Worry in different languages

Worry in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Worry, a simple word that carries a heavy weight. It signifies a state of anxiety or unease, often caused by concern for the future or something currently uncertain. This emotion is universal, and yet the way we express it can vary greatly across different cultures and languages.

Throughout history, worry has been a common theme in literature, art, and philosophy. It is a natural response to the unpredictability of life, and understanding how to manage it has been a focus of many self-help and mental health resources. But have you ever wondered how to express worry in other languages?

Knowing the translation of worry in different languages can help you connect with people from diverse backgrounds, providing a deeper understanding of their emotions and experiences. For instance, the German word for worry, 'Sorge', can also mean 'care' or 'concern', reflecting a more positive aspect of the emotion. Meanwhile, the French 'inquiétude' captures the restlessness and unease that often accompany worry.

Below, you'll find a list of translations of worry in various languages. Explore, learn, and connect with the world through language and understanding.

Worry


Worry in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbekommerd wees
Although 'bekommerd' in Afrikaans is commonly translated as 'worry', the two words do not share the same etymological roots.
Amharicጭንቀት
Besides 'worry', 'ጭንቀት' also means 'sadness' and 'grief' as a result of a difficult hardship.
Hausadamu
This term shares an etymology with the word for
Igboichegbu onwe
"Ichegbu onwe" is derived from the Igbo words "iche" (mind) and "gbu" (kill), indicating the harmful effects of worry on the mind.
Malagasyahiahy
The word ''ahiahy'' comes from the Arabic word ''wahy,'' meaning "divine inspiration" or "revelation."
Nyanja (Chichewa)kudandaula
Originates from 'kugandagula' which means 'to roll over or about'.
Shonakunetseka
The word "kunetseka" can also mean "to be difficult" or "to be in trouble".
Somaliwalwal
Somali verb "walwal'' is thought to derive from Arabic ''wala'' (to be anxious) and could also indicate a physical agitation or fidgeting.
Sesothotšoenyeha
Swahiliwasiwasi
The word 'wasiwasi' in Swahili also means 'anxiety', 'concern', 'fear', and 'doubt'.
Xhosaixhala
In traditional Xhosa medicine, 'ixhala' refers to physical ailments caused by emotional distress.
Yorubadààmú
The Yoruba word "dààmú" not only means "worry" but also relates to the act of "thinking deeply" or "mulling over something".
Zulukhathazeka
The Zulu word for “worry”, “khathazeka”, also means “to cause a great disturbance”, “to upset others”, or “to create chaos”.
Bambarakɔnɔnafilila
Ewedzitsitsi
Kinyarwandaimpungenge
Lingalakomitungisa
Lugandaokweraliikirira
Sepeditshwenyega
Twi (Akan)ahoha

Worry in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicقلق
قلق also refers to the shaking sound made by jewelry.
Hebrewדאגה
The word "דאגה" in Hebrew also has the alternate meaning of "expectation" or "hope", as it is derived from the root "דאג", which means "to care" or "to look after"
Pashtoاندیښنه
اندیښنه (andīshana) derives from the Avestan word for “thought” and is cognate with Latin "anxia" (anxiety).
Arabicقلق
قلق also refers to the shaking sound made by jewelry.

Worry in Western European Languages

Albanianmerak
The word merak comes from the Arabic word 'maraqa' meaning 'to be restless', 'to be agitated' or 'to be in anxiety'.
Basquekezkatu
The Basque word "kezkatu" is derived from the Proto-Basque root *ketz-, meaning "tremble" or "shake".
Catalanpreocupació
In Catalan, "preocupació" also refers to the action of being preoccupied, such as paying attention to something
Croatianbrinuti
The word "brinuti" in Croatian is etymologically related to "brina" meaning "sorrow" and "brniti" meaning "to buzz, hum".
Danishbekymre
The word "bekymre" is derived from the Old Norse word "kyrr", meaning "to rest" or "to be at peace". Over time, the word came to mean "to worry" or "to be anxious", perhaps because worry is often seen as the opposite of rest and peace.
Dutchzich zorgen maken
Zich zorgen maken ('to worry') is an idiom that can be literally translated as 'to make cares' or 'to take care'.
Englishworry
The verb "worry" originated in the Middle English word "werien," meaning to struggle, fight, or defend against someone or something.
Frenchinquiéter
French "inquiéter" derives from Latin "inquietus," meaning "unquiet," and also can mean "to disturb" or "to annoy."
Frisiansoargen
The Frisian word 'soargen', meaning 'worry', is derived from the Old Frisian 'sorga', meaning 'care'.
Galicianpreocupación
The Galician word "preocupación" also means "care" or "concern".
Germansorge
Aside from meaning "worry" in German, "Sorge" can also mean "care" or "concern".
Icelandichafa áhyggjur
Hafa áhyggjur is a compound word consisting of the verb "hafa" (meaning to hinder) and the noun "áhyggjur" (meaning concern or anxiety), together conveying the idea of something that obstructs or weighs down the mind.
Irishbíodh imní ort
Italianpreoccupazione
"Preoccupazione" derives from the Latin "praeoccupare," meaning "to occupy beforehand".
Luxembourgishsuergen
The word "Suergen" is derived from the Old High German word "sorga", meaning "care" or "anxiety".
Maltesetinkwetax
The word "tinkwetax" is derived from the Arabic word "inqitaa'" meaning "interruption" or "cutting off".
Norwegianbekymre
English "cumber" and Norwegian "bekymre" share the Old Norse word "kumbl". However, "kumbl" also means "monument", "cairn", "tomb", "gravestone" and "runestone".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)preocupação
The word "preocupação" in Portuguese (Portugal or Brazil) also means preoccupation, concern, or care.
Scots Gaelicdragh
Spanishpreocupación
The word "preocupación" comes from the Latin root "praeoccupare" meaning "to take possession of beforehand" or "to seize in advance".
Swedishoroa
"Oroa" is derived from the Old Norse word "ǫruggr" meaning "free from fear or care".
Welshpoeni
"Poeni" can also mean "to go slowly" or "to be deliberate" in Welsh.

Worry in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianхвалявацца
Bosnianbrini
The word "brini" can also refer to a type of cheese made from sheep's milk or to a type of bean soup.
Bulgarianтревожи се
"Тревожи се" also means "to bother" or "to disturb".
Czechtrápit se
The word "trápit se" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *terp-, meaning "to rub, to grate".
Estonianmuretsema
The word "muretsema" is derived from "muret", which means "care" or "trouble."
Finnishhuoli
The word "huoli" is also used in the sense of "responsibility" or "care" in Finnish.
Hungarianaggodalom
The verb aggód in Hungarian means 'to worry', which is related to the verb aggaszt 'to burden, to trouble', and which is also related to 'agg', a noun referring to a wooden beam or a log, and 'aggodalom', a noun which is a synonym of 'worry'.
Latvianuztraukties
Uztraukties is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *steh₂- meaning "to stand" or "to be stiff". It is related to the Old Prussian word stauti and the Lithuanian word stautas, which both mean "fear". Uztraukties can also refer to the feeling of being restless or fidgety.
Lithuaniannerimauti
The Lithuanian word "nerimauti" is related to the Sanskrit word "narimanuti" (to agitate), and also has the alternate meaning of "to be in a state of restlessness or agitation"
Macedonianгрижи се
The word "грижи се" (worry) in Macedonian is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *gord-, meaning "heavy" or "burdensome".
Polishmartwić się
Martwić się also means 'to cause pain to'
Romaniangriji
The Romanian noun "griji" comes from the verb "a grijii", meaning "to care for". Originally, it had a positive connotation, but it later took on a negative meaning, referring to excessive or burdensome concerns.
Russianбеспокоиться
The original meaning of "беспокоиться" was "to disturb", as evidenced by its cognate "покой" (peace).
Serbianзабринути
The word 'забринути' can also mean 'to be anxious' or 'to be concerned'.
Slovakstarosti
The word "starosti" can also refer to duties, responsibilities, concerns, affairs, business, troubles, or difficulties in Slovak.
Slovenianskrbi
The word
Ukrainianтурбуватися
The word "турбуватися" originated from the Slavic root "*torb-", meaning "to disturb".

Worry in South Asian Languages

Bengaliউদ্বেগ
উদ্বেগ comes from the Sanskrit root "vid", meaning "to know" or "to care", and is related to the word "বিদ্যা" (knowledge).
Gujaratiચિંતા
The word "ચિંતા" can also refer to a "notch" or a "sign".
Hindiचिंता
The Sanskrit root of चिंता (chinta) is चि (chi), meaning 'to collect or gather', suggesting the accumulation of worries in the mind.
Kannadaಚಿಂತೆ
"ಚಿಂತೆ" is derived from "ಚಿತ್" meaning "to think", and it can also refer to a specific thought or idea.
Malayalamവിഷമിക്കുക
The word "വിഷമിക്കുക" (worry) in Malayalam is derived from the Sanskrit word "विषम" (unequal or different), suggesting a state of imbalance or disharmony.
Marathiकाळजी
The word "काळजी" can also mean "care", "concern", or "anxiety" in Marathi.
Nepaliचिन्ता
The word चिन्ता ("worry") derives from the Sanskrit root छि "to ponder" and is related to the words चिन्तन ("pondering") and चिन्तित ("thinker").
Punjabiਚਿੰਤਾ
"ਚਿੰਤਾ" is derived from Sanskrit "चिन्त" meaning "to think" and can also refer to "anxiety" or "care".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කරදර වෙන්න
Tamilகவலை
"கவலை" is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word *kappu, meaning 'to cover' or 'to protect', and is also related to the Tamil word "கப்பு" (kapu), meaning 'to take care of' or 'to look after'.
Teluguచింత
The word 'చింత' comes from the Sanskrit word 'chinta', which also means 'thought' or 'care'.
Urduپریشانی

