tremble - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

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

The word “tremble” refers to the act of shaking involuntarily, often as a result of fear, anxiety, excitement, or physical conditions such as cold or weakness. It is a powerful word that conveys vulnerability and emotion, and it is used both literally and metaphorically in many contexts. This article explores the meaning, usage, and translations of “tremble” in 30 different languages.

Meaning of “Tremble”

Literal Meaning:
- To shake or quiver slightly, especially due to strong emotions, cold, or weakness.
- Example: “Her hands began to tremble as she held the letter.”
Metaphorical Use:
- To feel or express fear or anxiety.
- Example: “The country trembled at the thought of war.”
Symbolic Trembling:
- To signify a movement or vibration, often inanimate objects.
- Example: “The leaves trembled in the wind.”
Associated Emotions:
- Fear, excitement, anticipation, nervousness, or joy.
- Example: “He trembled with excitement before taking the stage.”

Common Usages of “Tremble” in Sentences

Physical Trembling:
- “She trembled with cold as the icy wind blew past her.”
- “The puppy trembled with fear during the thunderstorm.”
Emotional Trembling:
- “He trembled at the sound of her voice, filled with both love and dread.”
- “The villagers trembled at the sight of the approaching army.”
Metaphorical Trembling:
- “The earth trembled during the powerful earthquake.”
- “The child’s voice trembled as she confessed to breaking the vase.”
Trembling in Literature:
- Writers often use “tremble” to evoke vivid imagery of human vulnerability or nature’s power.

Translations of “Tremble” in 30 Languages

Language	Translation	Example Sentence
Spanish	Temblar	“Ella empezó a temblar de frío.”
French	Trembler	“Il tremblait de peur dans le noir.”
German	Zittern	“Seine Hände zitterten vor Aufregung.”
Italian	Tremare	“Le foglie cominciarono a tremare nel vento.”
Portuguese	Tremer	“Ele começou a tremer ao ouvir a notícia.”
Dutch	Beven	“Ze begon te beven van de kou.”
Russian	Дрожать (Drozhat’)	“Он дрожал от страха.”
Chinese (Simplified)	颤抖 (Chàndǒu)	“她在寒风中颤抖。”
Japanese	震える (Furueru)	“彼女は寒さで震えた。”
Korean	떨다 (Tteolda)	“그녀는 추위에 떨었다.”
Hindi	कांपना (Kāmpnā)	“वह ठंड से कांपने लगी।”
Bengali	কাঁপা (Kãpā)	“সে ঠান্ডায় কাঁপছিল।”
Turkish	Titremek	“Soğuktan titremeye başladı.”
Greek	Τρέμω (Trémo)	“Έτρεμε από το φόβο.”
Hebrew	לרעוד (Lir’od)	“היא רעדה מקור.”
Swedish	Darra	“Hon darrade av kyla.”
Norwegian	Skjelve	“Hun begynte å skjelve av kulde.”
Danish	Skælve	“Hun skælvede af frygt.”
Finnish	Vapista	“Hän vapisi kylmästä.”
Polish	Drżeć	“Zaczęła drżeć z zimna.”
Czech	Třást se	“Začal se třást zimou.”
Hungarian	Reszketni	“Elkezdett reszketni a hidegtől.”
Romanian	Tremura	“Ea a început să tremure de frig.”
Thai	สั่น (San)	“เธอสั่นเพราะหนาวจัด.”
Vietnamese	Rung	“Cô ấy run lên vì lạnh.”
Indonesian	Gemetar	“Dia mulai gemetar karena kedinginan.”
Malay	Menggeletar	“Dia menggeletar akibat kesejukan.”
Swahili	Kutetemeka	“Alianza kutetemeka kwa baridi.”
Filipino	Nanginig	“Siya ay nanginig sa lamig.”
Arabic	ارتجف (Irtajaf)	“بدأ يرتجف من البرد.”
Estonian	Värisema	“Ta hakkas külmast värisema.”

Additional Examples in Each Language

Spanish:
- “El suelo tembló durante el terremoto.”
- “Su voz temblaba al responder la pregunta.”
French:
- “Le sol tremblait sous leurs pieds.”
- “Sa voix tremblait d’émotion.”
German:
- “Er zitterte vor Angst, als er die Dunkelheit sah.”
- “Der Baum zitterte im Wind.”
Japanese:
- “彼の声は興奮で震えていた。”
- “地面が地震で震えた。”
Arabic:
- “صوته كان يرتجف من التوتر.”
- “الأرض اهتزت أثناء الزلزال.”

The word “tremble” captures a broad spectrum of emotions and physical reactions, making it a rich term in both literal and metaphorical senses. Across languages, it often evokes similar feelings of vulnerability and motion, underscoring the shared human experience of trembling in moments of intensity.