Afrikaans sekretaris | ||
Albanian sekretar | ||
Amharic ጸሐፊ | ||
Arabic سكرتير | ||
Armenian քարտուղար | ||
Assamese সম্পাদক | ||
Aymara secretario ukan irnaqiri | ||
Azerbaijani katib | ||
Bambara sɛbɛnnikɛla | ||
Basque idazkaria | ||
Belarusian сакратар | ||
Bengali সেক্রেটারি | ||
Bhojpuri सचिव के रूप में काम कइले बानी | ||
Bosnian tajnica | ||
Bulgarian секретар | ||
Catalan secretari | ||
Cebuano kalihim | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 秘书 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 秘書 | ||
Corsican secretariu | ||
Croatian tajnica | ||
Czech tajemník | ||
Danish sekretær | ||
Dhivehi ސެކްރެޓަރީ އެވެ | ||
Dogri सचिव जी | ||
Dutch secretaris | ||
English secretary | ||
Esperanto sekretario | ||
Estonian sekretär | ||
Ewe agbalẽŋlɔla | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) kalihim | ||
Finnish sihteeri | ||
French secrétaire | ||
Frisian sekretaris | ||
Galician secretaria | ||
Georgian მდივანი | ||
German sekretär | ||
Greek γραμματέας | ||
Guarani secretario ramo | ||
Gujarati સેક્રેટરી | ||
Haitian Creole sekretè | ||
Hausa sakatare | ||
Hawaiian kākau ʻōlelo | ||
Hebrew מזכיר | ||
Hindi सचिव | ||
Hmong tus teev ntawv | ||
Hungarian titkár | ||
Icelandic ritari | ||
Igbo ode akwukwo | ||
Ilocano sekretario | ||
Indonesian sekretaris | ||
Irish rúnaí | ||
Italian segretario | ||
Japanese 秘書 | ||
Javanese sekretaris | ||
Kannada ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ | ||
Kazakh хатшы | ||
Khmer លេខាធិការ | ||
Kinyarwanda umunyamabanga | ||
Konkani सचीव म्हणून काम करता | ||
Korean 비서 | ||
Krio sɛktri | ||
Kurdish sekreter | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) سکرتێر | ||
Kyrgyz катчы | ||
Lao ເລຂາ | ||
Latin scriba | ||
Latvian sekretāre | ||
Lingala sɛkrɛtɛrɛ | ||
Lithuanian sekretorius | ||
Luganda omuwandiisi | ||
Luxembourgish sekretärin | ||
Macedonian секретар | ||
Maithili सचिव | ||
Malagasy mpitan-tsoratra | ||
Malay setiausaha | ||
Malayalam സെക്രട്ടറി | ||
Maltese segretarju | ||
Maori hēkeretari | ||
Marathi सचिव | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯁꯦꯛꯔꯦꯇꯔꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo secretary hna thawk a ni | ||
Mongolian нарийн бичгийн дарга | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) အတွင်းရေးမှူး | ||
Nepali सचिव | ||
Norwegian sekretær | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) mlembi | ||
Odia (Oriya) ସଚିବ | ||
Oromo barreessaa | ||
Pashto منشي | ||
Persian دبیر، منشی | ||
Polish sekretarz | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) secretário | ||
Punjabi ਸੈਕਟਰੀ | ||
Quechua secretario nisqa | ||
Romanian secretar | ||
Russian секретарь | ||
Samoan failautusi | ||
Sanskrit सचिवः | ||
Scots Gaelic rùnaire | ||
Sepedi mongwaledi | ||
Serbian секретар | ||
Sesotho mongoli | ||
Shona munyori | ||
Sindhi سيڪريٽري | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) ලේකම් | ||
Slovak sekretárka | ||
Slovenian tajnica | ||
Somali xoghaye | ||
Spanish secretario | ||
Sundanese sekertaris | ||
Swahili katibu | ||
Swedish sekreterare | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) kalihim | ||
Tajik котиб | ||
Tamil செயலாளர் | ||
Tatar секретаре | ||
Telugu కార్యదర్శి | ||
Thai เลขานุการ | ||
Tigrinya ጸሓፊ | ||
Tsonga matsalana | ||
Turkish sekreter | ||
Turkmen sekretary | ||
Twi (Akan) ɔkyerɛwfo | ||
Ukrainian секретар | ||
Urdu سیکرٹری | ||
Uyghur سېكرېتار | ||
Uzbek kotib | ||
Vietnamese thư ký | ||
Welsh ysgrifennydd | ||
Xhosa unobhala | ||
Yiddish סעקרעטאר | ||
Yoruba akọwe | ||
Zulu unobhala |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The word 'sekretaris' (secretary) derives from the ancient Egyptian title, 'ser', meaning 'keeper of secrets'. |
| Albanian | The Albanian word "sekretar" also means "confidant", a person who is entrusted with secrets. |
| Amharic | "ጸሐፊ" is derived from the Ge'ez word "ጰሐፈ" meaning "to write" or "to write down". |
| Arabic | The word "سكرتير" (secretary) in Arabic can also refer to a private tutor or a confidante. |
