Horse in Different Languages
Discover 'Horse' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Horses have held immense significance in human societies since time immemorial. Once a crucial means of transportation, horses remain a symbol of freedom, strength, and beauty across cultures. From ancient warfare to modern equestrian sports, these majestic creatures continue to captivate our hearts and minds.
Did you know that horses were domesticated over 5,000 years ago, revolutionizing agriculture, trade, and warfare? Or that there are over 350 breeds of horses worldwide, each with unique characteristics and uses?
Understanding the word 'horse' in different languages can open doors to exploring cultural diversity and global connections. For instance, the Spanish call it 'caballo', while the French say 'cheval', the German 'Pferd', and the Chinese '马 (mǎ)'.
Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of 'horse' translations in various languages, providing not just linguistic knowledge, but also insights into the fascinating history and cultural importance of these magnificent animals.
Horse
Horse in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | perd | ||
| The word “perd” comes from the French word "cheval", which means "horse". | |||
| Amharic | ፈረስ | ||
| The word "ፈረስ" (horse) is derived from the Proto-Semitic root *frs, which also means "foal" and "donkey". | |||
| Hausa | doki | ||
| The word "doki" in Hausa can also refer to a male donkey. | |||
| Igbo | ịnyịnya | ||
| The word "ịnyịnya" also means "a person who is very hard-working" or "a workaholic" in Igbo. | |||
| Malagasy | soavaly | ||
| The word "soavaly" also means "mare" and comes from the root "sova" meaning "to run". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kavalo | ||
| The word "kavalo" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is also used to refer to a wooden toy cart that children play with. | |||
| Shona | bhiza | ||
| In some parts of Zimbabwe, "bhiza" can also refer to a donkey. | |||
| Somali | faras | ||
| The word "faras" also refers to a horse's bridle or saddle in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | pere | ||
| While "pere" typically means "horse" in Sesotho, it can also refer to an animal's belly, or the ground. | |||
| Swahili | farasi | ||
| "Farasi" also means "beautiful" in Comorian, and "Persian" in Arabic. | |||
| Xhosa | ihashe | ||
| The word 'ihashe' in Xhosa can also refer to a donkey. | |||
| Yoruba | ẹṣin | ||
| "The word ẹṣin originally applied to the buffalo and was later extended to the horse." | |||
| Zulu | ihhashi | ||
| The Zulu word "ihhashi" also can mean "donkey" or "mule". | |||
| Bambara | so | ||
| Ewe | sɔ̃ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ifarashi | ||
| Lingala | mpunda | ||
| Luganda | embalaasi | ||
| Sepedi | pere | ||
| Twi (Akan) | pɔnkɔ | ||
Horse in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | حصان | ||
| The word حصان also refers to "luck", or "fortune", especially when used with the phrase "ضربة الحصان". | |||
| Hebrew | סוּס | ||
| The Hebrew word סוּס (sus) is derived from either Egyptian (ses) or Akkadian (sisû) and also refers to a "mare". | |||
| Pashto | اسونه | ||
| The word "اسونه" in Pashto also means "a unit of land equal to approximately 6.25 acres". | |||
| Arabic | حصان | ||
| The word حصان also refers to "luck", or "fortune", especially when used with the phrase "ضربة الحصان". | |||
Horse in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kali | ||
| The Albanian word "kali" not only refers to "horse" but also to the female gender in names. | |||
| Basque | zaldi | ||
| Zaldi is the Basque word for "horse" and comes from the proto-Basque root *zal(d)i*. | |||
| Catalan | cavall | ||
| Caball is a loanword from Latin caballus, originally meaning a workhorse or a gelding, and is not related to the native Catalan word cavall. | |||
| Croatian | konj | ||
| In some Slavic languages, the word 'konj' also means 'rider' or 'cavalryman'. | |||
| Danish | hest | ||
| In Danish, the word "hest" not only refers to a horse, but also carries the alternative meaning of "journey", likely stemming from the association of horses with travel. | |||
| Dutch | paard | ||
| The Dutch word "paard" is cognate with English "pard" and "partner," suggesting a former meaning of "traveling companion". | |||
| English | horse | ||
| The word 'horse' derives from the Proto-Indo-European root '*h₂éḱwos', meaning 'fast-running'. | |||
| French | cheval | ||
| The word 'cheval' comes from the Latin 'caballus' meaning 'pack horse' or 'nag' and is also used in the phrase 'cheval de bataille' meaning 'pet subject' | |||
| Frisian | hynder | ||
| The word "hynder" can also mean "mare" or "stallion" in Frisian, depending on the context. | |||
| Galician | cabalo | ||
| The word "cabalo" originally referred to the male horse but later extended to refer to all horses. | |||
| German | pferd | ||
| The German word "Pferd" is derived from the Proto-West Germanic form *perda, which is related to the English word "pad" and "parade". | |||
| Icelandic | hestur | ||
| The Icelandic word "hestur" derives from the Proto-Indo-European noun "*ḱeḱos/*ćaćos", which also yielded "equus" in Latin and "hippos" in Greek. | |||
| Irish | capall | ||
| The word "capall" can also mean "mare" or "filly" | |||
| Italian | cavallo | ||
| The Italian word "cavallo" shares a common root with "cavalry" and the Latin "caballus", the ancestor of the word "horse" in many European languages. | |||
| Luxembourgish | päerd | ||
| The word "Päerd" likely originates from the Celtic root "epos" (horse), shared by most Germanic languages but possibly influenced by Slavic languages. | |||
| Maltese | żiemel | ||
| "Żiemel" is the Maltese word for "horse" and is derived from the Arabic word "jamal" meaning "camel". | |||
| Norwegian | hest | ||
| Old Norse "hestr," from Proto-Germanic "*haistaz," related to "*hais-," "command." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cavalo | ||
| The word "cavalo" (horse in Portuguese) comes from the Latin word "caballus", which also means "workhorse". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | each | ||
| The word 'each' comes from Old Irish 'ech' meaning 'horse' or 'steed' | |||
| Spanish | caballo | ||
| The word "caballo" comes from the Latin "caballus" and can also mean "nag" or "steed" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | häst | ||
| In some Swedish dialects, "häst" can also refer to a "haystack". | |||
| Welsh | ceffyl | ||
| "ceffyl" (horse) is likely derived from Proto-Celtic "*ekuos", also meaning "horse", and is not related to the word "ceffylau" (leaves). | |||
Horse in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | конь | ||
| The Belarusian word "конь" can also refer to a knight in chess. | |||
| Bosnian | konj | ||
| The word "konj" is cognate with English "equestrian," both ultimately deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₁éḱwos". | |||
| Bulgarian | кон | ||
| "Кон" also means a unit of mass or volume equal to half a bushel. | |||
| Czech | kůň | ||
| The word "kůň" also means "horse" in other Slavic languages, including Polish, Slovak, and Russian. | |||
| Estonian | hobune | ||
| The word "hobune" may also refer to a rocking horse, a hobbyhorse or a chess knight. | |||
| Finnish | hevonen | ||
| "Hevonen" originates from Proto-Germanic "haiba-", meaning "to raise", possibly because of the high-stepping gait of the animal. | |||
| Hungarian | ló | ||
| The word "ló" also means "to shoot" or "to fire" in Hungarian, likely originating from the sound of arrows being shot. | |||
| Latvian | zirgs | ||
| The Latvian word "zirgs" has cognates in Lithuanian, Russian, and other Slavic languages, implying an Indo-European origin. | |||
| Lithuanian | arklys | ||
| The word "arklys" is also known as the "night eagle" in the Lithuanian language. | |||
| Macedonian | коњ | ||
| The word “коњ” derives from the Proto-Slavic word “*konь”, which further derives from the Proto-Indo-European word “*h₂éḱwos”, meaning “horse”. | |||
| Polish | koń | ||
| The word "koń" in Polish is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *konь, which also means "steed" or "charger". | |||
| Romanian | cal | ||
| The Romanian word for "cal" derives from the Latin "caballus" and shares cognates with words for "horse" in other Romance languages like "cheval" in French and "caballo" in Spanish. | |||
| Russian | лошадь | ||
| The word "лошадь" also has the alternate meaning of "pawn" in the game of chess. | |||
| Serbian | коњ | ||
| In Bulgarian, the word "кон" (kon) also means "horse". | |||
| Slovak | koňa | ||
| "Kôň" can also mean "pony" or "steed". | |||
| Slovenian | konj | ||
| In some dialects, "konj" can also refer to a bull. | |||
| Ukrainian | кінь | ||
| The word "кінь" can in one of meaning be traced to an ancestor of the Proto Slavic "*konь" while another meaning traces further back Proto-Indo-European "*ekwo-*" which originally meant "to be fast". | |||
Horse in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ঘোড়া | ||
| In ancient Sanskrit 'ghora' originally meant cattle that was 'seized' or 'taken' as wealth after battle, but in time its meaning narrowed to 'horse' because of the horse's central role in ancient warfare. | |||
| Gujarati | ઘોડો | ||
| The Gujarati word “ઘોડો” (“horse”) shares its origin with the Sanskrit word “ghoṭaka”, meaning an animal that moves fast or a stallion. | |||
| Hindi | घोड़ा | ||
| The word 'घोड़ा' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'हय' meaning 'steed', 'charger', or 'horse' used for riding or pulling a vehicle. | |||
| Kannada | ಕುದುರೆ | ||
| The word "ಕುದುರೆ" is derived from the Dravidian root "kud", meaning "to leap" or "to jump". | |||
| Malayalam | കുതിര | ||
| The word 'കുതിര' ('horse') in Malayalam is derived from Proto-Dravidian word 'kudir' and Proto-Indo-European word 'kwelros', both of which also mean 'horse'. | |||
| Marathi | घोडा | ||
| The word "घोडा" (horse) in Marathi is derived from Sanskrit, and can also mean "a type of carriage" or "a frame of wood supporting the body of a cart". | |||
| Nepali | घोडा | ||
| In Nepali, "घोडा" means both horse and a wooden structure used as a bed in the mountains | |||
| Punjabi | ਘੋੜਾ | ||
| The word "ਘੋੜਾ" in Punjabi derives from the Vedic Sanskrit word "gharada". Similarly, in many modern Indo-Aryan languages, the word for "horse" derives from the same root. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අශ්වයා | ||
| The Sinhala word "අශ්වයා" is derived from the Sanskrit word "अश्व" meaning "horse" and also refers to the "horse" in chess. | |||
| Tamil | குதிரை | ||
| The Tamil word 'குதிரை' is cognate with Sanskrit 'ghodaka', which ultimately derives from Proto-Indo-European '*gʰó-ǵʰo-' meaning horse. | |||
| Telugu | గుర్రం | ||
| "గుర్రం" is derived from the Sanskrit word "ghora" which means "fast or swift". | |||
| Urdu | گھوڑا | ||
| "گھوڑا" also signifies a type of cloth, a game played on horseback or a special step in a dance. | |||
Horse in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 马 | ||
| The character "马" also means "mother" in some Chinese dialects. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 馬 | ||
| The traditional form of "馬" (馬) also means a person who is good at riding horses. | |||
| Japanese | うま | ||
| The word "うま" (horse) in Japanese also means "delicious" and is often used to describe tasty food. | |||
| Korean | 말 | ||
| The word '말' ('horse') in Korean also refers to 'speech' | |||
| Mongolian | морь | ||
| The word "морь" (horse) in Mongolian is of Proto-Mongolic origin, and is also used to refer to other equids such as donkeys and zebras. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မြင်း | ||
| In Myanmar, "မြင်း" ("horse") can also refer to a type of horse-drawn carriage or to a chess piece. | |||
Horse in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | kuda | ||
| Kuda' has a dual meaning in Indonesian, it can also refer to a 'number of items', such as kuda-kuda (several horses). | |||
| Javanese | jaran | ||
| The word "jaran" also refers to a mythical horse-like creature in Javanese mythology, which often has magical abilities and is ridden by powerful figures. | |||
| Khmer | សេះ | ||
| The Khmer word សេះ can also mean "to win a bet" | |||
| Lao | ມ້າ | ||
| "[ມ້າ](maa5/mɑː5)" in Lao is also used to refer to "a small pony" or "a wooden horse toy". | |||
| Malay | kuda | ||
| The word "kuda" also has extended meanings such as "pawn" in chess and "knight" in the card game "catur". | |||
| Thai | ม้า | ||
| The word "ม้า" (horse) can also mean "chess piece" or "opium pipe" in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | con ngựa | ||
| "Con ngựa" in Vietnamese is also a colloquial term for a motorcycle, derived from its horse-like sound and movement. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kabayo | ||
Horse in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | at | ||
| The word "at" in Azerbaijani can also refer to a type of chess piece known as the "knight". | |||
| Kazakh | жылқы | ||
| "Жылқы" also refers to "a herd, a multitude of living organisms" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | ат | ||
| The word "ат" is also used figuratively to denote a person of high status or respect. | |||
| Tajik | асп | ||
| The word "асп" (horse) in Tajik is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱekw-os, which also gave rise to the English word "equine". | |||
| Turkmen | at | ||
| Uzbek | ot | ||
| In Uzbek, "ot" also means "grass" or "fire". | |||
| Uyghur | ئات | ||
Horse in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | lio | ||
| The Hawaiian word "lio" can also mean "dog" or "cattle". | |||
| Maori | hoiho | ||
| "Hoiho" also refers to the yellow-eyed penguin, a flightless bird native to New Zealand. | |||
| Samoan | solofanua | ||
| The word "solofanua" in Samoan is also used figuratively to refer to a person who is strong or independent. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kabayo | ||
| "Kabayo" originally referred to a male deer, and is cognate with the Malay "kuda" and Chinese "ma". | |||
Horse in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | qaqilu | ||
| Guarani | kavaju | ||
Horse in International Languages
| Esperanto | ĉevalo | ||
| "Ĉevalo" comes from the Latin "caballus", meaning "workhorse" or "pack animal". | |||
| Latin | equus | ||
| In Latin, "equus" also pertains to the "riders" and "knights" and shares a root with words meaning "swift." | |||
Horse in Others Languages
| Greek | άλογο | ||
| The Greek word "άλογο" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂éḱwos, which also gave rise to the Latin word "equus" and the English word "horse". | |||
| Hmong | nees | ||
| The Hmong word "nees" can also refer to a legendary creature that is half-horse and half-human known as the "neeg-muas" or "horse-spirit". | |||
| Kurdish | hesp | ||
| "hesp" also means "a horse of good quality" or "a young horse". | |||
| Turkish | at | ||
| The word "at" in Turkish also means "shot" or "firing". | |||
| Xhosa | ihashe | ||
| The word 'ihashe' in Xhosa can also refer to a donkey. | |||
| Yiddish | פערד | ||
| "פערד" (horse) derives from the Germanic *ferðu-, and is cognate with "Pferd" and "horse". | |||
| Zulu | ihhashi | ||
| The Zulu word "ihhashi" also can mean "donkey" or "mule". | |||
| Assamese | ঘোঁৰা | ||
| Aymara | qaqilu | ||
| Bhojpuri | घोड़ा | ||
| Dhivehi | އަސް | ||
| Dogri | घोड़ा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kabayo | ||
| Guarani | kavaju | ||
| Ilocano | kabalyo | ||
| Krio | ɔs | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەسپ | ||
| Maithili | घोड़ा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯒꯣꯜ | ||
| Mizo | sakawr | ||
| Oromo | farda | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଘୋଡା | ||
| Quechua | caballo | ||
| Sanskrit | घोटकः | ||
| Tatar | ат | ||
| Tigrinya | ፈረስ | ||
| Tsonga | hanci | ||