Spirit in Different Languages
Discover 'Spirit' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'spirit' holds a deep significance in many cultures and languages around the world. Originating from the Latin word 'spiritus' meaning 'breath,' it has evolved to represent a wide range of concepts, from the life force within us to the intangible essence of a place or thing. Its cultural importance is evident in various religious, philosophical, and literary contexts, where 'spirit' is often used to describe supernatural beings, divine entities, or ethereal forces.
Given its rich history and broad applicability, understanding the translations of 'spirit' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the unique perspectives and worldviews of various cultures. For instance, in Spanish, 'spirit' translates to 'espíritu,' while in German, it becomes 'Geist.' In Japanese, the word 'tamashii' captures the essence of 'spirit,' and in Hebrew, 'ruach' conveys the idea of wind or breath, which is closely related to the original Latin meaning of 'spiritus.'
Exploring the translations of 'spirit' in different languages can be a fascinating journey, shedding light on the intricate connections between language, culture, and the human experience.
Spirit
Spirit in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | gees | ||
| The word "gees" in Afrikaans derives from the Dutch word "geest" meaning "mind, soul, spirit" or "ghost, apparition". | |||
| Amharic | መንፈስ | ||
| The Amharic word "መንፈስ" comes from the Greek word "πνεῦμα" and can also mean "breath" or "wind". | |||
| Hausa | ruhu | ||
| The Hausa word ruhu can also refer to a person's character, inner feelings, or essence. | |||
| Igbo | mmụọ | ||
| Igbo word 'mmụọ' originates from 'mmụ' ('breath') and denotes both spirits and spiritual energy. | |||
| Malagasy | fanahy | ||
| The word "fanahy" can also refer to a "tombstone" or "ancestor" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mzimu | ||
| Nyanja word "mzimu" can also mean "a god" or "a supernatural being". | |||
| Shona | mweya | ||
| Mweya has connotations of "wind" and "breath" similar to the Greek "pneuma" and the Hebrew "ruach" | |||
| Somali | ruuxa | ||
| The word "ruuxa" comes from the Arabic word "ruh" which also means "spirit." | |||
| Sesotho | moea | ||
| The word "moea" can also refer to a ghost, an apparition or a dream. | |||
| Swahili | roho | ||
| The Swahili term "roho" not only means "spirit" but also refers to "breath" or the "vital force" that gives life to a body. | |||
| Xhosa | umoya | ||
| "Umoya" also refers to air, breath or wind. | |||
| Yoruba | ẹmi | ||
| Ẹmi can also mean 'life' or 'soul' and as such is sometimes interchangeable with the word 'ọkàn'. | |||
| Zulu | umoya | ||
| "Umoya" (spirit) in Zulu is the same as "moya" in Xhosa and "pneuma" in Greek, all originating from the Proto-Bantu term "*mweya" (breath, life-force). | |||
| Bambara | ni | ||
| Ewe | gbɔgbɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umwuka | ||
| Lingala | elimo | ||
| Luganda | omwooyo | ||
| Sepedi | moya | ||
| Twi (Akan) | honhom | ||
Spirit in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | روح | ||
| The Arabic word "روح" is also used to refer to "life" or "the faculty of life". | |||
| Hebrew | רוּחַ | ||
| In addition to its meaning of "spirit", רוּחַ (ruah) can also refer to "wind" or "breath", reflecting the multifaceted nature of the concept of spirit in Hebrew thought. | |||
| Pashto | روح | ||
| The word "روح" can also refer to a ghost, a demon, or a living being. | |||
| Arabic | روح | ||
| The Arabic word "روح" is also used to refer to "life" or "the faculty of life". | |||
Spirit in Western European Languages
| Albanian | shpirti | ||
| The word 'shpirti' in Albanian derives from the Latin word 'spiritus', meaning both 'breath' and 'ghost', reflecting the dual nature of the concept. | |||
| Basque | espiritua | ||
