Updated on March 6, 2024
The word scenario holds great significance in our daily lives, often used to describe a sequence of events, a hypothetical situation, or a potential outcome. Its cultural importance is evident in fields like theatre, film, and gaming, where a scenario refers to a particular setting or a series of actions.
But did you know that the term 'scenario' originated in the early 17th century from Italian 'scenario' meaning 'a stage setting'? Or that in Ancient Greek, the concept of a scenario was represented by the word 'opsis' which translates to 'sight' or 'spectacle'?
Understanding the translation of scenario in different languages can open doors to global communication and cultural appreciation. For instance, in Spanish, a scenario is a 'escenario', in French, it's a 'scénario', and in German, it's a 'Szenario'.
Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the fascinating world of scenarios across various languages!
Afrikaans | scenario | ||
"Scenario" comes from the Italian "scenarium," meaning "a stage" or "a scene," and is related to the Latin "scaena," also meaning "a stage." | |||
Amharic | ትዕይንት | ||
The word "ትዕይንት" can also refer to "a plan, an outline, a design, or an arrangement". | |||
Hausa | labari | ||
"Labari" in Hausa can refer to a "rumour" or a "story". | |||
Igbo | ndapụta | ||
The Igbo word "ndapụta" also means "an arrangement of events or a sequence of actions." | |||
Malagasy | tantara | ||
Tantara comes from Arabic 'tantara' (series, order, succession) and also means 'fate'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chochitika | ||
Chochitika is a Chichewa word originally meaning a play or performance, but now more commonly used for 'scenario'. | |||
Shona | mamiriro | ||
The word "mamiriro" also refers to a "plan" or a "draft" in Shona. | |||
Somali | seenyo | ||
In some dialects, "seenyo" also refers to a traditional dance performance, often accompanied by singing and storytelling. | |||
Sesotho | boemo | ||
In Sesotho, the word "boemo" can also refer to a plan or strategy. | |||
Swahili | mazingira | ||
"Mazingira" also means "environment" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | imeko | ||
In Xhosa, the word "imeko" also refers to a "story" or "plot". | |||
Yoruba | ohn | ||
In Yoruba, "ohn" also means "play", "scene", "show", or "performance". | |||
Zulu | isimo | ||
The word 'isimo' in Zulu can also refer to a custom, practice, or traditional way of doing something. | |||
Bambara | scenario (ko kɛlen) ye | ||
Ewe | nɔnɔme si me wowɔa nu le | ||
Kinyarwanda | ibintu | ||
Lingala | scénario ya likambo yango | ||
Luganda | scenario y’ensonga | ||
Sepedi | boemo ba boemo | ||
Twi (Akan) | tebea a ɛyɛ hu | ||
Arabic | سيناريو | ||
The word "سيناريو" can also refer to a "screenplay" or "script" in Arabic, although it is more commonly used to refer to a "scenario" in the context of planning or storytelling. | |||
Hebrew | תַרחִישׁ | ||
The word "תַרחִישׁ" (tarhish) is derived from the Arabic word "طرْح" (tarh), meaning "hypothesis" or "presentation". | |||
Pashto | سناریو | ||
سناریو is an Arabic word borrowed into Pashto which additionally means 'the plot of a story'. | |||
Arabic | سيناريو | ||
The word "سيناريو" can also refer to a "screenplay" or "script" in Arabic, although it is more commonly used to refer to a "scenario" in the context of planning or storytelling. |
Albanian | skenar | ||
The word 'skenar' derives from the Greek "σκήνη," meaning a stage or theatrical performance area. | |||
Basque | agertokia | ||
In Basque mythology, Agertokia was a deity representing the future, who was depicted as an old woman holding a distaff and a spindle, surrounded by the threads of fate. | |||
Catalan | escenari | ||
The word "escenari" (Catalan for "scenario") also refers to the physical space where a theatrical performance takes place, and is related to the English words "scene" and "scenery." | |||
Croatian | scenarij | ||
The word 'scenarij' can also refer to a theatrical script in Croatian. | |||
Danish | scenarie | ||
In Danish, "scenarie" can also refer to a type of bread roll similar to a French baguette. | |||
Dutch | scenario | ||
Het Nederlandse woord "scenario" heeft ook de betekenis van een plan of een strategie. | |||
English | scenario | ||
The word 'scenario' originally referred to a theatrical scene painted on a stage backdrop. | |||
French | scénario | ||
In French, “scénario” also refers to the outline of a play, movie, or comic book. | |||
Frisian | senario | ||
In Frisian, "senario" specifically refers to a scenario used in theatrical plays or operas. | |||
Galician | escenario | ||
German | szenario | ||
The German word "Szenario" can also refer to a set of conditions or a hypothetical situation. | |||
Icelandic | atburðarás | ||
The word "atburðarás" comes from "atburður" (event, occurrence) and "rás" (course, direction), meaning "the course of events". | |||
