Volunteer

/ˌvɒlənˈtɪər/ noun

Definition

a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task

Etymology

French volontaire, from Latin voluntarius 'willing'

Kelly Says

The generous spirit that builds communities through choice

Translations

AMአማርኛ
ተኮረ
tɛkʷɔrɛ
ARالعربية
متطوع
mutaṭawwiʿ
BNবাংলা
স্বেচ্ছাসেবক
sʋɛt͡ʃʃasebɔk
CSČeština
dobrovolník
dɔbrovɔlɲiːk
DADansk
frivillig
fʁiˈvɪlɪ
DEDeutsch
Freiwilliger
fʁaɪˈvɪlɪɡər
ELΕλληνικά
εθελοντής
eθelondís
ESEspañol
voluntario
boluntario
FAفارسی
داوطلب
dāvṭalab
FISuomi
vapaaehtoinen
ʋɑpɑːehtoinen
FRFrançais
bénévole
benevɔl
GUGU
સ્વયંસેવક
sʋajansɛʋak
HAHA
majibi
mad͡ʒibi
HEעברית
מתנדב
mitnadev
HIहिन्दी
स्वयंसेवक
sʋajansɛʋak
HUMagyar
önkéntes
øŋkeːntɛʃ
IDBahasa Indonesia
sukarelawan
sukarɛlawan
IGIG
onye etinyere onwe ya
onye etinyere onwe ya
ITItaliano
volontario
volontɑːrio
JA日本語
ボランティア
borantia
KMKM
អ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត
ʔnɑk smɑk cɨt
KO한국어
자원봉사자
jawonbongsa-ja
MSBahasa Melayu
sukarelawan
sukarɛlawan
MYမြန်မာ
စေတနာ့ဝန်ထမ်း
sɛtənɑ̰ wʊ́ɴ tʰəma̰
NLNederlands
vrijwilliger
vʁɛivɪlɪɣər
NONorsk
frivillig
friˈvɪlɪɡ
PLPolski
wolontariusz
vɔlɔnˈtaɾuʂ
PTPortuguês
voluntário
volutɑriu
RORomână
voluntar
vɔlunˈtar
RUРусский
волонтёр
vɔlɐnˈtʲor
SVSvenska
frivillig
friːˈvɪlɪɡ
SWKiswahili
kujitolea
kʊdʒitɔlɛa
TAதமிழ்
தன்னார்வலர்
taṉṉārvalar
TEతెలుగు
స్వచ్ఛంద సేవకుడు
sʋat͡ʃʃandha sēvakuḍu
THไทย
อาสาสมัคร
ʔaːsaːsɑmɑk
TLTL
boluntaryo
bɔlʊntɑryo
TRTürkçe
gönüllü
ɡœnyly
UKУкраїнська
волонтер
vɔlɔnˈtɛr
URاردو
رضاکار
rɛzākār
VITiếng Việt
tình nguyện viên
tɪ̀ɳ ɣuːj vɪɛn
YOYO
oluntọsile
oluntɔsile
ZH中文
志愿者
zhìyuànzhě
ZUZU
umsebenzi wocansi
umsebenzi wocansi

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Feminized labor: gendered expectation that women volunteer disproportionately. Historically undercounts women's unpaid care/community work as 'voluntary' rather than systemic obligation.

Inclusive Usage

Specify whether volunteering is truly optional vs. socially expected. Recognize unpaid labor as work.

Inclusive Alternatives

["contribute","participate","offer assistance"]

Empowerment Note

Women's volunteer contributions (healthcare, education, community organizing) built modern social infrastructure often credited to formal male-led institutions.

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