Layer in different languages

Layer in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'layer' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting something that is spread or placed over a surface or substance. It's a versatile term, used in various fields such as geology, cooking, fashion, and technology. Culturally, layers have been essential in many traditions, from the intricate layering of a wedding cake to the symbolic layers in religious texts.

Moreover, the concept of layers has fascinated linguists and anthropologists, as many languages have unique ways of expressing this idea. For instance, in Spanish, 'layer' translates to 'capa' (pronounced: kah-pah), while in German, it's 'Schicht' (pronounced: shikt). In Mandarin Chinese, it's '层' (pronounced: céng), and in Japanese, it's '層' (sou).

Understanding the translation of 'layer' in different languages not only enriches our vocabulary but also offers a glimpse into the unique ways different cultures perceive and interact with the world around them.

Layer

Layer in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanslaag
"Laag" can also mean "low" or "shallow".
Amharicንብርብር
The word "ንብርብር" can also refer to a layer of clothing or a group of people standing in a line.
Hausalayer
The Hausa word 'layer' can also mean 'a group of people or things that are arranged in a particular way'.
Igbooyi akwa
The Igbo word 'oyi akwa' can also refer to a 'stack' or 'pile'.
Malagasysosona
Sosona also means 'floor' in some parts of Madagascar.
Nyanja (Chichewa)wosanjikiza
The word "wosanjikiza" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is derived from the verb "sanjika" (to stack) and the prefix "wo" (indicating a state or condition).
Shonarukoko
The Shona word "rukoko" also refers to a piece of cloth or hide used to cover a sleeping child.
Somalilakabka
The Somali word "lakabka" is derived from the Arabic word "tabaka" meaning "layer" or "strata."
Sesothomokato
The word 'mokato' in Sesotho also refers to a 'shelf' or a 'story' of a building.
Swahilisafu
It can also refer to a stratum of stratified rock such as shale
Xhosauluhlu
Xhosa 'uluhlu' and 'isigaba' share the root '-hlu', suggesting a relationship between 'layer' and 'piece'.
Yorubafẹlẹfẹlẹ
The word fẹlẹfẹlẹ can be used figuratively to describe someone who is very thin or someone who is very poor.
Zuluungqimba
The Zulu word "ungqimba" can also refer to a heap or a pile.
Bambaralazɛri
Eweɖoɖo
Kinyarwandaurwego
Lingalacouche
Lugandaomugigi
Sepedillaga
Twi (Akan)mmeamu

Layer in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicطبقة
طبقة, meaning layer, also refers to class or stratum in the context of society or hierarchy.
Hebrewשִׁכבָה
In Talmudic Hebrew, the noun "שִׁכבָה" ("shikva") can also refer to a bed or a couch.
Pashtoپرت
The word "پرت" ("layer") in Pashto is derived from an unknown source and has no other known meanings.
Arabicطبقة
طبقة, meaning layer, also refers to class or stratum in the context of society or hierarchy.

