Struggling to find the ultimate way to describe SUN in different languages?? You’re not alone! Many language learners and culture enthusiasts want to know how this word, symbolizing life, energy, and warmth, is expressed in other languages.
Here’s the good news: I have you covered with translations, pronunciations, and cultural insights that make this word universal yet unique.
SUN is more than just the star at the center of our solar system; it symbolises vitality, growth, and enlightenment across various cultures.
Understanding how “sun” is expressed globally enriches our appreciation of how humanity perceives this essential celestial body.
In this post, we’ll explore the translations of “sun” in various languages, its cultural significance, and its role in different contexts worldwide.
Why Is It Important to Know SUN in Different Languages?
1. Expressing Appreciation Globally
Whether discussing sunny weather, solar energy, or metaphorical expressions, knowing how to say “sun” in different languages helps you connect with people worldwide who value the sun’s significance.
2. Cultural Appreciation
Every culture has its unique relationship with the sun. Learning these terms allows you to delve into diverse traditions, myths, and perspectives related to this vital source of life.
3. Practical Usage
From planning travels to sunny destinations to understanding literature and art, “sun” is commonly used in various contexts, including science, poetry, and everyday conversation.
Saying “SUN” in European Languages
Western European Languages
- English: Sun (pronounced suhn)
- French: Soleil (pronounced soh-lay)
- German: Sonne (pronounced zon-neh)
- Spanish: Sol (pronounced sohl)
- Italian: Sole (pronounced soh-leh)
- Portuguese: Sol (pronounced sohl)
- Dutch: Zon (pronounced zohn)
- Catalan: Sol (pronounced sohl)
Northern European Languages
- Swedish: Sol (pronounced sool)
- Danish: Sol (pronounced sohl)
- Norwegian: Sol (pronounced sool)
- Finnish: Aurinko (pronounced ow-rin-ko)
- Icelandic: Sól (pronounced sohl)
Eastern European Languages
- Russian: Солнце (pronounced sohl-ntseh)
- Polish: Słońce (pronounced swoh-n-tseh)
- Czech: Slunce (pronounced sloon-tseh)
- Hungarian: Nap (pronounced nop)
- Ukrainian: Сонце (pronounced sohn-tseh)
Saying “SUN” in Asian Languages
East Asian Languages
- Chinese (Simplified): 太阳 (pronounced tài yáng)
- Chinese (Traditional): 太陽 (pronounced tài yáng)
- Japanese: 太陽 (pronounced tai-yoh)
- Korean: 태양 (pronounced tae-yang)
South Asian Languages
- Hindi: सूरज (pronounced soo-raj)
- Bengali: সূর্য (pronounced shoor-jo)
- Tamil: சூரியன் (pronounced soo-ri-yan)
- Urdu: سورج (pronounced soo-raj)
Southeast Asian Languages
- Thai: พระอาทิตย์ (pronounced pra a-thit)
- Vietnamese: Mặt trời (pronounced mat choy)
- Indonesian: Matahari (pronounced ma-ta-ha-ree)
- Malay: Matahari (pronounced ma-ta-ha-ree)
- Khmer (Cambodian): ព្រះអាទិត្យ (pronounced preah a-tit)
Saying “SUN” in Middle Eastern Languages
