Game in Different Languages
Discover 'Game' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Games have been an integral part of human culture and history, providing entertainment, education, and social interaction since the dawn of time. From ancient board games like Senet in Egypt to modern video games dominating our screens, games have evolved significantly but retained their significance in our lives.
The word 'game' itself has a fascinating history, with roots in Old English 'gamen' meaning 'joy, amusement, or sport'. Its cultural importance is undeniable, as games have been used to teach skills, build communities, and even resolve conflicts.
Understanding the translation of 'game' in different languages can offer unique insights into various cultures and their attitudes towards play. For instance, the German word for game, 'Spiel', also refers to a piece or move in a game, reflecting their love for rules and strategy. Meanwhile, the French word, 'jeu', highlights the joyful aspect of gaming, similar to the English 'joyful game'.
Explore the many translations of 'game' and discover the diverse ways different cultures perceive and engage with this universal concept.
Game
Game in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | spel | ||
| The word “spel” in Afrikaans (meaning “game”) possibly derives from the Middle Dutch word “spel” (meaning “play, dance, game”). | |||
| Amharic | ጨዋታ | ||
| The word 'ጨዋታ' also means 'play', 'sport', 'recreation', 'amusement', 'entertainment', 'fun', 'leisure', 'pastime', and 'hobby'. | |||
| Hausa | wasa | ||
| Hausa "wasa" derives via Arabic from the Semitic root *lḥq*, which denotes play or sport. | |||
| Igbo | egwuregwu | ||
| In Igbo, the word "egwuregwu" can also mean "play" or "fun". | |||
| Malagasy | tapaka ny | ||
| In Malagasy, the word "tapakany" can also refer to a traditional form of storytelling involving riddles and puzzles. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | masewera | ||
| 'Masewera' can also refer to a joke, teasing or a prank in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | mutambo | ||
| It can also mean "sport" or "recreation". | |||
| Somali | ciyaar | ||
| The Somali word "ciyaar" also means "play" or "recreation". | |||
| Sesotho | papali | ||
| Although the word "papali" in Sesotho primarily refers to a game, it can also be used to describe a dance or celebration. | |||
| Swahili | mchezo | ||
| In Swahili, "mchezo" also means "play, fun, or amusement". | |||
| Xhosa | umdlalo | ||
| The word 'umdlalo' can also refer to various forms of entertainment, such as storytelling, singing, and dancing. | |||
| Yoruba | ere | ||
| The Yoruba word "ere" is also an interjection that expresses disbelief, surprise, or annoyance. | |||
| Zulu | umdlalo | ||
| In Zulu, "umdlalo" can also refer to a joke or a playful jest. | |||
| Bambara | tulon | ||
| Ewe | hoʋiʋli | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umukino | ||
| Lingala | lisano | ||
| Luganda | omuzannyo | ||
| Sepedi | papadi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | agodie | ||
Game in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | لعبه | ||
| لعبه also refers to a playful or teasing remark or action, or to a trick or prank, and can even mean a joke or a plaything. | |||
| Hebrew | מִשְׂחָק | ||
| While "משְׂחָק" primarily means "play" or "game," it can also mean "riddle" or "paradox." | |||
| Pashto | لوبه | ||
| The word's origin is unknown, but it has alternate meanings in Pashto, such as 'play', 'fun', or 'amusement'. | |||
| Arabic | لعبه | ||
| لعبه also refers to a playful or teasing remark or action, or to a trick or prank, and can even mean a joke or a plaything. | |||
Game in Western European Languages
| Albanian | lojë | ||
| The word "lojë" is derived from the Latin "ludus", meaning "play" or "sport". | |||
| Basque | jokoa | ||
| The Basque word “jokoa” is derived from the Latin word “iocus,” meaning "joke" or "play." | |||
| Catalan | joc | ||
| The word "joc" in Catalan comes from the Latin word "iocus", meaning "jest" or "joke." | |||
| Croatian | igra | ||
| The word 'igra' in Croatian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'igra', which meant 'play' or 'dance'. | |||
