Soul in Different Languages
Discover 'Soul' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Soul
Afrikaans siel | ||
Albanian shpirti | ||
Amharic ነፍስ | ||
Arabic الروح | ||
Armenian հոգի | ||
Assamese আত্মা | ||
Aymara ajayu | ||
Azerbaijani can | ||
Bambara ni | ||
Basque arima | ||
Belarusian душа | ||
Bengali আত্মা | ||
Bhojpuri आत्मा | ||
Bosnian duša | ||
Bulgarian душа | ||
Catalan ànima | ||
Cebuano kalag | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 灵魂 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 靈魂 | ||
Corsican anima | ||
Croatian duša | ||
Czech duše | ||
Danish sjæl | ||
Dhivehi ފުރާނަ | ||
Dogri आत्मा | ||
Dutch ziel | ||
English soul | ||
Esperanto animo | ||
Estonian hing | ||
Ewe luʋɔ̃ | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) kaluluwa | ||
Finnish sielu | ||
French âme | ||
Frisian siel | ||
Galician alma | ||
Georgian სული | ||
German seele | ||
Greek ψυχή | ||
Guarani ãnga | ||
Gujarati આત્મા | ||
Haitian Creole nanm | ||
Hausa rai | ||
Hawaiian ʻuhane | ||
Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ | ||
Hindi अन्त: मन | ||
Hmong tus ntsuj | ||
Hungarian lélek | ||
Icelandic sál | ||
Igbo nkpuru obi | ||
Ilocano kararua | ||
Indonesian jiwa | ||
Irish anam | ||
Italian anima | ||
Japanese 魂 | ||
Javanese nyawa | ||
Kannada ಆತ್ಮ | ||
Kazakh жан | ||
Khmer ព្រលឹង | ||
Kinyarwanda roho | ||
Konkani आत्मो | ||
Korean 영혼 | ||
Krio sol | ||
Kurdish rûh | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) گیان | ||
Kyrgyz жан | ||
Lao ຈິດວິນຍານ | ||
Latin anima mea | ||
Latvian dvēsele | ||
Lingala molimo | ||
Lithuanian siela | ||
Luganda omwoyo | ||
Luxembourgish séil | ||
Macedonian душата | ||
Maithili आत्मा | ||
Malagasy fanahinao manontolo | ||
Malay jiwa | ||
Malayalam ആത്മാവ് | ||
Maltese ruħ | ||
Maori wairua | ||
Marathi आत्मा | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯊꯋꯥꯏ | ||
Mizo thlarau | ||
Mongolian сүнс | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) စိတ်ဝိညာဉ် | ||
Nepali आत्मा | ||
Norwegian sjel | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) moyo | ||
Odia (Oriya) ପ୍ରାଣ | ||
Oromo lubbuu | ||
Pashto روح | ||
Persian روح | ||
Polish dusza | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) alma | ||
Punjabi ਆਤਮਾ | ||
Quechua nuna | ||
Romanian suflet | ||
Russian душа | ||
Samoan agaga | ||
Sanskrit आत्मा | ||
Scots Gaelic anam | ||
Sepedi moya | ||
Serbian душа | ||
Sesotho moea | ||
Shona mweya | ||
Sindhi روح | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) ආත්මය | ||
Slovak duša | ||
Slovenian duša | ||
Somali nafta | ||
Spanish alma | ||
Sundanese jiwa | ||
Swahili roho | ||
Swedish själ | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) kaluluwa | ||
Tajik ҷон | ||
Tamil ஆன்மா | ||
Tatar җан | ||
Telugu ఆత్మ | ||
Thai วิญญาณ | ||
Tigrinya መንፈስ | ||
Tsonga moya | ||
Turkish ruh | ||
Turkmen jan | ||
Twi (Akan) ɔkra | ||
Ukrainian душа | ||
Urdu روح | ||
Uyghur جان | ||
Uzbek jon | ||
Vietnamese linh hồn | ||
Welsh enaid | ||
Xhosa umphefumlo | ||
Yiddish נשמה | ||
Yoruba ọkàn | ||
Zulu umphefumulo |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | 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. |
| Albanian | 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". |
| Amharic | The word "ነፍስ" in Amharic also refers to one's desire, intention, or thought. |
| Arabic | 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. |
| Armenian | Հոգի's other meanings are "care, worry, concern" and its etymology comes from the Proto-Armenian "hogi" |
| Azerbaijani | In addition to its primary meaning of "soul," the Azerbaijani word "can" can also refer to "life" or "person." |
| Basque | The Basque word "arima" also means "breath" or "spirit". |
| Belarusian | Belarusian "душа" relates to the Slavic etymon "духъ" (''dukh''), meaning not only "soul", but also "breath", "spirit", "scent", "odor" or "stench". |
| Bengali | The word 'আত্মা' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'atman', which means 'self' or 'essence'. |
| Bosnian | In addition to its spiritual sense, "duša" can also be a term of endearment in Bosnian. |
| Bulgarian | The word “душа” derives from Proto-Slavic and is cognate with words for “breath” and “air” in other Slavic languages. |
| Catalan | The word "ànima" is also used in Catalan to refer to the core or kernel of something. |
| Cebuano | In Cebuano, 'kalag' may also refer to a butterfly or moth, reflecting the belief that the soul leaves the body at death in the form of an insect. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 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) | The character "靈魂" is composed of the radicals "示" (god) and "巫" (shaman), suggesting a connection between spirits and religious practices. |
