David in other languages: Dafydd, Davide, Dawud and more
Wherever you go, there is a Dave. He just spells it differently.
The short version
- David has a local form in almost every language: Dafydd (Welsh), Dàibhidh (Scottish Gaelic), Davide (Italian), Dawid (Polish), Davit (Georgian, Armenian), Dawud (Arabic), Kawika (Hawaiian).
- In Welsh, Dewi is the form used for Saint David (Dewi Sant), and Dai is a common short form.
- The name travelled so widely because King David is honoured in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
David is one of the most international names there is. King David is honoured in Judaism, Christianity and Islam (more on that in what the name Dave means), so the name has a local form in almost every language those traditions reached. Here's how to say Dave around the world.
David in the languages of Britain and Ireland
| Language | Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Welsh | Dafydd, Dewi | Saint David is Dewi Sant (see St David's Day). Dai is a common short form. |
| Scottish Gaelic | Dàibhidh | Davina is the well-known Scottish feminine form. |
| Irish | Dáibhí |
David in European languages
| Language | Form |
|---|---|
| Italian | Davide |
| French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Czech | David (pronounced differently in each) |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | Davi |
| Polish | Dawid |
| Hungarian | Dávid |
| Icelandic | Davíð |
| Finnish | Taavetti |
| Greek | Δαβίδ (Davíd) |
| Russian | Давид (David) |
David in Hebrew, Arabic and Yiddish
| Language | Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | דָּוִד (David) | The original. Usually translated as "beloved". |
| Arabic | داود (Dawud, Daoud) | In Islam, Dawud is a prophet and king. |
| Yiddish | Dovid |
David in the Caucasus
In Georgian and Armenian the name is Davit. In Georgia it carries special weight because of King David IV, "the Builder", one of the country's great national heroes.
David in Hawaiian
In Hawaiian, David becomes Kawika. Hawaiian has fewer consonants than English, so names get adapted: D becomes K, and v becomes w. It's possibly the most fun way to be a Dave.
Which version of Dave are you?
Under Article 1 of the Society's bylaws, Daves, Davids, Davys, Daveys, Dais and Dafydds are all full members. We've taken the liberty of extending that to every form on this page. Kawikas, welcome.
Frequently asked questions
What is David in Welsh?
David is Dafydd in Welsh. Dewi is the form used for Saint David (Dewi Sant), and Dai is a common short form.
What is David in Arabic?
David is Dawud (also written Daoud) in Arabic, داود. In Islam, Dawud is honoured as a prophet and king.
What is David in Hawaiian?
David is Kawika in Hawaiian.
What is David in Italian?
David is Davide in Italian.
Sources
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