Updated on March 6, 2024
A 'scientist' is an individual who dedicates their time to the pursuit of knowledge in various fields, from biology and chemistry to physics and mathematics. Scientists contribute significantly to our cultural narrative, driving innovation and shaping our understanding of the world around us. Their work has led to groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements that have transformed human life.
Moreover, the word 'scientist' transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries. In Spanish, a scientist is 'científico'; in French, 'scientifique'; in German, 'Wissenschaftler'; in Italian, 'scienziato'; in Russian, 'учёный' (ucheonyy); in Japanese, '科学者' (kagakusha); and in Chinese, '科学家' (kēxuéjiā).
Understanding the translation of 'scientist' in different languages not only showcases the global reach of scientific inquiry but also highlights the diversity and richness of human language and culture. By learning these translations, we can better appreciate the universality of scientific endeavor and the unique linguistic and cultural contexts in which it takes place.
Afrikaans | wetenskaplike | ||
"Wetenskaplike" is derived from the Dutch "wetenschappelijk," meaning "scholarly". | |||
Amharic | ሳይንቲስት | ||
The word | |||
Hausa | masanin kimiyya | ||
The word 'masanin kimiyya' in Hausa is derived from Arabic, where it refers to someone who is knowledgeable in chemistry, natural sciences or philosophy. | |||
Igbo | ọkà mmụta sayensị | ||
In addition to 'scientist', ọkà mmụta sayensị also refers to someone with book knowledge or expertise in a particular area. | |||
Malagasy | mpahay siansa | ||
The Malagasy word "mpahay siansa" can also refer to philosophers, sages, or other learned people. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wasayansi | ||
The word "wasayansi" can also refer to a scholar or an intellectual. | |||
Shona | musayendisiti | ||
The word "musayendisiti" can also mean "engineer" or "technician" in Shona. | |||
Somali | saynisyahan | ||
Saynisyahan ('scientist') is borrowed from English and also means expert in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | rasaense | ||
The word 'rasaense' in Sesotho is derived from the root word 'saena' meaning 'to know' or 'to understand' | |||
Swahili | mwanasayansi | ||
The word "mwanasayansi" in Swahili originated from the Arabic word "sainsiya," meaning "wisdom" or "knowledge." | |||
Xhosa | isazinzulu | ||
The word 'isazinzulu' in Xhosa has roots in the word 'isazi', meaning 'knowledgeable person', and 'inzulu', meaning 'deep understanding'. The term reflects the respected position of scientists in Xhosa culture. | |||
Yoruba | onimo ijinle sayensi | ||
"Omo ijinle sayensi" literally translates to "child of science and wisdom" or "one who knows science," and may refer to a scientist, a philosopher, a scholar, or an intellectual. | |||
Zulu | usosayensi | ||
The Zulu word "usosayensi" is derived from the Latin words "scientia" (knowledge) and "homo" (human), meaning "a person of knowledge." | |||
Bambara | siyantifiki | ||
Ewe | dzɔdzɔmeŋutinunyala | ||
Kinyarwanda | umuhanga | ||
Lingala | moto ya siansi | ||
Luganda | kigezimunnyo | ||
Sepedi | setsebi sa saentshe | ||
Twi (Akan) | saenseni | ||
Arabic | عالم | ||
The word "عالم" in Arabic not only means "scientist," but also carries a broader meaning of "learned person" or "expert in any field." | |||
Hebrew | מַדְעָן | ||
מַדְעָן is the Hebrew word for "scientist", but originally meant "one who knows". | |||
Pashto | ساینس پوه | ||
Arabic | عالم | ||
The word "عالم" in Arabic not only means "scientist," but also carries a broader meaning of "learned person" or "expert in any field." |
Albanian | shkencëtar | ||
The word 'shkencëtar' in Albanian originates from the Latin word 'scientia', meaning 'knowledge'. | |||
Basque | zientzialaria | ||
