Victim in Different Languages
Discover 'Victim' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'victim' holds great significance in our society, often representing individuals who have suffered harm or hardship, whether as a result of crime, accident, or social injustice. Understanding the cultural importance of this term across different societies and languages can provide valuable insights into how various communities perceive and respond to adversity.
Moreover, knowing the translation of 'victim' in different languages can be crucial for those seeking to connect with diverse communities, provide support, or simply expand their linguistic and cultural horizons. For instance, the term for 'victim' in Spanish is 'víctima', while in French, it is 'victime'. In German, the word is 'Opfer', and in Japanese, '被害者' (higaisha).
Delving into the historical context of the word 'victim' reveals its origins in Latin, where 'victima' referred to a sacrificial animal. Today, the term has evolved to encompass a much broader range of meanings and connotations, reflecting the complexities of human experience and resilience.
Victim
Victim in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | slagoffer | ||
| The word "slagoffer" in Afrikaans originally referred to the animal sacrificed during a religious ceremony. | |||
| Amharic | ተጠቂ | ||
| In Amharic, "ተጠቂ" can also refer to someone who has been tricked or taken advantage of. | |||
| Hausa | wanda aka azabtar | ||
| The word "wanda aka azabtar" can also mean "the one who is being oppressed" or "the one who is suffering" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | onye e megburu | ||
| The Igbo word "onye e megburu" literally translates to "someone that was killed," but is more commonly used to refer to a murder victim. | |||
| Malagasy | niharam-boina | ||
| The word "niharam-boina" in Malagasy also means "someone who has been wronged or offended". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wozunzidwa | ||
| "Wozuzidwa" is also a noun meaning "a person who is cheated." | |||
| Shona | nyajambwa | ||
| The Shona word "nyajambwa" is related to the concept of "kujamba," or "to kill," and is also associated with witchcraft.} | |||
| Somali | dhibane | ||
| The word 'dhibane' can also mean 'debt' or 'liability' in Somali, highlighting the close connection between victimhood and economic vulnerability in the language's conceptualization. | |||
| Sesotho | lehlasipa | ||
| It literally means "the one who is made to cry" | |||
| Swahili | mhasiriwa | ||
| The word "mhasiriwa" in Swahili can also refer to a person who has been affected by a particular event or circumstance. | |||
| Xhosa | ixhoba | ||
| In Xhosa, the word "ixhoba" can also refer to an animal being sacrificed for ritual purposes. | |||
| Yoruba | olufaragba | ||
| The word "olufaragba" is also used in Yoruba to refer to someone who is disadvantaged or unfortunate. | |||
| Zulu | isisulu | ||
| Bambara | kàsaaratɔ | ||
| Ewe | fukpela | ||
| Kinyarwanda | uwahohotewe | ||
| Lingala | victime | ||
| Luganda | omukube | ||
| Sepedi | motšwasehlabelo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | aka no | ||
Victim in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | ضحية | ||
| "ضحية" (victim) comes from the Arabic root "ضحى" (sacrifice), implying a voluntary act of giving oneself up. | |||
| Hebrew | קורבן | ||
| The word "קורבן" in Hebrew originally meant "an offering to God" rather than "victim". | |||
| Pashto | قرباني | ||
| The word "قرباني" can also refer to sacrifices or offerings made in religious rituals.} | |||
| Arabic | ضحية | ||
| "ضحية" (victim) comes from the Arabic root "ضحى" (sacrifice), implying a voluntary act of giving oneself up. | |||
Victim in Western European Languages
| Albanian | viktima | ||
| In Albanian, "viktima" can mean either "victim" or "the act of sacrificing to a god." | |||
| Basque | biktima | ||
| The Basque word "biktima" is derived from the Latin "victima", meaning "sacrificial animal" or "offering". It has also been used to refer to a person who is killed or injured in an accident or disaster. | |||
