Bear in Different Languages
Discover 'Bear' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Bear
Afrikaans dra | ||
Albanian ari | ||
Amharic ድብ | ||
Arabic يتحمل | ||
Armenian արջ | ||
Assamese ভালুক | ||
Aymara awantasiña | ||
Azerbaijani ayı | ||
Bambara muɲu | ||
Basque bear | ||
Belarusian мядзведзь | ||
Bengali ভালুক | ||
Bhojpuri भालू | ||
Bosnian medvjed | ||
Bulgarian мечка | ||
Catalan suportar | ||
Cebuano oso | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 熊 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 熊 | ||
Corsican orsu | ||
Croatian snositi | ||
Czech medvěd | ||
Danish bjørn | ||
Dhivehi ސާރިދޯޅު | ||
Dogri रिच्छ | ||
Dutch beer | ||
English bear | ||
Esperanto urso | ||
Estonian karu | ||
Ewe sisiblisi | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) oso | ||
Finnish karhu | ||
French ours | ||
Frisian bear | ||
Galician oso | ||
Georgian დათვი | ||
German bär | ||
Greek αρκούδα | ||
Guarani oso | ||
Gujarati રીંછ | ||
Haitian Creole pote | ||
Hausa kai | ||
Hawaiian pea | ||
Hebrew דוב | ||
Hindi भालू | ||
Hmong dais | ||
Hungarian medve | ||
Icelandic bera | ||
Igbo ibu | ||
Ilocano baklayen | ||
Indonesian beruang | ||
Irish iompróidh | ||
Italian orso | ||
Japanese くま | ||
Javanese bruwang | ||
Kannada ಕರಡಿ | ||
Kazakh аю | ||
Khmer ខ្លាឃ្មុំ | ||
Kinyarwanda idubu | ||
Konkani वास्वेल | ||
Korean 곰 | ||
Krio bia | ||
Kurdish hirç | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) وورچ | ||
Kyrgyz аюу | ||
Lao ໝີ | ||
Latin ursa | ||
Latvian lācis | ||
Lingala ours | ||
Lithuanian turėti | ||
Luganda eddubu | ||
Luxembourgish droen | ||
Macedonian мечка | ||
Maithili भालू | ||
Malagasy bera | ||
Malay beruang | ||
Malayalam കരടി | ||
Maltese ibatu | ||
Maori pea | ||
Marathi अस्वल | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯈꯥꯡꯕ | ||
Mizo tuar | ||
Mongolian баавгай | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) ဝက်ဝံ | ||
Nepali भालु | ||
Norwegian bjørn | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) chimbalangondo | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଭାଲୁ | ||
Oromo qabi | ||
Pashto بیرغ | ||
Persian خرس | ||
Polish niedźwiedź | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) urso | ||
Punjabi ਰਿੱਛ | ||
Quechua ukumari | ||
Romanian urs | ||
Russian медведь | ||
Samoan urosa | ||
Sanskrit भल्लूकः | ||
Scots Gaelic mathan | ||
Sepedi rwala | ||
Serbian медвед | ||
Sesotho bere | ||
Shona bere | ||
Sindhi برداشت ڪرڻ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) වලහා | ||
Slovak medveď | ||
Slovenian medved | ||
Somali orso | ||
Spanish oso | ||
Sundanese biruang | ||
Swahili kubeba | ||
Swedish björn | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) bear | ||
Tajik хирс | ||
Tamil தாங்க | ||
Tatar аю | ||
Telugu ఎలుగుబంటి | ||
Thai หมี | ||
Tigrinya ቢራ | ||
Tsonga tiyisela | ||
Turkish ayı | ||
Turkmen aýy | ||
Twi (Akan) sisire | ||
Ukrainian ведмідь | ||
Urdu ریچھ | ||
Uyghur ئېيىق | ||
Uzbek ayiq | ||
Vietnamese chịu | ||
Welsh arth | ||
Xhosa ibhere | ||
Yiddish טראָגן | ||
Yoruba agbateru | ||
Zulu ibhere |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | In Afrikaans, "dra" refers not only to the animal "bear" but also figuratively to a "tall person". |
| Albanian | The Albanian word "ari" is also used to describe a strong or brave man. |
| Amharic | In Amharic, the word "ድብ" ("bear") can also be used to describe a person of great strength or wisdom. |
| Arabic | يتحمل also means 'bear, carry, sustain, endure, withstand'. |
| Armenian | The Armenian word "արջ" ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ŕ̥tḱos, meaning "bear". |
| Azerbaijani | The word "ayı" also means "month" in Azerbaijani, derived from the Old Turkic word "ay" meaning "moon". |
| Basque | The Basque word "hartza" has other meanings, such as "lazy person" or "clumsy person". |
| Belarusian | The word "мядзведзь" (bear) comes from the Proto-Slavic word *medvědь, which also means "honey eater". |
| Bengali | The word ভালুক also means 'sloth', which reflects the animal's slow and deliberate movements. |
| Bosnian | In Old Church Slavonic, "medvjed" originally meant "honey eater" and is related to the Greek word for honey - "meli". |
| Bulgarian | The word "мечка" also means "female bear" in Bulgarian, with the male bear being called "мечо". |
| Catalan | The Catalan word "suportar" derives from the Latin "supportare": "support". |
| Cebuano | In Cebuano, the word "oso" can also refer to a grumpy or irritable person, similar to the English usage of "bear" as a verb. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 熊 (simplified) is etymologically related to 窮 (poor) and refers to being at the ends of the earth. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The word "熊" (bear) was originally a pictogram of a bear standing on its hind legs, but later became a word for a brave and strong person. |
