Species in Different Languages
Discover 'Species' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Species, a term that holds immense significance in the realm of biology, is used to classify and organize different groups of living organisms based on shared characteristics and ancestry. This concept has been crucial in shaping our understanding of the natural world and its incredible diversity. Moreover, the term 'species' transcends scientific boundaries and weaves itself into the very fabric of human culture and language.
Throughout history, the naming and categorization of species have played a pivotal role in our relationship with the environment. For instance, the binomial nomenclature system, which uses a two-part Latin name for each species, was developed by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century and remains in use today. This system has facilitated effective communication among scientists, enabling them to share and build upon their collective knowledge.
Delving into the translations of 'species' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic abilities but also offers a fascinating glimpse into how various cultures perceive and interact with the natural world. Here are a few examples:
- Spanish: especie
- French: espèce
- German: Art
- Mandarin: 种 (zhǒng)
- Japanese: 種 (shu)
Species
Species in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | spesie | ||
| In Afrikaans, "spesie" can also refer to a type of currency, or a kind or variety of something. | |||
| Amharic | ዝርያዎች | ||
| The word "ዝርያ" comes from the Arabic word "صنف", which means "kind". | |||
| Hausa | nau'in | ||
| The Hausa word 'nau'in' is a doublet, being cognate with both the Proto-Afro-Asiatic root *nʔn 'give birth to' and the Proto-Saharan root *ŋʷin 'young animal'. | |||
| Igbo | umu | ||
| In Igbo, "umu" can also refer to children, descendants, or siblings, reflecting the importance of family and lineage in Igbo culture. | |||
| Malagasy | karazana | ||
| The word “karazana” is borrowed from Arabic, where it means “kind” or “sort.” | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zamoyo | ||
| In Chichewa, "zamoyo" can also refer to an individual of a species. | |||
| Shona | mhando | ||
| The word 'mhando' also refers to a 'type' or 'kind' of something. | |||
| Somali | noocyada | ||
| The word "noocyada" in Somali is derived from the Arabic word "naw'i", meaning "kind" or "type". | |||
| Sesotho | mefuta | ||
| The word "mefuta" can also be derived from the root word "fota", which means "to create," suggesting a connection between species and the act of creation | |||
| Swahili | spishi | ||
| In Swahili, 'spishi' can also mean 'type' or 'kind'. | |||
| Xhosa | iintlobo | ||
| In traditional Xhosa belief, the iintlobo is the totem animal of the amaPhondo clan. | |||
| Yoruba | eya | ||
| The word "eya" in Yoruba also means "type, kind, or variety". | |||
| Zulu | izinhlobo | ||
| The Zulu word "izinhlobo" refers to "species" in English and also carries the meaning of "kinds," "varieties," or "types." | |||
| Bambara | násuguyaw | ||
| Ewe | ƒome | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ubwoko | ||
| Lingala | biloko | ||
| Luganda | ebika | ||
| Sepedi | mohuta | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nkyekyɛmu ahodoɔ | ||
Species in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | محيط | ||
| The word "محيط" is derived from the root "حيط" meaning "to surround" or "to protect", referring to the idea of species encompassing a group of organisms that share similar characteristics and live in a particular environment. | |||
| Hebrew | מִין | ||
| The Hebrew word "מִין" (species) is also used to refer to "type", "category", "gender", or "kind", and is derived from the Proto-Semitic root "*mīn" meaning "to separate". | |||
| Pashto | ډولونه | ||
| ډولونه specifically refers to plants and animals and means "kinds" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | محيط | ||
| The word "محيط" is derived from the root "حيط" meaning "to surround" or "to protect", referring to the idea of species encompassing a group of organisms that share similar characteristics and live in a particular environment. | |||
