Receive

The Word “Receive”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The word “receive” is a common verb in the English language used to describe the act of accepting or taking in something, whether it’s a tangible object, a message, or an action. It has many applications across different contexts, from receiving gifts and services to receiving information or even receiving people. In this article, we explore the meaning of “receive,” its various uses, and how the word is translated into 30 languages, with example sentences for each language.

Meaning of “Receive” in Different Contexts

1. To Accept or Take Delivery of Something (Verb)

The primary meaning of “receive” refers to the action of accepting or taking possession of something, whether it’s a physical object, a gift, or even an electronic message.

• Example: “I received a letter from my friend yesterday.” (In this case, “received” means that the letter was accepted or taken in by the person.)

2. To Be Given Something or Be the Recipient of an Action (Verb)

“Receive” can also describe the state of being the recipient of an action, whether it is something physical like a package or something abstract like a compliment or feedback.

• Example: “She received praise for her hard work.” (Here, “receive” means to be the recipient of something abstract, such as praise.)

3. To Respond or React to Something (Verb)

In some contexts, “receive” is used to describe a response or reaction to something, such as receiving a phone call or receiving a reaction from an audience.

• Example: “The news was well received by the team.” (This means that the team responded positively to the news.)

4. To Welcome or Greet Someone (Verb)

In formal settings, “receive” can be used to describe the act of welcoming or greeting someone, often with respect or formality.

• Example: “The President received the ambassador at the White House.” (Here, “received” means the formal welcoming or greeting of a guest.)

5. To Experience or Endure Something (Verb)

The verb “receive” can also describe the act of experiencing or enduring something, often in situations like receiving an injury or receiving a benefit.

• Example: “He received an injury during the game.” (In this case, “receive” refers to experiencing something, such as an injury.)

Translations of the Word “Receive” in 30 Languages

Here is a table showing how the word “receive” is translated into 30 different languages, with example sentences for each language.

Language	Translation	Example Sentence (in the target language)	English Translation of Example
English	Receive	“I received a letter from my friend yesterday.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Spanish	Recibir	“Recibí una carta de mi amigo ayer.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
French	Recevoir	“J’ai reçu une lettre de mon ami hier.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
German	Erhalten	“Ich habe gestern einen Brief von meinem Freund erhalten.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Italian	Ricevere	“Ho ricevuto una lettera dal mio amico ieri.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Portuguese	Receber	“Recebi uma carta do meu amigo ontem.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Russian	Получить (Poluchit)	“Я получил письмо от моего друга вчера.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Chinese (Simplified)	接受 (Jiēshòu)	“我昨天收到了朋友的信。”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Japanese	受け取る (Uketoru)	“昨日、友達から手紙を受け取りました。”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Korean	받다 (Batda)	“어제 친구로부터 편지를 받았습니다.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Hindi	प्राप्त करना (Prapt Karna)	“मैंने कल अपने दोस्त से एक पत्र प्राप्त किया।”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Bengali	পাওয়া (Pāẏā)	“আমি গতকাল আমার বন্ধুর কাছ থেকে একটি চিঠি পেলাম।”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Urdu	حاصل کرنا (Haasil Karna)	“میں نے کل اپنے دوست سے ایک خط وصول کیا۔”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Turkish	Almak	“Dün arkadaşımdan bir mektup aldım.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Dutch	Ontvangen	“Ik ontving gisteren een brief van mijn vriend.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Greek	Λαμβάνω (Lávano)	“Έλαβα μια επιστολή από τον φίλο μου χθες.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Swedish	Ta emot	“Jag fick ett brev från min vän igår.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Danish	Modtage	“Jeg modtog et brev fra min ven i går.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Finnish	Saada	“Sain kirjeen ystävältäni eilen.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Norwegian	Motta	“Jeg mottok et brev fra vennen min i går.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Polish	Otrzymać	“Otrzymałem list od mojego przyjaciela wczoraj.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Czech	Dostat	“Včera jsem dostal dopis od svého přítele.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Hungarian	Kapni	“Tegnap kaptam egy levelet a barátomtól.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Hebrew	לקבל (Kabel)	“קיבלתי מכתב מחבר שלי אתמול.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Thai	รับ (Rap)	“ฉันได้รับจดหมายจากเพื่อนเมื่อวานนี้”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Vietnamese	Nhận	“Tôi đã nhận được một bức thư từ bạn tôi hôm qua.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Indonesian	Menerima	“Saya menerima surat dari teman saya kemarin.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Filipino	Tumanggap	“Nakareceive ako ng sulat mula sa aking kaibigan kahapon.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Malay	Menerima	“Saya menerima surat dari kawan saya semalam.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Swahili	Pokea	“Nilipokea barua kutoka kwa rafiki yangu jana.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)
Arabic	استلم (Istalam)	“استلمت رسالة من صديقي البارحة.”	(I received a letter from my friend yesterday.)

Final Thoughts

The word “receive” is a versatile verb in English, used to describe the act of accepting or taking delivery of something, whether tangible or intangible. It can apply to physical objects, information, compliments, or even experiences. Across many different languages, the word “receive” has equivalent terms that convey the same action or concept, although the exact translations may vary slightly depending on the language’s structure and usage.

Whether you are accepting a gift, receiving feedback, or being the recipient of a message, “receive” is a fundamental verb in both everyday life and formal contexts. Understanding its usage and translations helps us communicate effectively in various cultures and languages, particularly when dealing with situations that involve taking in or accepting something.