Fantasy in Different Languages
Discover 'Fantasy' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Fantasy, a genre that has captured the hearts and minds of people across the globe, is a powerful tool for exploring the depths of human imagination. Its significance lies in its ability to transport us to realms beyond our own, where magic, mystery, and the supernatural abound. From J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, fantasy has left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape.
Understanding the translation of fantasy in different languages not only broadens our linguistic horizons but also offers insight into how different cultures interpret and engage with this genre. For instance, in Spanish, fantasy is 'fantasía', while in German, it's 'Fantasie'. In French, it's 'fantaisie', and in Japanese, it's 'ファンタジー (fantajī)'.
Delving into the translations of fantasy is a fascinating journey that reveals the rich tapestry of language and culture. It's a testament to the universal power of storytelling, and a reminder of the many ways in which we can explore the boundless realms of our imagination.
Fantasy
Fantasy in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | fantasie | ||
| The etymology of "fantasie" in Afrikaans is likely "fantasy", and in English the word also refers to a type of musical composition. | |||
| Amharic | ቅasyት | ||
| The word "ቅasyት" derives from the Ge'ez word "ቅሲ" (to guess) and initially meant "uncertainty" | |||
| Hausa | fantasy | ||
| In Hausa, the term 'fantasy' derives from the Arabic word 'fantaziya', which can also mean 'extravagance' or 'spectacle'. | |||
| Igbo | echiche efu | ||
| The Igbo word "echiche efu" can also mean "imagination" or "daydream". | |||
| Malagasy | fantasy | ||
| The Malagasy word "fantasy" also means "illusion" and "fancy". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zopeka | ||
| The word "zopeka" comes from the verb "zopa", meaning "to imagine". It can also refer to dreams or illusions. | |||
| Shona | fungidziro | ||
| The Shona word 'fungidziro' also refers to a 'fictitious being', 'apparition', or 'phantom'. | |||
| Somali | khayaali | ||
| The word "khayaali" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "khayaal" which means "imagination" or "vision". | |||
| Sesotho | khopolo-taba | ||
| Khopolo-taba may also refer to an event that takes place in a dream. | |||
| Swahili | ndoto | ||
| The Swahili word "Ndoto" is also closely related to traditional African concepts of dreams and divination. | |||
| Xhosa | intelekelelo | ||
| The term "intelekelelo" in Xhosa can also refer to a type of dance or a trance state. | |||
| Yoruba | irokuro | ||
| In Yoruba, "irokuro" is derived from "iro" (dream) and "kuro" (out of reach), and it can refer to both fantasies and dreams that cannot be fulfilled. | |||
| Zulu | inganekwane | ||
| In Zulu, "inganekwane" is also used to describe a type of traditional storytelling that involves supernatural elements and often serves an educational or moral purpose. | |||
| Bambara | miiriyajuguw | ||
| Ewe | susumenyawo gbɔgblɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | fantasy | ||
| Lingala | makanisi ya mpambampamba | ||
| Luganda | ebirooto eby’ekirooto | ||
| Sepedi | boikgopolelo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nsusuwii hunu | ||
Fantasy in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | خيال | ||
| The Arabic word "خيال" also means "illusion" or "phantom." | |||
| Hebrew | פנטזיה | ||
| The word 'פנטזיה' derives from the Greek 'φαντασία' meaning 'making visible', originating from 'φαίνω' meaning 'to show' or 'to appear'. | |||
| Pashto | خیال | ||
| The Pashto word "خیال" also means "thought" or "imagination." | |||
| Arabic | خيال | ||
| The Arabic word "خيال" also means "illusion" or "phantom." | |||
Fantasy in Western European Languages
| Albanian | fantazi | ||
| In Albanian, "fantazi" can also mean "imagination", "fancy" or "whims". | |||
| Basque | fantasia | ||
| In Basque, "fantasia" can also refer to a type of lively traditional dance or music. | |||
| Catalan | fantasia | ||
| In Catalan, "fantasia" can also refer to a type of musical composition or performance, typically featuring improvisational elements. | |||
| Croatian | fantazija | ||
| "Fantazija" is also a Croatian dance genre that resembles Hungarian folk dance. | |||
| Danish | fantasi | ||