Species in Western European Languages
| Albanian | speciet | ||
| The Albanian word "speciet" is derived from Latin "species" and also means "aspect" or "kind". | |||
| Basque | espezieak | ||
| "Espezieak" also derives from the Latin word "species," meaning "appearance". | |||
| Catalan | espècies | ||
| The word "espècies" in Catalan derives from the Latin word "species", which also means "appearance" or "form". | |||
| Croatian | vrsta | ||
| The Slavic word *vrsta* originally meant "order, sequence" and later "group, kind". | |||
| Danish | arter | ||
| The word 'art' in Danish has its roots in the Latin word 'ars', meaning 'art' or 'skill,' and is also related to the English word 'art'. | |||
| Dutch | soorten | ||
| The word "soorten" can also refer to "types, kinds, varieties, forms, categories, classes, divisions, and groups" in Dutch. | |||
| English | species | ||
| The word species derives from a Latin root meaning ‘a kind’, ‘a type’ or ‘a particular thing’, and was used in Medieval Latin for ‘form’ or ‘appearance’. | |||
| French | espèce | ||
| The French word "espèce" is cognate with the Latin word "species", which meant "appearance" or "type". | |||
| Frisian | soarten | ||
| The word "soarten" in Frisian derives from the Proto-Germanic word *sperk, meaning "seed" or "sowing". | |||
| Galician | especies | ||
| The Galician word "especies" comes from Latin "species", but also derives from the Latin "spectare" and the Proto-Indo-European "spek", meaning "to look at" or "to observe". | |||
| German | spezies | ||
| The word "Spezies" was originally a Latin term for "external appearance," and this sense is still used in specialized contexts. | |||
| Icelandic | tegundir | ||
| "Tegundir" is etymologically related to "tegund", meaning "type" or "kind". | |||
| Irish | speicis | ||
| In Irish the word "speicis" can refer to the biological definition of "species" or to the "appearance" or "look" of something. | |||
| Italian | specie | ||
| In Italian, "specie" can also mean "money" or "cash", due to its historical association with the specific type of coins used as currency. | |||
| Luxembourgish | spezies | ||
| In Luxembourgish "Spezies" can also refer to a spice or monetary amount. | |||
| Maltese | speċi | ||
| Maltese "speċi" originates from the Latin "species" (form, kind) also meaning "view" or "appearance" in the case of apparitions or ghosts. | |||
| Norwegian | arter | ||
| In Norwegian "art" can also mean "sheet" referring to printing or paper. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | espécies | ||
| The word "espécies" in Portuguese also has the meaning "money" or "cash", derived from the old Roman coins called "species", which were made of gold or silver. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | gnèithean | ||
| The Gaelic word "gnèithean" can also refer to a kind, sort, or type of something. | |||
| Spanish | especies | ||
| The Spanish word "especies" can refer to cash or money in addition to biological species. | |||
| Swedish | arter | ||
| The Swedish word "arter" comes from the Latin word "artus", meaning "joint". The word has also been used to refer to a type of plant in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | rhywogaethau | ||
| The Welsh word "rhywogaethau" can also mean "varieties" or "classifications" in addition to "species" | |||
Species in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | віды | ||
| The Belarusian word "віды" can also mean "types" or "sorts". | |||
| Bosnian | vrsta | ||
| The word "vrsta" can also refer to "queue" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | видове | ||
| Bulgarian word "видове" can mean both "types" and "species (of animals or plants)" depending on the context. | |||
| Czech | druh | ||
| The word "druh" can also refer to a kind or a type of something. | |||
| Estonian | liigid | ||
| The word "liigid" is cognate with the Finnish word "laji," both ultimately deriving from the Proto-Uralic word *laje. | |||
| Finnish | lajeja | ||
| The word "lajeja" can also refer to a variety of things, including a group of animals or plants, a type of rock, or a layer of something. | |||
