Are You Curious about How to Express the Concept of “Night” in Different Languages?
Whether you’re a language enthusiast, traveler, or someone intrigued by different cultures, learning to say “night” worldwide can be fascinating and insightful.
This guide will help you discover translations, pronunciations, and cultural nuances associated with the word “night” in over 100 languages.
Why Understanding “Night” Matters

The word “night” carries meanings beyond just the time of day; across cultures, it often symbolizes rest, mystery, dreams, and sometimes fear.
Expressing this concept in multiple languages expands your vocabulary and enhances your understanding of how night is perceived across cultures.
Saying “Night” in European Languages

Western European Languages
- English: Night (pronounced nait)
- French: Nuit (pronounced nwee)
- German: Nacht (pronounced nakht)
- Spanish: Noche (pronounced NO-cheh)
- Italian: Notte (pronounced NOT-teh)
- Portuguese: Noite (pronounced NOY-teh)
- Dutch: Nacht (pronounced nakht)
- Catalan: Nit (pronounced neet)
Northern European Languages
- Swedish: Natt (pronounced nat)
- Danish: Nat (pronounced nat)
- Norwegian: Natt (pronounced nat)
- Finnish: Yö (pronounced eu)
- Icelandic: Nótt (pronounced note)
Eastern European Languages
- Russian: Ночь (pronounced noch)
- Polish: Noc (pronounced nots)
- Czech: Noc (pronounced nots)
- Hungarian: Éjszaka (pronounced EH-sah-kah)
- Slovak: Noc (pronounced nots)
- Ukrainian: Ніч (pronounced neech)
- Bulgarian: Нощ (pronounced nosht)
- Serbian: Ноћ (pronounced noch)
Celtic Languages
- Irish Gaelic: Oíche (pronounced EE-hah)
- Scottish Gaelic: Oidhche (pronounced oy-chuh)
- Welsh: Nos (pronounced noss)
Other European Languages
- Basque: Gau (pronounced gow)
- Maltese: Lejl (pronounced layl)
- Albanian: Natë (pronounced nah-tuh)
Saying “Night” in Asian Languages

East Asian Languages
- Chinese (Simplified): 夜 (pronounced yè)
- Chinese (Traditional): 夜 (pronounced yè)
- Japanese: 夜 (pronounced yoru)
- Korean: 밤 (pronounced bam)
South Asian Languages
- Hindi: रात (pronounced raat)
- Bengali: রাত (pronounced raht)
- Tamil: இரவு (pronounced i-ruv-oo)
- Urdu: رات (pronounced raat)
- Punjabi: ਰਾਤ (pronounced raat)
- Telugu: రాత్రి (pronounced ra-thri)
- Gujarati: રાત (pronounced raat)
- Kannada: ರಾತ್ರಿಯ (pronounced raa-thri-ya)
Southeast Asian Languages
- Thai: กลางคืน (pronounced glahng kuen)
- Vietnamese: Đêm (pronounced dem)
- Indonesian: Malam (pronounced mah-lahm)
- Malay: Malam (pronounced mah-lahm)
- Khmer (Cambodian): យប់ (pronounced yub)
- Burmese (Myanmar): ည (pronounced nya)
Central Asian Languages
- Kazakh: Түн (pronounced tun)
- Uzbek: Kecha (pronounced keh-cha)
- Turkmen: Gije (pronounced gee-jeh)
- Tajik: Шаб (pronounced shab)
Saying “Night” in Middle-Eastern Languages

- Arabic: ليل (pronounced layl)
- Hebrew: לילה (pronounced lai-lah)
- Persian (Farsi): شب (pronounced shab)
- Turkish: Gece (pronounced geh-jay)
- Kurdish (Sorani): شهو (pronounced shaw)
Saying “Night” in African Languages

- Swahili: Usiku (pronounced oo-see-koo)
- Zulu: Ubusuku (pronounced oo-boo-soo-koo)
- Afrikaans: Nag (pronounced nak)
- Amharic: ሌሊት (pronounced lay-lit)
- Yoruba: Alẹ́ (pronounced ah-leh)
- Igbo: Abalị (pronounced ah-bah-lee)
- Hausa: Dare (pronounced da-reh)
- Somali: Habeen (pronounced ha-been)
Saying “Night” in Austronesian Languages

- Filipino (Tagalog): Gabi (pronounced gah-bee)
- Cebuano: Gabi-i (pronounced gah-bee-ee)
- Maori: Pō (pronounced poh)
- Hawaiian: Pō (pronounced poh)
- Javanese: Wengi (pronounced weng-ee)
- Malagasy: Alina (pronounced ah-lee-na)
Saying “Night” in Indigenous Languages

Native American Languages
- Quechua: Tuta (pronounced too-tah)
- Navajo: Tł’éé’ (pronounced t-leh)
Australian Aboriginal Languages
- Pitjantjatjara: Urilu (pronounced oo-ree-loo)
More Translations of NIGHT in Different Languages

- Amharic (Ethiopia): ሌሊት (pronounced lay-lit)
- Georgian: ღამე (pronounced gha-me)
- Mongolian: Шөнө (pronounced sho-nyo)
- Nepali: रात (pronounced raat)
- Sinhala (Sri Lanka): රාත්රිය (pronounced raat-ree-ya)
- Xhosa (South Africa): Ubusuku (pronounced oo-boo-soo-koo)
- Estonian: Öö (pronounced eu)
- Latvian: Nakts (pronounced nakts)
- Lithuanian: Naktis (pronounced naktis)
- Macedonian: Ноќ (pronounced nok)
- Slovenian: Noč (pronounced noch)
- Armenian: գիշեր (pronounced gisher)
- Galician: Noite (pronounced noy-teh)
- Luxembourgish: Nuet (pronounced newt)
- Icelandic: Nótt (pronounced note)
- Malayalam (India): രാത്രി (pronounced rath-ree)
- Tibetan: མཚན (pronounced mt-sen)
- Lao: ກາງຄືນ (pronounced gahng khuen)
- Hmong: Hmo ntuj (pronounced hmoh ntew)
- Burmese: ည (pronounced nya)
- Azerbaijani: Gecə (pronounced geh-jeh)
- Bengali: রাত (pronounced raht)
- Bosnian: Noć (pronounced noch)
- Bulgarian: Нощ (pronounced nosht)
- Catalan: Nit (pronounced neet)
- Chechen: Саъ (pronounced sah)
- Corsican: Notte (pronounced not-teh)
- Cree (Plains): Tipiska (pronounced tee-pee-ska)
- Esperanto: Nokto (pronounced nok-to)
- Finnish: Yö (pronounced eu)
- Frisian: Nacht (pronounced nakht)
- Fijian: Bogilevu (pronounced boh-gee-levu)
- Haitian Creole: Lannuit (pronounced la-nweet)
- Inuktitut: Unnuk (pronounced oo-nook)
- Irish Gaelic: Oíche (pronounced ee-ha)
- Kinyarwanda: Ijoro (pronounced ee-jo-ro)
- Kurdish (Kurmanji): Şev (pronounced shev)
- Maltese: Lejl (pronounced layl)
- Pashto: شپه (pronounced shpah)
- Samoan: Po (pronounced po)
- Scottish Gaelic: Oidhche (pronounced oy-chuh)
- Sesotho: Bosiu (pronounced bo-see-oo)
- Shona: Usiku (pronounced oo-see-koo)
- Tigrinya: ለይቲ (pronounced lay-tee)
- Tswana: Bosigo (pronounced bo-see-go)
- Wolof: Guddi (pronounced goo-dee)
- Yiddish: נאכט (pronounced nakht)
Pronunciation Guide and Cultural Insights

Learning pronunciation is key when picking up a word in a different language, ensuring clarity and respect.
Tips for Proper Pronunciation
- Listen and Repeat: Language apps or audio guides help you hear native pronunciations.
- Phonetic Spelling: Refer to the phonetic guides provided for accuracy.
- Practice Regularly: Consistent repetition aids mastery.
Cultural Significance
The concept of “night” holds various meanings and symbols across societies.
- Symbol of Rest: Night often signifies the time for rest and renewal across cultures.
- Mystery and Dreams: Many cultures see night as a time of mystery, dreams, or even connection with the divine.
- Art and Literature: Night is commonly used as a motif for introspection, mystery, and transition in creative works.
Translation, Meaning, and Usage in Sentences

Examples in Different Languages
- Portuguese
- Translation: Noite
- Meaning: Night
- Sentence: A noite está calma. (The night is calm.)
- Arabic
- Translation: ليل
- Meaning: Night
- Sentence: الليل هادئ. (The night is quiet.)
- Hindi
- Translation: रात
- Meaning: Night
- Sentence: रात बहुत सुंदर है। (The night is very beautiful.)
The Importance of “Night” in Language and Culture

The concept of night is associated with diverse meanings and practices globally. Learning this word across languages highlights the beauty of linguistic and cultural diversity.
Tips for Learning New Vocabulary

- Contextual Learning: Use new words in sentences for better understanding.
- Cultural Immersion: Watch movies, listen to music, or read books in the target language.
- Practice with Native Speakers: This enhances pronunciation and contextual understanding.
Conclusion
Exploring how to say “night” in different languages opens a door to cultural perspectives on rest, mystery, and introspection.
By learning “night” in various languages, you deepen your linguistic skills and connect with people worldwide.
Let this knowledge accompany you as you embrace the beauty of the world’s languages and cultures through the concept of “night.”