How to say “night” around the world
5,585 languages · 364 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 | 夜晚 | yèwǎn | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | night | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | noche | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | रात | rāt | Indo-European |
| Arabic | لَيْلَة | layla | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | রাত | rat | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | malam | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | noite | Indo-European | |
| French | nuit | Indo-European | |
| Russian | ночь | nočʹ | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 夜 | yoru | Japonic |
| Marathi | रात्र | rātra | Indo-European |
| Swahili | usiku | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | gece | Turkic | |
| Telugu | రాత్రి | rātri | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 夜到 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Korean | 밤 | bam | Koreanic |
| German | Nacht | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | đêm | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | இரவு | iravu | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 夜晚 | je⁶ maan⁵ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Urdu | رات | rāt | Indo-European |
| Italian | notte | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | ليلة | lēla | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gujarati | રાત | rāt | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | شَب | šab | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 暗暝 | àm-mê | Sino-Tibetan |
| Kannada | ಇರುಳು | iruḷu | Dravidian |
| Polish | noc | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | òru | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Malayalam | രാത്രി | rātri | Dravidian |
| Odia | ରାତି | rāti | Indo-European |
| Maithili | राति | rāit | Indo-European |
| Burmese | ည | nya. | Sino-Tibetan |
| Ukrainian | ніч | nič | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | tun | Turkic | |
| Sindhi | راتِ | rāti | Indo-European |
| Romanian | noapte | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | nacht | Indo-European | |
| Amharic | ሌት | let | Afro-Asiatic |
| Magahi | 𑂩𑂰𑂞𑂱 | rāti | Indo-European |
| Thai | กลางคืน | glaang-kʉʉn | Tai-Kadai |
| Lingala | butú | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | ноћ | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | យប់ | yup | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | habeen | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Turkmen | gije | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | gabii | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | रात | rāt | Indo-European |
| Assamese | ৰাতি | rati | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | රෑ | rǣ | Indo-European |
| Greek | νύχτα | nýchta | Indo-European |
| Kurdish | şev | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | ليلة | lēla | Afro-Asiatic |
| Tajik | шаб | šab | Indo-European |
| Sylheti | ꠞꠣꠁꠔ | rait | Indo-European |
| Kazakh | түн | tün | Turkic |
| Hungarian | éjszaka | Uralic | |
| Zulu | ubusuku | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | شپه | špa | Indo-European |
| Czech | noc | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | تۈن | tün | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | nag | Indo-European | |
| Haitian | lannuit | Indo-European | |
| Kanuri | búne | Saharan | |
| Swedish | natt | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | gecə | Turkic | |
| Iloko | rabii | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | нощ | nošt | Indo-European |
| Shona | husiku | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Belarusian | ноч | noč | Indo-European |
| Tigrinya | ለይቲ | läyti | Afro-Asiatic |
| Neapolitan | notte | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | شەو | şew | Indo-European |
| Tumbuka | usiku | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kashmiri | راتھ | rāth | Indo-European |
| Luba-Lulua | bufuku | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Danish | nat | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | noc | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sotho | hosiu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Finnish | yö | Uralic | |
| Lao | ຄືນ | khư̄n | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | natt | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | төн | tön | Turkic |
| Buginese | wenni | Austronesian | |
| Catalan | nit | Indo-European | |
| Guarani | pyhare | Tupian | |
| Sicilian | notti | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | түн | tün | Turkic |
| Armenian | գիշեր | gišer | Indo-European |
| Lithuanian | naktis | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | nait | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | nott | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | ღამე | ɣame | Kartvelian |
| Acehnese | malam | Austronesian | |
| Mazanderani | شو | šo | Indo-European |
| Albanian | natë | Indo-European | |
| Ewe | zã | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Shan | ၶိုၼ် | khǔen | Tai-Kadai |
