Shock in Different Languages
Discover 'Shock' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'shock' carries a significant weight in our vocabulary, often used to describe a state of great surprise or the feeling of being startled. Its cultural importance is undeniable, as it transcends borders and languages, appearing in various forms across the globe. From an unexpected twist in a novel to a sudden turn of events in a movie, 'shock' is a universal language that we all understand.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'shock' in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how different cultures perceive and express this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'shock' translates to 'choque', which also means 'collision' or 'crash', reflecting the sudden and jolting nature of the feeling. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'shock' is 'ショック' (shocku), a direct adaptation from English, indicating the global influence of Western culture.
Join us as we delve into the translations of 'shock' in various languages, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of global culture and language.
Shock
Shock in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skok | ||
| The Afrikaans word "skok" can also refer to a sudden movement or jerk, or a state of surprise or alarm. | |||
| Amharic | ድንጋጤ | ||
| Etymology: Related to the root word meaning 'to shake violently'. | |||
| Hausa | gigice | ||
| The word "gigice" in Hausa is a loanword from the Arabic word "jihah", which means "battle" or "struggle", and is also used to refer to a sudden, unexpected event that causes distress or disruption. | |||
| Igbo | ujo | ||
| "Ujo" is derived from the Igbo word "ujo", meaning "a feeling of fear or awe". | |||
| Malagasy | dona | ||
| The Malagasy word "dona" can also refer to a type of traditional dance performed by women during funeral ceremonies. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kugwedezeka | ||
| The word "kugwedezeka" can also mean to be surprised or amazed. | |||
| Shona | kuvhunduka | ||
| Kuvhunduka is also used to describe the state of being bewildered or disoriented, and is closely related to the verb 'kuvhiringidza', meaning 'to confuse' or 'to confound'. | |||
| Somali | naxdin | ||
| The word "naxdin" in Somali can also refer to a type of sudden illness or seizure. | |||
| Sesotho | ho tshoha | ||
| "Ho tshoha" is sometimes used to refer to being startled as well. | |||
| Swahili | mshtuko | ||
| "Mshtuko" derives from the root "shitukua," meaning "to startle" or "to shake." | |||
| Xhosa | ukothuka | ||
| The word "ukothuka" can also mean "to tremble" or "to shake" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | ipaya | ||
| The word "ipaya" can also mean "fear" or "panic" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ukushaqeka | ||
| The Zulu word ukushaqeka has a primary meaning of 'shock,' but it can also be extended to convey feelings such as awe, fear, and even anger. | |||
| Bambara | sɔgɔsɔgɔninjɛ | ||
| Ewe | dzidziƒoame | ||
| Kinyarwanda | guhungabana | ||
| Lingala | kobanga | ||
| Luganda | okukankana | ||
| Sepedi | go tšhoga | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ahodwiriw | ||
Shock in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | صدمة | ||
| The word "صدمة" "shock" in Arabic shares its etymology with the word for "impact" and "collision", and can also refer to a state of numbness or insensibility. | |||
| Hebrew | הֶלֶם | ||
| "הֶלֶם" is a Hebrew noun that can also mean "reverberation" or "humming". | |||
| Pashto | شاک | ||
| The Pashto word "شاک" also means "pillar" or "post" in Persian and "branch" or "limb" in Arabic. | |||
| Arabic | صدمة | ||
| The word "صدمة" "shock" in Arabic shares its etymology with the word for "impact" and "collision", and can also refer to a state of numbness or insensibility. | |||
Shock in Western European Languages
| Albanian | tronditje | ||
| The word "tronditje" also means "a small thunder" in Albanian, referring to its sudden and unexpected nature. | |||
| Basque | shock | ||
| The Basque word “shock” can also mean “a pile of unthreshed corn or wheat. | |||
| Catalan | xoc | ||
| The Catalan word "xoc" derives from the Proto-Celtic "*ksokkos" and can also mean "collision" or "hit". | |||
| Croatian | šok | ||
| Croatian word "šok" derives from the word "šokati" meaning "to surprise, shock, astound". | |||
| Danish | chok | ||
| The Danish word "chok" can also refer to a chokehold or a choking sensation. | |||
| Dutch | schok | ||
| In Dutch, "schok" not only means "shock", but also "a haystack in a meadow" or a "wooden wedge" used to make barrels. | |||
| English | shock | ||
| The word 'shock' comes from the Middle French word 'choquer', which means 'to strike' or 'to collide'. | |||
| French | choc | ||
| In French, "choc" can also mean "object, thing" or "chocolate". | |||
| Frisian | skok | ||
| The Frisian word "skok" can also refer to a "heap", "stack", a "crowd of people", or an "assault." | |||
| Galician | choque | ||
| The Galician word "choque" also means "collision" or "impact". | |||
| German | schock | ||
| The German word "Schock" can also refer to a "heap" or "pile" of something, or to a "shock" of hair. | |||
