Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'visitor' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting someone who comes to a place for a temporary purpose. It's a term that transcends cultural boundaries and is recognized in various languages worldwide. This cultural importance is rooted in the concept of hospitality, a universal value that welcomes and respects those from different backgrounds.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'visitor' in different languages can be intriguing and enlightening. For instance, in Spanish, a visitor is 'un visitante', while in French, it's 'un visiteur'. In Mandarin, the term is '游客' (yóu kè), and in Japanese, '訪問者' (houmon-sha).
Delving into the historical context, the word 'visitor' has been used in various religious and legal texts, signifying the significance of guests and strangers in different societies. This global perspective not only broadens our understanding of the world but also fosters a sense of community and shared human experience.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'visitor' in a variety of languages, providing a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of communication.
Afrikaans | besoeker | ||
The Afrikaans word 'besoeker' is derived from an archaic Dutch word for 'one who seeks' and is related to words such as 'bezoek' ('visit') and 'zoeklicht' ('searchlight'). | |||
Amharic | ጎብ | ||
The Amharic word "ጎብ" can also refer to a "stranger" or "outsider." | |||
Hausa | baƙo | ||
"Baƙo" is also used as a term of respect for someone of high status, e.g. a chief. | |||
Igbo | esenowo | ||
The word `esenowo` may also refer to one who is not from one's own village. | |||
Malagasy | mpitsidika | ||
"Mpitsidika" comes from the root "tsidi-," which means "to visit."} | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mlendo | ||
Mlendo is cognate with the Swahili word "geni" meaning stranger or guest. | |||
Shona | mushanyi | ||
Mushanyi can also mean 'stranger' or 'guest' in Shona. | |||
Somali | soo booqde | ||
The word soo booqde in Somali can also refer to a guest or a stranger. | |||
Sesotho | moeti | ||
Swahili | mgeni | ||
Mgeni, meaning 'visitor' in Swahili, is related to the verb 'kunga' which means 'to arrive' or 'to come' and is also used for 'guest' or 'stranger'. | |||
Xhosa | undwendwe | ||
'undwendwe' also means 'unexpected visitor' | |||
Yoruba | alejo | ||
While the word 'alejo' is commonly known to mean 'visitor' in Yoruba, it also has alternate meanings such as 'guest', 'sojourner' and 'foreigner' | |||
Zulu | isivakashi | ||
The word 'isivakashi' in Zulu also means 'a stranger' or 'someone who has come from elsewhere'"} | |||
Bambara | dunan | ||
Ewe | amedzro | ||
Kinyarwanda | umushyitsi | ||
Lingala | mopaya | ||
Luganda | omugenyi | ||
Sepedi | moeti | ||
Twi (Akan) | nsrahwɛfo | ||
Arabic | زائر | ||
The word زائر means 'visitor' in Arabic but also denotes a 'pilgrim' as in 'زائر مكة' | |||
Hebrew | אורח | ||
אורח can also refer to a guest or client, and is related to the word "עיר" (city), indicating a person who comes from outside the community. | |||
Pashto | لیدونکی | ||
The Pashto word "لیدونکی" can also refer to a person who brings news or a stranger. | |||
Arabic | زائر | ||
The word زائر means 'visitor' in Arabic but also denotes a 'pilgrim' as in 'زائر مكة' |
Albanian | vizitor | ||
The Albanian word "vizitor" (visitor) is derived from the Latin word "visitare" (to visit). In addition to its primary meaning, "vizitor" can also refer to a ghost or phantom, particularly in the context of traditional Albanian folklore. | |||
Basque | bisitaria | ||
In the dialect of Gipuzkoa, "bisitaria" can also mean "guest" or "client". | |||
Catalan | visitant | ||
In Catalan, the word "visitant" also means "spectator", "guest", "attendant" or "client". | |||
Croatian | posjetitelj | ||
In Serbo-Croatian (Cyrillic), the word 'posjetitelj' (visitor) can also mean 'guest' or 'client'. In Serbian (Latin), 'posetitelj' refers to an 'explorer' or 'traveler'. | |||
Danish | besøgende | ||
Besøgende is derived from the Old Norse word "boðandi", meaning "one who proclaims or announces." | |||
Dutch | bezoeker | ||
"Bezoeker", "visitor" in Dutch, literally means "seeker" and is related to the English "beseech" and "besom." | |||
English | visitor | ||
Its origin is traced to the Latin word “visere,” meaning “to go to see” and its variant form “visum,” which means “a visit or sight”. | |||
French | visiteur | ||
The word « visiteur » can also refer to someone who makes a formal or official visit, such as an inspector or an auditor. | |||
Frisian | besiker | ||
'Besiker' in Frisian derives from the Old Frisian word 'bisiukia', meaning 'one who looks around'. | |||
Galician | visitante | ||
"Visitante" in Galician is etymologically related to Latin "visitare" but can also mean "guest" or "tenant". | |||
German | besucher | ||
The German word "Besucher" not only means a "visitor" but also a type of "spectator" | |||