| Hungarian | faj | ||
| "Faj" is borrowed from German "Gattung" (kind, species), which is in turn derived from Low German "faget/ faget" (kind, species). | |||
| Latvian | sugas | ||
| The word "sugas" in Latvian has alternate meanings of "genus" and "type." | |||
| Lithuanian | rūšių | ||
| The word "rūšių" is the Lithuanian word for "species", and is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kreus- ("to separate"). | |||
| Macedonian | видови | ||
| The word "видови" also means "variety" or "kind" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | gatunki | ||
| The Polish word "gatunki" also refers to a type of mushroom and a breed of dog. | |||
| Romanian | specii | ||
| Specii is also the plural of specie in Romanian, referring to coin or banknotes. | |||
| Russian | виды | ||
| The Russian word "виды" (species) derives from the Proto-Slavic "viděti" (to see), indicating the classification of organisms based on observable characteristics. | |||
| Serbian | врста | ||
| "Врста" is also a word for "type" and "kind". | |||
| Slovak | druhov | ||
| The word "druhov" can also refer to a "kind" or "type" of something. | |||
| Slovenian | vrste | ||
| Slovenian word "vrste" can mean not only "species", but also "kind", "category" or "range". | |||
| Ukrainian | видів | ||
| The Ukrainian word “видів” (species) comes from the Proto-Slavic word *vidъ, meaning “appearance, form, look”. | |||
Species in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | প্রজাতি | ||
| ‘প্রজাতি’ also refers to the ‘genus’ and ‘type of’ something in Bengali. | |||
| Gujarati | પ્રજાતિઓ | ||
| Gujarati "પ્રજાતિઓ" may also refer to a breed or variety of animals, especially domestic ones, or to a group of similar people sharing a common culture, language, or religion. | |||
| Hindi | जाति | ||
| The root of "जाति" is also the root of words meaning "birth", "origin" and "caste." | |||
| Kannada | ಜಾತಿಗಳು | ||
| The word "ಜಾತಿಗಳು" can also refer to a caste or community within the Indian caste system. | |||
| Malayalam | സ്പീഷീസ് | ||
| The word "species" is derived from the Latin word "species," which means "kind, sort, or appearance." | |||
| Marathi | प्रजाती | ||
| "प्रजाती" comes from the Sanskrit word "प्रजा" (praja), meaning progeny, or offspring. | |||
| Nepali | प्रजाति | ||
| The Sanskrit term 'pra’jati (u2018origin') relates primarily to the origin (u2018jati') of life and its categories and divisions. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਪੀਸੀਜ਼ | ||
| The word "ਸਪੀਸੀਜ਼" (species) is derived from the Latin word "species," which means "kind" or "appearance." | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | විශේෂ | ||
| The term ‘විශේෂ’ in Sinhala, originally referred to the term 'unique' before adapting the meaning of 'species'. | |||
| Tamil | இனங்கள் | ||
| Telugu | జాతులు | ||
| జాతులు also means "races" in the context of human populations. | |||
| Urdu | پرجاتیوں | ||
| In Urdu, پرجاتیوں comes from the Sanskrit word "prajāti," meaning "birth" or "kind," and is related to the word "praja," meaning "people" or "offspring." | |||
Species in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 种类 | ||
| "种类" (species) literally means "kind of category" | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 種類 | ||
| 種類 literally translates as “category, or type of” and can refer to species; category; type; kind | |||
| Japanese | 種 | ||
| 種 (shu) in Japanese also means 'kind', 'type', 'sort', or 'variety' in a more general sense, not limited to biological species. | |||
| Korean | 종 | ||
| In Korean, "종" ("species") also means "kind", "type", or "class". | |||
| Mongolian | төрөл зүйл | ||
| The Mongolian word "төрөл зүйл" is derived from the root "төрөл" meaning "birth" or "origin", and "зүйл" meaning "kind" or "type". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မျိုးစိတ် | ||
Species in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | jenis | ||
| The Indonesian word "jenis" ('species') derives from the Arabic "jins" ('kind or type'), which originally meant 'generation,' 'lineage,' or 'sex'. As a result, "jenis" in Indonesian can mean either 'species' or 'type', even as a type of genre within the category of literature. | |||
