Updated on March 6, 2024
A miracle is an extraordinary event that surpasses all natural laws and is often considered to be a divine intervention. This concept has been a significant part of various cultures and religions around the world, inspiring awe, wonder, and hope in people's hearts. The word 'miracle' has been translated into different languages, each with its unique cultural and historical context.
For instance, in Spanish, the word for miracle is 'milagro,' which originates from the Latin 'miraculum,' meaning 'object of wonder.' In French, it is 'miracle,' derived from the Latin 'miraculum' as well. Meanwhile, in Japanese, the word 'kiseki' is used to describe a miracle, which also means 'sign' or 'omen.' In Hebrew, the word 'nes' is used, which means 'banner' or 'sign' and is often associated with divine intervention in Jewish history.
Discovering the translations of the word 'miracle' in different languages can provide us with a unique perspective on how various cultures perceive the extraordinary and the divine. Below is a list of translations of the word 'miracle' in different languages.
Afrikaans | wonderwerk | ||
The word "wonderwerk" in Afrikaans originates from the Dutch "wonderwerk" and literally means "work of wonder" or "miracle." | |||
Amharic | ተአምር | ||
The word "ተአምር" means "mystery" and is also related to the concept of "wonder". | |||
Hausa | mu'ujiza | ||
The Hausa word "mu'ujiza" originally referred to a "strange or extraordinary event" but now conveys the sense of a "divine intervention". | |||
Igbo | ọrụ ebube | ||
The Igbo word "ọrụ ebube" may also mean "a great accomplishment" or "an extraordinary event". | |||
Malagasy | fahagagana | ||
The word "fahagagana" in Malagasy can also mean "something extraordinary" or "a mystery". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chozizwitsa | ||
In some contexts, "chozizwitsa" can also be used in a non-religious sense to refer to an amazing or extraordinary event. | |||
Shona | chishamiso | ||
The word 'chishamiso' is a blend of the Shona words 'chisha' (water) and 'miso' (miracle), implying the belief in a miraculous power of water. | |||
Somali | mucjiso | ||
The Somali word "mucjiso" can also mean "wonder" or "marvel". | |||
Sesotho | mohlolo | ||
The word "mohlolo" derives from the Proto-Bantu root "-hlola", meaning "to see clearly" and can also refer to a revelation or vision. | |||
Swahili | muujiza | ||
The Swahili word "muujiza" is ultimately derived from the Arabic word "muʿjiza" which also means "miracle" as well as "extraordinary event". | |||
Xhosa | ummangaliso | ||
The word "ummangaliso" is derived from the Bantu root "mang", meaning "to wonder" or "to be amazed." | |||
Yoruba | iyanu | ||
The Yoruba word "iyanu" has alternate meanings such as "marvelous" and "wonderful". | |||
Zulu | isimangaliso | ||
Isimangaliso derives from the root 'mangaza' meaning "marvel at," and also denotes "amazing," "frightening," "awesome," and "wondrous." | |||
Bambara | kabako | ||
Ewe | nukunu | ||
Kinyarwanda | igitangaza | ||
Lingala | likamwisi | ||
Luganda | eky'amagero | ||
Sepedi | mohlolo | ||
Twi (Akan) | anwanwadeɛ | ||
Arabic | معجزة | ||
The word "معجزة" (muʿjiza) derives from the root "عجز" (ʿajz), meaning "inability" or "weakness," suggesting that a miracle is an event that defies human limitations or expectations. | |||
Hebrew | נֵס | ||
"נֵס", "miracle" in Hebrew, also means "banner", "flag" or "sign". | |||
Pashto | معجزه | ||
The word "معجزه" in Pashto can also refer to an extraordinary event or occurrence. | |||
Arabic | معجزة | ||
The word "معجزة" (muʿjiza) derives from the root "عجز" (ʿajz), meaning "inability" or "weakness," suggesting that a miracle is an event that defies human limitations or expectations. |
Albanian | mrekulli | ||
The Proto-Albanian root *mirə- 'to wonder' also gives us the noun mrekullia "wonder, miracle, marvel", and verb mrekullohem "to be surprised, amazed, astonished". | |||
Basque | miraria | ||
The Basque word "miraria" also means "surprise" or "wonder". | |||
Catalan | miracle | ||
In Catalan, "miracle" also refers to a sudden or unexpected occurrence, not necessarily supernatural. | |||
