Bear in Different Languages
Discover 'Bear' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Bears are magnificent creatures that have held great significance in various cultures and societies around the world. From their raw power to their symbolic representation of strength and courage, bears have been a source of fascination for humans for centuries. The word bear itself has interesting translations in different languages, reflecting the animal's cultural importance and the unique ways different cultures perceive it.
For instance, in Spanish, the word for bear is oso, which comes from the Latin word ursus. In German, it's Bär, and in French, it's ours. These translations not only give us insight into the linguistic roots of different languages but also highlight the global fascination with these majestic animals.
Whether you're a language enthusiast, a culture buff, or simply curious about the world around you, exploring the translations of the word bear in different languages can be a fun and enlightening journey. So, let's delve into the world of languages and cultures and discover how this mighty animal is referred to across the globe.
Bear
Bear in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | dra | ||
| In Afrikaans, "dra" refers not only to the animal "bear" but also figuratively to a "tall person". | |||
| Amharic | ድብ | ||
| In Amharic, the word "ድብ" ("bear") can also be used to describe a person of great strength or wisdom. | |||
| Hausa | kai | ||
| The word 'kai' in Hausa is also used to refer to a 'heavy burden', 'hard work' or 'difficult task'. | |||
| Igbo | ibu | ||
| The Igbo word | |||
| Malagasy | bera | ||
| The Malagasy word "bera" can also mean "to carry" or "to bring". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chimbalangondo | ||
| Chimbalangondo is derived from the Proto-Bantu word "*cimpa", meaning "animal." | |||
| Shona | bere | ||
| "Bere" also refers to a heavy meal, usually eaten for breakfast, that consists of sadza, vegetables, meat, fish or gravy. | |||
| Somali | orso | ||
| The name of the clan bears the name of the founder, Orso, who was a hunter known for his strength and courage. | |||
| Sesotho | bere | ||
| In Sesotho, "bere" also refers to the "front" of an object or person. | |||
| Swahili | kubeba | ||
| Kopi (coffee) is another alternate meaning of Kubeba. | |||
| Xhosa | ibhere | ||
| The word "ibhere" also refers to a specific type of large, brown bear found in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. | |||
| Yoruba | agbateru | ||
| The word "agbateru" in Yoruba also means "one who carries a heavy load". | |||
| Zulu | ibhere | ||
| The word "ibhere" also means "to give birth" or "to produce offspring" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | muɲu | ||
| Ewe | sisiblisi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | idubu | ||
| Lingala | ours | ||
| Luganda | eddubu | ||
| Sepedi | rwala | ||
| Twi (Akan) | sisire | ||
Bear in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | يتحمل | ||
| يتحمل also means 'bear, carry, sustain, endure, withstand'. | |||
| Hebrew | דוב | ||
| The origin of the word "דוב" is unknown, but it is related to the Akkadian word "dubbu" meaning "bear" or "beast". | |||
| Pashto | بیرغ | ||
| The word "بیرغ" in Pashto can also mean "flag" or "banner". | |||
| Arabic | يتحمل | ||
| يتحمل also means 'bear, carry, sustain, endure, withstand'. | |||
Bear in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ari | ||
| The Albanian word "ari" is also used to describe a strong or brave man. | |||
| Basque | bear | ||
| The Basque word "hartza" has other meanings, such as "lazy person" or "clumsy person". | |||
| Catalan | suportar | ||
| The Catalan word "suportar" derives from the Latin "supportare": "support". | |||
| Croatian | snositi | ||
| The word 'snositi' also means 'carry' in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | bjørn | ||
| In Danish, "bjørn" also means "brown" or "bruin", referencing the color of the animal. | |||
| Dutch | beer | ||
| In Dutch, "beer" can also refer to a person who carries heavy objects or a metal hook for carrying heavy objects. | |||
| English | bear | ||
| The word "bear" derives from the Old English word "beran" and can also refer to carrying or enduring something. | |||
| French | ours | ||
| In French, the word "ours" (bear) evolved from the Latin "ursus", while "horreur" (horror) stems from the Latin "horrere" (to bristle). | |||
| Frisian | bear | ||
| In Frisian, "bear" can also refer to a "stretcher" or a "person who helps carry a coffin". | |||
| Galician | oso | ||
| The word "oso" in Galician can also mean "blackish-brown", "dark-colored", or "gloomy." | |||
| German | bär | ||
| The German word "Bär" can also refer to a large, strong man or a person who is clumsy or awkward. | |||
