Strike in different languages

Strike in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'strike' carries significant weight in various contexts, from labor movements to sports. It represents a powerful action that brings about change, sparks competition, and leaves a cultural imprint worldwide. Understanding its translation in different languages can open doors to global connections and cultural exchange.

For instance, in Spanish, 'strike' becomes 'huelga,' while in German, it's 'Streik.' In French, you'd say 'grève,' and in Japanese, 'ストライク (sutoraiku).' These translations not only reflect linguistic diversity but also encapsulate the unique cultural nuances associated with the term.

Moreover, the historical significance of 'strike' is evident in the labor movement of the late 19th century, when workers used this tactic to fight for better wages and working conditions. This powerful act of solidarity transcends borders and continues to inspire change in various parts of the world.

Join us as we delve deeper into the multifaceted world of 'strike' and explore its translations in a wide array of languages.

Strike


Strike in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansstaak
In Afrikaans, 'staak' can also refer to a metal rod used in road construction or farming.
Amharicአድማ
The verb 'አድማ' can also refer to the action of 'calling' or 'summoning'.
Hausayajin
In addition to meaning "strike" in Hausa, "yajin" is also used to refer specifically to industrial, general, or national strikes, such as those organized by unions.
Igbogbuo
The word "gbuo" in Igbo can also refer to a "stick" or a "club"
Malagasyfitokonana
The word "fitokonana" in Malagasy can also mean "agreement" or "understanding".
Nyanja (Chichewa)kunyanyala
Shonarova
The word "rova" in Shona can also refer to a traditional dance performed at weddings and other social gatherings.
Somalishaqo joojin
The term shaqo joojin derives from the Somali words shaqo (work) and joojin (to stop), and refers not only to strikes but also to labour suspensions.
Sesothootla
The word "otla" has other meanings in Sesotho, including "to pound" and "to hit with a stick or club."
Swahilimgomo
"Mgomo" (strike) in Swahili is derived from the Proto-Bantu word *-gomo, meaning "to halt," and can also refer to a "blockade" or "roadblock."
Xhosauqhankqalazo
The Xhosa word 'uqhankqalazo' can also refer to a sudden and unexpected event.
Yorubalu
Yoruba "lù" has an additional meaning: "to push down" as a force against resistance, as to push a nail into wood.
Zuluisiteleka
The word 'isiteleka' in Zulu derives from the verb 'itela', which means 'to hit' or 'to strike'.
Bambarabáarabila
Eweƒo
Kinyarwandaimyigaragambyo
Lingalakobeta
Lugandaokwekalakaasa
Sepedigo teraeka
Twi (Akan)te atua

Strike in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicإضراب
In Arabic, "إضراب" also means "turning away".
Hebrewלְהַכּוֹת
לְהַכּוֹת relates to "to make covenant", possibly from a root meaning "to touch". Also used figuratively for "to slay" or "to defeat".
Pashtoاعتصاب
اعتصاب derives from Arabic and means not only 'strike' but also 'revolt' or 'rebellion'.
Arabicإضراب
In Arabic, "إضراب" also means "turning away".

Strike in Western European Languages

Albaniangrevë
Derived from Latin "gravitas" meaning "seriousness" or "weight"
Basquegreba
Although «greba» means «strike» in Basque, it comes from the same root as the English word «grab».
Catalancolpejar
The word "colpejar" is derived from the Latin word "colligere", meaning "to collect or gather".
Croatianštrajk
The word "štrajk" comes from the German word "streik" and the Czech word "štastrk".
Danishstrejke
In Danish, the word 'strejke' can also refer to a 'strike', a sudden movement of the body, or a 'stretch'.
Dutchstaking
In Dutch, "staking" also means "piling" or "stacking" in construction contexts.
Englishstrike
The word 'strike' has many meanings including hitting, going on strike, and lighting a match or flint. In bowling, it means knocking down all ten pins with one ball.
Frenchla grève
The word "la grève" in French also originated from the practice of striking the ground with spades and shovels which were the symbols of the strike action.
Frisianslaan
Frisian "slaan" may derive from Old Frisian "sla“, and is cognate with Dutch "slaan" and German "schlagen".
Galicianfolga
The word "folga" also has the meaning of "leisure time" or "vacation" in Galician.
Germanstreik
German word "Streik" originates from the Polish "strajk", meaning "to stop work" or "to stand still"
Icelandicverkfall
Verkfall is a compound of verka (work) + fall (downfall), and can also refer to economic or other decline.
Irishstailc
Irish word "stailc" also means "stalk" or "pillar" and can be used to describe a person who is "unyielding" or "firmly planted".
Italiansciopero
'Sciopero' is cognate with the Medieval Latin word 'exoperare,' meaning 'to stop working'
Luxembourgishstreiken
The verb "streiken" in Luxembourgish also means "to stretch" or "to extend".
Maltesestrajk
The word "strajk" in Maltese can also mean "obstacle" or "difficulty".
Norwegianstreik
The Norwegian word "streik" also means a "line", and is derived from an Old Norse word of the same origin as the English word "streak".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)greve
"Greve" (pronounced 'greh-vuh') derives from the French word "grieve" meaning "grievance" or "complaint", or from the Old High German word "gravo" meaning "dig" or "trench"
Scots Gaelicstailc
The Scots Gaelic word "stailc" is derived from the Old Norse word "steikja", meaning "to hit" or "to strike".
Spanishhuelga
"Huelga" means "strike" in Spanish, but it also comes from the Latin "colligare," meaning "to tie" or "to bind".
Swedishstrejk
The word 'strejk' derives from an older word that meant 'to stretch' or 'to pull', and it can also mean 'a line' or 'a boundary' in Swedish.
Welshstreic
In Welsh, "streic" can also mean "to extend" or "to spread out".

