Spokesman in Different Languages
Discover 'Spokesman' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A spokesman is a person who speaks on behalf of an organization or group, representing their views and interests. This role is often crucial in politics, business, and media, where clear and effective communication is key. The significance of a spokesman cannot be overstated, as they serve as the bridge between an organization and the public, shaping perception and influencing opinions.
Throughout history, spokesmen have played pivotal roles in various cultural and political movements. From Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader who inspired millions with his powerful speeches, to the anonymous spokesmen who delivered Soviet news to the world during the Cold War, these individuals have left indelible marks on our global society.
Given the importance of this role, it's no surprise that people worldwide might be interested in learning the translations of 'spokesman' in different languages. Here are a few examples:
- French: Porte-parole
- Spanish: Portavoz
- German: Sprecher
- Mandarin: 发言人 (fā yán rén)
- Japanese: 話し手 (hanashi te)
Spokesman
Spokesman in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | woordvoerder | ||
| The Afrikaans word "woordvoerder" is derived from the Dutch "woordvoerder" and is synonymous with "moderator" or "chairperson" as well as "spokesperson". | |||
| Amharic | ቃል አቀባይ | ||
| ቃል ኣቀባይ is also used to refer to an official position similar to that of an "advisor". | |||
| Hausa | kakakin | ||
| The word 'kakakin' can also refer to a specific type of Hausa praise singer or town crier. | |||
| Igbo | ọnụ na-ekwuru ọnụ | ||
| Malagasy | mpitondra | ||
| The word "mpitondra" (spokesman) is derived from the Malagasy words "mitondra" (to hold) and "tendry" (speech). | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wolankhulira | ||
| The word 'wolankhulira' also means someone who is appointed to do a certain job, especially a chief advisor to a chief | |||
| Shona | mutauriri | ||
| The word 'mutauriri' originates from the word 'taura', meaning 'to speak', thus implying one who speaks out on behalf of others. | |||
| Somali | afhayeen | ||
| The word "afhayeen" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "fahiyyun", which means "interpreter". | |||
| Sesotho | 'muelli | ||
| 'Muelli' can also refer to someone who is respected and trusted. | |||
| Swahili | msemaji | ||
| "Msemaji" is also used to refer to an advocate or spokesperson for a particular cause or group. | |||
| Xhosa | isithethi | ||
| The term 'isithethi' refers to an individual appointed to speak on behalf of a particular group or organization, representing their interests and expressing their views. | |||
| Yoruba | agbẹnusọ | ||
| The Yoruba word "agbẹnusọ" is also used to refer to a "mouthpiece" or "representative".} | |||
| Zulu | okhulumela | ||
| The Zulu word "okhulumela" is derived from the verb "khuluma," meaning "to speak," and the prefix "oku," which indicates a noun class that includes people who perform certain actions. | |||
| Bambara | kumalasela | ||
| Ewe | nyanuɖela | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuvugizi | ||
| Lingala | molobeli ya molobeli | ||
| Luganda | omwogezi w’ekitongole kino | ||
| Sepedi | mmoleledi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ɔkasafo | ||
Spokesman in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | المتحدث | ||
| The word "المتحدث" derives from the root "ثحد" meaning "to sharpen" or "to make pointed", referring to the eloquence and sharp tongue of the speaker. | |||
| Hebrew | דוֹבֵר | ||
| Hebrew word "דובר" (spokesman) also means "bear" in Aramaic, and the name of the town "Tiberias" | |||
| Pashto | ترجمان | ||
| The Pashto word "ترجمان" can also refer to an interpreter or a translator. | |||
| Arabic | المتحدث | ||
| The word "المتحدث" derives from the root "ثحد" meaning "to sharpen" or "to make pointed", referring to the eloquence and sharp tongue of the speaker. | |||
Spokesman in Western European Languages
| Albanian | zëdhënës | ||
| "Zëdhënës" is a hybrid derivative from "zë" ("voice, sound") and "dëshmon" ("to witness, testify"), thus "one who attests or testifies with his voice." | |||
| Basque | bozeramailea | ||
