Show in different languages

Show in Different Languages

Discover 'Show' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'show' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, encompassing a wide range of meanings and uses. At its core, 'show' refers to a spectacle, performance, or exhibition designed to entertain or inform. From Broadway shows to trade shows, this word has become an integral part of our cultural lexicon.

Moreover, the word 'show' has fascinating historical contexts and interesting facts associated with it. Did you know that the first recorded use of the word 'show' in English dates back to the 15th century? Or that in Old English, the word 'show' was spelled 'scēawian,' which means 'to look at'?

Understanding the translation of 'show' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural nuances and linguistic differences that exist around the world. For instance, the French translation of 'show' is 'spectacle,' while in Spanish, it is 'espectáculo.' Meanwhile, in German, 'show' is translated as 'Schau,' and in Japanese, it is 'ショー (shō).'

In this article, we will explore the various translations of 'show' in different languages, shedding light on the unique cultural perspectives and linguistic traditions that shape our understanding of this versatile word.

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Show in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanswys
The word “Wys” derives from the 16th-century middle Dutch word
Amharicአሳይ
"Assay", the root of "assay" in English and "አሳይ" in Amharic, means "test" in the context of alchemy and chemistry, and it was adopted into English from medieval Arabic.
Hausanuna
The Hausa word 'nuna' also refers to a gathering of people for a specific purpose.
Igbogosi
Igbo word "gosi" means "show" and is related to the verb "gosiri" (to show) and the noun "gosiputa" (display).
Malagasyfampisehoana
"FAMPISEHOANA" also refers to any "spectacle" or "display" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)onetsani
The word "onetsani" in Nyanja can also refer to a public screening or performance.
Shonaratidza
The word 'ratidza' can also mean 'to point out' or 'to demonstrate' something.
Somalibandhig
The word “bandhig” in Somali can also refer to an act of worship, such as prayers or recitation of Quran verses.
Sesothobontsha
The word "bontsha" can also mean "to reveal" or "to uncover"
Swahilionyesha
The word "onyesha" is derived from "nyesha", meaning "reveal"}
Xhosaumboniso
'U' in Xhosa often denotes an infinitive form of the verb, as in 'Ukutya' for 'to eat'; the '-boni' morpheme may derive from '-bona', 'to see', as in 'ukubona' 'to watch'; thus, 'umboniso' may have originally meant 'a seeing'
Yorubaifihan
"Ifohan" can also refer to an event or situation in which something is revealed, displayed, or made known.
Zuluumbukiso
"Umbukiso" is also used to refer to "education" or "exhibit" in Zulu language.
Bambarak'a jira
Eweɖe fia
Kinyarwandakwerekana
Lingalakolakisa
Lugandaokulaga
Sepedibontšha
Twi (Akan)da no adi

Show in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicتبين
The word "تبين" can also mean "to become clear" or "to be clarified" in Arabic.
Hebrewהופעה
הופעה (show) is also a homophone of the Hebrew word for "appearance".
Pashtoښودل
"ښودل" means "to show" in Pashto, but it can also mean "to demonstrate" or "to explain".
Arabicتبين
The word "تبين" can also mean "to become clear" or "to be clarified" in Arabic.

Show in Western European Languages

Albanianshfaqje
The word "shfaqje" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wek-, meaning "to show" or "to make visible".
Basqueikuskizuna
The word "ikuskizuna" derives from the verb "ikusi" (to see) and the suffix "-tzuna" (quality or state), indicating the quality or state of being visible or observable.
Catalanespectacle
The Catalan word "espectacle" comes from the Latin "spectaculum", meaning "a sight" or "something to be seen". It can also refer to a pair of eyeglasses.
Croatianpokazati
The word "pokazati" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *k^eik- "to see".
Danishat vise
The word "at vise" in Danish can also mean "to present" or "to demonstrate".
Dutchtonen
The Dutch word "tonen" can also refer to a musical key or scale.
Englishshow
In Old English, 'show' meant 'to look' or 'to appear'
Frenchspectacle
The French word "spectacle" derives from the Latin "spectare", meaning "to look at", and can also refer to eyeglasses or a remarkable sight.
Frisiansjen litte
"Sjen litte" in Frisian comes from the West Frisian phrase "sjen litte" (
Galicianespectáculo
"Espectáculo" comes from the Latin "spectaculum", meaning "something to be seen". In Galician, it can also refer to a "spectacle" in the sense of something ridiculous or embarrassing.
Germanshow
The German word "Show" can also refer to a "barn" or "shed".
Icelandicsýna
The Icelandic word "sýna" is cognate with the Old Norse "sýna" and the Old English "seon", both meaning "to show" or "to make visible."
Irishseó
The word 'seó' in Irish, meaning 'show', is derived from the Old Irish word 'siú', meaning 'manifest' or 'display'.
Italianmostrare
The word "mostrare" originates from Latin and also means "to demonstrate", "to indicate" or "to point out".
Luxembourgishweisen
Luxembourgish "weisen" (show) is derived from Old High German "wīsan" (guide) and also means "guide".
Maltesejuru
The word "juru" is also used in Maltese to mean "prove" or "demonstrate".
Norwegianvise fram
The Norwegian word "vise fram" can also mean "present" or "put forward".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)mostrar
In Tupi, "mostrar" originally meant "to make clear, uncover."
Scots Gaelictaisbeanadh
The verb "taisbeanadh" (show) also means "to reveal" or "to demonstrate" in Scots Gaelic.
Spanishshow
"Show" comes from the Old English word "sceawian," meaning "to look" or "to observe."
Swedishvisa
Visa can also mean "certain" or "to stay" in Swedish.
Welshsioe
The Welsh word "sioe" (show) derives from the Old English word "sceawe" (shadow, shade).

