Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'represent' holds great significance in our daily lives, as it relates to the way we express ideas, feelings, and concepts. It is a culturally important term, as it is used in various contexts, from politics and art to mathematics and science. To 'represent' something is to stand in its place, to speak on its behalf, or to serve as a symbol of it. This word has been used in many historical events, such as the signing of the Constitution, where representatives from different states came together to create a unified government.
Given the cultural importance and historical context of the word 'represent', it's no wonder that people might want to know its translation in different languages. By understanding the nuances of this word in various languages, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural differences and similarities that exist around the world.
Here are some translations of the word 'represent' in different languages:
Afrikaans | verteenwoordig | ||
The Afrikaans word "verteenwoordig" is derived from the Dutch word "vertegenwoordigen", which also means "represent". It can also mean "to be present" or "to appear". | |||
Amharic | ውክልና | ||
The term "ውክልና" is related to "ልና" meaning "body", and can also refer to the physical presence or manifestation of a concept, such as the "representation" of an idea in a painting. | |||
Hausa | wakilta | ||
The word `wakilta` may also refer to a messenger or ambassador. | |||
Igbo | na-anọchi anya | ||
In Igbo, 'na-anọchi anya' can also mean 'to look out for someone's interests' or 'to be an advocate for someone'. | |||
Malagasy | maneho | ||
"Maneho" also means "show" or "demonstration" in Malagasy. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | yimira | ||
The Nyanja word 'yimira' shares a root with the Swahili word 'mfano', meaning 'likeness' or 'model'. | |||
Shona | kumiririra | ||
Etymology: From Proto-Bantu word "-imila". Alternate English meanings: "paint", "draw", or "decorate". | |||
Somali | matalo | ||
"Matalo" originally derived from the phrase "ma tira laha" | |||
Sesotho | emela | ||
The word "emela" in Sesotho also means "take part in" or "become part of". | |||
Swahili | kuwakilisha | ||
The word 'kuwakilisha' ('represent') in Swahili is derived from the verb 'waka' ('to deputize someone') and the prefix 'ku-' ('to'). | |||
Xhosa | zimele | ||
The Xhosa word "zimele" also means "to stand in for" or "to take the place of". | |||
Yoruba | soju | ||
In the Yoruba language, "soju" can also refer to a type of traditional cloth worn by women. | |||
Zulu | umele | ||
The Zulu word "umele" has an alternate meaning of "to make an image of". | |||
Bambara | ka nɔnabila kɛ | ||
Ewe | si le eteƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | guhagararira | ||
Lingala | kozala momonisi | ||
Luganda | okukiikirira | ||
Sepedi | emela | ||
Twi (Akan) | gyina hɔ ma | ||
Arabic | تركيز | ||
In Arabic, "تركيز" (tarkeez) also has the meaning "to focus" and "to concentrate". | |||
Hebrew | לְיַצֵג | ||
The word "לְיַצֵג" can also mean "to act as an agent for," or "be representative of." | |||
Pashto | نمایندګي | ||
The word "نمایندګي" has roots in the Arabic word "نایب" (naib), meaning "deputy" or "representative." | |||
Arabic | تركيز | ||
In Arabic, "تركيز" (tarkeez) also has the meaning "to focus" and "to concentrate". |
Albanian | përfaqësoj | ||
The Albanian word "përfaqësoj" (represent) is derived from the Latin word "repræsento" (show again or formally). | |||
Basque | irudikatu | ||
The word "irudikatu" in Basque derives from the Latin "imago" (image) and literally means "to make an image". | |||
Catalan | representar | ||
In Spanish, "representar" can also mean "to participate in a play" or "to appear on behalf of someone else". | |||
Croatian | predstavljaju | ||
Predstavljaju can also mean 'to present' or 'to introduce'. | |||
Danish | repræsentere | ||
Repræsentere also means 'symbolize' or 'typify' in Danish | |||
Dutch | staan voor | ||
In Dutch, "staan voor" (represent) can also mean "to be responsible for" or "to stand in place of". | |||
English | represent | ||
Represent, from Latin repraesentare, literally means "make present again". | |||
French | représenter | ||
In French, the verb "représenter" can also mean "to perform" or "to portray". | |||
Frisian | fertsjintwurdigje | ||
Galician | representar | ||
The verb "representar" comes from the Latin word "repraesentare", meaning "to bring forth or to put forward". | |||
German | vertreten | ||
Originally meant "step before," "move towards," or "advocate for." Related to "treten" ("step") and "vor" ("before"). Used to refer to someone acting on behalf of another entity, in legal, political, or diplomatic contexts. | |||
Icelandic | tákna | ||
