Muscle in Different Languages
Discover 'Muscle' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Muscles, the powerful structures that enable movement and define our physical strength, hold a significant place in our lives. They are not only essential for daily activities but also symbolize vitality and determination in many cultures. Have you ever wondered how the word 'muscle' translates in different languages? Understanding these translations can provide fascinating insights into the cultural significance of muscles across the globe.
For instance, in German, the word for muscle is 'Muskel', reflecting a direct translation from English. In French, it's 'muscle', showcasing a similarity to its English counterpart. However, in Japanese, the word 'kyōtan' (キュータン) is used, which comes from the German word 'Muskel'. In Mandarin Chinese, the translation is '筋' (jīn), which also means 'tendon' or 'sinew'.
Explore the list below to learn more about the translations of the word 'muscle' in various languages and cultures. This journey through language will not only enrich your vocabulary but also deepen your appreciation for the global community's shared fascination with muscular strength and agility.
Muscle
Muscle in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | spier | ||
| The Afrikaans word "spier" is thought to derive from the word "spiering" which refers to something thin or slender. | |||
| Amharic | ጡንቻ | ||
| The Amharic word "ጡንቻ" can also refer to a "rope" or "string". | |||
| Hausa | tsoka | ||
| The Hausa word 'tsoka' also means 'bravery' and is used in the context of fighting and wrestling. | |||
| Igbo | akwara | ||
| The word 'akwara' in Igbo can also refer to a type of traditional Igbo dance. | |||
| Malagasy | hozatra | ||
| The word “hozatra” can also refer to a rope or ribbon tied around the arm to provide strength and endurance. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | minofu | ||
| In Nyanja, the word "minofu" can also mean "thick" or "stout." | |||
| Shona | mhasuru | ||
| The word 'mhasuru' is also used figuratively to describe a powerful or influential person. | |||
| Somali | muruq | ||
| Muruq, meaning 'muscle,' might be derived from the Arabic word 'maruq,' meaning 'stretched' or 'extended'. | |||
| Sesotho | mosifa | ||
| The Sesotho word "mosifa" is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "-sif-," which means "to be strong" or "to be firm." | |||
| Swahili | misuli | ||
| The Swahili word "misuli" also means "tendon" or "nerve". | |||
| Xhosa | umsipha | ||
| The word "umsipha" also refers to the body of a human or animal. | |||
| Yoruba | iṣan | ||
| The word "iṣan" can also mean "strength" or "power". | |||
| Zulu | umsipha | ||
| Umsipha in Zulu refers to muscles, but can also be used figuratively to denote strength, capability, or influence. | |||
| Bambara | bu | ||
| Ewe | lãmeka | ||
| Kinyarwanda | imitsi | ||
| Lingala | mosisa | ||
| Luganda | entumbugulu | ||
| Sepedi | mošifa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | honam | ||
Muscle in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | عضلة | ||
| The word "عضلة" also means "strength" or "power" in Arabic. | |||
| Hebrew | שְׁרִיר | ||
| The word "שְׁרִיר" ("muscle") is also used in the Talmud to refer to a "song", as in "a song of praise". | |||
| Pashto | عضله | ||
| The Pashto word "عضله" (aẓla) comes from Arabic and originally meant "tendon" or "sinew". | |||
| Arabic | عضلة | ||
| The word "عضلة" also means "strength" or "power" in Arabic. | |||
Muscle in Western European Languages
| Albanian | muskujve | ||
| In Albanian, "muskujve" refers to muscles in the body, but can also be used metaphorically for strength or determination. | |||
| Basque | gihar | ||
| The Basque word "gihar" is also used to refer to the "strength" of a person or animal. | |||
| Catalan | múscul | ||
| The Catalan word "múscul" derives from the Latin word "musculus", meaning both "muscle" and "little mouse" due to their similar appearance | |||