| Though "espiritua" is often translated as "spirit," it can also refer to the respiratory system, one's demeanor, and the wind. | |||
| Catalan | esperit | ||
| The word 'esperit' also has other meanings, such as 'ghost', 'wit', or 'intellect'. | |||
| Croatian | duh | ||
| "Duh" also relates to "breath", "wind" and in the plural form "duhovi" often means "ghosts" or "demons". | |||
| Danish | ånd | ||
| In Danish, "ånd" can also mean "breath" or "inspiration", reflecting its root meaning "to blow". | |||
| Dutch | geest | ||
| Dutch "geest" also refers to "barley mash" (for beer production) or a "swampy area" | |||
| English | spirit | ||
| The word "spirit" comes from the Latin word "spiritus," meaning "breath" or "air." | |||
| French | esprit | ||
| In French, "esprit" retains its Latin root's connotation of breath, wind, or animating principle. | |||
| Frisian | geast | ||
| The Old Frisian word 'geast' can also refer to a 'guest'. It is related to the Old English word 'gæst' and the Dutch word 'gast'. | |||
| Galician | espírito | ||
| In Galician, "espírito" also means "humour" or "wit". | |||
| German | geist | ||
| The word Geist derives from an Indo-European root, ghei- or ghoi-, meaning to stir or inspire, and is related to the English words "guest" and "ghost." | |||
| Icelandic | andi | ||
| The word "andi" can also refer to one's breath or one's soul. | |||
| Irish | spiorad | ||
| The Gaelic word "spiorad" refers to both "spirit" and "air" or "wind". | |||
| Italian | spirito | ||
| In Italian, the word 'spirito' derives from the Latin 'spiritus', meaning 'breath', and also has the alternate meaning of 'soul' or 'ghost'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | geescht | ||
| The word "Geescht" can also refer to a state of excitement or enthusiasm. | |||
| Maltese | spirtu | ||
| In Maltese, 'spirtu' can also refer to alcohol. | |||
| Norwegian | ånd | ||
| Ånd also means 'breath' in Norwegian, as in 'to run out of breath'. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | espírito | ||
| In Portuguese, "espírito" (spirit) can also refer to "breath" or "essence". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | spiorad | ||
| The word "spiorad" has its root in the Latin "spiritus", denoting "breath" as an emblem of life. | |||
| Spanish | espíritu | ||
| In Spanish, "espíritu" can also refer to an alcoholic beverage, an extract or concentrated substance, or essential oil. | |||
| Swedish | anda | ||
| Anda is also used informally to refer to a person's attitude or style. | |||
| Welsh | ysbryd | ||
| In Welsh mythology, "ysbryd" can refer to a supernatural being, a ghost, or an aspect of a person's character resembling an animal. | |||
Spirit in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | дух | ||
| Дух is cognate with English "ghost" and German "Geist". It can also mean essence. | |||
| Bosnian | duh | ||
| The word 'duh' can also refer to a 'ghost', or a 'specter' | |||
| Bulgarian | дух | ||
| The word "дух" in Bulgarian also means "smell" or "fragrance". | |||
| Czech | duch | ||
| Czech 'duch' can also mean 'ghost'. | |||
| Estonian | vaim | ||
| The Finnish word "vainaa" ("dead body") probably derives from the same Proto-Finnic root, giving "vaim" the connotation of "life-force". | |||
| Finnish | henki | ||
| In Japanese, the same word 変化 (henko) means "change" and "transformation". | |||
| Hungarian | szellem | ||
| The word szellem can also mean 'ghost' or 'intellect'. | |||
| Latvian | gars | ||
| Gars can also mean a ghost, a witch, a demon, or a god. | |||
| Lithuanian | dvasia | ||
| The word "dvasia" originally meant "breath" and is cognate with Latin "spiritus" and Gothic "ahma". | |||
| Macedonian | духот | ||
| The word "духот" is also used in Macedonian to refer to "air" or "breeze". | |||
| Polish | duch | ||
| "Duch" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "dъхъ" meaning "breath" or "wind". | |||
| Romanian | spirit | ||
| The Romanian word for "spirit" can also mean "smell" or "breath". | |||
