How to say “sea” around the world
315 languages · 315 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 | 海 | hǎi | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | sea | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | mar | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | समुद्र | samudra | Indo-European |
| Arabic | بَحْر | baḥr | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | সাগর | śagor | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | laut | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | mar | Indo-European | |
| French | mer | Indo-European | |
| Russian | мо́ре | móre | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 海 | umi | Japonic |
| Marathi | समुद्र | samudra | Indo-European |
| Swahili | bahari | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | deniz | Turkic | |
| Telugu | సముద్రం | samudraṁ | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 海 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Korean | 바다 | bada | Koreanic |
| German | Meer | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | biển | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | கடல் | kaṭal | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 海 | hoi² | Sino-Tibetan |
| Urdu | سَمَنْدَر | samandar | Indo-European |
| Italian | mare | Indo-European | |
| Gujarati | સમુદ્ર | samudra | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | دَرْیا | daryâ | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 海 | hái | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hakka Chinese | 海 | hói | Sino-Tibetan |
| Jinyu Chinese | 海 | hai² | Sino-Tibetan |
| Kannada | ಅಮ್ಬುಧಿ | ambudhi | Dravidian |
| Polish | morze | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | òkun | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Xiang Chinese | 海 | hai³ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Malayalam | കടൽ | kaṭal | Dravidian |
| Odia | ସାଗର | sāgara | Indo-European |
| Burmese | ပင်လယ် | panglai | Sino-Tibetan |
| Moroccan Arabic | بحر | bḥar | Afro-Asiatic |
| Igbo | osịmịrị | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Ukrainian | мо́ре | móre | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | dengiz | Turkic | |
| Sindhi | سَمُنڊ | samũḍ | Indo-European |
| Romanian | mare | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | zee | Indo-European | |
| Gan Chinese | 海 | hai³ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Amharic | ባሕር | baḥr | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | ทะเล | tá-lee | Tai-Kadai |
| Lingala | mbu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | мо̑ре | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | សមុទ្រ | sa’mot | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | bad | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Turkmen | deňiz | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | dagat | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | सागर | sāgar | Indo-European |
| Assamese | সাগৰ | xagor | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | මුහුද | muhuda | Indo-European |
| Greek | θάλασσα | thálassa | Indo-European |
| Madurese | laot | Austronesian | |
| Kurdish | dengiz | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | بَحَر | baḥar | Afro-Asiatic |
| Tajik | баҳр | bahr | Indo-European |
| Kazakh | теңіз | teŋiz | Turkic |
| Hungarian | tenger | Uralic | |
| Kinyarwanda | ikiyaga | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | nyanja | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Akan | empo | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | بحر | bahr | Indo-European |
| Czech | moře | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | دېڭىز | dë'ngiz | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | see | Indo-European | |
| Min Dong Chinese | 海 | hāi | Sino-Tibetan |
| Haitian | lanmè | Indo-European | |
| Swedish | hav | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | dəniz | Turkic | |
| Bulgarian | море́ | moré | Indo-European |
| Hiligaynon | dagat | Austronesian | |
| Xhosa | ulwandle | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tachelhit | ilel | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Belarusian | мо́ра | móra | Indo-European |
| Tigrinya | ባሕሪ | baḥri | Afro-Asiatic |
| Neapolitan | mare | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | زەریا | zerya | Indo-European |
| Kashmiri | سۆدُر | sodur | Indo-European |
| Danish | hav | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | more | Indo-European | |
| Finnish | meri | Uralic | |
| Lao | ທະເລ | tha lē | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | hav | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | диңгез | diñgez | Turkic |
| Catalan | mar | Indo-European | |
| Guarani | para | Tupian | |
| Sicilian | mari | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | деңиз | deŋiz | Turkic |
| Swiss German | Meer | Indo-European | |
| Riffian | rebḥar | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Armenian | ծով | cov | Indo-European |
| Ganda | ennyanja | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Balinese | pasih | Austronesian | |