The Basque word zientzialaria derives from the Greek word episteme (knowledge) through the Latin scientia (knowledge). | |||
Catalan | científic | ||
«Científic» means scientific but also someone who uses a trick or stratagem, hence the phrase «fer un científic» to deceive someone. | |||
Croatian | znanstvenik | ||
The word 'znanstvenik' is derived from Croatian word 'znanost' which means knowledge; in a more abstract sense it may also refer to "gnosis"} | |||
Danish | videnskabsmand | ||
The Danish word “videnskabsmand” is a compound of “viden” (knowledge) and “skab” (to create), meaning "one who creates knowledge." | |||
Dutch | wetenschapper | ||
"Wetenschapper" in Dutch literally means "knower" or "person who knows". | |||
English | scientist | ||
The word "scientist" can also refer to an alchemist or philosopher. | |||
French | scientifique | ||
The French word "scientifique" can also mean "scientific", a descriptor rather than a professional title. | |||
Frisian | wittenskipper | ||
The Frisian word "wittenskipper" derives from "witten" (knowledge) and "skipper" (ship or sailor), implying a navigator of knowledge. | |||
Galician | científico | ||
"Científico" derives from the Latin "scientia," meaning "knowledge," and also refers to an expert, skilled professional, or scholar. | |||
German | wissenschaftler | ||
The German word "Wissenschaftler" literally translates to "knowledge worker" or "one who works with knowledge." | |||
Icelandic | vísindamaður | ||
Irish | eolaí | ||
Italian | scienziato | ||
The Italian word "scienziato" comes from the Latin word "scientia," which means "knowledge". | |||
Luxembourgish | wëssenschaftler | ||
Maltese | xjenzat | ||
"Xjenzat" derives from the Arabic word "ʿilm" (knowledge), and also implies knowledge of alchemy or divination. | |||
Norwegian | forsker | ||
The word "forsker" is derived from the Old Norse word "forska", meaning "to investigate" or "to search." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cientista | ||
The Portuguese word "cientista" also designates an expert or someone with extensive knowledge in a particular area of human knowledge. | |||
Scots Gaelic | neach-saidheans | ||
Spanish | científico | ||
The word "científico" (scientist) in Spanish derives from the Latin word "scientia" (knowledge), and it can also refer to an expert or a scholar in a particular field of study. | |||
Swedish | forskare | ||
The word "forskare" derives from the Old Norse word "forsko", meaning "to investigate". | |||
Welsh | gwyddonydd | ||
Gwyddonydd, meaning 'someone who knows', is related to the word 'gwyddor', meaning 'knowledge' or 'science'. |
Belarusian | вучоны | ||
In addition to the primary meaning of "scientist," "вучоны" can also mean "learned man" or "scholar." | |||
Bosnian | naučnik | ||
"Naučnik" derives from the verb "učiti" (to learn), indicating someone who is actively studying or pursuing knowledge. | |||
Bulgarian | учен | ||
The Bulgarian word "учен" has been used since at least the 1830s, originally referring to a type of scholar or learned person rather than a scientist. | |||
Czech | vědec | ||
The word 'vědec' is derived from the Old Czech word 'věděti', meaning 'to know' or 'to understand'. | |||
Estonian | teadlane | ||
The word "teadlane" is of Germanic origin, and is cognate with the English word "scientist". It is derived from the Old High German word "scienzi", meaning "knowledge". | |||
Finnish | tiedemies | ||
"Tiedemies" is derived from the Finnish words "tiede" (science) and "mies" (man). | |||
Hungarian | tudós | ||
Tudós may also refer to a knowledgeable or learned person, or a scholar in any field, not just science. | |||
Latvian | zinātnieks | ||
The word "zinātnieks" is derived from the Slavic word "znati", meaning "to know". | |||
Lithuanian | mokslininkas | ||
The word "mokslininkas" is derived from the Lithuanian word "mokslas", meaning "science" or "knowledge". | |||
Macedonian | научник | ||