| The word 'bozeramailea' derives from 'bozera' (voice) and 'maile' (person), but it can also mean 'ambassador' or 'diplomat'. | |||
| Catalan | portaveu | ||
| Portaveu derives from the Latin word "porta" meaning "gate" and "veu" meaning "voice". | |||
| Croatian | glasnogovornik | ||
| Cognate with Russian “glasnost”, “glasnogovornik” literally translates to “voice speaker”. | |||
| Danish | talsmand | ||
| In Danish, the word "talsmand" can also refer to a "representative" or "agent". | |||
| Dutch | woordvoerder | ||
| The Dutch word 'woordvoerder' literally translates to 'word-driver' or 'one who drives the word'. | |||
| English | spokesman | ||
| The word 'spokesman' derives from the Middle English 'spokesman', which itself comes from the Old English 'spræcmann', meaning 'speaker' or 'interpreter'. | |||
| French | porte-parole | ||
| Derived from "porter" (to carry) and "parole" (speech), "porte-parole" denotes someone who transmits messages. | |||
| Frisian | wurdfierder | ||
| The Frisian word "wurdfierder" is derived from the Old Frisian "wurdfara", meaning "leader of a group" or "leader of a speech". | |||
| Galician | voceiro | ||
| The word "voceiro" likely derives from the Latin word "vox," meaning "voice," and the suffix "-eiro," indicating an agent or doer of an action. | |||
| German | sprecher | ||
| The word "Sprecher" in German can also refer to a "telephone loudspeaker" or a "radio or television announcer." | |||
| Icelandic | talsmaður | ||
| Talsmaður may also refer to a person who performs a task for which they do not have the formal authority or the necessary skills or knowledge | |||
| Irish | urlabhraí | ||
| Italian | portavoce | ||
| The Italian word "portavoce" can also refer to a megaphone or bullhorn. | |||
| Luxembourgish | spriecher | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Spriecher" not only means "spokesman", but can also refer to a person who is a chatterbox. | |||
| Maltese | kelliem | ||
| The etymology of the word 'kelliem' is unknown, but it is possibly derived from the Arabic word 'kallima', meaning 'to speak'. | |||
| Norwegian | talsmann | ||
| Talsmann is also a colloquial term for a large, heavy man, a 'bigshot' or a 'heavy' person. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | porta-voz | ||
| The word 'porta-voz' comes from Latin 'porta' (gate) and 'vox' (voice), meaning literally 'voice of the gate' or 'gate-keeper', which evolved into a meaning of 'intermediary' or 'messenger'. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | neach-labhairt | ||
| The word 'neach-labhairt' can also refer to a 'representative' or 'spokesperson'. | |||
| Spanish | portavoz | ||
| The word "portavoz" originates from the Latin "porta" (door) and "vox" (voice), and can also refer to a doorkeeper or a person who controls access. | |||
| Swedish | talesman | ||
| The word "talesman" can also mean a person who tells stories | |||
| Welsh | llefarydd | ||
| The word 'llefarydd' derives from two Welsh words meaning 'voice' and 'speech' and was first used as an official title in the 15th century. | |||
Spokesman in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | прэс-сакратар | ||
| The word "прэс-сакратар" comes from the French word "porte-parole" and the Russian word "пресс-секретарь". | |||
| Bosnian | glasnogovornik | ||
| The word "glasnogovornik" originally meant "spokesperson for a group" | |||
| Bulgarian | говорител | ||
| The word "говорител" literally means "speaker" or "talker" and is derived from the verb "говорить" (to speak or talk). | |||
| Czech | mluvčí | ||
| "Mluvčí" in Czech can also mean "speaker" or "orator". | |||
| Estonian | pressiesindaja | ||
| The word "pressiesindaja" is derived from the German word "Pressesprecher" and literally means "press speaker". It can also refer to a public relations officer or a media spokesperson. | |||
| Finnish | tiedottaja | ||
| The word 'tiedottaja' also means 'press officer' in Finnish, originating from 'tiedotus' ('information'). | |||
| Hungarian | szóvivő | ||
| The word 'szóvivő' comes from the Hungarian words 'szó', meaning 'word' and 'vivő', meaning 'carrier', literally translating to 'word carrier' | |||
| Latvian | pārstāvis | ||
| Pārstāvis contains the element pārstāt, which means 'to represent', and is also related to the word stāsts ('story'). | |||
| Lithuanian | atstovas spaudai | ||
