Updated on March 6, 2024
A tournament is a thrilling competition, often associated with sports like soccer, tennis, or chess. But the concept of a tournament goes far beyond games – it's a cultural phenomenon, a showcase of skill, strategy, and sportsmanship that has captured the imagination of people worldwide.
Throughout history, tournaments have been significant events, from the medieval jousting competitions to the modern-day FIFA World Cup. They bring together individuals, communities, and even nations, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared experience.
Understanding the translation of 'tournament' in different languages can enrich our appreciation of these events and the diverse cultures they represent. For example, in Spanish, a tournament is a 'torneo'; in French, it's a 'tournoi'; in German, it's a 'Turnier'; and in Japanese, it's a 'トーナメント (tōnamento)'.
By learning these translations, we not only expand our vocabulary but also gain a deeper understanding of the global community that shares a love for competition and excellence. So, let's delve into the world of tournaments and discover how this exciting concept translates across languages and cultures.
Afrikaans | toernooi | ||
"Toernooi" derives from the Medieval Latin "tornamentum" (also "armament" or "equipment"), via the Old French "tornoi". | |||
Amharic | ውድድር | ||
'ውድድር' is an Amharic word that comes from the Ge'ez word 'ውዳደ', meaning 'love' or 'competition'. | |||
Hausa | gasa | ||
"Gasa" is also a word for "playing" or "playing together" in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | ndorondoro | ||
The word 'ndorondoro' in Igbo also refers to a traditional masquerade or a dramatic performance that involves dancing and singing. | |||
Malagasy | fifaninanana | ||
The Malagasy word "fifaninanana" is also used to refer to a competition or a rivalry. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mpikisano | ||
The word "mpikisano" also has the alternate meaning of "competition" or "contest". | |||
Shona | mutambo | ||
The word 'mutambo' in Shona may also refer to a ritual wrestling match performed in a circle, showcasing physical strength and endurance. | |||
Somali | tartanka | ||
The word "tartanka" can also refer to the "battlefield" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | thonamente | ||
Thonamente comes from two Sesotho words: "thōna," "to fight," and "mente," "a place," or figuratively a "battlefield." | |||
Swahili | mashindano | ||
The word "mashindano" also means "competition" or "contest" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | itumente | ||
"Ityumenthi" (tournament) means a "meeting of chiefs" in isiXhosa and shares a similar etymology with "ityala" (court case) | |||
Yoruba | idije | ||
"Idije" in Yoruba also refers to a traditional dance performed by masquerades during festivals. | |||
Zulu | umqhudelwano | ||
In a more narrow sense, "inqhudelwano" can refer to a competitive game or sport in which prizes or medals are awarded. | |||
Bambara | ntolatanba in na | ||
Ewe | hoʋiʋli me | ||
Kinyarwanda | amarushanwa | ||
Lingala | tournoi ya lisano | ||
Luganda | empaka z’empaka | ||
Sepedi | thonamente ya | ||
Twi (Akan) | akansi no mu | ||
Arabic | المسابقة | ||
Hebrew | טורניר | ||
"טורניר" is a Hebrew word meaning "tournament" which originates from the Latin word "tornare" meaning "to turn" referring to the rotation of knights on horseback in medieval tournaments. | |||
Pashto | سیالۍ | ||
"سیالۍ" also means "rivalry" or "competition" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | المسابقة | ||
Albanian | turneu | ||
Albanian "turneu" derives from Venetian "torneo" or Turkish "turne". | |||
Basque | txapelketa | ||
Txapelketa (tournament) comes from "txapela": "beret", as the winner of a tournament was awarded a beret. | |||
Catalan | torneig | ||
Catalan "torneig" comes from the Old Provençal "tornei" which in turn comes from the Old High German "turnjan" which means "to turn" and originally derived from the Frankish cavalry exercise of making circles and wheeling about (Latin circuli decurrendi). | |||
Croatian | turnir | ||
The word tournament derives from the Old French word 'torneament', which in turn comes from the Latin word 'tornare', meaning 'to turn' | |||
