How to say “fish” around the world
5,502 languages · 646 in their own spelling
Dots of one colour begin with a similar sound. Colours group words by the class of their first consonant (a sound-class method used in linguistics): words that begin alike share a colour. This shows resemblance, not common origin — proving relationship needs case-by-case comparison. Readable forms come from Wiktionary translation tables; many smaller languages come from the ASJP word lists, in ASJP’s simplified transcription.
| Language | Word | Romanization | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 鱼 | yú | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | fish | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | pez | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | मछली | machlī | Indo-European |
| Arabic | سَمَكَة | samaka | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | মাছ | mach | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | ikan | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | peixe | Indo-European | |
| French | poisson | Indo-European | |
| Russian | ры́ба | rýba | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 魚 | sakana | Japonic |
| Marathi | मासा | māsā | Indo-European |
| Swahili | samaki | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | balık | Turkic | |
| Telugu | చేప | cēpa | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 鱼 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Korean | 물고기 | mulgogi | Koreanic |
| German | Fisch | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | cá | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | மீன் | mīṉ | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 魚 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Urdu | مَچْھلی | machlī | Indo-European |
| Italian | pesce | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | سمك | samak | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gujarati | માછલી | māchlī | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | مَاهِی | māhī | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 魚 | hî | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hakka Chinese | 魚 | ǹg | Sino-Tibetan |
| Jinyu Chinese | 鱼 | y¹ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hausa | kifi | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kannada | ಮೀನು | mīnu | Dravidian |
| Polish | ryba | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | ẹja | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Xiang Chinese | 鱼 | y² | Sino-Tibetan |
| Malayalam | മീന് | mīṉ | Dravidian |
| Odia | ମୀନ | mina | Indo-European |
| Burmese | ငါး | nga: | Sino-Tibetan |
| Moroccan Arabic | حوت | ḥūt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Igbo | azụ | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Ukrainian | ри́ба | rýba | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | baliq | Turkic | |
| Sindhi | मच्छी | Indo-European | |
| Romanian | pește | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | vis | Indo-European | |
| Gan Chinese | 鱼 | nyie⁴ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Amharic | ዓሣ | ʿaśa | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | ปลา | bplaa | Tai-Kadai |
| Lingala | mbísi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | ри̏ба | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | ត្រី | trəy | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | kaluun | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Turkmen | balyk | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | isda | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | माछा | māchā | Indo-European |
| Assamese | মাছ | mas | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | මාළුවා | māḷuwā | Indo-European |
| Greek | ψάρι | psári | Indo-European |
| Northeastern Thai | ปา | Tai-Kadai | |
| Madurese | jukoʔ | Austronesian | |
| Kurdish | masî | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | سَمَك | samak | Afro-Asiatic |
| Tajik | моҳӣ | mohi | Indo-European |
| Sylheti | ꠝꠣꠍ | masó | Indo-European |
| Kazakh | балық | balıq | Turkic |
| Hungarian | hal | Uralic | |
| Zulu | inhlanzi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | nsomba | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Akan | ɛnam | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | کب | kab | Indo-European |
| Czech | ryba | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | بېلىق | bëliq | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | vis | Indo-European | |
| Min Dong Chinese | 魚 | ngṳ̀ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Haitian | pwason | Indo-European | |
| Kanuri | búnyi | Saharan | |
| Swedish | fisk | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | balıq | Turkic | |
| Iloko | sida | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | ри́ба | ríba | Indo-European |
| Hiligaynon | isda | Austronesian | |
| Belarusian | ры́ба | rýba | Indo-European |
| Tigrinya | ዓሳ | ʿasa | Afro-Asiatic |
| Neapolitan | pesce | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | ماسی | masî | Indo-European |
| Santali | ᱦᱟᱹᱠᱩ | hăku | Austroasiatic |
| Tumbuka | somba | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kikuyu | thamaki | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Northern Thai | ᨸᩖᩣ | Tai-Kadai | |
| Danish | fisk | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | ryba | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sotho | sehlapi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Wolaytta | moliya | Ta-Ne-Omotic | |
| Minangkabau | ikan | Austronesian | |
| Finnish | kala | Uralic | |
| Lao | ປາ | pā | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | fisk | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | балык | balıq | Turkic |
| Buginese | bale | Austronesian | |
| Catalan | peix | Indo-European | |
| Guarani | pira | Tupian | |
| Sicilian | pisci | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | балык | balık | Turkic |
| Tswana | tlhapi | 9 | Atlantic-Congo |
| Riffian | asrem | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Armenian | ձուկ | juk | Indo-European |
| Bambara | jɛgɛ | Mande | |
| Balinese | be | Austronesian | |
| Lithuanian | žuvis | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | pis | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | pess | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | თევზი | tevzi | Kartvelian |
| Goan Konkani | मासोळि | māsoḷi | Indo-European |
| Acehnese | eungkôt | Austronesian | |
| Waray | isda | Austronesian | |
| Albanian | peshk | Indo-European | |
| Luo | rech | Nilotic | |
| Shan | ပႃ | pǎa | Tai-Kadai |
| Mongolian | загас | zagas | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Chadian Arabic | حوت | hūt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bikol | sira | Austronesian | |
| Galician | peixe | Indo-European | |
| Pampanga | asan | Austronesian | |
| Slovenian | riba | Indo-European | |
| Iban | ikan | Austronesian | |
| Bouyei | byal | Tai-Kadai | |
| Esperanto | fiŝo | Artificial Language | |
| Kʼicheʼ | kar | Mayan | |
| Macedonian | риба | riba | Indo-European |
| Sichuan Yi | ꉛ | hxe | Sino-Tibetan |
| Piedmontese | pess | Indo-European | |
| Tulu | ಮೀನ್ | mīnŭ | Dravidian |
| Venetian | pése | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | bya | Tai-Kadai | |
| Rohingya | mas | Indo-European | |
| Sidamo | qilximme | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Afar | kullum | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Makasar | juku' | Austronesian | |
| Latvian | zivs | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | challwa | Quechuan | |
| Scots | fish | Indo-European | |
| Tày | pja | Tai-Kadai | |
| Manipuri | ꯉꯥ | ngā | Sino-Tibetan |
| Chechen | чӏара | čʼara | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Estonian | kala | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | балыҡ | balıq | Turkic |
| Tibetan | ཉ | nya | Sino-Tibetan |
| Muong | cả | Austroasiatic | |
| Maguindanao | seda | Austronesian | |
| Pangasinan | sira | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | pèş | Indo-European | |
| Tausug | ista | Austronesian | |
| Kinaray-a | isda | Austronesian | |
| Garo | natok | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Newari | ङ | ṅa | Sino-Tibetan |
| Central Okinawan | 魚 | iu | Japonic |
| Nuer | rɛc | Nilotic | |
| Ngaju | laok | Austronesian | |
| Kabuverdianu | pexi | Indo-European | |
| Mon | က | Austroasiatic | |
| Western Frisian | fisk | Indo-European | |
| Iu Mien | mbiauz | Hmong-Mien | |
| Nupe-Nupe-Tako | yikan | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kalmyk | заһсн | zağsn | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Maranao | seda' | Austronesian | |
| Avar | ччугӏа | ččuʻa | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | moy | Indo-European | |
| Tai Dam | ꪜꪱ | Tai-Kadai | |
| Basque | arrain | Isolates | |
| Chuvash | пулӑ | pulă | Turkic |
| Welsh | pysgodyn | Indo-European | |
| Yucatec Maya | kay | Mayan | |
| Hlai | hla | Tai-Kadai | |
| Lü | ᦔᦱ | ṗaa | Tai-Kadai |
| Picard | pichon | Indo-European | |
| Tai Nüa | ᥙᥣ | paa | Tai-Kadai |
| Capiznon | isda | Austronesian | |
| Lezghian | балугъ | baluġ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Rusyn | ры́ба | rŷ́ba | Indo-European |
| Morisyen | pwason | Indo-European | |
| Réunion Creole French | poison | Indo-European | |
| Walloon | pexhon | Indo-European | |
| Kara-Kalpak | balıq | Turkic | |
| Classical Syriac | ܢܘܢܐ | nūnā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | ħut | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Crimean Tatar | balıq | Turkic | |
| Occitan | peis | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | maćho | Indo-European | |
| Ligurian | péscio | Indo-European | |
| Mari | кол | kol | Uralic |
| Tetum | ikan | Austronesian | |
| Asturian | pexe | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | балык | balïk | Turkic |
| Chavacano | pescao | Indo-European | |
| Kumyk | балыкъ | balıq | Turkic |
| Limbu | ᤏᤠ᤺ | nā | Sino-Tibetan |
| Samoan | iʔa | Austronesian | |
| Sranan Tongo | fisi | Indo-European | |
| Ibanag | sira | Austronesian | |
| Masbatenyo | isda | Austronesian | |
| Mingrelian | ჩხომი | čxomi | Kartvelian |
| Fijian | ika | Austronesian | |
| Dhivehi | މަސް | mas | Indo-European |
| Ingush | чкъаьра | čqʼära | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Papiamento | piská | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | fiskur | Indo-European | |
