Updated on March 6, 2024
The word plant holds a significant place in our lives, representing the various forms of vegetation that contribute to our environment and sustenance. Plants have been culturally important since ancient times, symbolizing growth, renewal, and life in many civilizations. From the lush rainforests to the arid deserts, plants have adapted to thrive in diverse habitats, providing us with food, medicine, and resources.
Understanding the translation of plant in different languages can open doors to learning about cultural nuances and global appreciation for the natural world. For instance, in Spanish, a plant is referred to as planta, while in German, it is known as Pflanze.
Exploring the world through language and plants can be an enriching experience, allowing us to connect with people and ecosystems worldwide. Join us as we delve into the various translations of the word plant in different languages, from French to Mandarin and beyond.
Afrikaans | plant | ||
In Afrikaans, "plant" can also refer to an estate, farm, or plantation, as opposed to the botanical meaning in English. | |||
Amharic | ተክል | ||
The word "ተክል" can also refer to "family" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | shuka | ||
The Hausa word "shuka" also refers to a type of woven cotton fabric worn throughout West Africa. | |||
Igbo | osisi | ||
"Osisi" derives from the Proto-West-Kordofanian root *OS, denoting "grass" or "stalk." | |||
Malagasy | fototra | ||
The word "fototra" also means "foot" in Malagasy. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chomera | ||
The word "chomera", meaning "plant", can also refer to a "bush" or "shrub" in Nyanja. | |||
Shona | chirimwa | ||
The word 'chirimwa' literally translates to 'the one that has fallen down' in Shona. | |||
Somali | dhir | ||
In Somali, "dhir" can also refer to trees or the process of planting. | |||
Sesotho | semela | ||
"Semela" is a Sesotho word that originates from the Proto-Bantu word *sima- "plant". | |||
Swahili | mmea | ||
"Mmea" is both the word for "plant" and a slang term for "person who is very drunk." | |||
Xhosa | isityalo | ||
'Isityalo' is a cognate of the Zulu word 'isitshalo', both derived from the Proto-Bantu word *kitalo or *kitala. | |||
Yoruba | ohun ọgbin | ||
The Yoruba word "ọ̀gbin" also means "farm" or "cropland." | |||
Zulu | isitshalo | ||
The word "isitshalo" can also refer to a garden or a field. | |||
Bambara | yiri | ||
Ewe | ati | ||
Kinyarwanda | igihingwa | ||
Lingala | nzete | ||
Luganda | okusimba | ||
Sepedi | semela | ||
Twi (Akan) | dua | ||
Arabic | نبات | ||
نبات is a word in Arabic with two meanings: first, 'plant'; and second, 'sugar'. | |||
Hebrew | צמח | ||
Although 'צמח' primarily means 'plant' in Hebrew, it can also refer to a 'sprout', 'growth', 'offspring', or 'descendant'. | |||
Pashto | نبات | ||
The word "نبات" (nabaat) in Pashto not only means "plant" but also refers to a type of sweet candy. | |||
Arabic | نبات | ||
نبات is a word in Arabic with two meanings: first, 'plant'; and second, 'sugar'. |
Albanian | bimë | ||
The word "bimë" in Albanian shares its etymology with the Latin word "vimen" meaning "twig" or "branch". | |||
Basque | landare | ||
"Landare," the Basque word for "plant," also implies "cultivation," a reflection of the Basques' deep historical connection to agriculture. | |||
Catalan | planta | ||
The word "planta" in Catalan has its roots in the Latin "planta" with the meanings of "sole of the foot" and "young shoot of a tree". | |||
Croatian | biljka | ||
In Croatian, the word "biljka" has the double meaning "plant" and "herb". It is derived from Proto-Slavonic "byľe" (herb). | |||
Danish | plante | ||
The Danish word "plante" is derived from the Middle Low German word "plante", meaning "something planted" and is related to the French word "plante", meaning "plant". | |||
Dutch | fabriek | ||
The word "fabriek" can also refer to a structure such as a building or a machine, particularly one used for manufacturing or processing. | |||
English | plant | ||
The word "plant" derives from the Latin "planta," meaning "a young shoot" or "a sole or foot," suggesting both growth and a foundation. | |||
French | plante | ||
The word "plante" in French can also refer to the sole of a foot or shoe, or to a map or plan. | |||
Frisian | fabryk | ||
The word "fabryk" likely derives from the French word "fabrique" or the Latin word "fabrica," both meaning "workshop" or "factory." | |||
Galician | planta | ||
Though it derives from the Latin 'planta' which means 'sole of the foot', in Galician 'planta' is only used to refer to a plant. | |||
German | pflanze | ||
The word "Pflanze" is derived from the Middle High German word "pflanz(e)", which originally meant "sapling" or "young tree". | |||
Icelandic | planta | ||
