Afrikaans toring | ||
Albanian kulla | ||
Amharic ማማ | ||
Arabic برج | ||
Armenian աշտարակ | ||
Assamese টাৱাৰ | ||
Aymara torre satawa | ||
Azerbaijani qala | ||
Bambara sankanso belebeleba | ||
Basque dorrea | ||
Belarusian вежа | ||
Bengali টাওয়ার | ||
Bhojpuri टावर के बा | ||
Bosnian toranj | ||
Bulgarian кула | ||
Catalan torre | ||
Cebuano torre | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 塔 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 塔 | ||
Corsican torra | ||
Croatian toranj | ||
Czech věž | ||
Danish tårn | ||
Dhivehi ޓަވަރެވެ | ||
Dogri टावर | ||
Dutch toren | ||
English tower | ||
Esperanto turo | ||
Estonian torn | ||
Ewe xɔ kɔkɔ aɖe | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) tore | ||
Finnish torni | ||
French la tour | ||
Frisian toer | ||
Galician torre | ||
Georgian კოშკი | ||
German turm | ||
Greek πύργος | ||
Guarani torre rehegua | ||
Gujarati ટાવર | ||
Haitian Creole gwo kay won | ||
Hausa hasumiya | ||
Hawaiian hale kiaʻi | ||
Hebrew מִגדָל | ||
Hindi मीनार | ||
Hmong pej thuam | ||
Hungarian torony | ||
Icelandic turninn | ||
Igbo ụlọ elu | ||
Ilocano torre | ||
Indonesian menara | ||
Irish túr | ||
Italian torre | ||
Japanese タワー | ||
Javanese menara | ||
Kannada ಗೋಪುರ | ||
Kazakh мұнара | ||
Khmer ប៉ម | ||
Kinyarwanda umunara | ||
Konkani गोपुरांतलें | ||
Korean 탑 | ||
Krio tawa | ||
Kurdish birc | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) تاوەر | ||
Kyrgyz мунара | ||
Lao ຫໍຄອຍ | ||
Latin turrim | ||
Latvian tornis | ||
Lingala linɔ́ngi ya molai | ||
Lithuanian bokštas | ||
Luganda omunaala | ||
Luxembourgish tuerm | ||
Macedonian кула | ||
Maithili टावर | ||
Malagasy tilikambo | ||
Malay menara | ||
Malayalam ടവർ | ||
Maltese torri | ||
Maori pourewa | ||
Marathi टॉवर | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯇꯋꯥꯔꯗꯥ ꯂꯩ꯫ | ||
Mizo tower a ni | ||
Mongolian цамхаг | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) မျှော်စင် | ||
Nepali टावर | ||
Norwegian tårn | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) nsanja | ||
Odia (Oriya) ଦୁର୍ଗ | ||
Oromo masaraa | ||
Pashto برج | ||
Persian برج | ||
Polish wieża | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) torre | ||
Punjabi ਬੁਰਜ | ||
Quechua torre | ||
Romanian turn | ||
Russian башня | ||
Samoan 'olo | ||
Sanskrit गोपुरम् | ||
Scots Gaelic tùr | ||
Sepedi tora ya tora | ||
Serbian кула | ||
Sesotho tora | ||
Shona shongwe | ||
Sindhi ٽاور | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) කුළුණ | ||
Slovak veža | ||
Slovenian stolp | ||
Somali munaaraddii | ||
Spanish torre | ||
Sundanese munara | ||
Swahili mnara | ||
Swedish torn | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) tore | ||
Tajik манора | ||
Tamil கோபுரம் | ||
Tatar манара | ||
Telugu టవర్ | ||
Thai หอคอย | ||
Tigrinya ግምቢ | ||
Tsonga xihondzo | ||
Turkish kule | ||
Turkmen diň | ||
Twi (Akan) abantenten a ɛwɔ soro | ||
Ukrainian вежа | ||
Urdu ٹاور | ||
Uyghur مۇنار | ||
Uzbek minora | ||
Vietnamese tòa tháp | ||
Welsh twr | ||
Xhosa inqaba | ||
Yiddish טורעם | ||
Yoruba ile-iṣọ | ||
Zulu umbhoshongo |
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The Afrikaans word "toring" is derived from the Dutch word "toren", which also means "tower". |
| Albanian | The word "kulla" in Albanian derives from the Latin "curia" and also means "council" or "city hall". |
| Amharic | The word 'ማማ' (Mama) in Amharic is of Cushitic origin and is etymologically related to the Somali word 'muumo' (hill). |
| Arabic | The word "برج" in Arabic also means "a sign of the zodiac" or "a constellation". |
| Armenian | The word "աշտարակ" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂es- meaning "to stand" or "to erect". |
| Azerbaijani | The term “qala” in Azerbaijani also refers to a fortified settlement with defensive structures. |
| Basque | In Basque the word "dorrea" can also refer to a hill or a peak and originates from the Proto-Basque word "*dor(r)-" meaning "height". |
