Smell in Different Languages
Discover 'Smell' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Smell
Afrikaans reuk | ||
Albanian erë | ||
Amharic ማሽተት | ||
Arabic رائحة | ||
Armenian հոտը | ||
Assamese গোন্ধ | ||
Aymara mukhiña | ||
Azerbaijani iy | ||
Bambara kasa | ||
Basque usaina | ||
Belarusian пах | ||
Bengali গন্ধ | ||
Bhojpuri गंध | ||
Bosnian miris | ||
Bulgarian мирис | ||
Catalan olor | ||
Cebuano baho | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 闻 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 聞 | ||
Corsican odore | ||
Croatian miris | ||
Czech čich | ||
Danish lugt | ||
Dhivehi ވަސް | ||
Dogri मुश्क | ||
Dutch geur | ||
English smell | ||
Esperanto odoro | ||
Estonian lõhn | ||
Ewe ʋeʋẽ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) amoy | ||
Finnish haju | ||
French odeur | ||
Frisian rûke | ||
Galician cheiro | ||
Georgian სუნი | ||
German geruch | ||
Greek μυρωδιά | ||
Guarani hetũ | ||
Gujarati ગંધ | ||
Haitian Creole pran sant | ||
Hausa wari | ||
Hawaiian pilau | ||
Hebrew רֵיחַ | ||
Hindi गंध | ||
Hmong hnov tsw | ||
Hungarian szag | ||
Icelandic lykt | ||
Igbo isi | ||
Ilocano angot | ||
Indonesian bau | ||
Irish boladh | ||
Italian odore | ||
Japanese におい | ||
Javanese ambune | ||
Kannada ವಾಸನೆ | ||
Kazakh иіс | ||
Khmer ក្លិន | ||
Kinyarwanda impumuro | ||
Konkani वास | ||
Korean 냄새 | ||
Krio smɛl | ||
Kurdish bîn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) بۆن | ||
Kyrgyz жыт | ||
Lao ກິ່ນ | ||
Latin nidore | ||
Latvian smarža | ||
Lingala nsolo | ||
Lithuanian kvapas | ||
Luganda okuwunyiza | ||
Luxembourgish richen | ||
Macedonian мирис | ||
Maithili गंध | ||
Malagasy fofona | ||
Malay bau | ||
Malayalam മണം | ||
Maltese riħa | ||
Maori kakara | ||
Marathi गंध | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯃꯅꯝ | ||
Mizo rim | ||
Mongolian үнэр | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) အနံ့ | ||
Nepali गन्ध | ||
Norwegian lukt | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) kununkhiza | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଗନ୍ଧ | ||
Oromo foolii | ||
Pashto بوی | ||
Persian بو | ||
Polish zapach | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) cheiro | ||
Punjabi ਗੰਧ | ||
Quechua muskiy | ||
Romanian miros | ||
Russian запах | ||
Samoan manogi | ||
Sanskrit गंध | ||
Scots Gaelic fàileadh | ||
Sepedi nkgelela | ||
Serbian мирисати | ||
Sesotho monko | ||
Shona munhuhwi | ||
Sindhi بو | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) සුවඳ | ||
Slovak vôňa | ||
Slovenian vonj | ||
Somali ur | ||
Spanish oler | ||
Sundanese bau | ||
Swahili harufu | ||
Swedish lukt | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) amoy | ||
Tajik бӯй | ||
Tamil வாசனை | ||
Tatar ис | ||
Telugu వాసన | ||
Thai กลิ่น | ||
Tigrinya ጨና | ||
Tsonga risema | ||
Turkish koku | ||
Turkmen ys | ||
Twi (Akan) ehwa | ||
Ukrainian запах | ||
Urdu بو | ||
Uyghur پۇراق | ||
Uzbek hid | ||
Vietnamese mùi | ||
Welsh arogli | ||
Xhosa ivumba | ||
Yiddish שמעקן | ||
Yoruba orun | ||
Zulu ukuhogela |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | "Reuk" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "rook" meaning "smoke", and can also refer to "incense" or a "whiff of something". |
| Albanian | Erë comes from the Proto-Albanian word *hŋer- meaning 'stink', which is also found in the Gheg dialect of Albanian. |
| Amharic | "ማሽተት" can also mean "to be stinky" or "to give off an odor". |
| Arabic | In Arabic, the word 'رائحة' can also refer to a person's reputation or character. |
| Armenian | The Armenian word “հոտը” also has the figurative meaning of “repute” or “fame”. |
| Azerbaijani | In Azerbaijani, "iy" can also mean "unpleasant smell". |
| Basque | The Basque word "usaina" can also refer to the "odor" or "scent" of something, rather than just its general smell. |