The Icelandic word "planta" can also refer to the sole of the foot or a type of fabric shoe worn by infants. | |||
Irish | planda | ||
In old Irish, the word "planda" also meant "a small, level surface" or a "flat area of land". | |||
Italian | pianta | ||
The word "pianta" in Italian also means "a floor of a building" or "the sole of a foot". | |||
Luxembourgish | planz | ||
The word "Planz" in Luxembourgish can also refer to a footprint or a blueprint. | |||
Maltese | pjanta | ||
The Maltese word "pjanta" is derived from the Latin word "planta", meaning "sole of the foot". | |||
Norwegian | anlegg | ||
The word "anlegg" can also refer to a construction site or facility. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | plantar | ||
In Portuguese, "plantar" can also mean "to cry", derived from the Latin "plantare", meaning "to weep". | |||
Scots Gaelic | lus | ||
Scots Gaelic 'lus' derives from the Proto-Celtic root for 'herb' or 'grass', and in modern Gaelic can refer to any plant other than a tree. | |||
Spanish | planta | ||
The word "planta" also means "foot" in Spanish and is derived from the Latin word "planta," which means "sole of the foot." | |||
Swedish | växt | ||
The Swedish word "växt" shares etymological roots with the English word "wax," both originating from an Indo-European root meaning "to grow." | |||
Welsh | planhigyn | ||
The word 'planhigyn' is also used to refer to a young sapling. |
Belarusian | расліна | ||
Расліна (Belarusian) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *rostlina, meaning "that which grows". | |||
Bosnian | biljka | ||
The word "biljka" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *bylьje, which also meant "herb" or "weed". | |||
Bulgarian | растение | ||
The Bulgarian word "растение" is also used to refer to "vegetation" and "flora". | |||
Czech | rostlina | ||
"Rostlina," a term for "plant," originates from "rostiti," a verb connoting "to grow" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | taim | ||
The word 'taim' also means 'germ', 'seed' and 'bud' in Estonian | |||
Finnish | tehdas | ||
The word 'tehdas' originally referred to a metalworking workshop, then expanded to mean 'factory' and any industrial establishment. | |||
Hungarian | növény | ||
The Hungarian word "növény" can also refer to a growth or a young plant. | |||
Latvian | augs | ||
"Augs" is a cognate of "ak" in Lithuanian, a word that means "eye", referring to the eye-shaped seeds of certain plants. | |||
Lithuanian | augalas | ||
The word "augalas" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*aug-" meaning "to grow". | |||
Macedonian | растение | ||
The word "растение" in Macedonian comes from the Proto-Slavic word *rostъ, which also means "growth" or "development". | |||
Polish | roślina | ||
The word "roślina" originated from the Proto-Slavic word "rostъ", meaning "grow" or "bud". | |||
Romanian | plantă | ||
In Romanian, the word "plantă" derives from the Latin "planta" meaning "foot" or "sole", reflecting the idea of the plant's roots grounding it in the soil. | |||
Russian | растение | ||
The Russian word "растение" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*res-," meaning "to grow". | |||
Serbian | биљка | ||
The word "биљка" can also refer to a "herb", as in a medicinal or aromatic plant. | |||
Slovak | rastlina | ||
The word "rastlina" (plant) in Slovak also means "growth" or "development". | |||
Slovenian | rastlina | ||
The Slovenian word "rastlina" has no known alternate meanings, and its etymology remains unclear. | |||
Ukrainian | рослина | ||
Рослина derives from the Old Slavic word |
Bengali | উদ্ভিদ | ||
The word "উদ্ভিদ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "उद्भिद्" (udbhid), meaning "to bring forth, grow, sprout". | |||
Gujarati | છોડ | ||
"છોડ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sthā", meaning "to stand" or "to be fixed", and also refers to a type of religious vow or penance. | |||
Hindi | पौधा | ||
The word "पौधा" (plant) in Hindi comes from the Sanskrit word "पोत" (pot), referring to the containers used to grow plants. | |||
Kannada | ಸಸ್ಯ | ||
The Kannada word "ಸಸ್ಯ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "सस्य" (sásya), which can also mean "grain" or "crop" | |||
Malayalam | പ്ലാന്റ് | ||
The Malayalam word "പ്ലാന്റ്" ("plant") can also refer to a factory or workshop. | |||
Marathi | वनस्पती | ||
The word 'वनस्पती' in Marathi derives from Sanskrit and can also mean vegetation or a deity associated with plants. | |||
Nepali | बोट | ||
बोट in Nepali may also refer to a ship, while the Sanskrit word 'bot' refers to a container or jar. | |||
Punjabi | ਪੌਦਾ | ||
ਪੌਦਾ can also refer to a young animal, or the beginning of something such as a plan, idea, or action | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ශාක | ||
The word "ශාක" ('plant') derives from Sanskrit 'śāka', meaning 'a vegetable, a potherb'. | |||
Tamil | ஆலை | ||
The word "ஆலை" also means "mill" in Tamil, possibly due to the historical use of plants for grinding and crushing purposes. | |||
Telugu | మొక్క | ||
The word "మొక్క" in Telugu has cognates with words meaning "herb" and "sprout" in other Indo-Aryan languages. | |||
Urdu | پودا | ||
The Urdu word "پودا" can also refer to a young tree. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 厂 | ||
The character "厂" (plant) in Chinese can also mean "a building" or "a workshop". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 廠 | ||
廠, pronounced chǎng, could also mean factory, workshop, arsenal, or studio. | |||
Japanese | 工場 | ||
The word "工場" in Japanese can also refer to a factory or workshop, and originally meant "a place where things are made". | |||
Korean | 식물 | ||
The word "식물" can also refer to "vegetation" or "plants and trees". | |||
Mongolian | тарих | ||
"Тарих" may also refer to a type of fruit | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အပင် | ||
အပင် (a-pin) derives from Pali, similar to Thai "aphin" (ต้นไม้), from Sanskrit "patra" (leaf). |
Indonesian | menanam | ||
"Menanam" also means "to put in the ground". | |||
Javanese | tanduran | ||
Tanduran also means 'agriculture' in Javanese, reflecting the agricultural emphasis of traditional Javanese society. | |||
Khmer | រុក្ខជាតិ | ||
Lao | ພືດ | ||
ພືດ (Lao) shares its root with ภุช (Sanskrit) meaning “to eat” as plants are consumed as food. | |||
Malay | tanaman | ||
"Tanaman" can also refer to a crop, plantation or planting. | |||
Thai | ปลูก | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of plant, "ปลูก" can also mean to build or establish. | |||
Vietnamese | cây | ||
"Cây" in Vietnamese comes from an Austroasiatic root *kʰaːj, meaning "tree". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | halaman | ||
Azerbaijani | bitki | ||
The word "bitki" is borrowed from Turkish and also means "herb, greens" in Azerbaijani. | |||
Kazakh | өсімдік | ||
The Kazakh word "өсімдік" is cognate with the Turkish "bitki" and means both "plant" and "herb". | |||
Kyrgyz | өсүмдүк | ||
The term "өсүмдүк" in Kyrgyz derives from the Persian "rusidan" and denotes vegetation or greenery, as opposed to a specific "plant". | |||
Tajik | ниҳол | ||
Tajik "ниҳол" is derived from Persian "nihāl", meaning "young tree", and can also refer to "seedling" or "sapling". | |||
Turkmen | ösümlik | ||
Uzbek | o'simlik | ||
The word "o'simlik" not only means "plant" but also symbolizes "growth", "development", and "maturity" in Uzbek culture and poetry. | |||
Uyghur | ئۆسۈملۈك | ||
Hawaiian | meakanu | ||
In the Hawaiian language, "meakanu" refers specifically to herbaceous plants, and can also be used metaphorically to describe a person or thing that is weak or fragile. | |||
Maori | whakato | ||
Whakato's original meaning was 'to cause to stand', also implying growth or creation | |||
Samoan | laʻau | ||
The Samoan word for “plant”, “la’au”, is also used to refer to medicine and trees. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | planta | ||
The word "planta" in Tagalog is derived from the Spanish word "planta", which also means "foot". |
Aymara | ayru | ||
Guarani | yvyra | ||
Esperanto | planto | ||
Esperanto's "planto" derives from Latin "planta," meaning "sole of the foot" or "flat surface," reflecting plants' typically flat leaves and root systems. | |||
Latin | plant | ||
The Latin word "plant" has other meanings, such as "to set" or "to fix". |
Greek | φυτό | ||
The word "φυτό" (phutó) in Greek originally meant "growth" or "offspring" and was only later extended to refer to plants specifically. | |||
Hmong | nroj | ||
The Hmong word "nroj" also means "to grow" or "to cultivate." | |||
Kurdish | karxane | ||
The word "karxane" can also refer to a factory or a workshop. | |||
Turkish | bitki | ||
The word "bitki" in Turkish is derived from the Proto-Turkic word *bičgi, meaning "that which grows" or "herb." | |||
Xhosa | isityalo | ||
'Isityalo' is a cognate of the Zulu word 'isitshalo', both derived from the Proto-Bantu word *kitalo or *kitala. | |||
Yiddish | געוויקס | ||
"געוויקס" also means "growth", "fabric", and "stature" in Yiddish. | |||
Zulu | isitshalo | ||
The word "isitshalo" can also refer to a garden or a field. | |||
Assamese | উদ্ভিদ | ||
Aymara | ayru | ||
Bhojpuri | पवधा | ||
Dhivehi | ގަސް | ||
Dogri | बूहटा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | halaman | ||
Guarani | yvyra | ||
Ilocano | tanem | ||
Krio | plant | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | درەخت | ||
Maithili | गाछि | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯥꯝꯕꯤ | ||
Mizo | thlai | ||
Oromo | biqilaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଉଦ୍ଭିଦ | ||
Quechua | yura | ||
Sanskrit | वनस्पति | ||
Tatar | үсемлек | ||
Tigrinya | ተኽሊ | ||
Tsonga | ximila | ||