Steel in different languages

Steel in Different Languages

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

Steel


Go to etymology & notes ↓
Afrikaans
staal
Albanian
çeliku
Amharic
ብረት
Arabic
صلب
Armenian
պողպատե
Assamese
তীখা
Aymara
asiru
Azerbaijani
polad
Bambara
nɛgɛ
Basque
altzairua
Belarusian
сталі
Bengali
ইস্পাত
Bhojpuri
इस्पात
Bosnian
čelik
Bulgarian
стомана
Catalan
acer
Cebuano
asero
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Corsican
acciaiu
Croatian
željezo
Czech
ocel
Danish
stål
Dhivehi
ދަގަނޑު
Dogri
फुलाद
Dutch
staal
English
steel
Esperanto
ŝtalo
Estonian
terasest
Ewe
ga
Filipino (Tagalog)
bakal
Finnish
teräs
French
acier
Frisian
stiel
Galician
aceiro
Georgian
ფოლადი
German
stahl
Greek
ατσάλι
Guarani
kuarepotitã
Gujarati
સ્ટીલ
Haitian Creole
asye
Hausa
karfe
Hawaiian
kila
Hebrew
פְּלָדָה
Hindi
इस्पात
Hmong
hlau
Hungarian
acél-
Icelandic
stál
Igbo
ígwè
Ilocano
landok
Indonesian
baja
Irish
cruach
Italian
acciaio
Japanese
Javanese
waja
Kannada
ಉಕ್ಕು
Kazakh
болат
Khmer
ដែកថែប
Kinyarwanda
ibyuma
Konkani
तिख्यें
Korean
강철
Krio
ayɛn
Kurdish
pola
Kurdish (Sorani)
ستیل
Kyrgyz
болот
Lao
ເຫຼັກ
Latin
ferro
Latvian
tērauds
Lingala
acier
Lithuanian
plienas
Luganda
kyuuma
Luxembourgish
stol
Macedonian
челик
Maithili
इस्पात
Malagasy
vy
Malay
keluli
Malayalam
ഉരുക്ക്
Maltese
azzar
Maori
maitai
Marathi
स्टील
Meiteilon (Manipuri)
ꯁ꯭ꯇꯤꯜ
Mizo
thir
Mongolian
ган
Myanmar (Burmese)
သံမဏိ
Nepali
इस्पात
Norwegian
stål
Nyanja (Chichewa)
chitsulo
Odia (Oriya)
ଇସ୍ପାତ |
Oromo
sibiila
Pashto
اوسپنه
Persian
فولاد
Polish
stal
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)
aço
Punjabi
ਸਟੀਲ
Quechua
acero
Romanian
oţel
Russian
стали
Samoan
uamea
Sanskrit
अय
Scots Gaelic
stàilinn
Sepedi
tšhipi
Serbian
челика
Sesotho
tšepe
Shona
simbi
Sindhi
اسٽيل
Sinhala (Sinhalese)
යකඩ
Slovak
oceľ
Slovenian
jeklo
Somali
birta
Spanish
acero
Sundanese
waja
Swahili
chuma
Swedish
stål
Tagalog (Filipino)
bakal
Tajik
пӯлод
Tamil
எஃகு
Tatar
корыч
Telugu
ఉక్కు
Thai
เหล็ก
Tigrinya
ሓጺን
Tsonga
nsimbhi
Turkish
çelik
Turkmen
polat
Twi (Akan)
dadeɛ
Ukrainian
сталь
Urdu
سٹیل
Uyghur
پولات
Uzbek
po'lat
Vietnamese
thép
Welsh
dur
Xhosa
intsimbi
Yiddish
שטאָל
Yoruba
irin
Zulu
insimbi