| Icelandic | bera | ||
| The Icelandic word "bera" can also refer to a burden, load, or responsibility. | |||
| Irish | iompróidh | ||
| Italian | orso | ||
| The Italian word "orso" derives from the Latin word "ursus", which also meant "bear". | |||
| Luxembourgish | droen | ||
| Despite its obvious connection to the animal, "droen" is also a term for a "slow" or "clumsy" person. | |||
| Maltese | ibatu | ||
| The word "ibatu" in Maltese, meaning "bear", derives from the Semitic languages used on the islands before the arrival of the Arabs. | |||
| Norwegian | bjørn | ||
| The name "Bjørn" also means "warrior" in Old Norse, hinting at the animal's formidable strength. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | urso | ||
| The Portuguese word "Urso" comes from the Latin word "ursus", which also means "bear". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | mathan | ||
| Mathain derives from matha, 'bear' and may have originated in the word for 'sow' in Old or Middle Irish. | |||
| Spanish | oso | ||
| 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. | |||
| Swedish | björn | ||
| In Swedish, "Björn" also refers to a constellation known as Ursa Major, literally meaning "big bear". | |||
| Welsh | arth | ||
| In Welsh, the word "arth" can also refer to a hero or a high-ranking person, cognate with the Irish "art". | |||
Bear in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | мядзведзь | ||
| The word "мядзведзь" (bear) comes from the Proto-Slavic word *medvědь, which also means "honey eater". | |||
| Bosnian | medvjed | ||
| In Old Church Slavonic, "medvjed" originally meant "honey eater" and is related to the Greek word for honey - "meli". | |||
| Bulgarian | мечка | ||
| The word "мечка" also means "female bear" in Bulgarian, with the male bear being called "мечо". | |||
| Czech | medvěd | ||
| The word "medvěd" in Czech is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *medvědь, which is related to the words for honey, sweetness, and love. | |||
| Estonian | karu | ||
| Estonian "karu" also refers to a harsh winter or to "heavy" sleep. | |||
| Finnish | karhu | ||
| The word "karhu" can also refer to a clumsy or awkward person in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | medve | ||
| The Hungarian word "medve" is cognate with the Finnish "mesikämmen", which means "honey-paw". | |||
| Latvian | lācis | ||
| The word "lācis" is cognate with the word "lots" in the neighboring Lithuanian language. | |||
| Lithuanian | turėti | ||
| The alternate meaning of the word "tur" in Lithuanian relates to the female breast. | |||
| Macedonian | мечка | ||
| The word "мечка" in Macedonian also means "clumsy person" or "an object that is difficult to move". | |||
| Polish | niedźwiedź | ||
| "Niedźwiedź" can also refer to a grumpy or irritable person. | |||
| Romanian | urs | ||
| The word "urs" in Romanian also means "the North" or "the Great Bear constellation". | |||
| Russian | медведь | ||
| In Slavic languages like Russian, the term "медведь" can also mean "honey eater" in reference to the animals' diets | |||
| Serbian | медвед | ||
| 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. | |||
| Slovak | medveď | ||
| The word "medveď" has a potential alternate meaning as "eater of honey," as "med" means "honey" in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | medved | ||
| In some old Slavic languages, “medved” stands for “honey eater”. | |||
| Ukrainian | ведмідь | ||
| "Ведмідь" also refers to a "wedding bear" (a best man's helper) in Ukrainian traditions. | |||
Bear in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ভালুক | ||
| The word ভালুক also means 'sloth', which reflects the animal's slow and deliberate movements. | |||
| Gujarati | રીંછ | ||
| The word "રીંછ" is cognate with the English "grizzly bear" and is thought to come from the Sanskrit word for a grizzly, "rikshah". | |||
| Hindi | भालू | ||
| The word "भालू" is also used as a term of endearment for a beloved person in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ಕರಡಿ | ||
| In Kannada, "ಕರಡಿ" primarily refers to the animal "bear" but also denotes a "fierce or strong person". | |||
| Malayalam | കരടി | ||
| The word 'കരടി' ('bear') has the alternate meanings 'heavy rain' and 'a wooden box in which rice is stored'. | |||
| Marathi | अस्वल | ||
| The word 'अस्वल' also means 'a bee' in Marathi, originating from the same Sanskrit root 'अस्वल' meaning 'black'. | |||
| Nepali | भालु | ||
| The word 'भालु' is likely derived from the Sanskrit word 'bhālu' meaning 'fierce or strong'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਰਿੱਛ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වලහා | ||
| The word "වලහා" (bear) in Sinhala also means "a large, clumsy person". | |||
| Tamil | தாங்க | ||
