Updated on March 6, 2024
Movies have been a significant part of our cultural landscape for over a century. They have the power to entertain, educate, and inspire us, providing a window into different worlds and perspectives. From classic films to the latest blockbusters, movies are a universal language that transcends borders and cultures.
Understanding the translation of the word 'movie' in different languages can provide insight into how this art form is perceived and valued around the world. For example, in Spanish, a movie is called 'película,' while in French, it's 'film.' In Mandarin, the word for movie is '电影' (diàn yǐng), which literally translates to 'electric shadow.' In German, a movie is called 'Film,' and in Russian, it's 'фильм' (fil'm).
By exploring the translations of the word 'movie,' we can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of this art form and the diverse ways in which it is experienced around the world.
Language | Translation with details | Audio | |
---|---|---|---|
Afrikaans | fliek | ||
The Afrikaans word "fliek" derives from the Dutch word "flick" meaning "flicker" or "quick movement", referring to the movement of the frames in a film projector. | |||
Albanian | film | ||
The word filmi is also used by Albanian people to mean “tape”, in the sense that something was taped or recorded. | |||
Amharic | ፊልም | ||
The word "ፊልም" can also mean "film" in the context of photography. | |||
Arabic | فيلم | ||
In Arabic, "فيلم" can also refer to a thin layer or membrane, such as the transparent coating on a window. | |||
Armenian | կինոնկար | ||
The word "կինոնկար" is derived from the Greek words "κινημα" ("movement") and "γραφειν" ("to write"), meaning a representation of movement in writing. | |||
Assamese | বোলছৱি | ||
Aymara | pilikula | ||
Azerbaijani | film | ||
In Azerbaijani, "film" means "thin layer" and is also used to refer to "cellophane". | |||
Bambara | filimu | ||
Basque | filma | ||
The Basque word "filma" derives from the French word "film" but also has a broader meaning, referring to any type of performance, show, or entertainment. | |||
Belarusian | фільм | ||
The word "фільм" (film) in Belarusian can also mean "photographic film" or "the membrane that covers the eye". | |||
Bengali | সিনেমা | ||
In Bengali, the word 'সিনেমা' not only means 'movie' but also refers to the movie theatre itself. | |||
Bhojpuri | मूवी | ||
Bosnian | film | ||
The Bosnian word for "film" ("film") is derived from the German word "Film", which originally referred to a thin layer or coating. | |||
Bulgarian | филм | ||
The Bulgarian word for "movie", "филм", also means "layer". This dual meaning is derived from the word's shared etymology with the Greek word "phylé", meaning "tribe" or "group of people." | |||
Catalan | pel·lícula | ||
"Pel·lícula" means "movie" in Catalan and "thin layer" in Spanish, and comes from the Latin word "pellis", meaning "skin". | |||
Cebuano | sine | ||
The word "sine" in Cebuano also means "show or exhibition" or "something that is worth watching or observing." | |||
Chinese (Simplified) | 电影 | ||
电影 can also refer to the film industry, a particular film, or the process of filmmaking. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 電影 | ||
"電影" in Chinese is a compound of "電" (electricity) and "影" (image). It initially meant "moving image," but since the advent of radio it exclusively refers to movies. | |||
Corsican | filmu | ||
The word "filmu" is of French origin and is related to words such as "film" and "filament". | |||
Croatian | film | ||
The word "film" is derived from the Latin word "filtrum" meaning "thread" or "sieve" and ultimately from Greek word "phyllon" meaning "leaf". | |||
Czech | film | ||
In Czech, the word "film" can also refer to the photographic emulsion coating on a roll of film. | |||
Danish | film | ||
In Danish, the word "film" primarily means "skin", hence the term "strip of film". | |||
Dhivehi | ފިލްމު | ||
Dogri | मूवी | ||
Dutch | film | ||
In Dutch, the word "film" also refers to the thin layer that coats the surface of liquids or forms on top of solutions. | |||
