Utility in Different Languages
Discover 'Utility' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'utility' holds a significant place in our daily lives, denoting something's usefulness and ability to serve a purpose. Its cultural importance is evident in various fields, from economics to engineering, where the concept of utility is used to evaluate the usefulness and efficiency of products, services, and systems. Understanding the translation of 'utility' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures perceive and prioritize usefulness.
For instance, in Spanish, 'utility' is translated as 'utilidad', while in French, it is 'utilité'. In German, the word for 'utility' is 'Nützlichkeit', and in Japanese, it is '유용성 (yohyō-sei)'. These translations not only help us understand the word's meaning in different languages but also offer a glimpse into the cultural contexts that shape our perceptions of usefulness.
Exploring the translations of 'utility' in various languages can be a fascinating journey that sheds light on the cultural nuances of different societies. Below, you will find a list of translations of the word 'utility' in different languages, providing a unique perspective on this important concept.
Utility
Utility in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | nut | ||
| Afrikaans "nut" is cognate with the French "net" "clean", the German "nett", and the English "neat". | |||
| Amharic | መገልገያ | ||
| Hausa | mai amfani | ||
| In some dialects, "mai amfani" can also refer to a person who utilizes or benefits from something. | |||
| Igbo | mmekọ | ||
| Malagasy | utility | ||
| The word "utility" is derived from the Latin word "utilitas" meaning "usefulness". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zofunikira | ||
| The Nyanja word “zofunikira” comes from the root word “funika” (“to bind”), suggesting a sense of “usefulness” or “binding together.” | |||
| Shona | zvinoshandiswa | ||
| The word "zvinoshandiswa" in Shona is derived from the verb "shandisa" meaning "to use" and the prefix "zvi" which denotes a class of objects. | |||
| Somali | utility | ||
| The Somali word "utility" can also refer to a public service or infrastructure. | |||
| Sesotho | utility | ||
| The Sesotho word "utility" can also be used to refer to a farm or homestead. | |||
| Swahili | matumizi | ||
| In Swahili, "matumizi" can also refer to the costs associated with something. | |||
| Xhosa | eziluncedo | ||
| Yoruba | iwulo | ||
| The word "iwulo" in Yoruba also refers to a small, handy tool or object used for a specific purpose, often in a household or daily life setting. | |||
| Zulu | umbuso | ||
| The word "Umbuso" means "utility" in Zulu, but it can also refer to the concept of "usefulness" or "functionality". | |||
| Bambara | nafa | ||
| Ewe | ŋudɔwɔnu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ingirakamaro | ||
| Lingala | ntina | ||
| Luganda | ebikozesebwa | ||
| Sepedi | thušo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | fie akadeɛ | ||
Utility in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | خدمة | ||
| The Arabic word "خدمة" (utility) is derived from the root "خدم" (serve), and can also refer to service, attendance, or maintenance. | |||
| Hebrew | תוֹעֶלֶת | ||
| תוֹעֶלֶת stems from the root יעל, meaning "strength, power, help, advantage". | |||
| Pashto | افادیت | ||
| The Pashto word "utility" is originally taken from the Arabic word "افادیت" (faʾīda), which also means "profit" or "gain". | |||
| Arabic | خدمة | ||
| The Arabic word "خدمة" (utility) is derived from the root "خدم" (serve), and can also refer to service, attendance, or maintenance. | |||
Utility in Western European Languages
| Albanian | dobi | ||
| The word "dobi" is derived from Proto-Albanian "dob(r)", which also means "good" and "honest". | |||
| Basque | erabilgarritasuna | ||
