Definition
A person who shapes materials by cutting away portions, especially wood or stone, or a large knife used for slicing meat.
Etymology
From Old English 'ceorfan' meaning 'to cut, carve,' related to German 'kerben' (to notch). The agent suffix '-er' was added to create the noun form referring to one who carves.
Kelly Says
Master woodcarvers can identify different tree species just by the feel of their tools cutting through the grain. Each wood has its own personality - basswood cuts like butter, while ebony can chip your chisels if you're not careful.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ተንጣጣይ
teh-neh-tah-tah-y
BNবাংলা
খোদাইকারী
kho-dai-kah-ree
CACatalà
tallador
tah-yah-DOHR
CSČeština
řezbář
reh-zbah-ryh
DEDeutsch
Schnitzer
SHNIH-tser
ELΕλληνικά
γλύπτης
glih-pteas
ESEspañol
tallador
tah-yah-DOHR
FAفارسی
تراشنده
tarash-andeh
FISuomi
veistäjä
vay-steh-yah
FRFrançais
tailleur
tah-yur
HIहिन्दी
उत्कीर्णक
ut-keern-k
HUMagyar
faragó
fah-rah-goh
IDBahasa Indonesia
tukang ukir
too-kahng oo-keer
IGIG
onye na-akpụ
oh-nyeh nah-ah-kpoo
ITItaliano
scultore
skool-TOH-reh
KKKK
оңайылғыш
oh-nyh-eel-gysh
KMKM
ជាងចម្លាក់
chee-ung chahm-lak
MSBahasa Melayu
tukang ukir
too-kahng oo-keer
MYမြန်မာ
ထွင်းထုံးသည်
htwaing htoon theh
NLNederlands
snijder
SNIH-der
PAPA
ਕੱਟਣ ਵਾਲਾ
kat-tan waal-ah
PLPolski
rzeźbiarz
zheh-zhyarzh
PTPortuguês
entalhador
ehn-tah-LYAH-thoh
RORomână
cioplitor
choh-plee-tohr
RUРусский
резчик
REH-zcheek
SVSvenska
skulptör
skoolp-tohr
SWKiswahili
mchongaji
m-choh-ngah-jee
TEతెలుగు
చెక్కడం
chek-ka-dam
THไทย
ช่างแกะสลัก
chang gahd sah-lak
TLTL
manlinak
mah-nih-lak
TRTürkçe
oymacı
oh-yah-mah-jee
UKУкраїнська
різьбяр
REH-zhyar
URاردو
تراش کرنے والا
tarash kar-ne waala
VITiếng Việt
nhà điêu khắc
ngah zeh-ew khahk
YOYO
olùfọwọ́sàn
oh-loo-foh-woh-sahn
ZUZU
umkuthi
oo-m-koo-thee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Carver as artisan/craftsperson historically male-coded; women's sculptural work historically labeled decorative arts or domestic craft, erasing maker identity.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'sculptor,' 'artisan,' or 'carver' regardless of gender; specify 'wood carver,' 'stone carver' for clarity and to avoid gendered diminishment.
Inclusive Alternatives
["sculptor","artisan","craftsperson"]
Empowerment Note
Women sculptors (Barbara Hepworth, Louise Bourgeois) pioneered modernism; historical records often attributed their innovations to male contemporaries.