Afrikaans museum | ||
Albanian muze | ||
Amharic ሙዝየም | ||
Arabic متحف | ||
Armenian թանգարան | ||
Assamese সংগ্ৰাহালয় | ||
Aymara musiyu | ||
Azerbaijani muzey | ||
Bambara mize | ||
Basque museoa | ||
Belarusian музей | ||
Bengali যাদুঘর | ||
Bhojpuri संग्रहालय | ||
Bosnian muzej | ||
Bulgarian музей | ||
Catalan museu | ||
Cebuano museyo | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 博物馆 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 博物館 | ||
Corsican museu | ||
Croatian muzej | ||
Czech muzeum | ||
Danish museum | ||
Dhivehi މިއުޒިއަމް | ||
Dogri अजैबघर | ||
Dutch museum | ||
English museum | ||
Esperanto muzeo | ||
Estonian muuseum | ||
Ewe tsãnuwonɔƒe | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) museo | ||
Finnish museo | ||
French musée | ||
Frisian museum | ||
Galician museo | ||
Georgian მუზეუმი | ||
German museum | ||
Greek μουσείο | ||
Guarani apokatuĩro | ||
Gujarati સંગ્રહાલય | ||
Haitian Creole mize | ||
Hausa gidan kayan gargajiya | ||
Hawaiian hale hōʻikeʻike | ||
Hebrew מוּזֵיאוֹן | ||
Hindi संग्रहालय | ||
Hmong tsev khaws puav pheej | ||
Hungarian múzeum | ||
Icelandic safn | ||
Igbo ihe ngosi nka | ||
Ilocano museo | ||
Indonesian museum | ||
Irish músaem | ||
Italian museo | ||
Japanese 博物館 | ||
Javanese museum | ||
Kannada ಮ್ಯೂಸಿಯಂ | ||
Kazakh мұражай | ||
Khmer សារមន្ទីរ | ||
Kinyarwanda inzu ndangamurage | ||
Konkani वस्तुसंग्रहालय | ||
Korean 박물관 | ||
Krio myuziɔm | ||
Kurdish mûze | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) مۆزەخانە | ||
Kyrgyz музей | ||
Lao ຫໍພິພິທະພັນ | ||
Latin museum | ||
Latvian muzejs | ||
Lingala esika babombaka biloko ya kala | ||
Lithuanian muziejus | ||
Luganda miyuziyaamu | ||
Luxembourgish musée | ||
Macedonian музеј | ||
Maithili संग्रहालय | ||
Malagasy museum | ||
Malay muzium | ||
Malayalam മ്യൂസിയം | ||
Maltese mużew | ||
Maori whare taonga | ||
Marathi संग्रहालय | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯃꯤꯌꯨꯖꯤꯌꯝ | ||
Mizo thilhlui dahthatna | ||
Mongolian музей | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) ပြတိုက် | ||
Nepali संग्रहालय | ||
Norwegian museum | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) nyumba yosungiramo zinthu zakale | ||
Odia (Oriya) ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ | ||
Oromo godambaa | ||
Pashto میوزیم | ||
Persian موزه | ||
Polish muzeum | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) museu | ||
Punjabi ਅਜਾਇਬ ਘਰ | ||
Quechua museo | ||
Romanian muzeu | ||
Russian музей | ||
Samoan falemataaga | ||
Sanskrit संग्रहालय | ||
Scots Gaelic taigh-tasgaidh | ||
Sepedi musiamo | ||
Serbian музеј | ||
Sesotho musiamo | ||
Shona miziyamu | ||
Sindhi ميوزيم | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) කෞතුකාගාරය | ||
Slovak múzeum | ||
Slovenian muzej | ||
Somali matxafka | ||
Spanish museo | ||
Sundanese musium | ||
Swahili makumbusho | ||
Swedish museum | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) museyo | ||
Tajik музей | ||
Tamil அருங்காட்சியகம் | ||
Tatar музей | ||
Telugu మ్యూజియం | ||
Thai พิพิธภัณฑ์ | ||
Tigrinya ሙዝየም | ||
Tsonga muziyamu | ||
Turkish müze | ||
Turkmen muzeýi | ||
Twi (Akan) misiɔm | ||
Ukrainian музей | ||
Urdu میوزیم | ||
Uyghur مۇزېي | ||
Uzbek muzey | ||
Vietnamese viện bảo tàng | ||
Welsh amgueddfa | ||
Xhosa imyuziyam | ||
Yiddish מוזיי | ||
Yoruba musiọmu | ||
Zulu imnyuziyamu |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The Afrikaans word "museum" is derived from the Greek word "mouseion", which originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of inspiration and the arts. |
| Albanian | The Albanian word "muze" is derived from the Greek word "μουσείον" (mouseion), initially referring to the place dedicated to the Muses. |
| Amharic | The word ሙዝየም (museum) is derived from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally referred to a temple or shrine dedicated to the Muses. |
| Arabic | The Arabic word "متحف" (museum) comes from the Greek "mouseion", which originally referred to the temple and library of the Muses in ancient Greece |