'Tákna' originates from the Old Norse word 'taka', meaning 'to take', and is etymologically related to the German word 'zeichnen', meaning 'to draw' | |||
Irish | ionadaíocht a dhéanamh | ||
The word can have the alternate meaning of "intercession." | |||
Italian | rappresentare | ||
"Rappresentare", from Latin "repraesentare", also means "to act" or "to play". | |||
Luxembourgish | vertrieden | ||
The verb "vertrieden" comes from the Latin word "representare" and also means "to appear" or "to depict." | |||
Maltese | jirrappreżentaw | ||
The Maltese word "jirrappreżentaw" is derived from the Italian word "rappresentare," which means "to portray" or "to stand in for someone." | |||
Norwegian | representere | ||
The verb "representere" can also mean "to account for" or "to constitute" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | representar | ||
The word "representar" in Portuguese can also mean "to act on behalf of someone" or "to portray someone" on stage or in film. | |||
Scots Gaelic | riochdachadh | ||
The term riothchadadh derives from the Irish for 'knowledge' | |||
Spanish | representar | ||
In Spanish, "representar" also refers to performing on stage. | |||
Swedish | representera | ||
The verb 'representera' can also mean 'to portray' or 'to depict' in Swedish but not in English. | |||
Welsh | cynrychioli | ||
"Cynrychioli" can also refer to an image of something, such as a picture or sculpture. |
Belarusian | прадстаўляць | ||
The Russian verb that appears to be most semantically similar, “пpeдстaвлять”, is used exclusively in Belarussian and other East Slavic languages, but only one of its meanings — “to signify” — carries over to Belarussian, where it only appears in set phrases (“предстaвлять угрозу”, “предстaвлять интерес”) | |||
Bosnian | predstavljaju | ||
The word 'predstavljaju' in Bosnian comes from the Proto-Slavic word *predstaviti, which also means 'to introduce' or 'to present'. | |||
Bulgarian | представляват | ||
The verb "представляват" also means "to introduce" or "to introduce oneself", coming from the French "présenter". | |||
Czech | zastupovat | ||
In addition to its meaning as "represent," "zastupovat" also refers to "substituting" or "deputizing." | |||
Estonian | esindama | ||
From a Germanic base meaning "to follow closely". | |||
Finnish | edustaa | ||
The word "edustaa" is etymologically related to the word "esittää", meaning "to perform" or "to present". | |||
Hungarian | képviselni | ||
In older Hungarian, "képviselni" meant "to appear before someone," which is its original meaning in Hungarian's Ugric ancestor. | |||
Latvian | pārstāvēt | ||
The word "pārstāvēt" in Latvian originally meant "to stand before". | |||
Lithuanian | atstovauti | ||
The word "atstovauti" in Lithuanian also means "to portray", as in acting or drawing. | |||
Macedonian | претставуваат | ||
The Slavic root of the word претставуваат also appears in the Russian word 'представить' (to present) and the English word 'representation'. | |||
Polish | przedstawiać | ||
Przedstawiać can also mean 'to present' or 'to introduce', not only 'to represent'. | |||
Romanian | reprezinta | ||
The Romanian word "reprezinta" comes from the French word "représenter", which in turn comes from the Latin word "representare", meaning "to present again." | |||
Russian | представлять | ||
The word "представлять" can also mean "to introduce" or "to imagine" | |||
Serbian | заступати | ||
The verb "заступати" also means "to protect", "to defend", or "to champion". | |||
Slovak | zastupovať | ||
The Slovak word "zastupovať" derives from the verb "stúpať" (to step) and originally meant "to be present in place of another". | |||
Slovenian | predstavljajo | ||
The word "predstavljajo" can also be used to mean "imagine" or "conceive" in Slovenian. | |||
Ukrainian | представляють | ||
The word "представляють" can also mean "to imagine" or "to introduce". |
Bengali | চিত্রিত করা | ||
চিত্রিত করা can also mean to portray, describe, or delineate. | |||
Gujarati | રજૂ કરે છે | ||
The word "રજૂ કરે છે" (represent) in Gujarati is etymologically derived from Sanskrit and has alternate meanings including "submit" or "propose". | |||
Hindi | का प्रतिनिधित्व | ||
The Hindi word "का प्रतिनिधित्व" can also mean "to stand for" or "to act on behalf of someone or something". | |||
Kannada | ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸಿ | ||
The word "ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸಿ" can also mean "to act on behalf of" or "to stand in for" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | പ്രതിനിധീകരിക്കുക | ||
Marathi | प्रतिनिधित्व | ||
The word "प्रतिनिधित्व" can also refer to a "copy" or "example" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | प्रतिनिधित्व गर्नुहोस् | ||
Punjabi | ਦੀ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਗੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නියෝජනය කරන්න | ||
