Passover roots
Greek, Latin and many modern European names preserve forms related to Pascha or Pesach.
Seasonal language and belief
Easter has many names.
Across languages, the Christian feast of resurrection is named through several historical pathways. Comparing those names reveals connections with Passover, resurrection, dawn, fasting and the idea of a great day.
Language and history
Why the names differ
A concise guide to recurring roots found in names for Easter around the world.
Easter Sunday is the central celebration of resurrection in the Christian liturgical year. The English word Easter is unusual among European names because it does not directly preserve the Latin or Greek form associated with Passover. Its history has been connected with an Old English spring term and with later scholarly explanations involving dawn; the precise development remains discussed by historians of language.
In many other languages, the name is related to Pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover. This reflects the historical setting of the Christian Easter story and the close relationship between the Christian observance and the Jewish festival calendar. Other language families emphasize resurrection, a great day, rising, the end of a fast, or a major feast.
Resurrection language
Several names translate or closely express the idea of resurrection, rising or a resurrection festival.
Great day and feast
Some names describe Easter as a great day, a great feast, or the close of a period of fasting.
Examples from different language groups
The forms below are representative rather than exhaustive. Spellings and transliterations can vary by region, tradition and modern language standard.
FrenchPâques
ItalianPasqua
SpanishPascua
PortuguesePáscoa
GreekΠάσχα — Pascha
RomanianPaște
RussianПасха — Paskha
PolishWielkanoc, “great night”
CzechVelikonoce
UkrainianВеликдень — Velykden
SwedishPåsk
NorwegianPåske
TurkishPaskalya
IrishCáisc
Chinese复活节 — resurrection festival
VietnameseLễ Phục Sinh
ArmenianԶատիկ or Սուրբ Հարություն
Georgianაღდგომა — rising
A note about interpretation
A shared linguistic root does not mean that every community understands Easter in exactly the same way. Liturgical calendars, worship practices and theological emphases differ among Christian traditions. Language offers historical clues, not a complete account of belief.
Reading the evidence carefully
Older explanations of Easter's name have sometimes been presented as settled fact even though the evidence is complex. A responsible comparison distinguishes documented word histories from later popular explanations. It also avoids treating a word's origin as proof that a contemporary observance has only one meaning.
For broader context, compare this essay with the site's pages on Christianity, beliefs and creeds, seasonal events, and the glossary.
Reader guide
Questions about Easter names
Is Easter always called Easter in English?
No. “Easter,” “Easter Sunday,” “Resurrection Day” and “Pascha” all occur in English-language contexts, although their frequency varies by community.
Does Pascha mean the same thing as Passover?
The words are historically related, but Christian communities use Pascha for their celebration of Jesus' resurrection, while Passover refers to the Jewish festival with its own history and practices.
Why do Slavic names sometimes refer to a great day or night?
Several Slavic forms combine words associated with greatness and the day or night of the feast. Exact meanings and grammatical histories differ among languages.
Do names prove that Easter came from a single earlier festival?
No. Names can preserve contact between languages and traditions, but they do not by themselves establish a complete origin story for a religious observance.
Are the transliterations in this article definitive?
No. Transliteration systems differ, and local spelling conventions may offer more than one acceptable Latin-script form.
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