English | movie | ||
The term "movie" is derived from the acronym "moving picture" from the early days of film. | |||
Esperanto | filmo | ||
The Esperanto word "filmo" comes from the Greek word "filmos" (meaning "loving" or "fond of") and the suffix "-o" (indicating a person, place, or thing). | |||
Estonian | film | ||
The Estonian word for "film" ("film" or "filmi") also means "membrane" or "layer". | |||
Ewe | sinii | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pelikula | ||
Finnish | elokuva | ||
The word "elokuva" is derived from the words "elää" (to live) and "kuva" (image), capturing the idea of a moving picture. | |||
French | film | ||
In French film does not just mean "movie" but also "thin skin" or "coating" as in a layer of something covering something else, as on a camera or a liquid spread on water. | |||
Frisian | film | ||
The Frisian word "film" can also refer to a thin, transparent layer or a membrane. | |||
Galician | película | ||
In Galician "película" is an ambiguous word that also refers to a thin skin formed on the surface of a liquid. | |||
Georgian | ფილმი | ||
The word "ფილმი" (movie) derives from the Greek "φιλμ" (film), meaning "a thin sheet or layer". | |||
German | film | ||
The German word "Film" originates from the Latin term "pellicula," referring to "skin" or "thin layer." | |||
Greek | ταινία | ||
"ταινία" originally referred to the ribbon attached to a wreath worn by victorious athletes. | |||
Guarani | ta'ãngamýi | ||
Gujarati | મૂવી | ||
"મૂવી" (movie) in Gujarati, derived from the English word, also refers to 'acting' or 'play' in a stage drama. | |||
Haitian Creole | fim | ||
The word fim in Haitian Creole is derived from the French word film, which itself comes from the Latin word filum, meaning thread. | |||
Hausa | fim | ||
Fim also means "dream" in Hausa, due to the idea of a movie taking the viewer to another world. | |||
Hawaiian | kiʻi ʻoniʻoni | ||
The word 'kiʻi ʻoniʻoni' means 'moving picture' in Hawaiian, reflecting its origins as a description of early silent films. | |||
Hebrew | סרט | ||
סרט also means a "strip" in Hebrew, like a strip of paper. | |||
Hindi | चलचित्र | ||
"चलचित्र" is a compound word derived from "चल" (move) and "चित्र" (picture), indicating a moving picture. | |||
Hmong | movie | ||
The term "movie" originated from the Latin word "movere", meaning "to move", referring to the moving images on the screen. | |||
Hungarian | film | ||
The word film is derived from the Latin word "pellicula", meaning "skin" or "thin layer". | |||
Icelandic | kvikmynd | ||
The Icelandic word "kvikmynd" literally means "quick image" and was originally used to describe moving pictures. | |||
Igbo | ihe nkiri | ||
The Igbo word 'ihe nkiri' literally translates to 'thing that shows' or 'thing that is seen', reflecting its origins as a medium for visual storytelling. | |||
Ilocano | pelikula | ||
Indonesian | film | ||
Film, which means "membrane" in Indonesian, got its name from the thin layer of silver halide emulsion coated on the celluloid base in traditional film cameras. | |||
Irish | scannán | ||
Italian | film | ||
The Italian word 'film' can also refer to the thin layer of material covering a photographic plate. | |||
Japanese | 映画 | ||
The term "映画" literally means "shadow pictures" in Japanese, a reference to the original use of moving images to create shadows on a screen. | |||
Javanese | film | ||
The Javanese word 'filem' is derived from the Dutch word 'film' and originally meant 'a thin layer' or 'a membrane'. | |||
Kannada | ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ | ||
Kazakh | фильм | ||
The word "фильм" in Kazakh also means "a thin layer" or "a sheet". | |||
Khmer | ខ្សែភាពយន្ត | ||
A compound of the words "ខ្សែ" ("film") and "ភាពយន្ត" ("moving image"), so it literally means "film of a moving image". Also means "film" or "video". | |||
Kinyarwanda | firime | ||
Konkani | मुव्ही | ||
Korean | 영화 | ||
The word "영화" is derived from the Japanese word "映畫" (eiga), which means "moving picture". | |||
