Aircraft in Different Languages
Discover 'Aircraft' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Aircraft: a word that evokes images of soaring through the skies, experiencing the world from a perspective few ever will. This marvel of human engineering has revolutionized transportation and warfare, shaping our modern world in ways both seen and unseen. The cultural significance of aircraft is undeniable, symbolizing progress, freedom, and the thrill of adventure.
But what about the word 'aircraft' itself? It's a fascinating study in how language adapts and evolves with technology. In English, 'aircraft' is a general term, encompassing all machines that can fly. Yet, in other languages, distinctions are made between various types of aircraft, reflecting local priorities and traditions.
For instance, did you know that in Spanish, 'avión' specifically refers to fixed-wing aircraft, while 'helicóptero' denotes rotary-wing aircraft? Or that in Russian, 'самолёт' (samolyot) is used for airplanes, and 'вертолёт' (vertolyot) for helicopters?
Join us as we explore the translations of 'aircraft' in different languages, diving into a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural diversity. Here's a sneak peek at what's to come:
Aircraft
Aircraft in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | vliegtuie | ||
| "Vliegtuie" is derived from the Dutch words "vliegen" (to fly) and "tuig" (tool or apparatus), so it literally means "flying tool". | |||
| Amharic | አውሮፕላን | ||
| The word "አውሮፕላን" is derived from the Greek words "αερο" (air) and "πλάνος" (wandering). | |||
| Hausa | jirgin sama | ||
| "Jirgin sama" derives from Arabic and literally means "flying machine". | |||
| Igbo | ugbo elu | ||
| The Igbo term "ugbo elu" translates literally to "bird of the sky," an apt description of an aircraft soaring through the air. | |||
| Malagasy | fiaramanidina | ||
| The word "fiaramanidina" literally means "that which flies" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | ndege | ||
| "Ndege" also means "bird" in Nyanja, reflecting the shared concept of flying through the air. | |||
| Shona | ndege | ||
| The word 'ndege' in Shona originally meant a 'bird' and is linguistically related to the word for 'animal'. It has since come to mean 'aircraft'. | |||
| Somali | diyaarad | ||
| The word "diyaarad" is also used to refer to a "bird" | |||
| Sesotho | sefofane | ||
| The word "sefofane" in Sesotho is borrowed from the English word "aeroplane". | |||
| Swahili | ndege | ||
| The word "ndege" also means bird in Swahili, and was originally used to describe airplanes because they flew like birds. | |||
| Xhosa | inqwelomoya | ||
| Its alternate spelling is "inqwelomoya", which translates to "a thing that carries wind". | |||
| Yoruba | baalu | ||
| The root of the Yoruba word 'baalu', meaning 'aircraft', is most likely the verb 'balu', meaning 'to fly'. | |||
| Zulu | indiza | ||
| The word "indiza" also means "something that is carried on the back, such as a bag or a child" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | awiyɔnw | ||
| Ewe | yameʋuwo | ||
| Kinyarwanda | indege | ||
| Lingala | mpɛpɔ | ||
| Luganda | ennyonyi | ||
| Sepedi | sefofane | ||
| Twi (Akan) | wimhyɛn a wɔde di dwuma | ||
Aircraft in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الطائرات | ||
| The word "الطائرات" (plural of "طائرة") is derived from the Arabic root "طير" (to fly), and originally referred to any kind of flying object, including birds. | |||
| Hebrew | כְּלִי טַיִס | ||
| The first documented use of the noun “כלי טיס” in written Hebrew was in 1926 | |||
| Pashto | الوتکه | ||
| The word comes from Persian "آلوده" and "که" and means "place of the unclean" and has been used for both airplanes and ships in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | الطائرات | ||
| The word "الطائرات" (plural of "طائرة") is derived from the Arabic root "طير" (to fly), and originally referred to any kind of flying object, including birds. | |||
Aircraft in Western European Languages
| Albanian | avionëve | ||
| The word "avionëve" comes from the French word "avion". Similar to English, in Albanian "avionëve" can also refers to airplanes in the board game chess. | |||
