Tank in Different Languages
Discover 'Tank' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Tanks are vital military vehicles, known for their durability and power, that have significantly impacted warfare and cultural contexts worldwide. The concept of a tank, as a protective container, has also been adopted in various civilian applications such as water storage and transportation. It's no surprise that the word 'tank' has piqued the interest of many language enthusiasts, curious about its translation in different languages.
Throughout history, tanks have played crucial roles in shaping military strategies and outcomes. The first modern tank, the British Mark I, was deployed in World War I, revolutionizing ground combat. Since then, tanks have become symbols of military might and technological advancement.
Understanding the translation of 'tank' in various languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures perceive and interact with this powerful machine. Here are a few examples:
- Spanish: tanque
- French: char d'assaut or simply tank
- German: Panzer
- Mandarin: 坦克 (tǎnkè)
- Japanese: 戦車 (sensha)
Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of 'tank' translations in various languages, showcasing the global impact and significance of this remarkable invention.
Tank
Tank in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | tenk | ||
| The word 'tenk' is also used informally to refer to a large or heavy person or object in Afrikaans. | |||
| Amharic | ታንክ | ||
| The word "ታንክ" comes from the English word "tank" which can also mean a large container for storing water. | |||
| Hausa | tanki | ||
| "Tanki" also means "lake" in Hausa, deriving from the Tuareg word "teneg". | |||
| Igbo | tank | ||
| Though the word 'tank' in Igbo means 'tank', it can also mean 'drum' or 'container'. | |||
| Malagasy | tanky | ||
| Tanky can also mean a heavy-duty container or a sturdy object similar to a tank. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | thanki | ||
| Nyanja thanki "tank" originates from "tanki" in Gujarati, which means "vessel with lid". | |||
| Shona | tangi | ||
| The Shona word "tangi" can also mean "container" or "vessel", which aligns with its military connotation as a vehicle that holds liquid fuel. | |||
| Somali | taangiga | ||
| The term "taangiga" can also refer to a large container or reservoir. | |||
| Sesotho | tanka | ||
| In Sesotho, 'tanka' refers to a container or a drum, extending its meaning beyond its primary English connotation of a military vehicle. | |||
| Swahili | tank | ||
| In Swahili, the word "tank" also means "container" or "vessel" | |||
| Xhosa | itanki | ||
| The word "itanki" is derived from the Afrikaans "tenk", which means "tank" | |||
| Yoruba | ojò | ||
| The Yoruba word "ojò" can also mean "time" or "day". | |||
| Zulu | ithangi | ||
| The word 'ithangi' also means a 'drinking trough' in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | tanki min bɛ kɛ | ||
| Ewe | tank | ||
| Kinyarwanda | tank | ||
| Lingala | tank | ||
| Luganda | ttanka | ||
| Sepedi | tanka ya | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tank a ɛwɔ hɔ | ||
Tank in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | خزان | ||
| The word "خزان" ("tank") in Arabic can also refer to a reservoir or a treasury. | |||
| Hebrew | טַנק | ||
| "טַנק" is also an acronym for "טכנולוגיה נשק קל" (Tekhnologiya Neshek Kal), meaning "small arms technology". | |||
| Pashto | ټانک | ||
| The Pashto word "ټانک" also means "reservoir". | |||
| Arabic | خزان | ||
| The word "خزان" ("tank") in Arabic can also refer to a reservoir or a treasury. | |||
Tank in Western European Languages
| Albanian | tank | ||
| The word "tank" in Albanian also means "pool" or "reservoir". | |||
| Basque | depositua | ||
| The Basque word for tank, "depositua", derives from the Latin "depositum", meaning "stored thing." | |||
| Catalan | tanc | ||
| The Catalan word "tanc" originates from the French word "étang", meaning a pond or reservoir. | |||
| Croatian | tenk | ||
