Birth in different languages

Birth in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Birth is a significant and miraculous event that signifies the start of life for every individual. It is a universal experience that transcends cultures and languages, yet is celebrated and marked with unique customs and traditions around the world.

The word 'birth' holds great cultural importance, as it represents the threshold between the spiritual and physical worlds, and the passing down of traditions, values, and beliefs from one generation to the next.

Moreover, understanding the translation of 'birth' in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how different cultures view and celebrate this momentous occasion. For instance, in Spanish, 'birth' is translated as 'nacimiento,' while in French, it is 'naissance.' In Mandarin Chinese, the word for birth is '出生,' which literally means 'to come out and live.'

In this article, we delve into the translations of 'birth' in various languages, shedding light on the rich cultural and linguistic diversity that exists around the world. Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of translations that will inspire and enlighten you.

Birth


Birth in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansgeboorte
The Afrikaans word "geboorte" also means "the time of birth" or "the act of giving birth".
Amharicመወለድ
In some areas 'መወለድ' can also refer to a religious celebration of Muhammad or Ali's birth.
Hausahaihuwa
In Hausa, "haihuwa" shares etymology with "haifuwa" (to give birth) but also means "origin" or "source."
Igboomumu
In the Igbo language, "omumu" has cognates in other Niger-Congo languages, such as "bamu" in Yoruba and "mumu" in Bini, all meaning "to give birth".
Malagasyteraka
Malagasy terms related to teraka ('birth') derive from either *teraka* in Proto-Austronesian, or from Arabic *wl* ('to give birth').
Nyanja (Chichewa)kubadwa
The word "kubadwa" in Nyanja can also mean "to be born again" or "to be reborn."
Shonakuberekwa
The Shona word "kuberekwa" also refers to the process of being reborn or reincarnated.
Somalidhalasho
Dhalasho in Somali is derived from the root word 'dhal', which means 'to emerge' or 'to come forth'.
Sesothotsoalo
In certain dialects of Sesotho, "tsoalo" can also mean "family or genealogy".
Swahilikuzaliwa
The Swahili word "kuzaliwa" is derived from the Proto-Bantu root */-zal-/, which also means "to give birth" or "to be born".
Xhosaukuzalwa
The Xhosa word "ukuzalwa" not only refers to the act of giving birth, but also connotes the broader concept of "coming into being" or "emergence."
Yorubaibimọ
The word "ibimọ" can also refer to a meeting or gathering of people.
Zuluukuzalwa
The Zulu word "ukuzalwa" also refers to a child's birthday.
Bambarabangeko
Ewedzidzi
Kinyarwandakuvuka
Lingalakobotama
Lugandaokuzaalibwa
Sepedimatswalo
Twi (Akan)awo

Birth in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicولادة
The noun "ولادة" also means "progeny" or "children" in Arabic.
Hebrewהוּלֶדֶת
The word "הוּלֶדֶת" (birth) is also used to refer to the process of generating ideas or products.
Pashtoزیږیدنه
The Pashto word "زیږیدنه" can also refer to "origin" or "beginning".
Arabicولادة
The noun "ولادة" also means "progeny" or "children" in Arabic.

Birth in Western European Languages

Albanianlindja
Albanian "lindja" (birth) derives from Proto-Indo-European for "begetting" which is linked to "lineage".
Basquejaiotza
The word "jaiotza" is also used to refer to a "nativity scene" in Basque.
Catalannaixement
The word "naixement" is derived from the Latin word "nascere" which means "to be born" or "to come to life."
Croatianrođenje
"Rođenje" (birth) can also refer to "nativity" or "Christmas" in a religious context.
Danishfødsel
"Fødel" is also the name of a parish and a city in North Jutland
Dutchgeboorte
Dutch 'geboorte' is related to birth and harvest, reflecting the ancient association between the birth of a child and the earth's fertility.
Englishbirth
"Birth," from Middle English "burth" (c. 1200), is also related to "be" in the senses of "come to be" and "to cause to become."
Frenchnaissance
Naître is the French infinitive “to be born,” and naissance is its nominalized form (similar to "birth").
Frisianberte
The Frisian word "berte" can also refer to a "delivery" or "childbirth."
Galiciannacemento
In Galician, "nacemento" also refers to the act of giving birth and the place where one is born.
Germangeburt
The word "Geburt" derives from the Proto-Germanic term *geburþ-, meaning "act of bearing or bringing forth," and is cognate with the English word "birth."
Icelandicfæðing
Fæðing, "birth" in Icelandic, originally meant "bringing up" or "nourishment" and is related to the English word "feed".
Irishbreith
The word "breith" has meanings beyond "birth" including "origin", "cause", or "lineage".
Italiannascita
In Italian, 'nascita' can also refer to the origin of a river.
Luxembourgishgebuert
In some cases, the word "Gebuert" can also mean "lineage" or "family".
Maltesetwelid
Although originating from the Arabic word "mawlid," Maltese "twelid" can also refer to children, descendants, or offspring.
Norwegianfødsel
The word "fødsel" in Norwegian can also refer to the process of giving birth.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)nascimento
The word "nascimento" is also used to refer to the start or beginning of something.
Scots Gaelicbreith
The word "breith" in Scots Gaelic can also mean "destiny" or "fate", derived from the Proto-Celtic root "*bret-os" meaning "decree" or "judgment."
Spanishnacimiento
In the Dominican Republic the term "nacimiento" is also used as the common name of the Christmas crib.
Swedishfödelse
The word "födelse" is derived from the Old Norse word "foðsla", meaning "nativity" or "descendance".
Welshgenedigaeth
The Welsh word 'genedigaeth' also means 'origin', 'beginning', and 'birthright'.

