Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'relate' holds a significant place in our linguistic and cultural landscape. It signifies connection, communication, and understanding - concepts that are universal and essential to the human experience. From ancient civilizations to modern-day society, the ability to relate to one another has been a cornerstone of progress and collaboration.
Interestingly, the word 'relate' can be translated into various languages, each with its own unique cultural and historical context. For instance, in Spanish, 'relate' can be translated as 'relacionar,' while in French, it becomes 'relier.' In German, the word 'verwandt' captures the essence of 'relate' in the context of family relationships. Meanwhile, in Japanese, the word 'relateddo' conveys the idea of connecting or associating.
Understanding the translation of 'relate' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural nuances and perspectives of various societies. It can also help facilitate cross-cultural communication and foster a deeper sense of empathy and connection.
Afrikaans | vertel | ||
The Afrikaans word "vertel" comes from the Dutch word "vertellen", meaning "to tell" or "to narrate". | |||
Amharic | ይዛመዳል | ||
The word 'ይዛመዳል' in Amharic can also refer to connection or correlation between two or more things. | |||
Hausa | danganta | ||
Danganta, the Hausa word for "relate," also means "boundary" or "connection." | |||
Igbo | ikwu | ||
"Ikwa" could also mean "to be born" or "to be related". | |||
Malagasy | mitantara | ||
The word "mitantara" can also refer to the process of "talking about" something or "discussing" a topic. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | lankhulani | ||
"Lankhulani" in Nyanja is derived from the root "kuuza", meaning "to talk", and the suffix "-ana", which indicates a reciprocal action, giving it the meaning of "to relate". | |||
Shona | rondedzera | ||
The word 'rondedzera' can also mean 'to tell a story' or 'to gossip'. | |||
Somali | sheeg | ||
''Sheeg'' can also mean ''to tell a story'' or ''to narrate'', with the same root as the Arabic word ''shāʿa'' meaning ''to wish'' or ''to intend''. | |||
Sesotho | pheta | ||
Swahili | simulia | ||
"Simulia" also means "to show" or "to inform" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | balisa | ||
In many Bantu languages, the word 'balisa' or its cognate can have the connotation of 'look after', 'care for' or 'rear' in addition to 'relate'. | |||
Yoruba | relate | ||
The Yoruba word "soro" can also mean to "speak"} | |||
Zulu | landisa | ||
In Zulu, "landisa" also refers to the physical act of handing over something. | |||
Bambara | ka sagan | ||
Ewe | do ƒome | ||
Kinyarwanda | vuga | ||
Lingala | kobeta lisolo | ||
Luganda | oluganda | ||
Sepedi | amana | ||
Twi (Akan) | pɛ twaka | ||
Arabic | ترتبط | ||
The Arabic word ترتبط (relate) also means to be connected or linked to something. | |||
Hebrew | לְסַפֵּר | ||
In Hebrew, the verb "לספר" can also mean "to count" or "to tell a story". | |||
Pashto | اړوند | ||
The Pashto word "اړوند" can also mean "dependent", "related", or "connected". | |||
Arabic | ترتبط | ||
The Arabic word ترتبط (relate) also means to be connected or linked to something. |
Albanian | lidhen | ||
The Albanian word 'lidhen' originally meant 'to tie up' and then expanded to mean 'to relate'. | |||
Basque | erlazionatu | ||
In Basque, the word “erlazionatu” can also mean “to connect” or “to establish a relationship”. | |||
Catalan | relacionar-se | ||
The verb "relacionar-se" can also mean "to be related to" or "to be connected to". | |||
Croatian | odnositi se | ||
In Croatian, "odnositi se" can either mean "to treat" someone or "to relate to" something, depending on the grammatical aspect. | |||
Danish | forholde sig | ||
The verb can also mean 'to keep a secret', a usage preserved from a literal, pre-1800s understanding of the reflexive 'to hold on to for oneself'. | |||
Dutch | betrekking hebben | ||
Betrekking can also refer to relationship or position. | |||
English | relate | ||
The word "relate" originates from the Latin word "relatus," meaning "to carry back" or "to report." | |||
French | rapporter | ||
In French, "rapporter" has the additional meaning of "to bring back" or "to report back." | |||
Frisian | relatearje | ||
In the word 'relatearje' ('relate') in Frisian, the first part 'rela-' relates to the Indo-European root 'ley-' meaning 'to tie, bind' (seen in English 'lie'). | |||
Galician | relacionarse | ||
In Galician, "relacionarse" can also mean "to associate oneself with" or "to have a relationship with" (e.g., romantic, familial, or business). | |||
German | sich beziehen | ||
Sich beziehen, which is German for "relate," also means "to refer to." | |||
Icelandic | tengjast | ||
Tengjast is likely derived from "tengd, | |||
Irish | bhaineann | ||
The Irish verb "bhaineann" is also used in Scottish Gaelic but with a different meaning: to be connected to or to be part of something. | |||
Italian | relazionarsi | ||
The Italian word "relazionarsi" doesn't solely mean to relate to someone, but it also means interact with him/her | |||
Luxembourgish | bezéien | ||
"Bezréien", "relate" in Luxembourgish, is also used to describe a relationship between two people, such as siblings, or a romantic couple. | |||
Maltese | jirrelataw | ||
The word "jirrelataw" is derived from the Arabic word "rawā'', meaning "to narrate" or "to tell a story." | |||
Norwegian | relatere | ||
In Norwegian, "relatere" can also mean "to carry" or "to convey". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | relacionar | ||
The verb 'relacionar' also means 'to associate', 'to connect' or even 'to establish a relationship', and derives from the Latin word 'relationāre'. | |||
Scots Gaelic | buntainn | ||
"Buntainn" comes from the Gaelic word "bun" meaning "beginning", implying a connection to the start of something. | |||
Spanish | relacionar | ||
In Spanish, "relacionar" does not only mean "relate" but can also refer to "establish a relationship", "connect", or "compare". | |||
Swedish | relatera | ||
In Swedish, "relatera" can also mean "to be related to" or "to refer to". | |||
Welsh | ymwneud | ||
Welsh word 'ymwneud' also means 'to be related', 'to have something to do with' or 'to belong to a group' |
Belarusian | суадносяцца | ||
The word "relate" comes from the Latin word "relatare," which means "to bring back, to report." | |||
Bosnian | odnose | ||
The word 'odnosi' can also be used to refer to relationships, connections, or dealings between people or groups. | |||
Bulgarian | свързват | ||
The term "свързват" may also refer to "connecting to" or "contacting with" something. | |||
Czech | týkat se | ||
The verb "týkat se" can also mean "to poke", "to tap" or "to concern". | |||
Estonian | seostada | ||
The Estonian word "seostada" comes from the Proto-Finnic root *se̮k̯e̮ "to bind," also present in Hungarian and Finnish. | |||
Finnish | liittyä | ||
The verb "liittyä" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*liit- " meaning "to join". | |||
Hungarian | viszonyul | ||
The word "viszonyul" is derived from the Hungarian word "viszony" meaning "relation" and the suffix "-ul" indicating a process or state. | |||
Latvian | saistīt | ||
"Saistīt" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sei- (to bind), which is also the origin of the English words "tie" and "bond". | |||
Lithuanian | susieti | ||
Lithuanian "susieti" comes from "su" (with, together) and "sieti" (to connect, to bind). | |||
Macedonian | се однесуваат | ||
The word "се однесуваат" comes from the verb "односуваат" (meaning "to relate") and the reflexive pronoun "се" (meaning "to oneself"). | |||
Polish | odnosić się | ||
The word "odnosić się" can also mean "to carry out" or "to perform" in Polish. | |||
Romanian | raporta | ||
*Raporta* also has connotations of 'reporting' or 'making known', akin to the meanings of the word 'rapport' in the English language. | |||
Russian | относиться | ||
The word относиться can also mean to treat or behave towards someone, similar to the French word "traiter". | |||
Serbian | односе | ||
The word "односе" can also mean "relations" or "relationships". | |||
Slovak | súvisieť | ||
The verb "súvisieť" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "sъvæzъ", meaning "connection" or "tie". | |||
Slovenian | povezati | ||
The Slovene word "povezati" can also mean "to connect" or "to bind together". | |||
Ukrainian | стосуватися | ||
The Ukrainian word "стосуватися" also means "to concern" or "to be relevant to". |
Bengali | বলা | ||
In Bengali, "বলা" can mean "to speak," "to call," or "to say." | |||
Gujarati | સંબંધિત | ||
The word "સંબંધિત" can also mean "relevant" or "connected" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | संबंधित | ||
The word "संबंधित" ("relate") in Hindi can also mean pertaining, relevant, or associated with something. | |||
Kannada | ಸಂಬಂಧ | ||
'ಸಂಬಂಧ' (saṃbandha) means 'relationship', 'connection', or 'pertinence' in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | വിവരിക്കുക | ||
The Malayalam word "వివരിക്കുക" can also mean "to explain" or "to describe". | |||
Marathi | संबंधित | ||
"संबंधित" (relate) originates from the Sanskrit word "संबध" (relationship), implying a connection or association. | |||
Nepali | सम्बन्धित | ||
The word "सम्बन्धित" in Nepali can also mean "related to" or "pertaining to". | |||
Punjabi | ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සම්බන්ධ | ||
Tamil | தொடர்பு | ||
தொடர்பு (To-Taru) also means the rope used by the elephant rider for driving the animal while a small bell is also attached at the tip of the rope for identification. | |||
Telugu | సంబంధం | ||
The word "సంబంధం" can also mean "family relationship" or "connection". | |||
Urdu | متعلق | ||
The word "متعلق" (relate) originates from the Arabic root "علق" meaning "to hang on" or "to attach". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 涉及 | ||
涉及 (shè jí) is also frequently used in the context of police investigations, meaning "to implicate". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 涉及 | ||
涉 in 涉及 means to enter into water (涉入), while 及 means to reach, extend to. | |||
Japanese | 関連する | ||
「関連する」 means "relate" in English. It also means "involve" or "concern" something. | |||
Korean | 말하다 | ||
In Korean, 말하다 (malhada) also means 'speak' or 'talk,' as in communicating through spoken words. | |||
Mongolian | холбоотой | ||
The Mongolian word "холбоотой" originates from the verb "холох" (to go) and signifies a connection or relation between two or more entities. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပြန်ပြောပြ | ||
Indonesian | berhubungan | ||
Javanese | gandhengane | ||
The word "gandhengane" also means "connection" or "relationship" in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | ទាក់ទង | ||
The word "ទាក់ទង" can also mean "to communicate" or "to be in contact with". | |||
Lao | ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ | ||
Malay | mengaitkan | ||
The word "mengaitkan" comes from the Malay word "kait", meaning "hook", suggesting a connection or attachment. | |||
Thai | เกี่ยวข้อง | ||
เกี่ยวข้อง (gīaokhàhɔ̀ng) is a Thai word that means to be related to something, but it can also mean to be involved in something or to have a connection to something. | |||
Vietnamese | liên quan | ||
The Vietnamese word "liên quan" can also mean "involve" or "connect". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | magkaugnay | ||
Azerbaijani | əlaqələndirmək | ||
Kazakh | байланыстыру | ||
The Kazakh word "байланыстыру" can also mean "to connect" or "to relate (to something else)". | |||
Kyrgyz | байланыштуу | ||
The Kyrgyz word "байланыштуу" is cognate with the Turkish word "bağlantılı" and also means "connected" or "dependent." | |||
Tajik | иртибот | ||
"Иртибот" has no other meanings in Tajik, but originally derives from Arabic "ارتباط" (irtibat), meaning "connection". | |||
Turkmen | baglanyşdyr | ||
Uzbek | aloqador | ||
The word "aloqador" in Uzbek comes from the Persian word "alāqah", which means "connection". It can also mean "relationship" or "contact" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | مۇناسىۋەتلىك | ||
Hawaiian | pili | ||
"Pili" also means "to stick to" or "adhere to," in a physical sense. | |||
Maori | pāhono | ||
The Maori word "pāhono" can also mean "to speak" or "to tell a story." | |||
Samoan | fesoʻotaʻi | ||
Fesoʻotaʻi can also mean "to be related to" or "to be connected to" in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | magkaugnay | ||
The word "magkaugnay" shares its root with the word "ugnay" which means "connection". |
Aymara | qillqaña | ||
Guarani | ñembojoja | ||
Esperanto | rilati | ||
The Esperanto word "rilati" is derived from the Latin root "relat-," which means "to carry back" or "to tell back." | |||
Latin | dictu | ||
In some contexts, dictu can also mean a verbal description or a report. |
Greek | σχετίζομαι | ||
The term σχετίζομαι derives from the Ancient Greek word 'σχέσις', meaning 'relation,' 'connection,' or 'intercourse'. | |||
Hmong | txheeb | ||
In Hmong, the word "txheeb" can also mean "to narrate" or "to describe in detail". | |||
Kurdish | qalkirin | ||
Qalkirin is also used to mean 'to return, to come back' in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | ilgili olmak | ||
İlgili olmak means to be interested in something or someone or to be connected to something or someone. | |||
Xhosa | balisa | ||
In many Bantu languages, the word 'balisa' or its cognate can have the connotation of 'look after', 'care for' or 'rear' in addition to 'relate'. | |||
Yiddish | פאַרבינדן | ||
The word "פאַרבינדן" (relate) is also used in Yiddish to mean "connect" or "attach". | |||
Zulu | landisa | ||
In Zulu, "landisa" also refers to the physical act of handing over something. | |||
Assamese | সম্পৰ্কিত কৰা | ||
Aymara | qillqaña | ||
Bhojpuri | संबंधित | ||
Dhivehi | ރިލޭޓް | ||
Dogri | मलाना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | magkaugnay | ||
Guarani | ñembojoja | ||
Ilocano | inaig | ||
Krio | tɔk | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پەیوەست | ||
Maithili | संबंधित | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯔꯤ ꯂꯩꯅꯍꯟꯕ | ||
Mizo | zawmpui | ||
Oromo | firoomsuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସମ୍ପର୍କ କରନ୍ତୁ | ||
Quechua | willay | ||
Sanskrit | सम्बद्ध | ||
Tatar | сөйлә | ||
Tigrinya | ምዝማድ | ||
Tsonga | fananisa | ||