Danish | turnering | ||
The Danish word "turnering" ultimately derives from the Old French "tornoiement" and the Latin "tornare" (to turn). | |||
Dutch | toernooi | ||
In Dutch, the word "toernooi" can also refer to a type of horse riding competition, not to be confused with a tournament. | |||
English | tournament | ||
The word "tournament" derives from the Old French "tornoiement", meaning a turning movement in battle. | |||
French | tournoi | ||
The French word "tournoi" also refers to a type of spinning top in French. | |||
Frisian | toernoai | ||
Frisian 'toernoai' derives from French 'tournoi' and, like the Old French word, also means 'tumult, quarrel' | |||
Galician | torneo | ||
In Galician, "torneo" refers to the specific type of tournament that involves knights on horseback. | |||
German | turnier | ||
German "Turnier" likely derives from the Old French word "tornoier," meaning to turn, in reference to the circular movement of knights during the joust. | |||
Icelandic | mót | ||
In Icelandic, the word 'mót' can also refer to an encounter or meeting. | |||
Irish | comórtas | ||
The term may have come from the Scottish Gaelic word còmhrag - meaning rivalry of strength which would fit especially with the medieval Irish concept of comórtas. | |||
Italian | torneo | ||
In Italian, "torneo" also means "turret". In Spanish, it can mean "lathe". | |||
Luxembourgish | tournoi | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Tournoi" derives from the French word "tournois", meaning "coin tournament". In English, it signifies a sporting contest between individuals or teams. | |||
Maltese | kampjonat | ||
The word "kampjonat" is derived from the French word "championnat" and can also refer to a championship or a league. | |||
Norwegian | turnering | ||
The word "turnering" is cognate with "turn" and shares its meaning of a rotational movement, like a spinning top or a revolving door. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | torneio | ||
The Portuguese word "torneio" comes from the Latin word "tornus" which can mean either a lathe or a compass, two devices used for drawing circles. | |||
Scots Gaelic | farpais | ||
Farpais, 'a tournament', derives from French 'tournais' (tour 'turn'), and is cognate with English 'farand' meaning 'a roundel or a dance in a circle'. | |||
Spanish | torneo | ||
"Torneo" comes from the Latin word "tornare" (to turn), possibly referring to the turning of knights around a central point during the competition. | |||
Swedish | turnering | ||
The word "turnering" in Swedish comes from the Old French word "tornoiement", meaning "a military exercise or contest". | |||
Welsh | twrnamaint | ||
The Welsh word "twrnamaint" is derived from the French word "tournoi". It originally referred to a type of medieval horse race, but later came to be used for a tournament involving other forms of combat. |
Belarusian | турнір | ||
In Belarusian, the word 'турнір' can also refer to a fair or a market. | |||
Bosnian | turnir | ||
The word "turnir" in Bosnian also has the alternate meaning of "round-trip bus transport" | |||
Bulgarian | турнир | ||
The Bulgarian word "турнир" also means "competition" or "contest". | |||
Czech | turnaj | ||
The word "turnaj" in Czech comes from the French word "tournoi", which originally meant "a turning" or "a circling". | |||
Estonian | turniir | ||
The word "turniir" is derived from the Old French word "tornoiement", which referred to a military exercise or competition. | |||
Finnish | turnaus | ||
The word "turnaus" in Finnish is derived from the Old French word "torneis", meaning "fortified tower" or "stronghold." | |||
Hungarian | bajnokság | ||
The word 'bajnokság' is derived from the verb 'bajnokol', which means 'to strive toward victory' or 'to compete'. | |||
Latvian | turnīrs | ||
"Turnīrs" comes from the French word "tournoi" which means "jousting". Jousting was a popular sport in the Middle Ages where knights would compete on horseback with lances. | |||
Lithuanian | turnyras | ||
The Lithuanian word "turnyras" can also refer to a large number of people or objects in a group. | |||
Macedonian | турнир | ||