| Basque | hegazkinak | ||
| Hegazkinak, or “flying machine” in Basque, is formed by two words: hegaz (“fly”) and kin (“machine”). | |||
| Catalan | avió | ||
| The word "avió" in Catalan is derived from the Latin word "avis" (bird), and it also means "large bird" in some contexts. | |||
| Croatian | zrakoplov | ||
| The word "zrakoplov" is a compound word composed of the Slavic roots "zrak" (air) and "plov" (sailor). | |||
| Danish | fly | ||
| In Danish, the word "fly" can also mean "to float" or "to drift away". | |||
| Dutch | vliegtuig | ||
| In addition to "aircraft," "vliegtuig" can also refer to the paper airplane as the literal translation is "flying thing." | |||
| English | aircraft | ||
| "Aircraft" originally meant "airship" but came to refer to all flying machines. | |||
| French | avion | ||
| The French word "avion" is derived from the Latin word "avis", meaning "bird", and was originally used to refer to a flying machine that imitated the flight of birds. | |||
| Frisian | fleantúch | ||
| Galician | avión | ||
| The word "avión" in Galician also refers to a kite, as well as the part of a plow that opens the earth. | |||
| German | flugzeug | ||
| The German word "Flugzeug" literally translates to "Flying Stuff". | |||
| Icelandic | flugvélar | ||
| "Flugvélar" is the Icelandic word for "aircraft," and is formed from the words "flugm" (flight) and "vél" (machine). | |||
| Irish | aerárthach | ||
| Italian | aeromobili | ||
| Aeromobili is a plural noun that refers to aircraft, including planes, helicopters, and other flying machines. | |||
| Luxembourgish | fliger | ||
| Although "Fliger" is the standard word for "aircraft" in Luxembourgish, it also means "glider". | |||
| Maltese | ajruplan | ||
| "Ajruplan" also means "airplane" in Maltese, coming from "air" and "plan" (English). | |||
| Norwegian | luftfartøy | ||
| The Norwegian word "Luftfartøy", meaning "aircraft", literally translates to "air-faring vessel". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | aeronave | ||
| "Aeronave" is also a term for a | |||
| Scots Gaelic | itealan | ||
| "Itealan" also means "eagle" in Scots Gaelic, a bird known for its soaring flight. | |||
| Spanish | aeronave | ||
| The word "aeronave" in Spanish originates from the Greek words "aēr" (air) and "naus" (ship), and it can also refer to a spacecraft or a balloon. | |||
| Swedish | flygplan | ||
| While flyg means fly, plan means flat surface or plane in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | awyrennau | ||
| Originally, 'awyrennau' meant 'wings', but its meaning shifted to refer to the aircraft carrying them. | |||
Aircraft in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | самалёты | ||
| In Belarusian, "самалёты" is a cognate of the Russian word "самолёты", which is itself derived from the French word "avion". It is also related to the Belarusian word "самалёты" (airplane). | |||
| Bosnian | avion | ||
| Bosnian "avion" comes from French "avion", which ultimately derives from Latin "avis" (bird). | |||
| Bulgarian | самолет | ||
| The word "самолет" is derived from the Russian word "самолет" and was first used in Bulgarian in the 1920s. The word literally means "self-flying". | |||
| Czech | letadlo | ||
| The word was formed after World War I from "let-" (to fly) and "adlo" (a tool) | |||
| Estonian | lennuk | ||
| The Estonian word "lennuk" is derived from the word "lendama", which means "to fly". | |||
| Finnish | ilma-alus | ||
| "Ilma" means "air" and "alus" means "vessel" or "craft" | |||
| Hungarian | repülőgép | ||
| The word "repülőgép" is derived from the verbs "repül" (to fly) and "gép" (machine), and literally means "flying machine". | |||
| Latvian | lidmašīna | ||
| The Latvian word "lidmašīna" comes from the German word "Flugmaschine" and is literally translated as "flying machine". | |||
| Lithuanian | orlaivis | ||
| The word 'orlaivis' is a calque on the German word 'Flugzeug,' meaning 'flying device'. | |||
| Macedonian | авиони | ||
| The word "авиони" originally referred to a type of bird, now known as the "avifauna". | |||
| Polish | samolot | ||
