Updated on March 6, 2024
Rest is a simple word that carries a world of significance. It signifies peace, tranquility, and a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of life. Throughout history, rest has been a cultural cornerstone, from the siesta in Spain to the afternoon tea in England. It's a universal language that transcends borders, a testament to our shared human need for relaxation and rejuvenation.
But did you know that the word 'rest' has fascinating translations in different languages? For instance, in German, 'rest' translates to 'Ruhe', which also means 'peace' or 'stillness'. In Japanese, 'rest' is '休み' (yasumi), a term that embodies the respect for work-life balance in Japanese culture. In Swahili, 'rest' is 'kuoshwa', reflecting the importance of rest in the daily lives of East Africans.
Join us as we explore the translations of 'rest' in various languages, offering a unique insight into different cultures and their values. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply curious, this journey will leave you enlightened and inspired.
Afrikaans | rus | ||
The word "rus" in Afrikaans can also mean "countryside" or "farmland". | |||
Amharic | ማረፍ | ||
The Amharic word 'ማረፍ' also means 'a place of rest'. | |||
Hausa | huta | ||
In some parts of northern Nigeria, "huta" is also used to refer to a type of herbal medication given to infants to alleviate fever. | |||
Igbo | zuo ike | ||
In the context of Igbo funeral rites, "zuo ike" can also refer to the period of mourning and seclusion observed by the bereaved family. | |||
Malagasy | hafa | ||
The word "HAFA" means "rest" in Malagasy, and is a cognate with the Indonesian word "HAJI", meaning "pilgrimage". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kupumula | ||
**Kupumula** may also refer to a traditional Nyanja dance performed by women. | |||
Shona | zorora | ||
Zorora is associated with the Shona word 'zororo' meaning 'walking aimlessly' or 'wandering'. Alternatively, it can refer to a state of deep sleep or hibernation. | |||
Somali | naso | ||
The word "naso" is also used to refer to the evening, as it is a time of rest. | |||
Sesotho | phomolo | ||
The word 'phomolo' can also refer to a place of rest or shelter. | |||
Swahili | pumzika | ||
"Pumzika" in Swahili also means "stop" or "cease". | |||
Xhosa | phumla | ||
The word 'phumla' can mean to 'sit down,' 'rest,' or 'sleep,' and is also a common name for women. | |||
Yoruba | isinmi | ||
The word "isinmi" in Yoruba also refers to a type of traditional Yoruba dance. | |||
Zulu | ukuphumula | ||
"Ukuphumula" shares its root with the word "umoya" (spirit), a link that suggests that rest is a state where the human spirit can recover. | |||
Bambara | ka lafiɲɛ | ||
Ewe | dzudzᴐ | ||
Kinyarwanda | ikiruhuko | ||
Lingala | kopema | ||
Luganda | okuwummula | ||
Sepedi | khutša | ||
Twi (Akan) | home | ||
Arabic | راحة | ||
The word "راحة" also means "hand" in Arabic | |||
Hebrew | מנוחה | ||
The Hebrew word "מנוחה" (menucha, "rest") also signifies "lot" (divination), like "מנחת" (minchat, "offering") from "נח" (nach, "to rest, to settle"). | |||
Pashto | آرام | ||
The Pashto word "آرام" comes from the Sanskrit word "aram" meaning "comfort" or "well-being" | |||
Arabic | راحة | ||
The word "راحة" also means "hand" in Arabic |
Albanian | pushoni | ||
The word "pushoni" may be derived from the ancient Greek word "pausin" (pause), indicating a period of inactivity or cessation. | |||
Basque | atsedena | ||
The word "atsedena" can also refer to a place of rest, such as a bedroom or a bench. | |||
Catalan | descans | ||
The word "descans" comes from the Latin word "descensus" (descent), which in turn is derived from the Latin verb "descendo" (descend, come down). | |||
