Bowl in different languages

Bowl in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

A bowl is a simple, yet essential piece of tableware, used in various cultures and cuisines around the world. Its significance extends beyond its primary function of holding food, as it often plays a crucial role in ceremonial and traditional settings. For instance, in Asian cultures, bowls are not only used for eating but also for offering food to ancestors as a sign of respect and gratitude.

Moreover, the material, shape, and color of bowls can convey different meanings and emotions. For example, in Japan, the choice of bowl can enhance the aesthetic experience of a meal, as it is believed that the bowl's design can influence the perception of taste and flavor.

Understanding the translation of the word 'bowl' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural significance of this object. Here are some examples:

  • Chinese: 碗 (wǎn)
  • Japanese: ボウル (bōru)
  • Korean: � cupping (bowl)
  • Spanish: bol
  • French: bol
  • German: Schüssel

Bowl


Bowl in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbakkie
In its original Khoisan form, bakkie would have referred to "a small, round place".
Amharicጎድጓዳ ሳህን
The word "ጎድጓዳ ሳህን" (bowl) can also refer to a hole in the ground.}
Hausakwano
The word 'kwano' can also mean 'calabash' or 'gourd' in Hausa.
Igbonnukwu efere
The term "nnukwu efere" literally means "big calabash" in Igbo, reflecting the traditional use of dried calabashes as bowls.
Malagasyvilia baolina
In Madagascar, 'vilia baolina' also refers to a traditional Malagasy dish of rice and vegetables.
Nyanja (Chichewa)mbale
The Chewa word 'mbale' for 'bowl' is related to the word 'kujambula' meaning 'to dig', with the 'mba-' prefix indicating the tool used.
Shonambiya
"Mbiya" can also mean "brain" or a "calabash"
Somalibaaquli
The word "baaquli" is also used to refer to a type of large, flat basket used for winnowing grain.
Sesothosekotlolo
In Sesotho, the word "sekotlolo" can also refer to a hollowed-out calabash or a deep valley.
Swahilibakuli
In some contexts, bakuli refers to a type of traditional African head covering.
Xhosaisitya
The word "isitya" can also refer to a specific type of traditional Xhosa hat.
Yorubaabọ
The word `abọ` in Yoruba also refers to the round shape of the bowl and can be used to describe other round objects.
Zuluisitsha
"Isitsha" is also used in Zulu to refer to a woman of status or to an important position or situation.
Bambaratasa
Eweagba
Kinyarwandaigikombe
Lingalasani
Lugandabakuli
Sepedisekotlelo
Twi (Akan)kyɛnsee

Bowl in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicعاء
The word "عاء" can also refer to a container, a vessel, or a place where something is kept.
Hebrewקְעָרָה
קְעָרָה can also refer to the area in a body of water where it curves inward toward land or where two opposing shorelines meet
Pashtoکاسه
In Pashto, "کاسه" can also refer to a beggar's bowl or a bowl-shaped depression in the ground.
Arabicعاء
The word "عاء" can also refer to a container, a vessel, or a place where something is kept.

Bowl in Western European Languages

Albaniantas
"Tas" means "stone" in Proto-Albanian and might be cognate to "tasse" (cup) in many Romance languages.
Basquekatilu
"Katilu" is also the traditional Basque name for a type of dish or stew, usually made with beans or potatoes.
Catalanbol
Catalan "bol" is derived from Latin "ballus" or "bulla" and can also refer to a potbellied person or a bubble.
Croatianzdjela
The word "zdjela" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *židlьa, meaning "hollow vessel".
Danishskål
The Danish word "skål" comes from the Proto-Norse word "skāl" which meant "cup" and also "skull".
Dutchkom
The word "kom" can also refer to "the round part of the cheek" (from Latin "coma" (hair)) and "the part of the foot between the heel and toes" (from Latin "coma" (hair, mane)) in Dutch.
Englishbowl
A 'bowl' can also refer to a large wooden or earthenware vessel used for carrying liquids or dry goods, or the hollowed-out portion of a spoon.
Frenchbol
The French word "bol" can also mean "pill" or "small ball".
Frisiankom
The Frisian word "kom" is related to the Old English "cume" (bowl) and the German "Kumme" (basin).
Galiciancunca
The Galician word "cunca" derives from the Latin word "concha", which means "shell" or "vessel".
Germanschüssel
The word 'Schüssel' also means 'key' or 'lock' in German, derived from the Old High German word 'sluz' meaning 'keyhole'.
Icelandicskál
The Icelandic word 'skál' also means 'a cheer' or 'a toast'.
Irishbabhla
babhla likely derives from the word bab, meaning "to scoop out".
Italianciotola
The word "ciotola" originally referred to a small drinking vessel, akin to a cup, only later extending to any bowl-shaped container.
Luxembourgishschossel
Malteseskutella
From the Italian "scutella," which can also mean a small plate made of clay, metal, or ceramic
Norwegianbolle
The word "bolle" can also refer to a type of bun, with various sweet or savory fillings
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)tigela
"Tigela" is derived from the Latin word "tegula", meaning "tile" or "dish", and can also refer to a specific type of Portuguese bread soup.
Scots Gaelicbobhla
In Scots Gaelic, "bobhla" can also refer to a hollow or depression on a surface.
Spanishcuenco
The word "cuenco" also refers to a musical instrument made from a hollowed gourd, used to accompany traditional dances.
Swedishskål
Skål in Swedish can also refer to a cheer or toast, as in the phrase "skål och välkommen" (literally, "toast and welcome").
Welshbowlen
The verb 'bowlen' (in Welsh, 'bwlio') also means 'to cast a stone', 'to play marbles', and 'to play a game of bowls'.

Bowl in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianміска
"Міска" is a type of Ukrainian pottery, and might have originated from the Turkic word "miska", meaning "cup" or "bowl".
Bosnianzdjelu
"Zdjelu" comes from Old Slavic word "*žьdola" which also meant "pit".
Bulgarianкупа
The word "купа" also means "a heap" or "a pile" in Bulgarian.
Czechmiska
"Miska" also means "bear" in archaic Czech.
Estoniankauss
The word "kauss" may also refer to a type of vessel used for drinking or a round depression in the ground.
Finnishkulho
The word 'kulho' may also refer to a cup, a chalice, or a goblet
Hungariantál
The Hungarian word "tál" originally referred to a flat dish, but over time its meaning shifted to include deeper bowls and other similar containers.
Latvianbļoda
In Latvian, "bļoda" can also refer to a type of soup or stew served in a bowl.
Lithuaniandubuo
In Latvian, "dubb" means "swamp".
Macedonianчинија
The word "чинија" can also refer to a type of decorative plate or dish.
Polishmiska
The word "miska" in Polish can be traced back to the Proto-Slavic word *miska, which also meant "bowl".
Romaniancastron
"Castronul" in Romanian comes from the Latin word for „pot" "castronus", and also has alternate meanings of "pot" or even "vessel for milk"
Russianмиска
'Миска' also means 'dish', 'plate', 'saucer', or 'basin' in Russian, cognate with 'miska' ('bowl') in Polish, 'miska' ('plate') in Croatian, and 'miska' ('bowl', 'pot') in Old Church Slavonic.
Serbianздела
In Serbo-Croatian the primary meaning is a deep dish or a large shallow dish, while in Russian it is used to specifically describe bowls carved from wood.
Slovakmisa
The word misa also means 'mass' in Slovak and is derived from the Latin word 'missa', which originally meant 'dismissal'.
Slovenianskledo
In the Prekmurje dialect of Slovenian,
Ukrainianчаша
The word "чаша" ("bowl") in Ukrainian can also refer to the Holy Grail or the Cup of Christ in Christian traditions.

Bowl in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবাটি
The word "বাটি" also means "a small earthenware or metal vessel used for cooking or serving food" in Bengali.
Gujaratiબાઉલ
In Bengali, the word "বাউল" also refers to a class of mystic minstrels.
Hindiकटोरा
The word 'कटोरा' derives from the Sanskrit word 'कटु' meaning 'sharp' or 'pointed', referring to the sharp edges of traditional bowls made from wood or clay.
Kannadaಬೌಲ್
The word "ಬೌಲ್" ("bowl") in Kannada can also mean a "cup" or a "vessel" used for drinking or serving liquids.
Malayalamപാത്രം
In ancient Malayalam literature, 'പാത്രം' also refers to a measuring unit equivalent to a specific amount of rice or gold.
Marathiवाडगा
The Marathi word 'वाडगा' (bowl) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'पात्र' (container) and also refers to a small earthenware vessel used for storing grains.
Nepaliकचौरा
The word "kachaura" is derived from the Sanskrit word "kaca" meaning "glass" or "crystal".
Punjabiਕਟੋਰਾ
The word "katōrā" comes from Sanskrit "kaṭa" meaning "cup," and is a cognate of "casserole".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පාත්රය
The word "පාත්රය" in Sinhala can also refer to a vessel, utensil, or a sacred vessel used in religious rituals.
Tamilகிண்ணம்
The word ''கிண்ணம்'' not only refers to a bowl, but also appears in several old Tamil texts as a unit of liquid measurement, equivalent to 240 ml, and is cognate with the word ''kinnara''.
Teluguగిన్నె
The word "గిన్నె" (ginne) is derived from the Sanskrit word "घट" (ghaṭa), meaning "jar" or "pot"
Urduپیالہ
پیالہ (bowl), from Sanskrit 'pāl' (a cup), is derived from Proto-Indo-European 'peh₂u-' indicating 'to drink, nourish'. It is a cognate to 'pial' (to drink)

