Responsibility in Different Languages
Discover 'Responsibility' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Responsibility is a powerful word that carries significant weight in every culture and language. It signifies a commitment to act in a way that is reliable, trustworthy, and accountable. This concept is so fundamental that it is recognized and valued across the globe, making the exploration of its translations in different languages a fascinating journey.
Throughout history, responsibility has been a cornerstone of ethical behavior and social norms. From ancient philosophers to modern-day leaders, the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions has been consistently emphasized. This universal value transcends cultural boundaries and unites us in our pursuit of growth, progress, and harmony.
Moreover, understanding the translation of responsibility in different languages can provide valuable insights into the unique perspectives and values of various cultures. For instance, in Spanish, responsibility translates to 'responsabilidad,' which shares its Latin root with the English word, hinting at a shared historical context. Meanwhile, in Japanese, responsibility is conveyed through the term 'sekinin,' which embodies a sense of duty and obligation.
Join us as we delve deeper into the translations of responsibility in various languages, offering you a glimpse into the rich tapestry of cultural nuances and values that shape our world.
Responsibility
Responsibility in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | verantwoordelikheid | ||
| The Afrikaans word "verantwoordelikheid" shares its root with the Dutch word "verantwoorden" meaning "to answer for". | |||
| Amharic | ኃላፊነት | ||
| The word "ኃላፊነት" in Amharic is derived from the root "ሕልፍ," which means "to pass" or "to cross," and carries the connotation of being accountable for something that has been entrusted to one's care. | |||
| Hausa | alhaki | ||
| The Hausa word 'alhaki' (responsibility) is derived from a noun meaning 'duty' or 'obligation' and a verb meaning 'to bear' or 'to carry'. | |||
| Igbo | ibu ọrụ | ||
| The Igbo word "ibu ọrụ" comes from the verb "bu," meaning "to carry," and "ọrụ," meaning "load," denoting the weight of carrying out an obligation. | |||
| Malagasy | andraikitra | ||
| "andraikitra" is derived from the Malagasy words "andraikira" (to bear, to carry) and "itra" (load). | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | udindo | ||
| The word "udindo" can also mean "accountability" or "liability" in Chichewa. | |||
| Shona | mutoro | ||
| The word 'mutoro' in Shona can also refer to a person's duty, obligation, or liability. | |||
| Somali | masuuliyada | ||
| The word “masuuliyada” in Somali originates from the Arabic word “مسؤولية” (mas’uliyyah) and is closely related to the concept of “accountability.” | |||
| Sesotho | boikarabello | ||
| The word "boikarabello" can also refer to accountability or being liable for one's actions. | |||
| Swahili | uwajibikaji | ||
| "Uajibikaji" is derived from the Arabic word "wajib" and its root verb "wajibah," meaning "obligation" or "necessity." | |||
| Xhosa | uxanduva | ||
| The word "uxanduva" in Xhosa can also refer to a person who is responsible or has authority. | |||
| Yoruba | ojuse | ||
| 'Ojuse', meaning responsibility in Yoruba, also refers to the weight of a matter or its consequences. | |||
| Zulu | umthwalo | ||
| In Zulu, the word "umthwalo" derives from the verb "thwala," meaning "to carry," and is related to the concept of communal responsibility within Zulu culture. | |||
| Bambara | bólokanbila | ||
| Ewe | dɔdeasi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | inshingano | ||
| Lingala | mokumba | ||
| Luganda | obuvunaanyizibwa | ||
| Sepedi | maikarabelo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | asodie | ||
Responsibility in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | المسئولية | ||
| The word "المسؤولية" is derived from the root "سأل" which means "to question" or "to be accountable". In addition to its primary meaning of "responsibility", "المسؤولية" can also refer to "accountability", "liability", or "duty." | |||
| Hebrew | אַחֲרָיוּת | ||
| The Hebrew word אַחֲרָיוּת, meaning 'responsibility', also has an alternate meaning of 'consequence'. | |||
| Pashto | مسؤلیت | ||
| The Pashto word "مسؤلیت" also means "accountability" or "answerability". | |||
| Arabic | المسئولية | ||
| The word "المسؤولية" is derived from the root "سأل" which means "to question" or "to be accountable". In addition to its primary meaning of "responsibility", "المسؤولية" can also refer to "accountability", "liability", or "duty." | |||
