Soul in Different Languages
Discover 'Soul' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'soul' holds a profound and multifaceted significance in various cultures and languages. It is often associated with the essence of a person, their inner being, and the intangible qualities that make them unique. This concept has been explored and celebrated across different civilizations, giving birth to a rich tapestry of interpretations and translations.
Throughout history, the soul has been a subject of fascination in philosophy, religion, literature, and art. It is believed to survive after death in many cultures, providing continuity and meaning to human existence. Moreover, the soul is often perceived as the source of emotions, creativity, and moral values.
Given the cultural importance of the soul, understanding its translation in different languages can offer valuable insights into how diverse societies perceive this intangible yet powerful concept. For instance, in Spanish, the word for soul is 'alma', while in French, it is 'âme'. In German, the term used is 'Seele', and in Japanese, the soul is referred to as 'tamashii'.
Explore the intriguing world of soul translations and deepen your appreciation for the richness and diversity of human culture and language.
Soul
Soul in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | siel | ||
| In Afrikaans, “siel” originates from the Dutch word “ziel” with cognates in many Germanic languages, but can also refer to the sole of a shoe. | |||
| Amharic | ነፍስ | ||
| The word "ነፍስ" in Amharic also refers to one's desire, intention, or thought. | |||
| Hausa | rai | ||
| In Hausa, "rai" not only means "soul" but also refers to the "self" or "personhood" and the "essence" or "core" of something. | |||
| Igbo | nkpuru obi | ||
| The word "nkpuru obi" in Igbo can also mean "the inner sanctum of the heart". | |||
| Malagasy | fanahinao manontolo | ||
| The etymology of "fanahinao manontolo" suggests a concept of impermanence and constant transformation. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | moyo | ||
| The word "moyo" in Nyanja (Chichewa) also means "life" and "breath". | |||
| Shona | mweya | ||
| The word 'mweya' can also denote 'the nature' in the sense it is akin to the 'character or spirit' of a particular entity in Shona. | |||
| Somali | nafta | ||
| The Somali word "nafta" also means "life" or "personhood". | |||
| Sesotho | moea | ||
| The Sesotho word 'moea' can mean 'shadow' and 'that which accompanies' (shadow, spirit, conscience). | |||
| Swahili | roho | ||
| In Swahili, "roho" also means "life", "mind", "spirit", and "breath". | |||
| Xhosa | umphefumlo | ||
| The word "umphefumlo" can also refer to "breath" or "life" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | ọkàn | ||
| The word 'ọkàn' can also mean 'mind', 'heart', or 'conscience' depending on the context. | |||
| Zulu | umphefumulo | ||
| The Zulu word 'umphefumulo' derives from 'phefumula', meaning 'to breathe' or 'to blow' and is associated with the animating principle of a person. | |||
| Bambara | ni | ||
| Ewe | luʋɔ̃ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | roho | ||
| Lingala | molimo | ||
| Luganda | omwoyo | ||
| Sepedi | moya | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ɔkra | ||
Soul in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الروح | ||
| The Arabic word "الروح" (ar-ruh) originates from the root word "ر-و-ح" (r-w-ḥ) which means "to breathe" or "to give life" and is often used to refer to the breath of life or the vital force within a living being. | |||
| Hebrew | נֶפֶשׁ | ||
| The word נֶפֶשׁ is also used to refer to a person or animal, and in Biblical Hebrew it can also mean 'throat' or 'life'. | |||
| Pashto | روح | ||
| Pashto "روح" is derived from the Proto-Indo-Iranian */rawx-/ ('breath, spirit, life'), from which also English "reek" and "air" and Sanskrit "prān-a" ('breath, life'). | |||
| Arabic | الروح | ||
| The Arabic word "الروح" (ar-ruh) originates from the root word "ر-و-ح" (r-w-ḥ) which means "to breathe" or "to give life" and is often used to refer to the breath of life or the vital force within a living being. | |||
Soul in Western European Languages
| Albanian | shpirti | ||
| In Albanian, the word "shpirti" shares its origin with the word "shpirt" in Romanian and is related to the French "esprit" and the English "spirit". | |||
| Basque | arima | ||
| The Basque word "arima" also means "breath" or "spirit". | |||
| Catalan | ànima | ||
| The word "ànima" is also used in Catalan to refer to the core or kernel of something. | |||
| Croatian | duša | ||
| The word 'duša' in Croatian can also mean 'breath' or 'spirit', and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *duša, which means 'breath'. | |||
| Danish | sjæl | ||
| "Sjæl" can also refer to the Danish word for 'seal,' 'sælh'. | |||
| Dutch | ziel | ||
| The word "ziel" in Dutch can also refer to a person's life or vitality. | |||
| English | soul | ||
| The word "soul" comes from the Latin "anima," meaning "breath, life, or spirit." | |||
| French | âme | ||
| The word "âme" is derived from the Latin word "anima," meaning "breath, life, or soul." | |||
| Frisian | siel | ||
| In Frisian, "siel" not only means "soul" but also an area of marshland that has been reclaimed from the river. | |||
| Galician | alma | ||
| "Alma" in Galician can also mean "heart" or "mind". | |||
| German | seele | ||
| The German word "Seele" derives from Proto-Germanic "*saiwalō," meaning "that which makes something alive" or "that which blows." | |||
| Icelandic | sál | ||
| In Old Norse, 'sál' referred to the soul and the deceased, who were referred to as the 'sálir'. | |||
| Irish | anam | ||
| The word 'anam' also means 'breath' and 'life' in Irish culture. | |||
| Italian | anima | ||
| The Italian word "anima" derives from the Latin word "animus," meaning "breath" or "life force." | |||
| Luxembourgish | séil | ||
| The word "Séil" is thought to originate from the Proto-Indo-European root *seh₂-, meaning "to bind" or "to tie". | |||
| Maltese | ruħ | ||
| The word "ruħ" in Maltese is derived from the Arabic word "ruh", which also means "spirit" or "breath of life". | |||
| Norwegian | sjel | ||
| In Norwegian, "sjel" can also refer to the seat of emotion, the deepest part of the mind, or the essence of a person | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | alma | ||
| In Arabic, "alma" means "knowledge" and "grace". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | anam | ||
| Scots Gaelic "anam" derives from Old Irish "anam", meaning not only "soul" but also "breath" or "life". | |||
| Spanish | alma | ||
| The word "alma" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "anima," which also means "life." | |||
| Swedish | själ | ||
| In addition to its spiritual meaning, the word "själ" can also refer to a person's inner essence or the core of their being. | |||
| Welsh | enaid | ||
| The word 'enaid' in Welsh has alternate meanings of 'breath' and 'life'. | |||
Soul in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | душа | ||
| Belarusian "душа" relates to the Slavic etymon "духъ" (''dukh''), meaning not only "soul", but also "breath", "spirit", "scent", "odor" or "stench". | |||
| Bosnian | duša | ||
| In addition to its spiritual sense, "duša" can also be a term of endearment in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | душа | ||
| The word “душа” derives from Proto-Slavic and is cognate with words for “breath” and “air” in other Slavic languages. | |||
| Czech | duše | ||
| "Duše" also means "tire". They're both "flat". | |||
| Estonian | hing | ||
| The word "hing" in Estonian is cognate with the German word "Geist", meaning mind or spirit, and the English word "hence"} | |||
| Finnish | sielu | ||
| A derivate of the word 'sielu' ('soul'), 'sielukas' ('emotional') refers to a person full of soul and deep emotions. | |||
| Hungarian | lélek | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "lélek" (soul) also refers to a person's personality and disposition. | |||
| Latvian | dvēsele | ||
| The Latvian word "dvēsele" traces its roots to the Sanskrit word "dveshati" which also denotes breathing. | |||
| Lithuanian | siela | ||
