Variation in Different Languages
Discover 'Variation' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Variation is a fascinating word that holds great significance across many fields, from biology and music to art and culture. It refers to the differences or changes that exist between similar things, highlighting the rich diversity and complexity of our world. Understanding variation in different languages can offer us a unique perspective on how other cultures perceive and express this concept.
For instance, in Spanish, variation translates to 'variación,' while in French, it's 'variation.' In German, the word is 'Variation,' and in Japanese, it's 'バリエーション (bariēshon).' These translations not only reflect linguistic differences but also cultural nuances that can enrich our understanding of this concept.
Moreover, variation has played a crucial role in the development of many scientific theories and artistic movements. For example, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection emphasizes the importance of variation in species development. Meanwhile, in music and art, variation is often used as a creative technique to explore new ideas and perspectives.
By learning the translations of variation in different languages, we can deepen our appreciation for the cultural and linguistic diversity that exists across the globe. So, let's explore some of the many translations of this fascinating word.
Variation
Variation in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | variasie | ||
| While 'variasie' means 'variation', it can also mean 'variety' or 'range'. | |||
| Amharic | ልዩነት | ||
| Hausa | bambanci | ||
| In other contexts, "bambanci" can refer to "difference" or "distinction". | |||
| Igbo | mgbanwe | ||
| The Igbo word 'mgbanwe' also refers to the transition of power from one clan to another or from one family to another. | |||
| Malagasy | fiovaovana | ||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kusiyanasiyana | ||
| The Nyanja term 'kusiyanasiyana' also has an alternate usage as 'to be different from' or 'to contradict', reflecting its root in the '-siyana' ('depart') verb stem. | |||
| Shona | kusiyana | ||
| The word "kusiyana" can also mean "difference" or "dissimilarity". | |||
| Somali | kala duwanaansho | ||
| The word 'kala duwanaansho' is also used to describe the act of changing direction or course. | |||
| Sesotho | phapano | ||
| Sesotho's 'phapano' shares roots with 'papana,' meaning to spread out. | |||
| Swahili | tofauti | ||
| "Tofauti" is also used colloquially to express "difference" in opinion or behavior. | |||
| Xhosa | ukwahluka | ||
| This word may also mean 'abnormality', 'alteration' or 'change'. | |||
| Yoruba | iyatọ | ||
| Variations of "iyatọ" exist, but they include "iyatọ̀", and "íyàtọ̀" with a high tone on the 'à'. | |||
| Zulu | ukuhlukahluka | ||
| The word "ukuhlukahluka" also means "dissimilarity" or "diversity" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | fɛn caman ɲɔgɔn falen-falen | ||
| Ewe | vovototodedeameme | ||
| Kinyarwanda | gutandukana | ||
| Lingala | bokeseni | ||
| Luganda | enkyukakyuka | ||
| Sepedi | phapano | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nsakrae a ɛba | ||
Variation in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الاختلاف | ||
| Alternate meanings of الاختلاف ('variation') in Arabic include contradiction, contrast, and dispute. | |||
| Hebrew | וָרִיאַצִיָה | ||
| "וָרִיאַצִיָה" can also mean "dispute" or "controversy" in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | بدلون | ||
| The word "بدلون" in Pashto can also refer to a change in circumstances or fortunes. | |||
| Arabic | الاختلاف | ||
| Alternate meanings of الاختلاف ('variation') in Arabic include contradiction, contrast, and dispute. | |||
Variation in Western European Languages
| Albanian | variacioni | ||
| The word "variacioni" is derived from the Latin word "variatio", meaning "change" or "difference." | |||
| Basque | aldakuntza | ||
| "Aldakuntza" also means "change" and "alternation" in Basque. | |||
| Catalan | variació | ||
| The word "variació" in Catalan has Latin roots, deriving from "variatio", meaning "a change or alteration." | |||
| Croatian | varijacija | ||
| "Varijacija" also means "variation" in musical terminology, a piece of music based on a melody or set of chords of an existing piece but featuring substantial changes in rhythm, harmony, or instrumentation. | |||
| Danish | variation | ||
| In Danish, "variation" ("variation") retains its mathematical meaning but can also refer to variations on a musical theme or a text. | |||
| Dutch | variatie | ||
| The Dutch word "variatie" comes from the Latin word "variatio", which can also mean "harmony" or "change". | |||
| English | variation | ||
| The word "variation" derives from the Latin "variatio", meaning "a change" or "difference". It can also refer to the musical embellishment of a melody or theme. | |||
| French | variation | ||
| The French word "variation" comes from the Latin word "variatio", meaning "a change or alteration." | |||
| Frisian | ôfwikseling | ||
| The term "ôfwikseling'' ('variation') is derived from the Old Frisian word "ôfwiskja'', meaning 'to change' or 'to alternate'. | |||
| Galician | variación | ||
| German | variation | ||
| The German word "Variation" also means "music variation" and "deviations of a standard". | |||
