Updated on March 6, 2024
Peace. A simple word that carries with it a world of significance. It's a concept that transcends borders, cultures, and languages. Yet, its essence remains the same – a longing for tranquility, harmony, and understanding.
Throughout history, peace has been a central theme in art, literature, and philosophy. From the Sanskrit word 'Shanti' to the Chinese 'He', peace is a universal ideal that has been cherished by societies around the globe.
But why would someone want to know the translation of peace in different languages? For one, it's a testament to the common human experience. It's a reminder that despite our differences, we all share the same hopes and dreams. Moreover, it's a way to connect with others on a deeper level, to bridge the gap between cultures and foster understanding.
So, let's embark on a linguistic journey and explore the various translations of peace. From the romantic 'Paix' in French to the soothing 'Mir' in Russian, each translation offers a unique perspective on this universal concept.
Afrikaans | vrede | ||
The Afrikaans "vrede" also means "satisfaction" or "contentment" and has the same root as the word "freud" in German. | |||
Amharic | ሰላም | ||
The word "ሰላም" can also refer to a state of well-being, prosperity, or a greeting. | |||
Hausa | zaman lafiya | ||
The word 'zaman lafiya' in Hausa can also mean 'a state of well-being' or 'a time of tranquility'. | |||
Igbo | udo | ||
The Igbo word "udo" can also mean "health" or "prosperity." | |||
Malagasy | fandriampahalemana | ||
"Fandriampahalemana" is derived from the words "fandry" (calm, quiet), "ampa" (support), and "hale" (home) | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mtendere | ||
The Nyanja word 'mtendere' also means 'to be quiet' or 'to be still'. | |||
Shona | rugare | ||
The word "rugare" in Shona is also used to refer to a "safe place" or a "sanctuary" | |||
Somali | nabad | ||
The word "nabad" also has the connotation of "calm" or "serenity". | |||
Sesotho | khotso | ||
The word "khotso" in Sesotho also has the alternate meaning of "silence" or "tranquility". | |||
Swahili | amani | ||
In its original form, amani meant 'trust' or 'security' | |||
Xhosa | uxolo | ||
In the African language Xhosa, the word "uxolo" also means "respect," reflecting the interconnectedness of these concepts in the culture. | |||
Yoruba | àlàáfíà | ||
The word 'àlàáfíà' in Yoruba literally means 'to be together in unity' and also encompasses the concept of prosperity. | |||
Zulu | ukuthula | ||
'Ukuthula' is also used to describe a calm or quiet atmosphere, like that of a serene forest. | |||
Bambara | hɛrɛ | ||
Ewe | ŋutifafa | ||
Kinyarwanda | amahoro | ||
Lingala | kimya | ||
Luganda | emirembe | ||
Sepedi | khutšo | ||
Twi (Akan) | asomdwoeɛ | ||
Arabic | سلام | ||
The word "سلام" in Arabic also means "submission" or "wholeness". | |||
Hebrew | שָׁלוֹם | ||
The word "שָׁלוֹם" also refers to "well-being" and "health" in Hebrew. | |||
Pashto | سوله | ||
The Pashto word "سوله" is derived from the Arabic word "صلح" (sulh), meaning peace, reconciliation, or settlement. | |||
Arabic | سلام | ||
The word "سلام" in Arabic also means "submission" or "wholeness". |
Albanian | paqen | ||
"Paqe" is thought to share the same root as "pax," the Latin word for peace | |||
Basque | bakea | ||
In some Basque dialects, "bakea" may also refer to a type of animal trap or an offering | |||
Catalan | pau | ||
"Pau" in Catalan also means "stick" or "wood", a fact that is reflected in its origin: the Latin "palus" ("stick, stake"). | |||
Croatian | mir | ||
The word "mir" is also used to refer to the universe, the order of things, or the world. | |||
Danish | fred | ||
In Danish, Fred can also mean a sanctuary or protection for wild animals during hunting season | |||
