Iron in Different Languages
Discover 'Iron' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Iron
Afrikaans yster | ||
Albanian hekuri | ||
Amharic ብረት | ||
Arabic حديد | ||
Armenian երկաթ | ||
Assamese লো | ||
Aymara yiru | ||
Azerbaijani dəmir | ||
Bambara nɛgɛ | ||
Basque burdina | ||
Belarusian жалеза | ||
Bengali লোহা | ||
Bhojpuri लोहा | ||
Bosnian gvožđe | ||
Bulgarian желязо | ||
Catalan ferro | ||
Cebuano iron | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 铁 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 鐵 | ||
Corsican ferru | ||
Croatian željezo | ||
Czech žehlička | ||
Danish jern | ||
Dhivehi ދަގަނޑު | ||
Dogri लोहा | ||
Dutch ijzer | ||
English iron | ||
Esperanto fero | ||
Estonian rauda | ||
Ewe ga | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) bakal | ||
Finnish rauta- | ||
French le fer | ||
Frisian izer | ||
Galician ferro | ||
Georgian რკინა | ||
German eisen | ||
Greek σίδερο | ||
Guarani kuarepoti | ||
Gujarati લોખંડ | ||
Haitian Creole fè | ||
Hausa baƙin ƙarfe | ||
Hawaiian hao | ||
Hebrew בַּרזֶל | ||
Hindi लोहा | ||
Hmong hlau | ||
Hungarian vas | ||
Icelandic járn | ||
Igbo ígwè | ||
Ilocano plantsa | ||
Indonesian besi | ||
Irish iarann | ||
Italian ferro | ||
Japanese 鉄 | ||
Javanese wesi | ||
Kannada ಕಬ್ಬಿಣ | ||
Kazakh темір | ||
Khmer ដែក | ||
Kinyarwanda icyuma | ||
Konkani लोखंड | ||
Korean 철 | ||
Krio ayɛn | ||
Kurdish hesin | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) ئاسن | ||
Kyrgyz темир | ||
Lao ທາດເຫຼັກ | ||
Latin ferrum | ||
Latvian dzelzs | ||
Lingala libende | ||
Lithuanian geležis | ||
Luganda okugolola | ||
Luxembourgish eisen | ||
Macedonian железо | ||
Maithili लोहा | ||
Malagasy vy | ||
Malay besi | ||
Malayalam ഇരുമ്പ് | ||
Maltese ħadid | ||
Maori rino | ||
Marathi लोह | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯌꯣꯠ | ||
Mizo thir | ||
Mongolian төмөр | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) သံ | ||
Nepali फलाम | ||
Norwegian jern | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) chitsulo | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଲୁହା | ||
Oromo sibiila | ||
Pashto اوسپنه | ||
Persian اهن | ||
Polish żelazo | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) ferro | ||
Punjabi ਲੋਹਾ | ||
Quechua hierro | ||
Romanian fier | ||
Russian железо | ||
Samoan uʻamea | ||
Sanskrit लौह | ||
Scots Gaelic iarann | ||
Sepedi aene | ||
Serbian гвожђе | ||
Sesotho tšepe | ||
Shona iron | ||
Sindhi لوھ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) යකඩ | ||
Slovak železo | ||
Slovenian železo | ||
Somali birta | ||
Spanish hierro | ||
Sundanese beusi | ||
Swahili chuma | ||
Swedish järn | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) bakal | ||
Tajik оҳан | ||
Tamil இரும்பு | ||
Tatar тимер | ||
Telugu ఇనుము | ||
Thai เหล็ก | ||
Tigrinya ሓፂን | ||
Tsonga nsimbhi | ||
Turkish demir | ||
Turkmen demir | ||
Twi (Akan) dadeɛ | ||
Ukrainian залізо | ||
Urdu لوہا | ||
Uyghur تۆمۈر | ||
Uzbek temir | ||
Vietnamese bàn là | ||
Welsh haearn | ||
Xhosa intsimbi | ||
Yiddish פּרעסן | ||
Yoruba irin | ||
Zulu insimbi |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The Afrikaans word "yster" is derived from the Old Dutch word "yster", which is ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic word for iron, "*isarna." |
| Albanian | The word "hekuri" also means "blood" in Albanian, potentially due to the use of iron in weapons and the connection between blood and war. |
| Amharic | The word ብረት (iron) is cognate with the Ge'ez word በረዘ (to cut), suggesting its original association with the use of iron tools. |
| Arabic | The word |
| Armenian | The Armenian word "երկաթ" (iron) possibly derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂es- ("bronze, copper"), cognate with Latin aes ("copper"). |
| Azerbaijani | The word "dəmir" in Azerbaijani ultimately derives from the Proto-Turkic word "temir" meaning "iron", and is cognate with the word "demir" in Turkish. |
| Basque | The word "burdina" in Basque is thought to derive from an Indo-European root meaning "heavy". |
| Belarusian | The word "жалеза" also refers to a type of axe, similar to a hatchet. |
| Bengali | The word "লোহা" also means "red" in Bengali, possibly due to the reddish color of iron when rusted. |
| Bosnian | The Bosnian word "gvožđe" can also refer to the color black. |
| Bulgarian | Bulgarian "желязо" ("iron") derives from the Proto-Slavic "*želězo", which also meant "strength". |
| Catalan | "Ferro" is also the Catalan word for a railroad. |
| Cebuano | The word 'iron' in Cebuano ('puthaw') can also refer to a 'brand' or a 'mark' on livestock. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | "铁" (iron) also means "certain" or "unwavering" in some contexts. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The word 鐵 (iron) also refers to a specific type of cast iron cookware, especially woks |
| Corsican | The word "ferru" in Corsican is derived from the Latin word "ferrum" which means "iron" and also means "metal". |
| Croatian | The word "željezo" can also refer to "iron ore" or "ironclad" in Croatian. |
| Czech | In the Czech language, the word "žehlička" also refers to a type of pastry made from yeast dough and rolled flat into thin sheets. |
| Danish | The word "jern" in Danish not only refers to "iron" but also to "tool" or "weapon". |
| Dutch | IJzer ('iron') is also an archaic name for the river Yser, from Celtic *isara ('swift water'). |
| Esperanto | The Esperanto word "fero" is derived from the Latin word "ferrum", which means "iron". |
| Estonian | The word "raua" originates from the Proto-Finnic term "*rauta", a derivative of an unknown ancient Indo-European word meaning "metal". |
| Finnish | In addition to "iron", "rauta" may refer to iron, nickel, copper, or other metal substances, or even a metal alloy, a metal object, ironwork, a railway, or even a tool or a weapon; it may also mean "difficulty" and sometimes "strength". |
| French | In Old French, "le fer" was also used to refer to a sword or other cutting weapon |
| Frisian | In Frisian, "izer" can also refer to an iron used for pressing clothing. |
| Galician | "Ferro" is a homophone of "fero" (wild) in Galician, and is also the root of the word "ferreiro" (blacksmith). |
| Georgian | The word რკინა is derived from the Indo-European root *k'er-, meaning "to harden". |
| German | The word "Eisen" is derived from the Old High German word "īsan" meaning "ore" and can also refer to different types of ore, such as copper ore or iron ore. |
| Greek | The Greek word 'σίδερο' may also refer to 'Sirius', the brightest star in the night sky, or 'iron arrowheads' used by archers. |
| Gujarati | The word "લોખંડ" also refers to a surgical tool used to amputate or cut off a limb. |
| Haitian Creole | Fè can also refer to the Haitian gourde currency, a knife, or a piece of metal in general. |
| Hausa | "Baƙin ƙarfe" is the Hausa name for the chemical element iron, but it can also refer to other strong and hard objects. |
| Hawaiian | Although the Hawaiian word 'hao' means 'iron,' it also refers to 'strong' or 'firm' in the figurative sense. |
| Hebrew | The Hebrew word "בַּרזֶל" (iron) is also used in the Bible to refer to a "yoke" or "fetter". |
| Hindi | The word "लोहा" (loha) also refers to the red-colored soil in Hindi. |
| Hmong | The Hmong word "hlau" may also refer to a specific type of ore or metallic substance. |
| Hungarian | In Hungarian, "Vas" not only means "iron", but it also refers to a county in Western Hungary. |
| Icelandic | The word "járn" in Icelandic can also refer to a sword, spear, or other weapon made of iron. |
| Igbo | The word 'ígwè' also refers to any hard or strong object in Igbo language, e.g., one can refer to a strong man as 'ígwè ọ̀tọ̀' (iron man). |