Croatian | odmor | ||
The word "odmor" derives from the Proto-Slavic word *odmorъ, meaning "leisure time" or "recreation". | |||
Danish | hvile | ||
In Norwegian, "hvile" means "to rest" or "to relax," while in Icelandic, it means "to sleep" or "to slumber." | |||
Dutch | rust uit | ||
The Dutch word 'rust uit' is a cognate of the English word 'rust', and can also mean 'protection' or 'calm' | |||
English | rest | ||
The word "rest" derives from Middle English "reste," which itself comes from Old French "rest," meaning both "rest" and "remainder." | |||
French | du repos | ||
French "du repos" means "rest" and originates from the Greek word "pause". | |||
Frisian | rêst | ||
The Frisian word "rêst" is derived from an archaic meaning of "to be still". | |||
Galician | descansar | ||
The Galician word "descansar" comes from the Latin "descendere," meaning "to go down," and is related to the English word "descend." | |||
German | sich ausruhen | ||
"Sich ausruhen" literally means "out of the wheels", indicating that all the work has been done and the wheels can be removed from the cart. | |||
Icelandic | hvíld | ||
"Hvíld" is cognate with the English word "while". | |||
Irish | scíth | ||
The word "scíth" also means "weather" in Irish, and is related to the Welsh word "ysgwyd" meaning "a shower of rain". | |||
Italian | riposo | ||
In Italian, 'riposo' can also refer to the afternoon siesta. | |||
Luxembourgish | raschten | ||
The word “raschten” (rest) is derived from the Old High German word “rast” (resting place) | |||
Maltese | mistrieħ | ||
The word "mistrieħ" can also refer to a place of repose or a graveyard. | |||
Norwegian | hvile | ||
The word "hvile" can also mean "shelter", "recess" or "retreat". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | descansar | ||
The verb "descansar" in Portuguese originates from the Latin word "descansare", meaning "to rest or lie down." | |||
Scots Gaelic | gabh fois | ||
The phrase "gabh fois" can be split into the Gaelic words "gabh" (take) and "fois" (time), indicating a "taking of time" or rest. | |||
Spanish | descanso | ||
The Spanish word "descanso" originates from the Latin word "discantus" meaning "interval of song". | |||
Swedish | resten | ||
The verbs 'resten' and 'rästan' ('to last', 'to suffice', 'to remain') are derived from the Old Swedish verb 'räkja'. This means that they are related to the English verb 'to reach'. 'Resa' ('to travel'), also derives from the same verb. | |||
Welsh | gorffwys | ||
The Welsh word "gorffwys" also means "corpse", from the Proto-Celtic *corf- "body". |
Belarusian | адпачынак | ||
"Адпачынак" is derived from the Old Slavic word "отпочинок", which originally meant "separation from work". | |||
Bosnian | odmoriti se | ||
In Bosnian, the noun "odmor" (rest) and the verb "odmoriti se" (to rest) are derived from the Proto-Slavic word *odomŭ, meaning "time" or "leisure". This suggests that the concept of rest is closely tied to the idea of having time and leisure in Slavic languages. | |||
Bulgarian | почивка | ||
The noun почивка is derived from the same root as 'почити', meaning 'to take a rest', and 'покой', meaning 'peace' or 'calm'. | |||
Czech | zbytek | ||
The word "zbytek" in Czech has roots in the Old Slavic word "ostatok", meaning "what is left over" or "remainder". | |||
Estonian | puhata | ||
The Estonian word "puhata" also means "to retire" or "to die." | |||
Finnish | levätä | ||
The word 'levätä' is derived from the Proto-Finnic word 'lepo', meaning 'resting place' and also refers to a 'sheltered place', 'camping spot', 'resting place for fishermen', or 'hunting blind'. | |||
Hungarian | pihenés | ||
"Pihenés" is also used to describe a period in the life of the Hungarian people, during and after the collapse of their empire, when their lives became more relaxed and peaceful. | |||
