swaddle - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

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

The word “swaddle” refers to the act of wrapping someone, especially a baby, in a blanket or cloth, usually to keep them warm and secure. This term is often associated with the traditional method of wrapping infants snugly in cloth to ensure comfort and warmth.

Meaning of “Swaddle”

To Wrap Snugly (Especially Babies):
- “Swaddle” typically refers to the action of wrapping an infant in a blanket or cloth, leaving only the head exposed, to provide warmth and comfort.
- Example: “The nurse helped to swaddle the newborn to keep him warm.”
To Secure or Bind Tightly:
- The term can also be used more generally to describe wrapping or binding something tightly, such as clothing or fabric.
- Example: “She swaddled the bundle of clothes tightly to keep them safe.”
To Comfort or Provide Security:
- Swaddling is often associated with providing a sense of comfort or security, especially for infants, as the tight wrapping mimics the sensation of being in the womb.
- Example: “The baby fell asleep quickly after being swaddled in a soft blanket.”
In a Figurative Sense:
- The word “swaddle” can be used metaphorically to describe any action that involves enveloping someone or something in a way that offers comfort, safety, or containment.
- Example: “The company swaddled its new product in layers of marketing and advertisement.”

Common Usages in Context

For Babies:
- “New parents often learn how to properly swaddle their newborn to help them feel secure.”
- “The mother gently swaddled her baby before putting him down for a nap.”
In the Context of Comfort or Protection:
- “He swaddled the delicate book in protective padding to ensure it arrived safely.”
- “She swaddled her pet dog in a blanket to calm it during the thunderstorm.”
Metaphorically:
- “The company swaddled its new project in secrecy before the official announcement.”
- “He swaddled his emotions in layers of indifference to avoid showing vulnerability.”

Translations of “Swaddle” in 30 Languages

Language	Translation	Example
Spanish	Envolver	“Ella envolvió al bebé en una manta cálida.”
French	Emmitoufler	“Elle a emmitouflé son bébé dans une couverture douce.”
German	Wickeln	“Sie wickelte das Baby in ein weiches Tuch.”
Italian	Involgere	“Ha avvolto il bambino in una coperta calda.”
Portuguese	Envolver	“Ela envolveu o bebê em uma manta macia.”
Dutch	Inwikkelen	“Ze wikkelde de baby in een zachte deken.”
Russian	Заворачивать (Zavorachivat’)	“Она завернула младенца в теплое одеяло.”
Chinese (Simplified)	包裹 (Bāoguǒ)	“她把婴儿包裹在温暖的毯子里。”
Japanese	おくるみをする (Okurumi o suru)	“彼女は赤ちゃんを柔らかい毛布で包みました。”
Korean	싸다 (Ssada)	“그녀는 아기를 따뜻한 담요로 싸주었다.”
Hindi	लपेटना (Lapeṭnā)	“उसने बच्चे को गर्म कंबल में लपेट लिया।”
Bengali	মোড়ানো (Moṛānā)	“সে শিশুটিকে একটি উষ্ণ চাদরে মোড়ানো।”
Turkish	Sarmak	“O, bebeği sıcak bir örtüyle sardı.”
Greek	Τυλίγω (Tílí̱go)	“Τύλιξε το μωρό σε μια ζεστή κουβέρτα.”
Hebrew	לעטוף (Le’āṭof)	“היא עטפה את התינוק בשמיכה חמה.”
Swedish	Svepa	“Hon svepte in barnet i en mjuk filt.”
Norwegian	Sveipe	“Hun sveipet babyen inn i et varmt teppe.”
Danish	Vikle	“Hun viklede barnet i et blødt tæppe.”
Finnish	Kietoa	“Hän kietoi vauvan lämpimään peittoon.”
Polish	Zawijać	“Ona zawinęła dziecko w ciepły koc.”
Czech	Zabalit	“Zabalila dítě do teplé deky.”
Hungarian	Becsomagolni	“Ő becsomagolta a babát egy meleg takaróba.”
Romanian	Înfășura	“Ea a înfășurat bebelușul într-o pătură caldă.”
Thai	ห่อตัว (H̄àotuā)	“เธอห่อตัวทารกในผ้าห่มอุ่นๆ”
Vietnamese	Quấn	“Cô ấy quấn đứa bé trong một chiếc chăn ấm.”
Indonesian	Membungkus	“Dia membungkus bayi dengan selimut hangat.”
Malay	Membalut	“Dia membalut bayi dengan selimut yang lembut.”
Swahili	Kufunika	“Alimfunika mtoto kwa blanketi ya joto.”
Filipino	Ibalot	“Binalot niya ang sanggol sa isang malambot na kumot.”
Arabic	يلف (Yalf)	“هي لفت الطفل في بطانية دافئة.”
Estonian	Mähkima	“Ta mässis beebi sooja tekkiga.”

Additional Examples in Selected Languages

Spanish:
- “El médico enseñó a los padres cómo envolver al bebé adecuadamente.”
- “Ella envolvió al niño en una manta y lo calmó.”
French:
- “Elle emmitoufla son bébé dans une couverture chaude.”
- “Le médecin lui a montré comment emmitoufler son bébé.”
German:
- “Die Mutter wickelte das Baby in ein warmes Tuch.”
- “Er wickelte das Baby in eine weiche Decke.”
Chinese (Simplified):
- “她把孩子包裹在温暖的毯子里，让他安静下来。”
- “他学会了如何包裹婴儿以保持温暖。”
Arabic:
- “أمضت وقتًا طويلًا وهي تلف الطفل في البطانية.”
- “قد أظهر لها الطبيب كيفية لف الطفل بشكل صحيح.”

The word “swaddle” is commonly used to describe the act of wrapping an infant tightly in cloth or a blanket, but it can also be applied more broadly in various contexts to describe securing or enclosing something snugly. Whether it’s used in reference to babies or metaphorically, swaddling conveys a sense of protection and comfort. Understanding the word in different languages helps to illustrate its universal meaning of care, security, and warmth across cultures.