Layer in Western European Languages

Albanianavokat
The Albanian word "avokat" is derived from the Latin word "advocatus", meaning "one who is called to aid".
Basquegeruza
"Geruza" also means a "piece of meat" and likely originates in the word "gereziŋ" (cherry).
Catalancapa
Capa's other meanings in Catalan include 'raincoat', 'cape' and 'mantle'
Croatiansloj
The Slavic root sloj- meaning 'to lay' is common to all Slavic languages and appears in English (e.g., 'slice', 'sloe').
Danishlag
The word
Dutchlaag
The Dutch word "laag" (layer) is also used to signify "low" or "humble" when describing people, objects, or situations.
Englishlayer
The word 'layer' comes from the Old French word 'laie,' which means 'a broad strip of land'.
Frenchcouche
"Couche" in French can refer to a baby's diaper or a thin sheet, deriving from the Latin "collocare" meaning "to place".
Frisianlaach
The Frisian word "laach" may derive from an Old Frisian term for "pool"}
Galiciancapa
Galician's "capa" also denotes the outer coating (in a nut) as well as the earth layer covering a rock
Germanschicht
„Schicht“ is also used to refer to a shift worked by a group of people, likely deriving from the idea of alternating layers of workers.
Icelandiclag
The word "lag" in Icelandic also refers to the thickness or size of an object.
Irishciseal
Irish 'ciseal' may relate to Latin 'caesa' ('a cut'), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European 'kei-' ('to cut').
Italianstrato
The Italian word 'strato' derives from the Ancient Greek word 'stratum', which means 'layer' or 'bed'.
Luxembourgishlayer
In Luxembourgish, "Layer" denotes both a geological stratum and a part of clothing that covers the legs.
Maltesesaff
The word "saff" in Maltese shares the same root as "sofa" in English
Norwegianlag
From Old Norse "lag" (n.), meaning "layer," "stratum," or "bedded ice".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)camada
The word "camada" comes from the Latin "cama" (bed), and also means "bed" in Portuguese.
Scots Gaeliccòmhdach
The Gaelic word "còmhdach" can also mean "protection" or "covering."
Spanishcapa
The word 'capa' also means 'cloak' or 'cape' in Spanish, reflecting its use as a protective covering.
Swedishlager
In Swedish, "lager" also refers to a type of beer, derived from the German "Lagerbier" denoting storage or aging.
Welshhaen
'Haen' can also mean 'pack', 'bundle' or 'troop'.

Layer in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпласт
The word “пласт” is also used in physics, to refer to an electrically charged object.
Bosniansloj
In Bosnian, "sloj" can also mean "caste" or "class" socially or economically.
Bulgarianслой
The Russian word "слой" can also mean "stratum", "class" or "social group".
Czechvrstva
The word "vrstva" originates from the Proto-Slavic term "vertъ", meaning "to turn".
Estoniankiht
The word "kiht" in Estonian can also refer to a social stratum or class.
Finnishkerros
Kerros (Finnish for "layer") likely derives from Proto-Germanic *karr, meaning rock or cliff.
Hungarianréteg
Hungarian "réteg" also means "order", as in "social order" ("társadalmi réteg"), or "class", as in class struggle ("osztályréteg").
Latvianslānis
"Slānis" is related to the Proto-Slavic verb *slati "to stretch out."
Lithuaniansluoksnis
The word "sluoksnis" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*srew-/*sru-/*sruw-", which means "to flow, to stream".
Macedonianслој
The Macedonian word "Слој" also refers to a social class or stratum.
Polishwarstwa
The word 'warstwa' can also refer to a 'segment of society' or a 'group of people'}
Romanianstrat
The Romanian word "strat" also means "floor" in buildings and "storey" of a building.
Russianслой
Слово "слой" также означает "пласт","прослойка" и "пленка"
Serbianслој
In geology, 'слој' can also refer to a stratum or layer within the Earth's crust.
Slovakvrstva
The Slovak word "vrstva" can also mean stratum, class, or social hierarchy.
Slovenianplast
Plast, meaning layer, originates from German word "flaster"
Ukrainianшар
The word "шар" can also refer to a ball or a sphere in Ukrainian.

Layer in South Asian Languages

Bengaliস্তর
"স্তর" can also mean "the earth" or "a group of people of the same kind or status" in Bengali.
Gujaratiસ્તર
The word "સ્તર" can also mean "level" or "standard".
Hindiपरत
The word "परत" can also refer to a membrane or film, or to a layer of clothing.
Kannadaಪದರ
The Kannada word "ಪದರ" can also mean a kind of cloth worn by women.
Malayalamലെയർ
The word "layer" comes from the Old English word "leger", which means "to lay down". In Malayalam, the word "ലെയർ" can also refer to a "flat, thin piece of something" or a "coat of paint or other material".
Marathiथर
The word "थर" in Marathi can also refer to a group or clan, or to the soil at the bottom of a river or pond.
Nepaliतह
The word "तह" can also refer to the bottom or base of something.
Punjabiਪਰਤ
The word "ਪਰਤ" can also mean "a fold" or "a plait" in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ස්තරය
The word "ස්තරය" can also refer to a social class or stratum.
Tamilஅடுக்கு
The Tamil word "அடுக்கு" (aḍukku) also means "to repeat" or "to iterate".
Teluguపొర
The word "పొర" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Dravidian word "*poṟu" meaning "to cover" or "to hide".
Urduپرت
The Persian and Hindi word 'part' is often used synonymously with the Urdu word 'پرت'}

