Tree in different languages

Tree in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Trees have been a source of fascination and reverence for humans since the dawn of time. They are not only essential for our planet's health and survival, but they also hold great cultural and spiritual significance across the globe. From the ancient Celtic tree alphabet to the sacred Bodhi tree of Buddhism, trees have been symbols of wisdom, growth, and continuity in many cultures.

Moreover, the word 'tree' itself is fascinating, with numerous translations and connotations in different languages. For instance, in Spanish, it's 'árbol,' while in German, it's 'Baum.' In Japanese, the word 'ki' means 'tree,' but it also refers to the concept of life force or energy. Similarly, in Hindi, 'vriksha' means tree, and it's a term of endearment for someone who is strong and reliable.

Exploring the translations of 'tree' in different languages can open up a world of cultural insights and linguistic curiosities. So, let's delve into the diverse and fascinating world of the word 'tree' in various languages!

Tree


Tree in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansboom
In Afrikaans, "boom" also means "barrier" or "obstacle"
Amharicዛፍ
The Amharic word ዛፍ (tree) originates from an ancient Semitic root signifying 'growth' or 'flourishing,' and its cognates can be found in other Semitic languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic.
Hausaitace
Itace is derived from the root "it" meaning "stand" and is also used to refer to a pillar or post.
Igboosisi
Osisi, meaning 'tree' in Igbo, is derived from the Proto-Benue-Congo root *si, indicating plant life and vegetation.
Malagasyhazo
"Hazo" also means "the trunk of a tree" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)mtengo
The word "mtengo" in Nyanja (Chichewa) originates from the Proto-Bantu root "-tenga" meaning "to be erect, stand."
Shonamuti
The word muti can also refer to a pole used for fencing, or a stick.
Somaligeed
The term 'geed' also signifies life, endurance, and strength in Somali culture, reflecting the profound relationship between trees and human society.
Sesothosefate
"sefate" or other forms such as "sefate"/"mefata"/"lifate" derives from a single common root, -fata, which is associated with a state or condition (condition of length).
Swahilimti
The Swahili term "mti" derives from Proto-Bantu Bantu "*muti", originally meaning "medicine" or "tree used for medicine."
Xhosaumthi
Umthi also refers to trees as a collective of people or a generation of people.
Yorubaigi
The word 'igi' can also refer to the trunk or branches of a tree, or to the wood from which they are made.
Zuluisihlahla
The Zulu word 'isihlahla' can also refer to a person or a family lineage.
Bambarayiri
Eweati
Kinyarwandaigiti
Lingalanzete
Lugandaomuti
Sepedimohlare
Twi (Akan)dua

Tree in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicشجرة
The word "شجرة" has many meanings in Arabic, including tree, bush, shrub, and plant.
Hebrewעֵץ
In Hebrew, עֵץ (etz) not only refers to trees but also to wood, timber, and any rigid or strong object made of wood.
Pashtoونه
The Pashto word for "tree" ("ونه") derives from the Proto-Indo-Iranian term *wr̥kṣa-, meaning "tree" or "wood."
Arabicشجرة
The word "شجرة" has many meanings in Arabic, including tree, bush, shrub, and plant.

Tree in Western European Languages

Albanianpemë
The Albanian word "pemë" has a cognate in Latin "pomus" and is related to English "pomology" (the study of fruit and fruit trees).
Basquezuhaitza
The word 'zuhaitza' in Basque shares its root with the word for 'pillar', indicating the importance of trees as structural elements in traditional Basque houses.
Catalanarbre
"Arbre" in Catalan can refer either to a tree as a living plant, or to a wooden mast on a ship.
Croatianstablo
Stablo means 'tree' in Croatian, but is related to the words 'stand', 'stop' and 'stable' as it refers to something that is firmly rooted in the ground.
Danishtræ
The word "træ" also means "wood" or "timber".
Dutchboom
It originated as a euphemism for a gallows and also means the act of hitting, knocking, or pounding.
Englishtree
The word "tree" comes from the Old English word "trēow," which originally meant "wood" or "timber."
Frencharbre
The word 'arbre' in French also refers to the mast of a ship and to the genealogical tree.
Frisianbeam
The Frisian word "beam," which means "beam" and is cognate with the English "beam" of the same meaning and the English "beam" meaning "ray of light," is related to the Greek language word "phos," meaning "light."
Galicianárbore
"Árbode" (tree) probably derives from "arbos" (tree in Gaulish Latin; the origin of modern Galician "árbole"), a word of Celtic origin; hence, it is cognate with the word "arbre" meaning "tree" in Catalan and Spanish
Germanbaum
The word "Baum" also has the alternate meaning of "master builder" in German and is cognate with the English word "beam"
Icelandictré
The word 'tré' has additional meanings beyond 'tree', including 'wood' or 'timber' in Icelandic.
Irishcrann
The word "crann" in Irish ultimately derives from the Proto-Celtic "*kranno-," meaning both "tree" and "wood".
Italianalbero
The word "albero" in Italian shares its etymology with the Latin word "arbor", and in some contexts can also mean "mast" (of a ship).
Luxembourgishbam
In Luxembourgish, "Bam" can refer to any large plant with a woody stem or trunk.
Maltesesiġra
The word "siġra" comes from the Arabic word "shajarah", which also means "tree".
Norwegiantre
The word "tre" is also a homonym for the number three in Norwegian.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)árvore
"árvore" is a cognate of the Latin word "arbor" which also means "tree".
Scots Gaeliccraobh
“Craobh” can be also used to refer to family relations as ancestors (in which case it is always preceded by “cinnidh,” as in “cinnidh craobh” – “ancestor” – literally: “family tree”).
Spanishárbol
"Árbol" also means "mast" of a ship or "axle" of a carriage in Spanish.
Swedishträd
In Swedish, "träd" comes from the Old Norse word "træ", which also meant "wooden beam".
Welshcoeden
"Coeden" also refers to a "grove of trees" or a "wood" in Welsh.

