Updated on March 6, 2024
Research, the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions, is a fundamental aspect of human progress. It is through research that we have been able to advance our knowledge, develop new technologies, and improve our understanding of the world around us. The significance of research cannot be overstated, as it is the driving force behind countless discoveries and innovations that have shaped our cultural, historical, and scientific landscapes.
Moreover, research has a universal appeal, as it transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries. The importance of being able to conduct research in different languages cannot be overstated, as it opens up new avenues of inquiry and allows for greater collaboration and understanding between people of different backgrounds. For example, the word 'research' translates to 'forskning' in Swedish, 'recherche' in French, and 'investigación' in Spanish, reflecting the global reach and significance of this concept.
In this article, we will explore the translations of research in different languages, shedding light on the cultural importance of this word and highlighting the fascinating historical contexts associated with it. So whether you're a student, a researcher, or simply a language enthusiast, read on to discover the many facets of this powerful and versatile word.
Afrikaans | navorsing | ||
The Afrikaans word "navorsing" is cognate with the Dutch "nauwkeurig" and German "nachforschen," both meaning "to investigate thoroughly". | |||
Amharic | ምርምር | ||
The word ምርምር also means 'reflection'. | |||
Hausa | bincike | ||
The word "bincike" is derived from the Arabic word "baḥth", meaning "investigation" or "inquiry". | |||
Igbo | nyocha | ||
The Igbo word 'nyocha' is derived from the verb 'nụcha', which means 'to uncover or expose'. | |||
Malagasy | research | ||
In Malagasy, the word "fikarohana" also means "investigation" or "exploration". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kufufuza | ||
Kufufuza in Nyanja can also mean to investigate, examine, or search for. | |||
Shona | tsvakurudzo | ||
The word "tsvakurudzo" is also used to refer to "investigations" or "inquiries" in Shona. | |||
Somali | cilmi baaris | ||
In the past this word also meant a "message", "messenger," or "ambassador" | |||
Sesotho | etsa lipatlisiso | ||
The word "etsa lipatlisiso" could also be translated as "investigation", "inquiry" or "examination", highlighting the broader sense of research beyond mere fact-finding. | |||
Swahili | utafiti | ||
The word "utafiti" is derived from the Swahili verb "tafuta," meaning "to search" or "to investigate." | |||
Xhosa | uphando | ||
The Xhosa word 'uphando' also means 'investigation' or 'scientific inquiry'. | |||
Yoruba | iwadi | ||
The word 'iwadi' in Yoruba also means "observation" or "examination", capturing the notion of actively investigating something. | |||
Zulu | ucwaningo | ||
The Zulu word "ucwaningo" also means "discovery" or "investigation." | |||
Bambara | ɲinili | ||
Ewe | numekuku | ||
Kinyarwanda | ubushakashatsi | ||
Lingala | bolukiluki | ||
Luganda | okunoonyereza | ||
Sepedi | dinyakišišo | ||
Twi (Akan) | hwehwɛ mu | ||
Arabic | ابحاث | ||
It derives from an infinitive which means 'to seek (knowledge)'. | |||
Hebrew | מחקר | ||
The word "מחקר" in Hebrew can also refer to a type of Torah commentary that explores hidden or allegorical meanings in the text. | |||
Pashto | څيړنه | ||
The word "څيړنه" comes from the root word "څيرل" meaning "to investigate" or "to examine". | |||
Arabic | ابحاث | ||
It derives from an infinitive which means 'to seek (knowledge)'. |
Albanian | hulumtim | ||
Hulumtim is derived from the Proto-Albanian word *hulumt-, which also means "to search". This word is probably related to the Proto-Indo-European root *kel-, which means "to dig". | |||
Basque | ikerketa | ||
Ikerketa's etymology is 'to observe carefully', and in old texts appears also as 'observation'. | |||
Catalan | recerca | ||