| The word "samolot" in Polish literally translates to "self-flying". | |||
| Romanian | aeronave | ||
| Aeronave can also mean "airborne vehicle" in Romanian. | |||
| Russian | самолет | ||
| Самолет' also translates to 'self-plane,' indicating its ability to fly independently. | |||
| Serbian | авиона | ||
| The word “авиона” has a Greek origin and means “air ship” or “flying ship”. | |||
| Slovak | lietadlo | ||
| The word "lietadlo" means both "aircraft" and "flying machine" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | letala | ||
| The word "letala" in Slovenian is related to the word "letati", meaning "to fly". | |||
| Ukrainian | літака | ||
| "Літак" is a Ukrainian word used to refer to an airplane or aircraft. The word is derived from the verb "літати" (litati), which means "to fly". | |||
Aircraft in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিমান | ||
| The word "বিমান" (aircraft) in Bengali also means "to fly" or "to soar". | |||
| Gujarati | વિમાન | ||
| The word "વિમાન" is derived from the Sanskrit word "विमान" (vimāna), which originally meant "temple" or "palace". | |||
| Hindi | हवाई जहाज | ||
| The word 'हवाई जहाज' (aircraft) originally referred to an 'air ship' in Hindi, but now refers to any flying machine heavier than air. | |||
| Kannada | ವಿಮಾನ | ||
| The word "ವಿಮಾನ" (vimana) also has a spiritual connotation in Hinduism, referring to a celestial chariot used by deities. | |||
| Malayalam | വിമാനം | ||
| The Malayalam word "വിമാനം" is derived from the Sanskrit equivalent, which in turn comes from the words "vi" (apart, asunder) and "mana" (mind). Hence, it originally meant "separation from the mind" and, only by extension, came to refer to the concept of an "aircraft". | |||
| Marathi | विमान | ||
| विमान also means 'temple of God' in Sanskrit and many Indian languages. | |||
| Nepali | विमान | ||
| The Nepali word "विमान" comes from the Sanskrit word "विमान" which also means "temple" or "palace". | |||
| Punjabi | ਜਹਾਜ਼ | ||
| The word “ਜਹਾਜ਼” can also figuratively refer to something that's grand, majestic, or imposing. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ගුවන් යානා | ||
| Tamil | விமானம் | ||
| "விமானம்" (aircraft) comes from the Sanskrit word "vimana", which also refers to a mythical flying machine from ancient Indian texts. | |||
| Telugu | విమానాల | ||
| విమానం (vimānam) is a Sanskrit term that originally referred to a "temple chariot" and later came to mean "aircraft". | |||
| Urdu | ہوائی جہاز | ||
| The word "ہوائی جہاز" means "of the air" and has a different meaning than the English word "aircraft". | |||
Aircraft in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 飞机 | ||
| In Chinese, "飞机" literally means 'flying machine' and can also refer to an airplane, a model plane, or a paper airplane. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 飛機 | ||
| The first character of "飛機" (「飛」) means "to fly", while the second character (「機」) can also mean "machine", suggesting the combination of flight and machinery. | |||
| Japanese | 航空機 | ||
| "航空" originally meant "aeronautics" but now refers specifically to aircraft. | |||
| Korean | 항공기 | ||
| The word 항공기 ('aircraft') is a compound of the Sino-Korean terms 항 ('flight') and 공기 ('air'), but it can also refer to a 'flight' or 'flight route'. | |||
| Mongolian | нисэх онгоц | ||
| The Mongolian word for 'aircraft', 'нисэх онгоц', literally means 'flying ship'. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လေယာဉ်ပျံ | ||
Aircraft in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | pesawat terbang | ||
| Pesawat terbang' is derived from the Indonesian word 'pesawat' ('machine') and 'terbang' ('to fly'). | |||
| Javanese | pesawat | ||
| In Javanese, the word "pesawat" is also used to refer to a wooden frame used to shape batik patterns. | |||
| Khmer | យន្តហោះ | ||
| The word យន្តហោះ may also refer to a flying machine or a spacecraft. | |||
| Lao | ເຮືອບິນ | ||
| The Lao word "ເຮືອບິນ" ('aircraft') is derived from the Thai word "เรือบิน", which literally means "flying boat". | |||
| Malay | kapal terbang | ||
| The word 'kapal terbang' comes from two root words: 'kapal' (ship) and 'terbang' (to fly), reflecting the original perception of aircraft as ships that sail through the air. | |||
