Couch in Different Languages
Discover 'Couch' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The humble couch, a staple of living rooms and lounges worldwide, is more than just a piece of furniture. It's a symbol of relaxation, comfort, and community. The couch is where we gather with family and friends to watch movies, play games, and share stories. It's where we unwind after a long day, curling up with a good book or our favorite streaming show. In many ways, the couch is the heart of the home.
But did you know that the word 'couch' has roots in old French and means 'to lie down'? Or that in some cultures, the couch is a place of honor, reserved for honored guests or the head of the household?
Understanding the translation of 'couch' in different languages can give us insight into the cultural significance of this versatile piece of furniture. For example, in Spanish, a couch is called 'sofá,' while in German it's 'Couch' and in French 'canapé'.
Join us as we explore the many translations of 'couch' and delve into the fascinating history and cultural importance of this beloved piece of furniture.
Couch
Couch in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | rusbank | ||
| The word 'rusbank' may have originated from the Dutch word 'rustbank', which means 'resting bench'. | |||
| Amharic | ሶፋ | ||
| In the Amharic-English dictionary by Charles Richard Lepsius, the word "sofa" is also translated as "bed". | |||
| Hausa | kujera | ||
| The word "kujera" in Hausa shares the same root as "kujera" in Fulani, meaning "to lie down." | |||
| Igbo | n'ihe ndina | ||
| N'ihi ndina means "to rest on" in Igbo, hence the translation to "couch". | |||
| Malagasy | fandriana | ||
| The word "fandriana" in Malagasy can also mean "bed" or "sitting mat," depending on the context. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kama | ||
| The word "kama" in Nyanja can also refer to a garden bed or a small field. | |||
| Shona | mubhedha | ||
| The word 'mubhedha' in Shona is derived from the verb 'kubhedha' which means 'to spread out' or 'to make a flat surface'. | |||
| Somali | sariir | ||
| In Somali, "sariir" is also used to refer to one of the three main prayers in Islam. | |||
| Sesotho | setulo se kang bethe | ||
| Sesotho se 'setulo se kang bethe' (couch) means a place to sit and rest, similar to the Zulu word 'isitulo' | |||
| Swahili | kitanda | ||
| The word "kitanda" in Swahili derives from the Proto-Bantu *ki-tanda, meaning "sleeping place". | |||
| Xhosa | isingqengqelo | ||
| Isingqengqelo comes from the word ingqengqe, which means 'to be bent or arched' | |||
| Yoruba | akete | ||
| The word "akete" also denotes a "bed" or "mattress" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | usofa | ||
| "Usofa" comes from the word "sofa" in Portuguese, which is derived ultimately from the Arabic word "suffah," meaning a bench or a couch. | |||
| Bambara | dilan | ||
| Ewe | xɔmezikpui legbe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | uburiri | ||
| Lingala | kiti ya divan | ||
| Luganda | entebe | ||
| Sepedi | sofa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | akonnwa | ||
Couch in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | أريكة | ||
| أريكة (couch) is derived from the French word | |||
| Hebrew | סַפָּה | ||
| The Hebrew word for 'couch', 'ספה', also means 'a threshold or boundary' | |||
| Pashto | تخته | ||
| The word "تخته" in Pashto can also refer to a wooden plank or a bed frame. | |||
| Arabic | أريكة | ||
| أريكة (couch) is derived from the French word | |||
Couch in Western European Languages
| Albanian | divan | ||
| In Albanian, the word "divan" can also refer to a council or an administrative body. | |||
| Basque | sofan | ||
| The Basque word “sofan” evolved from “sof,” the word for bench or table that is placed before a house, and “kanpo,” which refers to the open air. | |||
| Catalan | sofà | ||
| "Sofà" is a loanword from Arabic "Suffah" (bench, platform) via Spanish "sofá". | |||
| Croatian | kauč | ||