| Russian | дух | ||
| The word “дух” (spirit) in Russian has several meanings, including “intellect” and an archaic meaning of “breath.” | |||
| Serbian | дух | ||
| The word "дух” originates from Proto-Slavic *dyxъ and is cognate with "дышать” meaning to breathe, and also “душно” meaning stuffy. | |||
| Slovak | duch | ||
| The word "duch" in Slovak is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "dux" meaning "breath" or "wind", and is cognate with the English word "spirit". | |||
| Slovenian | duha | ||
| The word "duha" in Slovenian can also refer to a rainbow. | |||
| Ukrainian | дух | ||
| The word "дух" in Ukrainian can also mean "stench", "smell", or "odor"} | |||
Spirit in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আত্মা | ||
| The word "আত্মা" can also refer to the "inner self" or "essence" of something. | |||
| Gujarati | ભાવના | ||
| The Gujarati word "ભાવના" can also refer to an "emotion" or a "feeling". | |||
| Hindi | आत्मा | ||
| The Hindi word "आत्मा" (ātmā) comes from the Sanskrit word "ātman," which has a wide range of meanings including "breath," "life principle," and "individual self." | |||
| Kannada | ಚೇತನ | ||
| In addition to indicating the soul or spirit, the word "ಚೇತನ" also denotes "consciousness" in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | ആത്മാവ് | ||
| ആത്മാവ് (aatmaav) derives from Sanskrit and can also mean "life" or "the breath of life." | |||
| Marathi | आत्मा | ||
| The word "आत्मा" is derived from the Sanskrit root "at", meaning "to blow" or "to breathe". | |||
| Nepali | आत्मा | ||
| The Nepali word आत्मा originates from the Sanskrit word "atman", meaning "breath". It can also refer to the essential nature of a being or the universe. | |||
| Punjabi | ਆਤਮਾ | ||
| "ਆਤਮਾ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "atman," meaning "breath" or "essence". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආත්මය | ||
| The word "ආත්මය" (āthmaya) in Sinhala can also mean "self" or "soul", depending on the context. | |||
| Tamil | ஆவி | ||
| The Tamil word "ஆவி" can also refer to "vapour", "steam", "smell" or "fragrance" and is cognate with the Sanskrit term "ātmā" or "self". | |||
| Telugu | ఆత్మ | ||
| The word "ఆత్మ" can also refer to "breath" in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | روح | ||
| The origin of the word is from the Arabic root "rwḥ," which means "life, soul, breath," and it has many different meanings in the context of Urdu literature, philosophy, and spirituality. | |||
Spirit in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 精神 | ||
| 精神 is used to refer to the psychological or emotional state of a person or group | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 精神 | ||
| This word literally means 'essence' of the 'mind', and has many meanings, including "soul", "intellect", and "morale". | |||
| Japanese | 精神 | ||
| The kanji "精神" can also mean "mind" or "soul". | |||
| Korean | 정신 | ||
| "정신" can also mean "mind," "consciousness," or "intellect." | |||
| Mongolian | сүнс | ||
| The word "сүнс" in Mongolian can also refer to the essence or core of something. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | စိတ်ဓာတ် | ||
| The word "စိတ်ဓာတ်" has the primary meaning of "spirit", but also figuratively designates various mental and emotional qualities like "courage" and "determination" in Myanmar (Burmese). | |||
Spirit in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | roh | ||
| "Roh" in Indonesian does not mean "soul" (jiwa), but rather refers to the disembodied entity (ghost) of a deceased person or an immaterial being like deities or mythical creatures (jinn). | |||
| Javanese | roh | ||
| In Javanese, 'roh' can also refer to a person's soul or essence. | |||
| Khmer | វិញ្ញាណ | ||
| Though វិញ្ញាណ usually means "spirit", it can also refer to "mind", "intellect", or "consciousness". | |||
| Lao | ນ້ໍາໃຈ | ||
| Malay | semangat | ||
| "Semangat" in Malay can also refer to a guardian spirit, a soul, or a ghost. | |||
| Thai | วิญญาณ | ||
| The word "วิญญาณ" in Thai can also refer to the faculties of perception, cognition, and consciousness. | |||
| Vietnamese | tinh thần | ||
| In Vietnamese, the word "tinh thần" can also refer to a person's morale, mood, or mental state. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | espiritu | ||
Spirit in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ruh | ||
| The word "ruh" in Azerbaijani originally meant "wind", and is cognate with the English "rough". | |||
| Kazakh | рух | ||
| "Рух" in Kazakh also refers to a mythical creature, a giant bird inhabiting the upper world in Kazakh mythology. | |||
| Kyrgyz | рух | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "рух" also has the alternate meanings of "breath" and "soul". | |||
| Tajik | рӯҳ | ||
| The Tajik word "рӯҳ" comes from the Arabic word "روح" (rūḥ) and also means "life" and "soul". | |||
| Turkmen | ruh | ||
| Uzbek | ruh | ||
| The Uzbek word "ruh" can be translated as "breeze" or "wind", referring to its incorporeal nature as spirit in contrast with its corporeal, mortal nature as body that may be perceived as earth. | |||
| Uyghur | روھ | ||
Spirit in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻuhane | ||
| 'Uhane' also means 'breath' in Hawaiian, reflecting the traditional belief that breath is the essence of life. | |||
| Maori | wairua | ||
| Wairua translates to "spirit" in Māori and also refers to the vital principle or essence of a person. | |||
| Samoan | agaga | ||
| The word "agaga" in Samoan can also refer to a supernatural being or a manifestation of divine power. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | diwa | ||
| The word 'diwa' likely derives from the Sanskrit word 'dhi,' meaning intellect or understanding. | |||
Spirit in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ajayu | ||
| Guarani | ãnga | ||
Spirit in International Languages
| Esperanto | spirito | ||
| The Esperanto word "spirito" is derived from the Latin "spiritus", which can mean "breath", "soul", or "ghost". | |||
| Latin | spiritus | ||
| The Latin word "spiritus" originally referred to breath and air, and retained that sense as an alternate meaning, but also acquired the philosophical and religious senses it bears in English. | |||
Spirit in Others Languages
| Greek | πνεύμα | ||
| The Greek word "πνεύμα" encompasses meanings such as "breath", "wind", and "inspiration" beyond the common translation "spirit". | |||
| Hmong | ntsuj plig | ||
| The Hmong word "ntsuj plig" can also refer to the soul or the afterlife, depending on the context. | |||
| Kurdish | rewş | ||
| The word 'rewş' is also used in a broader sense, denoting personal, social, emotional, spiritual and metaphysical concepts, as well as the abstract qualities or essence of something. | |||
| Turkish | ruh | ||
| "Ruh," meaning "spirit" in Turkish, derives from the Arabic "rūḥ," signifying "breath" or "wind." | |||
| Xhosa | umoya | ||
| "Umoya" also refers to air, breath or wind. | |||
| Yiddish | גייסט | ||
| Despite its religious connotation, "גייסט" can also refer to mischievous spirits or even a playful mood. | |||
| Zulu | umoya | ||
| "Umoya" (spirit) in Zulu is the same as "moya" in Xhosa and "pneuma" in Greek, all originating from the Proto-Bantu term "*mweya" (breath, life-force). | |||
| Assamese | আত্মা | ||
| Aymara | ajayu | ||
| Bhojpuri | आत्मा | ||
| Dhivehi | ސްޕިރިޓް | ||
| Dogri | रुह् | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | espiritu | ||
| Guarani | ãnga | ||
| Ilocano | espiritu | ||
| Krio | spirit | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | گیان | ||
| Maithili | साहस | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯊꯤꯜ | ||
| Mizo | thlarau | ||
| Oromo | hafuura | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆତ୍ମା | ||
| Quechua | espiritu | ||
| Sanskrit | आत्मा | ||
| Tatar | рух | ||
| Tigrinya | መንፈስ | ||
| Tsonga | moya | ||