lily - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The Word “Lily”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The word “lily” refers to a type of flowering plant that belongs to the genus Lilium, known for its large, attractive flowers. In various cultures, lilies are associated with purity, beauty, and renewal. The word “lily” has multiple interpretations in literature, art, and symbolism. In this article, we will explore the meaning, different uses, and translations of the word “lily” across 30 languages.

Meaning of “Lily”

Botanical Definition:
- The lily is a genus of flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. These plants are known for their large, often fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, which can be white, yellow, pink, red, or orange. Lilies are commonly cultivated for decorative purposes, in gardens, and as cut flowers.
- Example: “She planted a bed of white lilies in her garden.”
Symbolism:
- Lilies are often associated with purity, innocence, and beauty. They are a popular flower in various cultural and religious ceremonies, including weddings and funerals.
- Example: “The bride carried a bouquet of white lilies symbolizing purity.”
In Literature and Art:
- In literature, the lily is often used as a symbol of beauty, love, or loss. The delicate nature of the flower makes it a frequent motif in poetry and visual arts.
- Example: “The poet described her beauty as radiant as a lily in bloom.”
As a Name:
- The word “lily” is sometimes used as a given name for girls, inspired by the flower’s elegance and meaning.
- Example: “Her name is Lily, and she is as graceful as the flower.”

Common Usages in Context

Botanical Context:
- “The lilies in the garden bloomed in early spring, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.”
Symbolic Context:
- “The church was decorated with lilies for the Easter service, representing resurrection and purity.”
Literary Context:
- “Her smile was as pure and gentle as the petals of a lily.”
As a Personal Name:
- “Lily always loved spending time in her grandmother’s garden, where the lilies grew in abundance.”

Translations of “Lily” in 30 Languages

Language	Translation	Example
Spanish	Lirio	“El lirio es una flor común en los jardines.”
French	Lys	“Les lys dans le jardin fleurissent au printemps.”
German	Lilie	“Die Lilien im Garten duften süß und zart.”
Italian	Giglio	“Il giglio è simbolo di purezza in molte culture.”
Portuguese	Lírio	“Os lírios brancos são comuns em casamentos.”
Dutch	Lelie	“De lelies bloeien prachtig in de lente.”
Russian	Лилия (Liliya)	“Лилии в саду распустились весной.”
Chinese (Simplified)	百合 (Bǎihé)	“百合花是春天的象征，通常出现在婚礼中。”
Japanese	ユリ (Yuri)	“ユリは美しさと純粋さの象徴です。”
Korean	백합 (Baekhap)	“백합은 순수함을 상징하는 꽃입니다.”
Hindi	कुमुद (Kumud)	“कुमुद फूल को भारतीय संस्कृति में पवित्र माना जाता है।”
Bengali	পদ্ম (Padma)	“পদ্মফুলের মতো শুদ্ধ এবং সুন্দর।”
Turkish	Zambak	“Zambaklar, yaz aylarında en güzel çiçeklerden biridir.”
Greek	Κρίνος (Krinós)	“Ο κρίνος είναι το σύμβολο της αγνότητας.”
Hebrew	שושן (Shoshan)	“השושן מצוין בסיפור המקראי כצמח קדוש.”
Swedish	Lilja	“Liljorna växte vackert i trädgården.”
Norwegian	Lilje	“Liljene var de mest doftande blommorna i trädgården.”
Danish	Lilje	“Liljerne blomstrer tidligt på våren.”
Finnish	Lilja	“Liljat ovat kauniita ja tuoksuvat ihanalta.”
Polish	Lilia	“Lilie są symbolem czystości w wielu religiach.”
Czech	Lilie	“Lilie jsou oblíbené květiny na svatbách.”
Hungarian	Liliom	“A liliomok tavasszal virágoznak.”
Romanian	Liliac	“Liliacul este o floare populară în grădinile românești.”
Thai	ลิลลี่ (Lilli)	“ดอกลิลลี่เป็นสัญลักษณ์ของความบริสุทธิ์ในหลายวัฒนธรรม.”
Vietnamese	Hoa ly	“Hoa ly là biểu tượng của sự thuần khiết và sắc đẹp.”
Indonesian	Lili	“Bunga lili sering digunakan dalam acara pernikahan.”
Malay	Lili	“Lili adalah bunga yang sering dijadikan simbol kesucian.”
Swahili	Lily	“Lily ni moja ya maua maarufu katika sherehe za harusi.”
Filipino	Liryo	“Ang liryo ay simbolo ng kalinisan at kagandahan.”
Arabic	زنبق (Zanbaq)	“الزنبق هو رمز للطهارة والجمال في العديد من الثقافات.”
Estonian	Liilia	“Liiliad on kevadel kõige kaunimad lilled.”

Additional Examples in Selected Languages

French:
- “Les lys blancs sont souvent utilisés dans les arrangements floraux pour des événements spéciaux.”
- “Elle a décoré la salle avec des lys, qui symbolisent la pureté.”
Spanish:
- “El lirio es una flor hermosa que se encuentra comúnmente en los jardines europeos.”
- “Durante la ceremonia, las niñas portaban lirios blancos como símbolo de pureza.”
German:
- “Lilien sind nicht nur schön, sondern haben auch eine lange symbolische Bedeutung in verschiedenen Kulturen.”
- “Die Lilien in ihrem Garten standen in voller Blüte.”
Chinese (Simplified):
- “百合花常常出现在婚礼和重要的仪式中。”
- “她在花园里种了许多白色的百合花。”
Arabic:
- “الزنبق يرمز إلى الجمال والطهارة، وغالبًا ما يتم تضمينه في مراسم الزواج.”
- “عاشت في منزل مزين بالزنبق، وهو دليل على نقاء الحياة.”

Lilies, with their elegant petals and powerful symbolism, remain one of the most admired flowers in the world. Whether grown in gardens or used in significant cultural and religious ceremonies, the lily’s presence evokes beauty, purity, and renewal. Across languages, this flower is celebrated in diverse ways, embodying values that resonate deeply in human culture and society.