How to say “woman” around the world
1,255 languages · 1,255 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 | 女人 | nǚrén | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | woman | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | mujer | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | महिला | mahilā | Indo-European |
| Arabic | اِمْرَأَة | imraʔa | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | নারী | nari | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | perempuan | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | mulher | Indo-European | |
| French | femme | Indo-European | |
| Russian | же́нщина | žénščina | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 女 | onna | Japonic |
| Marathi | बाई | bāī | Indo-European |
| Swahili | mwanamke | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | kadın | Turkic | |
| Telugu | ఆడది | āḍadi | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 女人 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Korean | 여자 | yeoja | Koreanic |
| German | Frau | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | phụ nữ | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | பெண் | peṇ | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 女人 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Urdu | عَورَت | 'aurat | Indo-European |
| Italian | donna | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | ست | sitt | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gujarati | સ્ત્રી | strī | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | زَن | zan | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 查某人 | cha-bó͘-lâng | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hakka Chinese | 女人 | ńg-ngìn | Sino-Tibetan |
| Nigerian Pidgin | wuman | Indo-European | |
| Levantine Arabic | مرة | mara | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hausa | mace | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kannada | ನಾರಿ | nāri | Dravidian |
| Polish | kobieta | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | obìnrin | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Malayalam | സ്ത്രീ | strī | Dravidian |
| Odia | ଯୁବା | jubā | Indo-European |
| Burmese | မိန်းမ | min:ma. | Sino-Tibetan |
| Moroccan Arabic | مراة | mrā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Igbo | nwanyi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Ukrainian | жі́нка | žínka | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | ayol | Turkic | |
| Sindhi | زال | zāla | Indo-European |
| Romanian | femeie | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | vrouw | Indo-European | |
| Amharic | ሰበይቲ | säbäyti | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | ผู้หญิง | pûu-yǐng | Tai-Kadai |
| Lingala | mwasi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | жена | žena | Indo-European |
| Khmer | ស្រី | srəy | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | afo | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Turkmen | aýal | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | babaye | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | आइमाई | āimāī | Indo-European |
| Assamese | তিৰোতা | tirüta | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | ගෑනි | gǣni | Indo-European |
| Greek | γυναίκα | gynaíka | Indo-European |
| Northeastern Thai | ญิง | Tai-Kadai | |
| Madurese | bebini' | Austronesian | |
| Kurdish | jin | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | حُرْمة | ḥurma | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bavarian | Wei | Indo-European | |
| Tajik | зан | zan | Indo-European |
| Sylheti | ꠛꠦꠐꠤ | beṭi | Indo-European |
| Tsonga | wansati | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kazakh | қатын | qatın | Turkic |
| Hungarian | nő | Uralic | |
| Kinyarwanda | umugore | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Zulu | umfazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | mkazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Akan | ɔbea | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | ښځه | x̌əźa | Indo-European |
| Czech | žena | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | ئايال | ayal | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | vrou | Indo-European | |
| Min Dong Chinese | 女界 | nṳ̄-gái | Sino-Tibetan |
| Haitian | fanm | Indo-European | |
| Dari | زَن | zan | Indo-European |
| Kanuri | kamu | Saharan | |
| Swedish | kvinna | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | qadın | Turkic | |
| Iloko | babái | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | жена́ | žená | Indo-European |
| Shona | mukadzi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Hiligaynon | babáye | Austronesian | |
| Xhosa | umfazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tachelhit | tamɣart | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Belarusian | жанчы́на | žančýna | Indo-European |
| Mossi | paga | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tigrinya | ሰበይቲ | säbäyti | Afro-Asiatic |
| Neapolitan | femmena | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | ژِن | jin | Indo-European |
| Santali | ᱛᱤᱨᱞᱟᱹ | tirlă | Austroasiatic |
| Tumbuka | mwanakazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kashmiri | زَنان | zanān | Indo-European |
| Kikuyu | mũtumia | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Luba-Lulua | mukaji | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Northern Thai | ᨬᩥ᩠ᨦ | nying | Tai-Kadai |
