Updated on March 6, 2024
A tent: a simple word that evokes a world of adventure and exploration. From the rolling hills of the English countryside to the vast Saharan dunes, tents have long been a symbol of human resilience and wanderlust. But did you know that the word 'tent' has a rich cultural and historical significance, with translations that reveal fascinating insights into different linguistic traditions?
For instance, in Spanish, a tent is known as 'una tienda de campaña' – a phrase that reflects the country's love of outdoor pursuits and its vibrant camping culture. Meanwhile, in Arabic, the word for tent is 'بيت' (bayt), which also means 'house' – a testament to the nomadic traditions that have shaped the region for centuries.
Whether you're a seasoned camper or an armchair linguist, understanding the many translations of the word 'tent' is a great way to deepen your appreciation of different cultures and languages. So why not join us on a journey of discovery, as we explore the fascinating world of tents in different languages?
Afrikaans | tent | ||
"Tent" can also mean "exam" or "test" in Afrikaans. | |||
Amharic | ድንኳን | ||
The word "ድንኳን" can also refer to a temporary shelter or a refugee camp. | |||
Hausa | tanti | ||
In Hausa, "tanti" also means "market", implying a place of temporary shelter or gathering, similar to a tent. | |||
Igbo | ụlọikwuu | ||
The Igbo word "ụlọikwuu" originally meant "a house made of leaves," and is related to the word "ụlọ," meaning "house." | |||
Malagasy | lay | ||
The word 'lay' in Malagasy can also mean 'to put down', 'to lay down', or 'to spread out'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | hema | ||
Nyanja 'hema' is thought to be borrowed from Swahili 'hema', which in turn may derive from Arabic 'haymah' meaning "tent". | |||
Shona | tende | ||
The Shona word "tende" can also refer to a hut or shelter, reflecting its broader meaning as a structure that provides temporary shelter. | |||
Somali | teendhada | ||
The word "teendhada" derives from the Somali word "teendho" meaning "to cover" or "to shelter". It can also refer to a temporary shelter or a canopy. | |||
Sesotho | tente | ||
The Sesotho word "tente" also means "hut" or "shelter". | |||
Swahili | hema | ||
"Hema" can also be used to describe a shelter, canopy, or temporary enclosure. | |||
Xhosa | intente | ||
The Xhosa word 'intente' can also mean 'camp' or 'camping ground'. | |||
Yoruba | agọ | ||
The Yoruba word "agọ" also means "house" or "roof". | |||
Zulu | itende | ||
The Zulu word 'itende' is derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-tende, meaning 'to spread' or 'to stretch' | |||
Bambara | finiso | ||
Ewe | agbadɔ | ||
Kinyarwanda | ihema | ||
Lingala | ema | ||
Luganda | eweema | ||
Sepedi | tente | ||
Twi (Akan) | apata | ||
Arabic | خيمة | ||
The word "خيمة" also means "temple" or "cathedral" in Aramaic. | |||
Hebrew | אוֹהֶל | ||
The Hebrew word "אוהל" ("tent") can also refer to a temporary dwelling, a sanctuary, or a metaphorical space of intimacy and refuge. | |||
Pashto | خیمه | ||
"خیمه" also means "the universe" and possibly derives from the Avestan word "xšmaŋhā" meaning "earth". | |||
Arabic | خيمة | ||
The word "خيمة" also means "temple" or "cathedral" in Aramaic. |
Albanian | çadër | ||
The word "çadër" in Albanian derives from Proto-Albanian "*tʃaðra", ultimately from Latin "cathedra", meaning "chair", and came to mean "tent" only in the 18th century. | |||
Basque | karpa | ||
The Basque word "karpa" can also refer to a "canopy" or "shelter". | |||
Catalan | tenda de campanya | ||
The word "tenda de campanya" in Catalan originates from the Latin word "tentorium", meaning "tent" or "shelter". | |||
Croatian | šator | ||
The Croatian word "šator" is derived from the Latin word "sagitta", meaning "arrow", and originally referred to a type of military tent used by archers. | |||
Danish | telt | ||
"Telt" is cognate with "telt" meaning "field" and has historical meanings such as "courtyard", "campground" and "courtyard of the royal castle". | |||
Dutch | tent | ||
The Dutch word "tent" can also refer to a "peg" or "nail". | |||
English | tent | ||
The word 'tent' originates from the Latin word 'tentorium', meaning 'a stretched cloth' or 'a shelter'. | |||
French | tente | ||
"Tente" comes from Latin and meant "to stretch". In English it also meant "to try" and in French the verb "tenter" means "to try". | |||
