Sign in different languages

Sign in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'sign' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, encompassing a wide range of meanings from identifying symbols to indications of something to come. Its cultural importance is evident in various forms, from ancient astrological signs to modern-day traffic signs. Understanding the translation of 'sign' in different languages can provide unique insights into how different cultures interpret and interact with this concept.

For instance, in Spanish, 'sign' translates to 'señal', while in French, it's 'signal' and in German, 'Zeichen'. These translations not only reflect the linguistic diversity of the world but also the subtle differences in cultural perceptions and interpretations.

Moreover, exploring the word 'sign' across languages can lead to fascinating discoveries. For example, in Chinese, 'sign' is translated as '迹象' (Jì Xiàng), which also means 'clues' or 'traces'. This dual meaning reflects the ancient Chinese philosophy of observing natural signs to predict future events.

Join us as we delve deeper into the translations of 'sign' in various languages, offering you a captivating journey through language and culture.

Sign


Sign in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansteken
The Afrikaans word "teken" also means "tick" or "check mark".
Amharicምልክት
In Amharic, "ምልክት" can also refer to a symptom, mark, clue, or expression
Hausasa hannu
The word "sa hannu" can also refer to a mark on the body.
Igboihe ịrịba ama
Malagasysign
The Malagasy word "sigina" can also mean "evidence" or "proof".
Nyanja (Chichewa)chikwangwani
The word "chikwangwani" can also refer to a "signal" or a "mark."
Shonachiratidzo
The word "chiratidzo" can also mean "a signal" or "a mark".
Somalisaxiix
"Saxiin" also means "mark" or "notice".
Sesotholetšoao
The word letšoao in Sesotho has the same root as the word lešoana, meaning 'mark' or 'scar'.
Swahiliishara
The word "ishara" is also used to refer to gestures or indications that convey a particular meaning.
Xhosauphawu
'Iphawu' is related to the isiXhosa word 'phawuza' (to show, indicate, point out).
Yorubawole
"Wole" has an additional meaning of "enter", as in "to enter a building" or "to enter a country".
Zuluuphawu
The word "uphawu" can also mean "symptom" or "indication".
Bambarataamasiyɛn
Ewedzesi
Kinyarwandaikimenyetso
Lingalaelembo
Lugandaokuteekako omukono
Sepedileswao
Twi (Akan)fa nsa hyɛ aseɛ

Sign in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicإشارة
In Arabic, "إشارة" can also refer to a signal or gesture.
Hebrewסִימָן
The word "סִימָן" (sign) in Hebrew can also mean a mole, a birthmark, or a symptom.
Pashtoنښه
The Pashto word "nښه" can also mean "mark", "trace", or "indication."
Arabicإشارة
In Arabic, "إشارة" can also refer to a signal or gesture.

Sign in Western European Languages

Albanianshenjë
"Shenjë" can also refer to an agreement between two parties
Basquesinatu
The word "ziñatu" may have originated from the word "iñatu" meaning "opinion or belief".
Catalansigne
"Signe" comes from the Latin word "signum", which referred to a military banner used as a gathering sign.
Croatianznak
The word "znak" in Croatian can also mean "omen" or "symbol".
Danishskilt
The Danish word "skilt" is derived from the Old Norse word "skilja", meaning "to separate" or "to distinguish", hence its usage for "sign".
Dutchteken
Dutch "teken" (sign) is related to words like "token" (small sign) and "ticket" (sign of permission), from Vulgar Latin *signum*.
Englishsign
The word "sign" derives from the Latin "signum," meaning "mark, token, or symbol."
Frenchsigne
The French word "signe" also means "mark", "miracle", or "omen", and comes from the Latin "signum".
Frisianteken
The word "teken" can also mean "token" or "symbol" in Frisian.
Galicianasinar
The Galician word "asinar" can also mean "to sign"}
Germanzeichen
In linguistics, "Zeichen" can refer to the abstract linguistic sign (Zeichen) as well as to its physical manifestation (Zeichen).
Icelandicundirrita
The Icelandic word "undirritun" (signature) comes from the verb "undirrita" (to sign), which is a combination of "undir" (under) and "rita" (to write).
Irishsínigh
Sínigh (sign) is derived from the Latin word "signum," which can also mean "mark, proof, or indication."
Italiancartello
The Italian word "cartello" comes from the Late Latin word "cartellus,
Luxembourgishënnerschreiwen
The second part of the word, "schreiwen," derives from the Proto-Indo-European word "*skreibh-" meaning "to scratch," reflecting the origins of writing as a practice of scratching marks onto a surface.
Maltesesinjal
The word "sinjal" in Maltese, meaning "sign," derives from the Latin "signum" through Sicilian and Arabic.
Norwegianskilt
Skilt used to have a broader meaning, including "board" and "fence".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)placa
In Portugal, "placa" can also refer to a commemorative plaque or a nameplate, while in Brazil, it can mean a license plate or a metal plate used for construction.
Scots Gaelicsoidhne
Scots Gaelic soidhne also means "to summon" and comes from Middle Irish "saidhnim," itself from the verbal noun of "siadaim" meaning "to follow, pursue."
Spanishfirmar
In Spanish, 'firmar' also means 'to strengthen' and originates from Latin 'firmare' (to make firm).
Swedishtecken
The word "tecken" is derived from an ancient Proto-Germanic root, meaning "observe" or "note", suggesting its primary use in expressing something that is observable or noticeable.
Welsharwydd
The word "arwydd" in Welsh, meaning "sign", originates from the Proto-Celtic root "*areǵ-," meaning "foretoken", indicating its connection to divination and prophecy.

