Survivor in Different Languages
Discover 'Survivor' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word survivor holds a profound significance in our lives, reminding us of resilience, strength, and the indomitable human spirit. Its cultural importance is evident in literature, film, and historical narratives that highlight the triumph of the human will over adversity.
Delving into the translations of survivor in different languages offers a unique perspective on how diverse cultures perceive and express this concept. For instance, in Spanish, a survivor is a superviviente, while in French, it's a survivant. In German, the word is Überlebender, and in Japanese, it's 生存者 (seizonsha).
Understanding these translations can enrich our appreciation of the word's historical contexts and cultural nuances. For instance, in Japanese, the term 難民 (nanmin), often translated as 'refugee' or 'survivor', carries a heavy load of post-war historical significance.
Join us as we explore more translations of survivor in different languages, delving into the rich tapestry of cultural meanings and historical contexts associated with this powerful word.
Survivor
Survivor in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | oorlewende | ||
| The term 'oorlewende' is derived from the Dutch term 'overlevende' and shares its meaning as 'survivor' in English. | |||
| Amharic | የተረፈ | ||
| In Amharic, "የተረፈ" can refer to a person or thing that has outlasted or endured. | |||
| Hausa | mai tsira | ||
| "Mai tsira" is a term used specifically for a person who has survived severe illness, a disaster, or a difficult situation. | |||
| Igbo | lanarịrị | ||
| The word "lanarịrị" in Igbo means "to overcome difficulties or challenges". | |||
| Malagasy | sisa velona | ||
| The Malagasy term "sisa velona" literally translates to "to escape with skin". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wopulumuka | ||
| "Wopulumuka" shares the root "pulumuka" meaning "to resurrect" or "to rise from the dead". | |||
| Shona | muponesi | ||
| "Muponesi" can also refer to a type of traditional healer in Zimbabwean culture, known for treating illnesses using herbs and spiritual rituals. | |||
| Somali | badbaaday | ||
| The term "badbaaday" in Somali language means "survivor" and is also used to describe someone who has overcome challenges or adversity | |||
| Sesotho | mophonyohi | ||
| The word “mophonyohi” is also a term used to describe an individual who has been through a traumatic experience. | |||
| Swahili | aliyenusurika | ||
| The term "aliyenusurika" is derived from the Swahili root "nusur" meaning "to rescue, save, or support". | |||
| Xhosa | osindileyo | ||
| The word "osindileyo" (survivor) is derived from the root "sinda" (to overcome), which is used in multiple contexts. | |||
| Yoruba | olugbala | ||
| The word "olugbala" in Yoruba is derived from the verb "gba," which can mean "to hold something firmly" or "to save something from danger." | |||
| Zulu | osindile | ||
| "Osindile" also means "one who has overcome" or "one who has triumphed." | |||
| Bambara | mɔgɔ min ye ɲɛnamaya sɔrɔ | ||
| Ewe | agbetsilawo dometɔ ɖeka | ||
| Kinyarwanda | warokotse | ||
| Lingala | moto oyo abikaki | ||
| Luganda | eyawonawo | ||
| Sepedi | mophologi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nea onyaa ne ti didii mu | ||
Survivor in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الناجي | ||
| In classical Arabic, "الناجي" also means "saviour". | |||
| Hebrew | ניצול | ||
| The Hebrew word "ניצול" can also mean "exploitation" or "abuse". | |||
| Pashto | ژغورونکی | ||
| The Pashto word "ژغورونکی" can also refer to a "long-lasting, durable, or resilient person." | |||
| Arabic | الناجي | ||
| In classical Arabic, "الناجي" also means "saviour". | |||
Survivor in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i mbijetuar | ||
| "I mbijetuar" is an Albanian term derived from the Latin word "superstes" (survivor) and also has connotations of endurance and perseverance. | |||
| Basque | bizirik | ||
| The Basque word 'bizirik' is derived from the verb 'bizi' (to live) and the suffix '-rik' (forming adjectives from verbs). | |||
| Catalan | supervivent | ||
| Catalan "supervivent" derives ultimately from Latin, via Old Catalan "sobrevivir" like its Spanish counterpart "superviviente". | |||
