Fashion in Different Languages
Discover 'Fashion' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Fashion: it's a word that evokes images of stylish clothing, innovative designs, and expressive personal style. But did you know that the concept of fashion goes far beyond just clothes? It's a reflection of culture, history, and even politics. From the Victorian era's corsets to the 1960s' miniskirts, fashion has the power to shape societal norms and define generations.
Given its significance, it's no surprise that the word 'fashion' has been translated into countless languages, each with its own unique cultural twist. For instance, in Spanish, 'fashion' is 'moda', while in French, it's 'mode'. In Mandarin, it's '时尚' (shíshàng), which literally translates to 'time trend'. In Russian, it's 'мода' (moda), just like in Spanish, showcasing the global interconnectedness of the fashion industry.
So why should you care about the translation of fashion in different languages? Understanding these translations can provide a fascinating glimpse into how different cultures view and experience fashion. It's a journey that takes you beyond the mere clothes on your back, delving into the heart of cultural identity.
Fashion
Fashion in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | mode | ||
| In Afrikaans, the word "mode" retains its Latin meaning of "manner" or "method" in addition to its modern English usage as "fashion". | |||
| Amharic | ፋሽን | ||
| The word "ፋሽን" is also used in Amharic to describe the act of "fixing" something. | |||
| Hausa | salon | ||
| In Hausa, the word "salon" can also refer to a place where traditional African hair braiding and styling is done. | |||
| Igbo | ejiji | ||
| The word 'ejiji' has various Igbo dialectal pronunciations and alternate meanings such as 'to decorate', 'to embellish', and 'to adorn' | |||
| Malagasy | fashion | ||
| In Malagasy, the word "fashion" (fomba) also means "way" or "manner", highlighting the cultural significance of fashion as a representation of identity and social practices. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mafashoni | ||
| Mafashoni, meaning fashion in Nyanja, is derived from the English word 'fashion'. | |||
| Shona | fashoni | ||
| "Fashoni" (fashion) is a loanword from English, and can also mean "style" or "custom." | |||
| Somali | moodada | ||
| The term "moodada" in Somali also refers to clothing or attire and has connotations of style and elegance. | |||
| Sesotho | feshene | ||
| The word "feshene" in Sesotho also means "tradition" or "custom". | |||
| Swahili | mtindo | ||
| The noun 'mtindo' derives from the verb '-tenda', meaning 'to spread or be common' | |||
| Xhosa | ifashoni | ||
| The Xhosa word 'ifashoni' has its roots in the verb 'ukufashona', meaning 'to shape or form'. | |||
| Yoruba | aṣa | ||
| "Àṣà" means both "lifestyle" and "custom" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | imfashini | ||
| The word 'imfashini' also means 'style' or 'design' in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | mɔdɛli | ||
| Ewe | tsidzinu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | imyambarire | ||
| Lingala | mode | ||
| Luganda | omusono | ||
| Sepedi | fešene | ||
| Twi (Akan) | afadeɛ a aba so | ||
Fashion in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | موضه | ||
| The Arabic word "موضه" (fashion) is derived from the root word "وضع" (to place or arrange), indicating the intentional arrangement of clothing and accessories to create a desired aesthetic. | |||
| Hebrew | אופנה | ||
| The word "אופנה" can also mean "custom" or "habit". | |||
| Pashto | فیشن | ||
| "فیشن" is Pashto for "fashion", ultimately rooted in Latin "faciem," meaning "face". | |||
| Arabic | موضه | ||
| The Arabic word "موضه" (fashion) is derived from the root word "وضع" (to place or arrange), indicating the intentional arrangement of clothing and accessories to create a desired aesthetic. | |||
Fashion in Western European Languages
| Albanian | modës | ||
| "Modës" derives from "model" in Italian and also means "form" or "manner" in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | moda | ||
| In Basque, "moda" also signifies "manner," "custom," or "way of doing something." | |||
