Updated on March 6, 2024
A wound is a type of injury that results in an opening or break in the skin. This significant physical damage can vary in severity, from a minor scrape to a life-threatening laceration. The cultural importance of wounds is evident in various historical and literary contexts, where they often symbolize struggle, bravery, and healing. For example, in ancient Greek mythology, the hero Philoctetes received a wound that became a central theme in his story. Understanding the translation of the word 'wound' in different languages can provide insight into how different cultures view and address physical harm.
For instance, in Spanish, a wound is 'una herida,' while in French, it's 'une blessure.' In German, the word for wound is 'eine Wunde,' and in Japanese, it's 'ketcho.' These translations not only help us communicate across languages but also offer a glimpse into the cultural significance of wounds in different societies.
Afrikaans | wond | ||
The Afrikaans word "wond" is a false friend that means "beautiful". | |||
Amharic | ቁስለት | ||
The word 'ቁስለት' can also be used to refer to a sore or an injury | |||
Hausa | rauni | ||
The word "rauni" also means "sore" or "ulcer" in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | ọnya | ||
The Igbo word | |||
Malagasy | ratra | ||
The word "ratra" in Malagasy can also refer to a scar or a physical defect. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | bala | ||
The Chichewa word 'bala' also has the alternate meaning of 'injury' or 'damage'. | |||
Shona | ronda | ||
The word 'ronda' ('wound') also means 'to wander' in Shona. | |||
Somali | nabar | ||
The term 'nabar' is closely linked to the idea of 'to break open' or 'to split apart', and it is often used to describe wounds caused by sharp objects. | |||
Sesotho | leqeba | ||
The word "leqeba" is also used to describe a scar or a physical trace of a past injury. | |||
Swahili | jeraha | ||
"Jeraha" also means "injury" or "harm" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | inxeba | ||
Inxhosa folklore, inxeba is also used as an expression of the pain of being away from home, and is sometimes referred to as 'ukudinwa inxeba'. | |||
Yoruba | egbo | ||
Yoruba word "egbo" also denotes "scar" and "tribal mark," which were traditionally made for identification and beautification. | |||
Zulu | isilonda | ||
The word 'isilonda' has an alternate meaning of 'pain' or 'grief' in Zulu. | |||
Bambara | joli | ||
Ewe | abi | ||
Kinyarwanda | igikomere | ||
Lingala | mpota | ||
Luganda | ekiwundu | ||
Sepedi | sešo | ||
Twi (Akan) | opira kɛseɛ | ||
Arabic | جرح | ||
In Arabic, the word جرح (jarh) also means "insult" or "defamation". | |||
Hebrew | פֶּצַע | ||
The Hebrew word | |||
Pashto | زخم | ||
In addition to its literal meaning, "زخم" can also be used figuratively to refer to emotional pain or trauma. | |||
Arabic | جرح | ||
In Arabic, the word جرح (jarh) also means "insult" or "defamation". |
Albanian | plagë | ||
The word "plagë" in Albanian does not only mean "wound"; it can also mean "affliction", "calamity", or "scourge". | |||
Basque | zauria | ||
Its etymology is uncertain, but it may be related to the Proto-Basque word *sor-i (pain, harm), or to the Semitic word *zawr (wound). | |||
Catalan | ferida | ||
The Catalan word "ferida" also means "hurt" or "injury" in a non-physical sense, and is related to the Latin word "ferire" (to strike or wound). | |||
Croatian | rana | ||
The Croatian word "rana" shares its etymology with the Slavic word for "battle" and has a secondary meaning of "vanquishment". | |||
Danish | sår | ||
Sår, meaning "wound", can also refer to an emotional or mental pain in Danish. | |||
Dutch | wond | ||
In Dutch, | |||
English | wound | ||
The word 'wound' (n.) is derived from the Old English word 'wund,' which means 'a bodily injury or hurt.' | |||
French | blessure | ||
The word "blessure" originally meant "injury" in Old French, but later came to refer specifically to a wound. | |||
Frisian | wûne | ||
The Frisian word "wûne" (wound) is derived from the Proto-Germanic "*wundô" and also means "pain" | |||
Galician | ferida | ||
In Latin 'ferida' can refer to wild animals as well as the wounds they inflict. | |||
German | wunde | ||
The word "Wunde" also refers to "wonder" and "delight" in obsolete German, sharing a common origin with "Wunder". | |||
