Spring in different languages

Spring in Different Languages

Discover 'Spring' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Spring, the season of renewal and growth, holds a special place in many cultures and languages around the world. As the days grow longer and warmer, we witness the rebirth of nature, with flowers blooming and trees regaining their leaves. This transformation signifies hope, optimism, and the triumph of life over death. It's no wonder that numerous languages have unique words to capture the essence of this vibrant season.

Moreover, the word 'spring' has fascinating historical contexts and interesting facts associated with it. For instance, did you know that the term 'spring' as a season comes from the Old English 'springan,' which means 'to jump or leap'? This is likely a reference to the way plants and animals 'spring' back to life during this time of year.

Understanding the translation of 'spring' in different languages can enrich your cultural knowledge and broaden your vocabulary. Here are a few examples to pique your curiosity:

  • French: printemps
  • Spanish: primavera
  • German: Frühling
  • Mandarin: 春季 (chūn jié)
  • Japanese: 春 (haru)

Spring


Spring in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanslente
The Afrikaans word “lente” is both the name of a season and the plant from which the fabric linen is made.
Amharicፀደይ
The Amharic word ፀደይ also refers to "the first day of the month of Meskerem" and "a person of good character."
Hausabazara
Hausa word “Bazara” also refers to "a place where trade goods and services are exchanged" indicating its ancient socio-economic importance.
Igbommiri
Mmiri, which can also mean 'water', derives from the Proto-Benue-Congo root, *mi/*mu (water); related words from this source include the Duala min 'liquid' and the Ibibio mmim 'rain'.
Malagasylohataona
The Malagasy word 'lohataona' shares its root with the word 'lohataony', meaning 'to sprout' or 'to blossom'.
Nyanja (Chichewa)kasupe
In some dialects, the word "kasupe" can also refer to a river that flows from a spring.
Shonachitubu
In addition to 'spring', 'chitubu' also denotes a 'season' or 'year' in Shona.
Somaliguga
In Somali, "guga" is a term not just for spring but also for the season of plenty and fertility.
Sesothoselemo
Its variant 'selemo' is derived from the root word 'lema', 'to germinate'.
Swahilichemchemi
"Chemchemi" is also used figuratively in Swahili to refer to the source or wellspring of something.
Xhosaintwasahlobo
The Xhosa word "intwasahlobo" is thought to mean both "spring" (i.e. the season) and "time of new life".
Yorubaorisun omi
The word "orisun omi" literally means "the beginning of water" and refers to the source of a river or stream.
Zuluintwasahlobo
The Zulu word "intwasahlobo" shares the same root with the word "isitshalo" (seedling).
Bambarak'a ta marisikalo la ka taa bila mɛkalo
Ewegagᴐdɔ̃e
Kinyarwandaisoko
Lingalaprintemps
Lugandasepulingi
Sepediseruthwane
Twi (Akan)asuso

Spring in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicربيع
ربيع also means a meadow or fresh green pasture, an abode, or any place of delight or amusement.
Hebrewאביב
The Hebrew word "אביב" (Aviv) is also used to refer to "green vegetation" or a "young animal".
Pashtoپسرلی
The Pashto word "پسرلی" (spring) may also refer to the young of an animal or a plant.
Arabicربيع
ربيع also means a meadow or fresh green pasture, an abode, or any place of delight or amusement.

Spring in Western European Languages

Albanianpranverë
The word “pranverë” in Albanian is derived from Proto-Albanian “*prinu + vere”, meaning literally “new summer” (cognate with Aromanian “primvār" and Romanian “primăvară”).
Basqueudaberria
The Basque word "udaberria" may be related to the Basque word "uda" meaning "summer", and the suffix "-berri" meaning "new".
Catalanprimavera
The word "primavera" in Catalan shares its root with the Latin word "primus," meaning "first," as spring is the first season of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Croatianproljeće
The word 'proljeće' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *prolьtьje, meaning 'the time when the earth thaws'.
Danishforår
The word "forår" comes from the Old Norse word "fár", which means "travel" or "journey".
Dutchvoorjaar
"Voorjaar" means "spring" in Dutch, but it also shares the same root as the German word "Frühling" (spring) and the English word "vernal" (relating to spring).
Englishspring
The word "spring" can also refer to a metal coil used to store energy or a natural source of water emerging from the earth.
Frenchprintemps
The word "printemps" derives from the Latin "prima tempestas," meaning "first season" or "season of the beginning".
Frisianmaitiid
Maitiid is also used to refer to the meadow flower fritillaria meleagris.
Galicianprimavera
In Galician, "primavera" also means "a young lamb" or "the firstborn of a flock"}
Germanfrühling
The German word "Frühling" can refer to both the season and the movement of jumping.
Icelandicvor
"Vor" also means a sore on a horse's back.
Irishearrach
"Earrach" can also refer to a type of land that is used for temporary pasture.
Italianprimavera
The word "primavera" in Italian also means "the first green of the season" or "the season of the first green of the season".
Luxembourgishfréijoer
"Freijoer" is derived from Middle Low German and Old Dutch "vrijar", which means "to woo" and hints to the custom to go on a date in spring.
Malteserebbiegħa
The word "rebbiegħa" in Maltese originates from the Arabic word "rabī" meaning "the season of growth" and also refers to the spring season in the liturgical calendar
Norwegianvår
The word "vår" is related to the Old Norse word "vǫr", meaning "guardian" or "watchman".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)primavera
The Portuguese word "primavera" comes from the Latin word "primaveris" which means "the first green of the year."
Scots Gaelicearrach
In Gaelic mythology, 'earrach' is also the name of the goddess of spring.
Spanishprimavera
Primavera's origin is in the Latin word 'primum', meaning 'first', and 'ver', meaning 'green' or 'vegetation'.
Swedishvår
The word "vår" also refers to an old Scandinavian goddess representing springtime.
Welshgwanwyn
Gwanwyn's literal meaning in Welsh is 'white heat', referring to the sun's warmth awakening the earth.

