Teaching in different languages

Teaching in Different Languages

Discover 'Teaching' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Teaching is an essential profession that has been a cornerstone of human societies for thousands of years. It is the process of imparting knowledge, skills, and values to others, often with the goal of helping them to develop and grow. Teaching is a culturally important activity that is valued around the world, and it is often seen as a key factor in the success and well-being of individuals and communities.

For those who are interested in language and culture, learning the translations of teaching in different languages can be a fascinating and rewarding pursuit. Not only does it provide insight into the ways that different cultures think about and approach education, but it can also be a practical skill for those who work in international or multicultural settings.

Here are a few examples of how teaching is translated in different languages:

  • Spanish: enseñanza
  • French: enseignement
  • German: Unterricht
  • Mandarin: 教学 (jiào xué)
  • Japanese: 教育 (kyōiku)
  • Russian: обучение (obuchenie)

Teaching


Teaching in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansonderrig
The word "onderrig" in Afrikaans comes from the Dutch word "onderrichting", which means "instruction" or "guidance".
Amharicማስተማር
The word 'ማስተማር' ('teaching') can also refer to 'making someone understand' or 'explaining something clearly'.
Hausakoyarwa
In Hausa, the word "koyarwa" derives from the verb "koya," meaning "to teach" or "to show," and also signifies the act of imparting knowledge or skills.
Igboizi ihe
"Izi ihe" also means "to show" or "to demonstrate".
Malagasyfampianarana
Derived from the root "fianatra" meaning "to learn" and the suffix "-ana" indicating an action or process.
Nyanja (Chichewa)kuphunzitsa
The word "kuphunzitsa" has an alternate meaning in Nyanja: "to show someone how to do something"
Shonakudzidzisa
In addition to meaning "teaching," "kudzidzisa" can also refer to the act of guiding or leading someone.
Somaliwaxbarid
The term "waxbarid" originated from the Somali verb "bar" which means "to teach". Variant forms of the word include "waxbarasho" (noun) and "waxbar" (adjective).
Sesothoho ruta
“Ho ruta” means education in its widest sense, from the informal home environment to formal schooling and continuing education later in life.
Swahilikufundisha
The word 'kufundisha' comes from the root word 'funda', meaning 'to learn'.
Xhosaukufundisa
"Ukufundisa" is cognate to "funda," which means "to learn." It signifies the reciprocal nature of teaching and learning.
Yorubaẹkọ
Ẹkọ can also mean 'education' or 'training' in different contexts.
Zuluukufundisa
Uku-fundisa derives from ukú-funda, a verb meaning "to learn" in Zulu.
Bambarakalan kɛli
Ewenufiafia
Kinyarwandakwigisha
Lingalakoteya
Lugandaokusomesa
Sepedigo ruta
Twi (Akan)nkyerɛkyerɛ

Teaching in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicتعليم
تعليم means not only "teaching" but also "that which is taught and learned" or "knowledge".
Hebrewהוֹרָאָה
"הוֹרָאָה" also means "an order".
Pashtoښوونه
*ښوونه* also means to instruct, direct, guide, or train.
Arabicتعليم
تعليم means not only "teaching" but also "that which is taught and learned" or "knowledge".

Teaching in Western European Languages

Albanianmësimdhënie
Etymology: 'mësim' (lesson) + '-dhënie' (giving). Also means 'instruction', 'learning', 'education'.
Basqueirakaskuntza
The term "irakaskuntza" comes from "irakatsi", meaning "to teach or learn", and the suffix "-untza", which denotes "action or process".
Catalanensenyament
In Catalan, "ensenyament" can also mean "sign" or "indication".
Croatiannastava
"Nastava" in Croatian also means "an attack" or "an offense".
Danishundervisning
The Danish word "undervisning" literally means "to show you under something" in an educational sense.
Dutchonderwijs
"Onderwijs" is etymologically related to "dwijnend onderwijs", "instruction for the dying."
Englishteaching
The word 'teaching' derives from the Old English word 'tacan', meaning 'to show' or 'to point out'
Frenchenseignement
The French word "enseignement" can also mean "instruction" or "education," and derives from the Latin word "insignare," meaning "to mark" or "to inscribe."
Frisianlesjaan
The verb "lesjaan" stems from Middle Dutch "lesen" and German "lesen" and originally meant "to read", as the ability to read was essential for teaching.
Galicianensinando
Galician "ensinando" is related to Latin "scientia" (knowledge), which led to Spanish "enseñar" and Galician "ensinar" (to teach)
Germanlehren
"Lehren" is derived from the Old High German "leren" meaning "to learn".
Icelandickennsla
"Kenn(sla)" (a word which today has come to mean "teaching," although the root meaning is the transfer of knowledge from one person to another) was once a term signifying a payment of some kind (as in a payment to a priest) but over time the term "payment" transitioned into meaning the imparting of knowledge, a payment of knowledge for a payment of money.
Irishag múineadh
The Irish word "ag múineadh" can also mean "at educating" or "in the act of instruction".
Italianinsegnamento
The word "insegnamento" is derived from the Latin word "insignare," which means "to mark" or "to signify."
Luxembourgishenseignement
The Luxembourgish word "Enseignement" is derived from the French word "enseignement", meaning "teaching" or "instruction", and has a similar meaning in Luxembourgish.
Maltesetagħlim
"Tagħlim" is derived from the Arabic word "ta'leem" which means "learning" or "education".
Norwegianundervisning
The word undervisning is derived from under (below) and vise (show), so it originally meant to show something to someone who is at a lower level.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)ensino
The verb `ensinar` derives from the Latin *insignare*, meaning “to make a sign on or in,” or “to mark.”
Scots Gaelicteagasg
In Gaelic, `teagasg` means `instruction` and `education`, whereas its cognates in other Celtic languages primarily mean `preaching`, reflecting the importance of Christianity in the Gaelic-speaking world
Spanishenseñando
The verb "enseñar" derives from the Latin "insignare," meaning "to imprint," hence its relation to instruction and knowledge.
Swedishundervisning
The Swedish word "undervisning" also refers to lower-level education below university level, which is taught in Swedish schools from years 1–9.
Welshdysgu
"Dysgu" shares the same root with "disg" (learning) as well as "deall" (understanding), signifying their interconnectedness.

