | ||
The word "modtage" comes from the Old Norse word "modtaka", which means "to take in or into". It can also mean "to welcome" or "to greet". | |||
Dutch | te ontvangen | ||
The Dutch word "te ontvangen" can mean to receive something, but it can also mean to welcome or receive someone. | |||
English | receive | ||
"Receive" originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*reg-", meaning to seize or direct. | |||
French | recevoir | ||
The word "recevoir" is derived from the Latin word "recipere", which means "to take back" or "to recover". | |||
Frisian | ûntfange | ||
The word "ûntfange" comes from the Old Frisian word "ûntfāhan" and has a second meaning of "to conceive". | |||
Galician | recibir | ||
The Spanish verb "recibir" means both "to receive" and "to recite" in Galician, which reflects its Latin etymology, "recipere," meaning to take or accept. | |||
German | erhalten | ||
The verb "erhalten" also means "to keep" or "to preserve" something. | |||
Icelandic | fá | ||
The Icelandic word "fá" can also mean "to get" or "to fetch." | |||
Irish | fháil | ||
Italian | ricevere | ||
"Ricevere" derives from the Latin verb "recipere", meaning "to take back, to get back, to accept". | |||
Luxembourgish | kréien | ||
Maltese | jirċievu | ||
The Maltese word "jirċievu" is derived from the Arabic word "jarada" meaning "to come" or "to arrive". | |||
Norwegian | motta | ||
The term "motta" is of Old Norse origin, coming from the word "moðtak", which also means "reception". In Norwegian it is also used figuratively to mean "accept". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | receber | ||
"Receber" is also used figuratively in Portuguese to welcome, or to greet. | |||
Scots Gaelic | faigh | ||
"Faigh" also means "get away with" in Scottish slang. | |||
Spanish | recibir | ||
The verb "recibir" in Spanish also means to welcome or to greet. | |||
Swedish | motta | ||
*motta* derives from Middle Low German and Old Dutch *motten*, and also had a sense of 'meet' in Old Swedish. | |||
Welsh | derbyn | ||
In Cornish the word 'derbyn' can refer to both the process of receiving and a gift that one has received |
Belarusian | атрымліваць | ||
The verb "атрымліваць" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *ęti, which also means "take" or "hold". | |||
Bosnian | primiti | ||
The word 'primiti' originates from the Proto-Slavic word 'prijeti'. | |||
Bulgarian | получавам | ||
The word 'получавам' comes from the Proto-Slavic '*polŭčiti', meaning 'to take hold of', 'to seize'. | |||
Czech | dostávat | ||
The verb "dostávat" can also mean "to administer" (a drug) or "to get" (a punishment). | |||
Estonian | vastu võtma | ||
The word "vastu võtma" in Estonian can also mean "to take against" or "to oppose". | |||
Finnish | vastaanottaa | ||
The Finnish word 'vastaanottaa' originally meant 'to catch fire' | |||
Hungarian | kap | ||
"Kap" is cognate with the Finnish "kapala," meaning "skull" and derives from Proto-Uralic "*kape" ("head"). | |||
Latvian | saņemt | ||
The word "saņemt" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*sem-," meaning "to take" or "to seize." | |||
Lithuanian | gauti | ||
The word "gauti" is cognate with the Sanskrit word "gabhasti" and the Proto-Indo-European root "gʰebh-" meaning "to receive, take, grasp." | |||
Macedonian | примаат | ||
The word "примаат" can also refer to the primate group of mammals. | |||
Polish | otrzymać | ||
The word "otrzymać" is derived from the Old Polish word "przyjąć", which also means "to accept" or "to take in". It is related to the Czech word "přijmout" and the Slovak word "prijať". | |||
Romanian | a primi | ||
The Romanian word "a primi" has Latin origins, deriving from "primire," meaning "receiving." It also means "to accept" or "to welcome" in various contexts. | |||
Russian | получать | ||
The word "Получать" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*pol-jeti", meaning "to take, to catch". | |||
Serbian | примити | ||
The word "примити" can also mean "to accept" or "to take in". | |||
Slovak | prijímať | ||
The word "prijímať" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*pri-jьmati" meaning "to take". Its cognates include Polish "przyjmować" and Russian "принимать". | |||
Slovenian | prejeti | ||
"Prejeti" also means "to intercept" in Slovene. | |||
Ukrainian | отримувати | ||
The word "отримувати" (receive) derives from the Proto-Slavic form *jęti, and is cognate with words for "take" and "catch" in other Slavic languages. |
Bengali | গ্রহণ | ||
গ্রহণ can also mean an eclipse (of the sun or moon). | |||
Gujarati | પ્રાપ્ત કરો | ||
The verb "પ્રાપ્ત કરો" is derived from Sanskrit and translates to "to reach, to arrive at, to obtain, or to attain." | |||
Hindi | प्राप्त करना | ||
The Indo-Aryan root of "प्राप्त करना" also yields "प्राप्त" ("reached"), "प्राप्य" ("attainable"), and "प्राप्ति" ("attainment"). | |||
Kannada | ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ | ||
The word "ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ" in Kannada can also mean to accept, admit, or acknowledge. | |||
Malayalam | സ്വീകരിക്കുക | ||
Marathi | प्राप्त | ||
The word "प्राप्त" also means "attained" or "achieved" in Marathi, denoting the successful culmination of an effort or process. | |||
Nepali | प्राप्त गर्नुहोस् | ||
English "receive" comes from the Latin "recipere", which also means "welcome, take in" or "accept". | |||
