Knife in Different Languages
Discover 'Knife' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Knife
Afrikaans mes | ||
Albanian thikë | ||
Amharic ቢላዋ | ||
Arabic سكين | ||
Armenian դանակ | ||
Assamese কটাৰী | ||
Aymara tumi | ||
Azerbaijani bıçaq | ||
Bambara muru | ||
Basque labana | ||
Belarusian нож | ||
Bengali ছুরি | ||
Bhojpuri छुरी | ||
Bosnian nož | ||
Bulgarian нож | ||
Catalan ganivet | ||
Cebuano kutsilyo | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 刀 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 刀 | ||
Corsican cultellu | ||
Croatian nož | ||
Czech nůž | ||
Danish kniv | ||
Dhivehi ވަޅި | ||
Dogri काचू | ||
Dutch mes | ||
English knife | ||
Esperanto tranĉilo | ||
Estonian nuga | ||
Ewe hɛ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) kutsilyo | ||
Finnish veitsi | ||
French couteau | ||
Frisian mes | ||
Galician coitelo | ||
Georgian დანა | ||
German messer | ||
Greek μαχαίρι | ||
Guarani kyse | ||
Gujarati છરી | ||
Haitian Creole kouto | ||
Hausa wuka | ||
Hawaiian pahi | ||
Hebrew סַכִּין | ||
Hindi चाकू | ||
Hmong riam | ||
Hungarian kés | ||
Icelandic hníf | ||
Igbo mma | ||
Ilocano kutsilyo | ||
Indonesian pisau | ||
Irish scian | ||
Italian coltello | ||
Japanese ナイフ | ||
Javanese piso | ||
Kannada ಚಾಕು | ||
Kazakh пышақ | ||
Khmer កាំបិត | ||
Kinyarwanda icyuma | ||
Konkani सुरी | ||
Korean 칼 | ||
Krio nɛf | ||
Kurdish kêr | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) چەقۆ | ||
Kyrgyz бычак | ||
Lao ມີດ | ||
Latin cultro | ||
Latvian nazis | ||
Lingala mbeli | ||
Lithuanian peilis | ||
Luganda ekiso | ||
Luxembourgish messer | ||
Macedonian нож | ||
Maithili चक्कू | ||
Malagasy antsy | ||
Malay pisau | ||
Malayalam കത്തി | ||
Maltese sikkina | ||
Maori maripi | ||
Marathi चाकू | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯊꯥꯡ | ||
Mizo chemte | ||
Mongolian хутга | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) ဓား | ||
Nepali चक्कु | ||
Norwegian kniv | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) mpeni | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଛୁରୀ | ||
Oromo haaduu | ||
Pashto چاقو | ||
Persian چاقو | ||
Polish nóż | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) faca | ||
Punjabi ਚਾਕੂ | ||
Quechua kuchuna | ||
Romanian cuţit | ||
Russian нож | ||
Samoan naifi | ||
Sanskrit छुरिका | ||
Scots Gaelic sgian | ||
Sepedi thipa | ||
Serbian нож | ||
Sesotho thipa | ||
Shona banga | ||
Sindhi ڪاتي | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) පිහිය | ||
Slovak nôž | ||
Slovenian nož | ||
Somali mindi | ||
Spanish cuchillo | ||
Sundanese péso | ||
Swahili kisu | ||
Swedish kniv | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) kutsilyo | ||
Tajik корд | ||
Tamil கத்தி | ||
Tatar пычак | ||
Telugu కత్తి | ||
Thai มีด | ||
Tigrinya ካራ | ||
Tsonga mukwana | ||
Turkish bıçak | ||
Turkmen pyçak | ||
Twi (Akan) sekan | ||
Ukrainian ніж | ||
Urdu چاقو | ||
Uyghur پىچاق | ||
Uzbek pichoq | ||
Vietnamese dao | ||
Welsh cyllell | ||
Xhosa imela | ||
Yiddish מעסער | ||
Yoruba ọbẹ | ||
Zulu ummese |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The Afrikaans word "mes" is derived from the Dutch "mes", which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic "*mekijo". |
| Albanian | The word "thikë" is also used in Albanian to refer to a blade or a sharp object. |
| Amharic | The word "ቢላዋ" can also refer to a "blade" or a "razor". |
| Arabic | The word "سكين" is cognate with the Akkadian word "sikkīn" and the Hebrew word "סכין". |
| Armenian | The Armenian word "դանակ" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰen-, meaning "to cut". |
| Azerbaijani | "Bıçaq" means "dagger" or "lancet" in Azerbaijani, and it is also a homophone for the word "biçak" (meaning "knife" in Turkish). |
| Basque | The Basque word 'labana' may derive from proto-Basque 'labas', meaning 'sharp'. |
| Belarusian | The word "нож" also means "edge" in Old Belarusian, and has cognates in other Slavic languages such as Russian "нож" and Polish "nóż". |
| Bengali | The term "ছুরি" is also used in Bengali to refer to a "dagger" or a "lancet", highlighting its association with sharp, pointed objects. |
| Bosnian | "Nož" is also the name of the Bosnian medieval coin dating back to the 13th century. |
| Bulgarian | The word "нож" also has the alternate meaning of "scalpel" in Bulgarian medical terminology. |
| Catalan | In modern Catalan, ganivet has also taken on the meaning of "scalpel" and "dagger". |
| Cebuano | "Kutsilyo" also means "weapon" in Cebuano, suggesting its versatile use as a tool and in self-defense. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | "刀" means "knife", but it also means "military" or "soldier" in some contexts. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | In Chinese, the character "刀" (dāo) can also refer to a blade or a weapon. |
| Corsican | Corsican "cultellu" derives from the Latin "cultellus" and also means "butcher knife" or "dagger". |
| Croatian | The word "nož" in Croatian shares its root with the word "nose", as knives and noses both cut and pierce. |
| Czech | The word "nůž" also has a slang meaning - "a blow with a knife". |
| Danish | The Danish word "kniv" shares common ancestry with the English word "knife" and the German word "Kneif". |
| Dutch | The Dutch word "mes" is cognate with the English word "meat", as it originally referred to a tool for cutting meat. |
| Esperanto | The word "tranĉilo" is derived from the Old French word "tranche" meaning "slice" |
| Estonian | The Estonian word "nuga" is cognate with the Finnish "nuga" and the Livonian "noga," all of which derive from the Proto-Finnic "nuka." |
| Finnish | The word 'veitsi' is cognate with the word 'whittle' and its Proto-Indo-European ancestor '*h₂wet-' meaning 'to cut' or 'to sharpen'. |
| French | Couteau also denotes a playing card of the suit of spades, in which a knife is represented. |
| Frisian | In Frisian, 'mes' can refer to both a knife and a scythe depending on its context |
| Galician | The Galician word "coitelo" is a diminutive of "coito" (cut), suggesting a small cutting tool. |
| Georgian | The Georgian word "დანა" ("knife") is derived from the Proto-Kartvelian root *dʾan- (“to cut, to slaughter”) and is cognate with the Mingrelian word "დონ". |
| German | In addition to its primary meaning of "knife," "Messer" can also refer to a surgical scalpel, a butcher's knife, or a ceremonial sword. |
| Greek | The word 'μαχαίρι' is derived from the ancient Greek 'μάχαιρα' (makhaira), a short, single-edged sword or dagger used in warfare. |
| Gujarati | The word "છરી" likely originates from the Sanskrit word "क्षुर" (kṣura), meaning "a razor" or "a sharp instrument used for cutting". |
| Haitian Creole | The word "kouto" is of Bantu origin and can also refer to a sword or a dagger. |
| Hausa | The term 'wuka' in Hausa is derived from the word 'hwaka' in proto-Afro-Asiatic, which also signifies 'to cut'. |
| Hawaiian | The Hawaiian word "pahi" also means "to cut" or "to divide". |
| Hebrew | The Hebrew word "סַכִּין" (knife) can also refer to a razor or a scalpel. |
| Hindi | In Hindi, chaaku, meaning knife, comes from the Sanskrit 'ksura', meaning to cut or sharpen. |
| Hmong | "Riam," meaning "sharp," is a common term for knife. |
| Hungarian | The word "kés" is cognate with the Germanic word "*kniwaz" and the Slavic word "*nožь". |
| Icelandic | The word "hníf" can also refer to a "sword" or a "stab wound" in Icelandic. |
| Igbo | The Igbo word "mma" can also mean "mother" or "grandmother". |
| Indonesian | The word "pisau" can also refer to a traditional Indonesian dagger or sword. |
