Courage in Different Languages
Discover 'Courage' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Courage is a powerful word that transcends languages and cultures. It signifies the strength to face adversity, fear, or pain, and is often associated with heroism and resilience. From ancient mythologies to modern-day movies, courageous characters have inspired us to be brave and to stand up for what we believe in.
Throughout history, courage has played a significant role in shaping societies and cultures. From the civil rights movement to space exploration, acts of courage have challenged the status quo and pushed the boundaries of what is possible. But what does courage mean in other languages, and how does it reflect the values and beliefs of different cultures?
Understanding the translation of courage in different languages can provide insight into the cultural importance of this concept. For example, in Spanish, courage is coraje, in French it is courage, and in German it is Mut. Each of these translations captures the essence of courage, but also reflects the unique perspectives and values of each culture.
In this article, we will explore the translations of courage in 10 different languages, shedding light on the cultural significance of this powerful word. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural scholar, or simply curious about the world around you, this article will inspire and inform you.
Courage
Courage in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | moed | ||
| The Afrikaans word "moed" derives from the Dutch word "moed" but can also be used to mean "anger" or "wrath." | |||
| Amharic | ድፍረት | ||
| The word “ድፍረት” also refers to an animal that defends itself and its offspring from enemies. | |||
| Hausa | ƙarfin hali | ||
| The Hausa word "ƙarfin hali" literally translates to "strength of heart". | |||
| Igbo | obi ike | ||
| Obi ike is said to derive from | |||
| Malagasy | herim-po | ||
| The word "herim-po" may also refer to the "strongest" or "bravest" member of a village or community in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kulimba mtima | ||
| In its original language, 'kulimba mtima' has alternate meanings that include 'to encourage' and 'to endure,' highlighting the multifaceted nature of courage. | |||
| Shona | ushingi | ||
| Ushingi (courage) is etymologically linked to the verb -shinga (persevere), and shares semantic affinity with the terms kutsunga (fortify), and -simba (dare), thereby emphasizing the concept of steadfastness in the face of adversity. | |||
| Somali | geesinimo | ||
| The word "geesinimo" also means "fearlessness" and comes from the verb "geesin" meaning "to fear". | |||
| Sesotho | sebete | ||
| Sebete is a loanword from the Zulu language, meaning "bravery" or "boldness." | |||
| Swahili | ujasiri | ||
| "U-jasiri" may also mean "hero," "bold," or "audacious." | |||
| Xhosa | inkalipho | ||
| In Zulu, the word inkhobokho means 'backbone', which in English is associated with courage. | |||
| Yoruba | igboya | ||
| The word "igboya" in Yoruba also refers to the resilience and strength of a person in the face of adversity. | |||
| Zulu | isibindi | ||
| The word 'isibindi' is also used to refer to the liver, which is seen as the seat of courage in some cultures. | |||
| Bambara | jagɛlɛya | ||
| Ewe | dzideƒo | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ubutwari | ||
| Lingala | mpiko | ||
| Luganda | okuzaamu amaanyi | ||
| Sepedi | mafolofolo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | akokoɔduro | ||
Courage in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | شجاعة | ||
| 'شجاعة' refers not just to courage but also to 'chivalry' and 'the action of speaking honestly without fear'. | |||
| Hebrew | אומץ | ||
| The word "אומץ" (courage) in Hebrew is related to the word "אמן" (faith) and implies a sense of inner strength and conviction. | |||
| Pashto | زړورتیا | ||
| The Pashto word "زړورتیا" (courage) originates from the word "زړه" (heart), signifying the quality of having a stout spirit. | |||
| Arabic | شجاعة | ||
