Sister in Different Languages
Discover 'Sister' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'sister' holds a special place in our hearts and languages. It represents that unique bond of love, friendship, and protectiveness shared by siblings. Throughout history and across cultures, the role of a sister has been celebrated and cherished, often symbolizing values of loyalty, compassion, and support.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'sister' in different languages can open doors to cultural exploration and global connections. For instance, the word for sister in Spanish is 'hermana', in French 'soeur', in German 'Schwester', in Russian 'сестра' (sestra), in Japanese '姉' (Ane), and in Chinese '姐姐' (Jiějie).
Delving into these linguistic nuances not only enriches our vocabulary but also allows us to appreciate the diverse ways in which different cultures express familial relationships. So, whether you're connecting with a long-lost relative, learning a new language, or simply satisfying your curiosity, exploring the word 'sister' in various languages can be a fascinating journey.
Sister
Sister in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | suster | ||
| "Suster" also means "nurse" in Afrikaans due to the influence of the Dutch language. | |||
| Amharic | እህት | ||
| In Ge'ez, the root for እህት, እሠሥ, means "brother," but when a vowel suffix such as a -ት is added to the end, it takes on the meaning of "sister. | |||
| Hausa | yar uwa | ||
| Yar uwa shares roots with ''uwa'', meaning ''mother'' in Hausa; they both come from the Proto-Chadic ''*ʔá-''.} | |||
| Igbo | nwanne | ||
| "Nwanne" is an Igbo word for "sister" that can also be extended to siblings of both genders or even friends. | |||
| Malagasy | rahavavy | ||
| The Malagasy word "rahavavy" is etymologically derived from the Malay word "kakak". It can refer to a biological or metaphorical sister, a friend, or even to the wife or female relative of the speaker's spouse. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mlongo | ||
| In Nyanja, 'mlongo' can also refer to a group of people with a common ancestor, such as a clan or tribe. | |||
| Shona | hanzvadzi sikana | ||
| The word "hanzvadzi" can also mean "wife" or "brother's wife" in Shona. | |||
| Somali | walaasheed | ||
| The word "walaasheed" in Somali can also refer to a female cousin, a close female friend, or a term of endearment for a young girl. | |||
| Sesotho | khaitseli | ||
| The Sesotho word "khaitseli" is also used to refer to a female friend or a female cousin. | |||
| Swahili | dada | ||
| The Swahili word "dada" can also mean "older female relative" or "female friend". | |||
| Xhosa | usisi | ||
| Xhosa 'usisi' may come from the Zulu word 'usisi' meaning 'younger sibling of either gender'. | |||
| Yoruba | arabinrin | ||
| "Àràbinrin" also means "kinship". It is a term of endearment for all females who are considered to be one's blood relations. | |||
| Zulu | dade | ||
| "Dade" is an alternate spelling of "dadewethu," meaning "our elder sister". | |||
| Bambara | balimamuso | ||
| Ewe | nᴐvi nyᴐnu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | mushiki wawe | ||
| Lingala | ndeko-mwasi | ||
| Luganda | mwanyina | ||
| Sepedi | sesi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nuabaa | ||
Sister in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | أخت | ||
| The root of the word sister (أخت) is the Arabic verb 'to take,' as in to take someone as a brother or sister. | |||
| Hebrew | אָחוֹת | ||
| The word "אָחוֹת" also means "female relative" or "kinswoman" in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | خور | ||
| The Pashto word "خور" can also refer to a stream or a valley. | |||
| Arabic | أخت | ||
| The root of the word sister (أخت) is the Arabic verb 'to take,' as in to take someone as a brother or sister. | |||
Sister in Western European Languages
| Albanian | moter | ||
| The word "moter" in Albanian is also used to refer to a female cousin. | |||
| Basque | ahizpa | ||
| The word "ahizpa" in Basque can also refer to a cousin, nephew, or niece | |||
| Catalan | germana | ||
| The word "germana" is a cognate of the Latin word "germen", meaning "sprout" or "seedling", and is related to the word "germane", meaning "relevant" or "closely related". | |||
| Croatian | sestra | ||
| The Croatian word "sestra" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "sestra", which also means "nurse". | |||
| Danish | søster | ||
| Historically, the word "søster" in Danish could also refer to a female friend or relative, but this is no longer common | |||
| Dutch | zus | ||
| The word "zus" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *swesōr, which also gave rise to the English word "sister". | |||
| English | sister | ||
| The word "sister" derives from the Old English word "sweoster," which originally meant "female sibling" and could refer to either a sister or a female cousin. | |||
| French | sœur | ||
| In Old French, "sœur" also meant "nun," which explains its use in the phrase "la sainte sœur" | |||
| Frisian | suster | ||
| The word "suster" in Frisian is cognate with the English word "sister", and both words derive from the Proto-Indo-European word *swesor. | |||
| Galician | irmá | ||
| In Galician, "irmá" can also refer to female religious figures like nuns or priestesses. | |||
| German | schwester | ||
| The word "Schwester" comes from the Old High German "swestar" and is related to the English word "sister". | |||
| Icelandic | systir | ||
| The Icelandic word "systir" is derived from the Old Norse word "systir", which means "sibling" or "kinswoman" and is related to the modern English word "sister". | |||
| Irish | deirfiúr | ||
| "Deirfiúr" is a compound noun meaning "daughter of the same father." | |||
| Italian | sorella | ||
| In Italian, the word "sorella" also means "sister" in the sense of a close female friend or a member of a religious order. | |||
| Luxembourgish | schwëster | ||
| "Schwëster" is related to words like "brother", "mother", and "daughter" in other Germanic languages like English, Danish, and Dutch. | |||
| Maltese | oħt | ||
| The word "oħt" is derived from the Arabic word "ukht", which also means "sister". | |||
| Norwegian | søster | ||
| The Norwegian word "søster" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *swestēr, which is cognate with the English word "sister" and the German word "Schwester." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | irmã | ||
| The Portuguese word "irmã" comes from the Latin word "germana" meaning "full-sister". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | piuthar | ||
| The word "piuthar" in Scots Gaelic is derived from the Old Irish word "siuir", meaning "woman" or "daughter." | |||
| Spanish | hermana | ||
| In Andalusian Spanish, "hermana" can also refer to "sister-in-law". | |||
| Swedish | syster | ||
| Derived from Old Norse systær and Proto-Germanic *swistar, which is cognate with English 'sister'. | |||
| Welsh | chwaer | ||
| Chwaer's original meaning was more like "female relation," and is still so used of female cousins in Welsh dialects. | |||
Sister in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | сястра | ||
| The word “сястра” has Slavic roots, and it is related to the words | |||
| Bosnian | sestro | ||
| The word "sestro" in Bosnian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "sestra", meaning "sister", and also refers to a close female friend. | |||
| Bulgarian | сестра | ||
| Bulgarian "сестра" derives from Proto-Slavic *sestra, meaning "sister" but also "nun". | |||
| Czech | sestra | ||
| The word "sestra" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "sestra", meaning "kinswoman" or "female sibling." | |||
| Estonian | õde | ||
| In Estonian, "õde" also denotes a female friend, a nurse, or a nun. | |||
| Finnish | sisko | ||
| It is a diminutive of 'sisar', which is the name for a female sibling both biological and non-biological. | |||
| Hungarian | nővér | ||
| The word 'nővér' also means 'nurse', both deriving from the old Hungarian 'nover' which meant 'young woman'. | |||
| Latvian | māsa | ||
| The word "māsa" in Latvian can also mean "female animal used as bait in hunting" and is related to the Proto-Indo-European root *māt-, meaning "mother". | |||
| Lithuanian | sesuo | ||
| The word "sesuo" also means "sibling" or "cousin" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | сестра | ||
| The word "сестра" in Macedonian also has the alternate meaning of "female disciple". | |||
| Polish | siostra | ||
| Siostra derives from the Proto-Slavic word *sestra, which originally meant 'brother's wife' | |||
| Romanian | sora | ||
| The Romanian word "sora" also means "sister-in-law" in Italian. | |||
| Russian | сестра | ||
| The word "сестра" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *sъstra, which originally meant "female relative" and was used to refer to both sisters and cousins. | |||
| Serbian | сестра | ||
| The word "сестра" ("sister") in Serbian derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*sesorъ", meaning "female sibling", but is cognate with Latin "soror" (female sibling) and Greek "θηλέα" (nursing woman). | |||
| Slovak | sestra | ||
| The word can also refer to a female friend or a person associated with a certain group in Slovak. | |||
| Slovenian | sestra | ||
| The word "sestra" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*sestrъ", which also means "nurse". | |||
| Ukrainian | сестра | ||
| The Ukrainian feminine noun «сестра» ("sister") comes from Old Church Slavonic «сестра», ultimately cognate with the Sanskrit «сваसृ» ("sister") | |||
Sister in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বোন | ||
| The word 'বোন' ('sister') in Bengali also refers to a female friend or a wife's younger sister. | |||
| Gujarati | બહેન | ||
| The Gujarati word "બહેન" (sister) can also refer to members of religious communities or groups, such as a "sister" in a convent or a "sister" in a political organization. | |||
| Hindi | बहन | ||
| The word 'बहन' in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'bhagini', meaning 'co-born' or 'one who is born from the same womb'. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಹೋದರಿ | ||
| "ಸಹೋದರಿ" (sister) also means a female relative, a friend or a companion. | |||
| Malayalam | സഹോദരി | ||
| The word "സഹോദരി" can also mean "sisterly" or "of a similar nature" in Malayalam. | |||
| Marathi | बहीण | ||
| "बहीण" also means "account book" in Sanskrit and many other languages, possibly due to the fact that women were often the keepers of accounts in the past. | |||
| Nepali | बहिनी | ||
| The word "बहिनी" (sister) in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhaginī". | |||
| Punjabi | ਭੈਣ | ||
| The word "ਭੈਣ" ("sister") in Punjabi shares the same root as the word "भाई" ("brother"), reflecting the close bond between siblings. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සහෝදරිය | ||
| The Sinhala word "සහෝදරිය" can also refer to a female friend or a close companion. | |||
| Tamil | சகோதரி | ||
| The word 'சகோதரி' ('sister') can also mean 'friend' or 'companion' in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | సోదరి | ||
| The word 'సోదరి' can also refer to a female disciple or a nun. | |||
| Urdu | بہن | ||
| In Urdu, "بہن" also means "female cousin" or "stepsister", highlighting familial relationships beyond immediate siblings. | |||
Sister in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 妹妹 | ||
| 妹妹 (mèimei) is also used as a term of endearment for a girlfriend or a younger, unmarried woman. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 妹妹 | ||
| 妹妹 was originally a term of endearment for a younger female cousin and later came to mean "sister". | |||
| Japanese | シスター | ||
| The word シスター (sister) in Japanese can also refer to a female religious figure, such as a nun or a member of a religious order. | |||
| Korean | 여자 형제 | ||
| In Korean, the word "여자 형제" (literally "female sibling") can also refer to a female cousin or niece. | |||
| Mongolian | эгч | ||
| The term 'эгч' also means 'female friend' or 'younger female acquaintance' | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | နှမ | ||
| The word "နှမ" (sister) is sometimes used to refer to a female close friend or relative in Myanmar, similar to the English term "sister-friend." | |||
Sister in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | saudara | ||
| The term 'saudara' can also be used as a more respectful way of addressing someone of similar age, regardless of their gender. | |||
| Javanese | mbakyu | ||
| The word "mbakyu" in Javanese also means "older sister" and is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "*mbaqyu". | |||
| Khmer | បងស្រី | ||
| The term "បងស្រី" also refers to a "female teacher" or "older sister" without any relation to the speaker. | |||
| Lao | ເອື້ອຍ | ||
| The word "ເອື້ອຍ" ("sister") in Lao originally meant "younger sibling", and can still be used in this sense today. | |||
| Malay | saudari | ||
| Saudari is derived from the Arabic word "sawda", meaning "black" or "to blacken", and was originally used to describe a dark-skinned female slave. | |||
| Thai | น้องสาว | ||
| The word "น้องสาว" in Thai can also refer to any female junior, regardless of their actual relationship. | |||
| Vietnamese | em gái | ||
| The word "em gái" also means "girlfriend" or "lover" in Vietnamese slang. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ate | ||
Sister in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | bacı | ||
| "Bacı" also means "sister-in-law" in Turkish and "aunt" in several Turkic languages. | |||
| Kazakh | қарындас | ||
| The word "қарындас" is also used to refer to female friends or relatives who are like sisters. | |||
| Kyrgyz | бир тууган | ||
| The word "бир тууган" can also mean "sibling" or "brother" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | хоҳар | ||
| "Хоҳар" also means "wife's sister" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | aýal dogany | ||
| Uzbek | opa | ||
| In Uzbek, "opa" also denotes a term of respect for an older woman. | |||
| Uyghur | سىڭىل | ||
Sister in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaikuaʻana, kaikaina | ||
| Kaikuaʻana refers to a biological bond between sisters, while kaikaina describes a spiritual connection between sisters. | |||
| Maori | tuahine | ||
| The word 'tuahine' can also refer to a female cousin or a close female friend in Maori culture. | |||
| Samoan | tuafafine | ||
| In Samoan, the word "tuafafine" can also refer to a woman's female cousin or to a woman of a similar age or status. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | ate | ||
| The Tagalog word 'ate' is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word '*kaka', which means 'elder sibling' or 'older sibling of the same sex'. | |||
Sister in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | kullaka | ||
| Guarani | pehẽngue | ||
Sister in International Languages
| Esperanto | fratino | ||
| Esperanto 'fratino' is also a term of address for a young woman, and originally meant 'little sister'. | |||
| Latin | soror | ||
| The Latin word 'soror' also meant 'uterine sibling' or 'female cousin' | |||
Sister in Others Languages
| Greek | αδελφή | ||
| The word 'αδελφή' also means 'womb' in Greek, sharing the same root word as 'brother'. | |||
| Hmong | tus muam | ||
| The word "tus muam" in Hmong can also refer to a female cousin or a woman who is like a sister to someone. | |||
| Kurdish | xwişk | ||
| The term xwişk may also refer to a female cousin in some Kurdish dialects. | |||
| Turkish | kız kardeş | ||
| "Kız kardeş" originates from ancient Turkic, "kiç kardaş", where "kiç" meant young and "kardaş" meant sibling | |||
| Xhosa | usisi | ||
| Xhosa 'usisi' may come from the Zulu word 'usisi' meaning 'younger sibling of either gender'. | |||
| Yiddish | שוועסטער | ||
| The Yiddish word "שוועסטער" (shvester) is cognate with the English word "sister," both ultimately deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root *swesor. | |||
| Zulu | dade | ||
| "Dade" is an alternate spelling of "dadewethu," meaning "our elder sister". | |||
| Assamese | ভণ্টি | ||
| Aymara | kullaka | ||
| Bhojpuri | बहिन | ||
| Dhivehi | ދައްތަ | ||
| Dogri | भैन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ate | ||
| Guarani | pehẽngue | ||
| Ilocano | kabsat a babai | ||
| Krio | sista | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | خوشک | ||
| Maithili | बहिन | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯆꯦ | ||
| Mizo | unaunu | ||
| Oromo | obboleettii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଭଉଣୀ | ||
| Quechua | ñaña | ||
| Sanskrit | भगिनी | ||
| Tatar | апа | ||
| Tigrinya | ሓፍቲ | ||
| Tsonga | sesi | ||