Risk in Different Languages
Discover 'Risk' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Risk is a word that carries significant weight in our daily lives. It represents the possibility of loss, harm, or danger, and is a concept that transcends cultures and languages. Understanding risk in different languages can provide valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and approach potential dangers. For instance, the German word 'Risiko' not only refers to the possibility of loss, but also implies a calculated attempt to achieve a goal. Meanwhile, the Chinese character for risk, '危险', is composed of the characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity', reflecting the idea that risk can also present opportunities for growth and success.
Moreover, the concept of risk has played a crucial role in shaping human history. From the voyages of early explorers to the development of modern financial systems, risk has been a constant factor that has both challenged and inspired human progress. By learning about the translations of risk in different languages, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of this word and the ways in which it has influenced societies around the world.
Risk
Risk in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | risiko | ||
| The Afrikaans word "risiko" is derived from the Dutch word "risico" which in turn comes from the Italian word "rischio" meaning "danger". | |||
| Amharic | አደጋ | ||
| Amharic "አደጋ" also denotes an "unexpected event," "mishap," "misfortune," "calamity," or "disaster." | |||
| Hausa | haɗari | ||
| The word "haɗari" also means "danger" or "hazard" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | ihe egwu | ||
| "Ihe egwu" literally means "thing of fear" in Igbo, and is related to the word "egwu" which means "fear". | |||
| Malagasy | mety | ||
| The word "mety" is derived from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root "-mati" meaning "to die" or "perish". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chiopsezo | ||
| The Nyanja (Chichewa) word "chiopsezo" is a contracted form of the phrase "chi-o-opsa-zo," meaning "that-which-one-fears." | |||
| Shona | njodzi | ||
| In Shona mythology, 'njodzi' also refers to an ancestral leopard spirit. | |||
| Somali | halis | ||
| The word "halis" in Somali originally meant "to step forward" or "to take a chance". | |||
| Sesotho | kotsi | ||
| Kotsi may also refer to an idiom meaning 'to be in danger of' or 'to be at risk' | |||
| Swahili | hatari | ||
| The word "hatari" can also refer to a daredevil or a reckless person. | |||
| Xhosa | umngcipheko | ||
| The word "umngcipheko" can also be used to mean "danger" or "hazard". | |||
| Yoruba | eewu | ||
| In the Yoruba language, 'eewu' is a noun that primarily means 'risk' or 'danger', but it can also refer to 'debt' or 'liability'. | |||
| Zulu | ingozi | ||
| The Zulu word "ingozi" can also refer to a "dangerous beast" or a "calamity". | |||
| Bambara | farati | ||
| Ewe | ŋɔdzi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ibyago | ||
| Lingala | likama | ||
| Luganda | akabi | ||
| Sepedi | kotsi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ahudeɛ | ||
Risk in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | خطر | ||
| The word "خطر" can also mean "danger" or "hazard", and derives from the root word "خطر" meaning "to be dangerous or risky". | |||
| Hebrew | לְהִסְתָכֵּן | ||
| The Hebrew word "לְהִסְתָכֵּן" (risk) is derived from the root "סתכ" (look out), suggesting a cautious approach to avoid danger. | |||
| Pashto | خطر | ||
| The Pashto word “خطر” (khatar) derives from the Arabic word meaning “danger,” but in Pashto it holds more nuanced connotations of risk and venture, as well as a philosophical sense of uncertainty. | |||
| Arabic | خطر | ||
| The word "خطر" can also mean "danger" or "hazard", and derives from the root word "خطر" meaning "to be dangerous or risky". | |||
Risk in Western European Languages
| Albanian | rreziku | ||
| "Rreziku" derives from the Latin word "resicum" meaning "remainder", "odds", or "danger". | |||
| Basque | arriskua | ||
| The word "arriskua" is derived from the Basque word "arrisku" meaning "danger". | |||
