Star in Different Languages
Discover 'Star' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Stars have fascinated humans for millennia, serving as navigation tools, sources of light in the darkness, and symbols of hope and dreams. From ancient astrology to modern astronomy, stars have played a significant role in shaping human culture and understanding of the universe. The word 'star' itself has been translated into various languages, reflecting the global impact and cultural importance of these celestial bodies.
For instance, in Spanish, the word for star is 'estrella,' while in French, it's 'étoile.' In Mandarin Chinese, the word for star is '星,' and in Japanese, it's '星 constellation' ('hoshi' for a single star). In Hawaiian, the word for star is 'hoku,' and in Maori, it's 'punga waiora.' These translations not only reflect linguistic differences but also cultural variations in how stars are perceived and valued.
Understanding the translation of the word 'star' in different languages can provide insight into the cultural significance of stars in various parts of the world. It can also help facilitate cross-cultural communication and appreciation for the universal beauty and significance of stars.
Star
Star in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | ster | ||
| The Afrikaans word "ster" also refers to a type of firework and to someone who excels in a particular activity. | |||
| Amharic | ኮከብ | ||
| The word 'ኮከብ' can also refer to a pupil of the eye, a flower, or one who excels. | |||
| Hausa | tauraro | ||
| In Hausa, the word "tauraro" can also mean "a leader" or "a guide", reflecting the importance of stars in navigation and direction-finding. | |||
| Igbo | kpakpando | ||
| In the Igbo language, the word "kpakpando" refers not only to a celestial body but also to a type of firework or a decorative accessory resembling a star. | |||
| Malagasy | kintana | ||
| In astronomy, the name "kintana" is also used to refer to planets and satellites. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | nyenyezi | ||
| The word "nyenyezi" can also refer to the image of a star made from flour paste that is placed on a person's forehead at a funeral ceremony. | |||
| Shona | nyeredzi | ||
| The word "nyeredzi" is also used to refer to a type of mineral that is used in traditional medicine. | |||
| Somali | xiddig | ||
| The Somali word for "star" "xiddig" is related to the Arabic word "siddiq" meaning "honest", "truthful" and can also refer to something that is "clear" or "evident". | |||
| Sesotho | naleli | ||
| Besides representing the concept of "star", the phrase "hobane haleli" (literally the house or residence of the stars) often refers to the evening after the sunset when there are still some shining stars. | |||
| Swahili | nyota | ||
| In Swahili, "nyota" also refers to a person with exceptional talent or brilliance, commonly known as a "shining star". | |||
| Xhosa | inkwenkwezi | ||
| 'Inkwenkwezi' derives from the verb 'ukukwenkweza,' meaning 'to gleam' or 'to flash,' referring to the radiant nature of stars. | |||
| Yoruba | irawọ | ||
| Yoruba word irawọ may derive from the root ìràn, meaning "to shine" or "luminous" | |||
| Zulu | inkanyezi | ||
| The word "inkanyezi" (star) in Zulu also refers to a person who is exceptional or outstanding in their field. | |||
| Bambara | dolo | ||
| Ewe | ɣletivi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | inyenyeri | ||
| Lingala | monzoto | ||
| Luganda | emmunyeenye | ||
| Sepedi | naledi | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nsoroma | ||
Star in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | نجمة | ||
| The root of the Arabic word "نجمة" (star) means "to gleam" or "to glitter," and it also refers to a "mark" or "a dot." | |||
| Hebrew | כוכב | ||
| In modern Hebrew, "כוכב" (star) can also refer to a famous person or a planet. | |||
| Pashto | ستوری | ||
| The Pashto word "ستوري" also has alternate meanings such as "luck" or "destiny". | |||
| Arabic | نجمة | ||
| The root of the Arabic word "نجمة" (star) means "to gleam" or "to glitter," and it also refers to a "mark" or "a dot." | |||
Star in Western European Languages
| Albanian | yll | ||