| Irish | The word 'scian' in Irish is derived from an extinct Proto-Indo-European word '*skei-' meaning 'to cut' and is cognate with the Latin 'scindo' and the Greek 'skhízō'. |
| Italian | "Coltello" also means "knife-stab" in Italian slang. |
| Japanese | The character ナイ (nai) in ナイフ (naifu) can also mean "inside" |
| Javanese | In Javanese, "piso" also refers to a traditional dagger or short sword typically used in martial arts or for self-defense. |
| Kannada | "ಚಾಕು" can also refer to a pointed or sharp object in general, such as a thorn or a stick. |
| Kazakh | The Kazakh word "пышақ" also refers to a specific type of ceremonial knife used in Kazakh culture. |
| Khmer | The Khmer word "កាំបិត" also means "a sharp-pointed object used for cutting or piercing". |
| Korean | 칼 (knife) in Korean is derived from the Chinese 칼 (qǐ) meaning to cut. |
| Kurdish | In Kurdish, the word "kêr" not only refers to a "knife" but also holds meanings related to "power," "bravery," and "protection." |
| Kyrgyz | Bychak is also the name of mountains in Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstan's second largest island in Lake Issyk-Kul. |
| Lao | The word ມີດ can also mean "to cut", "to divide" or "to split". |
| Latin | In Latin, "cultro" can also refer to a style of worship, practice, or religion, particularly one involving rituals or ceremonies. |
| Latvian | In Latvian, the word «nazis» also means «butcher knife» with a fixed blade. |
| Lithuanian | In Old Prussian, the word “peilis” also meant “sword”. |
| Luxembourgish | In Luxembourgish, the word "Messer" not only refers to a knife, but also to a razor blade, a penknife, or even a dagger. |
| Macedonian | "Нож" has an additional meaning in Macedonian: "small knife". |
| Malagasy | The Malagasy word "antsy" can also refer to someone who is anxious and unable to relax due to a sense of anticipation. |
| Malay | "Pisau" also refers to a type of traditional Malay dagger or short sword |
| Malayalam | "കത്തി" (katti) can also refer to 'a stick or pole' in addition to a blade. |
| Maltese | The word "sikkina" likely originates from the Arabic word "sikkin", meaning "knife", or from the Italian word "schiena", meaning "back". |
| Maori | The word 'maripi' is thought to derive from the Proto-Austronesian word for 'to cut' |
| Marathi | "चाकू" is also a synonym for "वैदिक मंत्र" (Vedic mantra) or "छुरी" (dagger) in Marathi. |
| Mongolian | "Хутга" also refers to the blade of a knife or a sword. |
| Myanmar (Burmese) | The word "ဓား" can also mean "a sharp edge" or "a cutting instrument" in Myanmar (Burmese). |
| Nepali | "चक्कु" is a diminutive form of the word "चक्र" ("wheel"), and can also be used figuratively to refer to a spinning motion. |
| Norwegian | The word 'kniv' in Norwegian comes from the Old Norse word 'knifr', which itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'knībaz', meaning 'a cutting implement'. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word "mpeni" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is also used to refer to a type of sword. |
| Pashto | The word "چاقو" is derived from the Persian word "چاقو" which means "a sharp instrument used for cutting". |
| Persian | The Persian word "چاقو" also shares a root with words meaning "cutting" and "sharpening", highlighting the connection between the tool and its function. |
| Polish | The word 'nóż' in Polish may also refer to a type of traditional Polish folk dance, or to a specific type of fishing hook. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Portuguese, "faca" can also refer to a type of long, thin sword used in fencing. |
| Punjabi | In addition to its common meaning, "chakoo" (Punjabi for "knife") also refers to a type of small, hand-held agricultural tool used for cutting crops or harvesting sugarcane. |
