Updated on March 6, 2024
A museum is a place where the world's most fascinating stories come to life. Filled with historical artifacts, breathtaking artwork, and interactive exhibits, museums are a treasure trove of knowledge and culture. They not only preserve our past but also help us understand and shape our future.
The significance of museums extends far beyond their walls. They are a vital part of our global heritage and serve as a bridge between different cultures and languages. By learning the translation of the word 'museum' in different languages, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity and richness of our global community.
For example, the word 'museum' translates to 'muzeo' in Spanish, 'musée' in French, and 'museo' in Italian. Each language adds its own unique flavor to the word, reflecting the cultural nuances and history of the region.
So whether you're a history buff, an art lover, or simply curious about the world around you, exploring the many translations of the word 'museum' is a great way to broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding of our global community.
Afrikaans | museum | ||
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. | |||
Amharic | ሙዝየም | ||
The word ሙዝየም (museum) is derived from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally referred to a temple or shrine dedicated to the Muses. | |||
Hausa | gidan kayan gargajiya | ||
Igbo | ihe ngosi nka | ||
The Igbo word 'ihe ngosi nka' also means 'exhibition of artwork' or 'display of creativity'. | |||
Malagasy | museum | ||
In Malagasy, the word "museum" derives from the French "musée" and can also refer to a "sacred or holy place" or a "shrine". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | nyumba yosungiramo zinthu zakale | ||
Shona | miziyamu | ||
The word 'miziyamu' is derived from the Swahili word 'maji' (water), which can also mean 'collection' or 'repository'. | |||
Somali | matxafka | ||
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. | |||
Sesotho | musiamo | ||
In some contexts, 'musiamo' refers to a sacred site associated with traditional religious practices. | |||
Swahili | makumbusho | ||
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. | |||
Xhosa | imyuziyam | ||
Imyuziyam comes from the English word 'museum', which in turn comes from the Greek word 'mouseion', meaning 'seat of the Muses'. | |||
Yoruba | musiọmu | ||
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 | imnyuziyamu | ||
In Zulu, “imnyuziyamu” originally meant “a place of learning.” | |||
Bambara | mize | ||
Ewe | tsãnuwonɔƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | inzu ndangamurage | ||
Lingala | esika babombaka biloko ya kala | ||
Luganda | miyuziyaamu | ||
Sepedi | musiamo | ||
Twi (Akan) | misiɔm | ||
Arabic | متحف | ||
The Arabic word "متحف" (museum) comes from the Greek "mouseion", which originally referred to the temple and library of the Muses in ancient Greece | |||
Hebrew | מוּזֵיאוֹן | ||
The word 'מוּזֵיאוֹן' is derived from the Greek word 'μουσεῖον' (mouseion), meaning "seat of the Muses" or a temple dedicated to the Muses. | |||
Pashto | میوزیم | ||
In Pashto, "میوزیم" originally meant "a place of wonder" or "a place of inspiration." | |||
Arabic | متحف | ||
The Arabic word "متحف" (museum) comes from the Greek "mouseion", which originally referred to the temple and library of the Muses in ancient Greece |
Albanian | muze | ||
The Albanian word "muze" is derived from the Greek word "μουσείον" (mouseion), initially referring to the place dedicated to the Muses. | |||
Basque | museoa | ||
The word “Museoa” (museum) is derived from Greek word “Mouseon,” which means the Temple or Seat of the Muses. | |||
Catalan | museu | ||
The word "museu" in Catalan derives from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses. | |||
Croatian | muzej | ||
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. | |||
Danish | museum | ||
The word "museum" can also refer to a "temple to the Muses" in Danish. | |||
Dutch | museum | ||
In Dutch, the word "museum" can also refer to a public institution responsible for preserving and promoting art, history, or natural history. | |||
English | museum | ||
The word 'museum' originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses, the Greek goddesses of art and inspiration. | |||
French | musée | ||
"Musée" comes from the Latin "museum," but originally meant "a place of study or leisure". | |||
Frisian | museum | ||