Croatian | čudo | ||
The word "čudo" in Croatian also means "wonder" or "marvel" and is related to the Proto-Slavic word "*čъdo", meaning "something wonderful or miraculous." | |||
Danish | mirakel | ||
In Danish, "mirakel" can also refer to a wonderful or surprising thing, or to something that is difficult to believe or understand. | |||
Dutch | wonder | ||
The Dutch word "wonder" is etymologically related to the English word "wander", and can refer to either a sense of amazement or disbelief, or to a supernatural event. | |||
English | miracle | ||
The word "miracle" derives from the Latin word "mirari," meaning "to wonder at or marvel at." | |||
French | miracle | ||
The word "miracle" comes from the Latin "miraculum," meaning "a wonderful thing" or "a cause of wonder." | |||
Frisian | wûnder | ||
The Frisian word "wûnder" can also refer to a "monstrous being," a "monstrous thing," or a "marvel." | |||
Galician | milagre | ||
"Milagre" (meaning "miracle") also means "a piece of clothing that has been ironed", "a very thin slice of bread", "a very thin piece of anything" or "a very small amount of something". | |||
German | wunder | ||
The German word "Wunder" is related to "wound" in English and shares the meaning of "a thing that cannot be explained." | |||
Icelandic | kraftaverk | ||
Kraftaverk stems from the verbs "krefja" (demand) and "verka" (work), and can be understood as "demanding work". | |||
Irish | míorúilt | ||
Italian | miracolo | ||
The Italian word 'miracolo' is derived from the Latin 'miraculum', which also means 'wonderful' or 'surprising' event. | |||
Luxembourgish | wonner | ||
Wonner is derived from the Old High German word 'wunnja', meaning 'joy' or 'delight'. | |||
Maltese | miraklu | ||
The Maltese word "miraklu" derives from the Arabic "muʿjiza" which means "sign". It is sometimes used to indicate a supernatural event. | |||
Norwegian | mirakel | ||
The word 'mirakel' may also refer to a small object, such as a tiny piece of food or a small insect.} | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | milagre | ||
In Portuguese, the term "milagre" also signifies an act of magic or wizardry. | |||
Scots Gaelic | mìorbhail | ||
Mìorbhail is also used to refer to a holy relic or object of veneration, and it can also mean "marvel" or "wonder." | |||
Spanish | milagro | ||
Milagro's etymology is ultimately from the Latin miraculum, meaning "wonderful thing," or "extraordinary thing," and later "miracle." | |||
Swedish | mirakel | ||
The Swedish word "mirakel" can also refer to a small, round sponge cake, or the act of catching fish in a net. | |||
Welsh | gwyrth | ||
The Welsh word "gwyrth" also means "truth" or "fact", reflecting the idea that miracles are evidence of God's existence. |
Belarusian | цуд | ||
The word "цуд" in Belarusian can also mean "magic" or "wonder", and is related to the Russian word "чудо" with the same meaning. | |||
Bosnian | čudo | ||
The word 'čudo' can also mean 'monster' or 'abomination' in Bosnian, reflecting its Slavic roots where it originally meant 'something strange or unusual'. | |||
Bulgarian | чудо | ||
The word "чудо" can also mean "wonder" or "marvel" in Bulgarian. | |||
Czech | zázrak | ||
The Czech word "zázrak" has a double meaning, a miraculous event or something remarkable and exceptional | |||
Estonian | ime | ||
In Estonian, the word "ime" can also mean "wonder", "marvel", or "sign". | |||
Finnish | ihme | ||
The word "ihme" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "ime", meaning "wonder" or "marvel." | |||
Hungarian | csoda | ||
The word "csoda" is derived from <th>csodál</th>="to marvel", and is related to the Turkish word <th>sovdak</th>='a strange thing'. | |||
Latvian | brīnums | ||
The word "brīnums" in Latvian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bhrē̆-/*bhrĭ- (to carry, bear, support)", sharing a common origin with words like "berry" and "ferry". | |||
Lithuanian | stebuklas | ||
"Stebuklas" is closely related to the words "stoburys" (a pole or pillar), "stambas" (vertebra), and "stebėti" (to observe). This suggests a possible origin of the word from an ancient belief that a miracle is something that stands out, is unusual or unexpected. | |||