| Danish | spil | ||
| The Danish word "spil" can also refer to a group of cards, a deck of cards, or a specific card game. | |||
| Dutch | spel | ||
| The Dutch word "spel" can also refer to a "play" in the context of theatre or music. | |||
| English | game | ||
| The word "game" derives from the Old English "gamen," meaning "joy, pleasure, amusement, play, or contest." | |||
| French | jeu | ||
| The word "Jeu" in French can also refer to a set of specific cards in a card game, or to the stakes in a game. | |||
| Frisian | wedstriid | ||
| The word 'wedstriid' in Frisian is derived from the Old Frisian word 'wedda' meaning 'bet' and 'strid' meaning 'fight'. It originally referred to a contest or competition involving a wager. | |||
| Galician | xogo | ||
| In Galician, "xogo" can refer to a specific type of folk dance as well as to a game. | |||
| German | spiel | ||
| The word 'Spiel' in German can also refer to a performance, a piece of music, or a speech. | |||
| Icelandic | leikur | ||
| Leikur also means "toy" in Icelandic, just like the word "spiel" in German can mean either. | |||
| Irish | cluiche | ||
| In medieval Irish, the word cluiche ('game') could also refer to a child's toy or a magic potion | |||
| Italian | gioco | ||
| The word 'gioco' comes from the Latin 'iocus', meaning 'jest' or 'joke'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | spill | ||
| Spill means 'game' or 'play' in Luxembourgish, but also refers to the game of billiards or a particular round in the game. | |||
| Maltese | logħba | ||
| The word logħba also means | |||
| Norwegian | spill | ||
| The Norwegian word "spill" is thought to derive from the Dutch "spel" but resembles the German "spiel" which denotes "play". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | jogos | ||
| The Portuguese word "jogos" is often used to refer to a specific type of game called a "jogo", derived from the verb "jogar" (to play). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | geama | ||
| The Gaelic "geama" is also used to refer to a match, pastime or competition | |||
| Spanish | juego | ||
| In Spanish, "juego" also means "play", as in "play a musical instrument" or "play a trick on someone". | |||
| Swedish | spel | ||
| "Spel" is both the Swedish word for "play", and the Swedish word for "spoil". | |||
| Welsh | gêm | ||
| Welsh "gêm" (game) stems from "gafael" (grasp), hinting at the interaction and physicality of early games. | |||
Game in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | гульня | ||
| **Noun:** 1. (game) a contest played according to rules; 2. (play) playful action or behavior; 3. (`гульні`) (sports) competition or contest; 4. (gambling) a contest for money or property; 5. (gambling) the stake in a gambling game; 6. (bet) a sum of money wagered; 7. (play) the activity of playing; 8. (play) a dramatic work, such as a play or movie; 9. (play) the acting in a dramatic work; 10. (play) a piece of music; 11. (play) a toy or other object used for playing; 12. (play) a trick or prank; 13. (play) a scheme or plan; 14. (play) a habit or tendency; 15. (play) a figure or pattern; 16. (play) a role or function; 17. (play) a sport or game; 18. (play) a pastime or hobby; 19. (play) a job or task; 20. (play) a part or portion; 21. (play) a place or area; 22. (play) a time or period; 23. (play) a person or group; 24. (play) a thing or object. | |||
| Bosnian | igra | ||
| The word "igra" also means "play" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | игра | ||
| Bulgarian "игра" comes from Old Church Slavonic (игъра) meaning, among other things, "dance," hence its occasional synonymity with "dance" in Bulgarian contexts. | |||
| Czech | hra | ||
| The word "hra" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*gra" meaning "play" or "fun". | |||
| Estonian | mäng | ||
| The word "mäng" is related to the Livonian word "meg" (to measure). | |||
| Finnish | peli | ||
| "Peli" is of Proto-Finnic origin, cognate with Estonian "mäng", Livonian "mäng", and Karelian "pei" meaning "play". | |||
| Hungarian | játszma, meccs | ||
| The Hungarian word "játszma, meccs" originates from the Slavic languages, where it meant combat and duel. | |||