| The word 'kauč' is derived from the Hungarian word 'kács', which means 'oven' or 'furnace'. | |||
| Danish | sofa | ||
| In Danish, the word "sofa" is a loanword from Italian "sofa" and French "sofa", which both stem from Arabic "suffa", meaning "bench" or "platform". | |||
| Dutch | bankstel | ||
| The word "bankstel" originated from the Dutch words "bank" (bench) and "stoel" (chair) and originally referred to a bench with a back and armrests. | |||
| English | couch | ||
| The word 'couch' originates from French and was originally used to describe a physical bed, but over time its meaning shifted to refer to a long, upholstered piece of furniture designed for seating. | |||
| French | canapé | ||
| Canapé, meaning "couch" in French, comes from the Latin word "canopus", which referred to a type of Egyptian boat with a raised deck | |||
| Frisian | bank | ||
| Historically, the word "bank" in Frisian could also refer to a bench or a sleeping area on a ferry. | |||
| Galician | sofá | ||
| The word «sofá» has many etymologies, among them that of «divan» that referred to the raised sitting area used by the Arabs and on which it was customary to eat while reclining. | |||
| German | couch | ||
| The German word "Couch" can also refer to a sofa bed, a sleeping couch, or a day bed. | |||
| Icelandic | sófinn | ||
| According to the Íslensk Orðabók, the word "sófinn" can refer to a type of couch called a "chesterfield". | |||
| Irish | tolg | ||
| In Irish slang, "tolg" can also refer to a sofa, armchair, or similar piece of furniture. | |||
| Italian | divano | ||
| The word "divano" comes from the Persian word "dīvān", meaning "council" or "court". | |||
| Luxembourgish | canapé | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Canapé" can also refer to a small open sandwich. | |||
| Maltese | couch | ||
| In Maltese, the word "couch" can also refer to a mattress, bed, or cot. | |||
| Norwegian | sofa | ||
| In Norwegian, "sofa" also refers to a cozy corner or nook in a room. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | sofá | ||
| The word "sofá" originally referred to a bed or seat in an Eastern-style room. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | couch | ||
| In Scots Gaelic, the word 'couch' can also mean a hut or shelter. | |||
| Spanish | sofá | ||
| In Spanish, 'sofá' originates from the Arabic word 'suffa,' meaning 'long bench,' referring to its traditional form. | |||
| Swedish | soffa | ||
| In Swedish, the word "soffa" can also refer to a type of sofa bed. | |||
| Welsh | soffa | ||
| Although the word 'sofa' means 'easy chair' in Welsh, its literal translation is 'six foot' | |||
Couch in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | канапа | ||
| The word "канапа" derives from the French "canapé" through Polish and means both "couch" and "sofa". | |||
| Bosnian | kauč | ||
| The word 'kauč' in Bosnian is ultimately derived from Turkish ('kahvec'), from which it retains alternate meaning 'coffeehouse'. | |||
| Bulgarian | диван | ||
| The word "диван" in Bulgarian originates from the Persian word "dīvān" meaning "a collection of poems." | |||
| Czech | gauč | ||
| The word "gauč" in Czech is derived from the French word "couche", meaning "bed". In some contexts, it can also refer to a sofa or a divan. | |||
| Estonian | diivan | ||
| The word “diivan” derives from the Turkish word “divan”, which originally referred to a council, a collection of ministers, and can also refer to a set of poems written by one author in the Divan literary genre. | |||
| Finnish | sohva | ||
| The word 'sohva' has been suggested to derive from the Latin 'sufficere' meaning 'to support' but this etymology is uncertain. | |||
| Hungarian | kanapé | ||
| In Hungarian, "kanapé" comes from the French word "canapé" which originally referred to a small sofa or couch, but its meaning has since expanded to include larger and more elaborate pieces of furniture. | |||
| Latvian | dīvāns | ||
| The etymology of the Latvian word "dīvāns" is traced back to the Persian word "divān", meaning "council chamber" or "collection of poems, anthology". | |||
| Lithuanian | kušetė | ||
| The Lithuanian word "kušetė" comes from the French word "couchette" and originally referred to a small bed or sleeping berth on a train. | |||
| Macedonian | кауч | ||
| In Russian, the word кауч is used not only for furniture, but also for a type of therapy. | |||
| Polish | sofa | ||
| In Polish, the word "sofa" has two additional meanings: a "bench" and a "divan". | |||
| Romanian | canapea | ||
| The Romanian word "canapea" originates from the Greek "kanape" and ultimately from the Arabic "qanafa" meaning "couch" or "divan". | |||
| Russian | диван | ||
| In Russian, the word "диван" can also refer to an administrative division or a type of financial document. | |||
| Serbian | кауч | ||
| The Serbian word "кауч" may also refer to a type of traditional Ottoman sofa or daybed. | |||
| Slovak | gauč | ||
| The word "gauč" in Slovak is cognate to the German word "Kauz", meaning "owl". | |||
| Slovenian | kavč | ||
| "Kavč" likely derives from "kafja", meaning "cage", alluding to its latticework or upholstered sides. | |||
| Ukrainian | диван | ||
| The word "диван" is derived from the Persian word "dīvān", which originally meant "collection of poems" or "court of justice". | |||
Couch in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | পালঙ্ক | ||
| "Palang" is a borrowing from the Persian "palank", the seat or cushion of a saddle. | |||
| Gujarati | સો ફા | ||
| The word "સો ફા" in Gujarati is similar to the Hindi word "सोफ़ा" (sofa) and has the same meaning. | |||
| Hindi | सोफ़ा | ||
| The word "सोफ़ा" ultimately derives from the Arabic word "suffa", meaning "bench". | |||
| Kannada | ಮಂಚದ | ||
| The word "ಮಂಚದ" (manchada) in Kannada also means "bedstead" or "mattress". | |||
| Malayalam | കിടക്ക | ||
| "കിടക്ക" is derived from the root "കിട" (kid) which means to lie down or sleep, and the suffix "-ക്ക" (-kka) which denotes a place or thing used for the purpose of the root word. | |||
| Marathi | पलंग | ||
| The origin of 'पलंग' might have originated from the word 'फलाँगा' meaning a wooden frame | |||
| Nepali | पलंग | ||
| The word "पलंग" is derived from the Sanskrit word "पर्यंक" (paryanka), meaning "a bed or couch". | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੋਫੇ | ||
| The word "ਸੋਫੇ" (sofa) in Punjabi is of Persian origin, likely derived from the word "sufi" meaning "coarse woolen cloth". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | යහන | ||
| The Sinhala word "යහන" is derived from the Sanskrit word "यशस" (yaśas), meaning "fame" or "reputation". | |||
| Tamil | படுக்கை | ||
| "படுக்கை" or padukkai can mean "bedstead", "couch" or "bed" depending on the context and dialect. | |||
| Telugu | మంచం | ||
| The word "మంచం" is also used to refer to a bed or a platform on which to sleep. | |||
| Urdu | سوفی | ||
| In Arabic, the word "صوفة" (ṣūfa) originally meant "wool" or "sheepskin". When used in reference to a piece of furniture, it typically implies a type of bench or long chair with no back or arms. | |||
Couch in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 长椅 | ||
| 长椅，古时也指棺材，现今引申有供人睡觉或休息用的长条形家具之意。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 長椅 | ||
| "長椅" (couch) comes from its original meaning as a "long bench." | |||
| Japanese | ソファー | ||
| Japanese "ソファー" is pronounced the same as "sofa" in western languages but it originated from a Turkish word "sofa" that meant sitting place. | |||
| Korean | 침상 | ||
| The word "침상" can also refer to a stretcher or a deathbed. | |||
| Mongolian | буйдан | ||
| The noun "буйдан" also means "cushion" or "blanket spread over a bed for warmth". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အိပ်ရာ | ||
| The word "အိပ်ရာ" can also refer to a sleeping mat or a bed, and is derived from the Pali word "seyyā" meaning "bed". | |||
Couch in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | sofa | ||
| The Indonesian word 'sofa' is derived from the Arabic word 'suffah', meaning 'bench'. | |||