Strike in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianзабастоўка
The word "забастоўка" (strike) in Belarusian is derived from the Russian word "забастовка" (strike), which in turn comes from the Italian word "basta" (enough).
Bosnianštrajk
The word "štrajk" can also mean "work stoppage" or "interruption" in Bosnian.
Bulgarianстачка
The word "стачка" (strike) in Bulgarian is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "сътачити" (to knock down, to strike) and has the alternate meaning of "collision, clash".
Czechstávkovat
The word "stávkovat" in Czech originates from the German word "streik" and the word "stav" meaning "condition" or "state" in Czech.
Estonianstreikima
In Estonian, the word "streikima" also means "to strive" or "to aim at".
Finnishlakko
The word "lakko" also means a "stoppage" in Finnish, and is cognate to the Germanic word "lock".
Hungariansztrájk
In addition to its primary meaning of "strike", the Hungarian word "sztrájk" can also refer to a picket line or industrial action.
Latvianstreikot
The word "streikot" is derived from the German word "streiken", which means "to stop work".
Lithuanianstreikuoti
Lithuanian "streikuoti" derives from the Polish "strajkować" meaning "to stop work" which in turn comes from the Old German "streik" meaning "to stretch out".
Macedonianштрајк
Штрајк has the alternate meaning of 'stitch'.
Polishstrajk
In Polish, "strajk" also refers to a form of protest where people refuse to work or buy goods.
Romanianlovitură
In addition to meaning "strike," "lovitură" in Romanian can also refer to the result of an impact or a lucky chance.
Russianзабастовка
The Russian word "забастовка" (strike) is derived from the French word "saboter" (to sabotage).
Serbianударац
"Ударац" can also refer to a blow or hit in sports.
Slovakštrajk
"Štrajk" is also a Slovak word for 'stitching'.
Slovenianstavka
In Russian, "ставка" also means "rate" or "salary".
Ukrainianстрайк
The Ukrainian word "страйк" comes from the English "strike", but also has additional meanings like "to play" or "to hit" in a game.

Strike in South Asian Languages

Bengaliধর্মঘট
"ধর্মঘট" is cognate with "dharma-ghāt" in Sanskrit, meaning "a stopping or obstruction of religious activities".
Gujaratiહડતાલ
The word "હડતાલ" is a Sanskrit borrowing that originally meant "striking" and then came to mean "a strike" by metonymy.
Hindiहड़ताल
"हड़ताल" means strike in Hindi, but its root word "हड़" also means capture or seize, leading to different usage in literature and poetry."
Kannadaಮುಷ್ಕರ
ಮುಷ್ಕರ is derived from the Sanskrit word 'muṣkara' meaning 'to steal' or 'to cheat'.
Malayalamപണിമുടക്ക്
The Malayalam word "പണിമുടക്ക്" literally means "cessation of work" and is derived from the Sanskrit root "पण्य" (panya), meaning "work" or "labor".
Marathiसंप
The Sanskrit word "sampa" may also refer to an object that touches (e.g. a coin, a tree or a corpse) as well as an epidemic.
Nepaliहडताल
The word "हडताल" in Nepali also refers to a musical instrument, or to making a loud drumming sound.
Punjabiਹੜਤਾਲ
ਹੜਤਾਲ also refers to the act of abstaining from something or going on halt.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වර්ජනය
"වර්ජනය" is derived from Sanskrit "varjana" meaning "restraint, abstinence, prohibition", and also refers to "refusal to work in order to protest".
Tamilவேலைநிறுத்தம்
Though "வேலைநிறுத்தம்" is usually used to mean "strike", it can also mean "cessation of work".
Teluguసమ్మె
The word "సమ్మె" can also mean "a vow" or "a promise" in Telugu.
Urduہڑتال
The word 'ہڑتال' originates from the Sanskrit word 'हड़ताल', meaning 'to seize or grasp'

