Updated on March 6, 2024
Habitat, a simple word yet so significant in our understanding of the natural world. It refers to the natural environment in which a plant or animal lives and grows. Knowing the habitat of a species is crucial to its conservation and survival, making this word an essential part of environmental science and ecology vocabulary.
But habitat is not just a scientific term; it holds cultural importance as well. Many indigenous cultures around the world have a deep connection to their natural habitats, viewing them as sacred and integral to their way of life. This connection is often reflected in their languages, customs, and traditions.
For those interested in language and culture, learning the translation of habitat in different languages can offer a unique perspective on how different cultures view and interact with their natural environments. For instance, in Spanish, habitat translates to ' hábitat,' in French, it's 'habitat,' and in German, it's 'Lebensraum.'
Join us as we explore the translations of habitat in various languages and cultures, shedding light on the fascinating world of linguistic and cultural diversity.
Afrikaans | habitat | ||
The Afrikaans word "habitat" also means "apartment". | |||
Amharic | መኖሪያ | ||
The word "መኖሪያ" can also mean "residence" or "dwelling place" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | mazaunin zama | ||
In some Hausa dialects, "mazaunin zama" can mean "abode" or "dwelling place." | |||
Igbo | ebe obibi | ||
Ebe obibi can also mean an environment, such as a person's home or workplace. | |||
Malagasy | toeram-ponenana | ||
In Malagasy, 'toeram-ponenana' also means 'place of dwelling' or 'residence'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | malo okhala | ||
In Nyanja, "malo okhala" can also mean "the place where one stays or resides". | |||
Shona | habitat | ||
In Shona, "habitat" also refers to the place where an organization or person resides. | |||
Somali | deegaan | ||
"Deegaan" also means "environment" or "surroundings" in Somali. | |||
Sesotho | bodulo | ||
The word “bodulo” originates from the word “duloa” or “dulo” which means “to reside.” | |||
Swahili | makazi | ||
The word "makazi" can also mean "house" or "residence" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | indawo yokuhlala | ||
The word "indawo yokuhlala" can refer to both the place where an animal lives and the animal's way of life. | |||
Yoruba | ibugbe | ||
The word "ibugbe" can also mean "the place where one lives" or "the place where one belongs". | |||
Zulu | indawo yokuhlala | ||
The Zulu word 'indawo yokuhlala' is a compound noun formed from 'indawo' (place) and 'okuhlala' (to stay or live). | |||
Bambara | so | ||
Ewe | nɔƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | aho atuye | ||
Lingala | esika ya kofanda | ||
Luganda | ewaka | ||
Sepedi | bodulo | ||
Twi (Akan) | atenaeɛ | ||
Arabic | موطن | ||
موطن (muwatan) is also used to mean nationality, homeland, or one's place of origin. | |||
Hebrew | בית גידול | ||
בית גידול is also used metaphorically to refer to a situation or environment in which something develops or thrives. | |||
Pashto | هستوګنه | ||
The word "هستوګنه" is derived from the Persian word "خانه", meaning "house" and "ګاه" meaning "place", suggesting its significance as a dwelling for living organisms. | |||
Arabic | موطن | ||
موطن (muwatan) is also used to mean nationality, homeland, or one's place of origin. |
Albanian | habitati | ||
The Albanian word “habitati” comes from the Latin verb habito, meaning “to inhabit, reside, dwell.” | |||
Basque | habitata | ||
In Basque, "habitata" is a neologism derived from the Latin "habitat", meaning "dwelling place". | |||
Catalan | habitat | ||
The word "habitat" comes from Latin, where it meant "place to live" and was used in a more general sense than its current ecological usage. | |||
Croatian | stanište | ||