| Corsican | The word "orsu" also refers to the constellations "Ursa Major" and "Ursa Minor" |
| Croatian | The word 'snositi' also means 'carry' in Croatian. |
| Czech | The word "medvěd" in Czech is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *medvědь, which is related to the words for honey, sweetness, and love. |
| Danish | In Danish, "bjørn" also means "brown" or "bruin", referencing the color of the animal. |
| Dutch | In Dutch, "beer" can also refer to a person who carries heavy objects or a metal hook for carrying heavy objects. |
| Esperanto | The Esperanto word "urso" is derived from the Latin word "ursus" and also means "ursine" or "bearlike". |
| Estonian | Estonian "karu" also refers to a harsh winter or to "heavy" sleep. |
| Finnish | The word "karhu" can also refer to a clumsy or awkward person in Finnish. |
| French | In French, the word "ours" (bear) evolved from the Latin "ursus", while "horreur" (horror) stems from the Latin "horrere" (to bristle). |
| Frisian | In Frisian, "bear" can also refer to a "stretcher" or a "person who helps carry a coffin". |
| Galician | The word "oso" in Galician can also mean "blackish-brown", "dark-colored", or "gloomy." |
| Georgian | The word "დათვი" is derived from the Proto-Kartvelian root *dъtъw- meaning "male" or "husband". |
| German | The German word "Bär" can also refer to a large, strong man or a person who is clumsy or awkward. |
| Greek | The word "αρκούδα" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ŕ̥tḱos, meaning "she-bear" or "female bear," and bears resemblance to words for "bear" in other Indo-European languages, such as Latin "ursus," Old Church Slavonic "ръти," and Sanskrit "rkṣa." |
| Gujarati | The word "રીંછ" is cognate with the English "grizzly bear" and is thought to come from the Sanskrit word for a grizzly, "rikshah". |
| Haitian Creole | In Haitian Creole, the word "pote" derives from the French word "pote" meaning "friend." |
| Hausa | The word 'kai' in Hausa is also used to refer to a 'heavy burden', 'hard work' or 'difficult task'. |
| Hawaiian | The Hawaiian word "pea" can also mean "to take care of" or "to cherish". |
| Hebrew | The origin of the word "דוב" is unknown, but it is related to the Akkadian word "dubbu" meaning "bear" or "beast". |
| Hindi | The word "भालू" is also used as a term of endearment for a beloved person in Hindi. |
| Hmong | The Hmong word "dais" can also mean "a wooden platform or stage". |
| Hungarian | The Hungarian word "medve" is cognate with the Finnish "mesikämmen", which means "honey-paw". |
| Icelandic | The Icelandic word "bera" can also refer to a burden, load, or responsibility. |
| Igbo | The Igbo word |
| Indonesian | The word "beruang" in Indonesian is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhalluka", which means "brown beast" or "shaggy animal." |
| Italian | The Italian word "orso" derives from the Latin word "ursus", which also meant "bear". |
| Japanese | The word "kuma" can also refer to a dark area, such as a shadow or a bruise, due to its association with the dark fur of bears. |
| Javanese | It is also used as a general term for |
| Kannada | In Kannada, "ಕರಡಿ" primarily refers to the animal "bear" but also denotes a "fierce or strong person". |
| Kazakh | The word "аю" can also refer to a "big person" in Kazakh slang. |
| Korean | The word "곰" can also mean "a lot" or "a very large amount" in Korean. |
| Kurdish | The word "hirç" in Kurdish also refers to a wild and ferocious person, implying the strength and aggression of the animal. |
| Kyrgyz | The Kirghiz word "аюу" not only means "bear" but also serves as a respectful form of address similar to the English "Sir" or "Madam." |
| Lao | In addition to its meaning as an animal, ໝີ can be used colloquially in Lao to mean "heavy" or "clumsy." |
| Latin | "Ursa" is also the Latin word for a female bear. |
| Latvian | The word "lācis" is cognate with the word "lots" in the neighboring Lithuanian language. |
| Lithuanian | The alternate meaning of the word "tur" in Lithuanian relates to the female breast. |
| Luxembourgish | Despite its obvious connection to the animal, "droen" is also a term for a "slow" or "clumsy" person. |
| Macedonian | The word "мечка" in Macedonian also means "clumsy person" or "an object that is difficult to move". |
| Malagasy | The Malagasy word "bera" can also mean "to carry" or "to bring". |
| Malay | "Beruang" literally means "heavy rain" in Malay, possibly alluding to the heavy downpour that often accompanies the presence of bears. |
| Malayalam | The word 'കരടി' ('bear') has the alternate meanings 'heavy rain' and 'a wooden box in which rice is stored'. |
