Updated on March 6, 2024
Parks are special places that hold great significance and cultural importance around the world. They provide a space for relaxation, recreation, and social connection, allowing people to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. From the lush gardens of Paris's Jardin du Luxembourg to the sprawling greenery of New York City's Central Park, these treasured spaces offer a unique glimpse into the heart and soul of a city and its people.
Moreover, the word 'park' has an interesting history. Derived from the Old French 'parc' and the Germanic 'parka,' it originally referred to an enclosed piece of land for hunting game. Today, it has taken on a broader meaning, encompassing a wide range of public and private spaces dedicated to leisure and conservation.
As we explore the world and connect with people from different cultures, it's fascinating to learn how the word 'park' translates into different languages. Here are a few examples:
Afrikaans | parkeer | ||
The Afrikaans word "parkeer" is derived from the Dutch word "parkeren", which means "to park a vehicle". | |||
Amharic | መናፈሻ | ||
"መናፈሻ" (park) gets its name from the 19th-century aristocratic leisure pastime of "teff" (chess) played on a grid of shallow holes. | |||
Hausa | wurin shakatawa | ||
"Wurin shakatawa" literally translates to "a place for relaxation and recreation" in Hausa, reflecting its usage as a communal space for social gatherings and leisure activities. | |||
Igbo | ogige | ||
Ogigia is also a name found across several Igbo clans for a particular type of sacred forest or deity. | |||
Malagasy | valan-javaboary | ||
The Malagasy word 'valan-javaboary' is a compound word derived from 'valana' (enclosure) and 'javaboary' (open space), which together refer to a designated public area set aside for recreational or other purposes. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | paki | ||
The word "paki" can also refer to a type of beer or a place of hiding. | |||
Shona | paki | ||
Paki' is often used to refer to the 'bush' or 'wilderness' and is associated with the 'green' and 'wild' side of nature. | |||
Somali | baarkinka | ||
"Baarkinka" in Somali refers to a place where people gather for relaxation or leisure activities, and its etymology suggests a connection to the Arabic word "baraka" meaning "blessing". | |||
Sesotho | phakeng | ||
The word 'phakeng' can also refer to a field or open grassland, akin to its use as a term for 'park'. | |||
Swahili | hifadhi | ||
Hifadhi's etymology derives from the verb '-hifadhi' ('to preserve') and its Swahili root '-hif' ('to protect'). | |||
Xhosa | ipaki | ||
The word 'ipaki' also means 'to put something down' or 'to rest' in Xhosa. | |||
Yoruba | o duro si ibikan | ||
The Yoruba word "o duro si ibikan" can also refer to a clearing in a forest or a campground. | |||
Zulu | ipaki | ||
The word ipaki originates from the verb pakama, which means to spread out or lie down. | |||
Bambara | pariki | ||
Ewe | gbadzaƒe | ||
Kinyarwanda | parike | ||
Lingala | parke | ||
Luganda | okuyimirira | ||
Sepedi | phaka | ||
Twi (Akan) | prama | ||
Arabic | منتزه | ||
منتزه means not only park but also any place used for relaxing or amusement. | |||
Hebrew | פָּארק | ||
The word "פָּארק" (park) originates from the Persian word "pardes", meaning "paradise". | |||
Pashto | پارک | ||
The word "پارک" ("park") in Pashto is also used to refer to a prison or jail. | |||
Arabic | منتزه | ||
منتزه means not only park but also any place used for relaxing or amusement. |
Albanian | parkoj | ||
The word "parkoj" originates from the French word "parc" and is also used to refer to a forest or a field used for grazing animals in Albanian. | |||
Basque | parkatu | ||
Parku in Basque can also mean 'meadow'. | |||
Catalan | parc | ||
"Parc" in Catalan originates from the German word "park" and refers to a landscaped or enclosed area for recreational use or public enjoyment. | |||
Croatian | park | ||
The Croatian word "park" is derived from the German word "Park". | |||
Danish | parkere | ||
The Danish word "parkere" originates from the French word "parc" and the English word "park" but can also mean "lawn" or "paddock". | |||
Dutch | park | ||
In Dutch, "park" also refers to a forest for game hunting. | |||
English | park | ||
The word "park" comes from the Old French word "parc," meaning a piece of land surrounded by a wall or fence used for hunting or recreation. | |||
French | parc | ||
The word "parc" in French originally meant "enclosure" or "sheepfold" and can also refer to a deer park or a specific type of garden. | |||
Frisian | park | ||
The Frisian word "park" is derived from Latin “parricus,” with the meaning of “inclosure.” | |||
Galician | parque | ||
Galician "parque" is used to refer to both public green spaces and a specific type of flooring. | |||
German | park | ||
