Vehicle in different languages

Vehicle in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

A 'vehicle' is more than just a means of transportation - it's a reflection of human ingenuity and innovation. From the humble beginnings of the wheel to the modern marvels of electric and autonomous cars, vehicles have transformed the way we live, work, and play. They've even shaped our cultures and societies, influencing our art, literature, and language.

Did you know that the word 'vehicle' comes from the Latin 'vehiculum' meaning 'a means of transport'? Or that the ancient Greeks had no specific word for 'vehicle', instead using 'harma' to refer to a chariot or team of horses?

Understanding the translation of 'vehicle' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights and connections. For example, in Spanish, 'vehículo' evokes the rich history of Spanish-speaking countries and their love for automobiles. In Mandarin, '车辆' (cheliang) reflects China's rapid industrialization and urbanization, while in Hindi, 'वाहन' (vahan) highlights the importance of vehicles in India's bustling cities and crowded streets.

Join us as we explore the many translations of 'vehicle' and delve into the fascinating histories and cultures they represent.

Vehicle

Vehicle in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansvoertuig
The word "voertuig" derives from the Dutch word "voertuig", which has the same meaning and also refers to a vessel or ship.
Amharicተሽከርካሪ
'ተሽከርካሪ' is also used in a figurative sense, such as to refer to the body as a 'vehicle of the soul'.
Hausaabin hawa
The Hausa word "abin hawa" can also mean "the thing of the air" or "a flying object."
Igbougbo ala
Ugbo ala is an Igbo phrase which literally translates to 'tree of the land', highlighting the former use of trees to make vehicles
Malagasyfiara
The Malagasy word 'fiara' ultimately stems from the French word 'voiture', meaning 'car'.
Nyanja (Chichewa)galimoto
"Galimoto" is derived from the verb "kulima" (to cultivate) and is originally used to refer to an ox-drawn plow.
Shonamota
The word "mota" (vehicle) in Shona originates from the English word "motorcar".
Somaligaari
The word "gaari" in Somali refers to a specific type of vehicle, a four-wheeled motorized vehicle.
Sesothokoloi
Swahiligari
The word "gari" can also refer to a wheelchair or a bicycle.
Xhosaisithuthi
The word 'isithuthi' in Xhosa comes from the verb 'tutha', meaning 'to carry' or 'to convey'.
Yorubaọkọ
The Yoruba word ọkọ can also refer to a husband as one in possession or driver of their spouse or wives.
Zuluimoto
The word 'imoto' can also refer to a person who is always on the move or a restless person.
Bambarabolimafɛn
Eweʋu
Kinyarwandaimodoka
Lingalamotuka
Lugandaemmotoka
Sepedisenamelwa
Twi (Akan)ɛhyɛn

Vehicle in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمركبة
The word "مركبة" (vehicle) can also mean "assembled" or "mounted" in Arabic, suggesting its original sense of a structure built from separate components.
Hebrewרכב
Pashtoګاډی
The word "ګاډی" can also refer to a caravan or a train in Pashto.
Arabicمركبة
The word "مركبة" (vehicle) can also mean "assembled" or "mounted" in Arabic, suggesting its original sense of a structure built from separate components.

Vehicle in Western European Languages

Albanianautomjetit
The word "automjetit" is derived from the Greek words "auto" (self) and "kinetos" (moving), and it can also refer to a machine or a device.
Basqueibilgailua
The word "ibilgailua" derives from the Basque verb "ibil" (to go), and the suffix "-gailu" (tool), meaning "tool for going". It is also used to refer to a specific type of vehicle, such as a car or a bus.
Catalanvehicle
Croatianvozilo
"Vozić" means "to drive" in Croatian, while "vozilo" is a noun derived from it.
Danishkøretøj
The word 'køretøj' is derived from the Old Norse word 'kæruþ,' meaning 'cart' or 'wagon'.
Dutchvoertuig
The word "voertuig" comes from the Middle Dutch word "voertūch", which means "that which carries".
Englishvehicle
The word 'vehicle' originates from the Latin word 'vehiculum', meaning 'that which carries'.
Frenchvéhicule
Le terme «véhicule» dérive du latin «vehiculum», signifiant à la fois «objet servant au transport» et «instrument de guerre».
Frisianwein
Frisian "wein" as a vehicle is cognate with Old English "wæn" but not with German "Wagen" (which instead derives from an older verb " bewegen" meaning "to move")
Galicianvehículo
A word for "vehicle" in Galician is "vehículo". It cognate with the Latin adjective "vehicularis" in meaning, but not in gender.
Germanfahrzeug
The word "Fahrzeug" is derived from the Middle High German "var" (journey) and "ziug" (pulling), and originally meant "a means of transport".
Icelandicfarartæki
The word "farartæki" is composed of the words "farart" (travel) and "tæki" (taker), suggesting that a vehicle is something that takes one traveling.
Irishfeithicil
"Feithicil" derives from the Old Irish word "fecht"," meaning movement or travelling.
Italianveicolo
"Veicolo" also means "medium" or "means" in Italian.
Luxembourgishgefier
Maltesevettura
In Maltese, "vettura" can also refer to a "carriage" or "tramcar".
Norwegiankjøretøy
The word is derived from the Old Norse words
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)veículo
In Portuguese, "veículo" can also mean "vehicle" for transmitting diseases or ideas.
Scots Gaeliccarbad
The word "carbad" derives from Old Irish "carpat," meaning both "chariot" and "carriage".
Spanishvehículo
The word "vehículo" in Spanish also refers to the body of an animal, particularly insects, mollusks, and amphibians.
Swedishfordon
The word 'fordon' is derived from the Old Norse word 'for', meaning 'forward', and 'dón', meaning 'to do'.
Welshcerbyd
The word 'cerbyd' in Welsh is derived from the Latin 'carrus', meaning 'wagon' or 'cart'.

