Is the Milky Way called "the Milky Way" in other languages?

Question

Or is it just "the Galaxy" or maybe "Our Galaxy"?

Answer 1

Names for the galaxy of which we are a part tend to come out of myth and every day culture rather than science. "Milky Way" is generally derived from Latin "Via Lactia" since Latin was for many years since the "enlightenment" the language of science, so "milky way" has become the standard referent in the west european languages. In the Baltic languages, as well as many uralic and Turkic and Finnish languages it is referred to as "The bird's path", a term also used by the Algonguian cultures of North America. In Chinese and most Asian languages it is referred to as the "Silvery River," while many Central Asian and African countries influenced by Arab trade and commerce in the middle ages refer to it as the "straw". The arabian culture alledgedly derived this referant from Armenian culture. Finally during the pilgrimages the "milky way" was used as a directional guide to a holy site at Compostela de Santiago where St. James tomb was. These pilgrims variously called the "milky way" the "road to Santiago" or called the road itself "La Voje Ladee"
There are many other mythic referrents. The cherokee, for example call the "milky way" the "place where the dog ran" derived from their myth of the creation of the milky way. Many other native American cultures refer to it as "The spirit path." The Inca called it a river flowing in the sky but also saw it as the path way to the "next life."
So, you have
1. "The milky way" coming from European Cultures influenced by Latin and Greek cultures.
2. The "silvery river" coming from Asian cultures
3. The "straw" or "straw path" coming from Armenia, Central Asia and many Arabian influenced African cultures.
4. The "bird path" coming from Turkic, Uralic and Baltic cultures
and
5. The antiguated "Road to Santiago" coming from the pilgrimages of the middle ages.
6. Many North American cultures saw it as the river or path to the after life.
7. In some south African cultures in the Kalahari Desert it is called the "Backbone of Night."

Answer 2

Milchstraße in German. I would translate that as "Milk Street". Try translating "Milky Way" into various languages using the source and see what it says.

Answer 3

The Milky way is also called "Vía Láctea" in Spanish
In French"Voie lactée"
And in Russain'Млечный путь"!!
And still more to say!