The German word "Park" can also refer to a forest or wildlife sanctuary, both of which are more natural and less manicured than the English concept of a park. | |||
Icelandic | garður | ||
"Garður" is also used for "fence" or a "yard" and comes from the Old Norse word "garðr" which means "enclosure". | |||
Irish | páirc | ||
The Irish word 'páirc' originally meant 'field' or 'enclosure', but it has since come to mean 'park' in English. | |||
Italian | parco | ||
In Italian, "parco" can also mean "spacious" or "abundant". | |||
Luxembourgish | parken | ||
Parken can be translated as "dodge" from the verb "to dodge". | |||
Maltese | ipparkja | ||
The word "ipparkja" is derived from the Italian word "parco", meaning "park" or "enclosure". | |||
Norwegian | parkere | ||
The word "parkere" means "park" in Norwegian, but it can also refer to a place where domestic reindeer are herded in the fall. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | parque | ||
The word "parque" in Portuguese comes from the French word "parc", which in turn comes from the Old French word "parquer", meaning "to enclose". | |||
Scots Gaelic | pàirc | ||
The word "pàirc" in Scots Gaelic can also mean an enclosure for animals or a plot of arable land | |||
Spanish | parque | ||
Parque can also refer to an agricultural field, farm animal enclosure, and the ground floor of some buildings in Spanish. | |||
Swedish | parkera | ||
The word "parkera" in Swedish also means "to park a car". | |||
Welsh | parc | ||
"Parc" in Welsh also means "field, meadow, or enclosure." |
Belarusian | парк | ||
Park in Belarusian also means 'fenced' or 'fenced off' and can refer to a fenced-in pasture or other fenced areas. | |||
Bosnian | park | ||
The word "park" is derived from the French word "parc", which originally meant an enclosed area for hunting. | |||
Bulgarian | парк | ||
The word "парк" in Bulgarian originated from the French word "parc". | |||
Czech | park | ||
The Czech word "park" can also refer to a garden, a meadow, or a forest. | |||
Estonian | park | ||
The word "park" in Estonian can also mean "forest" or "lawn". | |||
Finnish | pysäköidä | ||
The word "pysäköidä" is derived from the Swedish word "parkera". | |||
Hungarian | park | ||
"Park" in Hungarian can also refer to a forest or woods. | |||
Latvian | parks | ||
The Latvian word "parks" can also refer to a type of tree, specifically a birch tree. | |||
Lithuanian | parkas | ||
In Lithuanian, the word "parkas" can also mean "floor" or "pavement". | |||
Macedonian | парк | ||
The Macedonian word "парк" (park) derives from the French word "parc" and is cognate with the English word "park". | |||
Polish | park | ||
In Polish, the word "park" can also refer to a wooden fence or a wooden floor. | |||
Romanian | parc | ||
In Romanian, "parc" is also used to denote the enclosed space around a palace or a monastery. | |||
Russian | парк | ||
The word "парк" in Russian can refer to a park or a natural landscape, and derives from the Old High German word "berc" | |||
Serbian | парк | ||
The word “парк” comes from the German word “Park,” which in turn originates from the French word “parc.” | |||
Slovak | park | ||
The Slovak word "park" is a shortened form of the French word "parc", which is derived from the Latin "parricus", meaning "enclosure" or "pasture". | |||
Slovenian | parkirati | ||
"parkirati" is derived from German "Parken" (to park). It also means "to stop or leave (a vehicle) temporarily in a public place." | |||
Ukrainian | парк | ||
Ukrainian word "парк" (park) originally referred to a deer park and comes from the Turkic word "park" meaning "garden" or "enclosed area". |
Bengali | পার্ক | ||
"পার্ক" comes from the French and Spanish word meaning “to enclose.” Originally, it referred to a large enclosure for hunting." | |||
Gujarati | ઉદ્યાન | ||
In Gujarati, "ઉદ્યાન" not only means "park" but also a "garden" or "orchard". | |||
Hindi | पार्क | ||
The word "पार्क" also refers to a type of traditional Indian sweet dish made from flour, sugar, and ghee. | |||
Kannada | ಉದ್ಯಾನ | ||
The word "ಉದ್ಯಾನ" (park) in Kannada can also refer to a garden or a place of recreation. | |||
Malayalam | പാർക്ക് | ||
The word "പാർക്ക്" can also refer to a garden or a place of recreation.} | |||
Marathi | पार्क | ||
In Marathi, “पार्क” can also refer to a small forest or a garden. | |||
Nepali | पार्क | ||
The word "पार्क" in Nepali is derived from the Persian word "park" meaning "garden" or "enclosure". It can also refer to a "parking area" or a "forest". | |||
Punjabi | ਪਾਰਕ | ||
The word "ਪਾਰਕ" (park) in Punjabi also means "a place where people can relax and enjoy nature". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | උද්යානය | ||
From Sanskrit; also means an area planted mainly with trees for ornament or pleasure; a garden, pleasure-ground, plantation or grove. | |||
Tamil | பூங்கா | ||
The word 'பூங்கா' ('park') originates from the Sanskrit word 'punyaka', meaning 'sacred grove'. | |||
