Fish in different languages

Fish in Different Languages

Discover 'Fish' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Fish have been an essential part of human diets and cultures for thousands of years. From ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to modern-day sushi, fish have played a significant role in our culinary and social lives. The word 'fish' itself has a rich history, and its translations in different languages are just as fascinating.

Did you know that the English word 'fish' comes from the Old English 'fisc'? Or that in Latin, fish is 'piscis'? In many languages, the word for fish is descriptive of its appearance or movement, like in Japanese where it's 'sakana' or in Hebrew where it's 'dag'.

Understanding the translations of fish in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights and language learning opportunities. It can also be useful for travelers, chefs, and anyone interested in marine life or environmental conservation.

Fish


Fish in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansvis
"Vis" also means "way" in Afrikaans, a legacy of its Dutch origins in which "vis" means "course".
Amharicዓሳ
"ዓሳ" also can mean "an amount, or some".
Hausakifi
The etymology of kifi is uncertain, and some speculate it might be related to an older Semitic root meaning 'fin'. In some contexts it may also mean "meat".
Igboazụ
The word "azụ" in Igbo can also refer to the spine or backbone.
Malagasytrondro
In Malagasy, the word "TRONDRO" means both "fish" and "a living thing that can move in water."
Nyanja (Chichewa)nsomba
The word "nsomba" in Nyanja also refers to meat other than fish, particularly beef.
Shonahove
The word "hove" in Shona also refers to a variety of fish, including bream, tilapia, and barbel.
Somalikalluunka
The word "kalluunka" also means "ocean" in the Somali language.
Sesotholitlhapi
The Sesotho word "litlhapi" also means "something that swims".
Swahilisamaki
The Swahili word 'samaki' originates from the Proto-Bantu root *-sámi, meaning 'meat of the sea'.
Xhosaintlanzi
In some areas, **intlanzi** is a type of small sardine that is used for making isonka senhlanhla (a type of bread).
Yorubaeja
The Yoruba word "eja" also refers to a type of soup or stew made with fish as the primary ingredient.
Zuluinhlanzi
The Zulu word "inhlanzi" also refers to a "serpent" in some contexts, reflecting the traditional belief in a serpent guardian spirit of the waters.
Bambarajɛgɛ
Ewetɔmelã
Kinyarwandaamafi
Lingalambisi
Lugandaeky'enyanja
Sepedihlapi
Twi (Akan)nsunam

Fish in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicسمك
The word "سمك" is derived from a Semitic root "smk", which means "fat" or "plump" and has a connection to the shape of fish.
Hebrewדג
The word "דג" (fish) can also refer to a military formation or a type of fabric, but is probably derived from the Akkadian word "duku" meaning "to be fat".
Pashtoکب
The word "کب" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ǵʰebʰ-**, meaning "to catch" or "to grasp".
Arabicسمك
The word "سمك" is derived from a Semitic root "smk", which means "fat" or "plump" and has a connection to the shape of fish.

Fish in Western European Languages

Albanianpeshk
The word "peshk" in Albanian has an ancient Indo-European root meaning "finny water creature" and is related to the English word "fish".
Basquearrainak
The word “arrainak” is derived from Proto-Basque and is ultimately of Indo-European origin, possibly related to the Latin “aringus” (a type of fish) or the Gothic “areinas” (fish).
Catalanpeix
The Catalan word for "fish" (peix) also means "measure" or "weight".
Croatianriba
In Croatian, the word "riba" can also mean "a lot" "wealth" or "profit".
Danishfisk
In Danish, "fisk" (fish) is cognate with English "fiscal" and French "fisc," all derived from Latin "fiscus" (treasury).
Dutchvis
Although the Dutch word "vis" primarily means "fish," it also has the archaic meaning of "flesh" or "meat," as in the phrase "het visch des menschen" (the flesh of man).
Englishfish
The word “fish” originated from the Old English word “fisc,” which referred to any aquatic animal.
Frenchpoisson
The word "poisson" in French derives from the Latin word "piscis," which means "fish," and is also related to the English word "poison."
Frisianfisk
"Fisk" comes from the Middle Dutch "visc" or "visch", which also means "fish".
Galicianpeixe
The word "peixe" in Galician also means "weight".
Germanfisch
The German word "Fisch" (fish) likely derives from the Proto-Germanic "*fiskôz," meaning "to catch," and is related to the English word "fisher."
Icelandicfiskur
'Fiskur' also means 'devil', 'fiend', or 'demon' in Icelandic.
Irishiasc
The Irish word "iasc" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂es-/*h₂esḱ- " meaning "to swim, to move in water."
Italianpesce
"Pesce" is derived from the Latin word piscis and has the same root as "piscina" ("swimming pool").
Luxembourgishfësch
Malteseħut
The word 'ħut' also means 'threads' (of a fabric) in Maltese and is etymologically related to thread.
Norwegianfisk
The Norwegian word "fisk" also means "fart" in Danish.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)peixe
In Portuguese, "peixe" derives from the Latin "piscis," also meaning "fish," and in Brazil, it additionally refers to an informal lottery scheme.
Scots Gaeliciasg
The Scots Gaelic word "iasg" is related to the Irish "iasc", the Welsh "pysg", and the English "fish".
Spanishpez
The word "pez" can also refer to a piece of fish or a type of foot.
Swedishfisk
"Fisk" in Swedish can also refer to a small stick used for lighting matches
Welshpysgod
The word "pysgod" in Welsh also refers to the zodiac sign Pisces.