| In Croatian, "tenk" originally meant "pond" or "cistern". | |||
| Danish | tank | ||
| The word "tank" in Danish can also refer to a large container for storing liquids or gases. | |||
| Dutch | tank | ||
| In Dutch, "tank" can also refer to a container for liquids or a prison cell. | |||
| English | tank | ||
| The term "tank" originates from the British military slang, short for "water tank". | |||
| French | réservoir | ||
| The French word "réservoir" initially meant "fish pond" before acquiring its more common meaning of "reservoir" or "tank". | |||
| Frisian | tank | ||
| In Frisian, "tank" not only means a container for liquids, but also a thick sweater or shirt. | |||
| Galician | tanque | ||
| The word "tanque" comes from the Portuguese "tanque", which in turn comes from the Latin "tanca", meaning "reservoir". | |||
| German | panzer | ||
| In German, the word "Panzer" can also refer to a type of heavy armor worn by medieval knights. | |||
| Icelandic | tankur | ||
| The Icelandic word "tankur" can also refer to a thought, an idea, or a plan. | |||
| Irish | umar | ||
| The word 'umar' in Irish is cognate with the Latin 'imber', meaning 'a heavy shower of rain', and is likely related to the Old Irish 'immar', meaning 'a pond' or 'a pool'. | |||
| Italian | carro armato | ||
| The term "carro armato" originates from Italian newspapers referring to the first British tanks as "armored cars" | |||
| Luxembourgish | tank | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "tank" can also refer to a pond or a cistern. | |||
| Maltese | tank | ||
| The Maltese term "tank" derives from the Italian word "tanica," meaning a container or vessel. | |||
| Norwegian | tank | ||
| In Norwegian, the word "tank" can also mean "container" or "cistern". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | tanque | ||
| The Portuguese word "tanque" can refer to a cistern, a pond, or a tank in a military context. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | tanca | ||
| The word "tanca" in Scots Gaelic can also refer to a small enclosure or pen for animals. | |||
| Spanish | tanque | ||
| In Spanish, "tanque" has origins in the Arabic "tannūk" and also means pond, reservoir, or cistern. | |||
| Swedish | tank | ||
| Swedish "tanken" ('the tank') can also refer to the idea, thought or plan rather than a physical container or vehicle. | |||
| Welsh | tanc | ||
| Tanc can also be a verb meaning 'to press' in Welsh. | |||
Tank in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | танк | ||
| The word "танк" is derived from the English word "tank", meaning a large container for holding liquids or gases. | |||
| Bosnian | tenk | ||
| The word "tenk" in Bosnian can also refer to a heavy metal band or a person who is overly serious or rigid. | |||
| Bulgarian | резервоар | ||
| "Резервоар" comes from "резерв" meaning "reserve" or "warehouse", originally referring to water tanks used in Ottoman baths. | |||
| Czech | nádrž | ||
| "Nádrž" in Czech means not only "tank" but also a reservoir or a cistern. | |||
| Estonian | paak | ||
| The word "paak" is derived from Russian "бачок" (literally: "container") and it also means "cistern" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | säiliö | ||
| The word "säiliö" can also refer to a container or vessel for liquids or gases. | |||
| Hungarian | tartály | ||
| The word "tartály" also has the alternate meaning of "reservoir" in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | tvertne | ||
| "Tvertne" in Latvian also means "container" or "vessel". | |||
| Lithuanian | tankas | ||
| In Lithuanian, "tankas" is a borrowed word from Russian, ultimately derived from the English word "tank." | |||
| Macedonian | резервоар | ||
| The first tank was in fact not a vehicle, but a cylindrical container for liquids. | |||
| Polish | czołg | ||
| "Czołg" is derived from the Polish word "czółgać" meaning "to crawl", but may also refer to a type of boat or a traditional dance. | |||
| Romanian | rezervor | ||
| The Romanian word "rezervor" also means "reservoir" and comes from the Latin "reservō," meaning "to keep back" or "to store up." | |||
| Russian | бак | ||
| The word "бак" (tank) has several meanings in Russian, including "a large container for liquids or gases" and "a reservoir on a vehicle for storing fuel." | |||
| Serbian | резервоар | ||
| The word 'rezervoar' in Serbian comes from the French 'réservoir', meaning 'reservoir' or 'tank'. It can also refer to a 'cistern' or 'basin'. | |||
| Slovak | nádrž | ||
| "Nádrž" can also refer to a reservoir or water tank in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | rezervoar | ||
| The word "rezervoar" in Slovenian, like its English cognate, also means "reservoir" in the sense of a natural or artificial lake or pond used for storing water. | |||
| Ukrainian | танк | ||
| The Ukrainian word "танк" can also refer to a reservoir or a cistern. | |||
Tank in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ট্যাঙ্ক | ||
| The word 'tank' can also refer to a reservoir or container for liquids, or a large metal box used to transport goods. | |||
| Gujarati | ટાંકી | ||
| In Gujarati, "tank" also means a pond or reservoir for storing water. | |||
| Hindi | टैंक | ||
| The word 'टैंक' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'टंक' and can mean not only 'tank' but also 'vessel' or 'reservoir' | |||
| Kannada | ಟ್ಯಾಂಕ್ | ||
| "ಟ್ಯಾಂಕ್" also means a reservoir created by building a dam across a river or a stream to collect and store water. | |||
| Malayalam | ടാങ്ക് | ||
| The word "ടാങ്ക്" in Malayalam can also mean "a large vessel for storing water or other liquids" or "a reservoir". | |||
| Marathi | टाकी | ||
| In Marathi, the word "टाकी" also means "a pot". | |||
| Nepali | ट्या tank्क | ||
| The word 'ट्यांक' (tank) can also refer to a large container or reservoir for holding liquids or gases. | |||
| Punjabi | ਟੈਂਕ | ||
| In Punjabi, "ਟੈਂਕ" primarily means "tank" but can also refer to a "drum", "reservoir", or "container" for holding liquids or solids. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ටැංකිය | ||
| The Sinhala word "ටැංකිය" (tank) originates from the Portuguese word "tanque", meaning "reservoir" or "cistern". | |||
| Tamil | தொட்டி | ||
| The term 'தொட்டி' ('tank') can also refer to a container used to hold liquids, or to an excavation for storage of rainwater in ancient India | |||
| Telugu | ట్యాంక్ | ||
| The Telugu word "ట్యాంక్" (tank) is derived from the English word "tank," which originally referred to a large cistern or reservoir for holding water. | |||
| Urdu | ٹینک | ||
| Urdu 'ٹینک' also means 'pond' and may have originated from Hindi 'ताँक' (pond). | |||
Tank in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 坦克 | ||
| The word "坦克" (tank) in Chinese is derived from the Russian word "танк" (tank) and originally referred to a container for holding liquids or gases. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 坦克 | ||
| The word "坦克" (tank) likely originated from the Chinese word "彈弓" (slingshot), as tanks were originally designed to break through enemy lines in a similar way to a slingshot. | |||
| Japanese | タンク | ||
| In Japanese, the word "タンク" (tanku) means not only the armed vehicle, but also a water tank used for toilets or an oxygen tank. | |||
| Korean | 탱크 | ||
| The Korean word "탱크" (tank) is derived from the Middle Korean word "당구" (danggu), which meant "a large wooden barrel" | |||
| Mongolian | сав | ||
| The word "сав" (tank) in Mongolian originates from the Russian word "танк" (tank) but has also been used metaphorically to refer to a large group of people or animals. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အကြံပေးအဖွဲ့ | ||
Tank in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | tangki | ||
| "Tangki" is derived from the Malay "tangkui" and originally referred only to water containers. In Indonesian, it's used for various containers and also for the military vehicle. | |||
| Javanese | tank | ||
| In Javanese, the word '"tank"' can also refers to a type of traditional wooden chest. | |||
