Palm in Different Languages
Discover 'Palm' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'palm' holds a significant place in our lives, often associated with victory, success, and spirituality. Derived from the Latin word 'palma,' it has various cultural interpretations and translations in different languages. For instance, in Spanish, 'palm' translates to 'palma,' reflecting the similarity between the human hand and the fan-like structure of palm leaves.
Interestingly, the palm tree's cultural importance extends back to ancient civilizations. In Egyptian culture, the palm tree symbolized eternal life, while in Christian art, the palm branch often represents victory and martyrs' triumph over death. Moreover, the palm leaf has been a symbol of triumph and celebration in various cultural and religious contexts.
Understanding the translation of 'palm' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights and nuances. Here are a few examples: Japanese - 'palm' translates to 'はだ' (hada), Swedish - 'palm' is 'palm,' and Russian - 'palm' is 'пальма' (pal'ma).
Palm
Palm in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | palm | ||
| The word "palm" in Afrikaans can also refer to the ball of the hand or the flat of the foot. | |||
| Amharic | መዳፍ | ||
| "መዳፍ" also refers to a traditional Amharic measure of liquid capacity, approximately equal to four liters. | |||
| Hausa | dabino | ||
| Dabino can also refer to a person's palm, which is the inside of their hand. | |||
| Igbo | nkwụ | ||
| The Igbo word 'nkwụ' is also used to refer to the rib, the middle part of a person or thing, the center, or the main thing. | |||
| Malagasy | palm | ||
| In Malagasy, the word "tava" can refer to either the palm of the hand or the flat surface of a leaf. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kanjedza | ||
| 'Kanjedza' in Nyanja can also refer to a type of woven mat or a particular type of dance performed at weddings. | |||
| Shona | chanza | ||
| The word "chanza" also refers to the back of the hand in Shona. | |||
| Somali | baabacada | ||
| The word "baabacada" is an onomatopoeia derived from the sound the leaves of the palm tree make when the wind blows through them. | |||
| Sesotho | palema | ||
| The word 'palema' in Sesotho can also refer to the 'sole' of the foot or the 'blade' of a knife. | |||
| Swahili | kiganja | ||
| The word "kiganja" can also mean a "palm leaf" or a "thatch made of palm leaves" in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | intende | ||
| The Xhosa word "intende" is derived from the Bantu root "*-tenga", meaning "to stretch out" or "to flatten". | |||
| Yoruba | ọpẹ | ||
| The word "ọpẹ" can also refer to the act of clapping hands or a type of traditional Yoruba dance. | |||
| Zulu | intende | ||
| The word "intende" can also refer to the flat inner part where the seeds of the palm fruit are attached. | |||
| Bambara | tɛgɛ | ||
| Ewe | asiƒome | ||
| Kinyarwanda | imikindo | ||
| Lingala | nzete ya mbila | ||
| Luganda | ekibatu | ||
| Sepedi | legoswi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | abɛn | ||
Palm in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | كف، نخلة | ||
| Aside from being the part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers, the Arabic word "كف" also means the sole of the foot and the hoof of a horse or camel. | |||
| Hebrew | כַּף הַיָד | ||
| כַּף הַיָד also refers to a type of spoon, as it resembles the shape of the palm of a hand. | |||
| Pashto | لاس | ||
| The word لأس can also refer to the palm's fruit, or its leaves | |||
| Arabic | كف، نخلة | ||
| Aside from being the part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers, the Arabic word "كف" also means the sole of the foot and the hoof of a horse or camel. | |||
Palm in Western European Languages
| Albanian | pëllëmbë | ||
| The word “pëllëmbë” evolved from a Greek word "fella". Its original meaning was leaf, while it later on acquired its current one. | |||
| Basque | palmondoa | ||
| While it shares a similar Latin root, it may also reference the | |||
| Catalan | palmell | ||
| The word "palmell" in Catalan originally meant "small palm" but now also refers to the part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers. | |||
