In honor of International Women’s Day coming up on March 8th, I thought it would be interesting to explore how the word “woman” translates across many languages and cultures around the world.
As a lover of etymology and global citizenship, I’m always curious to learn simple terms in other tongues that provide a window into unique aspects of various societies.
And since language shapes how groups conceive of concepts, looking at translations for something so fundamental as ‘woman’ seems especially relevant for an annual event celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.
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So, in the spirit of cross-cultural understanding for International Women’s Day 2026, I wanted to highlight 50+ easy ways to say “woman” in different languages, both common and more obscure. From romance tongues to Asian and Slavic languages!
What Is The International Women’s Day Celebration?
Observed each year on March 8th, this global holiday has evolved over a century to celebrate progress toward gender equality and women’s empowerment. The first gatherings occurred in the early 1900s – mostly socialist rallies pushing for better pay and voting rights.
Flash forward to today, and International Women’s Day has gone mainstream. People around the planet now recognize the date to reflect on the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women.
Of course, critical issues like equal pay, physical autonomy, and violence against women still persist globally. But March 8th spotlights the collective struggles and victories on the long road to equality.
Each year carries a new theme – from women in leadership to sustainability to bridging the digital gender gap. The common thread? Calls to action, so future generations of women can thrive free from discrimination.
The United Nations now sponsors International Women’s Day events that connect activists, build camaraderie, and renew motivation.
And you don’t have to be a hardcore feminist or policy wonk to get involved. In many countries, men join in on the day of recognition. Simple gestures like wearing purple, rallying for equality, or sharing women’s stories on social media keep the activist fires burning all these years later.
How Do You Say ‘Women’ In Different Languages?
Mujeres (Spanish), vrouwen (Dutch), kobiety (Polish), setoch (ሴቶች – Amharic), mahilāēn (महिलाएं – Hindi),
and srey (ស្ត្រី – Khmer) are all ways to say ‘women’ in vastly different languages.
The words we use to describe the world carry subtle significance – not just dictionary definitions but also cultural connotations. And when it comes to a concept as fundamental as “womanhood,” parsing translations opens windows into how different societies perceive feminine identity.
Let’s learn how to say “women” in several languages you can learn with the Ling app:
How To Say ‘Women’ In Romance Languages
From trailblazing female voices like Frida Kahlo and Marie Curie to reforms improving women’s welfare, International Women’s Day echoes loudly across Romance-language cultures. Amplify those passionate messages of equality by mastering the words below!
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Mujeres | Moo-heh-res |
| French | Femmes | Fem |
| Italian | Donne | Doh-nay |
| Portuguese | Mulheres | Moo-lyehr-esh |
| Romanian | Femei | Feh-may |
How To Say ‘Women’ In Germanic Languages
While still advancing, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark rank high for working women. Connect better with the locals by learning the words below!
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| German | Frauen | Frow-en |
| Dutch | Vrouwen | Vrow-wen |
| Swedish | Kvinnor | Kvin-nor |
| Danish | Kvinder | Kvin-der |
| Norwegian | Kvinner | Kvin-ner |
How To Say ‘Women’ In Slavic Languages
Though women’s rights strides lag in parts of Eastern Europe, you can show your support by learning some of these easy translations below!
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Russian | Женщины | Zhenshchiny |
| Polish | Kobiety | Koh-byeh-ty |
| Czech | Ženy | Zheh-ny |
| Slovak | Ženy | Zheh-ny |
| Bulgarian | Жени | Zheni |
| Serbian | Жене / Žene | Zheh-neh |
| Croatian | Žene | Zheh-neh |
| Slovenian | Ženske | Zhen-skeh |
| Ukrainian | Жінки | Zhyhn-ky |
How To Say ‘Women’ In African Languages
Africa is home to thousands of languages, and each one reflects a unique cultural view of community and identity. Learning how to say “women” in these languages is a small but meaningful way to connect with people across the continent and celebrate women globally.
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Yoruba | Àwọn obìnrin | Ah-won oh-been-reen |
| Swahili | Wanawake | Wah-nah-wah-keh |
| Somali | Dumar | Doo-mar |
| Amharic | ሴቶች | Setoch |
| Afrikaans | Vroue | Frow-uh |
How To Say ‘Women’ In Asian Languages
From Taiwan’s first feminist party to South Korea’s abolition of abortion bans, study Asian language vocabulary focused on women to truly connect with the locals.