Dutch | vrede | ||
Dutch "vrede" (peace) comes from Old Dutch "frethu" (protection, safety), akin to Old High German "fridu" (peace), which also gives English "Friday" (Freya's day). | |||
English | peace | ||
The word "peace" derives from the Old French "pais" and ultimately from the Latin "pax," meaning "pact" or "agreement." | |||
French | paix | ||
"Paix" is derived from the Latin word "pax", meaning "peace" or "agreement". | |||
Frisian | frede | ||
The Frisian word "frede" has a dual use, as it also signifies "to free" and "to protect." | |||
Galician | paz | ||
The word "paz" was originally introduced into Galician from Latin as word for "step" and "agreement", which in turn derives from the Greek word "péza" meaning "foot" and "weight". | |||
German | frieden | ||
Related to 'freedom', ultimately derives from an Indo-European base meaning 'to love'. | |||
Icelandic | friður | ||
In Old Norse, friður could also refer to a sacred space where violence is forbidden. | |||
Irish | síocháin | ||
The word 'síocháin' likely derives from the Proto-Indo-European root '*seh₂-', meaning 'to be at rest' or 'to be calm'. | |||
Italian | pace | ||
The word "pace" has the same meaning in Italian as "peace" does in English, but it also means "step" or "walking pace". | |||
Luxembourgish | fridden | ||
The word "Fridden" in Luxembourgish is derived from Old High German "fridu" meaning "protection, safety, peace". | |||
Maltese | paċi | ||
Although the word "paċi" has the primary meaning of "peace," it also has a secondary meaning of "silence" | |||
Norwegian | fred | ||
"Fred" also means "preserve" in Norwegian, as in "å freda et område" (to preserve an area). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | paz | ||
In Portuguese, "Paz" is derived from the Latin "pax", and also means "agreement" or "concordance." | |||
Scots Gaelic | sìth | ||
"Sìth" can also refer to a fairy mound or dwelling, a hill, or a grassy hillock. | |||
Spanish | paz | ||
Paz comes from the Latin word pax, which also means 'agreement' or 'treaty'. | |||
Swedish | fred | ||
Fred is also a slang word for being 'cool', 'good', 'great', or 'awesome'. | |||
Welsh | heddwch | ||
"The word "heddwch" in Welsh derives from "hedd", meaning "calm, quiet, or still", and "wch", a suffix denoting a state or condition." |
Belarusian | мір | ||
The Belarusian word "мір" has alternate meanings that include "community" and "universe". | |||
Bosnian | mir | ||
Mir also means "world" in Persian, "community" in Arabic, and "society" in Turkish. | |||
Bulgarian | спокойствие | ||
The word "спокойствие" has no known root or alternate meanings. | |||
Czech | mír | ||
The word "mír" also means "world" in Czech, deriving from the Proto-Slavic *mirъ, meaning "community" or "society." | |||
Estonian | rahu | ||
The word "rahu" in Estonian also relates to "calm", "quiet", "silence", "tranquility", and "serenity". | |||
Finnish | rauhaa | ||
The word rauha has an alternate meaning of 'peace' in Swedish and can also refer to a clearing in the forest | |||
Hungarian | béke | ||
In some Hungarian dialects, "béke" can also mean "tranquility" or "silence." | |||
Latvian | miers | ||
The Latvian word “miers” originally referred to peace or goodwill between two parties but evolved to mean peace in a broader sense as well. | |||
Lithuanian | ramybė | ||
The Lithuanian word "ramybė" meaning "peace" is also related to the words "ramyti" ("to comfort") and "ramus" ("calm"). | |||
Macedonian | мир | ||
The Russian word "мир" can also mean "village" or "world" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | pokój | ||
The word "pokój" can also refer to a room, as it derives from the Old Slavic "pokojь" meaning "rest" or "resting place". | |||
Romanian | pace | ||