Telugu | పార్క్ | ||
పార్క్ (park) in Telugu means 'to keep, protect, or maintain', and is also used to refer to a place of recreation or a garden. | |||
Urdu | پارک | ||
The Urdu word "پارک" (park) also means "a type of bird's nest". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 公园 | ||
The word '公园', meaning 'garden' or 'park', was originally derived from the 'garden' areas in ancient aristocratic estates. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 公園 | ||
公園 (Chinese: Traditional) translates to 'garden,' 'plaza,' or 'public square' in English, and in classical Chinese it refers to large estates on the edge of cities, a meaning it still carries today. | |||
Japanese | パーク | ||
In Japanese, the word "park" can also refer to a baseball field or a place to store construction equipment. | |||
Korean | 공원 | ||
The word 공원 (park) is an abbreviation of 공중원림 (public forest), and can also refer to other open green spaces such as gardens, plazas, and playgrounds. | |||
Mongolian | парк | ||
In Mongolian, "парк" derives from Russian "парк" and can also refer to a playground or zoo. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပန်းခြံ | ||
Indonesian | taman | ||
In Old Javanese "taman" literally meant "enclosed area", and could refer to a garden, graveyard, or even a city. | |||
Javanese | taman | ||
"Taman" in Javanese can also refer to the yard surrounding a house or a cemetery. | |||
Khmer | ឧទ្យាន | ||
In addition to its meaning as "park," "ឧទ្យាន" can also refer to a "flower garden" or "orchard." | |||
Lao | ສວນສາທາລະນະ | ||
Malay | taman | ||
The Malay word for “park”, taman, derives from Persian through the Javanese.} | |||
Thai | สวน | ||
"สวน" (suan) originally meant "garden" in Pali and was later applied to parks and other public green spaces. | |||
Vietnamese | công viên | ||
"Công viên" (park) derives from the French word "parc" and originally held the additional meaning of "garden". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | parke | ||
Azerbaijani | park | ||
Etymology of Azerbaijani "park" is unclear, perhaps Persian "pārak" or Old Greek "paradeisos". | |||
Kazakh | саябақ | ||
The name "саябақ" also meant "garden" in the Old Turkic language as early as the 6th century. | |||
Kyrgyz | парк | ||
The word "парк" in Kyrgyz can also mean "garden" or "orchard". | |||
Tajik | боғ | ||
The word "боғ" in Tajik is ultimately derived from an Indo-European word meaning "garden" or "enclosed space." | |||
Turkmen | seýilgäh | ||
Uzbek | park | ||
In Uzbek, "park" can also refer to a place for recreation, leisure, or enjoyment. | |||
Uyghur | باغچا | ||
Hawaiian | pāka | ||
In Hawaiian, "pāka" can also mean a corral or enclosure for animals, suggesting that early parks may have served a similar purpose. | |||
Maori | pākaa | ||
The term “pākaa” was a loanword borrowed from English, originating from the Old English word “pearroc” - which means an enclosed piece of land. | |||
Samoan | paka | ||
The word "paka" in Samoan can also refer to a place of worship or a sacred space. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | parke | ||
In Tagalog, "parke" can also mean a grassy area where animals graze. |
Aymara | parki | ||
Guarani | okarusu | ||
Esperanto | parko | ||
The Esperanto word "parko" derives from the German "Park" and can also refer to a forest, garden, or nature reserve. | |||
Latin | parco | ||
The Latin word, "parco" can mean a park or garden and a specific area reserved for animal grazing. |
Greek | πάρκο | ||
The word "πάρκο" comes from the Greek verb "parko", meaning both "to keep" and, in a military context, of "to garrison". | |||
Hmong | chaw ua si | ||
"Chaw ua si" can also mean "a public space" or "a public garden." | |||
Kurdish | park | ||
The Kurdish word "park" (پارک) is ultimately derived from the French "parc" and can also refer to a large collection of vehicles parked together. | |||
Turkish | park | ||
Park means "money" or "coin" in Turkish and comes from the French word "parc." | |||
Xhosa | ipaki | ||
The word 'ipaki' also means 'to put something down' or 'to rest' in Xhosa. | |||
Yiddish | פּאַרק | ||
The spelling "פּאַרק" in Yiddish is a phonetic rendering of the English word "park". | |||
Zulu | ipaki | ||
The word ipaki originates from the verb pakama, which means to spread out or lie down. | |||
Assamese | উদ্যান | ||
Aymara | parki | ||
Bhojpuri | पार्क | ||
Dhivehi | ޕާކު | ||
Dogri | बगीचा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | parke | ||
Guarani | okarusu | ||
Ilocano | parke | ||
Krio | pak | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پارک | ||
Maithili | पार्क | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯝꯄꯥꯛ | ||
Mizo | hung | ||
Oromo | paarkii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପାର୍କ | ||
Quechua | parque | ||
Sanskrit | उद्यान | ||
Tatar | парк | ||
Tigrinya | መናፈሻ | ||
Tsonga | phaka | ||