Works in different languages

Works in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'works' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, encompassing a range of meanings from physical labor to artistic creations. Its cultural importance is evident in its widespread use across different languages and societies. Understanding its translations in various languages can provide valuable insights into the nuances of different cultures and their views on work and creativity.

Did you know that the word 'trabajo' in Spanish not only means 'work' but also refers to a painful ordeal? Or that in Japanese, 'hataraku' can also mean 'to function'? These fascinating translations highlight the diverse ways in which different cultures view and express the concept of 'works'.

Whether you're a language enthusiast, a world traveler, or simply curious about different cultures, exploring the translations of 'works' in various languages can be a fun and enlightening experience. So, let's delve into the world of language and culture and discover how 'works' translates in different languages!

Works


Works in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanswerk
The Afrikaans word "werk" originates from the same Old English root as the English word "work", but in Afrikaans it also refers to a "factory" or "plant".
Amharicይሠራል
The Amharic word "ይሠራል" can also mean to "be employed" or "to make a living."
Hausayana aiki
The Hausa word "yana aiki" can also mean "he is doing work" or "he is employed".
Igboọrụ
The Igbo word ọrụ has several meanings depending on the context: as a noun, it can mean labour, task, business, duty, occupation, deed, or job; as a verb, it can mean to act, perform an action, create, or operate.
Malagasyasa
The etymology of the Malagasy word "asa" is unclear, and it can also refer to "affairs" or "business."
Nyanja (Chichewa)ntchito
Nyanja ntchito also means "a way of life," "the world," and "the present time."
Shonaanoshanda
Somalishaqeeya
In addition to "works", "shaqeeya" can also refer to "workers" or "workforce".
Sesothoea sebetsa
'Sebetsa' is derived from the word 'sebetsa' which means 'to be active or busy'.
Swahiliinafanya kazi
In Swahili the word "inafanya kazi" (works) is related to "kazi" (work) and "fanya" (do).
Xhosaiyasebenza
The Xhosa word "iyasebenza" can also mean "it is useful" or "it is effective".
Yorubaṣiṣẹ
Ṣiṣẹ also refers to a class of Yoruba deities known as "Orisha Ṣiṣẹ," who are associated with diligence and industry.
Zulukuyasebenza
The Zulu word "kuyasebenza" can be translated to "works" in English, but it also carries the meaning of "to be busy" or "to toil". It originates from the isiZulu root "-sebenza", which means "to do or make something". This root is used in various forms to create words related to work, such as "isisebenzi" (worker), "umsebenzi" (job), and "ukusebenzisa" (to use).
Bambarabɛ baara kɛ
Ewedɔwɔwɔwo
Kinyarwandaikora
Lingalaesalaka
Lugandaakola
Sepedio a šoma
Twi (Akan)adwuma

Works in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicيعمل
Hebrewעובד
The word 'עובד' ('works') in Hebrew can also refer to a 'servant' or 'slave'.
Pashtoکار کوي
In Pashto, the word "کار کوي" also means "factory" or "workshop."
Arabicيعمل