| Armenian | In Armenian, the word for museum, թանգարան, can also mean a repository or archive where items are preserved. |
| Azerbaijani | It is derived from the Greek word mouseion, meaning a place dedicated to the muses. |
| Basque | The word “Museoa” (museum) is derived from Greek word “Mouseon,” which means the Temple or Seat of the Muses. |
| Belarusian | The Belarusian word "музей" comes from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), originally meaning "temple of the Muses". |
| Bengali | The Bengali word "যাদুঘর" is derived from the Sanskrit word "yadugriha," which originally referred to a house where sacrifices were performed |
| Bosnian | The word "muzej" is derived from the Greek word "mouseion" or "mousaion," which referred to a temple or sanctuary dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of the arts and sciences. |
| Bulgarian | "Музей" в переводе с древнегреческого означает "храм муз". |
| Catalan | The word "museu" in Catalan derives from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses. |
| Cebuano | The word "museyo" in Cebuano could either come from the Spanish word "museo" or the English word "museum". |
| Chinese (Simplified) | "博物馆"原意是“文物的库房”,也指供人参观和研究艺术品或历史遗物的场所。 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The Chinese word "博物館" (museum) was originally used to refer to a "place where scholar-officials collected and studied ancient artifacts". |
| Corsican | In Corsican, the word "museu" also means "temple". |
| Croatian | The word "muzej" in Croatian is derived from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally referred to a temple or shrine dedicated to the Muses, goddesses of the arts and sciences. |
| Czech | The word "muzeum" in Czech derives from the Temple of the Muses, a 3rd century BCE institution in Alexandria, Egypt. |
| Danish | The word "museum" can also refer to a "temple to the Muses" in Danish. |
| Dutch | In Dutch, the word "museum" can also refer to a public institution responsible for preserving and promoting art, history, or natural history. |
| Estonian | "Muuseum" originates from the Greek word "mouseion", a building dedicated to the goddess of the arts, the Muses. |
| Finnish | "Museo" in Finnish derives from Latin "museum" and Greek "mouseion" (seat of the Muses), both referring to places dedicated to knowledge. |
| French | "Musée" comes from the Latin "museum," but originally meant "a place of study or leisure". |
| Frisian | In Frisian, "museum" can also refer to a place where objects of historical or cultural significance are collected and displayed. |
| Galician | The Galician word "museo" is cognate with the Portuguese "museu" and can also mean "inspiration". |
| Georgian | The word "მუზეუმი" (''muzeum'') is derived from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (''mouseion''), which originally referred to a temple or sanctuary dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of art and inspiration. |
| German | In German, the word "Museum" also means "temple of the muses" or "place dedicated to the arts". |
| Greek | The Greek word "μουσείο" originally referred to a place dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of the arts and sciences. |
| Gujarati | The Gujarati word "સંગ્રહાલય" originally referred to a collection of religious texts or artifacts. |
| Haitian Creole | The word "mize" in Haitian Creole is derived from the French word "musée", which itself comes from the Latin word "museum" meaning "temple of the muses". |
| Hawaiian | The word "hale hōʻikeʻike" literally means "house of exhibitions" in Hawaiian. |
| Hebrew | The word 'מוּזֵיאוֹן' is derived from the Greek word 'μουσεῖον' (mouseion), meaning "seat of the Muses" or a temple dedicated to the Muses. |
| Hindi | The word "संग्रहालय" (museum) comes from the Sanskrit words "संग्रह" (collection) and "आलय" (house). |
| Hungarian | The word "múzeum" derives from the Latin "museum", meaning "temple of the Muses", and also refers to a collection of objects exhibited for public study and enjoyment. |