Tree in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдрэва
The word "дрэва" likely derives from the Indo-European root "*drewh-", meaning "wood" or "tree".
Bosniandrvo
"Drvo" also means "wood" in Bosnian.
Bulgarianдърво
The Slavic word “дърво” (“tree”) also means “timber, wood, or firewood.”
Czechstrom
The word "strom" also means "current" or "flow" in Czech, as in "electricity" or "water.
Estonianpuu
"Puu" can also mean "a wooden stick used for hitting" and "a kind of spirit" in Estonian.
Finnishpuu
"Puu" also means "stick", such as a matchstick or a stick of wood on fire.
Hungarianfa
Hungarian "fa" also means "wooden" or "wood" and is cognate with the English word "fire".
Latviankoks
The word "koks" in Latvian originates from the Indo-European root "*keh₂-", meaning "stake" or "pole".
Lithuanianmedis
"Medis" can also figuratively refer to a person or a family that has deep roots in a particular place or community.
Macedonianдрво
The word "дрво" is derived from Proto-Slavic *dervъ, meaning both "tree" and "wood."
Polishdrzewo
The word "drzewo" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *drevъ, meaning "wood" or "timber."
Romaniancopac
The word "copac" comes from the Albanian word "kupë" and originally meant "stem". Alternatively, it can also refer to a device used to pull in a fishing net or an instrument for crushing flax and hemp.
Russianдерево
The word 'дерево' has roots in many Slavic languages and its literal meaning used to be 'a substance growing in one place'.
Serbianдрво
The Serbian word "дрво" not only means "tree", but also refers to a large piece of wood.
Slovakstrom
The word "strom" in Slovak also means "pillar", "column", or "pole".
Sloveniandrevo
The Slovenian word 'drevo' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'dьrvo' and also refers to the cosmic tree of life in Slavic mythology.
Ukrainianдерево
The Ukrainian word "дерево" ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*deru-," meaning "firm," "solid," or "wood."

Tree in South Asian Languages

Bengaliগাছ
"গাছ" means "plant" in Bengali, and also refers to a "stake".
Gujaratiવૃક્ષ
In the ancient Sanskrit language, the word "वृक्ष" (vrksa) meant "to grow, to cover," and was related to the Greek "δρυς" (drys), also meaning "tree, wood," and to the Latin "robur," meaning "oak."
Hindiपेड़
"पेड़" derives from the Sanskrit word पाद /पाद:, meaning "foot," because they are firmly rooted to the ground.
Kannadaಮರ
The Kannada word "ಮರ" is also used to refer to the wooden doorframe or wooden crossbeam for a doorway or window in a house.
Malayalamവൃക്ഷം
The word "വൃക്ഷം" (tree) is also used to refer to a "clan" or "family" in Malayalam.
Marathiझाड
झाड (jhāḍ) and वृक्ष (vṛkṣa) are both Sanskrit terms for 'tree', but झाड generally denotes a smaller plant while वृक्ष is used for larger ones.
Nepaliरूख
The word "tree" in Nepali, "रूख", also means "obstacle" or "problem".
Punjabiਰੁੱਖ
The word "ਰੁੱਖ" (tree) in Punjabi has its roots in the Sanskrit word "वृक्ष" (vṛkṣa), meaning "to grow" or "to increase."
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ගස
As the name suggests, 'ගස' ('tree') can also mean 'body'.
Tamilமரம்
"Maram" (tree) in Tamil also represents a person who speaks truth and wisdom as a synonym as well an elder person as one of several meanings.
Teluguచెట్టు
"చెట్టు" is a word used in Telugu to describe a tree, but it also has the alternate meaning of "to stand up or to rise".
Urduدرخت
In Persian the word "درخت" comes from the word "در" (door, gate) and "خت" (closure), referring to the way trees block the path and create shade like a closed gate.