| Belarusian | The word пах comes from Proto-Slavic *paxъ, meaning "armpit" or "flank," and is cognate with the Russian пах (пах) and the Ukrainian пах (пах). |
| Bengali | The word 'গন্ধ' ('smell') in Bengali can refer to both a pleasant or an unpleasant odor, or to a fragrance. |
| Bosnian | The word "miris" can also mean "fragrance" or "scent". |
| Bulgarian | The word "мирис" (smell) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*mьrх", which also means "stench" or "rot". |
| Catalan | The Catalan word "olor" can also refer to a plant with a strong scent, known as the "flor d'olor" (flower of smell). |
| Cebuano | The word "baho" in Cebuano can also mean "odor," "scent," or "savor." |
| Chinese (Simplified) | The word "闻" also means "to hear" or "to inquire" in Chinese. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | When used in a compound word, '聞' often takes the meaning of 'listen'. For example, the word '聞香' means 'to smell', while '聞言' means 'to hear'. |
| Corsican | Corsican "odore" was borrowed from Italian "odore" and means either "smell" or "bad smell," depending on the context. |
| Croatian | The Croatian word for "smell" 'miris' originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *mewr-, meaning "to rub" or "to grind", indicating that scents were originally sensed through touch |
| Czech | The word "čich" in Czech can also refer to a person's sense of smell or their ability to recognize and distinguish different scents. |
| Danish | The Danish word "lugt" is etymologically related to the Dutch "lucht" and German "Luft", both meaning "air". |
| Dutch | The Dutch word "geur" is cognate with "odor" and the English "garish" due to Proto-Germanic *ǥeura- referring to something striking. |
| Esperanto | "Odoro" also means "scent" as in "odor". |
| Estonian | The Estonian word "lõhn" is cognate with the Finnish word "haju" and has the additional meaning of "scent". |
| Finnish | The word "haju" in Finnish is thought to be derived from the word "haiskaa" (to stink) or "haisua" (stench). |
| French | In addition to its primary meaning of "smell," "odeur" can also refer to the scent of perfume or the fragrance of flowers. |
| Frisian | The Frisian word 'rûke' is derived from Old Frisian 'rûka' which also means 'to reek', and is cognate with the German 'riechen'. |
| Galician | In Galician, "cheiro" also refers to the scent gland of animals. |
| Georgian | სუნი derives from the Proto-Kartvelian *kˀun-i, also meaning "smoke". |
| German | "Geruch" in German is not only used to denote a smell, but also "fame" or "reputation" – just like its etymological cousin "odor" can mean "scent" or "honor". |
| Greek | The word "μυρωδιά" is derived from the ancient Greek word "μύρον", meaning "sweet-smelling oil" or "perfume". |
| Gujarati | The word "ગંધ" also has the alternate meaning "scent" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "गन्ध" (gandha). |
| Haitian Creole | "Pran sant" can mean "to smell" or "to take a bath/shower", depending on context. |
| Hausa | The word "wari" in Hausa has a deeper meaning and etymology than just "smell." |
| Hawaiian | In Hawaiian, "pilau" can also mean "to sniff" or "to smell out" something. |
| Hebrew | The Hebrew word "רֵיחַ" (reiakh) not only means "smell" but also "fragrance" and "odor", and is related to the Arabic word "ريح" (riħ), also meaning "smell" or "wind". |
| Hindi | The Hindi word "गंध" (smell) originates from the Sanskrit words "घाण" (to smell) and "धा" (to hold) |
| Hmong | Hnov tsw is also used to mean 'to be smelly'. |
| Hungarian | In Hungarian, the word "szag" not only refers to smell, but also to odor and scent, and can also be used figuratively to describe a particular atmosphere or mood. |
| Icelandic | In Old Norse, lykt meant 'light' or 'fire', and it was also used to refer to the smell of burnt meat. |
| Igbo | "Isi" can also mean "head" or "thought" |
