Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'willing' is a powerful expression of one's openness and readiness to do something. It reflects a positive attitude and eagerness to take on challenges, making it a culturally significant term across the globe. Understanding the translation of 'willing' in different languages can help bridge cultural gaps and foster better communication.
Historically, the concept of willingness has played a crucial role in various societies, from volunteering for community service to signing up for military duty. It is a testament to one's character and values, and its significance cannot be overstated.
For instance, in Spanish, 'willing' translates to 'dispuesto', while in French, it is 'disposé'. In German, the word is 'bereit', and in Japanese, it is 'いるかがり' (irukagari). These translations not only help us understand the word's meaning in different languages but also offer a glimpse into the cultural nuances of each society.
In the following list, you will find the translations of 'willing' in various languages, providing you with a valuable resource for cross-cultural communication and language learning.
Afrikaans | gewillig | ||
The Dutch word "geweldig" meaning "great" or "awesome" likely influenced the word's positive connotation in Afrikaans. | |||
Amharic | ፈቃደኛ | ||
Hausa | shirye | ||
The word 'shirye' originates from the Sanskrit word 'siddha' (सिद्ध), meaning 'achieved' or 'ready'. | |||
Igbo | njikere | ||
The verb "njikere" can also mean "to be ready" or "to be prepared," and is related to the noun "njikereke" which means "preparation" or "readiness." | |||
Malagasy | tsitrapo | ||
In Malagasy, the word "tsitrapo" can also refer to a plant, meaning "wild pepper". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wofunitsitsa | ||
'Wofunitsitsa' is derived from the root word 'funa,' meaning 'to receive or acquire,' and 'itsitsa,' meaning 'to do or perform.' | |||
Shona | achida | ||
"Achida" is a homophone with "atsidza", meaning "to ask". | |||
Somali | diyaar | ||
The Somali word "diyaar" also means "well-prepared" or "ready". | |||
Sesotho | ikemiselitse | ||
"Ikemiselitse" also means "to be forced unwillingly." | |||
Swahili | nia | ||
Swahili words 'nia' and 'unyo' are cognates of the English word 'will' and share common Indo-European roots. | |||
Xhosa | uzimisele | ||
Uzilemise can also mean | |||
Yoruba | setan | ||
"Setan" is also used to mean "readiness" or "preparedness". | |||
Zulu | uzimisele | ||
The word 'uzimisele' in Zulu derives from the phrase 'ukuzimisela', meaning 'to devote oneself to something', reflecting the idea of intention and commitment within the concept of willingness. | |||
Bambara | sagoya | ||
Ewe | le lᴐlᴐm | ||
Kinyarwanda | babishaka | ||
Lingala | kolinga | ||
Luganda | okwagala | ||
Sepedi | ikemišeditšego | ||
Twi (Akan) | wɔ ɔpɛ | ||
Arabic | راغب | ||
The word "راغب" in Arabic, besides meaning "willing," also means "desiring" or "wanting." | |||
Hebrew | מוּכָן | ||
The word "מוּכָן" in Hebrew can also mean "prepared" or "ready". | |||
Pashto | چمتو | ||
The word "چمتو" in Pashto can also mean "inclined" or "tending toward". | |||
Arabic | راغب | ||
The word "راغب" in Arabic, besides meaning "willing," also means "desiring" or "wanting." |
Albanian | me dëshirë | ||
"Me dëshirë" can also mean "with pleasure" in Albanian. | |||
Basque | prest | ||
In Basque, 'prest' can also refer to 'readiness' or 'willingness' and is possibly related to the Proto-Basque root *per- ('to give'). | |||
Catalan | disposat | ||
The word "disposat" can also refer to a person's disposition or temperament, and in some contexts, it can be used to describe someone who is prepared or ready for a task. | |||
Croatian | voljan | ||
The word "voljan" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *volьnъ, meaning "free" or "willing". | |||
Danish | villig | ||
In Old Danish, "villig" also meant "able" or "capable". | |||
Dutch | gewillig | ||
The word "gewillig" can also mean "agreeable" or "complaisant". | |||
English | willing | ||
The word 'willing' originates from the Old English word 'willan', meaning 'to wish'. | |||
French | prêt | ||
The word "prêt" also means "ready" in French, derived from the Latin word "paratus", meaning "prepared". | |||
Frisian | gewillich | ||
Gewillich in Frisian is derived from the Old Frisian word | |||
Galician | disposto | ||
"Disposto" can also mean "ready" or "inclined" in Galician. | |||
German | bereit | ||