Responsibility in Western European Languages
| Albanian | përgjegjësia | ||
| The word "përgjegjësia" in Albanian literally translates to "to have the weight of something on one's shoulders". | |||
| Basque | erantzukizuna | ||
| Basque word **erantzukizuna's** components, **erantsi**, **zuk**, and **izun**, can translate as ** | |||
| Catalan | responsabilitat | ||
| The word "responsabilitat" derives from the Latin "responsum," meaning "reply". | |||
| Croatian | odgovornost | ||
| The Croatian word "odgovornost" is derived from the Slavic word "govoriti", meaning "to speak". | |||
| Danish | ansvar | ||
| In Danish, "ansvar" shares a root with the verb "svare", meaning "to answer" or "to be accountable". | |||
| Dutch | verantwoordelijkheid | ||
| The Dutch word "verantwoordelijkheid" literally means "ability to answer for one's actions". | |||
| English | responsibility | ||
| The word "responsibility" derives from the Latin verb "respondere", meaning "to answer" or "to reply", and thus implies a duty or obligation to respond to something or someone. | |||
| French | responsabilité | ||
| RESPONSABILITÉ is derived from Latin "responsare" (respond) and originally referred to the obligation to make oneself answerable for an act. | |||
| Frisian | ferantwurdlikens | ||
| The term 'ferantwurdlikens' is derived from the Old Frisian word 'ferd' (journey) and 'wurden' (to become) and originally meant 'to take charge of a journey'. | |||
| Galician | responsabilidade | ||
| The word "responsabilidade" in Galician shares the same etymology with "response" in English and both descend from the Latin word "respondere" meaning "to promise". | |||
| German | verantwortung | ||
| Verantwortung derives from 'antworten', meaning 'to answer', as it refers to 'accountability for one's actions' | |||
| Icelandic | ábyrgð | ||
| Icelandic "ábyrgð" also refers to an insurance policy. | |||
| Irish | freagracht | ||
| Freagracht is also the name of an Irish-language radio programme that discusses issues of conscience and moral agency. | |||
| Italian | responsabilità | ||
| The Italian word "responsabilità" originates from the Latin "respondere", meaning "to answer" or "to respond". | |||
| Luxembourgish | verantwortung | ||
| In Luxembourgish, “Verantwortung” not only means responsibility, but also refers to a property of a certain plot of land. | |||
| Maltese | responsabbiltà | ||
| The Maltese word "responsabbiltà" derives from the Latin "responsum", meaning "answer" or "reply". | |||
| Norwegian | ansvar | ||
| The Old Norse word "ans" could mean either god, spirit, or beam, and "var" to watch over, implying that "ansvar" refers to those responsible for "keeping the beams of society upright" | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | responsabilidade | ||
| The word "responsabilidade" in Portuguese originates from the Latin word "responsum", meaning "answer" or "reply", and implies accountability and obligation. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | uallach | ||
| The Gaelic word "uallach" also means "burden" or "duty" | |||
| Spanish | responsabilidad | ||
| The Spanish word "responsabilidad" comes from the Latin "responsare", meaning "to promise" or "to guarantee". | |||
| Swedish | ansvar | ||
| In the 16th century, 'ansvar' was used in Swedish to refer to an accusation or a charge, rather than a responsibility. | |||
| Welsh | cyfrifoldeb | ||
| "Cyfrifoldeb" is derived from the Welsh words "cyfrif" (account) and "deb" (duty), indicating the notion of accounting for one's actions and duties. | |||
Responsibility in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | адказнасць | ||
| Bosnian | odgovornost | ||
| "Odgovornost" is rooted in the Slavic word "odgovarati" (respondere: to answer), indicating an obligation to react, or respond, to the actions or consequences of one's own or others' behavior." | |||
| Bulgarian | отговорност | ||
| The word "отговорност" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic "отвѣръгъти" (otvărrgŭti), meaning "to throw away" or "to reject". | |||
| Czech | odpovědnost | ||
| "Odpovědnost" derives from the verb "odpovědět" ("to answer") and thus originally meant "accountability" but now refers to a wider range of obligations, such as duties and liabilities. | |||
| Estonian | vastutus | ||
| The word "vastutus" is derived from the Proto-Finnic root "*vastata", meaning "to answer". | |||
| Finnish | vastuu | ||
| "Vastuu" is derived from "vastaa", meaning "to face", implying accountability for one's actions or consequences. | |||
| Hungarian | felelősség | ||
| The Hungarian word "felelősség" can also refer to the feeling of guilt, remorse, or regret, and can be used as an apology. | |||
