Bed in Different Languages
Discover 'Bed' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The bed: a simple piece of furniture, yet it holds such great significance in our lives. It's not just a place to sleep, but also a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. Beds have been an essential part of human culture for thousands of years, with ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Romans creating ornate and intricate designs for their sleeping quarters.
Understanding the translation of 'bed' in different languages can offer fascinating insights into various cultures and their ways of life. For instance, in Spanish, 'cama' is used to describe a bed, while in French, it's 'lit'. Meanwhile, in Japanese, the term 'futon' refers to a traditional bed made up of a thin mattress and quilt, often rolled up and stored away during the day.
Exploring the word 'bed' in different languages can also lead to some surprising historical contexts. For example, in Old English, 'bed' was referred to as 'bead', which also meant 'prayer'. This connection highlights the historical significance of the bed as a place of contemplation and rest.
Join us as we delve into the translations of 'bed' in a variety of languages, shedding light on the cultural importance of this everyday object.
Bed
Bed in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | bed | ||
| The Afrikaans word "bed" can also refer to a flower garden or a particular type of plant known as a rosebay willowherb. | |||
| Amharic | አልጋ | ||
| The word "alaga" can also mean "a place of rest" or "a place to sleep". | |||
| Hausa | gado | ||
| The word "gado" in Hausa can also refer to a flat or low-lying area. | |||
| Igbo | bed | ||
| Igbo has a word 'ote' which is both 'bed' when used singular and 'beds' as plural, unlike in English. | |||
| Malagasy | fandriana | ||
| The word "fandriana" in Malagasy also means a room or a house. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kama | ||
| In Nyanja, 'kama' also means a 'sleeping mat' and a 'couch'. | |||
| Shona | mubhedha | ||
| In Shona, "mubhedha" can also mean a place of rest or a refuge. | |||
| Somali | sariirta | ||
| The word "sariirta" can also refer to a mattress or a couch. | |||
| Sesotho | bethe | ||
| Bethe comes from a word meaning 'sleeping place'. Alternatively, it means 'place of repose'. | |||
| Swahili | kitanda | ||
| "Kitanda" derives from the Proto-Bantu word "*kí-tànda", meaning "sleeping place". | |||
| Xhosa | ibhedi | ||
| The Xhosa word "ibhedi" is also used to refer to a flat platform or surface, highlighting its multi-functional role in traditional Xhosa households. | |||
| Yoruba | ibusun | ||
| The word "ibusun" in Yoruba means "bed" and can also refer to a place of rest or a place where someone or something is laid down. | |||
| Zulu | umbhede | ||
| The word "umbhede" can also refer to a sleeping platform made of wood or reeds. | |||
| Bambara | dalan | ||
| Ewe | aba | ||
| Kinyarwanda | uburiri | ||
| Lingala | mbeto | ||
| Luganda | ekitanda | ||
| Sepedi | mpete | ||
| Twi (Akan) | mpa | ||
Bed in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | السرير | ||
| The word "السرير" ("bed") in Arabic may also refer to a marriage bed or a bier. | |||
| Hebrew | מיטה | ||
| The word "מיטה" also refers to a garden bed and can be found in the Talmud | |||
| Pashto | کټ | ||
| The Pashto word "کټ" (bed) derives from the Sanskrit word "क्यति" (layer, stratum). | |||
| Arabic | السرير | ||
| The word "السرير" ("bed") in Arabic may also refer to a marriage bed or a bier. | |||
Bed in Western European Languages
| Albanian | shtrat | ||
| The Albanian word "shtrat" is also used to refer to a layer of rock or mineral deposits. | |||
| Basque | ohea | ||
| The word "ohe" in Basque also means "nest" or "cradle". | |||
| Catalan | llit | ||
| Catalan llit derives from Latin lectum (bed, couch, bier) via Old French lit | |||
| Croatian | krevet | ||
| The Croatian word "krevet" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*krŭvati", | |||
| Danish | seng | ||
| The word "seng" also means "fever" in Danish, stemming from the Old Norse word "sængr" meaning "pain" or "grief". | |||
| Dutch | bed | ||
| The Dutch word "bed" originally meant "prayer" or "commandment". | |||
| English | bed | ||
| The word 'bed' comes from the Old English word 'bedd', which means 'a bed, couch, or resting place'. | |||
| French | lit | ||
| The French word "lit" (bed) comes from the Latin word "lectus," which also refers to a couch, a litter, or a bier. | |||
| Frisian | bêd | ||
| Frisian 'bêd' ('bed') is cognate with English 'bed,' but also means 'prayer' or 'petition.' | |||
| Galician | cama | ||
| The word 'cama' can also refer to a 'mattress' or a 'bed frame', depending on the context. | |||
| German | bett | ||
| Bett can also refer to a gambling debt or a wager. | |||
| Icelandic | rúm | ||
| The Icelandic word "rúm" shares its root with the English "room," both originating from the Proto-Germanic word "*rūmaz" referring to a space or enclosure. | |||
| Irish | leaba | ||
| The Irish word "leaba" is derived from the Old Irish word "laim", meaning "fetter". It is also the root of the word "leamh", meaning "fettered" or "confined". | |||
| Italian | letto | ||
| The Italian word 'letto' also means 'read' and is derived from the Latin word 'lectus', meaning 'couch' or 'bed'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | bett | ||
| In Luxembourgish, 'Bett' can also mean 'flower bed'. | |||
| Maltese | sodda | ||
| The Maltese word "sodda" is a false singular derived from the plural "soddod" (beds), and is likely of Arabic origin. | |||
| Norwegian | seng | ||
| Seng (bed) is borrowed from the Icelandic word 'sengr', which refers to a place of rest or relaxation. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cama | ||
| In Spanish, the word "cama" also means "couch" or "sofa". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | leabaidh | ||
| The word 'leabaidh' shares a root with the Irish 'leaba', Welsh 'gwely', and proto-Celtic '*lebeti', all of which mean 'bed' or 'sleeping place'. | |||
| Spanish | cama | ||
| The Spanish word "cama" comes from the Latin "camus" meaning "bent", as a bed is typically a place to lie down and bend one's body | |||
| Swedish | säng | ||
| Swedish "säng" comes from Old Norse "sengr" which referred to a sleeping place or a resting place, and could also mean "a place where one lies". | |||
| Welsh | gwely | ||
| "Gwely" is derived from the Proto-Celtic word "*welo-", which also meant "meadow" or "pasture land". | |||
Bed in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | ложак | ||
| "Ложак" can also mean "couch" in Belarusian. | |||
| Bosnian | krevet | ||
| The word 'krevet' also derives from a Proto-Balto-Slavic root meaning 'to spread out', and is related to 'krilo', which means 'wing'. | |||
| Bulgarian | легло | ||
| The Bulgarian word "легло" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "leglo", which also meant "lair" or "nest". | |||
| Czech | postel | ||
| The word "postel" in Czech also refers to a canopy bed or a four-poster bed, influenced by the German word "Bettgestell" meaning "bed frame". | |||
| Estonian | voodi | ||
| In Estonian, “voodi” is also a colloquialism for any kind of sleeping arrangement, even on the floor. | |||
| Finnish | sänky | ||
| The word "sänky" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "sängi", which also means "grave" | |||
| Hungarian | ágy | ||
| In the Hungarian language, the word "ágy" can also refer to an elongated landform similar to a ridge. | |||
| Latvian | gulta | ||
| The word "gulta" also means "sleeping place" or "cot" in Latvian. | |||
| Lithuanian | lova | ||
| The word "lova" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "legh-," meaning "to lie down". | |||
| Macedonian | кревет | ||
