Gay in Different Languages
Discover 'Gay' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'gay' has undergone a significant evolution in meaning over the past century. Originally used to describe feelings of happiness or carefree behavior, it has since become a term that primarily refers to homosexual men, and by extension, to homosexual women as well. This shift in meaning reflects the word's cultural importance and the changing attitudes towards sexuality in society.
Given the global reach of the English language, it's not uncommon for people to want to know the translation of 'gay' in their native language. For some, it may be a matter of personal identity or a way to connect with others who share their sexual orientation. For others, it may be a simple matter of curiosity or a desire to expand their vocabulary.
Here are a few sample translations of 'gay' in different languages: Spanish - 'gay'; French - 'gai'; German - 'schwul'; Italian - 'gay'; Japanese - ゲイ (gei); Chinese - 同性戀 (tóngxìng liàn); Russian - гей (gei).
Understanding the translation of 'gay' in different languages can help break down barriers and foster a sense of community among LGBTQ+ individuals around the world. By promoting cultural awareness and understanding, we can work towards a more inclusive and diverse society.
Gay
Gay in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | gay | ||
| Amharic | ግብረ ሰዶማዊ | ||
| Hausa | gay | ||
| In Hausa, "gay" also means "carefree" or "playful." | |||
| Igbo | nwoke nwere mmasị nwoke | ||
| The Igbo word for "gay" literally means "a man who has women". | |||
| Malagasy | pelaka | ||
| The word "pelaka" in Malagasy can also mean "different" or "unusual". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | gay | ||
| The Nyanja word "chihwanda" means both "gay" and "foolish". | |||
| Shona | ngochani | ||
| In Shona, 'ngochani' can also mean 'to be playful' or 'to be mischievous'. | |||
| Somali | qaniis | ||
| In Somali, the word 'Qaniis' also refers to an 'extravagant' person, and has no correlation with sexuality. | |||
| Sesotho | mosodoma | ||
| Swahili | shoga | ||
| In Swahili, "shoga" can also mean "friend" or "buddy" and is often used as a term of endearment or companionship. | |||
| Xhosa | isitabane | ||
| In Xhosa, the word "isitabane" has alternate meanings, including "one who is lazy" and "one who is always tired." | |||
| Yoruba | onibaje | ||
| Yoruba people also use the term | |||
| Zulu | isitabane | ||
| The word "isitabane" in Zulu can also refer to a "wild, uncontrollable person" or a "naughty child". | |||
| Bambara | gayi | ||
| Ewe | gayibɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | abaryamana bahuje ibitsina | ||
| Lingala | gay | ||
| Luganda | abagaala ebisiyaga | ||
| Sepedi | gay | ||
| Twi (Akan) | gay, ɔbarima ne ɔbea nna | ||
Gay in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مثلي الجنس | ||
| The word "مثلي الجنس" in Arabic derives from the root word "جن" meaning "to incline" or "to deviate", and can also refer to a "demon" or "evil spirit". | |||
| Hebrew | הומו | ||
| The word "הומו" in Hebrew has a double meaning, referring both to homosexuality and a type of chickpea. | |||
| Pashto | همجنګ | ||
| The Pashto word "همجنګ" (hamjang) also means "comrade" or "ally". | |||
| Arabic | مثلي الجنس | ||
| The word "مثلي الجنس" in Arabic derives from the root word "جن" meaning "to incline" or "to deviate", and can also refer to a "demon" or "evil spirit". | |||
Gay in Western European Languages
| Albanian | homoseksual | ||
| The Albanian word "homoseksual" is derived from the Latin "homosexualis", which means "of the same sex". | |||
| Basque | gay | ||
| The Basque word "alait" means "happy" or "merry" but can also refer to someone who is homosexual. | |||
| Catalan | gai | ||
| Catalan 'gai' derives from L. 'iucundus', which can mean both 'joyful' and 'gay'. | |||
| Croatian | gay | ||
| In Croatian, "gay" also means "forest" and can be used as a euphemism for poverty or misfortune. | |||
| Danish | homoseksuel | ||
| The Danish word "homoseksuel" derives from the Greek words "homos" (same) and "sexus" (sex). | |||
| Dutch | homo | ||
| In Dutch, "homo" originated as an abbreviation of "homoseksueel" (homosexual) but also has a different meaning: a human being. | |||
| English | gay | ||
| The word 'gay' has meant 'happy or merry' since the 14th century, and 'homosexual or lesbian' since the 20th century. | |||
| French | gay | ||
| In French, the word "gai" can also mean "cheerful" or "bright." | |||
| Frisian | gay | ||
| In Frisian, the word "gay" can also mean "funny" or "cheerful". | |||
| Galician | gay | ||
| In Galician, the word "gAi" means "joyful" but is often used sarcastically. | |||
| German | fröhlich | ||
| The word "Fröhlich" originally meant "carefree" or "happy" and is related to the Old English word "fæger," meaning "beautiful". | |||
| Icelandic | hommi | ||