In Macedonian, "турнир" is derived from the French word "tournoi" and also refers to a sporting competition or a competition in general. | |||
Polish | zawody | ||
The word "zawody" in Polish can also refer to a profession or occupation. | |||
Romanian | turneu | ||
The Romanian word "turneu" derives from the French word "tournoi" and also means "tour". | |||
Russian | турнир | ||
The word "турнир" (tournament) comes from the French word "tournois", which originally referred to a type of medieval battle with mounted knights. | |||
Serbian | турнир | ||
The Serbian word "турнир" also means "torneo" (the bullfight competition) in Spanish, and "tournament" in English. | |||
Slovak | turnaj | ||
The Slovak word "turnaj" ultimately derives from the Latin term " tornare," meaning "to turn". | |||
Slovenian | turnir | ||
"Turnir" originates either from French "tournoyer" (to spin), or from Old Occitan "tornejar" (to turn). | |||
Ukrainian | турнір | ||
The word "турнір" is also used in Ukrainian to refer to a type of medieval combat sport similar to jousting. |
Bengali | টুর্নামেন্ট | ||
The word "টুর্নামেন্ট" is derived from the Old French word "torneiment," which means "struggle" or "conflict." | |||
Gujarati | પ્રતયોગીતા | ||
The word "પ્રતયોગીતા" can also mean "competition" or "rivalry" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | टूर्नामेंट | ||
The word "टूर्नामेंट" is derived from the Old French word "tornement", meaning "a military exercise or contest". | |||
Kannada | ಪಂದ್ಯಾವಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ | ||
The word "ಪಂದ್ಯಾವಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "पण्य" (paṇya), meaning "merchandise" or "goods for sale". In Kannada, the word "ಪಂದ್ಯ" (panya) means "a bet" or "a wager", and the suffix "-āvali" (āvali) means "a series of" or "a collection of". Thus, the word "ಪಂದ್ಯಾವಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ" (panyaavaliyali) came to mean "a series of bets" or "a collection of wagers", which referred to the practice of betting on the outcome of sporting events or games. | |||
Malayalam | ടൂർണമെന്റ് | ||
Marathi | स्पर्धा | ||
The noun "स्पर्धा" also means "competition" or "rivalry" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | प्रतियोगिता | ||
The word "प्रतियोगिता" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रति-योगिता", which literally means "coming together for competition" or "rivalry". | |||
Punjabi | ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ | ||
Tournament is derived from the Old French word "tornoiement", meaning to turn or to move in a circle, possibly with the implication of a competition or a contest. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තරඟාවලිය | ||
The Sinhala word "තරඟාවලිය" has origins in Sanskrit and can also refer to a series or sequence of competitions. | |||
Tamil | போட்டி | ||
The word "போட்டி" can also mean "competition" or "rivalry" in Tamil. | |||
Telugu | టోర్నమెంట్ | ||
The word "tournament" in Telugu is derived from the French word "tournoiement," meaning "a turning or whirling." It can also refer to a gathering of people for a competition or social event. | |||
Urdu | ٹورنامنٹ | ||
Tournament is derived from French word 'tournoi', meaning 'a turning' and ultimately from Latin 'tornare' meaning 'to turn'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 比赛 | ||
比赛 can also mean "match", as in a sporting event. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 比賽 | ||
比賽 is also used to refer to a competition or contest. | |||
Japanese | トーナメント | ||
トーナメント (tournament) is a loanword from English and French, and it has the same meaning in both languages. | |||
Korean | 토너먼트 | ||
토너먼트는 프랑스어 'Tournoi'에서 유래되었으며, '돌기' 또는 '회전'을 의미합니다. | |||
Mongolian | тэмцээн | ||
The word "тэмцээн" has many different meanings including "competition" and "trial" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပြိုင်ပွဲ | ||
Indonesian | turnamen | ||
The Indonesian word "turnamen" originally meant a "place to gather" or an "arena" in the Javanese and Malay languages. | |||
Javanese | turnamen | ||
In Javanese, 'turnamen' can also refer to a competition between two or more villages or regions. | |||
Khmer | ការប្រកួត | ||