Tree in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
树 originally meant "residence", but the character is now used to represent the concept of "tree"
Chinese (Traditional)
In traditional Chinese, the word 樹 can also refer to "planting" or "setting up" something.
Japanese
The character 木 (tree) also appears in words like 林 (forest) and 柴 (firewood).
Korean나무
'나무' originally denoted a branch, and then spread to larger meanings including a bush and a tree.
Mongolianмод
The Mongolian word "мод" (mod), meaning "tree", shares the same root as the English word "meadow".
Myanmar (Burmese)သစ်ပင်

Tree in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpohon
Although "pohon" means "tree" in Indonesian, the word can also refer to other large plants like bamboo.
Javanesewit
The word "wit" in Javanese also means "knowledge" or "wisdom".
Khmerដើមឈើ
There is a Khmer word for
Laoຕົ້ນໄມ້
Malaypokok
The word "pokok" has several homonyms, including "principal" or "basic" (of something) and "item" (in a list).
Thaiต้นไม้
"ต้น" means "base" or "origin" while "ไม้" means "wood", so "ต้นไม้" literally means "base/origin of wood" (i.e. tree).
Vietnamesecây
Cây also means "plant" or "herb".
Filipino (Tagalog)puno

Tree in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniağac
"Ağac" is related to the word "ağıl". Ağıl initially referred to trees that grew close together and later on to the stables that were made from wood.
Kazakhағаш
The word 'ағаш' ('tree') has alternate meanings such as 'wood', 'timber', and 'staff' in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzдарак
The word дарак 'tree' is of Turkic origin and also means 'fork'
Tajikдарахт
The word "дарахт" in Tajik comes from the Persian word "درخت" (derakht), which means "tree" and further from the Avestan word "darəga-," which means "firm, solid, stout, strong, enduring, steadfast, long-lived, lasting, firm believer, devout, follower, friend, comrade, ally, assistant, helper, champion, protector, guardian, supporter."
Turkmenagaç
Uzbekdaraxt
The word "daraxt" is derived from the Persian word "daraxt" and has the same meaning in both languages.
Uyghurدەرەخ

Tree in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankumulāʻau
The Hawaiian word "kumulāʻau" is also used to refer to a grove, collection, or group of trees.
Maorirakau
The word 'rakau' in Maori also means 'weapon' or 'tool'
Samoanlaau
The Samoan word "laau" is an archaic word for plant, and it is still used to mean plant in some dialects.
Tagalog (Filipino)puno
The word "puno" in Tagalog has Austronesian roots and is also used to refer to a post or pillar.

Tree in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraquqa
Guaraniyvyra

Tree in International Languages

Esperantoarbo
The word "arbo" in Esperanto can also refer to a stand or collection of trees.
Latinarbor
In Latin, 'arbor' can also mean 'axis' or 'center' in addition to 'tree'.

Tree in Others Languages

Greekδέντρο
The Greek word "δέντρο" has possible pre-Greek roots relating to the concept of growth or height.
Hmongntoo
When used in compound words, the term "ntoo" can also describe items or substances made from wood.
Kurdishdar
The word 'dar' also refers to wood or timber in some contexts, especially in construction or carpentry.
Turkishağaç
"Ağaç" also means "master" in Ottoman Turkish, especially when referring to the head of a household or a clan.
Xhosaumthi
Umthi also refers to trees as a collective of people or a generation of people.
Yiddishבוים
The Yiddish word "בוים" (boym, pronounced like the English "boy") also refers to a large wooden barrel.
Zuluisihlahla
The Zulu word 'isihlahla' can also refer to a person or a family lineage.
Assameseগছ
Aymaraquqa
Bhojpuriपेड़
Dhivehiގަސް
Dogriबूहटा
Filipino (Tagalog)puno
Guaraniyvyra
Ilocanokayo
Kriotik
Kurdish (Sorani)درەخت
Maithiliगाछ
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯨꯎꯄꯥꯃꯕꯤ
Mizothingkung
Oromomuka
Odia (Oriya)ଗଛ
Quechuasacha
Sanskritवृक्षः
Tatarагач
Tigrinyaኦም
Tsongansinya

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