Switch in Different Languages
Discover 'Switch' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'switch' holds a significant place in our daily lives, often representing a change or a choice between two or more options. From its use in electronics to denote the action of changing electrical contacts, to its cultural importance in phrases like 'switching sides' or 'switching partners' in games and dances, this word has a wide range of applications.
Moreover, the concept of 'switch' is universal, making it a fascinating word to explore in different languages. For instance, in Spanish, 'switch' can be translated as 'interruptor' or 'cambiar', while in German, it becomes 'Schalter' or 'umschalten'. In French, 'interrupteur' or 'commuter' are the equivalents, and in Japanese, 'スイッチ' (suitchi) or '切り替え' (kiregake) are used.
Delving into the translations of 'switch' in various languages not only broadens our linguistic knowledge but also offers insights into the cultural nuances associated with this simple yet powerful word. So, let's embark on this journey of language and culture exploration together!
Switch
Switch in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skakelaar | ||
| The Afrikaans word "skakelaar" is derived from the Dutch word "schakelaar", which means "switch" or "lever". "Skakelaar" can also refer to a "person who switches". | |||
| Amharic | ማብሪያ / ማጥፊያ | ||
| In the Amharic alphabet, the word "ማብሪያ" means "switch" and its alternate spelling is "ማጥፊያ". In the Ge'ez script, these words are "ማብርያ" and "ማ tắtፊያ" respectively. | |||
| Hausa | sauya | ||
| The word "sauya" in Hausa can also refer to a "change" or a "replacement". | |||
| Igbo | mgba ọkụ | ||
| The word 'mgba ọkụ' in Igbo can also mean 'to turn on a light' or 'to ignite a fire'. | |||
| Malagasy | jiro | ||
| The word "jiro" can also refer to a kind of Malagasy dance or a kind of musical instrument consisting of a wooden plank over a calabash gourd. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | sinthani | ||
| The word "sinthani" in Nyanja also means "bridge" or "shortcut". | |||
| Shona | chinja | ||
| The word 'chinja' is sometimes pronounced differently to differentiate its intended meaning in reference to body parts. | |||
| Somali | beddelasho | ||
| The word 'beddel' (to change) and 'lasho' (a stick) form the root of 'beddelasho'. In Somali, it can also refer to a 'ruler'. | |||
| Sesotho | switjha | ||
| The word "switjha" in Sesotho can also mean "to exchange" or "to replace". | |||
| Swahili | kubadili | ||
| In Swahili, "kubadili" not only means "switch" but also "exchange" or "transform." | |||
| Xhosa | tshintsha | ||
| The word "tshintsha" can also refer to a change or transformation in Xhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | yipada | ||
| In Yoruba, "yipada" can also refer to a traditional switch made from a particular plant known for its flexibility and durability. | |||
| Zulu | shintsha | ||
| Zulu word "shintsha" also means "to change" and is used in phrases like "shintsha igama" (change the name). | |||
| Bambara | ka mɛnɛ | ||
| Ewe | si | ||
| Kinyarwanda | hindura | ||
| Lingala | interrupteur | ||
| Luganda | okukyuusa | ||
| Sepedi | fetogela | ||
| Twi (Akan) | sɔ | ||
Switch in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مفتاح كهربائي | ||
| The Arabic word مفتاح كهربائي (switch) is derived from the root word مفتاح (key), which also means "key" in English. | |||
| Hebrew | החלף | ||
| The word "החלף" can also mean "exchange" or "replace" in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | اړول | ||
| The word "اړول" can also have the alternate meanings of "to turn", "to exchange" or "to change". | |||
| Arabic | مفتاح كهربائي | ||
| The Arabic word مفتاح كهربائي (switch) is derived from the root word مفتاح (key), which also means "key" in English. | |||
Switch in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kaloni | ||
| Kaloni in Albanian also refers to a type of traditional footwear made of leather or rubber, similar to moccasins. | |||
| Basque | aldatu | ||
| In Basque, "aldatu" can mean "to change" or "to translate", reflecting its literal meaning of "to bring (something) from one place to another." | |||
| Catalan | interruptor | ||
| In Catalan, the word "interruptor" can also mean "circuit breaker". | |||
| Croatian | sklopka | ||
| "Sklopka" in Croatian also means "mechanism" or "assembly". | |||
| Danish | kontakt | ||
| The word "kontakt" in Danish also means "contact" in English, and is derived from the French word "contact". | |||
| Dutch | schakelaar | ||
| The word "schakelaar" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "schake", meaning "to divide" or "to part". It can also refer to a device that connects or disconnects an electrical circuit. | |||
| English | switch | ||
| The word "switch" derives from Middle English "switchen," which means "to cut" or "to strike." | |||
| French | commutateur | ||
| In French, the word "commutateur" can also refer to a device that controls the flow of electricity in a circuit. | |||
| Frisian | omskeakelje | ||
| The word "omskeakelje" in Frisian can be used as a verb to mean "to switch" or "to replace", as well as a noun to mean "a switch" or "a replacement". | |||
| Galician | cambiar | ||
| In Galician, "cambiar" also means to "exchange" or "to translate". | |||
| German | schalter | ||
| The word "Schalter" can also mean "counter" as in a store or "circuit breaker". | |||
| Icelandic | skipta | ||
| In Icelandic, "skipta" (switch) can also refer to an exchange or a shift in position or role. | |||
| Irish | lasc | ||
| "Lasc" is also an Old Gaelic term for "a salmon leap" | |||
| Italian | interruttore | ||
| The Italian word "interruttore" (switch) comes from the verb "interrompere" (to interrupt), as a switch interrupts the flow of electricity. | |||
| Luxembourgish | schalt | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the verb "schalten" not only means "to switch", but can also refer to the act of "scolding" or "cursing" | |||
| Maltese | swiċċ | ||
| The Maltese word "swiċċ" derives from the English word "switch", but uniquely denotes either a light switch or an electrical circuit breaker. | |||
| Norwegian | bytte om | ||
| In carpentry 'bytte om' can mean to swap, exchange, or switch two different boards. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | interruptor | ||
| In Portuguese, the same word, "interruptor," can refer to both a light switch or a circuit breaker. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | tionndadh | ||
| While the Gaelic word “tionndadh” means “switch,” it also refers to an exchange or substitution. | |||
| Spanish | cambiar | ||
| Cambiar shares an etymology with camera and cameo, all deriving from the Greek root meaning 'chamber'. | |||
| Swedish | växla | ||
| Växla can also mean to exchange or to shift gears in a car. | |||
| Welsh | switsh | ||
| The Welsh word 'switsh' also means 'a thin piece of wood or metal used to move something' | |||
Switch in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | перамыкач | ||
| The Belarusian word "перамыкач" (switch) is derived from the verb "перамыкаць" (to switch), which in turn comes from the Proto-Slavic root *permykati (to throw, to turn). | |||
| Bosnian | prekidač | ||
| In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the term "prekidač" can also refer to a light switch or circuit breaker, or in slang to a person who is constantly changing their mind or behavior. | |||
| Bulgarian | превключвател | ||
| The Bulgarian word "превключвател" also means "commutator" in the context of electric motors. | |||
| Czech | přepínač | ||
| The word "přepínač" can also mean "interrupter" or "circuit breaker" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | lüliti | ||
| The word "lüliti" originates from the verb "lüütama" which means "to hit" or "to strike". | |||
| Finnish | vaihtaa | ||
| The Finnish word "vaihtaa" is derived from the Proto-Uralic root "*waik", meaning "to change" or "to turn". | |||
| Hungarian | kapcsoló | ||
| In Hungarian, "kapcsoló" also means "interconnection". | |||
| Latvian | slēdzis | ||
| Latvian word "slēdzis" also means "ski" and "plug". | |||
| Lithuanian | perjungti | ||
| The Lithuanian word "perjungti" has a similar meaning to the English word "switch" and can be used to refer to the act of changing between two things, such as turning on a light switch or switching from one computer program to another. | |||
| Macedonian | прекинувач | ||
| Polish | przełącznik | ||
| "Przełącznik" originated from the verb "przełączyć" (to switch), derived from "prze" (across, through) and Polish "łączyć" (to connect). | |||
| Romanian | intrerupator | ||
| In Romanian, 'intrerupator' literally means 'interrupter', signifying its function of breaking electrical circuits. | |||
| Russian | переключатель | ||
| The word "переключатель" can refer to either an abstract "switching mechanism" (e.g. between tasks) or a concrete physical "switch" (e.g. on a wall, in a vehicle, or on a device). | |||
| Serbian | прекидач | ||
| "Прекидач" (''prekidac'') literally means "interrupter" and can refer to various devices that break an electric or logical connection. | |||
| Slovak | prepínač | ||
| Preps in the word "prepínač" ("switch") comes from "pre" ("forward, over") and "pínať" ("to stretch, to span"), suggesting the meaning of "bridging over". | |||
| Slovenian | stikalo | ||
| The Slovenian word "stikalo" can also refer to a contact point in an electrical circuit. | |||
| Ukrainian | перемикач | ||
| The word "перемикач" also has the alternate meaning of "toggle" in Ukrainian. | |||
Switch in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | স্যুইচ করুন | ||
| The verb "স্যুইচ করুন" can also mean to change or exchange something. | |||
| Gujarati | સ્વીચ | ||
| The Gujarati word “સ્વીચ” can also refer to a lever in a mechanism or device | |||
| Hindi | स्विच | ||
| In Hindi, "स्विच" (switch) can also refer to a lever or a button used to turn something on or off. | |||
| Kannada | ಸ್ವಿಚ್ | ||
| The word 'ಸ್ವಿಚ್' can also refer to a type of plant in Kannada, the 'switch plant' (Mimosa pudica). | |||
| Malayalam | സ്വിച്ചുചെയ്യുക | ||
| The Malayalam word 'സ്വിച്ചുചെയ്യുക' can also mean to change or exchange something, or to transfer or move something from one place to another. | |||
| Marathi | स्विच | ||
| The word "स्विच" (switch) in Marathi is also used to mean "to change". | |||
| Nepali | स्विच | ||
| The word "स्विच" derives from the Sanskrit word "स्विच्" meaning "to move" and has other meanings such as "exchange", "change", and "substitute". | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਵਿਚ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਸਵਿਚ" can also mean "branch" or "twig" in the context of botany. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ස්විචය | ||
| The word "ස්විචය" can mean either a switch that controls the flow of electricity or a switch that connects the railway tracks. | |||
| Tamil | சொடுக்கி | ||
| In addition to 'switch', 'சொடுக்கி' can also mean 'a wooden bar for securing doors/windows'. | |||
| Telugu | మారండి | ||
| The word "మారండి" can also mean "to change" or "to exchange". | |||
| Urdu | سوئچ | ||
| The word "سوئچ" in Urdu can also mean "to turn on or off" or "to change". | |||
Switch in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 开关 | ||
| The Chinese word "开关" (switch) can also mean "cause" or "effect". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 開關 | ||
| 開關 (switch) also means to open and close | |||
| Japanese | スイッチ | ||
| "スイッチ" (switch) comes from the English word "switch" and is used in Japanese to mean both "switch" and "button". | |||
| Korean | 스위치 | ||
| 스위치(switch)는 원래 영어 단어 'switch'에서 유래했으며, '교환하다'나 '전환하다'는 의미도 포함합니다. | |||
| Mongolian | шилжүүлэгч | ||
| In Mongolian, the word "шилжүүлэгч" also refers to a device used to transfer data between devices. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | switch သည် | ||
| The word "သည်" (switch) in Myanmar also means "to turn on" or "to turn off". | |||
Switch in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | beralih | ||
| 'Beralih' also means 'to convert (to a religion)' in Indonesian. | |||
| Javanese | ngalih | ||
| The word ngalih also means "to seek" or "to search" in Javanese. | |||
| Khmer | ប្តូរ | ||
| The word ប្តូរ can also be used to describe the act of changing one's religion, especially switching from one to another. | |||
| Lao | ປ່ຽນ | ||
| "ປ່ຽນ" can also mean "to change" or "to transform" in Lao, reflecting its versatility in describing actions involving exchange or alteration. | |||
| Malay | beralih | ||
| "Beralih" comes from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root *alih which means "to cross, to pass, to move". | |||
| Thai | สวิตซ์ | ||
| The Thai word "สวิตซ์" derives from the English word "switch," and can also refer to a type of electronic device that connects and disconnects an electrical circuit. | |||
| Vietnamese | công tắc điện | ||
| "Công tắc điện" (lit. "work switch") refers to a switch that activates or deactivates a circuit or device. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lumipat | ||
Switch in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | keçid | ||
| The word "keçid" in Azerbaijani shares a similar etymology with the Turkish word "keçit" meaning "crossing" or "passage". | |||
| Kazakh | қосқыш | ||
| The word "қосқыш" in Kazakh, besides its primary meaning as a "switch," can also refer to a "whip" or a "lash." | |||
| Kyrgyz | которуштуруу | ||
| The word "которуштуруу" in Kyrgyz also means "exchange" or "conversion", suggesting its multiple functions. | |||
| Tajik | гузариш | ||
| The word “гузариш” has an alternate meaning besides “switch”, it also means “turn”. | |||
| Turkmen | wyklýuçatel | ||
| Uzbek | almashtirish | ||
| The Uzbek word "almashtirish" can also refer to "exchange" or "replacement." | |||
| Uyghur | switch | ||
Switch in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kuapo | ||
| In Hawaiian, 'kuapo' also signifies 'to exchange' or 'to trade,' denoting its multipurposefulness. | |||
| Maori | whakakā | ||
| In Maori, the word “whakakā” refers to a type of plant, a switch or rod used as a weapon, and the act of changing or altering something. | |||
| Samoan | ki | ||
| The Samoan word 'ki' can also refer to a type of tree or a stick. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | lumipat | ||
| Lumipat also means 'move' or 'transfer' in Tagalog, not just 'switch'. | |||
Switch in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | mayjt'ayaña | ||
| Guarani | myandyha | ||
Switch in International Languages
| Esperanto | ŝalti | ||
| Ŝalti also means to cut off power or to turn off. | |||
| Latin | switch | ||
| The word "switch" derives from the Middle English word "swichen," meaning "to strike" or "whip." | |||
Switch in Others Languages
| Greek | διακόπτης | ||
| The word "διακόπτης" in Greek is derived from the verb "διακόπτω", meaning "to cut off" or "to interrupt". | |||
| Hmong | hloov | ||
| "Hloov" shares an etymology with the Hmong word for "exchange" and "change". | |||
| Kurdish | gûherr | ||
| The word "gûherr" in Kurdish, meaning "switch" or "lever," derives from the Indo-European root ghwēr, meaning "to turn" or "to bend." | |||
| Turkish | değiştirmek | ||
| The Turkish word "değiştirmek" can also mean "to exchange" or "to transform." | |||
| Xhosa | tshintsha | ||
| The word "tshintsha" can also refer to a change or transformation in Xhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | יבערבייַט | ||
| The Yiddish word "יבערבייַט" (yibarbait) comes from the German "überweit". In German, "über" means "over" and "weit" means "wide". The Yiddish word "יבערבייַט" literally means "over-wide", which can be confusing, but it simply means "switch". | |||
| Zulu | shintsha | ||
| Zulu word "shintsha" also means "to change" and is used in phrases like "shintsha igama" (change the name). | |||
| Assamese | চুইচ | ||
| Aymara | mayjt'ayaña | ||
| Bhojpuri | स्विच | ||
| Dhivehi | ބަދަލުކުރުން | ||
| Dogri | सुच्च | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lumipat | ||
| Guarani | myandyha | ||
| Ilocano | agbaliw | ||
| Krio | chenj | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سویچ | ||
| Maithili | बदलनाइ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯣꯟꯊꯣꯛꯄ | ||
| Mizo | thlakthleng | ||
| Oromo | jijjiiruu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସୁଇଚ୍ | ||
| Quechua | tikray | ||
| Sanskrit | नुदति | ||
| Tatar | күчерү | ||
| Tigrinya | ለውጥ | ||
| Tsonga | tima | ||