Fear in Different Languages
Discover 'Fear' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Fear
Afrikaans vrees | ||
Albanian frikë | ||
Amharic ፍርሃት | ||
Arabic الخوف | ||
Armenian վախը | ||
Assamese ভয় | ||
Aymara asxara | ||
Azerbaijani qorxu | ||
Bambara siranya | ||
Basque beldurra | ||
Belarusian страх | ||
Bengali ভয় | ||
Bhojpuri भय | ||
Bosnian strah | ||
Bulgarian страх | ||
Catalan por | ||
Cebuano kahadlok | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 恐惧 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 恐懼 | ||
Corsican timore | ||
Croatian strah | ||
Czech strach | ||
Danish frygt | ||
Dhivehi ބިރު | ||
Dogri डर | ||
Dutch angst | ||
English fear | ||
Esperanto timo | ||
Estonian hirm | ||
Ewe vᴐvɔ̃ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) takot | ||
Finnish pelko | ||
French peur | ||
Frisian bangens | ||
Galician medo | ||
Georgian შიში | ||
German angst | ||
Greek φόβος | ||
Guarani kyhyje | ||
Gujarati ડર | ||
Haitian Creole pè | ||
Hausa tsoro | ||
Hawaiian makaʻu | ||
Hebrew פַּחַד | ||
Hindi डर | ||
Hmong ntshai | ||
Hungarian félelem | ||
Icelandic ótta | ||
Igbo egwu | ||
Ilocano buteng | ||
Indonesian takut | ||
Irish eagla | ||
Italian paura | ||
Japanese 恐れ | ||
Javanese wedi | ||
Kannada ಭಯ | ||
Kazakh қорқыныш | ||
Khmer ការភ័យខ្លាច | ||
Kinyarwanda ubwoba | ||
Konkani भंय | ||
Korean 무서움 | ||
Krio fred | ||
Kurdish tirs | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) ترس | ||
Kyrgyz коркуу | ||
Lao ຄວາມຢ້ານກົວ | ||
Latin timor | ||
Latvian bailes | ||
Lingala bobangi | ||
Lithuanian baimė | ||
Luganda okutya | ||
Luxembourgish angscht | ||
Macedonian страв | ||
Maithili भय | ||
Malagasy tahotra | ||
Malay ketakutan | ||
Malayalam പേടി | ||
Maltese biża ' | ||
Maori mataku | ||
Marathi भीती | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯑꯀꯤꯕ | ||
Mizo hlau | ||
Mongolian айдас | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) ကြောက်တယ် | ||
Nepali डर | ||
Norwegian frykt | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) mantha | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଭୟ | ||
Oromo sodaa | ||
Pashto ویره | ||
Persian ترس | ||
Polish strach | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) medo | ||
Punjabi ਡਰ | ||
Quechua manchakuy | ||
Romanian frică | ||
Russian страх | ||
Samoan fefe | ||
Sanskrit भयम् | ||
Scots Gaelic eagal | ||
Sepedi tšhoga | ||
Serbian страх | ||
Sesotho tshabo | ||
Shona kutya | ||
Sindhi خوف | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) බිය | ||
Slovak strach | ||
Slovenian strah | ||
Somali cabsi | ||
Spanish temor | ||
Sundanese sieun | ||
Swahili hofu | ||
Swedish rädsla | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) takot | ||
Tajik тарс | ||
Tamil பயம் | ||
Tatar курку | ||
Telugu భయం | ||
Thai กลัว | ||
Tigrinya ፍርሒ | ||
Tsonga nchavo | ||
Turkish korku | ||
Turkmen gorky | ||
Twi (Akan) ehu | ||
Ukrainian страх | ||
Urdu خوف | ||
Uyghur قورقۇنچ | ||
Uzbek qo'rquv | ||
Vietnamese nỗi sợ | ||
Welsh ofn | ||
Xhosa uloyiko | ||
Yiddish מורא | ||
Yoruba iberu | ||
Zulu uvalo |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The Afrikaans "vrees" comes from the Dutch "vrezen" (to fear), which in turn is derived from the Proto-Germanic "*fraizjan" (to be afraid). |
| Albanian | The Albanian word "frikë" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*preik-**, meaning "to be afraid". This root is also the origin of the English word "fear". |
| Amharic | In Amharic, "ፍርሃት" can also mean reverence or respect, highlighting the nuanced nature of the word. |
| Arabic | Arabic "الخوف" derives from the root word "خيف" meaning "to fear danger," and also refers to "a barren, uncultivated place". |
| Armenian | The Armenian word "վախը" can also refer to "awe", "reverential fear", "respect", or "terror". |
