Updated on March 6, 2024
Toys have been an integral part of human culture and development for centuries. From handmade dolls to high-tech gadgets, toys have reflected societal values, technological advancements, and childhood imagination. Understanding the translation of 'toy' in different languages not only broadens our vocabulary but also offers a glimpse into the unique perspectives and traditions of various cultures.
For instance, the French call a toy 'jouet,' which originates from the Old French 'joiet,' meaning 'small joy.' In Germany, a toy is referred to as 'Spielzeug,' which translates to 'play thing.' Meanwhile, in Japan, 'omocha' represents a toy, reflecting the country's rich history of play and innovation.
Exploring the word 'toy' in various languages is a captivating journey that unveils the diversity and similarities of global cultures. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of toy translations, providing you with a valuable resource for cross-cultural communication and understanding.
Afrikaans | speelding | ||
Speelding may be a cognate of the English word "sports". | |||
Amharic | መጫወቻ | ||
The word 'መጫወቻ' is also used in Amharic to refer to a game or pastime. | |||
Hausa | abin wasa | ||
The word "abin wasa" can also refer to a joke or a pastime in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | egwuregwu ụmụaka | ||
The word derives from "egwu" meaning "dance" or "play" and "regwu" meaning "playful" or "amusing". | |||
Malagasy | kilalao | ||
"Kilalao" also refers to a traditional game of throwing a stick up in the air and clapping your hands before it falls on the ground. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | choseweretsa | ||
The Nyanja word choseweretsa derives from a verb meaning "to play or amuse oneself" | |||
Shona | chitoyi | ||
The word "chitoyi" is derived from the verb "kutoya", which means "to play". | |||
Somali | tooy | ||
The word "tooy" which is the Somali equivalent of "toy" can also mean "child's play". | |||
Sesotho | sebapali | ||
The word 'sebapali' can also refer to a doll, puppet or miniature model in Sesotho. | |||
Swahili | toy | ||
In Swahili, "toy" (toy) can also refer to traditional musical instruments. | |||
Xhosa | into yokudlala | ||
The word 'into yokudlala' in Xhosa has an alternate meaning as 'a thing of little value' or 'a trifle' | |||
Yoruba | isere | ||
Işeré also referes to play and playmates in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | ithoyizi | ||
The Zulu word "ithoyizi" can also refer to a "plaything" or a "bauble." | |||
Bambara | tulonkɛfɛn | ||
Ewe | fefenu | ||
Kinyarwanda | igikinisho | ||
Lingala | eloko ya kosakana na yango | ||
Luganda | eky’okuzannyisa | ||
Sepedi | sebapadišwa | ||
Twi (Akan) | agode a wɔde di agoru | ||
Arabic | عروسه لعبه | ||
The word "عروسه لعبه" (toy) comes from the Arabic word "عروس" (bride), suggesting the idea of a doll or figure meant for play. | |||
Hebrew | צַעֲצוּעַ | ||
The word "צַעֲצוּעַ" can also refer to a trinket, bauble, or any small object of little value. | |||
Pashto | لوبی | ||
The word "لوبی" can also mean "doll" or "puppet" in Pashto. | |||
Arabic | عروسه لعبه | ||
The word "عروسه لعبه" (toy) comes from the Arabic word "عروس" (bride), suggesting the idea of a doll or figure meant for play. |
Albanian | lodër | ||
The Albanian word "lodër" also refers to a specific type of play involving throwing and catching objects, similar to catch or toss in other languages. | |||
Basque | jostailu | ||
"Jostailu": a derivative of "josta" meaning "plaything" but can also mean "trick," "joke" or "fun". | |||
Catalan | joguina | ||
"Joguina" is thought to derive from Arabic word جُقْنَة (juqnah), meaning "little box" or "trinket box". | |||
Croatian | igračka | ||
The word 'igračka' comes from the Croatian word 'igrati', meaning 'to play'. | |||
Danish | legetøj | ||
The word "legetøj" derives from the Old Norse words "leikr" (play) and "tœg" (implement), suggesting its use as a plaything or tool. | |||
Dutch | speelgoed- | ||
The word 'speelgoed' is derived from the Old Dutch 'speelgoed', which meant 'plaything', and is related to the English word 'spiel'. | |||
English | toy | ||
"Toy" derives from "Toye," the Middle English term for "a trifle; a plaything." Earlier in Old English, the word meant "a tool, implement" or "an act, deed." | |||
French | jouet | ||
The word "jouet" can also mean "joke" or "plaything" in French. | |||
Frisian | boartersguod | ||
The Frisian word "boartersguod" originally referred to a game or activity rather than a physical object. | |||
Galician | xoguete | ||
The term "xoguete" in Galician is ultimately derived from the Latin word "ioculus", meaning "little eye", and is related to the Spanish word "juguete" and the Portuguese word "joguete". | |||
German | spielzeug | ||
The word “Spielzeug” likely comes from the Old High German word “spilon,” meaning “to play.” | |||
Icelandic | leikfang | ||
The word 'leikfang' is also used to describe a child's plaything or a device used for amusement. | |||
Irish | bréagán | ||
The word | |||
Italian | giocattolo | ||
The Italian word "giocattolo" can also refer to a "plaything" or a "diversion" | |||
Luxembourgish | spill | ||
In Luxembourgish, "spill" can also refer to a type of traditional wooden rattle or a playful person. | |||
Maltese | ġugarell | ||
The word "ġugarell" also refers to the sound of something small and round falling onto a surface. | |||
Norwegian | leketøy | ||
"Leketøy" can also mean "children's clothing" or "baby clothes" in Norwegian. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | brinquedo | ||
The word "brinquedo" originally meant "diversion" or "amusement", and it is still used in this sense in some contexts. | |||
Scots Gaelic | dèideag | ||
The word 'dèideag' in Scots Gaelic is thought to derive from the Old Irish word 'déidech', meaning 'small or insignificant' and can also be used to refer to a 'child' or 'darling'. | |||
Spanish | juguete | ||
The word "juguete" originated from the Nahuatl word "xocotl," meaning "fruit," due to early toys being made from fruit pits. | |||
Swedish | leksak | ||
The term "leksak" originally referred to a "toy" that had been made using a blade or knife, as "lek" meant "to play" and "sak" meant "a thing" or "a blade". | |||
Welsh | tegan | ||
The Welsh word "tegan" is a diminutive of the word "tag" which means "to pull" or "to draw". |
Belarusian | цацка | ||
The word "цацка" can also refer to a trinket, a bauble, or a trifle | |||
Bosnian | igračka | ||
The word 'igračka' can also refer to a 'trick' or a 'plot'. | |||
Bulgarian | играчка | ||
The word "играчка" can also refer to a tool or device used to do something. | |||
Czech | hračka | ||
The word 'hračka' also means 'playful' or 'naughty' in Czech slang. | |||
Estonian | mänguasja | ||
"Mänguasja" ultimately derives from a word that meant "to play" and is related to the word "mäng" (game). | |||
Finnish | lelu | ||
"Lelu" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*lelo" meaning "a plaything, pastime, entertainment" and is cognate with the Estonian word "lõbu" meaning "pleasure, joy, fun". | |||
Hungarian | játék | ||
In Hungarian, "játék" also has the connotation of "play" or "game", emphasizing the active and engaging nature of toys. | |||
Latvian | rotaļlieta | ||
In Latvian, "rotaļlieta" literally translates to "something used to make a game". | |||
Lithuanian | žaislas | ||
The word "žaislas" is derived from the verb "žaisti" (to play), and also means "plaything" or "game". | |||
Macedonian | играчка | ||
The Macedonian word "играчка" (toy) shares the same root as the verb "игра" (to play), indicating a close association between play and toys in the Macedonian language. | |||
Polish | zabawka | ||
The word 'zabawka' in Polish means 'toy', but it can also refer to a 'plaything' or a 'amusement'. | |||
Romanian | jucărie | ||
"Jucărie" may come from the verb "a se juca," meaning "to play," or from the Turkish word "oyuncak," also meaning "toy." | |||
Russian | игрушка | ||
The word "игрушка" originally meant "plaything" or "diversion" in Old Russian, and is related to the word "играть" (play). | |||
Serbian | играчка | ||
The word "играчка" can also refer to gambling, a prank, a trick, a gadget, a tool, a play, a joke, or a game. | |||
Slovak | hračka | ||
The word "hračka" can also refer to a "plaything" or a "joke". | |||
Slovenian | igrača | ||
The Slavic word 'igrača' originally referred to a doll, and later acquired the broader meaning of 'toy'. | |||
Ukrainian | іграшка | ||
"Іграшка" means "toy," but it is also a form of Ukrainian folk art. |
Bengali | খেলনা | ||
The word "খেলনা" can also mean "amusement" or "fun". | |||
Gujarati | રમકડું | ||
The Gujarati word "રમકડું" is derived from the Sanskrit word "रमक", meaning "to delight" or "to please". | |||
Hindi | खिलौना | ||
'खिलौना' is the name of a type of Indian flatbread that is cooked on a griddle. | |||
Kannada | ಆಟಿಕೆ | ||
The word "ಆಟಿಕೆ" (toy) in Kannada is derived from the verb "ಆಡು" (to play), suggesting its primary purpose as an object for amusement and play. | |||
Malayalam | കളിപ്പാട്ടം | ||
Marathi | खेळण्यांचे | ||
In Marathi, the word 'खेळण्यांचे' not only means 'toy' but also refers to the 'playful' or 'amusing' aspect of something. | |||
Nepali | खेलौना | ||
The term 'खेलौना' can also refer to a small animal used for entertainment or companionship. | |||
Punjabi | ਖਿਡੌਣਾ | ||
The word "ఖిడ్డ" (kidd) means "child or young one", suggesting that toys are primarily associated with children | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සෙල්ලම් බඩු | ||
Tamil | பொம்மை | ||
"பொம்மை" in Tamil is also used figuratively to mean "a beautiful woman." | |||
