Poetry in Different Languages
Discover 'Poetry' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Poetry, a form of literature that has been enchanting humanity for centuries, is a powerful tool for expressing emotions, ideas, and stories in a rhythmic and compact manner. Its significance lies in its ability to evoke deep emotions, challenge societal norms, and preserve cultural heritage. From the ancient epics of Homer to the contemporary spoken word performances, poetry has been a constant companion in human evolution, reflecting our values, beliefs, and aspirations.
The cultural importance of poetry is undeniable, with different languages and regions boasting their unique poetic forms and styles. Take, for instance, the Japanese Haiku, a 17-syllable poem that captures a moment in nature, or the Spanish Decima, a 10-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. These poetic forms not only reflect the linguistic nuances of their respective languages but also offer a window into the cultural psyche of the people who created them.
Understanding the translation of poetry in different languages can open up a world of literary treasures waiting to be discovered. For instance, the German word for poetry, Dichtung, also means 'condensation' or 'compression', reflecting the language's affinity for precision and conciseness. Meanwhile, the Russian word for poetry, Поэзия (Poeziya), is derived from the ancient Greek word for 'maker', highlighting the poet's role as a creator of worlds.
In the following list, we have compiled a selection of poetry translations from around the world, showcasing the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of this timeless art form.
Poetry
Poetry in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | poësie | ||
| The word poësie in Afrikaans originates from the French word poésie, which itself originates from the Latin word poēsis meaning "creation". | |||
| Amharic | ግጥም | ||
| "ግጥም" (poetry) probably comes from the word "ግጥ" (a secret) and was originally used to refer to a form of coded language. | |||
| Hausa | shayari | ||
| The word 'shayari' in Hausa can also refer to a type of traditional Hausa song or a type of proverb. | |||
| Igbo | abu | ||
| 'Abu' also means 'a fable' or 'an allegory'. | |||
| Malagasy | tononkalo | ||
| "Tononkalo" comes from the verb "tonona," meaning "to speak" or "to recite". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | ndakatulo | ||
| Its literal meaning is '(words) to be spoken' from the root word '-dakulo', 'to speak' | |||
| Shona | nhetembo | ||
| The word "nhetembo" can also mean "something that is sweet or tasty" in Shona. | |||
| Somali | gabay | ||
| The Somali word "gabay" originated from the Arabic word "qasida" (poetic form) | |||
| Sesotho | lithothokiso | ||
| The word "lithothokiso" can also refer to a type of traditional Sesotho song that is used to tell stories or express emotions. | |||
| Swahili | mashairi | ||
| Swahili word 'mashairi' originates from Arabic word 'sha'ir' meaning 'to perceive' and 'to experience' | |||
| Xhosa | imibongo | ||
| Iimbongo can also be defined as "histories" or "praises", and this relates to its origins in the oral tradition of Xhosa poets. | |||
| Yoruba | ewi | ||
| 'Ewi' is also a type of Yoruba fabric, and the term can refer to a person who creates these fabrics | |||
| Zulu | izinkondlo | ||
| Izinkondlo, which originated from the word 'konda', refers to a string of words that have a rhythm and a deep meaning | |||
| Bambara | poyi sɛbɛn | ||
| Ewe | hakpanya ŋuti nunya | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ibisigo | ||
| Lingala | poeme | ||
| Luganda | obutontomi | ||
| Sepedi | theto | ||
| Twi (Akan) | anwensɛm | ||
Poetry in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الشعر | ||
| 'شعر' literally means 'hair' in Arabic, and was originally used to refer to the hairs on the back of the neck, which would stand on end when a person was moved by emotion or passion, especially when listening to poetry. | |||
| Hebrew | שִׁירָה | ||
| The word "שִׁירָה" also means 'song' in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | شعر | ||
| The Pashto word “شعر” (poetry) originates from Arabic and also means “knowledge or wisdom”. | |||
| Arabic | الشعر | ||
| 'شعر' literally means 'hair' in Arabic, and was originally used to refer to the hairs on the back of the neck, which would stand on end when a person was moved by emotion or passion, especially when listening to poetry. | |||
