Forest in Different Languages
Discover 'Forest' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Forests, vast expanses of towering trees and abundant wildlife, have captivated humans for millennia. They are not only ecological powerhouses, providing oxygen and habitats for countless species, but also cultural cornerstones, inspiring countless myths, legends, and art forms. From the dense jungles of Amazonia to the mystical Black Forest of Germany, forests evoke a sense of awe and wonder that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Delving into the translations of the word 'forest' in different languages offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse ways in which cultures perceive and interact with these natural wonders. For instance, in Spanish, a forest is called 'bosque', while in Japanese, it's ' Mori'. In the Maori language of New Zealand, the term is 'ngahere', and in the Navajo language, it's 'ts'ósdii'.
Join us as we embark on a linguistic journey, exploring the translations of 'forest' in various languages and uncovering the unique cultural significance of these wooded havens.
Forest
Forest in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | bos | ||
| The word "bos" in Afrikaans is derived from the Proto-Indo-European word "*bʰuh₂os", meaning "abode" or "dwelling". It is also used to refer to a wooded area or a group of trees. | |||
| Amharic | ደን | ||
| The Amharic word "ደን" can also refer to a thicket or dense undergrowth. | |||
| Hausa | gandun daji | ||
| In Hausa, 'gandun daji' literally means 'the back of a forest,' highlighting its position as a secluded and remote area. | |||
| Igbo | ohia | ||
| "Ohia" also means "a spirit" in Igbo, reflecting the sacredness of forests in Igbo culture. | |||
| Malagasy | ala | ||
| The word "ala" in Malagasy can also refer to a clearing or a valley. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | nkhalango | ||
| "Nkwalango" can mean a clearing in a forest, a plantation, a garden, or an urban market. | |||
| Shona | sango | ||
| The word 'sango' in Shona also means 'a place where people do evil things'. | |||
| Somali | kaynta | ||
| The Somali word "kaynta" shares roots with the word "kayn," meaning "to have something in abundance." | |||
| Sesotho | moru | ||
| In addition, "moru" can refer to a sacred place or forest, or a place of concealment. | |||
| Swahili | msitu | ||
| The word "msitu" in Swahili also means "a place where many people live or gather, such as a village or town". | |||
| Xhosa | ihlathi | ||
| The Xhosa word "ihlathi" also refers to a sacred forest or a thicket used for initiation ceremonies. | |||
| Yoruba | igbo | ||
| The word "igbo" in Yoruba can also refer to a clan or community inhabiting a forest area. | |||
| Zulu | ihlathi | ||
| The Zulu word "ihlathi" can also mean "a dense thicket". | |||
| Bambara | tu | ||
| Ewe | ave | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ishyamba | ||
| Lingala | zamba | ||
| Luganda | ekibira | ||
| Sepedi | lešoka | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kwaeɛ | ||
Forest in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | غابة | ||
| غابة in Arabic also means a | |||
| Hebrew | יַעַר | ||
| The word "יַעַר" derives from the root ע-ר-ר, meaning "to be bushy", and it referred originally to any bushy thicket, regardless of its size or density. | |||
| Pashto | ځنګل | ||
| In Pashto, "ځنګل" also means "thicket" or "jungle". | |||
| Arabic | غابة | ||
| غابة in Arabic also means a | |||
Forest in Western European Languages
| Albanian | pyll | ||
| Pyll derives from the Proto-Albanian form *pūl, which is also the root of the word "pullë" (leaf). | |||
| Basque | basoa | ||
| The word "basoa" comes from the proto-Basque word "*baso-a", meaning "place of refuge or protection". | |||
| Catalan | bosc | ||
| The Catalan word "bosc" comes from the Latin word "boscus," meaning "grove" or "woodland." | |||
| Croatian | šuma | ||
| The word "šuma" is also used to refer to a specific type of forest in Croatia known as a "coppice", which is characterized by being managed by periodic felling and regrowth. | |||
