# golf
## Translingual
### Noun

golf
* Alternative letter-case form of Golf of the ICAO/NATO radiotelephony alphabet.

## English
### Etymology

The word is first known in English from the 17th century as a borrowing from Middle Scots golf, gouff. Although the etymology is uncertain, the most likely origin is that it comes from the Middle Dutch colve, colf (“club”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kulbaz (“club”), related to German Kolben (“piston, rod”), Swedish kolv (“piston, rod”), Old English clopp (“rock; cliff”).

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ɡɒlf/
** (Conservative RP) IPA: /ɡɒf/
* (General American) IPA: /ɡɑlf/, /ɡɔlf/
* Audio (US):(file)
** (New England) IPA: /ɡɒf/
* Rhymes: -ɒlf

### Noun

golf (uncountable)
* (sports) A ball game played by individuals competing against one another in which the object is to hit a ball into each of a series of (usually 18 or nine) holes in the minimum number of strokes.
** 2017 October 16, Adam Jourdan, Matt Miller, “In the rough - China closes Wanda golf courses in chilly northeast”, in Himani Sarkar, editor, Reuters‎, archived from the original on 18 March 2023, Business News:In January, China’s state planner said it had ordered the closure of more than 100 golf courses in a multi-year campaign launched in 2011 to tackle illegal development in the sector. Golf has also been added to a list of Communist Party disciplinary violations, and is often cited in cases of graft.
* (international standards) Alternative letter-case form of Golf from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet.

#### Derived terms

* African golf
* antigolf
* army golf
* barnyard golf
* clock golf
* code golf
* crazy golf
* dart golf
* disc golf
* flying disc golf
* folf
* footgolf
* frisbee golf
* frolf
* golfaholic
* golf bag
* golf ball
* golf buggy
* golf caddie
* golf caddy
* golf car
* golf cart
* golf clap
* golf club
* golf-club
* golf course
* golf croquet
* golfdom
* golfese
* golf hole
* golfiana
* golfless
* golflike
* golf pencil
* golf pro
* golf shirt
* golf shoe
* golfspeak
* golf towel
* golf umbrella
* golfwear
* golf widow
* golfwise
* hickory golf
* midget golf
* miniature golf
* nongolf
* peewee golf
* pub golf
* regex golf
* snow golf
* Tom Thumb golf
* word golf

#### References

* Michael Quinion (2004) “Golf”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.

### Verb

golf (third-person singular simple present golfs, present participle golfing, simple past and past participle golfed)
* (intransitive) To play the game of golf.
** 1894, Rudyard Kipling, The Day's Work/An Error in the Fourth Dimension:Last mystery of all, he learned to golf.
* (computing) To write something in as few characters as possible (e.g. in code golf, regex golf)

#### Translations
### Anagrams

* GLOF, flog

## Asturian
### Noun

golf m (uncountable)
* (sports) golf

## Catalan
### Pronunciation

* IPA: (Central, Balearic, Valencia) [ˈɡolf]

### Etymology 1

Inherited from Vulgar Latin or Late Latin colfus, colphus, culfus, alteration of colpus, from Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos).

#### Noun

golf m (plural golfs)
* gulf

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from English golf.

#### Noun

golf m (uncountable)
* golf

##### Derived terms

* golfista

##### Related terms

* golfístic

### Further reading

* “golf” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

## Czech
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈɡolf]

### Etymology 1

Borrowed from English golf.

#### Noun

golf m inan
* golf (a ball game)

##### Derived terms

* golfista
* golfový

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from German Golf.

#### Noun

golf m inan
* bay, gulf

##### Declension
### Further reading

* “golf”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
* “golf”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
* “golf”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025

### References

* ↑ Jiří Rejzek (2007) “golf¹”, in Český etymologický slovník (in Czech), Leda
* ↑ Jiří Rejzek (2007) “golf²”, in Český etymologický slovník (in Czech), Leda

## Dutch
### Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch gelve, from Proto-Germanic *gelbaną. Influenced by Late Latin colfus, from Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos).