Vehicle in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianтранспартны сродак
Bosnianvozilo
"Vozilo" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "voziti", which originally meant "to pull" or "to carry". It can also refer to a wheelchair, ambulance, or spacecraft.
Bulgarianпревозно средство
The Bulgarian word “превозно средство” is also used to refer to a means of transporting something, such as a suitcase.
Czechvozidlo
In Polish, the word 'vozidlo' means 'chariot', while in Russian, it means 'cart'.
Estoniansõiduk
"Sõiduk" comes from "sõitma" (to drive) and is related to "sõitja" (driver).
Finnishajoneuvo
Etymology: ajo (driving) + neuvo (instrument)
Hungarianjármű
While "jármű" usually means "vehicle" in Hungarian, it may also refer to a "vessel" or even a "spacecraft".
Latviantransportlīdzeklis
The word “transportlīdzeklis” is derived from German and literally means “transport device”.
Lithuaniantransporto priemonės
The Lithuanian word "transporto priemonės" literally means "means of transportation".
Macedonianвозило
In Slavic mythology, the vozilo is the chariot of the sun god Dažbog, which is sometimes depicted as a winged or fire-breathing serpent.
Polishpojazd
Polish "pojazd" comes from "pojechać" meaning "to leave" or "ride away".
Romanianvehicul
In Romanian, "vehicul" can also mean "means" or "instrument."
Russianтранспортное средство
The Russian word "транспортное средство" originally referred to a means of transporting goods or people by water.
Serbianвозило
The word "возило" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "voziti", meaning "to carry".
Slovakvozidlo
The word "vozidlo" also has the archaic meaning of "army".
Slovenianvozilu
The word "vozilu" can also refer to a wheelchair or a hospital bed in Slovenian.
Ukrainianтранспортного засобу
The word "транспортного засобу" derives from "транспорт" ("transport") and "засіб" ("means").

Vehicle in South Asian Languages

Bengaliযানবাহন
The word 'যানবাহন' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'यान' (yaana), which means 'to go' or 'to travel', and 'वाह' (vaaha), which means 'to carry' or 'to transport'.
Gujaratiવાહન
The word 'vāhana' (वाहन) in Gujarati is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vahana' (वहन), which means 'to carry' or 'to transport'.
Hindiवाहन
The word "वाहन" comes from the Sanskrit root "वाह" meaning "to carry" and also refers to a mythological bird, Garuda, who serves as the vehicle of Vishnu.
Kannadaವಾಹನ
"ವಾಹನ" in Kannada also refers to the person who carries a palanquin or a litter
Malayalamവാഹനം
The word "വാഹനം" originally meant "that which carries" and has been used to refer to carriers of deities or other important figures.
Marathiवाहन
The word "वाहन" can also refer to a specific type of chariot used in Hindu mythology.
Nepaliगाडी
गाडी (gari) is also used in Nepali to refer to a prison cart or a litter.
Punjabiਵਾਹਨ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වාහනය
The Sinhala word "වාහනය" is derived from the Sanskrit word "वाहन" (vāhana), which literally means "that which is carried" or "a carrier".
Tamilவாகனம்
The Tamil word 'vaahanam' is derived from Sanskrit, where it originally meant a 'mount' or 'rider', as opposed to today's meaning of 'vehicle'.
Teluguవాహనం
"వాహనం" also means "deity's carrier" in Sanskrit, with the primary meaning of a bull of Lord Shiva.
Urduگاڑی
The Urdu word 'گاڑی' comes from the Prakrit word 'गअडि' meaning 'a cart' or 'a wagon'.

