How to say “hand” around the world
5,294 languages · 395 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 | 手 | shǒu | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | hand | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | mano | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | हाथ | hāth | Indo-European |
| Arabic | يَد | yad | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | হাত | hat | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | tangan | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | mão | Indo-European | |
| French | main | Indo-European | |
| Russian | рука́ | ruká | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 手 | te | Japonic |
| Marathi | हात | hāt | Indo-European |
| Swahili | mkono | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | el | Turkic | |
| Telugu | చెయ్యి | ceyyi | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 手 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Korean | 손 | son | Koreanic |
| German | Hand | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | tay | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | கை | kai | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 手 | sau² | Sino-Tibetan |
| Urdu | ہاتھ | hāth | Indo-European |
| Italian | mano | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | إيد | īd | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gujarati | હાથ | hāth | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | دَسْت | dast | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 手 | chhiú | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hakka Chinese | 手 | sú | Sino-Tibetan |
| Levantine Arabic | إيد | īd | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hausa | hannū | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kannada | ಕೈ | kai | Dravidian |
| Polish | ręka | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | ọwọ́ | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Malayalam | കൈ | kai | Dravidian |
| Odia | ହାତ | hāta | Indo-European |
| Burmese | လက် | lak | Sino-Tibetan |
| Moroccan Arabic | إيد | īd | Afro-Asiatic |
| Igbo | áká | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Ukrainian | рука́ | ruká | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | qoʻl | Turkic | |
| Sindhi | ھَٿُ | hathu | Indo-European |
| Romanian | mână | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | hand | Indo-European | |
| Amharic | እጅ | ʾəǧ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | มือ | mʉʉ | Tai-Kadai |
| Lingala | likanza | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | ша̏ка | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | ដៃ | day | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | gacan | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Cebuano | kamot | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | हात | hāt | Indo-European |
| Assamese | হাত | hat | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | අත | ata | Indo-European |
| Greek | χέρι | chéri | Indo-European |
| Kurdish | dest | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | يد | yadd | Afro-Asiatic |
| Tajik | даст | dast | Indo-European |
| Sylheti | ꠀꠔ | át | Indo-European |
| Kazakh | қол | qol | Turkic |
| Hungarian | kéz | Uralic | |
| Kinyarwanda | ikiganza | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Zulu | isandla | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | dzanja | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Akan | nsa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | لاس | lās | Indo-European |
| Czech | ruka | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | قول | qol | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | hand | Indo-European | |
| Min Dong Chinese | 手 | chiū | Sino-Tibetan |
| Haitian | men | Indo-European | |
| Kanuri | múskò | Saharan | |
| Swedish | hand | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | əl | Turkic | |
| Iloko | ima | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | ръка́ | răká | Indo-European |
| Hiligaynon | lima | Austronesian | |
| Xhosa | isandla | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tachelhit | afus | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Belarusian | рука́ | ruká | Indo-European |
| Tigrinya | ኢድ | ʾid | Afro-Asiatic |
| Central Kurdish | دەست | dest | Indo-European |
| Santali | ᱛᱤ | ti | Austroasiatic |
| Tumbuka | woko | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kashmiri | اَتھٕ | athụ | Indo-European |
| Kikuyu | guoko | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Danish | hånd | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | ruka | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sotho | letsoho | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Wolaytta | kushiya | Ta-Ne-Omotic | |
| Kabyle | afus | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Minangkabau | tangan | Austronesian | |
| Finnish | käsi | Uralic | |
| Lao | ມື | mư̄ | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | hand | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | кул | qul | Turkic |
| Catalan | mà | Indo-European | |
| Guarani | po | Tupian | |
| Sicilian | manu | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | кол | kol | Turkic |
| Riffian | afus | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Armenian | ձեռք | jeṙkʻ | Indo-European |
| Ganda | omukono | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Lithuanian | ranka | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | han | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | man | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | ხელი | xeli | Kartvelian |
| Goan Konkani | हाथु | hāthu | Indo-European |
| Acehnese | jaroe | Austronesian | |
| Waray | ka-mot | Austronesian | |
| Albanian | dorë | Indo-European | |
| Ewe | asi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Shan | မိုဝ်း | múe | Tai-Kadai |
| Mongolian | гар | gar | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Galician | man | Indo-European | |
| Pampanga | kamau | Austronesian | |
| Slovenian | roka | Indo-European | |
| Iban | tangan | Austronesian | |
| Esperanto | mano | Artificial Language | |
| Macedonian | рака | raka | Indo-European |
| Sichuan Yi | ꇇ | lot | Sino-Tibetan |
| Piedmontese | man | Indo-European | |
| Venetian | man | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | mwz | Tai-Kadai | |
| Rohingya | hát | Indo-European | |
| Sidamo | anga | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Afar | gaba | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Latvian | roka | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | maki | Quechuan | |
| Scots | haund | Indo-European | |
| Chechen | ка | ka | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Mandinka | buloo | Mande | |
| Tonga (Zambia) | ijanza | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Estonian | käsi | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | ҡул | qul | Turkic |
| Tibetan | ལག | lag | Sino-Tibetan |
| Beja | áyi | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Muong | thay | Austroasiatic | |
| Maguindanao | lima | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | mân | Indo-European | |
| Tausug | lima | Austronesian | |
| Kinaray-a | alima | Austronesian | |
| Bakhtiari | دست | dast | Indo-European |
| Kabiyé | nandaka | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Newari | ल्हा: | lhā: | Sino-Tibetan |
| Central Okinawan | でぃ | dei | Japonic |
| Nuer | pätet | Nilotic | |
| Kabuverdianu | mon | Indo-European | |
| Khasi | kti | Austroasiatic | |
| Mon | တဲ | Austroasiatic | |
| Western Frisian | hân | Indo-European | |
| Iu Mien | buoz | Hmong-Mien | |
| Tigre | እዴ | ʾəde | Afro-Asiatic |
| Kalmyk | һар | ğar | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Maranao | lima | Austronesian | |
| Avar | квер | kʷer | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | dast | Indo-European | |
| Basque | esku | Isolates | |
| Chuvash | алӑ | ală | Turkic |
| Welsh | llaw | Indo-European | |
| Yucatec Maya | kʼab | Mayan | |
| Kok Borok | yak | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Lü | ᦙᦹ | mue | Tai-Kadai |
| Lezghian | гъил | ġil | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Morisyen | lame | Indo-European | |
| Réunion Creole French | min | Indo-European | |
| Walloon | mwin | Indo-European | |
| Adyghe | ӏэ | ʼɛ | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Classical Syriac | ܐܝܕܐ | ʾīḏā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | id | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Crimean Tatar | qol | Turkic | |
| Occitan | man | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | vast | Indo-European | |
| Ligurian | man | Indo-European | |
| Mizo | kut | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Tetum | liman | Austronesian | |
| Asturian | mano | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | илии | ilii | Turkic |
| Kumyk | къол | qol | Turkic |
| Sranan Tongo | anu | Indo-European | |
| Tzotzil | k'obol | Mayan | |
| Mingrelian | ხე | xe | Kartvelian |
| Dhivehi | އަތްތިލަ | at̊tila | Indo-European |
| Ingush | кулг | kulg | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Papiamento | man | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | hönd | Indo-European | |
| Friulian | man | Indo-European | |
| Tuvinian | хол | xol | Turkic |
| Saho | gaba | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Udmurt | ки | ki | Uralic |
| Ao Naga | teka | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Plautdietsch | Haunt | Indo-European | |
| Nama | ǁkhôab | Khoe-Kwadi | |
| Laz | xe | Kartvelian | |
| Dzongkha | ལགཔ | lgap | Sino-Tibetan |
| Zeelandic | 'and | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | гар | gar | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Māori | ringa | Austronesian | |
| West Coast Bajau | tangan | Austronesian | |
| Dongxiang | kha | Mongolic-Khitan | |
| Abkhaz | анапы | anapʼə | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | nima | Austronesian | |
| Central Dusun | longon | Austronesian | |
| Navajo | álaʼ | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Bahnar | ti | Austroasiatic | |
| Lak | ка | ka | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Corsican | manu | Indo-European | |
| Solu-Khumbu Sherpa | ལག་པ | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Pennsylvania German | Hand | Indo-European | |
| Irish | lámh | Indo-European | |
| Western Highland Purepecha | jajki | Tarascan | |
| Ladino | mano | Indo-European | |
| Aromanian | mãnã | Indo-European | |
| Ibaloi | takday | Austronesian | |
| Kashubian | rãka | Indo-European | |
| Breton | dorn | Indo-European | |
| Mwani | nkono | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Erzya | кедь | keď | Uralic |
| Mulam | nja² | Tai-Kadai | |
| Cia-Cia | lima | Austronesian | |
| Tabasaran | хил | ꭓil | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Faroese | hond | Indo-European | |
| Scottish Gaelic | làmh | Indo-European | |
| Southern Altai | кол | kol | Turkic |
| Sanskrit | हस्त | hasta | Indo-European |
| Argobba | እንጅ | ǝnj | Afro-Asiatic |
| Khakas | хол | xol | Turkic |
| Ternate | gia | North Halmahera | |
| Dungan | шу | šu | Sino-Tibetan |
| Romansh | maun | Indo-European | |
| Karelian | käzi | Uralic | |
| Plains Cree | ᒥᑎᐦᒌ | mitihcii | Algic |
| Higaonon | alima | Austronesian | |
| Ladin | man | Indo-European | |
| Bau-Jagoi Bidayuh | tongan | Austronesian | |
| Hawaiian | lima | Austronesian | |
| North Saami | giehta | Uralic | |
| Kajtak | някъкъ | nəɢɢ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Pijin | han | Indo-European | |
| Wakhi | dast | Indo-European | |
| Central Yupik | unan | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Evenki | ңалэ | Tungusic | |
| Svan | ში | ši | Kartvelian |
| Leh Ladakhi | ལག་པ | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Western Apache | bigan | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Upper Sorbian | ruka | Indo-European | |
| Cherokee | ᎤᏬᏰᏂ | uwoyeni | Iroquoian |
| West Makian | ia | North Halmahera | |
| Yagnobi | даст | dast | Indo-European |
| Northern Frisian | hönj | Indo-European | |
| Aragonese | man | Indo-European | |
| Udi | кул | kul | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Lower Sorbian | ruka | Indo-European | |
| Bezhta | ко | ko | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Even | ӈал | ŋal | Tungusic |
| Jejueo | 손 | son | Koreanic |
| Megleno-Romanian | mǫnă | Indo-European | |
| Rapanui | rima | Austronesian | |
| Dolgan | илии | Turkic | |
| Pitjantjatjara | maṟa | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Dakota | nape | Siouan | |
| Arawak | akhabo | Arawakan | |
| Moksha | кядь | käď | Uralic |
| Mòcheno | hònt | Indo-European | |
| Interlingua | mano | Artificial Language | |
| Bororo | kera | Bororoan | |
| Nanai | нгала | ŋala | Tungusic |
| Oroqen | ŋa꞉la | Tungusic | |
| Pipil | -mey | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Hunzib | коро | koro | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Istriot | man | Indo-European | |
| Khinalug | кул | kul | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Northern Mansi | ка̄т | kāt | Uralic |
| Archi | хол | xol | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Tlingit | jín | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Taos Northern Tiwa | mą̏nénemą | Kiowa-Tanoan | |
| Cornish | leuv | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sami | gïete | Uralic | |
| Skolt Sami | ǩiõtt | Uralic | |
| Pela | laʔ³¹ | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Narrinyeri | mari | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Inari Sami | kietâ | Uralic | |
| Amur Nivkh | тымк | təmk | Nivkh |
| Nganasan | дютү | djutü | Uralic |
| Ingrian | käsi | Uralic | |
| Chickasaw | ilbak | Muskogean | |
| Wymysorys | haond | Indo-European | |
| Votic | čäsi | Uralic | |
| Orok | ӈа̄ла | ŋāla | Tungusic |
| Maricopa | iishaaly | Cochimi-Yuman | |
| Manchu | ᡤᠠᠯᠠ | gala | Tungusic |
| Ainu | テㇰ | tek | Ainu |
| Hinuq | квезей | kvezey | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Chamicuro | shijpa | Arawakan | |
| Aghwan | 𐕣𐕒𐕡𐔾 | kul | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Aiton | မ︀ိုဝ︀် | muew | Tai-Kadai |
| Akkadian | 𒋗 | qātu | Afro-Asiatic |
| Aklanon | alima | Austronesian | |
| Aramaic | אידא | ʾīḏā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Eastern Arrernte | iltye | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Aymara | ampara | Aymaran | |
| Bactrian | λιστο | listo | Indo-European |
| Western Balochi | دست | dast | Indo-European |
| Banjar | tangan | Austronesian | |
| Butuanon | alima | Austronesian | |
| Central Atlas Tamazight | ⴰⴼⵓⵙ | afus | Afro-Asiatic |
| Eastern Cham | ꨓꨊꨪꩆ | tangin | Austronesian |
| Tedim Chin | khut | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Dalmatian | mun | Indo-European | |
| Hawkesbury | birril | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Fataluku | tana | Timor-Alor-Pantar | |
| Old Frisian | hand | Indo-European | |
| Yuwaalaraay-Gamilaraay | mara | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Geez | እድ | ʾəd | Afro-Asiatic |
| Old Georgian | ხელი | xeli | Kartvelian |
| Gothic | 𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 | handus | Indo-European |
| Ancient Greek | χείρ | kheír | Indo-European |
| Kalaallisut | assak | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Hamer-Banna | aan | South Omotic | |
| Hebrew | יָד | yad | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hittite | 𒆠𒌍𒊬 | kessar | Indo-European |