Scandal in Different Languages
Discover 'Scandal' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Scandal is a word that carries significant weight in any language. It refers to a profound disgrace resulting from an act of wrongdoing, a breach of trust, or a reputation-damaging secret. The cultural importance of scandals cannot be overstated; they have the power to shape public opinion, bring down governments, and even alter the course of history.
Throughout history, scandals have captivated the public's imagination and left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. From the Watergate scandal that brought down a president to the Hollywood sex scandals that have rocked the entertainment industry, these events have shown us the power of truth and the consequences of deceit.
Understanding the translation of scandal in different languages is essential for anyone interested in global affairs, cross-cultural communication, or simply expanding their vocabulary. By learning how to express this concept in various languages, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural nuances that shape our world.
Here are a few translations of the word scandal to get you started:
Scandal
Scandal in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skandaal | ||
| "Skandaal" is derived from the Late Latin "scandalum", meaning "a stumbling block". | |||
| Amharic | ቅሌት | ||
| The Amharic word "ቅሌት" also means "disgrace" or "shame". | |||
| Hausa | abin kunya | ||
| The Hausa word | |||
| Igbo | asịrị | ||
| The word 'asịrị' can also mean 'rumor', 'news', or 'story' in Igbo. | |||
| Malagasy | tantara ratsy | ||
| The word 'tantara ratsy' literally means 'to make a sound like thunder' or 'to make a loud noise', and it is used figuratively to refer to a scandal or uproar. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zonyoza | ||
| The word 'zonyoza' is derived from the verb 'kuyonyola', which means 'to deceive or trick'. | |||
| Shona | chinyadzo | ||
| "Chinyadzo" is a Shona word which also means "an offensive smell". | |||
| Somali | fadeexad | ||
| Fadeexad is derived from the Arabic word 'fadiha', which means 'disgrace' or 'shame'. | |||
| Sesotho | mahlabisa-lihlong | ||
| The term 'mahlabisa-lihlong' ('scandal') originates from the Sesotho phrase for 'exposing something', indicating its association with revealing sensitive or embarrassing information. | |||
| Swahili | kashfa | ||
| "Kashfa" is also used to refer to the act of uncovering or revealing something, particularly secrets or wrongdoing. | |||
| Xhosa | ihlazo | ||
| "Ihlazo" can also mean "shame" or "disgrace" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | sikandali | ||
| Sikandali originated from the Yoruba word 'sika' meaning money and 'ndali' meaning to get.} | |||
| Zulu | ihlazo | ||
| The Zulu word "ihlazo" can also mean "insult" or "disgrace". | |||
| Bambara | scandal (jatigɛwale). | ||
| Ewe | ŋukpenanuwɔwɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | urukozasoni | ||
| Lingala | scandale ya likambo | ||
| Luganda | emivuyo | ||
| Sepedi | mahlabisadihlong | ||
| Twi (Akan) | aniwusɛm | ||
Scandal in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | فضيحة | ||
| The word "فضيحة" can also mean "shame" or "disgrace". | |||
| Hebrew | סקנדל | ||
| The Hebrew word סַקַנְדָּל (pronounced sakandal) is borrowed from the Greek word "scandalon", meaning a trap or stumbling block. | |||
| Pashto | رسوایی | ||
| The Pashto word "رسوایی" can also refer to a public disgrace or shame. | |||
| Arabic | فضيحة | ||
| The word "فضيحة" can also mean "shame" or "disgrace". | |||
Scandal in Western European Languages
| Albanian | skandal | ||
| In Albanian, skandal also refers to a type of folk dance performed in pairs. | |||
| Basque | eskandalu | ||
| "Eskandalu" also means a wooden beam used to hold up the roof in Basque. | |||
| Catalan | escàndol | ||
| The Catalan word «escàndol» comes from the Latin word «scandalum», which also means «stumbling block». | |||
| Croatian | skandal | ||
| The Croatian word "skandal" is derived from the Greek word "skandalein" (to trip up). In addition to its usual meaning of "scandal", it can also mean "obstacle" or "trap" | |||
| Danish | skandale | ||
| Skandale is a Danish word derived from the Greek word “skandalon,” meaning a trap or stumbling block. | |||