| Indonesian | The word "bau" can also mean "odor", "scent", or "aroma". |
| Irish | The Gaelic word "boladh" also means "fragrance" and "aroma" and derives from the Old Irish "bolud", meaning "stink." |
| Italian | The Italian word "odore" derives from the Latin word "odorari" (to smell), which in turn derives from the proto-Indo-European root "*h₂ew-" (to blow). |
| Japanese | The Japanese word "におい" can also refer to a "fragrance" or "scent". |
| Javanese | The word "ambune" in Javanese is cognate to the Malay "bau" and means not only "smell", but can also refer to other sensory experiences such as taste or sound. |
| Kannada | The word "ವಾಸನೆ" in Kannada can also refer to a person's personal fragrance or the scent of a place. |
| Kazakh | "Иіс" (smell) in Kazakh also means aroma, scent, and odor. |
| Khmer | The word "ក្លិន" also refers to the scent of a flower or perfume. |
| Korean | The word "냄새" can also mean "odor, stench, or fragrance", depending on the context. |
| Kurdish | The Kurmanci word "bîn" also means "appearance" or "look". |
| Kyrgyz | The word "жыт" in Kyrgyz can also refer to the scent left behind by smoke. |
| Lao | The term can also refer to a sense of humor or character in Laotian culture, as in “mai pen rai kin khao mai pen kin khao” (don't smell the rice, smell the meat). |
| Latin | The Latin word "nidore" can also refer to a pungent or offensive smell. |
| Latvian | The Latvian word "smarža" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*smar" (stink) but may also refer to the scent of perfume or the aroma of food. |
| Lithuanian | The Lithuanian word "kvapas" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *kwe-p-, meaning "to breathe or blow". This root is also the origin of the Latin word "vapor". In addition to "smell", "kvapas" can also mean "odor", "scent", "aroma", or "perfume". |
| Luxembourgish | The Luxembourgish word "richen" meaning "smell" is probably of Middle High German origin and is related to the modern German verb "riechen" which also means "smell". |
| Macedonian | The Slavic word "мирис" is related to the Latin word "murra", meaning "myrrh", and the Greek word "μύρρον", meaning "fragrant oil or resin". |
| Malagasy | The Malagasy word "fofona" can also refer to the sense of "feeling". |
| Malay | The Malay word "bau" also refers to the aroma or scent of something, rather than its unpleasant odor. |
| Malayalam | The word 'manam' can also mean 'fragrance', 'odor', or 'scent'. |
| Maltese | The Maltese word "riħa" can also mean "scent" or "fragrance". |
| Maori | The word 'kakara' can also refer to a Māori nose flute, a type of musical instrument. |
| Marathi | The word "गंध" in Marathi can also refer to fragrance, scent, or aroma. |
| Mongolian | "үнэр" also means "taste" and may derive from "үнэ" (price), as both taste and smell influence value. |
| Myanmar (Burmese) | The word "အနံ့" can also refer to the sense of smell, or the olfactory sense. |
| Nepali | The word "गन्ध" (gandha) also refers to a type of perfume or fragrance in Nepali. |
| Norwegian | Lukten translates to "smell" in Norwegian, but when used in relation to a person, it means "bad breath." |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word 'kununkhiza' has another meaning, 'to understand', as in 'I smell what you're saying.' |
| Pashto | The Pashto word "بوی" (būi) has alternate meanings of "fragrance" and "perfume". |
| Persian | The Persian word "بو" can also mean a sense of something, as in an "understanding" or "intuition" |
| Polish | In some contexts, "zapach" can also refer to a distinct, strong, or unpleasant odor. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | "Cheiro" is used to mean "scent", but it is cognate with the English "clear", and originally referred to the clarity of water. |
| Punjabi | The word "ਗੰਧ" can also refer to "disgrace" or "bad reputation" in Punjabi. |