| Croatian | mišića | ||
| The word "mišića" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *mьsь, meaning "flesh" or "meat". | |||
| Danish | muskel | ||
| The Danish word "muskel" also means "mussel" and derives from the Latin "musculus" (muscle) and "musculus" (mussel). | |||
| Dutch | spier | ||
| The word "spier" in Dutch is derived from the Proto-West Germanic word "*spēr" meaning "rod" or "shaft" and is related to the English word "spindle". | |||
| English | muscle | ||
| "Muscle" comes from the Latin "musculus," meaning "little mouse," from its resemblance to a tiny moving animal. | |||
| French | muscle | ||
| The French word "muscle" comes from the Latin word "musculus", meaning "little mouse". | |||
| Frisian | spier | ||
| The root of the Frisian word "spier" is likely Germanic "Sper" and is possibly related to the Latin "spera" meaning "hope". | |||
| Galician | músculo | ||
| As a diminutive of the Galician "mus", "músculo" could be the equivalent of the English "mussel". | |||
| German | muskel | ||
| The German word "Muskel" ultimately derives from the Latin word "musculus" meaning "little mouse". | |||
| Icelandic | vöðva | ||
| "Vöðva" in Icelandic is likely derived from the Proto-Germanic word *wōdiwaz, meaning "violent," and originally referred to a tendon or sinew. | |||
| Irish | muscle | ||
| In Old Irish, muscle could also refer to one’s appearance and demeanour. | |||
| Italian | muscolo | ||
| In Italian, the word "muscolo" also refers to an architectural element that supports a vault or arch. | |||
| Luxembourgish | muskel | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Muskel" originates from the French word "muscle" and is also used in the figurative sense of "brawn" or "strength." | |||
| Maltese | muskolu | ||
| The word "muskolu" derives from the Arabic "miskol" which means "weight", so it is literally "the weight of the body" | |||
| Norwegian | muskel | ||
| The word "muskel" in Norwegian derives from the Old Norse word "muskali", meaning "shellfish" or "mussel". Hence, it can also refer to sea creatures with a protective shell instead of muscle tissue. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | músculo | ||
| In Portuguese, "músculo" also refers to a sea animal (mussel) | |||
| Scots Gaelic | fèith | ||
| Scots Gaelic "fèith" also refers to a small vein. | |||
| Spanish | músculo | ||
| In Spanish, "músculo" can also refer to a type of shellfish or a musical instrument similar to a bagpipe. | |||
| Swedish | muskel | ||
| The word "muskel" in Swedish can also refer to a type of sea creature. | |||
| Welsh | cyhyr | ||
| Cyhyr derives from the Proto-Celtic word *muskʷo-, also the root of the Latin musculus, meaning "small mouse" | |||
Muscle in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | мышцы | ||
| Слово "мышцы" в белорусском языке имеет общий славянский корень *myslь, который означает "думать" или "соображать". | |||
| Bosnian | mišića | ||
| The word "mišića" in Bosnian comes from the Proto-Slavic word *myšca, which also means "armpit". | |||
| Bulgarian | мускул | ||
| The word "мускул" originates in the French word "muscle" but it can also refer to muscles, tendons, and ligaments simultaneously. | |||
| Czech | sval | ||
| The word "sval" is also used in Czech to refer to a specific type of muscle, such as the heart muscle or the diaphragm. | |||
| Estonian | lihas | ||
| In Estonian, the word "lihas" can also refer to meat on a bone or flesh in general. | |||
| Finnish | lihas | ||
| The word "lihas" originally meant "flesh" or "meat" and is related to the word "liha" ("meat") and the Estonian word "liha" ("meat"). | |||
| Hungarian | izom | ||
| "Izom" is also the name of the Hungarian folk dance that originated in the Transdanubian region. | |||
| Latvian | muskuļi | ||
| The word "muskuļi" in Latvian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European word "*musk-", which also means "to seize". | |||