Worry in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)担心
The word '担心' in Chinese can also mean 'to care for' or 'to be concerned about something'.
Chinese (Traditional)擔心
In addition to "worry," 擔心 also conveys a sense of uncertainty and anxiety, derived from the characters' meanings: "to be in doubt" and "heart."
Japanese心配
The kanji components of 心配 (shinpai) are 心 (shin) "heart" and 配 (pai) "distribute" or "divide".
Korean걱정
The Korean word "걱정" is derived from the Chinese word "걱정", meaning "to be anxious" or "to feel uneasy".
Mongolianсанаа зов
The word "санаа зов" in Mongolian is a compound word consisting of "санаа" (thought) and "зов" (suffering), and can also refer to "anger" or "rage".
Myanmar (Burmese)စိတ်ပူစရာပါ

Worry in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankhawatir
The Indonesian word 'khawatir', meaning 'worry' or 'anxiety', derives etymologically from the Arabic root 'kh-t-r' ('fear', or 'to be afraid of').
Javanesesumelang
"Sumelang" in Javanese not only means "worry" but also refers to the emotion of embarrassment or shame.
Khmerបារម្ភ
"បារម្ភ" in Khmer comes from Pali "parampa" and Sanskrit "parābha", meaning "anxiously" or "with fear."
Laoກັງວົນ
"ກັງວົນ" can also mean "to look with care" or "to pay attention to" in Lao.
Malayrisau
The verb
Thaiกังวล
The word "กังวล" can also mean "to be anxious or concerned about something."
Vietnameselo
The word "lo" in Vietnamese comes from the Chinese character 慮 (lǜ) and can also mean "consider."
Filipino (Tagalog)mag-alala

Worry in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaninarahat
"Narahat" is derived from the Arabic word "narhat", meaning "to be upset or distressed" and has alternate senses of "sadness" and "grief".
Kazakhуайымдау
The Kazakh word "уайымдау" is also used to describe the feeling of being nervous or anxious.
Kyrgyzтынчсыздануу
Tajikхавотир
The word "хавотир" in Tajik also means "anxiety", "concern", or "apprehension".
Turkmenalada et
Uzbektashvishlaning
The word "tashvishlaning" comes from the Persian word "tashvish", meaning "disturbance" or "anxiety".
Uyghurئەنسىرىڭ

Worry in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhopohopo
Hopohopo also means 'to stir' or 'to mix' in Hawaiian.
Maorimāharahara
The word māharahara can also refer to a 'concern', 'care', or 'thought'.
Samoanpopole
Popole stems from the word popo which means 'bend' and is commonly used to refer to the bending of the hair from worry.
Tagalog (Filipino)magalala
The Tagalog word "magalala" may also refer to a type of plant or a condition of being tangled or knotted.

Worry in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarallakisiña
Guaranijepy'apy

Worry in International Languages

Esperantozorgu
Esperanto's "zorgu" comes from Latin "sollicitare" which also gives us words like "solicit" and "solicitude"
Latinanxietas
The Latin word "anxietas" originally meant "tightness or constriction" and was later used to describe a state of mental distress.

Worry in Others Languages

Greekανησυχία
The word "ανησυχία" in Greek stems from the root "αχος," meaning "grief" or "distress," highlighting its association with emotional turmoil.
Hmongtxhawj xeeb
The Hmong word "txhawj xeeb" has been used to describe both 'worry' and 'anxiety'
Kurdishleberketinî
The word 'leberketinî' in Kurdish is thought to be derived from the Persian word 'leberkhez', meaning 'to stir up' or 'to be agitated'.
Turkishendişelenmek
'Endişelenmek', 'endişe' sözcüğünden türemiştir. 'Endişe' ise Arapça 'endişe' kelimesinden gelir ve 'korku' anlamına da gelir.
Xhosaixhala
In traditional Xhosa medicine, 'ixhala' refers to physical ailments caused by emotional distress.
Yiddishזאָרג
The Yiddish word "זאָרג" derives from the Middle High German "sorge" meaning "anxiety".
Zulukhathazeka
The Zulu word for “worry”, “khathazeka”, also means “to cause a great disturbance”, “to upset others”, or “to create chaos”.
Assameseচিন্তা কৰা
Aymarallakisiña
Bhojpuriचिंता
Dhivehiފިކުރު
Dogriचैंता
Filipino (Tagalog)mag-alala
Guaranijepy'apy
Ilocanoagdanag
Kriowɔri
Kurdish (Sorani)نیگەرانی
Maithiliचिन्ता
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯈꯟꯖꯤꯟꯕ
Mizolungngai
Oromoyaaddoo
Odia (Oriya)ଚିନ୍ତା କର |
Quechuamanchakuy
Sanskritचिंता
Tatarборчыл
Tigrinyaተሻቐለ
Tsongavilela

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter