How to Say Black in different Languages” is a fascinating exploration of the word “black” across diverse cultures and regions. From Black in English to Negro in Spanish and Noir in French, each language offers a unique pronunciation and spelling. “How to Say Black in Other Languages” not only highlights linguistic diversity but also enriches our understanding of how color is perceived globally.
Wondering how to express ‘black’ in different languages?
“Black” is a color with diverse names across languages. In Spanish, it’s negro; in French, noir; and in German, schwarz. Italian uses nero, while Portuguese says preto. In Japanese, it’s kuro (黒), and in Mandarin Chinese, hēi (黑). Russian calls it chorniy (чёрный), and in Arabic, it’s aswad (أسود). Hindi uses kaala (काला), and Swahili says nyeusi. Turkish refers to it as siyah, while Korean uses geomjeong (검정). Each language reflects unique cultural nuances, making “black” a fascinating word to explore globally. How many of these did you already know?
Why Learning How to Say ‘Black’ in Different Languages is Intriguing
Learning how to say black in different languages is intriguing because it reveals cultural and linguistic diversity. Each term carries unique historical, emotional, and symbolic meanings, reflecting how different societies perceive the color. It also enhances cross-cultural understanding and showcases the beauty of language evolution. A simple word becomes a gateway to global connections.
Saying “Black” in European Languages
Western European Languages
- Spanish – negro
- French – noir
- Italian – nero
- Portuguese – preto
- Dutch – zwart
- German – schwarz
Northern European Languages
- Swedish – svart
- Norwegian – svart
- Danish – sort
- Finnish – musta
- Icelandic – svartur
Eastern European Languages
- Russian – chorniy (чёрный)
- Polish – czarny
- Czech – černý
- Ukrainian – chornyy (чорний)
- Bulgarian – cherno (черно)
- Hungarian – fekete
- Slovak – čierny
- Slovenian – črna
- Croatian – crno
- Serbian – crno (црно)
Celtic Languages
- Irish Gaelic – dubh
- Welsh – du
- Scottish Gaelic – dubh
- Breton – du
Other European Languages
- Greek – mavro (μαύρο)
- Romanian – negru
- Catalan – negre
- Latvian – melns
- Lithuanian – juoda
- Estonian – must
- Maltese – iswed
How to say “black” in Asian languages, categorized by Region
East Asian Languages
- Mandarin Chinese – hēi (黑)
- Japanese – kuro (黒)
- Korean – geomjeong (검정)
- Cantonese Chinese – hak1 (黑)
South Asian Languages
- Hindi – kaala (काला)
- Bengali – kalo (কালো)
- Tamil – karuppu (கருப்பு)
- Telugu – nallu (నల్ల)
- Urdu – kaala (کالا)
- Punjabi – kala (ਕਾਲਾ)
- Marathi – kala (काळा)
- Gujarati – kaalo (કાળો)
Southeast Asian Languages
- Thai – dam (ดำ)
- Vietnamese – đen
- Indonesian – hitam
- Malay – hitam
- Tagalog (Filipino) – itim
- Burmese – na (နက်)
- Khmer (Cambodian) – khmau (ខ្មៅ)
Central Asian Languages
- Kazakh – qara (қара)
- Uzbek – qora
- Turkmen – gara
- Kyrgyz – kara (кара)
- Tajik – siyoh (сиёҳ)
This breakdown showcases the rich linguistic diversity of Asia!