Show in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпаказаць
The word "паказаць" can also mean "to indicate" or "to point out".
Bosnianshow
In Bosnian the word "show" can mean "to demonstrate" or "to exhibit," but it can also be used as a noun to refer to a "performance" or "spectacle."
Bulgarianшоу
In Bulgarian, "шоу" originates from the English word "show" and is often used to refer to a stage performance.
Czechukázat
Etymology: ukazovati "to show" (related to the Slavic word *kazati "to say, tell")
Estoniansaade
Saade is an alternate meaning of "show" in the Estonian language
Finnishnäytä
In Finnish, "näytä" can also mean "to display" or "to demonstrate", and its root word "näky-" relates to "visibility" and "being seen".
Hungarianelőadás
In Hungarian, the word "előadás" can also refer to a lecture or presentation, implying a more formal and informative context compared to a typical show.
Latvianšovs
The Latvian word "šovs" is derived from the French word "show", and can also mean "performance" or "spectacle".
Lithuanianrodyti
The Lithuanian word "Rodyti" also refers to the action of pointing to something with one's finger.
Macedonianшоу
The Macedonian word "шоу" (show) comes from the French word "chou" (cabbage) and is related to the English word "showbread" (the bread of proposition offered to God in ancient Hebrew tradition).
Polishpokazać
The verb "pokazać" can be traced back to the Proto-Slavic "*kazati", meaning "to tell", "to say", or "to indicate".
Romanianspectacol
Spectacol's etymology is Latin spectaculum, "spectacle" (theatrical or sporting), from the verb specto, "look at, observe".
Russianшоу
In Russian, "шоу" (show) may also refer to a theatrical production or performance
Serbianприкажи
Прикажи is a Serbian verb that comes from the Proto-Slavic word *kazati, meaning
Slovakšou
The Slovak word "šou" (show) comes from the Hungarian "show", which in turn comes from the English "show".
Slovenianoddaja
The word "oddaja" in Slovenian can also mean "episode" or "broadcast".
Ukrainianшоу
The Ukrainian word "шоу" (show) is derived from the English word "show" and also means "spectacle" or "performance."

Show in South Asian Languages

Bengaliদেখান
"দেখান" can mean "to be seen" as well as "to show".
Gujaratiબતાવો
"બતાવો" is derived from the Sanskrit word "prakāś" (प्रकाश), meaning "to make clear or visible," or "to show or exhibit."
Hindiप्रदर्शन
"प्रदर्शन" (show) in Hindi is derived from Sanskrit "pra" (forth) and "darshan" (sight). It can also mean "evidence", "appearance", or "performance."
Kannadaಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ
The Kannada word 'ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ' ('pradarshana') comes from the Sanskrit words 'pra' (forth) and 'darshan' (view), indicating a public viewing or display.
Malayalamകാണിക്കുക
"കാണിക്കുക" can also mean "to offer a gift to a deity" or "to present something as evidence"
Marathiदाखवा
"दाखवा" (show) in Marathi can also refer to a legal notice or summons.
Nepaliदेखाउनु
The etymology of 'देखाउनु' is related to 'देख', meaning 'to see', implying the act of making something visible or known.
Punjabiਦਿਖਾਓ
ਦਿਖਾਓ (dikhao) shares its etymology with the Hindi word 'dikhavana' and the verb 'to show' in English.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පෙන්වන්න
Tamilகாட்டு
The word "காட்டு" can also mean "to display" or "to prove".
Teluguచూపించు
చూపించు (chōpincu) in Telugu originates from Sanskrit, where 'chōp' refers to offering and 'naya' means lead or take, aligning with its purpose of 'indicating' or 'directing'.
Urduدکھائیں

