Galaxy in different languages

Galaxy in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Galaxy, a mesmerizing term that conjures up images of twinkling stars, swirling colors, and the vast expanse of the universe. This single word carries a profound significance, encapsulating the awe-inspiring nature of our cosmic home. The galaxy we inhabit, the Milky Way, is just one of the estimated two trillion galaxies in the observable universe!

The cultural importance of the galaxy is deeply rooted in our collective human fascination with the night sky. From ancient civilizations that worshipped celestial bodies to modern scientists unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, galaxies have held a special place in our hearts and minds. Take, for instance, the Aboriginal Australians, who have been studying and mapping the night sky for over 40,000 years, or the ancient Greeks, who named our very own Milky Way 'galaxias kyklos,' meaning 'milky circle.'

Understanding the translation of 'galaxy' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic horizons but also offers a glimpse into the diverse ways in which cultures perceive and interact with the cosmos. Here are a few fascinating translations to pique your curiosity:

  • Spanish: galaxia
  • French: galaxie
  • German: Galaxie
  • Mandarin: 星系 (xīngxì)
  • Japanese: 銀河 (ginga)
  • Korean: 은하 (eunha)

Galaxy

Galaxy in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanssterrestelsel
The Afrikaans word "sterrestelsel" literally means "star system" and is related to the Dutch word "sterrenstelsel".
Amharicጋላክሲ
The term "ጋላክሲ" in Amharic is derived from the Greek word "γᾰλᾰξίας" (galaxias), which refers to a milky band of light in the night sky that we now know to be the Milky Way galaxy.
Hausagalaxy
The Hausa word "burtaniya" is sometimes used to refer to "the United Kingdom."
Igboụyọkọ kpakpando
Malagasyvahindanitra
The Malagasy word "vahindanitra" literally means "a thousand stars".
Nyanja (Chichewa)mlalang'amba
The word `mlalang'amba` also refers to a large open plain without any houses.
Shonarenyeredzi
"Renyeredzi" in Shona is derived from the word "nyeredzi" meaning "star" and commonly refers to the Milky Way galaxy.
Somaligalaxy
The word 'galaxy' in the Somali language is 'Jidhka Dhalaal', which translates to 'body of light'.
Sesothosehlopha sa linaleli
The word "sehlopha sa linaleli" is derived from the root word "sehlopha" which means "cluster" and "linaleli" which means "stars", hence "cluster of stars."
Swahiligalaxy
In Swahili, 'galaxy' can also refer to a large group of people or things.
Xhosaumnyele
In Xhosa culture, 'Umnyele' also refers to the Milky Way, a path traversed by ancestral spirits.
Yorubaajọọrawọ
The Yoruba word "ajọọrawọ" also means "group of stars" or "starry sky"
Zuluumthala
The Zulu word 'Umthala' originally meant 'the Milky Way' and is also used figuratively to describe large gatherings or numbers.
Bambaragalaxie (fila-fila).
Eweɣletivihatsotso
Kinyarwandagalaxy
Lingalagalaksi ya monene
Lugandaekibinja ky’emmunyeenye
Sepedimolalatladi wa dinaledi
Twi (Akan)nsoromma kuw

Galaxy in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالمجرة
المجرة: مجمع الماء، أو نهر عظيم
Hebrewגָלַקסִיָה
השם 'גָלַקסִיָה' נגזר מהמילה היוונית 'גאלקטיאס' שמשמעותה 'חלבי', בשל מראה היקום שדומה לנהר חלב.
Pashtoکهکشان
The word "کهکشان" is derived from the Arabic word "كوكبة" (kawkabah), which means "constellation".
Arabicالمجرة
المجرة: مجمع الماء، أو نهر عظيم

