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
| Afrikaans | dryf | ||
| The Afrikaans word "dryf" is of Dutch origin and also means "drift" or "stray". | |||
| Amharic | ተንሳፋፊ | ||
| In Amharic, the word 'ተንሳፋፊ' means 'float' but it is also the present participle of the verb 'to be spread out'. | |||
| Hausa | shawagi | ||
| The word 'shawagi' also translates to a 'raft' in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | ise 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. | |||
| Malagasy | float | ||
| 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. | |||
| Shona | kuyangarara | ||
| Shona word for “float,” "kuyangarara," also means to "stretch out one's body" or "rest". | |||
| Somali | sabayn | ||
| The Somali word "sabayn" can also refer to a type of traditional Somali dance performed by women. | |||
| Sesotho | phaphamala | ||
| The word "phaphamala" also means "to swing". | |||
| Swahili | kuelea | ||
| In Swahili, "kuelea" refers to both floating and having no permanent home. | |||
| Xhosa | ukudada | ||
| The Xhosa word "ukudada" comes from the Proto-Bantu verb "-dada", meaning "to float" or "to swim on the surface." | |||
| Yoruba | leefofo loju omi | ||
| The word "leefofo" also means a person who floats on water without sinking. | |||
| Zulu | ukuntanta | ||
| In Zulu, 'ukuntanta' can also refer to the process of floating a loan or other financial instrument. | |||
| Bambara | filotɛri | ||
| Ewe | nɔ tsi dzi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kureremba | ||
| Lingala | kotepa | ||
| Luganda | okuseeyeeya | ||
| Sepedi | phaphama | ||
| Twi (Akan) | da nsuo ani | ||
Float in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تطفو | ||
| The word "تطفو" comes from the root "طفو" which means "climbing or rising to the surface"} | |||
| Hebrew | לָצוּף | ||
| "לָצוּף" is a biblical Hebrew word with two meanings, the other one being "to be covered with scales" | |||
| Pashto | فلوټ | ||
| The Pashto word "فلوټ" (float) is borrowed from English and also means "to be at leisure". | |||
| Arabic | تطفو | ||
| The word "تطفو" comes from the root "طفو" which means "climbing or rising to the surface"} | |||
Float in Western European Languages
| Albanian | noton | ||
| The word "noton" has the alternate meaning of "float" and is related to the Greek word "noteia" (floating). | |||
| Basque | karroza | ||
| 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). | |||
| Catalan | flotar | ||
| In Catalan, "flotar" can also mean "to hesitate" or "to be uncertain". | |||
| Croatian | plutati | ||
| In Serbian and Croatian, the word "ploviti" (similar to "plutati") can also mean "to sail". | |||
| Danish | flyde | ||
| The word "flyde" can also mean "to flow". | |||
| Dutch | vlotter | ||
| "Vlotter" can also refer to a small raft or the part of a toilet that controls the water level. | |||
| English | float | ||
| "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." | |||
| French | flotte | ||
| "Flotte" can also mean "fleet" or "wave" in French. | |||
| Frisian | driuwe | ||
| Driuwe is the past tense of the verb drift, also related to the German word treiben. | |||
| Galician | flotar | ||
| The Galician word "flotar" comes from the Latin word "fluctuare" and can also mean "to fluctuate" or "to waver". | |||
| German | schweben | ||
| "Schweben" is derived from the Middle High German "sweben," meaning "to roam" or "to be in limbo." | |||
| Icelandic | fljóta | ||
| In addition to meaning "to float," the word "fljóta" can be used metaphorically in Icelandic to describe something that is going quickly or smoothly. | |||
| Irish | snámhphointe | ||
| "Snámh" in "snámhphointe" means "swim" which is related to another meaning of "float" of staying afloat in water. | |||
| Italian | galleggiante | ||
| "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. | |||
| Luxembourgish | schwammen | ||
| The word 'Schwammen' is derived from the Middle High German word 'swammen' which meant 'to swim' or 'to float'. | |||
| Maltese | galleġġjant | ||
| It ultimately derives from Italian "galleggiante" via Catalan "gallejar" (to be afloat). | |||
| Norwegian | flyte | ||
| "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 Gaelic | fleòdradh | ||
| The term "fleòdradh" in Scots Gaelic may also refer to a float valve used in plumbing. | |||
| Spanish | flotador | ||
| The Spanish word "flotador" comes from the Latin "fluctuator," meaning "one that fluctuates" or "floats." | |||
| Swedish | flyta | ||
| 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". | |||
| Welsh | arnofio | ||
| The word 'arnofio' is closely related to the Welsh word 'arnof', meaning 'vessel' or 'container'. | |||
Float in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | паплавок | ||
| The word "паплавок" can also refer to a type of dumpling in Belarusian cuisine. | |||
| Bosnian | plutati | ||
| The word "plutati" can also refer to the act of floating in water or the state of being afloat. | |||
| Bulgarian | плувка | ||
| "Плувка" means both "float" and "bladder."} | |||
| Czech | plovák | ||
| In the context of electrical engineering, "plovák" also refers to a type of rheostat or potentiometer slide contact that moves along a resistance wire. | |||
| Estonian | ujuk | ||
| The word "ujuk" is also used in Estonian to refer to a ferry or raft. | |||
| Finnish | kellua | ||
| "Kellua" is the Finnish word for "float", derived from the Proto-Finno-Ugric word *kel(l)e-, meaning "to swim". | |||
| Hungarian | úszó | ||
| Hungarian "úszó" can also mean animal "otter". | |||
| Latvian | peldēt | ||
| The word "peldēt" is also used to describe the process of shedding or shedding hair. | |||
| Lithuanian | plūdė | ||
| The word "plūdė" also has the alternate meaning of "to bob" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | плови | ||
| The word "плови" can also be used to describe something that is not attached or fixed in place. | |||
| Polish | pływak | ||
| "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". | |||
| Romanian | pluti | ||
| The word "pluti" in Romanian derives from the Latin word "pluere", meaning "to rain". | |||
| Russian | плавать | ||
| Плавать comes from прати; it can mean: swim, sail, navigate, hover, waft, glide, soar and more. | |||
| Serbian | пловак | ||
| In Serbian, "пловак" also means "swimmer" and "plug". | |||
| Slovak | plavák | ||
| The word "plavák" can also refer to a type of fishing lure or a part of a watercraft. | |||
| Slovenian | float | ||
| In Slovenian, "float" can refer to a fishing bobber or a type of glass candy, known as "cukrčki". | |||
| Ukrainian | плавати | ||
| "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
| Bengali | ভাসা | ||
| The word "ভাসা" can also mean "to drift" or "to be suspended in a fluid". | |||
| Gujarati | ફ્લોટ | ||
| In Gujarati, 'float' is also a synonym for 'floatation' or 'flotation therapy'. | |||
| Hindi | नाव | ||
| The word 'नाव' (float) in Hindi derives from the Sanskrit word 'नावः' (boat), implying its primary function as a means of transportation on water. | |||
| Kannada | ಫ್ಲೋಟ್ | ||
| The word "float" in Kannada can also mean "a small boat for fishing or recreation" or "a raft made of logs or bamboo. | |||
| Malayalam | ഫ്ലോട്ട് | ||
| In Malayalam, "ഫ്ലോട്ട്" (float) also refers to a type of fishing net used in shallow waters. | |||
| Marathi | तरंगणे | ||
| "तरंगणे" means "to float" but also means "to be on the edge". When used with "धनावर" ("money"), it means to be in financial crisis. | |||
| Nepali | फ्लोट | ||
| The word "float" can also refer to a device used for controlling the level of a liquid in a tank or reservoir. | |||
| Punjabi | ਫਲੋਟ | ||
| 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 | ||
| Tamil | மிதவை | ||
| Its alternate meaning is "to roam". | |||
| Telugu | ఫ్లోట్ | ||
| The word "ఫ్లోట్" (float) can also refer to a type of fishing lure or a decorative item that floats on water. | |||
| Urdu | تیرنا | ||
| 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. | |||
| Korean | 흙손 | ||
| 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). | |||
| Mongolian | хөвөх | ||
| 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
| Indonesian | mengapung | ||
| The Indonesian word "mengapung" can also refer to the act of floating in the air or hovering. | |||
| Javanese | ngambang | ||
| The word "ngambang" also means "to think or speculate" in certain contexts. | |||
| Khmer | អណ្តែត | ||
| The word "អណ្តែត" in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्लवन" (plavana), which means "floating". | |||
| Lao | ທີ່ເລື່ອນໄດ້ | ||
| Malay | terapung | ||
| In Indonesian, 'terapung' can also refer to a temporary or unstable state, such as a ship bobbing on the water. | |||
| Thai | ลอย | ||
| ลอย may also mean 'to rise', 'to be outstanding', or 'to be exempt from liability'. | |||
| Vietnamese | phao 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
| Azerbaijani | sal | ||
| In Azerbaijani, "sal" can also refer to a raft or watercraft | |||
| Kazakh | жүзу | ||
| "Жүзу" in Kazakh can also refer to swimming or the surface of a liquid. | |||
| Kyrgyz | калкуу | ||
| "Калькуу" also refers to "raft" and "rafting" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | шино кардан | ||
| The word "шино кардан" can also refer to a type of water wheel used to irrigate fields. | |||
| Turkmen | ýüzmek | ||
| Uzbek | suzmoq | ||
| Suzmoq may also refer to a type of bread in Uzbek cuisine. | |||
| Uyghur | float | ||
Float in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | lana | ||
| 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. | |||
| Maori | mānu | ||
| The Maori word "mānu" also refers to a type of wooden canoe for transporting goods or people across water. | |||
| Samoan | opeopea | ||
| 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
| Aymara | qaquña | ||
| Guarani | ombovevúiva | ||
Float in International Languages
| Esperanto | flosi | ||
| Esperanto's "flosi" comes from French "flotter" and originally meant "to be buoyed up" before later taking on its current meaning of "to float." | |||
| Latin | supernatet | ||
| In Latin, 'supernatet' can also refer to being above or superior to something. | |||
Float in Others Languages
| Greek | φλοτέρ | ||
| 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"). | |||
| Hmong | ntab | ||
| "Ntab" can also mean "to rest" in Hmong. | |||
| Kurdish | avbazîn | ||
| Avbazîn in Kurdish comes from the Persian word âb-bâzîn, meaning "playing with water". | |||
| Turkish | yüzer | ||
| "Yüzer" also means "swimmer" or "one who swims" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | ukudada | ||
| The Xhosa word "ukudada" comes from the Proto-Bantu verb "-dada", meaning "to float" or "to swim on the surface." | |||
| Yiddish | לאָזנ שווימען | ||
| The Yiddish word "לאָזנ שווימען" ("loatn shvimn") also means "to eavesdrop" or "to listen attentively". | |||
| Zulu | ukuntanta | ||
| In Zulu, 'ukuntanta' can also refer to the process of floating a loan or other financial instrument. | |||
| Assamese | উপঙি থকা | ||
| Aymara | qaquña | ||
| Bhojpuri | डोंगा | ||
| Dhivehi | ބީއްސުން | ||
| Dogri | तरना | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lumutang | ||
| Guarani | ombovevúiva | ||
| Ilocano | lumtaw | ||
| Krio | pantap | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سەرئاو کەوتن | ||
| Maithili | तैरनाइ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯥꯎꯕ | ||
| Mizo | lang | ||
| Oromo | bololi'uu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଭାସମାନ | | ||
| Quechua | tuytuy | ||
| Sanskrit | तारण | ||
| Tatar | йөзү | ||
| Tigrinya | ምንስፋፍ | ||
| Tsonga | phaphamala | ||