Truck in Different Languages
Discover 'Truck' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Trucks are an integral part of our daily lives, serving as workhorses in industries such as construction, transportation, and logistics. But did you know that the concept of a truck has been around for centuries, with the first recorded use of a horse-drawn cart in ancient civilizations?
The cultural importance of trucks cannot be overstated, especially in countries like the United States where they are often associated with rugged individualism and hard work. From the classic Ford F-150 to the mighty Mack truck, these vehicles have become symbols of Americana and have even inspired movies, TV shows, and songs.
Understanding the translation of the word 'truck' in different languages can provide insight into how other cultures view and utilize these vehicles. For example, in Spanish, a truck is known as 'camión', while in German, it's called 'LKW' (Lastkraftwagen). In French, it's 'camion', and in Japanese, it's 'トラック' (torakku).
So whether you're a truck enthusiast, a language learner, or simply curious about the world around you, exploring the translations of 'truck' in different languages is a fascinating journey that highlights the universal appeal and importance of these powerful machines.
Truck
Truck in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | vragmotor | ||
| The Afrikaans word "vragmotor" is derived from the Dutch word "vrachtwagen," meaning "freight wagon" or "lorry." | |||
| Amharic | የጭነት መኪና | ||
| The word "የጭነት መኪና" in Amharic, which literally translates to "a carrying machine," is also used to refer to a lorry or a van. | |||
| Hausa | babbar mota | ||
| The Hausa word "babbar mota" is a compound noun which literally means "white car" | |||
| Igbo | gwongworo | ||
| In Igbo language, 'gwongworo' is the word for 'truck'; it is also a slang term meaning 'something big or important.' | |||
| Malagasy | kamiao | ||
| The word "kamiao" comes from French "camion" which also means truck. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | galimoto | ||
| Galimoto is sometimes applied to smaller non-passenger cars, specifically the Land Rover. | |||
| Shona | rori | ||
| The word "rori" can also refer to the frame of a hut or a child's cradle. | |||
| Somali | gaari xamuul ah | ||
| Sesotho | teraka | ||
| The word "teraka" is derived from the Afrikaans word "trok", which means "truck". | |||
| Swahili | lori | ||
| The Swahili word 'lori' is derived from the English word 'lorry', which means a large, heavy vehicle used for transporting goods. | |||
| Xhosa | itraki | ||
| The word "itraki" is derived from the English word "truck", but in Xhosa it can also refer to a large gathering or party. | |||
| Yoruba | oko nla | ||
| Oko nla, meaning "big farm" in Yoruba, has come to refer to vehicles used for farming, and by extension, any large vehicle. | |||
| Zulu | iloli | ||
| The word "iloli" in Zulu has an alternate meaning of "a large animal that is difficult to control". | |||
| Bambara | kamiyɔn | ||
| Ewe | keke | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ikamyo | ||
| Lingala | motuka | ||
| Luganda | motoka | ||
| Sepedi | theraka | ||
| Twi (Akan) | trɔɔgo | ||
Truck in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | شاحنة نقل | ||
| The word "شاحنة نقل" is derived from the verb "شحن" meaning "to load" or "to transport", indicating its function as a vehicle for carrying goods. | |||
| Hebrew | מַשָׂאִית | ||
| מַשָׂאִית comes from the root נ.ש.א, "to carry", referring to its role in transporting goods. | |||
| Pashto | ټرک | ||
| The word "ټرک" (truck) in Pashto can also mean "car" or "vehicle". | |||
| Arabic | شاحنة نقل | ||
| The word "شاحنة نقل" is derived from the verb "شحن" meaning "to load" or "to transport", indicating its function as a vehicle for carrying goods. | |||
Truck in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kamion | ||