- Arabic: شمس (pronounced shams)
- Hebrew: שמש (pronounced sheh-mesh)
- Persian (Farsi): خورشید (pronounced khor-sheed)
- Turkish: Güneş (pronounced gyu-nesh)
Saying “SUN” in African Languages
- Swahili: Jua (pronounced joo-ah)
- Zulu: Ilanga (pronounced ee-lan-ga)
- Afrikaans: Son (pronounced son)
- Amharic: ፀሐይ (pronounced tseh-hai)
- Hausa: Rana (pronounced ra-na)
- Igbo: Anyanwụ (pronounced ahn-yan-woo)
- Yoruba: Oorun (pronounced oh-roon)
Saying “SUN” in Austronesian Languages
- Filipino (Tagalog): Araw (pronounced ah-rahw)
- Cebuano: Adlaw (pronounced ahd-law)
- Maori: Rā (pronounced rah)
- Hawaiian: Lā (pronounced lah)
- Javanese: Srengenge (pronounced sre-ngen-geh)
- Malagasy: Masoandro (pronounced mah-soh-ahn-droo)
Saying “SUN” in Indigenous Languages
Native American Languages
- Navajo: Jóhonaaʼéí (pronounced jo-ho-nah-ay)
- Cherokee: ᎤᏁᎬᏓ (Unelvda) (pronounced oo-neh-luh-da)
Australian Aboriginal Languages
- Pitjantjatjara: Tjukurpa (related to sun stories, pronounced chook-oor-pa)
More Translations of SUN in Different Languages with Pronunciations
| Language | Word for Sun | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Sun | /sʌn/ |
| Spanish | Sol | /sol/ |
| French | Soleil | /sɔ.lɛj/ |
| German | Sonne | /ˈzɔnə/ |
| Italian | Sole | /ˈso.le/ |
| Portuguese | Sol | /sɔw/ |
| Dutch | Zon | /zɔn/ |
| Swedish | Sol | /suːl/ |
| Norwegian | Sol | /suːl/ |
| Danish | Sol | /soːl/ |
| Finnish | Aurinko | /ˈɑu̯.riŋ.ko/ |
| Icelandic | Sól | /soul/ |
| Russian | Солнце (Solntse) | /ˈsont͡sə/ |
| Polish | Słońce | /ˈswɔɲ.t͡sɛ/ |
| Czech | Slunce | /ˈslun.t͡sɛ/ |
| Hungarian | Nap | /nɒp/ |
| Ukrainian | Сонце (Sontse) | /ˈsɔn.t͡sɛ/ |
| Lithuanian | Saulė | /ˈsau̯.lɛ/ |
| Latvian | Saule | /ˈsau̯.lɛ/ |
| Estonian | Päike | /ˈpæi.ke/ |
| Slovak | Slnko | /ˈslŋ.ko/ |
| Slovenian | Sonce | /ˈsɔːnt͡sɛ/ |
| Croatian | Sunce | /ˈsunt͡sɛ/ |
| Serbian | Сунце (Sunce) | /ˈsunt͡sɛ/ |
| Bosnian | Sunce | /ˈsunt͡sɛ/ |
| Bulgarian | Слънце (Slantse) | /ˈslɤnt͡sɛ/ |
| Romanian | Soare | /ˈso.a.re/ |
| Albanian | Diell | /diˈɛɫ/ |
| Greek | Ήλιος (Ilios) | /ˈi.ʎos/ |
| Turkish | Güneş | /ɡyˈneʃ/ |
| Macedonian | Сонце (Sonce) | /ˈsɔnt͡sɛ/ |
| Armenian | Արև (Arev) | /ɑˈɾɛv/ |
| Georgian | მზე (Mze) | /mzɛ/ |
| Azerbaijani | Günəş | /ɟyˈnæʃ/ |
| Kazakh | Күн (Kün) | /kyːn/ |
| Uzbek | Quyosh | /qʊjɔʃ/ |
| Kyrgyz | Күн (Kün) | /kyn/ |
| Tatar | Кояш (Koyaş) | /kɔˈjaʃ/ |
| Mongolian | Нар (Nar) | /nar/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 太阳 (Tàiyáng) | /tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/ |
| Japanese | 太陽 (Taiyō) | /ta.i.joː/ |
| Korean | 태양 (Taeyang) | /tʰɛ.jaŋ/ |
| Vietnamese | Mặt trời | /mə̀t tɕɜ̄ːi/ |
| Thai | พระอาทิตย์ (Phra Athit) | /pʰráʔ ʔaː.tʰít/ |
| Lao | ພຣະອາທິດ (Phra Athit) | /pʰáʔ ʔaː.tʰít/ |
| Khmer | ព្រះអាទិត្យ (Preah Atit) | /prĕəh aː.tɨt/ |
| Burmese | နေ (Nay) | /nè/ |
| Malay/Indonesian | Matahari | /matahari/ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Araw | /ˈaɾaw/ |
