Definition
A fibrous protein that is the main structural component of connective tissue in animals. The most abundant protein in mammals, providing strength and structure to skin, bones, and cartilage.
Etymology
From Greek 'kolla' (glue) + '-gen' (producing), literally meaning 'glue-producing'. Named in 1843 when scientists discovered that boiling animal tissues rich in this protein produced gelatin, a glue-like substance.
Kelly Says
Collagen is literally what holds us together - it's the biological glue that keeps our bodies from falling apart, which is perfectly captured in its name meaning 'glue-maker.' The beauty industry's obsession with collagen supplements connects to this ancient function, as people seek to maintain their body's natural scaffolding.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ኮላጀን
koh-lah-jeh-n
ARالعربية
коллаген
koh-lah-gehn
BNবাংলা
কোলাজেন
koh-lah-jeh-n
CACatalà
col·làgen
koh-LAH-jen
CSČeština
kolagen
koh-LAH-gehn
DADansk
kollagen
koh-LAH-gehn
DEDeutsch
Kollagen
koh-LAH-gen
ELΕλληνικά
κολλαγόνο
koh-LAH-goh-noh
ESEspañol
colágeno
koh-LAH-heh-noh
FAفارسی
کلاژن
koh-lah-jan
FISuomi
kollageeni
koh-lah-geh-nee
FRFrançais
collagène
koh-lah-ZHEHN
HAHA
kolajen
koh-lah-jeh-n
HEעברית
קולגן
koh-LAH-gehn
HIहिन्दी
कोलेजन
koh-leh-jan
HUMagyar
kollagén
koh-LAH-gehn
IDBahasa Indonesia
kolagen
koh-lah-geh-n
IGIG
kọlajen
koh-lah-jeh-n
ITItaliano
collagene
koh-lah-JEH-neh
JA日本語
コラーゲン
koh-rah-geh-n
KKKK
коллаген
koh-LAH-gehn
KMKM
កូឡាហ្សែន
koh-lah-jeh-n
MSBahasa Melayu
kolagen
koh-lah-geh-n
MYမြန်မာ
ကိုလာဂျင်
koh-lah-jin
NLNederlands
collageen
koh-lah-GEH-n
NONorsk
kollagen
koh-LAH-gehn
PLPolski
kolagen
koh-LAH-gehn
PTPortuguês
colágeno
koh-LAH-zheh-noo
RORomână
colagen
koh-LAH-gehn
RUРусский
коллаген
koh-LAH-gehn
SVSvenska
kollagen
koh-LAH-gehn
SWKiswahili
kolajeni
koh-lah-jeh-nee
TAதமிழ்
கொலாஜன்
koh-lah-jan
TEతెలుగు
కొల్లాజెన్
koh-lah-jeh-n
THไทย
คอลลาเจน
koh-lah-geh-n
TLTL
kolahen
koh-lah-heh-n
TRTürkçe
kolajen
koh-lah-JEH-n
UKУкраїнська
колаген
koh-LAH-gehn
URاردو
کولاجن
koh-lah-jan
VITiếng Việt
collagen
koh-lah-geh-n
YOYO
kolajen
koh-lah-jeh-n
ZUZU
ikolajeni
ee-koh-lah-jeh-nee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Collagen marketing disproportionately targets women through beauty/anti-aging narratives, exploiting anxieties about aging and female appearance. Men are rarely marketed collagen as a beauty concern.
Inclusive Usage
Use descriptively without gendered framings. Discuss collagen in contexts of health, injury recovery, nutrition—not aesthetic pressure.
Inclusive Alternatives
["protein","structural protein"]
Empowerment Note
Women are profiled as primary consumers of anti-aging products; acknowledge scientific benefits without reinforcing beauty standards.