Poetry in Western European Languages
| Albanian | poezi | ||
| The Albanian word 'poezi' is derived from the Latin word 'poesis', which means 'a making' or 'a creation'. | |||
| Basque | poesia | ||
| Basque's "poesia" ultimately derives from the Greek word poiesis "making", thus encompassing various forms of art alongside poetry. | |||
| Catalan | poesia | ||
| The Catalan word "poesia" derives from the Greek word "poiesis," which means "creation" or "making." | |||
| Croatian | poezija | ||
| The Croatian word "poezija" originates from the Greek word "poiesis," meaning "creation" or "making." | |||
| Danish | poesi | ||
| Poesi is derived from the Greek word ποιεω, "to make," and thus relates to the act of creation. | |||
| Dutch | poëzie | ||
| Both the Dutch word poëzie and its French counterpart poésie originate from the Greek word "ποιέω" (poieō), which means "to make" or "to create". | |||
| English | poetry | ||
| "Poetry" derives from Ancient Greek "poein" meaning "to create" or "to make." | |||
| French | poésie | ||
| The word "poésie" derives from the Greek "poiesis", meaning "making" or "creation", and shares a common root with "poem". | |||
| Frisian | poëzij | ||
| It is related to the Old Greek word "poiesis" meaning "making". In Frisian, it can also mean "the act of creating something". | |||
| Galician | poesía | ||
| The Galician word "poesía" comes from the Latin word "poēsis", which means "creation" or "making". | |||
| German | poesie | ||
| "Poesie" derives from French "poésie" and originally had the meaning of "the art of making poems". | |||
| Icelandic | ljóðlist | ||
| In Norse mythology, Ljóð represents the personification of poetry and music, while list refers to knowledge or skill. | |||
| Irish | filíocht | ||
| The Irish word "filíocht" derives from the Old Irish "filid", meaning "seer" or "prophet". | |||
| Italian | poesia | ||
| Italian 'poesia' ultimately stems from the Ancient Greek 'poiesis', meaning creation. | |||
| Luxembourgish | poesie | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Poesie" is derived from the Old French word "poésie", which in turn comes from the Latin word "poēsis" meaning "creation". | |||
| Maltese | poeżija | ||
| Poeżija is cognate with similar words in other Romance languages, such as ``poesia`` in Italian and ``poésie`` in French, as well as with the Greek ``ποιησία`` (poiesis, "making"). | |||
| Norwegian | poesi | ||
| "Poesi" is a variant form of "poesie", likely inspired by the Norwegian spelling of the word and the Norwegian word "vise" ("song"). | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | poesia | ||
| Poesia (Portuguese for “poetry”) comes from the Greek word poiesis, meaning “making” or “creation”. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | bàrdachd | ||
| From the Scottish Gaelic root bard, bàrdachd also means 'song' and 'music' in Irish Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | poesía | ||
| The word "poesía" in Spanish derives from the Greek word "poiesis," meaning "making" or "creation." | |||
| Swedish | poesi | ||
| In Swedish, "poesi" can also refer to prose, making it distinct from Swedish "dikt". | |||
| Welsh | barddoniaeth | ||
| The word comes from 'bardd' ('poet'), 'don' ('gift of'), and '-iaeth' ('state') or '-ia' ('action, practice'). | |||
Poetry in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | паэзія | ||
| In Belarusian, "паэзія" not only means "poetry" but also "poetic fiction". | |||
| Bosnian | poezija | ||
| The term 'poezija' in Bosnian has roots in the Greek words 'poiesis,' meaning 'creation,' and 'poietikos,' meaning 'relating to creation'. | |||
| Bulgarian | поезия | ||
| "Поезия" comes from the Greek "ποίησις" ("creation," "production," or "making") but may also refer to the poetics or the theory of poetry. | |||
| Czech | poezie | ||
| The Czech word "poezie" derives from the Greek "poiesis", meaning "making" or "creating". | |||
| Estonian | luule | ||
| The word "luule" is derived from the root "luul," which originally meant "a ghost, dream, or illusion." | |||
| Finnish | runoutta | ||
| 'Runo' is also an old term for 'spell' in Finnish and may be cognate with the Latvian 'ruona'. | |||
| Hungarian | költészet | ||
| The Hungarian word "költészet" not only means "poetry" but also "fiction writing" and "creative writing". | |||
