Planetary Linguistics

Names of the Planets English is generally recognized as the international language for professional astronomy. However, the various languages often also have their own words which are used in everyday speech.
English Sun OldEnglish Sunne Latin Sol Italian Sole Ligurian S Venetian Soe Spanish Sol Galacian Sol Catalan Sol Portuguese Sol French Soleil Jrriais Sol Provenal Solely Walloon Solea Romanian Soare Sicilian Suli Maltese Ix-Xemx Esperanto Suno German Sonne Low German Snn Dutch Zon Alemannish.Sunne Yiddish Zun Limburgish Zon Klsch Sunn W. Frisian Sinne Luxembourg.Sonn Afrikaans Son Scots Sun Swedish Solen Norwegian Sola Danish Solen Icelandic Sl Faroese Sl Finnish Aurinko Albanian Dielli Estonian Pike Latvian Saule Hungarian Nap Czech Slunce old Czech Slunce Slovenian Sonce Croatian Sunce Serbian Sunce Polish Slonce Georgian Mze Russian Solnce Ukrainian Sontse Belarus. Sontsa Lithuanian Saul Samogitian Saul Bulgarian Slanze Basque Eguzkia Greek Helios Sanskrit Surya Gujarati Surya Bengali Surya Tamil Njaayar Thai Surya Irish Grian Sc. Gaelic Grian Welsh Haul Breton Heol Hebrew Shemesh Arabic Shams Turkish Gnes Uzbek Quyosh Farsi Khorshid Cantonese Taiyeung Mandarin Taiyang Korean Taeyang Japanese Taiyou Filipino Araw Indonesian Matahari Malay Matahari Tahitian Mahana Hawaiian Laa Maori R Maori Nahuatl Tonatiuh Nahuatl Swahili Jua Xhosa iLanga Sesotho Letsatsi Sepedi Letsatsi Sepedi Tswana Letsatsi Zulu iLanga Sumerian Utu Babylonian Samas Klingon Sol Mercury Mercurius Mercurius Mercurio Mercuio Mercurio Mercurio Mercurio Mercuri Mercrio Mercure Mrtchure Mrcure Mierkeure Mercur Mircuriu Merkurju Merkuro Merkur Merkur Mercurius Merkur Merkur Mercuur Merrkuur Merkurius Merkur Mercurius Mercur Merkurius Merkur Merkur Merkr Merkur Merkurius Merkuri Merkuur Merkurs Merkr Merkur Dobropan Merkur Merkur Merkur Merkury Merkuri Merkurij Merkuriy Merkury Merkurijus Merkorjos Merkurij Merkurio Hermes Budha Budh Budh Budan Budha Mearcair Mearcair Mercher Merc'her Kochav Chama Otaared Merkr Utorid Tir Suising Shuixing Soosung Suisei Merkuryo Merkurius Utarid Taa'ero Ukaliali'i Venus Earth Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Venus Eore Mna Mars Iupiter Saturnus Venus Terra Luna Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Venere Terra Luna Marte Giove Saturno Urano Nettuno Plutone Venere Tra Luna Marte Giove Satrno Uran Nettun Pluton Venere Tera una Marte Xove Saturno Urano Netuno Plutone Venus Tierra Luna Marte Jpiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Plutn Venus Terra La Marte Xpiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Plutn Venus Terra Lluna Mart Jpiter Saturn Ur Nept Plut Vnus Terra Lua Marte Jpiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Pluto Vnus Terre Lune Mars Jupiter Saturne Uranus Neptune Pluton Vnus Trre Leune Mars Jupiter Saturne Uranus Nepteune Pliuton Vnus Trra Lena Mrs Jupitr Saturno Urano Neptuno Pluton (Franco-Provenal) Venusse Tere Lune Mss Djupiter Satne Uranusse Nton Pluton Venus Pamint Luna Marte Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Vniri Terra Luna Marti Giovi Saturnu Uranu Nettunu Plutoni Venere Id-Dinja il-Qamar Marte Gove Saturno Uranu Nettunu Plutone Venuso Tero Luno Marso Jupitero Saturno Urano Neptuno Plutono Venus Erde Mond Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Venus Eer Maand Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Venus Aarde Maan Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Venus Erde Mond Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto (Alemannisch) Venus Erd Levone Mars Yupiter Zaturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Venus Eerd Maon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uraan Neptuun Pluto Veenu d Moond Mars Juppitter Satturrn Urranu Nepptuun Pluuto Fenus Ierde Moanne Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto (West Frisian) Venus erd Mound Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto (Luxembourgish) Venus Aarde Maan Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Venus Yird Muin Maurs Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Venus