Krio | fim | ||
Kurdish | fîlm | ||
The word "fîlm" also means "skin" or "membrane" in Kurdish. | |||
Kurdish (Sorani) | فیلم | ||
Kyrgyz | кино | ||
"Кино" is derived from the French word "cinéma" and also means "hall" or "auditorium" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Lao | ຮູບເງົາ | ||
Latin | elit | ||
The Latin word elit means 'to destroy', and is the origin of the English word 'eliminate'. | |||
Latvian | filma | ||
The word "filma" in Latvian comes from the French word "film" and also has the meaning of "film strip" in the context of photography. | |||
Lingala | filme | ||
Lithuanian | filmas | ||
The Lithuanian word "filmas" likely derives from the German "Film", or the English "film". | |||
Luganda | omuzanyo | ||
Luxembourgish | film | ||
In Luxembourgish, "Film" can also mean "skin" or "membrane". | |||
Macedonian | филм | ||
In Russian, "филм" refers specifically to photographic film, while "фильм" is used for movies. | |||
Maithili | चलचित्र | ||
Malagasy | sarimihetsika | ||
The word "sarimihetsika" was originally Malagasy for magic lantern. | |||
Malay | filem | ||
The word "filem" is derived from the French word "film," which means "a thin layer or coating." | |||
Malayalam | സിനിമ | ||
The word "സിനിമ" in Malayalam comes from the French word "cinéma". | |||
Maltese | film | ||
The Maltese word for film, "ċinema", is also the name of the building in which films are projected. | |||
Maori | kiriata | ||
The word kiriata comes from the Maori words kiri (skin) and ata (daylight), referring to the skin of animals used as a screen for shadow plays. | |||
Marathi | चित्रपट | ||
चित्रपट (citrapat), directly translating to "painted cloth," refers to movies but also traditionally means a painted cloth or a theater curtain. | |||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯤꯠꯀꯤ ꯀꯨꯃꯍꯩ | ||
Mizo | film | ||
Mongolian | кино | ||
The Mongolian word 'кино' also means 'projection' or 'display'. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ရုပ်ရှင် | ||
Nepali | चलचित्र | ||
The word 'चलचित्र' is derived from Sanskrit and literally means 'moving picture'. | |||
Norwegian | film | ||
The Norwegian word "film", in addition to "movie", can also refer to a thin membrane covering a surface, transparent or opaque. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kanema | ||
The word "kanema" can also be used to refer to a play or any other type of performance. | |||
Odia (Oriya) | ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର | ||
Oromo | fiilmii | ||
Pashto | فلم | ||
The word “فلم” (“movie”) in Pashto is derived from the Arabic word “film” which means “a thin layer or skin” and is used in Pashto specifically to refer to the thin layer of celluloid in a movie projector. | |||
Persian | فیلم سینما | ||
The Persian word "فیلم سینما" (movie) derives from the French "film cinéma" and may also imply "film tape". | |||
Polish | film | ||
"Film" comes from the Latin "filum," meaning "thread" or "cord," and was a type of thin plastic strip first used in the mid-19th century to make images for early photographic cameras and devices like the magic lantern. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | filme | ||
The word "filme" in Portuguese can also mean "thin layer" or "membrane". | |||
Punjabi | ਫਿਲਮ | ||
The word "ਫਿਲਮ" (film) also refers to the actual strips of coated plastic used in movie cameras. | |||
Quechua | pelicula | ||
Romanian | film | ||
In Romanian, "film" also means "a thin layer of something on a surface" or "a membrane covering a cell or organ." | |||
Russian | кино | ||
The Russian word "кино" is derived from the Greek word "κίνημα" (kínima), meaning "movement". | |||
Samoan | tifaga | ||
‘Tifaga’ (movie) comes from ‘ti’ (eye) + ‘faga’ (screen), and can also refer to a cinema or film projector. | |||
Sanskrit | चलचित्रं | ||
Scots Gaelic | film | ||
"Film" (in the sense of movie) is borrowed from English and pronounced "film", but also has the native Gaelic form "filme". | |||
Sepedi | mmobi | ||
Serbian | филм | ||