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɣɔlf/
* Audio:(file)
* Hyphenation: golf
* Rhymes: -ɔlf

#### Noun

golf f (plural golven, diminutive golfje n)
* wave
* (physics) wave
* (geography) gulf

##### Synonyms

* (wave): waag

##### Derived terms

* arrestatiegolf
* geluidsgolf
* kortegolf
* lichtgolf
* microgolf
* radiogolf
* vloedgolf
* zwaartekrachtsgolf

#### Verb

golf
* inflection of golven:
** first-person singular present indicative
** (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
** imperative

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from English golf.

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɣɔlf/, /ɡɔlf/
* Audio:(file)
* Hyphenation: golf
* Rhymes: -ɔlf

#### Noun

golf n (uncountable)
* golf

#### Verb

golf
* inflection of golfen:
** first-person singular present indicative
** (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
** imperative

### Further reading

* “golf” in Van Dale Onlinewoordenboek, Van Dale Lexicografie, 2007.

## Faroese
### Etymology

From English golf, from Middle Scots golf.

### Noun

golf n (genitive singular golfs, uncountable)
* golf

#### Derived terms

* golfbóltur m
* golfbreyt f
* golfleikari m
* golfvøllur m

## Finnish
### Etymology

From English golf.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈɡolf/, [ˈɡo̞lf]
* Rhymes: -olf
* Hyphenation: golf

### Noun

golf
* golf

#### Declension

Possessive forms of golf (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation) :
first-person singular possessor
singular
plural
nominative
golfini
golfini
accusative
nom.
golfini
golfini
gen.
golfini
genitive
golfini
golfieni
partitive
golfiani
golfejani
inessive
golfissani
golfeissani
elative
golfistani
golfeistani
illative
golfiini
golfeihini
adessive
golfillani
golfeillani
ablative
golfiltani
golfeiltani
allative
golfilleni
golfeilleni
essive
golfinani
golfeinani
translative
golfikseni
golfeikseni
abessive
golfittani
golfeittani
instructive
comitative
—golfeineni
second-person singular possessor
singular
plural
nominative
golfisi
golfisi
accusative
nom.
golfisi
golfisi
gen.
golfisi
genitive
golfisi
golfiesi
partitive
golfiasi
golfejasi
inessive
golfissasi
golfeissasi
elative
golfistasi
golfeistasi
illative
golfiisi
golfeihisi
adessive
golfillasi
golfeillasi
ablative
golfiltasi
golfeiltasi
allative
golfillesi
golfeillesi
essive
golfinasi
golfeinasi
translative
golfiksesi
golfeiksesi
abessive
golfittasi
golfeittasi
instructive
comitative
—golfeinesi
first-person plural possessor
singular
plural
nominative
golfimme
golfimme
accusative
nom.
golfimme
golfimme
gen.
golfimme
genitive
golfimme
golfiemme
partitive
golfiamme
golfejamme
inessive
golfissamme
golfeissamme
elative
golfistamme
golfeistamme
illative
golfiimme
golfeihimme
adessive
golfillamme
golfeillamme
ablative
golfiltamme
golfeiltamme
allative
golfillemme
golfeillemme
essive
golfinamme
golfeinamme
translative
golfiksemme
golfeiksemme
abessive
golfittamme
golfeittamme
instructive
comitative
—golfeinemme
second-person plural possessor
singular
plural
nominative
golfinne
golfinne
accusative
nom.
golfinne
golfinne
gen.
golfinne
genitive
golfinne
golfienne
partitive
golfianne
golfejanne
inessive
golfissanne
golfeissanne
elative
golfistanne
golfeistanne
illative
golfiinne
golfeihinne
adessive
golfillanne
golfeillanne
ablative
golfiltanne
golfeiltanne
allative
golfillenne
golfeillenne
essive
golfinanne
golfeinanne
translative
golfiksenne
golfeiksenne
abessive
golfittanne
golfeittanne
instructive
comitative
—golfeinenne
third-person possessor
singular
plural
nominative
golfinsa
golfinsa
accusative
nom.
golfinsa
golfinsa
gen.
golfinsa
genitive
golfinsa
golfiensa
partitive
golfiaan golfiansa
golfejaan golfejansa
inessive
golfissaan golfissansa
golfeissaan golfeissansa
elative
golfistaan golfistansa
golfeistaan golfeistansa
illative
golfiinsa
golfeihinsa
adessive
golfillaan golfillansa
golfeillaan golfeillansa
ablative
golfiltaan golfiltansa
golfeiltaan golfeiltansa
allative
golfilleen golfillensa
golfeilleen golfeillensa
essive
golfinaan golfinansa
golfeinaan golfeinansa
translative
golfikseen golfiksensa
golfeikseen golfeiksensa
abessive
golfittaan golfittansa
golfeittaan golfeittansa
instructive
comitative
—golfeineen golfeinensa :

