Speaker in Different Languages
Discover 'Speaker' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'speaker' carries great significance in our daily lives, as it refers to an individual who communicates or expresses ideas and information to others. Speakers are essential in various settings, from public speeches and classrooms to business meetings and social gatherings. The cultural importance of speakers is evident in the role they play in preserving oral traditions, sharing stories, and fostering connections among people.
Delving into the world of 'speaker' in different languages unveils a rich tapestry of cultural nuances and linguistic diversity. For instance, the Spanish translation of 'speaker' is 'altavoz,' which also means 'loudspeaker.' Meanwhile, the German equivalent, 'Sprecher,' can refer to both a speaker and a narrator. In Japanese, 'speaker' is translated as 'tsuuchou,' which shares its written form with the word for 'through' or 'passage,' symbolizing the act of communication as a bridge between individuals.
Understanding the translation of 'speaker' in various languages can enrich one's appreciation for cultural differences and enhance language learning. Here are some translations to pique your curiosity:
Speaker
Speaker in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | spreker | ||
| The word "spreker" in Afrikaans derives from the Middle Dutch word "spreker", meaning "a person who speaks". | |||
| Amharic | ተናጋሪ | ||
| The word "ተናጋሪ" (speaker) in Amharic can also refer to a "singer" or "storyteller." | |||
| Hausa | mai magana | ||
| The word "mai magana" is also used to refer to someone who is eloquent or persuasive in speech. | |||
| Igbo | ọkà okwu | ||
| In certain contexts, ọkà okwu means "a spokesperson," especially within the context of a group of people. | |||
| Malagasy | gazety | ||
| The word 'gazety' in Malagasy can also mean 'newspaper'. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wokamba nkhani | ||
| The compound term "wokamba nkhani" literally means "talker of news" and has a connotation of "messenger" or "proclaimer." | |||
| Shona | mutauri | ||
| The word "mutauri" can also refer to a spokesperson, orator, or public address announcer. | |||
| Somali | hadlaya | ||
| "Hadlaya" is derived from the Proto-Cushitic root *had-, meaning "to speak". | |||
| Sesotho | sebui | ||
| Swahili | mzungumzaji | ||
| The Swahili word "mzungumzaji" can also mean "ambassador" or "spokesperson" | |||
| Xhosa | isithethi | ||
| The word 'isithethi' can also refer to a person who acts as a spokesperson or representative for a group. | |||
| Yoruba | agbọrọsọ | ||
| "Agbọrọsọ" is also the name of a certain type of tree found in Nigeria. | |||
| Zulu | isikhulumi | ||
| The Zulu word 'isikhulumi' also means 'the one who brings rain' or 'the one who makes it rain'. | |||
| Bambara | kumalasela | ||
| Ewe | nuƒola | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuvugizi | ||
| Lingala | molobi | ||
| Luganda | omwogezi | ||
| Sepedi | seboledi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ɔkasafo | ||
Speaker in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مكبر الصوت | ||
| Hebrew | רַמקוֹל | ||
| "רַמקוֹל" (speaker) is an acronym of the Hebrew phrase "רֶמקוֹל הַקּוֹל" (voice amplifier) | |||
| Pashto | سپیکر | ||
| The Pashto word "سپیکر" is an alternative term for a "leader" and is also used as the title for the head of Afghanistan's lower parliamentary chamber, known as the House of the People (Wolesi Jirgah). | |||
| Arabic | مكبر الصوت | ||
Speaker in Western European Languages
| Albanian | folës | ||
| The Albanian word "folës" is derived from the verb "fol" ("speak"), and is also used to refer to an orator, a spokesperson, or a teacher. | |||
| Basque | hizlaria | ||
| The word "hizlaria" likely derives from the Basque word "hitz", meaning "word" or "speech". | |||
| Catalan | altaveu | ||
| The word "altaveu" is derived from the Latin words "altus" (high) and "vox" (voice), and originally referred to a type of loud, high-pitched horn used in ancient Roman military battles. | |||
| Croatian | zvučnik | ||
| The Croatian word "zvučnik" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root "*zvěkati", meaning "to sound". | |||
| Danish | højttaler | ||