Works in Western European Languages

Albanianpunon
The word 'punon' has the same root as the word 'ponë', which means 'work' or 'labor' in Albanian.
Basquelanak
The Basque word "lanak" originally meant "goods" or "possessions".
Catalanfunciona
"Funciona" in Catalan is derived from the Latin "functio," meaning "performance" or "discharge of duty," and also has the alternate meaning of "ceremony" or "ritual."
Croatiandjela
The word 'djela' in Croatian can also refer to 'actions' or 'deeds'.
Danisharbejder
The word "arbejder" in Danish derives from the German word "arbeiten," meaning "to work," and also refers to a member of the working class.
Dutchwerken
The Dutch word "werken" also means "to work" in English.
Englishworks
As a noun, the word "work" derives from the Old English term "weorc" and can refer to both the physical effort and its outcome.
Frenchtravaux
The French word "travaux" can also refer to roadworks, construction works, or academic works.
Frisianwurken
The Frisian word "wurken" also means "to dry (in the wind)",
Galicianobras
"Obras" can also refer to the public services maintained by a local authority in Galician.
Germanfunktioniert
The word "funktioniert" (works) derives from the Latin "functio" (performance) and the French "fonctionner" (to function).
Icelandicvirkar
"Virkar" in Icelandic, meaning "works", derives from the Old Norse "verka," meaning "to perform".
Irishoibreacha
Italianlavori
The feminine plural of the Italian word "lavoro" (work) is "lavori", which can also mean "roadworks" or "construction work."
Luxembourgishfunktionnéiert
Maltesexogħlijiet
"Xogħlijiet" can also refer to the works or publications of an author, artist, or scholar.
Norwegianvirker
The word "virker" can also refer to an effect or a sensation, as in "det virket på meg" (it had an effect on me).
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)trabalho
In Galician and Portuguese, "trabalho" also means torment, pain, agony, affliction, anguish, trouble, labour, and toil, and derives from Latin "tripalium", a three-pronged instrument of torture.
Scots Gaelicag obair
In Scots Gaelic, "ag obair" can refer to the action of performing a job or to a state of being in pain.
Spanishtrabajos
The word "trabajos" in Spanish can also mean "hardships" or "sorrows".
Swedisharbetar
The word 'arbetar' can also refer to a person who works, particularly in a manual or blue-collar job.
Welshyn gweithio
The word "yn gweithio" in Welsh also means "working" or "being employed".

Works in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпрацуе
Belarusian "працуе" also means "to operate", "to act", or "to function".
Bosnianradi
The word "radi" can also mean "for the sake of" or "because of" in Bosnian.
Bulgarianвърши работа
The expression "върши работа" can also mean "gets the job done" or "is satisfactory" in Bulgarian.
Czechfunguje
The Czech word 'funguje' originally meant 'to be round' and is related to the German word 'rund'.
Estoniantöötab
The word "töötab" also means "he/she is working" in Estonian.
Finnishtoimii
"Toimii" is also a slang word used for a device or software that does exactly what you'd expect it to do.
Hungarianművek
In Hungarian, the word "művek" can be used to refer to a wide range of artistic or creative expressions, from paintings and sculptures to music and literature.
Latviandarbojas
Darbojas (works) derived from Proto-Baltic root word derb- ("to tear").
Lithuaniandarbai
The word "darbai" can also refer to a type of traditional Lithuanian folk dance or to a gathering of people for a specific purpose, such as a festival or a wedding.
Macedonianработи
This word derives from the Proto-Slavic *orbota, and its other meanings include 'obligation; job; task; labor; chores.'
Polishpracuje
Pracuje is also a Polish colloquialism for drinking alcohol.
Romanianlucrări
The Romanian word "lucrări" can also mean "dissertations" or "reports", especially in the context of academic research.
Russianработает
In Russian, "работает" can also refer to a state of being active or functioning, such as a machine or an organization.
Serbianизвођење радова
This word can also mean 'execution of works'.
Slovaktvorba
The Slovak word 'tvorba' has the same root as the English word 'create'.
Sloveniandeluje
The word 'deluje' in Slovenian is derived from the Latin word 'doleo', meaning 'to grieve' or 'to ache'.
Ukrainianробіт
The word "робіт" in Ukrainian has an alternate meaning of "slave" or "serf", reflecting its historical association with forced labor.

Works in South Asian Languages

Bengaliকাজ করে
In Bengali, "কাজ করে" can also mean "is used for" or "is employed in"
Gujaratiકામ કરે છે
In English, "works" can also mean to be in operation or to perform a function.
Hindiकाम करता है
Kannadaಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ
Malayalamപ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നു
Marathiकार्य करते
In Marathi, the word "कार्य करते" not only means "works" but also refers to performing a task or engaging in an activity.
Nepaliकाम गर्दछ
The verb 'काम गर्दछ' can also be used to refer to the process of functioning or operating.
Punjabiਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කටයුතු
Tamilவேலை செய்கிறது
Teluguపనిచేస్తుంది
Urduکام کرتا ہے

Works in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)作品
作品 (Simplified Chinese) means "works" and can also be translated as "creation" or "artwork".
Chinese (Traditional)作品
In Japanese, the word "作品" can also refer to a composition, such as a piece of music or literature.
Japanese動作します
The word "動作します" (works) is derived from the verb "動作する" (to work), which is itself derived from the noun "動作" (action).
Korean공장
The term "works" is also used in Korean to refer to a "factory" or "workshop" where goods are produced.
Mongolianажилладаг
'Ажилладаг' is related to 'ажиллах', which means 'to work', or to 'аж' which is translated as 'work'.
Myanmar (Burmese)အလုပ်များ

