Speech in different languages

Speech in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Speech is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate, express ourselves, and share ideas with others. It is a fundamental aspect of human connection and has played a crucial role in shaping cultures and societies throughout history. From political speeches that have changed the course of nations, to personal speeches that have inspired and moved audiences, the significance of speech cannot be overstated.

In addition to its cultural importance, speech is also a universal concept that transcends language barriers. Whether you're speaking in English, Spanish, Mandarin, or any other language, the basic principles of speech remain the same. This is why it's so fascinating to explore the translations of speech in different languages, and to see how different cultures and languages approach this fundamental aspect of communication.

For example, in Spanish, the word for speech is 'discurso.' In Mandarin, it's '演辩' (yánbiàn). And in Arabic, it's 'خطاب' (khuṭāb). By learning these translations, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity and richness of human language and culture.

Speech

Speech in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanstoespraak
The Afrikaans word "toespraak" ultimately derives from the Old English word "sprǣc", meaning "speech" or "language".
Amharicንግግር
In Amharic, ንግግር can also refer to the faculty of speech, a language, or a particular way of speaking.
Hausamagana
Hausa "magana" originally meant "something spoken" but now also refers to "language".
Igbookwu
Okwu is often extended to mean 'case' or any matter requiring discussion.
Malagasyteny
The Malagasy word "teny" can also mean "word", "language", or "proverb."
Nyanja (Chichewa)kulankhula
Kulankhula also means "to discuss" or "to talk to someone" in Nyanja.
Shonakutaura
In Shona, the word `kutaura` is a derivative of the root `-taura`, meaning 'to connect', suggesting that speech is seen as a way to establish connections.
Somalihadalka
'Hadalka' is also used to refer to the traditional Somali dance, where dancers enact stories and songs.
Sesothopuo
The word 'puo' is a noun and is a homograph meaning both 'a spoken language' and 'an argument'.
Swahilihotuba
"Hotuba" can also refer to a ceremonial or formal discourse, like a sermon or a keynote address.
Xhosaintetho
The word 'intetho' is also used to refer to a traditional form of Xhosa poetry.
Yorubaọrọ
Ọrọ can also refer to a secret or hidden language used by certain groups or in specific situations.
Zuluinkulumo
The word "inkulumo" shares its root with the word "ukulumo" which means "listening"
Bambarakumakan
Ewenuƒoƒo
Kinyarwandaimvugo
Lingalamaloba
Lugandaokwoogera
Sepedipolelo
Twi (Akan)ɔkasa

Speech in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicخطاب
The word "خطاب" also means "address", "letter" or "sermon" in Arabic.
Hebrewנְאוּם
The Hebrew word "נְאוּם" also means "oracle" in Biblical Hebrew.
Pashtoوينا
The Pashto word "وينا" (speech) can also refer to "language" in a more broad sense, encompassing both spoken and written forms of communication.
Arabicخطاب
The word "خطاب" also means "address", "letter" or "sermon" in Arabic.

Speech in Western European Languages

Albanianfjalim
In Albanian, "fjalim" can also refer to a lecture or an oration.
Basquehizketa
The Basque word "hizketa" can also mean "language" or "discourse" and is derived from the verb "hitz egin," meaning "to speak."
Catalandiscurs
The Catalan word "discurs" comes from the Latin word "discursus," which means "act of running or moving apart" or "a going to and fro."
Croatiangovor
The Croatian word 'govor' has its origins in the Proto-Slavic 'govorъ', which also meant 'assembly' and 'conversation'.
Danishtale
The Danish word "tale" is derived from the Old Norse word "tal" which means number or enumeration
Dutchtoespraak
The word "toespraak" comes from the Old Dutch word "toespreken" meaning "to speak to"
Englishspeech
"Speech" originates from the Old English word "spræc," which originally meant "conversation" or "discourse" but later came to refer specifically to formal addresses.
Frenchdiscours
Discours's etymological roots are found in ancient Greek, where it meant 'to run' or 'to pursue', and in Latin, where it referred to 'the act of running' or 'discussion'.
Frisianspeech
In Frisian, "speech" ("sprek") also means "conversation" or "language".
Galicianfala
The Galician word "fala" comes from the Latin "fabula", meaning "fable" or "story", and also refers to the dialects of Astur-Leonese spoken in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Germanrede
The word "Rede" can also refer to a formal speech or oration, or to a statement or pledge.
Icelandicræðu
The Old Norse word "ræða" also meant "to advise" or "to have a conversation".
Irishóráid
Óráid originates in Latin "oratio," where it refers to public speech.
Italiandiscorso
In Italian, "discorso" also refers to a treatise or reasoned argument
Luxembourgishried
The Luxembourgish word "Ried" is derived from the German word "Rede" and also means "council" or "assembly".
Maltesediskors
The Maltese word "diskors" derives from the Italian "discorso" and the Latin "discursus", both meaning "conversation, dialogue, or discussion."
Norwegiantale
"Tale" is a feminine form of the word "tala," meaning "to speak".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)discurso
Discurso derives from Medieval Latin *discursus*, meaning "running in different directions" (later "running about; conversation"), originally from Latin discurrere, from dis- ("apart, away") + currere ("to run").
Scots Gaeliccainnt
'Cainnt' also refers to something said which is not necessarily true.
Spanishhabla
In the Middle Ages, 'habla' referred specifically to speech with the mouth.
Swedishtal
The word "tal" can also mean "number" or "rate" in Swedish.
Welsharaith
While 'araith' directly translates to 'speech', it can also mean a 'discourse' or 'oration'.