The word "recerca" in Catalan is rooted in the Old French "recerchier," meaning "to search for," and can also be used in a legal context as "to investigate." | |||
Croatian | istraživanje | ||
The word "istraživanje" can also mean "investigation" or "inquisition" in Croatian. | |||
Danish | forskning | ||
In addition to meaning "research," "forskning" is also the name for the Danish band behind the disco hit "Lille Lise." | |||
Dutch | onderzoek | ||
The Dutch word "Onderzoek" translates directly to "under search" and can also refer to an inquiry or examination. | |||
English | research | ||
The word "research" originates from the Middle French "recerchier" meaning "to search again". | |||
French | recherche | ||
In French, 'recherche' also means 'elaborate' or 'refined'. | |||
Frisian | ûndersyk | ||
The word "ûndersyk" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "ondersoek", which means "investigation". | |||
Galician | investigación | ||
In Galician, "investigación" can also refer to a legal proceeding, such as a trial or inquiry. | |||
German | forschung | ||
The word "Forschung" is derived from the Old High German word "forschen", which means "to search" or "to investigate". | |||
Icelandic | rannsóknir | ||
The word "rannsóknir" in Icelandic derives from the Old Norse word "rannsaka", meaning "to examine" or "to investigate". | |||
Irish | taighde | ||
The Irish word "taighde" is cognate with the English word "tidy," and originally referred to setting a house in order, hence its extension to the meaning of "research." | |||
Italian | ricerca | ||
"Ricerca" is also the Italian word for "inquisitive". | |||
Luxembourgish | fuerschung | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Fuerschung" (research) is derived from the German word "Forschung" with the same meaning, and is unrelated to the French word "recherche" (research). | |||
Maltese | riċerka | ||
"Riċerka" is derived from the Italian word "ricerca," meaning "investigation" or "inquiry." | |||
Norwegian | undersøkelser | ||
The term 'undersøkelser' can also refer to investigations, inquiries, or examinations. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | pesquisa | ||
The Portuguese word "pesquisa" originally meant "inquiry" or "investigation", and it is derived from the Latin word "perquirere", meaning "to seek out" or "to inquire". | |||
Scots Gaelic | rannsachadh | ||
Rannsachadh is also a term for a type of traditional Gaelic storytelling. | |||
Spanish | investigación | ||
"Investigación" can also refer to the medical office of a doctor or the act of visiting such an office. | |||
Swedish | forskning | ||
"Forskning" derives from the Old Scandinavian term "forskan", which translates in modern English to "to investigate". | |||
Welsh | ymchwil | ||
"Ymchwil" derives from "ym" (around) and "chwilio" (seek), implying a comprehensive search or investigation. |
Belarusian | даследаванні | ||
Bosnian | istraživanje | ||
The word 'istraživanje' comes from the verb 'istrati', which means 'to investigate'. | |||
Bulgarian | изследвания | ||
Bulgarian word изследвания means also exploration, studies, investigations. | |||
Czech | výzkum | ||
The Czech word "výzkum" comes from the Old Czech verb "výskati", meaning "to jump out" or "to discover". | |||
Estonian | uuringud | ||
The word "uuringud" can also refer to an investigation or a review. | |||
Finnish | tutkimusta | ||
The Finnish word "tutkimusta" also refers to a specific phase in a Finnish sauna session where water is poured onto hot rocks to create steam. | |||
Hungarian | kutatás | ||
The word "kutatás" is derived from the verb "kutat", which means "to search" or "to explore". | |||
Latvian | izpēte | ||
The word "izpēte" is derived from the verb "izpētīt," which means "to investigate" or "to study." | |||
Lithuanian | tyrimus | ||
The word "tyrimus" is derived from the Latin word "tirocinium," which means "apprenticeship" or "probation." | |||
Macedonian | истражување | ||
The Macedonian word “истражување” derives from the verb “истражувати” which means | |||
