Updated on March 6, 2024
Representation is a powerful word that carries significant meaning and cultural importance. It refers to the act of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or something, or the way that something is depicted or shown. Accurate representation is crucial in many aspects of life, from politics and media to art and culture, as it helps to ensure that diverse voices and perspectives are heard and understood.
Throughout history, representation has been a key factor in social justice movements and the fight for equality. From the civil rights movement in the United States to the indigenous rights movement in Australia, representation has helped to amplify marginalized voices and bring about positive change.
Given its importance, it's not surprising that many people are interested in learning how to say representation in different languages. Knowing how to translate this word can help to build cross-cultural connections and demonstrate respect for diverse perspectives.
Here are a few sample translations of representation in different languages to get you started:
Afrikaans | verteenwoordiging | ||
In law, "verteenwoordiging" refers to either legal representation or representation of a specific body of people. | |||
Amharic | ውክልና | ||
The word "ውክልና" also means "power of attorney" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | wakilci | ||
The word "wakilci" can also refer to an agent, deputy, or delegate. | |||
Igbo | nnochi | ||
"Nnochi" can also mean the act of presenting a play, particularly in traditional Igbo culture. | |||
Malagasy | fanehoana | ||
Fanehoana is a Malagasy word with the alternate meaning of showing something to someone, not just representing. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | choyimira | ||
Choyimira can be translated as a mirror of a thing, as an image of a thing that is present or as what is being reflected. | |||
Shona | mumiririri | ||
Somali | matalaad | ||
"Matalaad" also means "a figure of speech" or "a parable". | |||
Sesotho | boemedi | ||
The name is derived from the word 'boea', meaning 'to ask or beg' | |||
Swahili | uwakilishi | ||
The word 'uwakilishi' can also refer to a person who represents another person or group, such as a delegate or an ambassador. | |||
Xhosa | ukumelwa | ||
The Xhosa word 'ukumelwa' derives from the verb 'ukumela', meaning 'to speak on behalf of' or 'to stand in for'. | |||
Yoruba | aṣoju | ||
"Àṣojú" also means "the one who has the right to speak on behalf of another" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | ukumelwa | ||
The Zulu word ukumelwa also means "the act of being represented"} | |||
Bambara | jirali | ||
Ewe | teƒenɔlawo ƒe nɔnɔmetata | ||
Kinyarwanda | guhagararirwa | ||
Lingala | bomonisi ya bato | ||
Luganda | okukiikirira abantu | ||
Sepedi | boemedi | ||
Twi (Akan) | gyinabea a wɔde gyina hɔ ma | ||
Arabic | التمثيل | ||
التمثيل means both "representation" and "acting", and comes from the root مثّـل (mith-tha-la), "to resemble". | |||
Hebrew | יִצוּג | ||
The Hebrew word "יִצוּג" can also mean "demonstration", "expression", "sign", or "symbol". | |||
Pashto | نمایندګی | ||
The Pashto word "نمایندګی" (representation) is derived from the Arabic word "نمود" (representation, appearance). | |||
Arabic | التمثيل | ||
التمثيل means both "representation" and "acting", and comes from the root مثّـل (mith-tha-la), "to resemble". |
Albanian | përfaqësim | ||
The word "përfaqësim" in Albanian comes from the Latin word "repraesentare", meaning "to present again"} | |||
Basque | ordezkaritza | ||
The Basque term "ordezkaritza" also refers to "government", | |||
Catalan | representació | ||
In theatre, "representació" refers to a single performance of a play, while in politics, it means the act of representing citizens. | |||
Croatian | zastupanje | ||
The word "zastupanje" can also mean "advocacy" or "intercession". | |||
Danish | repræsentation | ||
The Danish word 'repræsentation' can also mean 'presentation' or 'performance'. | |||
Dutch | vertegenwoordiging | ||
In Dutch, "vertegenwoordiging" can also refer to a parliament or governmental agency. | |||
English | representation | ||
The word "representation" also refers to a type of performance, such as a play or concert. | |||
French | représentation | ||
The French word "représentation" has several meanings, including "performance," "delegation," and "mental image." | |||
Frisian | fertsjintwurdiging | ||
The Frisian word "fertsjintwurdiging" is cognate with the German "vertretung" and Dutch "vertegenwoordiging", and originally meant "defense" or "protection". | |||
Galician | representación | ||
In Galician, "representación" also means performance of a play or other theatrical event. | |||
German | darstellung | ||
The word "Darstellung" can also refer to a performance, a portrayal, or a description. | |||
