Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'solar' holds a significant place in our lives, associated with the life-giving power of the sun. It's not just a scientific term, but a cultural concept, symbolizing energy, growth, and light. From ancient civilizations worshipping the sun god to modern societies harnessing solar power, the sun's influence is undeniable.
Given the global impact of solar energy, it's fascinating to know how different cultures translate 'solar'. For instance, in Spanish, it's 'solar'; in French, 'solaire'; in German, 'solaren'; in Mandarin, '太阳' (tài yáng); in Japanese, '太陽' (taiyō); and in Arabic, 'شمسي' (shamsii).
Understanding these translations not only broadens our linguistic knowledge but also deepens our appreciation for the cultural significance of the sun. So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or someone interested in solar energy, these translations offer an intriguing insight into the global importance of the sun's power.
Afrikaans | sonkrag | ||
The word 'sonkrag' is derived from the Dutch word 'zonnekrag', meaning 'sunlight'. | |||
Amharic | ፀሐይ | ||
The word 'ፀሐይ' ('solar') can also mean 'day'. | |||
Hausa | rana | ||
The Hausa word "rana" also refers to the Sun and the solar system. | |||
Igbo | anyanwụ | ||
The term 'anyanwụ' also refers to a period of approximately 260 days in the Igbo calendar system. | |||
Malagasy | masoandro | ||
Masoandro is also figuratively used by the Malagasy people to refer to a person who is brilliant and intelligent. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | dzuwa | ||
"Dzuwa" is likely not a Bantu root, but may have come from an old Khoisan language spoken by earlier inhabitants of the area where the Bantu languages are now spoken. | |||
Shona | zuva | ||
The word "zuva" can also mean "day" or "sunlight" in Shona. | |||
Somali | qoraxda | ||
In Somali, the word "qoraxda" shares the same root as the word "korodh," which means "to shine." | |||
Sesotho | letsatsi | ||
The root word 'letsatsi' also means 'day' as in a 24-hour period. | |||
Swahili | jua | ||
In addition to 'solar', 'jua' also can mean 'day' in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | ilanga | ||
In Xhosa, "Ilanga" also refers to a day or daytime. | |||
Yoruba | oorun | ||
The Yoruba word 'oorun' not only means 'solar,' but also refers to the east, the direction from which the sun rises. | |||
Zulu | ilanga | ||
The word 'ilanga' also refers to the 'heavens' or 'above' and is used as a figure of speech for 'greatness' or 'glory'. | |||
Bambara | tile fɛ | ||
Ewe | ɣe ƒe ŋusẽ zazã | ||
Kinyarwanda | izuba | ||
Lingala | moi ya moi | ||
Luganda | enjuba | ||
Sepedi | solar ya letšatši | ||
Twi (Akan) | owia ahoɔden | ||
Arabic | شمسي | ||
The word "شمسي" (solar) in Arabic also refers to "related to the sun" or "having the power of the sun. | |||
Hebrew | סוֹלָרִי | ||
סוֹלָרִי (solar) is also the root of סוֹלֵר (diesel), since it was originally derived from petroleum. | |||
Pashto | شمسي | ||
The word "شمسي" (solar) is also used to refer to a type of traditional Afghan house with a flat roof. | |||
Arabic | شمسي | ||
The word "شمسي" (solar) in Arabic also refers to "related to the sun" or "having the power of the sun. |
Albanian | diellore | ||
The word "diellore" is also used to describe a sunny person or something that brings joy. | |||
Basque | eguzki | ||
Eguzki derives from Proto-Basque *egi-zki, which meant "sunny" or "daytime", hence its use as a term for the Sun. | |||
Catalan | solar | ||
The word 'solar' comes from the Latin word 'sol', meaning 'sun', and is related to words such as 'solarium' and 'solstice'. | |||
Croatian | solarni | ||
The Croatian word 'solarni' derives from the Latin 'solaris', meaning 'of or relating to the sun'. | |||
Danish | sol | ||
In Danish, "sol" can also mean "sun" or "gold." | |||
Dutch | zonne- | ||
In some contexts, "zonne" refers to "day" in modern Dutch, but derives from "sun", as seen the day names "zondag" (Sunday: sun's day) and "maandag" (Monday: moon's day). | |||
English | solar | ||
The word "solar" comes from the Latin word "sol", meaning "sun". It can also refer to things powered by the sun, such as solar panels. | |||
French | solaire | ||
Solaire, in French, derives from a Latin word (solaris) with multiple meanings, including 'of or belonging to the sun', 'sunlight', 'sunny', 'sun' and 'day'. | |||
Frisian | sinne | ||
In Frisian, 'sinne' also means 'sense' or 'knowledge', derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'sunnōn', related to the English word 'sun'. | |||
Galician | solar | ||
German | solar- | ||
The German word "Solar" derives from the Latin word "sol" and also signifies "floor". | |||
Icelandic | sól | ||
Sól is also used in Icelandic to refer to the star at the center of our solar system, in which sense it is cognate with the English word "sun". | |||
Irish | gréine | ||
Gréine, meaning "solar" in Irish, is derived from the Proto-Indo-European "ǵʰreiwos" meaning "shining, bright," which also gave rise to English "grey, gleam," and Greek "heureos, "fortunate." | |||
Italian | solare | ||
The Italian word "solare" can also refer to a building's orientation towards the sun. | |||
Luxembourgish | sonn | ||
The Luxembourgish word "Sonn" is also used to refer to the afternoon or the west. | |||
Maltese | solari | ||
The Maltese word 'solari' can also mean 'floor' or 'attic' when referring to a building. | |||
Norwegian | solenergi | ||
"Solenergi" is a compound noun formed from the words "sol" (sun) and "energi" (energy). | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | solar | ||
The word 'solar' comes from the Latin word 'sol', meaning 'sun', and it can also be used to describe something that relates to or is powered by the sun. | |||
Scots Gaelic | grèine | ||
Originally meaning "sun," grèine is used to indicate a variety of bright colours in Scots Gaelic. | |||
Spanish | solar | ||
In Spanish, "solar" can also refer to a piece of land or a building site. | |||
Swedish | sol- | ||
In Swedish, sol- also refers to something which is a part of a larger whole. | |||
Welsh | solar | ||
In Welsh, "solar" can also mean "salt" or "brine". |
Belarusian | сонечная | ||
Bosnian | solarno | ||
Solarno's alternate meaning is 'sunny' relating to the sunlight. | |||
Bulgarian | слънчева | ||
The word "слънчева" in Bulgarian has two roots: "сълнце" (sun) and "чева" (to weave), suggesting a connection between sunlight and the creation of textiles. | |||
Czech | sluneční | ||
The Czech word "sluneční" also derives from a Proto-Indo-European root *swel-, signifying "sun". | |||
Estonian | päikese | ||
The Estonian word "päike" (sun) is related to the Finnish word "päivä" (day). | |||
Finnish | aurinko- | ||
The word "aurinko-" is derived from the Proto-Finnic term *aurinko and means "sun or sunshine". | |||
Hungarian | nap- | ||
The Hungarian word "nap-" (solar) is related to the words "éjszaka" (night) and "hajnal" (dawn). | |||
Latvian | saules | ||
Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sew- “to shine,” also the origin of the English word “sun.” | |||
Lithuanian | saulės | ||
The word "saulės" also means "sun" in Lithuanian, demonstrating its strong connection to the concept of the sun's energy. | |||
Macedonian | соларни | ||
The word "соларни" in Macedonian can also refer to a type of roofing material or a type of cooking stove. | |||
Polish | słoneczny | ||
The word "słoneczny" also means "sunny" in Polish. | |||
Romanian | solar | ||
In Romanian, solar ('solar') can also refer to 'greenhouse', 'sun room' or 'conservatory'. | |||
Russian | солнечный | ||
The Russian word "солнечный" can also mean "bright" or "cheerful". | |||
Serbian | соларни | ||
Поред значења „соларни”, именица соларни може се односити и на врсту аутомобила који користи соларну енергију. | |||
Slovak | solárne | ||
The Slovak word 'solárne' is also used to describe the process of tanning or sunbathing. | |||
Slovenian | sončna | ||
In Slovenian, 'sončna' can also refer to a beautiful or sunny woman. | |||
Ukrainian | сонячна | ||
The word сонячна (solar) in Ukrainian is related to the word сон (sleep), as the sun is often associated with sleep and relaxation. |
Bengali | সৌর | ||
The word "সৌর" in Bengali can also refer to the "solar plexus". | |||
Gujarati | સૌર | ||
सौर (solar) is also used as a synonym for "beautiful" in Gujarati, a meaning not shared by its counterpart in English. | |||
Hindi | सौर | ||
The Sanskrit word "सौर" refers to "sun" or "solar," and also refers to the sun in astrology and astronomy, and to the "solar" Hindu calendar system based on the sun's movement. | |||
Kannada | ಸೌರ | ||
ಸೌರ (solar) has alternate meanings of “pertaining to the sun god (Sūrya)” and "the science of astrology". | |||
Malayalam | സൗരോർജ്ജം | ||
Marathi | सौर | ||
The Marathi word "सौर" is derived from the Sanskrit word "सूर्य" (sun), and also refers to a type of Ayurvedic medicine. | |||
Nepali | सौर | ||
The word "सौर" in Nepali can also refer to "related to the sun" or "sun-like". | |||
Punjabi | ਸੂਰਜੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සූර්ය | ||
The Sinhala word 'සූර්ය' originates from the Sanskrit word 'सूर्य' (sūrya), meaning 'sun', and also refers to the Hindu deity Surya, the god of the sun. | |||
Tamil | சூரிய | ||
சூரிய may also refer to the Sun God in Hinduism, Surya. | |||
Telugu | సౌర | ||
"సౌర" also means "related to the sun". | |||
Urdu | شمسی | ||
The word 'شمسی' is derived from the Arabic word 'شمس' (sun), and is cognate with the Sanskrit word 'सूर्य' (sun). |
Chinese (Simplified) | 太阳能的 | ||
‘太阳能的’既可指太阳能相关的技术和设备,也可泛指阳光的、太阳的。 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 太陽能的 | ||
太陽能的的英文原詞「solar」有「像太陽一樣」和「與太陽有關」的意思。 | |||
Japanese | 太陽 | ||
The kanji 太陽 can also mean "day" or "the sun god Amaterasu" in Japanese myth. | |||
Korean | 태양 | ||
The word 태양 means both "solar" and "sun" in Korean, and is composed of the Chinese characters "태" (太), meaning "great" or "vast", and "양" (陽), meaning "sun" or "light." | |||
Mongolian | нарны | ||
The word "нарны" in Mongolian can also refer to a mythical creature that dwells in the sun. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | နေရောင်ခြည်စွမ်းအင်သုံး | ||
Indonesian | tenaga surya | ||
The word "tenaga surya" in Indonesian is derived from "tenaga" meaning "power" and "surya" meaning "sun", and refers to the energy generated from sunlight. | |||
Javanese | surya | ||
The Javanese word 'surya' also refers to a type of traditional Javanese calendar. | |||
Khmer | ព្រះអាទិត្យ | ||
Lao | ແສງຕາເວັນ | ||
Malay | solar | ||
The Malay word "solar" can also mean "yearly" or "every year" in the context of time periods. | |||
Thai | แสงอาทิตย์ | ||
The word "แสงอาทิตย์" ("solar") in Thai also means "sunlight". | |||
Vietnamese | hệ mặt trời | ||
The word "hệ mặt trời" (solar) is also used to refer to the planets and other objects that orbit the Sun | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | solar | ||
Azerbaijani | günəş | ||
The word "günəş" is derived from the Proto-Turkic word "kün", meaning "sun" or "day". | |||
Kazakh | күн | ||
The Kazakh word "күн" (solar) is cognate with the English word "sun" and ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *seh₂ul-, meaning "sun, light". | |||
Kyrgyz | күн | ||
The word "күн" also means "day" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | офтобӣ | ||
Another meaning of the Tajik word "офтобӣ" is "sunflower". | |||
Turkmen | gün | ||
Uzbek | quyosh | ||
The word "quyosh" in Uzbek originally meant "shining object" and now refers to the Sun (as compared to stars). | |||
Uyghur | قۇياش | ||
Hawaiian | ka ikehu lā | ||
The literal translation, 'light of the sun, moon, or other heavenly body' gives insight into the Hawaiian worldview. | |||
Maori | rā | ||
"Rā" can also mean "daytime," "today," or "the present time," and it's related to the Proto-Polynesian word "*laŋi" which means "sky." | |||
Samoan | la | ||
La can also be used to refer to the sun's rays and the light it emits. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | solar | ||
"Solar" in Tagalog (Filipino) can also refer to the body or flesh of a banana fruit. |
Aymara | inti jalsu tuqiru | ||
Guarani | kuarahy rehegua | ||
Esperanto | suna | ||
"Suna" (solar) originates from the Indonesian word "surya" and its meaning was extended to include the Sun's energy and the solar system. | |||
Latin | solis | ||
"Solis" in Latin can also refer to "whole" or "entire". |
Greek | ηλιακός | ||
The word "ηλιακός" (solar) in Greek also has the alternate meaning of "related to the sun". | |||
Hmong | hnub ci | ||
The word for "solar" in Hmong, hnub ci, literally means "the day's eye". | |||
Kurdish | tavê | ||
"Tavê" has other meanings besides "solar": 1) the face of a clock or timepiece; 2) the face of a human being or animal. | |||
Turkish | güneş | ||
Türkçede 'güneş' kelimesi aynı zamanda 'gündüz vakti' ve 'ışıklı, parlak' anlamlarına gelir. | |||
Xhosa | ilanga | ||
In Xhosa, "Ilanga" also refers to a day or daytime. | |||
Yiddish | סאָלאַר | ||
In Yiddish, "סאָלאַר" can also mean "sallow" or "sunburned". | |||
Zulu | ilanga | ||
The word 'ilanga' also refers to the 'heavens' or 'above' and is used as a figure of speech for 'greatness' or 'glory'. | |||
Assamese | সৌৰ | ||
Aymara | inti jalsu tuqiru | ||
Bhojpuri | सौर के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ސޯލާ އިން އުފައްދާ އެއްޗެކެވެ | ||
Dogri | सौर ऊर्जा दी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | solar | ||
Guarani | kuarahy rehegua | ||
Ilocano | solar nga | ||
Krio | solar we dɛn kin yuz fɔ mek di san | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | وزەی خۆر | ||
Maithili | सौर | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯣꯂꯥꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | ni zung hmanga siam a ni | ||
Oromo | aduu kan qabu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସ ar ର | ||
Quechua | intimanta | ||
Sanskrit | सौर | ||
Tatar | кояш | ||
Tigrinya | ጸሓያዊ ጸዓት | ||
Tsonga | ya dyambu | ||