Terror in Different Languages
Discover 'Terror' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Terror: a single word that can evoke a multitude of emotions and reactions. Derived from the Latin terrere, meaning 'to frighten', terror has been a significant part of human culture and history. It has been used to describe intense fear, violent threats, and calculated political strategies. From Edmund Burke's philosophical treatise on the sublime and the beautiful to the reign of terror during the French Revolution, terror has played a pivotal role in shaping societies and influencing our perception of the world.
Understanding the translation of terror in different languages can provide valuable cultural insights. For instance, in Spanish, terror translates to terror, reflecting a close cultural connection with the English definition. In contrast, the Chinese translation, 恐惧 (kǒngjù), consists of two characters, each carrying a unique connotation. Similarly, the German translation, Angst, has a broader meaning, encompassing both fear and anxiety.
Join us as we delve into the translations of terror in various languages, shedding light on the intricate relationship between language, culture, and emotion.
Terror
Terror in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skrik | ||
| The word "skrik" in Afrikaans originates from the Dutch word "schrikken", meaning "to be startled". | |||
| Amharic | ሽብር | ||
| The word "ሽብር" can also refer to a feeling of awe or reverence. | |||
| Hausa | ta'addanci | ||
| "Ta'addanci" is the Hausa word for "terror," which literally means "causing harm to oneself and others." | |||
| Igbo | ụjọ | ||
| "Ujo" in Igbo not only means "terror" but also "fear", "awe", and "respect." | |||
| Malagasy | mihorohoro | ||
| The verb 'mihorohoro' (to tremble) suggests fear. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mantha | ||
| The Nyanja word 'mantha' also refers to a supernatural being that causes misfortune or panic. | |||
| Shona | kutya | ||
| Kutya can also mean "a state of extreme fear" in Shona. | |||
| Somali | argagax | ||
| The Somali word "argagax" can also refer to a feeling of awe or wonder. | |||
| Sesotho | tshabo | ||
| The word "tshabo" also means "the fear of wild animals" in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | ugaidi | ||
| "Ugaidi" means "terror" in Swahili, also having a literal definition of "something which frightens". | |||
| Xhosa | uloyiko | ||
| The word "uloyiko" also means "awe" or "dread" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yoruba | ẹru | ||
| Ẹru can also mean 'slave' or someone in 'great fear' in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ukwesaba | ||
| The Zulu word "ukwesaba" can also mean "fear" or "dread". | |||
| Bambara | siranɲɛko | ||
| Ewe | ŋɔdzinuwɔwɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | iterabwoba | ||
| Lingala | nsɔmɔ | ||
| Luganda | entiisa | ||
| Sepedi | letšhogo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ehu a ɛyɛ hu | ||
Terror in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الرعب | ||
| The Arabic word "الرعب" (al-ra`b) originally meant "fear", but over time it has come to be used almost exclusively in the context of "terror". | |||
| Hebrew | טֵרוֹר | ||
| In Hebrew, the word 'טֵרוֹר' (terror) can also refer to 'panic' or 'consternation'. | |||
| Pashto | ترهګري | ||
| The word "ترهګري" ("terror") in Pashto comes from the Arabic root "رعب" ("fear"), and shares the same root as the word "ترس" which means "fear" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | الرعب | ||
| The Arabic word "الرعب" (al-ra`b) originally meant "fear", but over time it has come to be used almost exclusively in the context of "terror". | |||
Terror in Western European Languages
| Albanian | terrori | ||
| Terrori is also used in Albanian as a slang term for "big" or "huge" in a joking manner. | |||
| Basque | izua | ||
| Izua, though typically translated as "fear" or "terror," derives from the Basque verb "izutu," meaning "to make afraid" or "to frighten." | |||