| In Albanian, the word "yll" can also mean "fate" or "destiny." | |||
| Basque | izarra | ||
| The Basque word “izarra” for “star” likely comes from the Proto-Basque root *eizar-, meaning “light” or “brightness”. | |||
| Catalan | estrella | ||
| In Catalan, "estrella" can also refer to a person who excels in their field or a type of firework. | |||
| Croatian | zvijezda | ||
| The Croatian word 'zvijezda' also refers to a type of flower known as the 'morning star' or 'day lily'. | |||
| Danish | stjerne | ||
| The term "stjerne" is derived from the Old Norse word "stjarna", meaning "scattered lights in the sky". | |||
| Dutch | ster | ||
| In Dutch, “ster” means not only a celestial body, but also a leading figure in the field of culture or entertainment. | |||
| English | star | ||
| The word "star" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "h₂ster-". Related words include "stare", "stella", "astr-," and "asterisk" | |||
| French | étoile | ||
| The French word "étoile" derives from the Latin word "stella", meaning "star", and is also used to refer to a geometrical shape or a famous dancer or performer. | |||
| Frisian | stjer | ||
| The Frisian word “stjergə”, meaning “steer” or “bull,” may share a Proto-Germanic root with “star”. | |||
| Galician | estrela | ||
| In Galician, "estrela" can also refer to an anchor's fluke or a type of shellfish. | |||
| German | star | ||
| In German "der Star" also refers to a popular artist or celebrity. | |||
| Icelandic | stjarna | ||
| The word "stjarna" (star) evolved from the Proto-Norse "sternon", an alteration of the Proto-Germanic "starnon" meaning "a shining one". | |||
| Irish | réalta | ||
| The term 'réalta' also refers to a particular class of spirits in Irish folklore, who are said to live in the sky. | |||
| Italian | stella | ||
| The word "stella" originates from the Latin word "stella" and can also refer to a famous or influential person. | |||
| Luxembourgish | stär | ||
| Maltese | stilla | ||
| It is an Arabic loanword, cognate to the Italian word "stella" and the Spanish word "estrella". | |||
| Norwegian | stjerne | ||
| The name "stjerne" derives from the Proto-Nordic word "sternon" which has cognates in all other Germanic language branches except English. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | estrela | ||
| The Portuguese word "Estrela" derives from the Latin word "stella," meaning "star," and is also used in Brazilian Portuguese to refer to a type of beer. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | rionnag | ||
| The word "rionnag" also means "small knob or protuberance" in some contexts. | |||
| Spanish | estrella | ||
| The word "estrella" in Spanish stems from the Latin "stella", which referred to both celestial bodies and one's destiny or fortune. | |||
| Swedish | stjärna | ||
| Stjärna is likely derived from Old Norse 'stjarna', meaning shining. | |||
| Welsh | seren | ||
| "Seren," meaning "star" in Welsh, is thought to derive from the Proto-Celtic word "sterno" or "stera," which also translates to "star". | |||
Star in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | зорка | ||
| In Belarusian, зорка ("star") can also refer to the pupil of an eye or a prominent person. | |||
| Bosnian | zvijezda | ||
| The Bosnian word for "star" ("zvijezda") derives from the Proto-Slavic word "zvệzda", meaning "light" or "heavenly body". | |||
| Bulgarian | звезда | ||
| In Bulgarian a "звезда" can be a star in the sky, the pupil of a cat's eye, a celebrity, or a snowflake. | |||
| Czech | hvězda | ||
| The word "hvězda" is cognate with the Latin "stella" and the Greek "astēr", meaning "star". | |||
| Estonian | täht | ||
| The word "täht" in Estonian can also mean "letter" or "dot." | |||
| Finnish | tähti | ||
| Finnish | |||
| Hungarian | csillag | ||
| The word "csillag" in Hungarian derives from the Proto-Uralic word *kilta, meaning "moon". | |||
| Latvian | zvaigzne | ||
| The Latvian word "zvaigzne" for "star" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "h₂stḗr", which also gave rise to the English word "star", the Greek word "ἀστήρ (astḗr)", and the Sanskrit word "stara". | |||
| Lithuanian | žvaigždė | ||