| Romanian | The Romanian word "cuţit" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *kotь, meaning "to cut". |
| Russian | "Нож" also means 'blade' and comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *nek- 'to strike, cut'. |
| Samoan | Naifi is cognate with the Māori "naipi" and the Tongan "naifi" and appears to be derived from Proto-Polynesian "*naki" meaning "to cut". |
| Scots Gaelic | The Scots Gaelic word "sgian" is derived from the Old Irish word "sgian", which means "knife" or "dagger". |
| Serbian | "Нож" can also mean "leg" in Serbian. |
| Sesotho | "Thipa" may also mean "a sharp pain" or "sorrow." |
| Shona | The word "banga" can also refer to a razor blade or a machete. |
| Sindhi | The Sindhi word "ڪاتي" (knife) is derived from the Sanskrit word "कर्तृ" (kartṛ), which means "doer" or "agent". |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | "පිහිය" means "a knife", but is also used in contexts where a knife is inappropriate, such as to describe the sharp edges of a rock or a piece of paper. It can even refer to a person with a sharp intellect. |
| Slovak | The Slovak word "nôž" may be related to the Czech word "nůž", both having an Indo-European root. |
| Slovenian | The word "nož" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*nožь", which was used to refer to a small knife or a dagger. |
| Somali | The word "mindi" can also refer to a blade or a sharp instrument used for cutting. |
| Spanish | The Spanish word "cuchillo" derives from the Latin "cultellus," meaning "little knife" or "penknife." |
| Sundanese | The Sundanese word "péso" can also refer to a small sharp-pointed tool used for engraving or carving. |
| Swahili | The Swahili word 'kisu' may stem from the root word 'chagua,' meaning to choose, select, or cut. |
| Swedish | The word 'kniv' is cognate to the German 'Knebel', which means 'stick', suggesting its original use as a tool. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The Tagalog word "kutsilyo" (knife) originally referred to a specific type of knife, such as a hunting knife, and is related to the word "kutsara" (spoon), both derived from the Malay word "sudu". |
| Tajik | The Tajik word "корд" not only means "knife", but also "sword", "scimitar", and "sabre" |
| Tamil | "கத்தி" also refers to the cutting blade of a weapon like a sword. |
| Telugu | The word "కత్తి" (knife) in Telugu originates from the Proto-Dravidian word "*kaḍi", meaning "to cut or sharpen". |
| Thai | มีด derives from Proto-Austronesian *piyaw, which also means "sword" in various other Austronesian languages. |
| Turkish | In Turkish, "bıçak" can also refer to a "razor blade" or a "dagger". |
| Ukrainian | Ніж comes from Proto-Slavic "noŋžь", which meant a small sword, or a pocketknife. |
| Urdu | Urdu word "چاقو" is derived from Arabic, and can also mean "blade" or "edge". |
| Uzbek | "Pichoq" is also a term of endearment for a young boy in Uzbek. |
| Vietnamese | In Vietnamese, "dao" also means "path" or "road". |
| Welsh | The word 'cyllell' also refers to a narrow strip of land protruding into the sea, especially one separating two estuaries. |
| Xhosa | Imela can also refer to a "sharp tongue," implying someone who is quick-witted or sarcastic. |
| Yiddish | Yiddish “מעסער” (“knife”) shares an origin with English “measure,” both deriving from Proto-Indo-European *me- “to cut”. |
| Yoruba | The word "ọbẹ" also refers to a type of Yoruba soup or stew and can be used figuratively to represent sharpness or cutting ability. |
| Zulu | The word "ummese" can also refer to a sharp object or a weapon. |
| English | "Knife" comes from the Old English "cnif", meaning both "knife" and "dagger", and is related to the German "Kneip", meaning "pincers". |