Tamil | பிரதிநிதித்துவம் | ||
Telugu | ప్రాతినిధ్యం వహించండి | ||
Urdu | نمائندگی کریں | ||
Derived from two Persian words, نمان ('naman'/image) and دگی ('digi'/do), and ultimately from the Latin word 're-presentare'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 代表 | ||
As a verb, 代表 (dàibiǎo) can also mean "to act on behalf of someone." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 代表 | ||
The word 代表 (represent) also carries the alternate meaning of "on behalf of" in Chinese. | |||
Japanese | を表す | ||
"を表す" can also be used to refer to an actor or performer who embodies a character or idea. | |||
Korean | 말하다 | ||
'말하다' is also written '말+ㅋ'ㅎ, which originally means 'to say' and is related to the word for 'language' ('말,ㅎ') | |||
Mongolian | төлөөлөх | ||
The word "төлөөлөх" also means "to appear as a substitute, to act in the place of". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကိုယ်စားပြု | ||
Indonesian | mewakili | ||
The word "mewakili" can also mean "to act on behalf of" or "to stand in for". | |||
Javanese | makili | ||
The word "makili" in Javanese can also mean "to be responsible for" or "to take care of something or someone." | |||
Khmer | តំណាង | ||
The word "តំណាង" in Khmer comes from the Sanskrit word "tattva" and can also be used to refer to a principle or a law. | |||
Lao | ເປັນຕົວແທນ | ||
Malay | mewakili | ||
The term 'mewakili' also refers to 'acting out' or 'performing', particularly in a performance or theater context. | |||
Thai | แทน | ||
In addition to "represent", "แทน" can also mean "instead of", "on behalf of". | |||
Vietnamese | đại diện | ||
"Đại diện" also means "large body of water" or "ocean" in Sino-Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kumatawan | ||
Azerbaijani | təqdim etmək | ||
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Kazakh | ұсыну | ||
"Усыну" is also used in the sense of adoption or affiliation in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | өкүлү | ||
In addition to "represent", "өкүлү" also means "ambassador" or "envoy". | |||
Tajik | намояндагӣ мекунанд | ||
Turkmen | wekilçilik edýär | ||
Uzbek | vakillik qilish | ||
The Uzbek word vakillik qilish can also mean 'to mediate', 'to intercede', or 'to advocate'. | |||
Uyghur | ۋەكىللىك قىلىدۇ | ||
Hawaiian | pani | ||
The Hawaiian word "pani" can also refer to a "platform" or a "page". | |||
Maori | tohu | ||
The Maori word "tohu" can also mean "sign", "omen", or "proof" | |||
Samoan | sui | ||
The word "sui" in Samoan can also mean "to show" or "to demonstrate." | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | kumatawan | ||
The word "kumatawan" is derived from the root word "katawan," meaning "body," and therefore originally meant "to embody." It can also mean "to personify," "to symbolize," or "to be a spokesperson for." |
Aymara | uñt'ayaña | ||
Guarani | myakã | ||
Esperanto | reprezenti | ||
The word "reprezenti" in Esperanto originates from the Latin word "repraesentare", meaning "to present again" or "to make present." | |||
Latin | represent | ||
The ultimate origin of the word 'represent' is related to the Sanskrit root 'pra-sthā-', meaning 'to stand forth'. |
Greek | εκπροσωπώ | ||
The word "εκπροσωπώ" in Greek has a dual etymology referring to "prosopon" (face) and "pro" (forward). Its alternate meanings include "to act on behalf of", "to be a delegate", and "to embody something." | |||
Hmong | sawv cev | ||
"Sawv cev" is also used to describe a physical appearance, meaning "to look like" or "to resemble" | |||
Kurdish | cîgirtin | ||
The word 'cîgirtin' originally meant 'to call' or 'to invite' and later evolved to mean 'to represent'. | |||
Turkish | temsil etmek | ||
The word "temsil etmek" in Turkish also means to "act on behalf of" or to "be a representative of". | |||
Xhosa | zimele | ||
The Xhosa word "zimele" also means "to stand in for" or "to take the place of". | |||
Yiddish | פאָרשטעלן | ||
The Yiddish word "פאָרשטעלן" can also mean "to imagine" or "to suppose". | |||
Zulu | umele | ||
The Zulu word "umele" has an alternate meaning of "to make an image of". | |||
Assamese | প্ৰতিনিধিত্ব | ||
Aymara | uñt'ayaña | ||
Bhojpuri | प्रतिनिधित्व कईल | ||
Dhivehi | ތަމްސީލު | ||
Dogri | नुमयंदगी करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kumatawan | ||
Guarani | myakã | ||
Ilocano | irepresenta | ||
Krio | tinap fɔ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | نوێنەرایەتی | ||
Maithili | प्रतिनिधित्व | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯤꯍꯠ ꯁꯤꯟꯕ | ||
Mizo | aiawh | ||
Oromo | bakka bu'uu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରତିନିଧିତ୍ୱ କରନ୍ତୁ | | ||
Quechua | sutinpi | ||
Sanskrit | रूपयति | ||
Tatar | вәкиллеге | ||
Tigrinya | ውክልና | ||
Tsonga | vuyimeri | ||