| The Basque word "erabilgarritasuna" is derived from the verb "erabili," meaning "to use," and the suffix "-tasun," indicating a quality or state. | |||
| Catalan | utilitat | ||
| The Catalan word "utilitat" comes from the Latin word "utilitas", meaning "usefulness" or "advantage". | |||
| Croatian | korisnost | ||
| The Croatian word "korisnost" is similar to the English word "courtesy" in that it implies a sense of both utility and politeness. | |||
| Danish | hjælpeprogram | ||
| The word "hjælpeprogram" in Danish also means "aid program" or "assistance program". | |||
| Dutch | nut | ||
| In Dutch, the word "nut" has an alternate meaning of "fun or amusement," derived from Middle Dutch “noot” meaning "game or prank." | |||
| English | utility | ||
| Besides its ordinary sense of usefulness, "utility" also refers to a company supplying public services. | |||
| French | utilitaire | ||
| In French, | |||
| Frisian | nut | ||
| It comes from the old Frisian word 'nêt', meaning 'profit' or 'advantage' | |||
| Galician | utilidade | ||
| It may also mean "need" or "commodity" in Galician. | |||
| German | nützlichkeit | ||
| The German word "Nützlichkeit" has a double meaning, which is utility in the sense of profit, and utility in the sense of use or benefit. | |||
| Icelandic | gagnsemi | ||
| Gagnsemi is related to the Old Norse word gagnr, meaning "suitable" or "fitting." | |||
| Irish | fóntais | ||
| Italian | utilità | ||
| The Italian word "utilità" derives from the Latin word "utilitas", meaning "usefulness" or "advantage". | |||
| Luxembourgish | utility | ||
| Maltese | utilità | ||
| The Maltese word "utilità" derives from the Latin word "utilitas" meaning "usefulness" or "advantage." | |||
| Norwegian | nytte | ||
| The word "nytte" is derived from the Old Norse word "not", meaning "use" or "benefit". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | utilitário | ||
| The Portuguese word "utilitário" can also refer to a pickup truck, station wagon, or light commercial vehicle. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | goireasachd | ||
| Coire is the root word for goireasachd and the word 'coire' means a cauldron or pot in Scots Gaelic but it also means a hollow or a small glen. | |||
| Spanish | utilidad | ||
| The word "utilidad" is derived from the Latin word "utilitas", which means "usefulness" or "profitability". | |||
| Swedish | verktyg | ||
| The word "verktyg" also means "workshop" in many older Germanic languages as well as having a connection to the Germanic root "*werg-" meaning "to work" or "labour". | |||
| Welsh | cyfleustodau | ||
| The word "cyfleustodau" is a compound of three Welsh words: "cyfleus" (advantage), "tod" (covering or protection), and "dau" (two). | |||
Utility in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | карыснасць | ||
| Bosnian | korisnost | ||
| Bosnian "korisnost" comes from Serbo-Croatian "korist", itself from Slavic "korъ", "use" or "gain." | |||
| Bulgarian | полезност | ||
| The word 'полезност' can also mean 'benefit' or 'advantage'. | |||
| Czech | nástroj | ||
| Nástroj can also mean a tool or instrument in Czech music. | |||
| Estonian | utiliit | ||
| The word “utility” in Estonian shares a common root with the term “utile,” meaning “useful” in French and many other languages. | |||
| Finnish | apuohjelma | ||
| The word "apuohjelma" also refers to support software, which is a program that helps other programs run more efficiently. | |||
| Hungarian | hasznosság | ||
| In Hungarian, "hasznosság" also refers to the usefulness of a knowledge or a skill | |||
| Latvian | lietderība | ||
| Despite sounding like the Latvian word for 'flying' ('lidot'), 'lietderība' is unrelated and instead derives from an archaic word for 'use' ('lietojums'), and thus shares an etymology with 'lietojums' and 'lietot'. | |||
| Lithuanian | naudingumas | ||