Galaxy in Western European Languages

Albaniangalaktikë
Galaktikë derives from the ancient Greek word
Basquegalaxia
Galaxy in Basque is “Esne Bidea” (Milky Way in English), but it also means “Milky Sea”.
Catalangalàxia
In Greek, "galàxia" means "milky", referring to the Milky Way galaxy.
Croatiangalaksija
The word "galaksija" is derived from the Greek "galaxias", meaning "milky" or "milky way".
Danishgalakse
Galakse is derived from the Greek word kuklos, meaning "wheel" or "circle"
Dutchheelal
In Dutch, "heelal" also refers to the "universe" or "cosmos".
Englishgalaxy
The word galaxy is derived from the Greek word 'galaktos', meaning 'milky'
Frenchgalaxie
'Galaxie' can also mean 'milky way' in French, referring to the Milky Way galaxy visible from Earth.
Frisianstjerrestelsel
In astronomy, the term "stjerrestelsel" refers to both a galaxy or a galaxy cluster.
Galiciangalaxia
In Galician, galaxia also means "milky way" and "spiral galaxy".
Germangalaxis
The word 'Galaxis' is the German form of the Greek term 'galaxias', which originally referred to a milky liquid and the Milky Way.
Icelandicvetrarbraut
"Vetrarbraut" is an Old Norse term meaning "bride of winter," referring to the Milky Way's appearance in the winter sky.
Irishréaltra
The Irish word 'réaltra' evolved from 'realt' (star), also deriving from Latin 'stella' (star).
Italiangalassia
The word "galassia" derives from the Greek "galaxias kyklos", meaning "milky circle", referring to the Milky Way.
Luxembourgishgalaxis
In Luxembourgish, "Galaxis" can also refer to a "milky way" or a "galaxy of stars.
Maltesegalaxie
Maltese 'galaxie' comes from the Greek word 'galaxias', meaning 'milky'.
Norwegiangalakse
In Norwegian, "galakse" can also refer to a whirlpool or an organized system or group
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)galáxia
A palavra "galáxia" deriva do grego "galaxías", que significa "leitoso" ou "branco como leite".
Scots Gaelicgalaxy
The Gaelic word “clach-shluaigh” (galaxy) can also mean “stone crowd” or “heap of stones,” likely referring to the Milky Way’s dusty appearance.
Spanishgalaxia
In Spanish, "galaxia" can also refer to a type of rock or a kind of marble.
Swedishgalax
"Galax" is the Swedish word for "galaxy".
Welshgalaeth
Galaeth derives from 'caled' ('hard'), and '-aeth' (a suffix indicating an assembly or collection), so galaxy literally means a 'collection of hardness'.

Galaxy in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianгалактыка
Bosniangalaksija
The word galaksija originates from Greek γαλαξίας /galaxías/, meaning „milky“, from γάλα /γάla/, meaning „milk“.
Bulgarianгалактика
“Галактика” идва от старогръцката дума γαλαξίας (galaktos), което означава „млечен път“.
Czechgalaxie
The word "galaxie" in Czech also means "Milky Way" and "universe".
Estoniangalaktika
"Galaktika" is related to the word "galaktoi" (milk) and derives from the Milky Way's appearance as a milky band across the night sky.
Finnishgalaksi
The Finnish word "galaksi" is also used to refer to the Milky Way, which is the galaxy containing our solar system.
Hungariangalaxis
In Hungarian, "galaxis" can also refer to the Milky Way galaxy, specifically, or the galactic system as a whole, more generally.
Latviangalaktika
The word “galaktika” ultimately comes from the Ancient Greek word “galaxías” meaning “milky”.
Lithuaniangalaktika
The Lithuanian word "galaktika" (galaxy) derives from the Greek "galaxias κύκλος" and means "milky circle" or "milky way".
Macedonianгалаксија
Polishgalaktyka
"Galaktyka" also refers to milkiness or cloudy liquid in Polish, likely due to the visual similarity of a galaxy to spilled milk.
Romaniangalaxie
The word "galaxie" in Romanian comes from the Greek "galaxias", meaning "milky", and refers to the Milky Way galaxy.}
Russianгалактика
In addition to meaning "galaxy", "галактика" also means the Milky Way galaxy and, in some dialects, the universe.
Serbianгалаксија
The word 'галаксија' (galaxy) is derived from the Greek word 'galaxias', which means 'milky way'.
Slovakgalaxia
V slovenčine je galaxia (po grécky 'mliečna cesta') nazývaná tiež mliečna dráha.
Sloveniangalaksija
The word "galaksija" in Slovenian derives from the Greek word "galaxias", meaning "milky", referring to the Milky Way galaxy.
Ukrainianгалактика
The word "галактика" comes from the Greek "galaxias", which means "milky".

