Hero in different languages

Hero in Different Languages

Discover 'Hero' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'hero' holds a significant place in our hearts and minds, embodying courage, strength, and selflessness. From ancient mythology to modern literature, heroes have been celebrated across cultures for their unwavering determination and valor. The concept of a 'hero' transcends time and place, resonating with people worldwide.

Understanding the translation of 'hero' in different languages not only enriches our vocabulary but also offers a glimpse into the cultural nuances that shape our perception of this timeless archetype. For instance, the German word 'Held' reflects the hero's battle-hardened prowess, while the Chinese translation, '英雄 (Yīngxióng),' highlights the hero's virtuous nature.

Moreover, exploring the word 'hero' in various languages can be a fun and fascinating journey, uncovering historical contexts and unique cultural interpretations. Join us as we delve into the translations of 'hero' in over 50 languages, from Arabic to Zulu, and discover the rich tapestry of heroism that connects us all.

Hero


Hero in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansheld
The Afrikaans word 'held' has the double meaning of hero and strong, and derives from the Proto-West Germanic *hald, which referred to a slope or incline.
Amharicጀግና
"ጀግና" (hero) comes from "ጀግነ" (to be brave, strong, or valiant).
Hausagwarzo
The word "gwarzo" can also mean "giant" or "leader" in Hausa.
Igbodike
Igbo has an unrelated word 'dike' describing an elephant that makes loud noises
Malagasyreharehany
REHAREHANY may also mean a "person who helps others"
Nyanja (Chichewa)ngwazi
In Nyanja, "ngwazi" also means a legendary creature that protects the village from enemies.
Shonagamba
"Gamba" can also be used to mean "chief's praise singer" or "messenger" in Shona.
Somaligeesi
"Geesi" can be broken down into "gee", meaning a shield, and "si", meaning a sword or spear.
Sesothomohale
Swahilishujaa
"Shujaa" derives from the Arabic word "shajaa" meaning "courage" and is also related to the Swahili word "shujaa" meaning "warrior".
Xhosaiqhawe
In Zulu, the word 'iqhawe' also means 'lion,' which signifies courage and bravery.
Yorubaakoni
In Yoruba, "akoni" can also mean "warrior" or "skilled person".
Zuluiqhawe
The word "iqhawe" in Zulu can also mean "warrior" or "champion.
Bambarajatigɛwalekɛla
Ewekalẽtɔ
Kinyarwandaintwari
Lingalaelombe
Lugandaomuzira
Sepedimogale
Twi (Akan)ɔkokodurufo

Hero in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicبطل
The word "بطل" in Arabic also means "invalid" or "null".
Hebrewגיבור
The word "גיבור" can also refer to a skilled person or a mighty warrior.
Pashtoاتل
اتـل/Atal in Pashto, also means 'eagle,' referring to its majestic and valiant qualities.
Arabicبطل
The word "بطل" in Arabic also means "invalid" or "null".

Hero in Western European Languages

Albanianheroi
"Heroi" in Albanian comes from the Greek word "hērōs", meaning "hero, demigod, or notable figure."
Basqueheroia
The masculine Basque word for hero, heroia, is related to heriotza, death, and to hil, to kill.
Catalanheroi
The Catalan word "heroi" comes from the Greek word "ἥρως" (hḗrōs), which originally meant "protector" or "defender".
Croatianjunak
The word "junak" also means "giant" in the context of fairytales and Slavic mythology.
Danishhelt
The Danish word "helt" not only means "hero", but also "completely" or "whole".
Dutchheld
In Dutch, "held" means "hero", but it also has other meanings such as "slope" or "inclined plane".
Englishhero
The word 'hero' stems from the Greek term 'heros', denoting a demi-god or one who exhibits remarkable bravery and strength.
Frenchhéros
Héros can also mean "lover" or "main character" in certain contexts.
Frisianheld
Frisian "held" also means "steep" or "slope" and originates from Old Frisian "helde" (slope).
Galicianheroe
The Galician word 'heroe' is a false Galicianism derived from the Castilian word 'héroe' but can also mean 'heroic' or 'heroic poem'.
Germanheld
The word "Held" in German originally meant "one who is held in high esteem" or "a protector".
Icelandichetja
The word "hetja" in Icelandic is related to the Old Norse word "hetja," meaning "to incite" or "to encourage."
Irishlaoch
The word 'laoch' can also refer to a 'champion,' 'warrior,' or 'youth'.
Italianeroe
"Eroe" comes from the Greek word "ἥρως" (heros), used in the sense of hero, demigod, or mortal of superhuman strength and courage.
Luxembourgishheld
In Luxembourgish, "Held" can also refer to a large or bulky person.
Malteseeroj
The Maltese word "eroj" is derived from the French word "héros" and also retains an alternate meaning of "owner" or "lord".
Norwegianhelt
The Old Norse word "helt" meant "man" but later came to imply a brave man, or "hero."
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)herói
Portuguese «herói» derives from Greek «heros», but in Portuguese it can also refer to a fictional character without heroic qualities.
Scots Gaelicghaisgeach
The word 'ghaisgeach' is derived from an Old Irish term which meant warrior, and was originally applied exclusively to those of aristocratic birth.
Spanishhéroe
The word "héroe" comes from the Greek word "heros", meaning "demigod" or "great warrior".
Swedishhjälte
Hjälte's original meaning in Old Norse was 'warrior'
Welsharwr
The Welsh word "arwr" (hero) is derived from the Proto-Celtic word "*ar-wiro" (man-warrior), and is cognate with the Irish "air". It can also refer to a "champion", "heroic figure" or a "male figure of great stature".