| Catalan | víctima | ||
| "Víctima" derives from the Latin "victima", meaning "sacrificial animal". | |||
| Croatian | žrtva | ||
| The word | |||
| Danish | offer | ||
| The word "offer" in Danish comes from the Old Norse word "offr", which means "sacrifice or gift". | |||
| Dutch | slachtoffer | ||
| The Dutch word "slachtoffer" not only means "victim", it also means "sacrifice" in other West Germanic languages like German and English. | |||
| English | victim | ||
| In Latin, 'victima' originally meant 'sacrificial animal' or 'criminal,' and its root 'vic-' means 'conquer' or 'overcome'. | |||
| French | victime | ||
| In French, "victime" can also refer to a living creature sacrificed in a religious ceremony, or someone or something destroyed or damaged as a result of an event. | |||
| Frisian | slachtoffer | ||
| "Slachtoffer" in Frisian contains the word "offer", meaning "gift". | |||
| Galician | vítima | ||
| The Galician word «vítima» derives from the Latin «victima», meaning «sacrificial animal». | |||
| German | opfer | ||
| The German word "Opfer" can also mean "offering" or "sacrifice". | |||
| Icelandic | fórnarlamb | ||
| The Icelandic word "fórnarlamb" can also refer to a sacrificial animal or a scapegoat. | |||
| Irish | íospartach | ||
| "Íospartach" can also refer to "sacrifice" in a religious or ritual context. | |||
| Italian | vittima | ||
| The word 'vittima' also means 'sacrificial animal' or 'sacred offering', deriving from the Latin 'victima' with the same meaning. | |||
| Luxembourgish | affer | ||
| The word "Affer" in Luxembourgish derives from the word "afferen", an Old French translation of the Latin "afferre", meaning "to bring". | |||
| Maltese | vittma | ||
| Vittma could derive from the word 'vittimu' - 'victor' - in Latin, suggesting that the victim is the one who prevails in the contest with evil. | |||
| Norwegian | offer | ||
| The word "offer" in Norwegian also means "sacrifice" or "gift to a god or gods". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | vítima | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "vítima" also means "sacrificial animal" and "scapegoat". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | neach-fulang | ||
| The word 'neach-fulang' in Scots Gaelic is derived from 'neach' meaning 'person' and 'fulang' meaning 'sufferance'. | |||
| Spanish | víctima | ||
| "Víctima" derives from the Latin word "victor" (victor) and originally referred to the sacrificial animal offered to the gods after a victory. | |||
| Swedish | offer | ||
| The word "offer" can also refer to a voluntary gift or sacrifice, or to a proposal or suggestion. | |||
| Welsh | dioddefwr | ||
| The Welsh word "dioddefwr" also has the connotation of "sufferer" or "endurer". | |||
Victim in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | ахвяра | ||
| The word "ахвяра" can also refer to a sacrifice or an offering. | |||
| Bosnian | žrtva | ||
| The word 'žrtva' also has alternate meanings in Bosnian, including 'sacrifice', 'animal sacrifice', or 'ritual'. | |||
| Bulgarian | жертва | ||
| "Жертва" means "sacrifice" or "oblation" as well in Bulgarian, originating in Proto-Slavic and Proto-Balto-Slavic. | |||
| Czech | oběť | ||
| The Czech word "oběť" can also mean "sacrifice" or "offering". | |||
| Estonian | ohver | ||
| The word "ohver" in Estonian not only means "victim" but also "sacrifice", and is cognate with the Finnish word "uhri" with the same meaning. | |||
| Finnish | uhri | ||
| The word "uhri" also means "sacrifice" or "offering" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | áldozat | ||
| "Áldozat" is derived from the Proto-Uralic root *al- that means "to die, to perish, to sacrifice". | |||
| Latvian | upuris | ||
| Latvian "upuris" also refers to an offering or sacrifice made to a deity, and comes from Balto-Slavic "*uperъ" (sacrifice). | |||
| Lithuanian | auka | ||
| The word "auka" in Lithuanian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ew-, meaning "to sacrifice". | |||