| Catalan | risc | ||
| "Risc" is one of the words in Catalan which doesn't come from Latin, but from Ligurian, a pre-Roman language spoken in the current Provence and Liguria which influenced the birth of Catalan during the Roman conquests of the Mediterranean | |||
| Croatian | rizik | ||
| In Croatian, "rizik" also means "a person who takes risks". | |||
| Danish | risiko | ||
| The word "risiko" is likely derived from Italian "risco" with the same meaning, and ultimately from Arabic "rizq" (meaning "provisions" or "daily bread"). | |||
| Dutch | risico | ||
| The word "risico" is derived from the Italian word "rischio" and the French word "risque", both of which mean "danger" or "hazard". | |||
| English | risk | ||
| Derived from Italian 'risicare', meaning 'to dare', from Arabic 'rizq', meaning 'provisions' or 'fate'. | |||
| French | risque | ||
| The French word 'risque' can also be used in the context of boldness or daring. | |||
| Frisian | risiko | ||
| The Frisian word "risiko" can also refer to a "situation with an uncertain outcome". | |||
| Galician | risco | ||
| In Galician, "risco" can also refer to a cliff or precipice. | |||
| German | risiko | ||
| "Risiko" leitet sich vom italienischen Wort "risico" ab, das wiederum vom arabischen Wort "rizq" stammt, was "Versorgung, Lebensunterhalt" und ursprünglich "göttliche Gunst, Glück" bedeutet. | |||
| Icelandic | áhætta | ||
| Áhætta derives from the Old Norse word "hætta", meaning "danger, jeopardy", and ultimately from the Proto-Germanic word "*hazda", meaning "danger, luck". | |||
| Irish | riosca | ||
| In Irish the word "riosca" derives from the verb "reic," translating to "run," "go," or "leap". | |||
| Italian | rischio | ||
| The Italian word "rischio" ultimately derives from the Arabic word "rizq", meaning "sustenance" or "provisions". | |||
| Luxembourgish | risiko | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Risiko" not only refers to "risk", but also carries the additional meaning of "enterprise", implying an undertaking with an element of uncertainty but potential for gain. | |||
| Maltese | riskju | ||
| The Maltese word "riskju" comes from the Italian "rischio" which also means "danger" or "hazard"} | |||
| Norwegian | fare | ||
| Fare, the Norwegian word for "risk," comes from the Old Norse word "fari," meaning "peril" or "danger." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | risco | ||
| The Portuguese word "risco" can also mean "scratch", "line", or "design". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cunnart | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, "cunnart" also means "danger" or "jeopardy". | |||
| Spanish | riesgo | ||
| The word "riesgo" comes from the Basque word "errisko", meaning "steep slope" or "cliff". | |||
| Swedish | risk | ||
| In Swedish, 'risk' can also refer to a bundle of twigs used for lighting a fire | |||
| Welsh | risg | ||
| The same word means “risk, hazard” and “venture, adventure” in Welsh, and it is related to words for “rise, rise up”. | |||
Risk in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | рызыка | ||
| “Рызыка” is also used in Belarusian to mean “threat” and has an etymological link to “рызыкаць” (“riskywać” in Polish). | |||
| Bosnian | rizik | ||
| Also means "danger" in Turkish, cognate with Persian "rizg" (livelihood, fortune). | |||
| Bulgarian | риск | ||
| The word "риск" can also refer to the risk premium, a fee paid to compensate for the risk involved in an investment or transaction. | |||
| Czech | riziko | ||
| In addition to meaning 'risk', 'riziko' can also be used in the sense of 'venture' or 'speculation'. | |||
| Estonian | risk | ||
| The Estonian word "risk" derives from the Old Norse word "reska", meaning "to fall" or "to tumble", and is also related to the English word "risk". | |||
| Finnish | riski | ||
| The Finnish word "riski" comes from the Swedish word "risk". | |||
| Hungarian | kockázat | ||
| The word "kockázat" is derived from the Turkish word "korkutmak". It can also mean "danger" or "hazard". | |||
| Latvian | risks | ||
| The Latvian word "risks" is related to the Latvian word "risināt", which means "to solve" or "to manage". | |||
| Lithuanian | rizika | ||