In Frisian, "museum" can also refer to a place where objects of historical or cultural significance are collected and displayed. | |||
Galician | museo | ||
The Galician word "museo" is cognate with the Portuguese "museu" and can also mean "inspiration". | |||
German | museum | ||
In German, the word "Museum" also means "temple of the muses" or "place dedicated to the arts". | |||
Icelandic | safn | ||
While the word "safn" means "museum" in Icelandic, it also has the alternate meaning of "collection." | |||
Irish | músaem | ||
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 | ||
Museo derives from the Ancient Greek word mouseion, meaning 'temple, seat of the muses' | |||
Luxembourgish | musée | ||
In Luxembourgish, 'Musée' can refer to a museum but also a temple of worship or a school. | |||
Maltese | mużew | ||
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. | |||
Norwegian | museum | ||
"Museum" comes from the Greek verb "mouseios," meaning "dedicated to the Muses" | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | museu | ||
The word "museu" in Portuguese is derived from the Greek word "mouseion," meaning "temple of the muses". | |||
Scots Gaelic | taigh-tasgaidh | ||
Spanish | museo | ||
The Spanish word "museo" is derived from the Greek word "mouseion," which referred to a temple of the Muses, where scholars and philosophers gathered. | |||
Swedish | museum | ||
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. | |||
Welsh | amgueddfa | ||
The word amgueddfa also means 'reliquary' or 'treasury'. |
Belarusian | музей | ||
The Belarusian word "музей" comes from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), originally meaning "temple of the Muses". | |||
Bosnian | muzej | ||
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 | ||
"Музей" в переводе с древнегреческого означает "храм муз". | |||
Czech | muzeum | ||
The word "muzeum" in Czech derives from the Temple of the Muses, a 3rd century BCE institution in Alexandria, Egypt. | |||
Estonian | muuseum | ||
"Muuseum" originates from the Greek word "mouseion", a building dedicated to the goddess of the arts, the Muses. | |||
Finnish | museo | ||
"Museo" in Finnish derives from Latin "museum" and Greek "mouseion" (seat of the Muses), both referring to places dedicated to knowledge. | |||
Hungarian | múzeum | ||
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. | |||
Latvian | muzejs | ||
The word "muzejs" derives from the Greek word "mouseion," denoting a place for contemplation and study. | |||
Lithuanian | muziejus | ||
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." | |||
Macedonian | музеј | ||
The word "музеј" derives from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), meaning "seat of the muses." | |||
Polish | muzeum | ||
Muzeum is derived from the Greek word mouseion, which means "temple of the Muses, seat of learning." | |||
Romanian | muzeu | ||
The word "muzeu" also implies a "temple of the muses" in Romanian, referencing the Greek origin of the term. | |||
Russian | музей | ||
The Russian word “музей” (museum) ultimately derives from the Greek word "mouseion" (temple of the muses). | |||
Serbian | музеј | ||
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. | |||
Slovak | múzeum | ||
Slovak "múzeum" derives from "Mouseion," the Greek temple dedicated to Muses, also referring to the library of Alexandria. | |||
Slovenian | muzej | ||
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. | |||
Ukrainian | музей | ||
The word "музей" is derived from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), which originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses. |
Bengali | যাদুঘর | ||
The Bengali word "যাদুঘর" is derived from the Sanskrit word "yadugriha," which originally referred to a house where sacrifices were performed | |||
Gujarati | સંગ્રહાલય | ||
The Gujarati word "સંગ્રહાલય" originally referred to a collection of religious texts or artifacts. | |||
Hindi | संग्रहालय | ||
The word "संग्रहालय" (museum) comes from the Sanskrit words "संग्रह" (collection) and "आलय" (house). | |||
Kannada | ಮ್ಯೂಸಿಯಂ | ||
Malayalam | മ്യൂസിയം | ||
The word മ്യൂസിയം comes from the Greek word "mouseion," which originally meant "a place of the muses." | |||
Marathi | संग्रहालय | ||
The word "संग्रहालय" in Marathi literally means "a collection of collections". | |||
Nepali | संग्रहालय | ||
The word "संग्रहालय" in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit words "सं" (sam) meaning "together" and "ग्रह" (graha) meaning "to hold". | |||