The word "научник" in Macedonian is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "наука" (nauka), meaning "knowledge" or "science". | |||
Polish | naukowiec | ||
The word "naukowiec" in Polish can also refer to a philosopher or a scholar in a specific field. | |||
Romanian | om de stiinta | ||
The word "om de stiinta" can also refer to a philosopher or scholar. | |||
Russian | ученый | ||
The word "ученый" is derived from the verb "учить" (to teach) and originally meant "a learned person" or "scholar". | |||
Serbian | научник | ||
The word 'научник' in Serbian is derived from the Russian word 'наука', meaning 'science'. It can also refer to someone who is engaged in the study of science, or a person who is knowledgeable about a particular scientific field. | |||
Slovak | vedec | ||
The word "vedec" in Slovak can also refer to a seer or a wizard. | |||
Slovenian | znanstvenik | ||
"Znanstvenik" comes from the Slavic word "znati", which means "to know". | |||
Ukrainian | вчений | ||
The word “вчений” also means "an educated person" or someone who has studied a particular subject in Ukrainian. |
Bengali | বিজ্ঞানী | ||
The word "বিজ্ঞানী" is derived from the Sanskrit root "विज" (vij), meaning "to know" or "to understand." | |||
Gujarati | વૈજ્ઞાનિક | ||
The word "વૈજ્ઞાનિક" can also mean "person who has knowledge of a particular science" or "knowledgeable person". | |||
Hindi | वैज्ञानिक | ||
The word वैज्ञानिक can also mean "logician," as in the context of the logical systems of Indian philosophy. | |||
Kannada | ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿ | ||
ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿ (vijñāni) originates from Sanskrit and means "knowledgeable" or "one who knows". | |||
Malayalam | ശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞൻ | ||
Marathi | वैज्ञानिक | ||
In scientific disciplines, "वैज्ञानिक" can also mean "a person who studies the natural world and experiments on it, and formulates and tests hypotheses to establish laws and principles in order to explain the natural world." | |||
Nepali | वैज्ञानिक | ||
The Nepali word "वैज्ञानिक" (scientist) can also refer to a "logician" or someone who practices or studies logic. | |||
Punjabi | ਵਿਗਿਆਨੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විද්යා ist | ||
The word "විද්යා ist" can also mean "a person who is knowledgeable about something" or "an expert in a particular field". | |||
Tamil | விஞ்ஞானி | ||
The word "விஞ்ஞானி" in Tamil can also mean "a person who is knowledgeable in a particular field" or "an expert". | |||
Telugu | శాస్త్రవేత్త | ||
Urdu | سائنسدان | ||
This Urdu word is derived from the Persian word “sayins” meaning “one who knows”, which is a contraction of "shayidani,” which is itself a derivative of "shayd,” or “she who sees.” |
Chinese (Simplified) | 科学家 | ||
The Chinese term "科学家" can also refer to an expert in a particular field who uses scientific principles to solve problems, not necessarily limited to the natural sciences.} | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 科學家 | ||
科學家一詞最初在中國被用來指中國古代的哲學家和思想家,後來逐漸演變為現代意義上的科學家。 | |||
Japanese | 科学者 | ||
"科学者" (kagakusha) literally means "one who knows science". | |||
Korean | 과학자 | ||
The word "과학자" (scientist) is derived from the Chinese characters "科學者", which literally mean "person of science and technology." | |||
Mongolian | эрдэмтэн | ||
The Mongolian word for "scientist" is derived from the Tibetan word for "knowledge" and can also refer to scholars or intellectuals in general. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | သိပ္ပံပညာရှင် | ||
Indonesian | ilmuwan | ||
The term 'ilmuwan' initially meant a 'knowledgeable person' and was only later restricted to the meaning 'scientist'. | |||
Javanese | ilmuwan | ||
The term 'ilmuwan' has its origin in the Javanese word 'ilmu' meaning wisdom or knowledge, making its meaning analogous to 'scholar'. | |||
Khmer | អ្នកវិទ្យាសាស្រ្ត | ||
