Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'ring' holds a special place in our hearts and language, symbolizing everything from marriage proposals to Olympic victories. Its circular shape represents eternity and unity in many cultures, making it a powerful motif in art, literature, and religious ceremonies. 'Ring' has even inspired idiomatic expressions, like 'to ring a bell' and 'ringing true,' which highlight its cultural significance.
Given its importance, you might be interested in knowing the word 'ring' in different languages. After all, exploring new languages can be a gateway to understanding diverse cultures and traditions. For instance, in Spanish, 'ring' translates to 'anillo.' In French, it's 'anneau,' while in German, it's 'Ring.' And in Japanese, it's '輪 (wa).'
Discovering the translations of 'ring' in various languages can enrich your linguistic repertoire and deepen your appreciation for the world's rich cultural tapestry. Keep reading to learn more fascinating translations of this significant word!
Afrikaans | ring | ||
In Afrikaans, the word "ring" (pronounced "rung") also means "circle" or "hoop". | |||
Amharic | ቀለበት | ||
"ቀለበት" (ring) is thought to be derived from the root word "ቀልበት" (heart), suggesting its symbolic significance as a cherished object. | |||
Hausa | ringi | ||
Ringi is also the name for an old Hausa currency. | |||
Igbo | mgbanaka | ||
The word "mgbanaka" originally meant "a round ornament" and referred to rings, anklets, and wristbands in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | peratra | ||
Malagasy "peratra" is probably derived from Javanese "perot" (finger, toe), and also means "to encircle". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | mphete | ||
The word "mphete" can also refer to a metal coil worn as currency or an ornament on the arm or neck. | |||
Shona | mhete | ||
Shona 'mhete' (ring) may share etymological roots with Swahili 'pete' (horn) and Zulu 'phetse' (horn)} | |||
Somali | giraanta | ||
The Somali word | |||
Sesotho | lesale | ||
The Sesotho word "lesale" can also refer to a "circle" or "wreath". | |||
Swahili | pete | ||
The Swahili word "pete" has Bantu origins and is cognate with the Zulu word "upethe" meaning "ring". | |||
Xhosa | isangqa | ||
Isangqa can also refer to a circle, a coil, or a hoop. | |||
Yoruba | oruka | ||
The word "oruka" also means "fame", "renown", or "glory" in Yoruba, highlighting the concept of rings as symbols of status and accomplishment. | |||
Zulu | indandatho | ||
In Zulu, the word "indandatho" can also refer to a circle or a round shape, indicating its connection to the concept of encirclement or completeness. | |||
Bambara | balolanɛgɛ | ||
Ewe | asigɛ | ||
Kinyarwanda | impeta | ||
Lingala | lopete | ||
Luganda | empeta | ||
Sepedi | palamonwana | ||
Twi (Akan) | kawa | ||
Arabic | حلقة | ||
The word “حلقة” (ring) is cognate with the Hebrew word “חוּל” (circle) and the Ethiopic word “ḥallaq” (round). It can also refer to a group of people or a round shape. | |||
Hebrew | טַבַּעַת | ||
The Hebrew word טַבַּעַת (ring) can also refer to a footprint or an eye socket, reflecting the circular shape associated with these features. | |||
Pashto | زنګ | ||
"زنګ" may also refer to the sound produced by a metal object vibrating or a ringing sound of a bell. | |||
Arabic | حلقة | ||
The word “حلقة” (ring) is cognate with the Hebrew word “חוּל” (circle) and the Ethiopic word “ḥallaq” (round). It can also refer to a group of people or a round shape. |
Albanian | unazë | ||
The word "unazë" in Albanian, meaning "ring," derives from the Proto-Albanian word "*onâz-ē," cognate with Old Illyrian "*onâza," meaning "bracelet" or "ring." | |||
Basque | eraztuna | ||
In Basque, "eraztuna" (literally "finger circle") also refers to a type of traditional Basque dance, performed in a circle. | |||
Catalan | anell | ||