| Croatian | dlan | ||
| "Dlan" can also mean "hand" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | håndflade | ||
| The word "håndflade" is derived from the Old Norse word "handflatr", meaning "flat of the hand" or "palm of the hand". | |||
| Dutch | palm | ||
| The Dutch word "palm" also means "the inner part of the hand". | |||
| English | palm | ||
| The word "palm" comes from the Latin word "palma", meaning "flat" or "broad" hand, and can also refer to the flat of the hand, a unit of length, or the fruit of the palm tree. | |||
| French | paume | ||
| The French word ''paume'' derives from Latin ''palma'' (''palm''), in turn from Greek ''palame''. In tennis and squash, it denotes the area of contact between the ball and the hand or racket. | |||
| Frisian | palm | ||
| In addition "palm" might refer either directly and figuratively to one's hand. | |||
| Galician | palma | ||
| "Palma" can also mean "span" or "measure" in Galician. | |||
| German | palme | ||
| The German word "Palme" not only denotes the palm tree, but also the tropical palm leaf often used for decoration or as a symbol of victory. | |||
| Icelandic | lófa | ||
| The Icelandic word "lófa" can also mean "open hand" or "to slap". | |||
| Irish | pailme | ||
| The word "pailme" in Irish is derived from the Latin word "palma". | |||
| Italian | palma | ||
| In Italian, "palma" can also refer to a flag or banner, likely derived from the association of palm branches with victory and triumph. | |||
| Luxembourgish | handfläch | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Handfläch" can also refer to a slap or the hand of a clock or watch. | |||
| Maltese | palm | ||
| In Maltese, "palm" can also refer to the flat part of the hand used for writing, or to the game of "palm" played with a ball and a wooden bat. | |||
| Norwegian | håndflate | ||
| The word "håndflate" originally meant "hand with a flat surface" in Old Norse. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | palma | ||
| Palma derives from Latin "palmus", a measure equaling the width of an open palm. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | pailme | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word 'pailme' (palm) is derived from the Latin word 'palma', and also means 'to stroke or rub'. | |||
| Spanish | palma | ||
| "Palma" comes from the Latin "palma" and also means "victory" or "prize" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | handflatan | ||
| The word "handflatan" in Swedish is derived from the Old Norse word "handflata", meaning "full hand". It can also refer to the flat side of the foot, or the sole. | |||
| Welsh | palmwydd | ||
| Palmwydd is derived from the Old English word 'palm', from Latin 'palma', and ultimately from the Greek 'palama' meaning 'flat of the hand'. | |||
Palm in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | далоні | ||
| Belarusian "далоні" (palm) derives from Proto-Indo-European "*gʰelh₃-" (to take, catch, enclose). | |||
| Bosnian | dlan | ||
| The word "dlan" in Bosnian is a shortened version of the Slavic word "dъlanь" which also means "hand". | |||
| Bulgarian | длан | ||
| The Bulgarian word for "palm" (длан) is also related to the words for "valley" (долина) and "field" (поле), reflecting its ancient meaning of "flat place". | |||
| Czech | dlaň | ||
| The word "dlaň" originally meant "wide hand" and was used to describe the part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers, but its meaning has since narrowed to refer specifically to the palm. | |||
| Estonian | peopesa | ||
| "Peopesa" in Estonian derives from "peopuu," meaning "poplar," due to the tree's similar leaf shape. | |||
| Finnish | kämmen | ||
| In some dialects of Southern Finland, "kämmen" refers to the whole hand and "peukalo" to its thumb. | |||
| Hungarian | tenyér | ||
| "Tenyér" means palm in Hungarian, but it also has other meanings, such as "flat hand" and "paw". | |||
| Latvian | palmu | ||
| The Latvian word "palmu" is a borrowing from the German "Palme" and ultimately derives from the Latin "palma". | |||
| Lithuanian | delnas | ||
| The Lithuanian word "delnas" shares the same root with the Latin word "palma," both denoting the flat of the hand. | |||
