How to say “louse” around the world
4,840 languages · 267 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 | 虱子 | shīzi | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | louse | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | piojo | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | जूँ | jū̃ | Indo-European |
| Arabic | قَمْلَة | qamla | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | উকুন | ukun | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | piolho | Indo-European | |
| French | pou | Indo-European | |
| Russian | вошь | vošʹ | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 虱 | shirami | Japonic |
| Marathi | ऊ | ū | Indo-European |
| Swahili | chawa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | bit | Turkic | |
| Telugu | పేను | pēnu | Dravidian |
| Korean | 이 | i | Koreanic |
| German | Laus | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | rận | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | பேன் | pēṉ | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 蝨乸 | sat¹ naa² | Sino-Tibetan |
| Urdu | جوں | jū̃ | Indo-European |
| Italian | pidocchio | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | قمل | ʔaml | Afro-Asiatic |
| Western Farsi | شِپِش | šepeš | Indo-European |
| Kannada | ಹೇನು | hēnu | Dravidian |
| Polish | wesz | Indo-European | |
| Malayalam | പേൻ | pēṉ | Dravidian |
| Odia | ଉକୁଣି | ukuṇi | Indo-European |
| Burmese | သန်း | san: | Sino-Tibetan |
| Moroccan Arabic | قمل | qmal | Afro-Asiatic |
| Ukrainian | во́ша | vóša | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | bit | Turkic | |
| Romanian | păduche | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | luis | Indo-European | |
| Amharic | ቅማል | ḳəmal | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | เหา | hǎo | Tai-Kadai |
| Lingala | sili | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | ваш | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | ចៃ | cay | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | injir | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Turkmen | bit | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | tuma | Austronesian | |
| Assamese | ওকণি | ükoni | Indo-European |
| Greek | ψείρα | pseíra | Indo-European |
| Madurese | koto | Austronesian | |
| Kurdish | spih | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | قمل | gamil | Afro-Asiatic |
| Tajik | шабушк | šabušk | Indo-European |
| Sylheti | ꠃꠇꠂꠘ | ukoino | Indo-European |
| Kazakh | бит | bıyt | Turkic |
| Hungarian | tetű | Uralic | |
| Zulu | intwala | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | nsabwe | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | سپږه | spᶕźa | Indo-European |
| Czech | veš | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | پىت | pit | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | luis | Indo-European | |
| Haitian | pou | Indo-European | |
| Swedish | lus | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | bit | Turkic | |
| Iloko | kuto | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | въ́шка | vắška | Indo-European |
| Xhosa | intwala | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Belarusian | вош | voš | Indo-European |
| Neapolitan | perucchio | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | ئەسپێ | espê | Indo-European |
| Northern Thai | ᩉᩮᩢᩣ | Tai-Kadai | |
| Danish | lus | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | voš | Indo-European | |
| Finnish | täi | Uralic | |
| Lao | ເຫົາ | hao | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | lus | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | бет | bet | Turkic |
| Buginese | utu | Austronesian | |
| Catalan | poll | Indo-European | |
| Sicilian | pidocchiu | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | бит | bit | Turkic |
| Riffian | tiššit | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Armenian | ոջիլ | oǰil | Indo-European |
| Lithuanian | utėlė | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | laus | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | მკბენარი | mḳbenari | Kartvelian |
| Acehnese | gutee | Austronesian | |
| Albanian | morr | Indo-European | |
| Southern Kurdish | سپیە | sipye | Indo-European |
| Mongolian | бөөс | böös | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Bikol | kuto | Austronesian | |
| Galician | piollo | Indo-European | |
