Updated on March 6, 2024
Gas is a term with far-reaching significance and cultural importance. Derived from the Greek word 'chaos,' it was first used in the 17th century to describe fluid, gaseous substances. Today, it's a vital component in various industries, from energy to healthcare, and is a part of our daily lives. For instance, natural gas heats many homes, while gasoline powers most vehicles.
Moreover, the word 'gas' has fascinating historical contexts. In 19th-century literature, 'gas' was often used metaphorically to describe a state of confusion or agitation. For example, in Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities,' Madame Defarge is described as 'knitting, knitting, knitting in the midst of the great gas-litten hall.'
Understanding the translation of 'gas' in different languages can be beneficial for global communication and cultural appreciation. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | gas | ||
In Afrikaans "gas" also means "laugh" and is usually used in the plural to mean "jokes" or "funny stories". | |||
Amharic | ጋዝ | ||
The Amharic word “ጋዝ” is used for | |||
Hausa | gas | ||
The Hausa word "gas" can also refer to a type of grass or a particular type of beer. | |||
Igbo | gas | ||
In Igbo, | |||
Malagasy | mandatsa-dranomaso | ||
The Malagasy word "mandatsa-dranomaso" originally referred to the air that inflates the lungs, and only later took on the meaning of "gas". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mpweya | ||
The word "mpweya" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is also used to refer to air, breath, or vapor. | |||
Shona | gasi | ||
The word "gasi" can also mean "spirit" or "soul" in Shona. | |||
Somali | gaaska | ||
Somali "gaaska" is also a verb meaning "to be out of breath" or "to be wheezing". | |||
Sesotho | khase | ||
The word “khase” in Sesotho is also used to refer to a “fume” or “vapour”, and can be used in the context of a bad smell. | |||
Swahili | gesi | ||
In Swahili, 'gesi' can also refer to 'carbonated drinks' or 'soda'. | |||
Xhosa | irhasi | ||
The Xhosa word "irhasi" may also refer to something insubstantial or fleeting. | |||
Yoruba | gaasi | ||
The word "gaasi" can also refer to "wind" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | igesi | ||
In linguistics, the word 'igesi' derives from the Latin word 'gas' introduced by Belgian doctor Jan Baptist van Helmont, while in Zulu it has other meanings including 'air' and 'breath'. | |||
Bambara | gazi | ||
Ewe | gas | ||
Kinyarwanda | gaze | ||
Lingala | gaz | ||
Luganda | ggaasi | ||
Sepedi | khase | ||
Twi (Akan) | gas | ||
Arabic | غاز | ||
The word "غاز" can also mean "anger" or "wrath" in Arabic. | |||
Hebrew | גַז | ||
גַז is also the Hebrew word for "fragment": a broken or torn piece of something, from the root ג-ז-ז, "to shear or cut". | |||
Pashto | ګاز | ||
The Pashto word "ګاز" can also refer to a type of fabric or a lever. | |||
Arabic | غاز | ||
The word "غاز" can also mean "anger" or "wrath" in Arabic. |
Albanian | gazit | ||
The Albanian word "gazit" is derived from the Turkish word "gaz", meaning "gasoline" or "petrol" | |||
Basque | gasa | ||
In Basque, "gasa" also means "poison" or "harmful substance". | |||
Catalan | gas | ||
Catalan "gas" also means "brake" and derives from "gaz" | |||
Croatian | plin | ||
The word "plin" in Croatian can also refer to a "fabric made of silk". | |||
Danish | gas | ||
In Danish, the word "gas" can also mean "street" or "avenue". | |||
Dutch | gas- | ||
The Dutch word "gas" can also refer to a "leverage" or "pole". | |||
English | gas | ||
The word "gas" originally referred to a chaotic state or condition, not to a substance. | |||
French | gaz | ||
In French, the word "gaz" can also refer to the brake or accelerator pedal in a vehicle, deriving from "gazoline". | |||
Frisian | gas | ||
In Frisian, "gas" can also refer to "foaming" or "yeast". | |||
Galician | gas | ||
In Galician, the word "gas" can also refer to a type of alcoholic beverage, especially a carbonated one. | |||
German | gas | ||
"Gas" in German derives from Dutch "gas" meaning "ghost" or "vapor, fume," itself from Greek "chaos." | |||
Icelandic | bensín | ||
The word "bensín" derives from the Old Norse word "bens" meaning "wound" or "injury" and is related to the word "bjǫrg" meaning "to help" or "to protect". | |||
Irish | gás | ||
"Gás" derives from an older Gaelic word for "vapor" and refers specifically to smoke that has been condensed to form a liquid. | |||
Italian | gas | ||
In addition to the meaning of "gas", the Italian word "gas" can refer to a type of carbonated water or a soft cloth. | |||
Luxembourgish | gas | ||