| Catalan | moda | ||
| Catalan "moda" can also mean "way, means", from Latin "modus", which is linked to English "mode", as in "conduct", etc. | |||
| Croatian | moda | ||
| The Croatian word “moda” can also mean “mode”. | |||
| Danish | mode | ||
| In Danish, 'mode' derives from the French 'mode', but may also refer to 'temperament' or 'musical key'. | |||
| Dutch | mode | ||
| The Dutch word "mode" comes from the French word "mode", which in turn comes from the Latin word "modus", meaning "measure" or "manner". | |||
| English | fashion | ||
| "Fashion" derives from the Latin "facere," meaning "to make," and also refers to the prevailing style or popular taste in a particular area. | |||
| French | mode | ||
| The French word “mode”, as well as its Italian and German counterparts, is derived from the Latin word modus, which means “measure, rule, or way”. | |||
| Frisian | moade | ||
| "Moade" in Frisian also refers to a person's style or mannerisms. | |||
| Galician | moda | ||
| In Galician, the word "moda" also means "mold" or "shape", suggesting the transformative power of fashion. | |||
| German | mode | ||
| Mode was used exclusively in the meaning of 'fashion' in the German language only from the 18th century | |||
| Icelandic | tíska | ||
| An alternate meaning of "tíska" is "the way of walking or moving, especially with grace and elegance." | |||
| Irish | faisean | ||
| In Irish, 'faisean' can also mean 'style' or 'appearance'. | |||
| Italian | moda | ||
| In Italian, 'moda' also refers to a verb meaning 'to shape' or 'to adjust'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | moud | ||
| The word 'Moud' is derived from the Old French word 'mode' meaning 'style', 'manner', or 'fashion'. | |||
| Maltese | moda | ||
| The Maltese word "moda" originates from French "mode," but is also the plural feminine form of "mudu," meaning "style" or "manner." | |||
| Norwegian | mote | ||
| In Norwegian, "mote" means "fashion", but it can also refer to a "meeting" or a "gathering of people". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | moda | ||
| The word "moda" in Brazilian Portuguese is derived from the Portuguese word "modo" (manner, way), and can also refer to a style or custom. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | fasan | ||
| The Gaelic word "fasan" comes from the Middle English word "fasioun" which ultimately comes from the Old French word "façon" meaning "manner" or "style". | |||
| Spanish | moda | ||
| In Spanish, "moda" can also refer to a mold or a pattern, hinting at its connection to the creation of fashion. | |||
| Swedish | mode | ||
| The Swedish word "mode" is derived from the French word "mode", meaning "manner" or "fashion". | |||
| Welsh | ffasiwn | ||
| The word "ffasiwn" in Welsh is derived from the Latin word "factio," meaning "a making or doing." | |||
Fashion in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | мода | ||
| The word "мода" is derived from the Latin word "modus," which means "manner" or "method." | |||
| Bosnian | moda | ||
| The word 'moda' in Bosnian is derived from the French word 'mode', which originally referred to a musical or artistic style or form. | |||
| Bulgarian | мода | ||
| The word "мода" (fashion) in Bulgarian is derived from the French word "mode" and can also refer to a style or way of doing something. | |||
| Czech | móda | ||
| The word 'móda' is derived from the French word, 'mode', and it also means 'fashion in style or manner' in the Slovak language. | |||
| Estonian | mood | ||
| Estonian word "mood" initially meant "style" or "sample" but gradually acquired the modern meaning of "fashion". | |||
| Finnish | muoti | ||
| "Muoti" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*muoto" meaning "shape, form" and is related to the word "muotoilu" ("design"). | |||
| Hungarian | divat | ||
| 'Divat' shares the same etymological root as 'divat' in Turkish, originally meaning 'custom' or 'routine'. | |||
| Latvian | mode | ||
| The Latvian word "mode" comes from French and originally meant "way, manner, or style" | |||
| Lithuanian | mada | ||
| The word "mada" also means "imitation" or "pattern" in Lithuanian, reflecting its connection to the concept of copying or following trends. | |||
