Lightning a sudden flash of light in the sky during a storm is a fascinating natural phenomenon. People search for how to say “lightning” in other languages for various reasons: maybe they’re learning a new language, writing a poem, traveling, or naming a brand, team, or project. This guide gives you the meaning, translation, and pronunciation of “lightning” in 85+ different languages, so you can speak it, write it, and understand it anywhere in the world. “Lightning” in Other Languages.
Whether you’re a language enthusiast, traveler, or student, this list will help you expand your vocabulary and appreciate how different cultures describe this powerful force of nature.
How to Say “Lightning” in 85 Different Languages

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- Afrikaans (🇿🇦) – Bliksem | Pronunciation: blik-sem Example: Die bliksem het die boom getref. (The lightning struck the tree.)
- Albanian (🇦🇱) – Rrufe | Pronunciation: rroo-fay Example: Pashë një rrufe në qiell. (I saw lightning in the sky.)
- Amharic (🇪🇹) – መብረቅ (Mebreḳ) | Pronunciation: meh-brek Example: መብረቅ በሰማይ ተታይቷል። (Lightning appeared in the sky.)
- Arabic (🇸🇦) – برق (Barq) | Pronunciation: bark Example: رأيت برقًا في السماء. (I saw lightning in the sky.)
- Armenian (🇦🇲) – կայծակ (Kaytsak) | Pronunciation: kay-tsak Example: Կայծակը հարվածեց ծառին։ (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Azerbaijani (🇦🇿) – İldırım | Pronunciation: il-duh-ruhm Example: İldırım ağacı vurdu. (Lightning hit the tree.)
- Bangla (🇧🇩) – বজ্রপাত (Bojorpot) | Pronunciation: bo-jro-pat Example: আকাশে বজ্রপাত দেখা গেল। (Lightning was seen in the sky.)
- Basque (🇪🇸) – Tximista | Pronunciation: chee-mis-ta Example: Tximista ikusi nuen. (I saw lightning.)
- Belarusian (🇧🇾) – маланка (Malanka) | Pronunciation: ma-lan-ka Example: Маланка ўдарыла ў дрэва. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Bengali (🇮🇳) – বিদ্যুৎ (Biddyut) | Pronunciation: bid-yut Example: বিদ্যুৎ আকাশে ঝলসে উঠল। (Lightning flashed in the sky.)
- Bosnian (🇧🇦) – Munja | Pronunciation: moon-ya Example: Munja je udarila drvo. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Bulgarian (🇧🇬) – мълния (Mŭlniya) | Pronunciation: mul-nee-ya Example: Видях мълния в небето. (I saw lightning in the sky.)
- Catalan (🇪🇸) – Llampec | Pronunciation: yuhm-pek Example: El llampec va il·luminar el cel. (The lightning lit up the sky.)
- Cebuano (🇵🇭) – Kilat | Pronunciation: kee-lat Example: Nakakita ko og kilat sa langit. (I saw lightning in the sky.)
- Chichewa (🇲🇼) – Kuwala kwa mphezi | Pronunciation: koo-wah-la kwa m-peh-zee Example: Kuwala kwa mphezi kunayatsa mtengo. (Lightning lit the tree.)
- Chinese (Mandarin) (🇨🇳) – 闪电 (Shǎndiàn) | Pronunciation: shan-dyen Example: 闪电击中了树。 (Lightning hit the tree.)
- Corsican (🇫🇷) – Lampu | Pronunciation: lam-poo Example: U lampu hà colpitu l’arburu. (The lightning struck the tree.)
- Croatian (🇭🇷) – Munja | Pronunciation: moon-ya Example: Munja je pogodila kuću. (Lightning hit the house.)
- Czech (🇨🇿) – Blesk | Pronunciation: blesk Example: Blesk udeřil do stromu. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Danish (🇩🇰) – Lyn | Pronunciation: leen Example: Lynet ramte træet. (The lightning hit the tree.)
- Dutch (🇳🇱) – Bliksem | Pronunciation: blik-sem Example: De bliksem sloeg in de boom. (The lightning struck the tree.)
- Dzongkha (🇧🇹) – གཏིང་གཡུ (Gting-gyu) | Pronunciation: gting-gyu Example: གཏིང་གཡུ་གིས་སྡོང་བུ་ལྕགས་པར་བརྒྱབ། (Lightning struck the tree.)
- English (🇬🇧) – Lightning | Pronunciation: light-ning Example: The lightning flashed brightly in the sky.
- Estonian (🇪🇪) – Välk | Pronunciation: valk Example: Välk tabas puud. (Lightning hit the tree.)
- Filipino (🇵🇭) – Kidlat | Pronunciation: kid-lat Example: Tumama ang kidlat sa puno. (The lightning hit the tree.)
- Finnish (🇫🇮) – Salama | Pronunciation: sah-la-ma Example: Salama iski puuhun. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- French (🇫🇷) – Éclair | Pronunciation: ay-klair Example: L’éclair a frappé l’arbre. (The lightning struck the tree.)
- Galician (🇪🇸) – Raio | Pronunciation: rah-yoh Example: O raio caeu na árbore. (Lightning hit the tree.)
- Georgian (🇬🇪) – ელვა (Elva) | Pronunciation: el-va Example: ელვამ ხე დაარტყა. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- German (🇩🇪) – Blitz | Pronunciation: blits Example: Der Blitz traf den Baum. (The lightning hit the tree.)
- Greek (🇬🇷) – αστραπή (Astrapí) | Pronunciation: as-tra-pee Example: Η αστραπή χτύπησε το δέντρο. (The lightning struck the tree.)
- Gujarati (🇮🇳) – વીજળી (Veejli) | Pronunciation: veej-lee Example: વીજળી ઝાડ પર પડી. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Haitian Creole (🇭🇹) – Zeklè | Pronunciation: zek-leh Example: Zeklè frape pye bwa a. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Hausa (🇳🇬) – Wutar lantarki | Pronunciation: woo-tar lan-tar-kee Example: Wutar lantarki ta bugi itacen. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Hebrew (🇮🇱) – ברק (Barak) | Pronunciation: bah-rak Example: ראיתי ברק בשמיים. (I saw lightning in the sky.)
- Hindi (🇮🇳) – बिजली (Bijli) | Pronunciation: bij-lee Example: बिजली पेड़ पर गिरी। (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Hmong (🇨🇳) – Xob laim | Pronunciation: sob lime Example: Xob laim poob rau tsob ntoo. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Hungarian (🇭🇺) – Villám | Pronunciation: vil-lahm Example: A villám belecsapott a fába. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Icelandic (🇮🇸) – Elding | Pronunciation: el-ding Example: Eldingin lenti í trénu. (The lightning struck the tree.)
- Igbo (🇳🇬) – Ènyènyè ọkụ | Pronunciation: en-yeh-nyeh o-koo Example: Ènyènyè ọkụ kpọrọ osisi ahụ. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Indonesian (🇮🇩) – Petir | Pronunciation: puh-teer Example: Petir menyambar pohon. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Irish (🇮🇪) – Tine thall | Pronunciation: tin-eh hall Example: Chonaic mé tine thall sa spéir. (I saw lightning in the sky.)
- Italian (🇮🇹) – Fulmine | Pronunciation: fool-mee-neh Example: Il fulmine ha colpito l’albero. (The lightning struck the tree.)
- Japanese (🇯🇵) – 稲妻 (Inazuma) | Pronunciation: ee-na-zoo-ma Example: 稲妻が木に落ちた。 (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Javanese (🇮🇩) – Lethok | Pronunciation: leh-thok Example: Lethok nyamber wit. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Kannada (🇮🇳) – ಮಿಂಚು (Minchu) | Pronunciation: min-choo Example: ಮಿಂಚು ಮರವನ್ನು ಬಡಿದಿತು. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Kazakh (🇰🇿) – Найзағай (Naizaghay) | Pronunciation: nai-za-gai Example: Найзағай ағашқа түсті. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Khmer (🇰🇭) – ផ្លាត (Phleat) | Pronunciation: phleet Example: ផ្លាតបានវាយដំឈើ។ (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Kinyarwanda (🇷🇼) – Inkuba | Pronunciation: in-koo-ba Example: Inkuba yakubise igiti. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Korean (🇰🇷) – 번개 (Beonga) | Pronunciation: bun-geh Example: 번개가 나무를 쳤다. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Kurdish (🇮🇶) – Baranî şewit | Pronunciation: ba-ra-nee sheh-wit Example: Baranî şewit darikê ket. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Kyrgyz (🇰🇬) – Чагылгандын (Chagyilgan) | Pronunciation: cha-gil-gan Example: Чагылгандын даракка тийди. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Lao (🇱🇦) – ຟ້າຜ່າ (Fāphā) | Pronunciation: fa-pah Example: ຟ້າຜ່າໄດ້ຟັດຕົ້ນໄມ້. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Latvian (🇱🇻) – Zibens | Pronunciation: zee-bens Example: Zibens iesita kokā. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Lithuanian (🇱🇹) – Žaibas | Pronunciation: zhye-bas Example: Žaibas trenkė į medį. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Luxembourgish (🇱🇺) – Blëtz | Pronunciation: blets Example: De Blëtz huet de Bam getraff. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Macedonian (🇲🇰) – молња (Molnja) | Pronunciation: mol-nya Example: Молња удри во дрвото. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Malagasy (🇲🇬) – Tselatra | Pronunciation: tseh-lah-tra Example: Tselatra namely ny hazo. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Malay (🇲🇾) – Kilat | Pronunciation: kee-lat Example: Kilat menyambar pokok. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Malayalam (🇮🇳) – മിന്നൽ (Minnal) | Pronunciation: min-nal Example: മിന്നൽ വൃക്ഷത്തെ അടിച്ചു. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Maltese (🇲🇹) – Sajjetta | Pronunciation: sa-ye-ta Example: Is-sajjetta laqtet is-siġra. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Maori (🇳🇿) – Uira | Pronunciation: oo-ee-ra Example: I patua te rākau e te uira. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Marathi (🇮🇳) – वीज (Veej) | Pronunciation: veej Example: वीज झाडावर पडली. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Mongolian (🇲🇳) – Аянга (Ayanga) | Pronunciation: ah-yang-ga Example: Аянга модонд буулаа. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Nepali (🇳🇵) – बिजुली (Bijuli) | Pronunciation: bee-joo-lee Example: बिजुलीले रुखमा प्रहार गर्यो। (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Norwegian (🇳🇴) – Lyn | Pronunciation: leen Example: Lynet slo ned i treet. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Odia (🇮🇳) – ବିଜୁଳି (Bijuli) | Pronunciation: bee-joo-lee Example: ବିଜୁଳି ଗଛରେ ପଡିଲା। (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Pashto (🇦🇫) – بریښنا (Breshna) | Pronunciation: bresh-na Example: بریښنا په ونې ولګېده. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Persian (🇮🇷) – رعد و برق (Ra’d o barq) | Pronunciation: ra’d o bark Example: رعد و برق در آسمان دیده شد. (Lightning was seen in the sky.)
- Polish (🇵🇱) – Błyskawica | Pronunciation: bwi-ska-vee-tsa Example: Błyskawica uderzyła w drzewo. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Portuguese (🇵🇹) – Relâmpago | Pronunciation: heh-lam-pa-go Example: O relâmpago atingiu a árvore. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Punjabi (🇮🇳) – ਬਿਜਲੀ (Bijli) | Pronunciation: bij-lee Example: ਬਿਜਲੀ ਰੁੱਖ ਤੇ ਡਿੱਗੀ। (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Quechua (🇵🇪) – Illapa | Pronunciation: ee-ya-pa Example: Illapa sach’ata maq’asqa. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Romanian (🇷🇴) – Fulger | Pronunciation: fool-jer Example: Fulgerul a lovit copacul. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Russian (🇷🇺) – молния (Molniya) | Pronunciation: mol-nee-ya Example: Молния ударила в дерево. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Samoan (🇼🇸) – Uila | Pronunciation: oo-ee-la Example: Na lavea le laau i le uila. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Serbian (🇷🇸) – Муња (Munja) | Pronunciation: moon-ya Example: Муња је ударила дрво. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Sesotho (🇱🇸) – Lehalima | Pronunciation: leh-ha-lee-ma Example: Lehalima le otlile sefate. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Shona (🇿🇼) – Mheni | Pronunciation: mhe-nee Example: Mheni yakarova muti. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Sindhi (🇵🇰) – بجلي (Bijli) | Pronunciation: bij-lee Example: بجلي وڻ تي ڪري پئي. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Sinhala (🇱🇰) – මිනිදුම් (Minidum) | Pronunciation: mi-ni-doom Example: මිනිදුම් ගස් එකට වැදුණි. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Slovak (🇸🇰) – Blesk | Pronunciation: blesk Example: Blesk udrel do stromu. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Slovenian (🇸🇮) – Strela | Pronunciation: stre-la Example: Strela je udarila v drevo. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Somali (🇸🇴) – Hillaac | Pronunciation: hil-aak Example: Hillaac ayaa ku dhacay geedka. (Lightning struck the tree.)
- Spanish (🇪🇸) – Rayo | Pronunciation: rah-yoh Example: El rayo golpeó el árbol. (Lightning struck the tree.)
Conclusion
No matter where you go in the world, the word “lightning” always carries power, awe, and a touch of mystery.