Train in different languages

Train in Different Languages

Discover 'Train' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Ah, the humble 'train' - a word that signifies so much more than just a mode of transportation! It represents a cultural phenomenon, a symbol of human ingenuity and progress. From the first steam locomotive to the high-speed bullet trains, this invention has transformed our lives and landscapes in countless ways.

Trains have played a starring role in literature and film, from the romantic Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter to the thrilling locomotive chases in Westerns. They've also been the site of significant historical events, like the Underground Railroad that ferried slaves to freedom in the US.

Given their global impact, it's no surprise that the word 'train' has been adopted and adapted into many languages. Here are just a few examples:

  • Spanish: tren
  • French: train
  • German: Zug
  • Mandarin: 火车 (huǒchē)
  • Japanese: 列車 (ressha)

Stay tuned to learn more about these translations and the rich cultural contexts they're embedded in!

Train


Train in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanstrein
In the Afrikaans language, "trein" additionally denotes a queue or line, similar to its usage in Dutch.
Amharicባቡር
In Amharic, the word ባቡር also means 'a great many' or 'a large number'.
Hausajirgin kasa
"Jirgin kasa" means both "train" and "airplane" in Hausa, and derives from the Arabic "jarra" (to pull, to transport) and "kasa" (a thing, an object).
Igboụgbọ oloko
In Igbo, the word "ụgbọ oloko" not only means "train" but also refers to a "line of people or things".
Malagasyfiaran-dalamby
The word "fiaran-dalamby" literally means "iron carriage".
Nyanja (Chichewa)sitima
The Nyanja word sitima can also refer to a motor vehicle or a bicycle
Shonachitima
The word 'chitima' in Shona also means 'a group of people travelling together for a common purpose'.
Somalitareen
The Somali word "tareen" can also refer to a line of people or animals, or a sequence of events.
Sesothoterene
Sesotho derives 'terene' from the Dutch 'trein' which in turn stems from the French 'train', meaning 'pull' or 'draw'.
Swahilitreni
In Swahili, "treni" is derived from the English word "train" and primarily refers to a mode of transportation on rails, but it can also mean a practice session or a sequence of events.
Xhosauloliwe
The Xhosa word 'uloliwe' is derived from the Zulu word for 'snake' (ululwe), referring to the snake-like motion of the train.
Yorubareluwe
In Yoruba, the word "reluwe" can also refer to a long chain, rope, or line, highlighting its extended usage beyond the realm of trains.
Zuluisitimela
The Zulu word "isitimela" is also used to refer to a "railway" or "line of rail".
Bambaratɛrɛn
Ewena hehe
Kinyarwandagari ya moshi
Lingalakoteya
Lugandagaali y'omukka
Sepedihlahla
Twi (Akan)tete

Train in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicقطار
قطار (qiṭār) is not only the Arabic word for train but also the Arabic plural of قِط (qiṭṭ), which means "cat".
Hebrewרכבת
רכבת (train) is a combination of the words רֶכֶב (vehicle) and תְּבוּאָה (cargo), referring to the vehicle's purpose of transporting goods.
Pashtoاورګاډي
The Pashto word "اورګاډي" is derived from the Persian word "ارابه" meaning "carriage" or "chariot".
Arabicقطار
قطار (qiṭār) is not only the Arabic word for train but also the Arabic plural of قِط (qiṭṭ), which means "cat".

Train in Western European Languages

Albaniantren
The English word "train" likely shares a common ancestral Proto-Indo-European root, *tre- ('run, wheel'), with the Albanian word "tren".
Basquetrena
The word "trena" in Basque, derived from French "traîne", can also refer to a long trailing fabric or garment worn as part of a ceremonial dress.
Catalantren
"Tren" in Catalan also refers to the sound of thunder.
Croatianvlak
The word "vlak" also refers to a type of traditional Croatian folk dance.
Danishtog
In Danish, "tog" also means "rope" or "string".
Dutchtrein
In Dutch, "trein" also means "procession" or "series".
Englishtrain
The word 'train' comes from the Old French word 'trahiner', which means 'to drag' or 'to pull'.
Frenchtrain
Train can also mean "to pull" or "to educate" in French.
Frisiantrein
The Frisian word "trein" can also refer to a "series" or "course", such as a "trein fan dagen" (series of days).
Galicianadestrar
Adestrar derives from Latin ad + dextera (right hand), and also means to become skillful or competent.
Germanzug
Zug, meaning 'train' in German, comes from the verb 'ziehen,' meaning 'to pull,' as trains pull carriages behind them.
Icelandicþjálfa
The Icelandic word "þjálfa" can also mean "to exercise" or "to practice".
Irishtraein
The Irish word "traein" also means "strength" or "power".
Italiantreno
The Italian word "treno" derives from the Latin verb "trahere," meaning "to pull" or "to drag," as trains pull or drag carriages behind them.
Luxembourgishtrainéieren
Malteseferrovija
The Maltese word 'ferrovija' likely originates from the Italian word 'ferrovia', meaning 'railway', which in turn derives from the Latin words 'ferrum', meaning 'iron', and 'via', meaning 'way'.
Norwegiantog
The word "tog" in Norwegian can also refer to a garment worn over other clothing
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)trem
"Trem" derives from the Latin word "tramen," meaning "a way across" and also refers to a "streetcar" or "tramway" in Brazil.
Scots Gaelictrèana
The Gaelic word "trèana" was originally "triana" and it meant "three" and described the three wheels that a train travels on.
Spanishtren
Tren derives from the Latin "trahere", meaning "to pull" or "to drag".
Swedishtåg
The word "tåg" in Swedish comes from the Proto-Germanic
Welshtrên
In Welsh, "trên" is not only a synonym for "train" but also means "upon" or "above".

Train in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianцягнік
The word "цягнік" also means "tractor" or "a long line of something moving" in Belarusian.
Bosnianvoz
"Voz" also means "Army" in Bosnian.
Bulgarianвлак
The word "влак" has alternate meanings of "convoy" and "line, row" (in the context of military formations) in Bulgarian.
Czechvlak
In Old Czech, the word "vlak" could also mean a "bundle of hay" or a "group of people"
Estonianrong
The word rong, meaning train in Estonian, was derived from an early railway company's telegraph system, 'Telegraaf Rong'}
Finnishkouluttaa
The word "kouluttaa" in Finnish can also mean "to teach" or "to educate."
Hungarianvonat
The word "vonat" is a Hungarian loanword from the German "Bahnhof", meaning "railway station".
Latvianvilciens
The Latvian word "vilciens" is derived from the German word "Viehwagen," meaning "cattle car," due to the use of cattle cars for passenger transport in the early days of Latvian railways.
Lithuaniantraukinys
The word "traukinys" originally referred to a group of people or things traveling together.
Macedonianвоз
The word "воз" in Macedonian could be originally derived from Proto-Slavic "vozъ", which also referred to a cart.
Polishpociąg
The word "pociąg" also means "urge" or "desire" in Polish.
Romaniantren
In Romanian, the word "tren" can also refer to a section or route of a railroad, a cable car, or a trolley.
Russianпоезд
The Russian word "поезд" (train) initially referred to a convoy of carts or sleds and in this sense originated from the verb "поезжать" (to set off on a journey).
Serbianвоз
The word "воз" (voz) may also refer to a type of wooden cart used for transportation.
Slovakvlak
The word "vlak" can also refer to a single rail car.
Slovenianvlak
The word "vlak" is not originally Slovenian, it was borrowed from German, where it means "plain surface".
Ukrainianпоїзд
The word "поїзд" comes from the Middle French verb "poyer", meaning "to push" or "to drive forward".

Train in South Asian Languages

Bengaliট্রেন
In addition to its conventional meaning, "ট্রেন" also refers to a hairstyle similar to a French braid with hair extensions woven in.
Gujaratiટ્રેન
This term can also be used to describe a series of people or animals that move in an orderly way.
Hindiरेल गाडी
"रेल गाडी" (train) is a combination of two words "रेल" (rail) and "गाडी" (cart)
Kannadaರೈಲು
The word "ರೈಲು" (train) in Kannada is derived from the English word "rail" and also refers to a series of connected vehicles used for transportation.
Malayalamട്രെയിൻ
"ട്രെയിൻ" in Malayalam also refers to a collection of logs tied together and floated downstream
Marathiट्रेन
In Marathi, the word "ट्रेन" (pronounced "tren") can also refer to a line of people or vehicles, or a series of events or actions.
Nepaliट्रेन
The word "ट्रेन" (train) can also refer to a long group of people or animals moving in a line.
Punjabiਟ੍ਰੇਨ
The word 'ਟ੍ਰੇਨ' (train) in Punjabi can also refer to the process of grooming or training an individual or animal.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)දුම්රිය
The word "දුම්රිය" can also refer to a "chimney" or "pipe" which is probably because trains have tall chimneys on top of their engine cars.
Tamilதொடர்வண்டி
In Tamil, the term "தொடர்வண்டி" originally referred to an elephant-drawn carriage, showcasing the cultural significance of elephants in the region.
Teluguరైలు
The word "రైలు" (train) is derived from the Tamil word "ரயில்" (rail), which in turn is derived from the English word "rail."
Urduٹرین
"ٹرین" can also refer to a group of people or animals moving together in a line, or to a line of vehicles moving along a road.