Icelandic | sár | ||
The Icelandic word "sár" is also used to describe a "pain" or "injury" that is not necessarily physical. | |||
Irish | créacht | ||
The Irish word "créacht" also refers to a type of cattle raid, highlighting the historical significance of cattle rustling in Irish society. | |||
Italian | ferita | ||
The word "ferita" in Italian comes from the Latin word "ferire," which means "to strike" or "to wound." | |||
Luxembourgish | wonn | ||
The word "wonn" in Luxembourgish can also mean "bad mood" and is derived from the Middle High German word "wunden". | |||
Maltese | ferita | ||
"Ferita" in Maltese comes from the Latin "ferita" and also means "hit, stroke" and "fight, quarrel" | |||
Norwegian | sår | ||
It can also have a figurative meaning, such as an unpleasant experience. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | ferida | ||
The Portuguese word "ferida" derives from the Latin "ferita," meaning "a hurt or injury," and is related to the verb "ferire," meaning "to strike" or "to wound." | |||
Scots Gaelic | leòn | ||
In addition to meaning "wound," "leòn" can also mean "a blow" or "something which causes pain." | |||
Spanish | herida | ||
"Herida" also means "crack" or "hole" in geological terms. | |||
Swedish | sår | ||
Swedish "sår" comes from Proto-Norse "sār", meaning "pain, sore, or wound", and is related to English "sore" and German "schwer". | |||
Welsh | clwyf | ||
The word "clwyf" also means "pain" or "sickness" and is related to the word "clwyfo" meaning "to wound" or "to hurt". |
Belarusian | рана | ||
"Рана" восходит к праславянскому *or(ъ)na с тем же значением. | |||
Bosnian | rana | ||
The word 'rana' can also refer to an injury or damage, as in 'rana na koži' (a wound on the skin). | |||
Bulgarian | рана | ||
The word "рана" in Bulgarian is related to the Greek word "τραύμα" (trauma). | |||
Czech | rána | ||
The word "rána" in Czech can also refer to a blow or a shot, and can be used figuratively to describe a psychological blow. | |||
Estonian | haav | ||
The word “haav” also means a deciduous tree, such as aspen and poplar. | |||
Finnish | haava | ||
The word "haava" in Finnish can also refer to a scar or a sore. | |||
Hungarian | seb | ||
The word "seb" in Hungarian can also refer to an imperfection or flaw in a surface. | |||
Latvian | brūce | ||
The word "brūce" in Latvian comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bʰrewdʰ-", meaning "to bubble, ferment, boil" | |||
Lithuanian | žaizda | ||
Its root, *gai̯s-, also gives rise to *žāis- "gaping" and perhaps also to "injury, damage". | |||
Macedonian | рана | ||
The Macedonian word рана (wound) shares its root with the verb ранувам (to injure), suggesting a deep-rooted connection between the two concepts. | |||
Polish | rana | ||
The word 'rana' in Polish has Indo-European roots and is related to the Latin word 'vulnus', meaning 'wound' or 'injury'. | |||
Romanian | răni | ||
The word "răni" comes from the Latin verb "runare", meaning "to fall", and is related to the words "ruin" and "renegade". | |||
Russian | рана | ||
The word "рана" can also refer to a mental injury or an emotional pain in Russian. | |||
Serbian | рана | ||
The word 'рана' in Serbian also has the archaic meaning of a 'war' or 'battle'. | |||
Slovak | rana | ||
The word "rana" can also refer to a scar or injury in Slovak. | |||
Slovenian | rana | ||
The word 'rana' also means 'frog' in Slovenian. | |||
Ukrainian | рана | ||
The word "рана" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Slavic word *rъna, which also meant "punishment" or "harm." |
Bengali | ক্ষত | ||
ক্ষত derives from the Sanskrit क्षत meaning 'hurt', and can also mean 'damage' or 'injury'. | |||
Gujarati | ઘા | ||
The Gujarati word "ઘા" (wound) is also used to denote a musical note. | |||
Hindi | घाव | ||
"घाव" shares a root with the word "घसना" (to rub) and its original meaning was "abrasion". | |||
Kannada | ಗಾಯ | ||
The word "ಗಾಯ" also means "song" in Kannada, as in the phrase "ಗಾಯನ" (singing). | |||
Malayalam | മുറിവ് | ||
The Malayalam word 'മുറിവ്' is derived from the Dravidian root 'muṟ' ('to break') and can also refer to a 'cut' or 'division'. | |||
Marathi | जखमेच्या | ||
"जखमेच्या" can also be used to describe anything painful or uncomfortable | |||
Nepali | घाउ | ||
The word "घाउ" can also refer to a "sore" or "ulcer". | |||
Punjabi | ਜ਼ਖ਼ਮ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | තුවාලය | ||
The term "තුවාලය" is also used in Sinhala to refer to a "hole" or "opening". | |||
Tamil | காயம் | ||
The Tamil word "காயம்" also refers to a type of herbal paste used for medicinal purposes. | |||
Telugu | గాయం | ||
Urdu | زخم | ||
The word 'زخم' (wound) in Urdu is derived from the Persian word 'زحم' and also means 'effort' or 'exertion'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 伤口 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) | 傷口 | ||
The word "傷口" also means "a scar" in Chinese. | |||
Japanese | 創傷 | ||
The word "創傷" (wound) in Japanese is derived from the verb "創る" (to create), suggesting that wounds are not merely physical but also creative forces with the potential for growth and healing. | |||
Korean | 상처 | ||
The word "상처" can also mean "injury" or "damage" in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | шарх | ||
The word "шарх" in Mongolian has alternate meanings such as "damage" and "scratch". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အနာ | ||
Indonesian | luka | ||
The Indonesian word "luka" can also refer to a pockmark, scar, hole or blemish. | |||
Javanese | tatu | ||
In Old Javanese, "tatu" also means "scar"} | |||
Khmer | របួស | ||
The word "របួស" may also refer to a kind of wound that takes a long time to heal or an injury that leaves a permanent scar, a wound, or an injury caused by a sharp object, such as a knife or a broken glass, or a sore or painful area on the skin. | |||
Lao | ບາດແຜ | ||
The word ບາດແຜ is a Lao word for a wound, but it can also refer to an injury or a sore spot on the body. | |||
Malay | luka | ||
The word 'luka' in Malay can also refer to a 'hole' or a 'crack' | |||
Thai | บาดแผล | ||
The word "บาดแผล" can also mean "injury" or "harm". | |||
Vietnamese | chạm đến | ||
It can also be used figuratively, meaning 'to affect' or 'to influence' someone. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sugat | ||
Azerbaijani | yara | ||
Kazakh | жарақат | ||
"Жарақат" (wound) derives from the Turkic root "jar-", meaning "to cut" or "to cleave". | |||
Kyrgyz | жаракат | ||
The word "жаракат" can also mean "scratch" or "mark" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | захм | ||
The word "захм" can also mean "damage, hurt, or trauma." | |||
Turkmen | ýara | ||
Uzbek | yara | ||
The word "yara" can also mean "injury" or "damage" in Uzbek. | |||
Uyghur | جاراھەت | ||
Hawaiian | ʻeha | ||
'Eha' also means 'injury' | |||
Maori | patunga | ||
Patunga derives from the Proto-Polynesian word *punga*, meaning "hole" or "opening". | |||
Samoan | manuʻa | ||
The Proto-Polynesian word *manuʻa also means "to bind, tie up, confine." | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | sugat | ||
The Tagalog word "sugat" can also refer to a battle scar or a tattoo. |
Aymara | usuchjata | ||
Guarani | mba'epore | ||
Esperanto | vundo | ||
The word "vundo" may originally have meant "to bind" rather than "to injure" as it does today. | |||
Latin | vulnere | ||
Greek | πληγή | ||
The Greek word "πληγή" also means "blow" or "stroke". | |||
Hmong | mob | ||
In Hmong, mob also refers to the swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck. | |||
Kurdish | kûl | ||
In Kurdish, "kûl" is also used to mean "to become tired" or "to faint". | |||
Turkish | yara | ||
In Old Turkic, 'yara' could also refer to a scar or a crack in an object. | |||
Xhosa | inxeba | ||
Inxhosa folklore, inxeba is also used as an expression of the pain of being away from home, and is sometimes referred to as 'ukudinwa inxeba'. | |||
Yiddish | ווונד | ||
The Yiddish word "ווונד" can also refer to a defect or flaw in a garment or other object. | |||
Zulu | isilonda | ||
The word 'isilonda' has an alternate meaning of 'pain' or 'grief' in Zulu. | |||
Assamese | ঘাঁ | ||
Aymara | usuchjata | ||
Bhojpuri | घाव | ||
Dhivehi | ހަލާކުވެފައިވާތަން | ||
Dogri | जख्म | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sugat | ||
Guarani | mba'epore | ||
Ilocano | sugat | ||
Krio | wund | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | برین | ||
Maithili | घाव | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯁꯣꯛꯄ | ||
Mizo | hliam | ||
Oromo | madaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | କ୍ଷତ | ||
Quechua | kiri | ||
Sanskrit | क्षत | ||
Tatar | җәрәхәт | ||
Tigrinya | ቁስሊ | ||
Tsonga | xilondzo | ||