| Belarusian | In the past, вежа could also refer to an observation point, a fortification, or a residential building with multiple storeys. |
| Bengali | The Bengali word "টাওয়ার" (tower) is borrowed from the English word "tower". |
| Bosnian | "Toranj" (tower) in Bosnian also means "turban" in Iranian origin. |
| Bulgarian | "Кула" means "tower" in Bulgarian, but also "prison" in Turkish, "watchtower" in Romanian, and "ball" in Hindi. |
| Catalan | In Catalan, "torre" derives from the Latin word "turris", meaning "tower" or "fortress" and can also refer to a tall, narrow building with many floors. |
| Cebuano | In Cebuano, the term "torre" also denotes a coconut tree and is sometimes used to refer to a person who is particularly tall. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 塔 (tǎ) can also refer to a multi-storied building or a layered structure, such as a stack of coins or a pagoda. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | The Chinese character "塔" not only means "tower" but also can refer to "pagoda" or "stupa" in Buddhist architecture. |
| Corsican | The toponym 'Torra' is often associated with the 'Torre' of Italian origin, which was used to describe a small fortified structure. |
| Croatian | The word "toranj" in Croatian is derived from the Persian word "tornag" meaning "arch" or "vault". |
| Czech | The word "věž" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *vežь, meaning "height" or "fortification." |
| Danish | Old Norse ‘tǫrn’ means ‘projecting peak, pinnacle’ which is related to ‘tindr’ meaning ‘mountain peak’. |
| Dutch | "Toren" in Dutch can also refer to a spire or a steeple, and is derived from the Latin "turris", meaning "tower." |
| Esperanto | The word "turo" (tower) comes from the Old English word "tor", which means "a high, isolated hill". |
| Estonian | In Estonian, the word "torn" also means a small tower for drying crops. |
| Finnish | The etymological source of "torni" is the Germanic word "thorn", which originally referred to a defensive tower, and is also the root of the modern English word "thorn". |
| French | French "la tour" meant "the bull" in Old French, and was used as a metaphor for tall, strong buildings |
| Frisian | In Frisian, "toer" can also refer to a steeple or a lighthouse. |
| Galician | In Galician, "torre" can also refer to a rocky hill or a heap of stones. |
| Georgian | The word "კოშკი" (koshki) can also refer to a medieval Georgian defensive structure known as a watchtower or fortified tower. |
| German | The German word “Turm” is related to the English word “term”, both stemming from the Latin “terminus” meaning “end” or “boundary” |
| Greek | πύργος derives from Ancient Greek 'puergos', meaning 'turret', itself possibly related to 'pyr', 'fire' (as in 'pyro') |
| Gujarati | The word "ટાવર" (tower) is derived from the Old French word "tour," while its alternate meanings are a tall building, a castle, or a column. |
| Haitian Creole | "Gwo kay won" literally means "big house of stone" in Haitian Creole, reflecting the traditional construction material used for towers in Haiti. |
| Hausa | In Katsina Hausa, hasumiya also means "the most senior sister of a group of siblings." |
| Hawaiian | In the Hawaiian language, "hale kiaʻi" also refers to a sentinel's shelter or guardhouse. |
| Hebrew | "מִגדָל" can also mean a stack of something, e.g. a stack of money or a stack of dishes. |
| Hindi | The word 'मीनार' ('tower') is also a synonym for the lighthouse (a building with a lamp at the top to guide ships at night). |
| Hmong | The word "pej thuam" is derived from the Proto-Hmong-Mien word *pʰəm-tʰom, meaning "high house". |
| Hungarian | Derived from the Slavic word "torn" meaning fortification, "torony" also refers to a rook in chess. |
| Icelandic | In Icelandic, "turninn" (tower) is also used figuratively to refer to an elevated place or a prominent figure. |