How to say “black” in Middle-Eastern Languages
- Arabic – aswad (أسود)
- Hebrew – shakhor (שחור)
- Persian (Farsi) – siyah (سیاه)
- Turkish – siyah
- Kurdish (Kurmanji) – reş
- Kurdish (Sorani) – reş (ڕەش)
- Azerbaijani – qara
- Armenian – sev (սև)
- Georgian – shavi (შავი)
“Black” in African Languages
North African Languages
- Arabic – aswad (أسود)
- Berber (Tamazight) – aberkhan (ⴰⴱⴻⵔⴽⵀⴰⵏ)
West African Languages
- Hausa – baki
- Yoruba – dúdú
- Igbo – oji
- Fula (Fulfulde) – baleere
- Wolof – noor
East African Languages
- Swahili – nyeusi
- Amharic – ṭəqur (ጥቁር)
- Somali – madow
- Oromo – gurraacha
Central African Languages
- Lingala – moindo
- Kinyarwanda – umukara
- Kirundi – umukara
Southern African Languages
- Zulu – mnyama
- Xhosa – mnyama
- Shona – nhema
- Sesotho – ntšo
- Tswana – ntsho
Other African Languages
- Malagasy (Madagascar) – mainty
- Tigrinya (Eritrea/Ethiopia) – ṭəqur (ጥቁር)
Saying “Black” in Austronesian Languages
Here’s how to say black in various Austronesian languages, which span a vast region including Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and parts of East Africa:
Southeast Asian Austronesian Languages
- Indonesian – hitam
- Malay – hitam
- Tagalog (Filipino) – itim
- Cebuano – itom
- Ilocano – nangisit
- Javanese – ireng
- Sundanese – hideung
- Madurese – celleng
Pacific Austronesian Languages
- Hawaiian – ʻeleʻele
- Maori – pango
- Samoan – uliuli
- Tahitian – ereere
- Tongan – ʻuliʻuli
- Fijian – loaloa
Malagasy (Madagascar)
Malagasy – mainty
Other Austronesian Languages
- Chamorro – áttilong
- Tetum (Timor-Leste) – metan
- Dusun (Borneo) – lotong
- Iban (Borneo) – kelam
These terms reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Austronesian-speaking world!
Saying “Black” in Indigenous Languages
North American Indigenous Languages
- Navajo (Diné Bizaad) – łizhin
- Cherokee (Tsalagi) – gv-na-ge-i
- Cree (Nēhiyawēwin) – kaskitew
- Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) – makade
- Inuktitut (Inuit) – tungujuk
Central & South American Indigenous Languages
- Quechua (Andean region) – yana
- Nahuatl (Aztec) – tliltic
- Guaraní (Paraguay/Brazil) – hũ
- Mapudungun (Mapuche) – kurü
- Aymara (Bolivia/Peru) – ch’iyara
Australian Aboriginal Languages
- Warlpiri (Central Australia) – kardirri
- Yolŋu Matha (Northern Australia) – gunga
- Pitjantjatjara (Central Australia) – mampu
African Indigenous Languages
- Zulu (South Africa) – mnyama
- Xhosa (South Africa) – mnyama
- Maasai (Kenya/Tanzania) – narok
- Yoruba (Nigeria) – dúdú
- Hausa (Nigeria) – baƙi
Pacific Indigenous Languages
- Māori (New Zealand) – pango
- Hawaiian (Hawaii) – ʻeleʻele
- Samoan (Samoa) – uliuli
- Tahitian (French Polynesia) – ereere
These terms reflect the deep cultural and linguistic heritage of Indigenous communities worldwide. Each word carries unique significance tied to the environment, traditions, and worldview of its speakers.
BLACK in Different Languages and How to Pronounce It
European Languages
- Spanish – negro (NEH-gro)
- French – noir (nwahr)
- German – schwarz (shvahrts)
- Italian – nero (NEH-ro)
- Portuguese – preto (PREH-too)
- Russian – chorniy (CHOR-nee)
- Dutch – zwart (zvahrt)
- Polish – czarny (CHAR-nih)
- Greek – mavro (MAV-ro)
- Swedish – svart (svahrt)
- Norwegian – svart (svahrt)
- Danish – sort (sort)
- Finnish – musta (MOO-stah)