| The Danish word "fantasi" also means "imagination" or "vision". | |||
| Dutch | fantasie | ||
| In Dutch, the word "fantasie" can also mean "fancy" or "capriciousness". | |||
| English | fantasy | ||
| The word "fantasy" derives from the Greek word "phantasia," meaning "imagination" or "appearance." | |||
| French | fantaisie | ||
| The word "fantaisie" was originally used to refer to a whim or fancy, and could also mean "music played by ear". | |||
| Frisian | fantasy | ||
| It can also refer to a particular type of dance, the "Frysk Fantasia", which is often performed at social gatherings. | |||
| Galician | fantasía | ||
| Galician "fantasía" means "fancy" or "fiction" and it comes from the French "fantaisie", influenced by the Spanish "fantasía" | |||
| German | fantasie | ||
| While the English word "fantasy" evokes the imaginative creations of an individual, the German "Fantasie" retains elements of its Greek root "phantasia" and incorporates a performative aspect. | |||
| Icelandic | ímyndunarafl | ||
| The word 'ímyndunarafl' is composed of the Icelandic words 'ímyndun' (imagination) and 'rafl' (realm). | |||
| Irish | fantaisíocht | ||
| 'Fanatasíocht', the Irish word for 'fantasy', is also used in the more literal sense of 'imagination'. | |||
| Italian | fantasia | ||
| In Italian, the word "fantasia" derives from the Greek "phantasia," meaning "appearance" or "imagination," and it can also refer to a musical improvisation or a type of orchestral composition. | |||
| Luxembourgish | fantasie | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Fantasie" can also refer to an improvised music piece. | |||
| Maltese | fantasija | ||
| Maltese word "fantasija" is borrowed via Sicilian from Arabic and means "parade of cavalry". However, it can be used to describe any sort of parade or display, such as a fireworks display, that is very elaborate and colorful. | |||
| Norwegian | fantasi | ||
| In Norwegian, "fantasi" can also mean "imagination" or a "fictional invention". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | fantasia | ||
| In Portuguese, "fantasia" also refers to the elaborate, colorful costumes worn during Carnival celebrations. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | fantasy | ||
| Scots Gaelic "fantasy" can also mean "a ghost, phantom or hallucination". | |||
| Spanish | fantasía | ||
| Fantasía also means 'pomp' or 'showiness' in Spanish, and has the alternate plural 'fantasías'. | |||
| Swedish | fantasi | ||
| In Swedish, 'fantasi' can also refer to a military parade or musical performance characterized by elaborate costumes and horsemanship. | |||
| Welsh | ffantasi | ||
| "Ffantesi" in Welsh has no relation to the concept of literary fantasy, rather it derives from the French word "fantaisie" signifying whimsy or caprice. | |||
Fantasy in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | фантазія | ||
| “фантазія” means “imagination” in Ancient Greek. | |||
| Bosnian | fantazija | ||
| The word "fantazija" is derived from the Turkish word "fantezi," which means "imagination" or "illusion." | |||
| Bulgarian | фантазия | ||
| The word "фантазия" in Bulgarian has additional meanings such as "imagination" and "caprice". | |||
| Czech | fantazie | ||
| In Czech, the word "fantazie" can have additional meanings such as "imagination" or "fiction", beyond its primary meaning of "fantasy". | |||
| Estonian | fantaasia | ||
| The word "fantaasia" is derived from the Greek word "phantasia", meaning "appearance" or "imagination". | |||
| Finnish | fantasia | ||
| In Finnish, "fantasia" also refers to improvised instrumental music played at weddings and funerals. | |||
| Hungarian | fantázia | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "fantázia" can also refer to a type of folk dance or music. | |||
| Latvian | fantāzija | ||
| The word "fantāzija" in Latvian also means "imagination" or "fancy". | |||
| Lithuanian | fantazija | ||
| The Lithuanian word "fantazija" originates from the Greek verb "phantasia," meaning "to appear, show oneself," and the noun "phantasma," meaning "an apparition, ghost." | |||
| Macedonian | фантазија | ||
| In Macedonian, "фантазија" can refer to both "fantasy" and "imagination". | |||
| Polish | fantazja | ||
| The word "Fantazja" derives from Greek and originally refers to a composition in music or art that is inspired by an imaginative or unusual idea. | |||
| Romanian | fantezie | ||