Layer in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)层
"层" (cénɡ) originally meant "ice" but can also refer to a "storey" in a building or a "section" of a text or population.
Chinese (Traditional)層
Originally intended to mean a sequence of horizontal strata, '層' has also been used to signify hierarchy, status, and different levels of society.
Japanese層
In Chinese, 層 can also mean 'class' or 'level' of a building.
Korean층
The word "층" originally referred to the stories of a building, and its meaning expanded to include layers in general.
Mongolianдавхарга
The Mongolian word "давхарга" can also refer to a shelf or a platform.
Myanmar (Burmese)အလွှာ

Layer in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianlapisan
Lapisan can also refer to a social stratum or class, deriving from the root kata "lapis" (layer).
Javaneselapisan
Lapisan, meaning 'layer' in Indonesian, has its roots in the Sanskrit word 'lapisa', also meaning 'layer'.
Khmerស្រទាប់
Stratum is the Latin word for layer; "stratum" is also the origin of the English word "strata".
Laoຊັ້ນ
The word 'ຊັ້ນ' can also refer to a level of a building.
Malaylapisan
The word "lapisan" derives from the Proto-Austronesian word "*lapis", meaning "stone" or "slab".
Thaiชั้น
The Thai word "ชั้น" can also mean "floor" or "shelf".
Vietnameselớp
The word "lớp" can also have the metaphorical meaning of a social status or grade.
Filipino (Tagalog)layer

Layer in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqat
"Qat" also means "line" in Azerbaijani; it can mean "floor" in various contexts.
Kazakhқабат
Қабат can also mean a 'layer of people', or a collection of people with the same profession or social status.
Kyrgyzкатмар
The word "катмар" in Kyrgyz originates from the Persian word "katmar" meaning "fold" or "layer".
Tajikқабати
Turkmengatlak
Uzbekqatlam
Uyghurقەۋەت

Layer in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpapa
The Hawaiian word "papa" is shared by several Pacific languages, meaning a stone slab or platform, a layer or stratum, as well as meaning "flat."
Maoripaparanga
"Paparanga" in Māori has many meanings including 'layer', a 'layer in a construction, a part, portion', a 'stage or rung of a ladder', 'to spread out in layers', a 'foundation or base' or 'the layer next to a person."
Samoanvaega
The Samoan word "vaega" can also mean "part" or "section".
Tagalog (Filipino)patong
Patong can also refer to a flat cake or pancake made of a mixture of flour, sugar, and baking powder.

Layer in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarakapa
Guaraniapeao

Layer in International Languages

Esperantotavolo
The Esperanto word "tavolo" also means "table" in Italian.
Latinstratum
The Latin word stratum has an alternate meaning of 'litter' or 'bedclothes'.

Layer in Others Languages

Greekστρώμα
The term 'στρώμα' can also refer to a mattress, bed, or bedding.
Hmongtxheej
The word txheej also means "level" or "tier" in Hmong.
Kurdishpel
The word "pel" is also used in the sense of "covering" in the Kurdish language.
Turkishkatman
In Turkish, 'katman' also means a large pot used to make yogurt.
Xhosauluhlu
Xhosa 'uluhlu' and 'isigaba' share the root '-hlu', suggesting a relationship between 'layer' and 'piece'.
Yiddishשיכט
The Yiddish word 'shikht' is derived from the German word 'Schicht', which means 'layer', 'level', or 'stratum'.
Zuluungqimba
The Zulu word "ungqimba" can also refer to a heap or a pile.
Assameseস্তৰ
Aymarakapa
Bhojpuriपरत
Dhivehiލޭޔަރ
Dogriपरत
Filipino (Tagalog)layer
Guaraniapeao
Ilocanoagsit
Kriopat
Kurdish (Sorani)چین
Maithiliपरत
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯂꯩꯔꯣꯜ
Mizothuah
Oromobaqqaana
Odia (Oriya)ସ୍ତର
Quechualasta
Sanskritस्तर
Tatarкатлам
Tigrinyaሽፋን
Tsongaleyara

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