Latvian | atpūsties | ||
The word "atpūsties" is derived from the verb "atpūsties", meaning to relax or rest. | |||
Lithuanian | pailsėti | ||
The word "pailsėti" is related to the Sanskrit word "palyate", which means "to fly" or "to move". | |||
Macedonian | одмори се | ||
The Macedonian word "одмори се" also means "to take a break" and "to relax". | |||
Polish | odpoczynek | ||
The word 'odpoczynek' comes from the Proto-Slavic word *počinъkъ, meaning 'rest' or 'repose'. | |||
Romanian | odihnă | ||
The word "odihnă" comes from the Latin word "otium," which originally meant "free time" or "leisure," but later came to mean "rest" or "repose." | |||
Russian | отдых | ||
The word "отдых" also means "vacation" or "time off work". | |||
Serbian | одморити се | ||
"Одморити се" means "to take a break from work", "to relax", or "to unwind" in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | odpočívaj | ||
The word "odpočívaj" originates from the Proto-Slavic word *počiti*, meaning "to rest" or "to take a break." | |||
Slovenian | počitek | ||
The word "počitek" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "počiti" meaning "to set up camp". | |||
Ukrainian | відпочинок | ||
Відпочинок derives from the Proto-Slavic word "otpochiti", meaning "to recover strength". |
Bengali | বিশ্রাম | ||
The word "বিশ্রাম" is derived from the Sanskrit word "विश्राम" meaning "to cease" or "to give up". | |||
Gujarati | આરામ | ||
The Gujarati word "આરામ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "राम", meaning "to love or delight in". | |||
Hindi | आराम | ||
The word "आराम" comes from the Sanskrit root "ram," meaning "to delight" or "to be happy, at ease, or refreshed." | |||
Kannada | ಉಳಿದ | ||
The word "ಉಳಿದ" (rest) also means "remaining, leftover, or residue" in Kannada. | |||
Malayalam | വിശ്രമം | ||
The word "വിശ്രമം" has alternate meanings including "break" and "leave" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "विश्राम" meaning "relaxation". | |||
Marathi | उर्वरित | ||
The word "उर्वरित" in Marathi can also mean "remaining," "unspent," or "balance." | |||
Nepali | आराम | ||
The word 'आराम' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'ram,' which means 'to be at ease' or 'to take pleasure in. | |||
Punjabi | ਆਰਾਮ | ||
"ਆਰਾਮ" (rest) derives from the Sanskrit word "rāma," meaning "pleasing" or "delightful." | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විවේකය | ||
"විවේකය" (vivekaya) is a word in Sinhala that originally meant "separation" and "solitude", and only later came to acquire the meaning of "rest". | |||
Tamil | ஓய்வு | ||
The word "ஓய்வு" in Tamil can also mean "ease" or "freedom from work or activity". | |||
Telugu | మిగిలినవి | ||
The term "మిగిలినవి" can also refer to the "remains" or "remainder" of something. | |||
Urdu | باقی | ||
The word "باقی" in Urdu has several alternate meanings, including "remainder," "balance," and "surplus." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 休息 | ||
休息 ('xīuxiū') originally referred to suspending the movement in Chinese wrestling or boxing. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 休息 | ||
"休息" in Chinese can also refer to a stop on a public transportation route. | |||
Japanese | 残り | ||
The word 残り can also mean "remaining amount" or "balance". | |||
Korean | 쉬다 | ||
The word "쉬다" can also mean "to make do" or "to be enough". | |||
Mongolian | амрах | ||
The word "амрах" also means "vacation, weekend". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အနားယူပါ | ||
Indonesian | beristirahat | ||
The word 'beristirahat' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'svasta' meaning 'well-being' or 'comfort'. | |||