| Icelandic | stuð | ||
| The Icelandic word "stuð" is cognate with the German "Stauden", which refers to perennial herbaceous plants. | |||
| Irish | turraing | ||
| The word "turraing" can also refer to a state of confusion or mental distress. | |||
| Italian | shock | ||
| "Shock" derives from the Arabic "sakk" meaning "surprise" or "fear". It can also mean "a sudden blow". | |||
| Luxembourgish | schocken | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "schocken" also refers to the act of rocking or shaking an object gently. | |||
| Maltese | xokk | ||
| In Maltese, the word "xokk" can also be used to describe confusion or bewilderment. | |||
| Norwegian | sjokk | ||
| Sjokk comes from the English word "shock" and also means "big cup of coffee" in Norwegian. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | choque | ||
| In Portuguese, "choque" can also refer to a collision, a violent encounter, or an emotional impact. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | clisgeadh | ||
| "Clisgeadh" also means "to stop suddenly" in Scots Gaelic and comes from the root "cliseadh". | |||
| Spanish | conmoción | ||
| "Conmoción" can be derived from the Latin "commotio" meaning "violent movement" and is also used to refer to "commotion" or "upheaval". | |||
| Swedish | chock | ||
| Chock can also mean 'block' in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | sioc | ||
| The Welsh word "sioc" also means "spasm" or "convulsion". | |||
Shock in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | шок | ||
| The word “шок” (“shock”) in Belarusian can also refer to a type of candy or a state of surprise. | |||
| Bosnian | šok | ||
| The word "šok" comes from an onomatopoeia, used to depict the sound of an impact or a sudden movement. | |||
| Bulgarian | шок | ||
| The word "шок" (shock) in Bulgarian also means "a pile of unthreshed grain sheaves". | |||
| Czech | šokovat | ||
| The Czech word "šokovat" also means "to surprise greatly" or "to stun". | |||
| Estonian | šokk | ||
| The word "šokk" in Estonian is derived from the German word "Schock", meaning "a sudden blow or jolt". | |||
| Finnish | shokki | ||
| The word "shokki" in Finnish comes from the Persian word "shahmāt" meaning "checkmate" when playing chess. | |||
| Hungarian | sokk | ||
| Sokk can also be a Hungarian term meaning 'crowd'. | |||
| Latvian | šoks | ||
| Latvian "šoks" derives from German "Schock" (stack), via the Old French "choquer" (to strike), and ultimately from the Latin "succussus" (shaking). | |||
| Lithuanian | šokas | ||
| The word "šokas" in Lithuanian also means "dance" and is derived from the German word "Schock." | |||
| Macedonian | шок | ||
| The word "шок" in Macedonian also means "a type of grain" or "a type of flour". | |||
| Polish | zaszokować | ||
| In Polish folklore, "zaszokować" also meant "to stun" with witchcraft. | |||
| Romanian | şoc | ||
| In Romanian, "şoc" also refers to a sudden emotional or mental disturbance or a state of surprise and disorientation. | |||
| Russian | шок | ||
| "Шок" in Russian can also mean "a pile of hay" or "a stack of straw". | |||
| Serbian | шок | ||
| The word "шок" in Serbian can mean either "shock" in English, or "a group of three" in a card game. | |||
| Slovak | šok | ||
| The Slovak word "šok" also refers to a sudden and unexpected change, often in the context of an event or circumstance. | |||
| Slovenian | šok | ||
| The word "šok" can also refer to a type of candy in Slovenian, similar to a caramel. | |||
| Ukrainian | шок | ||
| The Ukrainian word "шок" is cognate with the English word "shock" and can also mean "condition", "pile", or "stack". | |||
Shock in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ধাক্কা | ||
| "ধাক্কা" also means 'jolt' or 'jerk' in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | આંચકો | ||
| In Gujarati, "આંચકો" not only means "shock," but it also refers to a "spasm" or "twitching," and has the alternate spelling "આંચક" | |||
| Hindi | झटका | ||
| "Jhatka," a Hindi term for "shock," is also used to refer to a traditional Hindu method of animal slaughter. | |||
| Kannada | ಆಘಾತ | ||
| "ಆಘಾತ" (shock) also means "injury" or "blow" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | ഷോക്ക് | ||
| The word ഷോക്ക് (''shock'') in Malayalam is of English origin, derived from the English word ''shock'', meaning a sudden and unexpected impact or a severe emotional upset. | |||
| Marathi | धक्का | ||
| The Marathi word 'धक्का' originated from the Sanskrit word 'धक्' which means 'to push' or 'to strike' | |||
| Nepali | सदमे | ||
| The Nepali word "सदमे" can also refer to a group of musical instruments similar to Turkish zills and often used in devotional singing. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਦਮਾ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਸਦਮਾ" (shock) is also used figuratively to describe a severe blow or setback. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කම්පනය | ||
| Tamil | அதிர்ச்சி | ||
| The Tamil word "அதிர்ச்சி" (shock) originally meant "trembling" or "quaking" and can also refer to a sudden change in temperature. | |||
| Telugu | షాక్ | ||
| షాక్ (shock) could also mean an electrical device that delivers a powerful surge of electricity | |||
| Urdu | صدمہ | ||
| صدمہ (shock) is derived from the root "صدم" (to strike), and also means "blow", "collision", "impact", or "injury". | |||
Shock in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 休克 | ||
| 休克 can also mean fainting or losing consciousness. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 休克 | ||
| 休克 originates from the Chinese phrase 休克, meaning a "faint". | |||
| Japanese | ショック | ||
| Originally, 「ショック」referred exclusively to physical shocks, but was later applied to emotions. | |||
| Korean | 충격 | ||
| 충격 shares its root with the verb 충키다 which means to collide, bump or pound against something | |||
| Mongolian | цочрол | ||
| "цочрол" is also used to refer to a feeling of awe or amazement. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ထိတ်လန့်ခြင်း | ||
Shock in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | syok | ||
| The word "syok" is derived from the Arabic word "śuqqah" meaning "fainting" or "loss of consciousness". | |||
| Javanese | kejut | ||
| The word "kejut" in Javanese can also mean "surprise" or "fright". | |||
| Khmer | ឆក់ | ||
| The word "ឆក់" can also refer to a sudden jolt or movement, or to a feeling of surprise or amazement. | |||
| Lao | ອາການຊshockອກ | ||
| The Lao word "shock" is derived from the French word "choc," which means "collision" or "impact." | |||
| Malay | terkejut | ||
| Terkejut' also has the alternate meaning '(a sudden) movement'. | |||
| Thai | ช็อก | ||
| The word "ช็อก" (shock) in Thai can also refer to a type of electric fish that produces powerful electric shocks. | |||
| Vietnamese | sốc | ||
| The word "sốc" in Vietnamese comes from the French word "choc", meaning "impact". It can also mean "surprise" or "disappointment". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagkabigla | ||
Shock in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | şok | ||
| In Azerbaijani, the word "şok" can also refer to a sudden burst of intense light or a state of amazement. | |||
| Kazakh | шок | ||
| In Kazakh, "шок" (shock) can also refer to "a sudden, violent jolt or blow". | |||
| Kyrgyz | шок | ||
| The Kyrgyz word “шок” can also mean “to collide” or “to hit”. | |||
| Tajik | шок | ||
| In Tajik, the word "шок" also means "surprise" or "amazement" | |||
| Turkmen | şok | ||
| Uzbek | zarba | ||
| Zarb is likely to have originated from the Persian/Arabic word "zarb", which means "strike" or "hit". | |||
| Uyghur | چۆچۈش | ||
Shock in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pīhoihoi | ||
| The word "pīhoihoi" is also used to describe a type of fish, the Hawaiian anchovy. | |||
| Maori | ohorere | ||
| The word 'ohorere' can also refer to a sudden movement or shaking, such as in an earthquake. | |||
| Samoan | tei | ||
| "Tei" is a term in Samoan that can also refer to a sudden fright or surprise. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pagkabigla | ||
Shock in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ch’axwaña | ||
| Guarani | ñemondýi | ||
Shock in International Languages
| Esperanto | ŝoko | ||
| The word "ŝoko" in Esperanto comes from the French word "choc", meaning "a violent blow or collision". | |||
| Latin | inpulsa | ||
| "Inpulsa" means "shock" and derives from Latin and can be traced to the Proto-Indo-European root "*pel-." | |||
Shock in Others Languages
| Greek | αποπληξία | ||
| The term "αποπληξία" in Greek also refers to a sudden loss of consciousness or function due to a disruption in the brain's blood supply. | |||
| Hmong | poob siab | ||
| Poob siab literally means “trembling” or “shaking” in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | hûrmik | ||
| The word "hûrmik" in Kurdish comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰer- ("to rub"), which is also the origin of the English word "fricative". | |||
| Turkish | şok | ||
| Şok'un bir diğer anlamı da 'çok acıktım' demektir. | |||
| Xhosa | ukothuka | ||
| The word "ukothuka" can also mean "to tremble" or "to shake" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | קלאַפּ | ||
| The Yiddish word "קלאַפּ" (klap) meaning "shock" is derived from the Ukrainian word "кляп" (klyap) meaning "blow, slap", which is of onomatopoeic origin. It can also be used as a slang term for a joke or prank. | |||
| Zulu | ukushaqeka | ||
| The Zulu word ukushaqeka has a primary meaning of 'shock,' but it can also be extended to convey feelings such as awe, fear, and even anger. | |||
| Assamese | শ্বক | ||
| Aymara | ch’axwaña | ||
| Bhojpuri | झटका लागल बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ޝޮކެއް | ||
| Dogri | सदमे | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagkabigla | ||
| Guarani | ñemondýi | ||
| Ilocano | pannakakigtot | ||
| Krio | shɔk we pɔsin kin gɛt | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | شۆک | ||
| Maithili | सदमा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯣꯀꯄꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | shock a ni | ||
| Oromo | rifachuudha | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | shock ଟକା | ||
| Quechua | ch’aqway | ||
| Sanskrit | आघातः | ||
| Tatar | шок | ||
| Tigrinya | ስንባደ | ||
| Tsonga | ku chava | ||