| Javanese | spesies | ||
| In Javanese, the word "spesies" can also refer to a type or variety of something. | |||
| Khmer | ប្រភេទសត្វ | ||
| Lao | ຊະນິດ | ||
| Malay | spesies | ||
| Malay "spesies" also means the metal tip affixed at one end of a stick or cane to prevent splitting and wear. | |||
| Thai | สายพันธุ์ | ||
| The root word, "สาย", means rope; "พันธุ์" originates from "พันธ์," meaning seed. | |||
| Vietnamese | loài | ||
| "Loài" is also a term for "sort", "category", or "kind" of thing in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | uri ng hayop | ||
Species in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | növlər | ||
| Növlər, meaning species in Azerbaijani, originally meant "sort" or "kind" in Old Turkic and is related to the word "növ" which means generation. | |||
| Kazakh | түрлері | ||
| Түрлері is also used in Kazakh to refer to a type of bird, specifically a species of falcon. | |||
| Kyrgyz | түрлөр | ||
| The word “түрлөр” (“species”) can also be used to refer to a specific type of animal or plant within a wider classification. | |||
| Tajik | намудҳо | ||
| The Persian word "namuhd" means "prototype" or "sample," and is used to refer to biological species in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | görnüşleri | ||
| Uzbek | turlari | ||
| The word "turlari" derives from the Proto-Turkic root "turu" and also means "kinds", "sorts", or "varieties". | |||
| Uyghur | تۈرلىرى | ||
Species in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻano laha | ||
| 'Ano laha' literally means 'separate, divided or different' and refers to plants or animals that are distinct from each other. | |||
| Maori | momo | ||
| Momo in Maori can also mean 'branch' or 'generation' | |||
| Samoan | ituaiga | ||
| ituaiga also means "clan" or "lineage" and is often used to refer to extended family groups. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | species | ||
| In Tagalog, the plural form of "specie" is "espesye" which retains the original Spanish spelling but pronounced as [ɛspɛsjɛ]. | |||
Species in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ispisyinaka | ||
| Guarani | nungakuéra | ||
Species in International Languages
| Esperanto | specioj | ||
| The Esperanto word "specioj" can also be used to refer to samples or specimens of a substance or material. | |||
| Latin | species | ||
| In Latin, "species" also refers to the appearance, form, or kind of something. | |||
Species in Others Languages
| Greek | είδος | ||
| Είδος is also used in botany to refer to a genus or family. | |||
| Hmong | hom | ||
| Hom is also a Hmong word for a "group of people originating from the same ancestor" and "a type of person or thing; genus; kind." | |||
| Kurdish | celeb | ||
| The Kurdish word "celeb" also means "type" or "kind". | |||
| Turkish | türler | ||
| The Turkish word "Türler" originates from the Arabic word "tür," meaning "kind, manner, or race". | |||
| Xhosa | iintlobo | ||
| In traditional Xhosa belief, the iintlobo is the totem animal of the amaPhondo clan. | |||
| Yiddish | מינים | ||
| The word "מינים" ("species") in Yiddish derives from the Hebrew word "מין" ("species") but also has the connotation of "type" or "sort". | |||
| Zulu | izinhlobo | ||
| The Zulu word "izinhlobo" refers to "species" in English and also carries the meaning of "kinds," "varieties," or "types." | |||
| Assamese | প্ৰজাতি | ||
| Aymara | ispisyinaka | ||
| Bhojpuri | प्रजाति | ||
| Dhivehi | ވައްތަރުގެ | ||
| Dogri | जाति | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | uri ng hayop | ||
| Guarani | nungakuéra | ||
| Ilocano | species | ||
| Krio | kayn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | جۆرەکان | ||
| Maithili | प्रजाति | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯖꯤꯕ ꯃꯈꯜ | ||
| Mizo | pawl chi khat | ||
| Oromo | gosa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପ୍ରଜାତିଗୁଡିକ | | ||
| Quechua | uywakuna | ||
| Sanskrit | विजाति | ||
| Tatar | төрләре | ||
| Tigrinya | ዓሌታት | ||
| Tsonga | muxaka | ||