Shelter in Different Languages
Discover 'Shelter' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'shelter' holds a profound significance in our lives as it represents a place of protection and security. It is not just a physical structure, but also a metaphorical concept that signifies comfort and safety. Throughout history, shelters have played a crucial role in our survival, from ancient cave dwellings to modern skyscrapers. Moreover, the cultural importance of shelters varies across the globe, reflecting different architectural styles, materials, and traditions.
Understanding the translation of 'shelter' in different languages can provide valuable insights into diverse cultures and societies. For instance, in Spanish, 'shelter' translates to 'refugio,' while in French, it is 'abri.' In German, 'shelter' is 'Unterschlupf,' and in Japanese, it is 'Schutz.'
By learning these translations, we not only expand our vocabulary but also deepen our appreciation for the richness and diversity of human cultures. So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a world traveler, or simply curious, exploring the translations of 'shelter' is a fascinating journey that awaits you.
Shelter
Shelter in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skuiling | ||
| "Skuiling" is derived from the Dutch word "schuilen" and is also used to refer to a shed or a small house. | |||
| Amharic | መጠለያ | ||
| In Amharic, መጠለያ (shelter) also means refuge, sanctuary, asylum, or protection. | |||
| Hausa | mafaka | ||
| The word 'mafaka' also means 'shade' in Hausa. | |||
| Igbo | ebe mgbaba | ||
| The Igbo word for 'shelter,' 'ebe mgbaba,' translates to either 'house of a stranger' and 'house of protection,' showcasing an interplay of safety and vulnerability in its meaning. | |||
| Malagasy | fialofana | ||
| The word "fialofana" is derived from the root word "fialoha" meaning "love" and "ana" meaning "mother", thus suggesting a sense of protection and nurturing. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | pogona | ||
| In the Tumbuka language, "pogona" means "house". | |||
| Shona | pokugara | ||
| The word pokugara can also refer to a temporary or makeshift shelter. | |||
| Somali | gabbaad | ||
| Somali 'gabbaad,' meaning 'shelter,' is also used to mean 'a place of refuge' or 'a safe haven'. | |||
| Sesotho | bolulo | ||
| The word 'bolulo' may also refer to a 'tent' or a 'lean-to'. | |||
| Swahili | makao | ||
| The word "makao" in Swahili also means "a place to hide or be concealed". | |||
| Xhosa | ikhusi | ||
| The word 'ikhusi' can also refer to other forms of protection or safety, such as a shield, a fortress, or a safe place of refuge. | |||
| Yoruba | ibi aabo | ||
| The word is used to address a friend or relative as you would use the pronoun 'brother' in English. | |||
| Zulu | indawo yokuhlala | ||
| The word "indawo yokuhlala" in Zulu can also refer to a place where animals live or to a place of refuge. | |||
| Bambara | siyɔrɔ | ||
| Ewe | bebeƒe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ubuhungiro | ||
| Lingala | esika ya kobombana | ||
| Luganda | okweggama | ||
| Sepedi | morithi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | daberɛ | ||
Shelter in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مأوى | ||
| The word "مأوى" can also refer to a place where animals live, a place where people seek refuge, or a place where something is stored. | |||
| Hebrew | מקלט | ||
| The word "מקלט" (/miklat/) in Hebrew can also refer to a 'sanctuary' or 'place of refuge' | |||
| Pashto | سرپناه | ||
| The Pashto word "سرپناه" can also refer to "a place of refuge" or "a safe haven". | |||
| Arabic | مأوى | ||
| The word "مأوى" can also refer to a place where animals live, a place where people seek refuge, or a place where something is stored. | |||
Shelter in Western European Languages
| Albanian | strehë | ||
| The word "strehë" also means "roof" or "covering" in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | aterpea | ||
