Spiritual in Different Languages
Discover 'Spiritual' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'spiritual' holds a significant place in our lives, often representing a deep connection to our inner selves and the universe beyond. Its cultural importance varies across societies, but its essence remains a common thread that binds us all. Exploring the translation of 'spiritual' in different languages can offer fascinating insights into how diverse cultures perceive and express this concept.
For instance, in Spanish, 'spiritual' translates to 'espiritual', reflecting the influence of Catholicism on the language. In Japanese, 'spiritual' becomes 'れいしき' (Reishiki), echoing the country's ancient Shinto beliefs. Similarly, in Hebrew, 'spiritual' is translated as 'רוחani' (Ruachani), resonating with the Jewish concept of the soul and divine presence.
Delving into these translations not only enriches our understanding of the word 'spiritual' but also opens up a world of cultural discovery. Join us as we embark on this linguistic journey, exploring the many facets of 'spiritual' in different languages.
Spiritual
Spiritual in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | geestelik | ||
| Although 'geestelik' is commonly used to describe spiritual matters, its literal translation is 'ghostly', originating from the Old Dutch word 'gheestelic'. | |||
| Amharic | መንፈሳዊ | ||
| The word "መንፈሳዊ" (spiritual) derives from the root "ነፍስ" (soul) and signifies a connection to or state of the soul. | |||
| Hausa | na ruhaniya | ||
| In Hausa, the word 'na ruhaniya' also refers to a type of traditional healing practice. | |||
| Igbo | nke ime mmuo | ||
| The Igbo word "nke ime mmuo" ("spiritual") directly translates to "of the inside spirits" | |||
| Malagasy | ara-panahy | ||
| The word ARA-pANAHY is derived from the Sanskrit word 'ARANA', meaning forest, and 'PANAHY', meaning shelter. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zauzimu | ||
| The word 'zauzimu' in Nyanja also refers to having supernatural powers or qualities. | |||
| Shona | zvemweya | ||
| The word "zvemweya" can also refer to traditional medicine and healing practices in the Shona culture. | |||
| Somali | ruuxi ah | ||
| The word 'ruuxi ah' can be interpreted as 'essence of life' or 'breath of life'. | |||
| Sesotho | tsa moea | ||
| "Tsa moea" is derived from the word "moea" which means both "dream" and "spirit" in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | kiroho | ||
| The word "kiroho" also refers to the soul or the mind in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | yokomoya | ||
| "Yokomoya" is etymologically related to "moya" (mist/vapor) and "yokumoya" (clouds), signifying a connection between spirituality and the unseen realms. | |||
| Yoruba | ẹmí | ||
| "Ẹmí" in Yoruba also denotes breath (as in life breath); this may stem from the belief that the life breath and the "inner person" are one and the same. | |||
| Zulu | okomoya | ||
| Zulu "okomoya" also refers to a ritual involving prayer, animal sacrifice and beer drinking and its practitioners. | |||
| Bambara | hakili ta fan fɛ | ||
| Ewe | gbɔgbɔ me tɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | mu mwuka | ||
| Lingala | ya elimo | ||
| Luganda | eby’omwoyo | ||
| Sepedi | ya semoya | ||
| Twi (Akan) | honhom mu | ||
Spiritual in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | روحي | ||
| The Arabic word "روحي" means "spiritual" but can also refer to "breath" or "soul." | |||
| Hebrew | רוחני | ||
| The Hebrew word "רוחני" (spiritual) also means "pertaining to or derived from the wind". | |||
| Pashto | روحاني | ||
| In Pashto, the word "روحاني" can also refer to "breath" or "soul" | |||
| Arabic | روحي | ||
| The Arabic word "روحي" means "spiritual" but can also refer to "breath" or "soul." | |||
Spiritual in Western European Languages
| Albanian | shpirtëror | ||
| The Albanian word "shpirtëror" derives from the Latin word "spiritualis" referring to "pertaining to the breath or spirit". | |||
| Basque | espirituala | ||
| In Basque, "espirituala" also means "ghostly" or "supernatural". | |||
| Catalan | espiritual | ||
