Wake in different languages

Wake in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'wake' holds a unique significance in many cultures and languages around the world. Derived from Old English 'wacian,' meaning 'to become awake or watchful,' the term has evolved to encompass a variety of meanings, from the simple act of waking up to the broader concept of a funeral wake. In many Western cultures, a wake is a social gathering associated with death, where friends and family gather to mourn and remember the deceased. But in other languages, the word 'wake' can have vastly different meanings and connotations.

For example, in Dutch, 'wake' translates to 'wekken,' which means 'to wake up' or 'to awaken.' In Spanish, 'wake' becomes 'vigilia,' which can refer to a wake, but also to a period of vigilant watching or expectation. And in Japanese, 'wake' is '目覚め (mezame),' which means 'to awaken' or 'to come to one's senses.'

Understanding the translation of 'wake' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural nuances and traditions of various societies. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of language and culture through the lens of this simple yet powerful term.

Wake


Wake in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanswakker word
The Afrikaans word "wakker word" can also refer to an alarm clock, a coffee mug, or a person's sense of awareness.
Amharicንቃ
The word "ንቃ" also means "to be alert" or "to be watchful" in Amharic.
Hausatashi
The word "tashi" in Hausa can also mean "be born" or "the act of being born."
Igboteta
The word 'teta' also means 'to be awakened' or 'to be made to stand up' in Igbo.
Malagasymifoha
The name "mifoha" originated centuries before French colonisation, from Arabic sources, meaning "a time, instance."
Nyanja (Chichewa)dzuka
"Dzuka" also means "to open" or "to uncover", referring to the action of opening one's eyes upon waking.
Shonamuka
The Shona word "muka" can also refer to the act of staying awake or keeping watch, as well as the state of being awake or alert.
Somalitoosin
The word "toosin" can also refer to a "funeral rite or ceremony" in Somali.
Sesothotsoha
The word "tsoha" in Sesotho can also refer to a dance or a gathering for a religious ceremony.
Swahiliamka
The word 'amka' may also mean to rise, stand, or start out in Swahili.
Xhosavuka
In Xhosa, 'vuka' also means 'to call forth', 'to conjure' or 'to create'
Yorubaji
In Yoruba, the word 'ji' can also refer to 'arousing', 'waking from sleep', or 'bringing something to life'.
Zuluvuka
"Vuka" also means "arise", "get up", "emerge", and "become visible" in Zulu.
Bambaraka wuli
Ewenyɔ
Kinyarwandakanguka
Lingalakolamuka
Lugandaokuzuukuka
Sepeditsoga
Twi (Akan)nyane

Wake in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicاستيقظ
استيقظ means 'get up early in the morning' and also 'resuscitate'.
Hebrewלְהִתְעוֹרֵר
Its root (עור) can mean 'to uncover' or 'to strip off'.
Pashtoپاڅیدل
The Pashto word "پاڅیدل" can also be used to translate the word "rise," as in "the sun rises in the east.
Arabicاستيقظ
استيقظ means 'get up early in the morning' and also 'resuscitate'.

Wake in Western European Languages

Albanianzgjim
"Zgjim" is a derivative of the Proto-Albanian word "srgj" meaning "to wake up", cognate with Slavic words "zréti" and "zьrěti" meaning "to look" or "to see".
Basqueiratzarri
The word 'iratzarri' comes from the verb 'iratu' ('to bring to life') and the suffix '-zuri' ('-ing'), referring to the process of reviving someone or bringing them back from a state of unconsciousness or death.
Catalandespert
Despert is derived from 'dexpertare', meaning to awaken or rouse from sleep.
Croatianprobuditi
Probuditi is derived from Proto-Slavic and has meanings 'awake' and 'recover'.
Danishvågne
Dutchwakker worden
The verb "wakker worden" derives from the old Dutch "wacker" meaning "watchful, alert".
Englishwake
"Wake" can also mean a vigil held before a funeral, or the track left by a ship in water.
Frenchréveiller
Réveiller can also mean to provoke or arouse, as in “réveiller les soupçons” (to arouse suspicion).
Frisianwake
In Frisian, "wake" can also refer to a funeral vigil or a path cut through the ice.
Galicianespertar
The Galician verb "espertar" also means "to wait" or "to expect" from the Latin "exspectare."
Germanaufwachen
The German word "aufwachen" derives from the Old High German "ufwachan," meaning "to become aware or awake."
Icelandicvakna
The word "vakna" is related to the Swedish word "vakna" which means "to become awake".
Irishdúisigh
Italiansvegliarsi
The Italian word "svegliarsi" comes from the Latin "ex-vigilare," meaning "to be vigilant" or "to keep watch."
Luxembourgisherwächen
The verb "erwächen" also has the figuratively meaning of "to revive", or "to be aware" in Luxembourgish.
Malteseqajjem
The Maltese word "qajjem" is derived from the Arabic word "qayyim," which has multiple meanings including "to keep watch".
Norwegianvåkne
Våken in Norwegian can also mean “staying up late” and is related to the verb “to watch” in English.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)despertar
"Despertar" means "to awaken" in Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, and Galician, and "to open someone's eyes" in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil).
Scots Gaelicdùsgadh
The word "dùsgadh" (wake) in Scots Gaelic is derived from the Proto-Celtic root "*dus-g-o-", meaning "to awake".
Spanishdespertar
The verb "despertar" in Spanish, besides meaning "to wake," also means "to awaken feelings or thoughts".
Swedishvakna
"Vakna" derives from the Proto-Germanic root *wakaną, meaning "to be awake or alert" or "to stir". In German, it became "wachen", in English "to wake", and in Dutch "waken".
Welshdeffro
"Deffro" in Welsh also refers to a morning gathering after a funeral in which the deceased's family and friends share memories and support while consuming food and drink.

