Tennis in different languages

Tennis in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Tennis is more than just a game; it's a global phenomenon that transcends language and culture. Originating in France during the 12-13th centuries, it was originally called 'jeu de paume' or 'game of the palm.' The modern name, 'tennis,' comes from the French word 'tenez' which means 'hold' or 'receive' - a call given by the server to their opponent. This sport has since evolved into a beloved pastime and professional sport, gracing us with iconic moments and legendary players.

Understanding the translation of 'tennis' in different languages not only showcases the sport's global reach but also highlights its cultural significance worldwide. For instance, in Spanish, it's 'tenis,' in German 'Tennis,' in Russian 'тенис' (tenis), in Japanese 'テニス' (tenisu), and in Chinese '网球' (wǎngqiú).

Whether you're a fan, a player, or simply curious about language and culture, exploring these translations offers a unique perspective on how this sport has touched lives across the globe.

Tennis


Tennis in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanstennis
The word 'tennis' in Afrikaans, 'tennis', is derived from the French word 'tenez', meaning 'take', referring to the challenge to receive the ball.
Amharicቴኒስ
In Amharic, ቴኒስ (tennis) can also refer to someone who is very active or skilled, particularly in a sport or game.
Hausatanis
In the 1925 Hausa language dictionary 'A Vocabulary of the Sokoto Dialects', it is defined as "a game for two players using balls, with a string stretched across the middle"
Igbotenis
The Igbo word 'tenis' also means 'to play' or 'to gamble'.
Malagasytenisy
The Malagasy word "tenisy" originally referred to a game similar to tennis played with a wooden ball.
Nyanja (Chichewa)tenisi
The word "tenisi" in Nyanja is derived from the English word "tennis" and is used to refer to the sport of lawn tennis.
Shonatenesi
The word 'tenesi' is derived from the English word 'tennis', and it also means 'to play tennis' or 'a game of tennis'.
Somaliteniska
The term also refers to a type of traditional Somali dance and music.
Sesothotenese
The word 'tenese' in Sesotho may also refer to 'playing tennis' as a sport.
Swahilitenisi
Tenisi is also a type of shoe in Swahili and can mean any type of athletic shoe.
Xhosaintenetya
The word 'intenetya' is also used to refer to the game of squash in Xhosa.
Yorubatẹnisi
In Yoruba, "tẹnisi" means "tennis" and can also refer to a type of traditional wrestling.
Zuluithenisi
The word "ithenisi" may also refer to a type of Zulu dance.
Bambaratenis (tennis) ye
Ewetenisƒoƒo
Kinyarwandatennis
Lingalatennis ya lisano
Lugandattena
Sepedithenese
Twi (Akan)tɛnis a wɔbɔ

Tennis in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicتنس
The Arabic word "تنس" (tennis) derives from the French word "tenez," meaning "hold" or "take."
Hebrewטֶנִיס
"טֶנִיס" is a loan word from English, but comes from the Old French word "tenez" which means “take” or “receive”. Tennis was originally played by hitting a ball back and forth using the palm of the hand, so the game was known as "paume".
Pashtoټینس
The Pashto word "ټینس" is borrowed from the English word "tennis", which is ultimately derived from the French word "tenez" meaning "hold", a reference to the call made by a server to the receiver before serving.
Arabicتنس
The Arabic word "تنس" (tennis) derives from the French word "tenez," meaning "hold" or "take."

Tennis in Western European Languages

Albaniantenis
"Tenis" means both "tennis" and "sneakers" in Albanian.
Basquetenisa
Tenisa is derived from the Old French word tenez, meaning "take (the ball)", and is ultimately related to the Latin word tenēre, meaning "to hold".
Catalantennis
The word "tennis" derives from the Old French word "tenez," meaning "take heed" or "receive."
Croatiantenis
In Croatian, the word "tenis" can also refer to a type of dance.
Danishtennis
The word "tennis" originally comes from the French "tenez" which means "take this".
Dutchtennis
In Dutch, "tennis" refers to both the sport of tennis as well as a type of traditional wooden shoe.
Englishtennis
The word "tennis" originates from the 13th-century French word "tenez" meaning "take this" or "receive."
Frenchtennis
In France, the word
Frisiantennis
It may derive from the Dutch word "tennes" via Old Frisian "tenese".
Galiciantenis
Galician "tenis" derives from Old Occitan "tenis," meaning "struggle," and can also refer to arguing or fighting.
Germantennis
In German, "Tennis" also refers to a medieval court game played with a ball and rackets.
Icelandictennis
Tênis is a type of Portuguese dance music that originated in Rio de Janeiro and is known for its high energy and fast rhythm.
Irishleadóg
The word "Leadóg" in Irish, as well as meaning "tennis" also refers to a "leap" or "bound".
Italiantennis
The word "tennis" comes from the old French word "tenez" (meaning "take"), which was used to announce that a player was about to serve.
Luxembourgishtennis
Maltesetennis
The Maltese word "tennis" is derived from the French word "tenez", meaning "hold" or "take".
Norwegiantennis
Tennis can also mean "thank you" or "excuse me" in Swedish.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)tênis
"Tênis" in Portuguese can also mean "sneaker" in both Portugal and Brazil.
Scots Gaelicteanas
The root word "teanas" in Scots Gaelic refers to both a "journey" and "stretching", reflecting its ancient roots in a game played with a stretched hide and a projectile.
Spanishtenis
'Tenis' can also refer to sneakers or gym shoes in countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala.
Swedishtennis
The Swedish word "tennis" comes from the French word "tenez," meaning "take it," and is a reference to the call made when serving the ball.
Welshtenis
The Welsh word 'tenis' can also refer to a type of dance.

