Can’t ask for “ice” abroad? ICE in Different Languages solves this by expanding your global vocabulary instantly

Ice is integral to life, from refreshing drinks on hot days to stunning ice sculptures in colder regions. But how do different languages around the world express this universal concept?

Whether you’re exploring warmer climates or diving into translations of “ice” in various cultures, this post will take you on a linguistic journey through the translations and uses of ice.

We’ll also touch on the universal language of ice cream and how certain cultures uniquely express ice-related concepts.

Ice Across Different Languages

Search For Translations Of ICE In Different Languages:

Translation and Audio
  • Abkhaz: аҵла (atsla)
  • Acehnese: es
  • Acholi: liyo
  • Afar: baraxaa
  • Afrikaans: ys
  • Albanian: akull
  • Amharic: በረዶ (beredo)
  • Arabic: جليد (jalid)
  • Armenian: սառույց (sarruyts’)
  • Assamese: বৰফ (borof)
  • Avar: мӀаж (m’azh)
  • Awadhi: बरफ (baraf)
  • Aymara: chhullpa
  • Azerbaijani: buz
  • Balinese: es
  • Baluchi: یخ (yakh)
  • Bambara: sina
  • Baoulé: glace
  • Bashkir: боҙ (boz)
  • Basque: izotz
  • Batak Karo: es
  • Batak Simalungun: es
  • Batak Toba: es
  • Belarusian: лёд (lyod)
  • Bemba: aizyi
  • Bengali: বরফ (borof)
  • Betawi: es
  • Bhojpuri: बरफ (baraf)
  • Bikol: yes
  • Bosnian: led
  • Breton: erc’h
  • Bulgarian: лед (led)
  • Buryat: мүлькэ (mülke)
  • Cantonese: 冰 (bing)
  • Catalan: gel
  • Cebuano: yelo
  • Chamorro: alâgu
  • Chechen: кӏилар (k’ilar)
  • Chichewa: ayezi
  • Chinese (Simplified): 冰 (bīng)
  • Chinese (Traditional): 冰 (bīng)
  • Chuukese: pinis
  • Chuvash: пӗрӗн (pérén)
  • Corsican: ghiaccia
  • Crimean Tatar: buz
  • Croatian: led
  • Czech: led
  • Danish: is
  • Dari: یخ (yakh)
  • Dhivehi: އަތޮޅާ (athola)
  • Dinka: yèp
  • Dogri: ਬਰਫ਼ (barf)
  • Dombe: glace
  • Dutch: ijs
  • Dyula: pooso
  • Dzongkha: གྲངས་རྩེད (drangtsé)
  • English: ice
  • Esperanto: glacio
  • Estonian: jää
  • Ewe: tsii
  • Faroese: ísur
  • Fijian: aisikeli
  • Filipino: yelo
  • Finnish: jää
  • Fon: tɔle
  • French: glace
  • Frisian: iis
  • Friulian: ghiass
  • Fulani: seede
  • Ga: bi
  • Galician: xeo
  • Georgian: ყინული (q’inuli)
  • German: Eis
  • Greek: πάγος (págos)
  • Guarani: yrupe
  • Gujarati: બરફ (baraf)
  • Haitian Creole: glas
  • Hakha Chin: 冰 (bing)
  • Hausa: ƙanƙara
  • Hawaiian: hau
  • Hebrew: קרח (kerakh)
  • Hiligaynon: yelo
  • Hindi: बरफ (baraf)
  • Hmong: dej khov
  • Hungarian: jég
  • Hunsrik: gischt
  • Iban: es
  • Icelandic: ís
  • Igbo: ice
  • Ilocano: yelo
  • Indonesian: es
  • Irish: oighear
  • Italian: ghiaccio
  • Jamaican Patois: ais
  • Japanese: 氷 (kōri)
  • Javanese: es
  • Jingpo: အေးရည် (ay ye)
  • Kalaallisut: sikorsuaq
  • Kannada: ಹಿಮ (hima)
  • Kanuri: ƙanƙara
  • Kapampangan: yelo
  • Kazakh: мұз (mūz)
  • Khasi: u tyngnga