| Igbo | The word "ụlọ elu" in Igbo is a compound noun meaning "building of height". |
| Indonesian | In the Indonesian language, the word |
| Irish | The Irish word "túr" can also refer to a defensive structure with a circular base. |
| Italian | The word "Torre" also denotes a "torrone", a typical Italian nougat. |
| Japanese | The word "タワー" (tower) comes from the Portuguese word "torre", meaning "tower" or "fortress". |
| Javanese | The Javanese word "menara" originates from Sanskrit and originally meant "sacred structure". |
| Kannada | The word "ಗೋಪುರ" (tower) in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word "gopura" which means "city gate". |
| Kazakh | The Kazakh word "мұнара" "(tower)" is derived from the Arabic word "منارة" meaning "lighthouse". |
| Khmer | The word "ប៉ម" is thought to derive from the Pali "pam" or Sanskrit "parama" meaning "supreme" or "highest". |
| Korean | The word "탑" (tower) in Korean also means "the top" or "the highest point". |
| Kurdish | The word "birc" is also used in Turkish to mean "a fortress" or "a castle". |
| Kyrgyz | The word «мунара» in Kyrgyz originally meant "minaret" and is derived from Persian and Arabic via Turkish. |
| Lao | In Thai, "หอคอย" also means "ivory" (งาช้าง), which comes from the historical use of ivory as a construction material for towers and palaces |
| Latin | Related to the Greek 'tyrsis', meaning 'tower' or 'fortress' |
| Latvian | The Latvian word "tornis" is also used to refer to a small, decorative tower or turret, particularly one found on a castle or other historic building. |
| Lithuanian | In Lithuanian, "bokštas" can also refer to a building with multiple floors, a fortress, or a person who is tall and strong. |
| Luxembourgish | The word 'Tuerm' also means 'fort' or 'castle', and is derived from the Latin word 'turris', meaning 'tower' or 'fortified structure'. |
| Macedonian | The word "кула" can also mean "watchtower" or "dungeon" in Macedonian. |
| Malagasy | The Malagasy word "tilikambo" originally meant "high place" or "lookout point" but now refers specifically to bell towers or towers on churches. |
| Malay | The word "menara" in Malay can also refer to a lighthouse, a minaret, or a tall building. |
| Malayalam | The word "ടവർ" can also mean "a raised platform" or "a large building with many floors" in Malayalam. |
| Maltese | The word "torri" in Maltese is derived from the Latin word "turris" and can also be used to refer to the defensive structures built on the walls of fortifications. |
| Maori | The word "pourewa" can also refer to a gathering place or a fortified village in Maori. |
| Marathi | The word "टॉवर" (tower) in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word "तूर" (to lift up), and can also refer to a pile or heap. |
| Mongolian | The word "цамхаг" (tower) is derived from the Mongolian word "цам" (to stand) and the suffix "-хаг" (place), indicating a place where one stands. |
| Nepali | The Nepali word 'टावर' also means 'a tall or slender structure supporting a flag or other ornament'. |
| Norwegian | In addition to its literal meaning of 'tower', 'tårn' can also refer to something that is large and unwieldy or to a stack of objects. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | The word "nsanja" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also refer to a tall, slender pole used for various purposes, such as supporting a structure or attaching a flag. |
| Pashto | In addition to its literal meaning of "tower," the Pashto word "برج" (burj) can also refer to a minaret, an astrological sign, or a constellation. |
| Persian | The word "برج" (tower) in Persian is derived from the Old Persian word "*barj-", meaning "to rise" or "to elevate". It can also refer to a constellation, a zodiac sign, or a fortified building. |
| Polish | "Wieża" derives from "widz", meaning "lookout", as towers were originally used as vantage points to survey the surroundings. |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | The word "torre" in Portuguese can also refer to a bullfighting ring or a small village. |
