How to say “star” around the world
5,346 languages · 378 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 | 星星 | xīngxing | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | star | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | estrella | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | तारा | tārā | Indo-European |
| Arabic | نَجْم | najm | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | তারা | tara | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | bintang | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | estrela | Indo-European | |
| French | étoile | Indo-European | |
| Russian | звезда́ | zvezdá | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 星 | hoshi | Japonic |
| Swahili | nyota | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | yıldız | Turkic | |
| Telugu | నక్షత్రం | nakṣatraṁ | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 星 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Korean | 별 | byeol | Koreanic |
| German | Stern | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | sao | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | நட்சத்திரம் | naṭcattiram | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 星 | sing¹ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Urdu | سِتارَہ | sitāra | Indo-European |
| Italian | stella | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | نجمة | negma | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gujarati | તારો | tāro | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | سِتَارَه | sitāra | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 星 | chhiⁿ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hakka Chinese | 星仔 | sên-é | Sino-Tibetan |
| Jinyu Chinese | 星宿 | xi¹ xiou³ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hausa | tauraro | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kannada | ಚಿಕ್ಕೆ | cikke | Dravidian |
| Polish | gwiazda | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | ìràwọ̀ | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Xiang Chinese | 星子 | sin¹ zr | Sino-Tibetan |
| Malayalam | നക്ഷത്രം | nakṣatraṁ | Dravidian |
| Odia | ତାରା | tārā | Indo-European |
| Burmese | ကြယ် | krai | Sino-Tibetan |
| Igbo | kpakpando | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Ukrainian | зі́рка | zírka | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | yulduz | Turkic | |
| Sindhi | تارو | tāro | Indo-European |
| Romanian | stea | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | ster | Indo-European | |
| Gan Chinese | 星子 | xiang¹ zi | Sino-Tibetan |
| Amharic | ኮከብ | kokäb | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | ดาว | daao | Tai-Kadai |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | зве́зда | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | តារា | taaraa | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | xiddig | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Turkmen | ýyldyz | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | bituon | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | तारा | tārā | Indo-European |
| Assamese | তৰা | tora | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | තරුව | taruwa | Indo-European |
| Greek | αστέρι | astéri | Indo-European |
| Kurdish | stêr | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | نَجْمَة | najma | Afro-Asiatic |
| Tajik | ситора | sitora | Indo-European |
| Tsonga | nyeleti | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kazakh | жұлдыз | juldız | Turkic |
| Hungarian | csillag | Uralic | |
| Zulu | imbasa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | nyényezí | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Akan | nsoromma | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | ستوری | stóray | Indo-European |
| Czech | hvězda | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | يۇلتۇز | yultuz | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | ster | Indo-European | |
| Min Dong Chinese | 星 | sĭng | Sino-Tibetan |
| Haitian | zetwal | Indo-European | |
| Swedish | stjärna | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | ulduz | Turkic | |