| Lithuanian | jūra | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | wara | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | mar | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | ზღვა | zɣva | Kartvelian |
| Acehnese | laot | Austronesian | |
| Mazanderani | دریو | Indo-European | |
| Albanian | det | Indo-European | |
| Ewe | atsiaƒu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Shan | ပၢင်ႇလၢႆႇ | pàang làai | Tai-Kadai |
| Mongolian | далай | dalaj | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Galician | mar | Indo-European | |
| Pampanga | dayat | Austronesian | |
| Slovenian | morje | Indo-European | |
| Iban | tasik | Austronesian | |
| Esperanto | maro | Artificial Language | |
| Macedonian | мо́ре | móre | Indo-European |
| Sasak | segara | Austronesian | |
| Venetian | mar | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | haij | Tai-Kadai | |
| Rohingya | doria | Indo-European | |
| Afar | bad | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kabardian | хы | xə | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Latvian | jūra | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | mama qucha | Quechuan | |
| Scots | se | Indo-European | |
| Tày | pé | Tai-Kadai | |
| Chechen | хӏорд | hord | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Estonian | meri | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | диңгеҙ | diñgeð | Turkic |
| Tibetan | བརྐོས | brkos | Sino-Tibetan |
| Maguindanao | kaludan | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | mêr | Indo-European | |
| Tausug | dagat | Austronesian | |
| Kinaray-a | baybay | Austronesian | |
| Kabuverdianu | mar | Indo-European | |
| Western Frisian | see | Indo-European | |
| Frafra | ateko | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kalmyk | дала | dala | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Maranao | kalodan | Austronesian | |
| Avar | ралъад | ralˢad | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | daryâ | Indo-European | |
| Tai Dam | ꪙꪾ꫁ꪹꪚꪸ꫁ | Tai-Kadai | |
| Basque | itsaso | Isolates | |
| Chuvash | тинӗс | tinĕs | Turkic |
| Welsh | môr | Indo-European | |
| Lü | ᦒᦰᦵᦟ | th!le | Tai-Kadai |
| Lezghian | гьуьл | hül | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Rusyn | мо́ре | móre | Indo-European |
| Morisyen | lamer | Indo-European | |
| Réunion Creole French | mèr | Indo-European | |
| Kara-Kalpak | teńiz | Turkic | |
| Adyghe | хы | xə | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Classical Syriac | ܝܡܐ | yammā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | baħar | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Crimean Tatar | deñiz | Turkic | |
| Occitan | mar | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | baro pani | Indo-European | |
| Ligurian | mâ | Indo-European | |
| Mari | теҥыз | teŋyz | Uralic |
| Tetum | tasi | Austronesian | |
| Asturian | mar | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | байҕал | bayɣal | Turkic |
| Kumyk | денгиз | deñiz | Turkic |
| Samoan | sami | Austronesian | |
| Sranan Tongo | se | Indo-European | |
| Fijian | wasa | Austronesian | |
| Dhivehi | މޫދު | mūdu | Indo-European |
| Ingush | форд | ford | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Papiamento | laman | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | haf | Indo-European | |
| Ngazidja Comorian | ɓahari | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Karachay-Balkar | тенгиз | teñiz | Turkic |
| Friulian | mâr | Indo-European | |
| Sumbawa | lit | Austronesian | |
| Saho | bad | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Udmurt | море | more | Uralic |
| Ao Naga | tzüyim | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Plautdietsch | Mäa | Indo-European | |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | ܝܡܐ | yāmā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Zeelandic | zeê | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | далай | dalaj | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Māori | moana | Austronesian | |
| West Coast Bajau | delout | Austronesian | |
| Extremaduran | mari | Indo-European | |
| Abkhaz | амшын | amŝən | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | tahi | Austronesian | |
| Kipchak Urum | дэниз | déniz | Turkic |
| Navajo | tónteel | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Komi | море | more | Uralic |
| Corsican | mari | Indo-European | |
| Gagauz | deniz | Turkic | |
| Irish | muir | Indo-European | |
| Mambae | taisa | Austronesian | |
| Aromanian | amari | Indo-European | |
| Kashubian | mòrzé | Indo-European | |
| Breton | mor | Indo-European | |
| Erzya | иневедь | ineveď | Uralic |
| Mulam | hai³ | Tai-Kadai | |
| Turoyo | ܒܰܚܪܳܐ | baḥro | Afro-Asiatic |
| Atayal | bcilung | Austronesian | |
| Tabasaran | гьюл | hjul | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Faroese | hav | Indo-European | |
| Tahitian | miti | Austronesian | |
| Scottish Gaelic | muir | Indo-European | |
| Caló | pañibaró | Indo-European | |
| Mansaka | dagat | Austronesian | |
| Southern Altai | теҥис | teŋis | Turkic |
| Sanskrit | समुद्र | samudra | Indo-European |