In Thai, “การประชัน” can also mean 'a contest of musical performances', which is not a meaning in Khmer. | |||
Lao | ການແຂ່ງຂັນ | ||
Malay | kejohanan | ||
Its word origin is likely from the Javanese word "kajohan" meaning "to meet, play, or fight". | |||
Thai | ทัวร์นาเมนต์ | ||
The word "ทัวร์นาเมนต์" ultimately derives from the Old French word "torneiment," meaning "a military exercise or contest of skill" | |||
Vietnamese | giải đấu | ||
The word "giải đấu" can also refer to a competition or contest. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | paligsahan | ||
Azerbaijani | turnir | ||
The word "turnir" in Azerbaijani is derived from the French word "tournoi" and ultimately from the Latin word "tornare" meaning "to turn | |||
Kazakh | турнир | ||
The word "турнир" is derived from the French word "tournoi" and was originally used to describe a medieval jousting competition. | |||
Kyrgyz | турнир | ||
The word "турнир" in Kyrgyz originally referred to a type of traditional archery competition. | |||
Tajik | мусобиқа | ||
The word "мусобиқа" in Tajik is derived from the Persian word "مسابقه" (mosābaqa), which means "competition" or "contest". | |||
Turkmen | ýaryşy | ||
Uzbek | turnir | ||
The word "turnir" also means "battle" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | مۇسابىقە | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻokūkū | ||
The word "hoʻokūkū" in Hawaiian comes from the words "hoʻo" (to cause) and "kūkū" (to gamble or play), and can also mean "gambling" or "contest". | |||
Maori | whakataetae | ||
Whakataetae has the same origins and cognates with the Samoan word fa'ata'ata'a ('play'). | |||
Samoan | taʻamilosaga | ||
The word "taʻamilosaga" is also used to refer to a type of traditional Samoan dance. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | paligsahan | ||
The word "paligsahan" can also refer to a competitive event or a competition in general, not just a tournament. |
Aymara | torneo ukanxa | ||
Guarani | torneo rehegua | ||
Esperanto | turniro | ||
"Turniro" originally meant "rotation" and also refers to a competition where participants take turns. | |||
Latin | torneamentum | ||
"Torneamentum" is derived from the Latin word "tornare," meaning "to turn," and refers to the circular jousting lists used in medieval tournaments. |
Greek | τουρνουά | ||
In Greek, "τουρνουά" can also refer to a revolving door or a musical carousel. | |||
Hmong | kev sib tw | ||
Kev sib tw, which means both "tournament" and "game", is derived from the words "sib" (to try), "tw" (to play), and "kev" (a way or manner). | |||
Kurdish | canperî | ||
The word "canperî" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian word "janbâzî" which means "daring" or "risking one's life". | |||
Turkish | turnuva | ||
The word "turnuva" comes from the Old French word "tornoiement", meaning "a joust or tournament" | |||
Xhosa | itumente | ||
"Ityumenthi" (tournament) means a "meeting of chiefs" in isiXhosa and shares a similar etymology with "ityala" (court case) | |||
Yiddish | טורנאַמאַנט | ||
The Yiddish word "טורנאַמאַנט" (tournament) is derived from the French word "tournoi" and ultimately from the Old French word "torneier" meaning "to turn or spin", referring to the medieval jousting tournaments where knights competed on horseback. | |||
Zulu | umqhudelwano | ||
In a more narrow sense, "inqhudelwano" can refer to a competitive game or sport in which prizes or medals are awarded. | |||
Assamese | টুৰ্ণামেণ্ট | ||
Aymara | torneo ukanxa | ||
Bhojpuri | टूर्नामेंट के आयोजन भइल | ||
Dhivehi | މުބާރާތުގެ... | ||
Dogri | टूर्नामेंट दा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | paligsahan | ||
Guarani | torneo rehegua | ||
Ilocano | torneo | ||
Krio | tɛnament we dɛn kin gɛt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پاڵەوانێتییەکە | ||
Maithili | टूर्नामेंट के | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯨꯔꯅꯥꯃꯦꯟꯇꯇꯥ ꯄꯥꯡꯊꯣꯀꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | tournament-ah a tel a ni | ||
Oromo | dorgommii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଟୁର୍ନାମେଣ୍ଟ | ||
Quechua | torneo nisqapi | ||
Sanskrit | प्रतियोगिता | ||
Tatar | турнир | ||
Tigrinya | ውድድር | ||
Tsonga | mphikizano wa ntlangu | ||