Seat in Different Languages
Discover 'Seat' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'seat' holds a significant place in our daily lives, often associated with comfort, rest, and authority. From the throne of a king to the seat of a bicycle, this word is culturally important across the globe. But have you ever wondered how 'seat' is translated in different languages? Understanding such translations can provide fascinating insights into cultural nuances and historical contexts.
For instance, the Spanish translation of 'seat' is 'asiento', which also means 'agreement' or 'settlement'. In contrast, the German translation, 'Sitz', is more straightforward. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'seat' translates to 'seki', but when referring to a chair, it becomes 'isu' - a term borrowed from the Dutch during the 17th century.
Exploring these translations not only enriches our vocabulary but also deepens our appreciation for the richness of language and culture. So, let's embark on this linguistic journey and discover how 'seat' is translated in various languages around the world.
Seat
Seat in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | sitplek | ||
| The Afrikaans word "sitplek" is derived from the Dutch word "zitplaats", which also means "seat". | |||
| Amharic | መቀመጫ | ||
| The word "መቀመጫ" can also refer to a "chair" or a "bench". | |||
| Hausa | wurin zama | ||
| The Hausa word "wurin zama" also means "place of rest" or "resting place". | |||
| Igbo | oche | ||
| "Oche" in Igbo also refers to a meeting point of elders in a village | |||
| Malagasy | seza | ||
| The Malagasy word "seza" can also mean "rest", "repose", or "relaxation". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mpando | ||
| The word "mpando" in Chichewa (Nyanja) is most likely borrowed from Swahili where it also means "throne" or "royal seat." | |||
| Shona | chigaro | ||
| In another sense, chigaro can refer to the position of a chief or traditional leader. | |||
| Somali | kursi | ||
| The word "kursi" also refers to a traditional Somali stool made from wood or animal skin. | |||
| Sesotho | setulo | ||
| The word 'setulo' can also refer to a 'stool' or a 'bench' in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | kiti | ||
| "Kiti" can also be used metaphorically to refer to the place of power, responsibility, or influence. | |||
| Xhosa | isihlalo | ||
| The alternate usage of the term isihlalo refers to a type of traditional chair with three legs and no backrest used by the amaXhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | ijoko | ||
| In the Yoruba language, "ijoko" refers to both a "seat" and to "a place of importance". | |||
| Zulu | isihlalo | ||
| The Zulu word “isihlalo” also means “throne” and is used in a context of power and authority. | |||
| Bambara | sigilan | ||
| Ewe | zikpui | ||
| Kinyarwanda | intebe | ||
| Lingala | kiti | ||
| Luganda | ekifo | ||
| Sepedi | madulo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | akonnwa | ||
Seat in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مقعد | ||
| Hebrew | מושב | ||
| The Hebrew word "מושב" ("seat") also refers to a type of cooperative Israeli community settlement | |||
| Pashto | سيټ | ||
| In Pashto, "سيټ" can also mean "throne" or "position of authority" | |||
| Arabic | مقعد | ||
Seat in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ulëse | ||
| The word "ulëse" is derived from the Proto-Albanian word *ulje, meaning "to sit". It is related to the Ancient Greek word "ella" (meaning "seat or couch"). | |||
| Basque | eserlekua | ||
| Although the standard meaning of “eserlekua” is “seat”, when used in the context of a car, it means “car seat”. | |||
| Catalan | seient | ||
| The Catalan word "seient" can also refer to a "representative in a legislative body" or a "place where a person sits or resides" | |||
| Croatian | sjedalo | ||
| In Serbian, 'sjedalo' sometimes refers to a saddle, particularly for donkeys. | |||
| Danish | sæde | ||
| The Danish word 'sæde' can also refer to the rear of a bicycle or the seat of a pair of trousers. | |||
| Dutch | stoel | ||
| The word "stoel" can also refer to the fecal matter or a type of fabric used in upholstery. | |||
| English | seat | ||
| The word 'seat' comes from Old English 'sittan,' meaning to sit, and can refer to a variety of things, including a place to sit, a position of authority, or the area where someone lives. | |||
| French | siège | ||
| The French word "siège" can also mean "besieging" or "siege" in English. | |||
| Frisian | sit | ||
| The Frisian word "sit" also refers to the act of sitting or a place where someone sits. | |||
| Galician | asento | ||
| In Galician, "asento" can also refer to a settlement or a legal document establishing rights or ownership. | |||
| German | sitz | ||
| In German, the word "Sitz" is derived from the Old High German word "sitzen" and is related to the English word "sit." | |||
| Icelandic | sæti | ||
| Sæti's homonym 'sæti' means 'suit' in standard Icelandic, but originally referred to a set of clothing meant for a specific occasion. | |||