Galaxy in South Asian Languages

Bengaliছায়াপথ
"ছায়াপথ" (Galaxy) literally means 'path of shadows' in Bengali, referring to its appearance as a faint, nebulous band of light in the night sky.
Gujaratiગેલેક્સી
The Gujarati word "ગેલેક્સી" can also refer to a large group of people with a common interest or purpose.
Hindiआकाशगंगा
The word "आकाशगंगा" is derived from the Sanskrit words "आकाश" (sky) and "गंगा" (river), and can also mean "celestial river" or "Milky Way".
Kannadaನಕ್ಷತ್ರಪುಂಜ
Malayalamഗാലക്സി
The Malayalam word for 'galaxy' ('ഗാലക്സി'), may also refer to a galaxy shaped hairstyle or a kind of garland made from flowers.
Marathiआकाशगंगा
The Sanskrit word आकाशगंगा, meaning 'Milky Way' or 'Galaxy', is also used in Marathi to denote 'Sky'
Nepaliग्यालक्सी
Galaxy comes from the Greek word "galaxias," which means "milky," referring to the Milky Way galaxy.
Punjabiਗਲੈਕਸੀ
The word "ਗਲੈਕਸੀ" (galaxy) originally referred to the Milky Way as seen from Earth and is derived from the Greek word "gala" meaning "milk".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)මන්දාකිණිය
The term is also used in Sinhala poetry to denote 'heavenly river'.
Tamilவிண்மீன்
While the term "விண்மீன்" literally means "star" in Tamil, it also carries the connotation of "a multitude of stars" and hence refers to a "galaxy".
Teluguగెలాక్సీ
The word "గెలాక్సీ" (galaxy) is derived from the Greek word "galaxias", which means "milky way".
Urduکہکشاں
The word "کہکشاں" (kahkashan) in Urdu derives from the Persian words "kah" (straw) and "kash" (drawing), referring to the Milky Way's resemblance to a straw spread across the sky.

Galaxy in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)星系
星系一词源自古希腊语，意为“乳状的圆盘”，因其在夜空中呈现的模糊光晕形状而得名。
Chinese (Traditional)星系
The Chinese character for galaxy, "星系", is also used to refer to a constellation.
Japanese銀河
"銀河" (ginga) is also used to refer to the Milky Way, the galaxy that contains our solar system.
Korean은하
"은하" originally referred to the Milky Way, but now encompasses all large, gravitationally bound systems of stars, gas, and dust in the universe.
Mongolianгалактик
The Mongolian word “галактик” also means "galactic", in the sense of relating to our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Myanmar (Burmese)နဂါးငွေ့တန်း

Galaxy in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiangalaksi
Galaksi berasal dari bahasa Yunani 'gala' (susu) dan 'kyklos' (lingkaran), merujuk pada pita cahaya putih bercahaya yang terlihat di langit.
Javanesegalaksi
The Javanese word "galaksi" can also mean "group of celestial bodies" or "a large collection of stars and planets".
Khmerកាឡាក់ស៊ី
The word "កាឡាក់ស៊ី" (galaxy) in Khmer can also refer to a group of stars, planets, and nebulae that form a celestial system.
Laoກາລັກຊີ
The word ກາລັກຊີ is derived from the Sanskrit word "kakṣa," meaning "wheel" or "circle."
Malaygalaksi
The word 'galaksi' in Malay also shares the same root as the Malay word 'galak', meaning 'fierce' or 'aggressive'.
Thaiกาแล็กซี่
The Thai word "กาแล็กซี่" (galaxy) is derived from the Greek word "γᾰλαξίας" (galaxias), meaning "milky circle", referring to the Milky Way galaxy.
Vietnamesengân hà
The word "ngân hà" literally means "the Milky Way" in Vietnamese, but is also often used figuratively to refer to the entire universe.
Filipino (Tagalog)galaxy

Galaxy in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqalaktika
The Azerbaijani word "qalaktika" originates from the Greek "galaxias" (γαλαξίας) and the Latin "galactica" and refers to the Milky Way, the name of our home galaxy.
Kazakhгалактика
In Turkic languages, the root word
Kyrgyzгалактика
The Kyrgyz word “галактика” comes from the Russian language, which in turn originated from the Greek “galaxias”, referring to the Milky Way.
Tajikгалактика
В таджикском языке
Turkmengalaktika
Uzbekgalaktika
The word "galaktika" comes from the Greek word "galaxias" which means "milky circle".
Uyghurgalaxy

Galaxy in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiangalaxy
In Hawaiian, 'galaxy' translates to 'hōkū `ī, which also means 'starry heavens' or 'milky way'.
Maorigalaxy
The word "whetū" can be used to refer to both "stars" and "galaxies"
Samoananiva
In Samoan, "aniva" is also used with the additional meanings, "space", and "sky".
Tagalog (Filipino)kalawakan
The word "kalawakan" in Tagalog (Filipino) originally meant "empty space" or "vast emptiness".

Galaxy in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaragalaxia satawa
Guaranigalaxia rehegua

Galaxy in International Languages

Esperantogalaksio
The root of the Esperanto word "galaksio" is the Greek word "galaxias", which means "milky".
Latingalaxy
The word “galaxy” originates from the Greek word “γᾰλαξίας” (galaxίας), meaning “milky”, referring to the Milky Way

Galaxy in Others Languages

Greekγαλαξίας
The Greek word "γαλαξίας" (galaxy) derives from "γάλα" (milk), referring to the Milky Way's perceived milky appearance.
Hmonggalaxy
The Milky Way is called "hàv txiv nplej" in Hmong, which literally means "field of star rice".
Kurdishgalaksî
The word 'galaksî' originally meant 'milky way' in Kurdish, similar to its Greek origin 'galaxias'.
Turkishgökada
The word "gökada" is a compound of "gök" (sky) and "ada" (island), referring to a cluster of stars in the night sky that looks like an island from afar.
Xhosaumnyele
In Xhosa culture, 'Umnyele' also refers to the Milky Way, a path traversed by ancestral spirits.
Yiddishגאַלאַקסי
In Yiddish, "גאַלאַקסי" can also refer to a "great tumult" or "commotion".
Zuluumthala
The Zulu word 'Umthala' originally meant 'the Milky Way' and is also used figuratively to describe large gatherings or numbers.
Assameseতাৰকাৰাজ্য
Aymaragalaxia satawa
Bhojpuriआकाशगंगा के बा
Dhivehiގެލެކްސީ އެވެ
Dogriआकाशगंगा
Filipino (Tagalog)galaxy
Guaranigalaxia rehegua
Ilocanogalaksi
Kriogalaksi we dɛn kɔl galaksi
Kurdish (Sorani)گەلەئەستێرە
Maithiliआकाशगंगा
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯒꯦꯂꯦꯛꯁꯤ ꯂꯩ꯫
Mizogalaxy a ni
Oromogalaaksii jedhamuun beekama
Odia (Oriya)ଗାଲାକ୍ସି
Quechuagalaxia nisqa
Sanskritआकाशगङ्गा
Tatarгалактика
Tigrinyaጋላክሲ
Tsongaxirimela

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter

Weekly TipWeekly Tip

Deepen your understanding of global issues by looking at keywords in multiple languages.

Immerse Yourself in the World of Languages

Type in any word and see it translated into 104 languages. Where possible, you'll also get to hear its pronunciation in languages your browser supports. Our goal? To make exploring languages straightforward and enjoyable.

How to use our multi-language translation tool

How to use our multi-language translation tool

Turn words into a kaleidoscope of languages in a few simple steps

  1. Start with a word

    Just type the word you're curious about into our search box.

  2. Auto-complete to the rescue

    Let our auto-complete nudge you in the right direction to quickly find your word.

  3. See and hear translations

    With a click, see translations in 104 languages and hear pronunciations where your browser supports audio.

  4. Grab the translations

    Need the translations for later? Download all the translations in a neat JSON file for your project or study.

Explore More Apps You'll Love

Access our Free Word Finder to effortlessly navigate through tricky letter arrangements, turning them into winning words with ease.

This adjective database is the perfect partner for bloggers, scriptwriters, and authors in pursuit of enriching their vocabulary.

Discover the joy of speaking confidently in any language with a comprehensive pronunciation learning platform.

Features section image

Features overview

  • Instant translations with audio where available

    Type in your word and get translations in a flash. Where available, click to hear how it's pronounced in different languages, right from your browser.

  • Quick find with auto-complete

    Our smart auto-complete helps you quickly find your word, making your journey to translation smooth and hassle-free.

  • Translations in 104 Languages, no selection needed

    We've got you covered with automatic translations and audio in supported languages for every word, no need to pick and choose.

  • Downloadable translations in JSON

    Looking to work offline or integrate translations into your project? Download them in a handy JSON format.

  • All free, All for you

    Jump into the language pool without worrying about costs. Our platform is open to all language lovers and curious minds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you provide translations and audio?

It's simple! Type in a word, and instantly see its translations. If your browser supports it, you'll also see a play button to hear pronunciations in various languages.

Can I download these translations?

Absolutely! You can download a JSON file with all the translations for any word, perfect for when you're offline or working on a project.

What if I can't find my word?

We're constantly growing our list of 3000 words. If you don't see yours, it might not be there yet, but we're always adding more!

Is there a fee to use your site?

Not at all! We're passionate about making language learning accessible to everyone, so our site is completely free to use.