Column in Different Languages
Discover 'Column' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A column is a structural element that transmits loads from the horizontal beams or slabs to the vertical foundation. This architectural feature has been a fundamental part of many iconic structures throughout history, from the ancient Greek and Roman temples to modern skyscrapers. The column's significance goes beyond its structural function, as it also serves as a decorative element that adds elegance and grandeur to a building.
Moreover, columns have cultural importance and are often associated with power, stability, and longevity. For instance, in ancient Greece, columns were used to create a sense of awe and reverence for the gods. In contrast, in Buddhist architecture, columns are used to create a sense of lightness and openness, reflecting the religion's emphasis on spiritual enlightenment.
Understanding the translation of the word 'column' in different languages can provide insight into how different cultures view and use this architectural element. Here are some sample translations:
- French: colonne
- Spanish: columna
- German: Säule
- Italian: colonna
- Chinese: 柱 (Zhù)
- Japanese: 柱 (Hashira)
Stay tuned for more translations of the word 'column' in different languages!
Column
Column in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | kolom | ||
| "Kolom" in Afrikaans can also refer to a small room or alcove, likely due to its resemblance to a column in shape. | |||
| Amharic | አምድ | ||
| "አምድ" (column) also denotes the vertical axis of a coordinate system, a vertical rod in a machine, or the vertical trunk of a tree. | |||
| Hausa | shafi | ||
| The word “shafi“ also means a line or row when used in the context of a book or newspaper. | |||
| Igbo | kọlụm | ||
| The Igbo word "kọlụm" can also refer to a line of people or animals. | |||
| Malagasy | tsanganana | ||
| The Malagasy word "tsanganana" can also mean a "pillar", "support", or a "vertical line". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | gawo | ||
| The word "gawo" can also refer to a tree trunk or a pillar. | |||
| Shona | column | ||
| The Shona word "column" can also refer to a line of people or animals. | |||
| Somali | khaanadda | ||
| The word "khaanadda" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "khannaada", which means "storehouse" or "repository". | |||
| Sesotho | lenaneng | ||
| The word "lenaneng" in Sesotho is derived from the verb "lena," meaning "to stand upright." | |||
| Swahili | safu | ||
| The word "safu" can also refer to a line, a row, or a queue in Swahili, making it a versatile term with multiple uses in different contexts. | |||
| Xhosa | ikholamu | ||
| The Xhosa word "ikholamu" derives from the Nguni root "-khol-," meaning "to stick out," and shares a common origin with the Zulu word "ikholomu." | |||
| Yoruba | ọwọn | ||
| "Ọwọn" is a word in the Yoruba language that means "column" but it also has the alternate meaning of "line" or "row". | |||
| Zulu | ikholomu | ||
| The word "ikholomu" can also mean "pillar" or "support" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | kɔlɔni | ||
| Ewe | akpa | ||
| Kinyarwanda | inkingi | ||
| Lingala | molongo | ||
| Luganda | empagi | ||
| Sepedi | kholomo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nkyekyɛmu | ||
Column in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | عمود | ||
| The word عمود "column" is derived from the verb عمَد "to lean on" and is also used to refer to a row in a table or a line in a poem. | |||
| Hebrew | טור | ||
| The Hebrew word "טור" (column) also means "row" or "line", and is cognate with the Arabic word "тур" (circle, row). | |||
| Pashto | کالم | ||
| In Pashto, "کالم" also means "writing", "speech", "utterance", or "discourse." | |||
| Arabic | عمود | ||
| The word عمود "column" is derived from the verb عمَد "to lean on" and is also used to refer to a row in a table or a line in a poem. | |||
Column in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kolonë | ||
| "Albanian word "kolonë" also means "section" or "paragraph" and comes from Latin "colum(e)na", referring to a line of text." | |||
| Basque | zutabea | ||
| The word "zutabea" is thought to have derived from the Basque word "zuri" (white) and the Latin word "tabula" (board). | |||
| Catalan | columna | ||
| The word "columna" in Catalan also refers to the vertical part of a book page, between margins | |||
| Croatian | stupac | ||
| Stupac is a Slavic term that also refers to a pole, pillar or stake. | |||
| Danish | kolonne | ||
| The Danish word "kolonne" originates from the Latin word "columna" and can also mean "queue" or "file." | |||
| Dutch | kolom | ||
| In Dutch, "kolom" can also mean "gutter" or "page space". | |||
| English | column | ||
| The word 'column' derives from the Latin 'columna', meaning 'pillar' or 'support'. | |||
| French | colonne | ||
| In addition to its basic meaning of 'column', 'colonne' can also refer to a battalion formation or a vertical sequence of text or numbers. | |||
| Frisian | pylder | ||
| The word "pylder" can also mean "pillar" or "post" in Frisian. | |||