| The word "hommi" is used in Icelandic poetry to denote a type of verse, and the meaning of "gay" is a later addition to the word, likely influenced by the similar spelling of "homosexual". | |||
| Irish | aerach | ||
| The Irish word 'aerach' not only means 'gay', but also 'airy' and 'cheerful'. | |||
| Italian | gay | ||
| The Italian word 'gaio' also means 'cheerful' or 'merry'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | schwul | ||
| In some rural and eastern areas of Luxembourg, "schwul" can also mean "intoxicated, drunk or tipsy." | |||
| Maltese | omosesswali | ||
| Omosesswali derives from 'omo-' meaning 'human', and '-sesswali' meaning 'sex', hence 'homosexuality' in English. | |||
| Norwegian | homofil | ||
| The word "homofil" was also used earlier to refer to people who were sympathetic to homosexuality, even if they did not identify as gay themselves. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | gay | ||
| In Portuguese, "gay" can also mean "happy" or "cheerful". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | gay | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word "gaidh" can also mean "thief" or "rogue". | |||
| Spanish | gay | ||
| In Spanish, "gay" can also mean "joyful" or "cheerful". | |||
| Swedish | gay | ||
| In Swedish, "gay" has additional meanings of "cheerful" and "brightly colored"} | |||
| Welsh | hoyw | ||
| The Welsh word "hoyw" is also used to refer to something that is cheerful or lively. | |||
Gay in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | гей | ||
| In Belarusian, "гей" can also mean "hey" or "hello". | |||
| Bosnian | gej | ||
| The word "gej" also refers to a "party", or "gathering"} | |||
| Bulgarian | гей | ||
| In Bulgarian, the word "гей" (pronounced like "gay") means "crazy" or "mad". | |||
| Czech | gay | ||
| In Czech, the word "gay" means cheerful and carefree. | |||
| Estonian | gei | ||
| In Estonian "gei" also means "craze", "urge" or "drive". | |||
| Finnish | homo | ||
| In Finnish, "homo" can also refer to a same-sex partner or a homosexual relationship. | |||
| Hungarian | meleg | ||
| The Hungarian word "meleg" originally meant "warm" and is only in a relatively recent usage that the word came to mean "gay". | |||
| Latvian | geju | ||
| In Latvian, "geju" also refers to a group of people who work together, regardless of their sexual orientation. | |||
| Lithuanian | gėjus | ||
| "Gėjus" derives from the Latin word "gaudere" (to rejoice), which may have influenced its positive connotation in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | геј | ||
| The word "геј" in Macedonian has other meanings such as "foolish" or "unwise". | |||
| Polish | wesoły | ||
| In Polish, the word "wesoły" means both "cheerful" and "homosexual". | |||
| Romanian | gay | ||
| In Romanian, "gay" originally meant 'carefree', 'vivacious', and 'cheerful', and has no connection to its English usage. | |||
| Russian | гей | ||
| The word "гей" in Russian can also mean "joyful" or "lively". | |||
| Serbian | геј | ||
| The Serbian word "геј" can also refer to someone who is pleasant or cheerful. | |||
| Slovak | gay | ||
| The word “gay” in Slovak can also mean "cheerful" or "brightly colored." | |||
| Slovenian | gej | ||
| The Slovenian word "gej" can also mean "foolish" or "silly". | |||
| Ukrainian | гей | ||
| In Ukrainian, "гей" can also mean "hey" or "yo." | |||
Gay in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সমকামী | ||
| The Bengali word 'সমকামী' ('shomokami') originally referred to an effeminate man or an androgynous person, but its meaning gradually shifted to mean 'homosexual' under the influence of English. | |||
| Gujarati | ગે | ||
| ગે (gay) may originally have meant | |||
| Hindi | समलैंगिक | ||
| The word समलैंगिक literally means "equal gender" or "same class" and is used in Hindi to refer to someone who is homosexual. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಲಿಂಗಕಾಮಿ | ||
| The word "ಸಲಿಂಗಕಾಮಿ" can also refer to the "gay" dance performed on special occasions or as a form of worship in some Indian communities. | |||
| Malayalam | സ്വവർഗ്ഗാനുരാഗി | ||
| Marathi | समलिंगी | ||
| The term "समलिंगी" can also refer to a "hermaphrodite" in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | समलि .्गी | ||
| समलि .्गी can also refer to a specific type of flower, the "marigold". | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਮਲਿੰਗੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සමලිංගික | ||
| The word also refers to the quality of being cheerful or bright. | |||
| Tamil | கே | ||
| The word "கே" (gay) in Tamil also means "good" or "right." | |||
| Telugu | గే | ||
| In Telugu, గే (ge) also means 'red', 'crimson', 'beautiful', and 'lustrous'. | |||
| Urdu | ہم جنس پرست | ||
| The term "gay" may also refer to social or political movements that promote the rights of the LGBT community. | |||