| "Rizika" derives from the German "risiko", ultimately from the Italian "risco" for danger. | |||
| Macedonian | ризик | ||
| The Russian word "риск" (risk) came into usage in the 17th century and was borrowed from German "risiko". | |||
| Polish | ryzyko | ||
| "Ryzyko" comes from either Middle High German "rísco" or Italian "risco" and means both "rock", "danger" or "risk". | |||
| Romanian | risc | ||
| The Romanian word "risc" derives from the Latin "riscum", meaning "danger" or "peril". | |||
| Russian | риск | ||
| "Риск" is also used to refer to a "gamble" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | ризик | ||
| The word "risk" (rízik) has been borrowed from the Italian"risico" with the same meaning but also refers to something that could be a hazard | |||
| Slovak | riziko | ||
| The Slovak word "riziko" derives from the Greek word "rhiza" (root), referring to the idea of taking root in an uncertain situation. | |||
| Slovenian | tveganje | ||
| The word "tveganje" derives from the Old Slavic word "tьrgъ", meaning "marketplace" or "place of exchange", suggesting the concept of risk as an inherent component of commercial transactions. | |||
| Ukrainian | ризик | ||
| The word "ризик" ultimately derives from Arabic "rizq" which meant "provisions" or "sustenance" and entered the Ukrainian language via Turkish. | |||
Risk in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ঝুঁকি | ||
| The word "ঝুঁকি" (risk) is derived from the Sanskrit word "क्षुण्ण" (kṣuṇṇa), meaning "cut" or "broken". | |||
| Gujarati | જોખમ | ||
| The word "જોખમ" comes from the Sanskrit word "jukti," meaning "consideration" or "reasoning" | |||
| Hindi | जोखिम | ||
| The word "जोखिम" is derived from the Sanskrit word "जुगुप्सा", meaning "disgust" or "aversion". | |||
| Kannada | ಅಪಾಯ | ||
| The Kannada word 'ಅಪಾಯ' also means 'danger' or 'harm' and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'आपत्ति' (āpatti), meaning 'affliction' or 'misfortune'. | |||
| Malayalam | അപകടസാധ്യത | ||
| The Malayalam word "അപകടസാധ്യത" is derived from the Sanskrit words "अप" (apa), meaning "away" or "off," and "कट" (kata), meaning "to cut" or "to divide," and can also refer to "danger" or "hazard." | |||
| Marathi | धोका | ||
| The word "धोका" (risk) in Marathi originates from the Sanskrit word "धूक" (smoke), implying hidden danger or uncertainty. | |||
| Nepali | जोखिम | ||
| जोखिम (risk) comes from the Arabic word "kharj," meaning "to go out or emerge." | |||
| Punjabi | ਜੋਖਮ | ||
| The word "ਜੋਖਮ" derives from Sanskrit "jugh" meaning "to weigh" or "to consider". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අවදානම් | ||
| The term 'අවදානම්' ('risk') originates from the Sanskrit words 'अव' ('away') and 'दान' ('give'), denoting a situation involving a potential loss. | |||
| Tamil | ஆபத்து | ||
| "ஆபத்து" also means danger, harm, and peril. | |||
| Telugu | ప్రమాదం | ||
| The word "ప్రమాదం" in Telugu comes from the Sanskrit word "प्रमाद" (pramāda), which means "negligence" or "carelessness." | |||
| Urdu | خطرہ | ||
| خطرہ derives from the Arabic root 'خطر', which means 'to expose to danger' or 'to venture into an uncertain situation'. | |||
Risk in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 风险 | ||
| "风险" is derived from "风" (wind) and "险" (danger), originally referring to the uncertainty and potential danger in nature. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 風險 | ||
| "風險" was originally a term in the insurance industry, meaning 'the ratio of the sum insured to the premium paid'. | |||
| Japanese | 危険 | ||
| The kanji for "risk" can also mean "dangerous" or "hazardous" and is often used in warnings or signs to indicate potential danger. | |||
| Korean | 위험 | ||
| In Korean, "위험" (wiheom) also means danger, a threat, or vulnerability. | |||
| Mongolian | эрсдэл | ||
| Эрсдэл originally meant 'something that brings profit' in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အန္တရာယ် | ||
Risk in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | risiko | ||
| Risiko is derived from the Arabic word 'rizq', meaning 'provision' or 'sustenance'. It later took on the meaning of 'danger' or 'hazard' in Italian, and eventually evolved into the modern Indonesian word 'risiko'. | |||