Macedonian | чудо | ||
The word "чудо" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*čjudъ", meaning "something wonderful or marvelous", and is related to the word "чудиться" (to be amazed). | |||
Polish | cud | ||
In Polish, "cud" is not only "miracle" but the name of a type of a "quirk" or an "oddity". | |||
Romanian | miracol | ||
The Romanian word "miracol" is derived from the Latin word "miraculum", meaning "something wonderful or strange". It can also refer to a "divine intervention" or an "event that cannot be explained by natural causes". | |||
Russian | чудо | ||
The word "чудо" in Russian derives from the Proto-Slavic "čjudъ", which also meant "foreigner" or "marvel". | |||
Serbian | чудо | ||
The word "чудо" is also used to refer to an extraordinary event or a rare and precious thing. | |||
Slovak | zázrak | ||
The word "zázrak" is etymologically related to the Old Church Slavonic word "zъrъ", meaning "to see". In some contexts, it can also refer to a "spectacle" or "wonder" | |||
Slovenian | čudež | ||
The word "čudež" derives from the Proto-Slavic word *čudo, meaning "wonder" or "marvel". | |||
Ukrainian | диво | ||
The Russian word “divo” was borrowed from Bulgarian around the 11th century and originally denoted a strange natural event or an unusual creature. |
Bengali | অলৌকিক ঘটনা | ||
The word "অলৌকিক ঘটনা" is derived from the Sanskrit word "अलौकिक", meaning "supernatural". It can also refer to an extraordinary event or a remarkable achievement. | |||
Gujarati | ચમત્કાર | ||
The Gujarati word "ચમત્કાર" (miracle) is derived from the Sanskrit word "चमत्कार" (camatkāra), which literally means "delight, astonishment, or surprise". | |||
Hindi | चमत्कार | ||
The word "चमत्कार" (miracle) in Hindi derives from the Sanskrit word "चित्" (consciousness) and "मृक्" (to perceive), denoting an extraordinary event that surpasses ordinary perception. | |||
Kannada | ಪವಾಡ | ||
The word "ಪವಾಡ" also refers to a surprising or extraordinary event, or something wonderful or delightful. | |||
Malayalam | അത്ഭുതം | ||
"അത്ഭുതം" comes from the Sanskrit word "adbhuta", meaning “something not felt before". It can also mean "wonder" or "mystery". | |||
Marathi | चमत्कार | ||
The Marathi word "चमत्कार" is derived from the Sanskrit word "चमत्स्कार," meaning "astonishment, wonder." | |||
Nepali | चमत्कार | ||
Nepali word चमत्कार, meaning 'miracle', is derived from the Sanskrit word 'chamatkara', which means 'astonishment' or 'wonder'. | |||
Punjabi | ਚਮਤਕਾਰ | ||
The word 'ਚਮਤਕਾਰ' in Punjabi, meaning 'wonder' or 'miracle,' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'चमत्कार' (camatkāra), which encompasses various meanings such as 'astonishment,' 'surprise,' 'marvel,' and 'portent'. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආශ්චර්යය | ||
Tamil | அதிசயம் | ||
The Tamil word "அதிசயம்" derives from the Sanskrit word "आश्चर्य" (āścarya), meaning 'surprise' or 'astonishment'. It can also refer to an extraordinary event or phenomenon. | |||
Telugu | అద్భుతం | ||
The word "అద్భుతం" (adbhutam) is derived from the Sanskrit root "adbhu" meaning "to astonish" or "to surprise". | |||
Urdu | معجزہ | ||
The word معجزہ in Urdu is derived from the Arabic root ع ج ز, which means 'to be weak' or 'to be helpless'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 奇迹 | ||
The word "奇迹" (qíjì) literally means "strange event" and can also refer to a "marvel" or "wonder." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 奇蹟 | ||
奇蹟 literally means an auspicious event or phenomenon. | |||
Japanese | 奇跡 | ||
In Japanese, the kanji 奇跡 (kiseki) can have multiple meanings, including "unexpected event" and "rare occurrence." | |||
Korean | 기적 | ||
The word "기적" (miracle) in Korean is also used to refer to "a wonderful thing" or "a coincidence". | |||
Mongolian | гайхамшиг | ||
The Mongolian word "гайхамшиг" is also used to refer to a type of magical or shamanistic ritual. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အံ့ဖွယ်အမှု | ||
Indonesian | keajaiban | ||