Icelandic | framsetning | ||
The word "framsetning" also means "proposition" or "thesis" in Icelandic. | |||
Irish | ionadaíocht | ||
"Ionadaíocht" is derived from the Old Irish "ionad," meaning "place" or "stead," connoting a "taking place for." | |||
Italian | rappresentazione | ||
In the theatre world, "rappresentazione" also refers to a theatrical performance more generally, and is sometimes used as a synonym of "spettacolo". | |||
Luxembourgish | representatioun | ||
The word "Representatioun" can also refer to a play or theatrical representation. | |||
Maltese | rappreżentazzjoni | ||
Norwegian | representasjon | ||
Norwegian "representasjon" originally meant "the act of showing something": "re" (show back) + "presentere" (present). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | representação | ||
"Representação" in Portuguese can also mean a performance (of a play, etc.) or a mental image or idea. | |||
Scots Gaelic | riochdachadh | ||
Spanish | representación | ||
The Spanish word "representación" also means "performance" or "theatrical play." | |||
Swedish | representation | ||
In Swedish "representation" also means an amount of money put in an account or on the table when making a purchase. | |||
Welsh | cynrychiolaeth | ||
Belarusian | прадстаўніцтва | ||
The word "прадстаўніцтва" comes from the verb "прадстаўляць" (to represent), which in turn comes from the Slavic root "*stati" (to stand), and the prefix "пра- (before), which means someone who stands before others. | |||
Bosnian | zastupanje | ||
The word "zastupanje" in Bosnian is derived from the verb "zastupati", which means "to stand in for" or "to act on behalf of". | |||
Bulgarian | представителство | ||
Представителство is a cognate of the English "presidency" and Russian "представительство" and derives from the Old Slavic *prědъstaviti, "to stand before." | |||
Czech | reprezentace | ||
The word "reprezentace" in Czech also has the meaning of "reputation" or "standing within society". | |||
Estonian | esindamine | ||
The root '-esita' of esindamine stems from the same Proto-Finnic root meaning 'to show' which can also be found in Estonian words like näitama (show) and esitlema (introduce). | |||
Finnish | edustus | ||
The word "edustus" also refers to the delegation of a team, especially in sports. | |||
Hungarian | reprezentáció | ||
In Hungary, "reprezentáció" has both the meaning of representation and of showing off wealth. | |||
Latvian | pārstāvība | ||
"Pārstāvība" also has the meaning of "presence" and can refer to an office, building or place where an official organization or business has a permanent or temporary presence. | |||
Lithuanian | atstovavimas | ||
The word "atstovavimas" can also mean "deputation" or "delegation" in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | застапеност | ||
Polish | reprezentacja | ||
The word "reprezentacja" in Polish can also refer to a national sports team or the performance of a particular artist or group. | |||
Romanian | reprezentare | ||
The word "reprezentare" comes from the Latin "repræsentare," meaning "to make present again" or "to bring before the mind". | |||
Russian | представление | ||
The word "представление" can also mean "performance" or "show" in Russian. | |||
Serbian | заступање | ||
The word "заступање" can also mean "intercession" or "advocacy" in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | zastúpenie | ||
The word "zastúpenie" can also mean "substitution" or "cover". | |||
Slovenian | zastopanje | ||
The word "zastopanje" originates from "stopati", meaning to stand or step, suggesting its role as a placeholder or substitute | |||
Ukrainian | представництво | ||
"Представництво" also means diplomatic mission, office with such a function or a trade representation in the Russian language. |
Bengali | উপস্থাপনা | ||
উপস্থাপনা can also mean "presentation" or "demonstration" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | રજૂઆત | ||
રજૂઆત may be connected to the word "Rajputana" meaning "abode of the kings" | |||
Hindi | प्रतिनिधित्व | ||
"प्रतिनिधित्व" (representation) derives from the Sanskrit prefix "प्रति-" (substitute), implying a surrogate, or deputy, role. | |||
Kannada | ಪ್ರಾತಿನಿಧ್ಯ | ||
Malayalam | പ്രാതിനിധ്യം | ||
The word "പ്രാതിനിധ്യം" can also refer to the act of acting on behalf of another person or entity. | |||
Marathi | प्रतिनिधित्व | ||
"प्रतिनिधित्व" also means "to act as an example of something" | |||
Nepali | प्रतिनिधित्व | ||
प्रतिनिधित्व (pratinidhitva) can also mean 'substitution' or 'exchange' in Nepali | |||
Punjabi | ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਗੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නිරූපණය | ||
The word "නිරූපණය" is also used to refer to the act of describing or explaining something. | |||
Tamil | பிரதிநிதித்துவம் | ||
