Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'snap' is a small but mighty part of many languages, carrying a variety of meanings and connotations. In English, 'snap' can refer to a quick, sharp sound or the act of breaking something suddenly and completely. It can also describe a photo or a style of dress, as well as a popular card game. But what about in other languages? Understanding the translation of 'snap' in different languages can open up new cultural perspectives and enrich our global understanding.
For example, in Spanish, 'snap' can be translated as 'chasquido' or 'clic', depending on the context. In French, it's 'claquement' or 'clic', and in German, 'Knall' or 'Klick'. These translations not only help us communicate with speakers of other languages, but also offer insight into the unique sounds and rhythms of different cultures.
So whether you're a language learner, a cultural enthusiast, or just curious about the world around you, exploring the translations of 'snap' in different languages is a fun and fascinating way to deepen your understanding of language and culture.
Afrikaans | snap | ||
In Afrikaans, "snap" can also mean "to chat" or "to take a photograph." | |||
Amharic | ፈጣን | ||
The word can also refer to a small bird resembling a sparrow. | |||
Hausa | karye | ||
Hausa 'karye' also carries the meanings of 'pull' or 'pluck'. | |||
Igbo | snap | ||
'Snap' (Igbo) can also mean to break or to crack | |||
Malagasy | anatn'ny | ||
The word "anatn'ny" can also refer to "to crack" or "to break off". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chithunzithunzi | ||
The word "chithunzithunzi" (snap) comes from the verb "kuthunzithunza" (to break something, snap something) | |||
Shona | snap | ||
In Shona, "snap" means "to break suddenly or quickly," and can also refer to "a sudden, sharp sound." | |||
Somali | dhaqso | ||
The word "dhaqso" can also be used to refer to a trap or a snare. | |||
Sesotho | qhekella | ||
"Qhekella" can also refer to a thin, flat object, such as a piece of paper or a leaf. | |||
Swahili | snap | ||
In Swahili, "snap" can also refer to a type of traditional dance. | |||
Xhosa | ngokukhawuleza | ||
The verb "ngokukhawuleza" can also mean "to rush/hurry" or "to hasten", suggesting a sense of urgency beyond simply making a snapping sound. | |||
Yoruba | imolara | ||
The Yoruba word "imolara" also means "to be happy" or "to show affection". | |||
Zulu | ngesankahlu | ||
"Ngesankahlu" also means "suddenly" or "unexpectedly" in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | ka ja ta | ||
Ewe | to dɔ | ||
Kinyarwanda | gufata | ||
Lingala | koswa noki | ||
Luganda | ekifananyi | ||
Sepedi | kgaola | ||
Twi (Akan) | twa mfoni | ||
Arabic | يفرقع، ينفجر | ||
"يفرقع، ينفجر" In Arabic has another meaning: "pop" | |||
Hebrew | לְצַלֵם | ||
The verb 'לְצַלֵם' in Hebrew originally meant 'to mark or to seal,' and is cognate with the Akkadian word 'salamu,' 'to engrave a seal,' and the Arabic word 'taslima,' 'a seal or mark.' | |||
Pashto | سنیپ | ||
The Pashto word "سنیپ" (pronounced "snap") is also used to describe the sound of a gunshot. | |||
Arabic | يفرقع، ينفجر | ||
"يفرقع، ينفجر" In Arabic has another meaning: "pop" |
Albanian | këput | ||
"Këput" in Albanian can also refer to a small piece of cloth or paper used to cover a hole or crack. | |||
Basque | atxikitzeko | ||
"Atxikitzeko" (to snap in Basque) derives from "atxiki" (to hold), from Proto-Basque "*ats-gi" (to catch), from the root "*(e)ts-" (to grasp). | |||
Catalan | encaixar | ||
The verb "encaixar" in Catalan can also mean "to fit". | |||
Croatian | pucanje | ||
Danish | snap | ||
In Danish, "snap" also refers to a small alcoholic beverage served in shot glasses during social gatherings. | |||
Dutch | snap | ||
In Dutch, "snap" can also refer to a snack or a quick nap. | |||
English | snap | ||
'Snap' has other meanings such as to close or fasten with a snap and to utter with a snapping sound. | |||
French | casser | ||
The word "casser" in French can also mean to break, destroy, or annul something. | |||
Frisian | snap | ||
The Frisian word "snap" also refers to a small piece of bread or cake. | |||
Galician | encaixar | ||
The verb "encaixar" in Galician also means "to fit", "to join", or "to combine". | |||
German | einrasten | ||
The word "einrasten" comes from the Middle High German word "rasten", which meant "to rest" or "to latch". In modern German, "einrasten" is used when something suddenly secures into place, as when a car door locks or when a puzzle piece fits together with a click. | |||
Icelandic | smella | ||
Smell is a word in Icelandic. It's a verb, and it means 'to snap' or 'to make a clicking sound'. | |||
Irish | léim | ||
Léim shares its origin with Welsh 'llamu', a verb meaning to leap or jump. | |||
Italian | scatto | ||