Jorden Mnen Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Venus Jorda Mnen Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Venus Jorden Mnen Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Venus Jr Tungl Mars Jpter Satrnus ranus Neptnus Plt Venus Jrin Mni Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Venus Maa Kuu Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Afrdita Toka Hna Marsi Jupiteri Saturni Uranusi Neptuni Plutoni Veenus Maa Kuu Marss Jupiter Saturn Uraan Neptuun Pluuto Vene'ra Zeme Me'ness Marss Jupiters Saturns Ura'ns Neptu'ns Pluto Vnusz Fld Hold Mars Jupiter Szaturnusz Urnusz Neptunusz Plt Venuse Zeme Mesc Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluto Krasopani Zeme Mesic Smrtonos Kralomoc Hladolet Nebestanka Vodopan Pluto Venera Zemlja Mesec Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Venera Zemlja Mjesec Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Venera Zemlja Mesec Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Wenus Ziemia Ksiezyc Mars Jowisz Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Venera Dedamizha Mthware Marsi Iupiteri Saturni Urani Neptuni Plutoni Venera Zemlja Luna Mars Yupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Venera Zemlya Misyatsy Mars Yupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Venera Zyamlya Mesyats Mars Yupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton (Belarussian) Venera Zem Mnulis Marsas Jupiteris Saturnas Uranas Neptnas Plutonas Ausrn Zem Mienolis Zizdr Jopteris Soturns Urans Naptns Plutuons Venera Zemya Luna Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Artizar Lurra Ilargia Martitza Jupiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Pluton Aphrodite Gaea Selene Ares Zeus Kronos Uranos Poseidon Pluton Sukra Dhara Chandra Mangala Brhaspati Sani Shukra Prathivi Chandra Mangal Guru Shani Prajapathie Varun Yamdev Shukra Prithivi Chand Mangal BrihaspatiShani Vellhi Buumi Tingalh Sevvaay Viyaazhan Sani Sukra Lok Chandra Angkarn Prhasbadi Sao Uranus Neptune Pluto Vineas An Domhan Gealach Mars Ipatar Satarn Urnas Neiptin Pltn Ribhinn An Talamh Gealach Corg Bliogh Satarn Ur nus Neiptin Plit (Scottish Gaelic) Gwener Daear Lleuad Mawrth Iau Sadwrn Wranws Neifion Plwton Gwener Douar Loar Meurzh Yaou Sadorn Ouran Neizhan Ploudon Nogah Eretz Yareach Ma'adim Tzedek Shabtay Uranus Neptune Pluto Zuhra Ard Quamar Merrikh Mushtarie Zuhal Uraanus Niptuun Plutoon Vens Dnya Ay Mars Jpiter Satrn Urans Neptn Plton Zuhra Yer Oy Mirrikh Mushtarij Zuhal Naheed Zamin Mah Bahram Berjis Kayvon Oranos Nepton Pluton Gumsing Deiqao Yueqao Fuosing Moqsing Tousing Tinwongsing Huoiwongsing Mengwongsing Jinxing Diqiu Yueqiu Huoxing Muxing Tuxing Tianwangxing Haiwangxing Mingwangxing Kumsung Jeegoo Dal Hwasung Moksung Tosung Chunwangsung Haewangsung Myungwangsung Kinsei Chikyuu Tsuki Kasei Mokusei Dosei Ten'ousei Kaiousei Meiousei Venus Daigdig Buwan Marte Jupiter Saturno Uranus Neptuno Pluto Venus Bumi Bulan Mars Yupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Zuhrah Bumi Bulan Marikh Musytari Zuhal Uranus Neptun Pluto Ta'urua Fenua Marama Maunu'Ura Ta'urua-nui Feti'a Tea Hookuuloa Honua Mahina Hookuu'ula Ka'aawela Makulu Hele'ekela Nepekune 'Ilioki Meretahiahi Marama Parerau Whrangi Whiro Aprangi Papatunuku Tmatauenga Rongo Tangaroa Citlalpol Metztli Tezcatlipocacitlalli Ilhuicateocitlalli Mictlanteuccitlalli Payinalcitlalli Tlalticpactli Chichilcitlalli Tzitzimicitlalli Tlaloccitlalli Utaridi Zuhura Dunia Mwezi Mirihi Mshtarii Zohari uMetyhuri uVenasi uMhlaba iNyanga uMarsi uJupita iSateni uYurenasi iNephthuni uPluto Mekhuri Vinase Lefatshe Kgwedi Mase Jupita Satene Yuranese Nepetjhunu Puluto Mekhuri Mphatlalatsane Lefase Ngwedi Mmase Jupita Satuni Yurenuse Neputhuni Pluto Mekhuri Benase Lefatshe Ngwedi Mase Selemela Sathene Yuranase Nepetshunu Pholuto uMekhyuri uVinasi uMhlaba iNyanga uMarzi uNdonsakusa uSarthana uYurenasi uNephthuni uPlutho Udu-idim-gu-ud Nin-si-an-na Suen Si-mu-ud Mul-sag-me-gar Udu-idim-sag-us Sihtu Delebat Ersetu Sin Salbatanu Neberu Kayamanu merqurI' vIneS tera' luna ma'rIS ju'pIter Sa'tun yurey'neS neptun pulu'to'