Tennis in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianтэніс
The word "тэніс" is thought to come from the French word "tenez", meaning "take (the ball)", or from the Old English word "tenisen", meaning "to strike with a palm". It can also refer to a type of embroidery or a breed of dog.
Bosniantenis
Tenis in Bosnian also means a type of dance.
Bulgarianтенис
The word "тенис" in Bulgarian can also refer to table tennis or badminton.
Czechtenis
Czech "tenis" also refers to shoes designed for the sport and to "tennis elbow"
Estoniantennis
The word "tennis" is derived from the Old French word "tenez" meaning "take heed" or "receive".
Finnishtennis
The Finnish word "tennis" is derived from the French "tenez", meaning "take this" or "hold".
Hungariantenisz
The word "tenisz" comes from the French word "tenez" meaning "hold!", a command used during a game of real tennis.
Latvianteniss
Teniss originates from Old French "tenez" meaning "receive" and "play".
Lithuaniantenisas
The word "tenisas" in Lithuanian is derived from the French word "tenez," meaning "hold" or "receive."
Macedonianтенис
"Тенис" is derived from the Old French word "tenez", meaning "take" or "hold".
Polishtenis ziemny
The term comes from French "jeu de paume" meaning "palm game".
Romaniantenis
In Romanian, "tenis" can also refer to sports shoes worn for leisure.
Russianбольшой теннис
Большой теннис in Russian can also refer to the sport of badminton.
Serbianтенис
Реч Тенис означава и 'простор, место где се теже тели', од речи 'тег' која је сродна са германским 'ziehen' (вући).
Slovaktenis
The word "tenis" in Slovak can also refer to a type of shoe worn for playing tennis.
Sloveniantenis
The word 'tenis' in Slovenian can also refer to the sport of 'table tennis'.
Ukrainianтеніс
The word "теніс" comes from the French word "tenez" (literally "hold") and was used to announce that one was serving.

Tennis in South Asian Languages

Bengaliটেনিস
The word 'টেনিস' in Bengali derives from the Arabic word 'tenez', meaning 'hold' or 'take'.
Gujaratiટેનિસ
The word "tennis" is derived from the Anglo-Norman term "tenetz", meaning "hold" or "take". It was originally a general term for any ball game played with the hand, but by the 17th century, it had come to refer specifically to the game we know today.
Hindiटेनिस
टेनिस (tennis) शब्द की उत्पत्ति लैटिन शब्द 'टेनेरे' से हुई है, जिसका अर्थ है पकड़ना या रखना।
Kannadaಟೆನಿಸ್
"ಟೆನಿಸ್" is derived from the French word "tenez" meaning "take this" or "receive".
Malayalamടെന്നീസ്
The word "ടെന്നീസ്" is derived from the French word "tenez", which means "take (this)".
Marathiटेनिस
It derives from the Old French word “tenez” (meaning “take (the ball)”)
Nepaliटेनिस
The word "टेनिस" is derived from the French word "tenir", meaning "to hold" or "to keep" in English, referring to the player's grip on the racket.
Punjabiਟੈਨਿਸ
The Punjabi word "ਟੈਨਿਸ" also has a secondary meaning indicating a small tent or canopy.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ටෙනිස්
'ටෙනිස්' ('tennis') is derived from Old French 'tenez', meaning 'take, receive, or hold'
Tamilடென்னிஸ்
The word "tennis" is derived from the French word "tenez," which means "here you go."
Teluguటెన్నిస్
The word "టెన్నిస్" originated from the Old French word "tenez" meaning "take (the ball)".
Urduٹینس