The Italian word "scatto" can also refer to a sudden movement or reaction, a quick glance, or a photographic shot. | |||
Luxembourgish | knipsen | ||
In Luxembourgish, "knipsen" can also refer to the sound made by a spark plug. | |||
Maltese | snap | ||
The Maltese word "snap" can also refer to a type of small, round cookie. | |||
Norwegian | snap | ||
In Norwegian, "snap" can also mean "shot" (of alcohol), "kiss" or can be used as an interjection to express surprise or satisfaction. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | estalo | ||
The Portuguese word "estalo" can also refer to a gunshot or a slapping sound. | |||
Scots Gaelic | snap | ||
The Scots Gaelic word "snap" can also refer to a snack or a piece of candy. | |||
Spanish | chasquido | ||
The word "chasquido" can also mean a crack or burst, as in "el chasquido de un trueno" (the crack of thunder). | |||
Swedish | knäppa | ||
"Knäppa," in addition to meaning "to snap," can also mean "to crack" or, figuratively speaking, "to be/go crazy." | |||
Welsh | snap | ||
The Welsh word 'snap' may have a root in the Old English verb 'snappen' or the Middle English word 'snappen', both meaning 'to break' or 'to bite'. |
Belarusian | аснастка | ||
In Belarusian, "аснастка" can also refer to a device or a set of tools used in a particular trade or activity. | |||
Bosnian | snap | ||
"Snap" also means "to interrupt" and "to photograph" in Bosnian. | |||
Bulgarian | щракване | ||
The Bulgarian word "щракване" can also refer to a type of traditional folk dance. | |||
Czech | prasknout | ||
The word "prasknout" can also mean "to crash" or "to go bankrupt" in Czech. | |||
Estonian | klõps | ||
In German, the word "Klips" also refers to a small spring holding something in place, like a paper clip or a clothespin. | |||
Finnish | napsahtaa | ||
The Finnish word "napsahtaa" is also an onomatopoeia meaning the sound of a camera shutter or a mouse click. | |||
Hungarian | csattan | ||
The Hungarian word 'csattan' also refers to the punchline of a joke or the climax of a story. | |||
Latvian | snap | ||
In Latvian, "snap" is a loanword from English that can also mean "a click" or "a quick movement". | |||
Lithuanian | spragtelėk | ||
The root word "sprag" appears in words referring to quick motion or sudden force. | |||
Macedonian | предвремени | ||
The word "предвремени" also means "prematurely" or "ahead of time" in Macedonian. | |||
Polish | kłapnięcie | ||
"Kłapnięcie" is also used as a slang word for "falling asleep" or a noun meaning "sleeping". | |||
Romanian | trage | ||
The Romanian language has two verbs that sound similar but have distinctly different meanings: _trage_, meaning the act of carrying an object from one place to another, versus _a trage_, meaning to take a swig of a drink. | |||
Russian | щелчок | ||
"Ралгон" (snap) may also refer to a small amount of alcohol (usually vodka), or to one's fingers (sometimes in a childish, sing-songy manner), or the act of cracking one's fingers. | |||
Serbian | снап | ||
The word 'снап' ('snap') in Serbian also has a slang connotation, meaning a type of firearm used in illegal street fighting. | |||
Slovak | prasknúť | ||
In Russian, the word "prasknut'" (праскнуть) means to "burst". | |||
Slovenian | snap | ||
"Snap" in Slovenian also means a | |||
Ukrainian | оснащення | ||
The Ukrainian word "оснащення" can also refer to equipment, provisions, or supplies. |
Bengali | স্ন্যাপ | ||
"স্ন্যাপ" (snap) can also mean "to break suddenly with a sharp sound" or "to move or act quickly and decisively" in Bengali. | |||
Gujarati | ત્વરિત | ||
The word 'ત્વરિત' in Gujarati also means 'swift' or 'quick'. | |||
Hindi | स्नैप | ||
Hindi "स्नैप" can also refer to the sound of breaking or a sudden sharp sound. | |||
Kannada | ಸ್ನ್ಯಾಪ್ | ||
The Kannada word "स्नॅॅप" (snap), derived from English, can also refer to a small snack consumed between meals. | |||
Malayalam | സ്നാപ്പ് | ||
സ്നാപ്പ് can also mean a type of Indian classical music or a piece of clothing. | |||
Marathi | स्नॅप | ||
In English, "snap" can also mean "to make a sudden sharp sound" or "to break or cause to break suddenly with a sharp sound". | |||
Nepali | स्न्याप | ||
The word 'स्न्याप' ('snap') derives from the Middle English word 'snappen', which means 'to seize suddenly'. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਨੈਪ | ||
The word 'ਸਨੈਪ' can also refer to a kind of button or fastener in Punjabi. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සැණෙකින් | ||
The Sinhalese word "සැණෙකින්" (sænekin) can also mean "in a moment", "suddenly", or "unexpectedly". | |||
Tamil | ஒடி | ||
"ஒடி" in Tamil can also refer to a type of musical instrument or a dance. | |||
Telugu | స్నాప్ | ||
The word "స్నాప్" can also mean "a sudden break", "a catch", or "a sharp report" in Telugu. | |||
Urdu | اچانک | ||