| Azerbaijani | "Qorxu" can also refer to a kind of demon in Turkic mythology. |
| Basque | Bel-dur-ra likely means 'to tremble because of a threat' and is a compound from "beldur" ('trembling, fear') and "era" ('to threaten, attack'). |
| Belarusian | The word “страх” can also mean “awe” or “reverence” in certain contexts. |
| Bengali | The word "ভয়" (bhoy) in Bengali comes from the Sanskrit word "भय" (bhaya), which also means "fear". |
| Bosnian | The word 'strah' is cognate with the Old Church Slavonic word 'strahъ' and the Russian word 'страх', both meaning 'fear', and is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sterh₂- 'to spread, scatter'. |
| Bulgarian | The modern meaning "fear" is derived from an older one, "panic," "anxiety" |
| Catalan | The Catalan word "por" can also mean "risk" or "danger". |
| Cebuano | "Kahadlok" also means "awe" or "reverence" in certain contexts, indicating a range of emotions it can evoke. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 恐惧, 意指畏惧或恐惧, 也可指敬畏或尊敬 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | Another meaning of "恐懼" is "respect" as an alternative reading of 懼. |
| Corsican | The word "timore" is also used to refer to the "fear of God" or "reverence" in the Corsican language. |
| Croatian | The word "strah" also has a secondary meaning in Croatian, referring to the "back of the leg" or "calf". |
| Czech | The word "strach" is derived from the Old Czech word "strašiti, |
| Danish | The Danish word "frygt" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bherǵʰ-", which also gives rise to words like "fear" in English and "Furcht" in German. |
| Dutch | The Dutch word "angst" not only means fear but also anguish, concern, or worry. |
| Esperanto | The name Esperanto derives from ‘‘espero’’ (<Lat. spero "I hope") and ‘‘-ant-’’ which is an Esperanto suffix indicating a person who acts or does a certain thing (as contrasted with -end- which shows a passive person). |
| Estonian | The word "hirm" is cognate with the Finnish word "hirveä", meaning "terrible". |
| Finnish | The word "pelko" in Finnish is cognate with the word "palkka" (salary), implying that fear was once seen as a form of payment for something. |
| French | Le mot français « peur » vient du latin « pavor » et peut également désigner une grande frayeur ou un sentiment d'appréhension. |
| Frisian | Frisian "bangens" shares a root with Old Norse "bang" |
| Galician | Galician **medo** comes from the Latin **metus** and is related to the Spanish **miedo**. |
| Georgian | The Georgian word “შიში” (pronounced shee-shee) means “fear or a frightening thing,” but it also means “an evil spirit. |
| German | The German word 'Angst' derives from the Indo-European root 'angh' meaning 'to choke' or 'to compress'. |
| Greek | The word "φόβος" also means "flight" or "avoidance" in Greek, reflecting the instinctual response to danger. |
| Gujarati | The word "ડર" (fear) in Gujarati originates from the Sanskrit word "द्रा" (dra), meaning "to run away". Thus, it conveys the idea of fleeing from danger or threat. |
| Haitian Creole | Pè is a contraction of the French word 'peur' meaning 'fear' and is also used to refer to a type of small fish. |
| Hausa | "Tsoro" also means "respect" or "awe" in Hausa culture. |
| Hawaiian | The word 'makaʻu' can also refer to a cautious approach or a feeling of awe or reverence. |
| Hebrew | The word "פַּחַד" in Hebrew is also used to describe a sudden, intense feeling of awe or wonder. |
| Hindi | The Hindi word "डर" (fear) is derived from the Sanskrit word "द्र" (run), indicating the natural instinct to flee from danger. |
| Hmong | The Hmong word "ntshai" can also mean "respect" or "awe". |