| Indonesian | In Indonesia, the term 'besing besi', which literally means 'iron of iron', refers to a traditional method used in Java, Bali, and Madura islands for smelting and forging low carbon steel. |
| Irish | The Irish word 'iarann', meaning iron, also appears in Irish place names as a word for an ironworks. |
| Italian | Italian "ferro" derives from Latin "ferrum" and Proto-Indo-European "*h₂es-" (metal) |
| Japanese | "鉄" (鉄) is not only the Japanese term for iron but also the first syllable of the Sino-Korean word "鉄砲" (鉄砲), which means "gun" or "rifle". In this context, "鉄" is used as a phonetic component rather than a semantic component, indicating the material from which the gun is made. |
| Javanese | In Old Javanese, 'wesi' also refers to a type of sword. |
| Kannada | The word "ಕಬ್ಬಿಣ" comes from the Proto-Dravidian root *kampi-, meaning "hard metal." |
| Kazakh | The word "темір" is also used to refer to the metal in general, as well as to objects made of metal, such as weapons, tools, and jewelry. |
| Korean | 철 (鐵) can also mean 'law' as in the word '법철' or 'justice' as in the word '공평철'. |
| Kurdish | Hesin is also the name of a Kurdish god of war and iron. |
| Kyrgyz | The word "темир" has Turkic origin and in different Turkic languages it also can mean knife blade and a knife in general. |
| Latin | The word "ferrum" can also refer to a weapon or a tool made of iron. |
| Latvian | "Dzelzs" is derived from the Proto-Baltic word *ǵelʒis, which also meant "bluish-gray". |
| Lithuanian | "Geležis" is a cognate of the Sanskrit word "jalaja" meaning "born from water". |
| Luxembourgish | The Luxembourgish word "Eisen" not only denotes "iron", but is also a common nickname for railway tracks in Luxembourg. |
| Macedonian | The word "железо" can also mean "steel" or "cast iron" in Macedonian. |
| Malagasy | The word "vy" in Malagasy can also mean "hardwood" or "metal", particularly a tool made of metal or hardwood. |
| Malay | "Besi" means "steel" in modern Malay, though "besi tempa" specifically means "wrought iron" |
| Maltese | In addition to its meaning as "iron," the word "ħadid" is also used in Maltese to refer to a type of "chain mail". |
| Maori | The Maori word "rino" also refers to a type of ironwood tree. |
| Marathi | The word "लोह" can also mean "blood" in Marathi, a usage shared by other Indo-Aryan languages like Sanskrit and Hindi. |
| Mongolian | Tөмөр is also a surname in Mongolia, likely originating from the Mongolian word for iron and reflecting an ancestor who worked with metal. |
| Myanmar (Burmese) | "သံ" also means "rust" in Myanmar (Burmese). |
| Nepali | The word "फलाम" (iron) in Nepali originates from the Sanskrit word "फला" (fruit), as iron was considered a fruit of the earth. |
| Norwegian | The Old Norse word "jǫrn" meant "sword, blade" as well as "iron", suggesting the importance of iron in Viking culture. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | "Chitsulo" is a Nyanja word that derives from the verbs "kuchita" (construct) and "kusula" (extract), alluding to the process of metalworking and the extraction of iron from ore. |
| Pashto | The Pashto word for "iron" (اوسپنه) is derived from the Avestan word "aspa" meaning "horse", suggesting the historical association between horses and iron-use in the region. |
| Persian | Persian word 'اهن' originated from the Proto-Indo-European root '*h₂és-/*h₂os- (‘ore; metal’) via Babylonian ''ašnu'' |
| Polish | "Żelazo" may derive from the Proto-Balto-Slavic root ‘ǵel’, meaning "to glow"} |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Brazilian Portuguese, "ferro" can also refer to a clothes iron. |
| Punjabi | The word "ਲੋਹਾ" can also refer to a type of sword or dagger in Punjabi. |
| Romanian | The Romanian word "fier" is derived from the Latin word "ferrum," which also means "iron." |
| Russian | In Old Russian, the word "железо" also referred to a type of spear, the name for which comes from its distinctive blue color. |
| Samoan | The Samoan word "uʻamea" comes from the Proto-Austronesian word "*qasen" which also means "iron" in many other Austronesian languages such as Malay, Indonesian, and Ilocano. |
| Scots Gaelic | The word "iarann" in Scots Gaelic derives from the Celtic word "īsarno" meaning "strong, firm," and is cognate with the Old Irish word "iarann" meaning "iron". |
| Serbian | "Гвожђе" derives from Proto-Slavic "gъvozdo" meaning "nail", "rivet", and "spike", and was likely extended to "iron" by metonymy due to its main product. |
| Sesotho | The word "tšepe" is also used to refer to a strong or brave person in Sesotho. |
| Shona | In Shona, `iron` is also known as `simbi`, which can refer to both the metal and the color red. |
| Sindhi | The Sindhi word "لوھ" shares its Indo-European root ("lauha") with the Sanskrit word "लोह" (loha), which also means "iron" |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The word යකඩ (iron) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'ayakada', meaning 'unyielding' or 'firm'. It can also refer to something that is heavy, strong, or unbreakable. |
| Slovak | The word "železo" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *železъ, which originally meant "metal" or "ore". |
| Slovenian | "Železo" in Slovenian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*želsъ", meaning "metal" or "ore". |
| Somali | The Somali word 'birta' also means 'a piece of scrap iron', 'a piece of iron', or 'an iron cooking pot'. |
| Spanish | In Spanish, the word "hierro" also refers to the chemical element "Fe" or a branding iron used to mark livestock. |
| Sundanese | The Sundanese word for iron, "beusi", is cognately related to the Malay "besi" and Javanese "wesi", all derived from Proto-Austronesian "*bəsi". |
| Swahili | The word 'chuma' is also used to refer to the color black or dark grey. |
| Swedish | Järv is a cognate to iron, which shares the Proto-Germanic stem *īsarna-. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The word "bakal" in Tagalog can also refer to the metal "steel". |
| Tajik | The word "оҳан" is of Persian origin and is also used in other Iranian languages such as Pashto and Kurdish. |
| Tamil | "இரும்பு" refers to both iron and a dark brown dye made from iron oxide. |
| Telugu | The word "ఇనుము" (iron) in Telugu is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word "*iɲu" meaning "to be hard or heavy". |
| Thai | The word "เหล็ก" (iron) in Thai can also refer to the metal alloy "steel" and the musical instrument "gong". |
| Turkish | The Turkish word "demir" comes from the Greek "sideros," the origin of the chemical element symbol "Fe" |
| Ukrainian | "Залізо" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *železo, which is related to the Latin word "ferrum" and the Greek word "σίδηρος" (sídēros). The Proto-Slavic word is also the origin of the German word "Eisen". |
| Urdu | The word 'لوہا' derives from Sanskrit 'lauha', likely linked to the Proto-Indo-European root '*hlewǵʰ-', meaning 'to melt' or 'to glow'. |
| Uzbek | The word "temir" also means "strength" or "hardness" in Uzbek. |
| Vietnamese | Bàn là also means the action of pressing a heavy object on paper or cloth with a hot tool |
| Welsh | The word 'haearn' derives from the Proto-Indo-European word for 'to shine'. |
| Xhosa | "Intsimbi" is a homophone in Xhosa, meaning both "iron" and "metal." |
| Yiddish | פּרעסן is derived from the same root as the Latin word "pressus" (meaning "pressed\"), and shares the meaning of "to press" in Yiddish as well. |
| Yoruba | "Irín" can also mean "a journey" or "a path" in Yoruba. |
| Zulu | The Zulu word "insimbi" can also be interpreted as "a piece of metal" or "a lump of metal". |
| English | The element's name derives from Proto-Germanic ıisarn-, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European ĭs-i-ro-, a derivative of an early root ĭhes-, "to glow". |