| Danish | skov | ||
| The word is related to the German word "Schaf", meaning "sheep", and likely originates from the practice of grazing sheep in forests. | |||
| Dutch | woud | ||
| Dutch word "woud" originally meant "pasture" or "meadow" and only later came to mean "forest." | |||
| English | forest | ||
| Forest comes from the Latin 'foresta,' referring to a royal hunting ground or an uncultivated area outside the town. | |||
| French | forêt | ||
| The word "forêt" derives from the Latin "forestis", meaning "outside" or "wild", and originally referred to uncultivated land. | |||
| Frisian | wâld | ||
| The Frisian word "wâld" is cognates with the English word "wold" and means "uncultivated land". | |||
| Galician | bosque | ||
| The Galician word "bosque" derives from the Celtic root "busk" meaning "woodland" or "pasture". | |||
| German | wald | ||
| German "Wald" shares a root with "violence" due to the wild and dangerous nature of pre-agricultural forests. | |||
| Icelandic | skógur | ||
| Skógur derives from the Old Norse word, 'skog', and also translates as 'woodland', 'bosque', and 'a place abounding with trees'. | |||
| Irish | foraoise | ||
| The word 'foraoise' is derived from the Old Irish word 'foirinn', meaning a hunting or chasing ground. | |||
| Italian | foresta | ||
| The Italian word "foresta" derives from the Latin "forestis", meaning "pertaining to the outside" or "wild". | |||
| Luxembourgish | bësch | ||
| The word "Bësch" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *buskaz, meaning "bush" or "woodland". | |||
| Maltese | foresta | ||
| "Foresta" is a term with origins in Latin, and also refers to "wild animals" or "woods" in Italian, French and Portuguese. | |||
| Norwegian | skog | ||
| The Norwegian word "skog" is thought to be a loan from Old Norse "skógr", which originally referred to a thicket or dense woodland. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | floresta | ||
| Foresta derives from the Latin word 'forestis', meaning 'outside the city'. In Portugal, it also refers to a type of land with uncultivated vegetation. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | coille | ||
| The word "coille" in Scots Gaelic has been traced back to the Old Irish word "coil", meaning "woodland" or "grove". | |||
| Spanish | bosque | ||
| Bosque comes from "busch" in Old High German, meaning "thicket" or "group of trees". | |||
| Swedish | skog | ||
| Old Norse "skógr" was originally used for "prominent height" and later "dense undergrowth". | |||
| Welsh | goedwig | ||
| The Welsh word "goedwig" derives from the Proto-Celtic "*widwos" meaning "wood" or "forest", also the root of the English word "wood". | |||
Forest in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | лес | ||
| "Лес" (les) also means "wood" or "beam" in Belarusian. | |||
| Bosnian | šuma | ||
| The word "šuma" originally meant "a place where the sound of wind in the trees can be heard". | |||
| Bulgarian | гора | ||
| Other meanings of "гора" include wilderness, mountain, or wasteland. | |||
| Czech | les | ||
| "Les" can also mean "fraud" or "trickery" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | mets | ||
| The word "mets" is also used to refer to woodland, a place with mainly trees and few houses or other buildings. | |||
| Finnish | metsä | ||
| Metsä is a Finnish word also meaning 'the realm of the dead' and 'otherworldly' | |||
| Hungarian | erdő | ||
| The word "erdő" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₁erdʰ-" meaning "wilderness" or "clearing", reflecting its dual meaning as both a natural wilderness and a managed woodland in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | mežs | ||
| "Mežs" in Latvian, meaning "forest," derives from the Proto-Baltic root (*medʰ-) signifying "tree." | |||
| Lithuanian | miškas | ||
| "Miškas" is also used in Lithuanian mythology to refer to a sacred forest or grove. | |||
| Macedonian | шума | ||
| The Macedonian word "шума" comes from the Indo-European root "segh-," which also gave rise to the words "silence" and "secrecy" in English. | |||