The word "keajaiban" is derived from the Arabic word "karama" and Sanskrit word "acarya", meaning "gift" or "grace". | |||
Javanese | kaelokan | ||
The word "kaelokan" also means "beauty" and "virtue". | |||
Khmer | អព្ភូតហេតុ | ||
'អព្ភូតហេតុ' derives from Sanskrit 'abhutahetu', where 'abhuta' means 'extraordinary' and 'hetu' means 'cause', hence denoting an event with an inexplicable cause. | |||
Lao | ມະຫັດສະຈັນ | ||
Malay | keajaiban | ||
In addition to "miracle," "keajaiban" can also refer to magic or extraordinary power. | |||
Thai | ปาฏิหาริย์ | ||
The word "ปาฏิหาริย์" comes from the Sanskrit word "pratiharya," which means "a feat of skill or power." | |||
Vietnamese | phép màu | ||
"Phép màu" derives from "phép" (magic) and "mầu" (color), suggesting a change in nature or a supernatural event. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | himala | ||
Azerbaijani | möcüzə | ||
The word "möcüzə" in Azerbaijani might have derived from the Arabic word "muʿajiz" meaning a manifestation of a miracle. | |||
Kazakh | ғажайып | ||
"ғажайып" is a loanword from Arabic meaning "extraordinary occurrence" or "impossible thing". | |||
Kyrgyz | керемет | ||
The word "керемет" can also refer to a supernatural being or a sacred object. | |||
Tajik | мӯъҷиза | ||
The word "мӯъҷиза" is a loanword from Arabic, where it originally meant "a thing caused", "an event that occurs without a known cause", or "something marvelous or wonderful" | |||
Turkmen | gudrat | ||
Uzbek | mo''jiza | ||
The Uzbek word "mo''jiza" ultimately derives from the Arabic term "mu`jiza," signifying an "extraordinary event" or "supernatural occurrence." | |||
Uyghur | مۆجىزە | ||
Hawaiian | hana mana | ||
The Hawaiian word "hana mana" literally means "making work," and can also refer to a supernatural event or a divine act. | |||
Maori | merekara | ||
"Merekara" is a loanword from the English "miracle", and also means "ghost" or "spirit" in Maori. | |||
Samoan | vavega | ||
The Samoan word "vavega" can also refer to an unexpected event or a natural phenomenon. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | himala | ||
The Tagalog word "himala" also means "extraordinary event, happening, or thing." |
Aymara | khuyapayawi | ||
Guarani | jehupavẽkatu | ||
Esperanto | miraklo | ||
The Esperanto word "miraklo" ("miracle") is derived from the Latin word "miraculum" ("wonderful thing") and has the same meaning in a wider sense. | |||
Latin | miraculum | ||
"Miraculum" comes from the Latin word "mirari," meaning "to wonder at" or "to be amazed." |
Greek | θαύμα | ||
The Greek word "θαύμα" also means "spectacle" or "marvel". | |||
Hmong | txuj ci tseem ceeb | ||
The term "txuj ci tseem ceeb" is formed from three distinct words: "txuj" (to happen), "ci" (of itself), and "tseem ceeb" (to surprise), reflecting the idea of an unexpected, astonishing event. | |||
Kurdish | mûcîze | ||
The word "mûcîze" in Kurdish originally meant "something that is beyond human understanding". | |||
Turkish | mucize | ||
The Turkish word "mucize" derives from the Arabic word "mu'jiza," meaning "something extraordinary or supernatural". | |||
Xhosa | ummangaliso | ||
The word "ummangaliso" is derived from the Bantu root "mang", meaning "to wonder" or "to be amazed." | |||
Yiddish | נס | ||
The Yiddish word "נס" (miracle) is also a colloquialism for a "nose". | |||
Zulu | isimangaliso | ||
Isimangaliso derives from the root 'mangaza' meaning "marvel at," and also denotes "amazing," "frightening," "awesome," and "wondrous." | |||
Assamese | অলৌকিক ঘটনা | ||
Aymara | khuyapayawi | ||
Bhojpuri | चमत्कार | ||
Dhivehi | މުޢުޖިޒާތް | ||
Dogri | कमाल | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | himala | ||
Guarani | jehupavẽkatu | ||
Ilocano | mirakulo | ||
Krio | mirɛkul | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | موعجیزە | ||
Maithili | चमत्कार | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯉꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | thilmak | ||
Oromo | dinqii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଚମତ୍କାର | ||
Quechua | milagro | ||
Sanskrit | अचंभा | ||
Tatar | могҗиза | ||
Tigrinya | ተኣምራት | ||
Tsonga | mahlori | ||