Updated on March 6, 2024
Planets have always held a special place in our hearts and minds, capturing our imagination and inspiring countless stories, myths, and scientific discoveries. From the ancient stargazers who looked up at the night sky and saw planets as gods and mythical creatures, to the modern astronauts who have walked on the surface of other worlds, the concept of a planet has evolved and expanded over time. A planet is a celestial body that orbits the sun, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other debris. But the significance of a planet goes beyond its scientific definition. Planets are symbols of exploration, discovery, and the vastness of the universe.
Moreover, understanding the translation of the word 'planet' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights and connections. For instance, the word for planet in Spanish is 'planeta', which comes from the Latin word 'planeta', meaning 'wanderer'. In German, it's 'Planet', and in French, it's 'planète'. By learning these translations, we not only expand our vocabulary but also deepen our appreciation for the diversity and richness of human language and culture.
Afrikaans | planeet | ||
In Afrikaans, "planeet" derives from the Greek "planētēs", meaning "wanderer", referring to the planets' apparent motion across the sky. | |||
Amharic | ፕላኔት | ||
ፕላኔት derives from Greek πλανήτης (planētēs), “wanderer”, which referred to the stars in the night sky that move relative to the fixed stars. | |||
Hausa | duniya | ||
Hausa "duniya" translates to "world" in English, but literally means "lower" or "beneath". | |||
Igbo | ụwa | ||
The word "ụwa" also means "world, universe" and "earth, soil, mud" in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | planeta | ||
"planeta" is derived from the Greek "planētēs," meaning "wanderer." Malagasy sailors called Venus and Mercury "fahitra," a type of canoe that sailed at night. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | dziko | ||
The word "dziko" can also mean "ground" or "earth" in Nyanja (Chichewa). | |||
Shona | nyika | ||
In the Kamba language, "nyika" also means "country" or "motherland". | |||
Somali | meeraha | ||
The word "meeraha" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "mir'ah", meaning "mirror" or "window", as planets were seen as reflecting the light of the sun. | |||
Sesotho | polanete | ||
The word "polanete" comes from the Greek "planētēs". Originally, it did not refer to planets, but to "wandering stars" (planets in our solar system). | |||
Swahili | sayari | ||
The word "sayari" in Swahili also means "wanderer" due to the belief that planets moved across the sky. | |||
Xhosa | iplanethi | ||
The word "iplanethi" is also used to refer to a person who is well-traveled or knowledgeable about the world. | |||
Yoruba | aye | ||
The Yoruba word 'aye' also means 'world' or 'earth', and is related to the word 'aiye', which means 'life'. | |||
Zulu | iplanethi | ||
The Zulu word "iplanethi" is derived from the Greek word "planētēs", meaning "wanderer". | |||
Bambara | planete (dugukolo) kan | ||
Ewe | ɣletinyigba dzi | ||
Kinyarwanda | umubumbe | ||
Lingala | planɛti | ||
Luganda | pulaneti | ||
Sepedi | polanete | ||
Twi (Akan) | okyinnsoromma yi | ||
Arabic | كوكب | ||
The Arabic word for "planet", "كوكب", can also refer to a star or constellation. | |||
Hebrew | כוכב לכת | ||
The original meaning of "כוכב לכת" is "wandering star", referring to the movement of planets across the night sky | |||
Pashto | سیاره | ||
The word "سیاره" ("planet") in Pashto is derived from the Greek word "πλανήτης" ("wanderer"), which refers to the movement of planets across the night sky. | |||
Arabic | كوكب | ||
The Arabic word for "planet", "كوكب", can also refer to a star or constellation. |
Albanian | planet | ||
Albanian word "planet" (planeti) is a loan from the Greek "planetes" which also meant "wanderer", and was used as a noun for "planet" in astronomy and as an adjective for "moving". | |||
Basque | planeta | ||
