The Word “Turtle”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
Meaning of “Turtle”
A turtle is a reptile known for its distinctive, hard shell that provides protection from predators. Turtles belong to the order Testudines, which includes both aquatic species (like sea turtles) and terrestrial species (such as tortoises). Turtles are found in various environments, from oceans and rivers to forests and deserts. Their unique shells are made of bone and cartilage and are a defining characteristic of their species.
In addition to the biological definition, the word “turtle” can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who moves slowly or someone who withdraws into a shell, often to avoid confrontation or stress.
Usage of “Turtle” in Different Contexts
- Biological Context:
“The turtle swam gracefully in the ocean, its shell glistening in the sunlight.” - Metaphorical Usage:
“He tends to turtle when faced with difficult situations, avoiding confrontation.” - Environmental Context:
“The sea turtles are facing the threat of extinction due to plastic pollution in the oceans.” - Cultural Reference:
“In many cultures, the turtle is seen as a symbol of wisdom and longevity.” - As a Pet:
“She decided to adopt a small turtle as a pet for her aquarium.”
Translations of “Turtle” in 30 Languages
The word “turtle” is translated differently across various languages, but the fundamental concept of a shelled reptile is widely understood. Below are translations of “turtle” in 30 languages, along with example sentences showing how the word is used.
| Language | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| English | Turtle | “The turtle slowly crawled across the beach.” |
| Spanish | Tortuga | “La tortuga nada en el mar.” (The turtle swims in the sea.) |
| French | Tortue | “La tortue a un carapace dure.” (The turtle has a hard shell.) |
| German | Schildkröte | “Die Schildkröte bewegt sich langsam.” (The turtle moves slowly.) |
| Italian | Tartaruga | “La tartaruga vive in acqua.” (The turtle lives in water.) |
| Portuguese | Tartaruga | “A tartaruga está nadando no oceano.” (The turtle is swimming in the ocean.) |
| Russian | Черепаха (Cherepakha) | “Это большая черепаха.” (This is a large turtle.) |
| Chinese | 乌龟 (Wūguī) | “这只乌龟生活在水中。” (This turtle lives in the water.) |
| Japanese | カメ (Kame) | “そのカメは海で泳いでいます。” (The turtle is swimming in the sea.) |
| Korean | 거북이 (Geobugi) | “거북이는 매우 느리게 움직입니다.” (The turtle moves very slowly.) |
| Hindi | कछुआ (Kachhua) | “वह कछुआ धीरे-धीरे चल रहा है।” (The turtle is walking slowly.) |
| Bengali | কচ্ছপ (Kacchap) | “কচ্ছপ জলে সাঁতার কাটছে।” (The turtle is swimming in the water.) |
| Turkish | Kaplumbağa | “Bir kaplumbağa çok yavaş hareket eder.” (A turtle moves very slowly.) |
| Dutch | Schildpad | “Het schildpad leeft zowel op land als in het water.” (The turtle lives both on land and in water.) |
| Swedish | Sköldpadda | “Den sköldpadda simmar i vattnet.” (The turtle swims in the water.) |
| Norwegian | Skilpadde | “En skilpadde kan leve i flere tiår.” (A turtle can live for several decades.) |
| Greek | Χελώνα (Chelóna) | “Η χελώνα περπατά αργά.” (The turtle walks slowly.) |
| Polish | Żółw | “Widziałem żółwia na plaży.” (I saw a turtle on the beach.) |
| Czech | Želva | “Ta želva je velmi stará.” (This turtle is very old.) |
| Finnish | Kilpikonna | “Kylmässä vedessä kilpikonna voi jäädä eloon.” (In cold water, the turtle can survive.) |
| Hungarian | Teknős | “A teknős a vízben él.” (The turtle lives in the water.) |
| Hebrew | צב (Tzav) | “הצב צועד לאט.” (The turtle walks slowly.) |
| Thai | เต่า (Tào) | “เต่า เดินช้า” (The turtle walks slowly.) |
| Indonesian | Kura-kura | “Saya melihat kura-kura di taman.” (I saw a turtle in the garden.) |
| Malay | Penyu | “Penyu itu berenang di laut.” (The turtle swims in the sea.) |
| Vietnamese | Rùa | “Con rùa di chuyển rất chậm.” (The turtle moves very slowly.) |
| Ukrainian | Черепаха (Cherepakha) | “Ця черепаха повільно повзає.” (This turtle crawls slowly.) |
| Romanian | Țestoasă | “Am văzut o țestoasă pe plajă.” (I saw a turtle on the beach.) |
| Swahili | Kasa | “Kasa inatembea polepole.” (The turtle moves slowly.) |
| Persian | لاکپشت (Lākposht) | “این لاکپشت به آهستگی حرکت میکند.” (This turtle moves slowly.) |
| Malayalam | കച്ചവടം (Kachavada) | “ഈ കച്ചവടം കടലിൽ നീന്തുന്നു.” (This turtle is swimming in the sea.) |
| Tamil | மாளிகை (Māḷikai) | “இந்த மாளிகை தங்கியுள்ள இடத்தில் பின்பு விடுவோம்.” (This turtle will be released after a while.) |
| Arabic | سلحفاة (Sulḥafāh) | “السلحفاة تتحرك ببطء.” (The turtle moves slowly.) |
The word “turtle” has a wide range of meanings, from describing a slow-moving creature to symbolizing patience and wisdom in various cultures. While it is used in biological, metaphorical, and even cultural contexts, the core idea of a turtle as a shelled, slow-moving reptile remains consistent across languages. Whether in reference to an animal in the wild or as a symbol in literature or art, the turtle plays an important role in both nature and human culture.
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