Trick in different languages

Trick in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'trick' is a small but powerful part of many languages, referring to a clever or cunning action or a skillful movement. It's a term that transcends cultural boundaries and has found its way into various phrases and idioms around the world.

Tricks have been a part of human culture for centuries, from the slight of hand of ancient street performers to the elaborate cons of modern-day movies and books. The significance of tricks lies in their ability to surprise, entertain, and sometimes even deceive. They can be playful or mischievous, but they always capture our attention.

Understanding the translation of 'trick' in different languages can open up new avenues of communication and cultural understanding. For example, in Spanish, 'trick' is 'truco', while in German, it's 'Trick'. In French, it's 'astuce', and in Japanese, it's 'トリック (torikku)'.

Learning these translations can not only enhance your language skills but also deepen your appreciation for the cultural significance of tricks in different societies. So, whether you're a language learner, a cultural enthusiast, or just someone curious about the world, exploring the translations of 'trick' is a fun and enlightening journey.

Trick


Trick in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanstruuk
In Afrikaans, "truuk" can also refer to a magic trick or a prank.
Amharicብልሃት
The Amharic word ብልሃት also means "wisdom" or "knowledge" in other contexts.
Hausaabin zamba
In Hausa, "abin zamba" is a literal translation of "thing that's not straight," thus its figurative meaning of "trickery or deception."
Igboatọ
The word "atọ" also means "plan", "scheme", or "cunning".
Malagasyfitaka
"Fitaka" may also refer to a dance performed by the Betsileo people of Madagascar.
Nyanja (Chichewa)chinyengo
The word "chinyengo" in Nyanja also refers to a traditional dance performed by women.
Shonatsenga
"Tsengau" is also a word for "playing" but is more commonly used to refer to playing a game of chance.
Somalikhiyaano
In addition to its meaning of 'trick,' 'khiyaano' can also mean 'deceit' or 'stratagem'.
Sesothoqhekella
This word is used in a metaphorical sense to refer to a trick or deception, like when someone tries to pull a fast one on you.
Swahilihila
"Hila" (trick) originates from the Arabic word "hīlah" (stratagem), which itself is derived from the root word "ḥayala" (cunning or craftiness).
Xhosaiqhinga
The word "iqhinga" can also refer to a traditional Xhosa board game similar to checkers.
Yorubaẹtan
Ẹtan, beyond its primary meaning of 'trick' or 'deceit,' also refers to a type of game or puzzle.
Zuluiqhinga
The word may also carry the nuance of "magic illusion" or "clever plan".
Bambaraka lafili
Eweayɛ
Kinyarwandaamayeri
Lingalalikanisi
Lugandaolukwe
Sepedihlalefetša
Twi (Akan)nnaadaa

Trick in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالخدعة
The word الخدعة (trick) in Arabic can also refer to a deception or a ruse.
Hebrewטריק
The Hebrew "טריק" (trick) derives from the Yiddish טריק (trick), and means "a clever or dishonest act; a ruse;", and possibly also "a mischievous prank or joke"}
Pashtoچال
The word "چال" also means "key" or "secret" in Pashto.
Arabicالخدعة
The word الخدعة (trick) in Arabic can also refer to a deception or a ruse.

Trick in Western European Languages

Albanianmashtrim
The word "mashtrim" can also refer to a mischievous act or a practical joke.
Basquetrikimailu
The Basque word "trikimailu" is derived from the word "triki" meaning "wheel" and "mailu" meaning "to turn", hence its literal meaning is "turning the wheel."
Catalantruc
In Catalan, "truc" also refers to a specific type of card game.
Croatiantrik
In Croatian, the word "trik" can also refer to a device or a knack, and is related to the word "trijati", meaning "to rub" or "to polish".
Danishtrick
In Danish, the word "trick" can also refer to a "trick of the eye" or an "optical illusion."
Dutchtruc
"Truc" in Dutch can also refer to a type of board used in construction or a kind of fabric.
Englishtrick
In the 15th century, "trick" also meant "a peculiar or amusing feature or habit" and was especially used of a horse's playful behavior.
Frenchtour
In French, the word "tour" can also refer to a tower or a turn in a game.
Frisiantrick
In Frisian, "trick" has additional meanings, including "a period of time" and "a prank or jest."
Galiciantruco
In Galician, "truco" can also refer to a traditional card game with similar rules to "brisca".
Germantrick
The German word "Trick" is derived from the French word "triche", which means "cheat".
Icelandicbragð
In Icelandic folklore, the word "bragð" can also refer to a supernatural creature that uses illusion and trickery to deceive humans.
Irishcleas
The word "cleas" shares the same etymology as the words "cúl" (back) and "cluais" (ear), implying a hidden or surreptitious nature.
Italiantrucco
The alternate meaning of the Italian word "trucco" is "make-up" or "face paint"
Luxembourgishtrick
In Luxembourgish, "Trick" can also refer to a mischievous or playful action or a clever device.
Maltesetrick
The word "trick" in Maltese does not have an alternate meaning.
Norwegiantriks
The Norwegian word "triks" can also refer to a device that traps animals, such as a mousetrap.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)truque
The word "truque" (trick) in Portuguese derives from the French "truquer" (to falsify), ultimately tracing back to the Latin "truncare" (to cut off).
Scots Gaeliccleas
The Gaelic word "cleas" (trick) also translates to magic, and is a related cognate of "gleic" and "sleight" in English, meaning 'a skill achieved with ease'.
Spanishtruco
In Spanish, 'truco' derives from the Nahuatl word 'tlaxtli', meaning 'game of chance'.
Swedishlura
The word "lura" in Swedish also means "to eavesdrop" or "to listen in".
Welshtric
The word 'tric' in Welsh, meaning 'trick' in English, derives from the Proto-Celtic *trikkos, also the root of the English word 'trick'.

Trick in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianхітрасць
The Belarusian word "хітрасць" ("trick") is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*хитръ", meaning "cunning" or "skillful".
Bosniantrik
In Bosnian, "trik" can also refer to a path or route, particularly a narrow or hidden one.
Bulgarianтрик
The word "трик" ("trick" in English) derives from the Old Slavonic word "трикати" meaning "to run" or "to rub". In Bulgarian, "трик" can also refer to a "prank" or "a joke".
Czechtrik
Czech 'trik' comes from German 'Trick', possibly from Romance, or from Dutch 'drik' meaning 'pull'
Estoniantrikk
The word "trikk" in Estonian also refers to a small, nimble person or a child's prank.
Finnishtemppu
"Temppu" is derived from the Old Nordic word "tomp", meaning "play". It is related to the English word "tame".
Hungariantrükk
In Hungarian, the word "trükk" can also mean "prank" or "joke".
Latviantriks
The Latvian "triks" derives from the Middle Low German "drek," meaning filth or excrement.
Lithuaniantriukas
The word 'triukas' has a playful connotation, and can also refer to a mischievous prank or funny stunt.
Macedonianтрик
The word "трик" is borrowed from Turkic languages (e.g. Turkish "dırnak") and originally means "nail", but is mostly found in compounds with different prefixes relating to hair and beard care.
Polishsztuczka
"Sztuczka" can also mean "a work of art" or "a toy" in Polish.
Romaniantruc
In Romanian, ""truc"" can also refer to a gadget or a whim: "a strange thing, a device, even an ingenious gadget".
Russianуловка
"Уловка" (trick) is derived from the verb "уловить" (to capture), implying a cunning way to catch or deceive someone.
Serbianтрик
The Serbian word "трик" (trick) is derived from the German word "Trick" and also means "trick" in English.
Slovaktrik
The word "trik" in Slovak can also refer to a type of cloth.
Sloveniantrik
In Slovene folklore, "trik" can also refer to a mischievous gnome-like creature.
Ukrainianфокус
The Ukrainian word "фокус" ultimately derives from the Middle High German word "fokus," meaning "hearth" or "fireplace," and has also been used to refer to a "conjuring trick" or "optical illusion" in Ukrainian since the 19th century.

Trick in South Asian Languages

Bengaliকৌতুক
Gujaratiયુક્તિ
In Sanskrit, the word "યુક્તિ" can also mean "method" or "strategy"
Hindiछल
छल means a 'trick', but it is also the name of an evil demon in Hindu Mythology.
Kannadaಟ್ರಿಕ್
In Kannada, "ಟ್ರಿಕ್" can also refer to a clever or deceptive act or scheme.
Malayalamതന്ത്രം
In Malayalam, the word "തന്ത്രം" can also refer to a ritualistic performance or a method in Ayurveda.
Marathiयुक्ती
The word युक्ती (yukti, "trick," "strategy") also means "connection," and "argument" in Sanskrit and is related to "yuj," a verb meaning "connect," "join," "yoking"}
Nepaliचाल
The Nepali "चाल" (trick) comes from Sanskrit चाल (cala), also meaning movement, gait, or behavior.
Punjabiਚਾਲ
In addition to its primary meaning of "trick," "ਚਾਲ" can also mean "manner," "way," or "method" in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)උපක්‍රමය
The word "උපක්‍රමය" can also mean "method", "technique", "approach", "procedure", or "way" in Sinhala (Sinhalese), depending on the context.
Tamilதந்திரம்
The word 'தந்திரம்' (thaanthiram) derives from Sanskrit 'tantra,' encompassing meanings of system, method, or ritual.
Teluguట్రిక్
The word "ట్రిక్" can also mean "a clever or skillful act" in Telugu.
Urduچال
In Urdu, "چال" not only means "trick" but also has connotations of "deception" and "cunning tactics."

Trick in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character "招" also means to invite or beckon.
Chinese (Traditional)
"招" can mean "move" or "gesture" in the context of martial arts.
Japanese騙す
騙す (damasu) can also mean to cheat or deceive.
Korean장난
The word, "장난" can mean not only "trick" but also "joke" or "play".
Mongolianзаль мэх
The word "зал мэх" in Mongolian is also used in the context of a performance, such as a magic trick or a joke, emphasizing the unexpected or surprising nature of the action.
Myanmar (Burmese)လှည့်ကွက်

Trick in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmenipu
The word "menipu" in Indonesian can also mean "to deceive" or "to mislead".
Javanesetrik
The Javanese word "trik" can also refer to a "strategy" or "scheme".
Khmerល្បិច
ល្បិច has additional meanings such as "a secret recipe" and "a magic formula".
Laoຫລອກລວງ
Malaymuslihat
The Malay word 'muslihat' also has the meaning of 'strategy' in its origin in Arabic.
Thaiเคล็ดลับ
The word "เคล็ดลับ" can also refer to a "secret" or a "technique".
Vietnameselừa
The word "lừa" also means "donkey" in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)panlilinlang

Trick in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanihiylə
In Old Anatolian Turkish, the word "hiyle" also meant "device, scheme, measure, ruse, or stratagem".
Kazakhқулық
The word "қулық" is also used to refer to a "scheme" or "plan" in Kazakh, with a slightly different connotation.
Kyrgyzкуулук
Куулук is a word in Kyrgyz that can also mean 'skill, ability, talent, cunningness, artfulness, deceit, fraud, ruse, stratagem, wile'.
Tajikҳилла
The word "ҳилла" is derived from the Arabic word "ḥīla" which means "stratagem, artifice, or trick". It can also refer to a "device, contrivance, or expedient".
Turkmenhile
Uzbekhiyla
In Uzbek, "hiyla" can also refer to a "stratagem" or a "ruse."
Uyghurھىيلە

Trick in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmaʻalea
Maʻalea can also mean "wickedness" or "bad luck"
Maoriwhakapati
In Māori, the word "whakapati" can also refer to a "deception," a "fraud," or a "lie."
Samoantogafiti
The word "togafiti" can also refer to a "magical trick" or "illusion" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)lansihin
"Lansihin'' is also used to describe a situation where someone is taken advantage of or deceived.

Trick in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaratruku
Guaranitruco

Trick in International Languages

Esperantotruko
The word "truko" in Esperanto can also mean "device" or "gadget".
Latinartificium
"Artificium" can mean not only 'trick', but also 'art, device, structure' and 'skill, ingenuity'.

Trick in Others Languages

Greekτέχνασμα
"τέχνασμα" comes from the verb "τεχνάζω" (to contrive), itself derived from "τέχνη" (art, craft).
Hmongua kom yuam kev
This word also means "to have difficulty learning something in a class."
Kurdishfen
The word "fen" in Kurdish also means "art" or "skill".
Turkishhile
The word "hile" is derived from the Arabic word "hīlah" and also means "ruse".
Xhosaiqhinga
The word "iqhinga" can also refer to a traditional Xhosa board game similar to checkers.
Yiddishקונץ
The Yiddish word "קונץ" (trick) is rooted in the Old High German word "kunnen" (to know) and conveys an ability to manipulate knowledge to the advantage of the one who holds it.
Zuluiqhinga
The word may also carry the nuance of "magic illusion" or "clever plan".
Assameseকৌশল
Aymaratruku
Bhojpuriचालाकी
Dhivehiއޮޅުވާލުން
Dogriजुगाड़
Filipino (Tagalog)panlilinlang
Guaranitruco
Ilocanoallilawen
Kriokɔni kɔni
Kurdish (Sorani)فێڵ
Maithiliतरकीब
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯥꯠ ꯇꯧꯕ
Mizobum
Oromogowwoomsaa
Odia (Oriya)କୌଶଳ
Quechuatruco
Sanskritयुक्ति
Tatarхәйлә
Tigrinyaምትላል
Tsongakanganyisa

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