| Latvian | dzeja | ||
| Latvian "dzeja" may derive from an ancient loanword, perhaps from a Baltic language or via Proto-Indo-European from Sanskrit, where "dhya" means "thought." | |||
| Lithuanian | poezija | ||
| The word "poezija" originates from the Greek word "ποιέω" (poieō), meaning "to create" or "to make". | |||
| Macedonian | поезија | ||
| The word "поезија" can also refer to the art of creating poetry. | |||
| Polish | poezja | ||
| Poezja's root word "poezis" shares its origin with the Greek "poiein," meaning "to make or create." | |||
| Romanian | poezie | ||
| The word "poezie" in Romanian is derived from the Greek word "poiesis," which means "creation" or "making." | |||
| Russian | поэзия | ||
| The Russian word "поэзия" can also refer to the art of writing poetry, or to the body of works written by a particular poet. | |||
| Serbian | поезија | ||
| The Serbian word 'poezija' comes from the Greek word 'poiēsis', meaning 'creation' or 'making'. | |||
| Slovak | poézia | ||
| Poézia can also refer to a single poem. | |||
| Slovenian | poezija | ||
| The Slovenian word 'poezija' can refer to poetry in general or more specifically to a genre of lyric poetry. | |||
| Ukrainian | поезії | ||
| The Ukrainian word "поезії" comes from the Greek word "ποιέω" meaning "to make" or "to create". | |||
Poetry in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | কবিতা | ||
| The word "কবিতা" is the Bengali cognate of Sanskrit "काव्य" (kavya) which itself derives from the root "कव" (kav) meaning "to praise", thus indicating the traditional association of poetry with eulogy and panegyric. | |||
| Gujarati | કવિતા | ||
| The Gujarati word 'કવિતા' can also mean 'a kind of metrical composition,' or 'a metrical tale' | |||
| Hindi | शायरी | ||
| The word "shayari" is derived from the Persian word "shu'ara", meaning "poet". | |||
| Kannada | ಕವನ | ||
| The word 'ಕವನ' in Kannada originates from the Sanskrit word 'काव्य' ('kāvya'), meaning 'a beautiful composition'. It can also refer to a type of prose or a theatrical play. | |||
| Malayalam | കവിത | ||
| The Malayalam word "കവിത" originates from the Sanskrit word "कविता," meaning "composition" or "work of an inspired writer." | |||
| Marathi | कविता | ||
| "कविता" is also used to refer to a specific poetic form with 31 aksharas of 15 characters on the first line and 16 on the second. | |||
| Nepali | कविता | ||
| The Nepali word "कविता" originally referred to "songs" or "verses" specifically sung in the Kirati language | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਵਿਤਾ | ||
| The word "ਕਵਿਤਾ" originates from the Sanskrit word "कविता" which means "the act of composing". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කවි | ||
| In old Sinhala, "කවි" also means "a wise person". | |||
| Tamil | கவிதை | ||
| The Tamil word "கவிதை" (kavidai) originally meant "to arrange", and later came to refer to verses arranged in a pleasing manner. | |||
| Telugu | కవిత్వం | ||
| The term 'kavithvam' can refer both to a spontaneous poem composed by a singer, or a refined literary composition composed by a scholar. | |||
| Urdu | شاعری | ||
| The Urdu word 'شاعری' also refers to the occupation or art of a 'poet'. | |||
Poetry in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 诗歌 | ||
| "诗歌" is the modern Chinese word for "poetry" which was not in use before the 20th century. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 詩歌 | ||
| 詩歌 can mean "poetry, song, or hymn". | |||
| Japanese | 詩 | ||
| The kanji '詩' also refers to 'poem' and 'lyrics', and is used in compounds like '和歌' (Japanese poem). | |||
| Korean | 시 | ||
| The word '시' in Korean can also mean 'the world' or 'the universe' and is derived from the Chinese character '詩' indicating a literary genre that includes both poetry and prose. | |||
| Mongolian | яруу найраг | ||
| The word "яруу найраг" ("poetry") in Mongolian is derived from the verb "яруу" ("to arrange") and the noun "найраг" ("beauty"), suggesting the notion of arranging or crafting beauty through words. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကဗျာ | ||
| The term ကဗျာ is derived from Pali "Kavya", referring to composed verse or poetic composition. | |||
Poetry in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | puisi | ||
