Secretary in Different Languages
Discover 'Secretary' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The role of a secretary has been integral to the functioning of organizations for centuries. Originating in ancient civilizations, secretaries have evolved from being mere scribes to indispensable administrative assistants in modern times. The position holds cultural significance worldwide, symbolizing trust, efficiency, and organization.
Secretaries are often the backbone of companies, ensuring smooth communication, managing schedules, and facilitating daily operations. Their role is so vital that many languages have specific words to describe this position. For instance, in Spanish, a secretary is referred to as 'secretaria,' in French, 'secrétaire,' and in German, 'Sekretärin' for female and 'Sekretär' for male.
Understanding the translation of 'secretary' in different languages can be beneficial for global professionals looking to expand their career horizons or for anyone intrigued by the nuances of language and culture. It's a small step towards appreciating the diversity and richness of global business etiquette and communication styles.
Secretary
Secretary in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | sekretaris | ||
| The word 'sekretaris' (secretary) derives from the ancient Egyptian title, 'ser', meaning 'keeper of secrets'. | |||
| Amharic | ጸሐፊ | ||
| "ጸሐፊ" is derived from the Ge'ez word "ጰሐፈ" meaning "to write" or "to write down". | |||
| Hausa | sakatare | ||
| "Sakatare" in Hausa is derived from the Arabic word "saqr" which means "to write". | |||
| Igbo | ode akwukwo | ||
| In Igbo language, 'ode akwukwo' denotes the office where administrative writing occurs in schools; it is also the word for 'secretary.' | |||
| Malagasy | mpitan-tsoratra | ||
| The word "mpitan-tsoratra" in Malagasy comes from the root "tsoratra" which means "writing". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mlembi | ||
| 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. | |||
| Shona | munyori | ||
| The word "munyori" in Shona can also refer to a person who writes or scribes. | |||
| Somali | xoghaye | ||
| The word "xoghaye" in Somali can also refer to a "private secretary" or a "counselor". | |||
| Sesotho | mongoli | ||
| In the traditional Sesotho context, "mongoli" also referred to a high-ranking advisor or a trusted confidant to a chief or ruler. | |||
| Swahili | katibu | ||
| The word 'katibu' in Swahili can also refer to a clerk, scribe, or writer. | |||
| Xhosa | unobhala | ||
| In Xhosa, 'unobhala' means 'secretary', but it also refers to a person who is 'the one who writes' or 'the one who registers' | |||
| Yoruba | akọwe | ||
| Akọwe is an alternative Yoruba word for a clerk, which is a writer who maintains records in an office. | |||
| Zulu | unobhala | ||
| Unobhala also refers to the person who is keeping important historical or cultural records. | |||
| Bambara | sɛbɛnnikɛla | ||
| Ewe | agbalẽŋlɔla | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umunyamabanga | ||
| Lingala | sɛkrɛtɛrɛ | ||
| Luganda | omuwandiisi | ||
| Sepedi | mongwaledi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ɔkyerɛwfo | ||
Secretary in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | سكرتير | ||
| The word "سكرتير" (secretary) in Arabic can also refer to a private tutor or a confidante. | |||
| Hebrew | מזכיר | ||
| The term "מזכיר" can also refer to a personal assistant or confidant, similar to the Latin "secretarius" from which it ultimately derives. | |||
| Pashto | منشي | ||
| In addition to denoting a "secretary," "منشي" can also mean "writer," "scribe," or "clerk" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | سكرتير | ||
| The word "سكرتير" (secretary) in Arabic can also refer to a private tutor or a confidante. | |||
Secretary in Western European Languages
| Albanian | sekretar | ||
| The Albanian word "sekretar" also means "confidant", a person who is entrusted with secrets. | |||
| Basque | idazkaria | ||
| The word "idazkaria" derives from the verb "idaztea" (to write) and the suffix "-ari" (one who does something). | |||
| Catalan | secretari | ||
| The Catalan word "secretari" can also refer to a church official or a keeper of secrets. | |||
| Croatian | tajnica | ||
| The word 'tajnica' is derived from the Slavic word 'tajna', meaning 'secret', and originally referred to a person entrusted with confidential information. | |||
| Danish | sekretær | ||
| The word "sekretær" can also refer to a piece of furniture used for writing and storage. | |||
| Dutch | secretaris | ||
| The Dutch word "secretaris" derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets". | |||
| English | secretary | ||
| The word 'secretary' derives from the Latin word 'secretus,' meaning 'a confidential or private matter' | |||
| French | secrétaire | ||
| 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 | sekretaris | ||
| The Frisian word "sekretaris" can also refer to a type of bird known as a secretary bird. | |||
| Galician | secretaria | ||
| In Galician, "secretaria" can also mean "secretary's office" or "secretary's job". | |||
| German | sekretär | ||
| 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. | |||
| Icelandic | ritari | ||
| The word "ritari" in Icelandic also means "knight" or "cavalier". | |||
| Irish | rúnaí | ||
