Hand in Different Languages
Discover 'Hand' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The hand is one of the most versatile and expressive parts of the human body. It allows us to interact with the world around us, to create and to communicate. From a friendly wave to a firm handshake, our hands play a crucial role in building connections with others. Throughout history, hands have held significance in various cultural and religious contexts, often symbolizing power, peace, or protection.
Moreover, the word 'hand' is a perfect example of the richness and diversity of language. Did you know that in Japanese, the word for hand is 'te'? Or that in Hebrew, it's 'yad'? Understanding the translation of 'hand' in different languages not only broadens our vocabulary but also offers a glimpse into the unique perspectives and traditions of other cultures.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'hand' in a variety of languages, from the familiar to the exotic. Prepare to be fascinated and inspired by the beauty and complexity of human language and culture.
Hand
Hand in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | hand | ||
| The Afrikaans word "hand" can also refer to your signature or the front leg of an animal. | |||
| Amharic | እጅ | ||
| The word "እጅ" also denotes "means" or "capacity" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | hannu | ||
| The Hausa word "hannu" can also mean "power" or "authority." | |||
| Igbo | aka | ||
| The Igbo word | |||
| Malagasy | tanan'ilay | ||
| The word "TANAN'ILAY" also means "to hold" or "to grasp" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | dzanja | ||
| The word "dzanja" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is also used to refer to a paw or claw, and is related to the word "dzanja" in Swahili, which means "handful" or "palmful". | |||
| Shona | ruoko | ||
| The word "ruoko" in Shona is related to the verb "kuvhara" (to cover) and also means "palm of the hand". | |||
| Somali | gacanta | ||
| "Gacanta" in Somali can also refer to a signature on a document or a handprint left as a mark. | |||
| Sesotho | letsoho | ||
| In some contexts, "letsoho" can also refer to a "helper" or "assistant" in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | mkono | ||
| The Swahili word 'mkono' is related to the Proto-Bantu word '-kono' meaning 'arm'. | |||
| Xhosa | isandla | ||
| In Xhosa, 'isandla' also refers to the clan of King Dingane from the Zulu Kingdom, who were said to fight with open hands. | |||
| Yoruba | ọwọ | ||
| The noun "ọwọ" also has a secondary meaning of "side". | |||
| Zulu | isandla | ||
| Isandla, Zulu for 'hand', also denotes a group of Zulu regiments, a military camp, or a military unit. | |||
| Bambara | bolo | ||
| Ewe | asi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ukuboko | ||
| Lingala | loboko | ||
| Luganda | omukono | ||
| Sepedi | seatla | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nsa | ||
Hand in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | كف | ||
| The word "كف" in Arabic also means a "paw" and "power". | |||
| Hebrew | יד | ||
| The Hebrew word "יד" ("hand") also means "direction" or "place," as in "right hand" or "place of honor" | |||
| Pashto | لاس | ||
| The term "لاس" has alternate meanings in Pashto besides its usual meaning of "hand", also referring to a type of tool or instrument. | |||
| Arabic | كف | ||
| The word "كف" in Arabic also means a "paw" and "power". | |||
Hand in Western European Languages
| Albanian | dorë | ||
| The Albanian word "dorë" is derived from the Proto-Albanian "*d(h)orā", itself from the Indo-European root "*ǵʰḗr" (to grasp). | |||
| Basque | eskua | ||
| Etymology: from the Proto-Basque root *esker "left". | |||
| Catalan | mà | ||
| In Occitan and Catalan, the word 'mà' can also mean 'help' or 'labour', highlighting the importance of manual work in these cultures. | |||
| Croatian | ruka | ||
| In old Slavic languages, "ruka" meant "to grab" or "to take" | |||
| Danish | hånd | ||
| The word "hånd" derives from the Proto-Germanic term "*handuz," meaning "grasp" or "grip." | |||
| Dutch | hand- | ||
| The Dutch word "hand-" can also refer to a group of cards in a card game, or to a small bundle of flax or hemp. | |||
| English | hand | ||
| The English word "hand" derives from the Proto-Germanic word "handuz" and Proto-Indo-European root "ghendh-," meaning "to seize or take." | |||
| French | main | ||
| In French, "main" can also refer to "principal" (chief, main, primary), as in "la main rue" (main road). | |||
| Frisian | hân | ||
| In Frisian, "hân" also refers to the front paw of an animal, particularly a horse. | |||
| Galician | man | ||
| The word "man" in Galician, meaning "hand", is cognate with the Latin "manus" and has also influenced other words like "manager" and "manicure". | |||
| German | hand | ||
| In German, the word "Hand" can also mean "pointer" or "index". | |||
| Icelandic | hönd | ||
| The word "hönd" is cognate with the English word "hound" and originally meant "paw". | |||
| Irish | lámh | ||
| The Irish word "lámh" shares an etymological root with the Latin word "manus" (hand) and the Greek word "meche" (arm). | |||
