Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'support' holds immense significance in our daily lives, denoting encouragement, assistance, and aid. Its cultural importance is evident across the globe, as every language has its own unique translation, reflecting the diverse ways in which societies understand and express help. 'Support' transcends linguistic barriers, uniting us in our shared human experience of giving and receiving assistance.
Did you know that the English word 'support' originates from the Old French 'supporter,' meaning to carry or endure? This historical context highlights the word's enduring strength and resilience, mirroring the very essence of its meaning.
Understanding the translations of 'support' in different languages can enrich our cross-cultural communication and foster global unity. Here are a few sample translations to pique your interest:
Discover more translations of 'support' and delve into the rich linguistic and cultural diversity that awaits you.
Afrikaans | ondersteuning | ||
Ondersteuning can also mean 'maintenance', or even a 'prop' for a structure or a 'pillar'. | |||
Amharic | ድጋፍ | ||
The word "ድጋፍ" can also mean "backing" or "support" in a more physical sense, such as a wall supporting a roof. | |||
Hausa | tallafi | ||
"Tallafi" in Hausa has ancient origins, tracing back to the root word "lafi," which signifies strength, health, and firmness. | |||
Igbo | nkwado | ||
The Igbo word "nkwado" is also used to refer to the act of strengthening or reinforcing something. | |||
Malagasy | manampy | ||
The word “to support” is also translated in Malagasy into “manampy”, which is the contraction of “manainga ampy”, or “to add enough.” | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chithandizo | ||
The word 'chithandizo' is also used to mean 'maintenance' or 'upkeep'. | |||
Shona | kutsigira | ||
"Kutsigira" is a form of a verb "kutsigirwa," which literally means being leaned on and is linked to support. | |||
Somali | taageero | ||
Taageero may be derived from the Arabic word 'ta'yeed', meaning 'to confirm'. | |||
Sesotho | tšehetso | ||
The word "tšehetso" can also refer to a backstop in a game or the act of bolstering someone's spirits. | |||
Swahili | msaada | ||
The word "msaada" in Swahili also means "charity" and is derived from the Arabic word "sa'ada" meaning "happiness". | |||
Xhosa | inkxaso | ||
The Xhosa word "inkxaso" not only means "support" but also "backbone" and "crutch." | |||
Yoruba | atilẹyin | ||
The word "atilẹyin" can also mean "one who has been supported or relied upon". | |||
Zulu | ukwesekwa | ||
The word "ukwesekwa" in Zulu could also mean "to be put on one's back" or "to be made to fall down." | |||
Bambara | sɛmɛjiri | ||
Ewe | de megbe | ||
Kinyarwanda | inkunga | ||
Lingala | lisungi | ||
Luganda | okuwagira | ||
Sepedi | thekga | ||
Twi (Akan) | mmoa | ||
Arabic | الدعم | ||
The word "الدعم" ("support" in English) shares its root with the verb "دعم" ("to prop up"), signifying a physical or metaphorical force that holds something up or prevents it from falling over. | |||
Hebrew | תמיכה | ||
The word "תמיכה" ("support") in Hebrew is also often used in the context of emotional support or spiritual support. | |||
Pashto | ملاتړ | ||
The word "ملاتړ" originates from the Arabic word "ملاتر" which means "pillar" or "supporter." | |||
Arabic | الدعم | ||
The word "الدعم" ("support" in English) shares its root with the verb "دعم" ("to prop up"), signifying a physical or metaphorical force that holds something up or prevents it from falling over. |
Albanian | mbështetje | ||
The word "mbështetje" is derived from the Latin word "sustentare," meaning "to hold up" or "to maintain." | |||
Basque | laguntza | ||
The word "laguntza" likely comes from the same Indo-European root as "legation," implying aid and assistance. | |||