| The word comes from Proto-Slavic *krovь, meaning "house" or "roof". | |||
| Polish | łóżko | ||
| The Polish word 'łóżko' is cognate with the Russian word 'ложе' ('bed') and has been used in Polish for over 1000 years. | |||
| Romanian | pat | ||
| The Romanian word "pat" derives from the Latin "lectus". It also means "bet" in the game of bridge. | |||
| Russian | постель | ||
| The word "постель" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "postiti", meaning "to spread" or "to lay out". | |||
| Serbian | кревет | ||
| The Serbian word 'кревет' can also refer to a type of fish called 'shrimp' in English. | |||
| Slovak | posteľ | ||
| The word "posteľ" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "postolъ", meaning "floor" or "room". | |||
| Slovenian | posteljo | ||
| The word "posteljo" also refers to a wooden structure (usually with a mattress) on which a corpse is laid out for burial. | |||
| Ukrainian | ліжко | ||
| "Ліжко" is a cognate of the Russian word "ложе" (lozhe), which can also mean a box or a hunting blind. | |||
Bed in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিছানা | ||
| বিছানা shares its root with the word 'বিশ্রাম' (meaning 'rest') and historically referred to the place where one rests, which could be a bed, a mat, or even the floor. | |||
| Gujarati | બેડ | ||
| The word 'bed' in Gujarati comes from the Sanskrit word 'bhadra,' which means 'fortunate or happy,' as beds are considered sacred and comfortable places where people rest and recuperate. | |||
| Hindi | बिस्तर | ||
| The Sanskrit origin of बिस्तर (bistar) means 'spread out', referring to its function as a place to rest and sleep. | |||
| Kannada | ಹಾಸಿಗೆ | ||
| The term 'ಹಾಸಿಗೆ' (hāsige) in Kannada originates from the Sanskrit word 'shayika', meaning 'a place to sleep. | |||
| Malayalam | കിടക്ക | ||
| In Malayalam, the word for "bed" ("കിടക്ക") also refers to a place or posture of lying down | |||
| Marathi | बेड | ||
| The word 'बेड' (bed) in Marathi also means 'layer', as in a layer of paint or a layer of soil. | |||
| Nepali | ओछ्यान | ||
| The word "ओछ्यान" comes from the Sanskrit word "उच्छयन," meaning "to rise up" or "to get out of bed." | |||
| Punjabi | ਬਿਸਤਰੇ | ||
| "ਬਿਸਤਰੇ" (bed) is derived from the Sanskrit word "vistara," meaning "a spread-out place" or "a covering." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඇඳ | ||
| Sinhala "ඇඳ" (bed) derives from Sanskrit "अंड" (shelter, room), also used in Pali "अण्ड" (tent, shelter). | |||
| Tamil | படுக்கை | ||
| The word 'படுக்கை' (bed) in Tamil shares its etymology with the word 'paduka' (sandalwood) and also means 'a place to lie down or rest'. | |||
| Telugu | మం చం | ||
| The word "మంచం" is derived from the Sanskrit word "mañca", meaning "couch or bed". | |||
| Urdu | بستر | ||
| The word "بستر" has the dual meanings of "bed" and "riverbed" as an alternate meaning. | |||
Bed in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 床 | ||
| The character "床" (chuáng) originally meant a mattress or mat, and later came to refer to the entire bed frame. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 床 | ||
| "床" can also mean floor, as in "地板" (floorboards). | |||
| Japanese | ベッド | ||
| The word "ベッド" (bed) is borrowed from English, where it originally meant "a couch for sleeping on." In Japanese, it has acquired the narrower meaning of a bed that is typically raised off the floor. | |||
| Korean | 침대 | ||
| '침대' can also mean 'a place to sleep' as in '침대가 부족하다' (lack of a place to sleep). | |||
| Mongolian | ор | ||
| The Mongolian word "ор" is derived from the Proto-Mongolic word "*oru", which also means "floor" or "house". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အိပ်ရာ | ||
| The word "အိပ်ရာ" can also be used to describe a spouse since one commonly sleeps together with one's spouse in a bed. | |||
Bed in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | tempat tidur | ||
| Tempt is derived from the Dutch word "tent" meaning "enclosure" or "covering", while "tidur" means "to sleep" in Indonesian. | |||
| Javanese | amben | ||
| The word "amben" in Javanese originally referred to a raised platform, not a bed. | |||
| Khmer | គ្រែ | ||
| The word "គ្រែ" can also be used to refer to a sleeping mat or a pallet. | |||
| Lao | ຕຽງ | ||
| The word "ຕຽງ" in Lao can also mean a "place to sleep" or a "resting place". | |||
| Malay | katil | ||
| The word 'katil' also means 'murderer' in Malay, showcasing the language's richness and layered meanings. | |||
| Thai | เตียง | ||
| Thai word "เตียง" (bed) derives from the Mon language and cognates with Khmer "ទៀង" (seat). | |||
| Vietnamese | giường | ||
| The word "Giường" originally meant "place for sleeping" and could refer to a bed, a hammock, or a mat. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kama | ||
Bed in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | yataq | ||
| The word "yataq" is also used in Azerbaijani to refer to a "place of ambush" or a "place of rest". | |||
| Kazakh | төсек | ||
| "Төсек" can also refer to "bedding","mattress" and "linen" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | керебет | ||
| 'Керебет' (bed) is also used to refer to the entire bedding set or a place where guests sleep. | |||
| Tajik | кат | ||
| The word "кат" in Tajik is derived from the ancient Persian word "kat" meaning "cover". | |||
| Turkmen | düşek | ||
| Uzbek | karavot | ||
| "Karavot" is derived from the Persian word "karavath", meaning "bunk bed". It can also mean "a small room with a bed". | |||
| Uyghur | كارىۋات | ||
Bed in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | wahi moe | ||
| In some contexts, the word "wahi moe" can also refer to a resting place or a burial site. | |||
| Maori | moenga | ||
| The word "moenga" in Maori can also refer to a nest or a place to sleep for animals. | |||
| Samoan | moega | ||
| In Samoan the word 'moega' refers to both a single bed and to a shared bed | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kama | ||
| The word 'kama' can also refer to a stretcher or a funeral bier in Tagalog. | |||
Bed in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ikiña | ||
| Guarani | tupa | ||
Bed in International Languages
| Esperanto | lito | ||
| The Esperanto word "lito" (bed) has a Latin base and is related to the concept of spreading something out. | |||
| Latin | lectulo | ||
| The word "lectulo" can also refer to a couch or a bier. | |||
Bed in Others Languages
| Greek | κρεβάτι | ||
| In Ancient Greek, "κρεβάτι" was also used to refer to a litter or couch. | |||
| Hmong | txaj | ||
| In some Hmong dialects, 'txaj' also refers to a type of bed that is elevated off the ground. | |||
| Kurdish | nivîn | ||
| The Kurdish word “nivîn” also means “place” or “seat”. | |||
| Turkish | yatak | ||
| The word 'yatak' also has alternate meanings, e.g. 'a person who gives refuge to a fugitive from the law' | |||
| Xhosa | ibhedi | ||
| The Xhosa word "ibhedi" is also used to refer to a flat platform or surface, highlighting its multi-functional role in traditional Xhosa households. | |||
| Yiddish | בעט | ||
| The Yiddish word "בעט" (bed) can also mean "a blow" in Hebrew and "a request" in German. | |||
| Zulu | umbhede | ||
| The word "umbhede" can also refer to a sleeping platform made of wood or reeds. | |||
| Assamese | বিছনা | ||
| Aymara | ikiña | ||
| Bhojpuri | बिछवना | ||
| Dhivehi | އެނދު | ||
| Dogri | बिस्तर | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kama | ||
| Guarani | tupa | ||
| Ilocano | pagiddaan | ||
| Krio | bed | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سیسەم | ||
| Maithili | बिछाओन | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯃꯨꯡ | ||
| Mizo | khum | ||
| Oromo | siree | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଶଯ୍ୟା | ||
| Quechua | puñuna | ||
| Sanskrit | शय्या | ||
| Tatar | карават | ||
| Tigrinya | ዓራት | ||
| Tsonga | mubedo | ||