Wine in different languages

Wine in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Wine, a fermented drink made from grapes, has been a significant part of human culture for thousands of years. Its significance extends beyond its role as a beverage, with wine often being a symbol of celebration, relaxation, and sophistication. The word 'wine' itself is a testament to the drink's global impact, with translations varying widely across different languages and cultures.

For instance, in Spanish, wine is 'vino', in French it's 'vin', and in German, it's 'Wein'. Each translation not only reflects a linguistic difference but also a cultural one, offering a glimpse into how wine is perceived and enjoyed in different parts of the world.

Understanding the translations of 'wine' in various languages can be a fun and enlightening journey. It can help you appreciate the global diversity of wine culture, and perhaps even inspire you to try new wines and explore new traditions.

So, whether you're a wine enthusiast, a language learner, or simply curious, join us as we explore the translations of 'wine' in different languages.

Wine


Wine in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanswyn
Wyn in Afrikaans derives from the old Dutch word "wijn", with the alternate meaning of "vineyard" or "winery".
Amharicየወይን ጠጅ
The word can also refer to honey wine and is cognate with the Arabic word نَبِيذ (nabīdh), also meaning “wine.”
Hausaruwan inabi
In Hausa, the word 'ruwan inabi' can also refer to a type of traditional alcoholic beverage brewed from palm sap.
Igbommanya
In addition to referring to alcoholic beverages, mmanya also denotes 'strong' or 'powerful' liquids.
Malagasydivay
The word "divay" can also refer to any alcoholic beverage, or even non-alcoholic drinks in some contexts.
Nyanja (Chichewa)vinyo
The etymology of the Nyanja word 'vinyo' is uncertain, but it may be related to the Yao word 'vinyo' meaning 'drink' or 'beer'.
Shonawaini
The Shona word "waini" originated from the Afrikaans word "wyn", which in turn derives from the French "vin", ultimately coming from the Latin "vinum".
Somalikhamri
The word "khamri" means both "wine" and "grapes" in Somali, with the latter usage more common in poetry.
Sesothoveini
The word "veini" also refers to a specific type of traditional beer made from sorghum in Sesotho.
Swahilidivai
The word "divai" in Swahili originates from the Arabic word "dīwān", meaning "a collection of poems."
Xhosaisiselo somdiliya
The Xhosa word 'isiselo somdiliya' translates to 'wine,' but it literally means 'a drink that makes you forget.'
Yorubawaini
Yoruba word 'waini' can also mean 'a drink' or 'a beverage'.
Zuluiwayini
The word 'iwayini' may have originated from the Portuguese word 'vinho', meaning wine.
Bambaradiwɛn
Ewewain
Kinyarwandavino
Lingalavino
Lugandaomwenge
Sepedibeine
Twi (Akan)bobe

Wine in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicنبيذ
The word "نبيذ" (wine) in Arabic is derived from the verb "نَبَذَ" (to cast away, to discard), as wine was often made from discarded grapes.
Hebrewיַיִן
The word "יַיִן" in Hebrew is ultimately derived from the Akkadian word "inu" and the Hittite word "wiyan-", both of which probably referred to beer.
Pashtoدانګورو شراب
The word "دانګورو شراب" in Pashto can also mean "sweet wine" or "grape juice" depending on the context.
Arabicنبيذ
The word "نبيذ" (wine) in Arabic is derived from the verb "نَبَذَ" (to cast away, to discard), as wine was often made from discarded grapes.

Wine in Western European Languages

Albanianverë
The word "verë" can also refer to "summer" or "season" in Albanian due to its shared Proto-Indo-European root *wesr- with the Latin word "ver" (spring).
Basqueardoa
In the Basque language, "ardoa" is thought to be derived from the Latin word "ardere" (to burn), possibly referencing the fermentation process or the burning sensation it induces.
Catalanvi
The word "vi" in Catalan is derived from the Latin word "vinum", which also means "wine" in English.
Croatianvino
Croatian "vino" also means "fault", while its plural "vina" includes meanings such as "guilt" and "charges".
Danishvin
Danish "vin" is cognate with Old English "win" and derives from Proto-Indo-European *wey-no- meaning "to wind."
Dutchwijn
The word
Englishwine
The etymology of the word "wine" goes back to the Greek "oinos" and the Latin "vinum," both of which referenced fermented grape juice.
Frenchdu vin
The term "du vin" can also refer to the grape harvest or to a wine-producing region.
Frisianwyn
The Frisian word "wyn" is derived from the Old English word "wīn", which is itself derived from the Latin word "vīnum". It also has the alternate meaning of "friendship" or "joy".
Galicianviño
"Viño" derives from the Latin "vinum" and also means "intoxication" in Galician.
Germanwein
The German word 'Wein' originates from the Latin 'vīnum', which also refers to grapes specifically intended for winemaking.
Icelandicvín
In Icelandic, "vín" refers not only to wine but also to any type of alcoholic beverage except beer.
Irishfíon
"Fíon" also means "grape" in Irish and is cognate with "vine" in Latin and "oinos" (οἶνος) in Ancient Greek.
Italianvino
In Italian, "vino" can also refer to the grape harvest or the period in which it occurs.
Luxembourgishwäin
Malteseinbid
The word "inbid" might originate from the Arabic "nabīdh", a fermented grape juice, or the Hebrew "yayin", meaning wine.
Norwegianvin
The word "vin" in Norwegian can also refer to a "friend" or a "companion".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)vinho
The word "vinho" comes from the Latin word "vinum", which means "wine".
Scots Gaelicfìon
The word "fìon" in Scots Gaelic is cognate with the Old Irish "fín", likely deriving from a Celtic root "*wīno-" meaning "joy" or "festivity".
Spanishvino
"Vino" can also refer to the act of drinking in general, or to a particular type of distilled liquor (such as grappa).
Swedishvin
Swedish 'vin' also refers to a friend or acquaintance
Welshgwin
Gwin can also mean 'white' or 'fair' in Welsh, and is seen in other Celtic languages such as Irish and Breton.

Wine in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianвіна
Belarusian "віна" (wine) is derived from Proto-Slavic *vino, also meaning "guilt" and "debt", likely due to its role as a blood substitute in ancient rituals.
Bosnianvino
The word "vino" is originally derived from Latin "vinum" and is closely related to the German word "Wein".
Bulgarianвино
In Old Bulgarian the word also meant 'vineyard'.
Czechvíno
The word vino also means "guilt" as it derives from Latin "culpa" referring to the sins in the Bible which were often associated with drinking.
Estonianvein
The word "vein" in Estonian comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*wīnaz", which also meant "loved one" or "friend."
Finnishviiniä
The Finnish word "viiniä" derives from the Proto-Germanic word "wīna", meaning "vine" or "wine".
Hungarianbor
"Bor" is also an archaic Hungarian term for "forest" or "wilderness".
Latvianvīns
"Vīns" is derived from the Old High German word "wīn" and is related to the English word "wine."
Lithuanianvynas
The Lithuanian word "vynas" is thought to derive from the Old Prussian word "wainas" or the Low German word "wien".
Macedonianвино
Macedonian "вино" derives from Proto-Indo-European "*wīno-", a stem for "vine" found in many languages of the Indo-European family.
Polishwino
Polish "wino" derives from Proto-Slavic "vino" but is also colloquial for "alcoholic".
Romanianvin
In Romanian, "vin" comes from the same Proto-Indo-European root as "vine" in English, but also encompasses fermented drinks such as beer and brandy.
Russianвино
"Вино" in Russian comes from the Proto-Slavic "vaino", meaning "water" or "moisture", and is related to the Latin "vinum" and the Greek "οἶνος" (oinos)
Serbianвино
The word "вино" in Serbian originates from the Proto-Slavic word "*vino", which is possibly derived from the Greek word "οἶνος" (oinos).
Slovakvíno
The word "víno" in Slovak may come from the Old Slavonic "venu", meaning "gift of God". It can also refer to grapes and vines.
Slovenianvino
In Slovenian, "vino" also refers to grapes, as in "vino trta" (grapevine).
Ukrainianвино
The word "вино" is derived from Proto-Indo-European "*wey-no-" meaning "to ferment". In Ukrainian, it also refers to a type of alcoholic beverage.}

Wine in South Asian Languages

Bengaliমদ
Gujaratiવાઇન
The Gujarati word "વાઇન" (wine) is derived from the Persian "واین" (vāyn) and ultimately from the Latin "vinum". It can also refer to any alcoholic beverage or a party where alcohol is served.
Hindiवाइन
The word "वाइन" (vaina) in Hindi also refers to a musical instrument played with a bow.
Kannadaವೈನ್
The word "ವೈನ್" in Kannada can also refer to a grapevine, a place where grapevines grow, or a grape itself.
Malayalamവൈൻ
Malayalam 'വൈൻ,' from Middle English, ultimately derives from Latin "vinum" and is also used to denote vinegar.
Marathiवाइन
In Marathi, the word "वाइन" (wine) can also refer to a type of plant or a particular variety of grape.
Nepaliरक्सी
"रक्सी" can also be used to refer to any other alcoholic beverages
Punjabiਸ਼ਰਾਬ
The Punjabi word "ਸ਼ਰਾਬ" (wine) is of Persian origin and also carries the alternate meaning of "alcohol".
Sinhala (Sinhalese)වයින්
The word "වයින්" ("wine") is also used to refer to a type of grapevine or a wine-colored garment.
Tamilமது
The word 'மது' is used to refer to both 'wine' and 'madness' in Tamil.
Teluguవైన్
The Telugu word "వైన్" can also refer to a type of palm tree known as the coconut palm.
Urduشراب
The word "شراب" can also mean "juice" or "intoxicating drink" in Urdu.

Wine in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)葡萄酒
葡萄酒, the Chinese word for wine, is also the name of a legendary medicinal elixir brewed by the Jade Emperor.
Chinese (Traditional)葡萄酒
Japaneseワイン
The Japanese word ワイン (wain) is derived from the Middle Dutch word wiin, which is in turn derived from the Latin word vinum, meaning "wine".
Korean포도주
The word "포도주" (wine) in Korean is derived from the Chinese word "葡萄酒" (literally "grape wine") and was first used in the 16th century.
Mongolianдарс
The Mongolian word "дарс" (wine) is derived from the Persian word "شراب" (sharāb), which also means wine.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဝိုင်
The Burmese word for "wine," ဝိုင်, shares the same etymology as the Chinese word "葡萄酒," which literally means "grape wine."

Wine in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiananggur
Anggur is a loanword from Sanskrit meaning "grape" and has been used to refer to both grapes and wine in Indonesian.
Javaneseanggur
The Javanese word "anggur" is also a general term for all fruit of the vine, as well as a synonym for the betel nut.
Khmerស្រា
"ស្រា" means "wine" in Khmer, but it can also refer to any alcoholic beverage, including beer and liquor.
Laoເຫຼົ້າແວງ
Malayarak
The word
Thaiไวน์
In the past, the Thai word for 'wine' (ไวน์) referred to all alcoholic beverages except beer and Laotian whiskey.
Vietnameserượu
The word "rượu" can also mean "alcohol" in general, including distilled spirits like vodka or whiskey.
Filipino (Tagalog)alak

Wine in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanişərab
The word "şərab" in Azerbaijani is derived from the Persian word "sharāb" and has the alternate meaning of "drink" or "beverage".
Kazakhшарап
Шарап derives from Persian شراب (šarāb), and cognates include Russian вино (víno), Spanish vino, and Latin vinum, all meaning "wine".
Kyrgyzшарап
The Kyrgyz word "шарап" is derived from the Persian word "شراب" (sharāb), meaning "fermented drink".
Tajikвино
In Tajik, "вино" can also refer to "grape juice".
Turkmençakyr
Uzbekvino
The word "vino" may also refer to a type of grape variety called the vino grape.
Uyghurشاراب

Wine in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianwaina
In Hawaiian, “waina” refers to both traditional Hawaiian wine made from fermented sugarcane and the European grape wine introduced by missionaries.
Maoriwāina
The Maori word "waina" is derived from the English word "wine" but also has the secondary meaning of "intoxication".
Samoanuaina
The word "uaina" can also mean "juice" or "beverage" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)alak
Tagalog 'alak', deriving from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian, refers to both wine and other alcoholic drinks.

Wine in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarawinu
Guaranikag̃ui

Wine in International Languages

Esperantovinon
The word "vinon" derives from the French "vin" and the Slavic "vino".
Latinvinum
The Latin word "vinum" also refers to plants that produce wine, like the vine.

Wine in Others Languages

Greekκρασί
"Κρασί" derives from the ancient Greek verb "κεράννυμι," meaning "mix," as wine was often mixed with water.
Hmongcawv txiv hmab
Kurdishşerab
The Kurdish word "şerab" originally referred to a sweet beverage made from fermented grapes, but its meaning has since expanded to include all types of alcoholic drinks.
Turkishşarap
"Şarap" is also used in Turkish to refer to various colorful fabrics, clothes, and decorations, likely due to the vibrant colors often associated with wine.
Xhosaisiselo somdiliya
The Xhosa word 'isiselo somdiliya' translates to 'wine,' but it literally means 'a drink that makes you forget.'
Yiddishווייַן
Yiddish 'ווייַן' is derived from Old High German 'wīn', meaning 'grape juice', and is unrelated to English 'wine'.
Zuluiwayini
The word 'iwayini' may have originated from the Portuguese word 'vinho', meaning wine.
Assameseসুৰা
Aymarawinu
Bhojpuriशराब
Dhivehiރާ
Dogriवाइन
Filipino (Tagalog)alak
Guaranikag̃ui
Ilocanoarak
Kriowayn
Kurdish (Sorani)مەی
Maithiliअंगूर बला दारु
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯌꯨ
Mizouain
Oromodaadhii wayinii
Odia (Oriya)ମଦ
Quechuavino
Sanskritमदिरा
Tatarкызыл аракы
Tigrinyaወይኒ
Tsongavhinyo

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter