Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'target' holds immense significance in our daily lives, often symbolizing a goal or objective we aim to achieve. Its cultural importance is evident in various contexts, from sports and marketing to military strategies and hunting expeditions. Have you ever wondered how the word 'target' is translated in different languages, reflecting the unique cultural nuances of various regions around the world?
For instance, in Spanish, 'target' is 'objetivo' or 'diana,' while in German, it's 'Ziel' or 'Zielscheibe.' In French, you might say 'cible' or 'but,' and in Japanese, 'target' can be translated as '目標' (mokuhyou) or '標的' (hyouteki).
Delving into the translations of 'target' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic horizons but also offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse ways cultures perceive and pursue goals. Join us as we explore the world through the lens of this simple yet powerful word.
Afrikaans | teiken | ||
The word "teiken" can also refer to a goal, objective, or aim. | |||
Amharic | ዒላማ | ||
The word "ዒላማ" in Amharic comes from the Geez word "ዒላም" meaning "goal" | |||
Hausa | manufa | ||
The word 'manufa' is also used in Hausa to refer to a 'goal' or 'objective'. | |||
Igbo | iche | ||
An `iche` also refers to the point in a game or fight where someone tries to strike or get to. | |||
Malagasy | kendrena | ||
The word "kendrena" in Malagasy is derived from the word "kendrena", which means "to aim" or "to point at". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chandamale | ||
The term "chandamale" is also used figuratively to mean "something to strive for." | |||
Shona | chinangwa | ||
The word "chinangwa" can also refer to a bull's-eye in archery or a dot in the center of a target. | |||
Somali | bartilmaameed | ||
"Bartilmaameed" in Somali is derived from "bar," meaning "to hit," and "tilmaam," meaning "mark" or "aim." | |||
Sesotho | sepheo | ||
Swahili | lengo | ||
The word "lengo" in Swahili originally meant "aim" or "purpose" and is related to the word "lenga" which means "to aim" or "to intend." | |||
Xhosa | ekujoliswe kuko | ||
Ekujoliswe kuko can also mean "objective" or "goal" in a broader sense. | |||
Yoruba | ibi-afẹde | ||
The word ìbi-afẹ́dẹ̀ in Yoruba means both 'target' and 'destiny'. | |||
Zulu | okubhekiswe kukho | ||
Okubhekiswe kukho may also mean "mark" or "aim" in another context. | |||
Bambara | kun | ||
Ewe | taɖodzinu | ||
Kinyarwanda | intego | ||
Lingala | eloko bazokana | ||
Luganda | ssabaawa | ||
Sepedi | tebanyo | ||
Twi (Akan) | deɛ ani si so | ||
Arabic | استهداف | ||
استهداف also means "aiming" or "pointing" in Arabic, and is derived from the root word "هدف" (target). | |||
Hebrew | יַעַד | ||
יַעַד comes from the root יע | |||
Pashto | هدف | ||
In Pashto, "هدف" can also refer to a "purpose" or "intention". | |||
Arabic | استهداف | ||
استهداف also means "aiming" or "pointing" in Arabic, and is derived from the root word "هدف" (target). |
Albanian | shënjestër | ||
Basque | xede | ||
"Xede" is cognate with the French word "cible" (target), which itself derives from the Latin term "cippus" (boundary marker) | |||
Catalan | objectiu | ||
The word "objectiu" can also refer to a plan, goal, or purpose. | |||
Croatian | cilj | ||
The word "cilj", meaning "target" in Croatian, is derived from the Turkish word "cil", which has the same meaning. | |||
Danish | mål | ||
"mål" also means "speech", as in a public speech | |||
Dutch | doelwit | ||
"Doelwit" in Dutch originally meant "the white (i.e. the center) of the target". | |||
English | target | ||
The word 'target' originated from the Middle French word 'targe,' meaning a light shield for the arm. | |||
French | cible | ||
The word cible comes from Latin "cippus" and has the secondary meaning of "milestone, boundary marker" in French. | |||
Frisian | doel | ||
The word "doel" in Frisian also means "purpose" or "aim". | |||
Galician | obxectivo | ||
The Galician word "obxectivo" comes from the Latin "obiectivus" and also means "objective" in Galician. | |||
German | ziel | ||
The word "Ziel" can also mean "end" or "goal" and is related to the English word "teleology." | |||
Icelandic | skotmark | ||
The word 'skotmark' is a compound noun consisting of the words 'skot' ('shot') and 'mark' ('mark') and denotes the point of impact of a bullet or arrow. | |||
Irish | sprioc | ||
The word "sprioc" is a diminutive of "spróc" ("speck, spot"), from Proto-Celtic *sprekk- ("speck, spot, stripe") | |||
Italian | bersaglio | ||
The word "bersaglio" originates from the Byzantine Greek "βέργα", which means "rod" or "stick". | |||