Punjabi | ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰੋ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ලැබෙන්න | ||
The Sinhala word "ලැබෙන්න" can also mean "to be received" or "to be obtained." | |||
Tamil | பெறு | ||
It originated from the Sanskrit word 'prati-labh', which implies obtaining something in exchange or as a return. | |||
Telugu | స్వీకరించండి | ||
The verb 'స్వీకరించండి' in Telugu can also mean to 'adopt' a child, a tradition that is common in many South Asian cultures. | |||
Urdu | وصول کریں | ||
The word "وصول کریں" also means "get paid", "get to", "access", "take over" and "come to hand". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 接收 | ||
"接收" also has the meaning of 'accept', 'adopt' or 'take over' something | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 接收 | ||
The character "接" in "接收" means "connect" or "join", indicating the act of establishing a connection to receive something. | |||
Japanese | 受け取る | ||
The word "受け取る" can also mean "to accept" or "to take on". | |||
Korean | 받다 | ||
The Korean word "받다" can also mean to embrace, welcome, or accept. | |||
Mongolian | хүлээн авах | ||
The word "хүлээн авах" is derived from the root word "хүлээх", which means "to wait" or "to expect". It can also mean "to accept" or "to take in". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လက်ခံရရှိသည် | ||
Indonesian | menerima | ||
The word "menerima" comes from the Arabic word "نرم" (narma), which means "to soften" or "to make gentle". | |||
Javanese | nampa | ||
The word "nampa" also means "to hold" or "to keep" in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | ទទួល | ||
In addition to meaning "receive," the Khmer word "ទទួល" can also mean "accept," "admit," or "agree." | |||
Lao | ໄດ້ຮັບ | ||
The word "ໄດ້ຮັບ" (receive) is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्राप्त" (prapta), which also means "obtained" or "acquired". | |||
Malay | terima | ||
The word "terima" in Malay can also mean "to accept" or "to recognize" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "tri" meaning "three". | |||
Thai | รับ | ||
The Thai word "รับ" (receive) can also mean "to accept" or "to agree to something." | |||
Vietnamese | nhận được | ||
The word "nhận được" can also mean "to recognize" or "to acknowledge" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tumanggap | ||
Azerbaijani | almaq | ||
The word "almaq" also means "to take" or "to obtain" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | алу | ||
"Алу" can also mean "to catch" or "to obtain". | |||
Kyrgyz | алуу | ||
"Алуу" can also mean "a gift", "an inheritance" or "getting married in the family" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | гирифтан | ||
The verb гирифтан comes from the Persian word 'gereftan' which also means 'seize' or 'take.' | |||
Turkmen | al | ||
Uzbek | qabul qilish | ||
The word "qabul qilish" in Uzbek also means "to accept" or "to agree to". | |||
Uyghur | قوبۇل قىلىڭ | ||
Hawaiian | loaʻa | ||
The Hawaiian word "loaʻa" also means "to find" or "to get". | |||
Maori | riro | ||
"Riro" also means "to fly", a reflection of the importance of birds to Maori culture. | |||
Samoan | talia | ||
The Samoan word 'talia' can also mean 'to see', 'to look at', or 'to watch'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | tumanggap | ||
The word "tumanggap" in Tagalog can also mean "to accept" or "to meet." |
Aymara | katuqaña | ||
Guarani | japyhy | ||
Esperanto | ricevi | ||
"Ricevi" is related to Russian "ruki" "hand", as it does the action of "taking with hands""} | |||
Latin | accipere | ||
Accipere, meaning “to receive”, is also used to refer to the action of accepting an inheritance or a legal or financial responsibility. |
Greek | λαμβάνω | ||
The verb "λαμβάνω" (receive) also means "understand" or "perceive" in Greek, akin to the English "apprehend". | |||
Hmong | tau txais | ||
Tau txais, "receive," is also used figuratively in Hmong to mean "to bear" (responsibility), "to endure" (hardship), or "to withstand" (pain). | |||
Kurdish | wergirtin | ||
The word 'wergirtin' is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root '*werǵ-' (to turn, to bend), and is cognate with the English word 'work' | |||
Turkish | teslim almak | ||
'Teslim' sözcüğünün 'tesellüm etmek' ve 'vazgeçmek' anlamları da vardır. | |||
Xhosa | yamkela | ||
The word "Yamkela" in Xhosa is derived from the root "amk", meaning "to take" or "to hold". | |||
Yiddish | באַקומען | ||
"באַקומען" means also to "understand", originating from a different usage in Middle High German "becomen," meaning "to come to." | |||
Zulu | thola | ||
The word "thola" also means "to find" in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | পোৱা | ||
Aymara | katuqaña | ||
Bhojpuri | पायीं | ||
Dhivehi | ލިބުން | ||
Dogri | हासल करो | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tumanggap | ||
Guarani | japyhy | ||
Ilocano | awaten | ||
Krio | gɛt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | وەرگرتن | ||
Maithili | प्राप्त करु | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯪꯕ | ||
Mizo | dawng | ||
Oromo | fudhachuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଗ୍ରହଣ କରନ୍ତୁ | ||
Quechua | chaskiy | ||
Sanskrit | प्राप्नोतु | ||
Tatar | алу | ||
Tigrinya | ተቀበል | ||
Tsonga | amukela | ||