Definition
A person whose job is to cut down trees in forests and prepare the wood for use.
Etymology
From 'lumber' (sawed wood) + 'jack' (a man or worker). The term emerged in North America in the 1800s when the timber industry boomed, combining the product with a common occupational suffix for manual workers.
Kelly Says
Lumberjacks became folk heroes in American logging camps, with exaggerated tales of giants like Paul Bunyan spreading through work camps—these tall tales may have actually helped workers bond and cope with the dangerous, isolated work.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እንቁላል አስገድ
en-k-u-lal as-ged
ARالعربية
伐ّاك للخشب
fa-wa-ak lil-kha-shb
CSČeština
lesní dělník
les-ni de-l-nik
DADansk
skovhugger
sko-v-hug-ger
DEDeutsch
Holzarbeiter
hol-zar-ay-ter
ELΕλληνικά
περιβαλλοντικός
pe-ri-val-lon-ti-kos
ESEspañol
leñador
le-na-dor
FAفارسی
آتشسوز
atsh-sooz
FISuomi
sahaaja
sa-ha-a-ja
FRFrançais
bûcheron
boo-she-ron
HEעברית
伐יץ עץ
va-yit-z etz
HIहिन्दी
लकड़ी काटनेवाला
la-k-dee kaat-ne-va-la
HUMagyar
fűrészmester
fyur-es-mes-ter
IDBahasa Indonesia
penebang kayu
pe-ne-bang ka-yu
IGIG
onye na-akụ
o-nye na-aku
ITItaliano
falegname
fa-le-gna-me
KMKM
ការបោះស្លាប់
ka-ar ba-oh-sla-ap
MSBahasa Melayu
penebang kayu
pe-ne-bang ka-yu
MYမြန်မာ
တောင်တွင်း ပြုတ်
taung-twing p-yut
NLNederlands
houtvester
hout-ves-ter
NONorsk
skogsarbeider
skog-sar-bei-der
PLPolski
rębnik
r-yeb-nik
PTPortuguês
madeireiro
ma-de-ir-e-iro
RORomână
tăietor de lemne
ta-ye-e-tor de lem-ne
RUРусский
Лесоруб
le-so-rub
SVSvenska
skalbagare
skal-ba-ga-re
SWKiswahili
mchimba miti
m-chim-ba mi-ti
TAதமிழ்
மரம் வெட்டும்
ma-ram vet-tum
TEతెలుగు
చెట్లు కొట్టే
chet-lu kot-te
THไทย
คนตัดไม้
kon-t-at-mai
TLTL
tagapag-gupit ng kahoy
ta-ga-pa-gupit ng ka-hoy
TRTürkçe
orman işçisi
or-man ish-chi-si
UKУкраїнська
лісоруб
li-so-rub
URاردو
لکڑی کاٹنے والا
luk-ree kaat-ne wa-la
VITiếng Việt
thợ chặt gỗ
tho-chat go
ZUZU
umthwalo
oom-thwa-lo
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically male-coded occupation; contemporary usage remains masculine-default, though women have participated in forestry and logging for centuries, often uncredited.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'logger' or 'forestry worker' for gender-neutral reference; specify 'lumberjack' only when historical or cultural context applies.
Inclusive Alternatives
["logger","forestry worker","timber worker"]
Empowerment Note
Women's contributions to logging and forestry labor have been historically marginalized; modern women loggers continue this work in underrepresented roles.