Craft in Different Languages
Discover 'Craft' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'craft' holds a significant place in our lives, often associated with skills, talents, and the ability to create something unique with our hands. Its cultural importance is evident in various traditions, art forms, and local industries around the world. 'Craft' is not just about making beautiful objects; it also involves a deep understanding of materials, techniques, and traditions that are passed down through generations.
For globetrotters and language enthusiasts, understanding the translation of 'craft' in different languages can open doors to new experiences and connections. Imagine being able to appreciate the intricate embroidery of a Vietnamese 'áo dài' (traditional long dress), the pottery of a Japanese 'kamamoto' (kiln), or the delicate lacework of a French 'dentelle' (lace). Knowing these terms can enrich your cultural interactions and show respect for local customs.
Delving into the historical context of 'craft' reveals its evolution from an essential survival tool to a cherished art form. From the ancient Egyptian 'henu' (sacred birds) crafted from precious metals to the modern-day 'DIY' (do it yourself) movement, craft has remained a vital part of human expression and innovation.
Discover the beauty of craft in various languages:
Craft
Craft in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | handwerk | ||
| In Afrikaans, "handwerk" also means "occupation" or "skill" | |||
| Amharic | የእጅ ሥራ | ||
| የእጅ ሥራ literally means 'made by hand' and can refer to both physical products and skilled tasks. | |||
| Hausa | sana'a | ||
| The word "sana'a" also means "skill" or "knowledge" in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | nka | ||
| The word "nka" in Igbo also refers to "art" or "creativity" more broadly. | |||
| Malagasy | asa tanana | ||
| The word 'asa tanana' in Malagasy can also refer to the craft of building or designing houses or other structures. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | luso | ||
| 'Luso' can also mean 'a trick' or 'a prank' in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | mhizha | ||
| 'Mhizha' has the alternate meaning of 'idea'. | |||
| Somali | farsamada | ||
| The word "farsamada" or "farsamo" also refers to expertise in a specific occupation. | |||
| Sesotho | mosebetsi oa matsoho | ||
| The word 'mosebetsi oa matsoho' can also refer to a person who practices a craft, or to the skills and knowledge used to create a craft. | |||
| Swahili | ufundi | ||
| In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 'ufundi' is also used to refer to the practice of traditional medicine. | |||
| Xhosa | ubugcisa | ||
| The word "ubugcisa" also refers to the traditional herbal medicine and healing practices in Xhosa culture. | |||
| Yoruba | iṣẹ ọnà | ||
| In other contexts, "iṣẹ ọnà" can refer to a person's career or occupation. | |||
| Zulu | ubuciko | ||
| The Zulu word `ubuciko` can also refer to skill or dexterity in a particular activity or art form. | |||
| Bambara | bololabaara | ||
| Ewe | asinudɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ubukorikori | ||
| Lingala | misala ya maboko | ||
| Luganda | eby'emikono | ||
| Sepedi | tiroatla | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nwene | ||
Craft in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | حرفة | ||
| Arabic "حرفة" can mean either "craft" or "profession". Both meanings are derived from the root "حرف" (pronounced "harf"), meaning "to cut" or "to carve". | |||
| Hebrew | מְלָאכָה | ||
| The word "מְלָאכָה" (craft) in Hebrew also refers to "work" or "occupation", and is related to the word "מלאך" (angel), which means "messenger" or "delegate". | |||
| Pashto | هنر | ||
| The word "هنر" in Pashto can also refer to "art" or "skill". | |||
| Arabic | حرفة | ||
| Arabic "حرفة" can mean either "craft" or "profession". Both meanings are derived from the root "حرف" (pronounced "harf"), meaning "to cut" or "to carve". | |||
Craft in Western European Languages
| Albanian | zanat | ||
| "Zanat" also refers to the Albanian medieval legal system based on customary norms. | |||
| Basque | artisautza | ||