The word "bereit" is derived from the Middle High German "bereiten," meaning "to prepare" or "to make ready." | |||
Icelandic | viljugur | ||
In the Old Norse word, "vill" means both "will" and "want", so it can mean either "to be willing" or "to want" depending on the context. | |||
Irish | toilteanach | ||
The word "toilteanach" in Irish comes from the Old Irish word "tuile", meaning "will" or "desire". | |||
Italian | disposto | ||
In Tuscan, "disposto" also means "laid out (in battle formation)" and derives from the Latin "dispositus" (arranged). | |||
Luxembourgish | gewëllt | ||
Maltese | lest | ||
The word | |||
Norwegian | villig | ||
The word "villig" in Norwegian also means "eager" or "enthusiastic". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | disposto | ||
"Disposto" comes from Latin "dispositus," meaning "arranged, put in order, or prepared." | |||
Scots Gaelic | deònach | ||
In Irish Gaelic, "deònach" originally meant "eager" or "willing", but now has the opposite meaning of "unwilling" or "reluctant". | |||
Spanish | complaciente | ||
"Complaciente" also means "pleasant" or "courteous" in Spanish. | |||
Swedish | villig | ||
Vill is also the plural definite of vil (will) | |||
Welsh | parod | ||
In addition to meaning 'willing', 'parod' can also mean 'ready' or 'prepared'. |
Belarusian | ахвотна | ||
The word “ахвотна” in Belarusian can also refer to readiness or inclination to do something. | |||
Bosnian | voljan | ||
"Voljan" is a Serbo-Croatian word that is derived from the Proto-Slavic verb *voljeti* "to be willing or in a state of desire". | |||
Bulgarian | желаещ | ||
The word "желаещ" (willing) in Bulgarian shares its root "жел" with the word "жeлание" (desire), emphasizing the idea of strong intent. | |||
Czech | ochotný | ||
"Ochotný" comes from "choť," meaning "spouse" or "one who is wanted," and "ostný" (thorn), suggesting that someone who is "willing" endures pain for others. | |||
Estonian | valmis | ||
Related to | |||
Finnish | halukas | ||
`Halukas` shares an origin with `halu` (‘want’, ‘desire’, or 'craving'), and can indicate that one is motivated by desires. | |||
Hungarian | hajlandó | ||
'Hajlandó' is also used as an euphemism for 'drunk' | |||
Latvian | vēlas | ||
Latvian "vēlas" evolved from a Proto-Baltic word meaning "to desire" and can also refer to an inclination or longing in some contexts. | |||
Lithuanian | nori | ||
The word "nori" in Lithuanian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₃ner-, which also means "force" or "compulsion." | |||
Macedonian | спремна | ||
In Macedonian, 'спремна' can also refer to a specific type of pasta similar to lasagna. | |||
Polish | skłonny | ||
The word "skłonny" also has a connotation of "inclined" or "prone" to do something. | |||
Romanian | dispus | ||
"Dispùs" comes from the Latin "dispositus" (disposed, ready, fitted out), related to the verb "disponere" (dispose; arrange in proper order). | |||
Russian | желающий | ||
The word "желающий" in Russian shares the same root "желать" with the English word "desire" and can also mean "volunteering". | |||
Serbian | вољан | ||
Originally meaning “free” or “independent,” вољан is also used to mean “ready” or “happy” in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | ochotný | ||
Ochotný is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *oxotьnъ, meaning "having a desire". | |||
Slovenian | pripravljen | ||
The word 'pripravljen' may also mean 'prepared', 'ready', or 'disposed' in Slovenian. | |||
Ukrainian | охоче | ||
The word "охоче" in Ukrainian can have the connotation of "willingness to do something unpleasant" or "doing something out of necessity." |
Bengali | ইচ্ছুক | ||
ইচ্ছুক (Willing) is derived from the Sanskrit word "icch" meaning "to desire" and also shares a root with the word "iccha" meaning "wish" or "desire". | |||
Gujarati | તૈયાર | ||
The word "તૈયાર" can also mean "ready" or "prepared" in Gujarati. | |||
Hindi | तैयार | ||
The word "तैयार" ("willing") in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word "तियारः" ("fixed, prepared") and also means "ready" or "prepared". | |||
Kannada | ಸಿದ್ಧರಿದ್ದಾರೆ | ||
Malayalam | തയ്യാറാണ് | ||
The word "തയ്യാറാണ്" (tayyaaran) in Malayalam, besides meaning "willing," also carries the connotation of "being prepared" or "being ready for something." | |||
Marathi | इच्छुक | ||
The Marathi word "इच्छुक" can also refer to someone who is desirous, interested, or inclined, and is derived from the Sanskrit word "इच्छ" (desire). | |||
Nepali | इच्छुक | ||
