Hisob

Hisob is a term used in several languages of Central and South Asia, notably Uzbek and related Turkic languages, as well as in Urdu, Persian, and Arabic loanwords. It is commonly translated as account, calculation, or bill, and it can also function as a verb meaning to count or to calculate. The precise sense depends on linguistic and cultural context.

Etymology and related forms trace back to the Semitic root ḥ-s-b, associated with counting and reckoning. This root spread through Arabic and Persian and was adopted into Turkic languages with variants such as hisob, hesab, or similar spellings, reflecting the same underlying idea of counting or accounting.

In Uzbek, hisob has several linked senses. It can refer to a numerical calculation, an account in a financial or bureaucratic sense, and, in compounds, to bookkeeping and accounting. The word hisobot denotes a report, while hisob-kitob refers to accounting and record-keeping, and hisobchi designates an accountant or accounting clerk.

In Urdu and Hindi, as well as other South Asian languages, the form hesab/hisab also means account or calculation. Phrases such as hisab-kitab are used to denote bookkeeping or accounting, and various verbs express counting, reckoning, or calculating.

In Persian and Arabic, hesab or hisab similarly means calculation, account, or bill, and appears in many phrases related to mathematics, finance, and daily commerce. The term remains common in modern use, including banking, accounting, education, and software that handles accounts or numerical calculations.

Overall, hisob is a versatile word tied to counting and accounting across multiple languages, with related derivatives that describe documentation, reporting, and professional roles in finance.