The Romanian word "pace" comes from the Latin "pax" and also means "peace". | |||
Russian | мир | ||
The Russian word "мир" (peace) also means "world" and is related to the Persian word "mehr" meaning "light" and "sun". | |||
Serbian | мир | ||
The word "мир" (mir) in Serbian is etymologically related to "world" and "universe," implying peace as a cosmic order. | |||
Slovak | mieru | ||
The word "mier" in Slovak also means "measure" and derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*meriti", meaning "to measure". | |||
Slovenian | miru | ||
"Miru" comes from the Proto-Indo-European word "mei-", meaning "to exchange" or "to barter". In this sense, peace is seen as a state of balance and reciprocity. | |||
Ukrainian | мир | ||
"Мир" also means "world" in Ukrainian, due to it being a shared word with Russian. |
Bengali | শান্তি | ||
শান্তি (Shanti) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'cham' meaning to restrain or control. | |||
Gujarati | શાંતિ | ||
The word "શાંતિ" (peace) in Gujarati also means "rest" and "quiet". | |||
Hindi | शांति | ||
The word "शांति" also signifies "rest" or "tranquility" and is cognate with the Latin "sedere" ("to sit"). | |||
Kannada | ಶಾಂತಿ | ||
The word "ಶಾಂತಿ" is etymologically related to Sanskrit "शाङ्ति" and "छान्ति" meaning "stillness" or "calm" and also refers to a state of spiritual or mental tranquility. | |||
Malayalam | സമാധാനം | ||
"സമാധാനം" (samaadhaanam) also means "to answer" in Sanskrit, and "to give a reply" in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | शांतता | ||
The word "शांतता" can also refer to "silence" or "calmness" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | शान्ति | ||
The word "शान्ति" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "शम्" meaning "rest" or "calm". | |||
Punjabi | ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ | ||
In Sanskrit, "śānti" means not only "peace" but also "tranquility, calmness, quietude, equanimity, and contentment." | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සාම | ||
The word 'සාම' (peace) in Sinhala is derived from the Sanskrit word 'शान्ति' (shanti), which means 'calm' or 'tranquility' | |||
Tamil | சமாதானம் | ||
The word 'சமாதானம்' can also refer to 'equal treatment' or 'fair treatment' in legal contexts. | |||
Telugu | శాంతి | ||
The word "శాంతి" can also mean "calm" or "tranquility" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | امن | ||
امن is cognate with the Hebrew word "אמן" meaning "so be it, verily, or amen", and the Latin word "amen", which was adopted into English after the Norman conquest. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 和平 | ||
和平 (pinyin: hépíng) can also mean "accord" or "harmony". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 和平 | ||
和平, which is pronounced 'hépíng' in Mandarin, is also a surname in China, shared by about 50,000 people. | |||
Japanese | 平和 | ||
"平和" is composed of two kanji: "平" (ひら, taira), meaning "flat" or "even," and "和" (わ, wa) meaning "harmony" or "togetherness." | |||
Korean | 평화 | ||
평화 originally meant 'the state of having enough food' and referred to the abundance of the harvest. | |||
Mongolian | амар амгалан | ||
The Mongolian word "амар амгалан" ("peace") is also used as a form of greeting or well-wishing. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေး | ||
Indonesian | perdamaian | ||
The word "perdamaian" is derived from the Sanskrit word "prd" meaning "to be separated" or "to go away". | |||
Javanese | tentrem | ||
The word 'tentrem' comes from the Javanese word 'antep', meaning 'calm' or 'serene' | |||
Khmer | សន្តិភាព | ||
The word "សន្តិភាព" ("peace") in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "shanti," which means "calm" or "tranquility." | |||
Lao | ຄວາມສະຫງົບສຸກ | ||
Malay | kedamaian | ||
The Malay word 'kedamaian' not only means 'peace', but also 'harmony', 'tranquility', and 'serenity'. | |||
Thai | สันติภาพ | ||
สันติภาพ comes from the Sanskrit word śānti, which also means 'harmony' and 'well-being'. | |||
Vietnamese | sự thanh bình | ||
The Sino-Vietnamese compound word "Sự thanh bình" originates from the Chinese "太平" (tàipíng), which additionally means "prosperity" and "security". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kapayapaan | ||
Azerbaijani | sülh | ||
The word "sülh" also has the meaning of "reconciliation" or "settlement" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | бейбітшілік | ||
The Kazakh word "бейбітшілік" (peace) is ultimately derived from the Proto-Turkic word "bäg-bäg" which means "peace". In some contexts, the word can also refer to "quiet" or "tranquility". | |||
Kyrgyz | тынчтык | ||
The word "тынчтык" in Kyrgyz, also used to describe quiet or tranquility, derives from the word "тынч", meaning "to rest or be at ease". | |||
Tajik | сулҳ | ||
In Tajik, the word "сулҳ" also refers to a traditional gathering of elders to resolve conflicts and establish agreements. | |||
Turkmen | parahatçylyk | ||
Uzbek | tinchlik | ||
The word "tinchlik" also denotes "a place where peace and tranquility reign". | |||
Uyghur | تىنچلىق | ||
Hawaiian | maluhia | ||
Maluhia, a Hawaiian word often translated as "peace," derives from "malu" (to protect) and "hia" (to strive), emphasizing the active pursuit and shelter of tranquility. | |||
Maori | rangimarie | ||
Rangimarie means 'peaceful', and is often personified as the 'spirit of peace' in Maori mythology. | |||
Samoan | filemu | ||
The word 'filemu' is derived from a Polynesian root meaning 'calm' or 'serene'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | kapayapaan | ||
The Tagalog word 'kapayapaan' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kṣema,' which means 'welfare' or 'well-being.' |
Aymara | ch'ujtawi | ||
Guarani | py'aguapy | ||
Esperanto | paco | ||
The word "paco" in Esperanto also has the alternate meaning of "something that is quiet or still". | |||
Latin | pax | ||
The Latin word "pax" not only means "peace," but also a covenant or treaty, and a symbol of peace carried during religious ceremonies. |
Greek | ειρήνη | ||
The word "ειρήνη" is also used in Greek to refer to a treaty or agreement. | |||
Hmong | kev kaj siab lug | ||
The Hmong word 'kev kaj siab lug' can have alternate meanings depending on the context, including 'tranquility', 'contentment', and 'harmony'. | |||
Kurdish | aşîtî | ||
The Kurdish word "aşîtî" can also refer to the state of being in harmony with oneself or the universe. | |||
Turkish | barış | ||
In Turkish, "Barış" not only refers to peace, but also means "reconciliation" from its Ottoman Turkish origin. | |||
Xhosa | uxolo | ||
In the African language Xhosa, the word "uxolo" also means "respect," reflecting the interconnectedness of these concepts in the culture. | |||
Yiddish | שלום | ||
שלום (shalom) means "peace" in Yiddish, but it also conveys a sense of well-being, wholeness, and harmony. | |||
Zulu | ukuthula | ||
'Ukuthula' is also used to describe a calm or quiet atmosphere, like that of a serene forest. | |||
Assamese | শান্তি | ||
Aymara | ch'ujtawi | ||
Bhojpuri | शांति | ||
Dhivehi | އަމާންކަން | ||
Dogri | रमान | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | kapayapaan | ||
Guarani | py'aguapy | ||
Ilocano | kapia | ||
Krio | pis | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاشتی | ||
Maithili | शांति | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯪꯗꯨ ꯂꯩꯇꯥꯕ | ||
Mizo | remna | ||
Oromo | nagaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଶାନ୍ତି | ||
Quechua | wakin | ||
Sanskrit | शान्तिः | ||
Tatar | тынычлык | ||
Tigrinya | ሰላም | ||
Tsonga | ntshamiseko | ||