Owl - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

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

The word “owl” refers to a type of bird known for its nocturnal habits, large eyes, and distinctive hooting call. Owls are found in various regions around the world, and their unique characteristics have made them symbols in many cultures. This article will explore the meanings and uses of the word “owl”, provide translations in 30 different languages, and give examples of how the word is used in context.

Meaning and Usage of “Owl”

Basic Definition (A Nocturnal Bird)
An owl is a nocturnal bird known for its ability to fly silently and its keen sense of hearing and sight, particularly in low-light conditions. Owls are carnivorous and prey on small animals such as rodents, insects, and other birds.
- Example: “The owl flew silently through the dark forest.”
  (Here, “owl” refers to the bird that flies at night.)
Symbolism (Wisdom and Knowledge)
In many cultures, the owl is a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and mystery. This association comes from the bird’s ability to see in the dark, which is often linked to insight or the ability to understand hidden truths.
- Example: “In ancient Greece, the owl was a symbol of wisdom, often associated with Athena.”
  (Here, the “owl” symbolizes wisdom in Greek culture.)
In Popular Culture (The Owl as a Character)
Owls frequently appear in literature, folklore, and popular culture as wise, mysterious, or mystical creatures. For example, the owl is a prominent character in the Harry Potter series.
- Example: “Hedwig, Harry Potter’s owl, was a loyal companion throughout the series.”
  (In this case, “owl” refers to a character in a fictional story.)
In Metaphor (An Expression of Silence or Stealth)
The word “owl” can also be used metaphorically to describe someone or something that is quiet, stealthy, or observant, much like the bird itself.
- Example: “She moved through the crowd like an owl, unnoticed and silent.”
  (Here, the “owl” metaphorically represents quiet movement.)

Translations of the Word “Owl” in 30 Languages

Below is a table showing how the word “owl” is translated into 30 different languages, along with example sentences in each language.

Language	Translation	Example Sentence (in the target language)	English Translation of Example
English	Owl	“The owl flew silently through the dark forest.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Spanish	Búho	“El búho voló silenciosamente a través del bosque oscuro.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
French	Hibou	“Le hibou vola silencieusement à travers la forêt sombre.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
German	Eule	“Die Eule flog lautlos durch den dunklen Wald.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Italian	Civetta	“La civetta volò silenziosamente attraverso la foresta buia.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Portuguese	Coruja	“A coruja voou silenciosamente pela floresta escura.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Russian	Сова (Sova)	“Сова пролетела беззвучно через темный лес.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Chinese (Simplified)	猫头鹰 (Māo tóu yīng)	“猫头鹰悄无声息地飞过黑暗的森林。”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Japanese	フクロウ (Fukurō)	“フクロウは暗い森を静かに飛んでいった。”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Korean	올빼미 (Olppaemi)	“올빼미는 어두운 숲을 조용히 날아갔다.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Hindi	उल्लू (Ullu)	“उल्लू अंधेरे जंगल में चुपचाप उड़ता गया।”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Bengali	পেঁচা (Pēchā)	“পেঁচাটি অন্ধকার বনের মধ্যে নীরবে উড়ে গেল।”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Urdu	الو (Ullu)	“الو اندھیری جنگل میں خاموشی سے اُڑتا گیا۔”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Turkish	Baykuş	“Baykuş karanlık ormanın içinde sessizce uçtu.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Dutch	Uil	“De uil vloog geruisloos door het donkere bos.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Greek	Κουκουβάγια (Koukouvágia)	“Η κουκουβάγια πέταξε αθόρυβα μέσα από το σκοτεινό δάσος.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Swedish	Uggla	“Ugglan flög tyst genom den mörka skogen.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Danish	Ugle	“Uglen fløj lydløst gennem den mørke skov.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Finnish	Pöllö	“Pöllö lensi äänettömästi läpi pimeän metsän.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Norwegian	Ugle	“Uglen fløy stille gjennom den mørke skogen.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Polish	Sowa	“Sowa leciała cicho przez ciemny las.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Czech	Sova	“Sova letěla tiše temným lesem.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Hungarian	Bagoly	“A bagoly hangtalanul repült át a sötét erdőn.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Hebrew	ינשוף (Yanshuf)	“הינשוף עף בשקט דרך היער החשוך.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Thai	นกฮูก (Nok huk)	“นกฮูกบินผ่านป่ามืดไปอย่างเงียบๆ”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Vietnamese	Cú	“Con cú bay yên lặng qua khu rừng tối.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Indonesian	Burung hantu	“Burung hantu terbang diam-diam melewati hutan gelap.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Filipino	Kuwago	“Ang kuwago ay lumipad nang tahimik sa madilim na kagubatan.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Malay	Burung hantu	“Burung hantu terbang senyap melalui hutan gelap.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Swahili	Bunda	“Bunda aliruka kimya kimya kupitia msitu mweusi.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)
Arabic	بومة (Būmah)	“طارت البومة بصمت عبر الغابة المظلمة.”	(The owl flew silently through the dark forest.)

Conclusion

The word “owl” refers to a nocturnal bird that has become an iconic symbol of wisdom and mystery in many cultures. It is also used in a variety of contexts, from describing the bird itself to metaphorically representing qualities such as silence, stealth, or insight. The translations of “owl” across 30 different languages demonstrate the universality of the bird’s symbolism and the widespread recognition of its distinctive features.

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