| Catalan | terror | ||
| The Catalan word "terror" comes from the Latin word "terror", meaning "great fear" or "dread". | |||
| Croatian | teror | ||
| In Croatian, the word "teror" also refers to a loud crash or bang. | |||
| Danish | terror | ||
| In Danish, "terror" can also refer to an intense fear or panic. | |||
| Dutch | terreur | ||
| De term is afgeleid van het Latijnse 'terror', dat 'angst' of 'schrik' betekent. | |||
| English | terror | ||
| The Latin origin of "terror" means "to frighten", linking it to words like "terrible" and "horror." | |||
| French | la terreur | ||
| In French, "la terreur" can also mean "the period of revolutionary terror in France (1793-94)". | |||
| Frisian | terreur | ||
| In Frisian, "terreur" also means "trouble" or "bother". | |||
| Galician | terror | ||
| 'Terror' is derived from the Latin 'terrere,' meaning 'to frighten,' and the Old French 'terreur,' meaning 'dread' or 'consternation.' In Galician, it also carries the connotation of 'anxiety' or 'panic' ('terror, ansiedade ou pánico'). | |||
| German | terror | ||
| In German, "Terror" also refers to the state of being terrified. | |||
| Icelandic | skelfing | ||
| Skelfing, Icelandic for 'terror', has a secondary and rarely-used meaning, namely 'cowardice'. The word originates from 'skelfr', meaning either 'trembling' or 'coward'. Thus, the word 'skelfing' can also imply either the fear of, or a state of, cowardice. | |||
| Irish | sceimhle | ||
| "Sceimhle" is a word that can refer to a variety of negative emotions, such as fear, dread, and horror. | |||
| Italian | terrore | ||
| The Italian word 'terrore' derives from the Latin verb 'terrēre', meaning 'to frighten' or 'to make afraid'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | terror | ||
| The word "Terror" in Luxembourgish also means "error" or "mistake". | |||
| Maltese | terrur | ||
| The term 'terrur' in the Maltese language is derived from the Arabic word 'tahwir', which refers to causing fear, panic, or terror. | |||
| Norwegian | skrekk | ||
| The word "skrekk" in Norwegian has a secondary meaning of "bogeyman" or "spectre". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | terror | ||
| The word "terror" in Portuguese can also refer to a specific type of popular music associated with the Northeast region of Brazil. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | uamhas | ||
| The Gaelic word "uamhas" shares a common origin with "horror" and "uafás" in Irish and "awesom" in English, likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wes- meaning "to burn". | |||
| Spanish | terror | ||
| "Terror" in Spanish can also mean "awe" or "dread". | |||
| Swedish | skräck | ||
| The word "skräck" in Swedish also means "to boast" or "to brag" but only in a negative sense, especially about being courageous when you're not. | |||
| Welsh | braw | ||
| The word "braw" in Welsh can also mean "brave" or "fine." | |||
Terror in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | тэрор | ||
| The word "тэрор" ("terror") in Belarusian has the same Slavic root as the English word "tyrant". It can also refer to a person who causes fear or panic, or to a state of extreme fear or panic. | |||
| Bosnian | teror | ||
| Teror also means "strong wind" in the Bosnian language, particularly in the north-west. | |||
| Bulgarian | терор | ||
| The Bulgarian word "терор" (terror) comes from the Latin word "terror", meaning "great fear" or "dread". In Bulgarian, the word can also mean "horror" or "panic". | |||
| Czech | teror | ||
| V češtině se slovo "teror" používá i ve významu "strach" nebo "hrůza". | |||
| Estonian | terror | ||
| "Terror" comes from the Latin "terrere", meaning "to frighten". | |||
| Finnish | terrori | ||
| In Finnish, the word "terrori" also has the meaning of "panic" or "disorder". | |||
| Hungarian | terror | ||
| The Hungarian word "terror" derives from the Latin word "terror", meaning "fear" or "dread", and is related to the verb "terrēre", meaning "to frighten" or "to scare." | |||