| Latvian | atbildība | ||
| In Latvian, "atbildība" stems from the word "atbildēt," meaning 'to answer,' underscoring the moral obligation implied in the concept of responsibility. | |||
| Lithuanian | atsakomybė | ||
| The Lithuanian word "atsakomybė" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "otvědъ", meaning "answer, accountability". | |||
| Macedonian | одговорност | ||
| The word "одговорност" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "отъвѣръ" (otъvěrъ), which means "answer" or "reply". | |||
| Polish | odpowiedzialność | ||
| In Polish, the noun 'odpowiedzialność' also refers to a 'person or body in control'. | |||
| Romanian | responsabilitate | ||
| The Romanian word "responsabilitate" is derived from the Latin "responsum", meaning "answer" or "reply". | |||
| Russian | обязанность | ||
| The word "обязанность" can also mean "debt" or "duty". | |||
| Serbian | одговорност | ||
| The word "одговорност" derives from the Old Church Slavonic word "отго́воръ", meaning "answer" or "reply" | |||
| Slovak | zodpovednosť | ||
| The word "zodpovednosť" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "otpovēdē", meaning "answer". | |||
| Slovenian | odgovornost | ||
| In Slovenian, the word "odgovornost" originates from the words "odgovoriti" (to respond) and "govoriti" (to speak), highlighting the idea of giving an account or answering for one's actions. | |||
| Ukrainian | відповідальність | ||
| The word "відповідальність" in Ukrainian is derived from "відповідати", meaning "to answer" or "to correspond", and denotes accountability or duty towards oneself or others. | |||
Responsibility in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | দায়িত্ব | ||
| দায়িত্ব' শব্দটি সংস্কৃত শব্দ 'দায়া' থেকে এসেছে যার অর্থ হল "ঋণ"। | |||
| Gujarati | જવાબદારી | ||
| The Gujarati word "જવાબદારી" (responsibility) derives from the Sanskrit word "jawab" (answer) and "dar" (to hold), implying the obligation to respond or account for one's actions. | |||
| Hindi | ज़िम्मेदारी | ||
| "ज़िम्मेदारी" का मूल अर्थ संस्कृत शब्द "दायित्व" से आया है, जिसका अर्थ है कि किसी कार्य या स्थिति को वहन करना। | |||
| Kannada | ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ | ||
| The word ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ, ultimately derived from Persian, originally meant 'tax' or 'accountability', and only later became associated with the modern concept of responsibility | |||
| Malayalam | ഉത്തരവാദിത്തം | ||
| Marathi | जबाबदारी | ||
| The word 'जबाबदारी' (responsibility) in Marathi is derived from the Persian word 'jawab' meaning 'answer' and '-dari' meaning 'act of'. | |||
| Nepali | जिम्मेवारी | ||
| The term जिम्मेवारी originated from the Sanskrit word 'yam' and is related to the notions of duty, obligation, and accountability. | |||
| Punjabi | ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වගකීමක් | ||
| Tamil | பொறுப்பு | ||
| பொறுப்பு is derived from பொறு (poru), meaning to tolerate or carry, and பு (pu), meaning burden, implying bearing or carrying a weight. | |||
| Telugu | బాధ్యత | ||
| The verb "బాధించు" (to hurt or bother) shares the same root as "బాధ్యత" (responsibility), suggesting a connection between taking on responsibility and the potential for suffering that comes with it. | |||
| Urdu | ذمہ داری | ||
| The word 'ذمہ داری' is derived from the Arabic word 'ذمة', which means 'conscience' or 'obligation', and is related to the concept of 'responsibility' in English. | |||
Responsibility in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 责任 | ||
| 责任 (responsibility) derives from 任 (task) and 责 (question,blame); it originally meant 'a task assigned to a person in order to hold them accountable for it'. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 責任 | ||
| The term 責任 originally meant the burden or onus upon a person, which later adopted the connotation of the duty to be responsible for something. | |||
| Japanese | 責任 | ||
| The word "責任" (sekinin) carries connotations of "being responsible for" or taking charge of something. | |||
| Korean | 책임 | ||
| 책임's Chinese character 責 carries the meaning of whipping, while 任 originally meant to carry a burden. | |||
| Mongolian | хариуцлага | ||
| The Mongolian word 'хариуцлага' ('responsibility') is related to the term 'хариу' ('to answer'), and originally described the obligation one had to respond to the call of another. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | တာဝန် | ||
| The word "တာဝန်" (responsibility) is derived from the Pali root "ṭhava", meaning "firm, steady, resolute, or established". | |||
