Bar in Different Languages
Discover 'Bar' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'bar' holds a special place in our vocabulary, signifying a variety of concepts depending on the context. Most commonly, it refers to an establishment where alcoholic beverages are served. Bars are social hubs, fostering conversations, and community connections. They're also places of relaxation and enjoyment after a long day's work.
Beyond this, 'bar' is a significant term in other contexts. In law, a 'bar' denotes the profession of lawyers. In mathematics, a 'bar' can refer to a line above a symbol, indicating a different value.
Given its significance and cultural importance, it's fascinating to know how 'bar' translates in different languages. For instance, in Spanish, it's 'barra', in French 'bar', in German 'Bar', in Russian Бар (Bar), in Japanese バー (Bā), in Chinese 酒吧 (Jiǔbā).
Explore the many faces of 'bar' and delve into the cultural nuances associated with this simple yet powerful word.
Bar
Bar in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | kroeg | ||
| It is derived from the Dutch word "kroeg", which means tavern or inn. | |||
| Amharic | ባር | ||
| The Amharic word "ባር" can also mean "outside" or "edge". | |||
| Hausa | mashaya | ||
| Mashaya is an Igbo loanword whose original meaning was | |||
| Igbo | ụlọ mmanya | ||
| The Igbo word "ụlọ mmanya" directly translates to "house of drink" which is an appropriate descriptor for a bar. | |||
| Malagasy | bara | ||
| The word 'bara' in Malagasy also refers to a type of rice wine or a small boat used for fishing. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | bala | ||
| Bala is also a term for an alcoholic drink in Nyanja, derived from the word for 'bar'. | |||
| Shona | bhaa | ||
| The word "bhaa" in Shona can also refer to a large type of fishing net used in rivers or lakes. | |||
| Somali | bar | ||
| “Baark” is a Somali word meaning "oceanside," "coastal land," also used for land that gets submerged during high tide. | |||
| Sesotho | bareng | ||
| The term "Bareng" also means a group of people gathered for a specific purpose (e.g. a traditional council or an army). | |||
| Swahili | baa | ||
| The Swahili word "baa" is also a form of the verb "to come" when used as a directive, implying an immediate action. | |||
| Xhosa | ibha | ||
| In some Xhosa dialects, "ibha" can also refer to a "fence" or "enclosure". | |||
| Yoruba | igi | ||
| The Yoruba word "igi" also denotes a tree or a club with a heavy knob, indicating its multiple meanings in the language. | |||
| Zulu | ibha | ||
| "Ibha" can refer to any type of alcoholic drink, not just a bar where alcohol is served. | |||
| Bambara | dɔlɔminyɔrɔ | ||
| Ewe | ahanoƒe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | bar | ||
| Lingala | nzete | ||
| Luganda | bbaala | ||
| Sepedi | paa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nsanombea | ||
Bar in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | شريط | ||
| In Arabic, "شريط" can also mean "tape", "ribbon" or "stripe". | |||
| Hebrew | בָּר | ||
| The word "בָּר" is also related to the word "בָּרָה" (to create), as a bar is a place where drinks are created. | |||
| Pashto | بار | ||
| The word "بار" may also refer to a fruit tree or its fruit, similar to the jujube. | |||
| Arabic | شريط | ||
| In Arabic, "شريط" can also mean "tape", "ribbon" or "stripe". | |||
Bar in Western European Languages
| Albanian | bar | ||
| The Albanian word 'bar' can also refer to 'place', 'space' or 'side' in different contexts. | |||
| Basque | taberna | ||
| "Taberna" comes from the Basque word "taberna" which means "inn". | |||
| Catalan | barra | ||
| In the military, it refers to a large, rectangular formation of infantry or cavalry. | |||
| Croatian | bar | ||
| The Croatian word "bar" can also refer to a mountain pass or a narrow strip of land separating two bodies of water. | |||
| Danish | bar | ||
| In Danish, the word "bar" can also mean a wave or a strip of sand. | |||
| Dutch | bar | ||
| In Dutch the word bar means both bar and stretcher. | |||
| English | bar | ||
| The word 'bar' also refers to an establishment that serves alcoholic drinks, a unit of pressure, a musical measure, a solid elongated object etc. | |||
| French | bar | ||
| French “bar” (meaning a rod, such as the one used by a lawyer or judge) comes from Medieval Latin “barra.” | |||
| Frisian | bar | ||
| The term 'bar' in Frisian can also refer to a wooden stake driven into the ground for use as a fence or a boundary barrier. | |||
| Galician | barra | ||
| The Galician word "barra", meaning "bar", is likely derived from the Proto-Celtic root *barro-, meaning "long, pointed object". | |||
| German | bar | ||
| "Bar" in German can also refer to a bear, a unit of pressure, or a musical note. | |||
| Icelandic | bar | ||