| Armenian | The word "քարտուղար" also means "scribe" and has a similar form in various other Indo-European languages, including Albanian, Greek, and Latin. |
| Azerbaijani | The word "katib" in Azerbaijani can also refer to a "scribe" or a "clerk". |
| Basque | The word "idazkaria" derives from the verb "idaztea" (to write) and the suffix "-ari" (one who does something). |
| Bengali | শব্দটির ব্যুৎপত্তি লাতিন শব্দ secretus থেকে হয়েছে, যার অর্থ গোপনীয়। |
| Bosnian | The word "tajnica" can also refer to a confidante or someone who knows a secret. |
| Bulgarian | The Bulgarian word секретар, meaning 'secretary' can also refer to a type of chest or box. |
| Catalan | The Catalan word "secretari" can also refer to a church official or a keeper of secrets. |
| Cebuano | The word "kalihim" is derived from the Spanish word "calificare," which means "to grade" or "to assess." |
| Chinese (Simplified) | "秘书"在古代也指"密书",是皇帝或重臣私人收藏的机要文件。 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The Chinese character "秘" means "hidden" and "書" means "writing", so "秘書" originally referred to a personal assistant in ancient China who managed confidential documents. |
| Corsican | The Corsican word "secretariu" can also mean a "confidant" or "advisor". |
| Croatian | The word 'tajnica' is derived from the Slavic word 'tajna', meaning 'secret', and originally referred to a person entrusted with confidential information. |
| Czech | The Czech word "tajemník" is derived from the Old Czech word "tajemný," meaning "mysterious" or "secret." |
| Danish | The word "sekretær" can also refer to a piece of furniture used for writing and storage. |
| Dutch | The Dutch word "secretaris" derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets". |
| Esperanto | "Sekretario" is derived from the Latin "secretarius," meaning "one who keeps secrets". |
| Estonian | In addition to the primary meaning of secretary, 'sekretär' can also mean a piece of furniture. |
| Finnish | Sihteeri might originate from the French word "secrétaire" or the Latin word "secretarius". |
| French | In French, "secrétaire" can also refer to a piece of furniture with a writing surface and drawers, or to a bird known for its vibrant plumage and melodious song. |
| Frisian | The Frisian word "sekretaris" can also refer to a type of bird known as a secretary bird. |
| Galician | In Galician, "secretaria" can also mean "secretary's office" or "secretary's job". |
| Georgian | The Georgian word "მდივანი" comes from the Persian word "dabīr" meaning "writer" or "scribe." |
| German | In German, the word "Sekretär" not only refers to a secretary but also to a type of desk with a built-in drawer or compartment for storing documents and writing materials. |
| Greek | "Γραμματέας" comes from the Greek "γράμμα" (letter) and means "writer", or more generally one involved in "writing or learning". |
| Gujarati | The word "સેક્રેટરી" is derived from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "one who keeps secrets". |
| Haitian Creole | The word "sekretè" (secretary) in Haitian Creole also means "keeper of secrets". |
| Hausa | "Sakatare" in Hausa is derived from the Arabic word "saqr" which means "to write". |
| Hawaiian | Kākau in Hawaiian can refer to writing, drawing, or carving, while ʻōlelo refers to language or speech, thus indicating a skilled communicator. |
| Hebrew | The term "מזכיר" can also refer to a personal assistant or confidant, similar to the Latin "secretarius" from which it ultimately derives. |
| Hindi | The Hindi word for 'secretary' 'सचिव' also means 'true' or 'correct' and comes from the Sanskrit root 'sac' meaning 'to speak truth'. |
| Hmong | The word "tus teev ntawv" can also mean "office worker" or "clerk" in Hmong. |
| Hungarian | The Hungarian word "titkár" likely derives from the old Slavic word "tajnik," meaning "secret keeper," reflecting the secretary's role in maintaining confidentiality. |
| Icelandic | The word "ritari" in Icelandic also means "knight" or "cavalier". |
| Igbo | In Igbo language, 'ode akwukwo' denotes the office where administrative writing occurs in schools; it is also the word for 'secretary.' |
| Indonesian | The word "sekretaris" in Indonesian comes from the Dutch word "secretaris", which itself derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets". |
| Irish | The word "rúnaí" (secretary) derives from the Old Irish "rún" (secret), emphasizing the confidential nature of the role. |
| Italian | "Segretario" derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets", and can also refer to a confidential clerk in Italy. |
| Japanese | The character 秘 in 秘書 means "secret" and has its origins in an ancient Chinese oracle bone script of a sealed vessel. |
| Javanese | The Javanese word sekretaris can also refer to a type of bird, the Javanese coucal (Centropus nigrorufus), known for its ability to mimic other bird calls. |
| Kannada | The word "ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ" in Kannada literally means "one who attends to duties" or "one who conducts business". |
| Kazakh | "Хатшы" also refers to an old-fashioned scribe, a clerk or an archive keeper. |
| Korean | The root "bi" in Korean word for "secretary" ("비서") means "assisting", while "seo" means "office". |
| Kurdish | The word "sekreter" in Kurdish also means "secret" or "secret service." |
| Kyrgyz | The word "катчы" is derived from the Persian word "کاغذچی" (kāqazchī), meaning "paper writer" or "scribe". |
| Lao | The Lao word for "secretary," "ເລຂາ," means "writer" when separated into morphemes. |
| Latin | The word "scriba" can also refer to a scribe or copyist, and derives from the verb "scribere" (to write). |
| Latvian | In Latvian, the word "sekretāre" is a loanword from German that also means "bureau" or "chest of drawers". |
| Lithuanian | The word "sekretorius" is derived from Latin "secretus", meaning "secret", and refers to a confidential assistant or a person responsible for keeping secrets. |
| Luxembourgish | The Luxembourgish word "Sekretärin" has multiple meanings, including "secretary", "female secretary", and "confidante". |
| Macedonian | The word "секретар" in Macedonian has its origins in the Latin word "secretarius" and shares a similar meaning with its English cognate "secretary." |
| Malagasy | The word "mpitan-tsoratra" in Malagasy comes from the root "tsoratra" which means "writing". |
| Malay | The word "setiausaha" can also mean "faithful" or "loyal" in Malay, reflecting the role of a secretary as a trusted and confidential assistant. |
| Malayalam | The Malayalam word "സെക്രട്ടറി" (secretary) derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "one who keeps secrets." |
| Maltese | The Maltese word 'segretarju' ('secretary') derives from the Latin 'secretarius', meaning 'keeper of secrets' or 'confidant'. |
| Maori | The term 'hēkeretari' is derived from the English word 'secretary' and the Māori word 'heke', meaning 'to descend'. |
| Marathi | In Marathi, "सचिव" is a derivative of the Sanskrit word "सह" (sah), meaning "with" or "together," and "चीफ" (chif), meaning "chief" or "head". Thus, it can also refer to an assistant or helper, particularly in administrative or managerial contexts. |
| Nepali | सचिव is derived from the Sanskrit word "सच्" (sach), meaning "true" or "correct". |
| Norwegian | In Norwegian, "sekretær" can also mean "a dresser or writing desk" or "a person who keeps secrets". |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The Nyanja word 'mlembi' also refers to a type of tree and a certain type of antelope, likely due to their slender, graceful appearance, similar to that of a secretary bird. |
| Pashto | In addition to denoting a "secretary," "منشي" can also mean "writer," "scribe," or "clerk" in Pashto. |
| Persian | The Persian word **دبیر، منشی** can also mean an official record keeper within a group of scholars responsible for the written administration of an office, organization, or government |