Planeta ultimately comes from the Greek adjective πλανήτης (planētēs) meaning “wandering” or “straying”. The verb πλανάω (planáō) means “to wander” or “to stray”. In Greek astronomy, the planets were known as the “wandering stars” (ἄστρα πλανῆται), because they moved relative to the fixed stars. | |||
Catalan | planeta | ||
In Catalan, «planeta» also means «wanderer», as in astronomy. | |||
Croatian | planeta | ||
The Croatian word "planeta" is derived from the Latin word "planeta", which means "wanderer". | |||
Danish | planet | ||
In Danish, ”planet” can also refer to a flatbread topped with open-faced sandwiches. | |||
Dutch | planeet | ||
The Dutch word "planeet" also refers to a tool for flattening surfaces, such as a carpenter's plane. | |||
English | planet | ||
"Planet" derives from the Ancient Greek πλανήτης (planētēs) meaning "wanderer", referring to the movement of the planets across the sky relative to the fixed stars. | |||
French | planète | ||
The word "planète" derives from the Greek word for "wanderer" as the ancients observed the movement of celestial bodies. | |||
Frisian | planeet | ||
It stems from the Greek word "planetes" which means "wanderer". | |||
Galician | planeta | ||
En galego, "planeta" tamén designa á herba medicinal "llantén". | |||
German | planet | ||
From Greek planētēs, “wanderer,” referring to the movement of planets across the sky relative to the fixed stars. | |||
Icelandic | reikistjarna | ||
The word "reikistjarna" is also the name of the North Star, the brightest star in the night sky. | |||
Irish | phláinéid | ||
The word 'phláinéid' is ultimately derived from the Greek word 'planētēs', meaning 'wanderer' or 'strayer', and refers to the movement of planets across the sky. | |||
Italian | pianeta | ||
In Italian, the word 'pianeta' comes from the Greek 'planētēs', meaning 'wanderer'. | |||
Luxembourgish | planéit | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Planéit" is etymologically derived from the Greek word "planētês", meaning "wanderer", referring to the movement of planets across the night sky. | |||
Maltese | pjaneta | ||
The word 'pjaneta' in Maltese, like its source word 'pianeta' in Italian, can also mean 'glider' or 'sailplane'. | |||
Norwegian | planet | ||
The word "planet" in Norwegian derives from the Greek word "planētēs", meaning "wanderer". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | planeta | ||
"Planeta" comes from the Greek word "planētēs," meaning "wanderer," as planets move across the sky relative to the fixed stars. | |||
Scots Gaelic | phlanaid | ||
The word 'phlanaid' is a relatively recent addition to the Scots Gaelic language, and is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word 'flann', meaning 'red' or 'purple'. | |||
Spanish | planeta | ||
In Classical Latin, it could also mean "wanderer", "strayer", or "roamer". | |||
Swedish | planet | ||
In Swedish, the word "planet" comes from Greek and literally means "wanderer". | |||
Welsh | blaned | ||
The word 'blaned' in Welsh also means 'flat surface', reflecting early ideas about flat planetary bodies. |
Belarusian | планета | ||
Слово “планета” в белорусском языке происходит от древнегреческого “πλανήτης”, обозначающего “странник”. | |||
Bosnian | planeta | ||
Bosnian word 'planeta' comes from Greek 'πλανήτης', meaning 'wanderer' or 'strayer'. In Croatian and some other Slavic languages it refers to an 'astrologer'. | |||
Bulgarian | планета | ||
The word 'планета' comes from the Greek word 'planētēs,' meaning 'wanderer' or 'roving star,' as the ancient Greeks observed the movement of planets across the night sky. | |||
Czech | planeta | ||
In Czech, the word "planeta" has the alternate meaning of "sinner" or "wicked person". | |||
Estonian | planeedil | ||
"Planeedil" derives from the Greek word "planetes," meaning "wanderer," and originally referred to any celestial body that moves across the sky. | |||
Finnish | planeetalla | ||