| Javanese | resiko | ||
| The word "resiko" in Javanese also means "danger" or "difficulty". | |||
| Khmer | ហានិភ័យ | ||
| ហានិភ័យ can also refer to danger, hazard, or the possibility of loss or harm. | |||
| Lao | ຄວາມສ່ຽງ | ||
| The term is also used to refer to physical harm or danger. | |||
| Malay | risiko | ||
| Risiko in Malay is likely descended from the Arabic “rizk’” meaning “danger”, or possibly the Chinese “ri xi” meaning “death by accident” | |||
| Thai | ความเสี่ยง | ||
| The word "ความเสี่ยง" (risk) can also mean "hazard", "danger" or "exposure to harm" in the Thai language. | |||
| Vietnamese | rủi ro | ||
| "Rủi ro" comes from two Chinese characters: "rủi" meaning "bad luck" and "ro" meaning "difficulty", so it literally means "bad luck difficulty" | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | panganib | ||
Risk in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | risk | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "riski" also has the alternate meaning of "chance". | |||
| Kazakh | тәуекел | ||
| The word "тәуекел" is derived from the Arabic word "tawakkul" (trust). | |||
| Kyrgyz | тобокелдик | ||
| "Тобокелдик" is a verb that means "to take risks" or "to dare". | |||
| Tajik | таваккал | ||
| The word "таваккал" ("risk") in Tajik shares etymological roots with the Arabic word "توكل" ("trust, reliance"), implying an element of relying on divine providence in the face of risk. | |||
| Turkmen | töwekgelçiligi | ||
| Uzbek | xavf | ||
| The word "xavf" is also used to refer to a "danger" or "threat". | |||
| Uyghur | خەتەر | ||
Risk in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoʻoweliweli | ||
| Hoʻoweliweli derives from "hoʻo" (to cause) and "weliweli" (fear, trembling), suggesting causing fear or hazard. | |||
| Maori | mōrearea | ||
| Mōrearea, meaning 'risk' in Māori, also refers to a sense of uncertainty or apprehension. | |||
| Samoan | lamatiaga | ||
| Lamatiaga (risk) comes from lamati (to dare) and tia (to try). | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | peligro | ||
| "Peligro" comes from the Spanish word meaning "danger" | |||
Risk in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jani walt'a | ||
| Guarani | kyhyjerã | ||
Risk in International Languages
| Esperanto | risko | ||
| The word 'risko' is derived from the Italian word 'rischio' and the English word 'risk'. | |||
| Latin | periculum | ||
| In Latin, the word "periculum" has the additional meaning of "trial" or "test". | |||
Risk in Others Languages
| Greek | κίνδυνος | ||
| The word "κίνδυνος" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *keu-, meaning "to try", "to tempt". | |||
| Hmong | kev pheej hmoo | ||
| In Hmong, the word "kev pheej hmoo" means "risk". It is derived from the Hmong words "kev pheej" which means "danger" and "hmoo" which means "to face". Therefore, the literal translation of "kev pheej hmoo" is "to face danger". It can also be translated as "to take a risk". | |||
| Kurdish | talûke | ||
| The word "talûke" can also mean "chance" or "luck" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | risk | ||
| The word "risk" originates from the Italian word "risicare", meaning "to dare" or "to venture". | |||
| Xhosa | umngcipheko | ||
| The word "umngcipheko" can also be used to mean "danger" or "hazard". | |||
| Yiddish | ריזיקירן | ||
| In Yiddish, "ריזיקירן" can also mean "to be careless" or "to gamble." | |||
| Zulu | ingozi | ||
| The Zulu word "ingozi" can also refer to a "dangerous beast" or a "calamity". | |||
| Assamese | আশংকা | ||
| Aymara | jani walt'a | ||
| Bhojpuri | जोखिम | ||
| Dhivehi | ނުރައްކާ | ||
| Dogri | खतरा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | panganib | ||
| Guarani | kyhyjerã | ||
| Ilocano | peggad | ||
| Krio | denja | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | مەترسی | ||
| Maithili | जोखिम | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯤꯡꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | tum chhin | ||
| Oromo | carraa balaan uumamuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବିପଦ | ||
| Quechua | chiki | ||
| Sanskrit | संशय | ||
| Tatar | куркыныч | ||
| Tigrinya | ሓደጋ | ||
| Tsonga | khombo | ||