Definition
Cowardly or timid, like a hen which is perceived as fearful and easily frightened.
Etymology
Compound of 'hen' and 'hearted,' using 'hen' as a symbol of cowardice (as opposed to 'lion-hearted'). The association of hens with timidity reflects agricultural observations of their nervous behavior.
Kelly Says
The whole family of 'coward' words—chicken-hearted, lily-livered, henhearted—shows how societies project animal behavior onto human character, and how women-coded animals (hen, chicken) got linked with cowardice!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ደንበኞች (denbeynoches)
den-bey-noh-ches
ARالعربية
جبان (jibān)
ji-baan
BNবাংলা
দুর্বল (durbol)
door-bol
CSČeština
zbabělec
zba-beh-leht
DADansk
bangelig
ban-geh-leeg
ELΕλληνικά
λύσσα (lyssa)
lee-sah
ESEspañol
cobarde
koh-BAR-deh
FAفارسی
بزدل (bazdel)
ba-zdel
FISuomi
peloton
peh-loh-ton
GUGU
દુર્બળ (durbal)
door-bal
HEעברית
겁ול (gepul)
geh-pool
HIहिन्दी
कायर (kair)
kai-r
IDBahasa Indonesia
pengecut
pen-geh-cut
ITItaliano
coward
koh-ward
JA日本語
臆病者 (okubyo-sha)
oh-koo-bee-oh-shah
KKKK
көтеріліс (köterilis)
koh-teh-ree-lis
KMKM
ក្បាលរោង (kbal roang)
k-bahl ro-ang
KO한국어
겁쟁이 (geopjaengi)
gep-jaeng-ee
MRMR
काळजीपूर्वक (kaaljeepurvak)
kaal-jee-poor-vaak
MSBahasa Melayu
takut
ta-kut
MYမြန်မာ
ကောင်းမွန် (kaingmun)
kaing-mun
PAPA
ਨਿਰਭਉ (nirbhau)
nir-bha-ow
PTPortuguês
covarde
koh-VAHR-deh
RUРусский
трусливый (trusalivyy)
troo-slii-vee
SWKiswahili
mnyama
m-nyah-mah
TAதமிழ்
வெல்காரன் (velkārān)
vel-ka-raan
TEతెలుగు
దీనమైన (dīnamayin)
dee-na-may-in
THไทย
ขี้ขลาด (khi khlaadt)
kee khlat
UKУкраїнська
страхливий (strakhlivyy)
strah-lee-vee
URاردو
خوفزدہ (khawfzada)
khawf-zah-dah
VITiếng Việt
hèn nhát
hen-nhat
ZH中文
胆小 (dǎnxiǎo)
dan-hsiao
ZUZU
umshayeleli
oom-shay-eh-leh-lee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Uses 'hen' as symbol of timidity/cowardice, conflating feminine animals with moral weakness. Reflects historical association of femininity with fear and unfitness for leadership.
Inclusive Usage
Avoid; use 'cowardly' or 'timid' instead, which describe behavior without gendered animal metaphor.
Inclusive Alternatives
["cowardly","timid","fearful","craven"]