Tennis in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)网球
网球一词源于法语「tenez」,意为“接球”。
Chinese (Traditional)網球
網球來自法語「tenez」,意即「抓住它」
Japaneseテニス
The word "テニス" can also mean "lawn tennis" in Japanese.
Korean테니스
테니스(tennis)는 중세 프랑스어 단어 'tenez'에서 유래했으며, '받아라'는 뜻이며, 서브를 할 때 라켓으로 공을 던질 때 사용하던 말로부터 왔습니다.
Mongolianтеннис
Теннис is derived from the French word "tenez", meaning “take”.
Myanmar (Burmese)တင်းနစ်
Derived from the French word “tenez” which means “receive”

Tennis in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiantenis
In Indonesian, "tenis" is derived from Dutch "tennis" and also refers to a type of small percussion instrument made of coconut shell.
Javanesetenis
In Javanese, "tenis" also means "to play with a ball."
Khmerកីឡាវាយកូនបាល់
Laoເທນນິດ
คำว่า "ເທນນິດ" มักจะใช้เรียกการแข่งขันที่เรียกว่า "แบดมินตัน"
Malaytenis
The name 'tenis' in Malay also refers to rackets used in traditional games like main jaring (net game) and sepak takraw (kick volleyball).
Thaiเทนนิส
The Thai word เทนนิส also means 'ten-nis' (สิบนิส) which could refer to the ten rules of tennis or the number of points one needs to win each game.
Vietnamesequần vợt
The origin of “quần vợt” is still debated, but many believe it is derived from the counting word for balls used in the game:
Filipino (Tagalog)tennis

Tennis in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanitennis
The word "tennis" is derived from the Old French "tenez," the imperative of "tenir" meaning to hold, referring to the act of holding the ball or the server's call of "play".
Kazakhтеннис
The word "теннис" comes from the French word "tenez" which means "take it" or "hold it". It is also thought to be derived from the Anglo-Norman word "tenez" which means "to strike".
Kyrgyzтеннис
Слово "теннис" образовано от французского „tenez“ (
Tajikтеннис
In Tajik, теннис means "lawn tennis" or simply "tennis".
Turkmentennis
Uzbektennis
The word "tennis" comes from the French word "tenir", meaning "to hold". There is also the verb in Uzbek “to play (tennis) - "tennisi o‘ynash"
Uyghurتېننىس توپ

Tennis in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankinipōpō
The Hawaiian word
Maoritēnehi
The word 'tēnehi' was originally used to describe a game played with a ball and a stick, similar to hockey.
Samoantenisi
The word 'tenisi' is also used to refer to a game similar to hopscotch, played with a small stone or shell on a marked out court.
Tagalog (Filipino)tennis
In Tagalog, one of the alternate meanings of "tennis" is "a type of small fish caught in nets."

Tennis in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaratenis ukax mä jach’a uñacht’äwiwa
Guaranitenis rehegua

Tennis in International Languages

Esperantoteniso
Latintennis
The word "tennis" originated from the Latin phrase "tenez", meaning "take heed", which was used to alert the receiver that the ball was coming.

Tennis in Others Languages

Greekτένις
"Tένις" in Greek can also refer to a type of playing card known as a "court card" or "face card".
Hmongntaus pob tesniv
"Ntaus pob tesniv" derives from "ntaus pob" meaning "to throw a ball" and "tesniv" meaning "netted". Netted refers to the net that divides the court.
Kurdishtenîs
The word "tenîs" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian word "tenīs" which means "stringed instrument"
Turkishtenis
Tenis can also mean string, wire, or cord in Turkish.
Xhosaintenetya
The word 'intenetya' is also used to refer to the game of squash in Xhosa.
Yiddishטעניס
The Yiddish word for tennis can also mean 'to run back and forth' or 'to dally'.
Zuluithenisi
The word "ithenisi" may also refer to a type of Zulu dance.
Assameseটেনিছ
Aymaratenis ukax mä jach’a uñacht’äwiwa
Bhojpuriटेनिस के खेलल जाला
Dhivehiޓެނިސް ކުޅެއެވެ
Dogriटेनिस दा
Filipino (Tagalog)tennis
Guaranitenis rehegua
Ilocanotennis nga
Kriotɛnis we dɛn kɔl tɛnis
Kurdish (Sorani)تێنس
Maithiliटेनिस
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯦꯅꯤꯁ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫
Mizotennis a ni
Oromoteenisii
Odia (Oriya)ଟେନିସ୍ |
Quechuatenis
Sanskritटेनिसः
Tatarтеннис
Tigrinyaቴኒስ ዝበሃል ውድድር
Tsongathenisi

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