| Macedonian | дланка | ||
| The word "дланка" (palm) in Macedonian is cognate with the Slavic words for "hand" and "five", suggesting its connection to the early counting system based on fingers. | |||
| Polish | palma | ||
| In Polish, the word "Palma" can also refer to a species of tree known as the "palma wielkolistna" (giant palm), a large, evergreen tree with fan-shaped leaves. | |||
| Romanian | palmier | ||
| The Romanian word "palmier" can also refer to pastry shaped like a palm leaf. | |||
| Russian | пальма | ||
| The Russian "пальма" can mean either a "palm tree" (Arecaceae) or an object resembling an open hand, like the "palm" of your hand. | |||
| Serbian | палма | ||
| In Serbian, "Палма" can also refer to a "victory" or a "reward". | |||
| Slovak | dlaň | ||
| The word "dlaň" also means "hand" in Slovak and is cognate with the Latin "manus". | |||
| Slovenian | dlan | ||
| The word 'dlan' (palm) in Slovenian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *dъlni, meaning 'long'. | |||
| Ukrainian | долоні | ||
| In old Ukrainian, "долоні" originally meant "part of the hand." | |||
Palm in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | খেজুর | ||
| "খেজুর" (palm) is derived from Sanskrit "khajura", meaning "date palm". | |||
| Gujarati | હથેળી | ||
| The Gujarati word હથેળી (hatheli), meaning "palm" or "sole" has its root in the Sanskrit word "hasta", also meaning "hand". This is likely because the hand's primary function is to grip or hold objects with the palm side. In Gujarati, the word is also often used to refer to the flat of the hand, or a palm-like structure. | |||
| Hindi | पाम | ||
| "Pam" (पाम) also refers to the sacred mantra "ओम" (Om) in Sanskrit and is considered a highly potent spiritual symbol in Hinduism. | |||
| Kannada | ಪಾಮ್ | ||
| ಪಾಮ್ means ‘the inner hand’, while it's also the name for a kind of metal cup, a unit of length and the symbol for a win. | |||
| Malayalam | ഈന്തപ്പന | ||
| The word 'ഈന്തപ്പന' in Malayalam is cognate with the Tamil word 'ஈந்து' and the Sanskrit word 'इन्दु', both meaning 'moon' or 'shining one', referring to the moon-like appearance of the dates. | |||
| Marathi | पाम | ||
| The word 'पाम' ('palm') can also refer to the 'sole of the foot' or a 'flat area' (e.g., the palm of your hand). | |||
| Nepali | पाम | ||
| The word "पाम" can also mean "a unit of length equal to the width of the hand". | |||
| Punjabi | ਹਥੇਲੀ | ||
| The word ਹਥੇਲੀ (hathēli) literally translates to the 'lower hand', hence the palm. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අත්ල | ||
| The word "අත්ල" (palm) is thought to have originated from the Dravidian word "atta" meaning "leaf" or "foliage". | |||
| Tamil | பனை | ||
| The Tamil word "பனை" not only means palm, but also refers specifically to the Palmyra palm, a species native to South Asia. | |||
| Telugu | అరచేతి | ||
| "అరచేతి" can also mean a "small measure" or a "handful." | |||
| Urdu | کھجور | ||
| The word "کھجور" is derived from the Arabic word "khajur", which means both "palm" and "date". | |||
Palm in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 棕榈 | ||
| In Cantonese, 棕榈 can also refer to the | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 棕櫚 | ||
| 棕櫚 (Traditional Chinese) is originally a transcription of "pātra" in Sanskrit, meaning "bowl". | |||
| Japanese | 手のひら | ||
| 手のひら can also refer to the surface of a computer mouse, or to a palm tree. | |||
| Korean | 손바닥 | ||
| The word "손바닥" can also refer to the sole of the foot, especially in idiomatic expressions. | |||
| Mongolian | далдуу мод | ||
| The word | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ထန်း | ||
| ထန်း is also used in Myanmar (Burmese) to refer to a type of wine made from palm sap. | |||
Palm in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | telapak tangan | ||
| "Telapak" can also mean sole of the foot | |||
| Javanese | klapa sawit | ||
| In Central Javanese, 'klapa sawit' refers to either a coconut palm or an oil palm. | |||
| Khmer | ដូង | ||
| In Khmer, "ដូង" can also mean a "tree trunk" or an old person's walking stick. | |||
| Lao | ຕົ້ນປາມ | ||