| Latvian | terors | ||
| "Terors" in Latvian is derived from the Latin "terror", meaning "great fear, dread, or alarm". | |||
| Lithuanian | teroras | ||
| The word "teroras" also has connotations of chaos, disorder, and a general sense of fear and anxiety. | |||
| Macedonian | терор | ||
| In Macedonian, "терор" (terror) is also used to refer to a person who creates fear or causes harm. | |||
| Polish | terror | ||
| In Polish, "terror" can also mean "alarm" or "panic." | |||
| Romanian | teroare | ||
| In Romanian, "teroare" can also refer to the sensation of fear caused by physical discomfort, extreme cold, or intense noise, but without necessarily implying a dangerous threat. | |||
| Russian | ужас | ||
| The word "ужас" is also used to describe a strong feeling of awe or wonder. | |||
| Serbian | терор | ||
| The word "терор" can also refer to a type of plum or to a "mess" in Serbian. | |||
| Slovak | teror | ||
| The word "teror" in Slovak also means "a big mess". | |||
| Slovenian | teror | ||
| The Slovenian word "teror" can also refer to a type of traditional round dance. | |||
| Ukrainian | терор | ||
| In Ukrainian, “терор” refers not only to acts of political terror but also to acts of natural disaster. | |||
Terror in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | সন্ত্রাস | ||
| The term "সন্ত্রাস" (terror) derives from the Latin "terror", meaning "great fear or dread," ultimately from the same root as the word "tremble." | |||
| Gujarati | આતંક | ||
| The Gujarati word "આતંક" ("terror") is derived from the Sanskrit word "आतंक" ("terror"), which in turn comes from the root "आतङ्क" ("to frighten"). | |||
| Hindi | आतंक | ||
| The Hindi word "आतंक" also has an alternate meaning, "panic" or "fear." | |||
| Kannada | ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದನೆ | ||
| The word "ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದನೆ" (terror) is derived from the Latin word "terror", meaning "great fear or alarm". | |||
| Malayalam | ഭീകരത | ||
| "ഭീകരത" is also a synonym for the word "terrible" or "frightful". | |||
| Marathi | दहशत | ||
| The word "दहशत" (terror) in Marathi has an alternate archaic meaning of "fire". | |||
| Nepali | आतंक | ||
| The word "आतंक" can also mean "disturbance" or "fear" in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਦਹਿਸ਼ਤ | ||
| The word "ਦਹਿਸ਼ਤ" (terror) in Punjabi comes from the Sanskrit word "dahati", meaning "to burn". It can also refer to a state of extreme fear or anxiety. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | භීෂණය | ||
| The word 'භීෂණය' (bheeshanaya) in Sinhala ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word 'भीषण' (bhishana), meaning 'terrible' or 'frightening'. | |||
| Tamil | பயங்கரவாதம் | ||
| Telugu | భీభత్సం | ||
| The word "భీభత్సం" (bheebhatsam) is derived from the Sanskrit word "भीभत्स" (bhibhatsa), which means "loathsome" or "disgusting." | |||
| Urdu | دہشت گردی | ||
Terror in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 恐怖 | ||
| "恐怖" 的本义为令人敬畏，引申为令人害怕，与现代汉语的 "恐怖" 含义不同，更接近于英文单词 "awe" 的意思。 | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 恐怖 | ||
| The character "恐" in the word "恐怖", means fear. The second character, "怖" means awe. | |||
| Japanese | テロ | ||
| 「テロ」は、元々は「恐怖による支配」を意味するフランス語の「terreur」が由来で、政治的な暴力行為を表す言葉として定着しました。 | |||
| Korean | 공포 | ||
| The word "공포" also has the alternate meaning of "awe", or "amazement". | |||
| Mongolian | террор | ||
| {"text": "The word "террор" is borrowed from the Russian word "террор", which in turn is borrowed from the French word "terreur", meaning "terror, fear, or fright" and derived ultimately from the Latin word "terror", meaning "dread, fear, or horror" and from the Greek word "τέρας" (teras; meaning "sign, portent, or monster")."} | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကြောက်စရာ | ||
Terror in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | teror | ||
| In Indonesian, 'teror' can also refer to a form of traditional puppet theater accompanied by music. | |||
| Javanese | teror | ||
