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 languagesAssamese ,
Awadhi ,
Bengali ,
Fijian Hindi ,
Gilaki ,
Gujarati ,
Hindi ,
Konkani ,
Maldivian ,
Marathi ,
Nepali ,
Odia ,
Punjabi ,
Romani ,
Sanskrit ,
Sarnámi Hindustani ,
Sinhala ,
Sylheti ,
Urdu 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
[top ]
Tucanoan languages
Cubeo ,
Desano ,
Guanano / Wanano ,
Koreguaje ,
Orejón
[top ]
Uralic languages
Erzya ,
Estonian ,
Finnish ,
Hungarian ,
Moksha ,
Sami ,
Võro
[top ]
Uto-Aztecan languages
Central Huasteca Nahuatl ,
Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl ,
Guerrero Nahuatl ,
Northern Tepehuán ,
Western Huasteca Nahuatl ,
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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 Babelhttp://www.ldolphin.org/babel.html
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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