Skin in different languages

Skin in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Skin is a fascinating and vital part of our bodies, playing a crucial role in protecting us from the outside world. Its significance goes beyond the physical, as it also holds cultural importance across various societies. For instance, in many Indigenous cultures, skin is seen as a sacred canvas, adorned with intricate tattoos that tell stories of heritage, status, and personal achievements.

Moreover, understanding the translation of 'skin' in different languages can provide unique insights into how other cultures perceive and value this vital organ. For example, in Spanish, 'skin' is 'piel', while in French, it's 'peau'. In German, it's 'Haut', and in Japanese, it's 'hadaka'.

Delving into the translations of 'skin' in various languages can also reveal interesting historical contexts. For instance, in Old English, 'skin' was referred to as 'hýdd', which also meant 'hide' or 'pelt'. This connection highlights the historical importance of animal hides in providing warmth and protection, further emphasizing the significance of skin in human survival.

Join us as we explore the translations of 'skin' in a variety of languages, shedding light on the cultural and historical significance of this remarkable organ.

Skin


Skin in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansvel
The word "vel" can also refer to a pelt or hide, or, figuratively, to someone's appearance or character.
Amharicቆዳ
The word "ቆዳ" also refers to "the hide or skin of an animal".
Hausafata
The Hausa word 'fata' not only refers to one's skin, but also carries the metaphorical connotation of 'beauty'.
Igboanụahụ
In the context of traditional Igbo masks, "anuahu" refers to the "cloth" covering the face.
Malagasyhoditra
The word 'hoditra' can also refer to a 'cover' or 'enclosure,' like the skin that covers an animal's body.
Nyanja (Chichewa)khungu
The word 'khungu' in Nyanja has the alternate meanings of 'peel' and 'bark'.
Shonaganda
In Shona, "ganda" can also refer to the surface of a liquid, such as water or milk.
Somalimaqaarka
The word 'maqaarka' in Somali is derived from the Proto-Cushitic word *maqaar, which means 'skin, hide'
Sesotholetlalo
In Sesotho, the word "letlalo" can also refer to the outer covering or shell of certain objects, such as eggs or nuts.
Swahilingozi
The Swahili word "ngozi" also means "beauty" or "charm" and can be used as a compliment.
Xhosaulusu
In Xhosa, the word "ulusu" has a dual meaning, referring to both "skin" and "people".
Yorubaawọ
The Yoruba word “àwọ” for “skin” can also refer to color, race, or the human body.
Zuluisikhumba
The word "isikhumba" can also refer to a leather object, such as a bag or garment.
Bambaragolo
Eweŋutigbalẽ
Kinyarwandauruhu
Lingalamposo
Lugandaomubiri
Sepediletlalo
Twi (Akan)wedeɛ

Skin in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicبشرة
The Arabic word بشرة (biṣarah) not only means 'skin' but can also be used to mean 'complexion' or 'appearance'.
Hebrewעור
The term may originate in the Semitic concept of a boundary or protection against elements.
Pashtoپوټکی
The Pashto word "پوټکی" can also refer to the outer layer of a fruit, a piece of leather, or a type of bag or container.
Arabicبشرة
The Arabic word بشرة (biṣarah) not only means 'skin' but can also be used to mean 'complexion' or 'appearance'.

Skin in Western European Languages

Albanianlëkurës
"Lëkurë" also refers to "human nature" (good or evil) or to the surface of something; i.e. land, water, an apple.
Basquelarruazala
In some Gipuzkoan and Navarrese dialects,
Catalanpell
The word "pell" in Catalan originates from the Latin "pellis" and also means "sheet" or "sheet of paper."
Croatiankoža
"Koža" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*koža", which also means "bark".
Danishhud
The Danish word “hud” can also refer to an animal pelt or a membrane in the body.
Dutchhuid
The Dutch word "huid" originates from the Proto-Germanic word "*hud-az", which also means "covering" or "envelope".
Englishskin
The word 'skin' is derived from the Old English word 'scinu,' which means 'hide' or 'covering'.
Frenchpeau
In addition to its primary meaning of 'skin,' 'peau' can also refer to a thin, flexible material used for covering or wrapping, such as in 'peau de chagrin' (shagreen) or 'peau d'orange' (orange peel texture).
Frisianfel
Frisian "fel" likely comes from Proto-Germanic "*felljaz", also the origin of English "fell"
Galicianpel
Galician "pel" comes from Latin "pellis" and can also refer to animal fur, wool, hair, or fabric made of wool.
Germanhaut
"Haut" is used for "skin" but also for "main part of a musical instrument" or "membrane"
Icelandichúð
The word "húð" in Icelandic can also refer to the layer of fat beneath the skin.
Irishcraiceann
The word craiceann can also mean 'membrane' or 'cuticle'.
Italianpelle
The word "pelle" comes from the Latin word "pellis", meaning "animal hide".
Luxembourgishhaut
In Luxembourgish, "Haut" can also refer to the surface of a liquid or object, or a membrane covering a body part.
Malteseġilda
The Maltese word "ġilda" also has the meaning of "cover" or "wrapper".
Norwegianhud
Hud in Norwegian also refers to the body, complexion and face.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)pele
"Pele" comes from the Latin "pellis", and also means "fur" and "hide".
Scots Gaeliccraiceann
The term "craiceann" in Scots Gaelic also refers to a "covering" or "skin" in non-literal contexts, such as "the skin of the earth" (i.e., the planet's surface) or the "skin of the sky" (i.e., the atmosphere).
Spanishpiel
The word "piel" in Spanish is derived from the Latin word "pellis", meaning "skin, hide, or hide of an animal".
Swedishhud
In Swedish, "hud" can also refer to the skin of a drum or the surface of a painting.
Welshcroen
The word 'croen' in Welsh is probably derived from the Proto-Celtic *krow- ('skin'), possibly related to 'crwth' ('fiddle'), from the sound the instrument makes when played.

Skin in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianскуры
The word "скуры" also refers to the membraneous lining of the lungs.
Bosniankože
Koža, meaning skin in Bosnian, also refers to leather or a hide in other Slavic languages such as Croatian.
Bulgarianкожата
The Bulgarian word "кожата" not only means "skin", but is also a term for the "membrane" that separates the pulp from the seeds in citrus fruit.
Czechkůže
The word "kůže" also means "leather" in Czech.
Estoniannahk
The word "nahk" is also used in Estonian to refer to the cover of a book or other object.
Finnishiho
Finnish word "iho" is a cognate of Proto-Indo-European "*kayt-o-s" that also meant "to hide".
Hungarianbőr
The Hungarian word "bőr" (skin) also refers to the outer layer of a tree or plant, as well as to a layer of liquid or gas on a surface.
Latvianāda
"Āda" is a homonym, meaning both "skin" and "leather".
Lithuanianoda
"Oda" is also Lithuanian for "louse" (singular) or "lice" (plural), and the word's original meaning was "the skin of a louse".
Macedonianкожата
The word 'кожата' ('skin') derives from the Proto-Slavic word 'skora', meaning 'hide' or 'fur'.
Polishskóra
The word "skóra" also means "hide" in Polish.
Romanianpiele
The Romanian word "piele" comes from the Latin "pellis," and has the alternate meaning of "coat" or "fabric."
Russianкожа
The Russian word "ко́жа" means not just "skin", but also "leather" and "bark" of a tree.
Serbianкоже
The Serbian word "коже" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *korja, which also means "crust" or "bark".
Slovakkoža
The word "koža" in Slovak is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*kozja", which is related to the Sanskrit word "कुज्जति" ("kujjati"), meaning "to sting" or "to itch."
Sloveniankožo
In the Prekmurje dialect, "koža" also refers to a "vineyard".
Ukrainianшкіри
In Ukrainian, "шкіри" can also refer to animal hides or furs.

Skin in South Asian Languages

Bengaliত্বক
"ত্বক" also refers to the bark of a tree and leather from an animal's hide.
Gujaratiત્વચા
The word "ત્વચા" (skin) in Gujarati originates from Sanskrit and is also related to the Hindi word "त्वचा" (skin).
Hindiत्वचा
The word "त्वचा" (skin) in Hindi is derived from the Sanskrit word "त्वक्" (bark), indicating its protective nature.
Kannadaಚರ್ಮ
"ಚರ್ಮ" word means "elephant hide" in some rural parts of Karnataka."
Malayalamതൊലി
The word "തൊലി" also means "page" in Malayalam, a meaning derived from the use of tree bark as a writing surface in ancient times.
Marathiत्वचा
The word 'त्वचा' can also mean 'bark' or 'rind' of a fruit or vegetable.
Nepaliछाला
In addition to "skin," "छाला" can also mean "peel" or "rind" in Nepali.
Punjabiਚਮੜੀ
The word "ਚਮੜੀ" (skin) in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word "चर्म" (carma), which also means "hide" or "leather".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)සම
The Sinhala word "සම" means not only "skin" but also "equal", "uniform", and "similar".
Tamilதோல்
"தோல்" is derived from the proto-Dravidian root *tōl- "hide, skin," also found in Telugu "tollu." It also has a figurative meaning of "defeat, loss."
Teluguచర్మం
In ancient times, చర్మం referred to animal hide used as clothing.
Urduجلد
The word "جلد" (skin) in Urdu is derived from the Arabic word "جلد" meaning "to cover" or "to protect".

Skin in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)皮肤
The character "肤" in "皮肤" also means "surface".
Chinese (Traditional)皮膚
皮膚 is a combination of two characters: 皮 (pí), meaning 'hide' or 'leather', and 膚 (fū), meaning 'flesh' or 'complexion'
Japanese
The character "肌" also appears in the word "肌理", which means "skin texture" or "complexion".
Korean피부
In Korean, the word 피부 (pronounced
Mongolianарьс
The word "арьс" in Mongolian can also refer to a layer of something, such as the layer of ice on a lake.
Myanmar (Burmese)အရေပြား
The word "အရေပြား" (skin) in Myanmar (Burmese) has the same root as the word "ရေ" (water), possibly due to the skin's role in protecting the body from dehydration.

Skin in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankulit
The Indonesian word 'kulit' derives from proto-Austronesian and also means 'bark' or 'rind'.
Javanesekulit
In Javanese, the word "kulit" can also refer to the surface or outer layer of something, such as the skin of a fruit or the cover of a book.
Khmerស្បែក
The word "ស្បែក" can also refer to the "rind" of a fruit or vegetable.
Laoຜິວຫນັງ
Malaykulit
Kulit's etymology comes from Austronesian "kulit" with the main meaning "outer layer".
Thaiผิวหนัง
ผิวหนัง in Thai can also refer to the "outer cover" of various things, not just the skin of a living organism.
Vietnameseda
"Da" can also mean "country" or "area" in Vietnamese, showcasing the metaphorical extension of skin as a boundary or covering.
Filipino (Tagalog)balat

Skin in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanidəri
"Dəri" also means "leather" or "hide" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhтері
The word "тері" in Kazakh has an alternate meaning of "face" or "appearance."
Kyrgyzтери
In Kyrgyz, the word "тери" also refers to the surface of an object or a wound.
Tajikпӯст
Пӯст is borrowed from Middle Persian پوست and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European “*peu-” (“fur, hide”).
Turkmenderi
Uzbekteri
"Teri" also means "leaf" in Uzbek.
Uyghurتېرە

Skin in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianʻili
ʻIli, in addition to its primary meaning of 'skin,' also refers to a layer or covering, such as the bark of a tree.
Maorikiri
The Maori word "kiri" also refers to the surface of water, a membrane, or a boundary.
Samoanpaʻu
In Samoan, the word "paʻu" can also refer to the membrane that covers the internal organs.
Tagalog (Filipino)balat
Balát can also mean 'leather' or 'hide' if used to refer to animal skin that has been processed.

Skin in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajanchi
Guaranipire

Skin in International Languages

Esperantohaŭto
The word "haŭto" comes from the Latin word "cutis", meaning "hide, skin".
Latinpellis
Although "pellis" means "skin" in Latin, it also refers to any animal skin, fur, or hide.

Skin in Others Languages

Greekδέρμα
The word 'δέρμα' in Greek can also mean 'hide', 'leather', or 'parchment'.
Hmongtawv nqaij
In Hmong, 'tawv nqaij' translates literally as 'the skin of meat', and the compound word can refer to animal hide, human skin, or a plant's outer layer.
Kurdishçerm
The Kurdish word "çerm" has cognates in many Iranian languages, such as Persian "charm" and Sogdian "chrm."
Turkishcilt
The word cilt can also mean 'binding' or 'volume' in Turkish, referring to the skin-like cover of a book.
Xhosaulusu
In Xhosa, the word "ulusu" has a dual meaning, referring to both "skin" and "people".
Yiddishהויט
In Yiddish, the word "הויט" also has the meaning of "hideout" or "den".
Zuluisikhumba
The word "isikhumba" can also refer to a leather object, such as a bag or garment.
Assameseছাল
Aymarajanchi
Bhojpuriचमड़ी
Dhivehiހަންގަނޑު
Dogriचमड़ी
Filipino (Tagalog)balat
Guaranipire
Ilocanokudil
Kriokanda
Kurdish (Sorani)پێست
Maithiliचमड़ी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯎꯅꯁꯥ
Mizovun
Oromogogaa
Odia (Oriya)ଚର୍ମ
Quechuaqara
Sanskritचर्म
Tatarтире
Tigrinyaቆርበት
Tsonganhlonghe

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