- Hungarian – fekete (FEH-keh-teh)
- Czech – černý (CHER-nee)
- Romanian – negru (NEH-groo)
- Irish Gaelic – dubh (duv)
- Welsh – du (dee)
- Catalan – negre (NEH-greh)
- Ukrainian – chornyy (CHOR-nih)
- Bulgarian – cherno (CHER-no)
- Croatian – crno (TSR-no)
- Serbian – crno (TSR-no)
- Slovak – čierny (CHEER-nee)
- Slovenian – črna (CHR-nah)
- Latvian – melns (melns)
- Lithuanian – juoda (YOO-ah-dah)
- Estonian – must (moost)
- Icelandic – svartur (SVAHR-tur)
- Maltese – iswed (ISS-wed)
Asian Languages
- Mandarin Chinese – hēi (黑) (hay)
- Japanese – kuro (黒) (koo-roh)
- Korean – geomjeong (검정) (guhm-jung)
- Cantonese Chinese – hak1 (黑) (hahk)
- Hindi – kaala (काला) (KAH-lah)
- Bengali – kalo (কালো) (KAH-loh)
- Tamil – karuppu (கருப்பு) (kah-roo-poo)
- Telugu – nallu (నల్ల) (nuh-loo)
- Urdu – kaala (کالا) (KAH-lah)
- Punjabi – kala (ਕਾਲਾ) (KAH-lah)
- Thai – dam (ดำ) (dahm)
- Vietnamese – đen (den)
- Indonesian – hitam (HEE-tahm)
- Malay – hitam (HEE-tahm)
- Tagalog (Filipino) – itim (EE-teem)
- Burmese – na (နက်) (nah)
- Khmer (Cambodian) – khmau (ខ្មៅ) (khmow)
- Kazakh – qara (қара) (kah-rah)
- Uzbek – qora (koh-rah)
- Turkmen – gara (gah-rah)
- Kyrgyz – kara (кара) (kah-rah)
- Tajik – siyoh (сиёҳ) (see-yoh)
African Languages
- Swahili – nyeusi (nyeh-OO-see)
- Zulu – mnyama (m-NYAH-mah)
- Xhosa – mnyama (m-NYAH-mah)
- Hausa – baƙi (bah-kee)
- Yoruba – dúdú (DOO-doo)
- Amharic – ṭəqur (ṭuh-KOOR)
- Somali – madow (MAH-doh)
- Oromo – gurraacha (goo-RAH-cha)
- Igbo – oji (OH-jee)
- Shona – dema (DEH-mah)
Middle Eastern Languages
- Arabic – aswad (أسود) (ahs-WAHD)
- Hebrew – shachor (שחור) (shah-KHOR)
- Persian (Farsi) – siyah (سیاه) (see-YAH)
- Turkish – siyah (see-YAH)
- Kurdish – reş (resh)
- Pashto – تور (tor)
Indigenous & Native Languages
- Navajo (Diné Bizaad) – łizhin (thli-ZHIN)
- Cherokee (Tsalagi) – gv-na-ge-i (guh-nah-geh-ee)
- Cree (Nēhiyawēwin) – kaskitew (kah-SKEE-tew)
- Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) – makade (mah-KAH-deh)
- Quechua – yana (YAH-nah)
- Nahuatl – tliltic (TLEEL-tik)
- Māori – pango (PAH-ngo)
- Hawaiian – ʻeleʻele (eh-leh-eh-leh)
- Samoan – uliuli (oo-lee-oo-lee)
- Inuktitut – tungujuk (toon-goo-yook)
Other Global Languages
- Basque – beltz (belts)
- Albanian – zi (zee)
- Armenian – sev (սեվ) (sev)
- Georgian – shavi (შავი) (SHAH-vee)
- Mongolian – har (хар) (hahr)
- Tibetan – nagpo (ནག་པོ) (nahk-poh)
- Nepali – kalo (कालो) (KAH-loh)
- Sinhala – kalu (කළු) (KAH-loo)
- Malagasy – mainty (MAYN-tee)
- Fijian – loaloa (loh-ah-loh-ah)
- Tongan – ʻuli (oo-lee)
- Tahitian – ereere (eh-reh-eh-reh)
Constructed Languages
- Esperanto – nigra (NEE-grah)
- Klingon – qIj (kheeJ)
- Elvish (Sindarin) – morn (morn)
- Dothraki – hash (hash)
Language and cultural insights into the word “black”
Pronunciation Guide
- Spanish – negro (NEH-gro)
- The “g” is soft, like in “go.”
- French – noir (nwahr)
- The “r” is pronounced softly at the back of the throat.
- Japanese – kuro (黒) (koo-roh)
- The “u” is almost silent, making it sound like “kro.”
- Mandarin Chinese – hēi (黑) (hay)
- The tone is flat and high-pitched.
- Arabic – aswad (أسود) (ahs-WAHD)
- The “d” is emphasized, and the “s” is soft.
- Hindi – kaala (काला) (KAH-lah)
- The “a” is pronounced like the “u” in “cup.”
- Zulu – mnyama (m-NYAH-mah)
- The “ny” is a nasal sound, similar to “canyon.”