| Lithuanian word "siela" is related to the ancient Baltic word "sielos", denoting the breath of life, vitality and a person's inner being. | |||
| Macedonian | душата | ||
| The word "душата" can also refer to a person's character or personality. | |||
| Polish | dusza | ||
| The word "dusza" in Polish derives from Proto-Slavic "dъša", meaning breath, life, soul or spirit. | |||
| Romanian | suflet | ||
| The Romanian word "suflet" is derived from the Latin "sufflare," meaning "to breathe" or "to blow," suggesting the soul's connection to breath and life force. | |||
| Russian | душа | ||
| The word 'душа' also refers to 'life' in Old Russian and 'sweetheart' or 'honey' in colloquial speech. | |||
| Serbian | душа | ||
| In Serbian, душа "duša" also means "life". | |||
| Slovak | duša | ||
| The word “duša” in Slovak, meaning soul, comes from Proto-Slavic *dъša, which also means breath or life. | |||
| Slovenian | duša | ||
| The word "duša" in Slovenian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *duša, which also meant "life" or "breath". | |||
| Ukrainian | душа | ||
| The etymological root of the Ukrainian word “душа” (“soul”) is the same as that of the English word “psyche”, and refers to the breath or spirit. | |||
Soul in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আত্মা | ||
| The word 'আত্মা' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'atman', which means 'self' or 'essence'. | |||
| Gujarati | આત્મા | ||
| The word "आत्मा" (soul) in Gujarati shares the same etymology as the Sanskrit word "आत्मान" (self) and can also refer to the essence or core of something. | |||
| Hindi | अन्त: मन | ||
| The word "अन्त:मन" literally means "internal mind" and is often associated with inner self or conscience. | |||
| Kannada | ಆತ್ಮ | ||
| The word "ಆತ್ಮ" (ātma) in Kannada also means "self" or "essence" and is related to the Sanskrit word "ātman" meaning "inner self" or "breath." | |||
| Malayalam | ആത്മാവ് | ||
| "ആത്മാവ്" means "soul" in Malayalam, but the Sanskrit word "Atman" means "self" or "breath". | |||
| Marathi | आत्मा | ||
| The word 'आत्मा' originally meant 'breath' or 'life' in Sanskrit, its root word being 'अन्' (to breathe). | |||
| Nepali | आत्मा | ||
| The word "आत्मा" (soul) in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "आत्मन्" (self), which also means "essence" or "core". | |||
| Punjabi | ਆਤਮਾ | ||
| The word 'ਆਤਮਾ' ('soul') in Punjabi derives from the Sanskrit word 'ātmā', meaning 'self' or 'essence', and is also used in Sikhism to refer to the divine spark within each individual. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආත්මය | ||
| The word ආත්මය (āthmaya) is derived from the Sanskrit word "ātman," which also means "self" or "essence." | |||
| Tamil | ஆன்மா | ||
| The Tamil word "ஆன்மா" also means "consciousness", "essence", and "spirituality". | |||
| Telugu | ఆత్మ | ||
| The word "ఆత్మ" in Telugu also means "self, mind, or essence of a thing". | |||
| Urdu | روح | ||
| The word "روح" (soul) in Urdu can also refer to a spirit, ghost, or the essence of something. | |||
Soul in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 灵魂 | ||
| The word “灵魂” is derived from the character “魂”, which was originally used to refer to the “breath” or “wind” that was believed to animate the body, and the character “灵”, which refers to a “spirit” or “supernatural being”. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 靈魂 | ||
| The character "靈魂" is composed of the radicals "示" (god) and "巫" (shaman), suggesting a connection between spirits and religious practices. | |||
| Japanese | 魂 | ||
| The Japanese word 魂 (たましい) derives from the Buddhist concept of 'atman' (self) and can also refer to a person's personality or character. | |||
| Korean | 영혼 | ||
| '영혼' also designates the person who is the subject of a state, mood, or feeling. | |||
| Mongolian | сүнс | ||
| In Mongolian, the word "сүнс" can also refer to a spirit or a ghost. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စိတ်ဝိညာဉ် | ||
Soul in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | jiwa | ||
| "Jiwa" also means "life" in Indonesian, highlighting the deep connection between the two concepts in the Indonesian worldview. | |||
| Javanese | nyawa | ||
| In Javanese, "nyawa" not only refers to the "soul" but also to the "breath" and "life force". | |||
| Khmer | ព្រលឹង | ||
| The word "ព្រលឹង" also encompasses the concepts of "spirit" and "consciousness". | |||
| Lao | ຈິດວິນຍານ | ||
| It is derived from the Sanskrit word "citta-vijñana", meaning "state of pure consciousness". | |||
| Malay | jiwa | ||
| The Arabic cognate of "jiwa" means "direction" or "region", suggesting a possible connection to the idea of the soul "leading" the body. | |||
| Thai | วิญญาณ | ||
| The word "วิญญาณ" (soul) in Thai can also refer to a person's consciousness, perception, or understanding. | |||
| Vietnamese | linh hồn | ||
| "Linh hồn" derives from the Chinese characters "灵" (spirit) and "魂" (soul), and can also refer to a person's character or personality. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kaluluwa | ||
Soul in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | can | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "soul," the Azerbaijani word "can" can also refer to "life" or "person." | |||
| Kazakh | жан | ||
| The word "жан" (soul) comes from the Proto-Turkic word "can" (life) and has alternate meanings of "person", "self", and "body" | |||
| Kyrgyz | жан | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "жан" also refers to life, vitality, or a person's inner self. | |||
| Tajik | ҷон | ||
| The word "ҷон" in Tajik can also mean "life" or "person". | |||
| Turkmen | jan | ||
| Uzbek | jon | ||
| The word "jon" is also used in Uzbek to indicate a beloved person. | |||
| Uyghur | جان | ||
Soul in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻuhane | ||
| ʻUhane is thought to have a dual meaning: spirit or breath. | |||
| Maori | wairua | ||
| The word "wairua" in Maori has various alternate meanings, including "essence", "life force", and "spirit". | |||
| Samoan | agaga | ||
| The word "agaga" also refers to the immaterial part of a person, including the mind and emotions | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kaluluwa | ||
| The word 'kaluluwa' in Tagalog is derived from the Malay word 'roh', meaning 'spirit' or 'essence'. | |||
Soul in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ajayu | ||
| Guarani | ãnga | ||
Soul in International Languages
| Esperanto | animo | ||
| The Esperanto word "animo" derives from the Latin "animus", meaning "mind", and also "spirit", "breath", and "life". | |||
| Latin | anima mea | ||
| The word "anima mea" in Latin can also mean "my life" or "my breath." | |||
Soul in Others Languages
| Greek | ψυχή | ||
| The Greek word "ψυχή" can refer to the breath, wind, life, mind, or soul, and is the root of the English word "psychology". | |||
| Hmong | tus ntsuj | ||
| The word "tus ntsuj" can also refer to one's spirit or essence, as well as to the afterlife. | |||
| Kurdish | rûh | ||
| The Kurdish word rûh (soul) comes from the Persian word rūḥ, which also means "spirit" or "mind". | |||
| Turkish | ruh | ||
| The term "ruh" is derived from the Persian word "rawân", meaning "life" or "spirit". | |||
| Xhosa | umphefumlo | ||
| The word "umphefumlo" can also refer to "breath" or "life" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | נשמה | ||
| The Yiddish word "נשמה" (neshome) can also mean breath, life, or spirit. | |||
| Zulu | umphefumulo | ||
| The Zulu word 'umphefumulo' derives from 'phefumula', meaning 'to breathe' or 'to blow' and is associated with the animating principle of a person. | |||
| Assamese | আত্মা | ||
| Aymara | ajayu | ||
| Bhojpuri | आत्मा | ||
| Dhivehi | ފުރާނަ | ||
| Dogri | आत्मा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kaluluwa | ||
| Guarani | ãnga | ||
| Ilocano | kararua | ||
| Krio | sol | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | گیان | ||
| Maithili | आत्मा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯋꯥꯏ | ||
| Mizo | thlarau | ||
| Oromo | lubbuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରାଣ | ||
| Quechua | nuna | ||
| Sanskrit | आत्मा | ||
| Tatar | җан | ||
| Tigrinya | መንፈስ | ||
| Tsonga | moya | ||