Muslim in Different Languages
Discover 'Muslim' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The term 'Muslim' holds immense significance in our globalized world, representing a major Abrahamic religion with over 1.8 billion followers. This faith, rich in cultural importance, has had a profound impact on human history and continues to shape societies worldwide.
Understanding the translation of 'Muslim' in various languages can open doors to cultural appreciation and enhanced communication. For instance, in Arabic, the language of the Quran, a Muslim is translated as 'Muslim,' reflecting their submission to God. In Spanish, you'd say 'Musulmán' or 'Musulmana,' while in Hindi, it's 'Musalman.' In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, they say 'Muslim' as well, borrowing the English term.
Delving into the linguistic diversity of this term not only enriches our vocabulary but also fosters a sense of unity and respect among people of different backgrounds. Join us as we explore the translations of 'Muslim' in multiple languages, providing a unique glimpse into the cultural fabric of Islam around the world.
Muslim
Muslim in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | moslem | ||
| In Afrikaans, “Moslem” and “Moeslim” are synonyms, both meaning “Muslim”. | |||
| Amharic | ሙስሊም | ||
| The word 'ሙስሊም' ('Muslim') in Amharic is derived from the Arabic word 'مسلم' ('Muslim'), and primarily refers to followers of Islam. | |||
| Hausa | muslim | ||
| In Hausa, 'Musulmi' (Muslim) can also refer to someone who is devoutly religious or God-fearing. | |||
| Igbo | alakụba | ||
| The word "Alakụba" also means "a stranger" or "one who is not a member of the community" in Igbo. | |||
| Malagasy | silamo | ||
| 'Silamo' is also used to refer to a type of cloth worn by Muslims during prayer. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | asilamu | ||
| The word "Asilamu" also means "one who is at peace" or "submits to God" in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | muslim | ||
| In Shona, the word "Muslim" can also mean "a person who follows the teachings of the prophet Muhammad". | |||
| Somali | muslim | ||
| Somali has two words for "Muslim": "Muslim" and "Islaam" which is the religious one. | |||
| Sesotho | mamoseleme | ||
| It is a compound word of 'Mamose' ('believer') and 'Lleme' ('one who submits'), referring to the submission to God's will. | |||
| Swahili | mwislamu | ||
| The word 'Mwislamu' is derived from the Arabic word 'muslim' meaning 'one who submits to God'. | |||
| Xhosa | amasilamsi | ||
| The term 'AmaSilamsi' literally translates to 'people who submit', alluding to the central tenet of Islam - submission to the will of God. | |||
| Yoruba | musulumi | ||
| The Yoruba word 'Musulumi' is a loanword from the Arabic word 'muslim' meaning 'one who submits to God'. Yoruba Muslims pronounce it 'Musulumi'. | |||
| Zulu | amasulumane | ||
| In Zulu, 'AmaSulumane' derives from Arabic 'as-salamu alaykum', a traditional Muslim greeting. | |||
| Bambara | silamɛ | ||
| Ewe | moslemtɔwo | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuyisilamu | ||
| Lingala | moyisalaele | ||
| Luganda | omusiraamu | ||
| Sepedi | momoseleme | ||
| Twi (Akan) | muslimfoɔ | ||
Muslim in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مسلم | ||
| The Arabic word “مسلم” (Muslim) stems from the root “سلم” (sallam), which means “to be safe from harm” or “to be at peace”. | |||
| Hebrew | מוסלמי | ||
| מוסלמי (moslemi) - the word, probably borrowed from Spanish musulmán, is sometimes used in contemporary Hebrew to refer to a Muslim person | |||
| Pashto | مسلمان | ||
| The word "مسلمان" derives from the Arabic word "سلم" (aslama), meaning "to submit" or "to surrender" to God. | |||
| Arabic | مسلم | ||
| The Arabic word “مسلم” (Muslim) stems from the root “سلم” (sallam), which means “to be safe from harm” or “to be at peace”. | |||
Muslim in Western European Languages
| Albanian | mysliman | ||
| The Albanian word "Mysliman" is cognate with the Slavic term "Musulman" and the Greek "Musulmanos", and it refers not only to Muslims but also to Arab Christians. | |||
| Basque | musulmana | ||
| In Basque, the word "Musulmana" is derived from the Arabic word "Muslim" and can also refer to a female Muslim. | |||
| Catalan | musulmà | ||
| The word "Musulmà" derives from the Latin "Musulmanus", meaning "follower of Muhammad" and is ultimately derived from Arabic "muslim". | |||