| Abaza | амшын | amšən | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Ternate | dai | North Halmahera | |
| Dungan | хэ | he | Sino-Tibetan |
| Romansh | mar | Indo-European | |
| Karelian | meri | Uralic | |
| Plains Cree | ᑭᐦᒋᑲᒥᕀ | kihcikamiy | Algic |
| Higaonon | dagat | Austronesian | |
| Bau-Jagoi Bidayuh | laut | Austronesian | |
| Hawaiian | kai | Austronesian | |
| North Saami | mearra | Uralic | |
| Andi | релъо | relˢo | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Central Yupik | imarpik | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Evenki | ламу | lamu | Tungusic |
| Western Bukidnon Manobo | daɣat | Austronesian | |
| Mirandese | mar | Indo-European | |
| Upper Sorbian | morjo | Indo-European | |
| Cherokee | ᎡᏉᏂ | equoni | Iroquoian |
| Yagnobi | bahr | Indo-European | |
| Bislama | solwora | Indo-European | |
| Northern Frisian | sia | Indo-European | |
| Choctaw | okhʋta | Muskogean | |
| Aragonese | mar | Indo-European | |
| Lower Sorbian | mórjo | Indo-European | |
| Even | нам | nam | Tungusic |
| Chukchi | аӈӄы | aṇqy | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Siksiká | mo'toyaohkii | Algic | |
| Jejueo | 바당 | badang | Koreanic |
| Dolgan | байгал | baygal | Turkic |
| Koryak | аӈӄан | aŋqan | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Moksha | моря | morä | Uralic |
| Lakota | ble | Siouan | |
| Mòcheno | meir | Indo-European | |
| Manx | mooir | Indo-European | |
| Interlingua | mar | Artificial Language | |
| Nanai | намо | namo | Tungusic |
| Veps | meri | Uralic | |
| Istriot | mare | Indo-European | |
| Northern Mansi | ся̄рысь | sâ̄rysʹ | Uralic |
| Archi | лъат | lʰat | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Cornish | mor | Indo-European | |
| Narrinyeri | yarluwar | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Amur Nivkh | кер̌ӄ | keřq | Nivkh |
| Udihe | наму | namu | Tungusic |
| Wymysorys | mjer | Indo-European | |
| Prussian | jūris | Indo-European | |
| Manchu | ᠮᡝᡩᡝᡵᡳ | mederi | Tungusic |
| Alutor | аӈӄан | aŋqan | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Ainu | アトゥイ | atuy | Ainu |
| Akkadian | 𒀀𒁀𒈠𒌅 | abamātu | Afro-Asiatic |
| Aklanon | dagat | Austronesian | |
| Guadeloupe-Martinique Creole French | lanmè | Indo-European | |
| Gulf Arabic | بَحَر | baḥər | Afro-Asiatic |
| Jewish Babylonian Aramaic (ca. 200-1200 CE) | יַמָּא | yammā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Aymara | lamara | Aymaran | |
| Min Bei Chinese | 海 | huǒi | Sino-Tibetan |
| Coptic | ⲉⲓⲟⲙ | eiom | Afro-Asiatic |
| Dalmatian | mur | Indo-European | |
| Fataluku | tahi | Timor-Alor-Pantar | |
| Geez | ባሕር | baḥr | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gothic | 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹 | marei | Indo-European |
| Ancient Greek | θάλασσα | thálassa | Indo-European |
| Kalaallisut | imaq | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Hebrew | יָם | yam | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hittite | 𒀀𒊒𒈾𒀸 | a-ru-na-aš | Indo-European |
| Hmong Daw | dej hiav txwv | Hmong-Mien | |
| Iranun | kalud | Austronesian | |
| Old Irish | muir | Indo-European | |
| Isoko | abadị | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Jarawa (India) | ullel | Jarawa-Onge | |
| Javanese | sagara | Austronesian | |
| Kawi | sagara | Austronesian | |
| Jurchen | | mədə-əri | Tungusic |
| Lampung Api | lawok | Austronesian | |
| Latin | mare | Indo-European | |
| Livonian | mer | Uralic | |
| Northern Lushootseed | x̌ʷəlč | Salishan | |
| Moselle Franconian | Mier | Indo-European | |
| Malagasy | ranomasina | Austronesian | |
| Malay | laut | Austronesian | |
| Brunei | laut | Austronesian | |
| Western Mari | тангыж | tangyž | Uralic |
| Mehri | رورم | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Central Melanau | daat | Austronesian | |
| Middle English | see | Indo-European | |
| Mori Bawah | tahi | Austronesian | |
| Classical Nahuatl | hueyatl | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Old Provençal | mar | Indo-European | |
| San Francisco Bay Ohlone | 'ómú' | Miwok-Costanoan | |
| Ojibwa | gichigami | Algic | |
| Church Slavic | морѥ | morje | Indo-European |
| Old Russian | море | more | Indo-European |
| Old English | sǣ | Indo-European | |
| Old Norse | haf | Indo-European | |
| Old Saxon | sēo | Indo-European | |
| Oromo | garba | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Iron Ossetian | денджыз | denǵyz | Indo-European |
| Pali | samudda | Indo-European | |
| Eastern Panjabi | ਸਮੁੰਦਰ | samundar | Indo-European |
| Sardinian | mare | Indo-European | |
| Sundanese | sagara | Austronesian | |
| Tagalog | dagat | Austronesian | |
| Tokharian A | sāmudtär | Indo-European | |
| Tokharian B | samudtär | Indo-European | |
| Tupinambá | paranã | Tupian | |
| Unami | kitahikàn | Algic | |
| Vurës | naw | Austronesian | |
| Woiwurrung-Thagungwurrung | ballim-be warreen | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Wolof | gaych | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Yámana | ixa | Isolates | |
| Yiddish | ים | yam | Indo-European |
| Dimli | derya | Indo-European |