Works in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbekerja
Although "bekerja" means "works," it can also mean "operates," "functions," or "is employed."
Javanesedianggo
"Dianggo" can refer to both the result of an effort or action and its usage.
Khmerការងារ
Laoເຮັດວຽກ
Malayberfungsi
The word "berfungsi" is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhṛ" meaning "to bear" or "to carry".
Thaiได้ผล
The Thai word "ได้ผล" (dâai-pɔn) doesn't just mean "works" (in English), but also means "bears fruit" in a literal sense.
Vietnameselàm
"Làm" is a Sino-Vietnamese word derived from the Chinese character " làm (作)" but has additional meanings such as "to do" or "to make" which are not present in the Chinese original.
Filipino (Tagalog)gumagana

Works in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniişləyir
İşləyir can also mean "is involved" or "operates" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhжұмыс істейді
Kyrgyzиштейт
It is also a loan from Persian, where it originally meant 'worship, service'. However, it is now also used to mean 'labor' or any activity.
Tajikкор мекунад
The Tajik word "кор мекунад" can also mean "to have an effect" or "to make a difference."
Turkmenişleýär
Uzbekishlaydi
The word "ishlaydi" can also refer to "performing" or "being active."
Uyghurئىشلەيدۇ

Works in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhana
In some contexts, "hana" can also refer to "play", "recreation", or "amusement".
Maorimahi
"Mahi" in Māori can also refer to tasks, labour, or employment.
Samoangalue
In addition to "works," Samoan word "galue" also means "business," "occupation," "employment," "workplace," or "deed."
Tagalog (Filipino)gumagana
The word 'gumagana' (works) in Tagalog is derived from the root word 'gana', which means 'to complete' or 'to finish'.

Works in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarairnaqawinakapa
Guaraniomba’apo

Works in International Languages

Esperantofunkcias
The word "funkcias" can also refer to the workings of a machine or the functions of an organ.
Latinopera
In Latin, "opera" means "works" in the sense of "a work of art," and is cognate with the Greek "ergon" meaning "work."

Works in Others Languages

Greekέργα
The Greek word "έργα" (works) is derived from the verb "έργω" (ergo), which means "to do" or "to produce."
Hmongtej hauj lwm
In Hmong, "tej hauj lwm" can also refer to a spiritual offering of homemade alcohol.
Kurdishdixebite
"Dixebite" in Kurdish comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *di- "to strive, to strive."
Turkishi̇şler
In Turkish, "işler" can also refer to the "actions" or "processes" associated with a particular task or activity.
Xhosaiyasebenza
The Xhosa word "iyasebenza" can also mean "it is useful" or "it is effective".
Yiddishאַרבעט
The Yiddish word אַרבעט "works" has cognates in other West Germanic languages, such as "arbeid" in Dutch, "Arbeit" in German, and "work" in English.
Zulukuyasebenza
The Zulu word "kuyasebenza" can be translated to "works" in English, but it also carries the meaning of "to be busy" or "to toil". It originates from the isiZulu root "-sebenza", which means "to do or make something". This root is used in various forms to create words related to work, such as "isisebenzi" (worker), "umsebenzi" (job), and "ukusebenzisa" (to use).
Assameseকাম কৰে
Aymarairnaqawinakapa
Bhojpuriकाम करेला
Dhivehiމަސައްކަތް ކުރެއެވެ
Dogriकाम करदा ऐ
Filipino (Tagalog)gumagana
Guaraniomba’apo
Ilocanoagtrabaho
Kriode wok
Kurdish (Sorani)کار دەکات
Maithiliकाज करैत अछि
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯔꯤ꯫
Mizohna a thawk thin
Oromoni hojjeta
Odia (Oriya)କାମ କରେ |
Quechuallamk’achkan
Sanskritकार्यं करोति
Tatarэшли
Tigrinyaይሰርሕ
Tsongaswi tirha

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