Updated on March 6, 2024
A script, in its most fundamental sense, is a written record of a set of instructions or events. From ancient manuscripts to modern computer programs, scripts have played a pivotal role in shaping human civilization. They are the silent narrators of our shared history, the repositories of our collective wisdom, and the blueprints for our technological advancements.
The significance of scripts extends beyond their practical uses. They are also cultural artifacts, each with its own unique aesthetic and symbolic values. For instance, Chinese calligraphy, an ancient script form, is considered a visual art in its own right. Meanwhile, the Arabic script, with its flowing curves and loops, is not only used for writing the Quran but is also celebrated for its beauty and elegance.
Given the rich history and cultural importance of scripts, it's no surprise that people are interested in learning their translations in different languages. For instance, the English word 'script' translates to 'escrito' in Spanish, 'skript' in Danish, and 'スクリプト' (sukuriputo) in Japanese.
Afrikaans | draaiboek | ||
The word "draaiboek" can also refer to a director's notebook or a stage manager's prompt book. | |||
Amharic | ስክሪፕት | ||
The word 'ስክሪፕት' ('script') is derived from the Latin word 'scriptum', which means 'something written'. It can also refer to a computer program or a set of instructions. | |||
Hausa | rubutun | ||
The word 'rubutun' in Hausa may also refer to a 'written charm' or the 'design on a piece of cloth'. | |||
Igbo | edemede | ||
"Edemede" can also mean "a story" or "a book" in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | teny | ||
The word "teny" can also mean "word" or "speech". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | zolemba | ||
In the Chiyao language, 'zolemba' is said to mean 'to write' or 'to draw'. | |||
Shona | script | ||
In Shona, "script" can also refer to a traditional ceremony involving the exchange of gifts and blessings between families. | |||
Somali | qoraalka | ||
"Qoraalka" can also mean "the act of writing" or "a written document" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | mongolo | ||
Mongolo derives from the noun 'molomo' which means 'mouth', suggesting the idea of transmitting words orally. | |||
Swahili | hati | ||
Hati, meaning 'script,' is also the name for a popular children's game played throughout East Africa. | |||
Xhosa | iskripthi | ||
In Xhosa, the word "Iskripthi" is derived from the word "Isakhelo," meaning "framework" or "structure," reflecting its use in providing a foundation or structure for written expression. | |||
Yoruba | akosile | ||
"Akosile" derives from "kosile," meaning "absence of lack," implying that a written record leaves no room for omissions. | |||
Zulu | iskripthi | ||
The word "iskripthi" also means "to write" in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | sɛbɛnni | ||
Ewe | nuŋlɔɖi | ||
Kinyarwanda | inyandiko | ||
Lingala | maloba | ||
Luganda | ekiwandiiko | ||
Sepedi | sengwalwa | ||
Twi (Akan) | krataa | ||
Arabic | النصي | ||
The word "النصي" can also refer to one of many types of Arabic calligraphy that originated in Mecca. | |||
Hebrew | תַסרִיט | ||
The word "תַסרִיט" (tasrit) in Hebrew is derived from the Arabic word "تصريح" (tasrih), meaning "permit" or "authorization". | |||
Pashto | متن | ||
In addition, the word " متن" can also refer to the text of a written document or a religious scripture. | |||
Arabic | النصي | ||
The word "النصي" can also refer to one of many types of Arabic calligraphy that originated in Mecca. |
Albanian | skenari | ||
The Albanian word "skenari" ultimately derives from the Greek word "skinarios", meaning "tent" or "stage". | |||
Basque | gidoia | ||
The word "gidoia" in Basque has an alternate meaning of "knowledge". | |||
Catalan | guió | ||
"Guió" derives from the Greek word "kyklon" through the Latin "guio" and the Provençal "guion", and its primary meaning is "guide." | |||
Croatian | skripta | ||
The word 'skripta' in Croatian can also refer to lecture notes or course materials. | |||
Danish | manuskript | ||
The Danish word "manuskript" derives from the Latin word "manuscriptus" meaning "written by hand". | |||
Dutch | script | ||
In Dutch, "script" can also refer to a written account of court proceedings. | |||
English | script | ||
The word "script" comes from the Latin word "scribere," meaning "to write," and can also refer to a handwriting style or a set of characters used in a particular language. | |||
French | scénario | ||
The word "scénario" comes from the Italian "scenario", meaning "outline" and referring to the written descriptions used in the Italian Commedia dell'Arte. | |||
Frisian | skrift | ||
The Frisian word “skrift” can also refer to a type of traditional Frisian painting. | |||
Galician | guión | ||
In Galician, "guión" can also refer to a hyphen or a dash. | |||
German | skript | ||
In German, "Skript" can also refer to notes or handouts. | |||
Icelandic | handrit | ||