Icelandic | gestur | ||
The Old Norse word "gestr", which "gestur" is derived from, also means "guest" and has cognates in other Germanic languages like "guest" in English. | |||
Irish | cuairteoir | ||
The word "cuairteoir" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*kʷer-," meaning "to turn, go, come". | |||
Italian | visitatore | ||
The Italian word "visitatore" also means "overseer". | |||
Luxembourgish | visiteur | ||
The term can also refer to one of the 62 municipalities of Luxembourg. | |||
Maltese | viżitatur | ||
Although viżitatur means visitor in Maltese, it comes from the Latin word visitator, meaning inspector. | |||
Norwegian | besøkende | ||
"Besøkende" is thought to originate from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to ask, beg" | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | visitante | ||
In Portuguese, the word "Visitante" can also refer to specific types of visas, such as temporary residence or work permits. | |||
Scots Gaelic | neach-tadhail | ||
Spanish | visitante | ||
The term "visitante" can also refer to a stranger or an unknown person. | |||
Swedish | besökare | ||
"Besökare" comes from the verb "besöka" ("to visit") and the suffix "-are" ("one who does") and may also refer to a "visiting card". | |||
Welsh | ymwelydd | ||
Belarusian | наведвальнік | ||
Bosnian | posjetitelj | ||
The word "posjetitelj" (visitor) in Bosnian originates from the verb "posjetiti" (to visit), which is derived from the Proto-Slavic root "*posětiti". | |||
Bulgarian | посетител | ||
The word посетител (visitor) comes from the verb 'посещавам' meaning to attend, visit or frequent a place. | |||
Czech | návštěvník | ||
"Návštěvník" literally means "a somebody who was visited" and not "a somebody who visits." | |||
Estonian | külastaja | ||
The verb 'külastama' (to visit) originates from the Old Slavic word 'gosti' (guest). | |||
Finnish | vierailija | ||
Finnish word "vierailija" derives from the root "vieras" meaning "guest". | |||
Hungarian | látogató | ||
"Látogató" also means "explorer" or "traveler". | |||
Latvian | apmeklētājs | ||
The verb "apmeklēt" (to visit) originates from the old Baltic word "meklt", meaning "to seek" or "to find". | |||
Lithuanian | lankytojas | ||
The word "lankytojas" also means "customer" in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | посетител | ||
The word "посетител" in Macedonian is derived from the verb "посетити". This word shares a common etymology with other Slavic languages and the Greek "ἐπισκέπτεσθαι" (to inspect). | |||
Polish | gość | ||
"Gość" in Polish has cognates in Slavic languages, sharing the meaning "stranger" or "foreigner". | |||
Romanian | vizitator | ||
Vizitator shares its etymology with the word "vizită" (visit) and the Latin verb "visitare" (to visit). | |||
Russian | посетитель | ||
The word "посетитель" (visitor) comes from the verb "посещать" (to visit), which in turn comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "посътити" (to approach). | |||
Serbian | посетилац | ||
The term "посетилац" can refer to someone who is both a tourist and a business traveler in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | návštevník | ||
The word "návštevník" can also mean "guest", "inspector", or "examiner" in Slovak. | |||
Slovenian | obiskovalec | ||
In Slovenian, "obiskovalec" is derived from the verb "obiskati" meaning "to visit" and can also refer to a person or entity that frequents a place. | |||
Ukrainian | відвідувач | ||
"Відвідувач" (visitor) derives from the verb "відвідувати" (to visit), which itself stems from the Proto-Slavic *vodъ "water". |
Bengali | দর্শনার্থী | ||
দর্শনার্থী (dorshonarthi) is also used to refer to a place of pilgrimage and a person visiting such a place. | |||
Gujarati | મુલાકાતી | ||
મુલાકાતી' translates to 'visitor,' but it also refers to a 'guest' or 'someone who has come to see you.' | |||
Hindi | आगंतुक | ||
The Hindi word "आगंतुक" also means "a newcomer" or "a stranger". | |||
Kannada | ಸಂದರ್ಶಕ | ||
ಸಂದರ್ಶಕ is not only used for visitor. It can also be used in the context of "interview", or "examination." | |||
Malayalam | സന്ദർശകൻ | ||
Marathi | अभ्यागत | ||
The word "अभ्यागत" (abhyagat) can also mean a guest, a stranger, or a person who comes and goes. | |||
Nepali | पाहुना | ||
The word "पाहुना" is also used to refer to a guest, someone who is welcomed and treated with respect. | |||
Punjabi | ਵਿਜ਼ਟਰ | ||
"ਵਿਜ਼ਟਰ" (visitor in Punjabi) derives from Latin via French, where its initial meaning was "one who sees" — the one who comes to perceive. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නරඹන්නා | ||
The Sinhala word 'නරඹන්නා' ('visitor') literally means 'one who sees', derived from the root words 'නර' ('see') and '-න්නා' (participial suffix denoting someone or something that does something). | |||
Tamil | பார்வையாளர் | ||
Parvaiyaalar also means 'spectators', 'onlookers' or 'observers'. | |||
Telugu | సందర్శకుడు | ||
Urdu | ملاقاتی | ||