In Luxembourgish, "Gas" can also refer to an alcoholic beverage, typically a fruit brandy or distilled spirit. | |||
Maltese | gass | ||
Maltese 'gass' ('gas') comes from Italian 'gas' and originally only referred to lighting gas or gas used for anaesthesia. | |||
Norwegian | gass | ||
The Norwegian word "gass" can also refer to a kind of glass | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | gás | ||
In Portuguese, "gás" also means "carbonated beverage" or "fizzy drink". | |||
Scots Gaelic | gas | ||
Scots Gaelic "gas" derives from Old Norse "gass" meaning "specter, ghost, goblin, sprite, specter, phantom, apparition, hobgoblin." | |||
Spanish | gas | ||
In Spanish, "gas" can also refer to the brake pedal or to flatulence. | |||
Swedish | gas | ||
The word can also mean street or road and is related to "gata" which means path. | |||
Welsh | nwy | ||
Nwy has also been proposed as a cognate in Gaulish, the 'nw' representing a common Celtic initial 'kn' that in Brythonic became 'nw' but in Gaelic became 'cn' with further evolution to 'gn' or 'cn-'. |
Belarusian | газ | ||
The Belarusian word "газ" can also refer to "petrol" or "LPG". | |||
Bosnian | plin | ||
The word 'plin' likely originates from the Proto-Indo-European root 'ple-', meaning 'to fill'. | |||
Bulgarian | газ | ||
"Газ" is a Bulgarian word for "gas" and can also refer to the pedal in a car that controls the flow of fuel to the engine | |||
Czech | plyn | ||
The Czech word "plyn" for "gas" is derived from the Greek word "pneuma" and originally meant "breath" or "spirit". | |||
Estonian | gaas | ||
Despite having the same spelling and pronunciation as the English word for the naturally-occurring fluid, "gaas" in Estonian is etymologically unrelated, derives from "kaas" (vapor), and has a broader meaning, applying to both vapor-like and non-vapor-like gases | |||
Finnish | kaasu | ||
The word "kaasu" derives from the Swedish word "gas" and is a cognate of the English word "gas". | |||
Hungarian | gáz | ||
In Hungarian, "gáz" also means a pedal used to accelerate a vehicle. | |||
Latvian | gāze | ||
The Latvian word “gāze” may have originated from the German word “Gas” (gas), introduced in the 17th century by Jan Baptista van Helmont. | |||
Lithuanian | dujos | ||
In Lithuanian, "dujos" (gas) is derived from the Slavic word "dukh", meaning "spirit" or "breath". | |||
Macedonian | гас | ||
Гас in Macedonian also means 'gauze'. | |||
Polish | gaz | ||
"Gaz" is masculine singular accusative form of the word "gęś," which means "goose" in Polish. | |||
Romanian | gaz | ||
The Romanian word "gaz" can be used to refer to a wide range of gases, including those used for cooking, lighting, and heating. | |||
Russian | газ | ||
The word "газ" can also refer to "acceleration" or "throttle" in the context of vehicles. | |||
Serbian | гасни | ||
The Serbian word "гасни" ("gas") can also refer to a type of fabric or a kind of lamp. | |||
Slovak | plyn | ||
"Plyn" is a cognate of the Czech word "plyn" and the Russian word "газ" (gaz), all ultimately derived from the Dutch word "gas". | |||
Slovenian | plin | ||
The word "plin" in Slovenian is derived from the Greek word "πνεύμα" (pneuma), meaning "breath". It can also refer to a fart or a flatulence. | |||
Ukrainian | газ | ||
The word "газ" derives from the Dutch word "gas" meaning "chaos". |
Bengali | গ্যাস | ||
"গ্যাস" also means "flatulence" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | ગેસ | ||
The Gujarati word "ગેસ" also means "fuel" or "gasoline." | |||
Hindi | गैस | ||
The word "gas" in Hindi comes from the Sanskrit word "gaj," meaning "to go. | |||
Kannada | ಅನಿಲ | ||
"ಅನಿಲ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "anila" meaning "wind" or "breath". | |||
Malayalam | വാതകം | ||
The word "വാതകം" is derived from the Sanskrit word "वायु" (vāyu), meaning "air". It can also refer to "flatulence" or "indigestion". | |||
Marathi | गॅस | ||
In Marathi, "गॅस" ('gas') can also refer to the verb "to pass gas" or a flatulent emission. | |||
Nepali | ग्यास | ||
The word "ग्यास" in Nepali can also refer to "intoxication" or "high". | |||
Punjabi | ਗੈਸ | ||
The word "ਗੈਸ" (gas) in Punjabi can also refer to a "fart" or the "emission of a gas". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ගෑස් | ||
The word "ගෑස්" is derived from the Dutch word "gas", meaning "a vapor or volatile substance." | |||
Tamil | வாயு | ||
The Tamil word "வாயு" is cognate with the Sanskrit word "वायु" (vāyu), meaning "wind" or "air". | |||
Telugu | గ్యాస్ | ||
The word "గ్యాస్" ("gas") in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "गैस" ("gasa"), meaning "emission" or "exhalation". | |||
Urdu | گیس | ||