| "Espiritual" derives from Latin "spiritus" meaning "breath" and refers to the soul or mind and also to alcoholic beverages. | |||
| Croatian | duhovni | ||
| The word "duhovni" can also mean "mental" or "intellectual" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | åndelig | ||
| "Åndelig" derives from the word "ånde" meaning breath, which reflects the notion that the spiritual realm was related to the life-force. | |||
| Dutch | spiritueel | ||
| This word comes from “spirit” and “-eel” | |||
| English | spiritual | ||
| The word "spiritual" derives from the Latin "spiritus," meaning breath, life, or soul. | |||
| French | spirituel | ||
| The French word "spirituel" is cognate with the English word "spiritual," but can also mean "witty" or "clever." | |||
| Frisian | geastlik | ||
| The word 'geastlik' in Frisian is derived from the Old Frisian word 'gāst', meaning both 'ghost' and 'spirit'. | |||
| Galician | espiritual | ||
| “Espiritual” in Galician means not only “spiritual”, but also “supernatural, miraculous, extraordinary”. | |||
| German | spirituell | ||
| In German, "spirituell" can also mean "witty" or "intelligent". | |||
| Icelandic | andlegur | ||
| The original meaning of "andlegur" was "breath-related," and was used to describe beings with souls, like humans. | |||
| Irish | spioradálta | ||
| The word 'spioradálta' also means 'spiritual gifts' or 'charismatic gifts' in Irish. | |||
| Italian | spirituale | ||
| "Spirituale" comes from Latin "spirituālis" which also means "concerned with vital breath or life", "lively", or "spirited" | |||
| Luxembourgish | spirituell | ||
| Maltese | spiritwali | ||
| The Maltese "spiritwali" comes from the Old French "espirit" and the Biblical Aramaic "rûhâ", originally meaning "breath", "wind" or "life principle." | |||
| Norwegian | åndelig | ||
| The term 'åndelig' shares an etymological link with the word 'åndedrett', meaning 'breath', suggesting a close connection between spirituality and the vital energy that sustains us. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | espiritual | ||
| The word "espiritual" comes from the Latin word "spiritualis", which means "relating to the spirit" or "of a spiritual nature". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | spioradail | ||
| The word "spioradail" is derived from the Old Irish word "spirut" meaning "spirit". | |||
| Spanish | espiritual | ||
| The word "espiritual" in Spanish comes from the Latin "spiritus", meaning "breath" or "wind". It can also mean "ghostly" or "non-material". | |||
| Swedish | andlig | ||
| The Swedish word "andlig" shares the same Proto-Indo-European root as the English word "animate," revealing its original sense of "endowed with breath." | |||
| Welsh | ysbrydol | ||
| Ysbrydol is also used to refer to a "spirit" or "ghost" in Welsh folklore. | |||
Spiritual in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | духоўны | ||
| The Belarusian word "духоўны" (spiritual) derives from the Proto-Slavic root *duxъ, which also denotes "breath", "wind", and "spirit". | |||
| Bosnian | duhovno | ||
| The word "duhovno" also means "breath" and "air" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | духовен | ||
| Bulgarian “духовен” (“spiritual”) shares etymology with words like “дух” (“spirit”) and “вдъхновение” (“inspiration”), originating from an Indo-European root meaning “to breathe.” | |||
| Czech | duchovní | ||
| The word "duchovní" (lit. "spiritual") can also mean "priest". | |||
| Estonian | vaimne | ||
| The Estonian word vaimne is also used to describe phenomena connected to mythology, folklore, and superstition, not just those related to religion. | |||
| Finnish | hengellinen | ||
| The term _hengellinen_ can also refer to anything supernatural, mysterious, or unworldly | |||
| Hungarian | lelki | ||
| The word "lelki" in Hungarian also carries the connotation of "inner" or "psychological". | |||
| Latvian | garīgs | ||
| Latvian "garīgs" originally meant "healthy" and only later "spiritual". | |||
| Lithuanian | dvasinis | ||
| Lithuanian "dvasinis" derives from "dvasia" (spirit, life-force). "Dvasia" itself originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *dhew- "to breathe, blow". | |||