| The word "atstovas spaudai" (spokesman) is used in Lithuanian media to refer to a person appointed by an organization or government agency to speak to the press and the public. | |||
| Macedonian | портпарол | ||
| "Портпарол" is Macedonian word of french origin which means "someone who speaks the same language" | |||
| Polish | rzecznik | ||
| In Polish, "rzecznik" can also refer to an official representative or advocate. | |||
| Romanian | purtător de cuvânt | ||
| The Romanian word "purtător de cuvânt" literally translates to "word carrier" and can also refer to a "messenger" or "one who bears news". | |||
| Russian | представитель | ||
| The archaic meaning of the Russian word "представитель" is "lawyer" (archaic equivalent is "ходатай") | |||
| Serbian | гласноговорник | ||
| The word "гласноговорник" (spokesman) in Serbian is derived from the Slavic root "глас" (voice) and the suffix "-ник". It originally meant "one who speaks out" or "orator". | |||
| Slovak | hovorca | ||
| The word "hovorca" is also used to refer to someone who speaks in public or delivers a speech. | |||
| Slovenian | tiskovni predstavnik | ||
| "Tiskovni predstavnik" is derived from the German "Presse-sprecher" and can also mean "press officer". | |||
| Ukrainian | речник | ||
| "Речник" (spokesman) also means "river dictionary" and "speaker of a river dialect". | |||
Spokesman in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | মুখপাত্র | ||
| The word "মুখপাত্র" (mukhopatro) in Bengali also means "mouthpiece" and "actor". | |||
| Gujarati | પ્રવક્તા | ||
| Hindi | प्रवक्ता | ||
| The word 'प्रवक्ता' (pravakta) can also mean 'preacher', 'teacher', or 'prophet' in some contexts. | |||
| Kannada | ವಕ್ತಾರ | ||
| ವಕ್ತಾರ ('vaktaara') is related to the root 'vaktum' meaning 'to speak' in Sanskrit. | |||
| Malayalam | വക്താവ് | ||
| The alternate meaning of 'വക്താവ്' is an advisor or an orator | |||
| Marathi | प्रवक्ता | ||
| प्रवक्ता (pravaktā) also means "speaker" or "orator" in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | प्रवक्ता | ||
| The alternate meanings of "प्रवक्ता" include a spear and a shoot or sprout | |||
| Punjabi | ਬੁਲਾਰਾ | ||
| The word 'ਬੁਲਾਰਾ' can also mean 'mouthpiece', indicating a person who speaks on behalf of or represents an organization or group. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ප්රකාශක | ||
| Tamil | செய்தித் தொடர்பாளர் | ||
| Telugu | ప్రతినిధి | ||
| The Telugu term "ప్రతినిధి" originated from a phrase in Sanskrit and can also mean either a 'substitute' or 'sample.' | |||
| Urdu | ترجمان | ||
| In the 1850s, the word “tarjuman” was used not only for someone who translated but also meant “a person who speaks at length.” | |||
Spokesman in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 发言人 | ||
| "发言人"在台湾指称新闻发布会中负责发言的人，大陆则指媒体中负责新闻发布的人。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 發言人 | ||
| 「發」在古文裡是「說」，「言人」就是幫人說話的意思，所以「發言人」是代表別人發言的人。 | |||
| Japanese | スポークスマン | ||
| "スポークスマン" is derived from the nautical term "spokesman", a person who communicates orders from the captain to the crew. | |||
| Korean | 대변인 | ||
| The Korean word "대변인" (spokesman) originated as a term used in the military, referring to someone who delivered official messages, but now has a broader meaning encompassing any person who represents an organization or group. | |||
| Mongolian | төлөөлөгч | ||
| The word for "spokesman" in Mongolian, "төлөөлөгч," derives from the term for "representatives" and suggests a delegated role. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ပြောရေးဆိုခွင့်ရှိသူ | ||
Spokesman in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | juru bicara | ||
| "Juru" in Indonesian is taken from "juru" in Javanese which means "person", while "bicara" means to talk. | |||
| Javanese | juru wicoro | ||
| "Juru wicoro" is also used as the name of a traditional type of Javanese court gamelan, which is performed to accompany theatrical performances and processions. | |||
| Khmer | អ្នកនាំពាក្យ | ||
| "អ្នកនាំពាក្យ" comes from the words 'speak' and 'person' or 'one who speaks'. This word is only used when referring to the spokesman for a group or institution." | |||
| Lao | ໂຄສົກ | ||
| Another meaning of ໂຄສົກ is "a person who gives a performance or display, especially for entertainment". | |||
| Malay | jurucakap | ||
