A cockroach is more than just an unwanted visitor in your kitchen it’s a linguistic time capsule. English speakers borrowed the word in the early 1600s.

In a new historical linguistics study, Maltese exterminator Arnold Sciberras uncovers the fascinating global diversity of cockroach names, compiling over 200 terms across languages and dialects from 1998 to 2025.

From the well-known cucaracha in Spanish, to wirdiena in Maltese, and zhāngláng in Mandarin, this hardy insect appears in nearly every linguistic landscape on earth.

Sciberras’ study features a comprehensive alphabetical compilation of the word cockroach, shedding light on how language, environment, and culture intertwine.

One striking example is the Gozitan slang term mndibna, possibly derived from Maltese, used to describe infested spaces.

In Samoan, manu uli translates to “black creature,” a broad term that also captures other pests.

In Japanese:  ゴキブリ  (Gokiburi) – Onomatopoeic; “crawling sneak.”

Thai offers a vivid label: แมลงสาบ (malaeng saap), literally meaning “smelly insect.”

These names aren’t just descriptive they reflect cultural perceptions, colonial history, and regional identity.

The English “cockroach” itself comes from the Spanish cucaracha, showing how languages borrow and adapt across borders and time.

Sciberras also notes how some Eastern European languages embed ethnic or national stereotypes into their cockroach terms, a reminder that even pest names can carry historical tension and cultural narratives.

#MaltaDaily