Etymology & Notes

LanguageEtymology / Notes
AfrikaansThe Afrikaans word "staal" is a homophone of the English word "stale," but they do not have the same etymology.
AlbanianThe Albanian word “çeliku” is derived from the Proto-Albanian word *kelk-, meaning “to forge or beat metal,” and is related to the Greek word χάλυψ (chálups), also meaning “steel.”
AmharicThe word "ብረት" can also refer to "iron" or "metal" in general, and is sometimes used specifically to mean "pewter".
ArabicThe word (صلب) "steel" came from "صلب", which means "to harden" in Arabic; it's also used to mean "harsh" or "firm".
ArmenianThe Armenian word "պողպատե" comes from the Middle Persian word "polād" which translates to iron.
AzerbaijaniThe word
BasqueThe Basque word "altzairua" comes from the Latin word "aciarius," which means "made of steel".
BelarusianThe word 'сталі' ('steel') is cognate with similar words across Slavic languages, all derived from the Proto-Slavic root *stalь, which itself likely comes from the Germanic root *stala- ('to stand').
BengaliThe word 'ইস্পাত' also means 'a weapon' in Bengali.
Bosnian"Čelik" is derived from the Persian word "çölik" meaning "hard". In Bosnian, it can also mean "courage" or "strength".
BulgarianThe word "стомана" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*stьna", meaning "hard" or "strong".
CatalanCatalan "acer" also means "maple", cognate with Latin "acer", from Proto-Indo-European "h₂eḱ-er-os" ("sharp").
CebuanoThe Filipino word “asero” comes from the Spanish word “acero” which originally referred to the blade of swords or knives forged in steel
Chinese (Simplified)In the Spring and Autumn Period, 钢 referred to a kind of refined iron, which is different from the steel we know today.
Chinese (Traditional)鋼, the Chinese word for "steel," originally referred to a type of hard metal used in ancient Chinese weapons.
CorsicanIn Corsican, "acciaiu" also means "sword" or "knife".
CroatianThe word 'željezo' derives from Slavic 'železo' ('iron'). In Croatian 'željezo' specifically refers to steel, whereas 'železo' is used for both 'iron' and 'steel' in other Slavic languages such as Serbian.
CzechOcel is a word that was borrowed from Russian and has the same meaning in both languages, but it also has a secondary meaning in Czech referring to the eye of an animal, a meaning that it doesn't have in Russian.
DanishThe word "stål" also means "sample" or "type" in Danish, derived from the Old Norse word "stál" meaning "place" or "stand".
Dutch"Staal" can also mean "sample" or "example" in Dutch.
EsperantoThe Esperantido word "ŝtalo" has an alternate meaning as a "a place where stallions are bred".
EstonianThe word "terasest" is cognate with the Finnish word "teräs" and the Hungarian word "törzs", both meaning "steel".
FinnishThe word 'teräs' is also used in Finnish to refer to a small, sharp object, such as a knife or a razor blade.
FrenchThe word acier derives from the Latin word
FrisianFrisian stiel (steel) may be cognate with Old Saxon stîl (still).
GalicianThe word 'aceiro' comes from the Latin 'acērum', meaning sharp, or the Celtic word for iron
GeorgianThe word "ფოლადი" is derived from the Persian word "pūlād" and can also refer to "iron" or "metal" in Georgian.
GermanThe word "Stahl" is derived from the Old High German "stahal" meaning "tempered iron" or "metal".
GreekThe word "ατσάλι" (steel) in Greek comes from the Italian "acciale" (steel), which is linked to French "acier", that is, steel.
GujaratiThe word 'steel' originates from the Proto-Germanic word '*stīhanan*', meaning 'to stiffen' or 'to be firm'.
Haitian CreoleThe word "asye" in Haitian Creole is a cognate of the Spanish word "acero" and ultimately derives from the Latin word "acier" (steel), which is also the root of the English word "steel".
HausaThe word "karfe" also means "strong" or "unyielding" in Hausa.
HawaiianIn Hawaiian, the word "kila" also refers to a type of bird, the Hawaiian Stilt.
HebrewThe word "פְּלָדָה" can also mean "sword" in Biblical Hebrew, and "steel" is likely derived from this original meaning.