| The word "rúnaí" (secretary) derives from the Old Irish "rún" (secret), emphasizing the confidential nature of the role. | |||
| Italian | segretario | ||
| "Segretario" derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets", and can also refer to a confidential clerk in Italy. | |||
| Luxembourgish | sekretärin | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Sekretärin" has multiple meanings, including "secretary", "female secretary", and "confidante". | |||
| Maltese | segretarju | ||
| The Maltese word 'segretarju' ('secretary') derives from the Latin 'secretarius', meaning 'keeper of secrets' or 'confidant'. | |||
| Norwegian | sekretær | ||
| In Norwegian, "sekretær" can also mean "a dresser or writing desk" or "a person who keeps secrets". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | secretário | ||
| In Brazil, "secretário" can also refer to a department manager or a member of a minister's cabinet. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | rùnaire | ||
| The word "rùnaire" may also refer to a private or personal conversation. | |||
| Spanish | secretario | ||
| In Spanish, "secretario" can also refer to a chest or drawer used to store documents. | |||
| Swedish | sekreterare | ||
| The word "sekreterare" comes from the Latin word "secretarius," meaning "one who keeps secrets." | |||
| Welsh | ysgrifennydd | ||
| The Welsh word 'ysgrifennydd' ('secretary') also has the alternate meaning 'scribe'. | |||
Secretary in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | сакратар | ||
| Bosnian | tajnica | ||
| The word "tajnica" can also refer to a confidante or someone who knows a secret. | |||
| Bulgarian | секретар | ||
| The Bulgarian word секретар, meaning 'secretary' can also refer to a type of chest or box. | |||
| Czech | tajemník | ||
| The Czech word "tajemník" is derived from the Old Czech word "tajemný," meaning "mysterious" or "secret." | |||
| Estonian | sekretär | ||
| In addition to the primary meaning of secretary, 'sekretär' can also mean a piece of furniture. | |||
| Finnish | sihteeri | ||
| Sihteeri might originate from the French word "secrétaire" or the Latin word "secretarius". | |||
| Hungarian | titkár | ||
| The Hungarian word "titkár" likely derives from the old Slavic word "tajnik," meaning "secret keeper," reflecting the secretary's role in maintaining confidentiality. | |||
| Latvian | sekretāre | ||
| In Latvian, the word "sekretāre" is a loanword from German that also means "bureau" or "chest of drawers". | |||
| Lithuanian | sekretorius | ||
| The word "sekretorius" is derived from Latin "secretus", meaning "secret", and refers to a confidential assistant or a person responsible for keeping secrets. | |||
| Macedonian | секретар | ||
| The word "секретар" in Macedonian has its origins in the Latin word "secretarius" and shares a similar meaning with its English cognate "secretary." | |||
| Polish | sekretarz | ||
| The word "sekretarz" in Polish derives from the Latin "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets". | |||
| Romanian | secretar | ||
| The word "secretar" in Romanian originates from the Latin "secretarius," meaning "keeper of secrets". | |||
| Russian | секретарь | ||
| The word 'секретарь' in Russian can also refer to a piece of furniture used for storing papers and documents. | |||
| Serbian | секретар | ||
| The Serbian word 'секретар' has its origin in the Latin word 'secretarius', meaning 'one who keeps secrets'. | |||
| Slovak | sekretárka | ||
| The Slovak word "sekretárka" (secretary) shares an origin with the Latin word for "secret" or "separate". | |||
| Slovenian | tajnica | ||
| "Tajnica" is derived from the Latin word "tacere", meaning "to be silent". | |||
| Ukrainian | секретар | ||
| The word "секретар" in Ukrainian can also mean "confidant" or "keeper of secrets". | |||
Secretary in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সেক্রেটারি | ||
| শব্দটির ব্যুৎপত্তি লাতিন শব্দ secretus থেকে হয়েছে, যার অর্থ গোপনীয়। | |||
| Gujarati | સેક્રેટરી | ||
| The word "સેક્રેટરી" is derived from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "one who keeps secrets". | |||
| Hindi | सचिव | ||
| The Hindi word for 'secretary' 'सचिव' also means 'true' or 'correct' and comes from the Sanskrit root 'sac' meaning 'to speak truth'. | |||
| Kannada | ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ | ||
| The word "ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ" in Kannada literally means "one who attends to duties" or "one who conducts business". | |||
| Malayalam | സെക്രട്ടറി | ||
| The Malayalam word "സെക്രട്ടറി" (secretary) derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "one who keeps secrets." | |||
| Marathi | सचिव | ||
| 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 | ||
| सचिव is derived from the Sanskrit word "सच्" (sach), meaning "true" or "correct". | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੈਕਟਰੀ | ||
| The word "ਸੈਕਟਰੀ" (secretary) in Punjabi can also refer to a drawer or cabinet, particularly one used to store important documents. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ලේකම් | ||
| The Sinhala word "ලේකම්" (secretary) derives from the Sanskrit word "le-kha-min," meaning "one who marks lines". | |||
| Tamil | செயலாளர் | ||
| The word 'செயலாளர்' in Tamil can also mean 'an agent' or 'a clerk'. | |||
| Telugu | కార్యదర్శి | ||
| The word "కార్యదర్శి" (kāryadarśi) is derived from the Sanskrit words "कार्य" (kārya, meaning "work") and "दर्शि" (darśi, meaning "one who sees" or "supervisor"). | |||
| Urdu | سیکرٹری | ||
| In Urdu, the word "سیکرٹری" can also refer to a confidant or a person who keeps secrets. | |||
Secretary in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 秘书 | ||
| "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) | 秘書 | ||
| 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. | |||
| Japanese | 秘書 | ||
| The character 秘 in 秘書 means "secret" and has its origins in an ancient Chinese oracle bone script of a sealed vessel. | |||
| Korean | 비서 | ||
| The root "bi" in Korean word for "secretary" ("비서") means "assisting", while "seo" means "office". | |||
| Mongolian | нарийн бичгийн дарга | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အတွင်းရေးမှူး | ||
Secretary in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | sekretaris | ||
| The word "sekretaris" in Indonesian comes from the Dutch word "secretaris", which itself derives from the Latin word "secretarius", meaning "keeper of secrets". | |||
| Javanese | sekretaris | ||
| 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. | |||
| Khmer | លេខាធិការ | ||
| Lao | ເລຂາ | ||
| The Lao word for "secretary," "ເລຂາ," means "writer" when separated into morphemes. | |||
| Malay | setiausaha | ||
| The word "setiausaha" can also mean "faithful" or "loyal" in Malay, reflecting the role of a secretary as a trusted and confidential assistant. | |||
| Thai | เลขานุการ | ||
| In Thai, the word "เลขานุการ" also has the alternate meaning of "executive assistant". | |||
| Vietnamese | thư ký | ||
| The word "Thư ký" in Vietnamese can also refer to a clerk or an assistant. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kalihim | ||
Secretary in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | katib | ||
| The word "katib" in Azerbaijani can also refer to a "scribe" or a "clerk". | |||
| Kazakh | хатшы | ||
| "Хатшы" also refers to an old-fashioned scribe, a clerk or an archive keeper. | |||
| Kyrgyz | катчы | ||
| The word "катчы" is derived from the Persian word "کاغذچی" (kāqazchī), meaning "paper writer" or "scribe". | |||
| Tajik | котиб | ||
| The word "котиб" also means "writer" or "scribe" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | sekretary | ||
| Uzbek | kotib | ||
| The word "kotib" comes from the Arabic word "katib" (كاتب), which means "writer" or "scribe", and is related to the English word "copy". | |||
| Uyghur | سېكرېتار | ||
Secretary in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kākau ʻōlelo | ||
| Kākau in Hawaiian can refer to writing, drawing, or carving, while ʻōlelo refers to language or speech, thus indicating a skilled communicator. | |||
| Maori | hēkeretari | ||
| The term 'hēkeretari' is derived from the English word 'secretary' and the Māori word 'heke', meaning 'to descend'. | |||
| Samoan | failautusi | ||
| 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 | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kalihim | ||
| The Tagalog word "kalihim" originates from the Sanskrit word "kalikhin", meaning "assistant" or "scribe" | |||
Secretary in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | secretario ukan irnaqiri | ||
| Guarani | secretario ramo | ||
Secretary in International Languages
| Esperanto | sekretario | ||
| "Sekretario" is derived from the Latin "secretarius," meaning "one who keeps secrets". | |||
| Latin | scriba | ||
| The word "scriba" can also refer to a scribe or copyist, and derives from the verb "scribere" (to write). | |||
Secretary in Others Languages
| Greek | γραμματέας | ||
| "Γραμματέας" comes from the Greek "γράμμα" (letter) and means "writer", or more generally one involved in "writing or learning". | |||
| Hmong | tus teev ntawv | ||
| The word "tus teev ntawv" can also mean "office worker" or "clerk" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | sekreter | ||
| The word "sekreter" in Kurdish also means "secret" or "secret service." | |||
| Turkish | sekreter | ||
| The word 'Sekreter' in Turkish also means 'confidant' or 'one who keeps secrets'. | |||
| Xhosa | unobhala | ||
| In Xhosa, 'unobhala' means 'secretary', but it also refers to a person who is 'the one who writes' or 'the one who registers' | |||
| Yiddish | סעקרעטאר | ||
| ס עקרעטאר in Yiddish can also refer to a "confidant". | |||
| Zulu | unobhala | ||
| Unobhala also refers to the person who is keeping important historical or cultural records. | |||
| Assamese | সম্পাদক | ||
| Aymara | secretario ukan irnaqiri | ||
| Bhojpuri | सचिव के रूप में काम कइले बानी | ||
| Dhivehi | ސެކްރެޓަރީ އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | सचिव जी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kalihim | ||
| Guarani | secretario ramo | ||
| Ilocano | sekretario | ||
| Krio | sɛktri | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سکرتێر | ||
| Maithili | सचिव | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯦꯛꯔꯦꯇꯔꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | secretary hna thawk a ni | ||
| Oromo | barreessaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସଚିବ | ||
| Quechua | secretario nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | सचिवः | ||
| Tatar | секретаре | ||
| Tigrinya | ጸሓፊ | ||
| Tsonga | matsalana | ||