Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'trial' carries great significance in the English language, referring to a test or examination of someone's abilities or qualifications. It can also mean a test of patience or endurance, or a preliminary examination of a legal case. The cultural importance of the word 'trial' is evident in the courtroom dramas that are popular around the world. Understanding the word 'trial' in different languages can help us appreciate the nuances of this concept in various cultures.
For instance, in Spanish, 'trial' is translated as 'prueba' or 'juicio', depending on the context. In French, it is 'essai' or 'procès'. In German, 'trial' can be translated as 'Prüfung' or 'Prozess'. These translations not only help us understand the word 'trial' in different languages, but also offer insight into the cultural values and legal systems of the countries where these languages are spoken.
So, whether you're a language learner, a cultural enthusiast, or a legal professional, understanding the word 'trial' in different languages can be a fascinating journey. Here are some translations to get you started:
Afrikaans | verhoor | ||
Verhoor derives from the Middle Dutch "verhoeren" or "verhueren," meaning "to listen" or "to hear." | |||
Amharic | ሙከራ | ||
The word ሙከራ means "trial" but can also refer to a "test" or "experiment" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | fitina | ||
In Hausa, the word "fitina" also means "test" or "examination". | |||
Igbo | ikpe | ||
"Ikpe" (trial) also refers to "a test, ordeal, contest or tribulation". | |||
Malagasy | fitsapana | ||
The word "Fitsapana" is derived from the root word "fitsara" meaning "to pass through" and "pana" meaning "a place of passage". Thus, "Fitsapana" signifies a place where one passes through a trial or ordeal. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mayesero | ||
"Mayesero" can also refer to a person's behavior that is being tested. | |||
Shona | kutongwa | ||
The Shona word "kutongwa" can also refer to the act of extracting something, such as teeth or nails. | |||
Somali | tijaabo | ||
The word "tijaabo" is derived from Arabic and also means "experiment" or "verification." | |||
Sesotho | nyeoe | ||
Sesotho "nyeoe" is cognate with Setswana "nyeo" and may derive from the Proto-Bantu root "-eo" meaning to judge or try a cause. | |||
Swahili | jaribio | ||
The word "jaribio" also means "experiment" or "attempt" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | ityala | ||
The word 'ityala' also means 'case', 'lawsuit', 'complaint', or 'cause'. | |||
Yoruba | iwadii | ||
Iwadii also means "action" or "deed" in Yoruba, indicating that a trial is a process of evaluating one's actions. | |||
Zulu | icala | ||
The Zulu word "icala" also implies a "call to action" or a "summons". | |||
Bambara | kiri | ||
Ewe | dodokpᴐ | ||
Kinyarwanda | iburanisha | ||
Lingala | kosambisa | ||
Luganda | okugezako | ||
Sepedi | teko | ||
Twi (Akan) | sɔhwɛ | ||
Arabic | التجربة | ||
Etymology: from the verb "jaraba" (to taste or experience), "التجربة" can also mean "attempt" or "experiment."} | |||
Hebrew | ניסוי | ||
The Hebrew word "ניסוי" ("trial") also means "experiment" and is related to the word "נסה" ("to try"). | |||
Pashto | ازمونه | ||
The word "ازمونه" in Pashto, derived from the Arabic root "z-m-n," can also mean "test" in the sense of an examination or assessment. | |||
Arabic | التجربة | ||
Etymology: from the verb "jaraba" (to taste or experience), "التجربة" can also mean "attempt" or "experiment."} |
Albanian | gjykimi | ||
The word "gjykimi" is derived from the Latin word "judicium" which also has connotations of judgment. | |||
Basque | epaiketa | ||
"Epaiketa" is derived from the Basque verb "epaitu", meaning "to judge", and the suffix "-keta", denoting an action or process. | |||
Catalan | prova | ||
In Catalan, "prova" also means "example" or "test" | |||
Croatian | suđenje | ||
"Suđenje" also means judgment or fate, originating from the Old Slavic root meaning to judge, punish or decide. | |||
Danish | forsøg | ||
The Danish word "forsøg" can also mean "attempt" or "experiment". | |||
Dutch | proef | ||
In 16th century Dutch, 'proef' also meant 'proof' (in the sense of evidence of a claim), hence its use in 'proefschrift' (doctoral dissertation). | |||
English | trial | ||
The term 'trial' originates from the Old French word 'travail', meaning 'work' or 'labour', suggesting the arduous process of legal proceedings. | |||
French | procès | ||
The word "procès" in French derives from the Latin word "processus" meaning "progress" or "course of events," extending to legal contexts by the 13th century. | |||
Frisian | proef | ||
In Frisian, "proef" can also refer to a "sample" or a "test". | |||
Galician | xuízo | ||
The word "xuízo" in Galician has two possible etymologies: from the Latin word "iudicium" or from the Proto-Celtic word "*sudi-." It can also informally mean "common sense" or "opinion." | |||
German | versuch | ||