| In Icelandic, "bar" can also refer to an obstacle in water or on a road. | |||
| Irish | barra | ||
| The Irish word for 'bar' comes from the French word 'barre' via the Norman invasion of Ireland | |||
| Italian | bar | ||
| The word "bar" in Italian comes from the Latin "barra," meaning "pole" or "rail. | |||
| Luxembourgish | bar | ||
| Bar in Luxembourgish can also mean "bear". | |||
| Maltese | bar | ||
| The word "bar" in Maltese is derived from the Italian word "barra", and it was first used to refer to the iron rods used to reinforce windows and doors. | |||
| Norwegian | bar | ||
| It can also mean 'wave' or 'plank'. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | barra | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "barra" can also refer to a sandbar or a metal rod. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | bar | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, the word "bar" can also mean "summit" or "top". | |||
| Spanish | bar | ||
| In Spanish, "bar" can refer to a bar of soap, a metal rod, or a unit of atmospheric pressure. | |||
| Swedish | bar | ||
| The Swedish word "bar" can also refer to a small forest, an obstacle, or a unit of pressure. | |||
| Welsh | bar | ||
| In Welsh, 'bar' also means 'top' or 'summit' | |||
Bar in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | бар | ||
| In Belarusian, the word "бар" ("bar") can also refer to a type of traditional mead made from honey and herbs. | |||
| Bosnian | bar | ||
| The word "bar" in Bosnian can also mean "swamp" or "marsh". | |||
| Bulgarian | лента | ||
| The word "лента" (bar) in Bulgarian also means "ribbon" or "tape". | |||
| Czech | bar | ||
| In Czech, "bar" can also refer to "color" or the "smell of a goat". | |||
| Estonian | baar | ||
| The Estonian word "baar" can also refer to a place where a particular activity or occupation is carried out, especially one that involves manual labor or trade. | |||
| Finnish | baari | ||
| The Finnish word "baari" can also refer to a place where food is served. | |||
| Hungarian | rúd | ||
| The Hungarian word "rúd" can also refer to a rod, pole, or stick. | |||
| Latvian | bārs | ||
| In Latvian, the word "bārs" can also refer to a "fence", particularly a wooden fence enclosing a field or pasture. | |||
| Lithuanian | baras | ||
| In Lithuanian, the word "baras" can also refer to a type of traditional dance, a measure of length, or a unit of area. | |||
| Macedonian | бар | ||
| The word "бар" ("bar") in Macedonian can also refer to a mountain pass, a strait, or a unit of atmospheric pressure. | |||
| Polish | bar | ||
| The Polish word "bar" is derived from the Germanic word "barga", which means "a pole or obstacle" and is related to the English word "barrier". | |||
| Romanian | bar | ||
| "Bar" (a tree-lined forest of coniferous trees) comes from the Hungarian word "bár" (forest). | |||
| Russian | бар | ||
| In Russian, "бар" (bar) can also refer to a unit of atmospheric pressure. | |||
| Serbian | бар | ||
| "Бар" means a "mountain" in Serbian as well as a "bar". | |||
| Slovak | bar | ||
| "Bar" is also the Slovak word for "color" or "hue" | |||
| Slovenian | bar | ||
| The word "bar" in Slovenian can also refer to a unit of pressure or a musical note. | |||
| Ukrainian | бар | ||
| "Бар" (bar) in Ukrainian does not mean "бар" (bar) but "barrier" or "obstruction." | |||
Bar in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বার | ||
| The word "বার" (bar) in Bengali can also means "time" when used in terms of a time of day or as in a sentence like " | |||
| Gujarati | બાર | ||
| "બાર" can also refer to the twelve major Hindu deities. | |||
| Hindi | बार | ||
| "बार" (bar) in Hindi can also refer to a small room, a heavy weight or a lever. | |||
| Kannada | ಬಾರ್ | ||
| In Kannada, 'ಬಾರ್' can also refer to a gate or entrance. | |||
| Malayalam | ബാർ | ||
| In Malayalam "bar" can also mean an obstacle or to forbid something. | |||
| Marathi | बार | ||
| In Marathi, "बार" (bar) also refers to a unit of weight or a turn in a game. | |||
| Nepali | बार | ||
| The word "बार" (bar) in Nepali can also mean "twelve" or "time". | |||
| Punjabi | ਬਾਰ | ||
| ਬਾਰ (bār) is also a common suffix in place names that means 'ford'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තීරුව | ||
| The word 'තීරුව', apart from its meaning as 'bar', also refers to an embankment along a river or a coastline. | |||
| Tamil | மதுக்கூடம் | ||
| Etymology: from Tamil "மது" (alcohol) + "கூடம்" (place), meaning "place for drinking alcohol". | |||
| Telugu | బార్ | ||
| The Telugu word "బార్" (bar) can also refer to a unit of pressure equivalent to 1 atmosphere. | |||
| Urdu | بار | ||
| "بار" (bar) in Urdu can also mean a burden, load, or weight. | |||
Bar in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 酒吧 | ||
| "酒" (jiǔ) means "alcohol", and "吧" (bā) is a particle used to indicate a place, so the combination "酒吧" (jiǔbā) literally means "a place for alcohol". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 酒吧 | ||
| 酒吧一詞源自古英語「barre」，意指橫桿，原用於描述酒館櫃台。 | |||
| Japanese | バー | ||
| The kanji "バー" (ba-) is also used to write the English loanword "bar" in Japanese, which can refer to a variety of establishments serving alcoholic beverages. | |||
| Korean | 바 | ||
| The Korean word '바' can mean both a 'bar', meaning a place to buy drinks, and the 'sea' | |||
| Mongolian | бар | ||
| In Mongolian, "бар" ("bar") also means "tiger" and is used as a nickname for courageous people. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | bar | ||
| The Burmese word "bar" can also refer to a unit of measurement for gold or silver. | |||
Bar in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | batang | ||
| The word "batang" in Indonesian can also refer to a stick or a log. | |||
| Javanese | bar | ||
| In Javanese, "bar" can also mean a group of people, a company, or a party. | |||
| Khmer | បារ | ||
| The word "បារ" can also refer to a type of traditional Cambodian dessert made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. | |||
| Lao | ບາ | ||
| The word "ບາ" can also mean "place of business" or "establishment" in Lao, not just "bar". | |||
| Malay | bar | ||
| "Bar" in Malay can be a place of refreshment or a rod that encloses or separates. | |||
| Thai | บาร์ | ||
| The Thai word "บาร์" can also be spelled "บา" and has the additional meaning "measure of gold or silver" | |||
| Vietnamese | quán ba | ||
| Quán ba literally means "room of the third [person]" and is used colloquially to refer to a bar or pub. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bar | ||
Bar in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | bar | ||
| The word "bar" also means "to gather" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | бар | ||
| The Kazakh word "бар" also means "leopard". | |||
| Kyrgyz | бар | ||
| The word "бар" can also mean "leopard" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | бар | ||
| The word "бар" in Tajik can also refer to a place where drinks are served (like a bar in English). | |||
| Turkmen | bar | ||
| Uzbek | bar | ||
| In Uzbek, the word "bar" also means "peace and harmony", reflecting the importance of community and social cohesion in Uzbek culture. | |||
| Uyghur | bar | ||
Bar in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pā | ||
| The Hawaiian word "pā" can also refer to a traditional Hawaiian fort or a wall enclosing a sacred space. | |||
| Maori | pae | ||
| Pae can mean a variety of things, including 'side', 'wing', 'half', and 'place of assembly'. | |||
| Samoan | pa | ||
| The word 'pa' in Samoan can also refer to a fence or enclosure, and its origin is from the Proto-Polynesian word 'papa', meaning 'flat surface'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bar | ||
| "Bar" in Tagalog can also mean "fence" or "hedge". | |||
Bar in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | machañ uta | ||
| Guarani | guarirenda | ||
Bar in International Languages
| Esperanto | trinkejo | ||
| The Esperanto word "trinkejo" comes from the German word "Trinkhalle", meaning "drinking hall". | |||
| Latin | bar | ||
| In Latin, 'bar' can also refer to a barrier or an obstacle. | |||
Bar in Others Languages
| Greek | μπαρ | ||
| "Μπαρ" also refers to a "heap of stones" or an "obstacle" in Greek. | |||
| Hmong | bar | ||
| The homonym bar (n) can also mean a metal rod or an obstacle, a musical measure, or a form of poetry. | |||
| Kurdish | bar | ||
| The Kurdish word "bar" can also refer to a type of fruit tree. | |||
| Turkish | bar | ||
| The Turkish word "bar" can also refer to a unit of pressure equal to one million dynes per square centimeter, or to a substance with a high atomic number. | |||
| Xhosa | ibha | ||
| In some Xhosa dialects, "ibha" can also refer to a "fence" or "enclosure". | |||
| Yiddish | באַר | ||
| In Yiddish, "bar" can also refer to a tavern or drinking establishment. | |||
| Zulu | ibha | ||
| "Ibha" can refer to any type of alcoholic drink, not just a bar where alcohol is served. | |||
| Assamese | বাৰ | ||
| Aymara | machañ uta | ||
| Bhojpuri | सरिया | ||
| Dhivehi | ބާރ | ||
| Dogri | रोक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bar | ||
| Guarani | guarirenda | ||
| Ilocano | kabaret | ||
| Krio | ba | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بار | ||
| Maithili | छड़ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯁꯥꯡꯕ ꯄꯣꯠ ꯑꯃ | ||
| Mizo | khuahkhirh | ||
| Oromo | mana dhugaatii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଦଣ୍ଡିକା | ||
| Quechua | siqi | ||
| Sanskrit | प्रच्छेद | ||
| Tatar | бар | ||
| Tigrinya | ባር | ||
| Tsonga | sivela | ||