| Hungarian | "Félelem" is etymologically related to "folyam" (river) and "folyik" (flows). The original meaning of the word was "flood", but over time it shifted to the meaning of "fear". |
| Icelandic | The word "ótta" is also used figuratively to describe a sense of awe or reverence. |
| Igbo | The word 'egwu' is used in a wide range of contexts to refer to different types of fear, ranging from a general sense of unease to a specific dread of a particular object or situation. |
| Indonesian | The word "takut" also refers to "respect" or "awe" in certain contexts. |
| Irish | The Irish word "eagla" derives from the Old Irish "eglóim," meaning "dread," and is cognate with the Welsh "ofn" and Breton "aon." |
| Italian | The word "paura" in Italian derives from the Latin "pavor", meaning "terror" or "great fear". |
| Japanese | The word "恐れ" (osore) in Japanese can also mean "respect" or "reverence" in addition to "fear". |
| Javanese | The Javanese word "wedi" can also refer to "respectful avoidance". |
| Kannada | The word "ಭಯ" also means "respect" or "awe" in Kannada. |
| Kazakh | In Kazakh, the word "қорқыныш" can also mean panic, dread, concern, and anxiety. |
| Khmer | The word ការភ័យខ្លាច in Khmer can be traced back to Sanskrit, where it meant "great danger," and is used in a variety of contexts, including "anxiety" and "terror." |
| Korean | The Korean word 무서움 originated from the Chinese character 畏 (wi) which literally means 'to fear' and 'to respect'. |
| Kurdish | The word "tirs" in Kurdish is also used in the phrase "tirs û lewz," which means "fear and shame." |
| Kyrgyz | The word "коркуу" in Kyrgyz can also mean "carefulness" or "precaution". |
| Latin | Timor can also mean 'horror' or 'terror' in Latin, and is related to the Greek word 'tremo', meaning 'to tremble'. |
| Latvian | The word "bailes" in Latvian can also refer to a supernatural creature that brings misfortune. |
| Lithuanian | The word "baimė" likely derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bhei-", meaning "to be afraid" or "to tremble". |
| Luxembourgish | In German-speaking dialects the word “Angscht” means “narrow” (e.g. “eng” in German). |
| Macedonian | The word "страв" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*straхъ", which also means "horror" or "dread." |
| Malagasy | The word "tahotra" (fear) comes from the root "taho", meaning "to avoid" or "to abstain from". |
| Malay | In some regions of Indonesia, the word "ketakutan" can also refer to a state of shock or disorientation. |
| Malayalam | പേടി, meaning 'fear' in Malayalam, is related to the Tamil word 'பேய்' (pey), which refers to ghosts or spirits. |
| Maltese | "Biża'", meaning "fear", has a secondary meaning of "respect" or "awe" in certain contexts. |
| Maori | Mataku can also refer to a net trap used in fishing, and a type of small shark. |
| Marathi | In Marwari language, 'भित्ती' (bhittee) also refers to the 'wall of a building'. |
| Mongolian | "Айдас" is related to the word "айдаж" which means "to scare". |
| Nepali | The word "डर" (fear) in Nepali comes from the Sanskrit word "dru" meaning "to run away or flee". |
| Norwegian | "Frykt" comes from an Old Norse word that also meant "joy, happiness" or "delight." |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word "mantha" in Nyanja (Chichewa) also means "terror" or "dread". |
| Pashto | The word "وېره" ("fear") in Pashto also refers to feelings of awe, respect, and reverence. |
| Persian | The word "ترس" can also refer to the "frame" of a door or window, or an "obstacle" or "barrier". |
| Polish | The word 'strach' in Polish can also refer to a scarecrow or a ghost-like figure used to scare people. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | The word "medo" in Portuguese derives from the Latin word "metus", which also means "fear". |