HindiThe word 'इस्पात' is derived from the Persian word 'asp', meaning 'horse', and refers to the strength and durability of steel.
HmongThe word "hlau" (steel) can also mean "knife" or "weapon".
HungarianThe word "acél" is derived from the Turkish word "çelik", which itself comes from the Persian word "sah" meaning "iron".
IcelandicThe word "stál" in Icelandic, meaning "steel," derives from the Proto-Germanic term "*staljam," also signifying "hardness" or "strength."
IgboThe Igbo word “ígwè” also means “gun” and is closely related to the word “ìgwé” meaning “arrow”.
IndonesianThe word "baja" can also refer to "iron" or "metal".
IrishThe word "cruach" in Irish shares its etymological root with the Latin word "cruor," meaning blood, and is also related to the Old Irish word "cruaich," meaning hilltop.
ItalianThe word "acciaio" comes from the Latin "acies", meaning "sharp edge" or "blade".
JapaneseThe character "鋼", meaning "steel", is also used as a phonetic component in some loanwords, such as "ピアノ" (piano) and "ガソリン" (gasoline).
JavaneseThe word "waja" is also used in Javanese to refer to a type of traditional dagger.
KannadaThe word "ಉಕ್ಕು" ("steel") may originate from the Proto-Dravidian root *ukku-, meaning "to melt" or "to forge".
KazakhThe word "болат" ("steel") in Kazakh stems from the ancient Turkic word "булат", meaning "unyielding, strong" and also refers to a type of legendary, strong metal in Turkic folklore.
KhmerThe word "ដែកថែប" can also refer to "steel-grey" or "cast-iron".
KoreanThe word “강철” (“steel” in English) originally meant “hardened iron.”
KurdishIn Kurdish, 'pola' also refers to a type of traditional sword or blade.
KyrgyzIn Kyrgyz, "болот" can also refer to a male name, meaning "strong" or "firm".
LaoLao "ເຫຼັກ" can also mean "iron", and is related to Siamese "เหล็ก" and Vietnamese "sắt", all from Old Khmer *sleek
LatinFerro comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂es-," meaning "bronze" or "copper."
LatvianThe Latvian word "tērauds" is derived from the Germanic word "ståhl", which means "steel".
LithuanianThe word "plienas" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *plei- meaning "to flow" or "to melt", suggesting its connection to the process of metalworking.
LuxembourgishIn archaic Luxembourgish, "Stol" can also mean "chair" or "stool".
MacedonianThe Macedonian word "челик" is a borrowing from the Turkish word "çelik", which itself is a borrowing from the Persian word "پولاد" (pūlād)
MalagasyThe word "vy" in Malagasy can also refer to a type of ironwood tree, or to the wood of that tree.
MalayMalay "keluli" is borrowed from Sanskrit "karal" or "kalal" meaning ferrous or rust-colored. It can also mean "blacksmith".
MalayalamIn Malayalam, "ഉരുക്ക്" (steel) derives from the Sanskrit word "उरुक्" (hard), which also signifies "strong, unyielding, firm" and "powerful, mighty".
MalteseThe word "azzar" derives from the Arabic word "aṣ-ṣafra" (yellow), referring to the color of molten steel.
MaoriIn Maori, `maitai` has alternate meanings including "good", "fine", "excellent", and "very".
MarathiThe word 'steel' originates from the Proto-Germanic word '*stalja-', meaning 'hard'.
MongolianThe word "ган" (steel) in Mongolian is also the name of a type of arrow used in traditional archery.
Myanmar (Burmese)The word "သံမဏိ" (steel) is derived from the Pali language, where "saṃmaṇi" means "well-wrought" and refers to the process of forging or refining metal.
NepaliThe word "इस्पात" is derived from the Persian word "ispād" and ultimately from the Greek word "στάλις" (stālis).
NorwegianThe word "stål" comes from the Old Norse word "stál", meaning "iron" or "metal".
Nyanja (Chichewa)The word "chitsulo" in Nyanja can refer to "iron" or any other hard substance
PashtoIn Pashto, the word "اوسپنه" has similar Indo-European roots to "iron" in English, "Eisen" in German, "sidero" in Ancient Greek and "sidus" meaning star, due to its association with meteorite.
PersianThe word "فولاد" (fulād) in Persian is derived from the Arabic word "فولاذ" (fulādh), which ultimately originates from the Greek word "χάλυψ" (khálups), meaning "hardened iron" or "steel".
