Tent in Different Languages
Discover 'Tent' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
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?
Tent
Tent in Sub-Saharan African 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 | ||
Tent in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| 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. | |||
Tent in Western European Languages
| 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. | |||
Tent in Eastern European Languages
| 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. | |||
Tent in South Asian Languages
| 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). | |||
Tent in East Asian Languages
| 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". | |||
Tent in South East Asian Languages
| 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 | ||
Tent in Central Asian Languages
| 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 | ||
Tent in Pacific Languages
| 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. | |||
Tent in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ch'iwt'ayañ uta | ||
| Guarani | ñemuha | ||
Tent in International Languages
| 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"} | |||
Tent in Others Languages
| 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 | ||