Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'selection' carries great significance in our daily lives, often representing the process of choosing or picking out the best from a set of options. This concept is not only crucial in our personal decisions but also holds immense cultural importance across various societies.
For instance, in the world of art and literature, 'selection' plays a pivotal role in curating masterpieces that stand the test of time. In business, it can mean the difference between success and failure, as choosing the right strategy or team is often vital.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'selection' in different languages can be an exciting journey into the nuances of various cultures. For example, in Spanish, 'selection' is 'selección,' while in French, it's 'sélection.' In Mandarin, it's '选择' (xuǎn zé), and in Japanese, it's '選択' (sentaku).
Delving deeper into these translations offers unique insights into how diverse cultures perceive and value the process of choice.
Afrikaans | seleksie | ||
Afrikaans word 'seleksie' derives from the Dutch word 'selectie' and also holds the meaning of 'choice' or 'option'. | |||
Amharic | ምርጫ | ||
The word "ምርጫ" (selection) also means "free will" in an ethical sense. | |||
Hausa | zaɓi | ||
The word "zaɓi" can also mean "choice" or "option" in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | nhọrọ | ||
The word | |||
Malagasy | fifantenana | ||
"Fifantenana" is derived from the verb "mifantina", meaning "to weigh" or "to ponder." | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kusankha | ||
Kusankha is derived from the verb 'kusankha' meaning 'to choose' or 'to select'. | |||
Shona | sarudzo | ||
The word "sarudzo" can also mean "choice" or "election". | |||
Somali | xulasho | ||
"Xulasho" can also refer to a selection of livestock from a herd. | |||
Sesotho | kgetho | ||
Kgetho can also refer to the process of natural selection in evolutionary biology. | |||
Swahili | uteuzi | ||
The Swahili word "uteuzi" can also mean "appointment," "nomination," or "choice."} | |||
Xhosa | ukhetho | ||
Ukhetho derives from the verb khetha (to choose) and denotes an electoral process where an individual is selected from a group of candidates. | |||
Yoruba | yiyan | ||
The word "yiyan" in Yoruba can also mean "to eat" or "food," a homonym to its meaning of "selection." | |||
Zulu | ukukhetha | ||
Ukukhetha, meaning 'selection' in Zulu, also refers to the process of choosing the best option from multiple choices. | |||
Bambara | sugandili | ||
Ewe | tiatiawɔwɔ | ||
Kinyarwanda | guhitamo | ||
Lingala | koponama | ||
Luganda | okulonda | ||
Sepedi | kgetho | ||
Twi (Akan) | paw a wɔpaw | ||
Arabic | اختيار | ||
The word "اختيار" (selection) in Arabic comes from the root "خير" (good) and also means "choice" or "option."} | |||
Hebrew | בְּחִירָה | ||
The word "בְּחִירָה" in Hebrew also means "choice" or "freedom of choice". | |||
Pashto | ټاکنه | ||
The Pashto word "ټاکنه" not only means "selection" but also has the alternate meaning of "election" in the political context. | |||
Arabic | اختيار | ||
The word "اختيار" (selection) in Arabic comes from the root "خير" (good) and also means "choice" or "option."} |
Albanian | zgjedhja | ||
"Zgjedhja" in Albanian also refers to election or choice, stemming from the root "zgjidh," meaning "to choose" or "to elect." | |||
Basque | hautaketa | ||
The word "hautaketa" in Basque can also refer to the process of selecting a spouse. | |||
Catalan | selecció | ||
The word "selecció" in Catalan can also refer to a national sports team. | |||
Croatian | izbor | ||
The word `izbor` can also mean the act of choosing or election, a place from which something is chosen, or a body of persons chosen to perform a function. | |||
Danish | udvælgelse | ||
The word "udvælgelse" is derived from the Old Norse word "val," meaning "to choose" or "to elect. | |||
Dutch | selectie | ||
"Selectie" is also a term used in Dutch football referring to the national team. | |||
English | selection | ||
The word "selection" can also refer to a group of individuals chosen for a specific purpose, such as a jury or a sports team. | |||
French | sélection | ||
The French word **sélection** also translates to "harvest", with the connotation of a choice of a certain kind or grade | |||
Frisian | seleksje | ||
The word "seleksje" is derived from the Latin word "selectio", meaning "choice". It can also refer to a group of people or things that have been chosen for a particular purpose. | |||
Galician | selección | ||
In Galician, "selección" is also used to refer to a team of sports players. | |||
German | auswahl | ||
In addition to 'selection', 'Auswahl' also means 'team', 'squad', or 'assortment' in German. | |||
Icelandic | val | ||
The Icelandic term "val" can also refer to the process of choosing or the result of a choice. | |||