Speech in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianгаворка
In addition to its primary meaning of "speech," "гаворка" can also refer to "dialect" or "conversation."
Bosniangovor
Govor can also mean 'act of saying' or 'expression' in Bosnian.
Bulgarianреч
The word "реч" (speech) in Bulgarian also has the meaning of "river".
Czechmluvený projev
Mluvený projev (literally "spoken expression") is derived from the Czech word "mluvit" meaning "to speak".
Estoniankõne
"Kõne" can also refer to "language", as in grammar and linguistics.
Finnishpuhe
Puhe derives from the verb 'puhua' and can also refer to a talk or discussion, or an address given by a speaker in a professional or formal setting.
Hungarianbeszéd
In Hungarian, "beszéd" can also mean "language," "discourse," or "lecture."
Latvianruna
The name "Runa" was borrowed into Latvian from Lithuanian, where it means a song, a ballad or an incantation.
Lithuaniankalbos
The word "kalbos" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷʰelbʰ-, meaning "to speak".
Macedonianговор
"Говор" in Macedonian can also refer to a dialect or a way of speaking.
Polishprzemówienie
The word "przemówienie" in Polish also has the meaning of "an address".
Romanianvorbire
The noun "vorbire" comes from the Latin word "verbum," meaning both "word" and "speech."
Russianречь
Речь can also refer to the text of an address, lecture, or any type of spoken or written composition.
Serbianговор
The word "говор" can also refer to a rumor or gossip, or a style of singing or talking.
Slovakreč
The word "reč" in Slovak can also mean "language" or "dialect."
Sloveniangovor
The word "govor" in Slovenian also means "agreement" and "dialect".
Ukrainianмовлення
The word "мовлення" also means "broadcast" in Ukrainian.

Speech in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবক্তৃতা
The word 'বক্তৃতা' (speech) is derived from the Sanskrit root 'বক্তृ' (speaker), which also means 'one who speaks' or 'a rhetorician'.
Gujaratiભાષણ
In Gujarati, "ભાષણ" (speech) also refers to a type of poetic composition used in traditional folk theater performances.
Hindiभाषण
The word "भाषण" (bhāshaṇa) also means "conversation, discourse" in Hindi.
Kannadaಮಾತು
In Kannada, "ಮಾತು" (speech) also refers to words, dialogue, and communication.
Malayalamസംസാരം
The word "സംസാരം" (speech) in Malayalam is derived from the Sanskrit word "संसार" (saṃsāra), which means "the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth".
Marathiभाषण
The word "भाषण" also means "lecture" or "oratory" in Marathi.
Nepaliभाषण
भाषण originates from संस्कृत and can also mean address, sermon, talk, or lecture.
Punjabiਭਾਸ਼ਣ
The word "ਭਾਸ਼ਣ" (bhashan) in Punjabi can also mean a religious discourse or a lecture.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කථාව
The word "කථාව" is derived from the Sanskrit word "kathanam" which means "to speak or to tell".
Tamilபேச்சு
The Tamil word "பேச்சு" not only means "speech" but also has connotations of "conversation" and "talk".
Teluguప్రసంగం
'ప్రసంగ' means 'extension' or 'spread' in Sanskrit, referring to the extended or elaborated nature of a speech.
Urduتقریر
The word "تقریر" originated from the Arabic word "qara'a" meaning "to read" or "to recite".

Speech in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)言语
言语 originally meant 'words on a book' and was only used with the written language, but since the 20th century it has been used with both written and spoken language.
Chinese (Traditional)言語
言語 also means "language" in Chinese, a term commonly used to refer to a system of communication in a particular community or nation.
Japaneseスピーチ
スピーチ (speech) is a loanword from English, and can also mean "a statement or remark," "a faculty for uttering articulate sounds," or "a formal address delivered in public."
Korean연설
The word '연설' in Korean can also refer to a 'lecture' or 'talk' more generally, and its root '연' can mean 'speech' or 'language'.
Mongolianяриа
The Mongolian word 'яриа' also has the alternate meaning of 'argument' or 'quarrel'.
Myanmar (Burmese)မိန့်ခွန်း

Speech in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpidato
"Pidato" is derived from the Portuguese "prata" (silver or money) and has historically referred to a formal speech given by an elder or leader.
Javanesewicara
The word "wicara" in Javanese may have originated from the Sanskrit words "vicara" (thought) or "vacana" (speech).
Khmerសុន្ទរកថា
Laoຄຳ ເວົ້າ
The word "Khăm Veua" (speech) can also mean "word" or "language" in Lao.
Malayucapan
The word "ucapan" can also refer to a proclamation or announcement
Thaiสุนทรพจน์
In Thai "สุนทรพจน์" (sunthraphotch) not only means "speech" but can also be used to refer to writing that uses eloquent language.
Vietnamesephát biểu
In Vietnamese, "phát biểu" can also mean "to declare" or "to make a statement."}
Filipino (Tagalog)talumpati

Speech in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaninitq
The Azerbaijani word
Kazakhсөйлеу
"Сөйлеу" also means "to talk" or "to speak" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzсүйлөө
Tajikсуханронӣ
The word "суханронӣ" in Tajik can also refer to a speech or lecture given in a formal setting.
Turkmençykyş
Uzbeknutq
Uzbek "nutq" is a word of Arabic origin borrowed into Mongolian, Turkic, and Iranian languages, cognate with Persian "nūṭaq" and "nutk" in Ottoman Turkish.
Uyghurنۇتۇق

Speech in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhaiolelo
The Hawaiian word "haiolelo" can also refer to a debate or argument.
Maoriwhaikorero
The Maori word "whaikorero" originally referred to a formal meeting or assembly rather than just a speech.
Samoantautalaga
The word "tautalaga" in Samoan can also refer to a sermon or a lecture.
Tagalog (Filipino)pagsasalita
Etymology: Tagalog "salita" means "word," and the "pa"- prefix denotes a collective noun like "a group of things," so "pagsasalita" could mean "a group of words," i.e. "speech."

Speech in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraarsu
Guaranieñe'ẽ

Speech in International Languages

Esperantoparolado
Esperanto's "parolado" is derived from Latin's "parabola" and also means "parable".
Latinoratio
"Oratio" also means "prayer" or "plea", and is the root of the word "oration", meaning "formal speech".

Speech in Others Languages

Greekομιλία
The word "ομιλία" (speech) in Greek also means "conversation" or "discussion".
Hmonghais lus
The word "hais lus" also refers to the act of reciting a Hmong creation myth and/or folktale or an important message.
Kurdishaxaftin
Axaftin derives from the Proto-Indo-European word *gʷʰabʰ-, meaning "to speak or shout."
Turkishkonuşma
The word "konuşma" derives from the same root as the Old Turkic word "kün", meaning "day," and was originally used to refer to "speaking out loud."
Xhosaintetho
The word 'intetho' is also used to refer to a traditional form of Xhosa poetry.
Yiddishרעדע
The Yiddish word “רעדע” also means “advice”, suggesting that speeches are a form of guidance.
Zuluinkulumo
The word "inkulumo" shares its root with the word "ukulumo" which means "listening"
Assameseবক্তৃতা
Aymaraarsu
Bhojpuriबोलल
Dhivehiވާހަކަ
Dogriभाशन
Filipino (Tagalog)talumpati
Guaranieñe'ẽ
Ilocanobitla
Kriotɔk
Kurdish (Sorani)قسە
Maithiliभाषण
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯋꯥꯉꯥꯡ
Mizothusawi
Oromodubbii
Odia (Oriya)ଭାଷଣ
Quechuarimay
Sanskritभाषणम्‌
Tatarсөйләм
Tigrinyaዘረባ
Tsongambulavulo

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