Wake in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпрачнуцца
The Belarusian word "прачнуцца" can also mean "to recover one's senses" or "to come to one's senses".
Bosnianprobuditi se
"Probuditi se" also means "to start to live or function" in Bosnian
Bulgarianсъбуждам
The word "събуждам" comes from the Proto-Slavic *sъbǫditi, meaning "to bring to consciousness". Alternative meaning: "to excite".
Czechprobudit
The word "probudit" comes from the Proto-Slavic root *bud-, meaning "to awaken."
Estonianärkama
The word "ärkama" is a derivative of the Proto-Finnic "*ärkä-," and is related to the Finnish word "heräämään" and the Hungarian "ébredek" in terms of their etymological roots and semantic development
Finnishherätä
"Herätä" is also a derivative of the word "herja" (to mock, to insult), which implies that waking someone up can be an act of provocation.
Hungarianébred
Ébred derives from the verb 'aludni' ('to sleep'), and shares its root with the verb 'örülni' ('to rejoice').
Latvianpamodināt
The Latvian word "pamodināt" also means "to alert" or "to warn".
Lithuanianpabusti
The word "pabusti" in Lithuanian can also refer to the act of getting out of bed.
Macedonianбудење
The verb "будење" is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *bъd-, meaning "to be awake" or "to stir".
Polishbudzić
Polish "budzić" comes from a Proto-Slavic root meaning "to stir up" and has the alternate meaning "to rouse" in some Slavic languages.
Romaniantrezi
In Romanian, "trezi" (meaning "wake") can also refer to the process of waking someone up or the state of being awake.
Russianпросыпаться
"Просыпаться" can also be used to describe the start of an event, such as a war or revolution.
Serbianпробудити се
The verb "пробудити" and the noun "буђење" both derive from the Old Church Slavonic word "бъдити" (bъditi).
Slovakzobudiť sa
The Slovak verb "zobudiť sa" derives from the Old Church Slavonic word "zobǫdъ", originally meaning "to sting", and now refers to waking up from sleep.
Slovenianzbudi se
The word "zbudi se" in Slovenian can also mean "to become aware" or "to be born."
Ukrainianпрокинутися
The Ukrainian word "прокинутися" (wake) is derived from the verb "кидати" (to throw), indicating the act of being thrown out of sleep.

Wake in South Asian Languages

Bengaliজাগা
In some Indian contexts, 'jaaga' also refers to a night-long religious festival or prayer service.
Gujaratiજાગવું
In Gujarati, "જાગવું" also means "to stay awake" or "to be vigilant".
Hindiजाग
In Hindi, "जाग" (jāg) not only means "to wake", but also refers to a traditional ritual of singing and dancing performed in remembrance of deceased loved ones.
Kannadaಎಚ್ಚರ
"ಎಚ್ಚರ" can also mean "attention" or "carefulness".
Malayalamഉണരുക
The word "ഉണരുക" in Malayalam also has the connotation of "to awaken" or "to become alert".
Marathiजागे होणे
The word "जागे होणे" (jāge hoṇe) in Marathi can also mean "to be alert" or "to be aware".
Nepaliउठ्नु
Derived from the Sanskrit root 'uttha', also meaning 'to rise or get up'.
Punjabiਜਾਗ
The word "ਜਾਗ" also means "to awake" or "to keep awake" in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අවදි වන්න
Tamilஎழுந்திரு
The Tamil word 'எழுந்திரு' ('wake') shares a root with 'எழு' ('rise'), suggesting a connection between the concepts of being awake and standing up.
Teluguమేల్కొలపండి
The term "మేల్కొలపండి" originates from the Proto-Dravidian root *meːrk-, meaning "to arise" or "to awaken."
Urduجاگو
"贾戈"本意为"唤醒", 引申义为"熬夜"或"彻夜狂欢".

