How Is Snow White Called in Different Languages

Branca de Neve. A Bela Adormecida. I can’t remember if Branca de Neve (meaning White Snow in Portuguese) and A Bela Adormecida (meaning The Sleepling Beauty in Portuguese) are the same or not. However, Branca de Neve is a mesmerizing name because “Branca” (White) is a colour but also a proper name—very old and elegant. This name conveys a combination of a quality and a name, making it both magical and elaborate.

How Is Snow White Called in Different Languages

Let's delve into how the character of Snow White is known in various languages:

Welsh: Eira Wen

French: Blanche Neige

Feel free to explore further by visiting the Wikipedia page on Snow White. In the top right corner, you'll find a drop-down list labeled “87 languages,” which you can click to access pages on Snow White in 87 different languages. This exploration is truly enlightening and reminds us of the intricacies and beauty found in linguistic diversity.

Which Snow White?

A fascinating aspect of the Snow White story is its varying forms. There are two primary versions: one from the Brothers Grimm fairytale, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", and another from another tale, "Snow White and Rose Red". Some researchers believe there may even be a third version originating from a story involving "Father Frost". In Bulgarian, all these tales share the same name Снежанка (Snow Maiden), while in Russian, they are known as Белоснежка, Беляночка, or Снегурочка. This demonstrates the complexity and richness of cultural storytelling.

Cultural Significance of Snow White Across Languages

European Languages

If you're interested in the linguistic aspects of these names, you can explore a map showing the word for "snow" in dozens of European languages. To learn more about etymology and explore these languages, check out this blog post I made.

Varied Names for Snow

In some languages, there are distinct terms for snow as it falls versus snow that is already on the ground. For instance, in one language (which will be detailed in an upcoming paper for privacy and security reasons), they use different words. While "shnum" is used for snow lying on the ground, snow falling is simply described as weather or precipitation. Interestingly, the word for snow on the ground seems to be related to the word for ground, despite the locals being unaware of any etymological connection.

Thus, it's fascinating to contemplate the nuances in linguistic constructs across cultures and how they can subtly yet significantly alter how we perceive and interact with the natural world.