| In the Basque Country, 'aterpea' also means 'guest house,' and 'harrera-etxea' also means 'shelter'. | |||
| Catalan | refugi | ||
| The Catalan word "refugi" comes from the Latin "refugium" meaning "a place of refuge or safety", and it can also refer to a mountain hut or a building providing shelter for the homeless. | |||
| Croatian | zaklon | ||
| The word "zaklon" ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic word *klonъ, which also meant "to bow" or "to incline". | |||
| Danish | ly | ||
| The word "ly" can also mean "refuge" or "haven" in Danish. | |||
| Dutch | onderdak | ||
| The word "onderdak" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "onderdac", meaning "roof" or "cover", and is related to the word "dek" (English "deck"). | |||
| English | shelter | ||
| In addition to its most common meaning, "shelter" derives from the same root as "shield" and can also mean protection, as in "finding shelter from the storm." | |||
| French | abri | ||
| Abri, from the Latin aperire, can also mean to reveal or open. | |||
| Frisian | skûlplak | ||
| The word "skûlplak" is thought to derive from the Old Frisian word "skûle" meaning "hiding place" or "lair" and "plak" meaning "place". | |||
| Galician | abrigo | ||
| The word "abrigo" in Galician can also refer to a coat or a warm blanket. | |||
| German | schutz | ||
| Schutz comes from the Middle High German schutzen, meaning "to protect" or "to cover". | |||
| Icelandic | skjól | ||
| The Icelandic word "skjól" is related to the English word "shield" and ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*skeu-", meaning "to cover". | |||
| Irish | foscadh | ||
| The Irish word 'foscadh' not only means 'shelter', but also 'protection', 'assistance', 'refuge' and 'sanctuary'. | |||
| Italian | riparo | ||
| The word "riparo" also means "bank" in reference to a river and "shelter" in reference to a safe place. | |||
| Luxembourgish | ënnerdaach | ||
| Ënnerdaach can also refer to a porch, a canopy or a lean-to. | |||
| Maltese | kenn | ||
| The word "kenn" in Maltese is derived from the Arabic word "kanā" meaning "to cover". | |||
| Norwegian | husly | ||
| The word "husly" is cognate with the English word "house" and originally referred to a small cottage or hut. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | abrigo | ||
| The word "abrigo" is related to the Latin verb "apricor", meaning "to open", due to its original purpose as wind-blocking enclosures. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | fasgadh | ||
| The word "fasgadh" in Scots Gaelic can also mean "a refuge" or "a sanctuary". | |||
| Spanish | abrigo | ||
| The word "abrigo" is derived from the Latin word "Apricus," meaning "open to the sun"} | |||
| Swedish | skydd | ||
| Skydd also means 'shield' or 'protection' and is related to the German word 'Schutz'. | |||
| Welsh | lloches | ||
| The word "lloches" in Welsh comes from the same root as the Old English word "lock", meaning "an enclosure". | |||
Shelter in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | прытулак | ||
| The word "прытулак" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *pritel-, meaning "to cover" or "to protect". | |||
| Bosnian | sklonište | ||
| Sklonište originates from the Proto-Slavic word *sklonъ, meaning 'slope' or 'protection'. | |||
| Bulgarian | подслон | ||
| The word "подслон" in Bulgarian also refers to a type of military fortification. | |||
| Czech | přístřeší | ||
| The word "přístřeší" comes from the Old Czech word "přístřeh" meaning "refuge" or "hiding place." | |||
| Estonian | peavarju | ||
| The word "peavarju" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*peawər", meaning "head, roof". | |||
| Finnish | suojaa | ||
| "Suoja" is a loanword from Swedish, but also related to words like "hide" and "cloak" in English. | |||
| Hungarian | menedék | ||
| The word "menedék" also means "refuge" or "asylum". | |||
| Latvian | patversme | ||
| The word "patversme" is derived from the verb "patverties", meaning "to take shelter"} | |||
| Lithuanian | pastogę | ||
| "Pastogę" (shelter) originates from the word "pastoti" (conceive), possibly due to the association between the protection of a shelter and the protection of a fetus. | |||
| Macedonian | засолниште | ||
| The word "засолниште" can also mean "a place where salt is stored". | |||
| Polish | schron | ||
| "Schron" is derived from the German word "Schramm" meaning "gorge" or "cave". It can also refer to a hiding place or refuge. | |||
| Romanian | adăpost | ||
| The Romanian word "adăpost" originates from the Slavic word *ob-ostati* meaning "to protect". | |||
| Russian | убежище | ||
| The word "убежище" also means "refuge" or "asylum". | |||
| Serbian | склониште | ||
| "Склониште" can also mean "retreat" as in "safe retreat". | |||
| Slovak | úkryt | ||
| The word "úkryt" in Slovak shares its etymology with the verb "ukryť" (hide), indicating a place or thing that conceals or protects from danger or observation. | |||
| Slovenian | zavetje | ||
| The word "zavetje" can also refer to a refuge, asylum, or sanctuary. | |||
| Ukrainian | притулок | ||
| The word "притулок" comes from the Old Slavic word "pьrtъ", meaning "home", "dwelling", but it can also mean "refuge", "asylum" or "orphanage". | |||
Shelter in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আশ্রয় | ||
| The word "আশ্রয়" also means "refuge" or "protection". | |||
| Gujarati | આશ્રય | ||
| The word 'आश्रय' comes from the Sanskrit root 'shrī,' meaning to cover or protect. | |||
| Hindi | आश्रय | ||
| The word 'आश्रय' comes from the Sanskrit root 'श्रि' (shri), meaning 'to cover or protect'. | |||
| Kannada | ಆಶ್ರಯ | ||
| ಆಶ್ರಯ is a word that, in addition to its primary meaning, also means "a refuge" or "a retreat" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | അഭയം | ||
| The word 'അഭയം' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'अभय' which means 'fearlessness' and can also refer to 'protection' or 'refuge'. | |||
| Marathi | निवारा | ||
| The word "निवारा" (nivārā) in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word "निवृत्त" (nivṛtta), meaning "cessation" or "release". | |||
| Nepali | आश्रय | ||
| The Nepali word "आश्रय" (shelter) is derived from the Sanskrit word "आश्रयति" meaning "to cover" and also refers to "spiritual protection" in a religious context. | |||
| Punjabi | ਪਨਾਹ | ||
| ਪਨਾਹ is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-Iranian *pan- "to protect, praise" and means both "refuge" and "praise". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නවාතැන් | ||
| The word "නවාතැන්" (shelter) in Sinhala (Sinhalese) is derived from the Pali word "navatthana" meaning "a place of rest". | |||
| Tamil | தங்குமிடம் | ||
| The word "தங்குமிடம்" can also refer to a place where someone or something is kept safe or protected, such as a safe place to hide during a storm. | |||
| Telugu | ఆశ్రయం | ||
| The word 'ఆశ్రయం' can also mean a place of refuge or a place of protection. | |||
| Urdu | پناہ | ||
| The Urdu word "پناہ" (shelter) comes from the Sanskrit word "प्रणाश" (praṇaś), meaning "to save" or "to protect." | |||
Shelter in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 庇护 | ||
| 庇护 (bìhù) also means to cover, protect, and harbor. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 庇護 | ||
| "庇護" (shelter) in Chinese (Traditional) also means "to protect" or "to cover". | |||
| Japanese | シェルター | ||
| シェルターは「掩体」を語源とする和製外来語で、英語の「シェルター」は「避難所」や「保護する」という意味もある。 | |||
| Korean | 피난처 | ||
| The word "피난처" can also mean "refuge" or "sanctuary". | |||
| Mongolian | хоргодох байр | ||
| The Mongolian word "хоргодох байр" can be literally translated as "place for protection". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အမိုးအကာ | ||
Shelter in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | penampungan | ||
| "Penampungan" can also mean "refuge" or "sanctuary". | |||
| Javanese | papan perlindungan | ||
| In Javanese, "papan perlindungan" also refers to a sacred altar area for offerings, providing spiritual protection. | |||
| Khmer | ទីជំរក | ||
