How To Say “Umbrella” In Different Languages

Blog
16 February 2026
By Sarah Angela Almaden
Colorful umbrellas in the rain
Unsplash: Sharma

Have you ever wondered why the "u-word" umbrella is the go-to example in school when learning the sound of the letter U? I only started wondering about this recently when I grabbed mine to pick up the mail in the rain. Yeah, yeah. I didn’t have to pick up mail when the sky was sobbing, but I wanted to for the plot. So, please save your “I told you so” for later. Thanks.

I don’t know who first came up with its English word, but I think it has a nice ring to it. Just say and listen to it: umbrella. The word “umbrella” comes from the Latin word umbra, which means shade. Strangely enough, umbrellas do offer some sort of shade. Wow, what a coincidence.

Beyond its classic uses, rain, shine, or even as a chic 18th-century fashion accessory, this handheld protector can also shield you from bugs and falling leaves! Just maybe… maybe, don’t open one indoors or else you might get unlucky. You don’t want that, do you?


Language Local Word Pronunciation
Englishumbrellaum-breh-luh
Frenchle parapluieluh pah-rah-ploo-ee
Italianl'ombrellolohm-breh-loh
Tagalogpayongpah-yong
Germander Regenschirmdehr ray-gun-sheerm
Dutchde parapluduh pah-rah-ploo
Polishparasolpah-rah-sol
Russianзонтzont
Swedishparaplyetpah-rah-plee-et
Brazilian Portugueseo guarda-chuvaoo gwar-dah shoo-vah
Norwegianparaplyenpah-rah-plee-en
Japaneseかさka-sa
Hindiछतरीchuh-tree
Turkishşemsiyeshem-see-yeh
Indonesianpayungpah-yung
Mandarin Chinesesan
European Portugueseo guarda-chuvaoo gwar-dah shoo-vah
Spanishel paraguasel pah-rah-gwahs
Vietnameseôoh
Finnishsateenvarjosah-tehn-vahr-yoh
Greekη ομπρέλαee om-breh-lah
Arabicالمظلةal-mi-zal-lah
Icelandicregnhlífinrayk-nleef-in
Korean우산oo-san
Danishparaplyenpah-rah-plee-en


How the world stays covered in the rain ⛈️

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