The word "planeetalla" comes from the Greek word "planetes", which means "wanderer", and originally referred to celestial bodies that moved across the sky relative to the fixed stars. | |||
Hungarian | bolygó | ||
The word "bolygó" in Hungarian is derived from the verb "bolong", meaning "to wander" or "to roam", reflecting the ancient belief that planets were celestial wanderers in the sky. | |||
Latvian | planētas | ||
In Latvian, "planētas" is also used to refer to a flat surface or a plane. | |||
Lithuanian | planeta | ||
The word 'planeta' in Lithuanian came from Greek and referred to wandering stars; later used for 'planet'. | |||
Macedonian | планета | ||
The Macedonian word "планета" comes from the Ancient Greek word "πλανήτης", which means "wanderer" or "roamer". | |||
Polish | planeta | ||
Planeta (Polish) comes from Greek "planētēs\, | |||
Romanian | planetă | ||
In Romanian the word planetă can also mean "cape". | |||
Russian | планета | ||
The word "планета" (planet) comes from the Greek word "πλανήτης" (planetes), meaning "wanderer". Its alternate meaning is "roaming" or "erratic". | |||
Serbian | планета | ||
The word "планета" (planet) in Serbian originates from the Greek word "πλανήτης" (planētēs), meaning "wanderer". | |||
Slovak | planéty | ||
The word "planéty" in Slovak is derived from the Greek word "planētēs", meaning "wanderer". | |||
Slovenian | planeta | ||
The Slovenian word "planeta" comes from the Greek word "planētēs", which means "wanderer". | |||
Ukrainian | планети | ||
Planet originated from the Greek word 'planetes' meaning 'wanderer', denoting the wandering behavior of celestial objects |
Bengali | গ্রহ | ||
The word "গ্রহ" in Bengali is derived from the Sanskrit word "graha", meaning "seizer" or "one who captures", and also refers to the nodes of the Moon. | |||
Gujarati | ગ્રહ | ||
"ગ્રહ" is derived from the Latin word "planeta", itself derived from the Greek word "πλανήτης", meaning "wanderer". | |||
Hindi | ग्रह | ||
"ग्रह" का वैकल्पिक अर्थ अंधकार है जो चंद्र ग्रहण के दौरान ग्रहण कर लिया जाता है। | |||
Kannada | ಗ್ರಹ | ||
"ಗ್ರಹ" can also refer to a constellation, a star, a planet, or a satellite. | |||
Malayalam | ആഗ്രഹം | ||
ആഗ്രഹം means 'desire, wish, longing' in Malayalam, and is cognate with 'agrah' in Sanskrit, which means 'to seize, take' | |||
Marathi | ग्रह | ||
The word ग्रह (planet) comes from the Sanskrit root 'grah' meaning "to take" and can also refer to a celestial body or an event that seizes or takes. | |||
Nepali | ग्रह | ||
"ग्रह" शब्द हिंदी और संस्कृत से आया है, जहां इसका अर्थ है 'लेना' या 'पकड़ना'। | |||
Punjabi | ਗ੍ਰਹਿ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ග්රහලෝකය | ||
In Sinhala, "ග්රහලෝකය" can also refer to the "astral plane" and "planets" in the astrological sense. | |||
Tamil | கிரகம் | ||
The word 'கிரகம்' in Tamil can also refer to a 'disease or affliction'. | |||
Telugu | గ్రహం | ||
The word గ్రహం can also refer to the act of receiving, grasping, or taking hold of something. | |||
Urdu | سیارہ | ||
The word “سیارہ” (“planet”) in Urdu is derived from the Greek word “planētēs” which means “wanderer.” |
Chinese (Simplified) | 行星 | ||
“行星”的汉字意为“行”与“星”,指的是在既定的轨道上绕恒星(如太阳)运行的星体。 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 行星 | ||
行星一词在古代汉语中还指彗星、陨石等天体,后来才限定为围绕恒星运行的天体。 | |||
Japanese | 惑星 | ||
The Japanese word "惑星" literally translates to "wandering star", a term that aligns with the historical view of planets as celestial bodies that move against the backdrop of fixed stars. | |||
Korean | 행성 | ||
"행성" can also mean a small stone or a grain of sand | |||
Mongolian | гариг | ||
The word "гариг" can also refer to a type of steppe ecosystem in Mongolia. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကမ္ဘာဂြိုဟ် | ||
Indonesian | planet | ||
The Indonesian word "planet" comes from the Greek word for "wanderer", reflecting the ancient belief that planets moved independently across the sky. | |||
Javanese | planet | ||
In Javanese, "planet" (planit) also means "foreigner" or "outsider". | |||
Khmer | ភពផែនដី | ||