| The Lithuanian word "žvaigždė" cognate with Russian "звезда" and Sanskrit "तारा" ( | |||
| Macedonian | ѕвезда | ||
| The word "ѕвезда" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *zvězda, which also means "star" and is related to the Sanskrit word "dhruva", meaning "fixed point". | |||
| Polish | gwiazda | ||
| The word 'gwiazda' comes from the Proto-Slavic word 'gvězda' meaning 'star', and is also related to the words 'gawęda' (tale) and 'gwiazdka' (Christmas star). | |||
| Romanian | stea | ||
| "Stea" is etymologically related to the Slavic word "světlo" and the Latin word "stella", all meaning "star". | |||
| Russian | звезда | ||
| The name 'звезда' also refers to a fortress with radial walls, most common in the Russian far north and Siberia. | |||
| Serbian | звезда | ||
| In astronomy, the term "звезда" can refer to any celestial body, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. | |||
| Slovak | hviezda | ||
| The word "hviezda" derives from the Proto-Slavic word "gvězda", which means both "star" and "luminary", suggesting its importance in Slavic mythology. | |||
| Slovenian | zvezda | ||
| "Zvezda" is also a popular Slovenian beer brand (Zvezda "Gold" lager in particular) with a 160-year-long tradition. | |||
| Ukrainian | зірка | ||
| The word "зірка" can also mean "a famous person" in Ukrainian. | |||
Star in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | তারা | ||
| The word " তারা " (tara) in Bengali can also mean "they" in the sense of a group of people. | |||
| Gujarati | તારો | ||
| "તારો" also means "thread" or "fine silver wire" in Gujarati. | |||
| Hindi | सितारा | ||
| The word "सितारा" (star) in Hindi likely originates from the Sanskrit word "sitara," which can also refer to a piece of jewelry or an ornamental button used on clothing. | |||
| Kannada | ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ | ||
| The Kannada word "ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ" (nakṣatra) comes from the Sanskrit term "nakṣatram," and can also refer to a lunar mansion in Vedic astronomy. | |||
| Malayalam | നക്ഷത്രം | ||
| "നക്ഷത്രം" means "star", and is also used to mean "constellation" or "a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern in the night sky." | |||
| Marathi | तारा | ||
| The word "तारा" also means "pupil of the eye" in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | तारा | ||
| In Sanskrit, the word "तारा" also means "pupil of the eye" or "iris". | |||
| Punjabi | ਤਾਰਾ | ||
| The word "ਤਾਰਾ" in Punjabi can also refer to a musical string, a rope, or a thread. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තරුව | ||
| The Sinhala word තරුව (star) is cognate with the Sanskrit word तारा (star) and the Proto-Indo-European word *h₂stḗr (star). | |||
| Tamil | நட்சத்திரம் | ||
| The word "நட்சத்திரம்" (star) in Tamil is derived from the Sanskrit word "nakshatra", which originally meant "night station" or "celestial body". | |||
| Telugu | నక్షత్రం | ||
| The word "నక్షత్రం" can also refer to a deity associated with stars in Hindu mythology. | |||
| Urdu | ستارہ | ||
| "سِتارہ" is a Persian word that has also been adopted into Urdu and is cognate with the Hindi word "तारा" (taara). | |||
Star in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 星 | ||
| The word "星" (star) in Chinese also refers to a mark on a person's face, such as a beauty mark or a mole. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 星 | ||
| 星 can also signify a specific number (ten), a type of tree, or even a surname | |||
| Japanese | 星 | ||
| The character "星" can also mean "fate" or "destiny" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 별 | ||
| 별 is often used figuratively as a metaphor for something outstanding, such as a renowned celebrity or a student that performs exceptionally well on exams | |||
| Mongolian | од | ||
| The word "од" also means "heaven", "fate", or "luck" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကြယ်ပွင့် | ||
Star in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | bintang | ||
| Bintang, meaning 'star' in Indonesian, derives from the Proto-Austronesian word *bituŋ, also meaning 'star' or 'sky'. | |||
| Javanese | lintang | ||
| "lintang" is also used to refer to a person's fortune or destiny. | |||