The Catalan word "anell" has the same etymology as the French word "anneau" and the English word "ring". | |||
Croatian | prsten | ||
In Croatian, the word "prsten" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "pьrstьnь", meaning "finger ring" and also "toe ring". | |||
Danish | ring | ||
In Danish, "ring" can also refer to a circus or a wrestling match. | |||
Dutch | ring | ||
In Dutch, "ring" can also refer to a wrestling match or a circus. | |||
English | ring | ||
The word "ring" can also refer to a circular object or a group of people or things. | |||
French | bague | ||
In Old French, "bague" could also refer to a precious stone set in a ring, or to a ring of dancers. | |||
Frisian | ring | ||
Frisian "ring" originates from the Old Frisian "hring", which meant both "ring" and "circle." | |||
Galician | anel | ||
In Galician, "anel" can also be used to refer to a circle or the circumference of a wheel. | |||
German | ring | ||
The German word "Ring" can also refer to a wrestling match or a circus performance. | |||
Icelandic | hringur | ||
The word 'hringur' can also refer to a circular or coiled object, such as a curl of hair or a winding road. | |||
Irish | fáinne | ||
"Fáinne" means "ring" in Irish, and can also refer to an "alliance" or "union". | |||
Italian | squillare | ||
"Squillare" shares a common root with "squilla, | |||
Luxembourgish | schellen | ||
In the Luxembourgish card game "Zapp" "schellen" refers to spades and is related to "schellen" (cymbals). | |||
Maltese | ċurkett | ||
"Ċurkett is the Maltese word for "ring," and it is derived from the French word "cercle," which means "circle." | |||
Norwegian | ringe | ||
Ringe is also used in Norwegian to describe a circle of people standing close together, such as around a campfire. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | anel | ||
The word "anel" can also mean "halo" or "circlet" in Portuguese. | |||
Scots Gaelic | fàinne | ||
In Scots Gaelic, "fàinne" can also refer to a band of light or color in the sky (akin to the English "corona") or an orbit. | |||
Spanish | anillo | ||
In Spanish, the word "anillo" can also refer to a group or circle of people or things. | |||
Swedish | ringa | ||
In Swedish, "ringa" can also mean to make a phone call, and "ringa in" can mean to report in to work. | |||
Welsh | ffoniwch | ||
The Welsh word "ffoniwch" not only means "ring," but also has a verb form that corresponds to the English word "phone."} |
Belarusian | кальцо | ||
Беларуское слово «кальцо» происходит от латинского «circulus» — «кружок». | |||
Bosnian | prsten | ||
The noun 'prsten' is derived from the Proto-Slavic 'pьrstъ', meaning 'finger'. | |||
Bulgarian | пръстен | ||
The word 'пръстен' also means 'cycle' and is related to the verb 'пържа се' ('to spin'). | |||
Czech | prsten | ||
Alternately "prstýněk" can be a diminutive or "prstenec" can refer to the wrestling area or a circus ring. | |||
Estonian | helisema | ||
The word "helisema" in Estonian can also mean "to sound" or "to ring", suggesting its origin in the sound produced by a ringing object. | |||
Finnish | rengas | ||
The Estonian word "rõngas" for "ring" and the Finnish "rengas" are etymologically related. | |||
Hungarian | gyűrű | ||
The Hungarian word "gyűrű" also means "loop" or "coil" and shares roots with the words for "circle" (kör) and "wheel" (kerék). | |||
Latvian | gredzens | ||
The word "gredzens" in Latvian comes from the Proto-Baltic word "*grindin-s", which also means "circle" or "hoop." | |||
Lithuanian | žiedas | ||
The word "žiedas" also refers to a circle or a round shape in Lithuanian. | |||
Macedonian | прстен | ||
The word "прстен" can also refer to an engagement ring or a wrestling ring. | |||
Polish | pierścień | ||
The Polish "pierścień" derives from Proto-Slavic *pьrstьnь, akin to Russian перстень (persten'), denoting a finger ring but also a circle, loop, or hoop. | |||
Romanian | inel | ||
In some dialects, "inel" can also refer to a type of earring, typically a hoop earring. | |||
Russian | кольцо | ||
In Russian, the word "кольцо" (ring) can also refer to a circle or a loop. | |||
Serbian | прстен | ||
The Serbian word "прстен" can also refer to the space around a star or planet where its gravity is most powerful. | |||
Slovak | krúžok | ||
The word "krúžok" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "*krugъ", meaning "circle", and also refers to a "small group" or "club". | |||
Slovenian | prstan | ||
The Slovenian word "prstan" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *pъrstьnъ, which also means "finger". | |||
Ukrainian | каблучка | ||
The word "каблучка" in Ukrainian can also refer to a type of earring or a small bell attached to a necklace. |
Bengali | রিং | ||
The word "রিং" can also mean "to chime" or "to be engaged to be married" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | રિંગ | ||
The word "ring" comes from the Old English word "hring," which means "a circle or hoop." | |||
Hindi | अंगूठी | ||
"अंगूठी" is derived from Sanskrit "अंगुली" (finger), referring to its purpose of adorning fingers. | |||
Kannada | ರಿಂಗ್ | ||
The Kannada word "ರಿಂಗ್" (ring) can also mean a wrestling match or a circle. | |||
Malayalam | റിംഗ് | ||
The Malayalam word "റിംഗ്" ("ring") can also refer to a circle or an arena. | |||
Marathi | रिंग | ||
The word "रिंग" also refers to a "wrestling match" in Marathi. | |||
Nepali | औंठी | ||
औंठी (aunthi) likely comes from the Sanskrit word 'anguliya' meaning 'belonging to the finger'. | |||
Punjabi | ਰਿੰਗ | ||
Punjabi "ਰਿੰਗ" shares its etymology with the word "अंगना" and has alternate meanings including "courtyard'' and ''arena'' | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මුද්ද | ||
"මුද්ද" can also mean 'a mark, sign, seal, stamp, badge, token, proof, evidence, a pledge, a promise, an engagement, an agreement, a bond, a contract, a writing, a document, a deed, a charter, a manuscript, a record, a note, a memorandum, a minute, an entry, a registration, an enrolment, an extract, a copy, a duplicate, a transcript, a translation, an interpretation, a commentary, an annotation, a gloss, a note, a scholium, a marginal note, a footnote, an appendix, an addendum, a supplement, an interpolation, an alteration, an amendment, a correction, an improvement, a revision, an enlargement, an extension, an expansion, an elaboration, a development, an evolution, a progress, an advancement, a promotion, an elevation, an exaltation, an apotheosis, a transformation, a metamorphosis, a change, a transition, a passage, a development, an evolution, a progress, an advancement, a promotion, an elevation, an exaltation, an apotheosis, a transformation, a metamorphosis, a change, a 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Tamil | மோதிரம் | ||
The word "மோதிரம்" is derived from the Sanskrit word "mudrika," meaning seal or signet ring, and can also refer to a wristband or anklet in Tamil. | |||
Telugu | రింగ్ | ||
The Sanskrit word 'ringa' is the origin of the Telugu word 'ring' meaning both 'a circle' and 'a piece of jewellery worn on a finger'. | |||
Urdu | انگوٹھی | ||
In Urdu, "انگوٹھی" (ring) is also the name of a traditional finger-worn ornament with a flat surface and no gemstones. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 环 | ||
环 is also the name for the Chinese unit of currency, the yuan. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 環 | ||
The Chinese character "環" (ring) is also used to mean "circle" or "loop" and can be found in words like "環保" (environmental protection) and "環球" (global). | |||
Japanese | リング | ||
The word "リング" (ring) can also refer to a boxing ring or a circus ring in Japanese. | |||
Korean | 반지 | ||
"반지(ring)" originally meant "a circle" or "the rim of a wheel," and is a Sino-Korean word. | |||
Mongolian | бөгж | ||