Frisian | tinte | ||
In the Frisian language, the word "tinte" can also refer to a type of fishing net or a piece of cloth used to cover something. | |||
Galician | tenda | ||
In Galician, "tenda" can also refer to a store or a stall, and derives from the Latin "taberna" (tavern). | |||
German | zelt | ||
The word 'Zelt' is derived from the Old High German word 'zelt', which means 'shelter' or 'roof'. | |||
Icelandic | tjald | ||
The Old Norse word "tjald" meant "booth" and is related to the modern Norwegian "telt" and the Faroese "tjald". | |||
Irish | puball | ||
The word "puball" in Irish derives from the Latin "papilio," meaning "butterfly" or "tent." | |||
Italian | tenda | ||
"Tenda" shares the same Latin root "tendere" ("to stretch" or "to extend") with "tendon" and "attention". | |||
Luxembourgish | zelt | ||
The word "Zelt" in Luxembourgish is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*zelta", meaning "a tent" or "a shelter." | |||
Maltese | tinda | ||
In Maltese, another meaning of "tinda" refers to a traditional Maltese balcony, similar to "loggia" in Italian. | |||
Norwegian | telt | ||
The word "telt" can also refer to a small hut or cabin in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | barraca | ||
The word "barraca" is derived from the Spanish "barraca," which in turn comes from the Arabic "barrak," meaning "hut," and has the alternate meaning of "shack" in Portuguese. | |||
Scots Gaelic | teanta | ||
The Gaelic word "teanta" is thought to originate from the Latin word "tentorium" or the French word "tente" | |||
Spanish | tienda | ||
In Nicaragua, 'tienda' can also mean a small grocery store | |||
Swedish | tält | ||
"Tält" is derived from the Middle Low German "telte" or "tölt" meaning "cloth" or "canopy". | |||
Welsh | pabell | ||
The word "pabell" also means "pavilion" in Welsh, deriving from the Latin "papilio" (butterfly), likely due to their shared use of fabric and their transient nature. |
Belarusian | намёт | ||
The word "намёт" can also refer to a camouflage cloak worn by soldiers to hide from infrared detectors. | |||
Bosnian | šator | ||
The word "šator" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*šatorъ", meaning "protection" or "shelter". | |||
Bulgarian | палатка | ||
In Bulgarian, “палатка” also means “stall,” originating from “палати” (palace). | |||
Czech | stan | ||
The word "stan" can also refer to a permanent dwelling, such as a house or apartment. | |||
Estonian | telk | ||
The Estonian word "telk" is a loanword from Middle Low German "telt", and also refers to a tent pole and a marquee | |||
Finnish | teltta | ||
The word "teltta" derives from the Slavic word "tolk", meaning "awning" or "shade". | |||
Hungarian | sátor | ||
The word "sátor" also means "veil" in Hungarian, referring to a piece of fabric used to cover something or to separate two spaces. | |||
Latvian | telts | ||
The Latvian word "telts" is cognate with the Lithuanian "palapinė". It is related to the Old High German "zelt" as well as the Slavic word "šotor, which both mean "tent". | |||
Lithuanian | palapinė | ||
The word 'palapinė' originates from the Lithuanian word 'palapas', meaning 'leaf' or 'foliage', and is related to the Latvian word 'palaga', meaning 'cloth' or 'sheet'. | |||
Macedonian | шатор | ||
The word "шатор" is derived from the Persian word "shater", meaning "shelter". | |||
Polish | namiot | ||
Namiot is a Polish word derived from the Proto-Slavic word *naměto, meaning 'shelter' or 'cover'. | |||
Romanian | cort | ||
The Romanian word "cort" is possibly of Turkish origin and likely refers to the tent of a caliph or Ottoman ruler. | |||
Russian | палатка | ||
The word "палатка" is derived from the Latin "palatium" meaning "palace" and has the secondary meaning of "stall". | |||
Serbian | шатор | ||
The word "шатор" may also refer to a type of military formation in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | stan | ||
The word stan can also mean “apartment” or “flat.” | |||
Slovenian | šotor | ||
The word "šotor" in Slovenian originates from the Indo-European root "*se-d-," meaning "to sit." | |||
Ukrainian | намет | ||
The word "намет" in Ukrainian can also refer to a canopy or awning. |
Bengali | তাঁবু | ||
The word তাঁবু (tent) is derived from the Sanskrit word ताम्बूल (taamboola), which means betel leaf. | |||