| In the Khmer language, 'ទីជំរក' (pronounced 'tee-chorng') is derived from the word 'ជរ' (chor), meaning 'to shelter'; it can also refer to a hiding place or refuge for humans or animals. | |||
| Lao | ທີ່ພັກອາໄສ | ||
| Malay | tempat perlindungan | ||
| The word "tempat perlindungan" is derived from the Malay words "tempat" (place) and "perlindungan" (protection). It can also refer to a safe haven or a place of refuge. | |||
| Thai | ที่พักพิง | ||
| "ที่พักพิง" also refers to a "refugee camp" in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | nơi trú ẩn | ||
| The word "nơi trú ẩn" literally means "a place to hide". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kanlungan | ||
Shelter in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | sığınacaq | ||
| "Sığınacaq" means "shelter" in Azerbaijani, originating from Persian "panahgah" (refuge, place of protection) | |||
| Kazakh | баспана | ||
| The word "баспана" comes from the Persian word "پناه", meaning "refuge" or "asylum". | |||
| Kyrgyz | баш калкалоочу жай | ||
| Tajik | паноҳгоҳ | ||
| Паноҳгоҳ translates literally to "refuge place" in Tajik and refers to any type of safe, protected, or sheltered place. | |||
| Turkmen | gaçybatalga | ||
| Uzbek | boshpana | ||
| The word "boshpana" (shelter) originates from the Persian word "boshan" (dwelling). | |||
| Uyghur | پاناھلىنىش ئورنى | ||
Shelter in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | puʻuhonua | ||
| The word "puʻuhonua" also means "place of refuge" and is often used to refer to a sanctuary or safe place. | |||
| Maori | piringa | ||
| Piringa is a Maori word that can also refer to a place or site. | |||
| Samoan | fale | ||
| Fale can also refer to a traditional meeting house or chiefly residence. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tirahan | ||
| The word 'tirahan' also means 'dwelling' or 'abode' in Tagalog. | |||
Shelter in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jark'aqasiwi | ||
| Guarani | kañyrenda | ||
Shelter in International Languages
| Esperanto | ŝirmejo | ||
| Ŝirmejo is also Esperanto for "umbrella," which derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ḱer-", meaning "to cover" or "to protect." | |||
| Latin | tectumque | ||
| The word "tectum" originates from the root "teg" meaning "to cover," and is related to the words "tegere" ("to cover") and "tectum" ("roof"). | |||
Shelter in Others Languages
| Greek | καταφύγιο | ||
| The word “καταφύγιο” (“shelter”) comes from the Greek verb “καταφεύγω” (“to flee for refuge”), which is a compound of “κατά” (“down”) and “φεύγω” (“to flee”). | |||
| Hmong | chaw nyob | ||
| The origin of the Hmong word "chaw nyob" is unknown, but it is commonly substituted for the word "tsev" ("home" or "house"). | |||
| Kurdish | parastin | ||
| The word 'parastin' is also used to describe a person who provides shelter or protection. | |||
| Turkish | barınak | ||
| As well as shelter, "barınak" also means refuge, asylum, or sanctuary in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | ikhusi | ||
| The word 'ikhusi' can also refer to other forms of protection or safety, such as a shield, a fortress, or a safe place of refuge. | |||
| Yiddish | באַשיצן | ||
| The Yiddish word 'башицн' may originally come from the Polish word 'baszta', meaning 'bastion' or 'fortress'. | |||
| Zulu | indawo yokuhlala | ||
| The word "indawo yokuhlala" in Zulu can also refer to a place where animals live or to a place of refuge. | |||
| Assamese | আশ্ৰয় | ||
| Aymara | jark'aqasiwi | ||
| Bhojpuri | सहारा | ||
| Dhivehi | ހިޔާ | ||
| Dogri | आसरमा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kanlungan | ||
| Guarani | kañyrenda | ||
| Ilocano | linong | ||
| Krio | ayd | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | پەناگە | ||
| Maithili | शरणस्थली | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯂꯩꯐꯝ | ||
| Mizo | tawmhulna | ||
| Oromo | da'oo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆଶ୍ରୟ | ||
| Quechua | pakakuna | ||
| Sanskrit | आश्रयः | ||
| Tatar | приют | ||
| Tigrinya | መፅለሊ | ||
| Tsonga | vutumbelo | ||