Javanese | ngaso | ||
"Ngaso" is also used as a term for "lying down" in the context of taking a nap. | |||
Khmer | សល់ | ||
The Khmer word “សល់” also means “to remain” or “to be left over”. | |||
Lao | ພັກຜ່ອນ | ||
Malay | berehat | ||
Berehat is also a colloquial noun meaning 'a break'. It originated from Arabic, berhah which also translates as 'space'. | |||
Thai | พักผ่อน | ||
"พักผ่อน" comes from the Sanskrit word "prakrti", meaning "nature" or "natural state". | |||
Vietnamese | nghỉ ngơi | ||
"Nghỉ ngơi" literally means "to stand up from the plough" in Vietnamese, referring to the break farmers take after ploughing. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | magpahinga | ||
Azerbaijani | istirahət | ||
"İstirahət" originates from the Persian word "istirahat" meaning "rest" but also "death". | |||
Kazakh | демалу | ||
The word "демалу" also means "to relax" or "to take a break" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | эс алуу | ||
The word "эс алуу" in Kyrgyz also means "to cool down". | |||
Tajik | истироҳат | ||
The word "истироҳат" is derived from the Persian word "آسودن" (āsoodan), meaning "to be at ease" or "to rest". | |||
Turkmen | dynç al | ||
Uzbek | dam olish | ||
The word "dam olish" in Uzbek can also mean "vacation" or "leave of absence." | |||
Uyghur | ئارام ئېلىڭ | ||
Hawaiian | hoʻomaha | ||
From the Proto-Austronesian word *maqa 'to cease, stop, desist' with the causative prefix hoʻo-. | |||
Maori | okioki | ||
Okioki can also mean 'to stir', 'to arouse', or 'to awake' | |||
Samoan | malolo | ||
The word "malolo" also means "soft" or "calm" in Samoan. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | magpahinga | ||
Magpahinga, a Tagalog word for "rest," originates from the root word "pahinga," which also means "rest" or "pause." |
Aymara | samart'aña | ||
Guarani | pytu'u | ||
Esperanto | ripozo | ||
The word "ripozo" is derived from the Italian word "riposo" with the same meaning and is also related to the Spanish word "descanso" and the French word "repos" | |||
Latin | requiem | ||
The word 'requiem' in Latin also refers to the Mass for the dead, a musical composition for such a Mass, and a prayer for repose. |
Greek | υπόλοιπο | ||
The Greek word "υπόλοιπο" can also refer to a remainder or balance in mathematics or finance. | |||
Hmong | so | ||
Hmong "so" is often misheard as Chinese "shuo" meaning "to speak" and can cause confusion. | |||
Kurdish | rehetî | ||
The word "rehetî" can also mean "vacation" or "relaxation". | |||
Turkish | dinlenme | ||
Dinlenme, in Turkish, can also refer to the act of listening attentively, as it derives from the verb "dinlemek," which means "to hear" or "to listen." | |||
Xhosa | phumla | ||
The word 'phumla' can mean to 'sit down,' 'rest,' or 'sleep,' and is also a common name for women. | |||
Yiddish | מנוחה | ||
The Yiddish word "מנוחה" (menukha) has cognates in Hebrew and Aramaic, and is also related to the Greek word "αποκάλυψις" (apokalypsis), "revelation" in English. | |||
Zulu | ukuphumula | ||
"Ukuphumula" shares its root with the word "umoya" (spirit), a link that suggests that rest is a state where the human spirit can recover. | |||
Assamese | জিৰণি লোৱা | ||
Aymara | samart'aña | ||
Bhojpuri | आराम | ||
Dhivehi | އަރާމުކުރުން | ||
Dogri | बाकी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | magpahinga | ||
Guarani | pytu'u | ||
Ilocano | inana | ||
Krio | rɛst | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پشوو | ||
Maithili | बाकी | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯄꯣꯊꯥꯕ | ||
Mizo | hahchawl | ||
Oromo | boqochuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ବିଶ୍ରାମ | ||
Quechua | samay | ||
Sanskrit | विश्रान्तिः | ||
Tatar | ял | ||
Tigrinya | ዕረፍቲ | ||
Tsonga | wisa | ||