Irish | roghnú | ||
Derived from an Old Irish word meaning "choice", "roghnú" can also mean "sort", "kind", or "type" in modern Irish. | |||
Italian | selezione | ||
It also shares its etymology with other terms, such as «scelta» («choice»), «eleggere» («to elect»), | |||
Luxembourgish | auswiel | ||
The word "Auswiel" is derived from the German word "Auswahl" and also means "choice" or "assortment" in Luxembourgish. | |||
Maltese | għażla | ||
The word għażla ('selection') is cognate with other Semitic terms for 'spinning' or 'weaving' | |||
Norwegian | valg | ||
Valg is also Norwegian for the parliamentary election that is held every four years in Norway | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | seleção | ||
In Portuguese, the word "seleção" is also used in a non-sporting context to describe a choice made after careful consideration, analogous to the English "pick". | |||
Scots Gaelic | taghadh | ||
In Scots Gaelic, "taghadh" can also refer to a choice between options or a preference | |||
Spanish | selección | ||
The Spanish word "selección" can also refer to a group of organisms chosen to improve a breed through controlled mating. | |||
Swedish | urval | ||
Urval is a cognate of the English word "ordeal," both words originating from the Proto-Germanic root *uzwalijō, meaning "judgment" or "decision." | |||
Welsh | dewis | ||
Dewis can also refer to an act of judgment, especially a choice between good and evil. |
Belarusian | адбор | ||
The word "адбор" in Belarusian shares the same origin with the word "abort" in English because both originate from the Medieval Latin "abortus" which means "miscarriage". | |||
Bosnian | selekcija | ||
The word "selekcija" is derived from the Latin word "selectio", meaning "a choosing out"} | |||
Bulgarian | селекция | ||
In Bulgarian, "селекция" also refers to plant or animal breeding, the process of improving the genetic makeup of a population. | |||
Czech | výběr | ||
"Výběr" comes from the verb "vybírat" (to select) and can also mean "a collection" or "an extract". | |||
Estonian | valik | ||
"Valik" also means "choice" in Estonian. | |||
Finnish | valinta | ||
"Valinta" also means "choice" and is related to the verb "valita" meaning "to choose" which further comes from the Proto-Finnic word *valita meaning "to elect". | |||
Hungarian | kiválasztás | ||
The Hungarian word "kiválasztás" is related to the verb "választani" (to choose, to elect), which also appears in the words választás (election) and kiválasztott (chosen, elected). | |||
Latvian | atlase | ||
The word "atlase" in Latvian may also refer to a type of fabric with a smooth, lustrous surface. | |||
Lithuanian | pasirinkimas | ||
The word "pasirinkimas" also means "choice" or "option" in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | избор | ||
The word "избор" can also mean "the act of choosing" or "a choice that is made." | |||
Polish | wybór | ||
In Polish, "wybór" can also refer to an election or a choice between two or more options. | |||
Romanian | selecţie | ||
The Romanian word "selecție" is derived from the Latin word "selectio", meaning "a choosing out". | |||
Russian | отбор | ||
"Отбор" can also refer to the process of breeding animals and plants to produce offspring with desired traits. | |||
Serbian | избор | ||
The word "избор" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "изьбрати", meaning “to select” or “to choose”. | |||
Slovak | výber | ||
Výber can also be translated as "collection" or "harvest"} | |||
Slovenian | izbiro | ||
"Izbiro" is a Slovenian word originating from Proto-Slavic *izbirati, meaning "to choose" or "to select". | |||
Ukrainian | відбір | ||
Відбір is also a term used in sports to describe the process of choosing players for a team. |
Bengali | নির্বাচন | ||
The root 'var' in 'nirbachan' is a cognate with 'vara' and 'varn'. | |||
Gujarati | પસંદગી | ||
Hindi | चयन | ||
Hindi word "चयन" derives from Sanskrit, meaning "to arrange in order" or "to separate or choose." | |||
Kannada | ಆಯ್ಕೆ | ||
The word "ಆಯ್ಕೆ" also means "wish" or "desire" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കൽ | ||
Marathi | निवड | ||
In Marathi, "निवड" can also mean a "choice" between two options presented. | |||
Nepali | छनौट | ||
The origin of the word "छनौट" is in Hindi where it means a choice made from a range of competing possibilities. | |||
Punjabi | ਚੋਣ | ||
The Punjabi word 'ਚੋਣ' originally meant 'theft' or 'plunder' in the Prakrit language from which it derived. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තේරීම | ||
තේරීම (tereema) derives from the past participle of the Sanskrit verb "tr" meaning "to protect" and is cognate with words such as "tri" (three) and "tra" (across). | |||
Tamil | தேர்வு | ||
The word தேர்வு can also mean "examination" or "test" | |||
Telugu | ఎంపిక | ||
ఎంపిక (Empika) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Mrga' - meaning 'hunt', alluding to the act of hunting and selecting the finest prey | |||
Urdu | انتخاب | ||
The word "انتخاب" is derived from the Arabic verb "انتخب" meaning "to choose" or "to select" and can also refer to the process of "electing" or "appointing" someone to a position. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 选择 | ||
In Chinese, "选择" also means "to choose" or "to prefer". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 選擇 | ||
In Chinese, the character “選擇” also means “to distinguish,” “to compare,” or “to prefer.” | |||
Japanese | 選択 | ||
選択肢(せんたくし)は「選択」の訓読みで、他に「せんたく」と読むと洗濯の意味になる。 | |||
Korean | 선택 | ||
선택 means to “separate”, “determine”, or “decide on” in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | сонголт | ||
The Mongolian word “сонголт” ("selection") derives from the word “сонисон” ("chosen"), and its synonym “сонхон” ("to choose") relates to the Sanskrit word "chinta"} | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ရွေးချယ်ရေး | ||
Indonesian | pilihan | ||
The word "pilihan" in Indonesian can also mean "choice" or "option". | |||
Javanese | pilihan | ||
The word "pilihan" in Javanese also refers to a choice that is made from a number of alternatives. | |||
Khmer | ការជ្រើសរើស | ||
Lao | ການຄັດເລືອກ | ||
Malay | pemilihan | ||
"Pemilihan" has roots in the Old Malay word "piliah," meaning "to choose," and is also used to refer to the process of election or selection of candidates for leadership roles. | |||
Thai | การเลือก | ||
In Thai, the word "การเลือก" can also mean "to elect" or "to vote for". | |||
Vietnamese | sự lựa chọn | ||
In Vietnamese, "sự lựa chọn" can also refer to "the fact or state of having or being able to choose". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpili | ||
Azerbaijani | seçim | ||
"Seçim" means "choice" in Azerbaijani, but it can also refer to "election" or "natural selection." | |||
Kazakh | таңдау | ||
The word "таңдау" is also used to refer to a "choice" or "option" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | тандоо | ||
The English equivalent of "тандоо" is a collection of objects or texts. | |||
Tajik | интихоб | ||
The word "интихоб" is derived from the Persian word "انتخاب" (intihāb), meaning "choice" or "selection". | |||
Turkmen | saýlamak | ||
Uzbek | tanlov | ||
The word "tanlov" is also used to refer to the act of choosing or the result of a choice. | |||
Uyghur | تاللاش | ||
Hawaiian | koho | ||
In Hawaiian, 'koho' also refers to a type of Hawaiian hawk or a gathering of people. | |||
Maori | tīpakonga | ||
Tīpakonga also means 'a choosing' or 'a selection from something' in Māori. | |||
Samoan | filifiliga | ||
The word 'filifiliga' in Samoan can also refer to a group of people chosen for a specific purpose. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pagpili | ||
"Pagpili" can also mean "choice", "option", or "decision." |
Aymara | ajlliwi | ||
Guarani | jeporavo rehegua | ||
Esperanto | elekto | ||
The word "elekto" in Esperanto also has the meanings of "elect" and "election". | |||
Latin | legio | ||
The Latin word 'legio' can also refer to a military unit or a group of people united by a common purpose. |
Greek | επιλογή | ||
επιλογή is also used in Greek to describe a 'team selection' (e.g. football). | |||
Hmong | xaiv | ||
In some contexts, "xaiv" can also refer to "choose" or "pick out". | |||
Kurdish | neqînî | ||
The word "neqînî" is derived from the Persian word "negin" meaning "jewel" and has the alternate meaning of "special" or "unique". | |||
Turkish | seçim | ||
The word "seçim" also means "election" in Turkish, originating from the Arabic word "siyam" which means "fasting". | |||
Xhosa | ukhetho | ||
Ukhetho derives from the verb khetha (to choose) and denotes an electoral process where an individual is selected from a group of candidates. | |||
Yiddish | סעלעקציע | ||
In Yiddish, 'selektsie' can also refer to a period of time, or a particular group of people. | |||
Zulu | ukukhetha | ||
Ukukhetha, meaning 'selection' in Zulu, also refers to the process of choosing the best option from multiple choices. | |||
Assamese | নিৰ্বাচন | ||
Aymara | ajlliwi | ||
Bhojpuri | चयन के बारे में बतावल गइल बा | ||
Dhivehi | ސެލެކްޝަން | ||
Dogri | चयन करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagpili | ||
Guarani | jeporavo rehegua | ||
Ilocano | panagpili | ||
Krio | sɛlɛkshɔn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | هەڵبژاردن | ||
Maithili | चयन | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯅꯕꯒꯤ ꯃꯑꯣꯡ꯫ | ||
Mizo | thlan chhuah a ni | ||
Oromo | filannoo | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଚୟନ | ||
Quechua | akllay | ||
Sanskrit | चयनम् | ||
Tatar | сайлау | ||
Tigrinya | ምምራጽ | ||
Tsonga | ku hlawula | ||