| Dutch | schandaal | ||
| The Dutch word 'schandaal' originates from the Greek word 'skandalon' meaning 'trap' or 'stumbling block', and has various meanings including 'disgrace', 'indignity' and 'shame'. | |||
| English | scandal | ||
| The word 'scandal' comes from the Greek word 'skandalon', meaning 'a trap' or 'a stumbling block'. It can also refer to a public disgrace or a breach of morality. | |||
| French | scandale | ||
| The French word "scandale" originated from the Greek word "skandalon," meaning "stumbling block" or "trap." | |||
| Frisian | skandaal | ||
| In Frisian, 'skandaal' can also refer to a disgrace, or a person who causes trouble or embarrassment. | |||
| Galician | escándalo | ||
| The word "escándalo" derives from the Latin "scandlum", meaning "obstacle" or "trap," and is also related to the Galician word "descanto", meaning "enchantment" or "charm." | |||
| German | skandal | ||
| The word "Skandal" can also refer to a controversial or shocking event or situation. | |||
| Icelandic | hneyksli | ||
| The Icelandic word "hneyksli" is also used to describe the process of weaving, with its etymological roots in a term meaning "that which is bent or twisted." | |||
| Irish | scannal | ||
| The Irish word "scannal" originally meant "an offense to holiness", with the word evolving a more secular meaning over time. | |||
| Italian | scandalo | ||
| Scandalo comes from the Greek 'skandalon,' meaning 'a trap, snare.' | |||
| Luxembourgish | skandal | ||
| Luxembourgish 'Skandal' may also mean 'disgrace', 'embarrassment', or 'shame'. | |||
| Maltese | skandlu | ||
| The word 'skandlu' in Maltese comes from the Latin word 'scandalum,' meaning 'a stumbling block' or 'a cause of offense'. | |||
| Norwegian | skandale | ||
| The word "skandale" can also refer to a public disgrace or a cause of shame. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | escândalo | ||
| In Portugal, "escândalo" can also refer to a public performance, especially a theatrical or musical one. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sgainneal | ||
| The word "sgainneal" derives from the Irish word "sgandail", which is the equivalent of Latin "scandale" (stumbling block). | |||
| Spanish | escándalo | ||
| The Spanish word "escándalo" shares the same root as "incandescence," signifying "shining" or "giving light." | |||
| Swedish | skandal | ||
| The word "skandal" can also refer to a large commotion or disturbance. | |||
| Welsh | sgandal | ||
| The word 'sgandal' in Welsh also means 'trap' or 'snare', reflecting its historical association with entrapment and exposure. | |||
Scandal in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | скандал | ||
| Белорусское слово "скандал" имеет греческое происхождение (от "σκάνδαλον" - "камень преткновения" или "ловушка") и означает "позорное происшествие" или "шумная ссора" | |||
| Bosnian | skandal | ||
| "Skandal" has two meanings in Bosnian: the original meaning of "stumbling block" and the more popular "scandal." | |||
| Bulgarian | скандал | ||
| The word "скандал" in Bulgarian can trace its origin back to the Old Slavonic word "съсъдъ" (vessel), which also serves as the Slavic root for the words "сосуд" (vessel) in Russian and "судно" (ship) in Russian and Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | skandál | ||
| The Czech word "skandál" is derived from the French word "scandale", which in turn comes from the Greek word "skandalon", meaning "stumbling block". | |||
| Estonian | skandaal | ||
| "Skandaal" is derived from the Greek verb "skandalizein". In addition to "scandal", in Estonian the word can also mean "offense" or "disgrace." | |||
| Finnish | skandaali | ||
| The word 'skandaali' is derived from the Greek word 'skandalon', meaning 'stumbling block' or 'cause of offense. | |||
| Hungarian | botrány | ||
| Botrány derives from the Latin word "botrus" (a bunch of grapes) and originally meant "a festive banquet" or "a drinking party". | |||
| Latvian | skandāls | ||
| "Skandāls" has no alternate meanings or etymological connection to any other Latvian words and is a loanword directly appropriated from the Ancient Greek "skandalon", meaning "snare", "offence" or, metaphorically, "an obstacle", "something that can trip somebody up" | |||
| Lithuanian | skandalas | ||