Responsibility in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | tanggung jawab | ||
| The word 'tanggung jawab' in Indonesian has Malay roots, meaning 'to bear' (tanggung) and 'to answer' (jawab), reflecting the concept of personal accountability. | |||
| Javanese | tanggung jawab | ||
| "Tanggung jawab" in Javanese means having something in your hands to carry or guard. | |||
| Khmer | ការទទួលខុសត្រូវ | ||
| Lao | ຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບ | ||
| Malay | tanggungjawab | ||
| The root of the word "tanggungjawab" means to bear, and is also found in the word "tanggungan" (burden). | |||
| Thai | ความรับผิดชอบ | ||
| The Thai word "ความรับผิดชอบ" literally translates to "responsibility of the body" and implies a more holistic approach to accountability and duty. | |||
| Vietnamese | nhiệm vụ | ||
| Nhiệm vụ could also mean "mission," or "task," suggesting a sense of purpose and commitment beyond mere obligation. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | responsibilidad | ||
Responsibility in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | məsuliyyət | ||
| The word "məsuliyyət" also means "capacity for undertaking an obligation". | |||
| Kazakh | жауапкершілік | ||
| Kyrgyz | жоопкерчилик | ||
| Tajik | масъулият | ||
| The word "масъулият" is derived from the Arabic word "مسؤولية", which means "accountability" or "a duty to make sure that something is done or happens". | |||
| Turkmen | jogapkärçilik | ||
| Uzbek | javobgarlik | ||
| The term "javobgarlik" can also refer to "accountability" or "liability" in certain contexts. | |||
| Uyghur | مەسئۇلىيەت | ||
Responsibility in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kuleana | ||
| "Kuleana" also means "cornerstone" or "foundation" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | kawenga | ||
| In Maori, the word "kawenga" can refer to the responsibility of an individual or the responsibilities assigned to a group, depending on the socio-cultural or family context. | |||
| Samoan | tiutetauave | ||
| The word "tiutetauave" also refers to a person who is responsible or trustworthy. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pananagutan | ||
| 'Pananagutan' comes from the Tagalog root word 'tanong', meaning 'question' or 'inquiry', implying that responsibility involves being answerable for one's actions. | |||
Responsibility in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | phuqhawi | ||
| Guarani | hembiaporeko | ||
Responsibility in International Languages
| Esperanto | respondeco | ||
| The Esperanto word respondeco is borrowed from Latin, where it means "answering", which is its more literal meaning in Esperanto as well. | |||
| Latin | responsibility | ||
| "Responsibility" comes from the Latin "respondere," meaning "to promise in reply". | |||
Responsibility in Others Languages
| Greek | ευθύνη | ||
| "Ευθύνη" derives from the ancient Greek word "ευθυς" (straight) and denotes both responsibility (as a straight and true path) and accountability (as facing the consequences head-on). | |||
| Hmong | lub luag haujlwm | ||
| The etymology of the Hmong word 'lub luag haujlwm' is unclear, but it may refer to the idea of 'carrying a burden' or 'taking charge' of something. | |||
| Kurdish | berpisîyarî | ||
| The word 'berpisîyarî' also carries the meaning of 'trustworthiness'. | |||
| Turkish | sorumluluk | ||
| "Sorumluluk" kelimesinin etimolojisinde "sormak" ve "luğ" ("sorulan şey") kelimeleri vardır. | |||
| Xhosa | uxanduva | ||
| The word "uxanduva" in Xhosa can also refer to a person who is responsible or has authority. | |||
| Yiddish | פֿאַראַנטוואָרטלעכקייט | ||
| The Yiddish word "פֿאַראַנטוואָרטלעכקייט" ultimately derives from the German "Verantwortung," meaning "an answer" or "an accountability." | |||
| Zulu | umthwalo | ||
| In Zulu, the word "umthwalo" derives from the verb "thwala," meaning "to carry," and is related to the concept of communal responsibility within Zulu culture. | |||
| Assamese | দায়িত্ব | ||
| Aymara | phuqhawi | ||
| Bhojpuri | जिम्मेदारी | ||
| Dhivehi | މަސްޢޫލިއްޔަތު | ||
| Dogri | जिम्मेदारी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | responsibilidad | ||
| Guarani | hembiaporeko | ||
| Ilocano | rebbengen | ||
| Krio | gɛt fɔ du | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بەرپرسیاریەتی | ||
| Maithili | उत्तरदायित्व | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯧꯗꯥꯡ | ||
| Mizo | mawhphurhna | ||
| Oromo | itti-gaafatamummaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଦାୟିତ୍। | | ||
| Quechua | responsabilidad | ||
| Sanskrit | उत्तरदायित्व | ||
| Tatar | җаваплылык | ||
| Tigrinya | ሓላፍነት | ||
| Tsonga | vutihlamuleri | ||