Leaf in different languages

Leaf in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

A leaf is a flat, often green organ of a plant, responsible for photosynthesis, the process of converting sunlight into energy. This vital process sustains life on Earth, making leaves a fundamental element of our ecosystem. Beyond their biological significance, leaves hold cultural importance across the globe.

For instance, in many Eastern cultures, leaves symbolize peace, prosperity, and harmony. In Japan, the maple leaf is a national emblem, reflecting the country's appreciation for nature's beauty. Meanwhile, in some Indigenous American cultures, leaves are used in healing rituals, emphasizing their spiritual significance.

Understanding the translation of 'leaf' in different languages can provide unique insights into these cultural nuances. For example, in Spanish, 'hoja' (HOH-hah) is used, while in German, it's 'Blatt' (blahht). In French, you'd say 'feuille' (fœj).

Explore the list below to learn more about the word 'leaf' in various languages, deepening your understanding and appreciation of the world's rich linguistic and cultural diversity.

Leaf


Leaf in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansblaar
The word "blaar" in Afrikaans, meaning "leaf", is derived from the Old Dutch word "blad". This further evolved in Middle Dutch in the 14th century to "blader" and "blare". Later, in the 16th century, the word was modified to "blaar" in modern Dutch and Afrikaans
Amharicቅጠል
ቅጠል also refers to a page of a book or a chapter of a book.
Hausaganye
The word "ganye" is derived from the Proto-Chadic word "*gani", meaning "leaf".
Igboakwukwo
In addition to its primary meaning, "akwukwo" can also refer to a pamphlet, a newspaper, or a book in Igbo.
Malagasyravina
Though 'ravina' in Malagasy means 'leaf,' it also may refer to the 'leaves' of a book or paper.
Nyanja (Chichewa)tsamba
In addition to meaning "leaf," tsamba, can also refer to a "leaf-bundle," "chapter," or, in the context of music and dance, "rhythm".
Shonashizha
The Shona word for 'leaf', "shizha," also refers to a flat metal object, such as a blade, and can be used in the context of metalwork.
Somalicaleen
"Caleen" also means 'money', as one used leaves for commerce before coins became common.
Sesotholekhasi
Lekhasi' (leaf): also means, 'page of a book', or a 'chapter in a book'.
Swahilijani
In some Bantu languages, 'jani' refers to the leaf of a specific plant.
Xhosaigqabi
In Xhosa, the word 'igqabi' can also refer to 'a page' in a book.
Yorubaewe
The word "ewe" in Yoruba also means "letter" or "book page."
Zuluiqabunga
In the Zulu language, "iqabunga" refers to the blade of a grass leaf, while the entire leaf is called "ulwa".
Bambarabulu
Eweaŋgba
Kinyarwandaikibabi
Lingalankasa
Lugandaekikoola
Sepedilehlare
Twi (Akan)ahaban

Leaf in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicورقة الشجر
In Arabic, "ورقة الشجر" can also refer to a page from a book or a document.
Hebrewעלה
עלה is also a Hebrew verb that means "to ascend" or "to go up".
Pashtoپا .ه
The word "پا .ه" in Pashto, meaning "leaf," also has the alternate meaning of "page" in the context of a book or manuscript.
Arabicورقة الشجر
In Arabic, "ورقة الشجر" can also refer to a page from a book or a document.

