Ceiling in Different Languages
Discover 'Ceiling' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A ceiling is a fundamental architectural element that serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. It provides a protective cover above us, keeping out the elements and contributing to a building's structural integrity. Ceilings have been adorned with beautiful frescoes, intricate patterns, and vibrant colors, reflecting the cultural significance of this often-overlooked aspect of design. From the Sistine Chapel's breathtaking masterpiece to the ornate ceilings of Indian palaces, ceilings have captured our imagination and left a lasting impact on our collective cultural consciousness.
Understanding the translation of 'ceiling' in different languages can offer valuable insights into how various cultures perceive and value this essential architectural feature. For instance, in Spanish, a ceiling is called 'techo,' while in German, it's 'Decke.' In French, the word is 'plafond,' and in Japanese, it's '天井 (tenjou).' Exploring these linguistic nuances can help us appreciate the diversity and richness of global cultures and languages.
Ceiling
Ceiling in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | plafon | ||
| The word "plafon" in Afrikaans comes from the French word "plafond" meaning "ceiling", but it can also be used to mean "a limit" or "a restriction". | |||
| Amharic | ጣሪያ | ||
| The word "ጣሪያ" is also used to refer to the top of a building or a roof. | |||
| Hausa | rufi | ||
| The word "rufi" can also refer to a canopy or a roof. | |||
| Igbo | uko ụlọ | ||
| 'Uko ụlọ' may also refer to the roof or upstairs | |||
| Malagasy | valindrihana | ||
| The word "valindrihana" is derived from the verb "indrihana", meaning "to be high", and the prefix "va-", indicating location. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kudenga | ||
| The Nyanja word "kudenga" is also used to refer to the act of covering or roofing something. | |||
| Shona | siringi | ||
| The word "siringi" may also refer to the roof of a hut. | |||
| Somali | saqafka | ||
| The word "saqafka" is derived from Arabic and also means "roof". | |||
| Sesotho | siling | ||
| "Siling" comes from Proto-Bantu "silu" meaning "roof, cover, coverlet". | |||
| Swahili | dari | ||
| Dari in Swahili can also mean 'floor' when used in the context of a multi-story building. | |||
| Xhosa | isilingi | ||
| The alternate meaning of 'i-silongo' is to make a secret plan against someone. | |||
| Yoruba | orule | ||
| The word “orule” also means “secret” and is related to the word “orun” which means “heaven”. | |||
| Zulu | uphahla | ||
| The word 'uphahla' may also refer to 'the roof of a house' or 'heaven' in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | pilafɔn | ||
| Ewe | agbakɛ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | igisenge | ||
| Lingala | plafond | ||
| Luganda | akasolya | ||
| Sepedi | siling | ||
| Twi (Akan) | siilin | ||
Ceiling in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | سقف | ||
| The word 'سقف' is cognate with the Hebrew word 'סכך' (sukkah), a temporary hut or shelter. | |||
| Hebrew | תִקרָה | ||
| The word “תקרה” also means “an event” or “an occurrence” in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | چت | ||
| The word "چت" also refers to a flat roof that is used as a living space in traditional Pashto architecture. | |||
| Arabic | سقف | ||
| The word 'سقف' is cognate with the Hebrew word 'סכך' (sukkah), a temporary hut or shelter. | |||
Ceiling in Western European Languages
| Albanian | tavan | ||
| Tavan is an Albanian word meaning 'ceiling' and is also derived from the Persian word 'tāq' meaning 'vault' or 'arch'. | |||
| Basque | sabaia | ||
| The Basque word "sabaia" (ceiling) may also mean "sky" or "heaven" in other languages. | |||
| Catalan | sostre | ||
| The word "sostre" in Catalan is derived from the Latin word "substratum", meaning "underneath". | |||
| Croatian | strop | ||
| The Croatian word "strop" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "stropъ", meaning "roof" or "ceiling". | |||
| Danish | loft | ||
| "Loft" is the Danish word for ceiling and comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *hleubh-, "to cover, roof over". | |||
| Dutch | plafond | ||
| Dutch "plafond" comes from the French word "plafond" meaning "flat surface" and is also used for "maximum amount" or "limit". | |||
| English | ceiling | ||
| From Middle English celynge, from Anglo-Norman seeling, from Old French ciel "canopy, heaven, sky," from Latin caelum "sky, heaven," from Proto-Indo-European *ḱḗi̯l- "to cover". | |||
| French | plafond | ||
| The word "plafond" in French derives from the Italian word "plagione", meaning "flat surface". | |||
| Frisian | plafond | ||
| In Frisian, "plafond" can also refer to the surface of a liquid or the sky. | |||
| Galician | teito | ||
| Galician "teito" comes from Latin "tectum", meaning a building, which is related to the word "techo" in Spanish and Portuguese and "toit" in French, all meaning a "roof". | |||
| German | decke | ||
| The word 'Decke' comes from the Old High German word 'decchi' which also meant a 'cover'. | |||
| Icelandic | loft | ||
| In Icelandic, "loft" not only means "ceiling" but also "air" or "sky". | |||
| Irish | uasteorainn | ||
| While the first part of the word is uncertain, the suffix -rainn suggests "of the king". | |||
| Italian | soffitto | ||
| In Italian architecture, a "soffitto" can also refer to a painted canvas attached to the ceiling, serving as a decorative element or a way to conceal structural elements. | |||
| Luxembourgish | plafong | ||
| The word "Plafong" is derived from the French word "plafond", which means "ceiling". It can also refer to the space between the ceiling and the roof. | |||
| Maltese | saqaf | ||
| The word 'saqaf' is derived from the Arabic word 'saqf', which means 'roof'. | |||
| Norwegian | tak | ||
| The word "tak" is derived from the Old Norse word "þak", which means "roof". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | teto | ||
| In Portuguese, "teto" can also mean "refuge" or "shelter". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | mullach | ||
| Scots Gaelic "mullach" (ceiling) shares its origin with words for "skull" and "summit" | |||
| Spanish | techo | ||
| The word "techo" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "tectum", meaning "roof" or "covering". | |||
| Swedish | tak | ||
| In some dialects, "tak" also means roof. | |||
| Welsh | nenfwd | ||
| "Nenfwd" also refers to a person who is absent-minded or impractical. | |||
Ceiling in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | столь | ||
| In Old Belarusian, столь (“ceiling”) originally came from the adjective “stole” (“large, mighty, proud”). | |||
| Bosnian | plafon | ||
| "Plafon" is also slang for "limit" | |||
| Bulgarian | таван | ||
| It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*tégmhó-," meaning "to cover, thatch." | |||
| Czech | strop | ||
| In Czech, "strop" can also refer to a "cover" or a "lid". | |||
| Estonian | lagi | ||
| The word "lagi" in Estonian can also refer to a sail or a banner. | |||
| Finnish | katto | ||
| "Katto" is a loanword from Swedish "tak", which is cognate with German "Dach" (roof). | |||
| Hungarian | mennyezet | ||
| The word "mennyezet" also means "heaven" or "paradise" in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | griestiem | ||
| Etymology unknown; the word is not present in Proto-Baltic or Proto-Indo-European, but may have Slavic roots. | |||
| Lithuanian | lubos | ||
| The Lithuanian word "lubos" not only means "ceiling", but also refers to the upper part of a stove, a hearth, or a roof. | |||
| Macedonian | таванот | ||
| The word "таванот" can also refer to the sky or firmament, a connection reflected in its Slavic cognates, such as the Russian "небо" and the Polish "niebo". | |||
| Polish | sufit | ||
| The word "sufit" comes from the Arabic word "saqaf", which means "roof" or "ceiling". | |||
| Romanian | tavan | ||
| Related to the verb 'tavăli', meaning 'to roll', as the ceiling rolls (extends) over the room. | |||
| Russian | потолок | ||
| The word "потолок" can also refer to the maximum height or limit of something. | |||
| Serbian | плафон | ||
| The word "плафон" in Serbian originates from the French word "plafond," which in turn derives from the Italian "pallonfone," likely meaning "large ball," possibly due to the concave or dome-shaped roofs that the word described. | |||
| Slovak | strop | ||
| In the Slovak dialect of Moravian Wallachia, the word "strop" can also refer to a loft or attic. | |||
| Slovenian | strop | ||
| Slovenian "strop" can also mean "a sudden loud noise" or an "unexpected event" | |||
| Ukrainian | стеля | ||
| "Стеля" in Ukrainian is also a verb meaning "to lay something flat". | |||
Ceiling in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সিলিং | ||
| The word "সিলিং" (ceiling) in Bengali is derived from the Sanskrit word "शिरा" (head) or "शीर्ष" (top), indicating the uppermost surface of a room. | |||
| Gujarati | છત | ||
| The word "છત" also means "roof" or "top" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | अधिकतम सीमा | ||
| "अधिकतम सीमा" is used to denote an upper limit, while "अधिकतम सीमा" (with "ऋ") is a synonym for "maximum"} | |||
| Kannada | ಸೀಲಿಂಗ್ | ||
| In Kannada, ಸೀಲಿಂಗ್ can also refer to a limit or upper bound. | |||
| Malayalam | പരിധി | ||
| The word "പരിധി" also means "extent", "limit", and "boundary" in Malayalam. | |||
| Marathi | कमाल मर्यादा | ||
| The Marathi word for "ceiling," कमाल मर्यादा, literally means "wonderful limit," suggesting the sky as the ultimate boundary. | |||
| Nepali | छत | ||
| In Nepal, छत (chat) and छाना (chhana) are used interchangeably, likely due to their similar function of providing a cover or protection. | |||
| Punjabi | ਛੱਤ | ||
| In old Punjabi, the word 'ਛੱਤ' meant the roof as well as a hut. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සිවිලිම | ||
| "සිවිලිම" in Sinhala comes from the Sanskrit word "chhavila" meaning "roof", but can also mean "sky" or "heavenly body". | |||
| Tamil | உச்சவரம்பு | ||
| In Tamil, the word "உச்சவரம்பு" ("ceiling") also refers to the "upper limit" or "maximum" in a context unrelated to architecture. | |||
| Telugu | పైకప్పు | ||
| The word "పైకప్పు" can also refer to the roof of a house or building. | |||
| Urdu | چھت | ||
| The word 'چھت' is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word 'छादन' ('covering'). | |||
Ceiling in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 天花板 | ||
| The literal meaning of '天花板' is 'roof' or 'sky ceiling'. Its original meaning was the roof of a house. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 天花板 | ||
| The word “天花板” literally means “sky ceiling,” and was originally used to refer to the canopies over the beds of emperors and nobles. | |||
| Japanese | 天井 | ||
| Originally meaning "sky" or "heaven," 天井 (tenjō) refers to the overhead space within a room as well as the material that covers it. | |||
| Korean | 천장 | ||
| 천장 is also a Korean term for 'sky'. | |||
| Mongolian | тааз | ||
| The word "тааз" can also refer to the upper part of a yurt or the top of a ger door. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မျက်နှာကျက် | ||
| The word literally translates to “face cover” and refers to the fact that it hides the beams and rafters of the roof from view. | |||
Ceiling in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | plafon | ||
| From French 'plafond', meaning a low level (as of clouds or a ceiling), a limit or a restriction for flight. | |||
| Javanese | langit-langit | ||
| "Langit-langit" also means "sky" in Javanese, as it is believed that the ceiling of a house is a reflection of the sky above and that the gods live in the sky. | |||
| Khmer | ពិដាន | ||
| "ពិដាន" is derived from Sanskrit word "vidhāna" which means "spread" or "expanded." | |||
| Lao | ເພດານ | ||
| The word "ເພດານ" evolved from the Pali word "pattana" which means "to spread out or flatten" | |||
| Malay | siling | ||
| The Malay word 'siling' also refers to a type of cloth or fabric used for curtains or upholstery. | |||
| Thai | เพดาน | ||
| The word "เพดาน" (ceiling) is derived from the Sanskrit word "pada" meaning "foot" or "position", likely referring to its position above the floor. | |||
| Vietnamese | trần nhà | ||
| The word "Trần nhà" also means "heaven" in the context of Buddhism. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kisame | ||
Ceiling in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | tavan | ||
| "Tavan" means "ceiling" in Azerbaijani, but it can also mean "top", "upper part", or "roof". | |||
| Kazakh | төбе | ||
| "Төбе" (ceiling) stems from the Old Turkic word "tüb" (top) and means the highest point of something, including a person's head. | |||
| Kyrgyz | шып | ||
| Шип is a Russian loanword, derived from the Proto-Slavic *šьpъ, which means "pole, rod, staff". | |||
| Tajik | шифт | ||
| "Shift" comes from Persian shift (شِفت, "night shift") and ultimately from Arabic saft (صَفْت, "row"), with an analogous evolution of meaning through "row of planks". | |||
| Turkmen | potolok | ||
| Uzbek | ship | ||
| The Uzbek word "ship" is also used to refer to the deck of a ship or the roof of a house. | |||
| Uyghur | تورۇس | ||
Ceiling in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaupaku | ||
| "Kaupaku" also means "to shut out", in reference to its function as a ceiling. | |||
| Maori | tuanui | ||
| "Tuanui" also means "great lord" and was thought to be an appropriate name for a ceiling since it held up the roof from above. | |||
| Samoan | taualuga | ||
| The word “taualuga” can also refer to the roof of a house or the top of a tree. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kisame | ||
| "Kisame" is an archaic term that can also refer to a canopy or a tent. | |||
Ceiling in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | utapatxa | ||
| Guarani | ogahoja | ||
Ceiling in International Languages
| Esperanto | plafono | ||
| The Esperanto word “plafono” comes from a Greek word that also means “wandering” and “straying,” indicating a ceiling or roof that prevents wandering outdoors. | |||
| Latin | laquearia | ||
| The word "laquearia" originally meant "coffered ceiling" but was used more generally for all ceilings. | |||
Ceiling in Others Languages
| Greek | οροφή | ||
| The word οροφή was originally used to refer to the roof of a building and is connected to the word όρος, which means "mountain" or "boundary. | |||
| Hmong | qab nthab | ||
| The Hmong word "qab nthab" combines the words "qab" (above) and "nthab" (board), providing a literal description of a ceiling as a "board above". | |||
| Kurdish | lihêf | ||
| The word "lihêf" in Kurdish may also refer to a bedsheet or quilt. | |||
| Turkish | tavan | ||
| The Turkish word tavan is related to the English and German words | |||
| Xhosa | isilingi | ||
| The alternate meaning of 'i-silongo' is to make a secret plan against someone. | |||
| Yiddish | סופיט | ||
| The Yiddish word "סופיט" (sofit) is etymologically related to the Hebrew word "ספה" (sofa), both sharing a root meaning of "something elevated" or "a cover". | |||
| Zulu | uphahla | ||
| The word 'uphahla' may also refer to 'the roof of a house' or 'heaven' in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | চিলিং | ||
| Aymara | utapatxa | ||
| Bhojpuri | छत | ||
| Dhivehi | ސީލިންގް | ||
| Dogri | छत्त | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kisame | ||
| Guarani | ogahoja | ||
| Ilocano | bobida | ||
| Krio | silin | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بنمیچ | ||
| Maithili | छत | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯨꯝꯊꯛ | ||
| Mizo | inchung | ||
| Oromo | baaxii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଛାତ | ||
| Quechua | qata | ||
| Sanskrit | छादम् | ||
| Tatar | түшәм | ||
| Tigrinya | ላዕለዋይ ጸፍሒ | ||
| Tsonga | silingi | ||