| Polish | las | ||
| Las is used as a surname in Poland, derived from the Old Polish word "las" meaning "forest". | |||
| Romanian | pădure | ||
| The Romanian word "pădure" originates from the Latin "saltus" (meaning "woodland") via Slavic languages. | |||
| Russian | лес | ||
| The word "лес" in Russian has multiple meanings, including "forest" and "clearing"} | |||
| Serbian | шума | ||
| The word "шума" is cognate with "шум" (noise), "шумати" (to rustle, to make noise), "шумети" (to roar) and "шум" (foam). | |||
| Slovak | les | ||
| Les is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *lęsъ, which could also refer to a glade or pasture. | |||
| Slovenian | gozd | ||
| It is related to "wood" in Germanic languages, and has roots in proto-Germanic and proto-Indo-European. | |||
| Ukrainian | ліс | ||
| The word "ліс" in Ukrainian also means "fox" and comes from the Proto-Slavic word "lisъ", meaning "beast". | |||
Forest in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বন। জংগল | ||
| The word "বন। জংগল" also means "forest" in Hindi and Marathi. | |||
| Gujarati | વન | ||
| The Gujarati word 'વન' (pronounced 'van') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vana', which means 'forest' or 'wilderness', and also has the alternate meaning of 'garden' or 'grove' in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | वन | ||
| The word 'वन' in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vana', meaning 'collection of trees'. | |||
| Kannada | ಅರಣ್ಯ | ||
| 'ಅರಣ್ಯ' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'অরণ्य' ('araṇya'), meaning 'wilderness' or 'uninhabited place' | |||
| Malayalam | വനം | ||
| The word 'വനം' in Malayalam, though primarily meaning 'forest', is also used in some contexts to refer to a 'group' or 'collection'. | |||
| Marathi | वन | ||
| The word "वन" means "forest" in Marathi and can also refer to a dense thicket or a garden. | |||
| Nepali | जङ्गल | ||
| The word "जङ्गल" can also mean "a chaotic or unruly place". | |||
| Punjabi | ਜੰਗਲ | ||
| The word "ਜੰਗਲ" (jangal) in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word "jangala," which means "uncultivated land or wilderness." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වන | ||
| Sinhala "වන" (wana) may be cognate with Sanskrit "वन" (vana), both ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European "*weh₁-nó-" (meadow, dwelling). | |||
| Tamil | காடு | ||
| The word 'காடு' is related to the word 'காட்' meaning 'mountain' and can also refer to a barren or uncultivated area. | |||
| Telugu | అడవి | ||
| The word "అడవి" can also refer to a place of refuge or a hiding place. | |||
| Urdu | جنگل | ||
| The word 'جنگل' (jangal) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'jangala', meaning 'uncultivated land'. | |||
Forest in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 森林 | ||
| Originally a term used for wooded mountains but now refers to any area covered in dense trees. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 森林 | ||
| In Traditional Chinese, 森林 (sēn lín) originally referred to dense vegetation that provided shelter, with "sēn" meaning "gather" and "lín" implying "shade". | |||
| Japanese | 森林 | ||
| "森林" (shinrin) is etymologically related to the term "mori," also meaning a forest or grove. | |||
| Korean | 숲 | ||
| "숲" is a Sino-Korean word derived from the Chinese character "숲" (sù), meaning "forest, woods, or grove." | |||
| Mongolian | ой | ||
| The origin of 'ой' can be traced back to a Proto-Mongolic root meaning 'place with a lot of trees'. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သစ်တော | ||
| The word "သစ်တော" (forest) in Myanmar (Burmese) originally meant "a place of trees" and also "a place of spirits". | |||
Forest in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | hutan | ||
| "Hutan" originally meant "mountain" in Old Javanese but later came to denote any uninhabited or uncultivated area. | |||
| Javanese | alas | ||
| In Javanese, the word "alas" not only means "forest," but also refers to the base or foundation of something. | |||
| Khmer | ព្រៃ | ||