| The Indonesian word 'puisi' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'puspa', meaning 'flower' or 'blossom', reflecting the notion that poetry is a beautiful expression of language. | |||
| Javanese | puisi | ||
| Puisi in Javanese also means 'to weave' or 'to arrange', suggesting a connection between poetry and the act of creating something intricately beautiful. | |||
| Khmer | កំណាព្យ | ||
| The word "កំណាព្យ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "kāvya" which also means "poem" or "poetic composition." | |||
| Lao | ບົດກະວີ | ||
| Malay | puisi | ||
| The word "puisi" is derived from the Sanskrit word "puṣya", meaning "flower". | |||
| Thai | กวีนิพนธ์ | ||
| The Thai word “กวีนิพนธ์” (kawiniphop) is derived from the Sanskrit word “kavya” (meaning “poem”) and the Pali word “niphata” (meaning “collection”). | |||
| Vietnamese | thơ | ||
| The word "thơ" is also used to refer to the literary genre of prose, which includes essays, short stories, and novels. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mga tula | ||
Poetry in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | şeir | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "şeir" is derived from the Persian word "shi'r" and also refers to a type of metrical composition akin to a riddle. | |||
| Kazakh | поэзия | ||
| The Kazakh word "поэзия" originates from the Persian "پوئزيو", which is in turn rooted in Greek "ποιέω" (make). | |||
| Kyrgyz | поэзия | ||
| The word "поэзия" can also refer to "poetics" or "the art of poetry" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | шеър | ||
| The word "шеър" in Tajik can also refer to a verse or a stanza of a poem. | |||
| Turkmen | goşgy | ||
| Uzbek | she'riyat | ||
| The word "she'riyat" originates from the Arabic word "shi'r", which means both "poetry" and "perception". | |||
| Uyghur | شېئىر | ||
Poetry in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mele mele | ||
| The word “mele” also means “song” in Hawaiian, and the two words are often used interchangeably. | |||
| Maori | pehepehe | ||
| The morphemes "pe" and "epe" (to say, recite, chant) can also mean utterance that brings evil into the world. | |||
| Samoan | solo | ||
| Solo in Samoan, while derived from the English word, also means "to be alone" or "solitude." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | mga tula | ||
| The word "mga tula" can also be used colloquially to refer to songs or other musical compositions. | |||
Poetry in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | chapar aru | ||
| Guarani | ñe'ẽpoty | ||
Poetry in International Languages
| Esperanto | poezio | ||
| The Esperanto word "poezio" derives from the French "poésie" and Latin "poesis" meaning "creation" or "making". | |||
| Latin | poetica | ||
| The Latin word "poetica" also refers to the theory or study of poetry. | |||
Poetry in Others Languages
| Greek | ποίηση | ||
| The noun 'ποίηση,' which comes from the verb 'ποιεῖν,' can also mean 'creation' or 'production,' emphasizing poetry's active and creative nature. | |||
| Hmong | paj huam | ||
| The Hmong word 'paj huam' literally translates to 'flower words,' indicating the poetic nature of the language. | |||
| Kurdish | helbeste | ||
| The word "helbeste" derives from the Persian word "halbast" meaning "to weave". | |||
| Turkish | şiir | ||
| "Şiir" is also a slang term for "crazy" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | imibongo | ||
| Iimbongo can also be defined as "histories" or "praises", and this relates to its origins in the oral tradition of Xhosa poets. | |||
| Yiddish | פּאָעזיע | ||
| In Yiddish, the word 'פּאָעזיע' ('poezie') is also used to refer to 'creativity', 'imagination', or 'inspiration'. | |||
| Zulu | izinkondlo | ||
| Izinkondlo, which originated from the word 'konda', refers to a string of words that have a rhythm and a deep meaning | |||
| Assamese | কবিতা | ||
| Aymara | chapar aru | ||
| Bhojpuri | कविता | ||
| Dhivehi | ޅެން | ||
| Dogri | काव्य | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mga tula | ||
| Guarani | ñe'ẽpoty | ||
| Ilocano | daniw | ||
| Krio | pɔym | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | هۆنراوە | ||
| Maithili | शायरी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ | ||
| Mizo | hla | ||
| Oromo | og-walaloo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | କବିତା | ||
| Quechua | harawi | ||
| Sanskrit | काव्य | ||
| Tatar | поэзия | ||
| Tigrinya | ግጥሚ | ||
| Tsonga | vutlhokovetseri | ||