| Maltese | The word "ibatu" in Maltese, meaning "bear", derives from the Semitic languages used on the islands before the arrival of the Arabs. |
| Maori | In the Māori language, 'pea' means “bear”, but it also can refer to a “cave” or “den”. |
| Marathi | The word 'अस्वल' also means 'a bee' in Marathi, originating from the same Sanskrit root 'अस्वल' meaning 'black'. |
| Mongolian | "Баавгай" means "bear" in Mongolian, but it can also mean "uncle" or "respected elder". |
| Nepali | The word 'भालु' is likely derived from the Sanskrit word 'bhālu' meaning 'fierce or strong'. |
| Norwegian | The name "Bjørn" also means "warrior" in Old Norse, hinting at the animal's formidable strength. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | Chimbalangondo is derived from the Proto-Bantu word "*cimpa", meaning "animal." |
| Pashto | The word "بیرغ" in Pashto can also mean "flag" or "banner". |
| Persian | The Persian word "خرس" also refers to the constellation "Ursa Major." |
| Polish | "Niedźwiedź" can also refer to a grumpy or irritable person. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | The Portuguese word "Urso" comes from the Latin word "ursus", which also means "bear". |
| Romanian | The word "urs" in Romanian also means "the North" or "the Great Bear constellation". |
| Russian | In Slavic languages like Russian, the term "медведь" can also mean "honey eater" in reference to the animals' diets |
| Samoan | Urosa is also a euphemism for "strong man" in Samoan slang. |
| Scots Gaelic | Mathain derives from matha, 'bear' and may have originated in the word for 'sow' in Old or Middle Irish. |
| Serbian | The word "медвед" is a Slavic word related to "мед" ("honey"), and was likely originally used to describe the animal's habit of raiding beehives for honey. |
| Sesotho | In Sesotho, "bere" also refers to the "front" of an object or person. |
| Shona | "Bere" also refers to a heavy meal, usually eaten for breakfast, that consists of sadza, vegetables, meat, fish or gravy. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The word "වලහා" (bear) in Sinhala also means "a large, clumsy person". |
| Slovak | The word "medveď" has a potential alternate meaning as "eater of honey," as "med" means "honey" in Slovak. |
| Slovenian | In some old Slavic languages, “medved” stands for “honey eater”. |
| Somali | The name of the clan bears the name of the founder, Orso, who was a hunter known for his strength and courage. |
| Spanish | While "oso" means "bear" in Spanish, it can also be used colloquially to describe someone lazy or clumsy, much like the word "bear" can in English. |
| Sundanese | Biruang is also used to refer to the constellation Ursa Major in Sundanese. |
| Swahili | Kopi (coffee) is another alternate meaning of Kubeba. |
| Swedish | In Swedish, "Björn" also refers to a constellation known as Ursa Major, literally meaning "big bear". |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The Tagalog word "bear" can also refer to tolerate, endure or suffer something or someone. |
| Tajik | The word “хирс” (bear) is also used to refer to strong, stocky, and hairy men. |
| Tamil | தாங்க means 'to hold or support' and can be traced back to Proto-Dravidian *taːŋg- 'to carry on the back, bear'. |
| Telugu | The word "ఎలుగుబంటి" may have originated from the Dravidian word "elugu" meaning "to move". Alternatively, it may come from the Telugu word "elu" meaning "hair" and "banti" meaning "body", referring to the hairy body of the bear. |
| Thai | "หมี" also refers to a type of large, heavy object (such as a big bag of rice). |
| Turkish | "Ayı" kelimesi ayrıca "ağırlık" veya "heybet" anlamına da gelebilir. |
| Ukrainian | "Ведмідь" also refers to a "wedding bear" (a best man's helper) in Ukrainian traditions. |
| Urdu | The word "ریچھ" (bear) is derived from the Middle Persian word "rič" meaning "mountain goat". |
| Uzbek | The word "ayiq" shares a root with the name of the ancient Turko-Mongolian deity "Ai-Ata". |
| Vietnamese | The Vietnamese word "chịu" is said to originate from the Chinese word "shou", which denotes both the action of bearing and that of giving birth |
| Welsh | In Welsh, the word "arth" can also refer to a hero or a high-ranking person, cognate with the Irish "art". |
| Xhosa | The word "ibhere" also refers to a specific type of large, brown bear found in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word "טראָגן" (trogn) can also mean "to carry" or "to wear" in English. |
| Yoruba | The word "agbateru" in Yoruba also means "one who carries a heavy load". |
| Zulu | The word "ibhere" also means "to give birth" or "to produce offspring" in Zulu. |
| English | The word "bear" derives from the Old English word "beran" and can also refer to carrying or enduring something. |