| "ព្រៃ" can also mean "uninhabited", "wild", or "virgin" in Khmer. | |||
| Lao | ປ່າໄມ້ | ||
| "ປ່າໄມ້" can also refer to a place where trees are abundant, such as a park or a garden. | |||
| Malay | hutan | ||
| The Malay word "hutan" also means "jungle" or "wilderness". | |||
| Thai | ป่าไม้ | ||
| The word ป่าไม้ can also mean "group of people who go to the forest for a purpose," such as hunting or foraging. | |||
| Vietnamese | rừng | ||
| The word "rừng" in Vietnamese derives from the Mon-Khmer word "lûŋ" meaning "woods". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kagubatan | ||
Forest in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | meşə | ||
| "Meşə" originates from the Persian word "meşan", meaning "dwelling place of wild animals". | |||
| Kazakh | орман | ||
| The word "орман" also refers to a group of people or a gathering of animals in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | токой | ||
| In Kyrgyz folklore, the term "токой" can also refer to "sacred groves" where religious rituals and ceremonies were performed. | |||
| Tajik | ҷангал | ||
| "Ҷангал" ultimately derives from Sanskrit "jangala," meaning "wild" or "uncultivated." | |||
| Turkmen | tokaý | ||
| Uzbek | o'rmon | ||
| "O'rmon" in Uzbek is derived from the Mongolian "ormon" and the Persian "orman," meaning "forest." | |||
| Uyghur | ئورمان | ||
Forest in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ululaau | ||
| It can also refer to a specific type of grove or an area with an abundance of wild plants or flowers | |||
| Maori | ngahere | ||
| The word 'ngahere' in Maori also refers to a place of concealment or refuge. | |||
| Samoan | togavao | ||
| The Samoan word "togavao" not only means forest but also has symbolic connotations of protection and abundance. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | gubat | ||
| The Tagalog word "gubat" also refers to battles fought in the forests during the Philippine Revolution. | |||
Forest in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | quqarara | ||
| Guarani | ka'aguy | ||
Forest in International Languages
| Esperanto | arbaro | ||
| The word "arbaro" also means "treeless moor" in Basque, which may explain its appearance in the Basque-inspired name of the language Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | silva | ||
| From the Proto-Italic *selwā, the source of Latin silva "wood" and "timber," but also of silvanus "belonging to the forest." | |||
Forest in Others Languages
| Greek | δάσος | ||
| The word 'δάσος' also refers to a place of refuge or a sanctuary in Greek, denoting a safe haven or shelter. | |||
| Hmong | hav zoov | ||
| "Hav zoov" is a term used by the Hmong to refer to both a forest and a spirit that inhabits the forest. | |||
| Kurdish | daristan | ||
| The word "daristan" in Kurdish comes from the Persian word "dar" meaning "tree" and the suffix "-istan" meaning "place". It can also refer to a garden or orchard. | |||
| Turkish | orman | ||
| Turkish "orman" derives from Arabic "aram" meaning "protected uncultivated area" referring to hunting grounds of the nobility | |||
| Xhosa | ihlathi | ||
| The Xhosa word "ihlathi" also refers to a sacred forest or a thicket used for initiation ceremonies. | |||
| Yiddish | וואַלד | ||
| The Yiddish word for "forest" ("וואַלד") originated from the German word "wald" and shares its Germanic roots with the English word "weald." | |||
| Zulu | ihlathi | ||
| The Zulu word "ihlathi" can also mean "a dense thicket". | |||
| Assamese | অৰণ্য | ||
| Aymara | quqarara | ||
| Bhojpuri | जंगल | ||
| Dhivehi | ޖަންގަލި | ||
| Dogri | जंगल | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kagubatan | ||
| Guarani | ka'aguy | ||
| Ilocano | kabakiran | ||
| Krio | bush | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دارستان | ||
| Maithili | जंगल | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯎꯃꯪ | ||
| Mizo | ramhnuai | ||
| Oromo | bosona | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଜଙ୍ଗଲ | ||
| Quechua | sacha sacha | ||
| Sanskrit | वनः | ||
| Tatar | урман | ||
| Tigrinya | ጭካ | ||
| Tsonga | nhova | ||