| Khmer | ផ្កាយ | ||
| The word "ផ្កាយ" is also used in Khmer to refer to a gun or firearm. | |||
| Lao | ດາວ | ||
| The Lao word "ດາວ" can also refer to a person of high rank or a celebrity. | |||
| Malay | bintang | ||
| The word "bintang" also has the meaning of "a person who excels in a field" in Malay, derived from the Sanskrit word "bintangka" with the same meaning. | |||
| Thai | ดาว | ||
| ดาว (Thai) is a homophone and cognate with the Sanskrit word 'tara', which also means 'star'. | |||
| Vietnamese | ngôi sao | ||
| "Ngôi sao" (literally "sit down") in Vietnamese refers to the idea of a "resting place" in the sky. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bituin | ||
Star in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ulduz | ||
| The word "ulduz" also means "luck" or "fate" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | жұлдыз | ||
| The Kazakh word "жұлдыз" is of Persian origin and can also refer to a constellation or an asteroid. | |||
| Kyrgyz | жылдыз | ||
| The word "жылдыз" is also used to refer to "luck" or "fate" in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | ситора | ||
| "Ситора" can also be used as a female name in Tajiki. | |||
| Turkmen | ýyldyz | ||
| Uzbek | yulduz | ||
| The Uzbek word "Yulduz" is etymologically related to the Turkic word "yuldiz", meaning "a guiding light" or "a landmark", and also refers to the North Star in Uzbek folklore. | |||
| Uyghur | star | ||
Star in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hōkū | ||
| The word 'hōkū' can also refer to a celestial body, such as a planet or moon. | |||
| Maori | whetu | ||
| The word "whetu" in Maori can also refer to a comet or a constellation | |||
| Samoan | fetu | ||
| The word "fetu" is a common noun for "star" but can also mean "heavenly body" like a planet or "the light of a star" | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | bituin | ||
| The word "bituin" in Tagalog is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *bituŋ, which also means "star." | |||
Star in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | wara wara | ||
| Guarani | mbyja | ||
Star in International Languages
| Esperanto | stelo | ||
| The term is borrowed from Greek στῆλος or Latin stelos, and has been used as a synonym for "star" since the 16th century. | |||
| Latin | stella | ||
| The Latin word "stella" also meant "light", "brightness" or "constellation". | |||
Star in Others Languages
| Greek | αστέρι | ||
| The word 'αστέρι' is derived from the Proto-Indo-European word 'h₂ster-' meaning 'star', which is also the origin of the English word 'star'. The word 'αστέρι' can also refer to a person's fate or destiny. | |||
| Hmong | lub hnub qub | ||
| The word "lub hnub qub" (star) in Hmong literally means "heavenly eye fire". | |||
| Kurdish | stêrk | ||
| The Kurmanji word "stêrk" (star) is used in names with the meaning of hope; it is thought that the word's primary root is of Iranian origin, and similar forms also appear in other Iranian languages. | |||
| Turkish | star | ||
| The word "star" is also used in Turkish to indicate "celebrity" | |||
| Xhosa | inkwenkwezi | ||
| 'Inkwenkwezi' derives from the verb 'ukukwenkweza,' meaning 'to gleam' or 'to flash,' referring to the radiant nature of stars. | |||
| Yiddish | שטערן | ||
| The Yiddish word "שטערן" also means "forehead" and is the origin of the English word "stern" meaning "back" or "posterior" | |||
| Zulu | inkanyezi | ||
| The word "inkanyezi" (star) in Zulu also refers to a person who is exceptional or outstanding in their field. | |||
| Assamese | তৰা | ||
| Aymara | wara wara | ||
| Bhojpuri | तारा | ||
| Dhivehi | ތަރި | ||
| Dogri | तारा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | bituin | ||
| Guarani | mbyja | ||
| Ilocano | bituen | ||
| Krio | sta | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئەستێرە | ||
| Maithili | तारा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯃꯤꯆꯥꯛ | ||
| Mizo | arsi | ||
| Oromo | urjii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ତାରା | ||
| Quechua | quyllur | ||
| Sanskrit | नक्षत्र | ||
| Tatar | йолдыз | ||
| Tigrinya | ኮኾብ | ||
| Tsonga | nyeleti | ||