Word 'Alms' in Other Languages
- Alms in Assamese অসমীয়া
- Alms in Bengali বাংলা
- Alms in Bodo बड़ो
- Alms in Dogri डोगरी
- Alms in English
- Alms in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
- Alms in Hindi हिन्दी
- Alms in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
- Alms in Kashmiri कॉशुर
- Alms in Konkani कोंकणी
- Alms in Maithili মৈথিলী
- Alms in Malayalam മലയാളം
- Alms in Manipuri মৈতৈলোন্
- Alms in Marathi मराठी
- Alms in Nepali नेपाली
- Alms in Oriya ଓଡ଼ିଆ
- Alms in Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- Alms in Sanskrit संस्कृतम्
- Alms in Santali
- Alms in Sindhi سنڌي
- Alms in Tamil தமிழ்
- Alms in Telugu తెలుగు
- Alms in Urdu اُردُو
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Alms
Part of Speech
Noun (plural)
Pronunciation
/ɑːmz/
Definitions
- Money, food, or other donations given to the poor or needy.
- Charitable gifts or acts of kindness given to relieve the suffering of others.
Usage Examples
- She spent the afternoon collecting alms for the local shelter.
- The monk asked for alms from the community to support the temple.
Etymology
The word "alms" comes from the Old French "almesne," derived from the Latin "eleemosyna," meaning "charitable gifts or donations." This term can be traced back to Greek "eleēmosynē," which means "pity" or "compassion," highlighting the connection between the act of giving and human empathy.
Synonyms
- Charity
- Donations
- Gifts
- Philanthropy
- Contributions
Antonyms
- Selfishness
- Greed
- Indifference
- Self-interest
- Avarice
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Limosna | /liˈmosna/ |
| French | Charité | /ʃaʁiˈte/ |
| German | Almosen | /ˈʔalˌmoːzn̩/ |
| Italian | Elemosina | /eleˈmɔːzɪna/ |
| Portuguese | Almose | /aʊˈmoːzi/ |
| Hindi | भीख (Bheekh) | /bʰiːkh/ |
| Arabic | صدقة (Sadaqa) | /ˈsˤa.da.ka/ |
| Mandarin Chinese | 施舍 (Shīshě) | /ʃɪːˈʃɤ/ |
| Japanese | 施し (Kotoshi) | /koˈtoˈʃi/ |
| Korean | 자선 (Jaseon) | /dʒaˈsʰʌn/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
The pronunciation of "alms" is generally consistent across English-speaking regions. However, certain accents, such as those in the United Kingdom, may pronounce it slightly differently, with a more defined "a" sound, while in American English, it may sound a bit softer.
Historical Usage
The practice of giving alms has a long history, especially in religious contexts. In medieval Europe, alms were often given by the wealthy to the poor and were considered a form of penance. In many ancient cultures, almsgiving was seen as a way to earn merit or favor from the gods.
Cultural Nuances
In many cultures, giving alms is not only an act of charity but also a deeply spiritual practice. For example, in Buddhism, giving alms to monks is seen as a way to generate good karma. In Christian tradition, almsgiving is often associated with acts of charity and mercy as a reflection of God's love.
More Information
Alms are often provided to people who are in need, including the homeless, the elderly, and the sick. In many societies, almsgiving is viewed as an essential part of social responsibility, and it is often institutionalized through charitable organizations or religious communities. While the form of almsgiving has evolved over time, the core idea remains the same: providing assistance to those who are less fortunate in order to alleviate their suffering.
Almsgiving is a concept found across many different religions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. In Islam, for example, the act of giving alms is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, known as Zakat, which requires Muslims to give a portion of their wealth to those in need. In Christianity, the Bible encourages followers to give alms as a way to show compassion and generosity.