| Punjabi | The Punjabi word "ਬੁਰਜ" ultimately derives from the Persian word "borj", which also means "tower". |
| Romanian | The Romanian word "turn" shares its etymology with the English word "tower", both deriving ultimately from the Latin word "turris". |
| Russian | In Russian, the word "башня" can also refer to a type of hairstyle worn by women. |
| Samoan | 'Olo' can also refer to a prison building or a chief's house. |
| Scots Gaelic | The word "tùr" can also refer to a hill or mound, or a large rock or boulder. |
| Serbian | The word "кула" in Serbian, meaning "tower," may also refer to a fortified settlement or a small castle. |
| Sesotho | Sesotho "tora" derives from Bantu "tolo" (three), referring to a three-sided building or tower. |
| Shona | The name is etymologically linked to the word kungu, an archaic root for mountains. |
| Sindhi | The Sindhi word "ٽاور" (tower) also refers to a tall stack of hay or grain sheaves. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | In Sinhala, the word 'කුළුණ' not only means tower, but can also be used as a suffix for words denoting a tall, slender, or long structure. |
| Slovak | The word "veža" also means "prison" in Slovak, derived from the German word "Gefängnis" through the Hungarian "vezér". |
| Slovenian | In the past, 'stolp' could refer to a prison or a wooden pole on which criminals were executed. |
| Somali | The word "munaaraddii" in Somali, which means "tower" or "lighthouse," is derived from the Arabic word "munara" with the same meaning. |
| Spanish | In addition to "tower", "torre" can also refer to a castle stronghold or a bullfighting arena in Spanish. |
| Sundanese | The Sundanese word "munara" can also refer to certain types of trees or bamboo, depending on the context and region. |
| Swahili | "Mnara" is also used in Swahili to refer to a lighthouse or beacon. |
| Swedish | The word "torn" in Swedish also means "thorn" or "prickle". |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | "Tore" is also the Filipino word for bull, and can be found in the names of some towns and cities, like Torrijos, Marinduque and Toril, Davao City. |
| Tajik | The Tajik word "манора" comes from the Persian word "مناره" (manare), which originally referred to a lighthouse or beacon. |
| Tamil | The word "கோபுரம்" (gōpuram) also means 'gateway to heaven' in Tamil, reflecting its significance in Hindu temple architecture |
| Telugu | The word "టవర్" (tower) in Telugu is also used to refer to a large, stately house. |
| Thai | หอคอย is also used metaphorically to refer to a tall building or structure, such as a skyscraper or a castle. |
| Turkish | The Turkish word "kule" ultimately derives from the Latin word "turris," and also refers to the conical caps worn by janissaries or dervishes. |
| Ukrainian | The word "вежа" can also mean "a tall, slender tree" in Ukrainian. |
| Urdu | The word 'ٹاور' in Urdu is derived from the Portuguese word 'torre' and can also mean a 'lighthouse' or an 'elevated place'. |
| Uzbek | The word "minora" in Uzbek additionally means "minaret" or "lighthouse". |
| Vietnamese | "Tòa tháp" may also refer to a chess rook or a pagoda. |
| Welsh | The Welsh word "twr" can also refer to a tumulus or burial mound. |
| Xhosa | The word "inqaba" can also refer to a person who is tall and imposing in stature. |
| Yiddish | "טורעם" (tower) comes from Old Yiddish "tore", meaning fortification. |
| Yoruba | The Yoruba word 'ile-iṣọ' can also refer to a traditional garment worn by kings and chiefs, suggesting its significance as a symbol of authority and status. |
| Zulu | The Zulu word 'umbhoshongo' also refers to the 'crown of a tree' |
| English | The word 'tower' can also refer to a tall, narrow structure built for defense or observation, such as a watchtower or castle keep. |