Hero in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianгерой
The word "герой" in Belarusian can also refer to the protagonist of a literary work or a person who has performed a heroic deed.
Bosnianheroj
The word 'heroj' (hero) in Bosnian also means 'heroic', 'brave', and 'valiant'.
Bulgarianгерой
The word "герой" can also refer to a character in a literary or cinematic work, or an individual who is highly respected or admired for their achievements or actions.
Czechhrdina
The word "hrdina" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *gordъ, meaning "proud" or "strong". It can also mean "champion" or "leader".
Estoniankangelane
The word "kangelane" is derived from the Old Norse "kegna" meaning "to be able, to be skilled."
Finnishsankari
The word 'sankari' in Finnish is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *senk-, meaning 'to gain, conquer, win'.
Hungarianhős
The Hungarian word "hős" also means "dead warrior" and is related to the word "halál" meaning "death".
Latvianvaronis
The word "varonis" shares its root with the word "vārds," which means "name" or "reputation".
Lithuanianherojus
The word "herojus" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰéros, meaning "protector" or "keeper".
Macedonianхерој
The Macedonian word "херој" ultimately derives from the Greek word "ἥρως" (hērōs), which originally meant "protector" or "defender".
Polishbohater
The word "bohater" originates from the Proto-Slavic word meaning "fighter" or "warrior", and is related to the word "bój" (battle).
Romanianerou
The Romanian word "erou" ultimately derives from the Greek "heros" and originally referred to demigods, half-human and half-divine beings.
Russianгерой
The word
Serbianјунак
The word "јунак" is derived from the Turkish word "yigit", meaning "brave warrior"
Slovakhrdina
The Slovak word "hrdina" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*gordinъ", meaning "proud" or "haughty".
Slovenianjunak
The word "junak" also means "young man" or "soldier" in Slovenian.
Ukrainianгерой
The word "герой" derives from the Greek "ἥρως" (hērōs) and was originally used to describe a demigod or a man with extraordinary strength and courage.

Hero in South Asian Languages

Bengaliনায়ক
The word "নায়ক" is related to the Sanskrit word "नायक" (nāyaka), which also means "leading role" or "hero".
Gujaratiહીરો
The word "હીરો" in Gujarati is derived from the Middle Persian word "hrwd" meaning "strong" or "valiant".
Hindiनायक
The word "नायक" in Hindi derives from the Sanskrit word "नाटक" meaning "drama," and originally referred to the protagonist of a play.
Kannadaನಾಯಕ
The Kannada word "ನಾಯಕ" (nāyaka) also refers to a headman or leader, and is derived from the Sanskrit word "nayaka," meaning "leader."
Malayalamകഥാനായകന്
The word
Marathiनायक
The word "नायक" (nayaka) in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word "नायक" (nāyaka), which means "leader" or "chief."
Nepaliनायक
"नायक" is also used to refer to the chief of a drama, a person who leads a group, or a male dancer.
Punjabiਹੀਰੋ
In Punjabi, "ਹੀਰੋ" (hero) also refers to a legendary figure of intense courage and virtue.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වීරයා
The word 'වීරයා' can also refer to a male member of the 'Vaisya' caste, one of the four main castes in ancient Indian society.
Tamilஹீரோ
The word 'ஹீரோ' ('hero') in Tamil can also refer to a demigod or a deity.
Teluguహీరో
In Sanskrit, 'hero' translates to 'वीर' pronounced as 'veera', likely the source of 'hero' in Telugu (హీరో) pronounced as 'heero'.
Urduہیرو
The word 'ہیرو' is derived from the Greek word 'ἥρως' (hērōs), which originally meant 'protector' or 'chieftain'.