| 'شجاعة' refers not just to courage but also to 'chivalry' and 'the action of speaking honestly without fear'. | |||
Courage in Western European Languages
| Albanian | guximi | ||
| "Guximi" might derive from the adjective "gux" (meaning alive, spirited) and the suffix "-imi" (meaning action). | |||
| Basque | ausardia | ||
| Ausardia is related to the ancient Indo-European verb meaning "to run forward" (Proto-Indo-European *aw-). | |||
| Catalan | coratge | ||
| "Coratge" in Catalan also means "heart" or "spirit", highlighting the connection between courage and inner strength. | |||
| Croatian | hrabrost | ||
| Hrabrost also refers to a Croatian medieval dance, first mentioned in 1629. | |||
| Danish | mod | ||
| The word "mod" also means "anger" in Danish, likely due to being derived from the Proto-Germanic word for "wrath". | |||
| Dutch | moed | ||
| The word "moed" in Dutch not only means "courage" but also refers to the state of being pregnant. | |||
| English | courage | ||
| Courage's Middle English root, "corage," denoted both the heart and one's spirit or emotions. | |||
| French | courage | ||
| In Old French, courage meant 'heart' and 'will' as well as 'anger' or 'fierceness'. | |||
| Frisian | moed | ||
| In Frisian, moed carries additional connotations of self-determination and persistence. | |||
| Galician | coraxe | ||
| The word "coraxe" in Galician comes from the Latin word "cor", which means "heart", or from the Late Latin word "coracem", derived from Old French "corage" that means "mind, desire or disposition". | |||
| German | mut | ||
| "Mut" (courage) is also used figuratively as "spirit," "will" or "spunk" (especially in the phrase "good spirits" or "good humor"). | |||
| Icelandic | hugrekki | ||
| Hugrekki was the Old Norse word for 'hugr', meaning mind or spirit, and thus 'hugrekki' would be 'strong-minded' or 'spirited'. | |||
| Irish | misneach | ||
| The word 'misneach' can also refer to 'spirit' or 'enthusiasm'. | |||
| Italian | coraggio | ||
| "Coraggio" comes from the Latin word “cor”, meaning “heart.” | |||
| Luxembourgish | courage | ||
| In Luxembourgish, "Courage" means "boldness" and "determination" in addition to its primary meaning of "courage" | |||
| Maltese | kuraġġ | ||
| The word 'kuraġġ' derives from the Arabic word 'kurāj', which means 'firmness' or 'strength'. | |||
| Norwegian | mot | ||
| Ordet "mot" betyr også "møte" på norsk. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | coragem | ||
| The Portuguese word "coragem" has many definitions, including "courage", "bravery", "spirit", and "strength of mind and character." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | misneach | ||
| "Misneach" derives from the Old Irish "menmach", meaning "mind" or "spirit." | |||
| Spanish | valor | ||
| El término «valor» proviene del latín «valere» («ser fuerte, estar sano»), de ahí su significado de «fortaleza» y «vigor». | |||
| Swedish | mod | ||
| "Mod" in Swedish comes from the Proto-Germanic *gemōdaz, meaning "spirit" or "mood." | |||
| Welsh | dewrder | ||
| Cognate with "dwr"; 'water', and "deru"; 'resounding noise', the word "dewr" can also mean 'bravely' or 'without hesitation'. | |||
Courage in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | мужнасць | ||
| Bosnian | hrabrost | ||
| The word "hrabrost" ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic word *chorbrъ, meaning "brave". | |||
| Bulgarian | кураж | ||
| In Bulgarian, "кураж" also means "bravado", "enthusiasm", or "daring." | |||
| Czech | odvaha | ||
| The Czech word "odvaha" also refers to "audacity" in a negative connotation. | |||
| Estonian | julgust | ||
| The Estonian word "julgust" for "courage" is derived from the Middle Low German word "julkost" meaning "brashness". | |||
| Finnish | rohkeutta | ||
| The word "rohkeutta" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*rohke" meaning "brave" or "bold". | |||
| Hungarian | bátorság | ||
| Bátorság is cognate with the Slavic verb "boriti" meaning "to fight". | |||
| Latvian | drosme | ||
| The Latvian word "drosme" also has the alternate meaning of "arrogance". | |||
| Lithuanian | drąsos | ||
| The word "drąsos" also means "daring" or "boldness" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | храброст | ||
| The word "храброст" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *xrabrъ, meaning "fierce" or "brave". | |||
| Polish | odwaga | ||
| "Odwaga" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*odvorъgъ", meaning "protection". | |||
| Romanian | curaj | ||
| In Romanian, "curaj" can also refer to a "dare". | |||
| Russian | смелость | ||
| The word "смелость" derives from "сметь", meaning "to dare" or "to have the audacity" | |||
| Serbian | храброст | ||
| The word "храброст" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *xrabrъ, which also means "strong". | |||
| Slovak | odvaha | ||
| "Odvaha" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*odvěra", meaning "belief" or "trust", and is related to the words "věra" (faith) and "věrný" (faithful). | |||
| Slovenian | pogum | ||
| »Pogumen« is the adjectival form of »pogum«, so it means »brave« in Slovene. | |||
| Ukrainian | мужність | ||
| The word “мужність” is derived from the Slavic root for “man” and was originally used to imply traits expected of noblemen. | |||
Courage in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সাহস | ||
| The word "সাহস" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sahas", meaning "power, strength, or force." | |||
| Gujarati | હિંમત | ||
| The word "હિંમત" (courage) originates from the Sanskrit word "हिम्" (him), meaning 'to exert oneself' or 'to make an effort'. | |||
| Hindi | साहस | ||
| The Hindi word "साहस" (courage) is derived from the Sanskrit root "sah", meaning "to bear" or "to endure". | |||
| Kannada | ಧೈರ್ಯ | ||
| The word "ಧೈರ್ಯ" is also used in the sense of "assurance" or "confidence". | |||
| Malayalam | ധൈര്യം | ||
| The word "ധൈര്യം" in Malayalam derives from the Sanskrit word "धैर्य" (patience, endurance), suggesting that courage involves the ability to endure hardship and remain calm in the face of adversity. | |||
| Marathi | धैर्य | ||
| The word "धैर्य" in Marathi also signifies patience, forbearance, and composure in the face of difficulty. | |||
| Nepali | साहस | ||
| The word "साहस" (courage) in Nepali also means "strength" or "power". | |||
| Punjabi | ਹਿੰਮਤ | ||
| "Himmat" also refers to the "strength of the mind". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ධෛර්යය | ||
| The word ධෛර්යය also refers to a medicinal plant called "Solanum indicum" in English. | |||
| Tamil | தைரியம் | ||
| The Tamil word "தைரியம்" (dhairiyam) is derived from the Sanskrit "धृति" (dhṛiti), meaning "firmness" or "strength of character". | |||
| Telugu | ధైర్యం | ||
| The word "ధైర్యం" (courage) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "धैर्य" (patience), implying that courage is not just about physical strength, but also about mental fortitude and resilience. | |||
| Urdu | ہمت | ||
| The word "ہمت" also has other meanings such as "willpower" or "determination". | |||
Courage in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 勇气 | ||
| The word 勇气 (yǒngqì) literally means "power of bravery" in Chinese, and can also refer to "heroism" or "daring." | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 勇氣 | ||
| In Chinese, the character 勇 (yǒng) also means "brave," "resolute," or "fearless." | |||
| Japanese | 勇気 | ||
| 勇気 can also mean 'spirit of adventure' or 'daring'. | |||
| Korean | 용기 | ||
| The Korean word "용기" (courage) is derived from the Chinese word "勇氣", which means "fierce breath". | |||
| Mongolian | зориг | ||
| The word "зориг" also has connotations of bravery and valor on the battlefield. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သတ္တိ | ||
| The word "သတ္တိ" in Myanmar (Burmese) also refers to "the ability to endure or suffer pain or hardship". | |||
Courage in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | keberanian | ||
| The word "keberanian" can also refer to "audacity" or "bravery". | |||
| Javanese | wani | ||
| Javanese wani is a cognate of Malay berani, Buginese barani, and Tagalog báni, all possibly deriving from Sanskrit varana, 'protection'. | |||
| Khmer | ភាពក្លាហាន | ||
| In Sanskrit, the source word "साहस (saahasa)" also shares the meaning “daring.” | |||
| Lao | ຄວາມກ້າຫານ | ||
| The Lao word "ຄວາມກ້າຫານ" can also refer to the quality of being willing to take risks or the strength of mind that enables a person to face danger or difficulty | |||
| Malay | keberanian | ||
| The root word of keberanian, 'berani,' translates to 'bold' in English and is also the stem for several Malay words meaning 'dare' or 'daring.' | |||
| Thai | ความกล้าหาญ | ||
| "ความกล้าหาญ" can also mean "daring," "boldness," or "audacity." | |||
| Vietnamese | lòng can đảm | ||
| "Lòng can đảm" literally means "guts" or "viscera" in Vietnamese, reflecting the belief that courage comes from the stomach. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lakas ng loob | ||
Courage in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | cəsarət | ||
| "Cəsarət" word is related to the Caesar Julius who was Roman dictator in 100-44 BC and he was known with his bravery and courage." | |||
| Kazakh | батылдық | ||
| The word "батылдық" is derived from the Turkic word "batır", meaning a "hero" or "warrior". | |||
| Kyrgyz | кайраттуулук | ||
| Tajik | далерӣ | ||
| The word "далерӣ" is thought to be derived from the Persian word "دلیر" which means "brave" or "fearless". | |||
| Turkmen | gaýduwsyzlyk | ||
| Uzbek | jasorat | ||
| The Uzbek word "jasorat" has an alternate meaning of "strength" or "power". | |||
| Uyghur | جاسارەت | ||
Courage in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | koa | ||
| In the Hawaiian language, 'koa' also refers to a type of native acacia tree renowned for its durability, linking 'courage' to the qualities of this resilient plant. | |||
| Maori | māia | ||
| "Māia" also refers to the courage to face something that you are afraid of. | |||
| Samoan | lototele | ||
| Lototele's alternate meaning is "courageous", and its etymology traces back to "toto" ("heart") and "lele" ("strong"). | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tapang | ||
| The word "tapang" also refers to a type of fermented meat in Philippine cuisine. | |||
Courage in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | qamasa | ||
| Guarani | tekotee | ||
Courage in International Languages
| Esperanto | kuraĝo | ||
| "Kuraĝo" also means "courage" in Toki Pona, indicating that Toki Pona considers courage to be an important virtue. | |||
| Latin | animo | ||
| "Animus" is also the origin of the word "enemy". | |||
Courage in Others Languages
| Greek | θάρρος | ||
| "Θάρρος" shares the same root with the Sanskrit word "dhṛishṭa," meaning "bold" or "daring." | |||
| Hmong | ua siab loj | ||
| "Ua siab loj" literally means "heart strong face old," referring to someone who is brave and experienced. | |||
| Kurdish | cesaret | ||
| In Kurdish, "cesaret" also refers to the "sound of thunder" or the "heart of a lion." | |||
| Turkish | cesaret | ||
| The word | |||
| Xhosa | inkalipho | ||
| In Zulu, the word inkhobokho means 'backbone', which in English is associated with courage. | |||
| Yiddish | מוט | ||
| The Yiddish word for "courage" also has an alternate meaning of "mud" and derives from the German "Mut". | |||
| Zulu | isibindi | ||
| The word 'isibindi' is also used to refer to the liver, which is seen as the seat of courage in some cultures. | |||
| Assamese | সাহস | ||
| Aymara | qamasa | ||
| Bhojpuri | हिम्मत | ||
| Dhivehi | ހިތްވަރު | ||
| Dogri | हिम्मत | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lakas ng loob | ||
| Guarani | tekotee | ||
| Ilocano | kinatured | ||
| Krio | kɔrɛj | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بوێری | ||
| Maithili | साहस | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯣꯅꯥ | ||
| Mizo | huaisenna | ||
| Oromo | ija-jabina | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସାହସ | ||
| Quechua | chanin | ||
| Sanskrit | साहस | ||
| Tatar | батырлык | ||
| Tigrinya | ወነ | ||
| Tsonga | vunhenha | ||