The Icelandic word for "hand" "hönd" is cognate with English "hand", both coming from Proto-Germanic. However, handrit has various additional meanings not reflected in the English "hand", e.g. handwriting, handwriting analysis, handwriting style. | |||
Irish | script | ||
The Irish word "script" can also refer to a scholar or scribe, and the "script" on a coin refers to the legend or inscription. | |||
Italian | script | ||
In Italian, "script" also refers to a type of handwriting popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, known as "scrittura corsiva". | |||
Luxembourgish | schrëft | ||
Schrëft derives from an Old High German term describing anything written or engraved and was later used more specifically for written text or handwriting. | |||
Maltese | kitba | ||
It is derived from the Arabic word "kitāb" meaning "book", and in Maltese it can also mean "a document" or "a piece of writing." | |||
Norwegian | manus | ||
The Norwegian word "manus" originally meant "handwriting" and was later used to describe a handwritten book or manuscript. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | roteiro | ||
The word "roteiro" originally meant a route map in Portuguese, hence its use for scripts. | |||
Scots Gaelic | sgriobt | ||
The Scots word 'sgriobt' is a borrowing of the Latin word 'scribo' ('I write'). It was also borrowed into Early Irish 'scrib' and Irish 'scribh'. | |||
Spanish | guión | ||
El término "guión" también puede referirse a un signo ortográfico que se utiliza para separar o unir palabras o frases. | |||
Swedish | manus | ||
The word "manus" can also refer to a handwritten document or a manuscript. | |||
Welsh | sgript | ||
Sgript is cognate with 'scripture', meaning both 'text' and 'holy writ', and is also used for 'scratch' or 'score' |
Belarusian | сцэнар | ||
The word "сцэнар" is also used in the sense of "plot" or "outline" of a literary work. | |||
Bosnian | skripta | ||
In Bosnian, the word "skripta" can also refer to study notes. | |||
Bulgarian | скрипт | ||
"Скрипт" can also refer to a secret or clandestine plan or document. | |||
Czech | skript | ||
In Czech, the word "skript" can refer to a handwritten or printed text, a script for a play or movie, a computer program, or a shorthand notation. | |||
Estonian | stsenaarium | ||
The word "stsenaarium" derives from the Greek word "skēnē", meaning "stage". It also has a secondary meaning in Estonian, referring to a plan or strategy. | |||
Finnish | käsikirjoitus | ||
The Finnish word "käsikirjoitus" literally translates to "handwriting" and is often used to refer to a handwritten manuscript. | |||
Hungarian | forgatókönyv | ||
The Hungarian word "forgatókönyv" literally means "spinning book" or "rotation book". | |||
Latvian | scenārijs | ||
The Latvian word for "script," "scenārijs," derives from the Greek word for "stage" (σκηνή) and the Latin suffix "-arius", indicating a person associated with something. | |||
Lithuanian | scenarijus | ||
"Scenarijus" derives from Latin "scanarium". It had a slightly different original meaning: "scheme, outline, synopsis". | |||
Macedonian | скрипта | ||
The Macedonian word "скрипта" (script) can also refer to a type of handwritten notes or a handwritten document. | |||
Polish | scenariusz | ||
The word "scenariusz" derives from the Latin word "scenario", meaning "outline of a play". | |||
Romanian | scenariu | ||
The Romanian word "scenariu" derives from the Greek "skēnē", meaning "stage". | |||
Russian | сценарий | ||
The word "сценарий" in Russian can also refer to a draft version of a play or a screenplay. | |||
Serbian | скрипта | ||
У српском језику, реч „скрипта” потиче од латинске речи „scriptum”, што значи „написано.” | |||
Slovak | scenár | ||
The word "scenár" in Slovak originally referred to a painted curtain dropped in front of the stage during scene changes and can also mean a stage setting, decoration, or spectacle. | |||
Slovenian | skripta | ||
The word 'skripta' also has a broader meaning, referring to a scientific publication, such as a textbook, monograph, or collection of articles. | |||
Ukrainian | сценарій | ||
The word "сценарій" in Ukrainian also refers to a "plot", "scenario", or "setting". |
Bengali | লিপি | ||
ল দ্বারা লিখিত হওয়ার কারণে এর নাম লিপি; লিপি শব্দের আক্ষরিক অর্থ লিখন। | |||
Gujarati | સ્ક્રિપ્ટ | ||
The word 'script' is also used in financial contexts to refer to a certificate representing ownership of shares of stock in a company | |||
Hindi | लिपि | ||
The word "लिपि" ("script") is also used in Hindi to refer to a system of writing or a collection of written characters. | |||
Kannada | ಸ್ಕ್ರಿಪ್ಟ್ | ||
The word 'script' originates from the Latin word 'scriptum', meaning 'something written' | |||
Malayalam | സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റ് | ||
The word "സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റ്" ("script") in Malayalam also means "a piece of paper written with a sacred text". | |||
Marathi | स्क्रिप्ट | ||
The Marathi word "स्क्रिप्ट" (script) originates from the Latin word "scriptum", meaning "written". | |||
Nepali | लिपि | ||