| Macedonian | жртва | ||
| The word "жртва" is derived from the Indo-European root "*gʷer-twi-eh₂", meaning "guest" or "stranger", and can also be used in the sense of "sacrifice". | |||
| Polish | ofiara | ||
| The word "ofiara" in Polish may also refer to a religious offering or sacrifice. | |||
| Romanian | victimă | ||
| In Romanian, "victimă" originally referred to a ritual sacrifice offered to a deity, and it is still used in this sense in certain dialects. | |||
| Russian | жертва | ||
| In Russian, the word "жертва" (victim) is cognate with the word "жертвовать" (to sacrifice), highlighting the reciprocal relationship between victimhood and sacrifice. | |||
| Serbian | жртва | ||
| Although 'жртва' is a false cognate in Serbian-English and literally means 'sacrifice' in its original form in Serbian, its most frequent usage in modern Serbian corresponds to the word 'victim'. | |||
| Slovak | obeť | ||
| The word "obeť" in Slovak originally meant "sacrifice" | |||
| Slovenian | žrtev | ||
| The Slovenian word "žrtev" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*žьrtva", meaning "sacrifice" or "offering". | |||
| Ukrainian | жертва | ||
| The Ukrainian word "жертва" (pronounced "zher-tva") can also refer to a sacrifice or a donation. | |||
Victim in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | শিকার | ||
| The word 'শিকার' ('victim') in Bengali also means 'prey' or 'hunter'. | |||
| Gujarati | ભોગ | ||
| The Gujarati word "ભોગ" (victim) shares an etymology with the Sanskrit term "bhoga" meaning "enjoyment, possession, or experience," suggesting a broader understanding of victimhood as a passive recipient of both positive and negative experiences. | |||
| Hindi | शिकार | ||
| The word "शिकार" also refers to a hunt or game. | |||
| Kannada | ಬಲಿಪಶು | ||
| ಬಲಿಪಶು translates to victim, but also refers to an offering made to appease the gods | |||
| Malayalam | ഇര | ||
| The word "ഇര" (ira) in Malayalam, originally meaning "prey", has evolved to also signify a "victim" in modern usage. | |||
| Marathi | बळी | ||
| The word "बळी" can also refer to a sacrificial offering or a tribute in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | शिकार | ||
| The word "शिकार" (victim) in Nepali can also mean "prey" or "capture", reflecting its hunting origins. | |||
| Punjabi | ਪੀੜਤ | ||
| The word 'ਪੀੜਤ' (victim) in Punjabi can also refer to a person who is suffering from an illness or a natural disaster. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වින්දිතයා | ||
| Tamil | பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர் | ||
| The term பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர் (victim) in Tamil can also refer to a person or entity who has been negatively affected by an action or event. | |||
| Telugu | బాధితుడు | ||
| Also pronounced as 'badhituda', word originated from Sanskrit 'baadhitah' means an individual impacted by an occurrence causing trouble or misery | |||
| Urdu | مظلوم | ||
| The word "مظلوم" has alternate meanings such as "oppressed" and can be used in a legal context to refer to a "wronged person". | |||
Victim in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 受害者 | ||
| 受害者 (shòu hài zhě), literally meaning 'receive damage person', is a term with a broad legal use, referring to any person who is adversely affected by a crime. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 受害者 | ||
| 受害者：受害者通常指在犯罪或事故中受到傷害或損失的人，但它也可以指環境災害或疾病的受害者。 | |||
| Japanese | 犠牲者 | ||
| Korean | 희생자 | ||
| 희생자 (Victim) comes from the Chinese characters 犧牲 (희생) meaning 'sacrifice,' referring to the religious or ritual act of offering something to a deity. | |||
| Mongolian | хохирогч | ||
| The word "хохирогч" also means "defendant" in legal contexts. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သားကောင် | ||
Victim in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | korban | ||
| The Indonesian word "korban" also means "offering" or "sacrifice" in religious contexts. | |||
| Javanese | korban | ||
