Circle in Different Languages
Discover 'Circle' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The circle is a simple yet powerful geometric shape that holds great significance across different cultures and disciplines. It represents unity, wholeness, and eternity, often used to symbolize harmony and inclusivity. From ancient civilizations to modern-day mathematics, the circle has been a subject of fascination and study. For instance, the Pythagoreans considered the circle a perfect figure, and the ancient Greeks used it to understand the movements of celestial bodies.
Moreover, circles have played a crucial role in various cultural and religious practices worldwide. In Buddhism, the Dharma wheel is a symbol of Buddha's teachings, while in Christianity, the halo represents divine grace. Additionally, circles are often used in storytelling, such as in the Native American legend of the Circle of Life.
Understanding the translation of the word 'circle' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights and connections. For example, in Spanish, the word for circle is 'círculo,' while in French, it's 'cercle.' In Mandarin Chinese, the word for circle is '圆,' and in Japanese, it's '円'.
Explore the many translations of the word 'circle' and deepen your appreciation for the cultural significance of this universal shape.
Circle
Circle in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | sirkel | ||
| The word "sirkel" is derived from the Latin "circulus" and is also used to refer to a district or area. | |||
| Amharic | ክበብ | ||
| The word ክበብ also refers to a group of people gathered for a specific purpose, such as a meeting or discussion. | |||
| Hausa | da'ira | ||
| In Hausa, "da'ira" can also refer to a group of people associated with a particular person or organization. | |||
| Igbo | okirikiri | ||
| "Okikiri" comes from "kirikiri" meaning "to spin" or "to whirl". | |||
| Malagasy | faribolana | ||
| The word "faribolana" also means "orbit" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | bwalo | ||
| In the Nyanja language, "bwalo" can also refer to a village, a group of people gathered for a common purpose, or a courtyard. | |||
| Shona | denderedzwa | ||
| "Denderedzwa" can also refer to a gathering or meeting of people, often for social or ceremonial purposes. | |||
| Somali | goobaabin | ||
| The word "goobaabin" also means "a place of agreement" and could be a related concept to that of a circle in Somali culture. | |||
| Sesotho | sedikadikwe | ||
| In traditional medicine, sedikadikwe is a potion brewed using a root which can also be taken as a diuretic, thus its other name moseseke (diuretic). | |||
| Swahili | duara | ||
| Swahili 'duara' ('circle') is derived from Arabic 'da'ira' ('circle, orbit') and also means 'area, field, district' in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | isangqa | ||
| The Xhosa word "isangqa" means "circle" and is related to the Zulu word "isinkwa" meaning "bread", referring to the round shape of a loaf of bread. | |||
| Yoruba | circle | ||
| Yoruba has two verbs that can mean "to surround": "yí" or "pìn". The noun "pín" means "a circular area". | |||
| Zulu | indingilizi | ||
| The term 'indingilizi' may originate from the way a traditional hut is built with circular walls. | |||
| Bambara | koori | ||
| Ewe | fli nogo | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuzenguruko | ||
| Lingala | libungutulu | ||
| Luganda | -tooloola | ||
| Sepedi | sediko | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kanko | ||
Circle in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | دائرة | ||
| The Arabic word "دائرة" comes from the root "د-و-ر (d-w-r)" meaning "to turn" or "to rotate". | |||
| Hebrew | מעגל | ||
| מעגל literally translates to "cycle," implying the ongoing nature or pattern of the shape, and also can refer to social, biological, or even cosmic circles. | |||
| Pashto | دایره | ||
| The word "دایره" also means "range" or "scope" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | دائرة | ||
| The Arabic word "دائرة" comes from the root "د-و-ر (d-w-r)" meaning "to turn" or "to rotate". | |||
Circle in Western European Languages
| Albanian | rrethi | ||
| The word "rrethi" in Albanian can also refer to an administrative district, similar to a county or parish in English-speaking countries. | |||
| Basque | zirkulu | ||
| The word "zirkulu" also has the meanings "wheel" and "orbit" in Basque. | |||
| Catalan | cercle | ||
| The Catalan word "cercle" derives from the Latin word for "hoop" | |||
| Croatian | krug | ||
| "Krug" also means "loaf of bread" in Croatian, likely due to its round shape that resembles a traditional loaf. | |||
| Danish | cirkel | ||
| In Danish, “cirkel” means both “circle” and “circus” and originates from the Latin word “circus” meaning “ring” or “enclosed space”. | |||
| Dutch | cirkel | ||
| "Cirkel" is also used in Dutch to refer to a circus ring or a group of people standing in a circle. | |||
| English | circle | ||
| The word "circle" derives from the Old French "cirquel" which itself comes from the Latin "circus" meaning "a ring of spectators". | |||
| French | cercle | ||
| The word "cercle" in French also refers to a social gathering, group of people, or a round object. | |||
| Frisian | sirkel | ||
| The Frisian word "sirkel" or "tsjerkel" originally referred to a church, the yard surrounding it or a churchyard, the name for circle came later. | |||
| Galician | círculo | ||
| The word "círculo" comes from the Latin word "circus" which meant "ring" or "arena". | |||
| German | kreis | ||
| The word "Kreis" is also a term for a "district" or "administrative region" in German-speaking countries. | |||
| Icelandic | hring | ||
| The name of the mythical sword 'Hringhorni' translates literally as 'circle sword' | |||
| Irish | ciorcal | ||
| Irish word "ciorcal" originally meant "a ring" (a piece of jewelry) and later acquired the meaning of "circle" (a geometric shape). | |||
| Italian | cerchio | ||
| While "cerchio" means "circle" in Italian, in the past it was also used metaphorically to mean "trap" or "snare". | |||
| Luxembourgish | krees | ||
| It derives from French "criez" "cry out", as it was an auctioneer's cry during livestock markets. | |||
| Maltese | ċirku | ||
| The word "ċirku" also means "circus" in Maltese. | |||
| Norwegian | sirkel | ||
| The Norwegian word "sirkel" also refers to a geometry set with a compass or a protractor. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | círculo | ||
| The word "círculo" can also refer to a social or professional group. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cearcall | ||
| "Cearcall" is derived from the proto-celtic word *kʷerkʷos which also meant 'enclosure'" | |||
| Spanish | circulo | ||
| The Spanish word "círculo" derives from the Latin "circulus" or "circle" and also refers to a group of people sharing common interests. | |||
| Swedish | cirkel | ||
| The word "cirkel" derives from the Latin word "circus", which originally meant a ring-shaped racetrack. | |||
| Welsh | cylch | ||
| The word "cylch" in Welsh comes from the Proto-Celtic word "*kʷelkos", which also means "wheel" or "ring". | |||
Circle in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | круг | ||
| The word "круг" in Belarusian also has the alternate meaning of "round dance" or "circle dance". | |||
| Bosnian | krug | ||
| The Bosnian word "krug" also means "roundabout" or "intersection". | |||
| Bulgarian | кръг | ||
| The root of the word "кръг" ("circle") is "крег"крег - "step", but can also mean "sphere" | |||
| Czech | kruh | ||
| "Kruh" can also refer to "bread" or "loaf" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | ring | ||
| The Estonian word "ring" can also refer to a "piece of jewelry worn on a finger" or a "group of people or things arranged in a circle". | |||
| Finnish | ympyrä | ||
| The Finnish word "ympyrä" may also refer to a "wheel" or "cycle". | |||
| Hungarian | kör | ||
| The Hungarian word "kör" can also refer to "cycle", "round" or "tour". | |||
| Latvian | aplis | ||
| In its original meaning, "aplis" referred to a ring or hoop. | |||
| Lithuanian | apskritimas | ||
| The word "apskritimas" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ker-/*kre-", meaning "to turn" or "to curve". | |||
| Macedonian | круг | ||
| In some contexts, it can also refer to a loop, a cycle, or a group of people with similar interests or characteristics. | |||
| Polish | okrąg | ||
| The word "okrąg" can also mean a round table or a circle of people. | |||
| Romanian | cerc | ||
| In French, "cerc" means "hoop"; in Italian, "cerchio" also means "rim" | |||
| Russian | круг | ||
| "Круг " is an old Slavic word, it meant "a place in space, a place in time and space", "a set of objects". | |||
| Serbian | круг | ||
| The Serbian word "круг" ("circle") also means "social circle" or "group of people with similar interests". | |||
| Slovak | kruh | ||
| The word "kruh" also means "bread" in Slovak, and comes from the Proto-Slavic word *krogъ, meaning "ring" or "circle". | |||
| Slovenian | krog | ||
| In medieval times, "krog" also referred to a specific place in the village where people would gather. | |||
| Ukrainian | коло | ||
| The word "коло" is also related to the Slavic root "kol-", which means "wheel" or "to rotate". | |||
Circle in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বৃত্ত | ||
| The Sanskrit origin of "বৃত্ত" (circle) relates to "to run" and "to roll," reflecting the circular path of rotation. | |||
| Gujarati | વર્તુળ | ||
| Hindi | वृत्त | ||
| The word "वृत्त" can also mean "news" or "account" in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ವಲಯ | ||
| The word "ವಲಯ" can also refer to a ring, band, or bracelet. | |||
| Malayalam | സർക്കിൾ | ||
| The word 'സർക്കിൾ' (circle) in Malayalam is a borrowing from English, and has no alternate meanings in Malayalam. | |||
| Marathi | वर्तुळ | ||
| The Marathi word for 'circle', 'वर्तुळ', is related to the words 'वर्ष' (year) and 'वर्तणे' (to turn), suggesting its connection to the celestial sphere and the rotational motion associated with it. | |||
| Nepali | गोलाकार | ||
| The Nepali word "गोलाकार" is derived from the Sanskrit word "गोल" meaning "round" and "आकार" meaning "shape". | |||
| Punjabi | ਚੱਕਰ | ||
| The word "ਚੱਕਰ (chakkar)" also refers to a "cycle" or "rotation" in Punjabi, sharing a similar meaning with its English counterpart. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | රවුම | ||
| "රවුම" is derived from Sanskrit "ravi" (sun) and refers to the sun's path across the sky. | |||
| Tamil | வட்டம் | ||
| 'வட்டம்' is derived from the root 'வள்', meaning to surround or enclose, and can also refer to a circular object, a group, or a range of things. | |||
| Telugu | వృత్తం | ||
| The word "వృత్తం" also means a poetic genre or meter in Telugu literature. | |||
| Urdu | دائرہ | ||
Circle in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 圈 | ||
| The Chinese character "圈" (quān) is used in various contexts, including as a noun meaning "circle," as a verb meaning "to surround" or "to encircle," and as a noun in the sense of "a group" or "a clique." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 圈 | ||
| "圈" also means sphere, area, and field or industry | |||
| Japanese | サークル | ||
| サークル means "circle" in Japanese, but also "club" or "group," originating from the idea of people gathering in a circle to talk or socialize. | |||
| Korean | 원 | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "circle," the Korean word "원" can also refer to the unit of currency known as the South Korean won. | |||
| Mongolian | тойрог | ||
| The word тойрог can also refer to a district, province, or region. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စက်ဝိုင်း | ||
Circle in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | lingkaran | ||
| The word "lingkaran" is derived from the Javanese word "linggar", which refers to a round stone marker found near ancient temples. | |||
| Javanese | bunderan | ||
| Bunderan could also refer to the area around a circle, or specifically a roundabout | |||
| Khmer | រង្វង់ | ||
| Lao | ວົງ | ||
| Lao "วง" is derived from Pali "vanga", "ring or circle", and is also used in Thai and Khmer, while Lao "ວຽນ" is derived from Sanskrit "vyayana", "extension or circumference". | |||
| Malay | bulatan | ||
| The word "bulatan" in Malay is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "bulat", and it also means "round" or "sphere" in various Austronesian languages. | |||
| Thai | วงกลม | ||
| "วงกลม" also means a "cycle" or a "group of people". | |||
| Vietnamese | vòng tròn | ||
| "Vòng tròn" in Vietnamese can also refer to a group of people sitting or standing in a circle, or a set of objects arranged in a circular pattern. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bilog | ||
Circle in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | dairə | ||
| Dairə is also used in Azerbaijani to refer to a group of people who gather for a specific purpose or task. | |||
| Kazakh | шеңбер | ||
| The word "шеңбер" is derived from the Persian word "شامور کلاه", which means "fez" (a type of hat) and in some contexts this meaning has been retained in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | тегерек | ||
| The word "тегерек" can also refer to "a hoop" or "a ring". | |||
| Tajik | доира | ||
| "Доира" can also be used to describe a small circle or a dot, such as a mole on a person's face. | |||
| Turkmen | tegelek | ||
| Uzbek | doira | ||
| Doira is also used in Uzbek as a term for a traditional round musical instrument. | |||
| Uyghur | چەمبىرەك | ||
Circle in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pōʻai | ||
| The word "pōʻai" also means "boundary" or "limit" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | porohita | ||
| Porohita can also refer to priests or those who speak for the ancestors | |||
| Samoan | liʻo | ||
| In some contexts, "liʻo" can also refer to a group of people or a round dance. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bilog | ||
| The term "Bilog" traces its roots to the Sanskrit word "Vi" meaning "apart" or "separate". | |||
Circle in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | muruq'u | ||
| Guarani | apu'a | ||
Circle in International Languages
| Esperanto | rondo | ||
| The Esperanto word "rondo" also means "round dance" in English. | |||
| Latin | circulus | ||
| Circulus can also refer to a gathering, assembly, or group, as in the term 'circulus magistrorum' (circle of masters). | |||
Circle in Others Languages
| Greek | κύκλος | ||
| The term 'κύκλος' in Greek is related to the word 'round' in English, and has a root meaning of 'to roll' or 'to turn'. | |||
| Hmong | lub voj voog | ||
| The term "lub voj voog" can also refer to a "wheel" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | çember | ||
| The word "çember" can also refer to a "ring" or "hoop" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | daire | ||
| In Turkish, "daire" can also refer to an apartment unit or an office space, reflecting the idea of a bounded space. | |||
| Xhosa | isangqa | ||
| The Xhosa word "isangqa" means "circle" and is related to the Zulu word "isinkwa" meaning "bread", referring to the round shape of a loaf of bread. | |||
| Yiddish | קרייז | ||
| The Yiddish word קרייז also means a district or a group of people. | |||
| Zulu | indingilizi | ||
| The term 'indingilizi' may originate from the way a traditional hut is built with circular walls. | |||
| Assamese | বৃত্ত | ||
| Aymara | muruq'u | ||
| Bhojpuri | वृत्त | ||
| Dhivehi | ބުރު | ||
| Dogri | घेरा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bilog | ||
| Guarani | apu'a | ||
| Ilocano | bilog | ||
| Krio | sakul | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بازنە | ||
| Maithili | घेरा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯀꯣꯏꯕ | ||
| Mizo | bial | ||
| Oromo | geengoo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବୃତ୍ତ | ||
| Quechua | ruyru | ||
| Sanskrit | वृत्त | ||
| Tatar | түгәрәк | ||
| Tigrinya | ክቢ | ||
| Tsonga | xirhandzavutana | ||