Luxembourgish | zil | ||
The Luxembourgish word "zil" shares a common etymology with the English word "aim", both deriving from the Proto-Germanic word *azilam. | |||
Maltese | mira | ||
The word "mira" in Maltese derives from the Arabic word "mira'at" (mirror), suggesting the reflective nature of a target. | |||
Norwegian | mål | ||
"Mål" can also mean language or purpose in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | alvo | ||
The word "alvo" in Portuguese has Arabic origins and can also mean "mark" or "spot" | |||
Scots Gaelic | targaid | ||
The word "targaid" in Scots Gaelic can also refer to a mark or object to be aimed at. | |||
Spanish | objetivo | ||
Objetivo also means 'lens' because it is the part of a camera or telescope that focuses light to form an image. | |||
Swedish | mål | ||
The word "mål" in Swedish also means "meal" and is derived from the Old Norse word "máltidi" meaning "set meal". | |||
Welsh | targed | ||
In Welsh, "targed" not only means "target" but also "shield," highlighting the defensive and offensive duality of the concept in traditional warfare. |
Belarusian | мэта | ||
Мэта, like the English "meta," can also refer to something beyond or outside the ordinary or physical realm. | |||
Bosnian | meta | ||
The word "meta" also means "goal" or "destination" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | цел | ||
The word 'цел' can also mean 'goal', 'aim', 'purpose', or 'objective'. | |||
Czech | cílová | ||
The Czech word "cílová" originated from the German verb "zielen" meaning "to aim". | |||
Estonian | sihtmärk | ||
"Sihtmärk" (target) comes from the Proto-Finnic word *sihtëmä, which also meant "aim" and "direction". | |||
Finnish | kohde | ||
In Finnish, the word "kohde" can also mean "object" or "target group". | |||
Hungarian | cél | ||
"Cél" has a verb form ("célozni") meaning "to aim" and "to aspire to". It can also mean "aim", "aspiration", "goal", and "purpose" in general. | |||
Latvian | mērķis | ||
The word "mērķis" in Latvian, derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*merg-", originally meant a place where arrows were shot and has now broadened to mean any goal or objective. | |||
Lithuanian | taikinys | ||
The word "taikinys" is derived from the verb "taikyti", meaning "to aim" or "to direct at". It can also refer to a goal or objective. | |||
Macedonian | цел | ||
The word "цел" also means "aim" and "goal" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | cel | ||
The Polish word "cel" comes from the Latin word "caelum" meaning "heaven," but can also mean "goal" or "destination."} | |||
Romanian | ţintă | ||
The Romanian word "ţintă" derives from the Turkish word "nişan", meaning both "target" and "sign". | |||
Russian | цель | ||
"Цель" comes from the Proto-Slavic "kelь", meaning "aim" or "goal". | |||
Serbian | мета | ||
The word "мета" in Serbian can also mean "goal" or "aim". | |||
Slovak | cieľ | ||
In addition to meaning "target," "cieľ" also refers to the finish line of a race and can mean "aim"} | |||
Slovenian | cilj | ||
The word “cilj” shares the same root with the word “celiti”, meaning “to heal”, suggesting a target as a point of aspiration or improvement. | |||
Ukrainian | ціль | ||
The Ukrainian word "ціль" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kel-, meaning "to strike" or "to aim." |
Bengali | লক্ষ্য | ||
The word "লক্ষ্য" also means "aim" and "destination" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | લક્ષ્ય | ||
The word "લક્ષ્ય" (lakṣya) is derived from the Sanskrit root "lakṣ" meaning "to perceive, to see, to observe, to aim at" and "-ya" meaning "fit, suitable, worthy" or "to be aimed at". | |||
Hindi | लक्ष्य | ||
The word "लक्ष्य" in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word "लक्ष" meaning "to see" or "to aim". It also refers to a "goal" or "objective". | |||
Kannada | ಗುರಿ | ||
"ಗುರಿ" (target) also means 'aim' and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'गुरी' meaning 'great' or 'heavy' | |||
Malayalam | ലക്ഷ്യം | ||
The word "ലക്ഷ്യം" also means "aim," "goal," or "intention" in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | लक्ष्य | ||
The Sanskrit root of "लक्ष्य" is "लक्ष" which also means "observe" or "perceive" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | लक्ष्य | ||
"लक्ष्य" also means "aim" or even "goal" with respect to an action or a particular point in time. | |||
Punjabi | ਟੀਚਾ | ||
ਟੀਚਾ's root is in Sanskrit, 'tich,' which means 'sharp' or 'pointed,' connecting to its use in archery. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඉලක්කය | ||