Strike in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)罢工
The word “罢工” originally meant “to stand and stop” in Chinese.
Chinese (Traditional)罷工
This word means 'retire' or 'stop' in its original Chinese characters, but came to mean 'strike' due to the similar pronunciation of the Japanese word for 'strike'.
Japanese攻撃
"攻撃" originally meant "to strike with a bow and arrow" and was originally not used as an attack with the hand or foot.
Korean스트라이크
The word "스트라이크" in Korean can also mean "to enter" or "to hit".
Mongolianажил хаях
The word "ажил хаях" can also mean "to refuse" or "to reject" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)သပိတ်မှောက်

Strike in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmenyerang
The word "menyerang" in Indonesian derives from the Malay word "menyerang" and also means "to attack".
Javanesemogok
The word "mogok" in Javanese can also refer to a failure or breakdown, like when a machine stops working.
Khmerកូដកម្ម
The word "កូដកម្ម" ("strike") in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "कूटकर्म" (kūṭakarma), which means "evil deed" or "sin". This usage is common in Khmer legal contexts.
Laoປະທ້ວງ
Malaymogok
The word "mogok" in Malay is also used to refer to the act of refusing food or drink as a form of protest.
Thaiโจมตี
The Thai word "โจมตี" not only means "to strike," but also carries the meaning of "to criticize or attack someone verbally."
Vietnameseđình công
"Đình công" also means "a meeting place for the local people"
Filipino (Tagalog)strike

Strike in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanitətil
The word "tətil" in Azerbaijani comes from the Persian word "ta'til", which means "to stop".
Kazakhереуіл
The word "ереуіл" also means "rebellion" or "uprising" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzиш таштоо
The word "иш таштоо" can also mean "to work hard" or "to take action" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikзарба задан
The word can also be used to refer to a sudden attack or a military operation.}
Turkmeniş taşlaýyş
Uzbekurish
The word "urish" in Uzbek can also mean "to beat"}
Uyghurئىش تاشلاش

Strike in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhahau
"Hahau" can also mean a scar or mark left by a strike.
Maoripatu
In Maori, "patu" can also refer to a club or weapon used for striking.
Samoanteteʻe
In Samoan, "tete'e" also means "to hit" or "to pound".
Tagalog (Filipino)welga
In some Philippine languages, "welga" means "holiday" or "vacation", unrelated to the concept of a strike.

Strike in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaramanq'at mutuña
Guaranimba'apopyta

Strike in International Languages

Esperantostriki
The Esperanto word "striki" comes from the Yiddish word "שטריק" (shtryk), which means "rope" or "string."
Latinpercutiens
In anatomy, "percutiens" refers to the muscle that strikes another muscle, as opposed to "percussio" which refers to the action of striking itself.

Strike in Others Languages

Greekαπεργία
The word "απεργία" in Greek also means "idleness" or "leisure".
Hmongtawm tsam
The word "tawm tsam" in Hmong can also refer to hitting or kicking something.
Kurdishkarberdan
The word "karberdan" in Kurdish is also used to describe a sudden, heavy downpour of rain.
Turkishvuruş
"Vuruş", in addition to its primary meaning of "strike", can also refer to a "hit" or a "stroke" in the context of music or sports.
Xhosauqhankqalazo
The Xhosa word 'uqhankqalazo' can also refer to a sudden and unexpected event.
Yiddishשלאָגן
The word "שלאָגן" in Yiddish can also mean "to beat" or "to hit".
Zuluisiteleka
The word 'isiteleka' in Zulu derives from the verb 'itela', which means 'to hit' or 'to strike'.
Assameseআঘাত কৰা
Aymaramanq'at mutuña
Bhojpuriहड़ताल
Dhivehiސްޓްރައިކް
Dogriहड़ताल
Filipino (Tagalog)strike
Guaranimba'apopyta
Ilocanoaghuelga
Krioprotɛst
Kurdish (Sorani)لێدان
Maithiliधरना
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯌꯩꯕ
Mizovua
Oromohaleellaa
Odia (Oriya)ଧର୍ମଘଟ
Quechuasayay
Sanskritताड़्यति
Tatarэш ташлау
Tigrinyaኣድማ
Tsongaxitereko

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter