Button in Different Languages
Discover 'Button' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Have you ever stopped to consider the significance of a button, a small fastener that plays a big role in our daily lives? Buttons have been used for centuries, with the earliest known examples dating back to 2000 BCE in ancient India. Since then, they have evolved in design, material, and usage, becoming a symbol of functionality and style. Beyond their practical use, buttons have also gained cultural importance, often used as political statements or fashion statements.
Given their widespread use, it's no surprise that the word 'button' has been translated into various languages around the world. In Spanish, for example, 'button' is 'botón,' while in French, it's 'bouton.' In German, it's 'Knopf,' and in Japanese, it's 'ボタン' (botan).
Understanding the translation of 'button' in different languages can be useful for travelers, fashion designers, and language enthusiasts alike. It's a small word that can open up a world of cultural and linguistic exploration.
Button
Button in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | knoppie | ||
| The word "knoppie" in Afrikaans is closely related to the Dutch word "knoop", meaning "knot", suggesting that buttons were originally seen as decorative knots. | |||
| Amharic | አዝራር | ||
| The word "አዝራር" is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "زر" (zarr), meaning "dice" or "die", due to the shape of the first buttons. | |||
| Hausa | maballin | ||
| In Hausa, the word "maballin" can also mean "key" or "lock". | |||
| Igbo | bọtịnụ | ||
| The term can also refer to a type of fruit. | |||
| Malagasy | bokotra | ||
| The word "bokotra" in Malagasy can also refer to a type of traditional Malagasy healing ritual. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | batani | ||
| The word 'batani' in Nyanja derives from the verb 'kutana' meaning 'to meet', as buttons are used to meet two pieces of fabric. | |||
| Shona | bhatani | ||
| In Shona, bhatani can also refer to the buttons used to fasten clothing. | |||
| Somali | badhanka | ||
| In Somali, the word "badhanka" also refers to a type of traditional beadwork used for embellishing clothing. | |||
| Sesotho | konopo | ||
| The word "konopo" in Sesotho is derived from the Nguni word "ikonopu", which means "a small knob or protuberance". | |||
| Swahili | kitufe | ||
| The word 'kitufe' in Swahili is derived from the Arabic word 'quffah', meaning 'basket' or 'box'. | |||
| Xhosa | iqhosha | ||
| The word "iqhosha" can also refer to a small child, suggesting the idea of something cute and small | |||
| Yoruba | bọtini | ||
| "Bọtini" in Yoruba can also refer to a type of small, round bead often used in jewelry. | |||
| Zulu | inkinobho | ||
| The word "inkinobho" can be traced back to the Proto-Bantu word "-kina-bho" meaning "to push, to strike, to pierce, to close". | |||
| Bambara | butɔn | ||
| Ewe | awunugbui | ||
| Kinyarwanda | buto | ||
| Lingala | bouton | ||
| Luganda | eppeesa | ||
| Sepedi | kunope | ||
| Twi (Akan) | bɔtom | ||
Button in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | زر | ||
| "زر" (button) derives from Persian "zair," meaning "knot," and also refers to a "gold coin" | |||
| Hebrew | לַחְצָן | ||
| The word לַחְצָן "button" may also refer to an impatient or demanding individual. | |||
| Pashto | ت .ۍ | ||
| The word "ت .ۍ" can also refer to a small, round object or a bud. | |||
| Arabic | زر | ||
| "زر" (button) derives from Persian "zair," meaning "knot," and also refers to a "gold coin" | |||
Button in Western European Languages
| Albanian | butoni | ||
| The Albanian word “butoni” may originate from the Ottoman Turkish word “butun”, meaning “whole” or “complete”. | |||
| Basque | botoia | ||
| The word "botoia" can also refer to a knob, handle, or any other small object used to grip or adjust something. | |||
| Catalan | botó | ||
| "Botó" is derived from the Vulgar Latin word "bottone" meaning "small bud" and also "knob, stud, button" similar to Catalan "botó", "botonet" and "botona" which mean "button", "small button" and "bud" respectively. | |||
| Croatian | dugme | ||
| The word 'dugme' derives from Old Turkic 'tokmë' which means 'knot, lump' | |||
| Danish | knap | ||
| In Danish, "knap" can also refer to a small knob on a piece of furniture, or the bump on an animal's head. | |||
| Dutch | knop | ||
| In Dutch, "knop" also refers to a small protuberance on a plant or the top of a roof. | |||
| English | button | ||
| In French the word "bouton" means both "button" and "pimple". | |||
| French | bouton | ||
| Coming from the 13th century French word 'botoner,' meaning 'to bud,' "bouton" can also refer to a bud, pimple, or other small protuberance. | |||
| Frisian | knop | ||
| The word "knop" in Frisian may also refer to a small, round object, such as a bead or a nailhead. | |||
| Galician | botón | ||
| In Galician, the word botón also refers to a stud or knob, a flower bud, a push-button telephone, or the center of a flower | |||
| German | taste | ||
| The German word "Taste" also means "key" (of a piano, computer, etc.), akin to a key that opens a door. | |||
| Icelandic | takki | ||
| The Icelandic word "takki" has been used for centuries to describe not only buttons but also a type of short tunic or jacket worn in the Middle Ages. | |||
| Irish | cnaipe | ||
| "Cnaipe", meaning "button" in Irish, also shares a root with the words "cnap" (knob) and "cnapán" (skullcap), alluding to the rounded shape of a button. | |||
| Italian | pulsante | ||
| Pulsante also retains in Italian its former meaning of a musical figure, the quaver. | |||
| Luxembourgish | knäppchen | ||
| In German, "Knäppchen" can also mean "snap" or "bargain". | |||
| Maltese | buttuna | ||
| The word "buttuna" (button) derives from the Sicilian "buttunera" (buttonhole). | |||
| Norwegian | knapp | ||
| In English, the word "knapp" means "sharp edge" or a "hillock". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | botão | ||
| In Portuguese, "botão" can also refer to a small plant or a type of Portuguese folk dance. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | putan | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word 'putan' is derived from the Middle Irish word 'putan', which could refer to a button or a frog. | |||
| Spanish | botón | ||
| In Spanish, "botón" can also refer to a bud or a small spherical object. | |||
| Swedish | knapp | ||
| "Knapp" in Swedish also means "small hill" or "mound". | |||
| Welsh | botwm | ||
| The word "botwm" can also mean "flower bud" in Welsh. | |||
Button in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | кнопка | ||
| The word "кнопка" in Belarusian is derived from German "knopf" (button), and in some contexts can also refer to an electric switch. | |||
| Bosnian | dugme | ||
| The word "dugme" in Bosnian is possibly derived from Turkish "düğme" (button) or Arabic "dukm" (coin). | |||
| Bulgarian | бутон | ||
| В русском языке слово "бутон" изначально означало "цветочная почка". | |||
| Czech | knoflík | ||
| The word "knoflík" is derived from the German word "Knopf", which means "knob". It can also refer to a small, round object, such as a stud or a bead. | |||
| Estonian | nuppu | ||
| The word "nuppu" is etymologically related to the word "nöp" meaning "button" or "knob" and possibly to the Swedish word "knapp" meaning "button" or "knob". | |||
| Finnish | -painiketta | ||
| The -paini in the word -painiketta is related to painaa meaning to press. | |||
| Hungarian | gomb | ||
| "Gomb" can also refer to the round metal caps used in fencing (fencing pommels) | |||
| Latvian | pogu | ||
| In Latvian, "pogu" (button) derives from the Russian word "pugovitsa" and the German word "Knopf". | |||
| Lithuanian | mygtuką | ||
| The word "mygtuką" also means "small lump" or "bump" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | копче | ||
| The word 'копче', meaning button in Macedonian, is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *kopati, meaning 'to fasten' or 'to connect'. | |||
| Polish | przycisk | ||
| The Polish word "przycisk" derives from the verb "przycisnąć," meaning "to press," and originally referred to the act of pressing rather than the button itself. | |||
| Romanian | buton | ||
| The word "buton" in Romanian can also refer to a small hole in a piece of clothing, typically for a button or a hook. | |||
| Russian | кнопка | ||
| "Кнопка" also means "bud" or "knob" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | дугме | ||
| The word "дугме" in Serbian comes from the Turkish word "düğme" meaning "button" and also "knob" or "key". | |||
| Slovak | tlačidlo | ||
| The Slovak word "tlačidlo" is derived from the verb "tlačiť" (to press), and also means "printer". | |||
| Slovenian | gumb | ||
| Gumb (button) comes from the German "Gombe" (buckle). | |||
| Ukrainian | кнопку | ||
| The Ukrainian word "кнопку" (button) comes from the German word "Knopf" | |||
Button in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বোতাম | ||
| "বোতাম" has been a Bengali word for over 400 years; it originated from the Tamil word "bodan" and the Proto-Dravidian word "podam". | |||
| Gujarati | બટન | ||
| The word "બટન" in Gujarati can also refer to the head of a nail or a rivet. | |||
| Hindi | बटन | ||
| The word 'बटन' can also mean an ornament that is worn in the ear or nose. | |||
| Kannada | ಬಟನ್ | ||
| The word "ಬಟನ್" also means "knob", "switch", or "handle" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | ബട്ടൺ | ||
| The word 'ബട്ടൺ' in Malayalam is derived from the Portuguese word 'botão', which means 'bud' or 'small round object'. | |||
| Marathi | बटण | ||
| The word "बटण" can also refer to a type of sweet made from coconut and jaggery in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | टांक | ||
| The Hindi word for "button" is also "टांक," implying it might be an item to be sewn "tightly" (as per the dictionary meaning of "टांक"). | |||
| Punjabi | ਬਟਨ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਬਟਨ" also refers to the navel, and is thought to have derived from the phrase "ਬਟਣਾ" (button) in Sanskrit. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | බොත්තම | ||
| "බොත්තම" (button) in Sinhala derives from the Tamil word "பொத்தான்" (button), which in turn comes from the Portuguese word "botão" (button). | |||
| Tamil | பொத்தானை | ||
| "பொத்தானை" means not only "button" in English, but also "hole" referring to the hole on a cloth to pass through a thread | |||
| Telugu | బటన్ | ||
| The word "బటన్" ("button") in Telugu can also refer to a buttonhole or a loop on a garment. | |||
| Urdu | بٹن | ||
| The Urdu word 'بٹن' derives from the Portuguese word 'botão' and also refers to the decorative knob on a garment or the bud of a flower. | |||
Button in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 纽扣 | ||
| 纽扣在古代指衣领上可系结的纽带、绳结，或衣服上连接襟片的扣子，现指用于连接或固定衣物、饰品或其他物品的圆形或其他形状的装置。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 鈕扣 | ||
| 鈕扣一詞來自於閩南語的"niu-khau"，意為"扣子"或"鈕珠"。 | |||
| Japanese | ボタン | ||
| In Portuguese "botão" also means flower bud. | |||
| Korean | 단추 | ||
| "단추" is also a Korean term of endearment used for a loved one or someone close. | |||
| Mongolian | товчлуур | ||
| 'Товчлуур' (button) comes from 'товч' (to pinch, to squeeze, to pick up with fingers) | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ခလုတ် | ||
| In the Myanmar language, the word "ခလုတ်" (pronounced [kʰa.louʔ]) is cognate to its Pali counterpart "khattuka", meaning "that which is cut or engraved". This is likely a reference to the button's original purpose of securing a piece of cloth to a garment. | |||
Button in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | tombol | ||
| The word "tombol" is also used to refer to a small hill or mound in Indonesian. | |||
| Javanese | tombol | ||
| The word "tombol" in Javanese also means "to push", indicating its function as a button. | |||
| Khmer | ប៊ូតុង | ||
| The Khmer word | |||
| Lao | ປຸ່ມ | ||
| The word ປຸ່ມ could have originated from the Vietnamese word "nút". | |||
| Malay | butang | ||
| The word "butang" can also refer to a type of Malaysian sweet that is made from mung beans and sugar. | |||
| Thai | ปุ่ม | ||
| The word ปุ่ม (button) also means "a mound" or "a hump" | |||
| Vietnamese | cái nút | ||
| "Cái nút" also refers to an electric switch in everyday conversation and "chuyển nút" usually translates to "turn the switch". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pindutan | ||
Button in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | düyməsini basın | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "düyməsini basın" ultimately derives from the French word "bouton," meaning "button." In addition to its primary meaning of "button," "düyməsini basın" can also refer to a "switch" or a "lever." | |||
| Kazakh | батырмасы | ||
| The word "батирмасы" in Kazakh also has the alternate meaning of "press stud" or "snap fastener". | |||
| Kyrgyz | баскычы | ||
| The word "баскычы" (button) in Kyrgyz also means "a small weight" used in jewelry. | |||
| Tajik | тугма | ||
| The word "тугма" in Tajik is derived from the Persian word "تكمه" (tūkme), which originally meant "knot" or "fastener." | |||
| Turkmen | düwmesi | ||
| Uzbek | tugmasi | ||
| "Tugmasi" can also mean "knot" or "tie". | |||
| Uyghur | كۇنۇپكا | ||
Button in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pihi | ||
| "Pihi" originates from the word "pi" meaning "to hold, clasp, or fasten". | |||
| Maori | patene | ||
| In Maori, 'patene' means 'button' or 'shell disk used for decoration or as part of a necklace'. | |||
| Samoan | faʻamau | ||
| The word "faʻamau" also means "to fasten" or "to tie" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pindutan | ||
| The word "pindutan" originally meant "something that is pressed or squeezed", which later came to mean "button". | |||
Button in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | wutuna | ||
| Guarani | votõ | ||
Button in International Languages
| Esperanto | butono | ||
| The word "butono" derives from the French word "bouton" and its original meaning was "flower bud". | |||
| Latin | button | ||
| The word "button" comes from the Old French word "boton", which means "bud" or "small knob." | |||
Button in Others Languages
| Greek | κουμπί | ||
| The word "κουμπί" (button) is derived from the Latin word "coppa", meaning "cup" or "bowl". In the Renaissance, buttons were often made of metal, and the hollowed-out shape of some buttons resembled a small cup or bowl. | |||
| Hmong | khawm | ||
| In Mien, the word "khau" means "button" and is also used to refer to the "throat". | |||
| Kurdish | pişkov | ||
| Pişkov also means "to press" or "to seal" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | buton | ||
| In Ottoman Turkish, "buton" meant "large" or "heavy", and referred to the size or weight of an object rather than a specific function or shape. | |||
| Xhosa | iqhosha | ||
| The word "iqhosha" can also refer to a small child, suggesting the idea of something cute and small | |||
| Yiddish | קנעפּל | ||
| In Yiddish, "קנעפּל" can also refer to a musical instrument, typically used in folk music. | |||
| Zulu | inkinobho | ||
| The word "inkinobho" can be traced back to the Proto-Bantu word "-kina-bho" meaning "to push, to strike, to pierce, to close". | |||
| Assamese | বুটাম | ||
| Aymara | wutuna | ||
| Bhojpuri | बटन | ||
| Dhivehi | ގޮށް | ||
| Dogri | बटन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pindutan | ||
| Guarani | votõ | ||
| Ilocano | buton | ||
| Krio | bɔtin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دوگمە | ||
| Maithili | बोताम | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯀꯨꯗꯥꯝ | ||
| Mizo | kawrkilh | ||
| Oromo | furtuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବଟନ୍ | ||
| Quechua | ñitina | ||
| Sanskrit | कड्मल | ||
| Tatar | төймә | ||
| Tigrinya | መጠወቒ | ||
| Tsonga | konopa | ||