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 Mercury Venus Earth Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto OldEnglish Sunne Mercurius Venus Eorðe Mōna Mars Iupiter Saturnus Latin Sol Mercurius Venus Terra Luna Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Italian Sole Mercurio Venere Terra Luna Marte Giove Saturno Urano Nettuno Plutone Ligurian Sô Mercuio Venere Tæra Luna Marte Giove Satûrno Uran Nettun Pluton Venetian Sołe Mercurio Venere Tera Łuna Marte Xove Saturno Urano Netuno Plutone Spanish Sol Mercurio Venus Tierra Luna Marte Júpiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Plutón Galacian Sol Mercurio Venus Terra Lúa Marte Xúpiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Plutón Catalan Sol Mercuri Venus Terra Lluna Mart Júpiter Saturn Urà Neptú Plutó Portuguese Sol Mercúrio Vênus Terra Lua Marte Júpiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Plutão French Soleil Mercure Vénus Terre Lune Mars Jupiter Saturne Uranus Neptune Pluton Jèrriais Solé Mèrtchure Vênus Tèrre Leune Mars Jupiter Saturne Uranus Nepteune Pliuton Provençal Solely Mèrcure Vènus Tèrra Lena Mârs Jupitèr Saturno Urano Neptuno Pluton (Franco-Provençal) Walloon Solea Mierkeure Venusse Tere Lune Måss Djupiter Satûne Uranusse Nûton Pluton Romanian Soare Mercur Venus Pamint Luna Marte Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Sicilian Suli Mircuriu Vèniri Terra Luna Marti Giovi Saturnu Uranu Nettunu Plutoni Maltese Ix-Xemx Merkurju Venere Id-Dinja il-Qamar Marte Gove Saturno Uranu Nettunu Plutone Esperanto Suno Merkuro Venuso Tero Luno Marso Jupitero Saturno Urano Neptuno Plutono German Sonne Merkur Venus Erde Mond Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Low German Sünn Merkur Venus Eer Maand Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Dutch Zon Mercurius Venus Aarde Maan Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Alemannish.Sunne Merkur Venus Erde Mond Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto (Alemannisch) Yiddish Zun Merkur Venus Erd Levone Mars Yupiter Zaturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Limburgish Zon Mercuur Venus Eerd Maon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uraan Neptuun Pluto Kölsch Sunn Merrkuur Veenuß Ääd Moond Mars Juppitter Satturrən Urranuß Nepptuun Pluuto W. Frisian Sinne Merkurius Fenus Ierde Moanne Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto (West Frisian) Luxembourg.Sonn Merkur Venus Äerd Mound Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto (Luxembourgish) Afrikaans Son Mercurius Venus Aarde Maan Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Scots Sun Mercur Venus Yird Muin Maurs Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Swedish Solen Merkurius Venus Jorden Månen Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Norwegian Sola Merkur Venus Jorda Månen Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Danish Solen Merkur Venus Jorden Månen Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Icelandic Sól Merkúr Venus Jörð Tungl Mars Júpíter Satúrnus Úranus Neptúnus Plútó Faroese Sól Merkur Venus Jørðin Máni Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun Pluto Finnish Aurinko Merkurius Venus Maa Kuu Mars Jupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Albanian Dielli Merkuri Afërdita Toka Hëna Marsi Jupiteri Saturni Uranusi Neptuni Plutoni Estonian Päike Merkuur Veenus Maa Kuu Marss Jupiter Saturn Uraan Neptuun Pluuto Latvian Saule Merkurs Vene'ra Zeme Me'ness Marss Jupiters Saturns Ura'ns Neptu'ns Pluto Hungarian Nap Merkùr Vénusz Föld Hold Mars Jupiter Szaturnusz Uránusz Neptunusz Plútó Czech Slunce Merkur Venuse Zeme Mesíc Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluto old Czech Slunce Dobropan Krasopani Zeme Mesic Smrtonos Kralomoc Hladolet Nebestanka Vodopan Pluto Slovenian Sonce Merkur Venera Zemlja Mesec Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Croatian Sunce Merkur Venera Zemlja Mjesec Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Serbian Sunce Merkur Venera Zemlja Mesec Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Polish Slonce Merkury Wenus Ziemia Ksiezyc Mars Jowisz Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Georgian Mze Merkuri Venera Dedamizha Mthware Marsi Iupiteri Saturni Urani Neptuni Plutoni Russian Solnce Merkurij Venera Zemlja Luna Mars Yupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Ukrainian Sontse Merkuriy Venera Zemlya Misyatsy Mars Yupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Belarus. Sontsa Merkury Venera Zyamlya Mesyats Mars Yupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton (Belarussian) Lithuanian Saulė Merkurijus Venera Zemė Mėnulis Marsas Jupiteris Saturnas Uranas Neptūnas Plutonas Samogitian Saulė Merkorėjos Ausrėnė Zemė Mienolis Zėizdrė Jopėteris Soturns Urans Naptūns Plutuons Bulgarian Slanze Merkurij Venera Zemya Luna Mars Jupiter Saturn Uran Neptun Pluton Basque Eguzkia Merkurio Artizar Lurra Ilargia Martitza Jupiter Saturno Urano Neptuno Pluton Greek Helios Hermes Aphrodite Gaea Selene Ares Zeus Kronos Uranos Poseidon Pluton Sanskrit Surya Budha Sukra Dhara Chandra Mangala Brhaspati Sani Gujarati Surya Budh Shukra Prathivi Chandra Mangal Guru Shani Prajapathie Varun Yamdev Bengali Surya Budh Shukra Prithivi Chand Mangal BrihaspatiShani Tamil Njaayar Budan Vellhi Buumi Tingalh Sevvaay Viyaazhan Sani Thai Surya Budha Sukra Lok Chandra Angkarn Prhasbadi Sao Uranus Neptune Pluto Irish Grian Mearcair Véineas An Domhan Gealach Mars Iúpatar Satarn Uránas Neiptiún Plútón Sc. Gaelic Grian Mearcair Ribhinn An Talamh Gealach Corg Bliogh Satarn Urànus Neiptiùn Pliùtò (Scottish Gaelic) Welsh Haul Mercher Gwener Daear Lleuad Mawrth Iau Sadwrn Wranws Neifion Plwton Breton Heol Merc'her Gwener Douar Loar Meurzh Yaou Sadorn Ouran Neizhan Ploudon Hebrew Shemesh Kochav Chama Nogah Eretz Yareach Ma'adim Tzedek Shabtay Uron Rahav Pluto Arabic Shams Otaared Zuhra Ard Quamar Merrikh Mushtarie Zuhal Uraanus Niptuun Plutoon Turkish Günes Merkür Venüs Dünya Ay Mars Jüpiter Satürn Uranüs Neptün Plüton Uzbek Quyosh Utorid Zuhra Yer Oy Mirrikh Mushtarij Zuhal Farsi Khorshid Tir Naheed Zamin Mah Bahram Berjis Kayvon Oranos Nepton Pluton Cantonese Taiyeung Suising Gumsing Deiqao Yueqao Fuosing Moqsing Tousing Tinwongsing Huoiwongsing Mengwongsing Mandarin Taiyang Shuixing Jinxing Diqiu Yueqiu Huoxing Muxing Tuxing Tianwangxing Haiwangxing Mingwangxing Korean Taeyang Soosung Kumsung Jeegoo Dal Hwasung Moksung Tosung Chunwangsung Haewangsung Myungwangsung Japanese Taiyou Suisei Kinsei Chikyuu Tsuki Kasei Mokusei Dosei Ten'ousei Kaiousei Meiousei Filipino Araw Merkuryo Venus Daigdig Buwan Marte Jupiter Saturno Uranus Neptuno Pluto Indonesian Matahari Merkurius Venus Bumi Bulan Mars Yupiter Saturnus Uranus Neptunus Pluto Malay Matahari Utarid Zuhrah Bumi Bulan Marikh Musytari Zuhal Uranus Neptun Pluto Tahitian Mahana Taa'ero Ta'urua Fenua Marama Maunu'Ura Ta'urua-nui Feti'a Tea Hawaiian Laa Ukaliali'i Hookuuloa Honua Mahina Hookuu'ula Ka'aawela Makulu Hele'ekela Nepekune 'Ilioki Maori Rā Meretūahiahi Marama Pareārau Whērangi Whiro Maori Apārangi Papatuānuku Tūmatauenga Rongo Tangaroa Nahuatl Tonatiuh Citlalpol Metztli Tezcatlipocacitlalli Ilhuicateocitlalli Mictlanteuccitlalli Nahuatl Payinalcitlalli Tlalticpactli Chichilcitlalli Tzitzimicitlalli Tlaloccitlalli Swahili Jua Utaridi Zuhura Dunia Mwezi Mirihi Mshtarii Zohari Xhosa iLanga uMetyhuri uVenasi uMhlaba iNyanga uMarsi uJupita iSateni uYurenasi iNephthuni uPluto Sesotho Letsatsi Mekhuri Vinase Lefatshe Kgwedi Mase Jupita Satene Yuranese Nepetjhunu Puluto Sepedi Letsatsi Mekhuri Mphatlalatsane Sepedi Lefase Ngwedi Mmase Jupita Satuni Yurenuse Neputhuni Pluto Tswana Letsatsi Mekhuri Benase Lefatshe Ngwedi Mase Selemela Sathene Yuranase Nepetshunu Pholuto Zulu iLanga uMekhyuri uVinasi uMhlaba iNyanga uMarzi uNdonsakusa uSarthana uYurenasi uNephthuni uPlutho Sumerian Utu Udu-idim-gu-ud Nin-si-an-na Suen Si-mu-ud Mul-sag-me-gar Udu-idim-sag-us Babylonian Samas Sihtu Delebat Ersetu Sin Salbatanu Neberu Kayamanu Klingon Sol merqurI' vIneS tera' luna ma'rIS ju'pIter Sa'tun yurey'neS neptun pulu'to'Notes:
- For brevity's sake I've omitted the articles commonly used in some languages.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The apostrophe character in the Latvian line is a diacritical mark for a long vowel, which is a straight line over the letter.
- 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
- 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!
- Special thanks to Sam Giloi who sent me the words in Alemannisch, Ligurian, Franco-Provençal, 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!
- See Peter Blinn's Planetary Gazetteer for more
- 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 Adjectival form ------ --------------- Sun Solar Mercury Mercurial Venus Cytherean, Venerian Earth Terrestrial, Telluric Moon Lunar Mars Martian, Arean Jupiter Jovian Saturn Saturnian Uranus Uranian Neptune Neptunian Pluto 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 Germanic modern modern
Body Latin god English Italian
------- -------- -------- --------- ----------
Sun Solis Sunday domenica
Moon Lunae Monday lunedì
Mars Martis Tiu Tuesday martedì
Mercury Mercurii Wodan Wednesday mercoledì
Jupiter Jovis Donar Thursday giovedì
Venus Veneris Freya Friday venerdì
Saturn Saturni Saturday 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.
Months
Two of the English month names are also have planetary connections: January is named for Janus and March is named for Mars.
More origins from mythology:
Home ... Appendices ... Origin ... Linguistics ... Names
Bill Arnett; last updated: 2008 Aug 18