| In Javanese, "korban" can also mean "offering" or "sacrifice" in a religious context. | |||
| Khmer | ជនរងគ្រោះ | ||
| The word "ជនរងគ្រោះ" can also refer to a "survivor" or a "person affected by" an event, depending on the context. | |||
| Lao | ຜູ້ຖືກເຄາະຮ້າຍ | ||
| Malay | mangsa | ||
| The word "mangsa" (victim) comes from the Sanskrit word "mamśa" meaning "flesh". The flesh is considered as the main object of violence. | |||
| Thai | เหยื่อ | ||
| The Thai word "เหยื่อ" also means "bait" and comes from the Khmer word "អញ្ញ" (añña), meaning "food". This reflects the dual nature of victims as both targets and lures. | |||
| Vietnamese | nạn nhân | ||
| In Vietnamese, “nạn nhân” also means “person who has suffered a mishap or an accident”. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | biktima | ||
Victim in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | qurban | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "qurban" is a borrowing from Arabic "qurban" and also means "sacrifice | |||
| Kazakh | жәбірленуші | ||
| Kyrgyz | жабырлануучу | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "жабырлануучу" can also refer to a person who has suffered from injustice or harm, similar to the English word "wronged". | |||
| Tajik | ҷабрдида | ||
| Turkmen | pidasy | ||
| Uzbek | jabrlanuvchi | ||
| Jabrlanuvchi is derived from the Arabic word jabr, meaning compulsion or force. | |||
| Uyghur | زىيانكەشلىككە ئۇچرىغۇچى | ||
Victim in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mea hōʻeha | ||
| The Hawaiian word "mea hōʻeha" can also mean "someone who is pitiful" or "one who is to be pitied." | |||
| Maori | patunga | ||
| The Maori word 'patunga' can also refer to a 'sacrifice' or 'offering', reflecting the cultural significance of such actions in Maori society. | |||
| Samoan | tagata manua | ||
| The word "tagata manua" (literally "a hand-made person") can also refer to a "sacrifice" or "offering" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | biktima | ||
| The Tagalog word 'biktima' is derived from the Spanish word 'víctima', which itself comes from the Latin word 'victima', meaning 'sacrificial animal'. | |||
Victim in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jan walt'ayata | ||
| Guarani | jaheiha | ||
Victim in International Languages
| Esperanto | viktimo | ||
| The word "viktimo" is also used to refer to someone who is victimized or exploited. | |||
| Latin | victima | ||
| The word "victima" in Latin originally referred to a sacrificial animal, hence its association with "victim" in English. | |||
Victim in Others Languages
| Greek | θύμα | ||
| Θύμα can also refer to a ritual sacrifice or a sacrifice in general. | |||
| Hmong | tus tsim txom | ||
| Literally translating to "the one with a broken nose and mouth," "tus tsim txom" often describes a person who is seriously injured or killed | |||
| Kurdish | qûrban | ||
| The word "qûrban" in Kurdish can also mean "sacrifice" or "offering". | |||
| Turkish | kurban | ||
| The word 'kurban' is derived from the Arabic word 'qurban' which means 'sacrifice' or 'offering'. | |||
| Xhosa | ixhoba | ||
| In Xhosa, the word "ixhoba" can also refer to an animal being sacrificed for ritual purposes. | |||
| Yiddish | קאָרבן | ||
| Yiddish 'קאָרבן' (korbn) ultimately derives from the Hebrew word קָרְבָּן (qorbān, 'offering'), and retains the dual meaning both of "victim" and "offering". | |||
| Zulu | isisulu | ||
| Assamese | চিকাৰ | ||
| Aymara | jan walt'ayata | ||
| Bhojpuri | पीड़ित | ||
| Dhivehi | އަނިޔާ ލިބުނު ފަރާތް | ||
| Dogri | शकार | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | biktima | ||
| Guarani | jaheiha | ||
| Ilocano | biktima | ||
| Krio | sɔfa | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | قوربانی | ||
| Maithili | पीड़ित | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯋꯥꯕ ꯇꯥꯔꯕ ꯃꯤꯑꯣꯏ | ||
| Mizo | tuartu | ||
| Oromo | miidhamaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଶିକାର | ||
| Quechua | ñakariq | ||
| Sanskrit | पीड़ित | ||
| Tatar | корбан | ||
| Tigrinya | ግዳይ | ||
| Tsonga | muxanisiwa | ||