PolishThe name "stal" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *stalь, meaning "to cast" or "to harden".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)The Portuguese word "aço" originates from the Proto-Celtic word for "edge" and is related to the English word "edge" and the Welsh word "asgwrn" (bone).
PunjabiThe Punjabi word for 'steel' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'stahl', which originally meant 'iron'.
Romanian"Oţel" comes from the Hungarian word "acél" meaning the same; it is unrelated to Romanian "oţ" ("vinegar").
RussianThe word "стали" in Russian can refer to either the material steel or to the process of making steel.
SamoanIn ancient Samoan, "uamea" is the name of a sacred bird that symbolized bravery and courage.
Scots GaelicThe Gaelic word for "steel" (stàilinn) is cognate with "stallion" in English and most other Indo-European languages.
SerbianThe word "челика" has other meanings in Serbian: a kind of plum, a type of sword, and a personal name.
SesothoThe word "tšepe" originates from the Proto-Bantu word "*tsipa", meaning "metal" or "iron."
ShonaThe word "simbi" in Shona can also refer to a type of metal object used for striking or cutting.
SindhiThe Sindhi word "اسٽيل" (isteel) is derived from the English word "steel" and also refers to the metal alloy.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)The word "යකඩ" (steel) in Sinhala is derived from the Sanskrit word "Ayas" (metal).
SlovakIn archaic Slovak, "oceľ" also means "blade", "weapon".
SlovenianThe word "jeklo" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂eǵ- "to sharpen, to cut" and is related to the Latin word "acus" meaning "needle".
SomaliSomali has two words for steel: "birta", which is often used to refer to the metal in its raw form, and "birla", which is typically used to refer to finished steel products.
SpanishThe word "acero" comes from the Latin "acorium", which is derived from the Greek "akōr", meaning "edge" or "point".
SundaneseThe word "waja" also refers to a traditional Sundanese sword used in the martial art of pencak silat.
SwahiliThe Swahili word "chuma" also refers to "iron" and, figuratively, to "strength," "toughness" and "endurance."
Swedish"Stål" also means "hard" or "cold" in Swedish
Tagalog (Filipino)"Bakal" is also a term used in traditional Philippine martial arts referring to the core, central part of the body, often associated with strength and power.
TajikThe word "pūlod" can also refer to iron, specifically in the form of swords or other weapons.
Tamil"எஃகு" (steel) in Tamil, is derived from the Sanskrit word "अयस्" (ayas), meaning "metal" or "iron".
TeluguThe Telugu word "ఉక్కు" (steel) is derived from the Sanskrit word "उत्कट" (utkaṭa), which means "hard", "firm", or "invincible".
ThaiThe word "เหล็ก" (steel) shares an origin with "เหล็กไหล" (mythical liquid metal), both deriving from the verb "หล่อ" (to cast).
TurkishThe word "çelik" can also mean "hard or durable" in Turkish.
UkrainianThe word "сталь" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*stъlь", which also means "iron" or "metal."
UrduThe word "سٹیل" (steel) in Urdu ultimately derives from the Germanic word "stician" (to stick), and is also related to the English word "stick".
UzbekIn Uzbek, "po'lat" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Iranian word for "iron" and also means "hero" or "warrior".
Vietnamese"Thép" is derived from the Chinese word "tiě" (鐵), meaning "iron" or "metal".
WelshThe Welsh word 'dur' shares an etymology with the Latin word 'durus', meaning 'hard or unyielding'.
XhosaIntsimbi is derived from the Zulu word "insingo", meaning "iron" or "metal."
YiddishThe word "שטאָל" (shtol) can also refer to "boldness" or "chutzpah" in Yiddish.
YorubaThe Yoruba word 'irin' has other meanings besides 'steel', such as 'iron', 'metal', and 'money'.
ZuluIn Zulu, the word "insimbi" also means "metal" and is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "-simba-", meaning "to shine" or "to glitter."
EnglishThe word "steel" comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*staihla~", meaning "strong, firm."

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter