Snow in different languages

Snow in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Snow, the beautiful and serene precipitation of ice crystals, holds a special place in our hearts and cultures. Its pristine white blankets transform landscapes into winter wonderlands, inspiring awe and wonder worldwide. From cozying up by the fireplace to engaging in exhilarating winter sports, snow brings people together and adds a touch of magic to our lives. &

Snow


Snow in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanssneeu
The Afrikaans word "sneeu" likely derives from the Dutch word "sneeuw", which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*snéigaz"
Amharicበረዶ
The root በረደ (barrada) means to be cold or chill.
Hausadusar ƙanƙara
In Hausa, 'dusar ƙanƙara' primarily refers to snow, but it can also mean 'cold' or 'very cold weather'.
Igbosnow
The Igbo word
Malagasyoram-panala
Oram-panala literally translates to 'ice-like water' in the Malagasy language.
Nyanja (Chichewa)chisanu
The word "chisanu" also means "winter" in Nyanja.
Shonachando
Derived from Proto-Bantu root *chanda- 'to be cold, to rain'.
Somalibaraf
The Somali word "baraf" comes from the Arabic word "barad", meaning "cold", and can also refer to "ice" or "hail".
Sesotholehloa
The word "lehloa" also means "ice".
Swahilitheluji
The word "theluji" also means "whiteness" in Swahili, and is often associated with the purity and cleanliness of the snow.
Xhosaikhephu
The word 'ikhephu' in Xhosa originates from the Nguni word 'iqhwa', which also means 'frost' or 'hoarfrost'.
Yorubaegbon
Egbon can also mean "white" or "pale" in Yoruba, and is used to describe the color of objects or substances.
Zuluiqhwa
The word 'iqhwa' can also refer to the 'white-ness' of snow or a 'very white' object.
Bambaranɛzi
Ewesno
Kinyarwandashelegi
Lingalambula mpembe
Lugandaomuzira
Sepedilehlwa
Twi (Akan)sunoo

Snow in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالثلج
"ثلج" (snow) comes from the root "ثلج" (to be cold) and is related to the words "ثلج" (ice) and "ثلجة" (icicle).
Hebrewשֶׁלֶג
The Hebrew word "שֶׁלֶג" ('snow') also means 'frost' or 'hoarfrost'.
Pashtoواوره
The word "واوره" in Pashto has been suggested to derive from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰwen-h₁-, meaning "to strike, to kill".
Arabicالثلج
"ثلج" (snow) comes from the root "ثلج" (to be cold) and is related to the words "ثلج" (ice) and "ثلجة" (icicle).

Snow in Western European Languages

Albanianbora
Albanian "bora" derives from Proto-Indo-European "bher-" (to bear, carry), suggesting snow as a burden on the land.
Basqueelurra
"Elurra' is derived from the Proto-Basque word 'elur', which also means 'white'
Catalanneu
Originating as Latin 'nix, nivis'. Variant of the Castilian 'nieve'.
Croatiansnijeg
The word "snijeg" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *sněgъ, which also means "to snow".
Danishsne
Danish "sne" from Middle Low German "snē," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European "*sneyǵʰ-." Scandinavian "snö" also from Proto-Indo-European "*sneyǵʰ-" (compare Old English "snāw")
Dutchsneeuw
Sneeuw, a Dutch word for "snow," also refers to the "white of an egg" or a "fine powder," stemming from the Old Dutch "snee" meaning "cut" or "sheared."
Englishsnow
The word "snow" derives from the Old English word "snaw," which comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*snaiwaz" and the Proto-Indo-European word "*sneygwh".
Frenchneige
While French 'neige' comes from Latin 'nix', it may also be linked to the Sanskrit term 'sneha' meaning 'viscous substance'.
Frisiansnie
The Frisian word 'snie' comes from the Old Frisian 'snia' or 'snoe' and is cognate with other Germanic words for 'snow', such as the English word 'snow'
Galicianneve
The word neve in Galician comes from the Latin word nix, nivis, meaning "snow".
Germanschnee
The German word "Schnee" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "snaiws", meaning "to snow" or "snow cover".
Icelandicsnjór
Icelandic "snjór" is cognate with "snow" in English and "snijeg" in Croatian, and is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *sneigʷh-.
Irishsneachta
The Irish word "sneachta" may also refer to a shower of rain, hail or sleet.
Italianneve
The word "neve" in Italian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*sneigh-", meaning "to snow".
Luxembourgishschnéi
The word "Schnéi" is derived from the Proto-Germanic *snaiws, which also gave rise to the English word "snow".
Malteseborra
The Maltese word "borra" is derived from the Arabic word "barad" meaning "hail"
Norwegiansnø
"Snø" likely derives from the Proto-Germanic "sneiwa". The word also appears with an alternative meaning referring to mucus discharge in the nose.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)neve
The Portuguese word "neve" ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *sneg-, meaning "to snow".
Scots Gaelicsneachda
The Gaelic word "sneachd" for "snow" is thought by some to stem from the Proto-Indo-European root *sneigʷ-, "to snow", also found in Latin "nix", "snow".
Spanishnieve
The Spanish word "nieve" originates from the Latin word "nix," meaning "snow" and it can also refer to "naïveté" or "ignorance".
Swedishsnö
"Snö" can refer to snow in Swedish, but it also meant "to sail" in Old Norse.
Welsheira
The word "eira" in Welsh can also refer to a type of avalanche or a snowy region.

