Shoe in different languages

Shoe in Different Languages

Discover 'Shoe' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Shoes are more than just a practical necessity - they are a cultural symbol with a rich history. From ancient Egyptian sandals to modern-day sneakers, shoes have evolved in design and significance over centuries. They protect our feet, provide comfort during our daily activities, and even express our personal style. But did you know that the word for 'shoe' varies greatly across different languages?

For instance, in Spanish, 'shoe' is 'zapato'. In French, it's 'chaussure'. In German, it's 'Schuh'. In Russian, it's 'обувь' (obuv'). In Japanese, it's '靴' (kutsu). In Chinese, it's '鞋子' (xiēzi). Understanding these translations can open up a world of cultural exchange and understanding.

So why should you care about the translation of 'shoe' in different languages? Knowing these terms can enrich your travel experiences, broaden your linguistic abilities, and deepen your appreciation for global diversity. Below, we've compiled a list of 'shoe' translations in various languages. Explore, learn, and enjoy!

Shoe


Shoe in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansskoen
The word "skoen" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "schoen" and also refers to a playing card in a deck of cards.
Amharicጫማ
The word "ጫማ" (shoe) derives from the Proto-Semitic root "*ṣʿm" meaning "to stride, tread upon".
Hausatakalma
The word "takalma" in Hausa language is derived from the Arabic word "taqallida" meaning "to put on".
Igboakpụkpọ ụkwụ
The word 'akpụkpọ ụkwụ' can also refer to the sound made by shoes when walking on a hard surface.
Malagasykiraro
Kiraro, the Malagasy word for shoe, is derived from the Arabic word 'khizra' meaning slipper.
Nyanja (Chichewa)nsapato
The word "nsapato" is derived from the Portuguese word "sapato", originally meaning "slipper" or "sandal".
Shonashangu
The Shona word "shangu" is also used to refer to a "hoof" or "sandal."
Somalikabo
"Kabo" can also refer to a type of traditional Somali dance.
Sesothoseeta
The word "seeta" in Sesotho also refers to a foot, a path, or a footprint.
Swahilikiatu
"Kiatu" is a Swahili term derived from the Bantu root "-tu" meaning "foot", suggesting its original meaning as "footwear".
Xhosaisihlangu
'Isihlangu' literally translates to 'the grass that hides'.
Yorubabata
"Bata" in Yoruba can refer to a single shoe or a pair of shoes, and is also used as a salutation for a chief or elder.
Zuluisicathulo
In addition to its meaning as a type of footwear, the word "isicathulo" can also be used to refer to a shield or a protective charm in Zulu culture.
Bambarasanbara
Eweafɔkpa
Kinyarwandainkweto
Lingalasapato
Lugandaengatto
Sepediseeta
Twi (Akan)mpaboa

Shoe in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicحذاء
The word 'حذاء' also refers to a type of musical instrument, such as a tambourine or drum.
Hebrewנַעַל
The word "נַעַל" can also refer to a sandal or a slipper.
Pashtoبوټونه
The word "بوټونه" in Pashto can also refer to the sole of a shoe or a boot.
Arabicحذاء
The word 'حذاء' also refers to a type of musical instrument, such as a tambourine or drum.

Shoe in Western European Languages

Albaniankëpucëve
The word "këpucëve" in Albanian comes from the Latin word "calceus," meaning "shoe" or "boot".
Basquezapata
Zapata is the Spanish word for "shoe" but also means "sand" in Basque.
Catalansabata
In Catalan, "sabata" can also refer to a wooden structure used in viticulture and footwear made of esparto grass as an alternative to "espardenya".
Croatiancipela
The word 'cipela' in Croatian originally referred to a flat, leather slipper worn by peasants.
Danishsko
In Norwegian and Swedish the word "sko" means "forest", and the related verb "skoge" is "to walk in the forest".
Dutchschoen
The Dutch word "schoen" can also refer to a type of boat, typically a flat-bottomed wooden vessel used for fishing or recreation.
Englishshoe
The word "shoe" has a Middle English derivation from the Old English word "scōh", which referred specifically to a leather overshoe worn atop other footwear.
Frenchchaussure
The word 'chaussure' comes from the Latin word 'calciatura', which means 'footwear', and is related to the word 'cale' meaning 'heel'.
Frisianskuon
In Old Frisian, 'skuon' also referred to a type of wooden clog worn by women and children.
Galicianzapato
In Galician, "zapato" can also mean "footprint" or "hoofprint".
Germanschuh
In German, "Schuh" can also refer to a unit of length (about 30 cm), derived from the length of a shoe.
Icelandicskór
The word 'skór' used to refer to the leather covering on the feet of farm animals.
Irishbróg
The Irish word 'bróg' can also refer to a type of traditional Irish footwear worn by men, similar to a moccasin.
Italianscarpa
The word "scarpa" in Italian derives from the Proto-Germanic word "skōh" or "skōx," meaning "shoe" or "footwear."
Luxembourgishschong
The word "Schong" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*skōhaz" and is related to the English word "shoe". In Luxembourgish, "Schong" can also refer to a type of foot covering like a slipper or sandal.
Malteseżarbun
The word "żarbun" is derived from the Sicilian word "scarparu" meaning "shoemaker" or "shoe shop".
Norwegiansko
The word 'sko' is derived from the Old Norse word 'skór', and also means 'forest' in Norwegian.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)sapato
In Brazil, "sapato" can also refer to a shoebox, while in Portugal it may signify a single shoe rather than a pair.
Scots Gaelicbròg
Bròg is also a general term used to mean footwear in general (e.g. wellington boots), and even in some contexts can mean hosiery.
Spanishzapato
The word "zapato" comes from the Arabic word "sabat", meaning "shoe" or "sandal".
Swedishsko
The word "sko" in Swedish also means "wood" or "forest".
Welshesgid
The Welsh word "esgid" ultimately comes from the Latin "excaligeus", meaning "footwear".