| Macedonian | духовно | ||
| The word "духовно" can also mean "mentally", "morally", or "intellectually". | |||
| Polish | duchowy | ||
| The word "duchowy" in Polish can also mean "intellectual" or "mental". | |||
| Romanian | spiritual | ||
| The Romanian word "spiritual" comes from the same Latin root as "inspire" and "spirit" and can also mean "lively", "spirited", or "vigorous". | |||
| Russian | духовный | ||
| The word “духовный” (spiritual) in Russian can also mean “intellectual” or “cultured”. | |||
| Serbian | духовни | ||
| "Духовни" is also an adjective meaning "of or relating to air". | |||
| Slovak | duchovné | ||
| The word "duchovné" in Slovak can also refer to the ecclesiastical or religious sphere. | |||
| Slovenian | duhovno | ||
| The word ''duhovno'' ('spiritual') originally meant 'breath of life' as well. | |||
| Ukrainian | духовний | ||
| The word 'духовний' ('spiritual') in Ukrainian can also refer to 'clerical' or 'pertaining to the clergy'. | |||
Spiritual in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আধ্যাত্মিক | ||
| আধ্যাত্মিক (adhyātmika) comes from Sanskrit आध्यात्मिक (adhyatmika), meaning "relating to the Self" or "relating to the Supreme Spirit". | |||
| Gujarati | આધ્યાત્મિક | ||
| Hindi | आध्यात्मिक | ||
| "आध्यात्मिक" has historically meant "primary" or "original" in Sanskrit, but has gradually taken on a spiritual connotation in modern Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ | ||
| The word "ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ" ("spiritual") in Kannada can also refer to "metaphysical" or "supernatural" concepts. | |||
| Malayalam | ആത്മീയം | ||
| The word "ആത്മീയം" in Malayalam is derived from the Sanskrit word "आत्म" (aatma), meaning "soul", and can also refer to the inner self or consciousness. | |||
| Marathi | अध्यात्मिक | ||
| The word "अध्यात्मिक" (adhyatmik) is derived from the Sanskrit word "आध्यात्मिक" (adhyatmika), which means "pertaining to the self" or "subjective". | |||
| Nepali | आध्यात्मिक | ||
| The word 'आध्यात्मिक' in Nepali is derived from the Sanskrit word 'adhyatma', meaning 'the supreme self or soul'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਰੂਹਾਨੀ | ||
| The Punjabi word 'ਰੂਹਾਨੀ' (spiritual) derives from the Persian word 'روح' (breath), and can also refer to the 'spirit of a person'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අධ්යාත්මික | ||
| The Sinhala word "අධ්යාත්මික" (adhyAtmika) is derived from Sanskrit and also means "pertaining to the self" or "subjective". | |||
| Tamil | ஆன்மீக | ||
| The word 'ஆன்மீக' in Tamil can trace its etymological roots to the Sanskrit word 'आध्यात्मिक' (adhyatmik), meaning 'pertaining to the self or the soul'. | |||
| Telugu | ఆధ్యాత్మికం | ||
| The word "ఆధ్యాత్మికం" (adhyatmikam) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "अध्यात्म" (adhyatma), which means "inner self" or "soul". | |||
| Urdu | روحانی | ||
| The word "روحانی" can also mean "clergy" or "priest" in Urdu. | |||
Spiritual in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 精神 | ||
| 精神 also means "consciousness" or "energy" in Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 精神 | ||
| In addition to "spirituality", 精神 can also mean "mental" as in "mental health" and "mindset". | |||
| Japanese | スピリチュアル | ||
| The word 「スピリチュアル」 is a loanword from English, but can also refer to something mysterious or supernatural | |||
| Korean | 영적인 | ||
| The Korean word "영적인" can also be used to describe something that is transcendent, ethereal, or divine. | |||
| Mongolian | сүнслэг | ||
| The word "сүнслэг" is derived from the Mongolian word "сүнс" meaning "spirit", and can also refer to religious or non-religious practices or beliefs. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဝိညာဉ်ရေးရာ | ||
Spiritual in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | rohani | ||
| Rohani in Indonesian can also refer to 'religious' and 'mystic' matters in addition to spiritual matters. | |||
| Javanese | spiritual | ||
| In Javanese, "spiritual" (rohani) also refers to the non-physical aspects of a person, such as their mind and emotions. | |||