| Croatian | preživio | ||
| The word "preživio" in Croatian shares its etymological roots with the Latin verb "vivere," meaning "to live," highlighting the connection between survival and the continuation of life. | |||
| Danish | overlevende | ||
| The Danish word 'overlevende' is also used in Norwegian with the same meaning. | |||
| Dutch | overlevende | ||
| The Dutch word "overlevende" shares a common origin with the English word "overwhelm" and the German word "überleben". | |||
| English | survivor | ||
| The word 'survivor' comes from the Latin word 'superstes', which means 'remaining alive'. | |||
| French | survivant | ||
| The word "survivant" in French also refers to a person who has outlived their spouse. | |||
| Frisian | oerlibjende | ||
| The Frisian word "oerlibjende" derives from the older Frisian word "overleverde", which means "passed down". | |||
| Galician | sobrevivente | ||
| The word "sobrevivente" comes from the Latin "supervivens", which means "remaining alive". | |||
| German | überlebende | ||
| The term "Überlebende" can refer to both survivors of a disaster or individuals who have overcome personal struggles. | |||
| Icelandic | eftirlifandi | ||
| The Icelandic word "eftirlifandi" means "survivor" but is also used for "outliving spouse" in a legal context. | |||
| Irish | marthanóir | ||
| The Irish word 'marthanóir' also refers to a person who has recovered from an illness or other hardship. | |||
| Italian | sopravvissuto | ||
| In Italian, the word 'sopravvissuto' can also refer to a person who has overcome a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster or a war. | |||
| Luxembourgish | iwwerliewenden | ||
| 'Iwwertliewen' - one who has overcome adversity in life - is rooted in Germanic and related to the French word 'survivre'. | |||
| Maltese | superstiti | ||
| The word 'superstiti' in Maltese is derived from the Latin 'superstitem', which has the alternate meaning of 'heir'. | |||
| Norwegian | overlevende | ||
| "Overlevende" can also mean "remainder" or "surviving partner" depending on the context | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | sobrevivente | ||
| The Portuguese word "sobrevivente" comes from the Latin "supervivere", meaning "to live beyond". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | maireann | ||
| "Maireann" (survivor) comes from the Gaelic word "mar" (sea), which originally meant "survivor at sea". | |||
| Spanish | sobreviviente | ||
| In Spanish, the term "sobreviviente" is also used for the survivors of rape and other traumatic events. | |||
| Swedish | efterlevande | ||
| "Efterlevande" is derived from the Old Norse word "eftirlifandi", meaning "one who lives after". | |||
| Welsh | goroeswr | ||
| The word 'goroeswr' also means 'conqueror' or 'champion' in Welsh. | |||
Survivor in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | які выжыў | ||
| Bosnian | preživjeli | ||
| Preživjeti in Bosnian comes from the verb "preživeti" which means to survive, but also to spend time in a certain place or to wait for something. | |||
| Bulgarian | оцелял | ||
| The word "оцелял" (survivor) in Bulgarian derives from the verb "оцелявам" (to survive), ultimately coming from the Proto-Slavic word *cěliti (to heal). | |||
| Czech | pozůstalý | ||
| Pozůstalý comes from the verb "pozůstat" meaning to remain or linger and the reflexive "se" indicating an action done to oneself. | |||
| Estonian | ellujäänu | ||
| "Ellujäänu" originates from the phrase "elu jäi" meaning "life remained" and has also been used to refer to victims of a disaster or catastrophe. | |||
| Finnish | selviytyjä | ||
| "Selviytyjä" comes from the verb "selviytyä" meaning 'to survive', 'to pull through' or 'to get by'. | |||
| Hungarian | túlélő | ||
| The word "túlélő" is derived from the verb "túlélni", which means "to survive", and it can also refer to someone who has undergone a traumatic experience. | |||
| Latvian | izdzīvojušais | ||
| The Latvian word "izdzīvojušais" can also mean "one who has experienced hardship or adversity." | |||
| Lithuanian | išgyvenęs | ||
| "Išgyvenęs" is derived from the Lithuanian word "išgyventi," which means "to live through" or "to survive." | |||
| Macedonian | преживеан | ||
| The word "преживеан" can also refer to someone who experiences or endures something difficult or unpleasant. | |||
| Polish | niedobitek | ||
| The word "niedobitek" also means "deficiency" or "shortcoming" in Polish. | |||
| Romanian | supravieţuitor | ||
| The word "supravieţuitor" in Romanian is derived from the Latin "superstes", meaning "outliving" or "surviving". It can also refer to a person who has overcome adversity or hardship. | |||
| Russian | оставшийся в живых | ||
| В русском языке слово "оставшийся в живых" происходит от глагола "остаться", который может иметь значения "пережить" или "сохраниться". | |||
| Serbian | преживели | ||
| The Serbian word "преживели" also means "experienced" in a more general sense, such as "a seasoned veteran". | |||
| Slovak | pozostalý | ||
| The word "pozostalý" is derived from the Old Czech word "pozostati", meaning "to remain behind" or "to be left over". | |||
| Slovenian | preživeli | ||
| The word "preživeli" is derived from the verb "preživeti", meaning "to outlive" or "to overcome". It can also refer to someone who has overcome a difficult experience or hardship. | |||
| Ukrainian | виживший | ||
| "Виживший" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic "въживати", meaning "to revive, endure". | |||
Survivor in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বেঁচে থাকা | ||
| The Bengali word "বেঁচে থাকা" (bē̃che thāka) literally translates to "to live" or "to remain alive". | |||
| Gujarati | બચી | ||
| The word 'બચી' (bachi) in Gujarati can also refer to a young girl or a small child, similar to the English word 'toddler'. | |||
| Hindi | उत्तरजीवी | ||
| The word "उत्तरजीवी" (survivor) is derived from the Sanskrit word "उत्तरायण" (uttaraayana), which refers to the northern movement of the sun after the winter solstice. | |||
| Kannada | ಬದುಕುಳಿದವರು | ||
| In Kannada, "ಬದುಕುಳಿದವರು" can also refer to someone who has overcome a difficult situation or adversity. | |||
| Malayalam | അതിജീവിച്ചയാൾ | ||
| The word 'survivor' can also refer to someone who has experienced a traumatic event and can relate to others who have undergone similar experiences | |||
| Marathi | वाचलेले | ||
| The word "वाचलेले" in Marathi comes from the root word "वाच" which means "save" or "protect". | |||
| Nepali | बचेका | ||
| The word "बचेका" has an alternate meaning as "that which is left over" in Nepali, especially in terms of food. | |||
| Punjabi | ਬਚਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ | ||
| The term "ਬਚਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ" in Punjabi literally translates to "one who has been left behind" and is not necessarily synonymous with the English word "survivor." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | දිවි ගලවා ගත් තැනැත්තා | ||
| Tamil | உயிர் பிழைத்தவர் | ||
| Telugu | ప్రాణాలతో | ||
| The word "ప్రాణాలతో" in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्राण" meaning "life-breath" and has alternate meanings such as "alive" or "with life". | |||
| Urdu | زندہ بچ جانے والا | ||
| In Urdu, "زندہ بچ جانے والا" means "one who has escaped death or destruction", while in English "survivor" is often used more broadly to include those who have overcome any significant adversity. | |||
Survivor in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 幸存者 | ||
| 幸存者 (xìngcúnzhě) is used both in Chinese and Japanese, with the former meaning “to survive” and the latter meaning “to stay overnight”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 倖存者 | ||
| The term "倖存者" literally means "lucky survivor" and holds positive connotations of having escaped a life-threatening situation. | |||
| Japanese | サバイバー | ||
| The term サバイバー (sabaivaa) has also evolved to refer to someone who perseveres despite difficult circumstances or a near-death experience. | |||
| Korean | 살아남은 사람 | ||
| The word "survivor" can also refer to a person who has overcome a difficult experience or situation. | |||
| Mongolian | амьд үлдсэн | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အသက်ရှင်ကျန်သူ | ||
Survivor in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | penyintas | ||
| "Penyintas" is derived from a Javanese word meaning "to survive" and can also mean "winner" or "conqueror." | |||
| Javanese | slamet | ||
| In Javanese, the word "slamet" not only means "survivor" but also "peace" or "well-being." | |||
| Khmer | អ្នករស់រានមានជីវិត | ||
| Lao | ຜູ້ລອດຊີວິດ | ||
| Malay | selamat | ||
| The Malay word "selamat" also means "good luck" or "greetings". | |||
| Thai | ผู้รอดชีวิต | ||
| The word ผู้รอดชีวิต can also be used to refer to the last survivor in a group, or to the one who survives a disaster. | |||
| Vietnamese | người sống sót | ||
| Người sống sót also means "prisoner" in Vietnamese, due to the word's historical association with American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nakaligtas | ||
Survivor in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | sağ qalan | ||
| "Sağ qalan" is derived from the verb "sağ qalmaq" meaning "to survive", with the suffix "-an" indicating an active participle form indicating "surviving". | |||
| Kazakh | тірі қалған | ||
| Kyrgyz | аман калган | ||
| "Aman kalgan" also means "safe and sound" or "in good health" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | наҷотёфта | ||
| The word "наҷотёфта" is derived from the Arabic word "نجاة" (najāt), meaning "salvation, rescue". | |||
| Turkmen | diri galan | ||
| Uzbek | tirik qolgan | ||
| The word "tirik qolgan" in Uzbek is also used to refer to a person who has experienced a significant hardship or loss and has emerged from it with strength and resilience. | |||
| Uyghur | ھايات قالغۇچى | ||
Survivor in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mea pakele | ||
| The Hawaiian word "mea pakele" may derive from "mea" (thing) and "pakele" (to escape), suggesting an object or person that has escaped danger or survived a crisis. | |||
| Maori | morehu | ||
| In traditional Maori language, morehu could refer to a | |||
| Samoan | tagata na sao mai | ||
| In Samoan, 'tagata na sao mai' can also mean 'one who emerges from the stars' or 'a descendant of the stars'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | nakaligtas | ||
| The word "nakaligtas" is etymologically rooted in the verb "ligtas" which means "to save" or "to rescue". | |||
Survivor in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | qhispiyiri jaqi | ||
| Guarani | oikovéva | ||
Survivor in International Languages
| Esperanto | postvivanto | ||
| Postvivanto is a calque of German Überlebender via English survivor | |||
| Latin | superstes, | ||
| "Superstes" (survivor) also means "last survivor" or "outliving" in Latin. | |||
Survivor in Others Languages
| Greek | επιζών | ||
| The Greek word "επιζών" can also refer to someone who has overcome a difficult situation or has prevailed through adversity. | |||
| Hmong | tus dim | ||
| The word "tus dim" is also the name of a traditional Hmong hat, as well as a Hmong folk dance. | |||
| Kurdish | saxma | ||
| The word "saxma" in Kurdish, meaning "survivor," also has the connotation of "one who has the last word" or "one who prevails in a contest." | |||
| Turkish | hayatta kalan | ||
| The word 'hayatta kalan' in Turkish literally translates to 'remaining alive' or 'enduring life'. | |||
| Xhosa | osindileyo | ||
| The word "osindileyo" (survivor) is derived from the root "sinda" (to overcome), which is used in multiple contexts. | |||
| Yiddish | איבערלעבער | ||
| איבערלעבער (ayberleber) means survivor in the sense of one who has survived the Holocaust, but it can also mean someone who outlives a spouse or another close relative. | |||
| Zulu | osindile | ||
| "Osindile" also means "one who has overcome" or "one who has triumphed." | |||
| Assamese | জীৱিত | ||
| Aymara | qhispiyiri jaqi | ||
| Bhojpuri | बचे वाला बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ސަލާމަތްވި މީހާއެވެ | ||
| Dogri | बचे दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nakaligtas | ||
| Guarani | oikovéva | ||
| Ilocano | nakalasat | ||
| Krio | pɔsin we dɔn sev | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕزگاربوو | ||
| Maithili | बचे वाला | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯤꯡꯍꯧꯔꯕꯥ ꯃꯤꯑꯣꯏ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | damchhuak | ||
| Oromo | kan lubbuun hafe | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବଞ୍ଚିଥିବା | ||
| Quechua | kawsaq | ||
| Sanskrit | जीवित | ||
| Tatar | исән калган | ||
| Tigrinya | ብህይወት ዝተረፈ | ||
| Tsonga | muponi | ||