| Karachay-Balkar | чабакъ | çabaq | Turkic |
| Naxi | ni | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Friulian | pes | Indo-European | |
| Sumbawa | jangan | Austronesian | |
| Tuvinian | балык | balık | Turkic |
| Khowar | مَڅھی | matshí | Indo-European |
| Saho | caasa | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Udmurt | чорыг | ćoryg | Uralic |
| Ao Naga | ango | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Plautdietsch | Fesch | Indo-European | |
| Nama | ǁaub | Khoe-Kwadi | |
| Dzongkha | ཉ | nya | Sino-Tibetan |
| Zeelandic | vis | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | загаһан | zagahan | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Amis | foting | Austronesian | |
| Māori | ika | Austronesian | |
| West Coast Bajau | diing | Austronesian | |
| Dongxiang | zhagvasun | Mongolic-Khitan | |
| Abkhaz | аԥсыӡ | apsədz | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | ika | Austronesian | |
| Hiri Motu | gwarume | Pidgin | |
| Mískito | inska | Misumalpan | |
| Navajo | łóóʼ | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Komi | чери | ćeri | Uralic |
| Bantoanon | isra | Austronesian | |
| Ma'anyan | kenah | Austronesian | |
| Gagauz | balık | Turkic | |
| Irish | iasc | Indo-European | |
| Cuyonon | isda | Austronesian | |
| Aromanian | pescu | Indo-European | |
| Kashubian | rëba | Indo-European | |
| Breton | pesk | Indo-European | |
| Mwani | inswi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Erzya | кал | kal | Uralic |
| Dagur | jaus | Mongolic-Khitan | |
| Paiwan | ciqav | Austronesian | |
| Tboli | hangus | Austronesian | |
| Nogai | балык | balık | Turkic |
| Seselwa Creole French | pwason | Indo-European | |
| Atayal | qulih | Austronesian | |
| Northern Catanduanes Bicolano | isda | Austronesian | |
| Tabasaran | балугъ | baluġ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Lepcha | ᰅᰫ | ngú | Sino-Tibetan |
| Faroese | fiskur | Indo-European | |
| Tahitian | eiya | Austronesian | |
| Rawang | nga | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Marshallese | ek | Austronesian | |
| Zou | nga | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Scottish Gaelic | iasg | Indo-European | |
| Mansaka | isda | Austronesian | |
| Aguaruna | namak | Chicham | |
| Southern Altai | балык | balïk | Turkic |
| Tiruray | sedo | Austronesian | |
| Sanskrit | मत्स्य | matsya | Indo-European |
| Abaza | пслачва | pslaćʷa | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Khakas | палых | palıx | Turkic |
| Ternate | nyao | North Halmahera | |
| Dungan | йүр | yür | Sino-Tibetan |
| Romansh | pesch | Indo-European | |
| Sandawe | sómbá | Isolates | |
| Motu | gwarume | Austronesian | |
| Bunun | iskaan | Austronesian | |
| Chepang | ङाः | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Karelian | kala | Uralic | |
| Plains Cree | ᑭᓄᓭᐤ | kinosew | Algic |
| Ch'orti' | čay | Mayan | |
| Higaonon | suda | Austronesian | |
| Bau-Jagoi Bidayuh | kien | Austronesian | |
| Pohnpeian | mwahmw | Austronesian | |
| Hawaiian | iʻa | Austronesian | |
| North Saami | guolli | Uralic | |
| Kajtak | бяли́къкъ | bəlíɢɢ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Lamboya | kaboko | Austronesian | |
| Inabaknon | dayiŋ | Austronesian | |
| Taroko | qcurux | Austronesian | |
| Palauan | ngikel | Austronesian | |
| Central Yupik | neqa | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Evenki | олло | ollo | Tungusic |
| Tohono O'odham | watopi | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Svan | ცუზ | cuz | Kartvelian |
| Tabaru | naoko | North Halmahera | |
| Western Apache | łóg | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Upper Sorbian | ryba | Indo-European | |
| Cherokee | ᎠᏣᏗ | atsadi | Iroquoian |
| West Makian | yao | North Halmahera | |
| Yagnobi | моҳӣ | mohi | Indo-European |
| Innu-aimun | namesh | Algic | |
| Rukai | kange | Austronesian | |
| Aguacateco | kay | Mayan | |
| Northern Frisian | fask | Indo-European | |
| Carib | woto | Cariban | |
| Louisiana Creole | pwason | Indo-European | |
| Kalo Finnish Romani | matšo | Indo-European | |
| Xavánte | tepe | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Choctaw | nʋni | Muskogean | |
| Aragonese | peix | Indo-European | |
| Puyuma | kuraw | Austronesian | |
| Huambisa | namak | Chicham | |
| Udi | чаьли | čäli | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Abau | payr | Sepik | |
| Mebengokre | tep | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Mundurukú | ashima | Tupian | |
| Hopi | paakiw | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Lower Sorbian | ryba | Indo-European | |
| Ye'kwana | kana | Cariban | |
| Even | олра̇ | olrȧ | Tungusic |
| Chukchi | ыннээн | ynnėėn | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Rapanui | ika | Austronesian | |
| Dolgan | балык | balık | Turkic |
| Saisiyat | 'aelaw | Austronesian | |
| Pilagá | niyak | Guaicuruan | |
| Wutunhua | xhuiyang | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Yami | among | Austronesian | |
| Koryak | ынныын | ənnəən | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Mohawk | kéntsion | Iroquoian |