The word 'इच्छुक' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'icch' meaning 'to desire' or 'to wish'. | |||
Punjabi | ਤਿਆਰ | ||
The Punjabi word "ਤਿਆਰ" (willing) can also mean "ready" or "prepared". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කැමැත්තෙන් | ||
Tamil | விருப்பம் | ||
Telugu | సిద్ధంగా | ||
Urdu | تیار | ||
The word "تیار" can also mean "ready" or "prepared". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 愿意 | ||
The word "愿意" can also mean "to consent" | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 願意 | ||
"願意" refers to the intention of doing something, but it can also mean "ability" or "possibility". | |||
Japanese | 喜んで | ||
The character よろ (よろこぶ) also denotes a state of comfort or happiness. | |||
Korean | 자발적인 | ||
"자발적인"의 어원은 "자기 마음에서 흘러나오다"로, 원래는 "의지"나 "욕구"를 의미했다. | |||
Mongolian | бэлэн байна | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လိုချင်တယ် | ||
Indonesian | rela | ||
While "rela" in Indonesian is usually associated with "willingness," it can also mean "enduring" or "tolerating" something reluctantly. | |||
Javanese | gelem | ||
The word "gelem" in Javanese also means "agreed" or "willing to do something." | |||
Khmer | មានឆន្ទៈ | ||
Lao | ເຕັມໃຈ | ||
Malay | bersedia | ||
The word "bersedia" derives from the Sanskrit word "vrata", meaning "vow" or "resolution." | |||
Thai | เต็มใจ | ||
The word เต็มใจ (willing) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'tushti', which means 'contentment' or 'satisfaction'. | |||
Vietnamese | sẵn lòng | ||
The word "sẵn lòng" can also mean "prepared" or "ready" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | payag | ||
Azerbaijani | istəyirik | ||
Kazakh | дайын | ||
In Kazakh, "дайын" also means "ready" or "prepared". | |||
Kyrgyz | даяр | ||
The word “даяр” can be traced back to the Proto-Turkic word “*yar-” meaning 'to be able' or 'to be ready'. | |||
Tajik | омодагӣ | ||
The word "омодагӣ" can also mean "eager" or "prepared" in Tajik. | |||
Turkmen | islegli | ||
Uzbek | tayyor | ||
The word "tayyor" is derived from the Arabic word "tayar" meaning "ready" or "prepared". | |||
Uyghur | خالىسا | ||
Hawaiian | makemake | ||
The Hawaiian word "makemake" also means "to prepare, make ready, or provide" and is related to the word "mākeke," which means "to prepare, make, or create." | |||
Maori | hiahia | ||
The word “hiahia” means “need” as well as “willing” in the Maori language. | |||
Samoan | loto | ||
The word "loto" can also mean "heart" or "mind" in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | payag | ||
The word "payag" may also imply consent or agreement to a request or proposal. |
Aymara | muniri | ||
Guarani | hembiapo ra'arõva | ||
Esperanto | volonte | ||
The Esperanto word "volonte" derives from the French word "volonté", which also means "will" or "desire". | |||
Latin | volens | ||
The Latin word "volens" also means "of one's own accord" or "by intention". |
Greek | πρόθυμος | ||
"Πρόθυμος" ultimately stems from the PIE root *pro- "forward" and is related to πρόσω meaning "in front, forward" and the Latin prō- meaning "forth, forward" and prōnus meaning "bent forward, inclined, prone" | |||
Hmong | kam | ||
The word "kam" in Hmong can also refer to a type of traditional rice alcohol or a type of ritual sacrifice. | |||
Kurdish | xweste | ||
The word "xweste" in Kurdish is derived from the Middle Persian word "xwāstak" and also means "request" or "desire". | |||
Turkish | istekli | ||
"İstekli" kelimesi eski Türkçede "isteyen" anlamına gelen "istek" sözcüğünden türemiştir. | |||
Xhosa | uzimisele | ||
Uzilemise can also mean | |||
Yiddish | גרייט | ||
The word “גרייט” (“willing”) in Yiddish also refers to something ready or complete. | |||
Zulu | uzimisele | ||
The word 'uzimisele' in Zulu derives from the phrase 'ukuzimisela', meaning 'to devote oneself to something', reflecting the idea of intention and commitment within the concept of willingness. | |||
Assamese | ইচ্ছা প্ৰকাশ কৰা | ||
Aymara | muniri | ||
Bhojpuri | चाहल | ||
Dhivehi | ކަމެއްކުރުމަށް އެދުން | ||
Dogri | राजी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | payag | ||
Guarani | hembiapo ra'arõva | ||
Ilocano | situtulnog | ||
Krio | rɛdi | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ویست | ||
Maithili | इच्छा | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯥꯅꯤꯡꯕ | ||
Mizo | duh | ||
Oromo | hayyamamaa ta'uu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଇଛୁକ | ||
Quechua | kamarisqa | ||
Sanskrit | इच्छुकः | ||
Tatar | теләп | ||
Tigrinya | ፍቃደኛ | ||
Tsonga | tsakela | ||