Definition
Trained people who watch over swimmers and beaches to prevent drowning and handle water emergencies and rescues.
Etymology
From 'life' meaning 'existence' combined with 'guard' meaning 'to protect,' the compound noun literally means 'those who guard life.' The profession emerged in the early 1900s as beaches became popular.
Kelly Says
Lifeguards are one of the few jobs where staying still and doing nothing is actually perfect performance—the best lifeguards prevent incidents from happening rather than having to rescue people, which is counterintuitive to how we usually measure job success.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ህይወት ባለפן
hi-yow-et ba-le-pan
ARالعربية
حراس الحياة
ḥārisu al-ḥayāh
BNবাংলা
জীবনরক্ষক
jee-bon-rokkhok
CACatalà
guardavivens
gar-da-vi-vens
CSČeština
zachránci
za-chran-ci
DADansk
redningsmænd
red-nings-mænd
DEDeutsch
Lebensretter
lay-buns-ret-ter
ELΕλληνικά
σωστές
so-stes
ESEspañol
guardavidas
gar-da-vi-das
FAفارسی
جانباوران
jaan-ba-var-an
FISuomi
pelastajat
pe-la-sta-jat
FRFrançais
sauveteurs
soh-vay-tyor
GUGU
જીવનરક્ષકો
jee-van-rakk-shak-o
HAHA
ma'aikatan rayuwa
ma-ai-ka-ta-n ray-u-wa
HEעברית
חייגארדים
ḥay-lif-ga-ard-im
HIहिन्दी
जीवन रक्षक
jee-van rak-shak
IDBahasa Indonesia
penjaga hidup
pen-ja-ga hi-duph
IGIG
onye na-agba-agba
o-nye na-ag-ba-ag-ba
ITItaliano
bagnini
ba-gny-ni
KKKK
жаны алулар
jan-y a-lu-lar
KMKM
អ្នករក្សាជីវិត
an-nok roks-sa-jee-vit
KO한국어
수영 감독
su-yeong gam-dok
MRMR
जीवनरक्षक
jee-van-rakshak
MSBahasa Melayu
penyelamat
pen-ye-la-mat
MYမြန်မာ
သဘောကျင့်
tha-ba-k-chin
NLNederlands
reddingswerkers
red-ding-s-wer-kers
NONorsk
livreddingsmenn
liv-red-dings-menn
PAPA
ਜੀਵਨ ਰक्षक
jee-van rak-shak
PLPolski
ratownicy
ra-to-v-n-cy
PTPortuguês
salvadores de vidas
sa-lva-do-res de vi-das
RORomână
salvatori
sa-lva-to-ri
RUРусский
спасатели
spasa-te-li
SVSvenska
livräddare
liv-räd-da-re
SWKiswahili
walinzi wa maisha
wa-lin-zi wa ma-i-sha
TAதமிழ்
வாழ்க்கைப் பாதுகாப்பாளர்கள்
vaazh-kai-pa-thuk-ka-pa-la-r-gal
TEతెలుగు
జీవన రక్షకులు
jee-vana rak-sha-ku-lu
TLTL
tagapangalaga ng buhay
ta-ga-pan-ga-la-ga ng bu-hay
TRTürkçe
cankurtaranlar
can-kur-ta-ran-lar
UKУкраїнська
рятувальники
ry-tu-va-l-ni-ki
URاردو
زندگی نگہبان
za-ndi-ni na-ga-ban
VITiếng Việt
người cứu hộ
ngoo-i-cuu-ho
ZUZU
abashweleyi wezempilo
a-ba-she-le-yi we-zem-pi-lo
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Lifeguarding was historically an all-male profession; women were systematically excluded or relegated to supervising children despite equal capability, justified by pseudo-physical concerns.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'lifeguard' gender-neutrally; actively recruit and feature women and non-binary lifeguards in hiring and representation.
Empowerment Note
Women lifeguards have fought discrimination successfully in many regions—recognize their advocacy for equal pay and role access.