This word likely comes from Pali, "bhav", meaning "existence" and "phala", meaning "result". | |||
Lao | ດາວ | ||
ດາວ is also used to refer to a 'star' in the sky or a 'mark' on the skin. | |||
Malay | planet | ||
The word 'planet' in Malay can also mean 'orb' or 'sphere'. | |||
Thai | ดาวเคราะห์ | ||
Though ดาวเคราะห์ means "planet," it also means "star wanderer." | |||
Vietnamese | hành tinh | ||
The word hành tinh derives from the Chinese word 行星 (xíngxīng), meaning 'moving star', and its original meaning in Vietnamese was 'wandering star' or 'comet'. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | planeta | ||
Azerbaijani | planet | ||
In Azerbaijani, the word "planet" (planet) also refers to a "step" or "stage" in a process. | |||
Kazakh | планета | ||
The Kazakh word “планета” (“planet”) stems from Old Greek πλανήτης, meaning “wanderer,” and was first used to describe bodies that moved against the background of fixed stars. | |||
Kyrgyz | планета | ||
The word “планета” can mean “planet” or “wandering star”. | |||
Tajik | сайёра | ||
The Tajik word "сайёра" can also mean "wanderer" or "traveler". | |||
Turkmen | planeta | ||
Uzbek | sayyora | ||
"Sayyora" also means "wanderer" in Uzbek, due to the seeming random movement of planets across the night sky. | |||
Uyghur | سەييارە | ||
Hawaiian | honua | ||
The Hawaiian word "honua" also means "earth" or "land," reflecting the ancient Hawaiian belief that the Earth is a living being. | |||
Maori | aorangi | ||
"Aorangi" also refers to New Zealand's South Island and the Cook Islands, as well as a mountain in the South Island and a river in the North Island. | |||
Samoan | paneta | ||
In Samoan, the word "paneta" derives from "pane" meaning "flat" and "ta" meaning "to appear" or "to be known as." | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | planeta | ||
The Tagalog word "planeta" comes from the Spanish word for "planet", which in turn comes from the Greek word for "wanderer", referring to the apparent motion of planets across the sky. |
Aymara | planeta ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Guarani | planeta rehegua | ||
Esperanto | planedo | ||
The Esperanto word "planedo" shares its root with "plane" and "plain" in English. | |||
Latin | planeta | ||
"Planeta" refers to either a wandering star or a flat surface in Latin. |
Greek | πλανήτης | ||
The word "πλανήτης" (planet) in Greek originally meant "wanderer", referring to the movement of celestial bodies across the sky. | |||
Hmong | ntiaj chaw | ||
The word "ntiaj chaw" also refers to a person who has a lot of friends and acquaintances. | |||
Kurdish | estare | ||
"Esrare" also means "secret" in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | gezegen | ||
The Ottoman Turkish word "seyyare" (which comes from the verb "seyr" meaning "to travel") also means "planet". | |||
Xhosa | iplanethi | ||
The word "iplanethi" is also used to refer to a person who is well-traveled or knowledgeable about the world. | |||
Yiddish | פּלאַנעט | ||
In Yiddish, the word 'פּלאַנעט' can also refer to a 'person or thing that is wandering, erratic, or aimless'. | |||
Zulu | iplanethi | ||
The Zulu word "iplanethi" is derived from the Greek word "planētēs", meaning "wanderer". | |||
Assamese | গ্ৰহ | ||
Aymara | planeta ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
Bhojpuri | ग्रह के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ޕްލެނެޓް އެވެ | ||
Dogri | ग्रह | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | planeta | ||
Guarani | planeta rehegua | ||
Ilocano | planeta | ||
Krio | planɛt we de na di wɔl | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | هەسارە | ||
Maithili | ग्रह | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯒ꯭ꯔꯍ ꯑꯁꯤꯅꯤ꯫ | ||
Mizo | planet a ni | ||
Oromo | pilaaneetii | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଗ୍ରହ | ||
Quechua | planeta nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | ग्रहः | ||
Tatar | планета | ||
Tigrinya | ፕላኔት። | ||
Tsonga | pulanete ya xirhendzevutani | ||