| The word "højttaler" literally means "loudspeaker" in Danish, combining "høj" (loud) and "taler" (speaker). | |||
| Dutch | spreker | ||
| The Dutch word "spreker" originally referred to the "spokesman" for a legal entity or political group. | |||
| English | speaker | ||
| The term 'speaker' is also used in other contexts, such as the presiding officer of a legislative body or a public address system component. | |||
| French | orateur | ||
| The French word “orateur” meant “advocate” in the 12th century, from Latin “orāre” (“to plead”). | |||
| Frisian | sprekker | ||
| The Frisian word "sprekker" can also mean a magpie or a talkative person. | |||
| Galician | altofalante | ||
| The word "altofalante" comes from the Portuguese word "alto-falante", which means "loudspeaker". | |||
| German | lautsprecher | ||
| The word "Lautsprecher" in German originated from the verb "sprech" (to speak) and the noun "Schall" (sound), meaning literally "sound speaker." | |||
| Icelandic | ræðumaður | ||
| The word 'ræðumaður' shares a common etymological root with the Old Norse word 'ráð' which means 'advice'. | |||
| Irish | cainteoir | ||
| The word "cainteoir" in Irish can also refer to someone who gives a public speech or lecture. | |||
| Italian | altoparlante | ||
| The word "altoparlante" comes from the Latin "altus" (high) and "parlare" (to speak). | |||
| Luxembourgish | spriecher | ||
| The word "Spriecher" derives from the Old Germanic "sprekan", meaning both "to speak" and "to crackle". | |||
| Maltese | kelliem | ||
| The word "kelliem" (speaker) is derived from the Arabic word "kalām" (word, speech), which also appears in other Maltese words such as "kellem" (to speak), "kelma" (word), and "kliem" (speech). | |||
| Norwegian | høyttaler | ||
| The word "høyttaler" is derived from the Old Norse word "hátt", meaning "loud". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | alto falante | ||
| The word 'alto falante' in Portuguese literally means 'high speaker', referring to its placement typically at a higher elevation than the ear. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | neach-labhairt | ||
| 'Neach-labhairt' may mean an eloquent speaker or a 'clypeomancer', someone who reads omens from the bubbles in a drinking-cup. | |||
| Spanish | altavoz | ||
| The word "altavoz" has a literal meaning of "high voice" in Spanish, referring to its purpose of amplifying sound. | |||
| Swedish | högtalare | ||
| In Swedish, 'högtalare' literally translates to 'high talker'. | |||
| Welsh | siaradwr | ||
| The word 'siаradwr' comes from the Welsh word 'siаrad,' meaning 'to talk' or 'to speak,' and can also refer to someone who gives a public speech. | |||
Speaker in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | дынамік | ||
| The word "дынамік" (speaker) is also cognate with "dynamism", reflecting its dynamic sound reproduction capabilities. | |||
| Bosnian | zvučnik | ||
| The word "zvučnik" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "zvьkъ", meaning "sound". | |||
| Bulgarian | високоговорител | ||
| The Bulgarian word "високоговорител" is a calque of "loudspeaker", a combination of "loud" and "speaker" in English. | |||
| Czech | mluvčí | ||
| The Czech word "mluvčí" can also refer to a spokesperson or representative of an organization. | |||
| Estonian | kõlar | ||
| The word "kõlar" has the same root as "kõli" (ship's hull), due to similarity of function with the resonance in the hull. | |||
| Finnish | kaiutin | ||
| The word "kaiutin" comes from the Greek word "καλεῖν" (kalein), meaning "to call" or "to summon." | |||
| Hungarian | hangszóró | ||
| The word "hangszóró" is a compound word, derived from the Hungarian words "hang" (sound) and "szóró" (scatter). | |||
| Latvian | skaļrunis | ||
| The word "skaļrunis" in Latvian derives from the word "skaļš" (loud) and the suffix "-runis" (one who does something), literally meaning "one who makes loud sounds". | |||
| Lithuanian | garsiakalbis | ||
| The word "garsiakalbis" derives from the Lithuanian words "garsas" (sound) and "kalbėti" (to speak). | |||
| Macedonian | звучник | ||
| The word "zvuchnik" can also refer to a resonator or soundbox in musical instruments. | |||
| Polish | głośnik | ||
| In Polish, "głośnik" also means "throat". | |||