"Versuch" in German can also mean "attempt" or, in a legal context, "criminal conduct in preparation for an offense". | |||
Icelandic | prufa | ||
The word "prufa" in Icelandic also refers to a sample or a specimen. | |||
Irish | triail | ||
The Irish word "triail" is also used to describe a "journey" or "passage". | |||
Italian | prova | ||
"Prova" in Italian is derived from the Latin "probare," meaning "to test" and has additional meanings like "rehearsal," "attempt," or "evidence." | |||
Luxembourgish | prozess | ||
'Prozess' can also mean 'process' in Luxembourgish, as it does in German. | |||
Maltese | prova | ||
Maltese prova ('trial') derives from Italian prova, with the same meaning, ultimately going back to Greek πείρα (peira). | |||
Norwegian | rettssaken | ||
The word "rettssaken" can also refer to a specific case or cause of action in court. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | tentativas | ||
The word 'tentativas' is derived from the Latin word 'temptare', meaning 'to try' or 'to attempt'. | |||
Scots Gaelic | deuchainn | ||
The word "deuchainn" in Scots Gaelic can also mean "attempt" or "test". | |||
Spanish | juicio | ||
The word "juicio" can also mean "judgment" or "opinion" in Spanish. | |||
Swedish | rättegång | ||
From Old Norse *rættagong, from *rættr "legal, just" + *gong "act". | |||
Welsh | treial | ||
In Welsh, "treial" can also refer to a dwelling place or a place of rest. |
Belarusian | суд | ||
The word "суд" (trial) in Belarusian also has the alternate meanings of "opinion", "judgement", and "court." | |||
Bosnian | suđenje | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of a criminal trial, 'suđenje' can also refer to an ordeal | |||
Bulgarian | пробен период | ||
In Bulgarian, the word "пробен период" (trial) can also refer to a probationary period in a job or employment setting. | |||
Czech | soud | ||
The word soud ('trial') also means 'court' and is also used in the phrase 'soudní dvůr' ('court of justice'). | |||
Estonian | kohtuprotsess | ||
The word "kohtuprotsess" is derived from the German "Gerichtsprozess" and originally referred to a legal dispute resolved by a secular court rather than a religious one. | |||
Finnish | oikeudenkäynti | ||
"Oikeudenkäynti" is also used to refer to the legal process leading up to a trial. | |||
Hungarian | próba | ||
The Hungarian word "próba" originally referred to an oath or testimony, as well as the act of putting something to the test. | |||
Latvian | izmēģinājums | ||
In Latvian, the word “izmēģinājums” has alternative meanings, including “test”, “experiment”, and “ordeal”. | |||
Lithuanian | teismo | ||
"Teismo" is also used to refer to a group of people who have the right to try cases, often known as a "tribunal". | |||
Macedonian | судење | ||
The word "судење" can also refer to the act of criticizing or judging someone for their actions or behavior. | |||
Polish | próba | ||
Próba's second meaning in Polish is a dress rehearsal or an audition. | |||
Romanian | proces | ||
The Romanian word "proces" is derived from the Latin word "processus", meaning "a course of action" or "a proceeding." | |||
Russian | испытание | ||
The word "испытание" (trial) also means "test" or "examination". | |||
Serbian | суђење | ||
The Serbian word 'суђење' (trial) can also refer to 'judgment', 'sentencing' and 'the process of deciding' | |||
Slovak | súd | ||
The word "súd" (trial) in Slovak also means "court". | |||
Slovenian | sojenje | ||
The word sojenje can also refer to the process of judging or making a judgment. | |||
Ukrainian | судовий розгляд | ||
The Ukrainian word “судовий розгляд” originally meant “a conversation” about an issue of justice. |
Bengali | বিচার | ||
বিচার can also refer to legal judgement, an examination, or a test in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | અજમાયશ | ||
The word 'અજમાયશ' ('trial') in Gujarati is derived from the Persian word 'āzmāyeš', which means 'test' or 'experiment'. | |||
Hindi | ट्रायल | ||
Hindi 'ट्रायल' (trial) comes from 'त्रि' (three) + 'आयल' (to come), meaning 'three-fold', as trials involve three stages: investigation, prosecution, and judgment. | |||
Kannada | ಪ್ರಯೋಗ | ||
In Kannada, the word "ಪ್ರಯೋಗ" can also refer to an experiment or a test. | |||
Malayalam | ട്രയൽ | ||
The Malayalam word 'ട്രയൽ' ('trial') is derived from English and also means a 'problem' in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | चाचणी | ||
In Marathi, 'चाचणी' (trial) can also refer to a test, examination, or experiment, derived from the Sanskrit root 'chaksh' meaning 'to see or examine'. | |||
Nepali | परीक्षण | ||
The word "परीक्षण" can also mean "test" or "examination". | |||
Punjabi | ਮੁਕੱਦਮਾ | ||
The word "ਮੁਕੱਦਮਾ" in Punjabi is derived from the Arabic word "qadama", meaning "step" or "measure", and it originally referred to a series of steps or procedures involved in a legal dispute. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නඩු විභාගය | ||
The word can also be referred to a dispute, argument, or contest | |||
Tamil | சோதனை | ||
The Tamil word "சோதனை" also means "examination," "test," or "investigation." | |||
Telugu | విచారణ | ||
The Telugu word "విచారణ" not only means "trial", but also "investigation" or "enquiry". | |||
Urdu | آزمائش | ||
"آزمائش" derives from Arabic and has related cognates in Farsi and Turkish, all with meanings centered around testing and proof. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 试用 | ||
The Chinese word "试用" (trial) can also refer to a probationary period for a new employee. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 試用 | ||
The word 試用 (trial) can also mean "to test" or "to try out" in Chinese. | |||
Japanese | トライアル | ||
"Trial" (トライアル) derives from the Old French word "trial," which evolved from the Latin word "tribulāre," meaning "to rub away" or "to put under pressure." | |||
Korean | 시도 | ||
In Korean, the word "시도" can also refer to a city, province, or special self-governing city, as well as an attempt or endeavor. | |||
Mongolian | шүүх хуралдаан | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ရုံးတင်စစ်ဆေးခြင်း | ||
Indonesian | percobaan | ||
The Indonesian word "percobaan" is derived from the Dutch "proef", meaning "test" or "experiment". | |||
Javanese | sidhang | ||
In Javanese, the word "sidhang" can also mean "court session" or "meeting for discussion and decision-making." | |||
Khmer | ការជំនុំជម្រះក្តី | ||
Lao | ການທົດລອງ | ||
Malay | percubaan | ||
The Malay word "percubaan" is derived from the Arabic word "imtihan", which means "test" or "examination". | |||
Thai | การทดลอง | ||
The word "การทดลอง" is derived from the Sanskrit word "तर्ज" (tarj), meaning "to cross over" or "to pass through." | |||
Vietnamese | thử nghiệm | ||
Alternate meanings of the Vietnamese word "thử nghiệm" include "experiment" and "test" | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagsubok | ||
Azerbaijani | sınaq | ||
"Sınaq" also means "test" or "exam" in Azerbaijani, derived from the Persian word "āzmāyeš" with the same meanings. | |||
Kazakh | сот талқылауы | ||
The Kazakh word "сот талқылауы" can also refer to a "court case" or "legal proceedings." | |||
Kyrgyz | сот процесси | ||
The word "сот процесси" is derived from the Turkish word "sot" meaning "question" or "interrogation." | |||
Tajik | мурофиа | ||
The Tajik word "мурофиа" is derived from the Persian word "muhr," which means "seal," and is also related to the Arabic word "mukhrafa," which means "litigation." | |||
Turkmen | synag | ||
Uzbek | sud jarayoni | ||
The word "sud jarayoni" in Uzbek also refers to a legal proceeding, such as a trial. | |||
Uyghur | سىناق | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻokolokolo | ||
The Hawaiian word "hoʻokolokolo" originally meant "to investigate" or "to observe," and is related to the word "kolokolo," which means "to watch" or "to spy." | |||
Maori | whakawakanga | ||
The word "whakawakanga" in Maori can refer to both the concept of a trial and the action of testing or examining something. | |||
Samoan | faamasinoga | ||
The word "faamasinoga" comes from the root word "sino" which means "to judge" or "to hear a case". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | paglilitis | ||
Originally, the Tagalog word “paglilitis” meant “investigation.” |
Aymara | yant'a | ||
Guarani | apy'ãpo | ||
Esperanto | provo | ||
"provo" also meant "test" during Zamenhof's time. | |||
Latin | iudicium | ||
"Judicium" also denotes either the opinion which the jurors have to form individually after having taken counsel together... |
Greek | δίκη | ||
In ancient Greek, "δίκη" also referred to justice, retribution, and the goddess of justice. | |||
Hmong | kev sim | ||
The Hmong word 'kev sim' also means 'to test' or 'to examine'. | |||
Kurdish | bazarî | ||
The term 'bazarî' is derived from the Persian word 'bāzrā' meaning 'market' and refers to the public nature of the trial. | |||
Turkish | deneme | ||
The word 'Deneme' in Turkish also has the connotation of 'experiment' or 'attempt', reflecting its origin in the verb 'denemek' which means 'to try'. | |||
Xhosa | ityala | ||
The word 'ityala' also means 'case', 'lawsuit', 'complaint', or 'cause'. | |||
Yiddish | פּראָצעס | ||
The Yiddish word `פּראָצעס` (`protses`) is ultimately derived from the Latin `processus`, and also has the meaning `procedure` or `course of events`. | |||
Zulu | icala | ||
The Zulu word "icala" also implies a "call to action" or a "summons". | |||
Assamese | পৰীক্ষণ | ||
Aymara | yant'a | ||
Bhojpuri | अजमावल | ||
Dhivehi | ޓްރަޔަލް | ||
Dogri | अजमैश | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pagsubok | ||
Guarani | apy'ãpo | ||
Ilocano | panagpadas | ||
Krio | prɔblɛm | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | تاقیکاری | ||
Maithili | परीक्षण | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯥꯡꯌꯦꯡ ꯇꯧꯕ | ||
Mizo | chhin | ||
Oromo | yaalii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପରୀକ୍ଷା | ||
Quechua | mallina | ||
Sanskrit | परीक्षणं | ||
Tatar | суд | ||
Tigrinya | ሙከራ | ||
Tsonga | tenga | ||