Myth
A traditional story explaining the origins of the world, natural phenomena, or cultural practices—also, a widely held belief that may or may not be factually true.
/ɛm ðoʊz/ 🇬🇧 UK/ɛm ðəʊz/Definition
A traditional story explaining the origins of the world, natural phenomena, or cultural practices—also, a widely held belief that may or may not be factually true.
Detailed
A traditional story explaining the origins of the world, natural phenomena, or cultural practices—also, a widely held belief that may or may not be factually true. From Greek ‘mŷthos’ (story/tale). Originally: a sacred narrative explaining origins and meaning. Now also: a widely held but false belief. The tension between these meanings is itself revealing.
Etymology
From Greek ‘mŷthos’ (story/tale). Originally: a sacred narrative explaining origins and meaning. Now also: a widely held but false belief. The tension between these meanings is itself revealing.
Explanations
Conceptual Breakdown
A traditional story explaining the origins of the world, natural phenomena, or cultural practices—also, a widely held belief that may or may not be factually true.
Translations & Equivalents
| Language | Script | Transliteration | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telugu | పురాణం | పురాణం | |
| Tamil | புராணம் | புராணம் | |
| Kannada | ಪುರಾಣ | ಪುರಾಣ | |
| Malayalam | പുരാണം | പുരാണം | |
| Hindi | मिथक | मिथक | |
| Sanskrit | पुराणम् | पुराणम् | |
| Gujarati | પુરાણ | પુરાણ | |
| Bengali | পুরাণ | পুরাণ | |
| Marathi | पुराण | पुराण | |
| Urdu | اسطورہ | اسطورہ | |
| Arabic | أسطورة | أسطورة | |
| French | mythe | mythe | |
| German | Mythos | Mythos | |
| Spanish | mito | mito | |
| Portuguese | mito | mito | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 神话 | 神话 | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 神話 | 神話 | |
| Japanese | 神話 | 神話 | |
| Polish | mit | mit | |
| Russian | миф | миф | |
| Malay | mitos | mitos | |
| Indonesian | mitos | mitos | |
| Filipino | mito | mito | |
| Italian | mito | mito | |
| Danish | myte | myte | |
| English | myth | myth |
Videos
More video explanations by language
- Mythe: Récits Sacrés dans les Cultures du Monde
- Mito: Narrativas Sagradas nas Culturas do Mundo
- الأسطورة: الروايات المقدسة في ثقافات العالم
- पौराणिक कथा: विश्व संस्कृतियों में पवित्र कथाएं
- 神话：世界文化中的神圣叙事
- 神話：世界文化における神聖な物語
- Mythos: Heilige Erzählungen in den Kulturen der Welt
- Миф: Священные Нарративы в Культурах Мира
- Mito: Narrazioni Sacre nelle Culture del Mondo
- Mit: Święte Narracje w Kulturach Świata
- Myte: Hellige Fortællinger i Verdens Kulturer
- পুরাণ: বিশ্ব সংস্কৃতিতে পবিত্র আখ্যান
- Mitos: Narasi Suci dalam Budaya Dunia
- Mitos: Naratif Suci dalam Budaya Dunia
- Mito: Sagradong Salaysay sa mga Kultura ng Mundo
- اسطوره: روایتهای مقدس در فرهنگهای جهان
- Μύθος: Ιερές Αφηγήσεις στους Πολιτισμούς του Κόσμου
- கட்டுக்கதை: உலக கலாச்சாரங்களில் புனித கதைகள்
- اسطورہ: دنیا کی ثقافتوں میں مقدس کہانیاں
- מיתוס: נרטיבים קדושים בתרבויות העולם
- పురాణం: ప్రపంచ సంస్కృతులలో పవిత్ర కథలు
- Tier3 Gujarati Myth
- Tier3 Kannada Myth
- Tier3 Malayalam Myth
- Myth – Chinese (Traditional) Explanation
- Myth – Swedish Explanation
- Myth – Javanese Explanation
- Myth – Korean (cultural loan) Explanation
- Myth – Latin Explanation
- Myth – Marathi Explanation
- Myth – Sanskrit Explanation
- Myth – Tongan Explanation
- Myth – Welsh Explanation
- Myth – Wolof Explanation
- Myth – Xhosa Explanation
- Myth – Zulu/Xhosa Explanation