| Italian | mano | ||
| In Latin the term "manus", from which comes the Italian 'mano', also refers to "power". | |||
| Luxembourgish | hand | ||
| Hand can also mean a person who does a task or an act and in the expression "an der Hand gin" which means to go for a walk. | |||
| Maltese | id | ||
| The term 'id' can also refer to a 'person' in Maltese, akin to the way the term 'hand' is used in English to denote a 'helper'. | |||
| Norwegian | hånd | ||
| The Norwegian word "hånd" can also refer to a type of playing card or a person's signature. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | mão | ||
| The word mão comes from the Latin word «manus», which means «hand» in English, but in Portuguese, it can also be used to refer to the front leg of a quadruped. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | làmh | ||
| The Gaelic word for hand, làmh, also refers to the forearm from the wrist to the elbow. | |||
| Spanish | mano | ||
| Mano can also mean "group" or "bunch" when referring to certain items, such as a "mano de plátanos" (a bunch of bananas). | |||
| Swedish | hand | ||
| The word "hand" in Swedish can also refer to the handle of a tool or weapon, or to the part of a clock that indicates the time. | |||
| Welsh | llaw | ||
| The word "llaw" in Welsh can also refer to a footprint or a trace. | |||
Hand in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | рука | ||
| The Belarusian word рука (ruka) is derived from Old Slavic, and has counterparts in many other Slavic languages. | |||
| Bosnian | ruku | ||
| Bosnian 'ruku' comes from Proto-Slavic and Proto-Indo-European, meaning both 'hand' and 'work', and is related to words for both in many languages including Russian and Sanskrit. | |||
| Bulgarian | ръка | ||
| The word "ръка" in Bulgarian also means "arm" or "sleeve". | |||
| Czech | ruka | ||
| Ruka ('hand' in Czech) derives from Proto-Slavic *roka, and is cognate with words like the Russian рука ('hand') and Romanian rocă ('rock, stone'). | |||
| Estonian | käsi | ||
| The word "käsi" can also mean "power" and is used in expressions like "käsivarsi" ("forearm") | |||
| Finnish | käsi | ||
| "Käten" ("hand's") derives from the Proto-Finnic word "käde" ("hand") while "käsi" itself comes from the Proto-Uralic form "käćć" ("paw"). | |||
| Hungarian | kéz | ||
| Kéz is cognate with the word „kéz“ in Old Prussian, but its possible connection to the Proto-Slavic word „rǫka“ is disputed. | |||
| Latvian | roka | ||
| The Latvian word "roka" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*rek-", meaning "to stretch out the hand" or "to take hold of". | |||
| Lithuanian | ranka | ||
| "Ranka" is derived from the Proto-Balto-Slavic word *rъka, which also meant "arm" and "foreleg". | |||
| Macedonian | рака | ||
| The Macedonian word "рака" can also refer to a tool or device used for various purposes, such as a lever, handle, or crank. | |||
| Polish | dłoń | ||
| The Polish word 'dłoń' originally referred to the palm of the hand, while 'ręka' meant the whole limb. | |||
| Romanian | mână | ||
| The Romanian word "mână" is derived from the Latin word "manus", meaning both "hand" and "power". | |||
| Russian | рука | ||
| "Рука" also means "a person's handwriting" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | руку | ||
| The word "руку" in Serbian can also refer to the arm or to a helping hand. | |||
| Slovak | ruka | ||
| The word "ruka" in Slovak also has the alternate meaning of "signature". | |||
| Slovenian | roka | ||
| In Slovene, "roka" also refers to the hand of a clock or watch. | |||
| Ukrainian | рука | ||
| In Russian, ‘pyka’ (рука) also means arm, signature or hand gesture | |||
Hand in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | হাত | ||
| "হাত" (hat) is also a colloquial Bengali term referring to an individual's personal assistant. | |||
| Gujarati | હાથ | ||
| The Gujarati word "હાથ" can also refer to the trunk of an elephant or the branch of a tree. | |||
| Hindi | हाथ | ||
| "हाथ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "हस्त" which also means "elephant's trunk" and "a measure of length up to the elbow". | |||
| Kannada | ಕೈ | ||
| The Kannada word "ಕೈ" has cognates in other Dravidian languages, such as "kai" in Tamil, "cheyyi" in Malayalam, and "hathi" in Telugu. | |||
| Malayalam | കൈ | ||
| The Malayalam word "കൈ" (hand) is also used to refer to an elephant's trunk, a person's arm from shoulder to fingertips, or a type of fruit (fruit of a jackfruit tree). | |||
| Marathi | हात | ||
| In Marathi, 'हात' can also mean 'the branch of a tree' or 'control'. | |||
| Nepali | हात | ||
| In Maithili, the word "हात" (haat) also means "market" | |||
| Punjabi | ਹੱਥ | ||
| The word "ਹੱਥ" in Punjabi is derived from Sanskrit "हस्त" (hasta) and has alternate meanings such as power, skill, or ability. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අත | ||
| In Sinhala, | |||
| Tamil | கை | ||
| The Tamil word 'கை' also means 'trunk' and 'side' and comes from the Proto-Dravidian root *kay-. | |||
| Telugu | చెయ్యి | ||