| In Romanian, "fantezie" has the alternate meaning of "imagination" or "creative power". | |||
| Russian | фантастика | ||
| The Russian word "фантастика" not only means "fantasy" but also "science fiction." | |||
| Serbian | фантазија | ||
| Besides its primary meaning "fantasy", the word "фантазија" can also refer to a type of Balkan folk music or an improvised section in a traditional dance. | |||
| Slovak | fantázia | ||
| The word "fantázia" originally meant "imagination", but its use expanded over time. | |||
| Slovenian | fantazija | ||
| The Slovenian word 'fantazija' comes from the German 'Fantasie', which in turn stems from the Greek 'phantasia', meaning 'imagination' or 'appearance'. | |||
| Ukrainian | фантазія | ||
| The word "φантазія" is derived from the Greek word "φαντασία," meaning "appearance, imagination, or illusion. | |||
Fantasy in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | কল্পনা | ||
| The Bengali word "কল্পনা" not only means "fantasy", but also "imagination," "fancy," or "conception." | |||
| Gujarati | કાલ્પનિક | ||
| Hindi | कपोल कल्पित | ||
| The Sanskrit term "kapol kalpit" literally translates to "imagined from the forehead" or a fabrication. | |||
| Kannada | ಫ್ಯಾಂಟಸಿ | ||
| The word "fantasy" is derived from the Greek word "phantasia," which means "imagination" or "appearance." | |||
| Malayalam | ഫാന്റസി | ||
| "ഫാന്റസി" is related to the Latin "fantasticus" meaning "unreal, imaginary" and also to the Greek "phantasia" meaning "imagination." | |||
| Marathi | कल्पनारम्य | ||
| "कल्पनारम्य" is derived from the Sanskrit word "कल्पना" (imagination, fancy) and the suffix "-रम्य" (pleasing, delightful). It can also mean "imaginary" or "fictitious." | |||
| Nepali | कल्पना | ||
| The word "कल्पना" also means "imagination" in Nepali, a concept closely intertwined with fantasy. | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਲਪਨਾ | ||
| The word "ਕਲਪਨਾ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "कल्पना" and originally meant "idea" or "imagination". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මන asy කල්පිතය | ||
| The Sanskrit term 'manasyakalpita' (मनस्य कल्पित) has been used in Buddhist scriptures; the Tibetan term 'yid-kyi kun-brtags' is literally translated as 'imagination' in the context of the 'Kalachakra' system, while the Chinese term 'kèyìng' (客廳) in the context of Chinese Buddhist literature, means a 'guest hall' (or an 'empty hall'), and is not found in secular usage. | |||
| Tamil | கற்பனை | ||
| "கற்பனை" comes from the Tamil root word "கல்" meaning 'stone', with which fantasy shares a sense of imaginative construction. | |||
| Telugu | ఫాంటసీ | ||
| Urdu | تصور | ||
| In Urdu, "تصور" can also mean "image", "illusion", "opinion", or "thought" | |||
Fantasy in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 幻想 | ||
| “幻想”除本义外，另有虚构、空想、猜测等含义，在佛教中意指迷妄、执着，而在道教中则指修行中的幻觉或超自然现象。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 幻想 | ||
| 幻想 (huànxiǎng) originally meant an illusion or mirage seen in a desert. | |||
| Japanese | ファンタジー | ||
| "ファンタジー" (fantasy) is also used in Japanese to refer to a genre of video games. | |||
| Korean | 공상 | ||
| The word 공상, while typically translated as "fantasy," originally meant "empty-minded thinking, daydreaming, hallucination or delusion". | |||
| Mongolian | уран зөгнөл | ||
| The word "уран зөгнөл" in Mongolian can have various meanings, such as "illusion", "imagination", or "creation". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စိတ်ကူး | ||
Fantasy in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | fantasi | ||
| The Indonesian word "fantasi" also means "hallucination" or "illusion". | |||
| Javanese | fantasi | ||
| The Javanese word "fantasi" can also refer to a traditional form of Javanese dance-drama that incorporates magical elements. | |||
| Khmer | រវើរវាយ | ||
| រវើរវាយ is a relatively new word in the Khmer language, coined in the early 20th century with the merging of រវើ (dream) and វាយ (play). | |||
| Lao | ຈິນຕະນາການ | ||
| The Lao word ຈິນຕະນາການ is derived from the Sanskrit word jñānavat which means 'one possessing knowledge'. The term also refers to the faculty of the mind capable of creating, perceiving, and experiencing imaginary objects or scenarios. | |||
| Malay | fantasi | ||
| In Malay, "fantasi" could refer to "daydreams" or "extravagant ideas". | |||
| Thai | แฟนตาซี | ||