Sign in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзнак
The Belarusian word "знак" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*znakъ", which originally meant "mark" or "imprint".
Bosnianznak
The Bosnian word "znak" can also refer to a gesture, a symbol, or a characteristic.
Bulgarianзнак
The word "знак" in Bulgarian can also mean "signal", "mark", "symbol", "proof", or "evidence".
Czechpodepsat
Czech podepsat, a derivative of psáti("write"), is a Slavic equivalent of the English word "subscribe".
Estonianmärk
The word "märk" in Estonian also means "mark" in the sense of a numerical grade or a distinction left by a tool or action, and is related to the word "märkida" (to mark).
Finnishmerkki
The Finnish word "merkki" is cognate with the Estonian word "märk", the Hungarian word "jel", and the English word "mark".
Hungarianjel
The noun 'jel' in Hungarian evolved from meanings 'appearance, phenomenon' or 'characteristic, feature' of the verb 'jelent' (< Proto-Finnic *śeljä) which means in Proto-Ugric and Proto-Finno-Ugric 'to appear'.
Latvianzīmi
The term "zīmi" can also refer to a brand, mark, or indication, or even a symbol or characteristic.
Lithuanianženklas
The Lithuanian word "ženklas" (sign) is cognate with the English word "token" and the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰenǝ-, meaning "to know".
Macedonianзнак
"Знак" is etymologically related to "знак" in Russian and "знак" in Serbian, all meaning "sign".
Polishznak
The Slavic root of "znak" means both "mark" and "miracle", the latter because its power in the pre-Christian Slavic script went beyond its visual appearance.
Romaniansemn
Semn can also mean "mark" or "omen", a semantic extension from its original meaning of "sign".
Russianзнак
The word "знак" can also mean "mark", "indication", or "symbol" in Russian.
Serbianзнак
The word "знак" also means "banner", "mark", "gesture", "signal", or "symptom".
Slovakpodpísať
The word "podpísať" derives from the Old Church Slavonic root "pisati", meaning "to write".
Slovenianznak
"Znak" also means 'omen' in Polish and a 'character' or 'symbol' in several Slavic languages including Old Church Slavonic.
Ukrainianзнак
In astronomy, "знак" can also mean "zodiac sign" and in the context of linguistics it may mean "character" or "letter"

Sign in South Asian Languages

Bengaliচিহ্ন
চিহ্ন/ছাপ (Chinha/Chap) means an engraving or stamp, mark on the body, seal on a document, footprint, trace or evidence, a distinguishing feature.
Gujaratiહસ્તાક્ષર
The word "હસ્તાક્ષર" in Gujarati comes from the Sanskrit word "हस्ताक्षर" which means "handwritten signature", and in Gujarati it specifically refers to the signature of a person or the autograph of a celebrity.
Hindiसंकेत
संकेत also refers to a secret signal or code used by a group of people.
Kannadaಚಿಹ್ನೆ
The word ಚಿಹ್ನೆ is a loanword from English, and it also means a symbol.
Malayalamഅടയാളം
In the archaic sense, the term "അടയാളം" refers to one's signature or autography.
Marathiचिन्ह
The Marathi word "चिन्ह" can also mean a mark, token, or symbol.
Nepaliचिन्ह
The word "चिन्ह" (sign) is derived from the Sanskrit word "cihna" and can also refer to a mark, symbol, or indication.
Punjabiਸੰਕੇਤ
The word "ਸੰਕੇਤ" (sign) can also mean "hint" or "indication" in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ලකුණ
In Sinhala, the word "ලකුණ" ("sign") also signifies a "mark" or "scar" left on the body.
Tamilஅடையாளம்
The Tamil word "அடையாளம்" can also refer to an identification mark or characteristic, a symbol or indication of something, or a proof or evidence.
Teluguగుర్తు
The word "గుర్తు" also refers to a "mark", "brand", "trace", "impression", or "memory" in Telugu.
Urduنشانی
"نشانی" in Urdu can also mean "address" or "mark".

Sign in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)标志
The word "标志" can also refer to a "symbol" or a "mark" that represents something.
Chinese (Traditional)標誌
標誌 can also refer to a flag, banner, or emblem.
Japanese符号
"符号" (sign) can also mean "symbol", "code" or "secret code".
Korean기호
In Korean, 기호 (giho) is derived from Chinese, where it originally referred to an auspicious object, and can also mean 'symbol' or 'token'.
Mongolianгарын үсэг
"гарын үсэг" (sign) derives from "гар" (hand) and "үсэг" (letter), referring to the act of signing with one's hand like writing.
Myanmar (Burmese)လက်မှတ်ထိုး
In ancient Burma, "sign" was also used to refer to the signature of a prince or powerful person used to signify their assent on royal decrees.

Sign in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiantanda
A derivative of the word "tanda" is "penanda" which means "indicator" or "marker".
Javanesemlebu
"Mlebu" also means "to enter" or "to go in" in Javanese.
Khmerចុះហត្ថលេខា
The word ចុះហត្ថលេខា "sign" can also mean "end" when used at the end of a letter or document, and "press" when used in the context of pressing a button.
Laoເຊັນ
The word “ເຊັນ” in Lao can mean “to make a mark with a pen or other writing instrument" or "a mark made with a pen or other writing instrument".
Malaytanda
Malay 'tanda', also meaning 'receipt', 'note', 'tally', is from Old Javanese 'tanda'
Thaiลงชื่อ
ลงชื่อ is a Thai word with many meanings, including "sign", "put one's name to", "subscribe", and "endorse".
Vietnameseký tên
The word "ký tên" in Vietnamese also means "to sign one's name" or "to put one's signature on a document".
Filipino (Tagalog)tanda

Sign in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniişarəsi
The word 'işarəsi' can also refer to a gesture or a hint in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhқол қою
In Kazakh, the verb "қол қою" is an idiom that literally means
Kyrgyzбелги
The Kyrgyz word "белги" is also used to refer to a mole or birthmark.
Tajikимзо
The word "имзо" in Tajik is likely derived from the Persian word "امضاء" (emzâ), which means "signature" or "symbol."
Turkmengol
Uzbekimzo
The word "imzo" (sign) in Uzbek originated from the Persian word "imza" which means "signature" or "mark".
Uyghurئىمزا

Sign in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhōʻailona
Hōʻailona is also a symbol, token, or representation of something else.
Maoriwaitohu
Waitohu in Māori is also a derivative word referring to a star sign or celestial sign.
Samoansaini
Saini, loosely translated, means 'the physical representation of an idea'
Tagalog (Filipino)tanda
Tanda, meaning "sign" in Tagalog, also refers to a traditional Filipino savings and lending practice.

Sign in American Indigenous Languages

Aymararixuntaña
Guaranimboheraguapy

Sign in International Languages

Esperantosigno
Esperanto's "signo" derives from the Latin signum, meaning "mark, token, or signal".
Latinsignum
The Latin word "signum" can also refer to a military standard, a mark of distinction, or a signal.

Sign in Others Languages

Greekσημάδι
"σημάδι" is derived from the Indo-European root "*segh- " meaning "to cut, to mark"}
Hmongkos npe
The Hmong word "kos npe" is etymologically related to the Thai word "s̄an yhān" meaning "sign" and the Chinese word "qì" meaning "trace" or "mark."
Kurdishnîşan
In Kurdish, the word "nîşan" also refers to a marking on the body, such as a birthmark or tattoo.
Turkishişaret
The Turkish word "işaret" is derived from the Arabic word "ishara," meaning "a sign, a mark, a gesture."
Xhosauphawu
'Iphawu' is related to the isiXhosa word 'phawuza' (to show, indicate, point out).
Yiddishצייכן
The Yiddish word "צייכן" comes from the German word "zeichnen", which means "to draw" or "to mark".
Zuluuphawu
The word "uphawu" can also mean "symptom" or "indication".
Assameseচহী
Aymararixuntaña
Bhojpuriचिन्ह
Dhivehiސޮއި
Dogriदस्तखत
Filipino (Tagalog)tanda
Guaranimboheraguapy
Ilocanosinyales
Kriosayn
Kurdish (Sorani)نیشانە
Maithiliहस्ताक्षर
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯈꯨꯠꯌꯦꯛ ꯄꯤꯕ
Mizochhinchhiahna
Oromomallattoo
Odia (Oriya)ଚିହ୍ନ
Quechuayupichay
Sanskritचिह्नम्‌
Tatarбилге
Tigrinyaምልክት
Tsongamfungho

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