- Navajo – łizhin (thli-ZHIN)
- The “ł” is a voiceless “l,” and “zh” is like the “s” in “measure.”
- Māori – pango (PAH-ngo)
- The “ng” is pronounced as one sound, like in “sing.”
- Russian – chorniy (чёрный) (CHOR-nee)
- The “
Using Translations and Meanings in Sentences
Examples in Different Languages
Spanish – negro
- Meaning: Black, often used to describe color or objects.
- Sentence: El gato es negro. (The cat is black.)
French – noir
- Meaning: Black, used for color, objects, or even moods (e.g., humour noir – dark humor).
- Sentence: La robe est noire. (The dress is black.)
Japanese – kuro (黒)
- Meaning: Black, symbolizing elegance, mystery, or formality.
- Sentence: Kuroi kuruma wa kakkōii. (黒い車はかっこいい。) – The black car is cool.
Mandarin Chinese – hēi (黑)
- Meaning: Black, often used in phrases like hēi yè (黑夜 – dark night) or hēi bǎn (黑板 – blackboard).
- Sentence: Tā chuānzhe hēi yīfu. (她穿着黑衣服。) – She is wearing black clothes.
Arabic – aswad (أسود)
- Meaning: Black, often used to describe beauty, such as dark eyes or hair.
- Sentence: Alqalam aswad. (القلم أسود。) – The pen is black.
Hindi – kaala (काला)
- Meaning: Black, associated with time (kaal) or destruction in Hindu mythology.
- Sentence: Woh kaala kapda pehenta hai. (वह काला कपड़ा पहनता है।) – He wears black clothes.
Zulu – mnyama
- Meaning: Black, symbolizing power and strength.
- Sentence: Inja yami emnyama. (My dog is black.)
Russian – chorniy (чёрный)
- Meaning: Black, often used metaphorically for sorrow or misfortune.
- Sentence: U nego chorniy kot. (У него чёрный кот.) – He has a black cat.
Māori – pango
- Meaning: Black, representing the earth and renewal in Māori culture.
- Sentence: He pango te tae o tēnei waka. (The color of this car is black.)
Navajo – łizhin
- Meaning: Black, tied to spiritual symbolism and the direction “west.”
- Sentence: Łizhinígíí éí shash. (The bear is black.)
Swahili – nyeusi
- Meaning: Black, often used to describe the night sky or dark objects.
- Sentence: Nguo yake ni nyeusi. (His clothes are black.)
Turkish – siyah
- Meaning: Black, commonly used in everyday language.
- Sentence: Siyah bir araba aldım. (I bought a black car.)
Greek – mavro (μαύρο)
Sentence: To dress einai mavro. (Το φόρεμα είναι μαύρο.) – The dress is black.
Meaning: Black, associated with mourning or elegance.
Korean – geomjeong (검정)
- Meaning: Black, often used for objects or clothing.
- Sentence: Geomjeong saek jangi yeppeuda. (검정 색 장이 예쁘다.) – The black bag is pretty.
Quechua – yana
- Meaning: Black, used in Andean cultures to describe natural elements.
- Sentence: Yana pachamanta. (It is made of black cloth.)
Hawaiian – ʻeleʻele
- Meaning: Black, often used to describe the ocean or night.
- Sentence: He ʻeleʻele ka wai. (The water is black.)
Icelandic – svartur
- Meaning: Black, used in everyday descriptions.
- Sentence: Bíllinn er svartur. (The car is black.)
Amharic – ṭəqur
- Meaning: Black, often used to describe dark objects or skin.
- Sentence: Ṭəqur new. (ጥቁር ነው።) – It is black.
Thai – dam (ดำ)
- Meaning: Black, used for objects or in phrases like dam khon (ดำคน – black magic).
- Sentence: S̄eụ̄x dam. (เสื้อดำ) – Black shirt.
20. Nahuatl – tliltic
- Meaning: Black, used in Aztec culture to describe natural elements.
- Sentence: Tliltic in cuahuitl. (The tree is black.)
Cultural Insights in Usage
- In Western cultures, black is often associated with mourning or sophistication.
- In African cultures, black symbolizes power, strength, and beauty.
- In Asian cultures, black can represent mystery, elegance, or even negativity.
- In Indigenous cultures, black is tied to spiritual and natural symbolism.