| Iloko | bituen | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | звезда́ | zvezdá | Indo-European |
| Hiligaynon | bitoon | Austronesian | |
| Xhosa | inkwenkwezi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tachelhit | itri | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Belarusian | зо́рка | zórka | Indo-European |
| Tigrinya | ኮኾብ | koxob | Afro-Asiatic |
| Neapolitan | stella | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | ستێر | stêr | Indo-European |
| Tumbuka | nyenyezi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kikuyu | njata | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Luba-Lulua | mutoto | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Northern Thai | ᨯᩣ᩠ᩅ | Tai-Kadai | |
| Danish | stjerne | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | hviezda | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sotho | naledi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Wolaytta | xoolinttiya | Ta-Ne-Omotic | |
| Minangkabau | bintang | Austronesian | |
| Finnish | tähti | Uralic | |
| Lao | ດາວ | dāo | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | stjerne | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | йолдыз | yoldız | Turkic |
| Buginese | witung | Austronesian | |
| Catalan | estrella | Indo-European | |
| Guarani | mbyja | Tupian | |
| Sicilian | stidda | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | жылдыз | jıldız | Turkic |
| Riffian | itri | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Armenian | աստղ | astġ | Indo-European |
| Lithuanian | žvaigždė | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | stella | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | ვარსკვლავი | varsḳvlavi | Kartvelian |
| Acehnese | bintang | Austronesian | |
| Mazanderani | اساره | essâre | Indo-European |
| Waray | bituon | Austronesian | |
| Albanian | yll | Indo-European | |
| Ewe | ɣletivi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Luo | sulwe | Nilotic | |
| Mongolian | од | od | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Chadian Arabic | نجمة | najma | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bikol | bituon | Austronesian | |
| Galician | estrela | Indo-European | |
| Pampanga | batuin | Austronesian | |
| Slovenian | zvezda | Indo-European | |
| Nyankole | enyonyoozi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Esperanto | stelo | Artificial Language | |
| Macedonian | ѕвезда | dzvezda | Indo-European |
| Piedmontese | stèila | Indo-European | |
| Venetian | stéła | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | ndaundeiq | Tai-Kadai | |
| Rohingya | tara | Indo-European | |
| Afar | cutukta | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kabardian | вагъуэ | vağʷɛ | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Laki | ئاسارە | asare | Indo-European |
| Latvian | zvaigzne | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | chaska | Quechuan | |
| Scots | starn | Indo-European | |
| Tày | đao đí | Tai-Kadai | |
| Chechen | седа | seda | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Estonian | täht | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | йондоҙ | yondoð | Turkic |
| Tibetan | སྐར་མ | skar ma | Sino-Tibetan |
| Muong | khao | Austroasiatic | |
| Maguindanao | bituun | Austronesian | |
| Pangasinan | bitúen | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | stëla | Indo-European | |
| Tausug | bituun | Austronesian | |
| Central Okinawan | ふし | husi | Japonic |
| Western Frisian | stjer | Indo-European | |
| Frafra | wõrbiire | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nupe-Nupe-Tako | tswan̄gi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kalmyk | одн | odn | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Maranao | bito'on | Austronesian | |
| Avar | цӏва | cʼwa | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | astəvo | Indo-European | |
| Tai Dam | ꪒꪱꪫ | daaw1 | Tai-Kadai |
| Basque | izar | Isolates | |
| Chuvash | ҫӑлтӑр | śălt̬ăr | Turkic |
| Welsh | seren | Indo-European | |
| Lü | ᦡᦱᧁ | ḋaaw | Tai-Kadai |