Fish in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianрыба
The word 'рыба' (рыба) originates from a Proto-Balto-Slavic root *ribъ, which also gave us the words 'ryba' (Polish), 'ryba' (Czech), and 'ruba' (Latvian), all meaning 'fish'.
Bosnianriba
The word "riba" is also used to refer to money earned through interest.
Bulgarianриба
The word "риба" also means "scales" in Bulgarian, deriving from the Proto-Slavic word "ryba" with the same meaning.
Czechryba
The word "ryba" likely derives from the Proto-Slavic "*ryba" and is cognate with German "Rippe" (rib), indicating a historical connection between the concepts of fish and ribs.
Estoniankala
The Estonian word "kala" (fish) may derive from the Proto-Uralic root *kala, or be related to the Finnish word kalanen (small fish).
Finnishkalastaa
Kalastaa also means to deceive, swindle, cheat, or trick others in Finnish, most likely derived from the old word kala, meaning a lie or a fraud.
Hungarianhal
In Hungarian, the word "hal" can also refer to death, the state of being dead, or to the underworld.
Latvianzivis
The Latvian word "zivis" originates from the Proto-Baltic root "*žewi-s", meaning "fish", and is cognate with other Baltic and Slavic languages.
Lithuanianžuvis
In Lithuanian, "žuvis" not only refers to fish but also to a sign of the zodiac (Pisces).
Macedonianриба
The word "Риба" in Macedonian originates from the Proto-Slavic word "ryba", meaning "fish".
Polishryba
Polish "ryba" is a West Slavic term related to the verb "ryć" meaning "to dig". Thus, it originally referred to burrowing fish like a lamprey or eel before extending to all fish.
Romanianpeşte
In Romanian, "peşte" is cognate to the Latin "piscis" and also signifies a constellation (Pisces) and the zodiacal sign (also Pisces).
Russianрыбы
The Russian word "рыбы" (fish) comes from the Proto-Slavic word "ryba", which is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₁reǵ-s", meaning "to swim" or "to move in water".
Serbianриба
The word "риба" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁reyp- "to tear, cut, cut off," which also gave rise to the English word "rib".
Slovakryby
The Slovak word “ryby” means “fish,” but it can also refer to scales.
Slovenianribe
The word Ribe is also used in a figurative sense in reference to a group of people.
Ukrainianриба
The Ukrainian word "риба" ("fish") may originate from the Proto-Slavic word '*ryba' or may be connected to "ри́ти" ("dig"), referring to the habit of some fish to dig holes in the riverbed.

Fish in South Asian Languages

Bengaliমাছ
"মাছ" also means "hook" and shares an etymology with the English word "mash".
Gujaratiમાછલી
The Gujarati word "માછલી" (fish) is derived from the Sanskrit word "matsya", which also means "fish".
Hindiमछली
The word "मछली" is derived from the Sanskrit word "matsya" meaning "a living being in water".
Kannadaಮೀನು
The Kannada word "ಮೀನು" is cognate with the Tamil word "மீன்" and the Telugu word "మీను".
Malayalamമത്സ്യം
The word 'മത്സ്യം' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'matsya' and shares the same root with the English word 'fish'. It can also refer to a constellation or a zodiac sign.
Marathiमासे
मासे (fish) is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word *matsya- (*fish) and is cognate with the Sanskrit word मत्स्य (matsya).
Nepaliमाछा
The Nepali word "माछा" (fish) is derived from the Sanskrit word "मत्स्य" and also refers to the zodiac sign Pisces.
Punjabiਮੱਛੀ
The word 'ਮੱਛੀ' (fish) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'matsya', which also means 'fish', and is related to the English word 'fish'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)මාළු
The word 'මාළු' can also mean 'a shoal of fish' or 'a person who catches fish'.
Tamilமீன்
The word "மீன்" in Tamil can also mean "the zodiac sign Pisces" or "a measure of weight".
Teluguచేప
The word "చేప" (fish) in Telugu is cognate with Sanskrit "सर्प" (sarp), likely derived from Proto-Indo-European "*serp-", meaning "to crawl".
Urduمچھلی
The word "مچھلی" is derived from the Sanskrit word "matsya", which means "a fish", and is also related to the English word "meek".