| Macedonian | мода | ||
| The word "мода" (moda) in Macedonian is derived from the French word "mode", which means "fashion", "custom", or "manner". | |||
| Polish | moda | ||
| The Polish word "moda" comes from the French word "mode" which in turn comes from the Latin word "modus," meaning "a way of doing something." | |||
| Romanian | modă | ||
| The Romanian word "Modă" is ultimately derived from the French word "Mode" (meaning "fashion"), and also shares its meaning with the Spanish word "Moda" and the Italian word "Moda." | |||
| Russian | мода | ||
| The Russian word "мода" has a second meaning, "mode" as in a style or way that something happens, and can also refer to a fashion show. | |||
| Serbian | мода | ||
| The Serbian word "мода" derives from the Italian word "moda," which means "custom or usage," and can also refer to a prevailing style or practice in fashion, art, or literature. | |||
| Slovak | móda | ||
| Móda, pronounced "moh-dah" in Slovak, can also refer to style or custom, or in more formal contexts, a model or example. | |||
| Slovenian | moda | ||
| The word "moda" in Slovenian also means "courage" and is related to the verb "moči" (to be able). | |||
| Ukrainian | моди | ||
| The word "моди" (fashion) shares its etymology with "мод" (mode), implying a mode or pattern of behavior or appearance. | |||
Fashion in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ফ্যাশন | ||
| ফ্যাশন (fashion) শব্দটি ফরাসি শব্দ 'façon' থেকে এসেছে যার অর্থ 'পদ্ধতি' বা 'শৈলী'। | |||
| Gujarati | ફેશન | ||
| The Gujarati word "ફેશન" ("fashion") stems from the verb "ફેશનવું" ("to shape"), implying the shaping or creating of a trend. | |||
| Hindi | फैशन | ||
| The word "फैशन" comes from the Latin word "facere," meaning "to make". It can also refer to the prevailing style or custom. | |||
| Kannada | ಫ್ಯಾಷನ್ | ||
| The word ಫ್ಯಾಷನ್ "fashion" is also used in Kannada to describe a particular type of hairstyle. | |||
| Malayalam | ഫാഷൻ | ||
| The word "ഫാഷൻ" can also mean "form" or "mold" in Malayalam, highlighting its connection to the act of shaping and creating fashionable designs. | |||
| Marathi | फॅशन | ||
| फॅशन (fashan) derives from the French word "façon," meaning "manner" or "style." | |||
| Nepali | फेसन | ||
| The word "फेसन" derives from the Sanskrit word "वेशभूषा" (vesh-bhoosha), meaning "mode of dress" or "style of clothing." | |||
| Punjabi | ਫੈਸ਼ਨ | ||
| The word "ਫੈਸ਼ਨ" (fashion) in Punjabi derives from the Persian word "fashion" which means "mode, style, or manner." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විලාසිතා | ||
| In Sinhala, විලාසිතා (vilāsitā) primarily means decoration or beautification and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vilāsa' meaning joy, play, amusement, and beauty. | |||
| Tamil | ஃபேஷன் | ||
| ஃபேஷன் can also mean a 'fashion of speaking, writing, thinking, or acting'. | |||
| Telugu | ఫ్యాషన్ | ||
| In Telugu, "ఫ్యాషన్" ("fashion") can be used for the sense of "way" or "manner" when used figuratively. | |||
| Urdu | فیشن | ||
| The word "فیشن" also means "the state or condition of something" in Urdu. | |||
Fashion in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 时尚 | ||
| 时尚 derives from 修尚, which means to practice elegance. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 時尚 | ||
| 時尚 (fashion) is derived from the English word "fashion," which has the same meaning. In traditional Chinese, the term "時尚" also carries the additional meaning of "fashionable" or "trendy." | |||
| Japanese | ファッション | ||
| ファッション (fashion) also refers to パンデリング (fascism) ととも, which refers to a style and manner. | |||
| Korean | 패션 | ||
| "패션(fashion)" originated from "패션(fashion)" meaning "style," and is a Sino-Korean word with the Chinese characters "패(fashion)" and "션(style)". | |||
| Mongolian | загвар | ||
| The word 'загвар' or 'zagvar' in Mongolian might have originated from the Mongolian root verb 'заг' ('zag'), meaning 'to create' or 'to form'. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဖက်ရှင် | ||
| The word "fashion" comes from the Latin word "facere", meaning "to make" or "to do". It originally referred to the way something was made or done, but over time it came to be used to refer to the style or appearance of something. | |||
