Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'pop' is a small but powerful part of many languages and cultures around the world. It can refer to the sound that something makes when it's squeezed or compressed, or it can describe a genre of music that's characterized by its catchy beats and memorable hooks. But no matter how you use it, there's no denying the significance and cultural importance of this humble little word.
For language lovers and cultural enthusiasts, understanding the many different translations of 'pop' can be a fascinating way to explore the nuances and similarities of languages from around the globe. For example, in Spanish, 'pop' can be translated as 'pop' or 'pum', while in French, it's 'pop' or 'poc'. And in German, you might use 'pop' or 'knall' to describe that satisfying 'pop' sound.
So why should you care about the many different translations of 'pop'? For one, it's a fun and interesting way to learn more about the world around you. But it's also a great way to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds, and to find common ground in the language of music and sound.
Afrikaans | pop | ||
In Afrikaans, 'pop' can also refer to a type of sweet carbonated drink, similar to soda or pop in English. | |||
Amharic | ፖፕ | ||
The Amharic word "ፖፕ" (pop) can also refer to a type of corn, a young male, or a young child. | |||
Hausa | pop | ||
In Hausa, "pop" can also refer to a type of bean, a verb meaning "to burst" or "to detonate," or an informal term for a father. | |||
Igbo | pop | ||
The Igbo word "pop" can also refer to a type of music or a gunshot. | |||
Malagasy | tsapako | ||
The Malagasy word "tsapako" also means "to explode" or "to burst". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | pop | ||
The Nyanja word "pop" can also refer to a type of porridge made from maize or sorghum. | |||
Shona | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Shona can also refer to a type of small, round candy. | |||
Somali | pop | ||
The term "pop" derives from the sound imitative word that replicates a quick explosive sound. | |||
Sesotho | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Sesotho can also mean "to be finished" or "to be complete. | |||
Swahili | pop | ||
The Swahili word "pop" can also mean "to explode" or "to burst open". | |||
Xhosa | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Xhosa has alternate meanings such as "to explode" and "to burst". | |||
Yoruba | agbejade | ||
Agbejade also refers to a type of Yoruba drum known for its resonating sound and is often used in traditional ceremonies | |||
Zulu | i-pop | ||
The word 'i-pop' also means 'a type of porridge made with cornmeal' in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | ka ci | ||
Ewe | pɔp | ||
Kinyarwanda | pop | ||
Lingala | pop | ||
Luganda | okubwatuka | ||
Sepedi | tšwelela | ||
Twi (Akan) | pow | ||
Arabic | البوب | ||
The word "بوب" comes from the Coptic word "ⲡⲱⲡ" (bob) meaning "priest", and its usage later spread to other Semitic languages (such as Biblical Hebrew) and eventually to Greek and Latin. | |||
Hebrew | פּוֹפּ | ||
The word "פּוֹפּ" can also refer to a type of musical subculture. | |||
Pashto | پاپ | ||
پاپ also means "grandfather" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | البوب | ||
The word "بوب" comes from the Coptic word "ⲡⲱⲡ" (bob) meaning "priest", and its usage later spread to other Semitic languages (such as Biblical Hebrew) and eventually to Greek and Latin. |
Albanian | pop | ||
Albanian pop "pop" means "pop" (sound), "pop" (small blast) or "popcorn", but can also mean "corn on the cob". | |||
Basque | pop | ||
The Basque word "pop" can also mean "flower". | |||
Catalan | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Catalan can also mean "corn on the cob". | |||
Croatian | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Croatian is an interjection expressing surprise or admiration, derived from the Latin "pape" meaning "ah," or "oh." | |||
Danish | pop | ||
In Danish, "pop" can also refer to a soda or soft drink. | |||
Dutch | knal | ||
Dutch "knal" can also mean "noise" or "crack", possibly due to an onomatopoeic connection to the sound of a gunshot or explosion. | |||
English | pop | ||
The word "pop" has been used as a colloquial term for "popular music" since the 1950s. | |||
French | pop | ||
The word "pop" in French can also mean "soft drink" or "soda". | |||
Frisian | pop | ||
In Frisian, the word "pop" can also mean "puppet" or "doll". | |||
Galician | pop | ||