اچانک is derived from the word آچانک in Hindi, meaning 'unexpected' or 'abrupt'. It can also be an adverb, meaning 'suddenly'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 卡 | ||
卡 can also mean "a pass card", "a card game" or a "slot". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 卡 | ||
卡 "snap" comes from the Mandarin pronunciation of the English word.} | |||
Japanese | スナップ | ||
スナップ is the Japanese transliteration of the English word | |||
Korean | 스냅 | ||
The Korean word "스냅" (snap) is also used to refer to a type of snack resembling a thin cracker. | |||
Mongolian | гэнэтийн | ||
The word "гэнэтийн" also refers to a small piece of paper used for counting or keeping track of something. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | လျှပ်တစ်ပြက် | ||
Indonesian | jepret | ||
The word 'jepret' is also used to refer to a sudden, unexpected sound or flash of light, or to the act of taking a photograph. | |||
Javanese | sworo seru | ||
The word "sworo seru" in Javanese means "snap" and is onomatopoeic, meaning it imitates the sound of something snapping. | |||
Khmer | ខ្ទាស់ | ||
The word "ខ្ទាស់" (ktdahk) is an onomatopoeia for the sound of snapping fingers or a whip, but it can also figuratively refer to sharpness, quickness, or the act of breaking something suddenly. | |||
Lao | snap | ||
The Lao word "snap" can also refer to a type of traditional Lao silk fabric. | |||
Malay | sekejap | ||
The word "sekejap" also means "a moment" or "a second". | |||
Thai | สแน็ป | ||
The Thai word "snap" (สแน็ป) can also refer to a type of snack food, a button closure, or an instance of taking a photograph. | |||
Vietnamese | búng tay | ||
The word "búng tay" can also mean "to flick something with the fingers" or "to click the fingers," likely derived from the quick sound created by these actions. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | snap | ||
Azerbaijani | snap | ||
The Azerbaijani word "tıklama" (kliklamaq) can also mean "to click" or "to tap" in English. | |||
Kazakh | жедел | ||
Жедел comes from the Old Kazakh word "жеделме" with the original meaning "quick". | |||
Kyrgyz | тез | ||
In Kyrgyz, "тез" also means "to hurry" or "to do quickly." | |||
Tajik | кӯтоҳ | ||
In Tajik, "кӯтоҳ" also means "small" or "short". | |||
Turkmen | gysmak | ||
Uzbek | tez | ||
"Tez" (snap) in Uzbek can also refer to speed or sharpness. | |||
Uyghur | snap | ||
Hawaiian | paʻi | ||
The Hawaiian word “paʻi” can also refer to printing, a sound of cracking or breaking, or even a brand. | |||
Maori | putunga | ||
The word "putunga" can also refer to a type of trap used for catching birds or a sudden movement or jerk. | |||
Samoan | vave | ||
The term "vave" can also refer to a crack, such as the crack of dawn. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | iglap | ||
The Tagalog word "iglap" originates from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root "*kidlap" meaning "to flash". It cognate with the Indonesian word "kelip" meaning "to blink". |
Aymara | winkuña | ||
Guarani | so | ||
Esperanto | klaki | ||
The word "klaki" in Esperanto also refers to a type of quick, light snack or treat. | |||
Latin | frangeretur | ||
"Frangere" is used as "break" as in "break glass", while the same in the passive "frangeretur" would mean to break due to being hit, like the snapping of a dry twig underfoot. |
Greek | θραύση | ||
The word "θραύση" comes from the verb "θραύω", which means "to break" or "to shatter". | |||
Hmong | snap | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "snap," the Hmong word "snap" can also refer to the sound made by a person breathing heavily, especially when exhausted or tired. | |||
Kurdish | qeşmer kirin | ||
The term 'qeşmer kirin' is also used to refer to the sound made when a bone breaks, or when something hard is hit. | |||
Turkish | çatırdamak | ||
The Turkish word "çatırdamak" also means "to crackle" or "to creak." | |||
Xhosa | ngokukhawuleza | ||
The verb "ngokukhawuleza" can also mean "to rush/hurry" or "to hasten", suggesting a sense of urgency beyond simply making a snapping sound. | |||
Yiddish | קנאַקן | ||
The word "קנאַקן" can also mean "to crack" or "to break" in Yiddish. | |||
Zulu | ngesankahlu | ||
"Ngesankahlu" also means "suddenly" or "unexpectedly" in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | ছৱি | ||
Aymara | winkuña | ||
Bhojpuri | फोटो | ||
Dhivehi | ސްނެޕް | ||
Dogri | तड़ाका | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | snap | ||
Guarani | so | ||
Ilocano | tukkulen | ||
Krio | snap | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | لەپڕ | ||
Maithili | फोटो | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯠꯄ | ||
Mizo | chat | ||
Oromo | qarxamsuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସ୍ନାପ୍ | ||
Quechua | winay | ||
Sanskrit | स्नापक | ||
Tatar | тарту | ||
Tigrinya | ምቑራጽ | ||
Tsonga | tshoveka | ||