Gujarati | તંબુ | ||
The Gujarati word "તંબુ" has alternate meanings of "booth", "shelter", and "canopy" in English. | |||
Hindi | तंबू | ||
'तंबू' is also used in Hindi to indicate the area of a tent, which is a part of a large gathering, and is commonly used during religious festivals like the Kumbh Mela | |||
Kannada | ಟೆಂಟ್ | ||
The word "ಟೆಂಟ್" can also mean "a small house made of cloth or other material". | |||
Malayalam | കൂടാരം | ||
The Malayalam word "കൂടാരം" also refers to a temporary shelter or abode, and in religious contexts, can symbolize a place of worship or pilgrimage. | |||
Marathi | तंबू | ||
In Marathi, the word "तंबू" can also refer to a large open area. | |||
Nepali | पाल | ||
The word "पाल" is derived from the Sanskrit word "पट्ट" meaning "cloth" or "canvas". | |||
Punjabi | ਤੰਬੂ | ||
The word "ਤੰਬੂ" (tent) in Punjabi also has the alternate meaning of "canopy" or "awning". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කූඩාරම | ||
The Sinhala word 'කූඩාරම' (kūḍārama) derives from the Sanskrit word 'कुट्टार' (kuṭṭāra), which means 'small hut'. It can also refer to a type of pavilion used in temple rituals. | |||
Tamil | கூடாரம் | ||
The word "கூடாரம்" (kūṭāram) may also refer to a hut, a shed, or a temporary shelter. | |||
Telugu | డేరా | ||
The word "డేరా" is derived from the Sanskrit word "धारा" (dhārā), meaning "stream", and can also refer to a camp or temporary lodging for travelers. | |||
Urdu | خیمہ | ||
The word "خیمہ" (tent) in Urdu is derived from the Arabic "خيـمة" (tent), which is ultimately derived from the Greek "κοιμητήριον" (cemetery). |
Chinese (Simplified) | 帐篷 | ||
The word "帐篷" also refers to a group of actors in traditional Chinese opera, particularly the male roles. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 帳篷 | ||
The Chinese word for "tent", 帳篷, literally translates as "cloth curtain" and is also used to refer to a curtain hung in a stage backdrop. | |||
Japanese | テント | ||
The word テント can also refer to a large, temporary shelter, such as a circus tent. | |||
Korean | 텐트 | ||
The word '텐트' can also refer to a small room or booth, such as at a market or fair. | |||
Mongolian | майхан | ||
In Turkic languages, "mayhan" can mean 'inn', 'tavern' or 'brothel'. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | တဲ | ||
The word "တဲ" (pronounced [tɛ̀]) is derived from the Mon language and is related to the Khmer word "ទំ" (pronounced [tum]), both of which mean "house". |
Indonesian | tenda | ||
In Indonesian, the word "tenda" can also mean "stall" or "kiosk". | |||
Javanese | tarub | ||
"Tarub" can also refer to a temporary structure built for festivities or agricultural purposes. | |||
Khmer | តង់ | ||
The word "តង់" derives from the French word "tente" (tent) | |||
Lao | ເຕັນ | ||
The Lao word for "tent" ("ເຕັນ") also means "to spread something out". | |||
Malay | khemah | ||
The Malay word "khemah" is derived from the Arabic word "خيّمة" (khaymah), meaning "tent" or "marquee", which ultimately comes from the Akkadian word "ḫimtu", meaning "shelter" or "covering". | |||
Thai | เต็นท์ | ||
"เต็นท์" มาจากภาษาโปรตุเกส "tenda" ซึ่งหมายถึง "ผ้าใบกาง" หรือ "ที่พักชั่วคราวสำหรับทหาร" นอกจากนี้ยังหมายถึง "ร้านค้าชั่วคราว" หรือ "ร้านค้าที่ตั้งอยู่ริมถนน" ในภาษาไทย | |||
Vietnamese | cái lều | ||
In Vietnamese, "Cái lều" can also refer to a temporary shelter or a makeshift house. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tolda | ||
Azerbaijani | çadır | ||
"Çadır" can also mean "a group of people living together in a close-knit community." | |||
Kazakh | шатыр | ||
The word "шатыр" (tent) in Kazakh is derived from the Persian word "شاتر" (curtain, hanging). | |||
Kyrgyz | чатыр | ||
In Kyrgyz, "чатыр" also means "sky", "cover", and "dome". | |||
Tajik | хайма | ||
The word "хайма" in Tajik can also refer to a type of yurt or portable dwelling. | |||
Turkmen | çadyr | ||
Uzbek | chodir | ||
The word "chodir" in Uzbek can also refer to a roofed wagon or a portable shelter for livestock. | |||
Uyghur | چېدىر | ||
Hawaiian | hale lole | ||
The Hawaiian word 'hale lole' also means 'a small, temporary house or hut' and 'a shelter for a person or persons'. | |||
Maori | teneti | ||
In Maori, "teneti" also refers to a type of ceremonial house or meeting place for chiefs. | |||
Samoan | faleie | ||
In Samoan, the word "faleie" is a compound word made up of "fale" (house) and "ie" (leaf), implying a shelter made of leaves. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | tent | ||
In Tagalog, the word "tent" can also refer to a shelter made of bamboo or other materials, or a temporary dwelling. |
Aymara | ch'iwt'ayañ uta | ||
Guarani | ñemuha | ||
Esperanto | tendo | ||
The base 'tend-' refers to the concept of extending or stretching in general, not just as in 'tent'. | |||
Latin | tectum | ||
Derived from PIE "teg-" meaning "to cover" and the ancestor of "tie" and "thatched"} |
Greek | σκηνή | ||
The word “σκηνή” has taken on the meaning of “a scene in a drama” due to the theatrical use of tents in Greek dramas. | |||
Hmong | tsev ntaub | ||
In an alternate sense, "tsev ntaub" can mean "fabric", alluding to the materials used in erecting a tent. | |||
Kurdish | kon | ||
The word "kon" also has the alternate meaning of "house" or "dwelling place" in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | çadır | ||
In Turkic languages, “çadır” meant “to walk around, roam”. The word then gained its meaning of “tent”, since tents were nomadic structures used by wandering peoples. | |||
Xhosa | intente | ||
The Xhosa word 'intente' can also mean 'camp' or 'camping ground'. | |||
Yiddish | געצעלט | ||
The Yiddish word 'געצעלט' ('tent') originates from the Middle French word 'gecelte' ('shelter'). | |||
Zulu | itende | ||
The Zulu word 'itende' is derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-tende, meaning 'to spread' or 'to stretch' | |||
Assamese | তম্বু | ||
Aymara | ch'iwt'ayañ uta | ||
Bhojpuri | तंबू | ||
Dhivehi | ޓެންޓް | ||
Dogri | तंबू | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tolda | ||
Guarani | ñemuha | ||
Ilocano | tolda | ||
Krio | tɛnt | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | خێمە | ||
Maithili | तम्बू | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯗꯝꯕꯨꯔ | ||
Mizo | puan in | ||
Oromo | dunkaana | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ତମ୍ବୁ | ||
Quechua | qatu | ||
Sanskrit | पटमण्डप | ||
Tatar | чатыр | ||
Tigrinya | ድኳን | ||
Tsonga | thende | ||
Rate this app!
Type in any word and see it translated into 104 languages. Where possible, you'll also get to hear its pronunciation in languages your browser supports. Our goal? To make exploring languages straightforward and enjoyable.
Turn words into a kaleidoscope of languages in a few simple steps
Just type the word you're curious about into our search box.
Let our auto-complete nudge you in the right direction to quickly find your word.
With a click, see translations in 104 languages and hear pronunciations where your browser supports audio.
Need the translations for later? Download all the translations in a neat JSON file for your project or study.
Our Word Search for Desktop delivers an unparalleled experience for those who prefer the precision and comfort of a larger screen.
Expanding your vocabulary has never been easier thanks to this comprehensive adjective database. Dive in and explore the richness of the English language.
Experience the seamless integration of learning and technology with a language learning tool that breaks down barriers.
Type in your word and get translations in a flash. Where available, click to hear how it's pronounced in different languages, right from your browser.
Our smart auto-complete helps you quickly find your word, making your journey to translation smooth and hassle-free.
We've got you covered with automatic translations and audio in supported languages for every word, no need to pick and choose.
Looking to work offline or integrate translations into your project? Download them in a handy JSON format.
Jump into the language pool without worrying about costs. Our platform is open to all language lovers and curious minds.
It's simple! Type in a word, and instantly see its translations. If your browser supports it, you'll also see a play button to hear pronunciations in various languages.
Absolutely! You can download a JSON file with all the translations for any word, perfect for when you're offline or working on a project.
We're constantly growing our list of 3000 words. If you don't see yours, it might not be there yet, but we're always adding more!
Not at all! We're passionate about making language learning accessible to everyone, so our site is completely free to use.