| Corsican | In Corsican, "anima" is also used to indicate "mind," "heart," or "life". |
| Croatian | The word 'duša' in Croatian can also mean 'breath' or 'spirit', and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *duša, which means 'breath'. |
| Czech | "Duše" also means "tire". They're both "flat". |
| Danish | "Sjæl" can also refer to the Danish word for 'seal,' 'sælh'. |
| Dutch | The word "ziel" in Dutch can also refer to a person's life or vitality. |
| Esperanto | The Esperanto word "animo" derives from the Latin "animus", meaning "mind", and also "spirit", "breath", and "life". |
| Estonian | The word "hing" in Estonian is cognate with the German word "Geist", meaning mind or spirit, and the English word "hence"} |
| Finnish | A derivate of the word 'sielu' ('soul'), 'sielukas' ('emotional') refers to a person full of soul and deep emotions. |
| French | The word "âme" is derived from the Latin word "anima," meaning "breath, life, or soul." |
| Frisian | In Frisian, "siel" not only means "soul" but also an area of marshland that has been reclaimed from the river. |
| Galician | "Alma" in Galician can also mean "heart" or "mind". |
| Georgian | The Georgian word "სული" (suli) also means "breath", "spirit", or "wind". |
| German | The German word "Seele" derives from Proto-Germanic "*saiwalō," meaning "that which makes something alive" or "that which blows." |
| Greek | The Greek word "ψυχή" can refer to the breath, wind, life, mind, or soul, and is the root of the English word "psychology". |
| Gujarati | 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. |
| Haitian Creole | The word "nanm" in Haitian Creole comes from the French word "âme," which also means "soul". |
| Hausa | In Hausa, "rai" not only means "soul" but also refers to the "self" or "personhood" and the "essence" or "core" of something. |
| Hawaiian | ʻUhane is thought to have a dual meaning: spirit or breath. |
| Hebrew | The word נֶפֶשׁ is also used to refer to a person or animal, and in Biblical Hebrew it can also mean 'throat' or 'life'. |
| Hindi | The word "अन्त:मन" literally means "internal mind" and is often associated with inner self or conscience. |
| Hmong | The word "tus ntsuj" can also refer to one's spirit or essence, as well as to the afterlife. |
| Hungarian | In Hungarian, the word "lélek" (soul) also refers to a person's personality and disposition. |
| Icelandic | In Old Norse, 'sál' referred to the soul and the deceased, who were referred to as the 'sálir'. |
| Igbo | The word "nkpuru obi" in Igbo can also mean "the inner sanctum of the heart". |
| Indonesian | "Jiwa" also means "life" in Indonesian, highlighting the deep connection between the two concepts in the Indonesian worldview. |
| Irish | The word 'anam' also means 'breath' and 'life' in Irish culture. |
| Italian | The Italian word "anima" derives from the Latin word "animus," meaning "breath" or "life force." |
| Japanese | 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. |
| Javanese | In Javanese, "nyawa" not only refers to the "soul" but also to the "breath" and "life force". |
| Kannada | The word "ಆತ್ಮ" (ātma) in Kannada also means "self" or "essence" and is related to the Sanskrit word "ātman" meaning "inner self" or "breath." |
| Kazakh | The word "жан" (soul) comes from the Proto-Turkic word "can" (life) and has alternate meanings of "person", "self", and "body" |
| Khmer | The word "ព្រលឹង" also encompasses the concepts of "spirit" and "consciousness". |
| Korean | '영혼' also designates the person who is the subject of a state, mood, or feeling. |
| Kurdish | The Kurdish word rûh (soul) comes from the Persian word rūḥ, which also means "spirit" or "mind". |
| Kyrgyz | The Kyrgyz word "жан" also refers to life, vitality, or a person's inner self. |
| Lao | It is derived from the Sanskrit word "citta-vijñana", meaning "state of pure consciousness". |
| Latin | The word "anima mea" in Latin can also mean "my life" or "my breath." |
| Latvian | The Latvian word "dvēsele" traces its roots to the Sanskrit word "dveshati" which also denotes breathing. |
| Lithuanian | Lithuanian word "siela" is related to the ancient Baltic word "sielos", denoting the breath of life, vitality and a person's inner being. |
| Luxembourgish | The word "Séil" is thought to originate from the Proto-Indo-European root *seh₂-, meaning "to bind" or "to tie". |
| Macedonian | The word "душата" can also refer to a person's character or personality. |
| Malagasy | The etymology of "fanahinao manontolo" suggests a concept of impermanence and constant transformation. |
| Malay | The Arabic cognate of "jiwa" means "direction" or "region", suggesting a possible connection to the idea of the soul "leading" the body. |