| Punjabi | The Punjabi word 'ਡਰ' ('fear') is also used to mean 'respect', 'caution', or 'awe' |
| Romanian | The Romanian word “frică” is of Slavic origin, with cognates meaning "terror", "horror" and "panic". |
| Russian | The Proto-Slavic origin is related to words such as 'to shrink' or 'narrow'. |
| Samoan | The word "fefe" can also mean "awe", "respect", or "reverence" in Samoan. |
| Scots Gaelic | Eagal can also mean respect or honour, as in the phrase 'le eagal air' (with respect to). |
| Serbian | The word "страх" (fear) originated from the Old Church Slavonic word "sъtraхъ", which originally meant "anxiety or trouble of mind". |
| Shona | 'Kutya' also means 'beware' or 'take care' in Shona. |
| Sindhi | In Sindhi, "خوف" is also used to describe a feeling of reverence or awe, especially towards a superior being or authority. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The word බිය 'biya' in Sinhala, meaning 'fear', shares its origins with the Sanskrit word 'bhee' and may have descended from the Proto-Indo-European root 'bhei-'. In Sinhala, it is also used to refer to reverence or awe towards deities or respected figures. |
| Slovak | "Strach" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*strachъ", which also means "horror" or "terror". |
| Slovenian | The word 'strah' is also used to describe a place where something is kept secret or hidden, such as a 'secret place' or a 'hiding place'. |
| Somali | Somali 'cabsi' derives from early Cushitic 'qabsi' meaning 'to catch', so it can also mean 'capture' or 'arrest'. |
| Spanish | The word "temor" in Spanish originates from the Latin word "timore", meaning "trembling, fear, or awe". |
| Sundanese | The word "sieun" in Sundanese can also mean "to be afraid" and "to be afraid of." |
| Swahili | The Swahili word "hofu" also relates to the concept of "respect" and "reverence". |
| Swedish | 'Rädsla' stems from the Old Norse word 'ræddr,' meaning 'timid' or 'afraid.' |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | In Tagalog, "takot" can also mean "cowardice" or "timidity". |
| Tajik | The word "тарс" can also mean "horror" or "terror" in Tajik. |
| Tamil | "பயம்" can also mean modesty, awe, and respect. |
| Telugu | The word "భయం" has roots in the Sanskrit word "bhaya", meaning "flight" or "terror". |
| Thai | The term "กลัว" can also convey the nuances of "being afraid" or the "feeling of trepidation". |
| Turkish | "Korku" also refers to "a scarecrow" or "a person used as a scare-tactic". |
| Ukrainian | The Proto-Slavonic root meaning "to guard" is related to the word "сторож" ("guard, warden") in a guardian-like sense of fear that keeps you safe. |
| Urdu | The word "خوف" can also mean "reverence" or "awe". |
| Uzbek | In Old Turkic, the word "qo'rquv" not only means "fear," but also "respect" and "awe." |
| Vietnamese | "Nỗi" was originally a verb "nỗi" meaning "to be sad", "to feel sorry" or "to regret", and "sợ" was a noun meaning "threat" or "danger". |
| Welsh | Ofn also refers to the 'respect' felt towards God, the devil, or certain other beings or powers. |
| Xhosa | Uloyiko in Xhosa also means 'respect and reverence' and derives from 'ukwaloloya', a verb that means to venerate and pay homage. |
| Yiddish | In Yiddish, "מורא" ("mora") also denotes respect or awe, especially towards authority figures or holy objects. |
| Yoruba | "Iberu' is also used to describe supernatural phenomena and things that cause awe and respect, like 'orisa' (deities)." |
| Zulu | In some dialects of Zulu, the word 'uvalo' can also refer to a feeling of respect or awe. |
| English | The word 'fear' has Indo-European origins and is related to words such as 'peril' and 'panic'. |