Fish in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
鱼 in Cantonese and Hokkien means "abundance or surplus"
Chinese (Traditional)
The Chinese character 魚 is based on the shape of a fish and also means "abundance".
Japanese
The character 魚 may also refer to the Pisces zodiac sign or the constellation of Pisces.
Korean물고기
The word '물고기' can also refer to any marine animal or insect that swims or moves in water.
Mongolianзагас
The word "загас" comes from the Proto-Mongolic root word "*zaga" meaning "water," thus the "fish" is the "being of the water."
Myanmar (Burmese)ငါး
The Proto-Burushaski-Sino-Tibetan form of *ŋa-ga (“fish”) is thought to be related to the Indo-European *ḱḱor (“snake”).

Fish in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianikan
The Javanese word for "fish" (iwak) may be derived from "ikan", with assimilation of the word-initial vowel.
Javaneseiwak
The word "iwak" in Javanese is also used to refer to a dish made from fish.
Khmerត្រី
The word "ត្រី" can also refer to a constellation or the zodiac sign Pisces.
Laoປາ
"ປາ" can also mean "luck" or "fortune" in Lao.
Malayikan
In Brunei and Singapore, 'ikan' also refers specifically to saltwater fish.
Thaiปลา
In Thai, "ปลา" (pla) can also refer to a flat object or a person who is gullible.
Vietnamese
In Vietnamese, "cá" also means "a type of betting game using a deck of cards"
Filipino (Tagalog)isda

Fish in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanibalıq
"Balıq" also means a constellation, i.e. the Pisces, in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhбалық
The Kazakh word "балық" can also be interpreted as "food."
Kyrgyzбалык
The word 'балык' also means 'a big fish', but in a derogatory way, implying that the fish is old and tough.
Tajikмоҳӣ
"Моҳӣ" (fish) comes from Old Persian (language of the Achaemenid Empire) "maciya" and Proto-Indo-European "*meḱsós" (fish); it is cognate with Persian "māhi," English "minnow," and Lithuanian "žuvys" (fishes).
Turkmenbalyk
Uzbekbaliq
In Uzbek, the word "baliq" derives from the Old Turkic "balïq" and also refers to a fortified city in historical documents.
Uyghurبېلىق

Fish in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianiʻa
The Hawaiian word "iʻa" not only refers to fish but also to other marine creatures like turtles, eels, and even whales.
Maoriika
In Maori mythology, the fish spirit Ika-tere ('moving fish') is considered a guardian of the ocean.
Samoaniʻa
The term "iʻa" can also refer to sea creatures such as octopus, jellyfish, and sea turtles in Samoan language.
Tagalog (Filipino)isda
In the Philippines, the term "isda" can also refer to a type of card game similar to Go Fish.

Fish in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarachallwa
Guaranipira

Fish in International Languages

Esperantofiŝo
The word "fiŝo" is derived from the French word "poisson", which itself comes from the Latin word "piscis".
Latinpiscis
The word "piscis" in Latin can also refer to the zodiac sign Pisces.

Fish in Others Languages

Greekψάρι
The word "ψάρι" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "ὀψάριον" (opsarion), meaning "small fish" or "side dish".
Hmongntses
The Hmong word "ntses" comes from the Proto-Hmong-Mien "ntseiqs", which also meant both "fish" and "slippery".
Kurdishmasî
The word "masî" in Kurdish also refers to a small amount of something, such as a drop of water or a speck of dust
Turkishbalık
The word 'balık' comes from the Persian word 'mahi', which also means 'fish'.
Xhosaintlanzi
In some areas, **intlanzi** is a type of small sardine that is used for making isonka senhlanhla (a type of bread).
Yiddishפיש
The Yiddish word "fish" has the secondary meaning of "nonsense," "bunk," or "rubbish."
Zuluinhlanzi
The Zulu word "inhlanzi" also refers to a "serpent" in some contexts, reflecting the traditional belief in a serpent guardian spirit of the waters.
Assameseমাছ
Aymarachallwa
Bhojpuriमछरी
Dhivehiމަސް
Dogriमच्छी
Filipino (Tagalog)isda
Guaranipira
Ilocanolames
Kriofish
Kurdish (Sorani)ماسی
Maithiliमाछ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯉꯥ
Mizosangha
Oromoqurxummii
Odia (Oriya)ମାଛ |
Quechuachalllwa
Sanskritमीन
Tatarбалык
Tigrinyaዓሳ
Tsongahlampfi

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