The Tamil word "பிரதிநிதித்துவம்" originally meant "reflecting or portraying something", and also has the metaphorical meaning of "being an example or model of something." | |||
Telugu | ప్రాతినిథ్యం | ||
It is derived from the Sanskrit word "pratinihita", meaning "placed or set before". | |||
Urdu | نمائندگی | ||
The word "نمائندگی" (representation) also means "delegation, agency, franchise, authority." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 表示 | ||
In addition to meaning "representation," 表示 can also mean "expression," "display," or "indication." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 表示 | ||
"表示" can also mean "indicate", "signify", or "express" in Chinese (Traditional). | |||
Japanese | 表現 | ||
In Japanese, "表現" can also mean "expression" or "performance". | |||
Korean | 대표 | ||
The word '대표' in Korean can also mean 'the head of an organization' or 'a person who acts on behalf of another'. | |||
Mongolian | төлөөлөл | ||
"Төлөөлөл" is the Mongolian word for "representation". It can also refer to a "delegate", a "representative", or a "deputy". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကိုယ်စားပြုမှု | ||
Indonesian | perwakilan | ||
The Indonesian word "perwakilan" can also mean "delegation" or "representative group." | |||
Javanese | perwakilan | ||
In Javanese, "perwakilan" also means "envoy". | |||
Khmer | តំណាង | ||
តំណាង originates from the Sanskrit word "pratinidhi", meaning "delegate" or "envoy". | |||
Lao | ການເປັນຕົວແທນ | ||
Malay | perwakilan | ||
Perwakilan also means 'commission' or 'agent' in Malay. | |||
Thai | การเป็นตัวแทน | ||
"การเป็นตัวแทน" can also mean "agency" or "commission" in legal terms. | |||
Vietnamese | đại diện | ||
Đại diện (representation) also refers to a legal person or organization that acts on behalf of another person or organization. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | representasyon | ||
Azerbaijani | nümayəndəlik | ||
The word "nümayəndəlik" is derived from the Persian words "nümayə" and "andə", meaning "show" and "of", respectively. | |||
Kazakh | өкілдік | ||
In mathematics, "өкілдік" means the "inverse function of a bijection" | |||
Kyrgyz | өкүлчүлүк | ||
Tajik | намояндагӣ | ||
Turkmen | wekilçilik | ||
Uzbek | vakillik | ||
The word "vakillik" can also refer to "advocacy" or "sponsorship" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | ۋەكىللىك | ||
Hawaiian | hōʻike | ||
In Hawaiian, "hōʻike" can also refer to a cultural demonstration or festival. | |||
Maori | kanohi | ||
The Maori word "kanohi" also denotes a meeting between two peoples. | |||
Samoan | sui | ||
Sui also means the likeness or image of a person. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | representasyon | ||
The word "representasyon" can also mean "performance" or "play" in Tagalog. |
Aymara | representación ukanaka | ||
Guarani | representación rehegua | ||
Esperanto | reprezento | ||
"Reprezento" is derived from Spanish "representar" but with a different suffix, and it can also mean "to play a role". | |||
Latin | representation | ||
The Latin word "representation" is derived from "representare", meaning "to present again" or "to bring before." |
Greek | αναπαράσταση | ||
The word “αναπαράσταση” in Greek can also mean “performance” or “re-enactment”. | |||
Hmong | sawv cev | ||
The Hmong word "sawv cev" also means "to show" or "to demonstrate". | |||
Kurdish | cîgirî | ||
The Kurdish word “cîgirî” is closely associated with the Persian term “kârgidâr” (“manager”) and the Turkish word “vekîl” (also “representation”). | |||
Turkish | temsil | ||
Temsil is also used in Turkish to refer to a show, a performance, or an exhibit. | |||
Xhosa | ukumelwa | ||
The Xhosa word 'ukumelwa' derives from the verb 'ukumela', meaning 'to speak on behalf of' or 'to stand in for'. | |||
Yiddish | פארטרעט | ||
Yiddish "פּאַרטרעט" ("representation") derives from the Medieval Latin word "portractus", meaning "copy". | |||
Zulu | ukumelwa | ||
The Zulu word ukumelwa also means "the act of being represented"} | |||
Assamese | প্ৰতিনিধিত্ব | ||
Aymara | representación ukanaka | ||
Bhojpuri | प्रतिनिधित्व के बारे में बतावल गइल बा | ||
Dhivehi | ތަމްސީލުކުރުން | ||
Dogri | प्रतिनिधित्व करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | representasyon | ||
Guarani | representación rehegua | ||
Ilocano | pannakabagi | ||
Krio | ripɔtmɛnt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | نوێنەرایەتی | ||
Maithili | प्रतिनिधित्व | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯔꯤꯞꯔꯖꯦꯟꯇꯦꯁꯟ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | aiawhtu nihna a ni | ||
Oromo | bakka bu’ummaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରତିନିଧିତ୍ୱ | ||
Quechua | representación nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | प्रतिनिधित्वम् | ||
Tatar | вәкиллек | ||
Tigrinya | ውክልና ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
Tsonga | vuyimeri | ||