Wooden in different languages

Wooden in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

Wooden objects have been an essential part of human life since the dawn of civilization. The material's versatility, durability, and natural beauty have made it a popular choice for tools, furniture, and artwork. Moreover, wood has significant cultural importance, symbolizing strength, warmth, and sustainability in various traditions.

Given the global prevalence of wooden artifacts, knowing the translation of 'wooden' in different languages can be fascinating and practical. For instance, in Spanish, 'wooden' is 'de madera,' while in French, it's 'en bois.' In German, 'wooden' translates to 'aus Holz,' and in Japanese, it's '木の.'

Did you know that the world's oldest wooden object, a carved wooden statue from Germany, is over 11,000 years old? Or that the Japanese art of wood joinery, without nails, is a marvel of craftsmanship? Exploring the word 'wooden' in various languages opens up a world of cultural richness and historical significance.

Wooden


Wooden in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanshout
The word "hout" (wooden) in Afrikaans can also refer to trees, wood, timber, or a type of Dutch ship.
Amharicእንጨት
The word እንጨት can also refer to a particular type of tree or wood known as the "cordia africana" tree or its wood.
Hausakatako
The word "katako" also means "stubborn" in Hausa.
Igboosisi
The word "osisi" can also refer to a wooden bed frame or a wooden plank used for building.
Malagasyhazo
The word "hazo" also means "tree" in Malagasy, as trees are typically made of wood.
Nyanja (Chichewa)matabwa
The word 'matabwa' is also used to describe things made of other materials that resemble wood, such as plastic or metal.
Shonamatanda
The word "matanda" also means "old" or "ancient" in Shona.
Somalialwaax
While the word "alwaax" primarily means "wooden" in Somali, it can also refer to any type of tree or wood.
Sesotholehong
Lehōng is derived from the Proto-Bantu root *lenge, meaning "tree" or "wood."
Swahilimbao
Mbao can also mean 'tree' or 'timber' in Swahili.
Xhosangomthi
The word "ngomthi" originally referred to a large wooden shield used in battle.
Yorubaonigi
"O ni gidi" also means "it is a lie" in Yoruba.
Zulungokhuni
The word 'ngokhuni' in Zulu can also mean 'without hesitation' or 'determinedly'.
Bambarajiriw ye
Eweatiwo ƒe ƒuƒoƒo
Kinyarwandaibiti
Lingalaya mabaya
Lugandaeby’embaawo
Sepediya kota
Twi (Akan)nnua a wɔde yɛ

Wooden in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicخشبي
The word "خشبي" can also refer to a person who is clumsy or awkward.
Hebrewמעץ
The word "מעץ" can also refer to "from a tree" or "from the wood".
Pashtoلرګي
لرګي can also mean 'a stick' or 'a piece of wood'.
Arabicخشبي
The word "خشبي" can also refer to a person who is clumsy or awkward.

Wooden in Western European Languages

Albaniandruri
The word "druri" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*dreu-", meaning "tree", and is related to the Latin "robur" (oak), Irish "drui" (oak tree), and Welsh "derw" (oak).
Basquezurezkoa
Zurezkoa is also used as a synonym of "useless" or "worthless", as in "zurezko gauzak" (useless things).
Catalande fusta
The Catalan word "de fusta" also means "pretending" or "play-acting", perhaps originating from the use of wooden props on stage.
Croatiandrveni
The word 'drveni' in Croatian can also refer to a musical instrument made of wood, such as a xylophone or a dulcimer.
Danishtræ-
The word træ- (wooden) in Danish is also used to mean 'difficult' or 'slow-moving'.
Dutchhouten
Houten, a Dutch place name and surname, also means "secret" or "hidden".
Englishwooden
The word "wooden" can also mean "dull" or "lacking vitality".
Frenchen bois
En bois is a term used in the arts to describe a style characterized by the use of wood, particularly in sculpture or furniture.
Frisianhouten
"Houten" (wooden) can also mean 'hollow' or 'deaf', e.g. "Hy is d'r net mear by, hy is houten" (he's no longer there, he's deaf).
Galiciande madeira
The Galician phrase de madeira (wooden) derives from medieval Latin "de materia" (of timber) and has the colloquial meaning "not very bright; dimwitted."
Germanhölzern
In German, the word "hölzern" can also mean "awkward" or "mechanical."
Icelandictré
"Tré" can also mean "tree" or "wood" in Icelandic, reflecting its roots in the Old Norse word "tré".
Irishadhmaid
"Adhmaid" also refers to "timbers" as part of a building structure.
Italiandi legno
Di legno, besides indicating something made of wood, can also mean something stiff or clumsy.
Luxembourgishhëlzent
The word "hëlzent" shares the same root with "Holz", the German word for "wood/timber".
Malteseinjam
In the Maltese language, the word "injam" can also mean "material" or "substance" in a general sense.
Norwegiantre
In some areas in Vestland, "tre" can also refers to a barn.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)de madeira
"De madeira" can also mean "from outside" or "non-indigenous" when referring to a person or thing, although this usage is more common in Brazil than in Portugal.
Scots Gaelicfiodha
In Irish, 'fiodha' also means 'growth' or 'increase'.
Spanishde madera
The term "de madera" can be used to describe something that is rigid or inflexible in addition to referring to something made of wood.
Swedishträ-
The word "trä-" can also refer to trees or wood in the sense of a forest material.
Welshpren
"Pren" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *pr̥h₂, meaning "to cut" or "to carve."

Wooden in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдраўляныя
The Belarusian word "драўляныя" is cognate with the Russian word "деревянный" and the Polish word "drewniany", all of which derive from the Proto-Slavic word *dьrьvьnъ, meaning "wooden".
Bosniandrveni
The Slavic word “drveni” can be derived from the adjective “dreven” (
Bulgarianдървени
The word "дървени" in Bulgarian can also refer to objects made of wood, such as furniture or toys.
Czechdřevěný
Estonianpuust
Finnishpuinen
In Finnish, the word "puinen" also has an idiomatic meaning, referring to something that is very simple, basic, or unadorned.
Hungarianfa
The word "fa" also denotes a
Latviankoka
In some dialects, the word "koka" can also refer to a "wooden cup" or a "trough for feeding animals."
Lithuanianmedinis
"Medinis" is also an archaic term for "clay", and is related to the word "mėdis" meaning "tree".
Macedonianдрвено
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Polishz drewna
"Z drewna" can also refer to wooden objects, forests, or the wood industry.
Romaniande lemn
»De lemn« (»wooden«) also means »of a person who is inflexible or has a wooden expression«.
Russianдеревянный
The word "деревянный" also carries connotations of being clumsy, slow, or old-fashioned in Russian.
Serbianдрвени
The word дрвени can also refer to a type of folk dance popular in Serbia.
Slovakdrevený
Slovenianlesena
The word lesena in Slovenian can also refer to a type of wooden architectural element that projects from a wall.
Ukrainianдерев'яні

Wooden in South Asian Languages

Bengaliকাঠের
"কাঠের" also means something clumsy or dull-witted or a wooden doll
Gujaratiલાકડાની
In Gujarati, "ลาકડાની" (lakadani) can also refer to a large wooden beam or a wooden plank.
Hindiलकड़ी का
The Hindi word 'लकड़ी का' can also refer to something that is clumsy or foolish.
Kannadaಮರದ
The Kannada word 'ಮರದ' not only means 'wooden' but it also refers to 'made of wood' or 'constructed of wood'.
Malayalamതടി
Marathiलाकडी
The word 'लाकडी' can also refer to a doll or puppet in Marathi, often used in traditional dance and theatre performances.
Nepaliकाठ
"काठ" refers to both "wood" and "hardness" in Nepali, implying its intrinsic resilience.
Punjabiਲੱਕੜ
The word "ਲੱਕੜ" can also refer to a type of tree or firewood in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ලී
The word "ලී" in Sinhalese can also refer to the wood of a tree, or to a wooden object.
Tamilமர
In Tamil, 'மர' is used to describe a type of tree known as a 'maram', which is characterized by its medicinal properties.
Teluguచెక్క
The word "చెక్క" ("wooden") in Telugu can also refer to a type of wood used in construction, or to the act of carving or engraving.
Urduلکڑی
The word "لکڑی" also refers to "timber" and "wood" in Urdu.

Wooden in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The Chinese character for wood (木) also means tree, and is used as the radical of many characters related to plants or wood.
Chinese (Traditional)
The character "木" (mù) can also mean "tree" or "wood" in Chinese.
Japanese木製
木製 also means “made of wood”.
Korean활기 없는
The word "활기 없는" (wooden) in Korean can also mean "dull" or "lacking vitality."
Mongolianмодон
The word "модон" can also mean "tree" or "wood" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)သစ်သား

Wooden in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankayu
The word "kayu" also means "tree" or "wood" in Indonesian.
Javanesekayu
In Javanese, "kayu" also has connotations of strength, resilience, and wisdom.
Khmerឈើ
The Khmer word "ឈើ" ("wooden") derives from the Proto-Austroasiatic word */ʈɔːŋ/ meaning "tree". In Lao, this word is still used to mean "tree" and "wood".
Laoໄມ້
Malaykayu
"Kayu" can refer to both the material wood and a tree.
Thaiไม้
The word "ไม้" can also mean "trees" or "wood" in Thai.
Vietnamesebằng gỗ
In Vietnamese, the word "bằng gỗ" can also be used figuratively to describe something that is inflexible or rigid.
Filipino (Tagalog)kahoy

Wooden in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanitaxta
"Taxta" means both "wooden" and "board, plank" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhағаш
"Ағаш" in Kazakh has its origins in the Proto-Turkic word *ağač "tree," and also has the meaning of "forest".
Kyrgyzжыгач
The Turkic word
Tajikчӯбӣ
The word "чӯбӣ" may also mean "uneducated" or "illiterate" in Tajik.
Turkmenagaç
Uzbekyog'och
Uyghurياغاچ

Wooden in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianlāʻau
In Hawaiian, "lāʻau" may refer to "wood" as a material, a "stick", or a "plant" used for medicinal purposes.
Maorirakau
The word "rakau" in Maori can also refer to a weapon or a tool made of wood.
Samoanlaupapa
Laupapa is also used to describe something tough, strong or firm, or a person who is strong and has a good character.
Tagalog (Filipino)kahoy
The word "kahoy" is also used to refer to a boat or ship, which is also made of wood, and the phrase "puno ng kahoy" means "a lot of wood".

Wooden in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaralawanaka
Guaraniyvyra rehegua

Wooden in International Languages

Esperantoligna
"Ligna" also means "the material from which something is made."
Latinligneus
The word 'ligneus' also means 'made of flax' in Latin.

Wooden in Others Languages

Greekξύλινος
Hmongntoo
"Ntoo" is also a measure word for the quantity or amount of cloth or other soft materials in Hmong.
Kurdishtextîn
"Textîn" can also mean "made of wood", "wood", or "tree trunk" in Kurdish.
Turkishahşap
The word 'ahşap' also refers to a wooden frame used to hold a window or door in place.
Xhosangomthi
The word "ngomthi" originally referred to a large wooden shield used in battle.
Yiddishווודאַן
"ווודאַן" (wooden) can sometimes mean "crazy" when used in a humorous Yiddish expression.
Zulungokhuni
The word 'ngokhuni' in Zulu can also mean 'without hesitation' or 'determinedly'.
Assameseকাঠৰ
Aymaralawanaka
Bhojpuriलकड़ी के बा
Dhivehiލަކުޑިން ހަދާފައި ހުރެއެވެ
Dogriलकड़ी दा
Filipino (Tagalog)kahoy
Guaraniyvyra rehegua
Ilocanokayo a kayo
Kriowe dɛn mek wit wud
Kurdish (Sorani)دار
Maithiliलकड़ीक
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯎꯒꯤ꯫
Mizothinga siam
Oromomuka irraa kan hojjetame
Odia (Oriya)କାଠ
Quechuak’aspimanta ruwasqa
Sanskritकाष्ठा
Tatarагач
Tigrinyaዕንጨይቲ
Tsongaya mapulanga

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