| Khmer | ធុង | ||
| The word "ធុង" (tank) in Khmer is thought to be derived from the Thai word "ถัง" (container), which in turn comes from the Chinese word "桶" (bucket). | |||
| Lao | ຖັງ | ||
| 'ຖັງ' (tank) can also mean a barrel or a container that is used for storage or transportation. | |||
| Malay | tangki | ||
| In Malay, "tangki" originally referred to a water container, but now also denotes military vehicles. | |||
| Thai | ถัง | ||
| In Thai, the word "ถัง" can also refer to a bucket, a large container for holding water. | |||
| Vietnamese | xe tăng | ||
| Xe tăng derives from a misinterpretation of the British word "tank" as the French word "l'étang" meaning "pond". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tangke | ||
Tank in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | tank | ||
| In Azerbaijani, the word "tank" also refers to a type of fermented milk drink similar to yogurt or kefir. | |||
| Kazakh | цистерна | ||
| The word "цистерна" is borrowed from the Latin word "cisterna", which means "reservoir" or "cistern". | |||
| Kyrgyz | танк | ||
| Танк - это также название старинных весовых гирь. | |||
| Tajik | зарф | ||
| The word "зарф" also means "envelope" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | tank | ||
| Uzbek | tank | ||
| The Uzbek word "tank" can also be used to describe a large container, such as a water tank or a fuel tank. | |||
| Uyghur | tank | ||
Tank in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pahu wai | ||
| The Hawaiian word "pahu wai" literally means "water vessel" and can refer to a variety of containers, including tanks, pools, and reservoirs. | |||
| Maori | tank | ||
| The Maori word 'tangi' can also refer to a wake or funeral lamentation. | |||
| Samoan | tane tane | ||
| 'Tane tane' can also refer to a kind of large wooden water container. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tangke | ||
| The Tagalog word "tangke" has multiple meanings, including "tank" and "reservoir". | |||
Tank in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | tanka | ||
| Guarani | tanque rehegua | ||
Tank in International Languages
| Esperanto | tanko | ||
| "Tanko" is also a Russian word for "to dance". | |||
| Latin | cisternina | ||
| "Cisternina" is a Latin word meaning "small storage vessel," "well," or "cistern." | |||
Tank in Others Languages
| Greek | δεξαμενή | ||
| Δεξαμενή, in addition to meaning 'tank,' is derived from the verb 'δέχομαι,' meaning 'to receive,' and can also refer to cisterns, reservoirs, and even the human body's fluid-filled cavities. | |||
| Hmong | tank | ||
| In Hmong, "tank" can also refer to a "reservoir" or "large container used for storage". | |||
| Kurdish | depo | ||
| The Kurdish word "depo" can also refer to a warehouse or a bus depot. | |||
| Turkish | tank | ||
| The Turkish word "tank" can also mean "vessel" or "container." | |||
| Xhosa | itanki | ||
| The word "itanki" is derived from the Afrikaans "tenk", which means "tank" | |||
| Yiddish | טאַנק | ||
| The Yiddish word "טאַנק" derives from the German word "Teich", meaning "pond", and can also refer to a cistern or a basin. | |||
| Zulu | ithangi | ||
| The word 'ithangi' also means a 'drinking trough' in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | টেংক | ||
| Aymara | tanka | ||
| Bhojpuri | टंकी के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ޓޭންކެއް | ||
| Dogri | टैंक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tangke | ||
| Guarani | tanque rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | tangke | ||
| Krio | tank we dɛn kɔl | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تانکی | ||
| Maithili | टंकी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯦꯉ꯭ꯛ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | tank a ni | ||
| Oromo | taankii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଟାଙ୍କି | | ||
| Quechua | tanque | ||
| Sanskrit | टङ्कः | ||
| Tatar | танк | ||
| Tigrinya | ታንኪ ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | thangi ra xirhendzevutani | ||