The literal translation of "ملاقاتی" is "meeting place". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 游客 | ||
The word "游客" (visitor) is also used to refer to tourists or sightseers. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 遊客 | ||
遊客 also means 'migratory birds' when used with the classifier '候' as '候鳥'. | |||
Japanese | ビジター | ||
ビジター can also mean a member of an opposing team in sports. | |||
Korean | 방문객 | ||
방문객(訪門客) is composed of the Sino-Korean words 방 (door), 문 (question) and 객 (guest), which originally had multiple meanings, such as asking permission to enter and a person coming to request favor. | |||
Mongolian | зочин | ||
The word "зочин" can also refer to a person who is a guest at someone's house, or to someone who has come to a place for a specific purpose. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ။ ည့်သည် | ||
"ည့်သည်" means 'visitor', but is also the name of a mythological creature. |
Indonesian | pengunjung | ||
Derived from the Old Javanese word "pengunjung", meaning "guest" or "stranger". | |||
Javanese | pengunjung | ||
"Pengunjung" in Javanese also denotes someone staying temporarily due to marriage between a local and a person from another region. | |||
Khmer | អ្នកទស្សនា | ||
Lao | ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ | ||
Malay | pelawat | ||
The word "pelawat" shares its root with the word "melawat", meaning "to visit". | |||
Thai | ผู้เยี่ยมชม | ||
ผู้เยี่ยมชม ('phu yiuem chum') may also mean "auditor," "examiner," or "inspector," with a slightly more formal overtone than แขกเยี่ยมเยือน | |||
Vietnamese | khách thăm quan | ||
'Khách' means 'guest' or 'customer', while 'thăm quan' means 'to visit'. So 'khách thăm quan' literally means 'guest who is visiting'. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | bisita | ||
Azerbaijani | qonaq | ||
The word "qonaq" is derived from the Persian word "konak", which means "guest" or "visitor". | |||
Kazakh | келуші | ||
The word "келуші" in Kazakh is derived from the verb "келу" meaning "to come" and can also refer to a guest or stranger. | |||
Kyrgyz | конок | ||
In Kyrgyz, "конок" is also used as a term of respect for guests and elders, carrying connotations of honor and hospitality. | |||
Tajik | меҳмон | ||
The word "меҳмон" (mehmon) in Tajik is derived from the Persian word "mihmān", which means "guest". It can also refer to a stranger or a person who is visiting from another place. | |||
Turkmen | myhman | ||
Uzbek | mehmon | ||
The word "Mehmon" in Uzbek is derived from the Persian word "Mahman", which also means "guest", and is often used as a respectful term of address for visitors. | |||
Uyghur | زىيارەتچى | ||
Hawaiian | malihini | ||
The Hawaiian word malihini refers to an outsider, or a newcomer to Hawaii. | |||
Maori | manuhiri | ||
"Manuhiri" is derived from the Proto-Polynesian word "*maŋuŋiri" meaning "stranger", "guest", or "foreigner". | |||
Samoan | tagata asiasi | ||
In traditional Samoan culture, 'tagata asiasi' also refers to special guests, treated with high honor and respect. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | bisita | ||
Aymara | uñt’iri | ||
Guarani | visitante rehegua | ||
Esperanto | vizitanto | ||
The word "vizitanto" is derived from the verb "viziti" which means "to visit". | |||
Latin | visitor | ||
The Latin word "visitor" originally meant "overseer" or "inspector" and was often used in a religious context. |
Greek | επισκέπτης | ||
The word "επισκέπτης" derives from the verb "επισκέπτομαι" which means "to take care of", "to look after", or "to attend to". | |||
Hmong | qhua | ||
"Qhua" is derived from the Proto-Hmong-Mien word "*qʰua" and also means "guest". | |||
Kurdish | serda | ||
Serda originates from Kurmanji and also means "guest", "stranger" or "foreigner". | |||
Turkish | ziyaretçi | ||
The word "ziyaretçi" originally meant "one who visits a holy place" but now also refers to any visitor. | |||
Xhosa | undwendwe | ||
'undwendwe' also means 'unexpected visitor' | |||
Yiddish | גאַסט | ||
The word "גאַסט" (gast) in Yiddish is likely derived from the German "Gast" meaning the same. | |||
Zulu | isivakashi | ||
The word 'isivakashi' in Zulu also means 'a stranger' or 'someone who has come from elsewhere'"} | |||
Assamese | দৰ্শক | ||
Aymara | uñt’iri | ||
Bhojpuri | आगंतुक के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ޒިޔާރަތްކުރާ ފަރާތެކެވެ | ||
Dogri | आगंतुक | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | bisita | ||
Guarani | visitante rehegua | ||
Ilocano | bisita | ||
Krio | visitɔ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | سەردانکەر | ||
Maithili | आगंतुक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯚꯤꯖꯤꯇꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯂꯥꯀꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | tlawhtu a ni | ||
Oromo | daawwataa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପରିଦର୍ଶକ | ||
Quechua | watukuq | ||
Sanskrit | आगन्तुकः | ||
Tatar | кунак | ||
Tigrinya | በጻሒ ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
Tsonga | muendzi | ||