| Malayalam | "ആത്മാവ്" means "soul" in Malayalam, but the Sanskrit word "Atman" means "self" or "breath". |
| Maltese | The word "ruħ" in Maltese is derived from the Arabic word "ruh", which also means "spirit" or "breath of life". |
| Maori | The word "wairua" in Maori has various alternate meanings, including "essence", "life force", and "spirit". |
| Marathi | The word 'आत्मा' originally meant 'breath' or 'life' in Sanskrit, its root word being 'अन्' (to breathe). |
| Mongolian | In Mongolian, the word "сүнс" can also refer to a spirit or a ghost. |
| Nepali | The word "आत्मा" (soul) in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word "आत्मन्" (self), which also means "essence" or "core". |
| Norwegian | In Norwegian, "sjel" can also refer to the seat of emotion, the deepest part of the mind, or the essence of a person |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word "moyo" in Nyanja (Chichewa) also means "life" and "breath". |
| Pashto | 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'). |
| Persian | The Persian word "روح" (rūḥ) originally meant "breath" or "wind", and is related to the Arabic word "ريح" (rīḥ), which has the same meaning." |
| Polish | The word "dusza" in Polish derives from Proto-Slavic "dъša", meaning breath, life, soul or spirit. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | In Arabic, "alma" means "knowledge" and "grace". |
| Punjabi | 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. |
| Romanian | 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 | The word 'душа' also refers to 'life' in Old Russian and 'sweetheart' or 'honey' in colloquial speech. |
| Samoan | The word "agaga" also refers to the immaterial part of a person, including the mind and emotions |
| Scots Gaelic | Scots Gaelic "anam" derives from Old Irish "anam", meaning not only "soul" but also "breath" or "life". |
| Serbian | In Serbian, душа "duša" also means "life". |
| Sesotho | The Sesotho word 'moea' can mean 'shadow' and 'that which accompanies' (shadow, spirit, conscience). |
| Shona | 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. |
| Sindhi | Sindhi "روح" also means "spirit" like other Indo-Aryan languages and Persian, and "God" in some contexts. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | The word ආත්මය (āthmaya) is derived from the Sanskrit word "ātman," which also means "self" or "essence." |
| Slovak | The word “duša” in Slovak, meaning soul, comes from Proto-Slavic *dъša, which also means breath or life. |
| Slovenian | The word "duša" in Slovenian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *duša, which also meant "life" or "breath". |
| Somali | The Somali word "nafta" also means "life" or "personhood". |
| Spanish | The word "alma" in Spanish comes from the Latin word "anima," which also means "life." |
| Sundanese | The Sundanese word "jiwa" also has the connotation of "self" or "ego". |
| Swahili | In Swahili, "roho" also means "life", "mind", "spirit", and "breath". |
| Swedish | In addition to its spiritual meaning, the word "själ" can also refer to a person's inner essence or the core of their being. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The word 'kaluluwa' in Tagalog is derived from the Malay word 'roh', meaning 'spirit' or 'essence'. |
| Tajik | The word "ҷон" in Tajik can also mean "life" or "person". |
| Tamil | The Tamil word "ஆன்மா" also means "consciousness", "essence", and "spirituality". |
| Telugu | The word "ఆత్మ" in Telugu also means "self, mind, or essence of a thing". |
| Thai | The word "วิญญาณ" (soul) in Thai can also refer to a person's consciousness, perception, or understanding. |
| Turkish | The term "ruh" is derived from the Persian word "rawân", meaning "life" or "spirit". |
| Ukrainian | 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. |
| Urdu | The word "روح" (soul) in Urdu can also refer to a spirit, ghost, or the essence of something. |
| Uzbek | The word "jon" is also used in Uzbek to indicate a beloved person. |
| Vietnamese | "Linh hồn" derives from the Chinese characters "灵" (spirit) and "魂" (soul), and can also refer to a person's character or personality. |
| Welsh | The word 'enaid' in Welsh has alternate meanings of 'breath' and 'life'. |
| Xhosa | The word "umphefumlo" can also refer to "breath" or "life" in Xhosa. |
| Yiddish | The Yiddish word "נשמה" (neshome) can also mean breath, life, or spirit. |
| Yoruba | The word 'ọkàn' can also mean 'mind', 'heart', or 'conscience' depending on the context. |
| Zulu | The Zulu word 'umphefumulo' derives from 'phefumula', meaning 'to breathe' or 'to blow' and is associated with the animating principle of a person. |
| English | The word "soul" comes from the Latin "anima," meaning "breath, life, or spirit." |