| The word "skandalas" derives from the Greek "skandalon," meaning both "stumbling block" and, in a figurative sense, "offense" or "disgrace." | |||
| Macedonian | скандал | ||
| The word "скандал" originates from the Greek word "σκάνδαλον", meaning "stumbling block" or "cause of offense". | |||
| Polish | skandal | ||
| Polish "skandal" may derive from an Old Church Slavonic word meaning "fall" or "stumbling". | |||
| Romanian | scandal | ||
| In Romanian, "scandal" also means "a kind of poem with a comical or satirical tone" | |||
| Russian | скандал | ||
| The Russian word "скандал" is derived from the Greek "σκάνδαλον" meaning "stumbling block" or "trap". | |||
| Serbian | скандал | ||
| The word "скандал" (scandal) in Serbian also means "disgrace" or "shame". | |||
| Slovak | škandál | ||
| The word "škandál" in Slovak is derived from the Greek word "skándalon," meaning "stumbling block" or "trap." | |||
| Slovenian | škandal | ||
| The Slovenian word "škandal" derives from the Greek word "skandalon", meaning "stumbling block" or "trap." | |||
| Ukrainian | скандал | ||
| The word "скандал" is derived from the Greek word "σκάνδαλον", meaning "stumbling block" or "trap". | |||
Scandal in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | কেলেঙ্কারী | ||
| "কেলেঙ্কারী" (scandal) derives from the Sanskrit word "कलङ्क" (stain), and also means "disgrace" or "infamy". | |||
| Gujarati | કૌભાંડ | ||
| The word "kauthānd" likely originated from the Sanskrit word "kubhānda", meaning "fraud" or "dishonest gain", and has also been used to describe a type of fruit or gourd. | |||
| Hindi | कांड | ||
| कांड can also refer to a chapter or section in a book or other written work. | |||
| Kannada | ಹಗರಣ | ||
| The word "ಹಗರಣ" also refers to a traditional form of folk dance in coastal areas of Karnataka. | |||
| Malayalam | കോഴ | ||
| In Malayalam, the word "കോഴ" not only means "scandal" but also refers to "bribe" or "corruption". | |||
| Marathi | घोटाळा | ||
| The term घोटाळा, meaning "scandal," originated from the Marathi word "घोटणे," meaning "to twist". | |||
| Nepali | घोटाला | ||
| The word 'घोटाला' in Nepali also means 'an act of deception or trickery'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਘੁਟਾਲਾ | ||
| The word "ਘੁਟਾਲਾ" (ghutala) is derived from the Sanskrit word "घुष्टाल" (ghushtaala) meaning "noise" or "tumult". It can also refer to a "fraud" or "robbery". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අපකීර්තිය | ||
| Tamil | ஊழல் | ||
| The Tamil word "ஊழல்" (corruption) comes from the Sanskrit word "उज्ज्वल" (brilliance), suggesting that corruption is often hidden behind a facade of legitimacy. | |||
| Telugu | కుంభకోణం | ||
| The word "కుంభకోణం" is derived from the place "Kumbakonam", where fraudulent dealings were first unearthed, and "కుంభము" (pot) and "కోణము" (angle), indicating something hidden or concealed. | |||
| Urdu | اسکینڈل | ||
Scandal in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 丑闻 | ||
| 丑闻 derives from the Chinese idioms 丑态百出 “showing off bad conduct” and 丑名远扬 “notorious”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 醜聞 | ||
| The Chinese character "醜聞" (丑闻) is composed of the characters "醜" (ugly, unsightly), meaning "to disgrace or cause shame", and "聞" (heard, hearing), meaning "to hear or make known". It is a term used to describe a shameful or disgraceful act or event that becomes widely known to the public and is met with disapproval or condemnation. | |||
| Japanese | スキャンダル | ||
| スキャンダル comes from the Greek word, 'skandalon' which means 'a trap' or 'hindrance' and shares its etymology with the name Alexander. | |||
| Korean | 스캔들 | ||
| In Korean, the word "스캔들" is derived from the Greek word "skandalon," meaning "obstacle" or "trap." | |||
| Mongolian | шуугиан | ||
| The word "шуугиан" in Mongolian also means "noise" or "uproar". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အရှုပ်တော်ပုံ | ||
| Originally used to describe the sound a falling tree makes in the jungle: "a resounding crash" | |||
Scandal in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | skandal | ||
| The Indonesian word "skandal" is derived from the Dutch word "schandaal", which means "shame" or "disgrace"} | |||
| Javanese | skandal | ||
| In Javanese, the word 'skandal' also means 'to be surprised' or 'to become amazed'. | |||