  • Khmer: ទឹកកក (tuek kak)
  • Kiga: ekataagi
  • Kikongo: masasu
  • Kinyarwanda: urubura
  • Kituba: soyi
  • Kokborok: es
  • Komi: ись (is’)
  • Konkani: बर्फ (baraf)
  • Korean: 얼음 (eoreum)
  • Krio: ais
  • Kurdish (Kurmanji): berf
  • Kurdish (Sorani): برف (berf)
  • Kyrgyz: мүз (müz)
  • Lao: ນໍ້າແຂງ (nam khaeng)
  • Latgalian: ledus
  • Latin: glacies
  • Latvian: ledus
  • Ligurian: giaxo
  • Limburgish: aos
  • Lingala: miso
  • Lithuanian: ledas
  • Lombard: giazz
  • Luganda: emmere
  • Luo: yi
  • Luxembourgish: Äis
  • Macedonian: мраз (mraz)
  • Madurese: es
  • Maithili: बरफ (baraf)
  • Makassar: es
  • Malagasy: ranomandry
  • Malay: ais
  • Malay (Jawi): ثلج (thalj)
  • Malayalam: മഞ്ഞ് (manju)
  • Maltese: silġ
  • Mam: chel
  • Manx: sniaghtey
  • Maori: huka
  • Marathi: बर्फ (baraf)
  • Marshallese: ailin
  • Marwadi: बरफ (baraf)
  • Mauritian Creole: glas
  • Meadow Mari: шӱмжӱр (shümzhür)
  • Meiteilon (Manipuri): বৰফ (boraf)
  • Minang: es
  • Mizo: ice
  • Mongolian: мөс (mös)
  • Myanmar (Burmese): ရေခဲ (yeh kaeh)
  • Nahuatl (Eastern Huasteca): tepānitl
  • Ndau: ice
  • Ndebele (South): iqhwa
  • Nepalbhasa (Newari): बरफ (baraf)
  • Nepali: बरफ (baraf)
  • NKo: ߛߌߕߍ߬ߓߏ (situru)
  • Norwegian: is
  • Nuer: paat
  • Occitan: glaça
  • Odia (Oriya): ବରଫ (baraf)
  • Oromo: jallisu
  • Ossetian: арфæныг (arfænyg)
  • Pangasinan: yelo
  • Papiamento: aïs
  • Pashto: یخ (yakh)
  • Persian: یخ (yakh)
  • Polish: lód
  • Portuguese (Brazil): gelo
  • Portuguese (Portugal): gelo
  • Punjabi (Gurmukhi): ਬਰਫ਼ (baraf)
  • Punjabi (Shahmukhi): برف (baraf)
  • Quechua: ruksi
  • Qʼeqchiʼ: sina
  • Romani: ghiazzo
  • Romanian: gheață
  • Rundi: urubura
  • Russian: лёд (lyod)
  • Sami (North): jiekŋa
  • Samoan: aisa
  • Sango: maba
  • Sanskrit: हिमम् (himam)
  • Santali: ᱮᱠᱥ (eks)
  • Scots Gaelic: deigh
  • Sepedi: lehlwa
  • Serbian: лед (led)
  • Sesotho: lehloa
  • Seychellois Creole: glass
  • Shan: ရေခဲ (yeh kaeh)
  • Shona: chando
  • Sicilian: ghiacciu
  • Silesian: lód
  • Sindhi: برف (baraf)
  • Sinhala: අයිස් (aïs)
  • Slovak: ľad
  • Slovenian: led
  • Somali: baraf
  • Spanish: hielo
  • Sundanese: és
  • Swahili: barafu
  • Swedish: is
  • Tagalog: yelo
  • Tahitian: hiona
  • Tajik: ях (yakh)
  • Tamil: பனி (pani)
  • Tatar: боҙ (boz)
  • Telugu: ఐస్ (ais)
  • Tetum: aiss
  • Thai: น้ำแข็ง (nam khaeng)
  • Tibetan: འཁྲུགས་སྒམ (truks gam)
  • Tigrinya: በረዶ (beredo)
  • Tongan: aisa
  • Tok Pisin: ais
  • Tsonga: yiqhwa
  • Tswana: qhwa
  • Turkmen: buz
  • Turkish: buz
  • Tuvaluan: eisi
  • Ukrainian: лід (lid)
  • Upper Sorbian: led
  • Urdu: برف (baraf)
  • Uyghur: مۇز (muz)
  • Uzbek: muz
  • Vietnamese: băng
  • Volapük: gläci
  • Walloon: glaçe
  • Walser: aiss
  • Waray: es
  • Welsh: ia
  • Mingrelian: ყინული (q’inuli)
  • Xhosa: iqhwa
  • Yiddish: אייז (aïz)
  • Yoruba: yinyin
  • Zazaki: buz
  • Zulu: iqhwa