The word 'stanište' is derived from the Slavic root 'stan', meaning 'to stand' or 'to stay'. | |||
Danish | levested | ||
The Danish word "levested" can also refer to the area where an animal lives or the social structure of a community. | |||
Dutch | leefgebied | ||
The Dutch term "leefgebied" can also refer to a "district" or "living area" in a city. | |||
English | habitat | ||
The word "habitat" can also refer to a person's social environment or the conditions surrounding their daily life. | |||
French | habitat | ||
The term 'habitat' derives from the Latin word 'habitare,' meaning 'to dwell.' | |||
Frisian | habitat | ||
Frisian "habitat" can also mean "suit"} | |||
Galician | hábitat | ||
The Galician word “hábitat” also means “environment” and comes from the Latin word “habitare,” meaning “to inhabit” or “to live in.” | |||
German | lebensraum | ||
Lebensraum also connotes geopolitical expansion and was used by Nazis to justify territorial conquest. | |||
Icelandic | búsvæði | ||
The word "búsvæði" originally referred to an area where livestock could graze and was only later used in a more general sense to refer to the habitat of any animal. | |||
Irish | gnáthóg | ||
The word "gnáthóg" literally means "common place" or "place of birth". | |||
Italian | habitat | ||
The word "habitat" in Italian can also mean "clothes" or "clothing". | |||
Luxembourgish | liewensraum | ||
"Liwen" is the word for "live" or "life" which means that "liewensraum" is "space for living" | |||
Maltese | abitat | ||
“Abitat” (meaning “habitat”) in Maltese is derived from the Italian word "habitat", ultimately coming from the Latin "habito" ("to dwell"). | |||
Norwegian | habitat | ||
In Norwegian "habitat" can also mean "attitude" or "nature". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | habitat | ||
In Brazil, the word "habitat" can sometimes refer to a person's physical address rather than the place a plant or animal typically lives and grows. | |||
Scots Gaelic | àrainn | ||
'Àrainn' comes from the Gaelic 'àran', meaning 'bread', and refers to a place where one can grow food. | |||
Spanish | habitat | ||
"Habitat" (hábitat) in Spanish can also refer to a person's social environment or the circumstances that surround them. | |||
Swedish | livsmiljö | ||
The Swedish word "livsmiljö" can also refer to the social and cultural surroundings in which someone lives. | |||
Welsh | cynefin | ||
The word "cynefin" can also refer to one's familiar environment, sphere of activity, or natural or spiritual home. |
Belarusian | асяроддзе пражывання | ||
From Russian "среда обитания", literally "environment of dwelling", from "среда" (environment), and "обитание" (dwelling). | |||
Bosnian | stanište | ||
The word 'stanište' is of Slavic etymology and is related to the verb 'stati' ('to stand'), indicating the place or area where something stands or resides. | |||
Bulgarian | среда на живот | ||
The Bulgarian word "среда на живот" also means "Wednesday" and "environment". | |||
Czech | místo výskytu | ||
The Czech word "místo výskytu" literally means "a place of occurrence," and is thus a broader term for "habitat" as it can describe the range of a species, or a particular spot where it has been spotted or captured. | |||
Estonian | elupaik | ||
The word "elupaik" is also used in Estonian to describe a place where animals live together and raise their young. | |||
Finnish | elinympäristö | ||
"Elynympäristö" is originally derived from the Ancient Greek "oikema", meaning "dwelling" or "habitation." | |||
Hungarian | élőhely | ||
The term 'élőhely' derives from the Hungarian verb 'élni' (to live), and also denotes an individual's place of residence. | |||
Latvian | biotops | ||
The word “biotops” is derived from ancient Greek, its constituent parts mean “life” and “place”. | |||
Lithuanian | buveinė | ||
"Buveinė" is Lithuanian for "habitat" and cognate with the Slavic term meaning "dwelling" | |||
Macedonian | живеалиште | ||