"Pop" is also used in Galician to refer to a small, fast-moving insect with a buzzing sound, likely due to its resemblance to the sound of bursting popcorn ("pop" in English). | |||
German | pop | ||
The word "Pop" in German can also mean "fart" or "soft drink". | |||
Icelandic | popp | ||
In Icelandic, "popp" can also refer to a type of rye bread, a person's behind, or a child's bottom. | |||
Irish | pop | ||
Other meanings and etymologies of the word "pop" in Irish include "a kiss" and "a sudden loud noise". | |||
Italian | pop | ||
The word "pop" is also used in Italian to mean "pop music", "soda" and "popcorn". | |||
Luxembourgish | pop | ||
Pop also signifies a kind of traditional head scarf which was worn primarily by unmarried young women | |||
Maltese | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Maltese can also mean "noise" or "sound". | |||
Norwegian | pop | ||
Used in Norwegian slang, "pop" refers to the genre of music usually called "pop music" in English. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | pop | ||
In Portuguese, "pop" can also mean "slight blow" or "popcorn". | |||
Scots Gaelic | pop | ||
The Scots Gaelic word "pop" can also mean "a kiss" or "a term of endearment". | |||
Spanish | popular | ||
In Spanish, “popular” derives from the Latin word “populus” referring both to the ordinary people and to a crowd | |||
Swedish | pop- | ||
The Swedish word 'pop' also means 'hit' or 'sensation', and is related to the English word 'popular'. | |||
Welsh | pop | ||
In Welsh, 'pop' can also refer to a sudden noise or movement, such as the bursting of a balloon. |
Belarusian | поп | ||
In Belarusian, the word "поп" has a colloquial meaning of "father" or "daddy". | |||
Bosnian | pop | ||
"Pop" also means "father" in Bosnian, derived from the Slavic term for "father". | |||
Bulgarian | поп | ||
The word "поп" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "попъ" which means "priest". | |||
Czech | pop | ||
The Czech word "pop" means "ash" and comes from the Proto-Slavic word *pepъlъ, with cognates in most other Slavic languages. | |||
Estonian | pop | ||
In Estonian the word "pop" has many meanings, including "crack", "bang", "burst", "pop", "snap", "click", and "clatter". | |||
Finnish | pop- | ||
"Pop-" in Finnish can also refer to a sudden loud noise or a sudden burst of energy. | |||
Hungarian | pop | ||
Latvian | pop | ||
The term 'pop' is also used in Latvian as a colloquial term for 'father' (popa). | |||
Lithuanian | popsas | ||
The word "popsas" also means "popcorn" in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | поп | ||
The word "поп" in Macedonian can also refer to a type of traditional folk dance. | |||
Polish | muzyka pop | ||
In Polish, "muzyka pop" also encompasses music that is considered "light music" | |||
Romanian | pop | ||
In Romanian, "pop" can also refer to a priest or a Slavic Orthodox clergyman. | |||
Russian | поп | ||
In Russian, "поп" can also refer to a priest or a singer in a boy band. | |||
Serbian | поп | ||
In Serbian the word 'pop' is derived from the Latin word 'papa', and also refers to the Christian Orthodox priest analogous to a Western pastor. | |||
Slovak | pop | ||
The word "pop" also means "priest" in Slovak, likely derived from the Proto-Slavic word "popъ". | |||
Slovenian | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Slovenian can also mean "song" or "melody". | |||
Ukrainian | поп | ||
In Ukrainian, "поп" (pop) also refers to a priest of the Orthodox Church. |
Bengali | পপ | ||
"পপ" (pop) can also mean a sweet, carbonated beverage in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | પ popપ | ||
The word "pop" has its roots in the Gujarati word "popatiyu," meaning "to burst" or "to explode," possibly due to the sound made when something pops. | |||
Hindi | पॉप | ||
The Hindi word 'पॉप' can also mean 'corn,' and is likely derived from the English word 'popcorn' as it's a popular street food in India. | |||
Kannada | ಪಾಪ್ | ||
The word "ಪಾಪ್" ("pop") in Kannada can also refer to a type of traditional Indian snack made from puffed rice. | |||
Malayalam | പോപ്പ് | ||
The word "പോപ്പ്" in Malayalam is derived from the English word "pop" and can also mean "to burst" or "to explode". | |||
Marathi | पॉप | ||
The word "pop" in Marathi can also refer to a type of snack or candy, similar to popcorn. | |||
Nepali | पप | ||
In Nepali, "पप" can also mean "a slap". | |||
Punjabi | ਪੌਪ | ||
The word "ਪੌਪ" shares its origin with the English word "puff". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පොප් | ||
පොප් derives from the English word "pop" and can also mean "flower" or "bud" in Sinhala. | |||
Tamil | பாப் | ||