Telugu | బొమ్మ | ||
Urdu | کھلونا | ||
The word "کھلونا" can also refer to a "doll" or "puppet" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 玩具 | ||
玩具 (wánjù) refers not only to children's playthings, but also to gadgets and devices | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 玩具 | ||
玩具 originates from the phrase “戲具” (literally “playthings”) and also means “play” or “diversion”. | |||
Japanese | おもちゃ | ||
"おもちゃ" (toy) derives from "御細工物" (imperial crafts objects) and originally referred to precious treasures. | |||
Korean | 장난감 | ||
The word "장난감" can also mean "plaything" or "gadget", and is derived from the Chinese word "장난" (play) and the Korean suffix "감" (noun). | |||
Mongolian | тоглоом | ||
The Mongolian word "тоглоом" can also refer to "play" or "game" in English. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ကစားစရာ | ||
Indonesian | mainan | ||
The word "mainan" can also refer to a performance or a game. | |||
Javanese | dolanan | ||
In Javanese, the word "dolanan" also refers to a hobby or a pastime activity, highlighting the multifaceted nature of toys beyond mere objects of play. | |||
Khmer | ប្រដាប់ក្មេងលេង | ||
Lao | ຂອງຫຼິ້ນ | ||
Malay | mainan | ||
The word 'mainan' in Malay not only refers to toys but also to games and pastimes, indicating its broader cultural significance. | |||
Thai | ของเล่น | ||
The word "ของเล่น" (pronounced "kʰɔːŋlɛːn") can also be used to refer to a "gadget" or a "device." | |||
Vietnamese | đồ chơi | ||
The word "đồ chơi" also means "plaything" or "amusement" in Vietnamese. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | laruan | ||
Azerbaijani | oyuncaq | ||
The word "oyuncaq" is also used to refer to "children's toys", "playthings" and "amusements". | |||
Kazakh | ойыншық | ||
The word "ойыншық" in Kazakh also means "playful" or "naughty" when used as an adjective. | |||
Kyrgyz | оюнчук | ||
The word "оюнчук" in Kyrgyz can also mean "plaything" or "entertainment". | |||
Tajik | бозича | ||
The word "бозича" comes from the Persian word "بازیچه" (bāzīche), meaning "plaything" or "toy". It can also refer to a "child's toy" or a "toy train". | |||
Turkmen | oýunjak | ||
Uzbek | o'yinchoq | ||
The Uzbek word "o'yinchoq" comes from the Persian word "bazichah", which also means "plaything". | |||
Uyghur | ئويۇنچۇق | ||
Hawaiian | mea pāʻani | ||
The Hawaiian word 'mea pāʻani' translates to 'thing to play with' and can refer to recreational activities, games, toys, or even pets. | |||
Maori | taakaro | ||
The word "taakaro" in Māori also refers to games and recreation, highlighting the inseparable bond between play and childhood. | |||
Samoan | meataʻalo | ||
"Meata'alo" can also refer to the toys of a whale or porpoise, specifically a whale's calf. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | laruan | ||
"Laruan" is the Tagalog word for "toy", which is derived from the Spanish word "jugar", meaning "to play" |
Aymara | anatt’añ yänaka | ||
Guarani | juguete | ||
Esperanto | ludilo | ||
The word "ludilo" is derived from the Latin word "ludus," meaning "play" or "game."} | |||
Latin | toy | ||
In Latin, "toy" originally meant "plaything" or "amusement," derived from the root "ludere" meaning "to play." |
Greek | παιχνίδι | ||
The word παιχνίδι (toy) in Greek comes from the verb παίζω (to play) and the suffix -ίδι, commonly used in Greek to create nouns denoting tools or devices. | |||
Hmong | qho khoom ua si | ||
The Hmong word "qho khoom ua si" can also refer to a child's playmate.} | |||
Kurdish | lîstok | ||
In Sorani, "lîstok" also refers to the plastic ring used in a pull-tab can. | |||
Turkish | oyuncak | ||
In Turkish, "oyuncak" can also refer to a small mechanical device used to initiate or control the operation of something else. | |||
Xhosa | into yokudlala | ||
The word 'into yokudlala' in Xhosa has an alternate meaning as 'a thing of little value' or 'a trifle' | |||
Yiddish | צאַצקע | ||
The Yiddish word "צאַצקע" also means "trinket" or "bauble". | |||
Zulu | ithoyizi | ||
The Zulu word "ithoyizi" can also refer to a "plaything" or a "bauble." | |||
Assamese | খেলনা | ||
Aymara | anatt’añ yänaka | ||
Bhojpuri | खिलौना बा | ||
Dhivehi | ކުޅޭ އެއްޗެކެވެ | ||
Dogri | खिलौना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | laruan | ||
Guarani | juguete | ||
Ilocano | ay-ayam | ||
Krio | tɔys we dɛn kin ple | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | یاری | ||
Maithili | खिलौना | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯥꯟꯅꯄꯣꯠ ꯑꯃꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | toy a ni | ||
Oromo | meeshaa taphaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଖେଳନା | ||
Quechua | pukllana | ||
Sanskrit | क्रीडनकं | ||
Tatar | уенчык | ||
Tigrinya | መጻወቲ | ||
Tsonga | thoyi | ||
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