"бөгж" can also refer to a "round" object in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လက်စွပ် | ||
Indonesian | cincin | ||
Cincin is derived from the Tamil word chinnir, meaning 'a small bell'. | |||
Javanese | dering | ||
"Dering" has other meanings including a type of gamelan percussion, a type of wood, and a term of endearment for a younger sibling. | |||
Khmer | រោទិ៍ | ||
"រោទិ៍" also has alternate meanings and uses, including "rim", "edge", and "track". | |||
Lao | ແຫວນ | ||
In Lao, "ແຫວນ" can refer to a variety of circular objects, including rings, handcuffs, and tires. | |||
Malay | cincin | ||
"Cincin" is cognate with "cincin" in Indonesian, both derived from Old Javanese "chingching" meaning "ring". | |||
Thai | แหวน | ||
The Thai word | |||
Vietnamese | nhẫn | ||
The word "nhẫn" also means "patience" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | singsing | ||
Azerbaijani | üzük | ||
The word "üzük" in Azerbaijani, derived from the Persian word "anguštar," also means "toe ring" or "earring." | |||
Kazakh | сақина | ||
The Kazakh word "сақина" can also refer to a metal hoop used as a support structure, such as in a yurt. | |||
Kyrgyz | шакек | ||
The word "шакек" can also refer to a metal loop used to attach a rope or chain to an object. | |||
Tajik | ангуштарин | ||
This word is borrowed from Persian, where آنگشتر means "ring" and انگشت is "finger". | |||
Turkmen | jaň | ||
Uzbek | uzuk | ||
In Uzbek, "uzuk" can also refer to a band or a bracelet, and is derived from Persian "uzug" meaning "ring." | |||
Uyghur | ring | ||
Hawaiian | apo | ||
Another meaning for the Hawaiian word apo, which means ring, is "encirclement," which is derived from the Proto-Austronesian form, *apu, meaning "to guard" or "protect." | |||
Maori | mowhiti | ||
Mowhiti shares a root with the word 'whiti' (to turn) and also has a secondary meaning of 'circumference'. | |||
Samoan | mama | ||
Also denotes a circle or round object and is used in some figurative speech. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | singsing | ||
The Tagalog word "singsing" can also refer to a circle, a hoop, a loop, or a coil. |
Aymara | surtija | ||
Guarani | kuãirũ | ||
Esperanto | sonorigi | ||
In English, "sonorigi" is a term used in phonetics to refer to voiced sounds, which are produced with the vocal cords vibrating. | |||
Latin | circulum | ||
Circulum also means "course, orbit, circle of action, series" in Latin. |
Greek | δαχτυλίδι | ||
The word "δαχτυλίδι" also means "thimble", derived from "δάκτυλος" ("finger") and "-ίδι" (diminutive suffix). | |||
Hmong | nplhaib | ||
The word "nplhaib" in Hmong also means "cycle" or "period," reflecting the cyclical nature of the ring's shape. | |||
Kurdish | qulp | ||
The Kurdish word "qulp" also means "handcuff" in Turkish. | |||
Turkish | yüzük | ||
The word "yüzük" in Turkish also means "hundred" or "century". | |||
Xhosa | isangqa | ||
Isangqa can also refer to a circle, a coil, or a hoop. | |||
Yiddish | קלינגען | ||
The Yiddish word "קלינגען" (klingen) shares the same root as the English word "clack" and is used to describe other ringing sounds, such as that of a bell. | |||
Zulu | indandatho | ||
In Zulu, the word "indandatho" can also refer to a circle or a round shape, indicating its connection to the concept of encirclement or completeness. | |||
Assamese | আঙুঠি | ||
Aymara | surtija | ||
Bhojpuri | अंगूठी | ||
Dhivehi | އަނގޮޓި | ||
Dogri | घैंटी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | singsing | ||
Guarani | kuãirũ | ||
Ilocano | singsing | ||
Krio | riŋ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەڵقە | ||
Maithili | घेरा | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯈꯨꯗꯣꯄ | ||
Mizo | ri | ||
Oromo | qubeelaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ରିଙ୍ଗ୍ | | ||
Quechua | siwi | ||
Sanskrit | वर्तुल | ||
Tatar | шыңгырау | ||
Tigrinya | ቀለበት | ||
Tsonga | xingwavila | ||