Wish in different languages

Wish in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'wish' holds a special place in our hearts and minds, as it allows us to express our deepest desires and hopes. Its cultural importance is evident in various traditions, literature, and media, where it serves as a powerful narrative device that moves stories and captivates audiences. Understanding the translation of 'wish' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the unique ways that diverse cultures conceptualize and articulate their dreams and aspirations.

For instance, the German word for 'wish' is 'Wunsch,' which is derived from an Old High German term meaning 'to long for' or 'to hope.' Meanwhile, the Japanese translation of 'wish' is 'negai,' which carries a sense of earnestness and sincerity. In the Hawaiian language, 'wish' is translated as 'hana hou,' which also means 'do it again,' reflecting the idea that wishes often involve a desire for a positive experience to be repeated.

In this article, we will explore the translations of 'wish' in various languages, shedding light on the fascinating cultural nuances and historical contexts associated with this universal human emotion.

Wish

Wish in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanswens
The Afrikaans word "wens" is cognate with the English word "ween".
Amharicምኞት
"ምኞት" (wish) in Amharic can also refer to "longing" or "aspiration".
Hausafata
The Hausa word "fata" can also mean "fate", "destiny", or "portion".
Igbochọrọ
Chọrọ derives from the verb 'chọta' (want), and is also used to mean 'choose' or 'select'.
Malagasyfaniriana
The word "faniriana" also means "intention" or "purpose" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)ndikukhumba
"Ndikukhumba" is derived from the word "khumba" which means "to lack" or "to need."
Shonachishuwo
The word "chishuwo" also refers to a traditional Shona ceremony where wishes are made through the sacrifice of a goat.
Somalirabi
Somali word "rabi" derives from "rabo" (to hope), and also means "wish" in English, "spekuler" in German, "желание" in Russian, and "deseo" in Spanish.
Sesotholakatsa
The word 'lakatsa' is also used to express 'longing' or 'craving' for something.
Swahilitamani
The Swahili word 'tamani' is linguistically related to the word 'tamanyo', meaning 'size'.
Xhosanqwenela
The word "nqwenela" can also mean "to desire" or "to long for" in Xhosa.
Yorubafẹ
"Fẹ" also means "to be pleased with" or "to agree with".
Zuluufisa
The Zulu word "ufisa" is cognate to the word "fis" in Proto-Bantu, which means "to desire".
Bambarasago
Ewedidi
Kinyarwandaicyifuzo
Lingalakolinga
Lugandasinga
Sepediduma
Twi (Akan)pɛ

Wish in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicرغبة
"رغبة" also means "lust" in Arabic.
Hebrewבַּקָשָׁה
In the 1st book of Samuel, בַּקָשָׁה refers to a gift (1 Samuel 2:18).
Pashtoخواهش
The Pashto word for "wish", "خواهش", which is of Persian origin, also has its root in several Sanskrit words for "to ask".
Arabicرغبة
"رغبة" also means "lust" in Arabic.

Wish in Western European Languages

Albanianuroj
The Albanian word "uroj" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wer-, meaning "to ask" or "to desire."
Basquenahia
The word "nahia" in Basque is also used as a greeting, similar to "hello" or "goodbye."
Catalandesitjar
The verb "desitjar" comes from the Latin "desiderare", which also means "to regret".
Croatianželja
The Croatian word
Danishønske
Ønske', in addition to meaning 'wish', can also mean 'request' or 'desire', and is related to the Old Norse word 'ønskr', meaning 'a wish'.
Dutchwens
In Dutch dialects, "wens" also refers to "eyelid" (like German "Wimper").
Englishwish
In Old English, 'wish' meant 'to point out' or 'to show'.
Frenchsouhait
The French word "souhait" is derived from the Latin "sollicitare", meaning "to entreat" or "to beg".
Frisianwinsk
The Frisian word "winsk" also refers to a desire, need, or request.
Galiciandesexo
Galician "desexo" shares its root with "desire" and "desiderata".
Germanwunsch
The German word 'Wunsch,' 'wish' in English, stems from an Old German word meaning 'want'
Icelandicósk
The word 'ósk' in Icelandic also means 'request', 'desire', or 'craving'.
Irishmian
The Irish word 'mian' originates from the Proto-Indo-European word 'men-', meaning 'to think'.
Italiandesiderio
The Italian word "desiderio" can also refer to the object of one's desire or a state of longing.
Luxembourgishwënschen
The Luxembourgish word "wënschen" is derived from the German word "wünschen" and has the same meaning in both languages.
Maltesexewqa
Norwegianskulle ønske
'Skulle ønske' is also the imperfect subjunctive form of 'å ville' (want).
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)desejo
The word "desejo" in Portuguese comes from the Latin "desiderium", meaning "longing" or "desire".
Scots Gaelicmiann
'Miann' can also mean an object of desire, such as food.
Spanishdeseo
Swedishönskar
The word 'önskar' also has the meaning 'to desire' and is derived from the Old Norse word 'ønskja' meaning 'to expect'.
Welshdymuniad
The Old Welsh 'dymun' meant 'to be human or alive', hence 'dymuniad' ('wish') meant an 'aspiration to be'.

Wish in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianпажаданне
Bosnianželja
The word
Bulgarianпожелание
The word "пожелание" also means "greeting" or "congratulation" in Bulgarian.
Czechpřát si
The word "přát si" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*prositi" meaning "to ask for".
Estoniansoov
The Estonian word "soov" (wish) originated from its original Indo-European root of "swep" meaning "to sweep," as in sweep away or sweep out of the way.
Finnishtoive
Finnish "toive" (wish) is cognate with English "hope" and Greek "theos" (god).
Hungarianszeretnék
"Szeretnék" is the conditional form of "szeretni," meaning "to love," and can also mean "would like" or "want to."
Latvianvēlēšanās
The word vēlēšanās derives from the verb veltīt meaning "to devote" and shares a root with the noun velte meaning "present; gift".
Lithuaniannoras
The word "noras" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *wer-, meaning "to desire".
Macedonianжелба
The word "желба" in Macedonian is derived from the Proto-Slavic *želb- and is related to the words "жeлать" and "жeлание" (wish, desire).
Polishżyczenie
"Życzenie" also means "a curse" in Polish, as the etymology of the word comes from "zygać". This word meant "to vomit" or "to curse" in Old Slavic.
Romaniandori
The word "dori" has cognates in various languages, such as "durere" (pain) in French and "dolor" (pain) in Latin.
Russianжелаю
Cognate with "желать" ("desire"), "жаловать" ("bestow, favour"), and "жаль" ("pity, regret"), from Proto-Slavic *želati, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰel-.
Serbianжелети
The root of the word "желети" ("wish") in Serbian is "želja," which means "desire" or "aspiration."
Slovakželanie
The Slovak word "želanie" can also mean "desire" or "craving" and is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *želěti* meaning "to want".
Slovenianželja
"Želja" can also mean "thirst" in Slovenian.
Ukrainianпобажання
The Ukrainian word "побажання" is derived from the older word "бажати" (to desire), which is cognate with the Russian word "желать" (to wish) and the Polish word "życzyć" (to wish).

Wish in South Asian Languages

Bengaliইচ্ছা
The word 'ইচ্ছা' derives from Sanskrit 'iccha' meaning 'will' and may also mean a 'desire'.
Gujaratiઇચ્છા
The Gujarati word "ઇચ્છા" has various meanings, including "desire," "intention," and "determination."
Hindiतमन्ना
"तमान्ना" शब्द हिंदी में फारसी के 'تمنا' से आया है जिसका अर्थ 'इच्छा' या 'आशा' होता है।
Kannadaಹಾರೈಕೆ
ಹಾರೈಕೆ (wish) is a borrowing from the Sanskrit word "harati" which also means "wish".
Malayalamആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു
Marathiइच्छा
The Marathi word 'इच्छा' ('wish') stems from the Sanskrit word 'इच्छति' ('to desire'), which also implies longing, craving, or a strong want.
Nepaliइच्छा
The Nepali word "इच्छा" is derived from the Sanskrit word "इच्छ" meaning "desire, wish, or intention."
Punjabiਇੱਛਾ
The Punjabi word 'ਇੱਛਾ' (wish) originates from Sanskrit and means 'desire', 'longing', or 'yearning'.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ප්‍රාර්ථනා කරන්න
Tamilவிரும்பும்
"விரும்பும்" not only means "to wish" in Tamil, but also "to like" or "to desire".
Teluguకోరిక
The Telugu word "కోరిక" can also mean "desire", "longing", or "appetite".
Urduخواہش
"خواہش" may also mean "desire", "inclination", "hankering", or "craving" in Urdu.

Wish in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)希望
In Chinese, '希望' not only refers to 'wish', but also means 'hope' and 'expectation'.
Chinese (Traditional)希望
『希望』的甲骨文描繪一把插入土地中的農具，象徵播種後冀盼豐收的意象。
Japanese願い
The verb root of 願い (negai) is
Korean소원
The word '소원' ('wish') in Korean is also used to refer to a Buddhist vow or aspiration.
Mongolianхүсэх
"Хүсэх" may also refer to craving, longing, or even to a religious vow.
Myanmar (Burmese)စေတနာ
The Pali word "cetanā" originally means will, intention, or purpose, and "စေတနာ" (ce‧ta‧na) originated from this Pali root.

Wish in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianingin
The Indonesian word for 'wish' ('ingin') derives from its Proto-Austronesian form *ŋi?an, the same root that yielded the Polynesian word 'hia' (desire).
Javanesekekarepan
The Javanese term 'kekarepan' can also mean 'determination', 'intention', or the 'act of wishing'.
Khmerជូនពរ
Khmer "ជូនពរ" (juun pɔɔr) comes from Sanskrit "vara" (a boon, a favor), and also means "to grant a boon or favor".
Laoປາດຖະ ໜາ
Malayhajat
The word "hajat" in Malay has alternative meanings such as "defecation" and "need".
Thaiประสงค์
The Thai word "ประสงค์" derives from the Sanskrit word "prāsangika", meaning "essential" or "important."
Vietnamesemuốn
Muốn in Vietnamese is related to 'mong muốn' (desire), but it can also imply 'necessity' or 'obligation'.
Filipino (Tagalog)hiling

Wish in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniarzu edirəm
Kazakhтілек
The Kazakh word тілек can also refer to the act of asking for something or the thing that is wished for, similar to its English cognate.
Kyrgyzкаалоо
"Каалоо" can also mean longing or yearning for someone or something.
Tajikорзу
The word "орзу" (wish) is derived from the Proto-Iranian word *arzi- and is related to the Avestan word "ārz" (desire).
Turkmenarzuw edýärin
Uzbektilak
In Uzbek, "tilak" also means "a small dot" or "a mark on the forehead"
Uyghurئارزۇ

Wish in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmakemake
Maorihiahia
In Maori, “hiahia” not only means “wish” but also refers to a need or desire that is not easily expressed.
Samoanmoomoo
In Samoan culture, "moomoo" is also a term for a traditional fine mat, often used in ceremonies and as a symbol of respect and wealth.
Tagalog (Filipino)hiling
The word "hiling" is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *quliŋ, meaning "to desire" or "to wish for".

Wish in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaramunaña
Guaranipotapy

Wish in International Languages

Esperantodeziro
The word "deziro" was coined by Esperanto's creator, L.L. Zamenhof, from the Latin word "desiderium".
Latinvotum
The Latin word votum (wish) is related to the English word "devotion", which originally meant "a vow", and the verb "vote", which derives from the same root meaning "to promise".

Wish in Others Languages

Greekεπιθυμία
Hmongxav tau
Kurdishxwestek
The word "xwestek" has multiple meanings, including "desire", "want", and "longing".
Turkishdilek
Dilek is also the name of a popular Turkish female name, meaning "prayer" or "petition".
Xhosanqwenela
The word "nqwenela" can also mean "to desire" or "to long for" in Xhosa.
Yiddishווינטשן
The Yiddish word "ווינטשן" (vintshn) originated from the Old High German word "wunsch", which means "desire" or "longing".
Zuluufisa
The Zulu word "ufisa" is cognate to the word "fis" in Proto-Bantu, which means "to desire".
Assameseবাঞ্চা কৰা
Aymaramunaña
Bhojpuriचाह
Dhivehiއުންމީދު
Dogriकामना
Filipino (Tagalog)hiling
Guaranipotapy
Ilocanopanggepen
Kriowant
Kurdish (Sorani)خواست
Maithiliइच्छा
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯄꯥꯝꯕ
Mizoduhsak
Oromohawwii
Odia (Oriya)ଇଚ୍ଛା
Quechuamunay
Sanskritइच्छा
Tatarтеләк
Tigrinyaትምኒት
Tsongatsakela

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