| Slovenian | uš | Indo-European | |
| Esperanto | pediko | Artificial Language | |
| Macedonian | вошка | voška | Indo-European |
| Piedmontese | poj | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | naenz | Tai-Kadai | |
| Brahui | boḍ | Dravidian | |
| Rohingya | uin | Indo-European | |
| Makasar | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Laki | ئِسپِژ | ispij | Indo-European |
| Latvian | uts | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | usa | Quechuan | |
| Chechen | меза | meza | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Estonian | täi | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | бет | bet | Turkic |
| Tibetan | ཤིག | shig | Sino-Tibetan |
| Maguindanao | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | bdòcc | Indo-European | |
| Tausug | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Gorontalo | utu | Austronesian | |
| Khorasan Turkic | بیت | Turkic | |
| Kabuverdianu | piodju | Indo-European | |
| South Sudanese Creole Arabic | gomul | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Maranao | tom | Austronesian | |
| Pontic | φθείρι | ftheíri | Indo-European |
| Avar | нацӏ | nacʼ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | əsbəj | Indo-European | |
| Basque | zorri | Isolates | |
| Chuvash | пыйтӑ | pyjt̬ă | Turkic |
| Welsh | llau | Indo-European | |
| Lü | ᦠᧁ | ḣaw | Tai-Kadai |
| Lezghian | нет | net | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Rusyn | уша | uša | Indo-European |
| Classical Syriac | ܩܠܡܐ | qalmā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | qamla | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Occitan | pesolh | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | ʒuv | Indo-European | |
| Mizo | hrik | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Tetum | utu | Austronesian | |
| Asturian | pioyu | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | быт | bït | Turkic |
| Sranan Tongo | loso | Indo-European | |
| Mingrelian | ტი | ṭi | Kartvelian |
| Fijian | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Ingush | меза | meza | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Papiamento | pieu | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | lús | Indo-European | |
| Ngazidja Comorian | nɗa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Friulian | pedoli | Indo-European | |
| Udmurt | тэй | tej | Uralic |
| Ao Naga | atsük | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Plautdietsch | Lus | Indo-European | |
| Laz | მტი | mt͏̌i | Kartvelian |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | ܩܠܡܐ | qalmā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Zeelandic | luus | Indo-European | |
| Māori | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Abkhaz | аҵа | acʼa | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Navajo | yaaʼ | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Lak | нацӏ | nacʼ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Solu-Khumbu Sherpa | ཤིག | shig | Sino-Tibetan |
| Irish | míol cnis | Indo-European | |
| Aromanian | piduclju | Indo-European | |
| Kashubian | wesz | Indo-European | |
| Breton | laou | Indo-European | |
| Fanagalo | ntwala | Pidgin | |
| Erzya | сий | sij | Uralic |
| Tabasaran | ницц | nic̄ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Faroese | lús | Indo-European | |
| Scottish Gaelic | mial | Indo-European | |
| Mansaka | koto | Austronesian | |
| Burushaski | کھرو | Isolates | |
| Sanskrit | यूका | yūkā | Indo-European |
| Abaza | цӏа | cʼa | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Ternate | gani | North Halmahera | |
| Dungan | сыйзы | sɨyzɨ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Chepang | क्रास् | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Higaonon | tuma | Austronesian | |
| Hawaiian | ʻuku | Austronesian | |
| Andi | ноцӏцӏи | noccʼi | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Comorian | ndra | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Svan | ტიშ | ṭiš | Kartvelian |
| Upper Sorbian | woš | Indo-European | |
| Fala | piollu | Indo-European | |
| Bislama | nakutu | Indo-European | |
| Xavánte | u | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Choctaw | issʋp | Muskogean | |
| Udi | нецӏ | nec̣ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Mebengokre | ngôre | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Lower Sorbian | weš | Indo-European | |
| Bezhta | нацо | naco | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Carolinian | ghúúw | Austronesian | |
| Even | кумкэ | kumkə | Tungusic |
| Megleno-Romanian | piducľu | Indo-European | |
| Bats | მაწ | mac̣ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Mrassu Shor-Tutal | пит | Turkic | |
| Cappadocian Greek | φčείρ | fčeír | Indo-European |
| Warlpiri | yaka | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Moksha | си | si | Uralic |
| Tsakonian | ψεῖρα | pseῖra | Indo-European |
| Lakota | hitka la | Siouan | |
| Khwarshi-Inkhoqwari | нуца | nuca | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Nanai | чиктэ | čikte | Tungusic |
| Hunzib | на̇цǝ | nåcǝ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Khinalug | нимцӏ | nimc̣ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Northern Mansi | та̄кум | tākum | Uralic |
| Archi | нацӏ | nacʼ | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Taos Northern Tiwa | phìayána | Kiowa-Tanoan | |
| Ingrian | täi | Uralic | |
| Wymysorys | łaojs | Indo-European | |
| Jebero | čimɨŋ | Cahuapanan | |
| Manchu | ᠴᡳᡥᡝ | cihe | Tungusic |
| Lower Tanana | yo' | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Ainu | キ | ki | Ainu |
| Tanapag | gúú | Austronesian | |
| Chamicuro | nijpa | Arawakan | |
| Aklanon | kuto | Austronesian | |
| Guerrero Amuzgo | kítzkò | Otomanguean | |
| Apinayé | gô | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Gulf Arabic | قمل | gamiḷ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Eastern Arrernte | arreme | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Aymara | lapʼa | Aymaran | |
| Biatah Bidayuh | gutis | Austronesian | |
| Caac | ciic | Austronesian | |
| Central-Southern Timbira | incô | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Cemuhî | i | Austronesian | |
| Falam Chin | hrik | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Khumi Chin | ähi | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Tedim Chin | hik | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Coptic | ⲕⲁⲕⲑⲓ | kakthi | Afro-Asiatic |
| Dalmatian | pedoclo | Indo-European | |
| Fwâi | ciik | Austronesian | |
| Ancient Greek | φθείρ | phtheír | Indo-European |
| Hebrew | כִּנָּה | kiná | Afro-Asiatic |
| Imonda | ku | Border | |
| Iranun | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Javanese | tuma | Austronesian | |
| Jawe | ciik | Austronesian | |
| Kaingang | ga | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Eastern Kayah | ꤎꤥ꤬ | sò | Sino-Tibetan |
| Nêlêmwa-Nixumwak | chixic | Austronesian | |
| Latin | pēdis | Indo-European | |
| Linngithigh | ibhi | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Livonian | tei | Uralic | |
| Low German | Luus | Indo-European | |
| Northern Lushootseed | bəšč'ád | Salishan | |
| Malay | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Brunei | kutu | Austronesian | |
| Maxakalí | kut | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Central Melanau | kutou | Austronesian | |
| Nemi | ciik | Austronesian | |
| San Francisco Bay Ohlone | ká̄i | Miwok-Costanoan | |
| Ojibwa | ikwa | Algic | |
| Church Slavic | въшь | vŭšĭ | Indo-European |
| Old Russian | въшь | vŭšĭ | Indo-European |
| Old English | lūs | Indo-European | |
| Old Norse | lús | Indo-European | |
| Iron Ossetian | сыст | syst | Indo-European |
| Paicî | i | Austronesian | |
| Panará | kjãnkô | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Pará Gavião | nkô | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Pije | ciik | Austronesian | |
| Eastern Panjabi | ਜੂੰ | jū̃ | Indo-European |
| Sango | sili | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Sardinian | peogu | Indo-European | |
| Savosavo | dole | Isolates | |
| Sundanese | otét | Austronesian | |
| Tagalog | kuto | Austronesian | |
| Muslim Tat | uşbuj | Indo-European | |
| Rio Grande Tewa | phay | Kiowa-Tanoan | |
| Ulithian | giius | Austronesian | |
| Unami | xaihu | Algic | |
| Wappo | híy' | Yuki-Wappo | |
| Woiwurrung-Thagungwurrung | moon-ong | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Xerénte | gó | Nuclear-Macro-Je | |
| Yámana | wam | Isolates | |
| Yiddish | לויז | loyz | Indo-European |
| Yuaga | ciii | Austronesian | |
| Zande | zari | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Dimli | ıspıc | Indo-European | |
| East Taa | ʘnó̰õ | Tuu |