Birth in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianнараджэнне
Belarusian
Bosnianrođenje
The Bosnian word "rođenje" can also refer to the act of giving birth.
Bulgarianраждане
The word "раждане" in Bulgarian also means "origin" or "beginning".
Czechnarození
In Czech, the word "narození" also means "nativity" or "Christmas".
Estoniansünd
"Sünd" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *Sünt, which has the double meaning of "birth" and "sin". This is likely because in Proto-Finnic culture, the concept of sin was often associated with the idea of being born into the world.
Finnishsyntymä
"Syntymä" is cognate with the English word "kin" or "kindred" and originally meant "family" or "birthplace".
Hungarianszületés
Születés ('birth') in Hungarian comes from the verb 'szül' (to give birth).
Latviandzimšana
The word “dzimšana” is derived from the Proto-Baltic root *gēnt- “to beget” via the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵenh₂- “to give birth”.
Lithuaniangimdymas
The word "Gimdymas" is derived from "gims", meaning "life", or "gimti", meaning "to be born".
Macedonianраѓање
The root of the word "раѓање" is "раѓам" ("give birth"), which is of Proto-Indo-European origin and is cognate with the Old English word "ran", meaning "to plunder."
Polishnarodziny
The Polish word "narodziny" shares an etymological root with the word "naród" (nation), reflecting the idea of birth as a collective experience that shapes a nation's identity.
Romaniannaștere
The Romanian noun 'nastere' originates from a Proto-Indo-European root, 'gene-' or 'gen-' which also denotes 'birth'.
Russianрождение
The Russian word for "birth" (рождение) is also used metaphorically to refer to the "creation" of a new work or the beginning of a new era.
Serbianрођење
The word "рођење" also refers to a child that has recently been born.
Slovaknarodenie
The Slovak word 'narodenie' is used in the context of the birth of Jesus, like the English 'nativity' or 'yule', but also of nations, like 'nationhood'
Slovenianrojstvo
"Rojstvo" is also used to refer to Christmas or the Feast of the Nativity.
Ukrainianнародження
The word "народження" in Ukrainian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*rodъ", meaning "family" or "clan".

Birth in South Asian Languages

Bengaliজন্ম
The word "জন্ম" in Bengali also has a figurative meaning of "origin" or "beginning".
Gujaratiજન્મ
The word "જન્મ" (birth) also has the alternate meanings of "beginning" and "origin" in Gujarati.
Hindiजन्म
The Sanskrit word "janma" (जन्म), from which the Hindi word "janm" is derived, originally meant "to produce" or "to create".
Kannadaಜನನ
In Kannada, 'ಜನನ' (birth) can also refer to a person's horoscope or astrological chart.
Malayalamജനനം
"ജനനം" means "birth" in Malayalam, but it also refers to the origin or creation of something.
Marathiजन्म
The word "जन्म" (birth) in Marathi can also refer to a particular stage in one's life, such as childhood or adolescence.
Nepaliजन्म
The word "जन्म" can also mean beginning, origin, or source.
Punjabiਜਨਮ
The Punjabi word "ਜਨਮ" (janam) is etymologically derived from Sanskrit word "जन्म" and also signifies "life" or "existence."
Sinhala (Sinhalese)උපත
The word 'උපත' (upata) also means the beginning or origin of something.
Tamilபிறப்பு
The Tamil word "பிறப்பு" also means origin, source, or beginning.
Teluguపుట్టిన
The word "పుట్టిన" ("birth") in Telugu is also used figuratively to refer to the origin or creation of something.
Urduپیدائش
The word "پیدائش" is derived from the Persian word "پید" meaning "to produce" or "to give birth".

