Belt in different languages

Belt in Different Languages

Discover 'Belt' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Belts are more than just functional accessories. They signify status, authority, and cultural identity across the globe. From the ornate, gem-studded belts of ancient Egyptian royalty to the wide, woven belts of traditional Japanese attire, belts have held deep significance in various cultures throughout history. In the Western world, belts are often associated with rugged masculinity and hard work, while in other cultures, they may symbolize wealth, power, or religious devotion.

Given the cultural importance of belts, it's no wonder that people around the world are interested in learning the word for 'belt' in different languages. Whether you're traveling to a foreign country and want to communicate effectively with locals or simply have a passion for language and culture, knowing the translation for 'belt' can be a fun and practical way to expand your vocabulary and connect with people from different backgrounds.

Here are just a few examples of how to say 'belt' in various languages, from Spanish and French to Mandarin and Arabic:

Belt


Belt in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansgordel
The word "gordel" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "gordel", which originally meant "girdle" or "waistband."}
Amharicቀበቶ
"ቀበቶ" is the name of a traditional Amharic woven belt. It can also refer to the border of a piece of clothing.
Hausabel
In Hausa, "bel" can also mean "to circle" or "to surround".
Igbobelt
In Igbo, 'belt' can also refer to a type of dance performed during traditional ceremonies.
Malagasyfehin-kibo
The word "fehin-kibo" in Malagasy translates to "belt" and its roots can be traced back to the Austronesian language family.
Nyanja (Chichewa)lamba
The Nyanja (Chichewa) word "lamba" can also refer to a type of traditional dance or a type of drum.
Shonabhandi
bhandi is likely cognate with Shangaan "mbani" meaning "leather or skin bag worn on back"
Somalisuunka
"Suunka" can also mean "line" or "direction" in Somali.
Sesotholebanta
The word "lebanta" in Sesotho finds its root in the Nguni languages, where it carries the same meaning of "belt".
Swahiliukanda
"Ukanda" also means "zone" or "region" in Swahili.
Xhosaibhanti
The word 'ibhanti' also means 'waist' or 'midsection' in Xhosa.
Yorubaigbanu
The word "gbànú" in Yoruba language also means "to be courageous".
Zuluibhande
The word 'ibhande' derives from the verb 'bhandela', meaning 'to bind' or 'to fasten'.
Bambarasentiri
Ewealidziblaka
Kinyarwandaumukandara
Lingalamokaba
Lugandaomusipi
Sepedilepanta
Twi (Akan)abɔsoɔ

Belt in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicحزام
حزام is derived from the root word "hzr" which means "to encircle or enclose" and can also refer to a "region" or "area"
Hebrewחֲגוֹרָה
The word "חֲגוֹרָה" can also refer to a "circle" or "zone" in Hebrew.
Pashtoکمربند
The Pashto word "کمربند" derives from the Middle Persian word "kamarband", and can also refer to a "waistcoat" or "skirt".
Arabicحزام
حزام is derived from the root word "hzr" which means "to encircle or enclose" and can also refer to a "region" or "area"

Belt in Western European Languages

Albanianrrip
In Gheg dialects "rrip" is also used to describe the "waist".
Basquegerrikoa
"Gerrikoa" in Basque also means "waist" or "loins", and is related to the word "gerri" (hip).
Catalancinturó
In the Aragonese dialect of Catalan, "cinturó" means both "belt" and "waist".
Croatianpojas
The word "pojas" can also refer to a sash, strap, or band worn around the waist as part of a uniform, or a decorative waist-wrapping garment worn over other clothing.
Danishbælte
The Old Norse word 'belti' originally referred to a leather strap or ribbon worn around the waist, but has since come to mean 'belt' in Danish.
Dutchriem
The word "riem" in Dutch can also refer to a strap, a leash, or a cord.
Englishbelt
"Belt" can also mean a narrow strip of land, or a region or area of land.
Frenchceinture
In French, the word "ceinture" can also refer to a "waistband" or a "girdle" worn by women.
Frisianriem
In the Frisian language "riem" also refers to the rim or edge of something round.
Galiciancinto
In Galician, "cinto" also means "waistline" or "waistband" of a garment, a meaning not found in Spanish.
Germangürtel
In German, "Gürtel" can also refer to a district or neighborhood, particularly in the context of large cities.
Icelandicbelti
The Icelandic word "belti" also refers to a ribbon or a strip of fabric, and derives from the Proto-Germanic term "*beltiz".
Irishcrios
The word "crios" comes from the Old Irish "crís" which means a girdle, band or a circle.
Italiancintura
"Cintura" originates from Latin "cingulum" and refers to a waist-tightening band but can also indicate the human waistline.
Luxembourgishgürtel
"gürtel" in Lëtzebuergesch (Luxembourgish) not only means "belt" but also refers to a "district", especially a popular and vibrant area of a city.
Malteseċinturin
The word ċinturin comes from the Italian word "cintura" meaning "belt" or "girdle".
Norwegianbelte
In Norwegian, "belte" also refers to a type of fish net.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)cinto
The word "cinto" in Portuguese also refers to a type of narrow ribbon or tape used for decoration or tying purposes.
Scots Gaeliccrios
In medieval Scotland, "crios" could also refer to a type of ceremonial headband worn by women or as a decoration for the horse of a knight.
Spanishcinturón
The word "cinturón" derives from the Latin "cingulum", meaning both "belt" and "waist".
Swedishbälte
'Bälte' is also Swedish for 'safety belt' or 'seat belt'
Welshgwregys
The Welsh term "gwregys" is thought by some scholars to share an etymological root with "crwth", meaning "harp", potentially indicating an early association between music, dance and body ornamentation.