| Irish | suíochán | ||
| The word "suíochán" is also used in Irish to refer to a "couch" or a "sofa". | |||
| Italian | posto a sedere | ||
| Luxembourgish | sëtz | ||
| The archaic form of "Sëtz" is "Sëttel" which is still used in some dialects. | |||
| Maltese | sedil | ||
| Maltese word "sedil" derives from the Arabic word "sadl" (meaning "seat") and originally referred to the saddle or seat on a horse. | |||
| Norwegian | sete | ||
| The Norwegian word "sete" can also refer to a farm or homestead, a fishing ground, or a pasture. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | assento | ||
| The word "assento" also means agreement, contract or permission. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cathair | ||
| Cathair, meaning "seat," comes from the Proto-Celtic *kat-ar-, also meaning "enclosure" or "fort," and is related to Welsh "caer" and Irish "cathair" with the same meanings. | |||
| Spanish | asiento | ||
| In colonial Spanish America, an asiento was a permit or contract granting exclusive rights to trade in a specific region. | |||
| Swedish | sittplats | ||
| Sittplats also means "situation" in Swedish, a meaning it inherited from the Swedish word "sittning". | |||
| Welsh | sedd | ||
| The Welsh word "sedd" derives from the Brythonic root "*sedos" meaning "to sit" or "to occupy". | |||
Seat in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | сядзенне | ||
| The word "сядзенне" comes from the Old East Slavic word "сьд" meaning "to sit down". | |||
| Bosnian | sedište | ||
| In some contexts, "sedište" refers to the headquarters or main office of an organization or company. | |||
| Bulgarian | седалка | ||
| In the Bulgarian language, the word седалка has a dual meaning and can also refer to a part of a bicycle, specifically the saddle. | |||
| Czech | sedadlo | ||
| The Czech word "sedadlo" also means "saddle". | |||
| Estonian | iste | ||
| In Old Estonian (1219), the word “iste” also meant “to know”. | |||
| Finnish | istuin | ||
| In Finnish the word "istuin" can refer to seats or to the act of sitting. | |||
| Hungarian | ülés | ||
| "Ülés" can also mean "session" when referring to a meeting of a legislative body or other group. | |||
| Latvian | sēdeklis | ||
| Latvian 'sēdeklis' is cognate with Lithuanian 'sėdynė' and derives from Proto-Baltic *sēd- ('sit'). | |||
| Lithuanian | sėdynė | ||
| In an alternate context, "sėdynė" can also refer to the rump of a slaughtered animal. | |||
| Macedonian | седиште | ||
| The word "седалиште" can also refer to a chair, a bench, or a seat in a vehicle. | |||
| Polish | siedzenie | ||
| The Polish word "siedzenie" also refers to sitting, staying, or occupying a place, and is the past tense of the verb "siedzieć" (to sit). | |||
| Romanian | scaun | ||
| The Romanian word "scaun" also denotes the seat of a judge, the presidency and a bishopric. | |||
| Russian | сиденье | ||
| The word "сиденье" also denotes a sitting pose or a sitting period | |||
| Serbian | седиште | ||
| The word "sedista" also means "headquarters" in Serbian, similar to the English word "seat". | |||
| Slovak | sedadlo | ||
| Sedadlo, in Slovak, derives from the word sedieť, meaning to sit. | |||
| Slovenian | sedež | ||
| The Slovene word "sedež" is derived from the Slavic word "sěděti" meaning 'to sit', which is also the root of the English word "sedentary". | |||
| Ukrainian | сидіння | ||
| The word "сидіння" can also refer to a session or a meeting, derived from the root "сидіти" (to sit). | |||
Seat in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আসন | ||
| আসন (āśana) comes from the Sanskrit word आसन (āsanam), meaning 'posture' or 'seat'. | |||
| Gujarati | બેઠક | ||
| The word "બેઠક" in Gujarati can also refer to a meeting or gathering, or to the position or authority of a person in a group. | |||
| Hindi | सीट | ||
| The Hindi word सीट ( | |||
| Kannada | ಆಸನ | ||
| In Kannada, "ಆಸನ" (seat) also refers to a seated posture for yoga and meditation. | |||
| Malayalam | ഇരിപ്പിടം | ||
| The word 'ഇരിപ്പിടം' ('seat') in Malayalam is derived from the Sanskrit word 'उपदेश' ('lesson'), indicating not only a physical seat but also a place where knowledge is imparted or received. | |||
| Marathi | आसन | ||
| The word "आसन" also means "yogic posture" in Sanskrit and Marathi, owing to its association with seated meditation practices. | |||
| Nepali | सीट | ||
| The word "सीट" in Nepali can also mean 'a post of office or employment' or 'the bottom of something'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੀਟ | ||
| The word "ਸੀਟ" can also refer to a place where a person sits, such as a chair or a bench. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආසනය | ||
| The word "ආසනය" can also refer to a throne, a chair, or a sitting position. | |||
| Tamil | இருக்கை | ||
| இருக்கை also refers to a metal handle for a small vessel or a handle of a knife. | |||
| Telugu | సీటు | ||
| The word "సీటు" can also mean a "seat", "place", or "position". | |||
| Urdu | نشست | ||
| The word "نشست" (seat) shares its root with "نشتن" (sit), derived from Old Persian "ni-šad" (to sit). | |||