Birth in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)出生
出生 can also refer to the time or place where someone was born.
Chinese (Traditional)出生
The Chinese characters for "birth" 出生 can also mean "origin", "source", or "beginning".
Japanese誕生
While "誕生" (tanjō) primarily means "birth," it can also be used metaphorically to refer to the "beginning" or "advent" of something.
Korean출생
The word "출생" can also mean "origin" or "source".
Mongolianтөрөлт
Төрөлт's root word is 'төрөх', which also means 'to be born' or 'to give birth'.
Myanmar (Burmese)မွေးဖွားခြင်း

Birth in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankelahiran
The word "kelahiran" in Indonesian can also mean "lineage" or "descent".
Javaneselair
The noun 'lair', as used in Indonesian ('indung telur'), refers to a bird's nest, womb or the nest of other animals and insects.
Khmerកំណើត
In the context of astrology, “កំណើត” refers to the zodiac sign under which someone is born.
Laoການເກີດ
The Lao word for birth, 'ການເກີດ,' is also used to refer to the process of becoming or coming into existence.
Malaykelahiran
"Kelahiran" in Malay means "birth" but can also refer to "origin," "lineage," or the start of something.
Thaiกำเนิด
The Thai word "กำเนิด" (birth) can also mean "origin" and has a root in Sanskrit.
Vietnamesesinh
"Sinh" also means "to beget children" or "to give birth to".
Filipino (Tagalog)kapanganakan

Birth in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanidoğum
"Doğum" also refers to a person's place of birth in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhтуылу
The word "туылу" also means "origin" or "source" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzтөрөлүү
The Kyrgyz word 'төрөлүү' can also be interpreted as 'the beginning' or 'the origin' of something.
Tajikтаваллуд
The word "таваллуд" can also refer to the anniversary of someone's birth.
Turkmendogulmagy
Uzbektug'ilish
"Tug'ilish" derives from the word "tug'moq" which means "to be born" in Uzbek.
Uyghurتۇغۇلۇش

Birth in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhānau
"Hānau" also means "to create" or "to make" in Hawaiian.
Maoriwhanau
The word "whanau" in Maori also refers to an extended family or kinship group, reflecting the communal nature of Maori society.
Samoanfanau mai
Derived from the Proto-Polynesian term *fanau*, which also meant "child" or "infant".
Tagalog (Filipino)kapanganakan
Kapanganakan also means "nativity" in Tagalog and can also be used to refer to the birth of a divine figure.

Birth in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarayurïwi
Guaraniheñói

Birth in International Languages

Esperantonaskiĝo
"Naskiĝo" is derived from "naski" (to give birth) and the suffix "-iĝo" (becoming or happening).
Latinpeperit
The Latin word "peperit" also means "she brought forth" or "she gave birth" and is related to the verb "parere" meaning "to bring forth" or "to give birth".

Birth in Others Languages

Greekγέννηση
In Greek, "γέννηση" also implies origin, as in the phrase "γέννηση του σύμπαντος" (birth of the universe).
Hmongyug
The Hmong word "yug" can also refer to "origin","beginning", "clan," or "tribe."}
Kurdishzayîn
The word 'zayîn' has an alternate meaning of 'origin' in the Kurdish language.
Turkishdoğum
"Doğum" also has the meaning of "origin, source".
Xhosaukuzalwa
The Xhosa word "ukuzalwa" not only refers to the act of giving birth, but also connotes the broader concept of "coming into being" or "emergence."
Yiddishגעבורט
The word "געבורט" in Yiddish can also refer to "lineage" or "family origin".
Zuluukuzalwa
The Zulu word "ukuzalwa" also refers to a child's birthday.
Assameseজন্ম
Aymarayurïwi
Bhojpuriजनम भइल
Dhivehiއުފަންވުމެވެ
Dogriजन्म
Filipino (Tagalog)kapanganakan
Guaraniheñói
Ilocanopannakayanak
Kriobɔn pikin
Kurdish (Sorani)لەدایکبوون
Maithiliजन्म
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄꯣꯀꯄꯥ꯫
Mizopian chhuahna
Oromodhaloota
Odia (Oriya)ଜନ୍ମ
Quechuapaqariy
Sanskritजन्म
Tatarтуу
Tigrinyaልደት
Tsongaku velekiwa

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