Float in different languages

Float in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'float' holds a unique significance in our daily lives, often representing the idea of something that moves gently on the surface of a liquid or the act of staying buoyant. Its cultural importance can be seen in various contexts, such as in art where 'float' is used to describe the appearance of painted objects suspended in space. The word also has a place in the world of sports, particularly in swimming and water polo, where 'float' refers to the ability to stay afloat in water.

Given its wide usage, knowing the translation of 'float' in different languages can be both interesting and useful. For instance, in Spanish, 'float' is 'flotar', while in French, it is 'flotter'. In German, the word for 'float' is 'schwimmen', which also means 'to swim'. In Mandarin Chinese, 'float' can be translated as '漂浮 (piāofú)'. These translations not only help us understand the word's equivalent in various languages but also offer a glimpse into the cultural diversity of different nations.

Float


Float in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansdryf
The Afrikaans word "dryf" is of Dutch origin and also means "drift" or "stray".
Amharicተንሳፋፊ
In Amharic, the word 'ተንሳፋፊ' means 'float' but it is also the present participle of the verb 'to be spread out'.
Hausashawagi
The word 'shawagi' also translates to a 'raft' in Hausa.
Igboise n'elu
In the Igbo language, the word "ise n'elu" may also refer to staying out late at night or spending long hours away from home.
Malagasyfloat
In Malagasy, "float" can also mean "to be light" or "to be airy."
Nyanja (Chichewa)kuyandama
The word "kuyandama" originates from the verb "kuyanda" meaning "to swim" or "to stay on top of water", thus "kuyandama" describes the state or action of floating on water.
Shonakuyangarara
Shona word for “float,” "kuyangarara," also means to "stretch out one's body" or "rest".
Somalisabayn
The Somali word "sabayn" can also refer to a type of traditional Somali dance performed by women.
Sesothophaphamala
The word "phaphamala" also means "to swing".
Swahilikuelea
In Swahili, "kuelea" refers to both floating and having no permanent home.
Xhosaukudada
The Xhosa word "ukudada" comes from the Proto-Bantu verb "-dada", meaning "to float" or "to swim on the surface."
Yorubaleefofo loju omi
The word "leefofo" also means a person who floats on water without sinking.
Zuluukuntanta
In Zulu, 'ukuntanta' can also refer to the process of floating a loan or other financial instrument.
Bambarafilotɛri
Ewenɔ tsi dzi
Kinyarwandakureremba
Lingalakotepa
Lugandaokuseeyeeya
Sepediphaphama
Twi (Akan)da nsuo ani

Float in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicتطفو
The word "تطفو" comes from the root "طفو" which means "climbing or rising to the surface"}
Hebrewלָצוּף
"לָצוּף" is a biblical Hebrew word with two meanings, the other one being "to be covered with scales"
Pashtoفلوټ
The Pashto word "فلوټ" (float) is borrowed from English and also means "to be at leisure".
Arabicتطفو
The word "تطفو" comes from the root "طفو" which means "climbing or rising to the surface"}

Float in Western European Languages

Albaniannoton
The word "noton" has the alternate meaning of "float" and is related to the Greek word "noteia" (floating).
Basquekarroza
The word "karroza" is derived from the French word "carrosse" (carriage), which itself comes from the Italian word "carrozza" (a type of horse-drawn cart).
Catalanflotar
In Catalan, "flotar" can also mean "to hesitate" or "to be uncertain".
Croatianplutati
In Serbian and Croatian, the word "ploviti" (similar to "plutati") can also mean "to sail".
Danishflyde
The word "flyde" can also mean "to flow".
Dutchvlotter
"Vlotter" can also refer to a small raft or the part of a toilet that controls the water level.
Englishfloat
"Float" can also mean "to hover or drift on the surface of a liquid" or "to be suspended in the air or water with no apparent support."
Frenchflotte
"Flotte" can also mean "fleet" or "wave" in French.
Frisiandriuwe
Driuwe is the past tense of the verb drift, also related to the German word treiben.
Galicianflotar
The Galician word "flotar" comes from the Latin word "fluctuare" and can also mean "to fluctuate" or "to waver".
Germanschweben
"Schweben" is derived from the Middle High German "sweben," meaning "to roam" or "to be in limbo."
Icelandicfljóta
In addition to meaning "to float," the word "fljóta" can be used metaphorically in Icelandic to describe something that is going quickly or smoothly.
Irishsnámhphointe
"Snámh" in "snámhphointe" means "swim" which is related to another meaning of "float" of staying afloat in water.
Italiangalleggiante
"galleggiante" derives from the verb "galleggiare" which comes from the Latin word "gallicāre" (to crow), perhaps due to the resemblance of a floating object to a rooster's crest.
Luxembourgishschwammen
The word 'Schwammen' is derived from the Middle High German word 'swammen' which meant 'to swim' or 'to float'.
Maltesegalleġġjant
It ultimately derives from Italian "galleggiante" via Catalan "gallejar" (to be afloat).
Norwegianflyte
"Flyte" in Norwegian can also mean "to move gracefully or lightly".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)flutuador
In Portugal, the word "flutuador" also refers to a type of float used in fishing, consisting of a cork or plastic ball attached to a fishing line.
Scots Gaelicfleòdradh
The term "fleòdradh" in Scots Gaelic may also refer to a float valve used in plumbing.
Spanishflotador
The Spanish word "flotador" comes from the Latin "fluctuator," meaning "one that fluctuates" or "floats."
Swedishflyta
The word "flyta" is derived from the Old Norse word "flyta" meaning "to flow" or "to swim", and is related to the English word "float".
Welsharnofio
The word 'arnofio' is closely related to the Welsh word 'arnof', meaning 'vessel' or 'container'.