| Khmer | រឿងអាស្រូវ | ||
| The word "រឿងអាស្រូវ" in Khmer originally meant "a story that is widely told or known", but now it primarily refers to a scandal or controversy. | |||
| Lao | ກະທູ້ | ||
| Malay | skandal | ||
| "Skandal" also means "to turn on the light" or "to be surprised" in Malay, making it an interesting word with multiple meanings. | |||
| Thai | เรื่องอื้อฉาว | ||
| In Thai, the word "เรื่องอื้อฉาว" (rueng-ue-chaao) literally translates to "a noisy matter" or "a matter that causes a stir." | |||
| Vietnamese | vụ bê bối | ||
| The word "vụ bê bối" can also mean "mess", "clutter", or "disorder" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | iskandalo | ||
Scandal in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | qalmaqal | ||
| The word "qalmaqal" comes from the Arabic word "qilqaal," meaning noise or uproar. | |||
| Kazakh | жанжал | ||
| The Kazakh word "жанжал" also means "noise" or "commotion". | |||
| Kyrgyz | скандал | ||
| 'Скандал' in Kyrgyz has a negative connotation and is not used in a positive sense, unlike in Russian. | |||
| Tajik | ҷанҷол | ||
| The word "ҷанҷол" (scandal) is derived from the Persian word "جنجال" (commotion, uproar). | |||
| Turkmen | dawa | ||
| Uzbek | janjal | ||
| The word "janjal" in Uzbek is also used to refer to "noise" and "commotion." | |||
| Uyghur | سەتچىلىك | ||
Scandal in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hōʻino | ||
| The Hawaiian word hōʻino derives from the Proto-Polynesian word *pako, meaning "to be ashamed". | |||
| Maori | kohukohu | ||
| The word kohukohu can also mean 'to stir up' or 'to excite'. | |||
| Samoan | faalumaina | ||
| Fa'alumaina (scandal) is a Samoan word that means "to make a public spectacle of oneself." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | iskandalo | ||
| The Tagalog word "iskandalo" likely originated from the Greek word "skandalon" meaning "trap" or "obstacle". | |||
Scandal in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | escándalo ukax mä escándalo ukhamawa | ||
| Guarani | escándalo rehegua | ||
Scandal in International Languages
| Esperanto | skandalo | ||
| In Greek, "skandalo" meant "trap" or "obstacle" but in Esperanto it came to mean "scandal". | |||
| Latin | flagitium | ||
| The Latin word "flagitium" originally meant "a disgrace" or "wickedness", and could refer to both public and private misconduct. | |||
Scandal in Others Languages
| Greek | σκάνδαλο | ||
| The Greek word "σκάνδαλο" (scandal) literally means "stumbling block" or "snare". | |||
| Hmong | kev txaj muag | ||
| The Hmong word "kev txaj muag" is made up of two words: "kev txaj" (bad) and "muag" (face), and it literally translates to "bad face" or "embarrassment". | |||
| Kurdish | bûyerê ecêb | ||
| The word "bûyerê ecêb" in Kurdish shares its root "ecêb" with the Arabic word "ajab" (wonder, surprise), implying a shocking or extraordinary nature of the scandal. | |||
| Turkish | skandal | ||
| The word 'skandal' in Turkish is derived from the Greek word 'skandalon', meaning 'stumbling block' or 'cause of offense'. | |||
| Xhosa | ihlazo | ||
| "Ihlazo" can also mean "shame" or "disgrace" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | סקאַנדאַל | ||
| The Yiddish word 'scandal' also means 'disgrace' and is derived from the Germanic word 'schand' meaning 'shame'. | |||
| Zulu | ihlazo | ||
| The Zulu word "ihlazo" can also mean "insult" or "disgrace". | |||
| Assamese | কেলেংকাৰী | ||
| Aymara | escándalo ukax mä escándalo ukhamawa | ||
| Bhojpuri | घोटाला के बात भइल | ||
| Dhivehi | ސްކޭންޑަލް އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | घोटाला | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | iskandalo | ||
| Guarani | escándalo rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | eskandalo | ||
| Krio | skandal we dɛn kin du | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئابڕووچوون | ||
| Maithili | कांड | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁ꯭ꯛꯌꯥꯟꯗꯦꯜ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | scandal a ni | ||
| Oromo | scandal jedhamuun beekama | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଦୁର୍ନୀତି | ||
| Quechua | escándalo nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | काण्ड | ||
| Tatar | җәнҗал | ||
| Tigrinya | ዕንደራ | ||
| Tsonga | xisandzu | ||