Vehicle in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)车辆
The character “车” in “车辆” can also mean “wheelchair”, “wagon”, “car”, “train”, and even “bicycle”.
Chinese (Traditional)車輛
The character 車 originally meant "carriage" or "cart", but later extended to mean any kind of wheeled vehicle.
Japanese車両
The word "車両" (vehicle) is derived from the Chinese word "車輛", which originally referred to wheeled vehicles of any kind, including wagons, carts, and chariots.
Korean차량
차량 also refers to a trolley.
Mongolianтээврийн хэрэгсэл
"Тээврийн хэрэгсэл" can refer to any type of powered land, water, or air vehicle, as well as hand-pulled carts or conveyances like sleds.
Myanmar (Burmese)မော်တော်ယာဉ်

Vehicle in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankendaraan
"Kendaraan" originally meant "tool to carry" in Old Javanese.
Javanesekendharaan
In addition to meaning "vehicle" in Javanese, "kendharaan" also means "body or physical self".
Khmerយានយន្ត
The word យានយន្ត is derived from the Sanskrit word 'yana', meaning 'to go' or 'to carry'.
Laoພາຫະນະ
Malaykenderaan
"Kenderaan" also refers to an animal or person who carries or transports something.
Thaiยานพาหนะ
The word "ยานพาหนะ" can also refer to animals or other entities that serve as means of transport.
Vietnamesephương tiện
The word "phương tiện" in Vietnamese can also mean "method" or "means".
Filipino (Tagalog)sasakyan

Vehicle in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanivasitə
The word "vasitə" also means "means" or "method" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhкөлік құралы
The word "көлік құралы" can also refer to a wheeled or tracked vehicle that is used to transport people or goods, or to a ship, boat, or aircraft.
Kyrgyzунаа
The word "унаа" is also used in Kyrgyz to refer specifically to a horse or other animal used for riding or carrying loads.
Tajikмошин
The word "мошин" has Persian origins and has the alternate meaning of "car".
Turkmenulag
Uzbektransport vositasi
The Uzbek word "transport vositasi" literally means "means of transport".
Uyghurماشىنا

Vehicle in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankaʻa
In Hawaiian, "kaʻa" also refers to a traditional sled or the act of sledding.
Maoriwaka
The Maori word "waka" can also refer to a canoe or boat, reflecting its cultural significance as a mode of transportation and connection to the sea.
Samoantaʻavale
The word ta'avale can also refer to a boat or an aircraft in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)sasakyan
The word "sasakyan" in Tagalog can also refer to a "riding animal" or "mount".

Vehicle in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarak'añasku
Guaranimba'yrumýi

Vehicle in International Languages

Esperantoveturilo
"Veturilo" is derived from the Latin "vehere" (to carry) and "-ilo" (a thing used for). It also refers to a public bicycle sharing system in Warsaw, Poland.
Latinvehiculum
The word 'vehiculum' derives from Latin 'vehere' ('to carry') and initially meant not just 'vehicle', but any object designed for transporting something or someone.

Vehicle in Others Languages

Greekόχημα
In the 18th century, "όχημα" was used to describe a beast of burden, and as such was the name given to a constellation that is now known as Auriga.
Hmongtsheb
In Hmong, "tsheb" literally means "something with wheels" and can refer to anything from a car to a wheelbarrow.
Kurdisherebok
The word "erebok" also means "automobile" or "car" in Kurdish.
Turkisharaç
The word
Xhosaisithuthi
The word 'isithuthi' in Xhosa comes from the verb 'tutha', meaning 'to carry' or 'to convey'.
Yiddishפאָרמיטל
The Yiddish word "פאָרמיטל" is derived from the German word "Fahrzeug", which means "vehicle" or "carriage".
Zuluimoto
The word 'imoto' can also refer to a person who is always on the move or a restless person.
Assameseবাহন
Aymarak'añasku
Bhojpuriसवारी
Dhivehiދުއްވާއެއްޗެހި
Dogriगड्डी
Filipino (Tagalog)sasakyan
Guaranimba'yrumýi
Ilocanolugan
Kriomotoka
Kurdish (Sorani)ئۆتۆمبێل
Maithiliगाड़ी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯒꯥꯔꯤ
Mizomotor
Oromokonkolaataa
Odia (Oriya)ଯାନ
Quechuacarro
Sanskritवाहनं
Tatarтранспорт
Tigrinyaተሽከርካሪ
Tsongamovha

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