| The Albanian word "kamion" is derived from the French word "camion" and the Italian word "camione", both meaning "truck". | |||
| Basque | kamioia | ||
| The word 'kamioia' originally referred to a wagon or cart, but now refers specifically to a truck. | |||
| Catalan | camió | ||
| The word cami in Catalan refers not only to a truck but also to any kind of path, in reference to its original meaning of 'path or road'. | |||
| Croatian | kamion | ||
| The word "kamion" in Croatian derives from the Italian "camion", which in turn derives from the French "camion", which is of uncertain etymology. | |||
| Danish | lastbil | ||
| The Danish word for truck, "lastbil," comes from the Dutch word "last," meaning load or cargo. | |||
| Dutch | vrachtwagen | ||
| The word "vrachtwagen" derives from the Dutch words "vracht" (meaning "load") and "wagen" (meaning "wagon"), and originally referred to any type of vehicle used to transport goods. | |||
| English | truck | ||
| "Truck" also means the exchange of goods or the exchange of insults. | |||
| French | un camion | ||
| The French word "un camion" is derived from the Celtic word "cammaun", meaning "bent stick" or "crook", likely due to the similar shape of early trucks. | |||
| Frisian | frachtauto | ||
| The Frisian word "frachtauto" is derived from the German word "Frachtauto" and the Dutch word "vrachtwagen", both meaning "truck". | |||
| Galician | camión | ||
| In Galician, the word "camión" can also refer to a "cart" or a "lorry". | |||
| German | lkw | ||
| The acronym "LKW" originates from the German word "Lastkraftwagen" or "load carrying motor vehicle" | |||
| Icelandic | vörubíll | ||
| In Icelandic, "vörubíll" not only means "truck," but also a "wheelbarrow" or "handcart." | |||
| Irish | trucail | ||
| In Irish, 'trucail' originally referred to a large wheel. | |||
| Italian | camion | ||
| The Italian word "camion" derives from the French word "camion", itself possibly of Germanic origin. | |||
| Luxembourgish | camion | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Camion" comes from the French word "camion", which in turn derives from the Latin word "camurrīre", meaning "to curve". | |||
| Maltese | trakk | ||
| The Maltese word "trakk" may also refer to a "tractor" | |||
| Norwegian | lastebil | ||
| The word "lastebil" is derived from the words "last" (load) and "bil" (car) and can also refer to a lorry or van. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | caminhão | ||
| In Portuguese, "caminhão" (truck) can also refer to a type of walking stick or crutch. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | làraidh | ||
| The word “làraidh” can also be translated as “mud” or “dirt”. | |||
| Spanish | camión | ||
| The word **'camión'** likely derives from the Latin "camminus" (path), via Old French, but is related to the English word "chimney". | |||
| Swedish | lastbil | ||
| "Lastbil" is a compound word composed of "last", meaning "load", and "bil", meaning "car". | |||
| Welsh | tryc | ||
| In Welsh, 'tryc' can also refer to a wheelbarrow, trolley, or any vehicle with wheels. | |||
Truck in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | грузавік | ||
| Bosnian | kamion | ||
| Kamion is also used colloquially to refer to a lorry of any size, including a car. | |||
| Bulgarian | камион | ||
| The Bulgarian word "камион" (truck) originates from the Russian word "камень" (stone), alluding to the historical use of trucks for transporting heavy materials. | |||
| Czech | kamion | ||
| The word "kamion" in Czech also means "stone" and "small room". | |||
| Estonian | veoauto | ||
| The word "veoauto" comes from the words "veo" (to draw) and "auto" (car), referring to the truck's ability to pull heavy loads. | |||
| Finnish | kuorma-auto | ||
| The word "kuorma-auto" literally means "load-car" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | kamion | ||
| The word 'kamion' is derived from the French 'camion', which in turn comes from the Latin 'camio', meaning 'cart'. | |||