In addition to 'target', 'ඉලක්කය' also means 'number', especially in mathematical or financial contexts. | |||
Tamil | இலக்கு | ||
The word "இலக்கு" also means "mark on the forehead". | |||
Telugu | లక్ష్యం | ||
The word "లక్ష్యం" in Telugu also refers to the aim or purpose of something. | |||
Urdu | ہدف | ||
"ہدف" is the Arabic word for "target", but it also means "aim", "objective", or "goal" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 目标 | ||
The word "目标" in Chinese shares its literal meaning "aim" and "purpose" with its Japanese counterpart "目標" (mokuhyō). | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 目標 | ||
It is also a technical term meaning the first 10 points of a game of Go. | |||
Japanese | 目標 | ||
目標 is sometimes used in the sense of "aim" or "goal," particularly in the context of personal development or self-improvement. | |||
Korean | 표적 | ||
"표적" has an alternate meaning of "mark" or "sign". | |||
Mongolian | зорилтот | ||
Зорилиотот is also an idiom referring to the point on the back of a horse or camel which receives the most pressure from the rider's saddle. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပစ်မှတ် | ||
Indonesian | target | ||
"Target" in Indonesian can also mean "shield" or "protective cover". | |||
Javanese | target | ||
The word 'target' in Javanese can refer to a variety of concepts, including 'goal', 'purpose', 'intent', and 'destination'. | |||
Khmer | គោលដៅ | ||
The word "គោលដៅ" can also be used to refer to a "goal", "aim", or "objective". | |||
Lao | ເປົ້າຫມາຍ | ||
Malay | sasaran | ||
"Sasaran" in Malay can also mean a | |||
Thai | เป้าหมาย | ||
The word "เป้าหมาย" in Thai can also refer to a "purpose" or "destination". | |||
Vietnamese | mục tiêu | ||
The word "Mục tiêu" also means "aim" or "objective" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | target | ||
Azerbaijani | hədəf | ||
It can also refer to the point at which something is aimed. | |||
Kazakh | мақсат | ||
The Kazakh word "мақсат" can also refer to "goal, purpose, aim, objective, or intention". | |||
Kyrgyz | максаттуу | ||
The word "максаттуу" can also mean "purposeful" or "intentional" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | ҳадаф | ||
The word "ҳадаф" in Tajik comes from the Persian word "هدف", meaning "aim" or "goal". | |||
Turkmen | nyşana | ||
Uzbek | nishon | ||
The word "nishon" is also used to refer to a sign or mark. | |||
Uyghur | نىشان | ||
Hawaiian | pahuhopu | ||
The ancient meaning of pahuhopu is a gourd drum. | |||
Maori | whāinga | ||
The word "whāinga" also means "purpose" or "intention". | |||
Samoan | taulaʻiga | ||
The word 'taulaʻiga' in Samoan can also refer to a meeting place or a place for social gatherings. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | target | ||
The Tagalog word "target" can also refer to a shield, a protective device, or a person or group designated to be harassed. |
Aymara | amta | ||
Guarani | morotĩ | ||
Esperanto | celo | ||
The Esperanto word "celo" is derived from the French word "cible", which also means "target". | |||
Latin | scopum | ||
The word "scopum" can also refer to a watchtower or lookout point in Latin. |
Greek | στόχος | ||
The word "στόχος" (target) is derived from the verb "στοχάζομαι" (to aim), which in turn comes from "το όχος" (the means of transport). | |||
Hmong | phiaj | ||
The word "phiaj" in Hmong can also mean "bullseye" or "the center of a target." | |||
Kurdish | armanc | ||
The word "armanc" in Kurdish also means "goal" or "aim", suggesting a broader sense of purpose beyond just a physical target. | |||
Turkish | hedef | ||
The Turkish word "hedef" is derived from Persian and entered the Turkish language by changing its meaning from "purpose, aim" to "target". | |||
Xhosa | ekujoliswe kuko | ||
Ekujoliswe kuko can also mean "objective" or "goal" in a broader sense. | |||
Yiddish | ציל | ||
The word "ציל" (target) in Yiddish also has the meaning of "shade" or "protection". | |||
Zulu | okubhekiswe kukho | ||
Okubhekiswe kukho may also mean "mark" or "aim" in another context. | |||
Assamese | লক্ষ্য | ||
Aymara | amta | ||
Bhojpuri | लक्ष्य | ||
Dhivehi | އަމާޒު | ||
Dogri | नशाना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | target | ||
Guarani | morotĩ | ||
Ilocano | gandat | ||
Krio | tagɛt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئامانج | ||
Maithili | निशाना | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯥꯟꯗꯝ | ||
Mizo | tum bik | ||
Oromo | xiyyeeffaanoo | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ | ||
Quechua | chayana | ||
Sanskrit | लक्ष्य | ||
Tatar | максат | ||
Tigrinya | ዒላማ | ||
Tsonga | xikongomelo | ||