Understanding how to say “ice” in different languages can be essential for travelers, language learners, or those looking to expand their cultural knowledge.

Here’s a list of how “ice” is translated in various languages, focusing on its significance and usage in different contexts.

  • French translation: “glace”
  • Spanish translation: “hielo”
  • Italian translation: “ghiaccio”
  • German translation: “Eis”
  • Russian translation: “лёд” (pronounced “lyod”)
  • Arabic translation: “جليد” (pronounced “jaleed”)
  • Mandarin Chinese: “冰” (pronounced “bīng”)
  • Hebrew translation: “קרח” (pronounced “kerach”)
  • Portuguese translation: “gelo”
  • Korean translation: “얼음” (pronounced “eoreum”)
  • Turkish translation: “buz”
  • Kazakh translation: “мұз” (pronounced “muz”)
  • Azerbaijani translation: “buz”
  • Tatar translation: “боз” (pronounced “boz”)
  • Turkmen translation: “buz”
  • Uzbek translation: “muz”
  • Ukrainian translation: “лід” (pronounced “lid”)
  • Finnish translation: “jää”
  • Estonian translation: “jää”

These translations reflect the phonetic and linguistic diversity of cultures expressing the same concept.

However, the meaning of ice often goes beyond its literal translation, as it is embedded in various cultural contexts.

The Universal Language of Ice Cream

While ice is most commonly thought of in its solid form, the universal language of ice cream transcends borders.

From vanilla ice cream to chocolate ice cream, ice cream lovers across the globe share a common passion.

Interestingly, each culture may have its unique take on ice cream, reflecting local ingredients and flavors. For example:

  • In Italy, “ice cream” is called gelato, a creamier, denser ice cream.
  • In France, you might hear the phrase “la glace est très épaisse”, meaning “the ice is very thick” to describe a rich ice cream texture.
  • In warmer climates like the Middle East, you’ll find variations such as mastic ice cream, which uses a natural resin to give it a chewy texture.

Examples of Translations and Word Usage

When translating “ice” into foreign languages, it’s essential to consider the context. Different languages might have specific words for ice, depending on whether you’re referring to ice cubes, ice sheets, or metaphorical uses.

Here are some examples of word usage in various contexts:

  • In French, “dilué le jus” translates to “the juice is diluted,” meaning ice melting in a drink.
  • In Russian, you might encounter the expression “гладкий как лёд,” which means “smooth as ice.”
  • In German, “Eis” refers to ice and ice cream, depending on the context.

Additionally, idiomatic expressions that involve ice can differ across languages. For instance, in English, “breaking the ice” is a phrasal verb that refers to initiating a conversation in a socially awkward situation.

Other languages have similar phrases, but their direct translations may differ in wording or usage.

The Ice-Cultural Connection: Various Cultures and Their Take on Ice

Ice doesn’t just serve a functional purpose; it also has cultural significance. Ice is deeply ingrained in everyday life in Eastern Europe, particularly in colder regions

Ice sheets cover vast landscapes, influencing everything from local sports to transportation.

In contrast, in warmer climates, ice takes on a different meaning. For instance, in the Middle East, where la chaleur transforme la (heat turns it), ice is a luxury, often associated with wealth or modern conveniences. This cultural divide highlights the significance of ice in different regions of the world.

French Ice Translations and Phrases

Let’s explore more about French translations and how “ice” is used in different phrases. The French word for ice is “glace”, but it also has deeper meanings depending on the context:

  • “Garde-moi un peu”, which translates to “save me a little,” is a phrase you might hear when sharing ice cream.
  • “Glissé sur la glace”: “Slipped on the ice,” a common occurrence in winter.
  • “Le bateau était bloqué dans la glace”: “The boat was stuck in the ice,” a vivid example of how ice can represent danger or challenge.

English and Proto-Germanic Roots

In English, the word “ice” has Proto-Germanic roots, with connections to the word “isa.” Over time, it evolved into the modern-day term, which we use for everything from ice packs to frozen water in drinks.

It’s also interesting to explore the translation of ice in various forms of English worldwide. In the UK, for example, the term “ice lolly” refers to what Americans call a popsicle.

These linguistic differences showcase the evolution of language across cultures.

The Role of Ice in Customs and Enforcement

“Ice” is not always about the frozen form of water. In the U.S., customs enforcement and immigration are often referred to by the acronym ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

This is a very different but widely recognized use of the word in English-speaking contexts.

Conclusion: The Richness of Ice in Global Languages

From the Mandarin Chinese translation of “ice” as bīng to the Italian word “ghiaccio,” ice is significant in both language and culture.

Whether a simple phrase like “la chaleur transformed la glace” (the heat turns the ice) or a deeper cultural connection in various languages, ice provides a fascinating look into how humans relate to the natural world.

As we’ve seen, translations of ice vary not just in pronunciation but in the cultural weight they carry. Whether learning new languages, traveling to eastern Europe, or ordering chocolate ice cream, ice plays a vital role in language, expression, and life.

Suppose you’re interested in learning more about the linguistic side of ice. Various publicly available open sources and bilingual search technologies offer examples of translations and word usage across different languages.

This exploration is essential for those passionate about linguistic purposes and curious about how languages evolve with their unique contexts and cultures.

The universal language of ice cream and the importance of ice in daily life demonstrate that ice is more than just frozen water—it’s a concept that transcends boundaries, connecting people from all walks of life.

Source: University of Oxford Language Centre

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