Gay in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 同性恋者 | ||
| 在19世纪后期，汉语吸收了英语单词“gay”，并赋予了它“快乐、开朗”的含义。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 同性戀者 | ||
| 同性戀者，原指「快樂、歡樂」，後意譯自英文「gay」而特指男同性戀者。 | |||
| Japanese | ゲイ | ||
| In Japanese, the word "ゲイ" is also used as an adjective meaning "bright" or "cheerful." | |||
| Korean | 게이 | ||
| In Korean, "게이" can also mean "bright" or "festive." | |||
| Mongolian | гей | ||
| The Mongolian word "гей" also means "light" or "faint". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လိင်တူချစ်သူ | ||
Gay in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | gay | ||
| The Indonesian word "gay" originates from the Sanskrit root "ga" meaning "to go" or "to move". | |||
| Javanese | homo | ||
| The Javanese word "homo" can also refer to a person who is not sexually attractive. | |||
| Khmer | ខ្ទើយ | ||
| The Khmer word ខ្ទើយ ("gay") can also mean "lazy" or "effeminate." | |||
| Lao | gay | ||
| In Lao, the word "gay" can also mean "happy" or "cheerful." | |||
| Malay | gay | ||
| In Malay, "gay" means "happy," "excited," or "lively." | |||
| Thai | เกย์ | ||
| In Thai, the word "เกย์" can also mean "funny" or "ridiculous". | |||
| Vietnamese | gay | ||
| "Gay" trong tiếng Việt có gốc từ "gai" chỉ "sự vui", được dùng như một tính từ chỉ "vui vẻ, tươi cười". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bakla | ||
Gay in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | gey | ||
| In Azerbaijani, "gey" can also mean "handsome", "stylish", or "cool". | |||
| Kazakh | гей | ||
| The Kazakh word "гей" can also mean "happy" or "cheerful" | |||
| Kyrgyz | гей | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "гей" is borrowed from the Russian language, where it means "gay", and has the same meaning in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | гей | ||
| In addition to meaning 'gay', 'гей' can also mean 'a person who plays musical instrument' | |||
| Turkmen | geý | ||
| Uzbek | gomoseksual | ||
| The Uzbek word "gomoseksual" also means "homosexual" in Turkish. | |||
| Uyghur | ھەمجىنىسلار | ||
Gay in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | wahine kāne | ||
| Wahine kāne is a Hawaiian term that originally referred to cross-dressing men but has more recently come to be used as a general term for individuals who identify as gay. | |||
| Maori | takatāpui | ||
| The word "takatāpui" in Māori has historical roots in spiritual and social roles within traditional Māori society and carries a broader meaning than the contemporary English term "gay". | |||
| Samoan | gay | ||
| Gay was first adopted by Samoan fa'afafine as a term for their third gender identity. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bakla | ||
| The term "bakla" originated from the Tagalog word for a type of bean used to cook a traditional dish called "ginisang munggo" which is popular as a vegetarian viand | |||
Gay in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | gay sat jaqiwa | ||
| Guarani | gay rehegua | ||
Gay in International Languages
| Esperanto | gaja | ||
| Esperanto's "gaja" is derived from the Sanskrit word "gaja," meaning "elephant," and has alternate meanings of "great" or "noble." | |||
| Latin | gay | ||
| In Latin, "gay" meant "happy" or "joyful". | |||
Gay in Others Languages
| Greek | γκέι | ||
| In Greece, the word "γκέι" can also mean "happy" or "cheerful". | |||
| Hmong | gay | ||
| The word "gay" in Hmong can also mean "happy" or "lively." | |||
| Kurdish | gay | ||
| In Kurdish, "gay" doesn't exclusively mean "homosexual" but also "good, fine, excellent". | |||
| Turkish | eşcinsel | ||
| The Turkish word "eşcinsel" originally meant "homosexual" but has since taken on a broader meaning to include all LGBTQ+ people. | |||
| Xhosa | isitabane | ||
| In Xhosa, the word "isitabane" has alternate meanings, including "one who is lazy" and "one who is always tired." | |||
| Yiddish | פריילעך | ||
| The Yiddish word "פֿריילעך" (pronounced "freylakh") can also mean "joyous" or "merry." | |||
| Zulu | isitabane | ||
| The word "isitabane" in Zulu can also refer to a "wild, uncontrollable person" or a "naughty child". | |||
| Assamese | গে | ||
| Aymara | gay sat jaqiwa | ||
| Bhojpuri | समलैंगिक के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ގޭ އެވެ | ||
| Dogri | समलैंगिक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bakla | ||
| Guarani | gay rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | bakla | ||
| Krio | gay pipul dɛn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | هاوڕەگەزباز | ||
| Maithili | समलैंगिक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯒꯦ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | gay a ni | ||
| Oromo | saalqunnamtii saala walfakkaataa raawwatu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସମଲିଙ୍ଗୀ | ||
| Quechua | gay | ||
| Sanskrit | समलैङ्गिकः | ||
| Tatar | гей | ||
| Tigrinya | ግብረሰዶማዊ | ||
| Tsonga | gay | ||