Sigh in Different Languages
Discover 'Sigh' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
A sigh is a universal human expression of emotion, often associated with feelings of relief, sadness, or longing. It's a sound that transcends language barriers and has been recognized throughout history in various cultural contexts. For instance, in literature, a sigh often symbolizes a character's deep emotions or longing. In art, sighs have been depicted in paintings and sculptures as a way to convey emotion.
Given its significance, you might be interested in knowing how to say 'sigh' in different languages. This knowledge not only enhances your cross-cultural communication skills but also adds a layer of depth to your understanding of human emotions and expressions.
For example, in Spanish, a sigh is 'un suspiro'. In French, it's 'un soupir'. In German, it's 'ein Seufzer'. In Japanese, it's 'いき' (iki). In Russian, it's ' sigh' (sigh). These translations offer a glimpse into how different cultures express and perceive this universal human emotion.
Sigh
Sigh in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | sug | ||
| The Afrikaans word "sug" can also mean "pig" or "sow". | |||
| Amharic | እስትንፋስ | ||
| The word "እስትንፋስ" can also mean "breath" or "expiration" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | huci | ||
| It is also used as a greeting in informal situations, often used by women. | |||
| Igbo | rie ude | ||
| "Rie ude" or "ighuode" is also used to describe the sound made by the wind | |||
| Malagasy | sento | ||
| The word "sento" in Malagasy can also mean "pain" or "sorrow". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuusa moyo | ||
| The word "kuusa moyo" can also be used to describe the act of yawning. | |||
| Shona | gomera | ||
| The word 'gomera' also means 'a sigh of relief' or 'a sigh of exhaustion'. | |||
| Somali | taahid | ||
| Taahid is derived from the Arabic word "tawaheed," which means "oneness" or "uniting." | |||
| Sesotho | ho feheloa | ||
| The word "ho feheloa" can also refer to a longing or craving. | |||
| Swahili | kuugua | ||
| The word 'kuugua' can also refer to a state of exhaustion or weakness in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | ncwina | ||
| "Ncwina" derives from the archaic noun "nciwina" (regret, pity), which in turn comes from the verb "ciwa" (cause pain, ache). | |||
| Yoruba | kẹdùn | ||
| Kẹdùn also means 'to gasp', 'to groan', or 'to moan' in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ukububula | ||
| The word "ukububula" also means "to blow, puff, or pant" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | yeli | ||
| Ewe | ɖe hũu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | humura | ||
| Lingala | kolela | ||
| Luganda | okussa ekikkoowe | ||
| Sepedi | fegelwa | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ahomekokoɔ | ||
Sigh in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تنهد | ||
| Historically, the word تنهد also carried the meaning of "sneeze". | |||
| Hebrew | אֲנָחָה | ||
| This word can also mean ‘groan' and is related to a word for breathing. | |||
| Pashto | ساه | ||
| In Pashto, "ساه" not only means "sigh" but also refers to a type of plant in some dialects. | |||
| Arabic | تنهد | ||
| Historically, the word تنهد also carried the meaning of "sneeze". | |||
Sigh in Western European Languages
| Albanian | psherëtimë | ||
| The word "psherëtimë" can also refer to a low whistle or a breathy sound. | |||
| Basque | hasperena | ||
| The Basque verb "hasperena" also means "to groan". | |||
| Catalan | sospirar | ||
| The verb "sospirar" may also mean "aspire" or "crave" in Catalan. | |||
| Croatian | uzdah | ||
| Croatian word "uzdah" has a secondary meaning: "a brief rest during walking or working." | |||
| Danish | suk | ||
| Suk is also spelled with an | |||
| Dutch | zucht | ||
| "Zucht" can also mean "litter" or "brood" in Dutch, referring to the offspring of animals. | |||
| English | sigh | ||
| The word "sigh" derives from the Middle English word "sichen," meaning "to lament" or "to grieve." | |||
| French | soupir | ||
| The word "soupir" can also refer to a musical grace note or a small, round pastry filled with cream. | |||
| Frisian | suchtsje | ||
| Suchtsje is also used as a term of endearment for a girlfriend or wife, or sometimes for a child. | |||
| Galician | suspiro | ||
| In Galician, "suspiro" can also refer to a type of pastry filled with meringue or cream. | |||
| German | seufzer | ||
| In German, Seufzer has the secondary meaning of "macaroon", as in "Macarons, those heavenly Seufzer." | |||
| Icelandic | andvarp | ||
| The word "andvarp" also means "breath" or "spirit" in Icelandic. | |||
| Irish | osna | ||
| In Old Irish, "osna" also meant "lamentation" or a "sound of grief". | |||
| Italian | sospiro | ||