| Polish | The word "sekretarz" in Polish derives from the Latin "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets". |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Brazil, "secretário" can also refer to a department manager or a member of a minister's cabinet. |
| Punjabi | The word "ਸੈਕਟਰੀ" (secretary) in Punjabi can also refer to a drawer or cabinet, particularly one used to store important documents. |
| Romanian | The word "secretar" in Romanian originates from the Latin "secretarius," meaning "keeper of secrets". |
| Russian | The word 'секретарь' in Russian can also refer to a piece of furniture used for storing papers and documents. |
| Samoan | Failautusi means 'one who writes the family’s stories' in Samoan, a role typically held by women who kept records of important events and passed down cultural traditions |
| Scots Gaelic | The word "rùnaire" may also refer to a private or personal conversation. |
| Serbian | The Serbian word 'секретар' has its origin in the Latin word 'secretarius', meaning 'one who keeps secrets'. |
| Sesotho | In the traditional Sesotho context, "mongoli" also referred to a high-ranking advisor or a trusted confidant to a chief or ruler. |
| Shona | The word "munyori" in Shona can also refer to a person who writes or scribes. |
| Sindhi | In Sindhi, "سيڪريٽري" can be a title for a political party executive. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The Sinhala word "ලේකම්" (secretary) derives from the Sanskrit word "le-kha-min," meaning "one who marks lines". |
| Slovak | The Slovak word "sekretárka" (secretary) shares an origin with the Latin word for "secret" or "separate". |
| Slovenian | "Tajnica" is derived from the Latin word "tacere", meaning "to be silent". |
| Somali | The word "xoghaye" in Somali can also refer to a "private secretary" or a "counselor". |
| Spanish | In Spanish, "secretario" can also refer to a chest or drawer used to store documents. |
| Sundanese | The Sundanese word "Sekertaris" ultimately derives from the Sanskrit "Saksri", meaning "witness" or "evidence". |
| Swahili | The word 'katibu' in Swahili can also refer to a clerk, scribe, or writer. |
| Swedish | The word "sekreterare" comes from the Latin word "secretarius," meaning "one who keeps secrets." |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The Tagalog word "kalihim" originates from the Sanskrit word "kalikhin", meaning "assistant" or "scribe" |
| Tajik | The word "котиб" also means "writer" or "scribe" in Tajik. |
| Tamil | The word 'செயலாளர்' in Tamil can also mean 'an agent' or 'a clerk'. |
| Telugu | The word "కార్యదర్శి" (kāryadarśi) is derived from the Sanskrit words "कार्य" (kārya, meaning "work") and "दर्शि" (darśi, meaning "one who sees" or "supervisor"). |
| Thai | In Thai, the word "เลขานุการ" also has the alternate meaning of "executive assistant". |
| Turkish | The word 'Sekreter' in Turkish also means 'confidant' or 'one who keeps secrets'. |
| Ukrainian | The word "секретар" in Ukrainian can also mean "confidant" or "keeper of secrets". |
| Urdu | In Urdu, the word "سیکرٹری" can also refer to a confidant or a person who keeps secrets. |
| Uzbek | The word "kotib" comes from the Arabic word "katib" (كاتب), which means "writer" or "scribe", and is related to the English word "copy". |
| Vietnamese | The word "Thư ký" in Vietnamese can also refer to a clerk or an assistant. |
| Welsh | The Welsh word 'ysgrifennydd' ('secretary') also has the alternate meaning 'scribe'. |
| Xhosa | In Xhosa, 'unobhala' means 'secretary', but it also refers to a person who is 'the one who writes' or 'the one who registers' |
| Yiddish | ס עקרעטאר in Yiddish can also refer to a "confidant". |
| Yoruba | Akọwe is an alternative Yoruba word for a clerk, which is a writer who maintains records in an office. |
| Zulu | Unobhala also refers to the person who is keeping important historical or cultural records. |
| English | The word 'secretary' derives from the Latin word 'secretus,' meaning 'a confidential or private matter' |