#### Synonyms

* kolopallo

#### Derived terms

* golfata
* frisbeegolf
* golfauto
* golfetiketti
* golfhousut
* golfinpelaaja
* golfkenttä
* golfkerho
* golfkierros
* golfklubi
* golfkyynärpää
* golfmaila
* golfosake
* golfpallo
* golfrata
* jäägolf
* kiekkogolf
* liitokiekkogolf
* lumigolf
* minigolf
* pienoisgolf
* ratagolf

### Further reading

* “golf”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎ (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-02

## French
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɡɔlf/
* Homophone: golfe

### Noun

golf m (plural golf)
* golf

### Further reading

* “golf”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

## Galician
### Noun

golf m (uncountable)
* golf

## German
### Verb

golf
* singular imperative of golfen
* (colloquial) first-person singular present of golfen

## Hungarian
### Etymology

From English golf.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈɡolf]
* Hyphenation: golf
* Rhymes: -olf

### Noun

golf (usually uncountable, plural golfok)
* golf

#### Derived terms

* golfoz
* golfozik
* golfklub
* golfnadrág
* golfpálya

### References

* ↑ Tótfalusi, István. Idegenszó-tár: Idegen szavak értelmező és etimológiai szótára (’A Storehouse of Foreign Words: an explanatory and etymological dictionary of foreign words’). Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó, 2005. →ISBN

### Further reading

* golf in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN

## Icelandic
### Etymology

Borrowed from English golf.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈkɔlv/
* Rhymes: -ɔlv

### Noun

golf n (genitive singular golfs, no plural)
* golf

#### Derived terms

* golfari m (“golfer”)
* golfbíll m (“golf cart”)
* golfvöllur m (“golf course”)

## Indonesian
### Etymology

Internationalism, unadapted borrowing from English golf, most likely from Middle Dutch colve, colf (“club”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kulbaz (“club”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈɡol(ĕ)f/
* Hyphenation: golf

### Noun

golf (plural golf-golf)
* (sports) golf: A ball game played by individuals competing against one another in which the object is to hit a ball into each of a series of (usually 18 or nine) holes in the minimum number of strokes

#### Derived terms

* bergolf
* pegolf

### Further reading

* “golf” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

## Italian
### Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English golf.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈɡɔlf/
* Rhymes: -ɔlf
* Hyphenation: gòlf

### Noun

golf m (invariable)
* golf
* jumper, cardigan

## Norwegian Bokmål
### Etymology 1

From English golf.

#### Noun

golf m (definite singular golfen, uncountable)
* golf (a game played with a golf club and golf ball)

##### Derived terms

* golfbane
* golfer
* golfklubb
* golfkølle
* golfspiller

### Etymology 2

From Italian golfo and French golfe.

#### Noun

golf m (definite singular golfen, indefinite plural golfer, definite plural golfene)
* a gulf (large bay)

##### Derived terms

* Golfstrømmen
* Mexicogolfen

### References

* “golf” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

## Norwegian Nynorsk
### Etymology 1

From English golf.

#### Noun

golf m (definite singular golfen, uncountable)
* golf (a game played with a golf club and golf ball)

##### Derived terms

* golfbane
* golfklubb
* golfkølle

### Etymology 2

From Italian golfo and French golfe.

#### Noun

golf m (definite singular golfen, indefinite plural golfar, definite plural golfane)
* a gulf (large bay)

##### Derived terms

* Mexicogolfen

### References

* “golf” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

## Polish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈɡɔlf/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -ɔlf
* Syllabification: golf
* Homophone: Golf

### Etymology 1

Borrowed from English golf.

#### Noun

golf m inan
* (golf) golf (ball game)

##### Derived terms

* golfowy
* golfista
* golfowisko

### Etymology 2

Uncertain. Perhaps borrowed from French col roulé.

#### Noun

golf m inan (diminutive golfik)
* (clothing) turtleneck, polo-neck

##### Derived terms

* golfowy
* golfy

### Etymology 3

Borrowed from German Volkswagen Golf, a genericized trademark.

#### Noun

golf m animal
* Volkswagen Golf car

##### Declension
### Etymology 4

Borrowed from French golf.

#### Noun

golf m inan
* (obsolete) gulf (deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land)
    Synonyms: odnoga morska, zatoka

##### Declension
### Further reading

* golf in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
* golf in Polish dictionaries at PWN
* golf in Narodowy Fotokorpus Języka Polskiego

## Portuguese
### Noun

golf m (uncountable)
* Alternative spelling of golfe

## Romanian
### Etymology 1

Borrowed from French golfe.

#### Noun

golf n (plural golfuri)
* gulf

##### Declension
### Etymology 2

Borrowed from English golf.

#### Noun

golf n (uncountable)
* golf

##### Declension
## Serbo-Croatian
### Noun

golf m (Cyrillic spelling голф)
* golf

#### Derived terms

* golfaš
* golfer

## Slovak
### Etymology

Borrowed from English golf.

### Noun

golf m inan (relational adjective golfový or golfský, diminutive golfík)
* golf
* (geography) bay, gulf

#### Declension
### Further reading

* “golf”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2025

## Spanish
### Etymology

Borrowed from English golf.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈɡolf/ [ˈɡolf]
* Rhymes: -olf
* Syllabification: golf

### Noun

golf m (uncountable)
* golf

#### Derived terms

* bola de golf
* campo de golf
* golfista
* golfito
* palo de golf
* pelota de golf
* salsa golf

### Further reading

* “golf”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

## Swedish
### Noun

golf c
* (sports) golf
* (geography) a gulf (very large bay)
    Mexikanska golfenThe Gulf of Mexico
* Obsolete spelling of golv.

#### Usage notes

Vik is used instead of golf in some names, for example in "Persiska viken" (the Persian Gulf).

#### Derived terms

* Mexikanska golfen
* golfbana
* golfklubb
* golfklubba
* minigolf

#### Related terms

* golfa
* golfare

#### See also

* bukt
* vik

### References

* golf in Svensk ordbok (SO)
* golf in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
* golf in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

## Vietnamese
### Pronunciation

* (Hà Nội) IPA: [ɣon˧˧]
* (Huế) IPA: [ɣoŋ˧˧]
* (Saigon) IPA: [ɣoŋ˧˧]
* Phonetic spelling: gôn

### Noun

golf
* golf

## West Frisian
### Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch golf.

### Noun

golf c (plural golven, diminutive golfke)
* wave (motion in a liquid)
    Synonym: weach
* wave, gush
* wave (in any other medium or field)
    Synonym: weach
* (in the diminutive) tilde

#### Further reading

* “golf (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011