| The Lithuanian word "naudingumas" stems from the root "nauda", meaning "benefit", highlighting its association with something that serves a useful purpose. | |||
| Macedonian | алатка | ||
| The word "алатка" (utility) in Macedonian may also refer to a tool or implement. | |||
| Polish | użyteczność | ||
| In Polish, the word "użyteczność" also refers to the usefulness or value of something. | |||
| Romanian | utilitate | ||
| In Romanian, "utilitate" has an alternate meaning related to "profitability" or "advantageous use" in addition to its primary meaning of "utility". | |||
| Russian | утилита | ||
| The Russian word "утилита" comes from the Latin word "utilitas," meaning "usefulness" or "benefit" | |||
| Serbian | корисност | ||
| The word "корисност" in Serbian has several different meanings, including "helpfulness", "usefulness", and "benefit". | |||
| Slovak | užitočnosť | ||
| The Slovak word "užitočnosť" is derived from the verb "užívať," meaning "to use, exploit, enjoy." | |||
| Slovenian | uporabnost | ||
| In mathematics, "uporabnost" refers to the efficiency of a mathematical object. | |||
| Ukrainian | корисність | ||
| The word "корисність" (utility) in Ukrainian can also mean "benefit" or "profitability". | |||
Utility in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ইউটিলিটি | ||
| The word "ইউটিলিটি" ultimately derives from the Latin word "utilitas", meaning "usefulness" or "advantage." | |||
| Gujarati | ઉપયોગિતા | ||
| ઉપયોગિતા in Gujarati can also mean 'convenience' or 'usefulness', while in English it primarily refers to the usefulness of a product or service. | |||
| Hindi | उपयोगिता | ||
| उपयोगिता derives from the Sanskrit उप- (upa-) meaning "near" and युज् (yuj) meaning "to join" or "to use". | |||
| Kannada | ಉಪಯುಕ್ತತೆ | ||
| The term "ಉಪಯುಕ್ತತೆ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "उपयोगिता" (upa yogita), which means "usefulness" or "application". | |||
| Malayalam | യൂട്ടിലിറ്റി | ||
| Marathi | उपयुक्तता | ||
| The word "उपयुक्तता" is derived from the Sanskrit word "उपयुक्त", meaning "useful" or "serving a purpose". | |||
| Nepali | उपयोगिता | ||
| The word 'उपयोगिता' ('utility') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'उपयोग' ('usage'), which means the usefulness or value of something for a specific purpose. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਹੂਲਤ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਸਹੂਲਤ" originated from the same Sanskrit word meaning "convenient". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උපයෝගීතාව | ||
| Tamil | பயன்பாடு | ||
| Telugu | వినియోగ | ||
| The word "వినియోగ" (utility) can also mean "usage" or "consumption" in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | افادیت | ||
Utility in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 效用 | ||
| “效用”在中文里的词源可以追溯到先秦时期的“功效”，引申含义包括效率、效力等。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 效用 | ||
| "效用"在漢語中除了「效用」一義外，亦有「效驗」、「效能」等含意。 | |||
| Japanese | ユーティリティ | ||
| 「ユーティリティ」という言葉は、ラテン語の「utilis（有用な）」に由来し、幅広い意味を持っています。 | |||
| Korean | 유용 | ||
| The word "유용" in Korean can also mean "usefulness" or "practicality", highlighting its connection to the concept of being useful. | |||
| Mongolian | хэрэгсэл | ||
| The word | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | utility | ||
Utility in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | utilitas | ||
| "Utilitas" dalam Bahasa Indonesia juga memiliki makna "manfaat" atau "kegunaan". | |||
| Javanese | sarana | ||
| The word 'sarana' also means 'vehicle' or 'conveyance' in Javanese, especially in a religious context. | |||
| Khmer | ឧបករណ៍ប្រើប្រាស់ | ||
| The base word "ឧបករណ៍" (tool) can be traced back to the Sanskrit word "उपकरण" (instrument). | |||
| Lao | ຜົນປະໂຫຍດ | ||
| The word can also refer to a state of usefulness, benefit or advantage. | |||
| Malay | utiliti | ||