Irish | cás | ||
The Irish word "cás" derives from the Old Irish "cás" meaning "fate" or "outcome". | |||
Italian | scenario | ||
The Italian word "scenario" originates from the Italian word "scena", meaning "stage" or "scene", referring to its original theatrical usage. | |||
Luxembourgish | szenario | ||
In Luxembourgish, "Szenario" can also refer to a "script" or a "play" in the context of theater. | |||
Maltese | xenarju | ||
The word 'xenarju' is derived from the Italian word 'scenario', which originally meant 'scene' or 'stage design'. | |||
Norwegian | scenario | ||
"Scenario" in Norwegian can also mean "a scene in a play or movie." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cenário | ||
In Portuguese, "cenário" can also mean "landscape" | |||
Scots Gaelic | suidheachadh | ||
"Suidheachadh" can also refer to a seat, position at table, sitting, or a siege | |||
Spanish | guión | ||
In Spanish, “guión” can also refer to: a musical score, a script, a dash or hyphen, or a film outline. | |||
Swedish | scenario | ||
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the term referred to an outline or plan for a painting, tapestry or other work of visual art. | |||
Welsh | senario | ||
In Welsh, the word "senario" is derived from the Latin "scena" and can also mean a type of light four-wheeled carriage. |
Belarusian | сцэнар | ||
The Belarusian word "сцэнар" is cognate with the Russian word "сценарий", both deriving from the Latin word "scena" meaning "stage". | |||
Bosnian | scenariju | ||
"Scenariju" originates from the Italian word "scenario" and in Bosnian, it can also refer to a dramatic script or a stage presentation. | |||
Bulgarian | сценарий | ||
The word "сценарий" can also refer to a screenplay or a filming script. | |||
Czech | scénář | ||
The Czech word "scénář" ultimately derives from the Italian word "scenario," meaning "scenography," or the art of designing theatrical scenery. | |||
Estonian | stsenaarium | ||
In Estonian "stsenaarium" can also mean "a plot" or "a script". | |||
Finnish | skenaario | ||
"Skenaario" in Finnish is a loanword from the French "scénario", which itself is derived from the Italian "scenario" meaning "stage" or "scene". | |||
Hungarian | forgatókönyv | ||
In the 18th century, "forgatókönyv" meant stage directions in the theatre. | |||
Latvian | scenārijs | ||
The word “scenārijs” in Latvian derives from the French "scénario" and originally meant “the plot of a theatrical play". | |||
Lithuanian | scenarijus | ||
The word "scenarijus" derives from the Italian word "scenario," originally meaning "stage" or "outline" | |||
Macedonian | сценарио | ||
The word "сценарио" is derived from the Italian word "scenario", which in turn comes from the Latin word "scena", meaning "stage". | |||
Polish | scenariusz | ||
"Scenariusz" derives from the Latin "scaena," meaning "stage," and denotes a sequence of events or actions in a play or film. | |||
Romanian | scenariu | ||
In Romanian, "scenariu" can also refer to a film or theatre script. | |||
Russian | сценарий | ||
The Russian word "сценарий" also means "script" or "screenplay". | |||
Serbian | сценарију | ||
The Serbian word "сценарију" comes from the Italian word "scenario", which originally meant a "theatrical outline" or "stage direction". | |||
Slovak | scenár | ||
The word "scenár" comes from Latin and can also mean "stage". | |||
Slovenian | scenarij | ||
Scenarij is derived from the Greek word skenarios, which means "stage" or "scene". | |||
Ukrainian | сценарій | ||
In Ukrainian, the word "сценарій" also means "script", "plot". |
Bengali | দৃশ্য | ||
দৃশ্য (dṛśya) comes from the Sanskrit word 'दृश्य' (dṛśya) meaning 'visible', 'that which is perceived' or 'that which can be seen' | |||
Gujarati | દૃશ્ય | ||
The word "દૃશ્ય" also has the alternate meaning of "sight" or "view" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | परिदृश्य | ||
The word 'परिदृश्य' is also used to describe a landscape or scenery. | |||
Kannada | ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ | ||
Malayalam | രംഗം | ||
"രംഗം" (scenario) also means "stage" and "scene" in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | परिस्थिती | ||
The Marathi word 'परिस्थिती' (paristithi) also refers to circumstances, surroundings or a predicament. | |||
Nepali | परिदृश्य | ||
परिदृश्य is a Sanskrit word that can also mean "landscape". | |||
Punjabi | ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ | ||
The word "ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼" (scenario) is derived from the Sanskrit word "दृश्य" (scene), which can also refer to a vision, appearance, or sight. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තත්වය | ||
The word තත්වය (thathwaya) can also mean "situation", "state", or "condition" in Sinhala. | |||
Tamil | காட்சி | ||
The Tamil word "காட்சி" also refers to a "sight", "view" or "scene". | |||