| Croatian | muslimanski | ||
| The word 'muslimanski' can also be used to refer to the culture and traditions of Muslims. | |||
| Danish | muslim | ||
| The Danish word "muslim" can also refer to an individual who believes in Islam. | |||
| Dutch | moslim | ||
| In Dutch, "Moslim" is an adjective meaning "Islamic" and a noun meaning "a Muslim". | |||
| English | muslim | ||
| "Muslim" comes from the Arabic word "muslim", which means "one who submits to God". | |||
| French | musulman | ||
| The French word "musulman" originally referred to Muslim rulers, specifically those of the Ottoman Empire. | |||
| Frisian | moslim | ||
| In old Frisian, it also referred to people who practiced other monotheistic religions | |||
| Galician | musulmán | ||
| The word “Musulmán” in Galician has the alternate meaning of "the one who has been born in a Muslim country and has kept the habits, customs and the religion of that country without having been baptized." | |||
| German | muslim | ||
| The German word "Muslim" also refers to a person who believes in God or who is pious. | |||
| Icelandic | múslimi | ||
| The Icelandic word "Múslimi" can also refer to a Muslim convert, or someone who has adopted the Islamic faith. | |||
| Irish | moslamach | ||
| ‘Moslamach’ has been used in Irish for more than 300 years, originally as a generic term for an adherent of Islam or the Islamic faith. | |||
| Italian | musulmano | ||
| The term "musulmano" comes from "Muslim", meaning "one who submits (to God)", and can also refer to "Muhammadan", meaning "follower of Muhammad". | |||
| Luxembourgish | moslem | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Moslem" retains its archaic meaning of "believer of the Mosaic law" (i.e. a Jew), but also refers to Muslims in general usage. | |||
| Maltese | musulman | ||
| The term 'Musulman' is also used in Maltese to refer to the Ottoman Turks. | |||
| Norwegian | muslimsk | ||
| In Norwegian, "Muslimsk" can also refer to the color "Muslim green", a muted, earthy green inspired by the color of prayer rugs. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | muçulmano | ||
| The word "muçulmano" derives from the Arabic word "muslim", meaning "submitter (to God)" and is also used in Brazil to refer to followers of the Baháʼí faith (in addition to Muslims). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | muslamach | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word "Muslamach" comes from the Arabic "Muslim" via Middle French "Musulman". | |||
| Spanish | musulmán | ||
| The Spanish word for "Muslim", *musulmán*, derives from the Arabic *muslimūn* ("those who submit to God"), plural form of the noun *muslim*. | |||
| Swedish | muslim | ||
| The word muslim can also mean ‘a devout person’ without regard to religion. | |||
| Welsh | mwslim | ||
| The Welsh word 'Mwslim' can also mean 'submitting to Allah'. | |||
Muslim in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | мусульманін | ||
| The word "мусульманін" is derived from the Arabic word for "submission" and can also refer to a follower of the Baha'i faith or a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. | |||
| Bosnian | musliman | ||
| The Bosnian word 'Musliman' has the archaic meaning 'Bosnian' and is not synonymous with 'member of the Muslim religion'. | |||
| Bulgarian | мюсюлмански | ||
| The word 'Мюсюлмански' can be traced back to the Arabic word 'Muslim', meaning 'submission'. In Bulgarian, it is also used to describe something that is considered to be in line with the principles of Islam. | |||
| Czech | muslimský | ||
| „Muslimský" can also mean "Muslim-like" or "in the manner of Muslims". | |||
| Estonian | moslem | ||
| In Estonian, the word "Moslem" is used as a synonym for "Muslim" and comes from the French word "musulman". | |||
| Finnish | muslimi | ||
| In Finnish, 'muslimi' can also refer to clothing made from a special fabric with a soft, fluffy texture, called 'muslimi'. | |||
| Hungarian | muszlim | ||
| The word "muszlim" also means "a strict adherent" in Hungarian, and is sometimes used to refer to someone who is very rigid or conventional in their views or behavior. | |||
| Latvian | musulmaņi | ||
| The term "Musulmaņi" in Latvian is derived from the Arabic word "muslim" meaning "submitter", referring to submission to the will of God. | |||
| Lithuanian | musulmonas | ||