"Филм" in Serbian can also mean "cover" or "veil" in the context of wrapping or covering something. | |||
Sesotho | filimi | ||
The word "filimi" in Sesotho derives from the English word "film" and also means "cinema". | |||
Shona | bhaisikopo | ||
The Shona word 'bhaisikopo' is derived from the Afrikaans word 'bioskoop' which means 'cinema'. | |||
Sindhi | فلم | ||
The Sindhi word "فلم" (movie) is derived from the Arabic word "فيلم" (film), which means a roll of material used in photography or cinematography. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | චිත්රපටය | ||
The word "චිත්රපටය" literally means "a series of pictures" in Sinhala, highlighting its connection to the visual nature of the medium. | |||
Slovak | film | ||
In Slovak, "film" can also refer to a layer or coating, such as a layer of dust or paint. | |||
Slovenian | film | ||
The Slovenian word "film" also refers to a thin layer or coating, similar to the English usage. | |||
Somali | filim | ||
The word "filim" comes from the Arabic word "film" and originally referred to a photographic film rather than a motion picture. | |||
Spanish | película | ||
The word "película" in Spanish originally meant "skin" or "peel", referring to the thin layer of photographic emulsion on early film. | |||
Sundanese | pilem | ||
The Sundanese word "pilem" originates from the Dutch word "film", which is a thin transparent material coated with light-sensitive emulsion. | |||
Swahili | sinema | ||
The Swahili word "sinema" is derived from the English word "cinema" and can also mean "performance" or "entertainment." | |||
Swedish | film | ||
The word "film" originates from the Latin word "pellicula", meaning "skin" or "thin layer". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pelikula | ||
"Pelikula" is derived from the Spanish word "película", meaning "film" or "thin skin". | |||
Tajik | филм | ||
The word "филм" is also used to refer to "film" as the thin sheet used in photography. | |||
Tamil | திரைப்படம் | ||
The Tamil word 'திரைப்படம்' is a compound word that means 'curtain cloth'. The term is also used to refer to the art and process of making movies. | |||
Tatar | кино | ||
Telugu | సినిమా | ||
The word "సినిమా" ("movie") in Telugu is derived from the Greek word "kinēma," meaning "movement." | |||
Thai | ภาพยนตร์ | ||
The word "ภาพยนตร์" (movie) in Thai literally means "film roll". Originally borrowed from English, the word now also refers to any video format. | |||
Tigrinya | ፊልሚ | ||
Tsonga | filimi | ||
Turkish | film | ||
The Turkish word "film" can also refer to a thin layer or coating, as in the phrase "ince bir film" (a thin film). | |||
Turkmen | film | ||
Twi (Akan) | sini | ||
Ukrainian | фільм | ||
In Ukrainian, the word "фільм" (film) also refers to a type of transparent, adhesive tape used for packaging. | |||
Urdu | فلم | ||
The word "فلم" can also mean "photograph" in Urdu. | |||
Uyghur | movie | ||
Uzbek | kino | ||
Kino derives from the Greek “kinētós,” which means “movement”. | |||
Vietnamese | bộ phim | ||
"Bộ phim" literally means "a group of films" and refers to the collective works of a film director, producer, or actor. | |||
Welsh | ffilm | ||
Fflim derives from the Latin word 'filum', meaning thread, and can refer to both film as a medium and a movie as a narrative. | |||
Xhosa | imuvi | ||
In conversational Xhosa, "imuvi" can also refer to a theatrical play, a TV show, or just any type of filmed storytelling. | |||
Yiddish | פֿילם | ||
The Yiddish word "פֿילם" (film) is derived from the German word "Film", which itself comes from the Latin word "pellicula". In Yiddish, "פֿילם" can also refer to a negative or a photographic plate. | |||
Yoruba | fiimu | ||
The Yoruba word "fiimu" derives from the phrase "fiimu leti," meaning "to capture images." | |||
Zulu | ibhayisikobho | ||
The word 'ibhayisikobho' is derived from the verb 'ukubhaya', meaning 'to frighten', and the noun 'isikobho', meaning 'a drum'. This suggests that movies were once seen as a form of entertainment that could frighten and thrill audiences. |