Telugu | దృష్టాంతంలో | ||
Urdu | منظر نامے | ||
The Urdu word "منظر نامے" originally referred to a map or plan of a building or city, but now commonly means "scenario" or "plot of a story". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 情景 | ||
情景 is also used to describe a person's emotions, feelings, or state of mind, often in a context of interpersonal relationships or romantic encounters. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 情景 | ||
情景 in Chinese, can also mean a situation or a context. | |||
Japanese | シナリオ | ||
The word also means "a draft of a play or movie," "a plot," or "an outline." | |||
Korean | 대본 | ||
"대본" in Korean can also mean "textbook" or "scripture". | |||
Mongolian | хувилбар | ||
The word "хувилбар" (scenario) originally meant "transformation" or "change" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | မြင်ကွင်း | ||
Indonesian | skenario | ||
In Indonesian, "skenario" also refers to a theatrical play or a script. | |||
Javanese | skenario | ||
Skenario is also used to describe the plot or story outline of a theatrical play or movie in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | សេណារីយ៉ូ | ||
The word "សេណារីយ៉ូ" is derived from the Italian word "scenario," which originally meant "outline" or "plan." | |||
Lao | ສະຖານະການ | ||
Malay | senario | ||
The word 'senario' in Malay can also mean 'a set of six' or 'a type of traditional Malay dance'. | |||
Thai | สถานการณ์ | ||
In Thai "สถานการณ์" is synonymous with "circumstance" or "situation" and is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to a "state of affairs." | |||
Vietnamese | kịch bản | ||
The Vietnamese word "kịch bản" originates from the Chinese phrase "ji4 ben3", meaning "written plan", and has since been adopted into various Southeast Asian languages. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | senaryo | ||
Azerbaijani | ssenari | ||
In Azerbaijani, "ssenari" also means "fate" or "destiny." | |||
Kazakh | сценарий | ||
The Kazakh word "сценарий" is derived from the French word "scénario" | |||
Kyrgyz | сценарий | ||
The word "сценарий" has the alternate meaning of "script" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | сенария | ||
In Tajik, "сенария" can also refer to a film script. | |||
Turkmen | ssenariýa | ||
Uzbek | stsenariy | ||
The Uzbek word "stsenariy" comes from the Russian word, which, in turn, was a loan from the French, where it meant "a plot outline" | |||
Uyghur | سىنارىيە | ||
Hawaiian | hanana | ||
The Hawaiian word "hanana" also means "to perform" or "to act out." | |||
Maori | tauariari | ||
The word "tauariari" in Maori can also refer to a storyboard or a plan. | |||
Samoan | tala faʻatusa | ||
The word "tala faʻatusa" (scenario) comes from the word "tala" (story) and the suffix "-faʻatusa" (resembling), suggesting a story that resembles the potential future. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | senaryo | ||
"Senaryo" in Tagalog also refers to a screenplay, outline, or plot summary of a story. |
Aymara | escenario ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Guarani | escenario rehegua | ||
Esperanto | scenaro | ||
The Esperanto word "scenaro" can also mean "scene" or "setting". | |||
Latin | sem | ||
"Sem" comes from the Greek σκηνή, skênê, "stage", and is the root for a series of theatrical terms (scenery, scene). |
Greek | σενάριο | ||
The word "σενάριο" comes from the Greek word "σκηνή" (stage), as it originally referred to the outline of a play. | |||
Hmong | zaj dab neeg | ||
The word "zaj dab neeg" literally means "play act" in Hmong. | |||
Kurdish | senaryo | ||
In Kurdish, "senaryo" also refers to a fortune teller or medium. | |||
Turkish | senaryo | ||
The word "senaryo" in Turkish is derived from the French "scénario". | |||
Xhosa | imeko | ||
In Xhosa, the word "imeko" also refers to a "story" or "plot". | |||
Yiddish | סצענאַר | ||
The Yiddish word "סצענאַר" can also mean "landscape" or "setting". | |||
Zulu | isimo | ||
The word 'isimo' in Zulu can also refer to a custom, practice, or traditional way of doing something. | |||
Assamese | দৃশ্যপট | ||
Aymara | escenario ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Bhojpuri | परिदृश्य के बा | ||
Dhivehi | މަންޒަރެވެ | ||
Dogri | परिदृश्य दा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | senaryo | ||
Guarani | escenario rehegua | ||
Ilocano | senario ti senario | ||
Krio | sɛnɛriɔ we de apin | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سیناریۆیەک | ||
Maithili | परिदृश्य | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯤꯅꯥꯔꯤꯑꯣ ꯑꯃꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | scenario a ni | ||
Oromo | senario | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପରିସ୍ଥିତି | ||
Quechua | escenario nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | परिदृश्यम् | ||
Tatar | сценарий | ||
Tigrinya | ስናርዮ | ||
Tsonga | xiendlakalo | ||