Painting in different languages

Painting in Different Languages

Discover 'Painting' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Painting, a form of art that has been around for centuries, is a powerful and universal language that transcends borders and cultures. It is a visual language that allows artists to express their thoughts, emotions, and ideas in a unique and creative way. Paintings have the ability to evoke emotions, tell stories, and capture the essence of a moment in time. From ancient cave paintings to modern digital art, painting has played a significant role in the cultural and historical development of societies around the world.

Moreover, the significance and cultural importance of painting have made it a subject of interest for many language learners and culture enthusiasts. Knowing the translation of the word 'painting' in different languages can help you appreciate the diversity and richness of global art and culture. For instance, in Spanish, 'painting' is 'pintura', while in French, it is 'peinture'. In German, it is 'Malerei', and in Japanese, it is '絵画 (kaiga)'.

In this article, we will explore the translations of the word 'painting' in different languages, shedding light on the cultural significance and historical contexts associated with this universal form of art.

Painting

Painting in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansskildery
The English word "skildery" is derived from the Afrikaans word "skilderij", meaning "painting", and is also used in the sense of "a work of art".
Amharicመቀባት
The Amharic word "መቀባት" evolved from the verb "ቀባ," which means "to cover" or "to clothe," implying that paintings cover or adorn surfaces.
Hausazane
The word "zane" also means "to write" in Hausa.
Igboeserese
"Eserese" also means "to draw," "to design," and "to compose" in Igbo.
Malagasyhoso-doko
Hoso-doko is also the Malagasy word for "to write."
Nyanja (Chichewa)kupenta
"Kupenta" can also refer to other surfaces or objects that have been smeared with something.
Shonakupenda
"Kupenda" also refers to the application of traditional body paint made from tree resins and oil.
Somalirinjiyeyn
Somali word "rinjiyeyn" is derived from the Arabic word "rinj" meaning "color" and refers to the act of adding color to a surface, and thus "painting".
Sesothoho taka
"Ho taka" can also mean "to create" or "to make".
Swahiliuchoraji
The Swahili word "uchoraji" also means "illustration" or "sketch".
Xhosaukupeyinta
In Xhosa, "ukupeyinta" encompasses not just "painting" but also drawing and other forms of visual arts, capturing its wider artistic scope.
Yorubakikun
The Yoruba word "kikun" also means "to polish" or "to make smooth" in reference to its use to enhance or beautify something.
Zuluukudweba
"Ukudweba" in Zulu also refers to "carving," "drawing," or "engraving," and is derived from the verb "ukudweba," meaning "to draw" or "to trace."
Bambarapɛntirili
Eweaŋɔsisi
Kinyarwandagushushanya
Lingalakotya langi
Lugandaokusiiga
Sepedimopento
Twi (Akan)aduroka

Painting in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicلوحة
"لوحة" comes from the root word "ل.و.ح" which means "to write on a flat surface". In addition to painting, "لوحة" can also refer to a writing tablet or a slate.
Hebrewצִיוּר
The Hebrew word "צִיוּר" has two alternate meanings: "a line or form drawn with a pen or pencil," and "form, figure, shape," while one of its Biblical meanings was "an engraving or sculpture."
Pashtoانځورګري
The word "انځورګري" in Pashto has roots in the Persian word "نگارگری" and ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂neh₂-g- "to anoint, decorate."
Arabicلوحة
"لوحة" comes from the root word "ل.و.ح" which means "to write on a flat surface". In addition to painting, "لوحة" can also refer to a writing tablet or a slate.

Painting in Western European Languages

Albanianpikturë
Pikturë, the Albanian word for "painting," derives from the Latin "pictura" meaning "decoration," and is also used figuratively to describe a vivid or picturesque scene.
Basquepintura
Basque "pintura" is derived from Latin "pictura", meaning both "painting" and "embroidery."
Catalanpintura
In Catalan, the word "pintura" not only means "painting" but also the makeup used to color the face.
Croatianslika
In Slovak, "slika" means "a promise".
Danishmaleri
In archaic Danish, "maleri" meant "written work" and could refer to any form of writing.
Dutchschilderen
"Schilderen" also means "to describe" in Dutch, originating from the Middle Dutch word "schildere", meaning "to write".
Englishpainting
The word "painting" can also refer to a layer of paint or a cosmetic applied to the face or nails.
Frenchla peinture
The French word "La Peinture" can refer to both the act of painting and its resulting artwork, while in English, "Painting" primarily denotes the latter.
Frisianskilderij
In earlier times, the word "skilderij" also referred to any piece of furniture or equipment that had been decorated with paint or paint-like material.
Galicianpintura
The Galician word "pintura" also means "paint" and "artwork."
Germanmalerei
The word "Malerei" can also refer to the act of painting or the resulting artwork.
Icelandicmálverk
The word "málverk" comes from the Old Norse word "mál"
Irishag péinteáil
The Irish word "ag péinteáil" is derived from the word "péint" meaning "paint", with the prefix "ag" indicating the present progressive tense and meaning "in the process of painting".
Italianla pittura
The Italian word "la pittura" originates from the Latin word "pictura", which means "decoration" or "depiction".
Luxembourgishmolerei
Derived from the French term "moleur", referring to the use of paint to grind surfaces.
Maltesepittura
The Maltese word "pittura" comes from the Italian word "pittura" meaning "to paint".
Norwegianmaleri
The term "maleri" is a cognate of the English "mallet", suggesting that its original meaning was "pounding" or "striking", likely in the context of shaping and creating artwork.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)pintura
In Portuguese, "pintura" can also mean a type of paint or coating, or the act or trade of applying paint.
Scots Gaelicpeantadh
Peantadh is also a metaphor for
Spanishpintura
The word "pintura" is derived from the Latin word "pictura" meaning "an image or representation" and also refers to facial makeup and cosmetics.
Swedishmålning
In addition to the primary meaning of "painting", the word "målning" can also refer to "aim" or "intention".
Welshpaentio
The Welsh word "paentio" can also refer to a depiction or description in words, a portrayal, or a sketch.