| The word "artisautza" is also used in the Basque language to refer to the skill or ability to practice a trade. | |||
| Catalan | artesania | ||
| The word "artesania" in Catalan originates from the Latin word "ars," meaning "art" or "skill." | |||
| Croatian | zanat | ||
| The word 'zanat' derives from the Venetian 'zanado' or 'zanata', meaning 'a member of a guild' or 'a person who practises a craft'. | |||
| Danish | håndværk | ||
| The word "håndværk" in Danish can also refer to a trade or profession that requires manual skill. | |||
| Dutch | ambacht | ||
| The word "ambacht" derives from the Old Dutch word "ambaht", meaning "servant". | |||
| English | craft | ||
| "Craft," meaning power or skill, finds its roots in the Old High German word "kraft" (strength). | |||
| French | artisanat | ||
| "Artisanat" is derived from the Latin word "ars", meaning art, and the French suffix "-at", indicating a product or result. | |||
| Frisian | ambacht | ||
| The Frisian word 'ambacht' can refer to the physical workshop where a craft is practiced, the skills and techniques associated with a particular craft, and a person who is a skilled craftsman or artisan. | |||
| Galician | artesanía | ||
| The word "artesanía" comes from the Latin word "ars" (art), and it can also refer to skilled work in general. | |||
| German | kunst | ||
| In German, "Kunst" can also refer to fine arts such as painting, sculpture, and music. | |||
| Icelandic | iðn | ||
| The word "iðn" comes from the Old Norse word "iðja" meaning "work" or "activity". | |||
| Irish | ceardaíocht | ||
| Italian | mestiere | ||
| In Italian, "mestiere" also refers to a profession or a person's vocation. | |||
| Luxembourgish | bastelen | ||
| "Bastelen" is a loanword from French "bricoler", which means both "to tinker" and "to do odd jobs". | |||
| Maltese | inġenju | ||
| The Maltese word "inġenju" derives from the Latin word "ingenium" meaning "innate ability, natural talent, disposition" and is cognate with the English words "ingenious" and "engine," with the latter coming from the Old French word "engin." | |||
| Norwegian | håndverk | ||
| Håndverk is a compound of "hånd" (hand) and "verk" (work), reflecting the often handmade nature of crafts. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | construir | ||
| "Construir" in Portuguese can also mean "to build," "to construct," or "to erect." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | ceàird | ||
| Ceàird, in Scots Gaelic, derives from 'cérth', a word sharing roots with the Proto-Indo-European 'ker' signifying 'to make'. | |||
| Spanish | arte | ||
| The word "arte" in Spanish also refers to the performing arts, such as music, theater, and dance, encompassing all creative endeavors. | |||
| Swedish | hantverk | ||
| Hantverk, meaning 'craft,' is a combination of the words 'hand' and 'verk', meaning 'work' and is related to the word 'handicap'. | |||
| Welsh | crefft | ||
| The word 'crefft' in Welsh is derived from an earlier word meaning 'to scratch' or 'to carve', reflecting the importance of crafting in Welsh culture. | |||
Craft in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | рамяство | ||
| "Рамяство" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "rěmeslo" meaning "craft" or "trade". | |||
| Bosnian | zanat | ||
| The word "zanat" can also refer to a handicraft or a skill. | |||
| Bulgarian | правя | ||
| The Bulgarian word "правя" has etymological links to the Latin word "praesens" and also means "to do" or "to make". | |||
| Czech | řemeslo | ||
| The word řemeslo has Proto-Slavic roots, deriving from a word meaning 'order' or 'organization'. | |||
| Estonian | käsitöö | ||
| The word "käsitöö" in Estonian comes from the words "käsi" (hand) and "töö" (work). | |||
| Finnish | alus | ||
| The word "alus" also refers to a vessel or ship in Finnish, sharing its root with the word "aloitus" (beginning). | |||
| Hungarian | hajó | ||
| The word "hajó" originally referred to any type of floating object, including rafts, logs, or even barrels. | |||
| Latvian | amatniecība | ||
| In Old Prussian, "amat" meant "work" and in Old Latvian "amats" meant "property with a homestead". | |||