| Icelandic | While the word "safn" means "museum" in Icelandic, it also has the alternate meaning of "collection." |
| Igbo | The Igbo word 'ihe ngosi nka' also means 'exhibition of artwork' or 'display of creativity'. |
| Indonesian | "Museum" originates from the Greek word "mouseion" which refers to a building of the Muses. |
| Irish | The Irish word músaem ultimately derives from the Greek word mouseion, meaning a temple dedicated to the Muses and a place of learning. |
| Italian | Museo derives from the Ancient Greek word mouseion, meaning 'temple, seat of the muses' |
| Japanese | The term 博物館, first coined in 1874 during the Meiji period in Japan, refers not only to modern concepts of museums but also encompasses libraries, zoos, observatories, and other scientific institutions. |
| Javanese | In Javanese, the word "museum" (museum) can also refer to a place of worship or a sacred site. |
| Kazakh | "Мұражай" in Kazakh derives from the Persian "morja'eh, |
| Korean | The term "박물관" is borrowed from Japanese and originates from English. Its literal meaning is "a place where items are discarded". |
| Kurdish | The Kurdish word "mûze" may be derived from the Persian word "muz", meaning "wax". |
| Kyrgyz | The word "музей" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a "herbarium" or a "collection of dried plants or plant parts for scientific study" |
| Latin | In Latin, the word "museum" originally meant a "place for intellectual pursuits or study" before evolving to mean a "place for the collection and exhibition of cultural artifacts." |
| Latvian | The word "muzejs" derives from the Greek word "mouseion," denoting a place for contemplation and study. |
| Lithuanian | The word "muziejus" originates from the Latin "museum", meaning "a place for the Muses or a temple of the Muses," and is ultimately derived from the Greek "mouseion." |
| Luxembourgish | In Luxembourgish, 'Musée' can refer to a museum but also a temple of worship or a school. |
| Macedonian | The word "музеј" derives from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), meaning "seat of the muses." |
| Malagasy | In Malagasy, the word "museum" derives from the French "musée" and can also refer to a "sacred or holy place" or a "shrine". |
| Malay | The Malay word "muzium" is derived from the Arabic word "mathaf", meaning a "place of learning". |
| Malayalam | The word മ്യൂസിയം comes from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally meant "a place of the muses." |
| Maltese | The Maltese word "mużew" originates from the Sicilian "muséu", and ultimately derives from the Greek "mouseion" (temple of the Muses), a place dedicated to the worship of the Muses and the study of the arts. |
| Maori | "Whare taonga" can also refer to a treasury or a building for storing valuable possessions. |
| Marathi | The word "संग्रहालय" in Marathi literally means "a collection of collections". |
| Mongolian | The word музей (museum) is derived from the Greek word μουσεῖον (mouseīon), meaning literally "seat of the Muses," because in classical Greece, a museum was a place of study and contemplation dedicated to the nine Muses. |
| Nepali | The word "संग्रहालय" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit words "सं" (sam) meaning "together" and "ग्रह" (graha) meaning "to hold". |
| Norwegian | "Museum" comes from the Greek verb "mouseios," meaning "dedicated to the Muses" |
| Pashto | In Pashto, "میوزیم" originally meant "a place of wonder" or "a place of inspiration." |
| Persian | The Persian word “موزه” (mūze) derives from the Greek “mouseion” (temple to the Muses) and has come to signify not only a repository for artifacts and artworks but also a place for contemplation and the study of the past. |
| Polish | Muzeum is derived from the Greek word mouseion, which means "temple of the Muses, seat of learning." |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | The word "museu" in Portuguese is derived from the Greek word "mouseion," meaning "temple of the muses". |