Although "लिपि" mostly refers to a system of writing, it can also mean handwriting, a signature, or even a document. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਕ੍ਰਿਪਟ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ස්ක්රිප්ට් | ||
Tamil | கையால் எழுதப்பட்ட தாள் | ||
Telugu | స్క్రిప్ట్ | ||
The word 'script' also refers to typefaces used in writing and printing and can be used both as a noun and a verb. | |||
Urdu | سکرپٹ | ||
In Urdu, "سکرپٹ" is borrowed from English and primarily means "script," but it can also refer to a written document or a religious text. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 脚本 | ||
脚本 (script) can also mean 'a play' or 'a drama' in Chinese (Simplified). | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 腳本 | ||
「腳本」本义为脚底的写字,后引申为剧本、手稿之义。 | |||
Japanese | 脚本 | ||
The Japanese word "脚本" (kakuhon) also refers to the screenplay for a movie or television show. | |||
Korean | 스크립트 | ||
스크립트(script)는 '쓰다'를 뜻하는 라틴어 '스크립툼(scriptum)'에서 유래했습니다. | |||
Mongolian | скрипт | ||
It is a loanword from Russian and means "text" or "written work." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ဇာတ်ညွှန်း | ||
Indonesian | naskah | ||
"Naskah" derives from Arabic "nasakhah" meaning "copy", hence its usage for ancient religious texts | |||
Javanese | skrip | ||
"Skrip" is also the name of a Javanese traditional performance that tells the story of an event. | |||
Khmer | ស្គ្រីប | ||
The word "ស្គ្រីប" can also refer to a screenplay or a plan of action in Khmer. | |||
Lao | ອັກສອນ | ||
Malay | skrip | ||
The Malay word "skrip" also refers to a type of traditional dance-drama performance. | |||
Thai | สคริปต์ | ||
The word สคริปต์ in Thai can also refer to a movie or play written for the purpose of being performed. This usage is derived from the English word screenplay. | |||
Vietnamese | kịch bản | ||
"Kịch bản" can also mean a screenplay or scenario. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | script | ||
Azerbaijani | skript | ||
The Azerbaijani word "skript" is also a synonym for "handwriting" and is often used to refer to the Cyrillic alphabet. | |||
Kazakh | сценарий | ||
The Kazakh word "сценарий" can also refer to a plan of action or a screenplay for a film. | |||
Kyrgyz | скрипт | ||
Слово «скрипт» в кыргызском языке также может означать «рассказ» или «повествование». | |||
Tajik | скрипт | ||
В английском языке слово скрипт (script) обозначает не только рукопись, но и сценарий для спектакля или фильма. | |||
Turkmen | skript | ||
Uzbek | skript | ||
Uzbek word "skript" also shares common roots with the Latin word "scribere" (to write), as well as the Sanskrit word "lip" (to write). | |||
Uyghur | script | ||
Hawaiian | kōmi ʻōkuhi | ||
In ancient Hawaii, kōmi ʻōkuhi was used as a general term for any text, including non-written text such as traditional chants and genealogies memorized by priests and chiefs. | |||
Maori | hōtuhi | ||
The word "hōtuhi" can be used to describe any type of drawing, painting, or carving. | |||
Samoan | tusitusiga | ||
Tusitusiga is also an ancient Samoan art form of creating fine mats with elaborate decorations and has been described as "writing or scripting" a story with the woven fibers. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | iskrip | ||
"Iskrip" can also mean "certificate" or "license." |
Aymara | wakichata | ||
Guarani | apopyrã | ||
Esperanto | skripto | ||
The word 'skripto' in Esperanto is derived from the Latin word 'scriptum', which means 'written'. | |||
Latin | scriptor | ||
In Latin, "scriptor" refers not only to a writer but also to a scribe or copyist who creates written works, preserving knowledge and history through meticulous replication. |
Greek | γραφή | ||
The word "γραφή" in Greek can refer to both writing or painting, and is the root of the English words "graphic" and "graffiti." | |||
Hmong | tsab ntawv | ||
The term "tsab ntawv" can also refer to a book or a record of written history. | |||
Kurdish | nivîs | ||
The word "nivîs" can also refer to a "sign" or "symbol". | |||
Turkish | senaryo | ||
The word "senaryo" comes from the French word "scénario" which means "a detailed outline of a play or movie." | |||
Xhosa | iskripthi | ||
In Xhosa, the word "Iskripthi" is derived from the word "Isakhelo," meaning "framework" or "structure," reflecting its use in providing a foundation or structure for written expression. | |||
Yiddish | שריפט | ||
The Yiddish word "שריפט" originally referred to a form of sacred or liturgical writing. | |||
Zulu | iskripthi | ||
The word "iskripthi" also means "to write" in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | চিত্ৰনাট্য | ||
Aymara | wakichata | ||
Bhojpuri | लिपि | ||
Dhivehi | ސްކްރިޕްޓް | ||
Dogri | लिपि | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | script | ||
Guarani | apopyrã | ||
Ilocano | aninaw | ||
Krio | raytin | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سکریپت | ||
Maithili | लिपि | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯌꯦꯛ | ||
Mizo | thuziak | ||
Oromo | barreeffama | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସ୍କ୍ରିପ୍ଟ | ||
Quechua | qillqa | ||
Sanskrit | प्रलेखन | ||
Tatar | сценарий | ||
Tigrinya | ፅሑፍ | ||
Tsonga | xitsalwana | ||