Seat in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 座位 | ||
| 座位 (seat) originally referred to the position or location of something, but gradually narrowed its meaning to refer to the object or place on which someone sits. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 座位 | ||
| 座位 (seat) also means "to sit" in Chinese. | |||
| Japanese | シート | ||
| シート is an ateji reading for シート, itself a borrowed word from the Portuguese word | |||
| Korean | 좌석 | ||
| 좌석 can refer to both a physical seat and a position in a hierarchy or organization, stemming from the character "좌" meaning "left". | |||
| Mongolian | суудал | ||
| "Суудал" is also a Mongolian term used to refer to the process of trial in a court of law. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ထိုင်ခုံ | ||
Seat in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kursi | ||
| "Kursi" is derived from the Sanskrit word "kursi", meaning "chair", "throne", or "authority". | |||
| Javanese | kursi | ||
| "Kursi" can also mean "chair" or "bed" | |||
| Khmer | កៅអី | ||
| The word "កៅអី" can also refer to a type of basket woven from bamboo or rattan. | |||
| Lao | ບ່ອນນັ່ງ | ||
| This term also denotes the Buddhist concept of 'sitting' (i.e., meditation). | |||
| Malay | tempat duduk | ||
| The word 'tempat duduk' can also refer to the position or role of a person in an organization or society. | |||
| Thai | ที่นั่ง | ||
| The Thai word "ที่นั่ง" also means "a place of honour" or "a position of power". | |||
| Vietnamese | ghế | ||
| The word "ghế" can also mean a "chair" in Vietnamese, and it originates from the Chinese word "椅" (yǐ). | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | upuan | ||
Seat in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | oturacaq | ||
| In Azerbaijani, the word "oturacaq" can also refer to a chair or sofa cushion. | |||
| Kazakh | орындық | ||
| The word "орындық" in Kazakh is cognate with the word "орда" ("camp, tent") in Mongolian and Turkic languages, suggesting its historical connection to nomadic culture. | |||
| Kyrgyz | отургуч | ||
| The word "отургуч" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a cushion or a mat used for sitting. | |||
| Tajik | нишаст | ||
| The word "нишаст" can also mean "place" or "position" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | oturgyç | ||
| Uzbek | o'rindiq | ||
| The Uzbek word "o'rindiq" is also used to refer to a "cushion" or a "pillow." | |||
| Uyghur | ئورۇندۇق | ||
Seat in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | noho | ||
| In Hawaiian culture, "noho" can also refer to one's position or rank within a social hierarchy. | |||
| Maori | nohoanga | ||
| "Noho" (to sit) can also mean "stay" or "reside" in the context of a person or group of people. | |||
| Samoan | nofoa | ||
| The word "nofoa" was originally used to describe a type of grass used to make mats, and also refers to the mats themselves. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | upuan | ||
| "Upuan" in Tagalog can also refer to "stool" or "chair". | |||
Seat in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | qunuña | ||
| Guarani | guapyha | ||
Seat in International Languages
| Esperanto | sidloko | ||
| The Slavic word "sidloko" is also found in Lithuanian, Czech, Polish, and Slovak | |||
| Latin | sedes | ||
| In Latin 'sedes' (seat) also means a bishop's see, as in the Holy See (the Pope's seat), and the plural 'sedes' means lavatory or toilet. | |||
Seat in Others Languages
| Greek | έδρα | ||
| The word 'έδρα' also means 'chair' and 'base' in Greek, reflecting its multiple functions as a seat, a piece of furniture, and the foundation of something. | |||
| Hmong | lub rooj | ||
| The Hmong word "lub rooj" can also refer to the area between the back of the neck and the shoulders. | |||
| Kurdish | rûniştek | ||
| The word "rûniştek" also means "the place where one sits" in Kurdish, implying a more permanent or designated location for sitting. | |||
| Turkish | oturma yeri | ||
| The word 'oturma yeri' literally means 'sitting place' in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | isihlalo | ||
| The alternate usage of the term isihlalo refers to a type of traditional chair with three legs and no backrest used by the amaXhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | זיצן | ||
| "זיצן" (seat) also refers to a "meeting" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | isihlalo | ||
| The Zulu word “isihlalo” also means “throne” and is used in a context of power and authority. | |||
| Assamese | আসন | ||
| Aymara | qunuña | ||
| Bhojpuri | बईठे के जगह | ||
| Dhivehi | ގޮޑި | ||
| Dogri | सीट | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | upuan | ||
| Guarani | guapyha | ||
| Ilocano | tugaw | ||
| Krio | sidɔm ples | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کورسی | ||
| Maithili | बैसैक स्थान | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯝꯐꯝ | ||
| Mizo | thutna | ||
| Oromo | teessoo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆସନ | ||
| Quechua | tiyana | ||
| Sanskrit | आसन | ||
| Tatar | урын | ||
| Tigrinya | ኮፍ ምባል | ||
| Tsonga | xitulu | ||