Snow in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianснег
The Belarusian word
Bosniansnijeg
"Snijeg" is of Slavic origin, derived from the Proto-Slavic word *sněgъ, which is related to the Sanskrit word *snigh-
Bulgarianсняг
Сняг derives from the Proto-Slavic word *sněgъ, from the Proto-Indo-European root *sneh₂- "to snow".
Czechsníh
The word "sníh" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *sněgъ, which also means "snow".
Estonianlumi
The Estonian word "lumi" for "snow" is thought to have originated from the Proto-Uralic word *lume, which also meant "ice".
Finnishlumi
In ancient Finnish mythology, Lumi was the god of snow.
Hungarian
Latviansniegs
"Sniegs" in Latvian also refers to a type of traditional Latvian headwear made from wool or linen
Lithuaniansniego
Derived from Proto-Baltic *sniegas, perhaps related to Proto-Slavic *sněgъ, *sněgъ, and Proto-Armenian *sequn.
Macedonianснег
The Macedonian word "снег" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*snьgъ", which is a cognate to the words "snow" in English and "schnee" in German.
Polishśnieg
"Śnieg" is not only the Polish word for "snow," but also relates to "frost" and "hoarfrost" in Slavic languages.
Romanianzăpadă
The Romanian word "zăpadă" comes from Proto-Slavic *sněgъ, and is cognate with words for "snow" in other Slavic languages, such as Russian "снег" (sneg), Polish "śnieg", and Czech "sníh".
Russianснег
Alternate meanings of "снег" include "white" and "pure".
Serbianснег
The Serbian word "снег" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *sнѣgъ, which also means "rain".
Slovaksneh
The word "sneh" derives from the Proto-Slavic root "*snēgъ".
Sloveniansneg
The word “sneg” in Slovenian is related to the Latin word “nix” and the Old English word “snaw”.
Ukrainianсніг
"сніг" derives from Proto-Slavic *sněgъ, meaning both "snow" and "winter".

Snow in South Asian Languages

Bengaliতুষার
The word "তুষার" (snow) is possibly derived from the Sanskrit word "तुषार" (snow) or the Proto-Indo-European root "*ǵʰyes-ar-" (to freeze).
Gujaratiબરફ
The Gujarati word "બરફ" (barf) is derived from the Persian word "برف" (barf) and can also refer to "hail".
Hindiहिमपात
"हिमपात" is also a synonym for the Hindi word "अंधेरा" (darkness), which is derived from the Sanskrit word "तम" (darkness).
Kannadaಹಿಮ
The Kannada word "ಹಿಮ" (snow) is related to the Sanskrit word "hima," which also means "cold" or "frost."
Malayalamമഞ്ഞ്
In Malayalam, "മഞ്ഞ്" can also refer to a type of flower known as the Indian Laburnum.
Marathiबर्फ
The word "बर्फ" (barf) in Marathi comes from the Sanskrit word "वर्फ" (varf), which means hail.
Nepaliहिउँ
The word 'हिउँ' can also refer to hail.
Punjabiਬਰਫ
The word "ਬਰਫ" (barf) in Punjabi, derived from Persian, refers to both natural snow and the hailstone type of precipitation.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)හිම
The term may also refer to the color white or a cool temperature.
Tamilபனி
The Tamil word "பனி" (snow) is derived from the Sanskrit word "पनि" (pani), meaning "water", and is related to the Indo-European root "*pa-," meaning "to drink". In Tamil, "பனி" can also refer to dew or frost on cold surfaces.
Teluguమంచు
The Telugu word for snow, 'manchu,' shares roots with the Sanskrit word 'megha,' which means 'cloud,' indicating a connection between celestial phenomena and precipitation.
Urduبرف
The word "برف" (snow) in Urdu is also used to describe a form of precipitation that is composed of small, white, crystalline particles.

Snow in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character “雪” originally depicted falling snowflakes
Chinese (Traditional)
In its early usage the character 雪 also refers to the color white.
Japanese
In the Heian period, "雪" was also used to mean "whiteness" or "purity" and was often used in poetry.
Korean
The word 눈 (pronounced "nun") is also used in Korean to mean "eye".
Mongolianцас
The word "цас" in Mongolian is derived from the Proto-Mongolic root "*tsʰaɣ" and has alternate meanings such as "white" and "bright".
Myanmar (Burmese)နှင်းကျ
The word "နှင်း" ("snow") in the Tai dialects of Myanmar such as Shan and Tai Lue is derived from the Proto-Tai word *naŋ, meaning "frost".

Snow in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansalju
The word "salju" is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "frost" or "dew". In Indonesian it has the same meaning, though it can also refer to very cold weather that doesn't necessarily include snow.
Javanesesalju
In the Old Javanese language, "salju" referred to both snow and ashes from Mount Merapi eruptions.
Khmerព្រិល
The word "ព្រិល" (snow) is derived from the Sanskrit word "hrima", which means "frost" or "hail".
Laoຫິມະ
The Lao word for "snow" is also used to refer to the white flowers of some trees, or to describe something that is "white as snow"
Malaysalji
"Salji" also refers to a white, powdery mineral (snow white arsenic).
Thaiหิมะ
The word "หิมะ" comes from Pali, and while it has a secondary meaning of "cold", it only referred to snow in the past.
Vietnamesetuyết
"Tuyết" is a word with a rich history in Vietnamese. It is derived from the Middle Vietnamese word "tuyet", which itself is likely derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "*sut". The word "tuyết" has a number of alternate meanings, including "cold," "icy," "freezing," and "numbing."
Filipino (Tagalog)niyebe

Snow in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqar
"Qar" also means "white" in Azerbaijani and is used in various phrases, such as "qar kimi ağartmaq" (to whitewash) or "qar kimi gülmək" (to smile broadly).
Kazakhқар
In Kazakh, "қар" also refers to a white horse or a gray wolf.
Kyrgyzкар
In Turkic languages, "кар" means both "snow" and "old age".
Tajikбарф
The word also appears in Persian as 'Barf'.
Turkmengar
Uzbekqor
"Qor" may also refer to a type of eagle in Uzbek, known for its white feathers.
Uyghurقار

Snow in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhau
Hau is also the name of a type of tree in Hawaiian, the hau tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus), which is often associated with the concept of abundance and prosperity
Maorihukarere
The word 'hukarere' derives from 'huka', a verb that means 'to blow', and 'rere', which means 'to go'
Samoankiona
The word "kiona" could also refer to the season of winter or a cold, snowy day in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)niyebe
The Tagalog word "niyebe" is cognate with the Spanish word "nieve", both ultimately derived from the Latin word "nix".

Snow in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarakhunu
Guaraniyrypy'avavúi

Snow in International Languages

Esperantoneĝo
The Esperanto word "neĝo" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*sнѣgъ", which also gives rise to words for "snow" in various Slavic languages.
Latinnix
The Latin word "nix" also refers to the Roman goddess of snow and ice.

Snow in Others Languages

Greekχιόνι
The word "χιόνι" in Greek can also refer to a type of marble quarried in ancient Greece that was known for its white color.
Hmonglos daus
“Los daus” is derived from Proto-Mien-Yao *srau, a word for “ice”.
Kurdishberf
The word "berf" in Kurdish can also refer to "ice"
Turkishkar
The Turkish word "kar" is cognate to the Hungarian "hó", which also means "snow".
Xhosaikhephu
The word 'ikhephu' in Xhosa originates from the Nguni word 'iqhwa', which also means 'frost' or 'hoarfrost'.
Yiddishשניי
In Yiddish, "שניי" ("shney") also means "Monday" in the Ashkenazi pronunciation and "Sunday" in the Sephardic pronunciation.
Zuluiqhwa
The word 'iqhwa' can also refer to the 'white-ness' of snow or a 'very white' object.
Assameseতুষাৰ
Aymarakhunu
Bhojpuriबरफ
Dhivehiސްނޯ
Dogriबर्फ
Filipino (Tagalog)niyebe
Guaraniyrypy'avavúi
Ilocanoniebe
Kriosno
Kurdish (Sorani)بەفر
Maithiliबरफ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯎꯅ
Mizovur
Oromorooba cabbii
Odia (Oriya)ତୁଷାର
Quechualasta
Sanskritतुषार
Tatarкар
Tigrinyaበረድ
Tsongagamboko

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