| Lithuanian | amatas | ||
| The word "amatas" in Lithuanian, meaning "craft," comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *am-, meaning "to fit" or "to join." | |||
| Macedonian | занаетчиство | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "craft," "занаетчиство" can also refer to "artisanry," "skill," or "trade." | |||
| Polish | rzemiosło | ||
| The Polish word "rzemiosło" also has the connotation of "guild" and encompasses the traditional skills and knowledge passed down through generations of artisans and craftsmen. | |||
| Romanian | meșteșug | ||
| In Romanian, the word "meșteșug" can also mean "skill" or "trade". | |||
| Russian | ремесло | ||
| The word 'ремесло' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'remelо', meaning 'handwork' or 'trade', and is related to the word 'рука' ('hand'). | |||
| Serbian | занат | ||
| The word 'занат' can also refer to the medieval Ottoman system of guild organizations (esnafs). | |||
| Slovak | remeslo | ||
| In the context of Russian, "remeslo" can mean "trade" in addition to "craft" | |||
| Slovenian | obrt | ||
| The word 'obrt' has an alternate meaning of 'trade' or 'business' in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | ремесло | ||
| The word "ремесло" in Ukrainian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "remьstvo", meaning "work for hire". | |||
Craft in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | নৈপুণ্য | ||
| The word "নৈপুণ্য" (craft) derives from the Sanskrit word "निपुणता" (skill, proficiency) and has several alternate meanings in Bengali, including "artisan," "craftwork," and "skill." | |||
| Gujarati | હસ્તકલા | ||
| "હસ્તકલા" comes from Sanskrit "hasta" (hand) and "kala" (art), and can also refer to handiwork or handicrafts. | |||
| Hindi | क्राफ्ट | ||
| "क्राफ्ट" का अर्थ न केवल शिल्प वस्तुओं को बनाने की कला से है, बल्कि इसमें चतुराई, चालाकी और धोखेबाजी जैसे अर्थ भी शामिल हैं। | |||
| Kannada | ಕ್ರಾಫ್ಟ್ | ||
| The term 'ಕ್ರಾಫ್ಟ್' can also refer to cheating, deception, or fraud in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | ക്രാഫ്റ്റ് | ||
| Marathi | हस्तकला | ||
| The word 'हस्तकला' in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'हस्त' meaning 'hand' and 'कला' meaning 'art', signifying 'handmade art'. | |||
| Nepali | शिल्प | ||
| The word "शिल्प" shares its root with the English word "skill," both originating from the Indo-European root *kel-. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸ਼ਿਲਪਕਾਰੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | යාත්රා | ||
| යාත්රා (yāthrā) refers to the act of traveling, as well as a means of conveyance, such as a boat, a ship or an aircraft in Sinhala. | |||
| Tamil | கைவினை | ||
| Telugu | క్రాఫ్ట్ | ||
| The word 'క్రాఫ్ట్' is likely derived from the Old English word 'cræft', which meant 'skill' or 'occupation'. | |||
| Urdu | دستکاری | ||
| دستکاری (daastakaaree) is ultimately derived from the Persian word "daast", meaning "hand". | |||
Craft in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 工艺 | ||
| 工艺 originated from the pre-Qin period and was originally an honorary title for doctors and doctors of traditional Chinese medicine. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 工藝 | ||
| The word 工藝 has an alternate meaning of "technology" which derives from its original meaning as "skillful work". | |||
| Japanese | クラフト | ||
| The word "クラフト" (craft) in Japanese can refer to both traditional handmade objects and industrial products. | |||
| Korean | 선박 | ||
| The word 선박 (craft) can also mean 'vessel' or 'ship' in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | гар урлал | ||
| "Гар урлал" (craft) is a Mongolian word possibly derived from Chinese "ge" (格) or Tibetan "gar" (གར་), and also means "style" or "manner." | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ယာဉ် | ||
| In the context of a boat, ယာဉ် may also refer to a small wooden boat used for fishing or transportation in Myanmar. | |||
Craft in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kerajinan | ||
| Indonesian 'kerajinan' is related to 'kerja' ('work') and 'rajin' ('diligent'). | |||
| Javanese | kerajinan | ||
| The term 'kerajinan' in Javanese also encompasses traditional arts and skills passed down through generations. | |||
| Khmer | យាន | ||
| The word "យាន" in Khmer also means "vehicle" or "transportation". | |||
| Lao | ຫັດຖະ ກຳ | ||
| Malay | kraf | ||
| The word "kraf" in Malay can also refer to traditional handicrafts, skills, or abilities. | |||
| Thai | งานฝีมือ | ||
| In Thai, "งานฝีมือ" can also refer to "handicraft" or "artisanal work" | |||
| Vietnamese | thủ công | ||
| "Thủ công" originates from Chinese, where it refers to both traditional crafts and manual work generally. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | craft | ||
Craft in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | sənətkarlıq | ||
| "Sənətkarlıq" also means "art" in Azerbaijani, highlighting the close connection between craft and high art in the Azerbaijani cultural tradition. | |||
| Kazakh | қолөнер | ||
| 'Қолөнер' (craft) originates from the Kazakh word 'қол' ('hand') and the Persian suffix '-өнер' ('skill', 'art'), indicating its connection to handmade and artistic work. | |||
| Kyrgyz | кол өнөрчүлүк | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "кол өнөрчүлүк" also refers to the creation of traditional clothing, rugs, and other handmade items. | |||
| Tajik | ҳунармандӣ | ||
| The word ҳунармандӣ is derived from the Persian word "hunar" (meaning "art" or "skill") and the Persian suffix "-mand" (meaning "possessing"), thus literally meaning "possessing art or skill". | |||
| Turkmen | senetçilik | ||
| Uzbek | hunarmandchilik | ||
| The Uzbek word "hunarmandchilik" is derived from the Persian "hunar" meaning "art, skill" and "mand" meaning "having, possessing", emphasizing skilled craftsmanship. | |||
| Uyghur | ھۈنەر | ||
Craft in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hana lima | ||
| The word “hana lima,” meaning “craft,” in Hawaiian is thought by some to relate to the idea of the five primary fingers used in crafting. | |||
| Maori | mahi toi | ||
| The word 'mahi toi' literally means 'work of hands' in Maori, and refers to a wide range of traditionally made crafts. | |||
| Samoan | galuega taulima | ||
| The word 'galuega taulima' in Samoan also refers to 'work of the hands' and 'fine mats'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bapor | ||
| "Bapor" can also refer to a steamer or steamboat, or by extension, to larger ships. | |||
Craft in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | artisaniya | ||
| Guarani | apopyre | ||
Craft in International Languages
| Esperanto | metio | ||
| Metio is similar in spelling and pronunciation to the Greek "metis" meaning "wisdom" or "counsel". | |||
| Latin | artis | ||
| The plural form artis also means "the arts." | |||
Craft in Others Languages
| Greek | σκάφος | ||
| The word 'σκάφος' in Greek can also refer to a boat or a cavity in the ground. | |||
| Hmong | paj ntaub | ||
| The word “paj ntaub” means “flower cloth” or “flower story” in the Hmong language. | |||
| Kurdish | pîşesazî | ||
| Turkish | zanaat | ||
| Turkish 'zanaat' derives from Persian 'zānaat' (knowledge, skill), itself from Arabic 'ṣināʿa' (workmanship, craft). | |||
| Xhosa | ubugcisa | ||
| The word "ubugcisa" also refers to the traditional herbal medicine and healing practices in Xhosa culture. | |||
| Yiddish | מעלאָכע | ||
| The word "מעלאָכע" (melache) in Yiddish stems from the Hebrew word "מלאכה" (melakhah), meaning "work" or "occupation." | |||
| Zulu | ubuciko | ||
| The Zulu word `ubuciko` can also refer to skill or dexterity in a particular activity or art form. | |||
| Assamese | শিল্প | ||
| Aymara | artisaniya | ||
| Bhojpuri | कारीगरी | ||
| Dhivehi | ކްރާފްޓް | ||
| Dogri | दस्तकारी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | craft | ||
| Guarani | apopyre | ||
| Ilocano | sikap | ||
| Krio | mek | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پیشە | ||
| Maithili | शिल्प कला | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯠꯀꯤ ꯍꯩ ꯁꯤꯡꯕ | ||
| Mizo | themthiam | ||
| Oromo | ogummaa harkaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ହସ୍ତଶିଳ୍ପ | ||
| Quechua | artesania | ||
| Sanskrit | शिल्प | ||
| Tatar | һөнәрчелек | ||
| Tigrinya | ኢደ ጥበብ | ||
| Tsonga | vutshila | ||