Babel

The Tower of Babel

The tale of the Tower of Babel, from Genesis 11: 1-9, is an "explanation" of why there are so many different languages. You can find the story in some of those languages by following the links below. Having a single text in a variety of languages is a good way to see similarities and differences between those languages.

The Tower of Babel did in fact exist: it was a seven-stage ziggurat (stepped pyramid) with a temple to the god Marduk at the top. It was called Etemenanki, or 'the temple of the platform between heaven and earth', and was built in the city of Babylon sometime during the 6th or 7th century BC.


Index by language | Index by language family


Index by language family


Afroasiatic languages

Berber languages
Rifian, Tamasheq
Chadic languages
Hausa, Mafa, Marba, Massa, Musey, Psikye, South Giziga
Cushitic languages
Borana, Hadiyya, Kambaata, Sidama, Somali
Egyptian languages
Coptic
Omotic languages
Maale, Wolaytta
Semitic languages
Amharic, Arabic, Aramaic, Ge'ez, Hebrew, Maltese, Syriac, Tigrinya

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Algonqian languages

Cheyenne, Massachusett, Míkmaq, Ojibwe

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Altaic languages

Mongolic languages
Buryat, Kalmyk, Mongolian
Turkic languages
Altay, Azeri, Bashkir, Chuvash, Crimean Tatar, Gagauz, Karakalpak, Kazakh, Kumyk, Kyrgyz, Nogai, Tatar, Turkish, Turkmen, Tuvan, Uyghur, Uzbek, Yakut

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Arawakan languages

Arawak, Ashéninka, Garifuna, Machiguenga, Nanti, Wayuu, Yucuna

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Austroasiatic languages

Bahnaric
Bahnar, Mnong
Katuic
Bru
Mon-Khmer
Khasi, Khmer, Riang, Vietnamese
Munda languages
Santali
Nicobarese languages
Car
Palaungic languages
Wa

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Australian languages

Arnhem languages
Anindilyakwa, Bininj Gun-Wok, Nunggubuyu
Pama-Nyungan
Alyawarr, Arrernte (Eastern), Djinang, Gumatj, Guugu Yalandji, Kala Lagaw Ya, Martu Wangka, Ngaanyatjarra, Warlpiri
Southern Daly
Murrinh-Patha

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Austronesian languages

Batanic
Ivatan
Batak
Batak Angkola, Batak Dairi / Pakpak, Batak Karo, Batak Simalungun, Batak Toba
Celebic
Banggai, Pamona, Rampi, Saluan
Formosan
Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Rukai
Malayo-Polynesian
Acehnese, Adzera, Ambrym, Anuki, Are, Balinese, Bambam, Bariai, Biatah Bidayuh, Bola, Bugis, Bwaidoka, Caribbean Javanese, Central Sinama, Fijian, Hiri Motu, Iban, Indonesian, Jarai, Kadazandusun, Kahua, Kakabai, Kambera, Kaninuwa, Kenyah, Kurti, Javanese, Luang, Lun Bawang, Madurese, Makassar, Malagasy, Malay, Mbula, Mentawai, Misima-Paneati, Motu, Nali, Ngaju, Nias, North Efate, Nyindrou, Paama, Palawano, Rade, Rotuman, Saveeng Tuam, Selaru, Suau, Sundanese, Timugon Murut, Tolai, Tontemboan, Toraja-Sa'dan, Tungag, Ubir, Wamesa, Yabem
Micronesian
Chuukese, Kiribati, Kosraean, Marshallese, Mortlockese, Pohnpeian, Yapese
Oceanic
Aneityum, Cheke Holo, Gapapaiwa, Ghari, Iaai, Kwara’ae, Roviana
Philippine
Ata Manobo, Balangao, Bantoanon, Bikol, Bontoc, Cebuano, Cuyono, Hiligaynon, Iloko, Ifugao, Isnag, Itawis, Kagayanen, Kankanaey, Kapampangan, Keley-i, Kinaray-a, Malaweg, Maranao, Matigsalug Manobo, Pangasinan, Pangutaran Sama, Sangirese, Sarangani Blaan, Sarangani Manobo, Southern Kalinga, Tagabawà, Tagalog, Tagbanwa, Talaud, Tuwali, Waray-Waray, Western Bukidnon
Polynesian
Futunan, Kapingamarangi, Hawaiian, Māori, Niuean, Rarotongan, Sakao, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Tuvaluan
Timoric
Amarasi, Dawan (Uab Meto), Helong, Termanu, Tetum

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Aymaran languages

Aymara

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Barbacoan languages

Cha'palaachi, Guambiano, Tsáchila / Colorado

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Bora-Witoto languages

Huitoto

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Candoshi-Chirino languages

Candoshi-Shapra

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Cahuapanan languages

Cahuapanan languages
Chayahuita

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Caucasian languages

Northeast Caucasian
Avar, Chechen, Ingush, Tabassaran
Northwest Caucasian
Adyghe, Kabardian
South Caucasian
Georgian

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Chibchan languages

Bribri, Teribe

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Chocoan languages

Embera

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Dravidian languages

Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Tulu

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Eskimo-Aleut

Aleut, Greenlandic, Inuktitut, Yup'ik

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Guaicuruan languages

Mocoví, Pilagá, Toba Qom

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Hmong-Mien languages

Hmong Daw (White Hmong), Hmong Njua (Blue Hmong), Iu Mien,

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Indo-European languages

Albanian
Albanian
Armenian
Armenian (Eastern and Western)
Baltic
Latvian, Lithuanian
Celtic
Breton, Cornish, Cumbric, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh
Germanic
Afrikaans, Alsatian, Anglo-Saxon / Old English, Bavarian, Danish, Dutch, English, Faroese, Frisian, German, Gothic, Gronings, Icelandic, Low Saxon / Low German, Norwegian, Palatine German, Pennsylvania German, Swabian, Swedish, Swiss German, Värmlandic, Yiddish
Hellenic
Greek (Ancient), Greek (Modern)
Indo-Iranian
Indo-Aryan languages
Assamese, Awadhi, Bengali, Fijian Hindi, Gilaki, Gujarati, Hindi, Konkani, Maldivian, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Romani, Sanskrit, Sarnámi Hindustani, Sinhala, Sylheti, Urdu
Irainian languages
Dari, Kurdish, Persian/Farsi, Ossetian, Pashto, Tajik
Romance
Aragonese, Aromanian, Asturian, Catalan, Corsican, French, Galician, Italian, Ladino, Latin, Portuguese, Romanian, Romansh, Sicilian, Spanish, Valencian
Slavic
Belarusian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Church Slavonic, Croatian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, (Old) Ruthenian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Sorbian, Ukrainian

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Iroquoian languages

Cherokee, Mohawk

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Japonic / Japanese-Ryukyuan languages

Japanese, Okinawan

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Jivaroan languages

Achuar-Shiwiar, Aguaruna, Huambisa

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Khoisan languages

Khoekhoe

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Mascoian languages

Enlhet

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Matacoan languages

Nivaclé, Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz

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Mayan languages

Awakatek, Ch'ol, Chorti, Chuj, Kaqchikel, K’iche’, Mam, Poqomchi', Q'anjob'al, Q'eqchi', Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Yucatec Maya

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Misumalpan languages

Miskito, Sumo

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Muskogean languages

Western Muskogean
Choctaw

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Na-Dené languages

Carrier, Gwich’in, Navajo, Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib)

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Niger-Congo languages

Atlantic-Congo languages
Bandial, Berom, Cebaara, Mankanya, Supyire
Bantu languages
Bangi, Bemba, Beti, Bulu, Chichewa, Dawida, Haya, Kamba, Kiga, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kongo, Koti, Kwanyama, Lamba, Lingala, Lozi, Luba-Katanga, Luganda, Luragooli, Mbunda, Mpongwe, Ndebele, Ndonga, Nkore, Northern Sotho, Nyakyusa, Sango, Sena, Shona, Soga, Southern Sotho, Sukuma, Swahili, Swati, Tetela, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Venda, Xhosa, Yao, Zulu
Benue-Congo languages
Basa, Obolo, Efik, Lenje, Tiv
Gbaya languages
Northwest Gbaya
Gur languages
Bariba, Frafra, Hanga, Konkomba, Lukpa, Mampruli, Moba, Mossi, Tammari, Tampulma, Tumulung Sisaala, Wali
Kru languages
Bassa
Kwa languages
Akan (Twi/Fante), Chumburung, Ga, Gonja, Nzema, Twi
Mande languages
Boko, Busa, Dyula, Kpelle, Maninka, Mixifore, Soninke, Susu, Toma, Yalunka
Mbum languages
Kim, Mundang, Tupuri
Mel languages
Baga, Kissi
Senegambian languages
Basari, Fula(ni), Wolof
Volta-Niger languages
Ewe, Ezaa, Fon, Igbo, Ikwo, Izi, Urhobo, Yoruba

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Nilo-Saharan languages

Acholi, Aringa, Baka, Dholuo, Kalenjin, Kumam, Lango, Mbay, Ngambay, Nuer, Sar, Teso, Uduk, Zarma

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Panoan languages

Cashibo, Kashinawa, Sharanahua, Yaminahua

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Papuan languages

Galela
Trans-New Guinea languages
Amele, Awara, Barai, Beami, Bimin, Binumarien, Blagar, Borong, Burum-Mindik, Dadibi, Faiwol, Guhu-Samane, Huli, Kamasau, Kamono, Kamula, Kanasi, Kanite, Komba, Kosarek, Kosena, Kyaka, Maia, Maring, Narak, Ngaing, Numanggang, Samberigi, Siroi, Tairora, Tuma-Irumu, Una, Waris, Waskia, Yali, Yipma, Yongkom
West Papuan languages
Tobelo

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Quechuan languages

Ayacucho Quechua, Cañar Highland Quechua, Chimborazo Highland Quichua, Cusco Quechua, Imbabura Highland Quichua, Quechua del Huallaga, Quichua del Chimborazo, South Bolivian Quechua

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Sepik languages

Namia

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Sino-Tibetan languages

Angami–Pochuri languages
Pochuri
Ao languages
Ao Naga, Lotha, Sangtam, Yimchungrü
Brahmaputran languages
Khiamniungan, Kokborok, Tangsa
Karenic languages
Northern Pwo, S'gaw Karen, Western Pwo
Kom languages
Kom
Kukish languages
Biete, Falam, Khumi, Kom, Ngawn, Zotung, Zou
Sinitic languages
Cantonese, Classical Chinese, Dungan, Hakka, Mandarin, Min (Eastern), Min (Southern), Taiwanese
Tani languages
Adi, Nishi
Tibeto-Burman languages
Achang, Angami, Burmese, Chang, Bawm, Chin Falam, Chin Haka, Chin Tedim, Gangte, Hrangkhol, Jingpho, Karbi, Karen (S'gaw), Konyak, Kuki, Ladakhi, Lahu, Lashi, Lhao Vo, Liangmai Naga, Lipo, Lisu, Garo, Hmar, Mara Chin, Mizo, Paite Chin, Phom (Naga), Poumei (Naga), Siyin, Sunuwar, Tangkhul, Thadou, Tibetan, Vaiphei, Wancho (Naga), Zeme

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Siouan languages

Dakota, Winnebago

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Tai-Kadai languages

Kam, Lao, Shan, Thai

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Tucanoan languages

Cubeo, Desano, Guanano / Wanano, Koreguaje, Orejón

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Uralic languages

Erzya, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Moksha, Sami, Võro

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Uto-Aztecan languages

Central Huasteca Nahuatl, Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl, Guerrero Nahuatl, Northern Tepehuán, Western Huasteca Nahuatl,

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Yanomam languages

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Zaparoan languages

Arabela

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Isolates

Ata, Basque, Candoshi-Shapra, Cofán, Tïcuna

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Pidgins and Creoles

Bislama, Haitian Creole, Hawaiian Pidgin, Kupang, Kriol, Nigerian Pidgin, Papiamentu, Pijin, Seychelles Creole, Sierra Leone Creole, Sranan Tongo, Tetun Dili, Tok Pisin, Torres Strait Creole

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International Auxiliary Languages (IALS)

Esperanto, Europeze, Folkspraak, Ido, Interglossa, Interlingua, Interlingue/Occidental, Interslavic, Lingua Franca Nova, Lojban, Romániço

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Constructed languages/alphabets

Avorentas HGV, Bel'Arian, Brithenig, Cujoltha, Durustal, Fishscales, Gyorsrovás, Klingon, Kweda, Nassian, Neo-Black Speech, Oxidilogi, Qahmaniyan, Quenya, Quikscript, Sabethir, Silesian, Toki Pona, Üqoi, Viozian, Venedic, Yahudi Türkçesi

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Alternative writing systems

Deseret, Gregg Shorthand, Pitman Shorthand, Shavian, The 1847 Alphabet

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Index by language | Index by language family


Sources of the Tower of Babel translations

Details of the background to the tale of the Tower of Babel
http://www.ldolphin.org/babel.html

Multilingual pages

Useful phrases | Silly phrases | Numbers | Numerals | Colours | Telling the time | Dates | Weather words | Family words | Terms of endearment | Language names | Country names | Idioms | Proverbs | Tongue twisters | Signs | Compass directions | UDHR | Tower of Babel | Songs | Omniglot | Seven dwarfs | Zodiac signs | Computer parts | Compass directions | Animal sounds

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