Spring in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianвясна
The word "вясна" in Belarusian originally referred to the equinox, later gaining the meaning of spring.
Bosnianproljeće
"Proljeće" comes from the verb "prolijevati" (to pour) and refers to the rain showers that often occur during this season.
Bulgarianпролетта
"Пролетта" (spring) is a derivative from the verb "пръскам" (sprinkle), related to the freshness and new life brought by the season.
Czechjaro
In Polish, "jaro" (spring) derives from the word "jarzyć" (to make bright), referring to the lengthening of days.
Estoniankevad
The word "kevad" in Estonian comes from the Proto-Finnic word *kevät, meaning "spring" or "warm season".
Finnishkevät
The Finnish word "kevät" is also related to the words "keveys" (lightness) and "kiihtyä" (to accelerate), suggesting a sense of renewal and invigorating energy associated with springtime.
Hungariantavaszi
Tavasszal a fa "kihajt"= "ki-haj-t" azaz "kihaj"-t (haj=hajtás, sarjadás)
Latvianpavasaris
"Pavasaris" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wes- meaning "to shine" or "to be warm".
Lithuanianpavasaris
The word "pavasaris" in Lithuanian originates from the verb "pavesti" meaning "to go up" or "to ascend", signifying the rise of water levels and the emergence of new life during springtime.
Macedonianпролет
The word "пролет" also refers to a small window frame in a larger window frame.
Polishwiosna
The word 'wiosna' in Polish is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'vesna', meaning 'new' or 'young'.
Romanianarc
In Romanian, the word "arc" can also mean "arch" or "bow".
Russianвесна
"Весна" can also mean the time of day just before sunset.
Serbianпролеће
The word "proleće" in Serbian is cognate with the word "prolet" in French and "prole" in English, both of which mean "offspring".
Slovakjar
Slovak "jar" derives from Proto-Slavic "*jarъ" meaning "hot season" as opposed to "*zima" meaning "cold season".
Slovenianpomlad
The word "pomlad" is also used to describe a young woman in her prime.
Ukrainianвесна
The word "весна" is cognate with the Sanskrit word "vasant", meaning "spring" or "beginning."

Spring in South Asian Languages

Bengaliবসন্ত
It is also a raag, a season, a god of love and the annual festival of colors in India.
Gujaratiવસંત
The word "વસંત" (vasant) also signifies the "awakening" of nature, the return of life after the winter's lull.
Hindiवसंत
"वसंत' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vas', meaning 'to shine' or 'to dwell', and can also refer to the deity of spring in Hindu mythology.
Kannadaವಸಂತ
"Vasanta" in Kannada is derived from Sanskrit "vasanthah," meaning "the one who dwells" or "the season of flowers."
Malayalamസ്പ്രിംഗ്
"Spring" in Malayalam comes from the Sanskrit word "spriha" meaning "desire," and can also refer to the season or a type of fountain.
Marathiवसंत ऋतू
The word वसंत ऋतू means "spring" in Marathi, originating from the Sanskrit word "vasanta" which also means "spring".
Nepaliवसन्त
'वसन्त' (vasanta) is also a Sanskrit term referring to the god of the season.
Punjabiਬਸੰਤ
The word 'ਬਸੰਤ' also refers to a specific musical genre, a religious holiday, and a type of yellow flower associated with the spring season.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වසන්තය
The word "වසන්තය" (vasanthaya) in Sinhala can also refer to the season of growth and prosperity.
Tamilவசந்த
The word "வசந்த" is derived from the Sanskrit word "वसंत" (vasanta), which means "spring" or "the season of spring".
Teluguవసంత
The Sanskrit root of వసంత is 'vas', meaning 'to shine' or 'to dwell', also referring to the season when plants and animals come to life and blossom.
Urduبہار
The word "بہار" (spring) in Urdu is etymologically linked to the Persian "bahar", which originally referred to the fragrant wind bringing the first signs of spring.

Spring in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)弹簧
弹簧 is also the name of a Chinese chess move, in which one piece threatens to take the other's general within two moves by moving parallel to it.
Chinese (Traditional)彈簧
The character "彈" in "彈簧" also means "to bounce" or "to shoot", indicating the spring's ability to recoil and store energy.
Japanese
The character "春" (haru) in Japanese originally meant "warmth" or "light" and is still used in this sense in some contexts, such as the phrase "春眠暁を覚えず" (haru-min akazome wo oboezu, lit. "in the spring, one does not notice the dawn") which refers to the feeling of grogginess and laziness often experienced in the morning during the spring season.
Korean
The word 봄 is also used to refer to the beginning or start of something, such as the beginning of a new year.
Mongolianхавар
The word "хавар" (spring) derives from the Mongolian root "хав" (to warm up, to thaw).
Myanmar (Burmese)နွေ ဦး
It's also the name of a Burmese month (February to March).

Spring in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmusim semi
"Musim semi" is an Indonesian term for spring, which literally means "raw season" and is also a synonym for "beginning season."
Javanesespring
In Javanese, "spring" can also mean "to sprout" or "to grow".
Khmerនិទាឃរដូវ
The word "និទាឃរដូវ" in Khmer originally referred to the hottest time of the year but now refers to the spring season.
Laoລະດູໃບໄມ້ປົ່ງ
The Lao word for "spring" can also refer to the dry season.
Malaymusim bunga
The Malay word "musim bunga" literally means "flower season" and also refers to the rainy season in Malaysia, typically occurring from March to November.
Thaiฤดูใบไม้ผลิ
The Thai word for spring, 'ฤดูใบไม้ผลิ', literally translates to 'season of falling leaves', reflecting the natural phenomenon of trees shedding their foliage during this time of the year.
Vietnamesemùa xuân
The word "mùa xuân" also means "new year" in Vietnamese culture, representing renewal and rebirth.
Filipino (Tagalog)tagsibol

Spring in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniyaz
The etymology of "yaz" is obscure, but it has alternate meanings such as "summer"}
Kazakhкөктем
"Көктем" is derived from the Turkic word "kök" meaning "green" or "bud".
Kyrgyzжаз
The word "жаз" can also refer to a specific area of a river where water is shallow and fast-moving.
Tajikбаҳор
The word “баҳор” (spring) originates from the Old Iranian “*vahar-” which also meant “year, season”.
Turkmenbahar
Uzbekbahor
The word "bahor" derives from the Old Persian word "*vahara-", meaning "to carry" or "to flow". In some dialects, it also refers to a "flood" or "large amount of water".
Uyghurباھار

Spring in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpunawai
The word punawai also means 'well' or 'pool' and is related to the word wai meaning 'water'.
Maoripuna
Maori "puna" can also refer to a place where a person was buried or hid.
Samoantautotogo
The word "tautotogo" can also refer to the place where water is collected, or a well.
Tagalog (Filipino)tagsibol
The word “tagsibol” can also mean “dawn” or “sunrise”.

Spring in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarach'uxñapacha
Guaraniarapoty

Spring in International Languages

Esperantoprintempo
Printempo is a compound of the words "princo" (beginning) and "tempo" (time).
Latinfons
Latin fons, from fōns (genitive fontis) refers also to "a sacred spring, a fountain"

Spring in Others Languages

Greekάνοιξη
"Άνοιξη" (spring) derives from the ancient Greek word "ανοίγω" (anoigo), meaning "to open," as spring is the time of year when nature "opens up" after winter.
Hmongcaij nplooj ntoo hlav
The Hmong word "caij nplooj ntoo hlav" can also refer to the season of spring or the act of springing up.
Kurdishbihar
The word "bihar" also has the meaning of "year" or "season" in Kurdish language.
Turkishilkbahar
"Ilkbahar" derives from the Turkic word "ilk" (first) and "bahar" (season), thus meaning "the first season".
Xhosaintwasahlobo
The Xhosa word "intwasahlobo" is thought to mean both "spring" (i.e. the season) and "time of new life".
Yiddishפרילינג
The Yiddish word 'פרילינג' ('spring') also means 'joy' and 'freedom', and is related to the German word 'Frühling' ('spring').
Zuluintwasahlobo
The Zulu word "intwasahlobo" shares the same root with the word "isitshalo" (seedling).
Assameseবসন্ত
Aymarach'uxñapacha
Bhojpuriस्प्रिंग
Dhivehiސްޕްރިންގ
Dogriब्हार
Filipino (Tagalog)tagsibol
Guaraniarapoty
Ilocanoubbug
Kriokɔmɔt
Kurdish (Sorani)بەهار
Maithiliवसंत
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯌꯦꯅꯤꯡꯊꯥ
Mizobultanna
Oromoarfaasaa
Odia (Oriya)ବସନ୍ତ
Quechuapawqar mita
Sanskritवसन्तः
Tatarяз
Tigrinyaፅድያ
Tsongaximun'wana

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