| Romanian | The word "muzeu" also implies a "temple of the muses" in Romanian, referencing the Greek origin of the term. |
| Russian | The Russian word “музей” (museum) ultimately derives from the Greek word "mouseion" (temple of the muses). |
| Samoan | The Samoan term 'falemataaga' traditionally referred to a gathering place or meeting house before adopting its current meaning of 'museum'. |
| Serbian | The word "музеј" comes from the ancient Greek word "μουσεῖον", which originally referred to a temple or shrine dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of inspiration and the arts. |
| Sesotho | In some contexts, 'musiamo' refers to a sacred site associated with traditional religious practices. |
| Shona | The word 'miziyamu' is derived from the Swahili word 'maji' (water), which can also mean 'collection' or 'repository'. |
| Sindhi | "ميوزيم" (museum) is derived from the Greek word "mouseion" meaning "temple of the Muses". |
| Slovak | Slovak "múzeum" derives from "Mouseion," the Greek temple dedicated to Muses, also referring to the library of Alexandria. |
| Slovenian | The word "muzej" in Slovenian originates from the Greek word "mouseion", which refers to a temple or a place dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of the arts and sciences. |
| Somali | Matxafa, which also denotes an object of preservation such as a 'tomb,' implies the sanctity of the museum as a protected place for cultural continuity. |
| Spanish | The Spanish word "museo" is derived from the Greek word "mouseion," which referred to a temple of the Muses, where scholars and philosophers gathered. |
| Sundanese | The word "musium" in Sundanese has various other meanings, including "knowledge" or "a place for contemplation." |
| Swahili | The word "makumbusho" in Swahili derives from the verb "kukumbuka," meaning "to remember" or "to commemorate," highlighting the museum's role in preserving and honoring history and culture. |
| Swedish | The word "museum" comes from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally referred to a place dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of music and the arts. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The original meaning of "museyo" is "temple of the muses" which were revered in the Greco-Roman pantheon. |
| Tajik | В персидском языке слово «музей» изначально означало «дом муз» или «место для размышлений». |
| Telugu | The word "మ్యూజియం" comes from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), which originally meant a place dedicated to the Muses. |
| Thai | The word พิพิธภัณฑ์ (phiphithaphan) is derived from Sanskrit and means 'gathering place for knowledge'. |
| Turkish | The word "müze" comes from the Greek word "mouseion", meaning "seat of the Muses", and it can also refer to a library or a temple dedicated to the Muses. |
| Ukrainian | The word "музей" is derived from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), which originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses. |
| Urdu | The Urdu word "میوزیم" is derived from Greek "mouseîon" (sanctuary of the Muses) and Latin "museum" (temple or place dedicated to the Muses). |
| Vietnamese | The word "viện bảo tàng" in Vietnamese also means "museum" in English. |
| Welsh | The word amgueddfa also means 'reliquary' or 'treasury'. |
| Xhosa | Imyuziyam comes from the English word 'museum', which in turn comes from the Greek word 'mouseion', meaning 'seat of the Muses'. |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word "מוזיי" is derived from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), which originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses. |
| Yoruba | The Yoruba word 'musiọmu' is thought to have originated from the European word 'museum', which in turn comes from the Greek word 'mouseion', meaning 'temple of the Muses'. |
| Zulu | In Zulu, “imnyuziyamu” originally meant “a place of learning.” |
| English | The word 'museum' originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses, the Greek goddesses of art and inspiration. |