| Mongolian | шөнө | šönö | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Bikol | banggi | Austronesian | |
| Galician | noite | Indo-European | |
| Pampanga | bengi | Austronesian | |
| Slovenian | noč | Indo-European | |
| Iban | malam | Austronesian | |
| Esperanto | nokto | Artificial Language | |
| Macedonian | ноќ | noḱ | Indo-European |
| Piedmontese | neuit | Indo-European | |
| Venetian | note | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | hwnz | Tai-Kadai | |
| Rohingya | rait | Indo-European | |
| Sidamo | hashsha | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Afar | bar | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kabardian | жэщ | žɛś | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Igala | òdu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Makasar | bangi | Austronesian | |
| Latvian | nakts | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | tuta | Quechuan | |
| Scots | nicht | Indo-European | |
| Chechen | буьйса | büüsa | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Emilian | nôt | Indo-European | |
| Estonian | öö | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | төн | tön | Turkic |
| Tibetan | མཚན་མོ | mtshan mo | Sino-Tibetan |
| Maguindanao | magabi | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | nòt | Indo-European | |
| Tausug | dūm | Austronesian | |
| Bakhtiari | شو | šaw | Indo-European |
| Central Okinawan | 夜 | Japonic | |
| Mon | ဗ္တံ | hətɔm | Austroasiatic |
| Western Frisian | nacht | Indo-European | |
| Kalmyk | сө | sö | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Maranao | gagawi'i | Austronesian | |
| Avar | сордо | sordo | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | şəv | Indo-European | |
| Basque | gau | Isolates | |
| Chuvash | ҫӗр | śĕr | Turkic |
| Welsh | nos | Indo-European | |
| Yucatec Maya | áak'ab | Mayan | |
| Lezghian | йиф | jif | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Rusyn | нуч | nuč | Indo-European |
| Morisyen | lanwit | Indo-European | |
| Réunion Creole French | nuit | Indo-European | |
| Walloon | nute | Indo-European | |
| Kara-Kalpak | tún | Turkic | |
| Adyghe | чэщы | čɛśə | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Classical Syriac | ܠܠܝܐ | lilyā’ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | lejl | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Crimean Tatar | gece | Turkic | |
| Occitan | nuèch | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | rat | Indo-European | |
| Ligurian | néutte | Indo-European | |
| Mari | йӱд | jüd | Uralic |
| Tetum | kalan | Austronesian | |
| Asturian | nueche | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | түүн | tüün | Turkic |
| Kumyk | гече | geçe | Turkic |
| Samoan | po | Austronesian | |
| Mingrelian | სერი | seri | Kartvelian |
| Dhivehi | ރޭ | rē | Indo-European |
| Ingush | бийса | biı̇sa | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Papiamento | nochi | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | nótt | Indo-European | |
| Ngazidja Comorian | masihu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Karachay-Balkar | кече | keçe | Turkic |
| Friulian | gnot | Indo-European | |
| Tuvinian | дүн | dün | Turkic |
| Khowar | چُھوئی | čhuí | Indo-European |
| Saho | bar | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Udmurt | уй | uj | Uralic |
| Ao Naga | aonung | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Laz | სერი | seri | Kartvelian |
| Dzongkha | ཕྱི་རུ་ | phyi ru | Sino-Tibetan |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | ܠܲܝܠܹܐ | layle | Afro-Asiatic |
| Zeelandic | nacht | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | һүни | hüni | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Māori | pō | Austronesian | |
| Extremaduran | nochi | Indo-European | |
| Abkhaz | аҵх | acʼx | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | poʻuli | Austronesian | |
| Central Dusun | doungotuong | Austronesian | |
| Navajo | tłʼééʼ | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Lak | хьхьу | x̂:u | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Central Guerrero Nahuatl | yewajli | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Gagauz | gecä | Turkic | |
| Pennsylvania German | Nacht | Indo-European | |
| Irish | oíche | Indo-European | |
| Ladino | noche | Indo-European | |
| Gilbertese | bong | Austronesian | |
| Aromanian | noapti | Indo-European | |
| Yakan | sangem | Austronesian | |
| Kashubian | noc | Indo-European | |
| Breton | noz | Indo-European | |
| Mwani | usiku | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Erzya | ве | ve | Uralic |
| Nogai | туьн | tün | Turkic |
| Atayal | gbyan | Austronesian | |
| Võro | üü | Uralic | |
| Tabasaran | йишв | Nakh-Daghestanian | |
| Faroese | nátt | Indo-European | |
| Tahitian | pō | Austronesian | |
| Shughni | ах̌ӣб | ax̌īb | Indo-European |
| Chamorro | puengi | Austronesian | |
| Komi-Permyak | вой | voj | Uralic |
| Marshallese | bon̄ | Austronesian | |
| Scottish Gaelic | oidhche | Indo-European | |
| Mansaka | gabi | Austronesian | |
| Southern Altai | тӱн | tün | Turkic |
| Sanskrit | रात्रि | rātri | Indo-European |
| Khakas | тӱн | tün | Turkic |
| Ternate | futu | North Halmahera | |
| Dungan | е | iə | Sino-Tibetan |
| Romansh | notg | Indo-European | |
| Higaonon | daluman | Austronesian | |
| Hawaiian | pō | Austronesian | |
| North Saami | idja | Uralic | |
| Pijin | naet | Indo-European | |
| Wakhi | naγd | Indo-European | |
| Tsakhur | хамде | ꭓamdʲe | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Sarikoli | x̌eb | Indo-European | |
| Evenki | долбони | dolboņi | Tungusic |
| Western Bukidnon Manobo | dukilem | Austronesian | |
| Mirandese | nuite | Indo-European | |
| Svan | ლე̄თ | lēt | Kartvelian |
| Upper Sorbian | nóc | Indo-European | |
| Cherokee | ᏒᎠᏱ | svayi | Iroquoian |
| Yagnobi | хишап | xišap | Indo-European |
| Nauru | anubumin | Austronesian | |
| Aragonese | nueit | Indo-European | |
| Udi | шу | šu | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Chitral Kalasha | rat | Indo-European | |
| Lower Sorbian | noc | Indo-European | |
| Even | долбани | dolʙaņi | Tungusic |
| Chukchi | ныкирит | nykirit | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Jejueo | 밤 | bam | Koreanic |
| Rapanui | pō | Austronesian | |
| Dolgan | түүн | tüün | Turkic |
| Pitjantjatjara | munga | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Koryak | ныкинык | nəkinək | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Tetelcingo Nahuatl | yohuali̱ | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Tokelau | pō | Austronesian | |
| Mrassu Shor-Tutal | тӱн | tün | Turkic |
| Warlpiri | munga | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Cheyenne | táa'e | Algic | |
| Moksha | ве | ve | Uralic |
| Lakota | haŋhépi | Siouan | |
| Mòcheno | nòcht | Indo-European | |
| Manx | oie | Indo-European | |
| Interlingua | nocte | Artificial Language | |
| Nanai | долбо | dolbo | Tungusic |
| Veps | ö | Uralic | |
| Pipil | tayua | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Istriot | nuoto | Indo-European | |
| Istro-Romanian | nopte | Indo-European | |
| Archi | иш | iš | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Lule Sami | idja | Uralic | |
| Cornish | nos | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sami | jïjje | Uralic | |
| Kildin Saami | ыйй | yjj | Uralic |
| Yonaguni | 夜 | duru | Japonic |
| Abinomn | siwi | Isolates | |
| Inari Sami | ijjâ | Uralic | |
| Amur Nivkh | урк | urk | Nivkh |
| Ket | си | si | Yeniseian |
| Ingrian | öö | Uralic | |
| Ume Saami | jïjja | Uralic | |
| Ahtena | tets | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Chickasaw | oklhili | Muskogean | |
| Wymysorys | nocht | Indo-European | |
| Votic | üü | Uralic | |
| Pite Saami | ijja | Uralic | |
| Manchu | ᡩᠣᠪᠣᡵᡳ | dobori | Tungusic |
| Lower Tanana | tetth | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Central Sierra Miwok | kawý·ly- | Miwok-Costanoan | |
| Ainu | アンチカㇻ | ancikar | Ainu |
| Chamicuro | chpolyaye | Arawakan | |
| Ter Saami | jɨjj | Uralic | |
| Ahom | 𑜁𑜢𑜤𑜃𑜫 | khün | Tai-Kadai |
| Akkadian | 𒆥𒋝 | liliātu | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gulf Arabic | بليل | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Aramaic | לליא | lilyā’ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Eastern Arrernte | ingwe | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Avestan | 𐬑𐬴𐬀𐬞𐬀𐬥 | xṣ̌apan | Indo-European |
| Aymara | aruma | Aymaran | |
| Bactrian | χαβ | khab | Indo-European |
| Western Balochi | شپ | šap | Indo-European |
| Bobangi | mokolo | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Big Nambas | lihat | Austronesian | |
| Boloki | butú | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Catawba | witchawa | Siouan | |
| Central Atlas Tamazight | ⵉⴹ | iḍ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Dalmatian | nuat | Indo-European | |
| Dargwa | дуги | dugi | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Nafsan | p̃og | Austronesian | |
| Eshtehardi | شو | šow | Indo-European |
| Old French | nuit | Indo-European | |
| Saterland Frisian | Noacht | Indo-European | |
| Geez | ሌሊት | lelit | Afro-Asiatic |
| Middle High German | naht | Indo-European | |
| Gothic | 𐌽𐌰𐌷𐍄𐍃 | nahts | Indo-European |
| Ancient Greek | νύξ | núx | Indo-European |
| Kalaallisut | unnuk | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Mbyá Guaraní | pytũ | Tupian | |
| Hebrew | לַיְלָה | láyla | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hittite | 𒅖𒉺𒀭𒍝 | išpanz | Indo-European |
| Hmong Daw | hmos | Hmong-Mien | |
| Hunsrik | Nacht | Indo-European | |
| Iranun | magabi | Austronesian | |
| Old Irish | adaig | Indo-European | |
| Isnag | xabi | Austronesian | |
| Javanese | wengi | Austronesian | |
| Kawi | wĕṅi | Austronesian | |
| Lubuagan Kalinga | labi | Austronesian | |
| Bangad | lafi | Austronesian | |
| Kituba (Democratic Republic of Congo) | mpimpa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| South-Central Koongo | mpimpa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Latin | nox | Indo-European | |
| Livonian | īe | Uralic | |
| Luba-Katanga | bufuku | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Lautu | zuo | Sino-Tibetan |