Wave in different languages

Wave in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'wave' holds a significant place in our lives, often symbolizing change, motion, and connection. From the majestic ocean waves to the simple gesture of waving hello, this term is a universal language that transcends borders. Its cultural importance is evident in various art forms, literature, and even in science, where waves are fundamental concepts in physics.

Understanding the translation of 'wave' in different languages can provide unique insights into diverse cultures and traditions. For instance, in Spanish, 'wave' is 'ola', while in Japanese, it's 'nami'. In German, it's 'Welle', and in Mandarin, it's '波浪' (bōlàng). These translations not only represent the word but also carry the cultural nuances of the languages they belong to.

Moreover, knowing the translation of 'wave' can be practical in various situations, such as while traveling, studying foreign languages, or communicating with people from different linguistic backgrounds. It's a small step towards cultural understanding and appreciation.

Wave

Wave in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanswaai
The Afrikaans word "waai" also means "to blow" or "to swing".
Amharicማዕበል
The word "ማዕበል" (wave) is thought to have derived from "ማዕመር" meaning "to flow" and "በል" meaning "to spread".
Hausakalaman
The word 'kalaman' can also refer to the 'crest of a wave' or the 'top of the head'.
Igboife
The word "ife" in Igbo can also mean "life" or "existence".
Malagasyahevaheva
Nyanja (Chichewa)yoweyula
Shonawave
The Shona word "wave" also means "water", "sea", or "river".
Somaliruxruxo
The Somali word "ruxruxo" can also refer to a type of dance performed by women during weddings and other celebrations.
Sesothotsokoang
Swahiliwimbi
The word "wimbi" can also be used to refer to a crest of a wave or a ripple in water.
Xhosawave
Some isiXhosa dialects use the word 'wave' to also refer to a 'crest' or 'peak'.
Yorubaigbi
"Igbi" also denotes an unexpected turn of affairs, misfortune or bad luck in Yoruba parlance.
Zuluigagasi
Igagasi in Zulu also refers to a type of small sea fish
Bambarajikuru
Eweƒutsotsoe
Kinyarwandaumuraba
Lingalambonge
Lugandaamayengo
Sepedilephoto
Twi (Akan)him

Wave in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicموجة
The word "موجة" (wave) in Arabic is derived from the root "وج" (to push or move), suggesting its association with the motion of water.
Hebrewגַל
The root of the word גַל ('wave') in Hebrew is גלל ('roll, whirl'), and it is also the root of the word גלגל ('wheel').
Pashtoڅپې
The word "څپې" also means "splash" or "splashing" in Pashto.
Arabicموجة
The word "موجة" (wave) in Arabic is derived from the root "وج" (to push or move), suggesting its association with the motion of water.

Wave in Western European Languages

Albanianvalë
Albanian “valë” is probably borrowed from Latin “volna” or Old Slavic “volna”. As in many Indo-European languages, this word originally referred also to "wool" and is related to the Latin “vellus”.
Basqueolatu
The word "olatu" in Basque derives from the Proto-Basque form *olattu, which may stem from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to push, drive, roll".
Catalanonada
The word "onada" in Catalan also means "a large amount of something that comes suddenly or unexpectedly".
Croatianval
The Croatian word "val" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "vъlna", also meaning "wave."
Danishbølge
The word "bølge" is derived from the Proto-Germanic *bulgijō, meaning "swelling" or "bulge".
Dutchgolf
The Dutch word 'golf' can also refer to a large, long-haired sheepdog, a hairstyle with bangs, or a golf course.
Englishwave
The word 'wave' can also refer to a curl of hair, a ripple in the fabric of spacetime, or a surge in public sentiment.
Frenchvague
The French word "vague" (wave) also means "vague" (imprecise) in English.
Frisianweach
In some regions, "weach" is also used to denote a ripple or a shallow depression on land.
Galicianonda
In Galician, "onda" can also mean "fashion" or "trend".
Germanwelle
In surfing, the word "Welle" used to describe a "tube" or "barrel" ridden by the surfer.
Icelandicveifa
The word "veifa" in Icelandic not only means "wave" but also "weave" or "waft", reflecting its connection to the movement of water or air.
Irishtonn
The Irish word "tonn" is related to the Welsh "ton", meaning "wave", and the Breton "tonn", meaning "barrel" or "tub".
Italianonda
"Onda" in Italian also means "mood" or "vibe," and can refer to a positive or negative state of mind.
Luxembourgishwellen
The Luxembourgish word "wellen" is cognate with the German word "wohlan" and the Old English word "welan", both meaning "well".
Maltesemewġa
The Maltese word "mewġa" is derived from the Italian word "moggia", originally meaning a measure of water or an amount of wheat.
Norwegianbølge
In Old Norse,
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)onda
In Brazilian Portuguese
Scots Gaelictonn
Tonn, a Gaelic wave, originates in the Proto-Indo-European word ten-, which also gave us "thunder," "tension" & "tone."
Spanishola
The word "ola" in Spanish originates from the Arabic word "al-mawj" meaning "water in motion".
Swedishvinka
The word "vinka" also means to wave goodbye in Swedish, as in "vinka av".
Welshton
The Welsh word "ton" can also mean "tune" or "sound", reflecting its association with the rhythmic motion of waves.

Wave in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianхваля
The word "хваля" can also refer to the water body affected by waves, a lake or sea.
Bosniantalasa
The word "talasa" is of Greek origin and is related to the word "thalassa," meaning "sea".
Bulgarianвълна
The word "вълна" can also refer to wool or a type of fabric made from wool.
Czechmávat
The Czech word 'mávat' also means 'to flap'.
Estonianlaine
"Laine" is likely to originate from the Finnish language, where it was used to describe water in general.
Finnishaalto
The word 'aalto' in Finnish is cognate with the Estonian word 'aald' meaning 'undulation' and the Old Prussian word 'alton', meaning 'wave' and is probably also related to the Proto-Germanic word *altjaz, meaning 'wave', and to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂el-, meaning 'to flow'.
Hungarianhullám
"Hullám" not only denotes a wave but can also refer to the hull of a boat or a ripple effect.
Latvianvilnis
The word “vilnis” may have originated from Proto-Baltic, where “wilnis” meant “boiling water”. In Old Prussian, the word was “wilnis” and also meant “wave” and “sea”.
Lithuanianbanga
The term "banga" is also a Lithuanian colloquialism for a strong emotion, particularly one that is sudden and overwhelming.
Macedonianбран
{"text": "The Slavic word "bran" also carries the meaning of "battlefield" or "fight," suggesting its role in tumultuous events."}
Polishfala
In Polish, "fala" also means a musical phrase or a ripple effect.
Romanianval
The Romanian word "val" likely originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *wel-, meaning "to turn" or "to roll".
Russianволна
Besides "wave", "волна" can also mean "hair" or figuratively "a large amount of something" in Russian.
Serbianталас
The Serbian word "талас" also has a alternate meaning: a roll or coil.}
Slovakmávať
The word mávať also has the alternate meaning of 'to gesture' in Slovak.
Slovenianval
The word "val" in Slovenian can also refer to a ripple, a ridge, or a furrow.
Ukrainianхвиля
"Khvilya" also means a riot or popular unrest.

Wave in South Asian Languages

Bengaliwaveেউ
The word "wave" in Bengali, "waveেউ" (pronounced "o-bey"), can also mean "wind" or "current of water".
Gujaratiતરંગ
"તરંગ" is also a term used to refer to a state of mental calmness and tranquility in Gujarati.
Hindiलहर
The word 'लहर' (wave) in Hindi is also used in a figurative sense to refer to a surge or flow of emotion or enthusiasm.
Kannadaಅಲೆ
"ಅಲೆ" in Kannada comes from the Sanskrit word "alam," which also means "boundary" or "edge".
Malayalamതരംഗം
The word
Marathiलाट
The Marathi word "लाट" (wave) is derived from the Sanskrit word "लट" (creeping), which also refers to a woman's long, flowing hair.
Nepaliलहर
The word "लहर" can also mean "rhythm" or "beat" in Nepali music.
Punjabiਲਹਿਰ
ਲਹਿਰ (Laher) can also refer to a wave or motion on the surface of a liquid, like water or oil.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)රැල්ල
In folklore, රැල්ල is also used to refer to the water that carries boats.
Tamilஅலை
The Tamil word 'அலை' ('wave') also refers to a type of traditional dance performed in Tamil Nadu.
Teluguఅల
The Telugu word "అల" can also mean "ripple", "surge", or "undulation".
Urduلہر
The word "لہر" has other meanings in Urdu, including "desire" and "emotion."

Wave in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)波
The original form of "波" was the shape of water ripples; now refers to water, light, and sound
Chinese (Traditional)波
「波」最早指「水波」，引申為「波浪狀的起伏」，後又引申為「波動」、「波紋」等義。
Japanese波
The word "波" also means "ripple" or "undulation" in Japanese.
Korean웨이브
"웨이브" in Korean also means "to wave one's hand" or "to beckon someone"
Mongolianдавалгаа, долгио
The Mongolian word “давалгаа, долгио” is also used to mean “ripple” in water.
Myanmar (Burmese)လှိုင်း

Wave in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiangelombang
"Gelombang" also means "a fluctuation in a medium (especially air, water, or ether)."
Javaneseombak
In Javanese, “ombak” not only refers to ocean waves, but also represents undulating movements, including those of the body.
Khmerរលក
The Khmer word "រលក" can also mean "ripple" or "undulation".
Laoຄື້ນ
The Lao word "ຄື້ນ" can also mean "to shake" or "to move back and forth".
Malaygelombang
"Gelombang" is also used in Malay to mean "wave of emotion" or "wave of change".
Thaiคลื่น
คลื่น derives from Sanskritคล (klan) meaning “sound” and Proto-Austronesian *quluŋ meaning “ripple”.
Vietnameselàn sóng
While "làn sóng" literally translates to "layer of water", it can also refer to a crowd, usually in a derogatory sense.
Filipino (Tagalog)kumaway

Wave in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanidalğa
In Azerbaijani, "dalğa" also has the alternate meaning of "noise, commotion, or fuss".
Kazakhтолқын
The word "толқын" can also refer to a "ripple" or a "surge" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzтолкун
In Kyrgyz, "толкун" can also refer to a type of folk dance or a ripple effect.
Tajikмавҷи
In English, the word wave originates from the Old English word "wæg" and from the Proto-Germanic word "*wēgą," meaning "to move up and down, to sway."
Turkmentolkun
Uzbekto'lqin
Uyghurدولقۇن

Wave in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiannalu
"Nalu" derives from the Proto-Austronesian words "*calu" ("to flow") and "*walu" ("to wave").
Maoringaru
Ngaru is also a type of freshwater mussel, thought to have been named after the sound it makes when opened.
Samoangalu
In Samoan, the word "galu" can also mean "to move in a wave-like motion" or "to undulate".
Tagalog (Filipino)kumaway
Kumaway is a word in Tagalog that means "wave" and is also used as a farewell gesture.

Wave in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarakamisaki
Guaraniypyu'ã

Wave in International Languages

Esperantoondo
Esperanto's "ondo" has separate etymologies for its meanings of "wave" (derived from Latin) and "electricity" (derived from Greek).
Latinfluctus
"Fluctus" can mean "gush of liquid" or "stream".

Wave in Others Languages

Greekκύμα
The word "κύμα" (wave) in Greek also means "a swelling" or "an elevation".
Hmongyoj
The Hmong word "yoj" not only means "wave", but also carries the connotation of ripples or vibrations.
Kurdishpêl
Pêl can also denote 'a mass of something', such as the 'pel' of water
Turkishdalga
The word "dalga" also refers to a ripple effect in liquids and has a figurative meaning of "stir, hype".
Xhosawave
Some isiXhosa dialects use the word 'wave' to also refer to a 'crest' or 'peak'.
Yiddishכוואַליע
The Yiddish word 'khvalie' originated from the German 'welle', meaning 'wave', and shares the same root with the Russian 'volna'.
Zuluigagasi
Igagasi in Zulu also refers to a type of small sea fish
Assameseসোঁত
Aymarakamisaki
Bhojpuriलहर
Dhivehiރާޅު
Dogriलैहर
Filipino (Tagalog)kumaway
Guaraniypyu'ã
Ilocanoalon
Kriowev
Kurdish (Sorani)شەپۆڵ
Maithiliलहर
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯏꯔꯩ
Mizovai
Oromodambalii
Odia (Oriya)ତରଙ୍ଗ
Quechuaola
Sanskritतरंगं
Tatarдулкын
Tigrinyaማዕበል
Tsongagandlati

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