| Thai | อากาศยาน | ||
| The word "อากาศยาน" can also mean "air vehicle" or "flying machine" in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | phi cơ | ||
| "Phi cơ" is a Sino-Vietnamese word, derived from Chinese "飞机", meaning "flying machine", which in turn originated from French "aéroplane". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sasakyang panghimpapawid | ||
Aircraft in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | təyyarə | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "təyyarə" derives from the Ottoman Turkish word "tayyare", which itself is of French origin and means "flying machine". | |||
| Kazakh | ұшақ | ||
| The word "ұшақ" (aircraft) comes from the Russian word "ушак" (ear), which is a reference to the shape of the wing. | |||
| Kyrgyz | учак | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "учак" is derived from the Turkic verb "uçmak", meaning "to fly". It can also refer to a kite or a bird. | |||
| Tajik | ҳавопаймо | ||
| The word “ҳавопаймо” originates from the Persian word “هواپیما”, which literally means “air walker”. | |||
| Turkmen | uçar | ||
| Uzbek | samolyot | ||
| The word "samolyot" comes from the Russian word "самолёт" which means "self-flying". The word was first coined by Russian aviation pioneer Aleksandr Mozhaisky in the late 19th century. | |||
| Uyghur | ئايروپىلان | ||
Aircraft in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mokulele | ||
| In Hawaiian, "mokulele" can also refer to a flying instrument or a large bird. | |||
| Maori | wakarererangi | ||
| The word "wakarererangi" literally means "canoe that sails in the sky" in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | vaalele | ||
| The word "vaalele" is also used to describe a bird's flight. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | sasakyang panghimpapawid | ||
| It's literally translated as "vehicle for the atmosphere". | |||
Aircraft in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | avión ukanaka | ||
| Guarani | aviõ rehegua | ||
Aircraft in International Languages
| Esperanto | aviadilo | ||
| "Aviadilo" combines "avi" (bird) and "adilo" (device), but can also refer to birds and their flight. | |||
| Latin | elit | ||
| The Latin word "elit" is also a past passive participle of "eligere" and means "chosen, selected". | |||
Aircraft in Others Languages
| Greek | αεροσκάφος | ||
| The suffix “-σκάφος” (“-skaphos”) means a vessel, thus referring to the hull of the aircraft. | |||
| Hmong | dav hlau | ||
| 'Dav hlau' is derived from the Thai word 'dawb plao' ('flying boat'). | |||
| Kurdish | firrok | ||
| The word "firrok" also means "sparrow" in Kurdish, referring to the small size and swift movement of aircraft. | |||
| Turkish | uçak | ||
| "Uçak" originally meant "to fly" in the Turkic languages, but later came to be used specifically for aircraft. | |||
| Xhosa | inqwelomoya | ||
| Its alternate spelling is "inqwelomoya", which translates to "a thing that carries wind". | |||
| Yiddish | ערקראַפט | ||
| The Yiddish word "ערקראַפט" (aircraft) comes from the German "Luftfahrzeug" (air vehicle), and can also mean "airship" or "balloon". | |||
| Zulu | indiza | ||
| The word "indiza" also means "something that is carried on the back, such as a bag or a child" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | বিমান | ||
| Aymara | avión ukanaka | ||
| Bhojpuri | विमान के इस्तेमाल कइल जाला | ||
| Dhivehi | މަތިންދާބޯޓުތަކެވެ | ||
| Dogri | हवाई जहाज | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sasakyang panghimpapawid | ||
| Guarani | aviõ rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | eroplano | ||
| Krio | plen dɛn we dɛn kin yuz fɔ ple | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | فڕۆکە | ||
| Maithili | विमान | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯦꯌꯔꯛꯔꯥꯐꯠꯁꯤꯡ ꯌꯥꯑꯣꯔꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | thlawhna a ni | ||
| Oromo | xiyyaara | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବିମାନ | ||
| Quechua | avionkuna | ||
| Sanskrit | विमानम् | ||
| Tatar | самолет | ||
| Tigrinya | ነፈርቲ | ||
| Tsonga | swihahampfhuka | ||