Reference in different languages

Reference in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'reference' carries great significance in our daily lives and communication. It often refers to the act of citing or consulting information sources, or a piece of information that supports an argument or statement. But did you know that the word 'reference' has roots in ancient Latin, and its cultural importance extends to various aspects of society, including academics, law, and media?

For instance, in academia, references are crucial for establishing credibility and avoiding plagiarism. In law, references to previous cases and statutes help shape legal precedents. Meanwhile, in media, references to popular culture and historical events add depth and meaning to stories.

Given the word's wide-ranging impact, it's no surprise that people worldwide might want to know its translation in different languages. Here are a few examples to pique your curiosity:

  • French: référence
  • Spanish: referencia
  • German: Referenz
  • Mandarin: 参考 (cānkǎo)
  • Japanese: 参考資料 (sankō shiryō)

Discover more translations of 'reference' and learn how this simple word connects us all in profound ways.

Reference

Reference in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansverwysing
"Verwysing" originated from the Dutch word "verwijzing", meaning "reference" or "referral."
Amharicማጣቀሻ
In addition to its primary meaning, ማጣቀሻ can also refer to a citation or annotation in a text.
Hausatunani
"Tunani" can also mean "proof" or "evidence" in Hausa.
Igbonkọwa
The Igbo word "nkọwa" can also mean "explanation" or "interpretation."
Malagasyreference
The Malagasy word "reference" can also mean "example" or "model".
Nyanja (Chichewa)cholozera
The word "cholozera" can also mean "a piece of evidence" or "a witness".
Shonachirevo
The word, chirevo, also means advice or instruction on how to do something
Somalitixraac
Tixraac can also mean the act of referring to an earlier statement or event.
Sesothotshupiso
The Sesotho word 'tshupiso' also means 'a guide', 'an introduction' and 'documentation'.
Swahilikumbukumbu
In Swahili, 'kumbukumbu' also means 'monument' or 'memorial'.
Xhosaisalathiso
The word "isalathiso" also means "explanation" or "interpretation" in Xhosa.
Yorubaitọkasi
Historically, the word "itọkasi" signified "a pointing stick" before extending to its current literary and abstract uses.
Zuluinkomba
In Zulu, 'inkomba' derives from the verb 'komba', meaning 'to pick up', and refers to a point of reference or a target.
Bambaratàyɔrɔ
Eweɖeɖe fiã
Kinyarwandaindanganturo
Lingalareferansi
Lugandaokwebuuza ewalala
Sepeditšhupetšo
Twi (Akan)mmoa nwoma

Reference in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمرجع
In Persian, the term "marja" refers to a religious authority or source of emulation, while in Arabic it means "a place or person referred to for information or evidence."
Hebrewהתייחסות
The Hebrew word 'התייחסות' ('reference') can also mean 'consideration' or 'treatment', reflecting its root in the verb 'התייחס' ('to relate' or 'to connect').
Pashtoحواله
The Pashto word "حواله" can also refer to an informal agreement, an instruction, or a remittance.
Arabicمرجع
In Persian, the term "marja" refers to a religious authority or source of emulation, while in Arabic it means "a place or person referred to for information or evidence."

Reference in Western European Languages

Albanianreferencë
The Albanian word "referencë" is derived from the Latin word "referentia", meaning "a carrying back" or "a relating to".
Basqueerreferentzia
The word ərreferentzia derives from ərre (path) + adierazi (to express), i.e. "a way of indicating, referring, guiding."
Catalanreferència
In Catalan, "referència" can also mean "certificate" or "recommendation", depending on the context.
Croatianreferenca
In Croatian, "referenca" also means "a recommendation letter."
Danishreference
In Danish, the word "reference" can also refer to a person who provides information about someone else.
Dutchreferentie
Referentie is derived from the Latin word referens, meaning 'to bear back', and can also refer to a certificate or testimonial, or a person who gives such a document
Englishreference
Derived from Latin "referre", "reference" can also mean "to send back" or "to attribute to a source."}
Frenchréférence
The French word "référence" can also mean "testimonial" or "example".
Frisianreferinsje
Referinsje is derived from Latin 'referre' ('to bring back again') from 're-' ('again') and 'ferre' ('to carry/bring')
Galicianreferencia
The word "referencia" derives from Latin, and can mean either "reference" in the sense of something used to consult, or "report".
Germanreferenz
Referenz can also mean 'proof' or 'testimony' in German.
Icelandictilvísun
In Icelandic, 'tilvísun' can also refer to a 'recommendation' or 'nomination' instead of just a reference.
Irishtagairt
The word “tagairt” in Irish can also mean “consecration” and comes from an early Irish word for “gift”.
Italianriferimento
The Italian word "riferimento" can also refer to a connection or relationship.
Luxembourgishreferenz
In Luxembourgish, "Referenz" can also refer to a certificate or diploma.
Maltesereferenza
The word 'referenza' in Maltese can also mean 'testimonial', 'character reference', 'recommendation', or 'endorsement'.
Norwegianhenvisning
In Swedish, 'henvisning' means 'allusion' and can be used to discuss something that is hinted at or suggested indirectly within a piece of writing or artwork.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)referência
"Referência" can also mean "source" or "citation", originating from the Latin "referens" (reporting).
Scots Gaeliciomradh
Scots Gaelic "iomradh" originates from Proto-Indo-European "*rem-o" meaning "oar" and hence "to row, to steer".
Spanishreferencia
The Spanish word "referencia" is an alternate form of the Portuguese word "referência" and comes from Latin "referens, referentis".
Swedishreferens
In the Swedish language, 'referens' also means 'character reference' or 'source of information'.
Welshcyfeirnod
This word (cyfeirnod) may ultimately come from the Proto-Celtic root

Reference in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianспасылка
The word "спасылка" in Belarusian can also mean "connection", "link", or "attachment".
Bosnianreferenca
Bosnian word 'referenca' can also mean an 'inference'.
Bulgarianсправка
"Справка" also means a document confirming the authenticity of facts, such as a doctor's note.
Czechodkaz
The word "odkaz" in Czech also means "legacy" or "bequest".
Estonianviide
In the 19th century, "viide" was also a measure of dry grain, and is related to the word for "grain" "viid".
Finnishviite
"Viite" also means "line" or "row" in the sense of a column or row in a table or a line in a text.
Hungarianreferencia
The word "referencia" in Hungarian originates from the Latin word "referre", meaning "to bring back" or "to relate".
Latvianatsauce
Atsauce, an archaic spelling of atsauce, derives from the French word "référence," meaning "mention," and has been used since the 17th century.
Lithuaniannuoroda
The word "nuoroda" in Lithuanian can also mean "link" or "connection".
Macedonianреференца
The word "референца" can also mean "intercession" or "support" in Macedonian.
Polishodniesienie
"Odniesienie" is thought to derive from two Polish words: "odnosić" and "się", meaning "to relate" and " oneself" or "itself," respectively.
Romanianreferinţă
The Romanian word "referinţă" can also mean "testimonial" or "character reference".
Russianсправка
The Russian word 'Справка' can also refer to a certificate or official document.
Serbianреференца
The word "референца" (refenca) in Serbian can also refer to a person's credentials or a person who can vouch for someone's character or abilities.
Slovakodkaz
In Polish, "odkaz" can also mean "will" or "testament".
Sloveniansklic
The Slovenian word "sklic" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "sъ-klan-ь-ti" meaning "to call together".
Ukrainianпосилання
The word посилання also means "link" in Ukrainian.

Reference in South Asian Languages

Bengaliরেফারেন্স
The Bengali word "রেফারেন্স" originally meant "to send back", but now it also means "a person or thing that can provide information".
Gujaratiસંદર્ભ
સંદર્ભ is derived from Sanskrit and literally means, 'to bring together (sam) knowledge (dharbha)'.
Hindiसंदर्भ
The word 'संदर्भ' originates from the Sanskrit word 'संदृश्', meaning 'to see' or 'to know'.
Kannadaಉಲ್ಲೇಖ
The word "ಉಲ್ಲೇಖ" (reference) can also mean "mention", "citation", or "quotation" in Kannada.
Malayalamറഫറൻസ്
In Malayalam, റഫറൻസ് (reference) has alternate meanings such as 'address' and 'support'.
Marathiसंदर्भ
In Marathi, the word "संदर्भ" also means "context" or "connection".
Nepaliसन्दर्भ
The word “सन्दर्भ” comes from the Sanskrit word “sam-prakrash” which means “to shine together” or “to illuminate together” and can also mean “context” or a “frame of reference”.
Punjabiਹਵਾਲਾ
The word 'ਹਵਾਲਾ' in Punjabi can also mean 'payment through an intermediary' or 'transfer of money through an informal financial network'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)යොමුව
Tamilகுறிப்பு
The Tamil word 'குறிப்பு' can also mean 'clue', 'hint', 'suggestion', or 'indication'.
Teluguసూచన
The word "సూచన" ("reference") in Telugu also means "instruction" or "hint".
Urduحوالہ
The word "حوالہ" "reference" is derived from the Arabic word "حرف" "letter".