| The word "jurucakap" is also used to refer to a traditional Malay storyteller who performs at weddings and other ceremonies. | |||
| Thai | โฆษก | ||
| โฆษก can be traced back to the Sanskrit word घोष (ghoṣa), meaning "to proclaim" or "to announce". | |||
| Vietnamese | người phát ngôn | ||
| The word "người phát ngôn" also means " spokesperson" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapagsalita | ||
Spokesman in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | spiker | ||
| The word "spiker" in Azerbaijani also refers to a "nail", an object made of metal that is used to join pieces of wood or other materials together. | |||
| Kazakh | өкілі | ||
| The word "өкілі" is also used to refer to a "representative" or "intermediary". | |||
| Kyrgyz | өкүлү | ||
| Өкүлү can also mean "delegate" or "representative" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | сухангӯй | ||
| Сухангӯй is derived from the Persian word sukhangu, which means someone who speaks well. | |||
| Turkmen | metbugat sekretary | ||
| Uzbek | vakili | ||
| The word "vakili" is also used in some contexts to refer to a lawyer. | |||
| Uyghur | باياناتچى | ||
Spokesman in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | waha ʻōlelo | ||
| The Hawaiian word "waha ʻōlelo" literally means "mouth of speech", with "waha" meaning "mouth" and "ʻōlelo" meaning "speech". | |||
| Maori | kaikorero | ||
| The word "kaikorero" is related to the Maori word "korero", meaning "speech" or "conversation". | |||
| Samoan | fofoga fetalai | ||
| The word "fofoga fetalai" in Samoan comes from the words "fofoga", meaning "voice", and "fetalai", meaning "to speak". It can also refer to a spokesperson or representative. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tagapagsalita | ||
| Tagapagsalita is also a word that literally means 'one who says'. | |||
Spokesman in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | arxatiri | ||
| Guarani | vocero | ||
Spokesman in International Languages
| Esperanto | proparolanto | ||
| "Proparolanto" is derived from "pro" (for), "paroli" (to speak), and "anto" (one who does something). | |||
| Latin | loquens | ||
| Loquens originates from the Latin verb 'loqui,' meaning 'to speak' or 'to say,' and is also used to refer to 'conversation' or 'speech' in general. | |||
Spokesman in Others Languages
| Greek | εκπρόσωπος | ||
| The word "εκπρόσωπος" literally means "one who speaks out" in Greek, and can also refer to a representative or delegate. | |||
| Hmong | tus cev lus | ||
| The Hmong word "tus cev lus" literally means "mouth of the crowd" or "mouth of the multitude". | |||
| Kurdish | berdevk | ||
| The word 'berdevk' derives from the Persian word 'bardavish', meaning 'one who speaks out' or 'interpreter'. | |||
| Turkish | sözcü | ||
| The word "sözcü" in Turkish has an additional meaning of "one who speaks" or "orator". | |||
| Xhosa | isithethi | ||
| The term 'isithethi' refers to an individual appointed to speak on behalf of a particular group or organization, representing their interests and expressing their views. | |||
| Yiddish | ווארטזאגער | ||
| While 'vart' means 'become' in modern German, it originally carried the meaning of 'speak' in Old and Middle High German. Thus, "vart-sagen" originally meant 'to speak.' | |||
| Zulu | okhulumela | ||
| The Zulu word "okhulumela" is derived from the verb "khuluma," meaning "to speak," and the prefix "oku," which indicates a noun class that includes people who perform certain actions. | |||
| Assamese | মুখপাত্ৰ | ||
| Aymara | arxatiri | ||
| Bhojpuri | प्रवक्ता के कहना बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ތަރުޖަމާނު ޑރ | ||
| Dogri | प्रवक्ता जी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tagapagsalita | ||
| Guarani | vocero | ||
| Ilocano | pannakangiwat | ||
| Krio | di pɔsin we de tɔk fɔ di pɔsin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | وتەبێژی... | ||
| Maithili | प्रवक्ता | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯋꯥꯉꯥꯡꯂꯣꯏ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | thupuangtu a ni | ||
| Oromo | dubbi himaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ମୁଖପାତ୍ର | ||
| Quechua | rimaq | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रवक्ता | ||
| Tatar | вәкиле | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣፈኛ | ||
| Tsonga | muvulavuleri | ||