Definition
Defeats and gains control over through force; overcomes or masters a challenge or difficulty.
Etymology
From Old French 'conquerre,' derived from Latin 'conquirere,' meaning 'to seek out' or 'to procure.' The Latin combines 'com-' (together) and 'quaerere' (to seek). The meaning evolved from 'seeking together' to 'obtaining by effort' to 'taking by force.'
Kelly Says
The evolution of 'conquer' from 'seeking together' to 'defeating' reflects how collaborative searching transformed into competitive acquisition in human societies. The word maintains both literal military meanings and metaphorical uses, as in 'conquering one's fears,' showing how we conceptualize personal challenges as battles to be won.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ያሸንፋል
yah-shen-fal
BNবাংলা
জয় করে
joh-yoh koh-reh
CACatalà
conquereix
kohn-keh-reh-esh
CSČeština
dobývá
doh-bee-vah
DADansk
erobrer
eh-roh-breh-reh
DEDeutsch
erobern
eh-roh-bern
ELΕλληνικά
κατακτά
kah-tahk-tah
ESEspañol
conquista
kohn-kee-stah
FAفارسی
فتح می کند
fatah mee koh-nad
FISuomi
valloittaa
vah-loh-ee-tah
FRFrançais
conquiert
kohn-kee-ehr
GUGU
જીતે છે
jee-teh cheh
HIहिन्दी
जीतता है
jeet-tah hai
IDBahasa Indonesia
menaklukkan
meh-nah-kool-kahn
ITItaliano
conquista
kohn-kee-stah
KO한국어
정복하다
jeong-bok-hah-dah
MSBahasa Melayu
menakluki
meh-nah-koo-lee
MYမြန်မာ
အောင်နိုင်
ahng-nay
NLNederlands
veroveren
vay-roh-vay-ren
NONorsk
erobrer
eh-roh-breh-reh
PAPA
ਜਿੱਤਦਾ ਹੈ
jit-tah hai
PLPolski
podbija
pohd-bee-yah
PTPortuguês
conquista
kohn-kee-stah
RORomână
cucerește
koo-keh-reh-shteh
RUРусский
завоёвывает
zah-voh-yoh-vy-vah-yet
SVSvenska
erövrar
eh-roh-vahr
SWKiswahili
anashinda
ah-nah-sheen-dah
TEతెలుగు
విజయం
vee-jah-yam
TLTL
nagwawagi
nah-gah-wah-gee
TRTürkçe
fetheder
feh-theh-dehr
UKУкраїнська
завойовує
zah-voh-yoh-vy-vyeh
URاردو
فتح کرتا ہے
fatah kar-tah hai
VITiếng Việt
chinh phục
chin phuc
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Conquest narratives romanticize colonization and domination; in gendered contexts, 'conquer' applied to women's bodies or resistance mirrors colonial rhetoric of violability and possession.
Inclusive Usage
Use only for historical conquest narratives with critical framing; prefer 'overcomes,' 'succeeds at,' or 'masters' for achievements to avoid domination metaphors.
Inclusive Alternatives
["overcomes","achieves","masters","succeeds at"]