Belt in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпояс
In Belarusian, "пояс" (belt) also refers to a geographical zone, such as the "пояс лесов" (forest belt).
Bosniankaiš
The word "kaiš" can also refer to a type of traditional Bosnian footwear.
Bulgarianколан
The word "колан" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*kolana", which originally meant "wheel" or "ring".
Czechpás
The word "pás" in Czech comes from the Indo-European "*peis-," meaning "to gird."
Estonianvöö
"Vöö" can also refer to a waistband or a specific type of sash worn by women in traditional Estonian dress.
Finnishvyö
The word "vyö" can also refer to a strip of land or a waistline.
Hungarianöv
Ov used to mean "girdle" instead of "belt" (as it does today) in Hungarian texts up to the 18th century.
Latvianjosta
The word "josta" in Latvian is also used to refer to a type of berry, a cross between a gooseberry and a black currant.
Lithuaniandiržas
"Diržas" may also refer to a horse saddle girth, a leather strap used to tie cows, or a strip of land.
Macedonianпојас
The word "појас" can also refer to a waist or waistband.
Polishpas
The Polish word "pas" comes from the Old French "paas", meaning "strap" or "riband".
Romaniancentură
The Romanian word "centură" is derived from the Latin word "cingulum" meaning "girdle" and is also used to describe a type of fortification known as an "enclosure".
Russianпояс
The word "пояс" also has the alternate meaning of "time zone" in Russian.
Serbianкаиш
"Kaiš" is also used as a slang term for "money" in Serbian
Slovakopasok
In some Slavic languages, "opasok" means "protection amulet".
Slovenianpasu
The word "pasu" can also mean "strap" or "bandage".
Ukrainianремінь
The Ukrainian word 'ремінь' ('belt') can also mean 'strap' or 'rein' in other contexts.

Belt in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবেল্ট
বেল্ট শব্দটির উৎপত্তি ফরাসি শব্দ "belt" থেকে, যার অর্থ "বন্ধনী"।
Gujaratiબેલ્ટ
The Gujarati word "બેલ્ટ" can also refer to a type of fabric or a strip of land.
Hindiबेल्ट
In some Indian languages, 'bel' refers to a creeping or climbing plant, and the plant's long stem may have given rise to the name 'belt'.
Kannadaಬೆಲ್ಟ್
"ಬೆಲ್ಟ್" (belt) is a versatile word with meanings spanning from a physical belt to a geographical region or even a constellation.
Malayalamബെൽറ്റ്
The word 'ബെൽറ്റ്' (belt) in Malayalam also refers to the 'waist region' and is a cognate of the English word 'belly'.
Marathiबेल्ट
In Marathi, "बेल्ट" also refers to a sash or waistband worn by women.
Nepaliबेल्ट
The word "बेल्ट" can also refer to a ringworm infection.
Punjabiਬੈਲਟ
The word "ਬੈਲਟ" (belt) in Punjabi also refers to a waist-strengthening exercise.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පටිය
The word "පටිය" can also refer to a strip of cloth or a piece of land.
Tamilபெல்ட்
The word பெல்ட் (belt) in Tamil derives from Portuguese, and the same word referring to the garment can also refer to the geographical concept of a strait.
Teluguబెల్ట్
In Telugu, "బెల్ట్" can also refer to a "girdle", "waistband", or "sash".
Urduبیلٹ
The Urdu word "بیلٹ" (belt) derives from the English word "belt", ultimately originating from the Old English word "bælte" meaning "a girdle".