| Galician | columna | ||
| The Galician word "columna" originally referred to a support for a roof, but it can also mean "a series of people or things arranged in a line". | |||
| German | säule | ||
| The word "Säule" originally referred to a pillar or post, but it has also come to mean "column" in the sense of a supporting structure. | |||
| Icelandic | dálki | ||
| The word "dálki" can also mean "stalk" or "stem" in Icelandic. | |||
| Irish | colún | ||
| In Irish, "colún" can also refer to a beam, a pillar, a post, or a mast. | |||
| Italian | colonna | ||
| The word "colonna" is derived from the Latin word "columna", and it can also mean "spinal column" in Italian. | |||
| Luxembourgish | kolonn | ||
| The word "Kolonn" derives from the Old High German word "kolumna", meaning "column" or "pillar." | |||
| Maltese | kolonna | ||
| The word "kolonna" derives from the Latin word "columna". | |||
| Norwegian | kolonne | ||
| The word "kolonne" not only means "column" in Norwegian, but it can also refer to a military formation or a vertical arrangement of text. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | coluna | ||
| The Portuguese word "coluna" also colloquially means "spinal cord" and "backbone". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | colbh | ||
| 'Colbth' also refers in Gaelic to the stems or stumps that are planted in a bog or marsh. | |||
| Spanish | columna | ||
| Columna, meaning "column" in Spanish, derives from the Latin word "columna," meaning "support" or "prop." | |||
| Swedish | kolumn | ||
| In Swedish, "kolumn" can also refer to a line of text or a vertical grid of cells. | |||
| Welsh | colofn | ||
| "Colofn" can also refer to "a rod, a stick". | |||
Column in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | калонка | ||
| Bosnian | stupac | ||
| Stupac is also a name of an old dance, where the dancers move around a 'stup' (a pillar in the centre of the space) | |||
| Bulgarian | колона | ||
| The word "колона" can also refer to a line or formation of people or vehicles. | |||
| Czech | sloupec | ||
| Czech "sloupec" and Russian "stolb" derive from Proto-Slavic word for "stake". | |||
| Estonian | veerg | ||
| In the word “veerg” can be seen “veer” (“edge”) from which the “veerand” (“quarter” of an hour) also originates. | |||
| Finnish | sarake | ||
| In Estonian, "sari" means "row", sharing the same Uralic root with the Finnish "sarake" | |||
| Hungarian | oszlop | ||
| The word "oszlop" in Hungarian also means "division" in mathematics and "file" in military context. | |||
| Latvian | kolonna | ||
| The word "kolonna" can also refer to a military formation or a procession. | |||
| Lithuanian | stulpelį | ||
| The Lithuanian word 'stulpelis' (column) comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *steh₂-, meaning 'to stand'. | |||
| Macedonian | колона | ||
| The word "колона" derives from the Proto-Slavic "kolona", which originates from the Greek "kolone". | |||
| Polish | kolumna | ||
| Kolumna comes from Latin columen, "pinnacle, stay". | |||
| Romanian | coloană | ||
| "Coloană" in Romanian can also mean "queue" or "spinal cord". | |||
| Russian | столбец | ||
| "Столбец" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*stŭlbъ", meaning "pillar", related to "stolėp" ("table") and "uštė" ("mouth"). | |||
| Serbian | колона | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "column" in architecture, "колона" in Serbian can also refer to a queue or line of people or objects. | |||
| Slovak | stĺpec | ||
| The word "stĺpec" in Slovak can also refer to a person who is tall and thin. | |||
| Slovenian | stolpec | ||
| The Slovenian word "stolpec" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*stebh-", which also led to "stupa" in Sanskrit, "step" in English, "stab" in German, and "stick" in Dutch. | |||
| Ukrainian | стовпець | ||
| The word "стовпець" originally meant "a stack of hay". | |||
Column in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | কলাম | ||
| The word "কলাম" also means "banana" in Bengali, derived from the Sanskrit word "কদলী". | |||
| Gujarati | ક columnલમ | ||
| The word "column" is derived from the Latin word "columna", meaning "pillar" or "support". | |||
| Hindi | स्तंभ | ||
| In Hindi, "स्तंभ" can also refer to a post, pillar, or support. | |||
| Kannada | ಕಾಲಮ್ | ||
| The term 'ಕಾಲಮ್' has alternate meanings including 'time', 'stage', 'pillar', and 'foot' in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | കോളം | ||
| The word "കോളം" can also mean a line, a row, or a file. | |||
| Marathi | स्तंभ | ||
| The word "स्तंभ" originates from the Sanskrit word "stambha," meaning "support" or "firm base." | |||
| Nepali | स्तम्भ | ||
| The word "स्तम्भ" can also refer to a pillar, post, or support. | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਾਲਮ | ||
| ਕਾਲਮ is also used for the meaning of 'death', which derives from Sanskrit 'kala' meaning 'time'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තීරුව | ||
| The word "තීරුව" (column) derives from the Sanskrit "स्तम्भ" (pillar), and also refers to a line of poetry or a column in a newspaper. | |||