| Latvian | spēle | ||
| Spēle "spēlēt" in Latvian derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*spē- "meaning "to thrive, succeed, be fortunate". | |||
| Lithuanian | žaidimas | ||
| In Lithuanian, "žaidimas" also refers to a theatrical performance or play that is not necessarily intended for children. | |||
| Macedonian | игра | ||
| The Macedonian word "игра" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "igrati" meaning "to play," also cognate with English "play". | |||
| Polish | gra | ||
| The Polish word "gra" originates from the Proto-Slavic word "gra" meaning "fun, play, spectacle". | |||
| Romanian | joc | ||
| "Joc" is the Romanian word for "game", but it is also used in a wider sense to refer to any kind of play or entertainment. | |||
| Russian | игра | ||
| The Russian word 'игра' (game) is derived from the Old Slavic verb 'igrati,' meaning 'to play' or 'to amuse oneself,' and cognate with the English word 'play.' | |||
| Serbian | игра | ||
| The Serbian word "игра" ('igra') derives from the Proto-Slavic word *igrati, meaning "to play". | |||
| Slovak | hra | ||
| The Slovak word "hra" also denotes "the act of playing a game" and "a play". | |||
| Slovenian | igra | ||
| The word 'igra' is also used to describe a performance, especially in the context of theatre, music, or dance. | |||
| Ukrainian | гра | ||
| The Ukrainian word "гра" is cognate with the Russian "игра", which in turn is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *igra, meaning "play" or "game." | |||
Game in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | খেলা | ||
| The word "খেলা" (game) in Bengali is derived from Sanskrit "खेल" (khēla), which means "play," "sport," "amusement," or "recreation." | |||
| Gujarati | રમત | ||
| The word "રમત" (game) in Gujarati has a possible alternate meaning of "amusement" or "playful activity." | |||
| Hindi | खेल | ||
| The Hindi word 'खेल' can also refer to an amusement or distraction. | |||
| Kannada | ಆಟ | ||
| The word "ಆಟ" also means "play". | |||
| Malayalam | ഗെയിം | ||
| A variant of "ഗെയിം" is "കളി" (kali), which is often used to refer to traditional or local games in Malayalam. | |||
| Marathi | खेळ | ||
| The word "खेळ" also means "exercise", "amusement", or "play" in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | खेल | ||
| The word "खेल" also means "play", "sport", or "amusement" in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਖੇਡ | ||
| "ਖੇਡ" also means "sport" in Punjabi and has Sanskrit roots, coming from the word "krīḍā" with the same meaning. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ක්රීඩාව | ||
| The word "ක්රීඩාව" derives from "ක්රීඩා" meaning "sports, play, pastime" from Sanskrit "krīḍā" "sports, play, pastime; sport, exercise; amorous sport; sport, dalliance, frolic; trick, fraud, deceit; delight, pleasure, diversion" and also "ක්රീฑා" meaning "activity, play" from Sanskrit "krīḍ" "to play, to take delight in, to do, to make, to carry out, to perform, to execute, to cause to make, to have made, to cause to perform". | |||
| Tamil | விளையாட்டு | ||
| This word may also imply 'sport', 'amusement', 'fun', 'play' or 'entertainment'. | |||
| Telugu | ఆట | ||
| In Telugu, "ఆట" (aata) also refers to a performance such as a play or a dance. | |||
| Urdu | کھیل | ||
| The word "کھیل" can also refer to a playful or mischievous act or behavior. | |||
Game in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 游戏 | ||
| In Chinese, "游戏" can also mean "play" or "amusement", with its roots in the concept of "playful activities". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 遊戲 | ||
| The word "遊戲" (game) in Chinese (Traditional) can also refer to "play" or "amusement". | |||
| Japanese | ゲーム | ||
| The word game in japanese, ゲーム, can also mean play, or amusement. | |||
| Korean | 경기 | ||
| The word "경기" can also mean "competition" or "rivalry" in Korean | |||
| Mongolian | тоглоом | ||
| Originally, the Mongolian word тоглоом meant "toy", and later acquired the additional meaning of "game". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဂိမ်း | ||
| 'ဂိမ်း' can also refer to betting, play, gambling, contest, entertainment, joking, and sports in Myanmar (Burmese). | |||