Leaf in Western European Languages

Albanianfletë
The word "fletë" in Albanian derives from Proto-Indo-European "*bhel- (to sprout, grow)" and also means "leaflet, page, lamina, flake, layer, plate, sheet, panel, slab".
Basquehostoa
The word **hostoa** is related to the Latin word "hostia" meaning "victim" or "sacrifice" and could also mean "sacrifice" in Basque.
Catalanfull
In Catalan, the noun "full" may also refer to a blade in the context of knives or to a sheet of paper or fabric.
Croatianlist
In Croatian, 'list' has additional meanings, including 'paper used for writing', 'a written document', and 'a set of data organized in a sequence'.
Danishblad
Blad, meaning "leaf" in Danish, is related to the Old Norse verb "blaða," meaning "to blow" or "to flap," likely referencing the fluttering of leaves in the wind.
Dutchblad
The word "blad" in Dutch is cognate with the English word "blade" and originally meant "something flat". Its other meaning, "page", originates from the use of parchment and paper sheets in codexes.
Englishleaf
The word 'leaf' derives from the Old English word 'leaf', which meant both 'leaf' and 'page'.
Frenchfeuille
"Feuille" can also refer to sheets on a calendar or a stack of paper, or the pages of a newspaper.
Frisianblêd
In addition to its meaning as "leaf", "blêd" can also refer to a piece of metal used to form a blade.
Galicianfolla
The word 'folla' also means 'crowd' or 'heap' in Galician, and comes from the Latin word 'folia' (foliage).
Germanblatt
The German word "Blatt" can also refer to a newspaper or a sheet of paper.
Icelandiclauf
The word "lauf" in Icelandic can also refer to a palm or a sole of a foot.
Irishduille
The word 'duille' in Irish can also refer to a 'leaflet' or 'paper' used for writing or printing.
Italianfoglia
The Italian word "foglia" derives from the Latin word "folia", which also means "leaf".
Luxembourgishblat
In Luxembourgish, the word "Blat" can also be used as a synonym for "page", particularly when referring to written materials like books or magazines.
Maltesewerqa
The Maltese word "werqa" ultimately derives from the Arabic "waraqa" meaning "paper", but has also come to mean "leaf" in the sense of a plant's foliage.
Norwegianblad
The word 'blad' also means 'magazine' in Norwegian, originating from the folded, paper pages bound together which resemble leaves.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)folha
"Folha" can also mean a "page", "layer", or "sheet".
Scots Gaelicduilleach
The Scots Gaelic word "duilleach" can also refer to a piece of kelp or a sheet of ice.
Spanishhoja
In Ecuador, "hoja" also refers to a playing card.
Swedishblad
In old Swedish, 'blad' was used as a word for any thin slice or object and could even refer to ice floating on water.
Welshdeilen
"Deilen" can also refer to a page of a book or a sheet of paper.

Leaf in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianліст
Belarusian "ліст" translates to English as "letter", sharing an etymology with the word for "sheet".
Bosnianlist
"List" is also used in Bosnian with a meaning similar to its English equivalent "wish."
Bulgarianлист
The word 'лист', meaning leaf in Bulgarian, derives from a Proto-Indo-European root 'lepd', meaning to peel.
Czechlist
The Czech word "list" is cognate with "list" in English, both deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root *ley-s- "to cut, strip off."
Estonianleht
The word "leht" in Estonian is also used to refer to a page of a book or newspaper.
Finnishpuun lehti
"Puun lehti" can also refer to a piece of paper used for writing, as it was traditionally written on birch bark.
Hungarianlevél növényen
The Hungarian word “levél” (meaning “leaf”) derives from the Proto-Finnic word “leht” and is cognate to the Finnish word “lehti” and Estonian “leht”.
Latvianlapu
Lapu can also refer to foliage, a playing card suit, or the pages of a book in Latvian.
Lithuanianlapelis
The word "lapelis" is also used in botany to refer to a small leaf that grows at the base of a larger one.
Macedonianлист
"Лист" also means a "sheet" or a "piece of paper" in Macedonian.
Polishliść
In Polish, "liść" can also refer to a page of a book or a sheet of paper.
Romanianfrunze
The word "frunze" in Romanian originates from the Slavic word "list" meaning "leaf", as well as from the Latin word "fronti" meaning "brow" or "forehead".
Russianлист
"Лист" is a homonym in Russian, meaning both "leaf" and "sheet".
Serbianлист
The word "лист" in Serbian can also mean "letter" or "sheet of paper". This is because the same root word is used in both cases.
Slovaklist
In Slovak, "list" can also mean "a written or printed document with an orderly arrangement of items, such as a shopping list or a task list."
Slovenianlist
The Slovene word "list" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *ple-, meaning "to pluck", and is also related to the English word "list" (a list of items). In Slovenian, "list" can also mean "a roll of paper" or "a sheet of paper used for writing or drawing"}
Ukrainianлист
In Ukrainian, "лист" (leaf) also means "sheet of paper" because paper was once made from the inner bark of trees.

Leaf in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপাত
In Sanskrit, "पत्र" (patra) means both "leaf" and "letter," reflecting the ancient practice of writing on leaves.
Gujaratiપર્ણ
પર્ણ can also refer to the leaf of a palm tree, a type of silk garment, or a part of a book.
Hindiपत्ती
The word पत्ती (pattee) can also refer to a card in a deck, or a share certificate.
Kannadaಎಲೆ
In Kannada, "ಎಲೆ" (ele) refers not only to a leaf but also to a page, sheet, or plank.
Malayalamഇല
'ഇല' can also refer to a group of houses that belong to a particular class or social group.
Marathiपाने
पाने can also refer to a betel leaf, a type of leaf used in various cultural practices in South Asia.
Nepaliपात
Nepali 'पात' originates from Sanskrit 'patra' (leaf), also related to English 'father' (pater)'.
Punjabiਪੱਤਾ
In Punjabi, 'pattā' can also mean a piece of land given for free or reduced-rate cultivation.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කොළ
The word "කොළ" also refers to young, tender leaves used as a vegetable in Sinhalese cuisine.
Tamilஇலை
The word "இலை" (leaf) in Tamil can also refer to various other plant parts, such as petals, sepals, and even the entire plant.
Teluguఆకు
The Telugu word "ఆకు" (leaf) also refers to a type of traditional Indian clothing made with leaves stitched together.
Urduپتی
پتی or پتّا can also mean 'a playing card', 'a slip of paper', or 'a note'. In Indian English and Pakistani English these words are commonly used to denote a piece of paper money.