| Khmer | ខាងវិញ្ញាណ | ||
| Lao | ທາງວິນຍານ | ||
| Malay | rohani | ||
| The word "rohani" can also refer to the soul or spirit, and is cognate with the Sanskrit word "ruhani". | |||
| Thai | จิตวิญญาณ | ||
| The term "จิตวิญญาณ" (spiritual) in Thai is derived from the Sanskrit words "citta" (mind) and "vijñana" (knowledge). | |||
| Vietnamese | thuộc linh | ||
| "Thuộc linh" also means "to belong to a spirit or deity" in Vietnamese but this meaning is now obsolete. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | espirituwal | ||
Spiritual in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | mənəvi | ||
| The word | |||
| Kazakh | рухани | ||
| The word "рухани" also means "spiritual guide" in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | руханий | ||
| Руханий (spiritual) derives from the Arabic term, "ruh" (spirit), and means "of the spirit" or "related to the spirit". | |||
| Tajik | маънавӣ | ||
| In some dialects of Tajik, such as the one spoken in Badakhshan, "маънавӣ" also means "hidden" or "secret". | |||
| Turkmen | ruhy | ||
| Uzbek | ma'naviy | ||
| "Ma'naviy" comes from the Arabic word "ma'na," meaning "sense, meaning, or significance." | |||
| Uyghur | مەنىۋى | ||
Spiritual in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻuhane | ||
| 'Uhane' also means 'breath' and 'life' in Hawaiian, reflecting the connection between the physical and spiritual realms believed by many. | |||
| Maori | wairua | ||
| The word "wairua" can also refer to a person's essence or life force. | |||
| Samoan | faʻaleagaga | ||
| 'Faʻaleagaga' can also mean 'ghost' and is derived from the word 'aga' (breath or soul). | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | ispiritwal | ||
| The word "ispiritwal" ultimately derives from Spanish "espiritual". It can also refer to being lively or full of life. | |||
Spiritual in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ajay tuqitxa | ||
| Guarani | espiritual rehegua | ||
Spiritual in International Languages
| Esperanto | spirita | ||
| In Esperanto, the word "spirita" can also mean "spiritualistic" or "supernatural." | |||
| Latin | spiritualis | ||
| The Latin word "spiritualis," meaning "spiritual," can also mean "relating to breath or spirit"} | |||
Spiritual in Others Languages
| Greek | πνευματικός | ||
| The Greek word "πνευματικός" (pneumatikós) derives from "πνεῦμα" (pneuma), meaning "breath" or "spirit," and can also refer to "relating to the intellect or mind." | |||
| Hmong | ntawm sab ntsuj plig | ||
| The word "ntawm sab ntsuj plig" in Hmong can refer to either the spiritual world or the human spirit. | |||
| Kurdish | fikrî | ||
| Fikrî is also used in the context of 'the world of thought and ideas'. | |||
| Turkish | manevi | ||
| The Turkish word "manevi" derives from the Arabic term "ma'nawi", connoting internal meaning or essence. | |||
| Xhosa | yokomoya | ||
| "Yokomoya" is etymologically related to "moya" (mist/vapor) and "yokumoya" (clouds), signifying a connection between spirituality and the unseen realms. | |||
| Yiddish | רוחניות | ||
| רוחניות in Yiddish can also mean a person's mood, disposition or temperament. | |||
| Zulu | okomoya | ||
| Zulu "okomoya" also refers to a ritual involving prayer, animal sacrifice and beer drinking and its practitioners. | |||
| Assamese | আধ্যাত্মিক | ||
| Aymara | ajay tuqitxa | ||
| Bhojpuri | आध्यात्मिक बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ރޫޙާނީ ގޮތުންނެވެ | ||
| Dogri | आध्यात्मिक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | espirituwal | ||
| Guarani | espiritual rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | naespirituan | ||
| Krio | spiritual tin dɛn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕۆحی | ||
| Maithili | आध्यात्मिक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁ꯭ꯄꯤꯔꯤꯆꯨꯌꯦꯜ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | thlarau lam thil | ||
| Oromo | kan hafuuraa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମିକ | ||
| Quechua | espiritual nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | आध्यात्मिक | ||
| Tatar | рухи | ||
| Tigrinya | መንፈሳዊ እዩ። | ||
| Tsonga | swa moya | ||