| Javanese | Srengenge | /srəŋəŋə/ |
| Sundanese | Surya | /surja/ |
| Hindi | सूरज (Suraj) | /suːɾəd͡ʒ/ |
| Urdu | سورج (Suraj) | /suːɾəd͡ʒ/ |
| Bengali | সূর্য (Shurjo) | /suɾdʒo/ |
| Punjabi | ਸੂਰਜ (Suraj) | /suːɾəd͡ʒ/ |
| Gujarati | સૂર્ય (Surya) | /suːrjə/ |
| Marathi | सूर्य (Surya) | /suːrjə/ |
| Tamil | சூரியன் (Suryan) | /suːɾjən/ |
| Telugu | సూర్యుడు (Suryudu) | /suːɾjuɖu/ |
| Kannada | ಸೂರ್ಯ (Surya) | /suːrjə/ |
| Malayalam | സൂര്യൻ (Suryan) | /suːrjən/ |
| Sinhala | සූරිය (Suriya) | /suːrijə/ |
| Nepali | सूर्य (Surya) | /suɾjə/ |
| Tibetan | ཉི་མ (Nyima) | /ɲi.ma/ |
| Pashto | لمر (Lmar) | /lmar/ |
| Persian (Farsi) | خورشید (Khorshid) | /xoɾˈʃiːd/ |
| Arabic | شمس (Shams) | /ʃams/ |
| Hebrew | שמש (Shemesh) | /ˈʃɛmeʃ/ |
| Amharic | ፀሐይ (Tsehaye) | /tsʼə.haj/ |
| Swahili | Jua | /ˈdʒu.a/ |
| Zulu | Ilanga | /iːˈlaŋa/ |
| Xhosa | Ilanga | /iːˈlaŋa/ |
| Yoruba | Oorun | /ɔːɾun/ |
| Hausa | Rana | /ra.na/ |
| Igbo | Anyanwụ | /aɲaɰ̃ʷu/ |
| Sesotho | Letsatsi | /lɛˈtsʼatʼsi/ |
| Tswana | Letsatsi | /lɛˈtsʼatʼsi/ |
| Afrikaans | Son | /sɔn/ |
| Irish | Grian | /ˈɡɾʲiən/ |
| Scottish Gaelic | Grian | /kɾʲiən/ |
| Welsh | Haul | /haɪl/ |
| Cornish | Howl | /haʊl/ |
| Breton | Heol | /høːl/ |
| Basque | Eguzki | /eɣuski/ |
| Galician | Sol | /sol/ |
| Catalan | Sol | /ˈsɔl/ |
| Esperanto | Suno | /ˈsuno/ |
| Interlingua | Sol | /sol/ |
| Māori | Rā | /ɾaː/ |
| Hawaiian | Lā | /laː/ |
| Samoan | Lā | /laː/ |
| Tongan | Laʻā | /laʔaː/ |
| Fijian | La | /la/ |
| Inuktitut | Siqiniq | /si.qi.niq/ |
| Greenlandic | Seqineq | /se.qi.neq/ |
| Navajo | Jóhonaaʼéí | /tʃʰohɔnɑʔɛʔi/ |
| Cherokee | ᎤᏁᎬᏓ (Unelvda) | /u.neɬ.vda/ |
| Lakota | Anpetu Wi | /ɑ̃pɛtu wi/ |
| Ojibwe | Gizis | /gi.zis/ |
| Nahuatl | Tonatiuh | /to.naˈtiuʔ/ |
| Quechua | Inti | /inti/ |
| Aymara | Inti | /inti/ |
| Guarani | Kuarahy | /kwa.ɾa.hɨ/ |
| Hmong | Hnub | /nɨ̃/ |
| Lao | ພຣະອາທິດ (Phra Athit) | /pʰa aː.tʰít/ |
| Khmer | ព្រះអាទិត្យ (Preah Atit) | /preəʔ aː.tət/ |
| Mandarin (Taiwan) | 太阳 (Tàiyáng) | /tʰaɪ̯³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/ |
| Cantonese | 太陽 (Taai Yeung) | /tʰaːi˨˩ jœŋ˨˥/ |
| Shanghainese | 太阳 (Tha Yoe) | /tʰɛ yø/ |
| Hokkien | 太陽 (Thài-iâ) | /tʰaɪ˨˩ iaŋ˧˥/ |
| Uyghur | Kün | /kyn/ |
| Tatar | Кояш (Koyaş) | /kɔˈjaʃ/ |
| Turkmen | Gün | /ɡyn/ |
| Somali | Qorax | /qɔrɑħ/ |
| Swati | Lilangabi | /li.láŋ.ɡa.bi/ |
| Venda | Duvha | /du.vʰa/ |
| Tsonga | Dyambu | /dʒa.mbu/ |
| Kurdish | Roj | /roʒ/ |
| Maltese | Xemx | /ʃɛms/ |
| Latin | Sol | /soːl/ |
| Sanskrit | सूर्य (Surya) | /ˈsuːr.jɐ/ |
| Urhobo | Òfúé | /ɔfuɛ/ |
| Kanuri | Rana | /ra.na/ |
| Zulu | Ilanga | /iːˈlaŋa/ |
| Igbo | Anyanwụ | /aɲaɰ̃ʷu/ |
| Afrikaans | Son | /sɔn/ |
| Ndebele | Ilanga | /iːˈlaŋa/ |
The Cultural Significance of “Sun”
1. Symbol of Life and Energy
- Ancient Cultures: Many ancient civilizations worshipped the sun as a deity, acknowledging its life-giving energy.
- Egyptian Mythology: The sun god Ra was considered the king of the gods.
- Aztec Culture: The sun god Tonatiuh was central to Aztec cosmology.
2. Inspiration in Art and Literature
- Van Gogh’s Sunflowers: Symbolizing gratitude and the warmth of the sun.
- Literary Works: The sun often represents literature’s enlightenment, hope, and clarity.
3. Seasonal Celebrations
- Solstice Festivals: Many cultures celebrate the summer and winter solstices, marking the sun’s highest or lowest point in the sky.
- Midsummer: Celebrated in Scandinavian countries with bonfires and festivities.
- Inti Raymi: An ancient Incan festival honoring the sun god Inti.
Practical Uses of “Sun”
1. Traveling and Weather Preparedness
Knowing the word “sun” is helpful when travelling to understand weather forecasts, read signs, or communicate about the climate.
2. Cultural Exchange
Discussing the sun can lead to conversations about local customs, festivals, and beliefs, enhancing cross-cultural understanding.
3. Educational and Professional Contexts
Knowing the term in various languages can benefit astronomy, meteorology, or environmental science.
How to Learn “Sun” in Different Languages
Use Language Learning Apps
Platforms like Duolingo or Memrise can help you learn new vocabulary, including common nouns like “sun.”
Practice with Native Speakers
Engage in language exchange communities or find a language partner to practice pronunciation and usage.
Immerse Yourself in Media
Watch movies, listen to songs, or read books that feature the sun to understand its context and significance in different cultures.
Fun Facts About “Sun”
The Sun in Mythology
- Japanese Mythology: The sun goddess Amaterasu is a major deity.
- Norse Mythology: Sol is the personification of the sun, chased by a wolf named Sköll.
Solar Deities
- Many cultures personify the sun as a god or goddess, highlighting its importance in daily life and the natural world.
Solar Symbols
- The sun is a common symbol in flags, emblems, and art, representing energy, power, and rebirth.
Usage Examples of “Sun” in Different Languages
- Spanish: El sol brilla en el cielo.
(The sun shines in the sky.) - French: Le soleil se lève à l’est.
(The sun rises in the east.) - German: Die Sonne scheint heute hell.
(The sun is shining brightly today.) - Japanese: 太陽が輝いています。 (Taiyō ga kagayaite imasu.)
(The sun is shining.) - Russian: Солнце садится за горизонт. (Solntse saditsya za gorizont.)
(The sun sets over the horizon.) - Arabic: تشرق الشمس كل صباح. (Tashruq al-shams kulla sabah.)
(The sun rises every morning.) - Swahili: Jua linawaka sana leo.
(The sun is very bright today.) - Hindi: सूरज पूर्व में उगता है। (Sooraj poorv mein ugta hai.)
(The sun rises in the east.) - Korean: 태양이 뜨겁습니다. (Taeyang-i tteugeobseumnida.)
(The sun is hot.) - Portuguese: O sol nasceu há uma hora.
(The sun rose an hour ago.) - Italian: Il sole tramonta tardi in estate.
(The sun sets late in summer.) - Mandarin Chinese: 太阳从东方升起。 (Tàiyáng cóng dōngfāng shēngqǐ.)
(The sun rises from the east.) - Greek: Ο ήλιος λάμπει στον ουρανό. (O ilios lampei ston ourano.)
(The sun shines in the sky.) - Turkish: Güneş batıyor.
(The sun is setting.) - Dutch: De zon schijnt door de wolken.