| The word "Musulmonas" in Lithuanian is derived from the Arabic word "Muslim" via the Russian word "Musul'manin", and it can also be used to refer to a Muslim building or establishment. | |||
| Macedonian | муслиман | ||
| The Macedonian word "Муслиман" can also refer specifically to Bosniak Muslims. | |||
| Polish | muzułmański | ||
| The word «muzułmański» in Polish is derived from the Arabic word «muslim» and can also mean «Islamic» or «pertaining to Islam». | |||
| Romanian | musulman | ||
| In Romanian, "Musulman" can also refer to a type of traditional Ottoman religious hat. | |||
| Russian | мусульманин | ||
| In Russian, the word "Мусульманин" can also refer to an adherent of other Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism or Christianity. | |||
| Serbian | муслиманске | ||
| In Bosnian and Croatian, Muslim often refers to a religious community of Slavic origin. | |||
| Slovak | moslim | ||
| In Slovak, "Moslim" can colloquially refer to a Muslim or to a member of the Romany community, though this usage is now considered outdated. | |||
| Slovenian | musliman | ||
| The word "Musliman" in Slovenian can also mean "a follower of Islam", "a person who adheres to the religion of Islam", or "a person who believes in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad". | |||
| Ukrainian | мусульманин | ||
| The Ukrainian word "Мусульманин" (Muslim) is derived from the Arabic word "مسلم" (Muslim), which means "one who submits to God". | |||
Muslim in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | মুসলিম | ||
| In Bengali, the word "মুসলিম" can also refer to a type of sweet dish made with rice flour and jaggery. | |||
| Gujarati | મુસ્લિમ | ||
| The term "Muslim" is a Gujarati loanword from Persian and Arabic via Urdu with the same meaning. | |||
| Hindi | मुसलमान | ||
| "मुसलमान" शब्द फारसी शब्द " مسلمان" से आया है, जिसका अर्थ है "ईश्वर के प्रति समर्पित" या "ईश्वर का अनुयायी"। | |||
| Kannada | ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ | ||
| The word "ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ" is derived from the Arabic word "سلم" (salem), meaning "peace" or "submission to God". | |||
| Malayalam | മുസ്ലിം | ||
| Muslim is derived from the Arabic word 'muslim', meaning 'submitter' or 'one who submits to God'. | |||
| Marathi | मुसलमान | ||
| The word "मुसलमान" in Marathi is derived from the Persian word "مسلمان" (Muslim), which means "submitter" to God. | |||
| Nepali | मुस्लिम | ||
| The word "मुस्लिम" (Muslim) in Nepali is derived from the word "Musalman", which ultimately comes from the Arabic word "Muslimūn" meaning "submitters". | |||
| Punjabi | ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ | ||
| The word “ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ” originates from the Arabic word 'Muslim', which means “one who surrenders (to God)”. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මුස්ලිම් | ||
| The word "මුස්ලිම්" is derived from the Arabic word "Muslim" which means "one who submits to God." | |||
| Tamil | முஸ்லிம் | ||
| The Tamil word 'முஸ்லிம்' can also mean a person of the Muslim faith, or a member of the Islamic community. | |||
| Telugu | ముస్లిం | ||
| The term “Muslim’ is also used synonymously with “Sunnis,’ or members adhering to the largest school of thought found in Shia Islam, in which the Imam or leader is believed to be descended in an hereditary line from Ali. | |||
| Urdu | مسلمان | ||
| The term 'مسلمان' also means 'believer' or 'one who submits' in Arabic. | |||
Muslim in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 穆斯林 | ||
| “穆斯林”在中文中的音译是“mu-si-lin”，指遵循伊斯兰教义的人。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 穆斯林 | ||
| 在中文裡，「穆斯林」一詞源自波斯語「مسلمان」，意指「順從真主旨意者」或「真主的信徒」 | |||
| Japanese | イスラム教徒 | ||
| The word イスラム教徒 (Muslim) is derived from the Arabic word “muslim” meaning “submitter” or “one who surrenders to God.” | |||
| Korean | 이슬람교도 | ||
| 이슬람교도(muslim)는 아랍어 단어 '무슬림'(muslim)에서 유래되었는데, 이는 '평화' 또는 '평화를 추구하는 사람'을 의미합니다. | |||
| Mongolian | лалын шашинтай | ||
| The term "Лалын шашинтай" literally translates to "followers of the religion of Allah". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မွတ်စလင် | ||
| Myanmar's term for “Muslim,” “mut-suleng,” likely derives from the Persian word “musulman,” which means simply “submitter.” | |||
Muslim in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | muslim | ||
| In Indonesian, "Muslim" has the same root as the word "Islam," both derived from the Arabic word "aslama," meaning "to submit (to God)". | |||
| Javanese | wong islam | ||
| Wong Islam can also mean a Javanese person who is ethnically Javanese but believes in Islam. | |||
| Khmer | ម៉ូស្លីម | ||
| In Khmer, the word "ម៉ូស្លីម" can also refer to a type of fabric, a style of clothing, or a religious sect. | |||
| Lao | ມຸດສະລິມ | ||
| The word ມຸດສະລິມ (Muslim) is derived from the Arabic word 'muslim', which means 'one who submits (to God)'. It is also used to refer to people who follow the religion of Islam. | |||
| Malay | muslim | ||
| The word 'Muslim' in Malay can also refer to a person who follows the teachings of Islam, or to a person who is a member of the Islamic faith. | |||
| Thai | มุสลิม | ||
| The word "มุสลิม" in Thai derives from the Arabic word "مسلم" meaning "submitter". | |||
| Vietnamese | hồi | ||
| The word 'Hồi' can also refer to religious ceremonies, mosques, or Islam. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | muslim | ||
Muslim in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | müsəlman | ||
| In Azerbaijani, "Müsəlman" can also refer to "devout" or "pious" in a general sense. | |||
| Kazakh | мұсылман | ||
| In Kazakh, the word | |||
| Kyrgyz | мусулман | ||
| The word "Мусулман" also means "believer" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | мусулмон | ||
| The word мусулмон derives from the Arabic مسلم, meaning one who submits or one who establishes peace. | |||
| Turkmen | musulman | ||
| Uzbek | musulmon | ||
| In Uzbek, musulmon also refers to a Muslim place of worship. | |||
| Uyghur | مۇسۇلمان | ||
Muslim in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | muslim | ||
| The Hawaiian word 'Muslim' derives from the Arabic term "muslim", meaning 'one who submits to God.', and is used to describe adherents of Islam. | |||
| Maori | mahometa | ||
| Mahometa stems from the Arabic name Muhammad or the Latin Mahometus, referring to the founder of Islam. | |||
| Samoan | mosalemi | ||
| In Samoan, the term "Mosalemi" refers to both "Muslims" and "the dead".} | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | muslim | ||
| The Tagalog word "Muslim" comes from the Arabic root "salim", which means "peace, submission to God". | |||
Muslim in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | musulmán | ||
| Guarani | musulmán | ||
Muslim in International Languages
| Esperanto | islamano | ||
| 'Islamano' in Esperanto can also mean 'follower of Islam' or 'person from an Islamic country'. | |||
| Latin | musulmanus | ||
| The early Latin word 'Musulmanus' referred to a Muslim but also to an Ishmaelite, a descendent of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. | |||
Muslim in Others Languages
| Greek | μουσουλμάνος | ||
| The word "μουσουλμάνος" (Muslim) derives from the Arabic "muslim", meaning "one who submits (to God)" and was first used in Greek during the Ottoman era. | |||
| Hmong | muslim | ||
| The word "Muslim" in Hmong is pronounced "Muslìm" and is also used to refer to "Islamic". | |||
| Kurdish | misilman | ||
| The word "Misilman" in Kurdish originally meant "follower of a book, scripture, or prophet", with its modern meaning as "Muslim" only developing later. | |||
| Turkish | müslüman | ||
| The term 'Müslüman' can also refer to someone showing signs of peace or submission (i.e. surrender). | |||
| Xhosa | amasilamsi | ||
| The term 'AmaSilamsi' literally translates to 'people who submit', alluding to the central tenet of Islam - submission to the will of God. | |||
| Yiddish | מוסולמענער | ||
| The Yiddish word "מוסולמענער" ("Muslim") is derived from Arabic, and originally meant "submissive to God". | |||
| Zulu | amasulumane | ||
| In Zulu, 'AmaSulumane' derives from Arabic 'as-salamu alaykum', a traditional Muslim greeting. | |||
| Assamese | মুছলমান | ||
| Aymara | musulmán | ||
| Bhojpuri | मुसलमान के ह | ||
| Dhivehi | މުސްލިމް އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | मुसलमान | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | muslim | ||
| Guarani | musulmán | ||
| Ilocano | muslim | ||
| Krio | muslim | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | موسڵمان | ||
| Maithili | मुस्लिम | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯨꯁ꯭ꯂꯤꯝ ꯑꯦꯝ | ||
| Mizo | muslim a ni | ||
| Oromo | muslima | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ମୁସଲମାନ | ||
| Quechua | musulmán | ||
| Sanskrit | मुस्लिम | ||
| Tatar | мөселман | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣስላማይ | ||
| Tsonga | mumoslem | ||