10 beautiful spring words in different languages

Move over, fall — when it comes to choosing the best time of year, you simply can’t beat the spring season. 

Mornings are heavy with birdsong, daylight comes flooding back after being in short supply during winter, and there are flowers everywhere. In cultures all around the world, spring is a time to celebrate life, fresh starts, and renewal. 

Join us for a dive into enchanting springtime words in different languages that will surely make you want to travel this spring.

1. Sakura (Japanese)

Meaning: Cherry blossom

Spring in Japan is famous for one thing above all others — cherry blossoms. Starting in late March, hundreds and thousands of cherry trees in parks and gardens erupt with clouds of fragrant white and pink flowers. The cherry blossom, or sakura, is revered in Japan. Because the flowering season is short, the blooms are considered to symbolize the beauty and fleetingness of life and the renewal of spring.

2. April showers (English)

Meaning: Spring rain

It does rain in the UK year-round (we live up to the stereotype), but in the spring, there’s a sneaky type of weather that gets its own special name. April showers are short but heavy rains that, even though the rest of the day/month has been sunny and bright, will appear out of nowhere and leave you completely drenched.

3. Arcoiris (Spanish)

Meaning: Rainbow

What often follows the spring rains? A rainbow, of course, and the Spanish name for the colorful streak in the sky could not be more beautiful. Just the word itself, arcoiris (pronounced ar‧co‧í‧ris), sounds gorgeously musical.

4. Spargelzeit (German)

Meaning: Asparagus season

In April, the season of white asparagus begins. This ghostly pale vegetable is delicious, especially when served the German way, with butter and ham or smothered in hollandaise sauce. Its arrival coincides with spring and warmer days. Spargelzeit (AKA asparagus season) is a time to appreciate locally grown food and celebrate cooking with the ingredients that are in season — of which white asparagus plays the starring role.

5. Lueur (French)

Meaning: Glow

You know that gorgeous, soft light that manages to make the world feel a teeny bit magical? Well, bring on the lueur! This roll-off-your-tongue French word means to glow, gleam, or glimmer — something that warm spring sunrises and sunsets are experts at creating.

6. Germoglio (Italian)

Meaning: Sprout

This Italian noun refers to a sprout or bud, and (you’ve guessed it) is often used during the spring months. During this time, many of the trees and flowers that have been dormant over winter do exactly that — sprout. Plus, with all those vowels, it’s a fun one to say. 

7. Kosläpp (Swedish)

Meaning: Cow release

Kosläpp is a pretty unusual but charming moment in the Swedish calendar. When spring starts, the cows that have been kept inside to shelter from the Scandinavian winter are released into the fields. Many of them literally skip and jump as they reach the pasture, and communities will gather to watch their joyful dance. From that point, spring begins!

8. Cemre (Turkish)

Meaning: Ember

The Turkish word cemre has its origins in Arabic and translates loosely in English to the ember of a fire. Turkish folklore tells of three embers, or fireballs, falling from the heavens to change the seasons. The first warms up the air, the second warms the waters, and the final cemre warms up the earth and kick-starts spring.

9. Naissance (French)

Meaning: Birth

Naissance is the beautiful-sounding French term for birth or the origin of something. All around the world, spring is associated with the start of new life — from tree leaves unfurling and flowers blossoming to lambs or rabbits being born. So, it’s perhaps no surprise that naissance is often used in phrases or stories describing printemps (springtime).

10. Borboleta (Portuguese)

Meaning: Butterfly

Spring skies are made colorful and bright by the arrival of butterflies. Some will have spent the winter in a dry place with their wings tucked in, some will have sheltered as a caterpillar before the sun’s warmth encouraged them to transform into an adult butterfly, and some will have flown vast distances to enjoy spring somewhere new. There are many stunning words for these fluttering creatures of spring, but the Portuguese name, borboleta, takes the cake.