| Danish | kvinde | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | žena | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sotho | mosadi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Wolaytta | maccaasiyo | Ta-Ne-Omotic | |
| Kabyle | tameṭṭut | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Minangkabau | padusi | Austronesian | |
| Finnish | nainen | Uralic | |
| Lao | ຜູ້ຍິງ | phū nying | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | kvinne | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | хатын | xatın | Turkic |
| Buginese | makkunrai | Austronesian | |
| Betawi | wadon | Austronesian | |
| Catalan | dona | Indo-European | |
| Sicilian | fìmmina | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | аял | ayal | Turkic |
| Swiss German | Frau | Indo-European | |
| Tswana | mosadi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Riffian | tamɣart | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Armenian | կին | kin | Indo-European |
| Bambara | muso | Mande | |
| Ganda | omukazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Balinese | luh | Austronesian | |
| Lithuanian | moteris | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | meri | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | dona | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | ქალი | kali | Kartvelian |
| Bemba | mwanakashi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Acehnese | inong | Austronesian | |
| Mazanderani | زنا | zenā | Indo-European |
| Jamaican Creole English | ooman | Indo-European | |
| Dagbani | pağa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Waray | babáye | Austronesian | |
| Albanian | grua | Indo-European | |
| Ewe | nyɔ́nu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Kurdish | ژِن | jin | Indo-European |
| Luo | dhako | Nilotic | |
| Shan | ယိင်း | yíng | Tai-Kadai |
| Mongolian | эм | em | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Efik | n̄wan | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Chadian Arabic | مرة | mara | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bikol | babae | Austronesian | |
| Galician | muller | Indo-European | |
| Pampanga | babái | Austronesian | |
| Slovenian | ženska | Indo-European | |
| Susu | gine | Mande | |
| Iban | indu | Austronesian | |
| Nyankole | omukazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Lango (Uganda) | dako | Nilotic | |
| Swati | umfati | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Batak Toba | boru | Austronesian | |
| Cameroon Pidgin | wuman | Indo-European | |
| Esperanto | virino | Artificial Language | |
| Kʼicheʼ | ixoq | Mayan | |
| Macedonian | же́на | žéna | Indo-European |
| Piedmontese | fumna | Indo-European | |
| Sasak | nina | Austronesian | |
| Shilluk | dakau | Nilotic | |
| Venetian | fémena | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | caeuzyah | Tai-Kadai | |
| Fon | nyɔ̆nù | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Sidamo | meaa | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Afar | barra | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Bini | okhuo | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Limburgan | vrouw | Indo-European | |
| Makasar | baine | Austronesian | |
| Zimbabwean Ndebele | umfazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Gun | yọnnu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Laki | ژەن | jen | Indo-European |
| Latvian | sieviete | Indo-European | |
| Mundari | कुड़ि | kuṛi | Austroasiatic |
| Quechua | warmi | Quechuan | |
| Scots | wumman | Indo-European | |
| Bodo | hinjao | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Manipuri | nupi | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Chechen | зуда | zuda | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Emilian | dòna | Indo-European | |
| Venda | musadzi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tonga (Zambia) | mwanakazi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Estonian | naine | Uralic | |
| Acoli | dakóo | Nilotic | |
| Bashkir | ҡатын | qatın | Turkic |
| Tibetan | སྐྱེས་དམན | skyes dman | Sino-Tibetan |
| Maguindanao | babay | Austronesian | |
| Pangasinan | bii | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | dona | Indo-European | |
| Tausug | babai | Austronesian | |
| Urhobo | aye | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Soninke | yaxare | Mande | |
| Bakhtiari | زینه | zēne | Indo-European |
| Garo | me·chik | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Gorontalo | taa bua | Austronesian | |
| Central Okinawan | 女子 | winagu | Japonic |
| Nyamwezi | mkima | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kachin | num | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Manggarai | iné-wai | Austronesian | |
| Nuer | ciek | Nilotic | |
| Ngaju | bawi | Austronesian | |
| Kabuverdianu | mudjer | Indo-European | |
| Khasi | kynthei | Austroasiatic | |
| Bulu | minga | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Fang | nga | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nung (Viet Nam) | toi me | Tai-Kadai | |
| Western Frisian | frou | Indo-European | |
| Nias | ndra'alawe | Austronesian | |
| South Sudanese Creole Arabic | mara | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Nupe-Nupe-Tako | nyizàgi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kalmyk | эм | em | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Maranao | bebay | Austronesian | |