Train in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)培养
The word 培养 can also mean "to cultivate" or "to nurture" in Chinese
Chinese (Traditional)培養
The alternate meaning of the Chinese character "培養" is "nurture".
Japanese列車
"列車" (ressha, train) comes from "連なる" (renreru, to be connected) and "車" (sha, a vehicle), as the individual cars are linked together into a longer train.
Korean기차
"기차" also refers to a 'series of events, actions, or situations that follow one after the other', like English "train of thought."
Mongolianгалт тэрэг
The word
Myanmar (Burmese)ရထား
ရထား is likely derived from Sanskrit, where ''ratha'' means ''chariot''

Train in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianmelatih
The Indonesian word "melatih" derives from the Proto-Austronesian word "*talay", which means "to stretch" or "to extend".
Javanesesepur
In Javanese, the word 'sepur' can also refer to a snake or a train of carts.
Khmerរថភ្លើង
Before the widespread use of trains in Cambodia, រថភ្លើង also referred to a kind of sedan chair carried by several people.
Laoຝຶກອົບຮົມ
A common error in teaching the word "ຝຶກອົບຮົມ" for "train" is to include the middle syllable "อบ", which is actually a loanword from Thai that means "to warm". The correct Lao word for "train" contains only the first and last syllables, "ຝຶກ" and "ຮົມ".
Malaykereta api
The word "kereta api" literally means "fire cart" in Malay, referring to the early steam engines used to power trains.
Thaiรถไฟ
The Thai word "รถไฟ" (train) is etymologically derived from the Sanskrit word "रथ" (ratha), meaning "vehicle" or "chariot".
Vietnamesexe lửa
Originally meant 'fire chariot', its meaning drifted from carriages with burning candles to steam trains, then diesel trains and modern ones.
Filipino (Tagalog)tren

Train in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqatar
The word "qatar" is a cognate of the Persian word "qator" and the Arabic word "qaṭār", all meaning "row, series, or file".
Kazakhпойыз
«Пойыз» is thought to have originated from Russian «поезд» (train). In some regional dialects it can mean "a flock of sheep".
Kyrgyzпоезд
The word "поезд" also means "line of wagons or carriages" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikқатора
"қатора" is derived from the Tajik word "қотар" meaning "row" or "line" and refers to the arrangement of train cars in a single line.
Turkmenotly
Uzbekpoezd
The word "poezd" in Uzbek is derived from the Persian word "payizd", which means "foot soldier" or "infantry".
Uyghurپويىز

Train in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankaʻaahi
Kaʻaahi is a modern Hawaiian word derived from the English word "train," reflecting the influence of Western technology on Hawaiian culture.
Maoritereina
The word "tereina" can also refer to a line or row, such as a line of people or a row of trees.
Samoannofoaafi
The word 'nofoaafi' in Samoan is cognate with 'oloafi' or 'kolo' ('ship' or 'canoe') in Polynesian languages.
Tagalog (Filipino)sanayin
The word 'sanayin' in Tagalog can also refer to the process of training or conditioning.

Train in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarachhukhuchhukhu
Guaraniñembosako'i

Train in International Languages

Esperantotrajno
The word "trajno" is originally derived from the French word "traîner" (to drag or pull), which is ultimately derived from the Latin word "trahere" (to draw or pull).
Latinagmen
The Latin word "agmen" not only means "train" but also can refer to a marching army, a flock of birds, or a swarm of insects.

Train in Others Languages

Greekτρένο
The word "τρένο" can also mean "song" or "hymn" in Greek.
Hmongtsheb ciav hlau
The word "tsheb ciav hlau" can also refer to "airplane" or "helicopter".
Kurdishtirên
The word "tirên" also means "to carry" in Kurdish, suggesting its dual role in transportation.
Turkishtren
The Turkish word "tren" is derived from the French word "train", which means "pull" or "drag".
Xhosauloliwe
The Xhosa word 'uloliwe' is derived from the Zulu word for 'snake' (ululwe), referring to the snake-like motion of the train.
Yiddishבאַן
The Yiddish word "באַן" ("train") is derived from the German word "Bahn" ("road" or "track") and also means "path" or "course" in Yiddish.
Zuluisitimela
The Zulu word "isitimela" is also used to refer to a "railway" or "line of rail".
Assameseৰেলগাড়ী
Aymarachhukhuchhukhu
Bhojpuriरेल
Dhivehiޓްރެއިން
Dogriरेल
Filipino (Tagalog)tren
Guaraniñembosako'i
Ilocanotren
Kriotren
Kurdish (Sorani)ڕاهێنان
Maithiliट्रेन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯇꯥꯛꯄꯤ ꯇꯝꯕꯤꯕ
Mizozirtir
Oromoleenjisuu
Odia (Oriya)ଟ୍ରେନ୍
Quechuatren
Sanskritरेलयानम्‌
Tatarпоезд
Tigrinyaባቡር
Tsongaletela

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