Painting in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianжывапіс
Belarusian живопись (IPA: [ʐɨˈvɔpʲisʲ]), cognate to Russian живопись, comes from Polish "żywopismo" (from "żywopić" - "to paint lively"), from Church Slavonic живъ (“alive”) + писати (“to write").
Bosnianslikanje
In Serbian, "slikanje" primarily refers to fine art painting, while in Bosnian, it encompasses both fine art and house painting.
Bulgarianживопис
The word живопис comes from the Greek "zoopgraphos" which means "depicting animals and plants."
Czechmalování
The word "malování" in Czech can also refer to the act of drawing, or to a painting itself.
Estonianmaalimine
The Estonian word “maalimine” originally derives from “maalima”, which in turn is derived from the root “maa”, meaning “earth” or “land”.
Finnishmaalaus
"Maalari" (painter), "maali" (paint) and "maalaus" also mean "to paint", "paint" and "the act of painting" respectively in the context of art.
Hungarianfestmény
"Festmény" in Hungarian can also mean "celebration", "festival", or "party".
Latvianglezna
In addition to "painting," "glezna" can also refer to a canvas on which a painting is made or an easel.
Lithuaniantapyba
Tapyba, derived from "tapti," means both "to become" and "painting," suggesting the transformative power of art.
Macedonianсликање
The word "сликање" can also mean "photography" in Macedonian.
Polishobraz
The Polish word "obraz" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "obrъzъ" meaning "idol" or "image". It is semantically related to the word "obrazit'" meaning "to imagine" or "to create an image".
Romanianpictura
The word "pictura" can also refer to the art of embroidery or icon painting in Romanian.
Russianкартина
The Russian word "картина" can also refer to a movie or a play, and has its origins in the Greek word "chartēs", meaning "sheet of paper".
Serbianсликање
"Slikati" (to paint) shares roots with "slika" (picture) and "slediti" (to follow), hinting at its artistic and imitative nature.
Slovakmaľba
The origin of the word "maľba" is the verb "maľovať" (paint), which derives from the Proto-Slavic verb *malti, meaning "to anoint, smear".
Slovenianslika
"Slika" also means "image" or "picture" in Slovenian.
Ukrainianживопис
The word "живопис" can also refer to "scenic" or "picturesque" in Ukrainian, highlighting the close connection between painting and the depiction of scenery.

Painting in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপেইন্টিং
The word "পেইন্টিং" can also mean "drawing" or "sketch" in Bengali.
Gujaratiપેઇન્ટિંગ
The Gujarati word "પેઇન્ટિંગ" is derived from the English word "painting", which itself comes from the Old French word "peint", meaning "painted".
Hindiचित्र
Chitram derives from the Proto-Dravidian word 'cittram' meaning 'picture or design', and is cognate with the Tamil word 'cittiram' and Malayalam word 'citram'
Kannadaಚಿತ್ರಕಲೆ
ಚಿತ್ರಕಲೆ also refers to the act or art of making images from various mediums like charcoal
Malayalamപെയിന്റിംഗ്
The word "painting" in Malayalam derives from the Sanskrit word "चित्र" (chitra), meaning "a picture" or "a drawing".
Marathiचित्रकला
The word 'चित्रकला' can also mean 'image' or 'picture' in Marathi.
Nepaliचित्र
The word 'चित्र' (chittra) in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word 'चित्रम्' (chitram), which also means 'wonderful' or 'beautiful'.
Punjabiਪੇਂਟਿੰਗ
ਪੇਂਟਿੰਗ शब्द की उत्पत्ति लेटिन शब्द 'पिंगेरे' से हुई है जिसका अर्थ 'लिखना' या 'रंगना' है।
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පින්තාරු කිරීම
Tamilஓவியம்
"ஓவியம்" can also mean "the art of a playwright" in Tamil.
Teluguపెయింటింగ్
The word "పెయింటింగ్" ("painting") can also refer to a written depiction of a person or scene, such as a portrait or landscape.
Urduپینٹنگ
پینٹنگ (painting) is derived from the Latin word "pingere", meaning "to represent". It also refers to the act of applying paint to a surface to create an image.

Painting in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)绘画
The Chinese character "画" in "绘画" (painting) can also mean "to draw lines" or "to design".
Chinese (Traditional)繪畫
繪畫 in traditional Chinese literally means 'to draw, paint or depict', extending its definition from the original word '畫', which solely means 'to draw'.
Japaneseペインティング
In Japanese, "ペインティング" (painting) can also be used as a verb to describe the act of applying paint to a surface.
Korean페인트 등
The Korean word "페인트 등" ("painting") is a compound of the native Korean word "페인" (to draw) and the Sino-Korean word "등" (light).
Mongolianуран зураг
The Mongolian word "уран зураг" can refer to both traditional Mongolian painting and modern Western-style painting.
Myanmar (Burmese)ပန်းချီကား

Painting in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianlukisan
"Lukisan" comes from the word "lukis", a Javanese word for drawing or writing.
Javaneselukisan
"Lukisan" is derived from the Javanese word "lukis" meaning "to draw".
Khmerគំនូរ
Laoຮູບແຕ້ມ
The word “ຮູບແຕ້ມ” literally means “carved shape or figure”, which could indicate that the concept of painting originally came from carving.
Malaymelukis
The word "melukis" in Malay derives from the Sanskrit word "mleccha," meaning "foreigner" or "barbarian," as painting was often associated with non-native artisans.
Thaiจิตรกรรม
The Thai word "จิตรกรรม" derives from two Sanskrit roots, "citra" meaning "varied" or "bright" and "karma" meaning "action" or "deed", connoting the act of "making varied or bright" through artistic expression.
Vietnamesebức vẽ
The word "bức vẽ" can also mean "a picture" or "an image" in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)pagpipinta

Painting in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanirəsm
The word "rəsm" is the Arabic word "رسم" ("rasm"), which was originally translated as "figure" or "sketch".
Kazakhкескіндеме
The word "кескіндеме" can also refer to a type of drawing or a depiction in general.
Kyrgyzсүрөт
The Kyrgyz word "сүрөт" can also refer to "picture" or "image" in general.
Tajikнаққошӣ
Наққошӣ is originally derived from Persian and also refers to drawing, sketching, or any other activity that creates a visual representation.
Turkmentingiwopis
Uzbekrasm
"Rasm" also means "sign", "mark", "symbol", "drawing", "writing", "script", "plan", "project", "design", "model", "type", "kind", "form".
Uyghurرەسىم سىزىش

Painting in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpena kiʻi
The word "pena kiʻi" can also refer to a "portrait" or "statue".
Maoripeita
In Maori, peita can also refer to drawings, engravings, and carvings
Samoanatavali
"Atavali" derives from the verb "vali", meaning "to depict or draw", which, in its causative form, also translates to "to write". Hence the noun "atavali" implies both painting and writing.
Tagalog (Filipino)pagpipinta
The word 'pagpipinta' comes from the root word 'pinta' which means 'to draw or to paint' and the affixes 'pag-' and '-an' which indicate the act or process of doing something and the place where something is done, respectively.

Painting in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarasaminchaña
Guaranitakambyrundy

Painting in International Languages

Esperantopentrado
The word "pentrado" in Esperanto is of Russian origin, and is related to the words "pentado" ("painting") and "pentador" ("painter").
Latinpictura
"Pictura" is cognate with "pictus" (painted), "pingo" (to paint), and "pictor" (painter), and can also mean "the art of painting" or "a drawing."

Painting in Others Languages

Greekζωγραφική
The Greek word "ζωγραφική" also means "drawing" or "picture".
Hmongdaim duab
The term "daim duab" in Hmong may also signify decorative or creative works such as tattoos, embroidery, or crafted ornaments.
Kurdishwêne
The word 'wêne' is also used to refer to 'beauty' and 'art' in Kurdish.
Turkishboyama
"Boyama" can also mean "a kind of cloth with painted patterns" in Turkish.
Xhosaukupeyinta
In Xhosa, "ukupeyinta" encompasses not just "painting" but also drawing and other forms of visual arts, capturing its wider artistic scope.
Yiddishגעמעל
From German "gemälde", ultimately from "gemälen" (to portray), which itself stems from the Latin "pingere" (to depict).
Zuluukudweba
"Ukudweba" in Zulu also refers to "carving," "drawing," or "engraving," and is derived from the verb "ukudweba," meaning "to draw" or "to trace."
Assameseচিত্ৰাংকন
Aymarasaminchaña
Bhojpuriचित्र
Dhivehiކުރެހުން
Dogriचित्तरकारी
Filipino (Tagalog)pagpipinta
Guaranitakambyrundy
Ilocanopintura
Kriopentin
Kurdish (Sorani)وێنەکێشان
Maithiliचित्र
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯌꯦꯛꯄ ꯂꯥꯏ
Mizorawng hnawih
Oromoqalama dibuu
Odia (Oriya)ଚିତ୍ର
Quechuallinpiy
Sanskritचित्रकारी
Tatarкартиналар
Tigrinyaስእሊ
Tsongaxifaniso

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