| Romanian | Romanian word 'miros' (smell) originates from Proto-Slavic 'mirisa' and is related to Sanskrit 'mrd' (rub) and Albanian 'mërzi' (stink). |
| Russian | In Russian, "запах" can also refer to one's reputation or standing in society. |
| Samoan | "Manogi" is derived from the Proto-Polynesian word *manogi, meaning "fragrance" or "scent." |
| Scots Gaelic | The Scots Gaelic word "fàileadh" derives from the Proto-Celtic root (*fel), meaning "to smell." |
| Serbian | The word "мирисати" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "mir" meaning "world" or "peace", indicating the sense of smell's role in perceiving and interacting with the surrounding environment. |
| Sesotho | In Tswana the word "monko" also means "scent" or "aroma". |
| Shona | 'Munhuhwi' likely originates from the Proto-Bantu root -nuhun, meaning 'to sniff.' |
| Sindhi | The word "بو" is also used to describe a "scent", denoting an odor that is pleasant and fragrant. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The word 'සුවඳ' can also refer to a 'scent' or 'fragrance' that is pleasing to the senses. |
| Slovak | In Slovak, "vôňa" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *vonja*, meaning "fragrance", and also relates to the word "voniať", meaning "to smell (good)". |
| Slovenian | "Vonj" is an old Slavic word used for various types of aromas, scents and smells. |
| Somali | The Somali word "ur" can also refer to the scent of a person or animal, or to a bad smell. |
| Spanish | The word "oler" in Spanish comes from the Latin "olere" meaning "to smell" or "to emit an odor". It can also mean "to perceive a smell" or "to have a strong odor". |
| Sundanese | The word "bau" also means "stink" in Sundanese. |
| Swahili | Harufu can mean scent or fragrance, especially one associated with a particular object or place. |
| Swedish | The Swedish word "lukt" is etymologically related to the German word "Luft" and the English word "loft," both meaning "upper space" or "air." |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The word "amoy" in Tagalog can also be used informally to mean flattery. |
| Tajik | The word "бӯй" in Tajik has an alternate use as a euphemism for "fart". |
| Tamil | வாசனை can also refer to fragrance or perfume, or the sense of smell. |
| Telugu | The Telugu word "వాసన" (smell) is derived from the Sanskrit word "वासन" (dwelling place or abode) and also refers to "mental impressions" or "tendencies" in the Vaishnava philosophical tradition. |
| Thai | The Thai word 'กลิ่น' can also refer to the reputation, aura or character of a person, such as a good or bad reputation. |
| Turkish | In Turkish, "koku" also means "the sense of smell".} |
| Ukrainian | The word "запах" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *zapъxъ*, which meant both "smell" and "odor". |
| Urdu | بو, or 'boo' in Urdu, can also mean "scent," "aroma," or "fragrance," when used in a positive context. |
| Uzbek | The Uzbek word "hid" also means "scent" or "aroma". |
| Vietnamese | Mùi in Vietnamese can mean either "smell" or "flavor" depending on context. |
| Welsh | The word 'arogli' can also refer to the sense of perception or the ability to perceive. |
| Xhosa | The Xhosa word for "smell" is "ivumba," which also translates to "scent" and "stench." |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word "shmeken" can also mean "to taste" and originates from the Old High German word "smecken". |
| Yoruba | In some dialects of Yoruba, `orun` means `aroma`, and has a more positive connotation than `irun` (general `smell` or `odor`). |
| Zulu | The Zulu word ukuhogela can also refer to the act of sensing or perceiving something. |
| English | The word 'smell' originally meant to sniff or inhale, and is related to the word 'scent', which comes from the Latin 'sentire' meaning 'to perceive'. |