Teaching in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianвучэнне
The word "вучэнне" is also used in Belarusian to refer to the process of studying or learning.
Bosnianpodučavanje
The word "podučavanje" comes from the verb "podučiti", which means "to instruct" or "to educate".
Bulgarianпреподаване
Bulgarian 'преподаване' is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word 'прѣдати', meaning 'to pass on' or 'to hand over'.
Czechvýuka
The word "výuka" is derived from the verb "vyučovat", which means "to teach" or "to instruct".
Estonianõpetamine
The Estonian word "õpetamine" not only means "teaching" but also refers to "learning" and "instruction".
Finnishopettaminen
The word "opettaminen" is derived from the verb "opettaa" meaning "to teach", which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic root *us- "to learn."
Hungariantanítás
The word 'tanítás' is cognate with the Finnish word 'tunnistaminen', meaning 'recognition', suggesting a shared etymology related to knowledge and perception.
Latvianmācīt
The word "mācīt" can also mean "to learn" or "to study" in Latvian.
Lithuanianmokymas
The word "mokymas" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "men-g", meaning "to think".
Macedonianнастава
'Настава' also refers to a school lesson or curriculum.
Polishnauczanie
Nauczanie comes from the Old Polish word "nauka", which means "knowledge, learning".
Romanianpredare
The Romanian word "predare" also means "to hand over" or "to surrender".
Russianобучение
"Учить" comes from "ученик," meaning "learner," which in turn comes from the Old Slavonic "oukati" or "to learn," akin to the Lithuanian "mokyti" or "to teach" and the Old Norse "mata" or "force, strength".
Serbianучити
Учити originated from the Latin 'docere', the source of 'educate' and 'doctor' in English, but also means 'learning'.
Slovakvýučba
The word "výučba" is derived from the verb "učiť" which means "to teach" and the suffix "-ba" which forms abstract nouns.
Slovenianpoučevanje
The word "poučevanje" can also refer to the act of lecturing someone in a patronizing manner in Slovenian.
Ukrainianвикладання
In Ukrainian, “викладання” can also refer to higher education or a course of lectures.

Teaching in South Asian Languages

Bengaliশিক্ষকতা
The word "শিক্ষকতা" is derived from the Sanskrit word "शिष्यः" (disciple) and means "the act of instructing or educating disciples."
Gujaratiશિક્ષણ
Gujarati word "શિક્ષણ" also means discipline, control, punishment, or initiation, akin to Sanskrit "śikṣa".
Hindiशिक्षण
The word 'शिक्षण' was borrowed from Pali and originally meant 'discipline'.
Kannadaಬೋಧನೆ
The word "ಬೋಧನೆ" is derived from the root "ಬೋಧ" (meaning understanding) and is also used to describe a type of knowledge or science.
Malayalamഅദ്ധ്യാപനം
The word "അദ്ധ്യാപനം" is derived from the Sanskrit word "adhyapana", which means "to impart knowledge".
Marathiशिक्षण
The Marathi word "शिक्षण" (teaching) is derived from the Sanskrit root "शिक्ष" (to teach or instruct), which is itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*seq-" (to follow or accompany).
Nepaliशिक्षण
The word "शिक्षण" in Nepali also means "the process of learning or acquiring knowledge."
Punjabiਸਿਖਾਉਣਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ඉගැන්වීම
In Pali, the root of "ඉගැන්වීම" is "igha" meaning "to show, exhibit" or "to make known".
Tamilகற்பித்தல்
"கற்பித்தல்" is also the name of a rare South Indian flower of the genus "Pavonia".
Teluguబోధన
The Telugu word "బోధన" (teaching) is derived from the Sanskrit word "बोधन" (teaching) which in turn comes from the root "बुध्" (to perceive, to understand), implying a process of knowledge transfer from one individual to another.
Urduپڑھانا
{"text": "The word "پڑھانا" (parhānā) in Urdu derives from the Sanskrit word "pra-bodhana," which originally meant "to wake up" or "to awaken"."}