| Latvian | smagā mašīna | ||
| The Latvian word "smagā mašīna" literally translates to "heavy machine" in English. | |||
| Lithuanian | sunkvežimis | ||
| The word sunkvežimis, meaning "truck" in Lithuanian, is derived from the Greek words "syn" (with) and "okheuma" (vehicle). | |||
| Macedonian | камион | ||
| The word "камион" (truck) in Macedonian is possibly of Turkish origin, with an alternative meaning of "ship's hold" | |||
| Polish | ciężarówka | ||
| The word `ciężarówka` comes from `ciężar` (`weight`), so it literally means a `weight-carrier`. | |||
| Romanian | camion | ||
| "Camion" is a loanword in Romanian from the French word "camion", which itself comes from Latin "camurrus" (crooked). | |||
| Russian | грузовая машина | ||
| The word "грузовая машина" literally translates to "cargo machine" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | камион | ||
| The word "камион" derives from the French word "camion", meaning "lorry". | |||
| Slovak | nákladné auto | ||
| The Slovak word "nákladné auto" literally translates to "load-carrying car". | |||
| Slovenian | tovornjak | ||
| The word "tovornjak" is derived from the Slavic root "torv", meaning "to carry" or "to transport". | |||
| Ukrainian | вантажівка | ||
| The word "вантажівка" is derived from the Slavic word "vantyag," meaning "burden" or "load." | |||
Truck in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ট্রাক | ||
| In Bengali, "ট্রাক" (truck) literally means "to move," and can refer to a truck, bus, or even a train. | |||
| Gujarati | ટ્રક | ||
| The Gujarati word "ટ્રક" ("truck") can also refer to a "lorry" or a "dumper truck". | |||
| Hindi | ट्रक | ||
| The Hindi word 'ट्रक' can also refer to a 'piece' or 'part' of something. | |||
| Kannada | ಟ್ರಕ್ | ||
| In Kannada, "ট্রাক" is borrowed from English and primarily means a large motor vehicle for transporting goods. | |||
| Malayalam | ട്രക്ക് | ||
| The word "ട്രക്ക്" in Malayalam can also mean "a strong blow". | |||
| Marathi | ट्रक | ||
| In Marathi, the word 'ट्रक' can also refer to a type of traditional Marathi musical instrument. | |||
| Nepali | ट्रक | ||
| In Nepali, "truck" can also refer to a "lorry" or "semi-trailer." | |||
| Punjabi | ਟਰੱਕ | ||
| In Punjabi, the word ਟਰੱਕ can mean either "truck" or "bus." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ට්රක් | ||
| The word ට්රක් can also refer to a prison or a group of people. | |||
| Tamil | டிரக் | ||
| The Tamil word டிரக் ('truck') is a cognate of the English word 'truck,' but can also be used to refer to a heavy machine or vehicle, including a locomotive. | |||
| Telugu | ట్రక్ | ||
| The word "ట్రక్" (truck) in Telugu can also mean a trick or deceit. | |||
| Urdu | ٹرک | ||
| The word "ٹرک" (truck) in Urdu can also refer to a type of cannon or a person who talks too much. | |||
Truck in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 卡车 | ||
| 卡车一词源自英文单词"truck"，意为"平板车"或"小车"。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 卡車 | ||
| The word “卡車” is also used in Taiwan and Hong Kong to refer to "lorry". | |||
| Japanese | トラック | ||
| The word "トラック" (torakku) is a Japanese word borrowed from the English word "truck", but it can also refer to a "train" or "track" in railway contexts. | |||
| Korean | 트럭 | ||
| The Korean word "트럭" originally referred to a railway car, and is likely derived from the English term "truck". | |||
| Mongolian | ачааны машин | ||
| The word "ачааны машин" in Mongolian comes from the word "ачаа" (cargo), and can also refer to a car used to transport goods. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ထရပ်ကား | ||
Truck in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | truk | ||
| The word "truk" in Indonesian is derived from the Dutch word "truck", meaning "wagon". It can also refer to a "lorry" or "semi-trailer truck". | |||
| Javanese | truk | ||
| In Javanese, "truk" can also refer to a type of traditional wooden boat or a container for transporting goods. | |||
| Khmer | ឡានដឹកទំនិញ | ||
| Lao | ລົດບັນທຸກ | ||
| Malay | lori | ||
| The word "lori" is also used to refer to a type of small parrot native to Australia and New Guinea. | |||
| Thai | รถบรรทุก | ||
| The Thai word รถบรรทุก (rot bɔɔŋ tùk) ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word रथ (ratha), meaning chariot. | |||
| Vietnamese | xe tải | ||
| The word "xe tải" comes from the Chinese words "車 tải" meaning "a vehicle for carrying goods". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | trak | ||
Truck in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | yük maşını | ||
| The word "yük maşını" is also used to refer to a lorry or a van. | |||
| Kazakh | жүк көлігі | ||
| Kyrgyz | жүк ташуучу унаа | ||
| Tajik | мошини боркаш | ||
| The word "мошини боркаш" may also mean "a car with a high suspension" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | ýük maşyny | ||
| Uzbek | yuk mashinasi | ||
| The word "yuk mashinasi" (truck) is derived from the Russian "грузовая машина" (gruzovoy mashina), meaning "freight car" or "freight vehicle". | |||
| Uyghur | يۈك ماشىنىسى | ||
Truck in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaʻa kalaka | ||
| The word "kaʻa kalaka" literally means "noisy wagon" in Hawaiian, likely referring to the early, noisy gasoline-powered vehicles that were introduced to the islands. | |||
| Maori | taraka | ||
| The Maori word "taraka" can also refer to a flat piece of wood used as a board for playing a game, or a kind of shellfish. | |||
| Samoan | loli | ||
| The word "loli" in Samoan can also refer to a low platform or a large basket used for carrying fruit. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | trak | ||
| In Tagalog, "trak" is a slang term for "bus" and can also refer to a type of tricycle known as a "traysikel." | |||
Truck in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jach'a pachaxchu | ||
| Guarani | kamiõ | ||
Truck in International Languages
| Esperanto | kamiono | ||
| The word "kamiono" also means "convoy" in Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | salsissimus vir vivens | ||
| The Latin term "salsissimus vir vivens" literally means "the most witty man living". | |||
Truck in Others Languages
| Greek | φορτηγό | ||
| The word "φορτηγό" is derived from the Italian word "furto", meaning "theft", as trucks were often used to transport stolen goods. | |||
| Hmong | tsheb loj | ||
| The word "tsheb loj" literally translates to "large wheeled vehicle" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | qemyon | ||
| The word "qemyon" may originate from the Arabic word "qēm" meaning "to stand" or "to be upright", possibly referring to the upright position of a truck. | |||
| Turkish | kamyon | ||
| The Turkish word "kamyon" comes from the French word "camion", which is derived from the Latin word "camio" meaning "carriage" or "cart" | |||
| Xhosa | itraki | ||
| The word "itraki" is derived from the English word "truck", but in Xhosa it can also refer to a large gathering or party. | |||
| Yiddish | טראָק | ||
| In Yiddish, the word "טראָק" is also used to refer to a "large amount" or a "lot" of something, similar to the English expression "a truckload" | |||
| Zulu | iloli | ||
| The word "iloli" in Zulu has an alternate meaning of "a large animal that is difficult to control". | |||
| Assamese | ট্ৰাক | ||
| Aymara | jach'a pachaxchu | ||
| Bhojpuri | ट्रक | ||
| Dhivehi | ޓްރަކް | ||
| Dogri | ट्रक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | trak | ||
| Guarani | kamiõ | ||
| Ilocano | trak | ||
| Krio | trɔk | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بارهەڵگر | ||
| Maithili | ट्रक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯇꯥ ꯒꯥꯔꯤ | ||
| Mizo | truck | ||
| Oromo | konkolaataa guddaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଟ୍ରକ | ||
| Quechua | camion | ||
| Sanskrit | भारवाहन | ||
| Tatar | йөк машинасы | ||
| Tigrinya | ናይ ፅዕነት መኪና | ||
| Tsonga | lori | ||