Game in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | permainan | ||
| The word "permainan" in Indonesian can also mean "a play" or "a performance". | |||
| Javanese | game | ||
| The Javanese word "game" can also refer to a village head or a group of traditional musicians. | |||
| Khmer | ល្បែង | ||
| ល្បែង (lbaeng) is cognate with the Thai language word "เล่น" (len), which also means "game", and has the same Proto-Tai origin. | |||
| Lao | ເກມ | ||
| The word ເກມ is likely derived from the Sanskrit word karma, meaning "action" or "deed". | |||
| Malay | permainan | ||
| The Malay word 'permainan' may also refer to toys or entertainment | |||
| Thai | เกม | ||
| The Thai word "เกม" (game) comes from the Sanskrit word "krida", which means "sport" or "entertainment." | |||
| Vietnamese | trò chơi | ||
| The word "trò chơi" has an alternative meaning of "prank" or "trick". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | laro | ||
Game in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | oyun | ||
| The word "oyun" in Azerbaijani not only means "game" but also refers to "play," "action," or "performance." | |||
| Kazakh | ойын | ||
| The word "ойын" also means "to play" and "fun" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | оюн | ||
| The word "оюн" in Kyrgyz can also mean "contest", "competition", or "match". | |||
| Tajik | бозӣ | ||
| The word "бозӣ" in Tajik comes from the Persian word "بازه" (bāze), which means "to play" or "to amuse oneself". | |||
| Turkmen | oýun | ||
| Uzbek | o'yin | ||
| Uzbek "o'yin" means "game", but also "song", "performance", "show". | |||
| Uyghur | ئويۇن | ||
Game in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pāʻani | ||
| The Hawaiian word "pāʻani" not only means "game,'' but also "play, amusement, entertainment, or pastime." | |||
| Maori | kēmu | ||
| The word "kēmu" in Māori can also refer to a toy or a pastime. | |||
| Samoan | taʻaloga | ||
| The Samoan word "taʻaloga" can also refer to a form of storytelling or entertainment that often involves music and dance. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | laro | ||
| In addition to its meaning as "game," "laro" can also refer to a joke or a playful act. | |||
Game in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | antawi | ||
| Guarani | ñembosarái | ||
Game in International Languages
| Esperanto | ludo | ||
| The word "ludo" comes from the Latin word "ludus" which means "play" or "game". | |||
| Latin | ludum | ||
| The Latin word "ludum" was originally derived from the verb "ludere," meaning "to play"} | |||
Game in Others Languages
| Greek | παιχνίδι | ||
| The word παιχνίδι derives from the verb παίζω, which means "to play" and can also refer to a performance, such as a theatrical performance. | |||
| Hmong | kev ua si | ||
| Although it is usually glossed as "game" in English, "kev ua si" can also mean "fun" or "play". | |||
| Kurdish | lîstik | ||
| The word "lîstik" originally meant "war" or "battle" in Kurdish, but its meaning has evolved over time to refer to any kind of game or competition. | |||
| Turkish | oyun | ||
| "Oyun" can also mean "play" or "performance" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | umdlalo | ||
| The word 'umdlalo' can also refer to various forms of entertainment, such as storytelling, singing, and dancing. | |||
| Yiddish | שפּיל | ||
| The Yiddish word "שפּיל" (shpil) derives from the Middle High German word "spil," which meant "play," "dance," or "music." | |||
| Zulu | umdlalo | ||
| In Zulu, "umdlalo" can also refer to a joke or a playful jest. | |||
| Assamese | খেল | ||
| Aymara | antawi | ||
| Bhojpuri | खेल | ||
| Dhivehi | ގޭމް | ||
| Dogri | खेढ | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | laro | ||
| Guarani | ñembosarái | ||
| Ilocano | ay-ayam | ||
| Krio | gem | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | یاری | ||
| Maithili | खेल | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯁꯥꯟꯅ | ||
| Mizo | infiamna | ||
| Oromo | tapha | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଖେଳ | ||
| Quechua | pukllay | ||
| Sanskrit | क्रीडा | ||
| Tatar | уен | ||
| Tigrinya | ጸወታ | ||
| Tsonga | ntlangu | ||