| Icelandic | tilbrigði | ||
| The word "tilbrigði" can also refer to a subspecies or variety of a plant or animal. | |||
| Irish | éagsúlacht | ||
| Italian | variazione | ||
| The word "variazione" also has alternate meanings like "variation of musical themes" and "grammatical inflection". | |||
| Luxembourgish | variatioun | ||
| In linguistics, "Variatioun" can refer to the different forms of a language that are spoken in different regions or social groups. | |||
| Maltese | varjazzjoni | ||
| Maltese 'varjazzjoni' comes from Italian 'variazione' and in music refers to changes in a melody, rhythm, harmony, etc of a composition. | |||
| Norwegian | variasjon | ||
| Variasjon is a cognate of the English word 'variation' and ultimately derives from the Latin word 'varius', meaning 'diverse' or 'different'. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | variação | ||
| The etymology for the Portuguese word “variação,” meaning "variation," comes from the Late Latin “variationem,” meaning “action or effect of changing," as well as “diversity.” | |||
| Scots Gaelic | eadar-dhealachadh | ||
| The Gaelic word 'eadar-dhealachadh' ('variation') was originally the name for the variation in quality between sheep wool and goat hair. | |||
| Spanish | variación | ||
| En español, "variación" también puede significar diversidad, diferencia o cambio. | |||
| Swedish | variation | ||
| "Variation" means both "variation" and "change of direction" in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | amrywiad | ||
| The word "amrywiad" can also refer to "diversity", "variety", or "fluctuation" in Welsh. | |||
Variation in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | варыяцыя | ||
| The word "варыяцыя" can also mean "variation" in French and "variation" in Russian. | |||
| Bosnian | varijacija | ||
| The word 'varijacija' is closely linked to the Latin 'varietatem' and the French 'varier'. | |||
| Bulgarian | вариация | ||
| "Вариация" is also a musical term, meaning a variation of a melody or theme. | |||
| Czech | variace | ||
| The Czech word "variace" not only means "variation" but also "mathematical variance" or "a type of musical interpretation in which one improvises on a theme". | |||
| Estonian | variatsioon | ||
| The word "variatsioon" comes from the Latin word "variatio" and also means "diversity" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | vaihtelu | ||
| "Vaihtelu" has a secondary meaning, "change", which is the primary meaning of its cognate "wechsel" in German. | |||
| Hungarian | variáció | ||
| The Hungarian word "variáció" originally meant "change", related to the verb "változik" ("changes"), and still retains this meaning in certain contexts. | |||
| Latvian | variācija | ||
| Latvian "variācija" also means "option" in singular and "options" in plural. | |||
| Lithuanian | variacija | ||
| The word "variacija" in Lithuanian can also mean "variation in music" or "a different version of something". | |||
| Macedonian | варијација | ||
| The Macedonian word "варијација" (variation) stems from the Latin "variatio" and also has the meanings of "change", "diversity" or "alternation". | |||
| Polish | zmiana | ||
| The word 'zmiana' also means 'change' in Polish, which reflects its etymological root in the Proto-Slavic term for 'move' or 'change'. | |||
| Romanian | variație | ||
| The Romanian word "variație" shares its etymology and meaning with the English word "variation". | |||
| Russian | вариация | ||
| The word "вариация" can also refer to a mathematical function or a musical piece with variations on a theme. | |||
| Serbian | варијација | ||
| The word 'варијација' also means 'deviation' or 'difference' in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | variácia | ||
| The Slovak word "variácia" means not only "variation" but also "musical composition based on another melody" | |||
| Slovenian | sprememba | ||
| In Italian,"sprememba" means squeezing (and not variation), which in Slovene is "stiskanje" | |||
| Ukrainian | варіація | ||
| "Варіація" in Ukrainian can also mean "theme" or "fantasy". | |||
Variation in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রকরণ | ||
| The word "প্রকরণ" originally meant "section" or "chapter" in Sanskrit, before taking on its current meaning of "variation" in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | વિવિધતા | ||
| The word "વિવિધતા" (variation) in Gujarati can also refer to diversity or variety, encompassing different types or forms of something. | |||
| Hindi | परिवर्तन | ||
| 'परिवर्तन' (variation) in Hindi also has the contextual meaning of 'exchange', 'transformation' and 'alternation'. | |||
| Kannada | ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ | ||
| The word 'ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ' can also mean 'difference' or 'distinction'. | |||
| Malayalam | വ്യതിയാനം | ||
| Marathi | फरक | ||
| In addition to 'variation', 'फरक' can also mean 'difference' or 'distinction' in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | भिन्नता | ||
| The word "भिन्नता" can also refer to a difference or a disagreement. | |||
| Punjabi | ਪਰਿਵਰਤਨ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විචලනය | ||
| The word "විචලනය" can mean both "deviation" and "exchange rate" in Sinhala. | |||
| Tamil | மாறுபாடு | ||
| Telugu | వైవిధ్యం | ||
| In mathematics, 'వైవిధ్యం' describes the extent to which a set of data is spread out. | |||
| Urdu | تغیر | ||
| The word "تغیر" can also mean "change" or "alteration" in Urdu. | |||
Variation in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 变异 | ||
| 变异 can also mean “to change” or “to alter”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 變異 | ||
| 變異 in Traditional Chinese can also refer to heredity or mutation. | |||
| Japanese | 変化 | ||
| The word 「変化」 means “change, transformation,” or “variety” but can also refer to a Japanese variation of “karuta,” where matching cards depict seasonal scenery or historical events instead of syllables. | |||
| Korean | 변화 | ||
| "변화" also means "music" in Korean and is written with the hanja "變雅". | |||
| Mongolian | өөрчлөлт | ||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အပြောင်းအလဲ | ||
Variation in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | variasi | ||
| The Indonesian word "variasi" can also refer to "change" or "alternation". | |||
| Javanese | variasi | ||
| The Javanese word "variasi" also refers to "diversity" or "difference" in terms of ethnicity or lineage. | |||
| Khmer | បំរែបំរួល | ||
| The word "បំរែបំរួល" can also be used to refer to a change or deviation from an original plan or intention. | |||
| Lao | ການປ່ຽນແປງ | ||
| Malay | variasi | ||
| The word "variasi" can also refer to a musical variation of a preexisting composition or a melody with variations. | |||
| Thai | การเปลี่ยนแปลง | ||
| "การเปลี่ยนแปลง" also means "change", "transformation", "alteration", "mutation", or "modification" in the English language. | |||
| Vietnamese | biến thể | ||
| The word "biến thể" can also mean "mutation" or "variant" in the context of genetics and biology. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagkakaiba-iba | ||
Variation in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | variasiya | ||
| The word | |||
| Kazakh | вариация | ||
| The Kazakh word "вариация" (variation) derives from the Russian word "вариация" (variation). | |||
| Kyrgyz | вариация | ||
| The Kyrgyz term "вариация" is borrowed from Russian and originally derives from the Latin "variatio", meaning "change". | |||
| Tajik | дитаргуние | ||
| Дитаргуние can also mean "alteration" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | üýtgemegi | ||
| Uzbek | o'zgaruvchanlik | ||
| Uyghur | ئۆزگىرىش | ||
Variation in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻokoʻa | ||
| ʻOkoʻa is also used in Hawaiian to refer to “difference” between two things, or a “distinction” between them. | |||
| Maori | rerekētanga | ||
| The original term is the archaic "rerekē", the meaning of the original term varies from "different kinds" to also meaning "different in kind". | |||
| Samoan | fesuiaʻiga | ||
| Etymology and alternate meanings of the word "fesuiaʻiga" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pagkakaiba-iba | ||
| It can also refer to the act of modifying something to make it somewhat different from the original, or to a distinction or difference. | |||
Variation in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | variación ukax mayjt’ayatawa | ||
| Guarani | variación rehegua | ||
Variation in International Languages
| Esperanto | variado | ||
| The Esperanto word "variado" means "varied, diversified," but its etymological root "varii" also implies "change." | |||
| Latin | variation | ||
| In Latin, "variation" can mean "deceit" or "cunning". | |||
Variation in Others Languages
| Greek | παραλλαγή | ||
| In music, the term refers to the slight alterations made to a melody or motif during repetition. | |||
| Hmong | txawv | ||
| "Txawv" can also mean "different" or "change" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | cins | ||
| The word 'cins' is an alteration of the Persian word 'jins', meaning 'type' or 'sort'. | |||
| Turkish | varyasyon | ||
| Varyasyon is derived from the Latin word "varius" meaning "different" and has a similar meaning in Turkish with the added connotation of "variety" and "change" | |||
| Xhosa | ukwahluka | ||
| This word may also mean 'abnormality', 'alteration' or 'change'. | |||
| Yiddish | ווערייישאַן | ||
| The Yiddish word "ווערייישאַן" is derived from the Middle High German "wariieren," which itself comes from the Old French "varier." | |||
| Zulu | ukuhlukahluka | ||
| The word "ukuhlukahluka" also means "dissimilarity" or "diversity" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | তাৰতম্য | ||
| Aymara | variación ukax mayjt’ayatawa | ||
| Bhojpuri | भिन्नता के बारे में बतावल गइल बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ތަފާތުވުން | ||
| Dogri | भिन्नता दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagkakaiba-iba | ||
| Guarani | variación rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | panagduduma | ||
| Krio | difrɛns we de chenj | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | گۆڕانکاری | ||
| Maithili | भिन्नता | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯚꯦꯔꯤꯑꯦꯁꯟ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | danglamna (variation) a ni | ||
| Oromo | jijjiirama | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ | ||
| Quechua | variación nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | विविधता | ||
| Tatar | төрләнеш | ||
| Tigrinya | ፍልልይ | ||
| Tsonga | ku cinca-cinca | ||