The term "живеалиште" has a Slavic origin and is related to the concept of "living space" (живот meaning "life"). | |||
Polish | siedlisko | ||
The word "siedlisko" can also refer to a settlement or a homestead | |||
Romanian | habitat | ||
In Romanian, "habitat" can also refer to a natural or artificial environment in which a particular species of plant or animal lives, or the total of the environmental conditions in which a particular species lives or grows. | |||
Russian | среда обитания | ||
"Среда обитания" comes from the Old Russian words that translate as "middle" and "stay", or the place in the middle, in the center of the action. | |||
Serbian | станиште | ||
The Serbian word "станиште" ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic root *sto, meaning "to stand," and is cognate with the English word "station." | |||
Slovak | biotop | ||
"Biotop" is derived from the Greek "bios" (life) and "topos" (place), and also refers to a community of living organisms in their environment. | |||
Slovenian | življenjski prostor | ||
Življenjski prostor's root živ- is found in other Slavic words meaning "to live" or "life". | |||
Ukrainian | середовище існування | ||
The word "середовище існування" ("environment") can be split into its root parts as "середа" ("environment") and "існування" ("living"). |
Bengali | আবাস | ||
আবাস is derived from the Sanskrit word 'वास', meaning 'to dwell' or 'to reside'. | |||
Gujarati | નિવાસસ્થાન | ||
Hindi | वास | ||
वास (वास) is derived from the Sanskrit root 'vas' meaning 'to live'. | |||
Kannada | ಆವಾಸಸ್ಥಾನ | ||
The word "ಆವಾಸಸ್ಥಾನ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "वासस्थान", which means "a place to live". In Kannada, it is also used to refer to a "native place" or "homeland". | |||
Malayalam | ആവാസ വ്യവസ്ഥ | ||
Marathi | अधिवास | ||
"अधिवास" is derived from "अधि" (upon) and "वास" (dwelling), implying a place where someone or something lives. | |||
Nepali | आवास | ||
The word "आवास" in Nepali has alternate meanings of "dwelling" and "residence". | |||
Punjabi | ਨਿਵਾਸ | ||
ਨਿਵਾਸ was loaned into Punjabi from Sanskrit. "Nivas" in Sanskrit means "abode" or "dwelling" and "nivasati" means "to reside" or "to live". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වාසස්ථාන | ||
The word "වාසස්ථාන" (habitat) is derived from the Sanskrit word "वासस्थान" (meaning "dwelling place"), and is cognate with the English word "station". | |||
Tamil | வாழ்விடம் | ||
The word "வாழ்விடம்" can also refer to the physical environment or context in which an organism lives, including its living conditions and resources. | |||
Telugu | ఆవాసాలు | ||
The word "ఆవాసాలు" (habitat) can also mean "place of residence" or "dwelling place" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | مسکن | ||
"مسکن" in Urdu is a loan word from Persian that originally meant "house" and "dwelling place" but now refers primarily to a "habitat" or "natural surroundings." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 栖息地 | ||
栖息地 (habitat): 栖息 (reside) + 地 (place) | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 棲息地 | ||
棲息地 in Chinese (Traditional) also means 'place of residence' or 'dwelling place'. | |||
Japanese | ハビタ | ||
In Portuguese the word "habitat” also means clothing or apparel. | |||
Korean | 서식지 | ||
The term was borrowed from the German word 'Siedlung', which literally means 'settlement'. | |||
Mongolian | амьдрах орчин | ||
In Mongolian, "амьдрах орчин" (literally "living environment") also refers to the natural environment in which organisms live, and is often used in an ecological context. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကျက်စား | ||
Indonesian | habitat | ||
In Indonesian, "habitat" also means "environment" or "surroundings". | |||
Javanese | papan dununge | ||
The word "papan dununge" also means "dwelling place" or "base" in Javanese. | |||
Khmer | ជំរក | ||