Lao | ນັກວິທະຍາສາດ | ||
Malay | ahli sains | ||
The word ahli sains comes from the Arabic word 'ilm, meaning knowledge, and sains, meaning science or knowledge. | |||
Thai | นักวิทยาศาสตร์ | ||
The word "วิทยาศาสตร์" in Thai comes from the Sanskrit word "विद्या" (vidyā) meaning "knowledge". The word "นัก-" (nak-) means "person", hence "a person of knowledge". | |||
Vietnamese | nhà khoa học | ||
The Vietnamese term "nhà khoa học" can also refer to philosophers or medical practitioners. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | siyentipiko | ||
Azerbaijani | alim | ||
The word "alim" also means "wise" or "learned" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | ғалым | ||
The word "ғалым" in Kazakh can also refer to a scholar, a sage, or a wise person. | |||
Kyrgyz | илимпоз | ||
"илимпоз" means "one who knows" and is a compound word meaning "possessor of knowledge". | |||
Tajik | олим | ||
The word "олим" in Tajik can also mean "scholar" or "learned person." | |||
Turkmen | alym | ||
Uzbek | olim | ||
"Olim" also means "learned, knowledgeable, well-read, educated, erudite" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | ئالىم | ||
Hawaiian | ʻepekema | ||
ʻEpekema is derived from the Proto-Austronesian root *kəpək meaning “to measure or weigh” or “to compare or contrast”. | |||
Maori | kaiputaiao | ||
The word 'kaiputaiao' originally referred to a person who had knowledge of natural phenomena, and was later used to describe a scientist. | |||
Samoan | saienitisi | ||
The word saienitisi ultimately derives from the Latin word scientia, meaning "knowledge". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | siyentista | ||
The word "siyentista" is derived from the Spanish word "ciencia", which means "science". |
Aymara | sintiphiku | ||
Guarani | tembikuaarekahára | ||
Esperanto | sciencisto | ||
In Esperanto, "sciencisto" may also refer to "a person who pursues scientific knowledge". | |||
Latin | physicus | ||
The term 'physicus' also signified a natural philosopher in Ancient Greece, a physician or a natural scientist in Rome. |
Greek | επιστήμονας | ||
The word 'επιστήμονας' in Greek originally meant 'a person who knows' or 'a person who has knowledge' and was used to refer to philosophers, scholars, and experts in various fields. | |||
Hmong | tus kws tshawb fawb | ||
The term "tus kws tshawb fawb" is derived from the Chinese word "科學家" (kēxuéjiā), which means "scientist" in English. | |||
Kurdish | zanistvan | ||
The word "zanistvan" is derived from the Kurdish word "zanîn", meaning "knowledge". | |||
Turkish | bilim insanı | ||
"Bilim insanı" means both "scientist" and "knowledgeable person" in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | isazinzulu | ||
The word 'isazinzulu' in Xhosa has roots in the word 'isazi', meaning 'knowledgeable person', and 'inzulu', meaning 'deep understanding'. The term reflects the respected position of scientists in Xhosa culture. | |||
Yiddish | געלערנטער | ||
The Yiddish word "געלערנטער" (geleynter) can also mean "scholar", "learned person", or "teacher". | |||
Zulu | usosayensi | ||
The Zulu word "usosayensi" is derived from the Latin words "scientia" (knowledge) and "homo" (human), meaning "a person of knowledge." | |||
Assamese | বিজ্ঞানী | ||
Aymara | sintiphiku | ||
Bhojpuri | वैज्ञानिक | ||
Dhivehi | ސައިންޓިސްޓް | ||
Dogri | साईंसदान | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | siyentipiko | ||
Guarani | tembikuaarekahára | ||
Ilocano | sientista | ||
Krio | sayɛnsman | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | زانا | ||
Maithili | वैज्ञानिक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯕꯤꯒ꯭ꯌꯥꯅꯤꯛ | ||
Mizo | science lam mithiam | ||
Oromo | saayintistii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକ | ||
Quechua | cientifico | ||
Sanskrit | वैज्ञानिकाः | ||
Tatar | галим | ||
Tigrinya | ሳይንቲስት | ||
Tsonga | mutivi wa sayense | ||