| Tamil | நெடுவரிசை | ||
| Telugu | కాలమ్ | ||
| The Telugu word "కాలమ్" also has alternate meanings including "time" and "period". | |||
| Urdu | کالم | ||
| کالم is an Arabic word derived from the root 'kalama', meaning to write or to compose. | |||
Column in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 柱 | ||
| The Chinese character '柱' can also refer to a post, a pillar, a main support, or a pile. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 柱 | ||
| 柱 can also refer to an upright wooden structural element in traditional Chinese architecture | |||
| Japanese | カラム | ||
| The Japanese word "カラム" (karamu) is derived from the Portuguese word "caramu", which means "sugar cane" or "bamboo reed". | |||
| Korean | 기둥 | ||
| The word 기둥 (gidung) can also mean 'backbone' or 'support' in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | багана | ||
| The word "багана" can mean both "column" and "warrior in heavy armor" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကော်လံ | ||
| The word "ကော်လံ" (column) in Myanmar (Burmese) can also refer to a group of people or objects arranged in a vertical line or row. | |||
Column in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kolom | ||
| The word 'kolom' is derived from the Dutch word 'kolom', which itself comes from the Greek word 'kolonos', meaning 'hill' or 'peak'. | |||
| Javanese | kolom | ||
| The Javanese word 'kolom' can also refer to the pillars of a house, or the piles of a bridge. | |||
| Khmer | ជួរឈរ | ||
| The word "ជួរឈរ" ("column") also refers to a line or row of people or objects. | |||
| Lao | ຖັນ | ||
| The word "ຖັນ" can also mean "post" or "pillar". | |||
| Malay | kolum | ||
| The word "kolum" in Malay can also mean "line" or "row". | |||
| Thai | คอลัมน์ | ||
| คอลัมน์ มาจากคำในภาษาละตินว่า columen, ที่แปลว่า "เสา" หรือ "หลัก" | |||
| Vietnamese | cột | ||
| The word "cột" can also mean "mast" or "pole" in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hanay | ||
Column in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | sütun | ||
| The word | |||
| Kazakh | баған | ||
| "Баған" (column) may also mean "hero" or "warrior" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | мамыча | ||
| Etymology: Mongolian "багана" or Persian "ميان" or Arabic "العمود". | |||
| Tajik | сутун | ||
| The word "сутун" also means "backbone" or "spine". | |||
| Turkmen | sütün | ||
| Uzbek | ustun | ||
| The word "ustun" in Uzbek can also refer to a pillar, post, or support. | |||
| Uyghur | ستون | ||
Column in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kolamu | ||
| "Kolamu" in Hawaiian could also mean "to pierce or perforate, or the resulting hole". | |||
| Maori | tīwae | ||
| The word "tīwae" can also refer to "the base or foot of any object" in Maori, making its meaning somewhat similar to that of "pillar" in English. | |||
| Samoan | koluma | ||
| "Koluma" also means "post, pillar, pole, or staff" in Samoan. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | haligi | ||
| The Tagalog word "haligi" is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word "stambha", which also means "pillar" or "post". | |||
Column in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | siqi | ||
| Guarani | ytaguasu | ||
Column in International Languages
| Esperanto | kolumno | ||
| The Esperanto word "kolumno" (column) derives from Latin "columna" (column), also giving rise to Italian "colonna" (column). | |||
| Latin | columnae | ||
| In Latin, "columnae" can also refer to certain groups of soldiers or the members of a religious body. | |||
Column in Others Languages
| Greek | στήλη | ||
| The word "στήλη" also refers to a stele, or a stone tablet in Greek, which was used for carving texts or images. | |||
| Hmong | kem | ||
| The word "kem" can also refer to a type of Hmong dance. | |||
| Kurdish | ling | ||
| The word "ling" also means "tongue" in Kurdish, reflecting its shape. | |||
| Turkish | sütun | ||
| Sütun is also a Turkish word for "milk" and is derived from the root word "süt," which means "milk." | |||
| Xhosa | ikholamu | ||
| The Xhosa word "ikholamu" derives from the Nguni root "-khol-," meaning "to stick out," and shares a common origin with the Zulu word "ikholomu." | |||
| Yiddish | זייַל | ||
| In Yiddish, "זייַל" primarily denotes a column, a pillar or post, but also figuratively refers to a succession or series, as well as a line of writing. | |||
| Zulu | ikholomu | ||
| The word "ikholomu" can also mean "pillar" or "support" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | স্তম্ভ | ||
| Aymara | siqi | ||
| Bhojpuri | खंभा | ||
| Dhivehi | ކޮލަމް | ||
| Dogri | थ'म्म | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hanay | ||
| Guarani | ytaguasu | ||
| Ilocano | kolum | ||
| Krio | pila | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ستوون | ||
| Maithili | स्तंभ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯌꯨꯝꯕꯤ | ||
| Mizo | ban | ||
| Oromo | toora asii gadii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସ୍ତମ୍ଭ | ||
| Quechua | sayanpa | ||
| Sanskrit | स्तम्भ: | ||
| Tatar | багана | ||
| Tigrinya | ሪጋ | ||
| Tsonga | kholomo | ||