Reference in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)参考
The character 参 ('to consult') in 参考 originated from two people looking over a ritual object.
Chinese (Traditional)參考
The Chinese character "參" in "參考" can also mean "to engage with" or "to consult".
Japanese参照
The word '参照' also means 'to refer to' or 'to consult'. It is often used in the context of academic research or legal documents.
Korean참고
The word "참고" (reference) in Korean can also mean "note" or "remark".
Mongolianлавлагаа
In Classical Mongolian, the word лавла́гаа referred to "an example" or "an object to which an action refers".
Myanmar (Burmese)အကိုးအကား
The word "အကိုးအကား" can also mean "evidence or proof", and is related to the Pali word "upākaraṇa" which means "means, implement, or tool".

Reference in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianreferensi
The word "referensi" in Indonesian comes from the Dutch word "referentie" which means "evidence" or "proof".
Javanesereferensi
In Javanese, the word "referensi" also refers to a "source or origin" or a "clue or pointer".
Khmerយោង
In addition to its meaning as "reference", "យោង" can also mean "quotation" or "citation".
Laoກະສານອ້າງອີງ
Malayrujukan
The word 'rujukan' has Javanese roots and also means 'to consult' or 'to seek advice'
Thaiเอกสารอ้างอิง
The word "เอกสารอ้างอิง" (reference) in Thai can also mean "source" or "citation."
Vietnamesetài liệu tham khảo
Tài liệu tham khảo may have originated from the phrase "tài liệu để tham khảo," which means "materials to be referred to."
Filipino (Tagalog)sanggunian

Reference in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniistinad
In Azerbaijani, "istinad" (reference) has cognates in Turkish ("istinad") and Arabic ("isti'nad"), sharing the meaning of reliance or support.
Kazakhанықтама
The Kazakh word "анықтама" could be derived from the Arabic word "عنق" (meaning "neck"), as in the ancient Arabic books, the reference was written in the margins of the manuscript, and the neck of the manuscript was the most suitable place for placing such notes.
Kyrgyzмаалымдама
No other forms or meanings of the Kyrgyz word “маалымдама” reference have been found.
Tajikмаълумотнома
Turkmensalgylanma
Uzbekma'lumotnoma
The word "ma'lumotnoma" can also refer to a "source of information" or a "book of knowledge".
Uyghurپايدىلىنىش ماتېرىيالى

Reference in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankūmole
In addition to being a reference, the word "kūmole" also means a "model" or "example."
Maoritohutoro
The Maori word "tohutoro" comes from "tohu", meaning "mark" or "sign", and "toro", meaning "to follow" or "to seek out".
Samoanfaasinomaga
'Fa'a' is the causative prefix, '-sino' is a causative, and '-maga' is a verb that means to say or speak.
Tagalog (Filipino)sanggunian
The word "sanggunian" is derived from the Spanish word "sancion", which means "sanction" or "law".

Reference in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarayaqha
Guaranikuaukarã

Reference in International Languages

Esperantoreferenco
The word "referenco" in Esperanto is derived from the Latin word "referre," meaning "to bring back" or "to report."
Latinreference
Reference in Latin also means "restoration" or "restitution", as in the process of returning something to its original state.

Reference in Others Languages

Greekαναφορά
The word "αναφορά" (reference) can also mean "report" or "memorial" in Greek.
Hmongsuav siv
The word "suav siv" in Hmong also means "to be in a state of contentment or satisfaction".
Kurdishbalkêşî
In Persian, “bālkæsh” means a pillow on which a divan is placed.
Turkishreferans
Referans means also a 'person to whom a request has been made for assistance' in Turkish.
Xhosaisalathiso
The word "isalathiso" also means "explanation" or "interpretation" in Xhosa.
Yiddishרעפֿערענץ
The Yiddish word "רעפֿערענץ" could also mean "opinion" or "recommendation".
Zuluinkomba
In Zulu, 'inkomba' derives from the verb 'komba', meaning 'to pick up', and refers to a point of reference or a target.
Assameseসন্দৰ্ভ
Aymarayaqha
Bhojpuriसिफारिश
Dhivehiރިފަރަންސް
Dogriहवाला
Filipino (Tagalog)sanggunian
Guaranikuaukarã
Ilocanoreperensia
Kriotɔk bɔt
Kurdish (Sorani)سەرچاوە
Maithiliसंदर्भ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯆꯥꯡꯗꯝꯅꯕ
Mizokawhhmuh
Oromowabeeffannaa
Odia (Oriya)ସନ୍ଦର୍ଭ
Quechuawillakuy
Sanskritसन्दर्भः
Tatarсылтама
Tigrinyaመጣቀሲ
Tsongarheferense

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