The word "பாப்" (pop) in Tamil can also refer to something that is fluffy or soft | |||
Telugu | పాప్ | ||
The word "పాప్" can also mean "father" or "grandfather" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | پاپ | ||
The word "پاپ" in Urdu can also mean "father" or "father-in-law". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 流行音乐 | ||
流行音乐 is the Chinese abbreviation for popular music, which encompasses popular genres like pop, rock and hip-hop. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 流行音樂 | ||
流行音樂 literally means 'popular music' and is an umbrella term for all popular music genres in Chinese (Traditional). | |||
Japanese | ポップ | ||
The word "ポップ" (poppu) in Japanese can also mean "sound" or "noise". | |||
Korean | 팝 | ||
Though 팝 originates from the English word "pop," it can also be used to refer to soft drinks or candy. | |||
Mongolian | поп | ||
The word "поп" can colloquially refer to a father, grandfather, priest, or old person. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | pop | ||
In Myanmar, "pop" can also mean "to jump" or "to fly". |
Indonesian | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Indonesian can also mean "to explode" or "to break open suddenly." | |||
Javanese | pop | ||
Besides 'bang', 'pop' in Javanese can also refer to the color red or pink. | |||
Khmer | ប៉ុប | ||
In Khmer, the word "ប៉ុប" can also refer to a type of musical genre. | |||
Lao | pop | ||
The Lao word "pop" is also used to refer to a specific type of Laotian folk dance. | |||
Malay | pop | ||
One of the alternate Malay meanings of "pop" is as a term of endearment for a child. | |||
Thai | ป๊อป | ||
The word "ป๊อป" in Thai can also refer to "something that is popular" or "a type of soda drink". | |||
Vietnamese | bật ra | ||
The Vietnamese verb "bật ra" can be traced back to the Chinese word "pò", meaning "to break suddenly", which suggests the action of something bursting out with a sudden force. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pop | ||
Azerbaijani | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Azerbaijani also means "daddy" and is a term of endearment for fathers. | |||
Kazakh | поп | ||
The Kazakh word "поп" ("pop") can also refer to a singer or musical style. | |||
Kyrgyz | поп | ||
The word "поп" (pop) can also refer to Russian Orthodox priests in the Kyrgyz language. | |||
Tajik | поп | ||
The word "поп" in Tajik can also refer to "priest". | |||
Turkmen | pop | ||
Uzbek | pop | ||
In Uzbek, “pop” means both soda and cotton flower. | |||
Uyghur | pop | ||
Hawaiian | pop | ||
In Hawaiian, "pop" can also refer to an American-style corn snack or a loud popping sound. | |||
Maori | pakū | ||
The word "pakū" in Māori has alternate meanings, including "to burst" or "to explode". | |||
Samoan | pop | ||
Samoan pop can mean "pop" or "a noise". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | pop | ||
The Tagalog word "pop" can also mean "popcorn" or "pop music". |
Aymara | istalliru | ||
Guarani | pop purahéi | ||
Esperanto | popmuziko | ||
Popmuziko has an alternate meaning of 'pop music' and comes from the English word 'pop'. | |||
Latin | pop | ||
The Latin verb "pop" can mean either "to make a sudden sharp sound" or "to go" or "to move". |
Greek | κρότος | ||
The Greek word "κρότος" also means "applause" or "thunder". | |||
Hmong | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Hmong can also mean "to explode" or "to burst". | |||
Kurdish | pop | ||
In Kurdish, the word "pop" can also refer to a type of traditional fabric. | |||
Turkish | pop | ||
The word "pop" can also mean "father" in Turkish, particularly in informal contexts. | |||
Xhosa | pop | ||
The word "pop" in Xhosa has alternate meanings such as "to explode" and "to burst". | |||
Yiddish | קנאַל | ||
Despite having the same written form, Yiddish "קנאל" and English "canal" have different etymologies and meanings. | |||
Zulu | i-pop | ||
The word 'i-pop' also means 'a type of porridge made with cornmeal' in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | প’প | ||
Aymara | istalliru | ||
Bhojpuri | पॉप | ||
Dhivehi | ފަޅާލުން | ||
Dogri | पाप | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | pop | ||
Guarani | pop purahéi | ||
Ilocano | putuken | ||
Krio | pɔp | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پۆپ | ||
Maithili | पप | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯣꯛꯂꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | puak | ||
Oromo | xaaxa'uu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ପପ୍ | ||
Quechua | pop | ||
Sanskrit | लोक | ||
Tatar | поп | ||
Tigrinya | ኣቦ | ||
Tsonga | bulusa | ||