Updated on March 6, 2024
The word summit holds a significant place in our vocabulary, representing the highest point or level of achievement. Its cultural importance is evident in various fields, from mountaineering expeditions that strive to conquer the world's tallest summits, to international conferences where global leaders gather for political and business summits.
Delving into the historical context, the ancient Romans used the term 'summum' to denote the highest point or the ultimate achievement. This Latin root has greatly influenced modern languages, showcasing the word's enduring significance.
Understanding the translation of summit in different languages can be fascinating for globetrotters, language enthusiasts, and cultural aficionados alike. Expanding your linguistic repertoire can lead to richer travel experiences, deeper cross-cultural connections, and a greater appreciation for the world's diverse landscapes and societies.
Here are some intriguing translations of the word summit in various languages:
Afrikaans | beraad | ||
The Afrikaans word "beraad" derives from the Dutch "beraed" and ultimately the Late Latin "deliberatum," indicating careful thought. | |||
Amharic | ከፍተኛ | ||
The word "ከፍተኛ" also means "high" or "lofty" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | taron koli | ||
The Hausa word "taron koli" literally means "head of a mountain", and is used figuratively to refer to the summit or highest point of a mountain or hill. | |||
Igbo | nzuko | ||
The word "nzuko" also means "union" or "unity" in Igbo, reflecting the idea of a summit as a place where different entities come together. | |||
Malagasy | vovonana | ||
Vovonana comes from the Malagasy vohona 'to assemble', which is a homonym of vohona 'to be complete'. In this sense the mountain is a place of assembly of spirits. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | msonkhano | ||
Shona | musangano | ||
Musangano can also refer to a social gathering or meeting. | |||
Somali | shir madaxeed | ||
The Somali word "shir madaxeed" can also refer to a headache or a disagreement. | |||
Sesotho | seboka | ||
"Seboka" also means "to worship" and is related to the word "seboko" (ancestor). | |||
Swahili | mkutano wa kilele | ||
"Mkutano wa kilele" (literally "meeting at the top") can also refer to the highest point of a mountain. | |||
Xhosa | ingqungquthela | ||
It derives from the verb 'ingqunga', meaning 'to be high' or 'to tower over'. | |||
Yoruba | ipade | ||
The word "ipade" in Yoruba can also mean "responsibility" or "obligation". | |||
Zulu | ingqungquthela | ||
The word 'ingqungquthela' can also mean 'the peak of a mountain' or 'the top of a hill'. | |||
Bambara | kuncɛ | ||
Ewe | takpekpegã | ||
Kinyarwanda | inama | ||
Lingala | nsonge | ||
Luganda | obusammambiro | ||
Sepedi | sehloa | ||
Twi (Akan) | nhyiamu | ||
Arabic | قمة | ||
The Arabic word "قمة" (summit) can also refer to the top of a mountain, the peak of a career, or a climax. | |||
Hebrew | פִּסגָה | ||
In Biblical Hebrew, "פִּסגָה" primarily refers to a "peak" or a "high place" but can also signify a "place of separation" in certain contexts | |||
Pashto | غونډه | ||
The etymology of "غونډه" is uncertain, and it may share a root with the English "ground". It can also refer to the top part of a mountain, a fort, or a roof. | |||
Arabic | قمة | ||
The Arabic word "قمة" (summit) can also refer to the top of a mountain, the peak of a career, or a climax. |
Albanian | maja | ||
Albanian "maja" is related to PIE "magh-", meaning "to reach" or "to rise". | |||
Basque | gailurra | ||
The term "gailurra" is also used as a toponym, referring to the highest mountains in the Basque Country or Navarre | |||
Catalan | cim | ||
In Occitan and Catalan, the word "cim" can also mean "top" or "end". | |||
Croatian | summita | ||
"Sumita" is also a variant of the name "Suzana" in Croatian. | |||
Danish | topmøde | ||
Ordet stammer fra gammeldansk ordet ``topmøte´´, som betyder ``møde på toppen''. | |||
Dutch | top | ||
Dutch 'top' can mean summit or roof, and ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *tep-, meaning 'elevation' or 'height'. | |||
English | summit | ||
The word "summit" derives from the Latin "summus" meaning "top" or "highest point" and is also used figuratively to refer to the highest point of achievement or importance. | |||
French | sommet | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "summit," "sommet" can also refer to a meeting of high-ranking officials or a culmination of a series of events. | |||
Frisian | top | ||
In Frisian, "top" can also refer to a "cow's dug" or a "whipping top". | |||
Galician | cume | ||
The word «cume» also means the male part of sheep's head. | |||
German | gipfel | ||
German "Gipfel" also means "small cake" due to its shape. | |||
Icelandic | leiðtogafundur | ||
The Icelandic word "leiðtogafundur" (summit) can also refer to a meeting where leaders discuss important issues. | |||
Irish | cruinniú mullaigh | ||
The word cruinniú mullaigh (summit) in Irish also means "gathering of the top or upper part" and was historically used in the context of religious festivals. | |||
Italian | vertice | ||
The Italian word "vertice" comes from the Latin "vertex," meaning "whorl" or "crown," and it can also refer to the vertex of an angle or the apex of a cone. | |||
Luxembourgish | sommet | ||
In Luxembourgish, "Sommet" is also a synonym for the "forehead" or the "top" of the head. | |||
Maltese | samit | ||
The Maltese word "samit" has two meanings: "summit" and "a gathering of people for a common purpose", a meaning related to its Arabic root. | |||
Norwegian | toppmøte | ||
"Toppmøte" can also mean "meeting between heads of state". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cume | ||
The Portuguese word “cume” also has the meaning of “sum” (amount of money), or “highest point”. | |||
Scots Gaelic | mullach | ||
The word "mullach" also means "top" or "crest" in Scots Gaelic and is related to the Irish word "mullach," which means "the crown of the head." | |||
Spanish | cumbre | ||
The word "cumbre" is not related to the verb "cumplir" ("to fulfill") despite the similar spelling and pronunciation. | |||
Swedish | topp | ||
The word "topp" is derived from the Old Norse word "toppr", which means "head" or "top". | |||
Welsh | copa | ||
Although it means "summit," "copa" also derives from the old Celtic word "kobaki," meaning "treetop" and referring to the shape of mountains. |
Belarusian | саміт | ||
The Belarusian word "саміт" can also refer to a gathering of people, such as a conference or meeting. | |||
Bosnian | samit | ||
"Samit" can also mean "agreement" or "understanding" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | връх | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "summit", the Bulgarian word "връх" can also refer to the peak of a wave or the climax of an event. | |||
Czech | vrchol | ||
The word "vrchol" is a cognate of the Proto-Slavic word "*verchъ", meaning "top" or "peak", and is related to the Russian word "вершина" (vershina) and the Polish word "wierch". | |||
Estonian | tippkohtumine | ||
The word "tippkohtumine" in Estonian originally meant "meeting at the top" but now also refers to any high-level meeting. | |||
Finnish | kokous | ||
The word "kokous" also means "meeting" in Finnish, and is derived from the same root as the word "kokea" (to experience). | |||
Hungarian | csúcstalálkozó | ||
The word "csúcstalálkozó" literally means "peak meeting", referring to the highest level of diplomacy between leaders | |||
Latvian | samits | ||
Samits also refers to a kind of silk fabric and a kind of plant. | |||
Lithuanian | viršūnių susitikimas | ||
The Lithuanian word "viršūnių susitikimas" not only means "summit", but also "the meeting of the tops". | |||
Macedonian | самит | ||
"Самит" could also mean "jacket" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | szczyt | ||
The word "szczyt" can also mean "peak" or "top" in the context of a mountain or hill. | |||
Romanian | vârf | ||
Romanian "vârf" derives from Proto-Slavic *vьrxъ, also meaning 'highest point'. | |||
Russian | саммит | ||
In Russian, "саммит" (summit) derives from the Old Church Slavonic word "сьмати", meaning "to meet, assemble". | |||
Serbian | самит | ||
The Serbian word 'самит' ('summit') can also mean 'self-assembly', 'self-government', and 'self-determination'. | |||
Slovak | vrchol | ||
The word "vrchol" can also mean "peak" or "top", and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *vьrchъ, meaning "height" or "top". | |||
Slovenian | vrh | ||
The word "vrh" also means "top" or "peak" in Slovenian, and is related to the words "vrhunec" (climax) and "vrhunski" (top-notch). | |||
Ukrainian | саміт | ||
The word "саміт" can also refer to a meeting or conference between high-ranking officials. |
Bengali | শিখর | ||
The word "শিখর" also means "the tip of a fire". This is because "শিখা" means "flame", and "শিখর" is the "tip of a flame". | |||
Gujarati | સમિટ | ||
The Gujarati word "સમિટ" also means "the highest point reached". | |||
Hindi | शिखर सम्मेलन | ||
The word "शिखर सम्मेलन" in Hindi can also mean "a meeting between high-level government officials." | |||
Kannada | ಶೃಂಗಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ | ||
Malayalam | ഉച്ചകോടി | ||
The word "ഉച്ചകോടി" in Malayalam can also refer to the highest point reached by a star or planet | |||
Marathi | कळस | ||
The word "कळस" can also refer to a finial, a decorative ornament placed on the top of a temple or other structure. | |||
Nepali | शिखर | ||
The term "शिखर" is also used to refer to a mountain peak or a person who holds a high position. | |||
Punjabi | ਸੰਮੇਲਨ | ||
ਸੰਮੇਲਨ' ('summit') originally meant 'the highest point of a mountain', but now it also refers to conferences involving leaders. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සමුළුව | ||
Tamil | உச்சிமாநாடு | ||
The word "உச்சிமாநாடு" in Tamil can also mean "the highest point of a mountain" and "the highest point of a wave" | |||
Telugu | శిఖరం | ||
In Telugu, "శిఖరం" (shikharam) can also refer to a "crown" or "headdress", suggesting its towering and majestic qualities. | |||
Urdu | سمٹ | ||
"سمٹ" is also used in Urdu to refer to a gathering or meeting, particularly one involving high-level officials or dignitaries. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 首脑 | ||
In Chinese, "首脑" can also refer to the leader of a country or organization. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 首腦 | ||
In Chinese, "首腦" can also mean "leader" or "head" in the context of an organization or government. | |||
Japanese | サミット | ||
The word "サミット" in Japanese can also refer to the highest point of a mountain range, or to a gathering of experts or leaders to discuss a particular issue. | |||
Korean | 정상 회담 | ||
정상 회담 in Korean literally means "top talk" or "top meeting". | |||
Mongolian | дээд хэмжээний уулзалт | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ထိပ်သီးအစည်းအဝေး | ||
Indonesian | puncak | ||
"Puncak" also means "the highest point of achievement or development" in Indonesian. | |||
Javanese | puncak | ||
"Puncak" in Javanese can also mean "to climb" or "a place to climb to". | |||
Khmer | កំពូល | ||
While commonly referring to a mountain's peak, "កំពូល" can also mean the highest point of achievement, prosperity or quality in abstract contexts. | |||
Lao | ການປະຊຸມສຸດຍອດ | ||
Malay | puncak | ||
Puncak is a Malay word, which means summit. It also means the highest point, or the peak. | |||
Thai | การประชุมสุดยอด | ||
In the 1950s, "summit" began being used to refer to conferences between leaders of great powers, possibly influenced by the fact that the 1955 Geneva Summit was held at the summit of the Hotel des Bergues. | |||
Vietnamese | hội nghị thượng đỉnh | ||
The Vietnamese word "hội nghị thượng đỉnh" is a direct translation of the English term "summit" but literally means "meeting at the top". In Vietnamese, "hội nghị thượng đỉnh" is specifically used to refer to meetings between important political figures or heads of state. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | summit | ||
Azerbaijani | zirvə | ||
"Zirvə" also means "top" or "highest point" in Azerbaijani, and is cognate with the Persian word "zarv" meaning "gold". | |||
Kazakh | саммит | ||
In Kazakh, "саммит" also means "meeting of experts". | |||
Kyrgyz | саммит | ||
In Kyrgyz, the word "саммит" can also refer to a "meeting of high-ranking officials" or a "conference". | |||
Tajik | саммит | ||
The word "саммит" comes from the Russian word "саммит", meaning "summit". In Tajikistan, the word "саммит" is used to refer to the peak of a mountain, the top of a hill, or the highest point in a region. | |||
Turkmen | sammit | ||
Uzbek | yig'ilish | ||
The Uzbek word "yig'ilish" also means "meeting" or "gathering". | |||
Uyghur | يىغىن | ||
Hawaiian | piko | ||
Pīko, meaning "to reach the summit of a mountain," is also used metaphorically to describe the achievement of a goal | |||
Maori | tihi | ||
The Maori word "tihi" also means "top" or "peak", and is related to the Polynesian word "ti'i", meaning "to stand upright". | |||
Samoan | tumutumu | ||
The Samoan word 'tumutumu' shares an etymology with 'tumutumu', meaning 'elbow'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | tuktok | ||
Aymara | apachita | ||
Guarani | tu'ã | ||
Esperanto | pintkunveno | ||
The word "pintkunveno" can also mean "meeting of experts" or "technical conference". | |||
Latin | summa | ||
The Latin word "summa" also means "the highest logical conclusion," and is the root of the term "summation". |
Greek | κορυφή | ||
The word "κορυφή" comes from the verb "κορυφώ", meaning "to crown" or "to culminate." | |||
Hmong | qhov ua siab tshaj | ||
In Hmong, "qhov ua siab tshaj" can also refer to "the highest point of a mountain", "the peak", or "the zenith". | |||
Kurdish | ser | ||
The word ser (summit) is also the root of other words, like serkeftin (raise to power) | |||
Turkish | toplantı | ||
The Turkish word "toplantı" also means "meeting" and is derived from the verb "toplamak," meaning "to gather" or "to assemble." | |||
Xhosa | ingqungquthela | ||
It derives from the verb 'ingqunga', meaning 'to be high' or 'to tower over'. | |||
Yiddish | שפּיץ | ||
"Shpits" can mean either "summit" or a "sharp point." | |||
Zulu | ingqungquthela | ||
The word 'ingqungquthela' can also mean 'the peak of a mountain' or 'the top of a hill'. | |||
Assamese | সন্মিলন | ||
Aymara | apachita | ||
Bhojpuri | शिखर | ||
Dhivehi | ސަމިޓް | ||
Dogri | शिखर सम्मेलन | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | summit | ||
Guarani | tu'ã | ||
Ilocano | tuktok | ||
Krio | mitin | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | لووتکە | ||
Maithili | शिखर सम्मेलन | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯤꯡꯗꯣꯜ ꯃꯇꯣꯟ ꯂꯣꯝꯕ | ||
Mizo | chhip | ||
Oromo | galchuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଶିଖର ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ | | ||
Quechua | uma | ||
Sanskrit | सम्मेलन | ||
Tatar | саммит | ||
Tigrinya | ዋዕላ | ||
Tsonga | nhlonhlorhi | ||