Catalan | suport | ||
In Catalan, "suport" means "cork" and "corcho" is an alternative word for "cork stopper" in Spanish. | |||
Croatian | podrška | ||
The Croatian word 'podrška' derives from the Proto-Slavic word 'podpora', meaning 'to help, support' and is related to the word 'pod', meaning 'under', suggesting the idea of 'lifting up from below' when supporting someone. | |||
Danish | support | ||
The Danish word "støtte" can also mean "prop" or "support" in the sense of a physical object. | |||
Dutch | ondersteuning | ||
In some contexts "ondersteuning" can mean "interruption", a remnant of the verb "onderstütten", from the Latin "sub-stare" (to place underneath). | |||
English | support | ||
Archaic meanings of "support" include "proof" and "maintenance; livelihood," both deriving from an Old French source meaning "endure" or "carry"} | |||
French | soutien | ||
The word "soutien" comes from the Old French word "sostenir", which means "to hold up" or "to maintain". | |||
Frisian | stypje | ||
The word "stypje" in Frisian can also refer to a scholarship or grant. | |||
Galician | apoiar | ||
Apoiar can also mean "to lean on something" or "to hold something up". | |||
German | unterstützung | ||
The German word "Unterstützung" derives from the Old High German "untarstuzzi" meaning "to stand under". | |||
Icelandic | stuðningur | ||
Stuðningur, meaning 'support,' is related to the verb 'studda,' 'to prop up,' and was originally used in architecture. | |||
Irish | tacaíocht | ||
The term 'tacaíocht' also has a connotation of 'protection' or 'assistance', as in providing aid to those in need. | |||
Italian | supporto | ||
The Italian word "supporto" is ultimately derived from the Latin verb "supportare" meaning to carry from below or to prop up. | |||
Luxembourgish | ënnerstëtzen | ||
The word "ënnerstëtzen" is derived from the German word "unterstützen" and can also mean "to assist" or "to help." | |||
Maltese | appoġġ | ||
"Appoġġ" in Maltese also refers to the government agency that provides social services and support to citizens. | |||
Norwegian | brukerstøtte | ||
The Norwegian word "brukerstøtte" is a compound word made up of the words "bruker" (user) and "støtte" (support). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | apoio, suporte | ||
"Apoio" is derived from the Greek "apo", meaning 'away from', and "epein", meaning 'to say' or 'to speak', indicating providing assistance or encouragement. | |||
Scots Gaelic | taic | ||
The Gaelic word "taic" also denotes one's "strength" or their "stay or prop" (i.e. source of reliance). | |||
Spanish | apoyo | ||
"Apoyo" derives, via French, from the ancient Greek "hypó" meaning "under". | |||
Swedish | stöd | ||
The word "Stöd" has additional meanings such as "stake" or "prop". | |||
Welsh | cefnogaeth | ||
"Cefnogaeth" is a Welsh word that is also used in the English language, meaning "support" or "assistance; backing". |
Belarusian | падтрымка | ||
Bosnian | podrška | ||
"Podrška" is also used figuratively, as in "podrška tezi" ("support for a thesis"). | |||
Bulgarian | поддържа | ||
The Bulgarian word "поддържа" also means "to provide maintenance" and is derived from the verb "държа" (to hold). | |||
Czech | podpěra, podpora | ||
"Support" (podpora) comes from "podpírat", meaning "to prop up". | |||
Estonian | toetus | ||
The verb 'toetus' is also used in Estonian to describe the act of propping up or supporting, such as when holding up a fallen tree branch or a weak wall | |||
Finnish | tuki | ||
Tuki is derived from the Old Norse word tuka which means support or prop. | |||
Hungarian | támogatás | ||
"Támogatás" also means "subsidy" in Hungarian. | |||
Latvian | atbalstu | ||
The word "atbalstu" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *stebh-, meaning "to stand". | |||
Lithuanian | parama | ||
Lithuanian "parama" comes from "ramus", meaning "quiet/peaceful", referring to the support given to someone in need. | |||
Macedonian | поддршка | ||
The word "поддршка" is derived from the verb "поддржува", which means "to hold up" or "to provide assistance". | |||
Polish | wsparcie | ||
The word "wsparcie" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *spьrti, meaning "to strengthen". | |||
Romanian | a sustine | ||
In Romanian, the verb "a sustine" is derived from the Latin word "sustinere" and also means to "hold up" or "to bear up under". | |||
Russian | поддержка | ||
In Russian "поддержка" means not only "support" but also "subscription" which is a loan translation from English "subscription". | |||
Serbian | подршка | ||
The word "podrška" in Serbian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *podъpьrę. | |||
Slovak | podpora | ||
The word "podpora" originally meant "an underlying layer" or "a foundation" in Slavic languages. | |||
Slovenian | podporo | ||
The word "podporo" in Slovenian can also mean "subsistence", "sustenance", or "support for a living". | |||
Ukrainian | підтримка | ||
The word "підтримка" derives from the verb "підтримувати" (to support), and it can also refer to a physical structure that provides support, such as a pillar or a brace. |
Bengali | সমর্থন | ||
সমর্থন ('support' in Bengali) derives from the Sanskrit word 'samarthya' ('ability') and also means 'proof' or 'argument'. | |||
Gujarati | આધાર | ||
The Gujarati word "આધાર" (support) derives from the Sanskrit root "ādhri" (to support), which is also the source of the English word "adhere". | |||
Hindi | सहयोग | ||
The word सहयोग also means "co-operation" in Hindi | |||
Kannada | ಬೆಂಬಲ | ||
Kannada word "ಬೆಂಬಲ" (support) also means "shoulder" signifying the idea of lending support through physical strength. | |||
Malayalam | പിന്തുണ | ||
The word | |||
Marathi | समर्थन | ||
The word "समर्थन" can also mean "proof", "evidence", or "authority" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | समर्थन | ||
The Nepali word "समर्थन" also has the alternate meaning of "proof". | |||
Punjabi | ਸਹਿਯੋਗ | ||
ਸਹਿਯੋਗ can refer to both physical assistance, or more abstractly, to support of an idea or cause. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සහාය | ||
"සහාය" is also used in Sinhalese to mean 'assistance' or 'aid'. | |||
Tamil | ஆதரவு | ||
The word "ஆதரவு" in Tamil is derived from the verb "அது", which means "to hold". It can also refer to the state of being protected or taken care of. | |||
Telugu | మద్దతు | ||
The word మద్దతు in Telugu can also mean ‘a crowd’ or ‘support’ when used in the context of an election. | |||
Urdu | کی حمایت | ||
Chinese (Simplified) | 支持 | ||
"支持" may also refer to a "support bracket", "support frame", "holder", or "stand". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 支持 | ||
支持 in Chinese (Traditional) also means to withstand, endure, or tolerate. | |||
Japanese | サポート | ||
The word originated from the French "supporter" but has taken on a wider meaning in Japanese, encompassing assistance, backing, and even affection. | |||
Korean | 지원하다 | ||
In addition to the meaning of 'support', the word '지원하다' can also be used in the context of 'to provide financial assistance'. | |||
Mongolian | дэмжлэг | ||
The etymology of "дэмжлэг" suggests it may have a broader sense of "holding up" and not only "giving moral or financial support". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ထောက်ခံမှု | ||
Indonesian | dukung | ||
"Duk" itself means to bend over, while "kung" is a reduplication of the word, which is a common way in Indonesian to emphasize or repeat a word's meaning. | |||
Javanese | dhukungan | ||
The Javanese word "dhukungan" can also mean "help" or "assistance." | |||
Khmer | គាំទ្រ | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "support," គាំទ្រ can also mean "to assist," "to help," or "to protect." | |||
Lao | ສະຫນັບສະຫນູນ | ||
Malay | sokongan | ||
The Malay word "sokongan" can also refer to a prop, a foundation, or a backing. | |||
Thai | สนับสนุน | ||
The Thai word "สนับสนุน" can also mean "to endorse" or "to promote". | |||
Vietnamese | ủng hộ | ||
"Ủng hộ" also means "to cheer on" or "to endorse" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | suporta | ||
Azerbaijani | dəstək | ||
The word "dəstək" is also used to refer to a "crutch" or a "cane". | |||
Kazakh | қолдау | ||
The Kazakh word "қолдау" derives from the verb "қолдау" ("to hold") and can also mean "help" or "assistance". | |||
Kyrgyz | колдоо | ||
"Колдоо" also means "help" or "assistance" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | дастгирӣ | ||
Derived from a Persian compound of the words 'to take' and 'neck'; its literal meaning is thus 'to take by the neck'. | |||
Turkmen | goldaw | ||
Uzbek | qo'llab-quvvatlash | ||
The Uzbek word "qo'llab-quvvatlash" is a compound word composed of two separate words, "qo'llab" (meaning "to hold in the hand" or "to help") and "quvvat" (meaning "power" or "strength") | |||
Uyghur | قوللاش | ||
Hawaiian | kākoʻo | ||
The word kākoʻo can be understood as either a noun, meaning 'prop,' 'stick,' or 'support,' or a verb, meaning 'to prop up,' 'support,' or 'help.' | |||
Maori | tautoko | ||
The word tautoko in Maori is related to the word tautoru, which means to hold firmly or to maintain. It can also refer to the act of supporting or assisting someone or something. | |||
Samoan | lagolago | ||
"Lagolago" derives from the Polynesian root "lago," which also means "branch" or "offshoot." | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | suporta | ||
The Tagalog word "suporta" also means "burden" or "responsibility". |
Aymara | supurtaña | ||
Guarani | pytyvõ | ||
Esperanto | subteno | ||
The word "subteno" also means "subtend" in English, which means to extend under or below something else. | |||
Latin | auxilium | ||
Originally related to the notion of “increasing” or “reinforcing” a person or thing, the Latin "auxilium" also had legal connotations of an "obligation to help". |
Greek | υποστήριξη | ||
In Greek, 'υποστήριξη' can also mean 'recommendation' or 'proof'. | |||
Hmong | txhawb nqa | ||
The Hmong word “txhawb nqa” can also mean to help, assist, or uphold. | |||
Kurdish | alîkarî | ||
The word 'alîkarî' comes from the Persian word 'alī', meaning 'help', and the Kurdish suffix '-kar', meaning 'doer'. | |||
Turkish | destek | ||
"Destek" also means a "pole" in Turkish, referring to its use as a structural support for a tent or similar. | |||
Xhosa | inkxaso | ||
The Xhosa word "inkxaso" not only means "support" but also "backbone" and "crutch." | |||
Yiddish | שטיצן | ||
The Yiddish word "שטיצן" ("support") is derived from the German word "stützen," which also means "to support." | |||
Zulu | ukwesekwa | ||
The word "ukwesekwa" in Zulu could also mean "to be put on one's back" or "to be made to fall down." | |||
Assamese | সমৰ্থন | ||
Aymara | supurtaña | ||
Bhojpuri | समर्थन | ||
Dhivehi | ހިތްވަރު | ||
Dogri | मदाद | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | suporta | ||
Guarani | pytyvõ | ||
Ilocano | suporta | ||
Krio | sɔpɔt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پشتیوانی | ||
Maithili | सहायता | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯧꯒꯠꯄ | ||
Mizo | rinchhan | ||
Oromo | deeggarsa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସମର୍ଥନ | ||
Quechua | yanapakuy | ||
Sanskrit | समर्थनम् | ||
Tatar | ярдәм | ||
Tigrinya | ሓገዝ | ||
Tsonga | nseketelo | ||