| Javanese | kursi | ||
| Other than referring to a 'couch', 'kursi' also refers to a 'chair' or a 'throne' in Javanese. | |||
| Khmer | សាឡុង | ||
| The Khmer word "សាឡុង" has a Sanskrit origin and also means "hall" or "meeting room". | |||
| Lao | ຕຽງ | ||
| The word "ຕຽງ" in Lao has its origins in Sanskrit and also means "bed" or "mat". | |||
| Malay | sofa | ||
| The word "sofa" is derived from the Arabic "suffah", meaning "bench" or "divan". | |||
| Thai | โซฟา | ||
| The word "โซฟา" (couch) is derived from the Arabic word "suffa"} | |||
| Vietnamese | đi văng | ||
| "Đi văng" is also used to refer to a daybed, a piece of furniture that can be used for both sitting and sleeping. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sopa | ||
Couch in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | taxt | ||
| "Taxt" in Azerbaijani not only means "couch," but also "shelf" in the northern part of the country. | |||
| Kazakh | кушетка | ||
| "Кушетка" is the Russian word for "couch", while in Kazakh it also refers to a small bed frame without legs. | |||
| Kyrgyz | кушетка | ||
| Кушетка (от фр. coucher — лежать), одно- или двухместный диван, используемый для отдыха в положении полусидя-полулёжа | |||
| Tajik | диван | ||
| The word "диван" can also refer to a collection of poems or a high-ranking official in Ottoman Turkey. | |||
| Turkmen | düşek | ||
| Uzbek | divan | ||
| In Uzbek, "divan" also refers to a collection of poems or literary works | |||
| Uyghur | couch | ||
Couch in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | wahi moe | ||
| Wahi moe is the Hawaiian word for 'couch' but also means 'sleeping place' and can refer to a bed or other sleeping arrangement. | |||
| Maori | moenga | ||
| The word "moenga" in Māori can also refer to sleeping arrangements or a bed. | |||
| Samoan | nofoa umi | ||
| "Nofoa Umi" literally means a chair that cannot be moved due to its heavy weight. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | sopa | ||
| In some older dialects, "sopa" also means "soft" or "delicate", as in the softness of a couch. | |||
Couch in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | qunuña | ||
| Guarani | apykaguasu | ||
Couch in International Languages
| Esperanto | kanapo | ||
| The word 'kanapo' is derived from the Japanese word 'kanapē', which in turn comes from the French word 'canapé'. | |||
| Latin | toro | ||
| "Toro" is also used to refer to a type of bull in Spanish, as the word is derived from the Latin word "taurus" meaning "bull." | |||
Couch in Others Languages
| Greek | καναπές | ||
| The word "καναπές" in Greek also has the alternate meaning "mosquito net". | |||
| Hmong | couch | ||
| In Hmong, the word "couch" also means "a place to sleep or rest". | |||
| Kurdish | nivîn | ||
| The Kurdish word "nivîn" is also used to refer to a "seat" or "chair" in some dialects. | |||
| Turkish | kanepe | ||
| In some regional dialects of Turkish, 'kanepe' can also refer to a bed or a type of Ottoman-style sofa. | |||
| Xhosa | isingqengqelo | ||
| Isingqengqelo comes from the word ingqengqe, which means 'to be bent or arched' | |||
| Yiddish | קאַנאַפּע | ||
| "קאַנאַפּע" originated as the German word "Kanapee" and entered Yiddish through Slavic languages. | |||
| Zulu | usofa | ||
| "Usofa" comes from the word "sofa" in Portuguese, which is derived ultimately from the Arabic word "suffah," meaning a bench or a couch. | |||
| Assamese | শয্যা | ||
| Aymara | qunuña | ||
| Bhojpuri | सोफा | ||
| Dhivehi | ސޯފާ | ||
| Dogri | सोफा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | sopa | ||
| Guarani | apykaguasu | ||
| Ilocano | pagtugawan | ||
| Krio | sɛti chia | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | قەنەفە | ||
| Maithili | पलंग | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯣꯊꯥꯐꯝ | ||
| Mizo | thu mu | ||
| Oromo | soofaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବିଛଣା | ||
| Quechua | sofa | ||
| Sanskrit | शय्या | ||
| Tatar | диван | ||
| Tigrinya | ዓራት | ||
| Tsonga | sofa | ||