Hero in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)英雄
The word "英雄" in Chinese can also refer to a "great man" or a "heroic figure".
Chinese (Traditional)英雄
英雄 ('hero') is composed of the characters 英 ('outstanding') and 雄 ('man'), originally referring to an outstanding and brave man, regardless of gender.
Japaneseヒーロー
ヒーロー (hero) in Japanese can also refer to main protagonists in films or other works of fiction.
Korean영웅
The word "영웅" (yeoung-ung) in Korean literally means "a person with a brave heart".
Mongolianбаатар
The word “баатар” also means an epic hero in Mongolian literature.
Myanmar (Burmese)သူရဲကောင်း

Hero in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpahlawan
The term 'pahlawan' can also refer to characters from folklore and mythology.
Javanesepahlawan
The word
Khmerវីរបុរស
Laoພະເອກ
The word "ພະເອກ" in Lao can also refer to the protagonist in a story or drama, or more specifically, the male lead role.
Malaywira
"Wira" is a Sanskrit word which also means "man", "warrior", or "champion".
Thaiฮีโร่
In Thai, the word "ฮีโร่" (hero) can also refer to a "heroic act".
Vietnameseanh hùng
The word "anh hùng" (hero) is derived from Chinese "英雄" (yīngxióng), which can also mean "outstanding talent".
Filipino (Tagalog)bayani

Hero in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqəhrəman
"Qəhrəman" is a Turkic word that originally meant "a strong and brave man".
Kazakhбатыр
The word "батыр" derives from an old Turkic word meaning "brave" or "strong" and is also related to the Chinese word "batou" meaning "a warlike horse."
Kyrgyzбаатыр
In Kyrgyz, 'баатыр' ('hero') can also mean 'a brave warrior' or 'a legendary figure'
Tajikқаҳрамон
The word "қаҳрамон" also means "a strong and brave person" in Tajik, and is used to refer to someone who has performed a heroic act.
Turkmengahryman
Uzbekqahramon
In Uzbek, the word "qahramon" has additional meanings such as "brave" and "warrior", highlighting the broader concept of heroism in the Uzbek language.
Uyghurقەھرىمان

Hero in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmeʻe
The Hawaiian word "meʻe" can also refer to a skilled worker or expert in a particular field, not necessarily a hero in battle.
Maorihero
In Maori, "hero" also means a carved figure placed atop a wharenui, a type of meeting house.
Samoantoa
In Tokelauan and Niuean, the cognate word 'toa' means 'warrior' or 'chief'.
Tagalog (Filipino)bayani
The word "bayani" in Tagalog can also refer to a historical figure or an ordinary person who has done something extraordinary.

Hero in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraheroe ukham uñt’atawa
Guaranihéroe

Hero in International Languages

Esperantoheroo
Heroo (Esperanto for "hero") comes from the Greek word "hērōs" (ἥρως), which originally referred to a demigod or mythical figure.
Latinheros
The Latin word "heros" is derived from the Greek word "ἥρως" (heros), which originally referred to a demigod or a person of divine ancestry.

Hero in Others Languages

Greekήρωας
The word 'ήρωας' can also refer to a demigod or a divine ancestor in Greek mythology.
Hmongphab ej
This word means, "to help in carrying someone across a stream when fishing by spearfishing; an act of bravery". Another name for a phabej is a phaj niam - a strong warrior who fought and died during a war.
Kurdishqehreman
The word "qehreman" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian word "qahr", meaning "force" or "power".
Turkishkahraman
The word "kahraman" is derived from the Persian word "qahramān", which means "warrior" or "hero".
Xhosaiqhawe
In Zulu, the word 'iqhawe' also means 'lion,' which signifies courage and bravery.
Yiddishהעלד
In Yiddish, "held" can also refer to a "giant", "warrior", or "champion".
Zuluiqhawe
The word "iqhawe" in Zulu can also mean "warrior" or "champion.
Assameseনায়ক
Aymaraheroe ukham uñt’atawa
Bhojpuriहीरो के नाम से जानल जाला
Dhivehiބަޠަލެއް
Dogriहीरो
Filipino (Tagalog)bayani
Guaranihéroe
Ilocanobannuar
Kriohiro
Kurdish (Sorani)پاڵەوان
Maithiliनायक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯍꯤꯔꯣ꯫
Mizohero a ni
Oromogoota
Odia (Oriya)ହିରୋ
Quechuahero
Sanskritनायकः
Tatarгерой
Tigrinyaጅግና
Tsonganhenha

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