Fashion in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | mode | ||
| "Mode" in Indonesian also refers to "the state of being" or "the way in which something is done." | |||
| Javanese | busana | ||
| The word "busana" in Javanese also means "clothing" and "dress". | |||
| Khmer | ម៉ូត | ||
| រៈ៓ត is also used as slang for "style", "look", or "attitude". | |||
| Lao | ແຟຊັ່ນ | ||
| Malay | fesyen | ||
| The word "fesyen" in Malay is derived from the Persian word "fashan", meaning "style" or "manner". | |||
| Thai | แฟชั่น | ||
| In Thai, 'แฟชั่น' (fashion) comes from the French word 'façon' meaning 'way of doing something', highlighting its role in shaping trends and style. | |||
| Vietnamese | thời trang | ||
| In Vietnamese, 'thời trang' can also mean 'style' or 'trend'. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | fashion | ||
Fashion in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | moda | ||
| In Azerbaijani, | |||
| Kazakh | сән | ||
| The word "сән" in Kazakh has additional meanings beyond "fashion", including "beauty", "style", and "elegance". | |||
| Kyrgyz | мода | ||
| Мода (fashion) in Kyrgyz also means a style, manner, tune, or melody. | |||
| Tajik | муд | ||
| In Tajik, the word "муд" not only means "fashion" but also "style", "trend", and "image." | |||
| Turkmen | moda | ||
| Uzbek | moda | ||
| The first part of the Uzbek word “moda” means 'now' and the second part means 'time or era'. | |||
| Uyghur | مودا | ||
Fashion in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻāpana | ||
| ʻāpana also means "to patch clothes" and "to cut and sew"} | |||
| Maori | ahua | ||
| The word "ahua" comes from the Proto-Austronesian word "*kayu" meaning "wood or tree", reflecting the original use of bark or wood fibers in traditional Maori clothing and crafts. | |||
| Samoan | faiga | ||
| "Faiga" means fashion, but also refers to the process of preparing food to make it delicious or attractive. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | fashion | ||
| The Tagalog word 'moda' is used for 'fashion', and is borrowed from Spanish, which took it from Latin, where the term referred to 'manner', 'method' and 'measure'. | |||
Fashion in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | mura | ||
| Guarani | jeporumeméva | ||
Fashion in International Languages
| Esperanto | modo | ||
| The Esperanto word "modo" is derived from the Latin "modus", meaning "manner" or "method". | |||
| Latin | fashion | ||
| In Latin, "fashion" (facere) also means "to make, create, work, or do". | |||
Fashion in Others Languages
| Greek | μόδα | ||
| "Μόδα" (fashion) can also mean "disposition" or "way". Its plural form ("mores") is still widely used in English with these meanings. | |||
| Hmong | zam | ||
| The word "zam" in Hmong is also used to refer to the clothing worn by a particular ethnic group or the style of clothing worn by a particular group of people. | |||
| Kurdish | mode | ||
| In Kurdish, 'mode' also means 'method' or 'style' in a general sense. | |||
| Turkish | moda | ||
| The word "moda" is derived from the French word "mode" and the Italian word "moda", both meaning "fashion or style." | |||
| Xhosa | ifashoni | ||
| The Xhosa word 'ifashoni' has its roots in the verb 'ukufashona', meaning 'to shape or form'. | |||
| Yiddish | מאָדע | ||
| Yiddish "מאָדע" derives from Latin "modus," meaning "fashion" or "method". It also relates to Hebrew "מועד" (mo'ed), meaning "appointment" or "festival". | |||
| Zulu | imfashini | ||
| The word 'imfashini' also means 'style' or 'design' in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | ফেশ্বন | ||
| Aymara | mura | ||
| Bhojpuri | फैशन | ||
| Dhivehi | ފެޝަން | ||
| Dogri | फैशन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | fashion | ||
| Guarani | jeporumeméva | ||
| Ilocano | fashion | ||
| Krio | stayl | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | جلوبەرگ | ||
| Maithili | वेश-भूषा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯤꯔꯣꯜꯒꯤ ꯃꯑꯣꯡ | ||
| Mizo | incheina | ||
| Oromo | faashinii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଫ୍ୟାଶନ୍ | ||
| Quechua | moda | ||
| Sanskrit | चलनं | ||
| Tatar | мода | ||
| Tigrinya | ፋሽን | ||
| Tsonga | fexeni | ||