Shoe in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianчаравік
The word "чаравік" also refers to a type of traditional Belarusian winter boot made of leather or felt.
Bosniancipela
The word "cipela" in Bosnian comes from the Proto-Slavic word *čerevь, meaning "footwear".
Bulgarianобувка
Обувка is derived from the Old Slavonic root
Czechboty
It is a diminutive form of bota, which means "ankle boot" or "knee-high boot". It also has alternate meanings such as a "shoe", "boot", or "footwear".
Estonianking
The Estonian word for "shoe", "king", originates from the German word "Schuh", meaning "footwear".
Finnishkenkä
In Finnish, 'kenkä' can also refer to a foot or a shoemaker.
Hungariancipő
The word "cipő" is derived from the Proto-Turkic word "*çïbïg" meaning "shoe, covering for the foot".
Latvianapavu
The word "apavu" in Latvian has roots in Middle High German and Slavic languages, likely referring to leather footwear.
Lithuanianbatas
The word "batas" originally meant "leg covering" and is related to the word "batai" ("boots") in Latvian.
Macedonianчевли
In Old Church Slavonic, "чевли" also meant "leg covering" or "footcloth".
Polishbut
In addition to its primary meaning of 'shoe', the Polish word 'but' can also refer to a type of ankle-high boot worn by traditional highlanders, or a hole made in the ground for storing vegetables over winter.
Romanianpantof
The word "pantof" has an alternate meaning in Romanian as "slipper".
Russianобувь
Обувь means not only footwear in Russian. It could also refer to the iron band around a wheel or the sole of a ski.
Serbianципела
The word "ципела" (tsipela) in Serbian comes from the Turkish word "ispinela", which in turn comes from the Italian word "scarpino".
Slovaktopánka
The word "topánka" stems from the Proto-Slavic word "*topati", meaning "to stamp or trample".
Sloveniančevelj
The Slovenian word "čevelj" may originate from the Proto-Slavic word *červьlь, meaning "worm" or "maggot", possibly referring to the shape of early footwear made of animal hide.
Ukrainianвзуття
The Ukrainian word "взуття" can also refer to any type of footwear, including boots, sandals, and slippers.

Shoe in South Asian Languages

Bengaliজুতো
In the dialect of East Bengal,
Gujaratiજૂતા
This word comes from Sanskrit 'upajanta' and also means 'a step' or 'tread'.
Hindiजूता
The term "जूता" is also used in Hindi to refer to a style of wrestling in which the combatants wear large, heavy shoes.
Kannadaಶೂ
"ಶೂ" is also used in Kannada to describe the sound of someone coughing or sneezing.
Malayalamഷൂ
ഷൂ is also used in Malayalam for different types of footwear, including sandals, slippers, and boots.
Marathiबूट
Originally, the Marathi word "बूट" meant a type of ankle-length leather shoe
Nepaliजुत्ता
The word 'जुत्ता' ('shoe') is derived from the Sanskrit 'yuja', meaning 'to join' or 'to fit', referring to its purpose of covering and protecting the feet.
Punjabiਜੁੱਤੀ
The word "ਜੁੱਤੀ" (jutti) can also refer to a type of traditional Punjabi footwear that is often embroidered and has a pointed toe.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)සපත්තු
The Sinhala word "සපත්තු" (shoe) originates from the Sanskrit word "पादुका" (footwear), and its alternate meaning is "a cover for the foot"
Tamilஷூ
The word "ஷூ" can also refer to a type of sweet made from lentils and jaggery in Tamil.
Teluguషూ
The Telugu word "షూ" (shoe) also means "shoot" in English, highlighting the close connection between footwear and the act of aiming and firing a weapon.
Urduجوتا
The word 'جوتا' can also refer to a 'pair' or 'set' of something, not just a single shoe.

Shoe in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)鞋子
"鞋" means "evil" in its early form, and "evil" and "shoes" are homophonic in Chinese.
Chinese (Traditional)鞋子
"鞋" (traditional Chinese character for "shoe") shares the same etymology as "協", meaning "to cooperate" or "to work together".
Japanese
In Japanese, the word "靴" is written using the same Chinese character used for "leg", which represents the foot covering the ground.
Korean구두
The Korean word '구두' originated from Mandarin Chinese, where it refers to a type of fabric shoe.
Mongolianгутал
The word "гутал" also means "boot" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဖိနပ်
"ဖိနပ်" is also the name of an ancient type of shoe in Myanmar that covered the entire foot and was worn by royalty and officials.

Shoe in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansepatu
"Sepatu" is borrowed from the Portuguese word "sapato" and originally meant "slipper".
Javanesesepatu
In Javanese, the word 'sepatu' is derived from Sanskrit 'sapatu', meaning 'covering for the foot'.
Khmerស្បែកជើង
The word "ស្បែកជើង" literally means "foot shell" in Khmer, reflecting the protective function of shoes.
Laoເກີບ
The word "ເກີບ" in Lao can also refer to a type of Lao slipper or sandal.
Malaykasut
"Kasut" in Malay is derived from the Indian Sanskrit word "khādu", which refers to a type of wooden sandal or clog.
Thaiรองเท้า
The word "รองเท้า" is derived from the Sanskrit word "rangavat", meaning "footwear".
Vietnamesegiày
Giày in Vietnamese derives from the Chinese word 'shoe' (鞋) pronounced as hài and is a homophone for the Vietnamese word 'falsehood' (gỉa)'.
Filipino (Tagalog)sapatos

Shoe in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniayaqqabı
"Ayaqqabı" comes from the Persian word "ayakh" and "kab".
Kazakhаяқ киім
The Kazakh word "аяқ киім" also means "footwear" in English.
Kyrgyzбут кийим
The word "бут кийим" in Kyrgyz also refers to a traditional type of Kyrgyz boot made of leather and felt.
Tajikпойафзол
The Tajik word "пойафзол" shares the same root with "paypo" (heel), "pay" (leg) and "afzal" (more superior), and figuratively means "that which covers the more superior part of the leg."
Turkmenköwüş
Uzbekpoyabzal
"Poyabzal" in Uzbek means "that which covers the foot" and also refers to a type of leather shoe, "charoq".
Uyghurئاياغ

Shoe in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankāmaʻa kāmaʻa
The word "kāmaʻa kāmaʻa" can also refer to the wooden handles used to lift calabashes in traditional Hawaiian cooking.
Maorihu
In Māori, the word
Samoanseevae
Seevae can also refer to shoes, slippers, sandals, or any type of footwear in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)sapatos
The Tagalog "sapatos" originated from Spanish "zapatos" which came from the French "sabot" (wooden clog)

Shoe in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarazapato uñt’ayaña
Guaranisapatu rehegua

Shoe in International Languages

Esperantoŝuo
The word "ŝuo" derives from the French word "soulier", meaning "shoe".
Latincalceus
The word "calceus" can also refer to a type of footwear worn by Roman gladiators.

Shoe in Others Languages

Greekπαπούτσι
The word "παπούτσι" originally meant "slipper" in Greek but has since expanded to include all types of footwear.
Hmongtxhais khau
The Hmong word for 'shoe' can also mean 'footwear' or 'boot'.
Kurdishpêlav
The word
Turkishayakkabı
"Ayakkabı" comes from Persian "pāy" (foot) + Arabic "kab" (cover), lit. "foot cover".
Xhosaisihlangu
'Isihlangu' literally translates to 'the grass that hides'.
Yiddishשוך
In Yiddish, "שוך" can also refer to the sound of rustling or the act of shaking something to loosen its contents.
Zuluisicathulo
In addition to its meaning as a type of footwear, the word "isicathulo" can also be used to refer to a shield or a protective charm in Zulu culture.
Assameseজোতা
Aymarazapato uñt’ayaña
Bhojpuriजूता के बा
Dhivehiބޫޓެވެ
Dogriजूता
Filipino (Tagalog)sapatos
Guaranisapatu rehegua
Ilocanosapatos
Krioshuz we yu de yuz
Kurdish (Sorani)پێڵاو
Maithiliजूता
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯖꯨꯇꯣ ꯑꯃꯥ꯫
Mizopheikhawk a ni
Oromokophee
Odia (Oriya)ଜୋତା
Quechuazapato
Sanskritजूता
Tatarаяк киеме
Tigrinyaጫማ
Tsongaxihlangi

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