| In music, a sospiro is a rest or pause in the middle of a melody, typically marked with a fermata (a small circle over the note). | |||
| Luxembourgish | opootmen | ||
| The term "Opootmen" is also used to refer to a feeling of longing or yearning | |||
| Maltese | daqqa | ||
| "Daqqa" also translates to "a moment" or "a bit" (of time). | |||
| Norwegian | sukk | ||
| The word "sukk" in Norwegian can also refer to a small, sharp noise or a sudden movement. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | suspiro | ||
| In Portuguese, 'suspiro' can also refer to a small, sweet pastry made with egg whites and sugar, or a period of time when one is lost in thought or reverie. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | osna | ||
| In Scotland, "osna" is sometimes a sigh, sometimes a wish; it's related to the Irish "osnadh" meaning "sigh," "groan" or "wish." | |||
| Spanish | suspiro | ||
| In Spanish, "suspiro" may refer to a type of cake, a period of time between breaths, or an expression of longing. | |||
| Swedish | suck | ||
| Welsh | ochenaid | ||
| In Welsh mythology, the "ochenaid" can also refer to a prophetic or supernatural sigh with magical effects. | |||
Sigh in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | уздыхнуць | ||
| In Belarusian, the word "уздыхнуць" can also mean "to relax" or "to take a break". | |||
| Bosnian | uzdah | ||
| The word "uzdah" also denotes a "complaint" or a "lamentation" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | въздишка | ||
| In Bulgarian folklore, people believed that a sigh was a way to let out negative energy from the soul. | |||
| Czech | povzdech | ||
| The Czech word "povzdech" literally translates to "up-breath" and also means "lament" or "moan" | |||
| Estonian | ohkama | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning, "ohkama" can also refer to a sound made by a baby that is similar to a sigh. | |||
| Finnish | huokaus | ||
| "Huokaus" is also used in Finnish to mean a short, lyrical piece of music. | |||
| Hungarian | sóhaj | ||
| "Sóhaj" is also used in Hungarian to refer to a gentle breeze or a sound of rustling leaves. | |||
| Latvian | nopūta | ||
| The Latvian word "nopūta" can also mean "swoon" or "faint". | |||
| Lithuanian | atsidusimas | ||
| In Lithuanian, "atsidusimas" not only means "sigh" but also "despair" or "regret". | |||
| Macedonian | воздишка | ||
| The word "воздишка" also refers to a small prayer whispered during a religious service. | |||
| Polish | westchnienie | ||
| The word "westchnienie" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "vъzъdъchъ", meaning both "sigh" and "breath". | |||
| Romanian | suspin | ||
| The word "suspin" in Romanian is derived from the Latin word "suspirium", which means "a deep breath". It can also refer to a feeling of longing or regret. | |||
| Russian | вздох | ||
| "Вздох" also means "a moment" or "a breath". | |||
| Serbian | уздах | ||
| In Kazakh, "уздах" also means "bridle" or "halter" | |||
| Slovak | povzdych | ||
| The word "povzdych" can also mean "lamentation" or "regret". | |||
| Slovenian | vzdih | ||
| Etymology: Related to German sehnsucht and Slovenian želja, meaning a longing. | |||
| Ukrainian | зітхати | ||
| The word зітхати derives from the sound of breathing and is related to the word вітер (wind). | |||
Sigh in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | দীর্ঘশ্বাস | ||
| In Bengali, "দীর্ঘশ্বাস" (dir Ghosh bash) can also mean "deeply inhaling and exhaling" or "prolonged panting" | |||
| Gujarati | નિસાસો | ||
| Hindi | विलाप | ||
| The word 'विलाप' also refers to the crying or mourning of a person who has lost a loved one. | |||
| Kannada | ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರು | ||
| Malayalam | നെടുവീർപ്പ് | ||
| Marathi | उसासा | ||
| The Marathi word "उसासा" can also refer to a feeling of relief or relaxation. | |||
| Nepali | लामो सास | ||
| The word "लामो सास" (laamo saas) in Nepali originates from the Sanskrit word "उच्छवास" (uchchhvaas), meaning deep breathing or a sigh. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਾਹ | ||
| The word "ਸਾਹ" ("sigh") in Punjabi is also used to refer to breath, life, or rest. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සැනසුම් සුසුමක් | ||
| Tamil | பெருமூச்சு | ||
| Telugu | నిట్టూర్పు | ||
| Urdu | سانس | ||
| The word "سانس" can also refer to sound of breathing, the spirit, or life-force, akin to the English word "spirit". | |||
Sigh in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 叹 | ||
| The character "叹" (tàn) in Chinese can also refer to admiration or praise, and is often used in expressions like "赞叹" (zàntàn) or "叹服" (tànfú). | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 嘆 | ||
| 嘆 in Chinese can also mean 'admire', 'express regret', or 'lament'. | |||
| Japanese | はぁ | ||
| The interjection “はぁ” can carry different meanings such as surprise, resignation, or anger depending on the speaker’s tone. | |||
| Korean | 한숨 | ||
| The word '한숨' ('sigh') in Korean can also refer to a 'regretful exhale' or a 'moment of self-pity'. | |||
| Mongolian | санаа алдах | ||
| The word "санаа алдах" (sigh) literally means "to take a thought" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | သက်ပြင်း | ||
Sigh in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | mendesah | ||
| "Mendesah" is derived from the Sanskrit word "mandasam" meaning "to grow weary". | |||
| Javanese | nggrundel | ||
| The word "nggrundel" is also used to describe a feeling of longing or yearning | |||
| Khmer | ដកដង្ហើមធំ | ||
| Lao | sigh | ||
| In the old days, "sigh" also meant “a moment” and "to be pleased". | |||
| Malay | menghela nafas | ||
| Menghela nafas is related to the Malay word 'hembus', meaning 'to blow' or 'to breathe'. | |||
| Thai | ถอนหายใจ | ||
| The word "ถอนหายใจ" is a compound of "ถอน" meaning to pull back and "หายใจ" meaning breath, suggesting the act of taking a deep breath and letting it out. | |||
| Vietnamese | thở dài | ||
| The word "thở dài" can also mean "to breathe deeply" or "to exhale heavily, typically with a sense of relief or weariness." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | buntong hininga | ||
Sigh in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ah çəkin | ||
| The word "ah çəkin" is also a compound word, consisting of "ah" (interjection expressing grief, etc.) + "çekmek" (to draw, to pull) and ultimately deriving from Proto-Turkic "*çek" (to drag, to pull). | |||
| Kazakh | күрсіну | ||
| The verb “күрсіну” (kүrsinu) initially meant “to gasp” or “to suffocate” and it still maintains this meaning in a number of fixed expressions. | |||
| Kyrgyz | үшкүр | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "үшкүр" derives from a Proto-Turkic root "*үç" meaning "to blow" and has the alternate meaning of "exhalation" or "breath". | |||
| Tajik | оҳ кашидан | ||
| “Оҳ кашидан” means “to sigh” in Tajik but can also mean “to be amazed” or “to be impressed.” | |||
| Turkmen | dem al | ||
| Uzbek | xo'rsin | ||
| The word "xo'rsin" can also mean "to be thirsty" or "to be in need of something". | |||
| Uyghur | ئاھ ئۇرغىن | ||
Sigh in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaniuhu | ||
| Hawaiian 'kaniuhu' means 'sigh' but also a 'longing' and is related to 'kaniu' or 'breathe' and 'hu' or 'spirit' or 'breath'. | |||
| Maori | mapu | ||
| The word "mapu" in Maori can also refer to a "sigh of relief" or a "sigh of disappointment." | |||
| Samoan | mapuea | ||
| `Mapuea` also refers to the act of clearing one’s throat. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | singhal | ||
| "Singhal" is also a surname of Punjabi origin. | |||
Sigh in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | llakirt'asiña | ||
| Guarani | ãho | ||
Sigh in International Languages
| Esperanto | suspiro | ||
| The Esperanto word "suspiro" also means "whirlwind" in Spanish and "whisper" in Italian. | |||
| Latin | sermonem loquens | ||
| The Latin word "sermonem loquens" can also mean "speaking out" or "saying a word". | |||
Sigh in Others Languages
| Greek | στεναγμός | ||
| Στεναγμός derives from the verb "στενάζω" (stenazo), meaning “to groan,” and its root word "στένω" (steno), meaning “to narrow,” and thus refers to the constriction of the chest when sighing. | |||
| Hmong | xyu | ||
| The verb xyu "to sigh" can also mean "to whisper" or "to talk secretly among friends or relatives". | |||
| Kurdish | axîn | ||
| The Kurdish word "axîn" can also refer to a feeling of longing or yearning. | |||
| Turkish | iç çekmek | ||
| The Turkish word "iç çekmek" shares the same root with "içtimak", meaning "gathering", as both are related to the idea of "taking something inward". | |||
| Xhosa | ncwina | ||
| "Ncwina" derives from the archaic noun "nciwina" (regret, pity), which in turn comes from the verb "ciwa" (cause pain, ache). | |||
| Yiddish | זיפצן | ||
| 'זיפצן' is Yiddish for 'sigh'; 'זיפין' means 'a sword' and can symbolize a sigh as a weapon or emotional release. | |||
| Zulu | ukububula | ||
| The word "ukububula" also means "to blow, puff, or pant" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | হুমুনিয়াহ | ||
| Aymara | llakirt'asiña | ||
| Bhojpuri | विलाप | ||
| Dhivehi | އާހ | ||
| Dogri | हूक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | buntong hininga | ||
| Guarani | ãho | ||
| Ilocano | sennaay | ||
| Krio | tɔk | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاه | ||
| Maithili | विलाप | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯅꯤꯡꯁ ꯁ꯭ꯋꯔ ꯁꯥꯡꯅ ꯍꯣꯟꯗꯣꯛꯄ | ||
| Mizo | huiham | ||
| Oromo | hafuura baafachuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଦୁ igh ଖ | ||
| Quechua | qinchuy | ||
| Sanskrit | नि- श्वस् | ||
| Tatar | сулыш | ||
| Tigrinya | ብዓብዩ ምትንፋስ | ||
| Tsonga | hefemulela | ||