| Lithuanian | raumuo | ||
| The word "Raumuo" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*reuh-", meaning "to tear" or "to pull". | |||
| Macedonian | мускул | ||
| The word "мускул" is derived from Latin word "musculus", which means "little mouse", a reference to its shape and movement. | |||
| Polish | mięsień | ||
| "Mięsień" in Polish, derives from the word "mięso" meaning "flesh", and in the past could also mean "meat", similar to the English word "flesh". | |||
| Romanian | muşchi | ||
| The Romanian word "muşchi" can also refer to "moss" or "mustache". | |||
| Russian | мышца | ||
| The word "мышца" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "myšьca", meaning "armpit" or "shoulder joint". | |||
| Serbian | мишића | ||
| The word "мишића" ("muscle") is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*myšьca", which also means "armpit". | |||
| Slovak | sval | ||
| "Sval" is also used for other words that are closely related to "muscle", including "sinew". | |||
| Slovenian | mišice | ||
| The Slovenian word "mišice" can also refer to muscles used for movement, but also to those responsible for organ function. | |||
| Ukrainian | м'язи | ||
| The Ukrainian word "м'язи" (muscle) comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*mьsnъ", meaning "meat". | |||
Muscle in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | পেশী | ||
| The word "পেশী" can also mean "force" or "power" in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | સ્નાયુ | ||
| The word "স্নায়ু" can also mean "nerve" or "tendon" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | मांसपेशी | ||
| In Sanskrit, the word "मांसपेशी" also means "flesh" or "meat". | |||
| Kannada | ಮಾಂಸಖಂಡ | ||
| Malayalam | മാംസപേശി | ||
| The Malayalam word "മാംസപേശി" can also refer to a type of edible shellfish called a mussel. | |||
| Marathi | स्नायू | ||
| The word “स्नायू” in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word “स्नायु”, which originally meant “sinew” or “tendon”. | |||
| Nepali | मासु | ||
| "मासु" primarily means "meat" and its etymology is traced back to the Sanskrit word "मांस" | |||
| Punjabi | ਮਾਸਪੇਸ਼ੀ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මාංශ පේශි | ||
| Tamil | தசை | ||
| The Tamil word "தசை" (muscle) is derived from the Sanskrit word "दश" (ten), referring to the ten layers of muscle in the human body. | |||
| Telugu | కండరము | ||
| The word "కండరము" comes from the Sanskrit word "kandara" meaning "to dig" or "to tunnel". | |||
| Urdu | پٹھوں | ||
| It likely derives from the Indo-Aryan word पाशु (paśu) meaning "beast, cattle". | |||
Muscle in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 肌肉 | ||
| 肌肉 is also a Chinese term for the 'flesh' of a fruit. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 肌肉 | ||
| 肌肉 in traditional Chinese can also refer to "musculature, flesh". | |||
| Japanese | 筋 | ||
| "筋" (すじん) also refers to "vein". Its origin might come from the resemblance between muscles and veins. | |||
| Korean | 근육 | ||
| The Korean word for "muscle" (근육) literally means "strong meat." | |||
| Mongolian | булчин | ||
| The word "булчин" also refers to a young mare or a bride. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကြွက်သား | ||
| The word "ကြွက်သား" can also mean "flesh" or "meat", which is related to its sense of "muscle" as a component of the body. | |||
Muscle in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | otot | ||
| The word "otot" also refers to nerves, arteries, or veins. | |||
| Javanese | otot | ||
| The word 'otot' in Javanese also refers to the strength or power of someone or something. | |||
| Khmer | សាច់ដុំ | ||
| The word "សាច់ដុំ" can also refer to a type of Cambodian dish made with pork or beef. | |||
| Lao | ກ້າມ | ||
| The word "ກ້າມ" can also refer to a type of small, elongated fish. | |||
| Malay | otot | ||