| Tai Nüa | ᥘᥣᥝ | laaw | Tai-Kadai |
| Rusyn | звізда́ | zvizdá | Indo-European |
| Morisyen | zetwal | Indo-European | |
| Réunion Creole French | zétoil | Indo-European | |
| Walloon | sitoele | Indo-European | |
| Kara-Kalpak | juldız | Turkic | |
| Adyghe | жъуагъо | žʷağʷo | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Classical Syriac | ܟܘܟܒܐ | kawkəḇā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | niġma | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Occitan | estela | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | ćexrain | Indo-European | |
| Ligurian | stella | Indo-European | |
| Tetum | fitun | Austronesian | |
| Silesian | gwjozda | Indo-European | |
| Asturian | estrella | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | сулус | sulus | Turkic |
| Chavacano | estrellas | Indo-European | |
| Kumyk | юлдуз | yulduz | Turkic |
| Samoan | fetū | Austronesian | |
| Sranan Tongo | stari | Indo-European | |
| Ngas | nza̧w | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Tzotzil | kʼanal | Mayan | |
| Mingrelian | მურიცხი | muricxi | Kartvelian |
| Fijian | kalo kalo | Austronesian | |
| Ingush | седкъа | sedqʼa | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Papiamento | strea | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | stjarna | Indo-European | |
| Ngazidja Comorian | nyora | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Karachay-Balkar | жулдуз | julduz | Turkic |
| Friulian | stele | Indo-European | |
| Mapuche | wangülen | Araucanian | |
| Tuvinian | сылдыс | sıldıs | Turkic |
| Saho | xutuk | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Udmurt | кизили | kiźiľi | Uralic |
| Nama | ǀgamiros | Khoe-Kwadi | |
| Zeelandic | sterre | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | одон | odon | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Māori | whetū | Austronesian | |
| West Coast Bajau | bintang | Austronesian | |
| Dongxiang | hodun | Mongolic-Khitan | |
| Abkhaz | аеҵǝа | ajecʼǝa | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | fetuʻu | Austronesian | |
| Navajo | sǫʼ | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Bahnar | blŏng | Austroasiatic | |
| Komi | кодзув | kodźuv | Uralic |
| Corsican | stella | Indo-European | |
| Gagauz | yıldız | Turkic | |
| Irish | réalta | Indo-European | |
| Western Highland Purepecha | jósku | Tarascan | |
| Ladino | estreya | Indo-European | |
| Mambae | hiuta | Austronesian | |
| Gilbertese | toui toui | Austronesian | |
| Aromanian | steauo | Indo-European | |
| Kashubian | gwiôzda | Indo-European | |
| Breton | steredenn | Indo-European | |
| Erzya | теште | tešte | Uralic |
| Nogai | юлдыз | yuldız | Turkic |
| Zapotec | streya | Otomanguean | |
| Tabasaran | хяд | ꭓjad | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Sikkimese | སྐར་མོ | skar mo | Sino-Tibetan |
| Faroese | stjørna | Indo-European | |
| Tahitian | fetiʻa | Austronesian | |
| Shughni | х̌ите̂рӡ | x̌itêrʒ | Indo-European |
| Komi-Permyak | кӧдзыв | ködźyv | Uralic |
| Marshallese | iju | Austronesian | |
| Scottish Gaelic | reul | Indo-European | |
| Aguaruna | yaya | Chicham | |
| Southern Altai | јылдыс | ǰïldïs | Turkic |
| Sanskrit | तारा | tārā | Indo-European |
| Argobba | ኮከብ | kokäb | Afro-Asiatic |
| Khakas | чылтыс | çıltıs | Turkic |
| Ternate | bintang | North Halmahera | |
| Dungan | щинщю | xinxiu | Sino-Tibetan |
| Romansh | staila | Indo-European | |
| Ashkun | istã́ | Indo-European | |
| Higaonon | bitoon | Austronesian | |
| Ladin | stëila | Indo-European | |
| Bau-Jagoi Bidayuh | bitang | Austronesian | |
| Hawaiian | hōkū | Austronesian | |
| North Saami | násti | Uralic | |
| Kajtak | зу́ре | zúre | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Andi | цӏцӏа | ccʼa | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Central Yupik | agyaq | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Evenki | осикта | osikta | Tungusic |
| Comorian | nyora | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Mirandese | streilha | Indo-European | |
| Svan | ამტყუ̂ა̈სგ | amṭq̇ûäsg | Kartvelian |
| Upper Sorbian | hwězda | Indo-European | |
| Cherokee | ᏃᏈᏏ | noquisi | Iroquoian |
| Niuean | fetū | Austronesian | |
| Nauru | edetan | Austronesian | |
| Aragonese | estrela | Indo-European | |
| Lower Sorbian | gwězda | Indo-European | |
| Even | осикат | osikat | Tungusic |
| Chukchi | анатԓыӈын | anatḷyṇyn | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Megleno-Romanian | steau̯ă | Indo-European | |
| Rapanui | hetu'u | Austronesian | |
| Dolgan | һулус | hulus | Turkic |
| East Yugur | hodën | Mongolic-Khitan | |
| Tokelau | fetū | Austronesian | |
| Teribe | dbala | Chibchan | |
| Mrassu Shor-Tutal | чылтыс | çıltıs | Turkic |
| Arawak | wiwa | Arawakan | |
| Lakota | wičháȟpi | Siouan | |
| Mòcheno | stern | Indo-European | |
| Manx | rolt | Indo-European | |
| Interlingua | stella | Artificial Language | |
| Bororo | kuieje | Bororoan | |
| Nanai | хосакта | hosakta | Tungusic |
| Veps | tähtaz | Uralic | |
| Istriot | stila | Indo-European | |
| Istro-Romanian | ste | Indo-European | |
| Archi | ххьӏоло́шхъӏан | xx̣olóšq̣an | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Comanche | tatsinuupi | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Tlingit | k̲utx̲ ayanahá | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Taos Northern Tiwa | pʼȍxəłóna | Kiowa-Tanoan | |
| Krymchak | юлдуз | yulduz | Turkic |
| Cornish | steren | Indo-European | |
| Maliseet-Passamaquoddy | possesom | Algic | |
| Pacific Gulf Yupik | mit'aq | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Pela | kji̠⁵⁵ | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Narrinyeri | tuldi | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Paumari | biviri | Arawan | |
| Aleut | sdax̂ | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Ingrian | tähti | Uralic | |
| Wymysorys | śtaom | Indo-European | |
| Votic | tähti | Uralic | |
| Prussian | lauxnos | Indo-European | |
| Manchu | ᡠᠰᡳᡥᠠ | usiha | Tungusic |
| Kanakanavu | tamtasai | Austronesian | |
| N||ng | ǁxʼoqe | Tuu | |
| Chamicuro | katepulu | Arawakan | |
| Dupaninan Agta | pusiyan | Austronesian | |
| Akateko | weykan | Mayan | |
| Akkadian | 𒀯 | kakkabu | Afro-Asiatic |
| Aklanon | bituon | Austronesian | |
| Alviri-Vidari | ایستاره | istāre | Indo-European |
| Angor | mupui | Senagi | |
| Jewish Babylonian Aramaic (ca. 200-1200 CE) | כוכבא | kōḵəḇā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Classical-Middle Armenian | աստղ | astł | Indo-European |
| Aymara | warawara | Aymaran | |
| Western Balochi | استار | istár | Indo-European |
| Bookan | butitin | Austronesian | |
| Eastern Bru | mantỗr | Austroasiatic | |
| Central Atlas Tamazight | ⵉⵜⵔⵉ | itri | Afro-Asiatic |
| Cerma | mɔɛle | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Chagatai | یُولْدُوزْ | yūldūz | Turkic |
| Min Bei Chinese | 星宿 | sáing-siu̿ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Chuwabu | neneeri | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Coptic | ⲥⲓⲟⲩ | siou | Afro-Asiatic |
| Dalmatian | stala | Indo-European | |
| Ancient Egyptian | s-b-t:sbA | sbꜣt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Ersu | ʈɽź̩ | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Eshtehardi | استَرَ | estara | Indo-European |
| Fang (Cameroon) | otiteñ | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Saterland Frisian | Stiern | Indo-European | |
| Geez | ኮከብ | kokäb | Afro-Asiatic |
| Old High German | sterno | Indo-European | |
| Gothic | 𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌽𐍉 | stairnō | Indo-European |
| Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | astḗr | Indo-European |
| Kalaallisut | ulloriaq | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Mbyá Guaraní | jaxy tata | Tupian | |
| Hebrew | כּוֹכָב | kokháv | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hittite | 𒄩𒀸𒋼𒅕𒍝 | ḫasterza | Indo-European |
| Hmong Daw | hnub qub | Hmong-Mien | |
| Iranun | bitu'un | Austronesian | |
| Old Irish | rétglu | Indo-European | |
| Isoko | esi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Ibatan | vituhen | Austronesian |