| Talysh | jen | Indo-European | |
| Basque | andre | Isolates | |
| Fur | yaa | Furan | |
| Chuvash | хӗрарӑм | hĕrarăm | Turkic |
| Welsh | benyw | Indo-European | |
| Ronga | wansati | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Yucatec Maya | koʼolel | Mayan | |
| Kok Borok | bwrwi | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Lü | ᦍᦲᧂ | yiing | Tai-Kadai |
| Picard | fanme | Indo-European | |
| Krio | uman | Indo-European | |
| Lezghian | паб | pab | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Rusyn | жена́ | žená | Indo-European |
| Batak Karo | diberu | Austronesian | |
| Lozi | musali | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Morisyen | madam | Indo-European | |
| Réunion Creole French | fanm | Indo-European | |
| Walloon | kimere | Indo-European | |
| Kara-Kalpak | qotın | Turkic | |
| Ewondo | mininga | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Adyghe | бзылъфыгъ | bzəlˢfəğ | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Classical Syriac | ܐܢܬܬܐ | ʔantətɑʔ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | mara | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Crimean Tatar | bike | Turkic | |
| Occitan | femna | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | manuśni | Indo-European | |
| Upper Guinea Crioulo | minjer | Indo-European | |
| Kaqchikel | ixöq | Mayan | |
| Ligurian | donna | Indo-European | |
| Asu | mche | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Mari | вате | vate | Uralic |
| Bari | nakwan | Nilotic | |
| Komering | bɑy | Austronesian | |
| Tetum | feto | Austronesian | |
| Iraqw | ameeni | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Silesian | kobiyta | Indo-European | |
| Asturian | muyer | Indo-European | |
| Lahu | mâ | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Chavacano | muher | Indo-European | |
| Samoan | fafine | Austronesian | |
| Sranan Tongo | frow | Indo-European | |
| Jola-Fonyi | asɛk | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Ibanag | babay | Austronesian | |
| Ngas | măt | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Berta | ninge | Isolates | |
| Tzotzil | ants | Mayan | |
| Goemai | mɑ̀t | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Fijian | marama | Austronesian | |
| Dhivehi | އަންހެންމީހާ | an̊hen̊mīhā | Indo-European |
| Papiamento | muhé | Indo-European | |
| Icelandic | kona | Indo-European | |
| Ngazidja Comorian | mzaɗe | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Karachay-Balkar | тиширыў | tişirıw | Turkic |
| Friulian | femine | Indo-European | |
| Guianese Creole French | fanm | Indo-European | |
| Mapuche | domo | Araucanian | |
| Muna | robhine | Austronesian | |
| Wayuu | hiérɨ | Arawakan | |
| Tuvinian | херээжен | xereejen | Turkic |
| Khowar | کمیری | kiméri | Indo-European |
| Alaba-K'abeena | máncu | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Ndzwani Comorian | mntru-mama | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Beria | bago | Saharan | |
| Saho | numa | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Udmurt | кышномурт | kyšnomurt | Uralic |
| Jarai | đah-kơmơi | Austronesian | |
| Ao Naga | ánítì | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Northern Ngbandi | wáli | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Eton-Mengisa | mìnŋgá | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nama | darekhues | Khoe-Kwadi | |
| Kambera | kawini | Austronesian | |
| Herero | omukazendu | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | ܒܲܟ݂ܬܵܐ | baḵtā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Enga | enda | Nuclear Trans New Guinea | |
| Zeelandic | vrouwe | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | эхэнэр | exener | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Amis | fafahi | Austronesian | |
| Māori | wahine | Austronesian | |
| West Coast Bajau | pedendoon | Austronesian | |
| Extremaduran | mujel | Indo-European | |
| Abkhaz | аԥҳәыс | apḥʷəs | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | fefine | Austronesian | |
| Chol | xꞌixik | Mayan | |
| Hiri Motu | hahine | Pidgin | |
| Ron | nafu | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Sika | bai | Austronesian | |
| Navajo | asdzáán | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Talaandig-Binukid | bahi | Austronesian | |
| Bahnar | drŏ-kăn | Austroasiatic | |
| Corsican | donna | Indo-European | |
| Antigua and Barbuda Creole English | uman | Indo-European | |
| Ma'anyan | babei | Austronesian | |
| Gagauz | karı | Turkic | |
| Irish | bean | Indo-European | |
| Páez | uʔj | Isolates | |
| Western Highland Purepecha | uárhi | Tarascan | |
| Ladino | mujer | Indo-European | |
| Ende | fai | Austronesian | |
| Gilbertese | aine | Austronesian | |
| Aromanian | muljari | Indo-European | |
| Belize Kriol English | uman | Indo-European | |
| Hawu | mobeni | Austronesian | |
| Kashubian | białka | Indo-European | |
| Breton | maouez | Indo-European | |
| Li'o | fai | Austronesian | |
| Mwani | muka | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Erzya | ава | ava | Uralic |
| Dagur | eme | Mongolic-Khitan | |
| Paiwan | vavayan | Austronesian | |
| Ixil | ixoj | Mayan | |
| Saramaccan | mujɛ́ɛ | Indo-European | |
| Seselwa Creole French | fanm | Indo-European | |
| Atayal | kneril | Austronesian | |
| Ngizim | ama | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Võro | naanõ | Uralic |