Notes: 1. For brevity's sake I've omitted the articles commonly used in some languages. 2. The Mandarin and Cantonese words mean (approximately): "The Brightest; Star of Water; Star of Gold; Sphere of Ground (Earth); Sphere of Moon, Star of Fire; Star of Wood; Star of Soil (Dirt); Star of the King of Heaven; Star of the King of the Ocean; Star of the King of Hell". The Korean, Japanese, Mandarin and Cantonese lines are pronunciations. Note too, that since Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were discovered relatively recently, their names are just translations of the Western names. 3. Japanese and Korean use simple native words for "Moon" ("tsuki" "dal") but all the other planetary names in these two languages were imported from Chinese and have exactly the same meaning as explained for Mandarin and Cantonese. 4. The Chinese characters at the top of the page are the names of the solar system bodies in the same order as the table. The second set of characters at the top of the page is Hindi. To the right is Arabic script. 5. The apostrophe character in the Latvian line is a diacritical mark for a long vowel, which is a straight line over the letter. 6. I have been informed that Thai has many scientific and theologic terms taken from sanscrit. But the way it pronounced is far from the original. If one read names given above hardly anybody Thai would recognize them. Here is a more phonetical presentation of Thai celestial bodies: Sun = (1) suriya (mythological); (2) pra-atit (high language); (3) tawan (coloqual) Mercury = [dau]-put Venus = [dau-pra]-suk Earth = lok (also "world") Moon = [pra]-jan Mars = [dau]-angkan Jupiter = [dau]-parihat-bodi Saturn = [dau]-sau Uranus = [dau]-marita-yu Neptune = [dau]-ket Pluto = no native term, English used "Dau" or "dao" literally means "star". Need to add before name of the planet, beacuse those names also used for days of the week (dau-sau=Saturn, wan-sau=Saturday, wan=day). "Pra" is used for nominate a God (great, holy). Used for Sun and Moon as they are obviously not "dau" (stars). 7. Much of this was taken from the ASTROLANGUAGE mini dictionary of 300 astronomical terms compiled by Veikko Makela. The remainder was compiled from emails I've received from various folks around the world. Thank you all! 8. Special thanks to Sam Giloi who sent me the words in Alemannisch, Ligurian, Franco-Provenal, Scottish Gaelic, Yiddish, Nahuatl, Venetian, Limburgish, Jerriais, Kolsch, West Frisian, Walloon, Sicilian, Scots, Lithuanian, Samogitian, Low German, Luxembourgish, Maori, Faroese, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho, Sepedi, Tswana, and Klingon! 9. See Peter Blinn's Planetary Gazetteer for more 10. I would appreciate any additions or corrections to this table.

Adjectives
The English adjectives relating to the planets do not always derive simply from the noun forms:
Noun -----Sun Mercury Venus Earth Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Adjectival form --------------Solar Mercurial Cytherean, Venerian Terrestrial, Telluric Lunar Martian, Arean Jovian Saturnian Uranian Neptunian Plutonian, Hadean

Days of the Week

The seven-day system we use is based on the ancient astrological notion that the seven known celestial bodies influence what happens on Earth and that each of these celestial bodies controls the first hour of the day named after it. This system was brought into Hellenistic Egypt from Mesopotamia, where astrology had been practiced for millennia and where seven had always been a propitious number. In A.D. 321 the Emperor Constantine the Great grafted this astrological system onto the Roman calendar, made the first day of this new week a day of rest and worship for all, and imposed the following sequence and names to the days of the week. This new Roman system was adopted with modifications throughout most of western Europe: in the Germanic languages, such as Old English, the names of four of the Roman gods were converted into those of the corresponding Germanic gods:
Celestial Body ------Sun Moon Mars Mercury Jupiter Venus Saturn Latin -------Solis Lunae Martis Mercurii Jovis Veneris Saturni Germanic god -------Tiu Wodan Donar Freya modern English --------Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday modern Italian ---------domenica luned marted mercoled gioved venerd sabato

The Latin names for the weekdays survive in the modern Romance languages (though the weekend day names have been altered). Also, Japanese words for the days of the week also correspond indirectly to the same planets. However, Prof. Neves of Universidade Nova de Lisboa informs me that there are remarkable exceptions: at least in Hebrew, in Greek, in Arabic, and in Portuguese (and in languages that were informed by those, like the Timorese Tetum), the days of the week are numbered. Sunday is number one (or day of the Lord in Portuguese - Domingo- and in Greek -Kiriaki). Friday is number six (except in Arabic, which calls it Day of the Gatthering) and all 4 languages call Sabbath (Sabado,as-Sabt, etc) to Saturday.