Hummingbirds are found throughout the Americas and are known for their small size, rapid wing beats, and ability to hover in midair. They are some of the smallest birds in the world and their name comes from the characteristic humming sound created by their beating wings which flap at high frequencies audible to humans. Hummingbirds have captivated people across cultures for centuries and as a result have acquired different common names in various languages. This article will explore the words for hummingbird in languages around the world.
English
The English word “hummingbird” refers to any bird in the family Trochilidae. This is the largest family of birds found only in the Americas. “Hummingbird” comes from the characteristic humming sound produced by their rapidly beating wings. Their ability to hover alongside flowers while feeding led to other folk names like “hover bird” and “hummer.”
Early English texts referred to hummingbirds as “murmuring birds,” “humming bee bird,” and “sun bird.” The name “hummingbird” was in use by the 1700s and became the most widely used term. This name has been borrowed into many other languages.
Spanish
Spanish has two common words for hummingbirds:
– Colibrí – This comes from the Classical Nahuatl word cōlōlli for hummingbirds. The Nahuatl language was spoken by the Aztecs in what is now central Mexico.
– Chupaflor – This literally means “flower sucker” or “flower licker” in reference to hummingbirds using their long beaks to drink nectar from flowers.
Other Spanish names include picaflor, chupamirto, pajarito, pico de lacre, and besaflor. Different terms are used in various regions across Latin America.
Portuguese
In Portuguese, hummingbirds are called:
– Beija-flor – Literally “flower kisser.” This is the most common term.
– Ferreirinho – “Little ironworker,” in reference to the fast movements of their beaks against flowers.
– Andorinhão-beija-flor – “Hummingbird swallow”
– Fura-bucho – “Belly poker”
Regional names also exist such as carriça, bisnague, and mariquita.
French
The French word is colibri, borrowed from the Spanish colibrí. Older French texts may refer to them as oiseau-mouche (“fly bird”).
Italian
Similarly, the Italian word for hummingbirds is colibrì, after the Spanish term. Other names include uccello mosca (“fly bird”) and l’uccello del sole (“bird of the sun”).
German
The German word Kolibri was also borrowed from Spanish. Earlier German texts called them Sommervögel or Sommervogel (“summer bird”).
Russian
Колибри (Kolibri) is directly borrowed from the Spanish colibrí. Львинокрыл (L’vinokryl) means “lion’s wing” and refers to their rapid wingbeats.
Dutch
Kolibrie comes from the Spanish colibrí. Other terms are neushoornvogel (“nosehorn bird,” referring to their beaks) and koninginnepage (“queen’s page”).
Polish
Koliberek also comes from Spanish colibrí. Earlier texts referred to them as ptaszek koliberek, meaning “little hummingbird.”
Greek
The Greek word is Κολιμπρί (kolimprí) from colibrí. They are also known as πέταλουδα (petaloúda) meaning “butterfly.”
Arabic
In Arabic, hummingbirds are called الطنان الطنانة (altanan altanana). This literally means “the humming one.”
Hebrew
The Hebrew term is ציפור קוליברי (tsipor kolibri) meaning “hummingbird.” They are also known as ציפור מצמצמת (tsipor matsmamét) meaning “fluttering bird.”
Hindi
The Hindi word is चहचहाता पक्षी (chahachaata pakshi) meaning “chirping bird.”
Tamil
In Tamil, hummingbirds are called துள்ளல் பறவை (thuḷḷal paṟavai) meaning “vibrating bird.”
Japanese
蜂鳥 (Hachidorî) meaning “bee bird” is used in Japanese. Other terms are 蜂蜜鳥 (Hachimitsudorî ) for “honeybee bird” and 紅震電鳥 (Benishakedorî) meaning “crimson lightning bird.”
Mandarin
In Mandarin Chinese, hummingbirds are called 蜂鸟 (fēng niǎo) meaning “bee bird.” Other terms are 长嘴鸟 (cháng zuǐ niǎo) for “long-beaked bird” and 蜂虎 (fēng hǔ) meaning “bee tiger.”
Quechua
The Quechua languages of the Andes have different words including q’enti, k’ankañawi, or k’aninpututa for hummingbirds.
Turkish
The Turkish word for hummingbirds is kolibri, borrowed from Spanish like in many other languages.
Swahili
In Swahili of East Africa, hummingbirds are called kasuku literally meaning “small bird.”
Swedish
Kolibri was also borrowed into Swedish from the Spanish colibrí. Other terms are humlefågel (“bumblebee bird”) and nektarfågel (“nectar bird”).
Names in Other Languages
| Language | Word for Hummingbird |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese | Chim ruồi |
| Khmer | ពពួកកោះ |
| Thai | นกจาบคอยาว |
| Indonesian | Burung kolibri |
| Malayalam | Thennavan |
| Korean | 꿀손 |
| Bengali | হাঁড়ি পাখি |
| Lao | ນົກອຶ່ງ |
| Nepali | हामिङ बर्ड |
| Amharic | ሰማይ ጉማሬ |
| Georgian | კოლიბრი |
| Hausa | Ƙuma-ƙuma |
| Sesotho | Notshi |
| Yoruba | Adaba ati feferu |
| Igbo | Agwo na-aziza nri |
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are called by many different colorful names in languages around the world. Though many languages adopted the Spanish “colibrí”, native terms often describe sounds, movement, feeding behaviors, or other characteristics of these special birds. From “flower kissers” to “honeybee birds”, these names capture the imagination much like the hummingbirds themselves. Their evocative names across cultures and languages reflect the longstanding fascination and affection that human societies have had for these smallest of birds.