| The Malay word "otot" is also used figuratively to mean "power" or "strength". | |||
| Thai | กล้ามเนื้อ | ||
| The Thai word "กล้ามเนื้อ" (muscle) comes from the Sanskrit word "kalamasa", meaning "tendon, muscle fibers, flesh". | |||
| Vietnamese | cơ bắp | ||
| The Sino-Vietnamese term "cơ bắp" is composed of the character "cơ" (機) and "bắp" ( bắp ), both meaning "muscle". In Vietnamese, the word "bắp" also has additional meanings such as "calf" and "corn". In contrast, "cơ" often implies a mechanical device and can have extended meanings like "mechanism" and "opportunity". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kalamnan | ||
Muscle in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | əzələ | ||
| The word "əzələ" in Azerbaijani ultimately derives from the Arabic word "ʿaẓm" meaning "bone", and originally referred to muscles attached to bones. | |||
| Kazakh | бұлшықет | ||
| The Kazakh word "бұлшықет" is derived from the Proto-Turkic word *bılčïq, meaning "strength" or "power". | |||
| Kyrgyz | булчуң | ||
| The Kyrgyz word “булчуң” is also used in a broader sense to refer to the muscular system or the general physical strength of a person | |||
| Tajik | мушак | ||
| "мушак" in Tajik is derived from the Persian word "موشك" (mūšak), meaning "small mouse". | |||
| Turkmen | myşsa | ||
| Uzbek | muskul | ||
| The word "muskul" is derived from the Arabic word "misk", meaning "musk", and was originally used to refer to the scent of musk deer. | |||
| Uyghur | مۇسكۇل | ||
Muscle in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mākala | ||
| Mākala, meaning "muscle," derives from the Proto-Polynesian word *makala, also meaning "branch" or "fork". | |||
| Maori | uaua | ||
| The Maori word "uaua" also refers to a specific type of mollusc, the cockle. | |||
| Samoan | maso | ||
| Ma'o is also the name for the type of sea cucumber known in English as the | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kalamnan | ||
| The Tagalog word "kalamnan" may also refer to tendons or the fleshy part of the body beneath the skin. | |||
Muscle in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | chichi | ||
| Guarani | tajygue | ||
Muscle in International Languages
| Esperanto | muskolo | ||
| Muskolo shares its root with "musculus" in Latin and "muscle" in English. | |||
| Latin | musculus | ||
| The Latin word "musculus" also means "little mouse" or "mussel", and is the root of the English word "muscle" | |||
Muscle in Others Languages
| Greek | μυς | ||
| The term 'μυς' can refer not only to a muscle, but also to a rat or a shellfish, alluding to the shared notion of a 'contracting' movement. | |||
| Hmong | cov leeg | ||
| Cov leeg's etymology has been traced back to proto-Hmong-Mien *kra:ŋ, a word for "flesh, meat". | |||
| Kurdish | masûl | ||
| The term "masûl" also refers to a "strong or influential person" within a community. | |||
| Turkish | kas | ||
| The word "kas" derives from the Sanskrit word "kash" meaning "to cover" or "to protect". | |||
| Xhosa | umsipha | ||
| The word "umsipha" also refers to the body of a human or animal. | |||
| Yiddish | מוסקל | ||
| "מוסקל" is also an acronym for "מרכז סחר כלכלה" (trade and economics center) in Hebrew. | |||
| Zulu | umsipha | ||
| Umsipha in Zulu refers to muscles, but can also be used figuratively to denote strength, capability, or influence. | |||
| Assamese | পেশী | ||
| Aymara | chichi | ||
| Bhojpuri | मांसपेशी | ||
| Dhivehi | މަސުލް | ||
| Dogri | पट्ठा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kalamnan | ||
| Guarani | tajygue | ||
| Ilocano | lasag | ||
| Krio | mɔsul | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ماسوولکە | ||
| Maithili | मांसपेशी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯣꯡꯁꯥ | ||
| Mizo | tihrawl | ||
| Oromo | maashaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ମାଂସପେଶୀ | ||
| Quechua | aycha | ||
| Sanskrit | मांसपेशी | ||
| Tatar | мускул | ||
| Tigrinya | ጭዋዳ | ||
| Tsonga | tihlampfana | ||