Punjabi | ਅਜਾਇਬ ਘਰ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කෞතුකාගාරය | ||
Tamil | அருங்காட்சியகம் | ||
Telugu | మ్యూజియం | ||
The word "మ్యూజియం" comes from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), which originally meant a place dedicated to the Muses. | |||
Urdu | میوزیم | ||
The Urdu word "میوزیم" is derived from Greek "mouseîon" (sanctuary of the Muses) and Latin "museum" (temple or place dedicated to the Muses). |
Chinese (Simplified) | 博物馆 | ||
"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) | 博物館 | ||
The Chinese word "博物館" (museum) was originally used to refer to a "place where scholar-officials collected and studied ancient artifacts". | |||
Japanese | 博物館 | ||
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. | |||
Korean | 박물관 | ||
The term "박물관" is borrowed from Japanese and originates from English. Its literal meaning is "a place where items are discarded". | |||
Mongolian | музей | ||
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. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပြတိုက် | ||
Indonesian | museum | ||
"Museum" originates from the Greek word "mouseion" which refers to a building of the Muses. | |||
Javanese | museum | ||
In Javanese, the word "museum" (museum) can also refer to a place of worship or a sacred site. | |||
Khmer | សារមន្ទីរ | ||
Lao | ຫໍພິພິທະພັນ | ||
Malay | muzium | ||
The Malay word "muzium" is derived from the Arabic word "mathaf", meaning a "place of learning". | |||
Thai | พิพิธภัณฑ์ | ||
The word พิพิธภัณฑ์ (phiphithaphan) is derived from Sanskrit and means 'gathering place for knowledge'. | |||
Vietnamese | viện bảo tàng | ||
The word "viện bảo tàng" in Vietnamese also means "museum" in English. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | museo | ||
Azerbaijani | muzey | ||
It is derived from the Greek word mouseion, meaning a place dedicated to the muses. | |||
Kazakh | мұражай | ||
"Мұражай" in Kazakh derives from the Persian "morja'eh, | |||
Kyrgyz | музей | ||
The word "музей" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a "herbarium" or a "collection of dried plants or plant parts for scientific study" | |||
Tajik | музей | ||
В персидском языке слово «музей» изначально означало «дом муз» или «место для размышлений». | |||
Turkmen | muzeýi | ||
Uzbek | muzey | ||
Uyghur | مۇزېي | ||
Hawaiian | hale hōʻikeʻike | ||
The word "hale hōʻikeʻike" literally means "house of exhibitions" in Hawaiian. | |||
Maori | whare taonga | ||
"Whare taonga" can also refer to a treasury or a building for storing valuable possessions. | |||
Samoan | falemataaga | ||
The Samoan term 'falemataaga' traditionally referred to a gathering place or meeting house before adopting its current meaning of 'museum'. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | museyo | ||
The original meaning of "museyo" is "temple of the muses" which were revered in the Greco-Roman pantheon. |
Aymara | musiyu | ||
Guarani | apokatuĩro | ||
Esperanto | muzeo | ||
Latin | museum | ||
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." |
Greek | μουσείο | ||
The Greek word "μουσείο" originally referred to a place dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of the arts and sciences. | |||
Hmong | tsev khaws puav pheej | ||
Kurdish | mûze | ||
The Kurdish word "mûze" may be derived from the Persian word "muz", meaning "wax". | |||
Turkish | müze | ||
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. | |||
Xhosa | imyuziyam | ||
Imyuziyam comes from the English word 'museum', which in turn comes from the Greek word 'mouseion', meaning 'seat of the Muses'. | |||
Yiddish | מוזיי | ||
The Yiddish word "מוזיי" is derived from the Greek word "μουσεῖον" (mouseion), which originally referred to a temple dedicated to the Muses. | |||
Zulu | imnyuziyamu | ||
In Zulu, “imnyuziyamu” originally meant “a place of learning.” | |||
Assamese | সংগ্ৰাহালয় | ||
Aymara | musiyu | ||
Bhojpuri | संग्रहालय | ||
Dhivehi | މިއުޒިއަމް | ||
Dogri | अजैबघर | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | museo | ||
Guarani | apokatuĩro | ||
Ilocano | museo | ||
Krio | myuziɔm | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | مۆزەخانە | ||
Maithili | संग्रहालय | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯤꯌꯨꯖꯤꯌꯝ | ||
Mizo | thilhlui dahthatna | ||
Oromo | godambaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ | ||
Quechua | museo | ||
Sanskrit | संग्रहालय | ||
Tatar | музей | ||
Tigrinya | ሙዝየም | ||
Tsonga | muziyamu | ||