| Romanian | vorbitor | ||
| In Romanian, "vorbitor" can also refer to the language a person uses or the act of speaking a language. | |||
| Russian | оратор | ||
| The word "оратор" derives from the Latin "orare" meaning "to plead" or "to pray" and can also refer to someone who is eloquent or who delivers formal addresses. | |||
| Serbian | звучник | ||
| The word "звучник" can refer to a "loudspeaker" or a "bell" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | rečník | ||
| In Slovak, "rečník" can also refer to a birdhouse or a person who likes to talk a lot. | |||
| Slovenian | zvočnik | ||
| The Slovene word "zvočnik" is cognate with the German word "Glocke" (bell) and originally referred to a bell ringer or bell tower, later extending its meaning to denote a person who speaks for or represents others. | |||
| Ukrainian | динамік | ||
| "Динамік" is also used in Ukrainian to refer to the amplitude of a sound or the range of a speaker's voice. | |||
Speaker in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | স্পিকার | ||
| In Bengali, "স্পিকার" also refers to a person who leads a parliamentary session. | |||
| Gujarati | સ્પીકર | ||
| "Speaker" in Gujarati can also refer to a member of a legislative assembly who presides over its proceedings. | |||
| Hindi | वक्ता | ||
| The word "वक्ता" in Hindi, meaning "speaker," finds its roots in the Sanskrit term "vakta," which can also refer to "a talker," "a reciter," or "a person who expresses or articulates." | |||
| Kannada | ಸ್ಪೀಕರ್ | ||
| In Kannada, "ಸ್ಪೀಕರ್" can also refer to a "person who announces or reads aloud publicly" or a "drum used for communication in traditional rituals." | |||
| Malayalam | സ്പീക്കർ | ||
| In Malayalam, "speaker" can also refer to a parrot, an interpreter, or a lecturer. | |||
| Marathi | स्पीकर | ||
| In Marathi, the word "स्पीकर" can also refer to a thorn or a peg used to fasten something. | |||
| Nepali | वक्ता | ||
| The word वक्ता can also refer to a mouthpiece or a representative. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਪੀਕਰ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਸਪੀਕਰ" can also mean "person of note, a person of consequence or great reputation". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කථිකයා | ||
| The Sinhalese word "කථිකයා" (speaker) derives from the Sanskrit word "kathitaka" (narrator), indicating its role as a communicator of information or ideas | |||
| Tamil | பேச்சாளர் | ||
| பேச்சாளர் also refers to an individual who speaks, especially in the context of religious discourses and theatrical performances in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | స్పీకర్ | ||
| "స్పీకర్" (speaker) in Telugu also refers to the chairperson of a legislative body, a person who makes public announcements, and a component of an audio system that produces sound. | |||
| Urdu | اسپیکر | ||
| In Urdu, اسپیکر "speaker" can also refer to a person who speaks on behalf of others, particularly in a political or official capacity. | |||
Speaker in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 扬声器 | ||
| In the context of Chinese electronics, "扬声器" can also refer to a type of audio amplifier. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 揚聲器 | ||
| The Chinese characters '揚聲器' literally translate to 'loud sound device', referring to the device's function to amplify sound. | |||
| Japanese | スピーカー | ||
| In addition to meaning "speaker," スピーカー can also mean "mouth" or "mouthpiece." | |||
| Korean | 스피커 | ||
| The word 스피커 also means "person who speaks" in Korean, and derives from the English word "speaker". | |||
| Mongolian | чанга яригч | ||
| The word "чанга яригч" can also refer to a singer or a narrator. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စပီကာ | ||
| The Burmese word "စပီကာ" (speaker) is ultimately derived from the English word "speaker", but it also has a specific meaning in Burmese politics, where it refers to the presiding officer of the Pyithu Hluttaw (parliament). | |||
Speaker in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | pembicara | ||
| The word "pembicara" in Indonesian can also mean "lecturer" or "teacher". | |||
| Javanese | pamicara | ||
| The etymology of the Javanese word "pamicara" is unclear, but it is thought to be related to the word "pitutur", which means "speech" or "teaching." | |||