Teaching in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)教学
"教学" also refers to the teaching materials and curriculum.
Chinese (Traditional)教學
"教學" literally means "education" (教) + "instruction" (學), so it emphasizes both the imparting and the receiving of knowledge.
Japanese教える
The word "教える" (oshieru) comes from the Old Japanese word "oshiyuru," meaning "to guide or instruct."
Korean가르치는
"가르치다" originally meant "to make something visible or clear".
Mongolianзаах
"Заах" is also a Mongolian idiom meaning "to have a strong desire or intention to do something" or "to be determined to do something."
Myanmar (Burmese)သင်ကြားမှု

Teaching in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpengajaran
The root word 'ajar' can also refer to 'to point out,' 'to show the correct way,' or 'to demonstrate with the fingers.'
Javanesemulang
Mulang's root word 'mula' refers to origin and the prefix 'mu-' indicates a process or state, giving 'mulang' the meaning of bringing something back to its origin.
Khmerការបង្រៀន
The word "ការបង្រៀន" ("teaching") in Khmer is derived from the word "បង្រៀន" ("to teach"), which comes from the Sanskrit root "vṛ" meaning "to choose" or "to select".
Laoການສິດສອນ
Malaymengajar
The word "mengajar" in Malay is derived from the Sanskrit word "ajna", meaning "to know" or "to command".
Thaiการเรียนการสอน
การเรียนการสอน (teaching) comes from the Pali word "karaniyakam", which means "something to be done".
Vietnamesegiảng bài
Giảng bài, an activity at Vietnamese temples involving a monk expounding on teachings and scriptures, could also mean scolding or reprimanding in informal usage.
Filipino (Tagalog)pagtuturo

Teaching in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanitədris
Cognate with Persian تدریس and ultimately from Arabic درس (dars) "instruction, lesson".
Kazakhоқыту
The word "оқыту" in Kazakh can also mean "to teach something to someone" or "to give someone a lesson."
Kyrgyzокутуу
The word "окутуу" is derived from the Turkic word "*uqut-", meaning "to speak" or "to teach."
Tajikтаълим
In the Quran, the word 'ta'lim' also signifies the act of divine revelation.
Turkmenöwretmek
Uzbeko'qitish
The word "o'qitish" can also refer to the process of learning or education in general.
Uyghurئوقۇتۇش

Teaching in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianke aʻo ʻana
The Hawaiian word for 'teaching' ('ke aʻo ʻana') also has a broader sense of 'giving knowledge'
Maoriwhakaakoranga
The verb whakaakoranga can also be used to refer to the imparting of wisdom or knowledge.
Samoanaʻoaʻo atu
Aʻoaʻo atu can also mean "teaching" in the context of a parent instructing their children.
Tagalog (Filipino)pagtuturo
The word "pagtuturo" is derived from the root word "turo" which means to point or direct, implying the act of guiding or instructing someone.

Teaching in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarayatichaña
Guaranimbo’epy rehegua

Teaching in International Languages

Esperantoinstruado
The word "instruado" also means "having been taught" in Esperanto.
Latindocens
The word "docens" is also used in Latin to refer to a person who teaches, typically a teacher or a professor.

Teaching in Others Languages

Greekδιδασκαλία
The word "διδασκαλία" also means "doctrine" or "theory" in Greek.
Hmongqhia ntawv
The word "qhia ntawv" is derived from the verb "qhia", meaning "to tell", and the noun "ntawv", meaning "book" or "writing.
Kurdishhînkirin
The word "hînkirin" (teaching) also connotes "nurturing" or "upbringing" in Kurdish.
Turkishöğretim
"Öğretim" can also mean "doctrine" or "instruction" in Turkish.
Xhosaukufundisa
"Ukufundisa" is cognate to "funda," which means "to learn." It signifies the reciprocal nature of teaching and learning.
Yiddishלערנען
The Yiddish word 'lernen' originates from the German word 'lernen' and originally meant 'to study' or 'to learn'.
Zuluukufundisa
Uku-fundisa derives from ukú-funda, a verb meaning "to learn" in Zulu.
Assameseশিক্ষকতা কৰা
Aymarayatichaña
Bhojpuriपढ़ावे के काम करत बानी
Dhivehiކިޔަވައިދިނުމެވެ
Dogriसिखाना
Filipino (Tagalog)pagtuturo
Guaranimbo’epy rehegua
Ilocanopanangisuro
Kriowe dɛn de tich
Kurdish (Sorani)فێرکردن
Maithiliअध्यापन करब
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯝꯕꯤꯕꯥ꯫
Mizozirtirna pek a ni
Oromobarsiisuu
Odia (Oriya)ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନ
Quechuayachachiy
Sanskritअध्यापनम्
Tatarукыту
Tigrinyaምምሃር
Tsongaku dyondzisa

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