Polish | badania | ||
Badania is related to badacz ("researcher") from the Polish word badać ("to research"), and in Old Slavic this is connected to bod-ti ("to stay awake at night") and bъditi ("to awake"). | |||
Romanian | cercetare | ||
The Romanian word | |||
Russian | исследование | ||
The Russian word 'исследование' can also refer to an 'exploration' or 'examination'. | |||
Serbian | истраживања | ||
The word "истраживања" can also mean "investigations" or "studies". | |||
Slovak | výskum | ||
In Slovak, the word "výskum" can also refer to "scrutiny" or "examination" | |||
Slovenian | raziskave | ||
The Slovene word "raziskave" comes from the Proto-Indo-European word *reǵ-sk-, meaning to split apart, which is also the origin of the English word "research." | |||
Ukrainian | дослідження | ||
In Slavic languages, "дослідження" originally meant "investigation" and was used in a legal context. |
Bengali | গবেষণা | ||
গবেষণা can also mean 'to look into', 'to check into', or 'investigation' | |||
Gujarati | સંશોધન | ||
"સંશોધન" ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "शोधन" (śōdhana) meaning "purifying", "cleansing", or "investigating". | |||
Hindi | अनुसंधान | ||
The Sanskrit root 'anusandhi' means 'to follow up' or 'to pursue', denoting the investigative and analytical nature of research. | |||
Kannada | ಸಂಶೋಧನೆ | ||
The word "ಸಂಶೋಧನೆ" (sāṃśōdhana) in Kannada derives from the Sanskrit word "संशोधन" (saṃśodhana), meaning "thorough examination" or "investigation". | |||
Malayalam | ഗവേഷണം | ||
The Malayalam word "ഗവേഷണം" is derived from the Sanskrit word "गवेषण" (gaveṣaṇa), which means "searching" or "investigation". | |||
Marathi | संशोधन | ||
The word "संशोधन" (research) in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word "संशोधन" (investigation, examination), which itself comes from the root words "सं-" (with, together) and "शोधन" (searching). | |||
Nepali | अनुसन्धान | ||
The word "अनुसन्धान" can also mean "pursuit", "investigation", or "examination" in Nepali. | |||
Punjabi | ਖੋਜ | ||
The word "ਖੋਜ" (khoj) is derived from the Sanskrit root "khuj," meaning "to dig up, explore, or search." | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පර්යේෂණ | ||
The word "පර්යේෂණ" (research) is derived from the Sanskrit word "परीक्षण" (parikshana), meaning "examination" or "investigation". | |||
Tamil | ஆராய்ச்சி | ||
"ஆராய்ச்சி" means "search, investigation, inquiry, examination, exploration, scrutiny, research." and originated from the Middle Tamil word "ஆராய்தல்" (ārāytal), meaning "to search, to examine, to inquire." | |||
Telugu | పరిశోధన | ||
Urdu | تحقیق | ||
The word "تحقیق" comes from the Arabic root "حقق", meaning "to investigate" or "to seek truth". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 研究 | ||
研究 (research) in Chinese is a combination of 研 (yán) which means 'study, investigate' and 究 (jiù) which means 'thorough exploration' or 'to pursue to the end'. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 研究 | ||
In addition, the word "研究" can also mean "investigation" or "study". | |||
Japanese | 研究 | ||
The word "研究" (kenkyū) in Japanese originates from the Chinese phrase "研精究理" (kenshōkyūri), meaning "to seek knowledge and investigate principles." | |||
Korean | 연구 | ||
The word "연구" can also mean "cultivation" or "study" depending on the context in which it is used. | |||
Mongolian | судалгаа | ||
The word "судалгаа" is derived from the verb "судах", meaning "to examine, investigate, or inquire." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | သုတေသန | ||
သုတေသန (research) originates from the Sanskrit word "sruta" (heard) and "eshana" (seeking) meaning "the pursuit of knowledge through listening". |
Indonesian | penelitian | ||
The word “penelitian” can also mean an investigation or a survey. | |||
Javanese | riset | ||
In Javanese, 'riset' can also refer to a type of traditional agricultural labor that involves clearing land for farming. | |||
Khmer | ការស្រាវជ្រាវ | ||