| The word "చెయ్యి" is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word *kai-, meaning "hand". | |||
| Urdu | ہاتھ | ||
| The Urdu word "ہاتھ" means "hand" and is also used to refer to the concept of "power" or "authority". | |||
Hand in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 手 | ||
| 手 (pronounced 'shǒu' in Mandarin) can also refer to a person's skill, ability, or technique. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 手 | ||
| In the Chinese phrase "拉拉手", "手" means "friend" or "close relationship". | |||
| Japanese | 手 | ||
| The onyomi reading of 手 is | |||
| Korean | 손 | ||
| The word "손" can also mean "grandson" or "guest" in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | гар | ||
| The word 'гар' in Mongolian is cognate to the word 'kar' meaning 'arm' in Turkic languages, and also has the alternate meaning of 'side'. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လက် | ||
| The word "လက်" (pronounced [ləʔ]) can refer to the palm, wrist, or forelimb of an animal (e.g., elephant's trunk). | |||
Hand in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | tangan | ||
| "Tangan" originates from Proto-Austronesian "taliŋan", with a literal meaning "to hold" and an alternate meaning "arm" in other Austronesian languages. | |||
| Javanese | tangan | ||
| In the Javanese language, the word 'tangan' not only refers to the physical hand, but also to a concept of 'skill' or 'expertise' in a particular area. | |||
| Khmer | ដៃ | ||
| The word "ដៃ" can also mean a wing or a branch. | |||
| Lao | ມື | ||
| The word "ມື" ("hand") in Lao originates from Sanskrit and is cognate with "mu" in other Southeast Asian languages, also meaning "hand" or "arm". | |||
| Malay | tangan | ||
| The Malay word "tangan" also means "power" or "help", as in "tangan kanan" (right-hand man). | |||
| Thai | มือ | ||
| The word "มือ" can also mean "arm" or "paw". | |||
| Vietnamese | tay | ||
| "Tay" (hand) also means "skill" or "talent". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kamay | ||
Hand in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | əl | ||
| The origin of the Azerbaijani word "əl" ("hand") is uncertain, but it is sometimes compared to the Proto-Altaic word "*äl", meaning "to take". | |||
| Kazakh | қол | ||
| The word “қол” can also mean “army,” a fact reflected in the name of several prominent figures in Kazakh history. | |||
| Kyrgyz | кол | ||
| The word "кол" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a "bundle" or a "group". | |||
| Tajik | даст | ||
| In some dialects of Tajik, "даст" also means "arm". | |||
| Turkmen | eli | ||
| Uzbek | qo'l | ||
| Uzbek "qo'l" shares roots with the Mongolian "kol" (arm) and "gool" meaning 'power, might', and "kol" in other Turkic languages (branch of arm). | |||
| Uyghur | hand | ||
Hand in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | lima | ||
| The word "lima" in Hawaiian also refers to the number five, as it resembles five fingers. | |||
| Maori | ringa | ||
| The Māori word “ringa” not only means 'hand' but is also an expression of respect, as it can also mean 'sign' or 'written agreement'. | |||
| Samoan | lima | ||
| Lima in Samoan can also refer to the number five, a type of bean, or a kind of fern. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kamay | ||
| In Filipino, the word "kamay" can also refer to a "group" or "company" of people, such as a "banda" or musical group. | |||
Hand in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ampara | ||
| Guarani | po | ||
Hand in International Languages
| Esperanto | mano | ||
| In Esperanto, "mano" also means "power, authority, or control". | |||
| Latin | manibus | ||
| "Manibus" also means "manes" (spirits or souls of the departed). | |||
Hand in Others Languages
| Greek | χέρι | ||
| The word "χέρι" not only means "hand" in Greek, but also "manuscript" or "act". | |||
| Hmong | tes | ||
| The Hmong word "tes" can also refer to a footprint, paw print, or hoofprint. | |||
| Kurdish | dest | ||
| The word "dest" in Kurdish is cognate with the same word in Persian and means "line" or "stripe". | |||
| Turkish | el | ||
| The word 'El' in Turkish, meaning 'Hand', also has the alternate meaning of 'Foreign' | |||
| Xhosa | isandla | ||
| In Xhosa, 'isandla' also refers to the clan of King Dingane from the Zulu Kingdom, who were said to fight with open hands. | |||
| Yiddish | האַנט | ||
| The Yiddish word "האַנט" not only means "hand," but also "signature". | |||
| Zulu | isandla | ||
| Isandla, Zulu for 'hand', also denotes a group of Zulu regiments, a military camp, or a military unit. | |||
| Assamese | হাত | ||
| Aymara | ampara | ||
| Bhojpuri | हाथ | ||
| Dhivehi | އަތްތިލަ | ||
| Dogri | हत्थ | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kamay | ||
| Guarani | po | ||
| Ilocano | ima | ||
| Krio | an | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دەست | ||
| Maithili | हाथ | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯠ | ||
| Mizo | kut | ||
| Oromo | harka | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ହାତ | ||
| Quechua | maki | ||
| Sanskrit | हस्त | ||
| Tatar | кул | ||
| Tigrinya | ኢድ | ||
| Tsonga | voko | ||