Bowl in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
Bowl can also be used in Chinese slang as a measure word for a portion of a dish, or to describe something as round.
Chinese (Traditional)
碗, originally meant a round container for drinking, later it specifically refers to a container for holding food
Japanese丼鉢
"丼鉢" (bowl) originally referred to a round earthenware pot used for serving rice.
Korean사발
사발 (sabal): also refers to a wooden bowl or dish used by Buddhist monks for alms in Korean.
Mongolianаяга
In Turkic languages "ayag" means "leg" and this meaning is also preserved in Mongolian language, but "аяга" bowl is probably borrowed from Tibetan "skya" meaning "skull"}
Myanmar (Burmese)ပန်းကန်လုံး

Bowl in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmangkuk
"Mangkuk" can also refer to a concave area for holding liquids, such as a pond or a valley.
Javanesebokor
Bokor is derived from the Sanskrit word
Khmerចាន
The Khmer word "ចាន" not only denotes a physical bowl used for serving or eating food, but it also refers to a specific portion or serving of various dishes in traditional Khmer cuisine, particularly soups or rice-based meals.
Laoຊາມ
The word ຊາມ (sām) for "bowl" comes from the Pali word "samaya" which means "time" or "season".
Malaymangkuk
In Javanese, “mangkuk” means a small bowl, and in Balinese it means a large bowl used for ceremonial purposes.
Thaiชาม
The word "ชาม" (cham) can also mean "a small bowl for condiments" or "a small shallow basin for water used in ceremonies"
Vietnamesebát
"Bát" literally means "eight," as Vietnamese bowls typically have eight sides.
Filipino (Tagalog)mangkok

Bowl in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqab
The word "qab" can also mean "a small, flat, round piece of bread" or "a kind of earthenware pot" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhтостаған
"Тостаған" means "a drinking vessel" and in ancient times it was made of wood or horn.
Kyrgyzтабак
The word "табак" can also refer to a flat wooden tray used for serving food in Kyrgyzstan.
Tajikкоса
The word "коса" in Tajik also means "braid" in Russian.
Turkmenjam
Uzbekkosa
The word "kosa" in Uzbek can also refer to a "mortar" or a "pestle".
Uyghurقاچا

Bowl in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpola
'Pola' in Hawaiian can also refer to a type of volcanic rock.
Maoripeihana
The word 'peihana' also refers to a type of food container shaped like a bowl.
Samoanpesini
The word "pesini" can also refer to a large wooden dish used to serve food, or a small wooden dish used to hold water.
Tagalog (Filipino)mangkok
The word "mangkok" can also refer to a type of hat worn by women in the Philippines.

Bowl in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaralamana
Guaraniharroguasu

Bowl in International Languages

Esperantobovlo
The Esperanto word "bovlo" also means "ball" or "sphere" in some contexts.
Latinpatera
The word "patera" derives from the Greek "πατήρ" (father), as libations were offered to the gods using such dishes.

Bowl in Others Languages

Greekγαβάθα
In ancient Greek, "γαβάθα" could also refer to a type of shoe or sandal with a hollowed-out sole.
Hmonglub tais
In some dialects of Hmong, "lub tais" can also refer to a "plate" or "tray".
Kurdishtas
While "tas" primarily means "bowl" in Kurdish, it can also refer to a flat woven circular cloth or a flat wooden tray used for serving food.
Turkishçanak
The word "çanak" is also used metaphorically to refer to a situation or event that is difficult to handle or resolve.
Xhosaisitya
The word "isitya" can also refer to a specific type of traditional Xhosa hat.
Yiddishשיסל
The word "שיסל" also serves as a euphemism for a toilet or a head.
Zuluisitsha
"Isitsha" is also used in Zulu to refer to a woman of status or to an important position or situation.
Assameseবাতি
Aymaralamana
Bhojpuriकचोरी
Dhivehiބޯތަށި
Dogriकौली
Filipino (Tagalog)mangkok
Guaraniharroguasu
Ilocanomalukong
Kriobol
Kurdish (Sorani)مەنجەڵ
Maithiliकटोरी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯦꯡꯀꯣꯠ
Mizothleng
Oromomar'ummaan
Odia (Oriya)ପାତ୍ର
Quechuapukullu
Sanskritपाल
Tatarкасә
Tigrinyaኣጋር
Tsongaxibye

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