Leaf in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The Chinese character "叶" can also mean "a generation" or "a class".
Chinese (Traditional)
In Chinese, 「葉」 can also refer to a page in a book or a playing card.
Japanese
The character 葉 (ha) also means "page" or "sheet" and is related to the character 頁 (ketsu), which specifically means "page".
Korean
잎 can also refer to a blade (as in a sword) or a petal of a flower.
Mongolianнавч
The word навч (leaf) is cognate with the English word `needle' and the Russian word `игла' (needle).
Myanmar (Burmese)အရွက်
The Burmese word "အရွက်" can also refer to the leaves of a book or the pages of a notebook.

Leaf in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiandaun
In Indonesian, "daun" can also mean "a sheet of paper" or "a page of a book".
Javaneserwaning
In Javanese, "rwaning" refers to a single leaf, while "godhong" represents a collection of leaves on a branch.
Khmerស្លឹក
"ស្លឹក" can also refer to a page in a book or a piece of paper.
Laoໃບ
In certain contexts, it can also refer to 'pages' or 'chapters'.
Malaydaun
The word "daun" also refers to the playing cards that represent the suits of a tree branch and a betel nut tree
Thaiใบไม้
In addition to meaning "leaf," "ใบไม้" (bai mai) can also mean a playing card or a lottery ticket.
Vietnameselá cây
The word "Lá cây" has been used in Vietnamese since at least the 16th century, and is thought to be derived from the Austroasiatic word "la," meaning "leaf."
Filipino (Tagalog)dahon

Leaf in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniyarpaq
Besides its literal meaning as 'leaf', 'yarpaq' can also refer to a piece of paper or a thin layer of material.
Kazakhжапырақ
Kyrgyzжалбырак
In Kyrgyz, "жалбырак" does not only mean "leaf", but also refers to a "page" in a book.
Tajikбарг
The Tajik word "барг" can also refer to the leaves of a book.
Turkmenýaprak
Uzbekbarg
"Barg" can also mean "fate" or "share" in Uzbek.
Uyghurيوپۇرماق

Leaf in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianlau
Lau can also refer to the leaves of a book, pages, or a division of a book.
Maorirau
The word "rau" in Maori also signifies growth, abundance, and prosperity.
Samoanlau
The Samoan word 'lau' can also refer to a chapter, section, or division in a book, document, or other written work.
Tagalog (Filipino)dahon
The word "dahon" also means "page" in Tagalog, derived from the Spanish word "hoja" (leaf).

Leaf in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaralamina
Guaranitogue

Leaf in International Languages

Esperantofolio
The Esperanto word "folio" can also refer to a two-column page of a book or a page number.
Latinfolium
"Folium" can also refer to a thin sheet of metal.

Leaf in Others Languages

Greekφύλλο
The word "φύλλο" can also mean page, layer, or petal in Greek.
Hmongnplooj ntoos
"Nplooj ntoos" can also refer to a page, a sheet, or a document in Hmong.
Kurdishpel
The word "pel" in Kurdish is also used to refer to the blade of a knife or the tongue of a bell.
Turkishyaprak
The word "Yaprak" in Turkish shares its etymology with the Sanskrit word "patra," meaning "leaf" or "page.
Xhosaigqabi
In Xhosa, the word 'igqabi' can also refer to 'a page' in a book.
Yiddishבלאַט
In Yiddish, "blat" can also refer to a sheet of paper or a page of a book.
Zuluiqabunga
In the Zulu language, "iqabunga" refers to the blade of a grass leaf, while the entire leaf is called "ulwa".
Assameseপাত
Aymaralamina
Bhojpuriपतई
Dhivehiފަތް
Dogriपत्ता
Filipino (Tagalog)dahon
Guaranitogue
Ilocanobulong
Kriolif
Kurdish (Sorani)گەڵا
Maithiliपत्ती
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯝꯅꯥ
Mizohnah
Oromobaala
Odia (Oriya)ପତ୍ର
Quechuarapi
Sanskritपर्ण
Tatarяфрак
Tigrinyaቆጽሊ
Tsongatluka

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