Toy in Different Languages
Discover 'Toy' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
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.
Toy
Toy in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| 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 | ||
Toy in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| 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. | |||
Toy in Western European Languages
| 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". | |||
Toy in Eastern European Languages
| 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. | |||
Toy in South Asian Languages
| 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. | |||
Toy in East Asian Languages
| 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 | ||
Toy in South East Asian Languages
| 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 | ||
Toy in Central Asian Languages
| 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 | ||
Toy in Pacific Languages
| 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" | |||
Toy in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | anatt’añ yänaka | ||
| Guarani | juguete | ||
Toy in International Languages
| 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." | |||
Toy in Others Languages
| 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 | ||