| แฟนตาซี is the Thai version of the English word “fantasy”, however the English term “fan” also exists in Thai, though the word “fan” in English has many other meanings than “enthusiastic supporter” and none in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | tưởng tượng | ||
| Ngoài nghĩa đen là “fantasy”, tưởng tượng còn được hiểu theo nghĩa rộng hơn là “trí tưởng tượng” hay “sáng tạo”. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pantasya | ||
Fantasy in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | fantaziya | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "fantaziya" derives from the Medieval Greek "????????????," meaning "appearance" or "imagination." | |||
| Kazakh | қиял | ||
| The word "қиял" (fantasy) in Kazakh also means "idea" or "imagination". | |||
| Kyrgyz | фантазия | ||
| {"text": "The Kyrgyz word "фантазия" comes from the Persian word "φαντασία", which means "imagination, fancy, fantasy". In Kyrgyz, it can also refer to a genre of folk music that is characterized by its use of improvisation."} | |||
| Tajik | хаёлот | ||
| The word “хаёлот” originated from an Arabic word that means “imagination.” | |||
| Turkmen | fantaziýa | ||
| Uzbek | xayol | ||
| "Xayol" is also the Uzbek word for "mind," "thought," or "concept" | |||
| Uyghur | خىيال | ||
Fantasy in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | moemoeā | ||
| The word "moemoeā" also means "yearning" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | moemoea | ||
| In Maori, 'moemoea' also means 'dream' or 'desire'. | |||
| Samoan | moemiti | ||
| Moemiti, meaning "fantasy," also refers to the "sleeping dream state" in Samoan, highlighting the connection between dreams and the imaginative realm. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pantasya | ||
| "Pantasya" is related to "pantasiya," which means to be playful or to make fun of in Tagalog. | |||
Fantasy in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | fantasía ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Guarani | fantasía rehegua | ||
Fantasy in International Languages
| Esperanto | fantazio | ||
| The suffix 'io' in the word 'fantazio' can also be interpreted as a collective, indicating multiple separate imaginations or illusions. | |||
| Latin | fantasy | ||
| The Latin word "phantasia" means "imagination" or "appearance," and is the root of the English word "fantasy." | |||
Fantasy in Others Languages
| Greek | φαντασία | ||
| In Greek, "φαντασία" originally meant "make visible" but also refers to the mind's ability to form images. | |||
| Hmong | kev npau suav | ||
| In Hmong folklore, "kev npau suav" also refers to a traditional form of storytelling involving fantastical creatures and otherworldly adventures. | |||
| Kurdish | xeyal | ||
| The Kurdish word 'xeyal' is connected to the Indo-European root *kei/koi-, which suggests the meanings 'desire', 'longing'. | |||
| Turkish | fantezi | ||
| Fantezi literally means 'dream' or 'imaginary' in Turkish, but it is also used to refer to anything extravagant or unusual | |||
| Xhosa | intelekelelo | ||
| The term "intelekelelo" in Xhosa can also refer to a type of dance or a trance state. | |||
| Yiddish | פאַנטאַזיע | ||
| "פאַנטאַזיע" (fantasy) is derived from the Greek "φαντασία" (imagination), meaning a mental image or conception. | |||
| Zulu | inganekwane | ||
| In Zulu, "inganekwane" is also used to describe a type of traditional storytelling that involves supernatural elements and often serves an educational or moral purpose. | |||
| Assamese | কল্পনা | ||
| Aymara | fantasía ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Bhojpuri | फंतासी के बात बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ފެންޓަސީ އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | फंतासी | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pantasya | ||
| Guarani | fantasía rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | pantasia ti pantasia | ||
| Krio | fantasi we pɔsin kin tink bɔt | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | خەیاڵ | ||
| Maithili | फंतासी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯦꯟꯁꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | fantasy a ni | ||
| Oromo | faantaasii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | କଳ୍ପନା | ||
| Quechua | fantasía nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | काल्पनिकता | ||
| Tatar | фантазия | ||
| Tigrinya | ፍንጣጣ እዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | ku ehleketa hi swilo swo hlamarisa | ||