The Khmer word "ការស្រាវជ្រាវ" also has a broader meaning of "examination" or "analysis", encompassing intellectual and scientific pursuits beyond scientific research. | |||
Lao | ການຄົ້ນຄວ້າ | ||
"การค้นคว้า" is a loanword from Thai that combines the words "การหา" ("search") and "คว้า" ("grasp"). | |||
Malay | penyelidikan | ||
The Indonesian word 'penyelidikan' can also refer to 'an examination of someone's reputation, actions, or beliefs'. | |||
Thai | การวิจัย | ||
The word "การวิจัย" comes from the Sanskrit word "विजृम्भ" (vijṛmbh), meaning "to discover" or "to investigate." | |||
Vietnamese | nghiên cứu | ||
The word "nghiên cứu" can also mean "to study" or "to investigate". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pananaliksik | ||
Azerbaijani | tədqiqat | ||
The word "tədqiqat" also means "investigation" or "inquiry" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | зерттеу | ||
The word "зерттеу" is also used to refer to the act of studying or investigating something. | |||
Kyrgyz | изилдөө | ||
The Kyrgyz word "изилдөө" ultimately derives from the Persian "ژرف" ("deep"), which also gave the word "depth" to English. | |||
Tajik | тадқиқот | ||
The Tajik word "тадқиқот" is derived from the Arabic word "تحقيق", which means "investigation" or "inquiry". | |||
Turkmen | gözleg | ||
Uzbek | tadqiqot | ||
In Uzbek, tadqiqot is also a homophone of tadqiq which means "interrogation," "investigation". | |||
Uyghur | research | ||
Hawaiian | ʻimi noiʻi | ||
ʻimi noiʻi likely means 'to seek and obtain knowledge' | |||
Maori | rangahau | ||
Rangahau can also mean to explore, investigate, examine, or inquire. | |||
Samoan | suʻesuʻega | ||
In Samoan, "suʻesuʻega" can also refer to "investigation" or "inquiry." | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pananaliksik | ||
"Pananaliksik" originates from the verb "saliksik" meaning "to examine," and the prefix "pana-" meaning "to perform." |
Aymara | yatxatäwi | ||
Guarani | tembikuaareka | ||
Esperanto | esplorado | ||
The Esperanto word "esplorado" comes from the Esperanto word "esplori", which means "to explore". | |||
Latin | investigationem | ||
Investigationem is a Latin word derived from the verb "investigare," meaning "to track or trace," and can also refer to a formal inquiry or examination. |
Greek | έρευνα | ||
Έρευνα (ér-ev-na): A derivative of the verb “ερευνώ” (ereunó / to explore, to investigate), sharing roots with the words “οράω” (oráo / to see, to gaze at) and “όραμα” (órama / vision, view). | |||
Hmong | kev tshawb nrhiav | ||
The first word "kev tshawb nrhiav" translates to "asking, investigating, seeking", but its second meaning is "knowledge" | |||
Kurdish | lêkolîn | ||
The Kurdish word "lêkolîn" is derived from the Persian word "tahqîq", which itself is derived from the Arabic word "taḥqīq" meaning "investigation" or "inquiring into". | |||
Turkish | araştırma | ||
The verb 'araştırma' comes from 'araştır', a compound word of 'aramak' (to search) and the noun 'araş' (inquiry) that entered the language from Persian. | |||
Xhosa | uphando | ||
The Xhosa word 'uphando' also means 'investigation' or 'scientific inquiry'. | |||
Yiddish | פאָרשונג | ||
The Yiddish word "פאָרשונג" comes from the German word "Forschung," which in turn comes from the Latin word "forschen," meaning "to search" or "to examine." | |||
Zulu | ucwaningo | ||
The Zulu word "ucwaningo" also means "discovery" or "investigation." | |||
Assamese | গৱেষণা | ||
Aymara | yatxatäwi | ||
Bhojpuri | शोध | ||
Dhivehi | ދިރާސާ | ||
Dogri | शोध | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pananaliksik | ||
Guarani | tembikuaareka | ||
Ilocano | sukisok | ||
Krio | stɔdi | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | توێژینەوە | ||
Maithili | अनुसंधान | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯤꯒꯠꯄ | ||
Mizo | zirchianna | ||
Oromo | qo'annoo | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଅନୁସନ୍ଧାନ | | ||
Quechua | maskapay | ||
Sanskrit | अनुसंधानम् | ||
Tatar | тикшеренүләр | ||
Tigrinya | ፅንዓት | ||
Tsonga | ndzavisiso | ||