| In the past "utility" was sometimes spelled as "utiliti", although this spelling is no longer common. | |||
| Thai | ยูทิลิตี้ | ||
| In Thai, “ยูทิลิตี้” can also colloquially refer to a small pickup truck. | |||
| Vietnamese | tiện ích | ||
| The term "tiện ích" originates from Chinese and also refers to "public facilities". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kagamitan | ||
Utility in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | kommunal | ||
| The word "kommunal" can also refer to a shared apartment or dormitory in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | утилита | ||
| In Kazakh, the word “утилита” also means “benefit” and is derived from the Latin word “utilis” (useful). | |||
| Kyrgyz | пайдалуу | ||
| "Пайдалуу" can also mean 'profitable' or 'beneficial' in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | утилит | ||
| The word "утилит" in Tajik comes from the Persian word "اوتيليت" which means "beneficial" or "useful". | |||
| Turkmen | peýdaly | ||
| Uzbek | qulaylik | ||
| The Uzbek word "qulaylik" also has the alternate meaning of "convenience", which is a cognate of its Turkish counterpart "kolaylık". | |||
| Uyghur | پايدىلىق | ||
Utility in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pono | ||
| The Hawaiian word "pono" also means "correct, upright, righteous," or "proper," and derives from the Proto-Polynesian word *fono,* meaning "correct, true," or "upright." | |||
| Maori | whaipainga | ||
| The word 'whaipainga' can also mean 'profit', 'benefit' or 'income'. | |||
| Samoan | aoga | ||
| 'Aoga' in Samoan can also refer to a place of learning, such as a school or a church. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kagamitan | ||
| The Tagalog word "kagamitan" traces its roots to two words meaning "to use for" and "an object or tool," capturing its broad sense of utility. | |||
Utility in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | apnaqkaya | ||
| Guarani | porupyrã | ||
Utility in International Languages
| Esperanto | utileco | ||
| The Esperanto word "utileco" is derived from the Latin word "utilis," meaning "useful" or "advantageous." | |||
| Latin | utilitatem | ||
| Utilitatem was also used in legal parlance in Rome to describe the rights of the usufructuary. | |||
Utility in Others Languages
| Greek | χρησιμότητα | ||
| The Ancient Greek word "χρησιμότητα" was also used to mean "usability," "fitness," or "service." | |||
| Hmong | nqi hluav taws xob | ||
| Nqi hluav taws xob is derived from the verb 'tsis ua' which means to be useful or to have a purpose. | |||
| Kurdish | kêrhatî | ||
| The Kurdish word "kêrhatî" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*kʷer-", meaning "to do, make, turn". | |||
| Turkish | yarar | ||
| The word "Yarar" also bears the meaning "wound" in Turkic languages beyond its conventional meaning "benefit/utility". | |||
| Xhosa | eziluncedo | ||
| Yiddish | נוצן | ||
| The Yiddish word "נוצן" (nutsen) derives from the Hebrew word "תועלת" (to'elet), meaning "benefit" or "advantage" | |||
| Zulu | umbuso | ||
| The word "Umbuso" means "utility" in Zulu, but it can also refer to the concept of "usefulness" or "functionality". | |||
| Assamese | কামৰ বস্তু | ||
| Aymara | apnaqkaya | ||
| Bhojpuri | उपयोगिता | ||
| Dhivehi | ޔޫޓިލިޓީ | ||
| Dogri | बरतून | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kagamitan | ||
| Guarani | porupyrã | ||
| Ilocano | kasapulan | ||
| Krio | sɔntin wi nid | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سوود | ||
| Maithili | उपयोगिता | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯤꯖꯤꯟꯅꯕ | ||
| Mizo | tangkaina | ||
| Oromo | tajaajila | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଉପଯୋଗିତା | ||
| Quechua | utilidad | ||
| Sanskrit | उपयोगिता | ||
| Tatar | файдалы | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣቕርቦት | ||
| Tsonga | tirhiseka | ||