| Khmer | អ្នកនិយាយ | ||
| The word "អ្នកនិយាយ" can also refer to a spokesperson or a person who speaks on behalf of others. | |||
| Lao | ລໍາໂພງ | ||
| Malay | pembesar suara | ||
| In Malay, 'pembesar suara' can also mean 'amplifier'. | |||
| Thai | ลำโพง | ||
| The word "ลำโพง" in Thai, which refers to audio speakers, can be traced back to a type of Thai drum | |||
| Vietnamese | loa | ||
| The word “loa” also means “type” or “kind” in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapagsalita | ||
Speaker in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | natiq | ||
| The word natiq may also refer to one of the six stages of poetic evolution in classical Azerbaijani poetry. | |||
| Kazakh | динамик | ||
| "Динамик" is also used to refer to the dynamic range of an audio system or a person who is energetic or enthusiastic. | |||
| Kyrgyz | баяндамачы | ||
| The word "баяндамачы" is derived from the Persian word "bayān" meaning "story" or "explanation". | |||
| Tajik | нотиқ | ||
| "Нотиқ" is derived from Arabic "нāṭiq" ("speaker") and also means "person who reads aloud; reciter; narrator." | |||
| Turkmen | spiker | ||
| Uzbek | ma'ruzachi | ||
| Ma'ruzachi can also mean "a person who reports a crime or other wrongdoing to the authorities" or "a person who makes a request or complaint to the authorities." | |||
| Uyghur | سۆزلىگۈچى | ||
Speaker in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | haʻi ʻōlelo | ||
| The word "haʻi ʻōlelo" can also refer to a language advisor or an orator who specializes in speechmaking. | |||
| Maori | kaikōrero | ||
| "Kaikōrero" can also mean "a person who is good at making speeches". | |||
| Samoan | failauga | ||
| The word 'failauga' can also refer to a traditional orator who holds a chiefly title. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tagapagsalita | ||
| Tagalog word "tagapagsalita" also refers to a "lawyer" or "counselor", from the root word "salita" meaning "speech" or "word." | |||
Speaker in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | arst’iri | ||
| Guarani | oñe’ẽva | ||
Speaker in International Languages
| Esperanto | parolanto | ||
| "Parolanto" shares its etymology with the word "paroli" (speech), coming from the root "parol-" (speak). | |||
| Latin | speaker | ||
| Latin "speaker" derives from "specio," meaning "look at," which also roots "spectacles" and "specimen". | |||
Speaker in Others Languages
| Greek | ομιλητής | ||
| The Greek word "Ομιλητής" (speaker) originates from the verb "ομιλέω" (to speak), which in turn derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂weh₁- " (to say, to speak). | |||
| Hmong | lus qhia | ||
| The Hmong word "lus qhia" can also refer to someone who is skilled at public speaking. | |||
| Kurdish | hoparlo | ||
| The word 'hoparlo' can also mean 'loudspeaker' or 'megaphone' in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | hoparlör | ||
| "Hoparlör" derives from "höpperlenmek" (to hop) and is also called a "kono" (cone), due to the cone-shaped diaphragm used to produce sound. | |||
| Xhosa | isithethi | ||
| The word 'isithethi' can also refer to a person who acts as a spokesperson or representative for a group. | |||
| Yiddish | רעדנער | ||
| "Redner" is the Yiddish term for "speaker", akin to the German "Redner" or the English "orator". It derives from the Yiddish word "reden", meaning "to speak or talk". | |||
| Zulu | isikhulumi | ||
| The Zulu word 'isikhulumi' also means 'the one who brings rain' or 'the one who makes it rain'. | |||
| Assamese | বক্তা | ||
| Aymara | arst’iri | ||
| Bhojpuri | वक्ता के रूप में काम कइले बानी | ||
| Dhivehi | ސްޕީކަރެވެ | ||
| Dogri | वक्ता | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapagsalita | ||
| Guarani | oñe’ẽva | ||
| Ilocano | agsasao | ||
| Krio | spika | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | وتاردەر | ||
| Maithili | वक्ता | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯋꯥꯉꯥꯡꯂꯣꯏ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | thusawitu a ni | ||
| Oromo | dubbataa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବକ୍ତା | ||
| Quechua | rimaq | ||
| Sanskrit | वक्ता | ||
| Tatar | спикер | ||
| Tigrinya | ተዛራባይ | ||
| Tsonga | xivulavuri | ||