The word 'گیس' (gas) can also be used to mean 'hair' in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 加油站 | ||
"加油站" is commonly used to refer to gas stations, but it can also mean "to refuel" or "to cheer someone on." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 加油站 | ||
加油站 is a Chinese translation of the English word “gas station” meaning a place where gasoline is sold and also where vehicles can be refueled. | |||
Japanese | ガス | ||
The word "gas" in Japanese can also refer to gasoline or a general anesthetic. | |||
Korean | 가스 | ||
The word "가스" (gas) in Korean comes from the Dutch word "gas" and also means "anesthesia". | |||
Mongolian | хий | ||
The Mongolian word "хий" also has the alternate meanings of "emptiness" and "space." | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ဓာတ်ငွေ့ | ||
Indonesian | gas | ||
The Indonesian word "gas" originally meant "poison". | |||
Javanese | bensin | ||
The Javanese word "bensin" is derived from the Dutch word "benzine", meaning "petrol". In Indonesia, it has become synonymous with all types of vehicle fuel. | |||
Khmer | ឧស្ម័ន | ||
The term "ឧស្ម័ន" can also refer to the smell or aroma of something. | |||
Lao | ອາຍແກັດ | ||
The word 'ອາຍແກັດ' ('gas') comes from the Thai word 'แก๊ส' ('gas'), which is ultimately derived from the Greek word 'κάμα' ('burning') via Latin and French. | |||
Malay | gas | ||
The Malay word "gas" also means "anger" or "rage". | |||
Thai | แก๊ส | ||
In Thai, "แก๊ส" can also refer to a specific type of fuel used in cooking or lighting. | |||
Vietnamese | khí ga | ||
The word "khí ga" does not only mean "gas" in Vietnamese, but also "carbonated drinks" and "gasoline". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | gas | ||
Azerbaijani | qaz | ||
The word "qaz" in Azerbaijani also shares a root with the English word "goose" and "gander", and means a "migratory waterfowl". | |||
Kazakh | газ | ||
In Kazakh, "газ" also refers to "petrol". | |||
Kyrgyz | газ | ||
The root "газ" in Kyrgyz also forms other terms related to "gas" or "vapor," such as "жел газы" (wind). | |||
Tajik | газ | ||
The Tajik word «газ» originally meant "kerosene" or "oil" but now means "natural gas." | |||
Turkmen | gaz | ||
Uzbek | gaz | ||
The Uzbek word "gaz" can also mean "courage" or "strength". | |||
Uyghur | gas | ||
Hawaiian | ʻenekini | ||
'Enekini' not only means 'gas,' but it can also mean 'a breath of air or wind.' | |||
Maori | hau | ||
The Maori word "hau" also refers to a traditional Maori cloak made from flax or feathers. | |||
Samoan | kesi | ||
Kesī, meaning “gas,” is possibly derived from the Proto Polynesian word ʻesi, which means “to breathe.” | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | gas | ||
"Hangin" in Tagalog (Filipino) can also refer to a person or a group of people who are behaving in an abnormal or eccentric manner. |
Aymara | gas | ||
Guarani | gas rehegua | ||
Esperanto | gaso | ||
The Esperanto word "gaso" is derived from the Latin word "chaos". This is an interesting connection to the English word "gaseous", which also relates to a state of disorder or flux. | |||
Latin | gas | ||
In Latin, "gas" also denoted a "phantom" or "apparition". |
Greek | αέριο | ||
The word αέριο ("gas") derives from the Ancient Greek word αήρ ("air") and has the same stem as "atmosphere". | |||
Hmong | roj | ||
The Hmong word "roj" also has alternate meanings such as "odor" or "scent". | |||
Kurdish | xaz | ||
The word "xaz" in Kurdish, beyond its primary meaning of "gas," also holds a secondary connotation of "an unpleasant odor or smell." | |||
Turkish | gaz | ||
Gaz is also a common word for throttle or accelerator pedal in vehicles, coming from French and ultimately Latin "gutta" (drop). | |||
Xhosa | irhasi | ||
The Xhosa word "irhasi" may also refer to something insubstantial or fleeting. | |||
Yiddish | גאַז | ||
The Yiddish word "גאַז" also means "street" or "alleyway". | |||
Zulu | igesi | ||
In linguistics, the word 'igesi' derives from the Latin word 'gas' introduced by Belgian doctor Jan Baptist van Helmont, while in Zulu it has other meanings including 'air' and 'breath'. | |||
Assamese | গেছ | ||
Aymara | gas | ||
Bhojpuri | गैस के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ގޭސް | ||
Dogri | गैस | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | gas | ||
Guarani | gas rehegua | ||
Ilocano | gas | ||
Krio | gas | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | غاز | ||
Maithili | गैस | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯒ꯭ꯌꯥꯁ ꯑꯁꯤ ꯑꯦꯟ.ꯗꯤ.ꯑꯦ | ||
Mizo | gas a ni | ||
Oromo | gaazii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଗ୍ୟାସ୍ | ||
Quechua | gas | ||
Sanskrit | गैसः | ||
Tatar | газ | ||
Tigrinya | ጋዝ | ||
Tsonga | gasi | ||