"ជំរក" originates from the Khmer word "រក" (read), suggesting a place where one can "read" or find resources. | |||
Lao | ທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສ | ||
Malay | habitat | ||
"Habitat" is derived from the Latin "habitare", which means "to dwell" or "to inhabit." | |||
Thai | ที่อยู่อาศัย | ||
The Thai word "ที่อยู่อาศัย" (habitat) is derived from the Sanskrit word "sthiti," meaning "to stand" or "to exist." | |||
Vietnamese | môi trường sống | ||
The word "môi trường sống" has its roots in the Chinese word "환경", meaning "environment" or "surroundings". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tirahan | ||
Azerbaijani | yaşayış sahəsi | ||
In Azerbaijani, "yaşayış sahəsi" literally means "living space", reflecting the concept of a habitat as a region where a particular species or population resides and finds sustenance. | |||
Kazakh | тіршілік ету ортасы | ||
тіршілік ету ортасы literally means 'surroundings for living beings' and is used to refer to the environment, surroundings, or natural habitat of a particular species. | |||
Kyrgyz | жашаган жери | ||
The Kyrgyz word "жашаган жери" also translates to "area where one lives" or "place of residence". | |||
Tajik | зист | ||
The word "зист" in Tajik also means "life", "existence", or "being". | |||
Turkmen | ýaşaýan ýeri | ||
Uzbek | yashash joyi | ||
The Uzbek word "yashash joyi" is also used in Karakalpak and Kazakh languages with similar meanings, indicating that its root may lie in a common Turkic term. | |||
Uyghur | ياشاش مۇھىتى | ||
Hawaiian | wahi noho | ||
In Hawaiian, "wahi" may also mean "place," "region," or "district." | |||
Maori | wāhi noho | ||
The Maori term "wāhi noho" can also refer to a place of dwelling or a settlement. | |||
Samoan | nofoaga | ||
The word "nofoaga" in Samoan can also refer to a place where one lives or a place of residence. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | tirahan | ||
The word "tirahan" is derived from the Tagalog root word "tirah" meaning to reside or dwell. |
Aymara | jakañawja | ||
Guarani | tekoha | ||
Esperanto | vivejo | ||
The Esperanto word "vivejo" originates from the French word "vivre" (to live). | |||
Latin | habitat | ||
"Habitat" in Latin also means "condition" or "constitution". |
Greek | βιότοπο | ||
The Greek word "βιότοπος" (habitat) is derived from the root words "βίος" (life) and "τόπος" (place), emphasizing the relationship between living organisms and their environment. | |||
Hmong | chaw nyob | ||
Historically, the word "chaw nyob" was used to refer to the physical structures in which people lived, but nowadays it is more commonly used to refer to the entire natural environment in which a group of people or organisms lives. | |||
Kurdish | jîngeh | ||
The word "jîngeh" in Kurdish also refers to a "dwelling place" or "nest". | |||
Turkish | yetişme ortamı | ||
The term "yetişme ortamı" can also refer to a social environment or a cultural context. | |||
Xhosa | indawo yokuhlala | ||
The word "indawo yokuhlala" can refer to both the place where an animal lives and the animal's way of life. | |||
Yiddish | וווין | ||
"וווין" is derived from the German "Wohnung" meaning "dwelling". | |||
Zulu | indawo yokuhlala | ||
The Zulu word 'indawo yokuhlala' is a compound noun formed from 'indawo' (place) and 'okuhlala' (to stay or live). | |||
Assamese | বাসস্থান | ||
Aymara | jakañawja | ||
Bhojpuri | ठौर-ठिकाना | ||
Dhivehi | ދިރިއުޅޭތަން | ||
Dogri | नवास | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tirahan | ||
Guarani | tekoha | ||
Ilocano | pagdianan | ||
Krio | say we animal de | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | نشینگە | ||
Maithili | आवास-स्थान | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯩꯐꯝ | ||
Mizo | chenna | ||
Oromo | bakka jireenyaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବାସସ୍ଥାନ | ||
Quechua | wasi | ||
Sanskrit | अभ्यास | ||
Tatar | яшәү урыны | ||
Tigrinya | መንበሪ | ||
Tsonga | vutshamo | ||