Float in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпаплавок
The word "паплавок" can also refer to a type of dumpling in Belarusian cuisine.
Bosnianplutati
The word "plutati" can also refer to the act of floating in water or the state of being afloat.
Bulgarianплувка
"Плувка" means both "float" and "bladder."}
Czechplovák
In the context of electrical engineering, "plovák" also refers to a type of rheostat or potentiometer slide contact that moves along a resistance wire.
Estonianujuk
The word "ujuk" is also used in Estonian to refer to a ferry or raft.
Finnishkellua
"Kellua" is the Finnish word for "float", derived from the Proto-Finno-Ugric word *kel(l)e-, meaning "to swim".
Hungarianúszó
Hungarian "úszó" can also mean animal "otter".
Latvianpeldēt
The word "peldēt" is also used to describe the process of shedding or shedding hair.
Lithuanianplūdė
The word "plūdė" also has the alternate meaning of "to bob" in Lithuanian.
Macedonianплови
The word "плови" can also be used to describe something that is not attached or fixed in place.
Polishpływak
"Pływak" not only has the obvious meaning, but it also means "a swimmer" (in a swimming pool), "a buoy" and "the float of a fishing rod".
Romanianpluti
The word "pluti" in Romanian derives from the Latin word "pluere", meaning "to rain".
Russianплавать
Плавать comes from прати; it can mean: swim, sail, navigate, hover, waft, glide, soar and more.
Serbianпловак
In Serbian, "пловак" also means "swimmer" and "plug".
Slovakplavák
The word "plavák" can also refer to a type of fishing lure or a part of a watercraft.
Slovenianfloat
In Slovenian, "float" can refer to a fishing bobber or a type of glass candy, known as "cukrčki".
Ukrainianплавати
"Плавати" also means "to swim" and comes from the same Proto-Slavic root as the English word "ply" as in "apply oneself diligently to some activity".

Float in South Asian Languages

Bengaliভাসা
The word "ভাসা" can also mean "to drift" or "to be suspended in a fluid".
Gujaratiફ્લોટ
In Gujarati, 'float' is also a synonym for 'floatation' or 'flotation therapy'.
Hindiनाव
The word 'नाव' (float) in Hindi derives from the Sanskrit word 'नावः' (boat), implying its primary function as a means of transportation on water.
Kannadaಫ್ಲೋಟ್
The word "float" in Kannada can also mean "a small boat for fishing or recreation" or "a raft made of logs or bamboo.
Malayalamഫ്ലോട്ട്
In Malayalam, "ഫ്ലോട്ട്" (float) also refers to a type of fishing net used in shallow waters.
Marathiतरंगणे
"तरंगणे" means "to float" but also means "to be on the edge". When used with "धनावर" ("money"), it means to be in financial crisis.
Nepaliफ्लोट
The word "float" can also refer to a device used for controlling the level of a liquid in a tank or reservoir.
Punjabiਫਲੋਟ
The Punjabi word "ਫਲੋਟ" (float) originates from the English word "float", which can also refer to a type of parade featuring floats, or to being suspended in a liquid
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පාවෙන්න
Tamilமிதவை
Its alternate meaning is "to roam".
Teluguఫ్లోట్
The word "ఫ్లోట్" (float) can also refer to a type of fishing lure or a decorative item that floats on water.
Urduتیرنا
The Urdu word تیرنا ('float') derives from the Persian word "tirna", where it means "swimming".