Belt in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
"The Chinese word '带' literally means 'to connect'.
Chinese (Traditional)
帶 can also mean to lead, to bring along, or to wear.
Japaneseベルト
ベルト (beruto) is derived from the English word "belt" which can also mean a strip of land.
Korean벨트
The word 벨트 is derived from the English word "belt," but also refers to a type of fabric that can be used like a sash.
Mongolianбүс
"Бүс" means "belt, waistband" but also may refer to any of the waist-length jackets worn by Mongols.
Myanmar (Burmese)ခါးပတ်
The term "ခါးပတ်" is also used in Myanmar for the waist part of a traditional male attire, called "longyi", and for the waistline of a woman's dress or blouse.

Belt in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansabuk
The word "sabuk" can also refer to a belt used to tighten or hold something in place, such as a bundle of fabric.
Javanesesabuk
The word "sabuk" in Javanese can also refer to the sash worn by a martial artist or a pregnant woman.
Khmerខ្សែក្រវ៉ាត់
Laoສາຍແອວ
It is also called ຫູຮັກ "hūrak" for women, as the belt is used to fasten an apron, which is then tied like a bag.
Malaytali pinggang
"Tali pinggang" derives from the Malay words "tali" (rope) and "pinggang" (waist), hence its alternate meaning of "waist rope."
Thaiเข็มขัด
The Thai word "เข็มขัด" can also mean "needle" or "pin".
Vietnamesethắt lưng
Thắt lưng is also a Vietnamese idiom meaning "to commit suicide" when used in a figurative sense.
Filipino (Tagalog)sinturon

Belt in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanikəmər
The word “kəmər” is also used to refer to a mountain pass, waist, or the zodiac
Kazakhбелбеу
The word "белбеу" originally referred to a piece of leather used to tie up animals, and later came to mean "belt".
Kyrgyzкур
The word "кур" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a type of belt worn by men, typically made of leather or fabric and decorated with metal or other embellishments.
Tajikкамар
The word "камар" has roots in Old Persian and Sanskrit and can also mean "room" or "chamber".
Turkmenguşak
Uzbekkamar
"Kamar" has additional meanings such as "waist" and "area".
Uyghurبەلۋاغ

Belt in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankāʻei
"Kāʻei" can also be used to refer to a kind of tattoo worn by Hawaiian women.
Maoriwhitiki
The word whitiki also refers specifically to a woven flax belt made by Maori women as a gift.
Samoanfusipau
The word 'fusipau' in Samoan is derived from the word 'pau', meaning 'piece of wood', and 'fusi', meaning 'to tie together', indicating its original use as a wooden belt.
Tagalog (Filipino)sinturon
The term "sinturon" is derived from the Spanish word "cinturón", which also means "belt". In some contexts, it can also refer to a waist-worn garment similar to a sash or girdle.

Belt in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarasinturuna
Guaraniku'ajokoha

Belt in International Languages

Esperantozono
"Zono" is also an Esperanto word derived from the Greek "zone" that means "area of land", but this usage is uncommon and mainly seen in scientific texts.
Latinbalteum
Balteus, a belt, was also the name for a constellation we now call

Belt in Others Languages

Greekζώνη
The term "ζώνη" in Greek is also used in a broader sense to refer to any type of girdle, waistband, or zone.
Hmongtxoj siv sia
Historically, "txoj siv sia' has also referred to the part of a Hmong woman's skirt that wraps around her waist.
Kurdishqayiş
The word "qayiş" has Persian, Arabic, and Syriac roots meaning "leather", "binding", or "rope".
Turkishkemer
The word "kemer" in Turkish, meaning "belt," also refers to a "bridge" in ancient Turkish languages.
Xhosaibhanti
The word 'ibhanti' also means 'waist' or 'midsection' in Xhosa.
Yiddishגאַרטל
גאַרטל also means sash, waistband, waist, or girdle.
Zuluibhande
The word 'ibhande' derives from the verb 'bhandela', meaning 'to bind' or 'to fasten'.
Assameseকঁকালৰ ৰচী
Aymarasinturuna
Bhojpuriकमरबंद
Dhivehiބެލްޓު
Dogriबेल्ट
Filipino (Tagalog)sinturon
Guaraniku'ajokoha
Ilocanobarikes
Kriobɛlt
Kurdish (Sorani)قایش
Maithiliक्षेत्र
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄꯦꯇꯤ
Mizokawnghren
Oromosaqqii
Odia (Oriya)ବେଲ୍ଟ
Quechuasiwi
Sanskritपट्टक
Tatarкаеш
Tigrinyaቐበቶ
Tsongabandi

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