Buzz
The term hiccup is a prime example of onomatopoeia, mimicking the sound of the involuntary diaphragm spasm caused by actions like eating too fast. While English captures this with hick and -up, it’s not alone. Around the world, languages feature similar gasping Hs and abrupt Ks, suggesting a near-universal term. Yet, intriguing variations exist. From sugar to peanut butter remedies, here’s how 35 languages articulate hiccup.
1., 2., 3., 4., and 5. Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Finnish
The term hiccup first appeared in English in 1580, as noted by the Oxford English Dictionary. Earlier, the word hicket was used, closely resembling Scandinavian terms. In Danish and Norwegian, it’s hikke, while Swedish uses hicka. Icelanders say hicksti, and in Finland, despite linguistic differences, it’s hikka.
6. French
After indulging in too much wine, the French might experience a hoquet. The suffix -et, a diminutive seen in English terms like gullet, likely shaped the older English term hicket.
7. Spanish
In Spain, a bout of hipos might trouble you.
8. and 9. Portuguese and Latin
While you might assume Portuguese, a close relative of Spanish, would use a similar term for hiccups, it surprises with soluço. This word, possibly resembling a sneeze, traces back to the Latin singultus, whose G echoes the gulping sound of a hiccup.
10. and 11. Italian and Romanian
The Latin singultus also inspires the Italian singhiozzo, showcasing how Italian makes even hiccups sound delightful. In Romania, the term sughiț is used, with the final ț sounding like the ts in fits.
12. and 13. Welsh and Irish
In Welsh, hiccups are called ig, while the Irish use snag, a term that coincidentally mirrors the English metaphor for a minor obstacle or disruption.
14. and 15. Dutch and German
In Dutch, the term hik is simple and direct, while German opts for the more elaborate schluckauf, meaning “swallow up.” Additionally, German includes the onomatopoeic Hecker (noun) and hicksen (verb) to describe these involuntary spasms.
16., 17., 18., 19., and 20. Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, and Bulgarian
Similar to Scandinavian languages, Slavic terms for hiccups echo the sound but with a distinct regional flair. Russians experience ikota (икота), Ukrainians deal with hykavka (гикавка), Poles encounter czkawkas, Czechs face škytavkas, and Bulgarians describe it as khulstane (хълцане), showcasing the diversity within this language family.
21. Albanian
In Albanian, a unique branch of the Indo-European languages, hiccups are referred to as lemzë (pronounced lemzuh), offering a softer yet still rhythmic take on the phenomenon.
22. Greek
In Greece, the involuntary diaphragm spasm is referred to as λόξιγκας, which can be roughly translated to loxigkas.
23. Arabic
In Arabic, you might attempt to alleviate your حازوقة (hazuqa) or فُواق (fuwaq) when hiccups strike.
24. Turkish
… or hıçkırık (pronounced like hichkerek) in Turkish ...
25. SWAHILI
… or kwikwi in certain regions of southeastern Africa.
26. Yoruba
In Yoruba, widely spoken in Western Africa, the term òsúkèsúkèsúkè is used to describe having hiccups.
27. Zulu
In South Africa, where Zulu is widely spoken, a hiccup is referred to as ingwici, with the c representing a distinctive click sound.
28. Chinese
In Mandarin, the term for hiccup, 嗝 (gé), is pronounced with a rising tone and directly references the throat. The character includes 口 (kǒu), meaning “mouth,” as part of its structure.
29. Japanese
Similar to English, the Japanese word for hiccup includes a sharp k- sound right in the middle: shakkuri (or しゃっくり in kana).
30. Korean
In Korean, the term for hiccup is a three-syllable word: 딸꾹질, pronounced roughly as tal-kuk-jil.
31. Vietnamese
If you eat your pho too quickly, you might experience nấc, the Vietnamese word for hiccup.
32. and 33. Hindi and Bengali
In Hindi, spoken by millions in India, hiccups are called हिचकी (hichakee, sounding similar to hitch-key). This term is echoed in related regional languages like Bengali, where it’s হিক্কা (hikka).
34. Bahasa Indonesian
In Bahasa Indonesian, the official language of Indonesia, hiccups are referred to as kecegukan, a term you might use while politely excusing yourself.
35. Old English
In Old English, hiccups were referred to as ælfsogoða, which translates to “elves’ heartburn.” The Anglo-Saxons attributed hiccups to mischievous elves, proving that not just hiccup remedies but also their causes have roots in folklore.
BONUS: KLINGON
Klingon, the fictional language from Star Trek, is known for its harsh, guttural sounds. While most global terms for hiccup emphasize throaty Gs and Ks, Klingon uses the word bur, likely reflecting the unique biology of its extraterrestrial speakers.
This article was originally published in 2017; it has been updated for 2022.