Float in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)浮动
浮动在中文中还有“无定价、波动”等含义。
Chinese (Traditional)浮動
The term "浮動" in Chinese can also refer to "floating point" in math or "fluctuation" in economics.
Japanese浮く
The word 浮く (うく) can also mean to be separated or isolated.
Korean흙손
The word “흙손” can also refer to a person who is extremely clumsy or who frequently makes mistakes, due to the connotation of “dropping” or “letting fall” that is associated with the word “손” (hand).
Mongolianхөвөх
The word "хөвөх" in Mongolian can also refer to the process of being carried away by water or to the feeling of being suspended in space.
Myanmar (Burmese)ရေပေါ်
ရေပေါ် is also used to refer to someone or something that is easily influenced or manipulated.

Float in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmengapung
The Indonesian word "mengapung" can also refer to the act of floating in the air or hovering.
Javanesengambang
The word "ngambang" also means "to think or speculate" in certain contexts.
Khmerអណ្តែត
The word "អណ្តែត" in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्लवन" (plavana), which means "floating".
Laoທີ່ເລື່ອນໄດ້
Malayterapung
In Indonesian, 'terapung' can also refer to a temporary or unstable state, such as a ship bobbing on the water.
Thaiลอย
ลอย may also mean 'to rise', 'to be outstanding', or 'to be exempt from liability'.
Vietnamesephao nổi
The Vietnamese phrase “phao nổi” is a homonym with two distinct meanings and etymologies: “life preserver” and “buoy.”
Filipino (Tagalog)lumutang

Float in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanisal
In Azerbaijani, "sal" can also refer to a raft or watercraft
Kazakhжүзу
"Жүзу" in Kazakh can also refer to swimming or the surface of a liquid.
Kyrgyzкалкуу
"Калькуу" also refers to "raft" and "rafting" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikшино кардан
The word "шино кардан" can also refer to a type of water wheel used to irrigate fields.
Turkmenýüzmek
Uzbeksuzmoq
Suzmoq may also refer to a type of bread in Uzbek cuisine.
Uyghurfloat

Float in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianlana
The etymology of 'lana' in Hawaiian may derive from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root *qaN(a), which also occurs in Tagalog, Old Javanese, and Malay, indicating that 'lana' and 'qanaqan' in the Philippines are cognate.
Maorimānu
The Maori word "mānu" also refers to a type of wooden canoe for transporting goods or people across water.
Samoanopeopea
The Samoan word "opeopea" also means "to open" or "to spread out"
Tagalog (Filipino)lumutang
The origin of the word "lumutang" is from the Proto-Austronesian term "lumut" meaning "to emerge".

Float in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraqaquña
Guaraniombovevúiva

Float in International Languages

Esperantoflosi
Esperanto's "flosi" comes from French "flotter" and originally meant "to be buoyed up" before later taking on its current meaning of "to float."
Latinsupernatet
In Latin, 'supernatet' can also refer to being above or superior to something.

Float in Others Languages

Greekφλοτέρ
Φλοτέρ comes from φλοτερός "pertaining to tree bark" (a type of boat was constructed using bark), from φλόιος "bark of tree" (from the Indo-European root *phel- "bark").
Hmongntab
"Ntab" can also mean "to rest" in Hmong.
Kurdishavbazîn
Avbazîn in Kurdish comes from the Persian word âb-bâzîn, meaning "playing with water".
Turkishyüzer
"Yüzer" also means "swimmer" or "one who swims" in Turkish.
Xhosaukudada
The Xhosa word "ukudada" comes from the Proto-Bantu verb "-dada", meaning "to float" or "to swim on the surface."
Yiddishלאָזנ שווימען
The Yiddish word "לאָזנ שווימען" ("loatn shvimn") also means "to eavesdrop" or "to listen attentively".
Zuluukuntanta
In Zulu, 'ukuntanta' can also refer to the process of floating a loan or other financial instrument.
Assameseউপঙি থকা
Aymaraqaquña
Bhojpuriडोंगा
Dhivehiބީއްސުން
Dogriतरना
Filipino (Tagalog)lumutang
Guaraniombovevúiva
Ilocanolumtaw
Kriopantap
Kurdish (Sorani)سەرئاو کەوتن
Maithiliतैरनाइ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯥꯎꯕ
Mizolang
Oromobololi'uu
Odia (Oriya)ଭାସମାନ |
Quechuatuytuy
Sanskritतारण
Tatarйөзү
Tigrinyaምንስፋፍ
Tsongaphaphamala

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