Wake in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)唤醒
"唤醒" 也可表示「呼び覚ます」などの意味を持つ。
Chinese (Traditional)喚醒
"喚醒" is also used to mean "to call someone's name to wake them up" and "to remind someone of something they have forgotten or neglected".
Japaneseウェイク
The word 「ウェイク」 can also mean 「お通夜 (tsuya)」 in Japanese, which refers to the vigil held before a funeral.
Korean일어나 다
Mongolianсэрэх
In Mongolian, "сэрэх" can also refer to the act of waiting for someone or something to arrive or happen.
Myanmar (Burmese)နိုး
The word 'နိုး' can also mean 'to come to consciousness' or 'to become sensible'.

Wake in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbangun
The Indonesian word "bangun" can also mean "to build" or "to form".
Javanesetangi turu
The word "tangi turu" in Javanese is derived from the words "tangi" (to rise) and "turu" (to sleep), which signifies the transition from the state of sleeping to waking, a metaphor for the transition from death to afterlife.
Khmerភ្ញាក់
ភ្ញាក់ can also be used figuratively to refer to a sudden realization or understanding.
Laoຕື່ນ
The Lao word "ຕື່ນ" (tua) has various meanings, including: to excite, to wake up, to become aware, and to feel awake and lively.
Malaybangun
Thaiตื่น
The word "ตื่น" (wake) in Thai can also mean "to be startled" or "to be surprised".
Vietnamesethức dậy
"Thức dậy" (to wake): from "thức" (to be awake) and "dậy" (to rise). Also refers to "coming to awareness" or "awakening" to an idea or concept.
Filipino (Tagalog)gising

Wake in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanioyan
The Azerbaijani word
Kazakhояну
The verb "ояну" also means "to come to one's senses" or "to understand" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzойгон
The Kyrgyz word "ойгон" can also refer to a traditional social gathering where people sing, dance, and tell stories.
Tajikбедор шудан
The verb "бедор шудан" in Tajik can also mean "to rise", "to get up", or "to awaken".
Turkmenoýan
Uzbekuyg'onish
The word "uyg'onish" in Uzbek can also mean "to become conscious" or "to come to one's senses".
Uyghurئويغىن

Wake in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiane ala ʻoe
"E Ala 'oe" can also refer to a state of unconsciousness, or to the act of awakening someone from sleep or unconsciousness.
Maoriara ake
Samoanala mai
The word 'ala mai' can also refer to a gathering to remember the deceased, similar to a 'vigil' or 'shiva'.
Tagalog (Filipino)gisingin mo
The Tagalog word "gisingin mo" can also mean "to awaken" or "to stir up" something.

Wake in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarasartayaña
Guaranipáy

Wake in International Languages

Esperantomaldormo
The word "maldormo" is a compound of the Esperantido prefixes mal- and dormo-. However, the suffix does not carry the same meaning as in other words like "malsana" (sick) or "malriĉa" (poor), because "maldormo" does not refer to a negative state of sleep, but rather to a state of being awake.
Latinsurgere
The Latin word "surgere" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂ers-," meaning "to rise" or "to stand up."

Wake in Others Languages

Greekίχνη
Ίχνη is cognate with English "mark" and can also mean "trace," "footprint," "step," "path," "row," or "rank."
Hmongsawv
The word "sawv" in Hmong also means "to know" or "to understand."
Kurdishhişyarbûn
Hişyarbûn also means awakening, arousing, or stirring (of consciousness, memory, etc.) in Kurdish.
Turkishuyanmak
"Uyanmak' is derived from the Turkish word 'uyan', meaning 'to be awake' or 'to awaken,' and can also refer to the act of waking up from sleep or a state of unconsciousness."
Xhosavuka
In Xhosa, 'vuka' also means 'to call forth', 'to conjure' or 'to create'
Yiddishוועקן
In Yiddish, "וועקן" can also refer to the act of awakening or arousing from sleep.
Zuluvuka
"Vuka" also means "arise", "get up", "emerge", and "become visible" in Zulu.
Assameseজাগ্ৰত
Aymarasartayaña
Bhojpuriजाग जा
Dhivehiހޭލުން
Dogriजागना
Filipino (Tagalog)gising
Guaranipáy
Ilocanoagriing
Kriowek
Kurdish (Sorani)بەئاگا
Maithiliउठलक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯌꯥꯍꯧꯕ
Mizoharh
Oromodammaquu
Odia (Oriya)ଜାଗ୍ରତ ହୁଅ |
Quechuarikchariy
Sanskritउत्थापयति
Tatarуян
Tigrinyaምቕስቃስ
Tsongapfuka

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