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Chinese | 女人 | Nǚrén |
| Japanese | 女性 | Josei |
| Korean | 여성 | Yeoseong |
| Hindi | महिलाएं | Mahilāēn |
| Bengali | নারী | Nārī |
| Thai | ผู้หญิง | Phū̂ ying |
| Vietnamese | Phụ nữ | Foo noo |
| Malay | Wanita | Wanita |
| Indonesian | Wanita | Wanita |
| Tagalog | Kababaihan | Ka-ba-bai-han |
| Turkish | Kadınlar | Kadınlar |
| Arabic (Standard) | نساء | Nisā’ |
How To Say ‘Women’ In Less Commonly Studied Languages
To round things out, here are a few more languages from across Asia, Oceania, and Central Asia. These are all less popular languages that most language apps don’t teach. Luckily, you can learn them with the Ling app.
Learning how to say “women” in different languages is a small but meaningful way to appreciate linguistic diversity while celebrating women around the world.
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Mongolian | эмэгтэйчүүд | emegteichuud |
| Burmese | အမျိုးသမီးများ | a-myo-tha-mee myar |
| Khmer | ស្ត្រី | srey |
| Lao | ແມ່ຍິງ | mae ying |
| Nepali | महिलाहरू | mahilāharū |
| Taiwanese Hokkien | chabó͘-lâng | chah-boh-lang |
| Cebuano | mga babaye | mga ba-ba-ye |
| Kazakh | әйелдер | äyelder |
| Uzbek | ayollar | ayollar |
| Azerbaijani | qadınlar | qadınlar |
| Māori | ngā wāhine | ngah waa-hee-neh |
| Icelandic | konur | koh-nur |
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Referring To Women In Different Languages
When learning how to talk about women in different languages, a few common issues can cause confusion or even sound disrespectful. Here are a few things worth keeping in mind.
- Don’t confuse “woman” with “girl.” Many languages clearly separate adult women from girls. For example, in Spanish mujer means woman, while niña means girl — using the wrong one can sound awkward or even insulting.
- Avoid outdated or formal words in casual conversation. Some languages have terms that technically mean “woman” but sound old-fashioned or overly formal today.
- Be careful with slang you see online. Words trending on social media may not be appropriate everywhere or for everyone. It’s always safer to stick with the standard word until you understand the cultural context.
- Pay attention to plural forms. Many languages change the word depending on whether you’re talking about one woman or several women. Using the singular when you mean the plural (or vice versa) is a very common learner mistake.
- Remember that tone matters. Even if the translation is correct, context and tone can change how a word feels, or even what it means. Listening to how native speakers use the word in real conversations is the best way to avoid sounding awkward.
Frequently Asked Questions About International Women’s Day Around The World
Is International Women’s Day Celebrated All Over The World?
Yes, International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. While the scale and traditions vary by region, March 8 is widely recognized as a day to highlight women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality.
How Many Countries Recognize International Women’s Day?
Over 100 countries recognize International Women’s Day in some form. In many places it’s marked by public events and campaigns, and in more than 25 countries it is also an official public holiday.
Why Purple For Women’s Day?
Purple represents justice and dignity, which are core themes of the women’s rights movement. The color was adopted by the Women’s Social and Political Union in the early 1900s and later became closely associated with International Women’s Day celebrations.
Which Countries Celebrate Women’s Day On August 9?
South Africa celebrates National Women’s Day on August 9. This date commemorates the 1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, when thousands of women protested apartheid-era pass laws.
Celebrating Women Through Language: Key Takeaways
As you can see, learning how to say “women” in different languages is more than just a vocabulary exercise.
From Romance languages like mujeres to Slavic terms like kobiety and African words like àwọn obìnrin, each translation reflects a different culture and perspective. Throughout this post, we explored how languages around the world express this powerful concept while also learning about the meaning behind International Women’s Day.
Ready To Empower Women Through Languages?
Well, folks, we’ve just scratched the surface of all there is to discover about languages! But one thing is crystal clear – a little bit of linguistic and cultural know-how goes a long way in making the world more accessible.
And speaking of linguistics… would you like to learn a new language? If the answer is yes, then you’ve gotta try out the Ling app!
Available for iOS, Android, and the web, Ling offers the perfect starting boost into everything from airport vocabulary to weekend trip itineraries in 70+ languages. No dull textbooks or monotonous worksheets – just quick 10-minute lessons made to fit your busy, beautiful life!
Download the Ling app and start your language journey today!