(The sun shines through the clouds.) - Polish: Słońce jest bardzo jasne.
(The sun is very bright.) - Swedish: Solen går upp tidigt på sommaren.
(The sun rises early in summer.) - Finnish: Aurinko paistaa kirkkaasti.
(The sun is shining brightly.) - Vietnamese: Mặt trời lặn vào buổi chiều.
(The sun sets in the evening.) - Thai: พระอาทิตย์กำลังขึ้น. (Phra Athit kamlang khen.)
(The sun is rising.) - Hebrew: השמש זורחת בשמיים. (Ha-shemesh zorachat ba-shamayim.)
(The sun is shining in the sky.) - Persian (Farsi): خورشید می درخشد. (Khorshid mi derakhshad.)
(The sun shines.) - Bengali: সূর্য পশ্চিমে অস্ত যায়। (Shurjo poshcime ost jaye.)
(The sun sets in the west.) - Malay/Indonesian: Matahari terbit di timur.
(The sun rises in the east.) - Hungarian: A nap ragyog az égen.
(The sun is shining in the sky.) - Czech: Slunce svítí dnes jasně.
(The sun is shining brightly today.) - Romanian: Soarele apune la ora șapte.
(The sun sets at seven o’clock.) - Zulu: Ilanga likhanya esibhakabhakeni.
(The sun shines in the sky.) - Swahili: Jua linachomoza asubuhi.
(The sun rises in the morning.) - Amharic: ፀሐይ በጠዋት ይወጣል። (Tsehaye betaweat yiwet’al.)
(The sun rises in the morning.) - Nepali: सूर्य पूर्वबाट उदाउँछ। (Surya purba bata udaunchha.)
(The sun rises from the east.) - Maori: Kei te whiti te rā.
(The sun is shining.) - Hawaiian: Ke ala aʻe nei ka lā.
(The sun is rising.) - Esperanto: La suno brilas hele.
(The sun shines brightly.) - Latin: Sol in caelo splendet.
(The sun shines in the sky.) - Welsh: Mae’r haul yn tywynnu heddiw.
(The sun is shining today.) - Irish Gaelic: Tá an ghrian ag taitneamh.
(The sun is shining.) - Scottish Gaelic: Tha a’ ghrian a’ deàrrsadh.
(The sun is shining.) - Tibetan: ཉི་མ་གྱིས་འོད་འབར་བྱེད་གི་འདུག་པོ། (Nyima gyis öbar jé gyi dukpo.)
(The sun is shining brightly.) - Mongolian: Нар мандлаа. (Nar mandlaa.)
(The sun has risen.) - Kannada: ಸೂರ್ಯ ನಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಳೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ. (Surya nabhadalli holeyuttane.)
(The sun shines in the sky.) - Telugu: సూర్యుడు ప్రకాశిస్తున్నాడు. (Suryudu prakasistunnadu.)
(The sun is shining.) - Tamil: சூரியன் ஒளிர்கிறான். (Suryan olirkiraan.)
(The sun is shining.) - Urdu: سورج آسمان میں چمک رہا ہے۔ (Sooraj aasman mein chamak raha hai.)
(The sun is shining in the sky.) - Arabic: الشمس تغرب في المساء. (Al-shams taghrub fi al-masaa.)
(The sun sets in the evening.) - Khmer: ព្រះអាទិត្យរះនៅពេលព្រឹក។ (Preah Atit reah nov pel pruk.)
(The sun rises in the morning.) - Lao: ພຣະອາທິດຕົກດິນ. (Phra Athit tok din.)
(The sun sets.) - Turkish: Güneş bugün parlak.
(The sun is bright today.) - Pashto: لمر ښکلی دی. (Lmar khkly de.)
(The sun is beautiful.) - Mandarin Chinese: 太阳很热。 (Tàiyáng hěn rè.)
(The sun is very hot.) - German: Die Sonne geht unter.
(The sun is setting.)
Final Thoughts
The word “sun” is universal, symbolizing warmth, energy, and life across cultures. By learning to say “sun” in different languages, you expand your vocabulary and deepen your understanding of how this celestial body influences cultures, traditions, and daily life worldwide.
Embrace the diversity of languages and let the sun’s radiant energy inspire your language-learning journey!
Happy Learning!
Reference: “Sun” – Wiktionary
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