Show in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)节目
"节目" also means the order of an event or a plan of action.
Chinese (Traditional)節目
"節目" also means an item or a paragraph, especially in a document or a contract.
Japanese公演
The word "公演" (こうえん) also means "lecture" or "speech" in Japanese.
Korean보여 주다
The word "보여 주다" can also mean "to prove," "to indicate," or "to let (someone) know."
Mongolianшоу
"Шоу" in Mongolian also means "spectacle, performance, sight, exhibition, display, presentation, appearance, and exposure".
Myanmar (Burmese)ပြ
"ပြ" (show) is derived from Proto-Tibeto-Burman "*praŋ" meaning "to look" or "to face".

Show in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmenunjukkan
"Menunjukkan" can also mean "point" or "indicate".
Javanesenuduhake
The word "nuduhake" in Javanese can also mean "to point out" or "to indicate".
Khmerបង្ហាញ
"បង្ហាញ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "prajñapti" meaning "manifestation" or "declaration", and is cognate to the Thai word "phrakan" and the Lao word "phagna".
Laoສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນ
Malaytunjuk
The Malay word 'tunjuk' not only means to show, but also to appoint or indicate.
Thaiแสดง
แสดง can also mean "act" or "perform".
Vietnamesechỉ
"Chỉ" also means to point at, instruct or to indicate in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)palabas

Show in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanigöstərmək
The Azerbaijani word "göstərmək" also means "to display", "to present" or "to indicate".
Kazakhкөрсету
The word "көрсету" ("show") in Kazakh can also mean "indication" or "demonstration"
Kyrgyzкөрсөтүү
Tajikнишон додан
The word "нишон додан" can also mean "to point out" or "to indicate" in Tajik.
Turkmengörkezmek
Uzbekko'rsatish
The Uzbek word "ko'rsatish" is derived from the verb "ko'r-" meaning "to see" and the suffix "-ish" indicating action or causing something to happen, resulting in the meaning "to cause to see" or "to show"
Uyghurshow

Show in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhōʻike
In the Hawaiian language, hōʻike derives from the root word hoʻo-, meaning to cause, and ike, meaning to see or know; thus, literally “to cause to see or know.”
Maoriwhakaatu
Derived from the verb “whakaatuatu” and can also mean “to reveal” or “uncover”.
Samoanfaʻaali
The word "faʻaali" has multiple meanings in Samoan, including "to make visible" and "to make known".
Tagalog (Filipino)ipakita
'Ipakita' derives from the Proto-Austronesian word *pakit, which also means 'to point out'.

Show in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarauñachayaña
Guaranihechauka

Show in International Languages

Esperantospektaklo
The Esperanto word "spektaklo" means "show" but is also related to the verb "spekti" meaning "to look".
Latinostende
The Latin word "ostende" also means "display" or "reveal".

Show in Others Languages

Greekπροβολή
The Greek word 'προβολή' has also been used in the sense of 'pretext', 'excuse', 'allegation', or 'charge'.
Hmongqhia tau tias
The Hmong word "qhia tau tias" literally means "tell the mouth know".
Kurdishrêdan
The Kurdish word "rêdan" also means "to cause to show or appear" or "to expose to view".
Turkishgöstermek
The word 'göstermek' comes from the Persian verb 'guzāštan' meaning 'to cause to pass' or 'to present'.
Xhosaumboniso
'U' in Xhosa often denotes an infinitive form of the verb, as in 'Ukutya' for 'to eat'; the '-boni' morpheme may derive from '-bona', 'to see', as in 'ukubona' 'to watch'; thus, 'umboniso' may have originally meant 'a seeing'
Yiddishווייַזן
In Yiddish, “ווייַזן” can also mean “to seem” or “to appear.”
Zuluumbukiso
"Umbukiso" is also used to refer to "education" or "exhibit" in Zulu language.
Assameseপ্ৰদৰ্শনী
Aymarauñachayaña
Bhojpuriदेखायीं
Dhivehiދެއްކުން
Dogriशो
Filipino (Tagalog)palabas
Guaranihechauka
Ilocanoipakita
Kriosho
Kurdish (Sorani)نیشاندان
Maithiliप्रदर्शन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯎꯠꯄ
Mizolantir
Oromoagarsiisuu
Odia (Oriya)ଦେଖାନ୍ତୁ |
Quechuaqawachiy
Sanskritदर्शयतु
Tatarшоу
Tigrinyaአርኢ
Tsongakombisa

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