| The word "ຕົ້ນປາມ" can also refer to the areca nut palm, which is a common sight in Laos and is used to make betel quid. | |||
| Malay | tapak tangan | ||
| "Tapak tangan" literally means "footprint of the hand" in Malay, reflecting the similarity between the shape of a hand and a footprint. | |||
| Thai | ปาล์ม | ||
| "ปาล์ม" can refer to the Palm tree, the palm of the hand, and the victory gesture. | |||
| Vietnamese | lòng bàn tay | ||
| In Sino-Vietnamese, "lòng bàn tay" can refer to both the physical palm and the figurative concept of one's control or power. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | palad | ||
Palm in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | xurma | ||
| The word "xurma" is derived from the Persian word "khurma", which also means "coconut". | |||
| Kazakh | алақан | ||
| The word "алақан" (palm) in Kazakh has alternate meanings such as "the flat side of a blade" and "the surface of a table or other object". | |||
| Kyrgyz | алакан | ||
| The word "алакан" in Kyrgyz can also refer to the sole of a foot or a glove. | |||
| Tajik | хурмо | ||
| The word "хурмо" also refers to the fruit of the persimmon tree, which is known for its sweet, juicy flesh and orange-red color. | |||
| Turkmen | palma | ||
| Uzbek | kaft | ||
| While in Russian, the root "kaft-(" means "catch" / "grab" (as in "kaftan", "bracelet" etc.), in the Uzbek language it is used in the context of something covered, hidden (e.g. the sole / sole of a foot) and sometimes "to cover" / "to put over". | |||
| Uyghur | پەلەمپەي | ||
Palm in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pāma | ||
| In Hawaiian, 'pāma' can also refer to a palm frond or a measurement of length (specifically the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinkie finger). | |||
| Maori | nikau | ||
| The Māori word "nikau", meaning "palm", is thought to have originated from the Polynesian word "nika", which also denotes a type of palm. | |||
| Samoan | alofilima | ||
| Alofilima comes from "alo" (far off) and "fili" (leaf) in Samoan, referring to the palm's location away from villages | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | palad | ||
| Palad in Tagalog also refers to the sole of the foot, and is cognate with the Malay word "tapak" meaning "footprint". | |||
Palm in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | palmira | ||
| Guarani | karanda'yrogue | ||
Palm in International Languages
| Esperanto | palmo | ||
| "Palmo" is an Esperanto word derived from Latin "palmus", and can also refer to a unit of length equal to about 7.5 cm. | |||
| Latin | palm | ||
| The Latin word "palma" could also mean "victory" or "triumph". | |||
Palm in Others Languages
| Greek | παλάμη | ||
| Παλλάμη, also meaning ‘span’, derives from the Greek root παλ- (‘swing’), akin to παλμός ('twitch'). | |||
| Hmong | xibtes | ||
| The Hmong word "xibtes" also means "hand"} | |||
| Kurdish | kefa dest | ||
| The Kurdish word 'kefa dest' can also be used to refer to the sole or foot of the hand. | |||
| Turkish | avuç içi | ||
| The literal meaning of "avuç içi" is "the inside of the fist", as it is formed by clenching the fingers and bringing the thumb inward. | |||
| Xhosa | intende | ||
| The Xhosa word "intende" is derived from the Bantu root "*-tenga", meaning "to stretch out" or "to flatten". | |||
| Yiddish | דלאָניע | ||
| "Дלאָניע" (palm) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *dъlni̯a, meaning "hollow" or "depression". | |||
| Zulu | intende | ||
| The word "intende" can also refer to the flat inner part where the seeds of the palm fruit are attached. | |||
| Assamese | তলুৱা | ||
| Aymara | palmira | ||
| Bhojpuri | हथेली | ||
| Dhivehi | ރުއް | ||
| Dogri | तली | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | palad | ||
| Guarani | karanda'yrogue | ||
| Ilocano | dakulap | ||
| Krio | bɛlɛ an | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ناولەپ | ||
| Maithili | हथेली | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯕꯥꯛ | ||
| Mizo | kutphah | ||
| Oromo | barruu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଖଜୁରୀ | ||
| Quechua | maki panpa | ||
| Sanskrit | करतल | ||
| Tatar | пальма | ||
| Tigrinya | ከብዲ ኢድ | ||
| Tsonga | xandla | ||