| தாங்க means 'to hold or support' and can be traced back to Proto-Dravidian *taːŋg- 'to carry on the back, bear'. | |||
| Telugu | ఎలుగుబంటి | ||
| 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. | |||
| Urdu | ریچھ | ||
| The word "ریچھ" (bear) is derived from the Middle Persian word "rič" meaning "mountain goat". | |||
Bear in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 熊 | ||
| 熊 (simplified) is etymologically related to 窮 (poor) and refers to being at the ends of the earth. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 熊 | ||
| 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. | |||
| Japanese | くま | ||
| 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. | |||
| Korean | 곰 | ||
| The word "곰" can also mean "a lot" or "a very large amount" in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | баавгай | ||
| "Баавгай" means "bear" in Mongolian, but it can also mean "uncle" or "respected elder". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဝက်ဝံ | ||
Bear in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | beruang | ||
| The word "beruang" in Indonesian is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhalluka", which means "brown beast" or "shaggy animal." | |||
| Javanese | bruwang | ||
| It is also used as a general term for | |||
| Khmer | ខ្លាឃ្មុំ | ||
| Lao | ໝີ | ||
| In addition to its meaning as an animal, ໝີ can be used colloquially in Lao to mean "heavy" or "clumsy." | |||
| Malay | beruang | ||
| "Beruang" literally means "heavy rain" in Malay, possibly alluding to the heavy downpour that often accompanies the presence of bears. | |||
| Thai | หมี | ||
| "หมี" also refers to a type of large, heavy object (such as a big bag of rice). | |||
| Vietnamese | chịu | ||
| 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 | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | oso | ||
Bear in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ayı | ||
| The word "ayı" also means "month" in Azerbaijani, derived from the Old Turkic word "ay" meaning "moon". | |||
| Kazakh | аю | ||
| The word "аю" can also refer to a "big person" in Kazakh slang. | |||
| Kyrgyz | аюу | ||
| The Kirghiz word "аюу" not only means "bear" but also serves as a respectful form of address similar to the English "Sir" or "Madam." | |||
| Tajik | хирс | ||
| The word “хирс” (bear) is also used to refer to strong, stocky, and hairy men. | |||
| Turkmen | aýy | ||
| Uzbek | ayiq | ||
| The word "ayiq" shares a root with the name of the ancient Turko-Mongolian deity "Ai-Ata". | |||
| Uyghur | ئېيىق | ||
Bear in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pea | ||
| The Hawaiian word "pea" can also mean "to take care of" or "to cherish". | |||
| Maori | pea | ||
| In the Māori language, 'pea' means “bear”, but it also can refer to a “cave” or “den”. | |||
| Samoan | urosa | ||
| Urosa is also a euphemism for "strong man" in Samoan slang. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bear | ||
| The Tagalog word "bear" can also refer to tolerate, endure or suffer something or someone. | |||
Bear in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | awantasiña | ||
| Guarani | oso | ||
Bear in International Languages
| Esperanto | urso | ||
| The Esperanto word "urso" is derived from the Latin word "ursus" and also means "ursine" or "bearlike". | |||
| Latin | ursa | ||
| "Ursa" is also the Latin word for a female bear. | |||
Bear in Others Languages
| Greek | αρκούδα | ||
| 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." | |||
| Hmong | dais | ||
| The Hmong word "dais" can also mean "a wooden platform or stage". | |||
| Kurdish | hirç | ||
| The word "hirç" in Kurdish also refers to a wild and ferocious person, implying the strength and aggression of the animal. | |||
| Turkish | ayı | ||
| "Ayı" kelimesi ayrıca "ağırlık" veya "heybet" anlamına da gelebilir. | |||
| Xhosa | ibhere | ||
| The word "ibhere" also refers to a specific type of large, brown bear found in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. | |||
| Yiddish | טראָגן | ||
| The Yiddish word "טראָגן" (trogn) can also mean "to carry" or "to wear" in English. | |||
| Zulu | ibhere | ||
| The word "ibhere" also means "to give birth" or "to produce offspring" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | ভালুক | ||
| Aymara | awantasiña | ||
| Bhojpuri | भालू | ||
| Dhivehi | ސާރިދޯޅު | ||
| Dogri | रिच्छ | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | oso | ||
| Guarani | oso | ||
| Ilocano | baklayen | ||
| Krio | bia | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | وورچ | ||
| Maithili | भालू | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯥꯡꯕ | ||
| Mizo | tuar | ||
| Oromo | qabi | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଭାଲୁ | ||
| Quechua | ukumari | ||
| Sanskrit | भल्लूकः | ||
| Tatar | аю | ||
| Tigrinya | ቢራ | ||
| Tsonga | tiyisela | ||