| The word "teror" in Javanese has an alternate meaning referring to a ghost-like creature that inhabits trees. | |||
| Khmer | ភេរវកម្ម | ||
| In Sanskrit, the word "bherava" means "awesome" or "terrible," and is often used to describe the god Shiva or his wrathful manifestations. | |||
| Lao | ກໍ່ການຮ້າຍ | ||
| Terror can also refer to a state of extreme fear or anxiety. | |||
| Malay | keganasan | ||
| The word "keganasan" originates from the Malay root word "ganas" meaning "ferocious" or "savage". | |||
| Thai | ความหวาดกลัว | ||
| The word "ความหวาดกลัว" (terror) in Thai has an alternate meaning referring to a state of extreme fear or horror. | |||
| Vietnamese | sự kinh hoàng | ||
| The Vietnamese word "sự kinh hoàng" can also refer to a sense of awe or wonder. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | takot | ||
Terror in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | terror | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "terror" is also used to refer to a state of panic or fear. | |||
| Kazakh | террор | ||
| "Террор" на казахском языке также означает "устрашение, страх". | |||
| Kyrgyz | террор | ||
| In Kyrgyz "террор" also means a very old and strong kind of alcoholic drink. | |||
| Tajik | террор | ||
| "Террор" is a loan word from Russian. | |||
| Turkmen | terror | ||
| Uzbek | terror | ||
| The word "terror" in Uzbek also means "fear" or "horror". | |||
| Uyghur | تېرورلۇق | ||
Terror in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoʻoweliweli | ||
| Hoʻoweliweli has two different meanings: one meaning "to frighten" and one meaning "fearful". | |||
| Maori | whakamataku | ||
| The word "whakamataku" can also mean "to cause fear or dread," and is derived from the words "whakaputa" (to cause) and "mataku" (fear). | |||
| Samoan | mataʻu | ||
| The word "mataʻu" also means "fear" or "dread". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | takot | ||
| The word 'takot' also has alternate meanings such as 'hesitation' and 'fear of punishment'. | |||
Terror in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | terrorismo ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Guarani | terror rehegua | ||
Terror in International Languages
| Esperanto | teruro | ||
| The Esperanto word "teruro" also means "horror" or "dread". | |||
| Latin | timore | ||
| The Latin word "timore" can also mean "fear", "reverence", or "awe". | |||
Terror in Others Languages
| Greek | τρόμος | ||
| The word τρόμος (trόmos) derives from the verb τρέμω (trémo), meaning "to tremble" or "to shake". | |||
| Hmong | xav tias tsam lawv | ||
| The phrase "xav tias tsam lawv" does not appear to be grammatically correct in the Hmong language, so there is no meaning to explicate. | |||
| Kurdish | teror | ||
| In Kurdish, "teror" not only means "terror" but also "fear", "horror", and "panic". | |||
| Turkish | terör | ||
| "Terör" (terror) kelimesi Arapça "ter'iba" sıfatından gelir ve "korkutma, yıldırma" anlamına da gelir. | |||
| Xhosa | uloyiko | ||
| The word "uloyiko" also means "awe" or "dread" in Xhosa. | |||
| Yiddish | טעראָר | ||
| In Yiddish, the word "טעראָר" can also refer to an overwhelming fright or sudden panic. | |||
| Zulu | ukwesaba | ||
| The Zulu word "ukwesaba" can also mean "fear" or "dread". | |||
| Assamese | আতংক | ||
| Aymara | terrorismo ukat juk’ampinaka | ||
| Bhojpuri | आतंक के माहौल बन गइल | ||
| Dhivehi | ބިރުވެރިކަމެވެ | ||
| Dogri | आतंक | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | takot | ||
| Guarani | terror rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | buteng | ||
| Krio | terori | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تیرۆر | ||
| Maithili | आतंक के भाव | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯦꯔꯣꯔꯤꯖꯝ ꯇꯧꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | hlauhna a ni | ||
| Oromo | shororkeessummaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆତଙ୍କ | ||
| Quechua | manchakuy | ||
| Sanskrit | आतङ्कः | ||
| Tatar | террор | ||
| Tigrinya | ራዕዲ | ||
| Tsonga | ku chava | ||