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site"> <a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#content">Skip to content</a> <header id="masthead" role="banner" class="site-header header-background-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/header_blog.jpg)"> <div class="site-branding"> <h1 class="site-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/" rel="home">Omniglot Blog</a></h1> <h2 class="site-description">Adventures in the world of words and language</h2> </div> <nav id="site-navigation" class="main-navigation" role="navigation"> <button id="menu-button" class="menu-toggle" aria-controls="primary-menu" aria-expanded="false">Primary Menu</button> <div id="primary-menu" class="menu"><ul> <li class="page_item page-item-16"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?page_id=16">About</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-8991"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?page_id=8991">Contact</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-1391"><a 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class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23952" rel="bookmark">Breeze-Stoppers</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23952" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published updated" datetime="2025-03-19T18:04:20+00:00">19 March 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>One of the words that came up in my Spanish lessons today was <strong>limpiaparabrisas</strong>, which means <strong>windscreen / windshield wiper</strong>, and struck me as a relatively rare multi-word compound in Spanish.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hernanpc/7129642215/in/photolist-bS2heM-2FRtNM-dqPMLb-NXsDxa-e3vj8B-GAh87" title="Wiper"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7071/7129642215_a700f7f728_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="Wiper"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Unlike the Germanic languages*, Spanish doesn’t seem to have a lot of words like <strong>limpiaparabrisas</strong> made up of several words joined together, at least that’s my impression. It’s made up of <strong>limpia</strong>, from <strong>limpiar</strong> (to clean, wash, wipe), and <strong>parabrisas</strong> (windscreen, windshield), which is made up of <strong>para</strong>, from <strong>parar</strong> (to stop), and <strong>brisas</strong> (breezes) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/limpiaparabrisas">source</a>]. A related word is <strong>lavaparabrisas</strong> (screen wash, windshield washing fluid) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lavaparabrisas#Spanish">source</a>]. </p> <p>*For example, in German there are words such as: <strong>Grundstücksverkehrsgenehmigungszuständigkeitsübertragungsverordnung</strong> (Regulation on the delegation of authority concerning land conveyance permissions), and <strong>Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz</strong> (Beef labeling supervision duties delegation law), which are of course used in everyday conversation. If not, they should be [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mesa#Spanish">source</a>].</p> <p>Spanish does have plenty of words made up of a stem plus prefixes and/or suffixes, or compounds of two words. For example, the word <strong>mesa</strong> means table, desk, bureau or committee. Related words with affixes include <strong>mesero</strong> (waiter), <strong>mesilla</strong> (bedside table, stall), and <strong>mesita</strong> (small table). Related compound words include <strong>sobremesa</strong> (tablecloth, desktop) and <strong>tornamesa</strong> (turntable, record player) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mesa#Spanish">source</a>].</p> <p>Other two-word compounds in Spanish include <strong>abrebotellas</strong> (bottle opener), <strong>cortarcésped</strong> (lawn mower), <strong>cortafuego</strong> (firewall), <strong>lavaplatos</strong> (dishwasher), <strong>portaaviones</strong> (aircraft carrier), <strong>quitamanchas</strong> (stain remover), <strong>sacacorchos</strong> (corkscrew) and <strong>salvavidas</strong> (life jacket) [<a href="https://www.spanishmarks.com/blog/compound-words-spanish/">source</a>].</p> <p>In fact, <strong>limpiaparabrisas</strong> and <strong>lavaparabrisas</strong> are really two-word compounds, but look like three-words compounds. So, maybe they’re not that unusual.</p> <p>Do you know of any interesting multi-word compounds in Spanish or other languages?</p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23952" data-a2a-title="Breeze-Stoppers"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23952&linkname=Breeze-Stoppers" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23952&linkname=Breeze-Stoppers" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_pinterest" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23952&linkname=Breeze-Stoppers" title="Pinterest" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> <span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=104" rel="category">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=107" rel="category">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=116" rel="category">German (Deutsch)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=10" rel="category">Language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=64" rel="category">Spanish (español)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=78" rel="category">Words and phrases</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=etymology" rel="tag">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=limpiaparabrisas" rel="tag">limpiaparabrisas</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=spanish" rel="tag">spanish</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23952#comments">3 Comments</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23936" class="post-23936 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-albanian-shqip category-danish category-dutch category-english category-etymology category-finnish category-french category-german category-italian category-language category-latvian category-middle-english category-music category-old-english-aenglisc category-proto-germanic category-proto-indo-european category-proto-west-germanic category-swedish category-words-and-phrases tag-english tag-etymology tag-language tag-omniglot tag-string tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23936" rel="bookmark">Strong Strings</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23936" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-12T16:14:54+00:00">12 March 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-12T16:33:59+00:00">12 March 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>Are the words <strong>string</strong>, <strong>strong</strong>, <strong>strength</strong>, <strong>strait</strong>, <strong>stretch</strong> and <strong>strict</strong> related? Let’s find out.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mary_hutchison/20540114536/in/photolist-xi4srN-26oukar-7QGk5w-2iTBcEA-2eDyN4F-2jWXGFE-4mEURz-2cADeqZ-hmtVq-4T2MMV-7b324-8gu4X3-2gdJYNY-82V5bp-269s5Uu-86Maky-27BnpbM-24vMtus-oXWafa-4HPLfA-2pnLkLE-7QGkyQ-ST4YAb-dTKj5A-685anQ-63natN-2qxFPGx-bjQBqE-4BQwUP-9F15PA-zoFHNe-dLq9We-7WyZeo-sqifkY-2qxe3Ez-5Armjr-dV8feg-iihzE-7eY7ma-G9y8HN-8md4bx-3TifTk-7UYdrL-73bjX2-q4L4aa-3TidxK-pMyEHa-dLq5ec-5AZXz3-dRTqhm" title="Ball of string"><img decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5784/20540114536_cc1beb8824_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Ball of string"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>String</strong> comes from Middle English <em>streng</em> (rope, cord, line, thread, string, ribbon, muscle, tendon, ligament, filament), from Old English <em>strenġ</em> (string, rope, cord), from Proto-West Germanic <em>*strangi</em> (string), from Proto-Germanic <em>*strangiz</em> (string), from Proto-Indo-European <em>*strengʰ-</em> (to twist; rope, cord), possibly from <em>*sterh₃-</em> (to spread, extend, stretch out) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/string#English">source</a>]. </p> <p>English words from the same roots include <strong>constrict</strong>, <strong>constrain</strong>, <strong>restrict</strong>, <strong>strong</strong>, <strong>strength</strong>, <strong>strain</strong>, <strong>strait</strong>, <strong>stress</strong>, <strong>strict</strong>, <strong>stricture</strong> and <strong>stringent</strong>. </p> <p>Words from the same roots in other languages include <strong>stringere</strong> (to clasp, grasp, squeeze) in Italian, <strong>étreindre</strong> (to hug, clutch, grip) in French, <strong>streng</strong> (strict, severe, rigorous, unbending, cruel) in Dutch, <strong>sträng</strong> (strict, stern, severe) in Swedish, <strong>strangs</strong> (brave, brisk, fresh) in Latvian, <strong>rankka</strong> (burdensome, hard, intense, harsh, tough) in Finnish [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/streng%CA%B0-">source</a>].</p> <p>So, the odd one out in the list above is <strong>stretch</strong>, which comes from Middle English <em>strecchen</em> (to stretch out, spread, extend), from Old English <em>streċċan</em> (to stretch, extend, spread out, prostrate), from Proto-West Germanic <em>*strakkjan</em> (to stretch, make straight), from <em>*strak</em> (stretched, straight), from Proto-Germanic <em>*strakaz</em> (stretched, straight) from Proto-Indo-European <em>*(s)treg-</em> (stiff, rigid).</p> <p>Words from the same roots include <strong>stark</strong> in English, <strong>stark</strong> (strong) in German, <strong>strak</strong> (taut, tight) in Dutch, <strong>strække</strong> (to stretch) in Danish, and <strong>shtriqem</strong> (to stretch) in Albanian [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stretch#English">source</a>].</p> <p>Here’s a tune from the music session I went to last night called <em>The Bishop of Bangor’s Jig</em>. It’s played on string instruments (fiddle, guitar and banjo), so is sort connected to the theme of this post.</p>  <audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-23936-1" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/BishopofBangorsJig.mp3?_=1" /><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/BishopofBangorsJig.mp3">http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/BishopofBangorsJig.mp3</a></audio> <p>You can find the dots: <a href="https://www.folktunefinder.com/tunes/94828">https://www.folktunefinder.com/tunes/94828</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23936" data-a2a-title="Strong Strings"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23936&linkname=Strong%20Strings" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23936&linkname=Strong%20Strings" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_pinterest" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23936&linkname=Strong%20Strings" title="Pinterest" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> <span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=183" rel="category">Albanian (shqip)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=100" rel="category">Danish (dansk)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=102" rel="category">Dutch (Nederlands)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=104" rel="category">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=107" rel="category">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=109" rel="category">Finnish (suomi)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=111" rel="category">French (français)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=116" rel="category">German (Deutsch)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=128" rel="category">Italian (italiano)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=10" rel="category">Language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=16" rel="category">Latvian (latviešu valoda)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=26" rel="category">Middle English (Inglis)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=29" rel="category">Music</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=33" rel="category">Old English (Ænglisc)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=44" rel="category">Proto-Germanic</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=45" rel="category">Proto-Indo-European</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=202" rel="category">Proto-West-Germanic</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=67" rel="category">Swedish (svenska)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=78" rel="category">Words and phrases</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=etymology" rel="tag">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=string" rel="tag">string</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23936#respond">Leave a comment</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23930" class="post-23930 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-dutch category-english category-etymology category-german category-icelandic category-italian category-language category-latin category-middle-english category-old-english-aenglisc category-proto-germanic category-proto-indo-european category-proto-west-germanic category-swedish category-welsh tag-ascend tag-clamber tag-climb tag-descend tag-english tag-etymology tag-language tag-omniglot tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23930" rel="bookmark">Go Climb a Tree</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23930" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-05T16:18:49+00:00">5 March 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-05T16:18:50+00:00">5 March 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>Was the <strong>b</strong> in <strong>climb</strong> ever pronounced? Or was it added by interfering busybodies to make it more like a Latin root? Is it related to <strong>clamber</strong>? Let’s find out.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blacktigersdream/31648592943/in/photolist-QdFj4z-2n1g33R-2mPKX8b-2cLZHgn-2hEirpq-2kXPj7R-FF8tmo-2pQ2GWu-2pEPdQJ-Hp52K6-TqBLoL-2mKPMkJ-NygmKy-24tyoig-4Szqze-Lktj4b-uND2yA-2kRCHXd-2mgZj1z-FG7e29-2ocYFjW-2kuwtY8-CjnFML-5Dw5bZ-2n2ebNF-7uTLs3-F3vADm-FUqNrj-2jjXAtv-X91png-sXiXr-2i67fft-Gvy7wW-2nymLGX-2nDV5pB-2p7HYSE-GGWt9d-6odcT-7VQMWc-2qChDJ6-2i66dAH-2pkppDT-2ou8xHy-F3vADG-2omMX5s-QTpaBh-Mgock4-2i63PCz-2nKr7RX-2kP6mr4" title="Climbing wildcat"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/280/31648592943_0753128e25_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Climbing wildcat"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Climb</strong> comes from Middle English <em>climben</em> [ˈkliːmbən] (to scale, scale, soar, extend, reach), from Old English <em>climban</em> [ˈklim.bɑn] (to climb), from Proto-West Germanic <em>*klimban</em> (to climb), from Proto-Germanic <em>*klimbaną</em> [ˈklim.bɑ.nɑ̃] (to climb), possibly from <em>*klibaną/*klibāną</em> (to stick, cleave), from Proto-Indo-European <em>*gleybʰ-</em> (to stick, cling to) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/climb#English">source</a>]. </p> <p>So the <strong>b</strong> was pronounced in Middle and Old English, and maybe it became silent when the word lost its <em>en</em> ending. </p> <p>Words from the same roots include <strong>climbing</strong>, <strong>cleave</strong>, <strong>cliff</strong> and maybe <strong>clamber</strong> in English, <strong>klimmen</strong> (to climb) and <strong>kleven</strong> (to stick, glue, be sticky) in Dutch, <strong>kleben</strong> (to glue, stick) in German, and <strong>klífa</strong> (to climb) in Icelandic [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/gleyb%CA%B0-">source</a>].</p> <p>A word for <strong>to climb</strong> in Latin was <em>scandere / scandō</em>, which also means to ascend, mount or clamber. It comes from Proto-Indo-European <em>*skend-</em> (to jump, dart, scale, scan). Words from the same roots include <strong>ascend</strong>, <strong>descend</strong>, <strong>transcend</strong>, <strong>scale</strong>, <strong>scan</strong>, and possibly <strong>scandal</strong> and <strong>slander</strong> in English, <strong>ascendere</strong> (to go up, ascend, rise) in Italian, <strong>skandera</strong> (to chant) in Swedish, and <strong>esgyn</strong> (to ascend) in Welsh [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scando#Latin">source</a>].</p> <p>One of the tunes that was played at the music session I went to last night is called <em>If you do not love me, go climb a tree</em> (it may have other names) and goes something like this:</p> <audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-23930-2" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/Ifyoudonotlovemegoclimbatree.mp3?_=2" /><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/Ifyoudonotlovemegoclimbatree.mp3">http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/Ifyoudonotlovemegoclimbatree.mp3</a></audio> <p>It inspired me to write this post. If you recognise the tune and know it by another name, do let me know.</p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23930" data-a2a-title="Go Climb a Tree"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23930&linkname=Go%20Climb%20a%20Tree" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23930&linkname=Go%20Climb%20a%20Tree" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_pinterest" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23930&linkname=Go%20Climb%20a%20Tree" title="Pinterest" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> <span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=102" rel="category">Dutch (Nederlands)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=104" rel="category">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=107" rel="category">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=116" rel="category">German (Deutsch)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=124" rel="category">Icelandic (Íslenska)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=128" rel="category">Italian (italiano)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=10" rel="category">Language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=15" rel="category">Latin (Lingua Latina)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=26" rel="category">Middle English (Inglis)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=33" rel="category">Old English (Ænglisc)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=44" rel="category">Proto-Germanic</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=45" rel="category">Proto-Indo-European</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=202" rel="category">Proto-West-Germanic</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=67" rel="category">Swedish (svenska)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=77" rel="category">Welsh (Cymraeg)</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=ascend" rel="tag">ascend</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=clamber" rel="tag">clamber</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=climb" rel="tag">climb</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=descend" rel="tag">descend</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=etymology" rel="tag">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23930#comments">1 Comment</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23922" class="post-23922 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-danish category-english category-idioms category-language category-words-and-phrases tag-camels tag-danish tag-english tag-etymology tag-frogs tag-idioms tag-language tag-omniglot tag-toads tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23922" rel="bookmark">Swallowing Camels</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23922" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-02-27T16:05:51+00:00">27 February 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-02T14:05:49+00:00">2 March 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>This week my Danish lessons have been focusing on idioms, and an interesting idiom that came up is <strong>sluge en kamel</strong>, which literally means ‘to swallow a camel’, but what other meanings does it have? Let’s find out. </p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/christianehoej/49589267211/in/photolist-74m3ZT-2iy2XtH-9MvCK3-bzVQ7f-2gCSFDv-9oj2nS-2j1wuSu-6yPycD-eZJRX1" title="Kameler"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49589267211_626a32cc1c_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="Kameler"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>According to <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sluge_en_kamel">Wiktionary</a>, this idioms means ‘to accept a change or amendment (to a proposal)’ or ‘to agree to something one would not have if one had fully understood the implications from the beginning’. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://ordnet.dk/ddo/ordbog?subentry_id=59004808&query=sluge+en+kamel">Den Danske Ordbog</a>, it means ‘acceptere eller gå med til noget der egentlig strider imod ens idealer og ønsker’ (to accept or agree to something that actually goes against one’s ideals and desires), and another version of the idiom is <strong>sluge kamelen</strong> (to eat the camel).</p> <p>According to <a href="https://speakandlearn.dk/at-sluge-en-kamel/">SpeakAndLearn.dk</a>, it means ‘to admit that you are wrong, even though you have clearly stated that you were absolutely sure, that you were right’.</p> <p>So it seems it has a variety of meanings. Are there similar idioms involving camels in other languages?</p> <p>In English, you might liken doing something unpleasant or undesirable to swallowing a frog – Mark Twain is sometimes quoted as having said or written “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” There’s apparently no evidence that he did in fact say or write this. The idea of eating a frog in the morning possibly comes from Nicolas Chamfort, a French writer, who wrote in the 1790s:</p> <blockquote><p>… il faudrait avaler un crapaud tous les matins, pour ne trouver plus rien de dégoûtant le reste de la journée, … (it would be necessary to swallow a toad every morning so as not to find anything else disgusting during the rest of the day)</p></blockquote> <p> [<a href="https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/04/03/eat-frog/">source</a>]</p> <p>Other interesting Danish idioms involving animals include:</p> <ul> <li><strong>klap lige hesten</strong> (‘just pat the horse’) = shut up, relax, take it easy</li> <li><strong>det blæser en halv pelikan</strong> (‘it’s blowing half a pelican’) = it’s very windy and the weather is awful</li> <li><strong>Jeg har ikke en rød reje</strong> (‘I don’t have a red shrimp’) = I’m skint, I have no money</li> <li><strong>ingen ko på isen</strong> (‘no cow on the ice’) = everything is okay – whatever the problem is, it’s not a big deal so don’t worry about it</li> <li><strong>så er den ged barberet</strong> (‘then the goat is shaved’) = the work has been done, or the problem has been resolved</li> </ul> <p><em>Source: <a href="https://ling-app.com/da/funny-danish-phrases/">https://ling-app.com/da/funny-danish-phrases/</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23922" data-a2a-title="Swallowing Camels"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23922&linkname=Swallowing%20Camels" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23922&linkname=Swallowing%20Camels" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_pinterest" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23922&linkname=Swallowing%20Camels" title="Pinterest" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> <span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=100" rel="category">Danish (dansk)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=104" rel="category">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=125" rel="category">Idioms</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=10" rel="category">Language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=78" rel="category">Words and phrases</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=camels" rel="tag">camels</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=danish" rel="tag">Danish</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=etymology" rel="tag">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=frogs" rel="tag">frogs</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=idioms" rel="tag">idioms</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=toads" rel="tag">toads</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23922#comments">3 Comments</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23907" class="post-23907 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-english category-hebrew category-language category-welsh category-words-and-phrases tag-chaos tag-confusion tag-english tag-jeroboam tag-language tag-omniglot tag-welsh tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23907" rel="bookmark">The House of Jeroboam</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23907" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-02-21T14:05:37+00:00">21 February 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-02-21T14:19:44+00:00">21 February 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>The other day I was looking for how to say <strong>confusion</strong> in Welsh, and one of the translations I found was <strong>(‘roedd popeth) fel tŷ Jeroboam</strong>, which means ‘(everything was) in confusion’, or literally ‘(everything was) like the house of Jeroboam’. This got me wondering who was Jeroboam, and way was his house in confusion?</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/136894208@N02/23653604070/in/photolist-C3bUpQ-btPMCT-s8aPKo-9uNhnp-2pYhrqy-9uRicG-rwk67d-rvo4zK-2juyapK-4ae9uA-2oyvweU-k5bMhR-c8kGP7-2qH9R98-2cTDVu7-2fG9MrF-ZDt5S-rNJvh9-2qJnw9x-5dveJS-6Yivqv-qSGXrU-55kKme-EEjfEr-iLwegH-H5xEB6-FBSNtV-EDXUFj-pVdmRm-9aMCpy-rwgMSu-qS4nFv-rwp6Rc-qS4sN4-rNJpQ7-RhK4w9-2juBasH-2qH8TqU-LZvPqV-rNJt7Y-4Z6R3L-rNRMut-dU3UTg-2qH7E5p-L3gkyu-dU9wMj-rwpr7r-rwhEFL-ruww4X-rwgLgd" title="Jeroboam"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5638/23653604070_f79742d0ee_z.jpg" width="640" height="518" alt="Jeroboam"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeroboam">Wikipedia</a>, <strong>Jeraboam I</strong>, a.k.a. <strong>Jeraboam som of Nebat</strong>, was the first king of the northern Kingdom of Israel between c. 931/22-910/901 BC. During his 22-year reign, there was continual war between him and Rehoboam (רְחַבְעָם), the first king of Judah. So perhaps that’s why Jeraboam is associated with confusion.</p> <p>The name <strong>Jeroboam</strong> comes from Hebrew <strong>יָרָבְעָם‎</strong> (Yārŏḇʿām), which comes from <strong>רִיב‎ ‎</strong> (rīḇ) and <strong>עַם‎‎</strong> (ʿam). Possible meanings of the name include “the people contend”, “he pleads the people’s cause”, “his people are many” or “he increases the people”.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeeyolqpictures/48842874146/in/photolist-2hq5uPL-sG4Qh-4r1uac-McC6J7-s5GHPn-ahRFFv-qXJrWD-2iUz2bB-dya45Y-nPq7By-5DUG8d-2hYadiu-2mPJSxT-4t1sK-2yuRzM-6yDfkE-JmozwS-BL6jWC-4t1yx-4aZaUF-HSM1bN-2mAcy8V-JGdvFV-22XZ31i-2mPL7Hk-csj9rQ-maRyC8-cshND9-2mhXeeK-qDg3Rm-C8Nem-9GD4pJ-AKDCX-612e6P-2n3ZgWG-81Af3g-CbqMgF-6tCbdM-81DpYW-2mKSxss-9puBUk-2qFCBTE-dExRvr-2qFDwHV-2qH7E9x-81AdPx-C3bUpQ-btPMCT-s8aPKo-9uNhnp" title="Jeroboam Mathusalem, Salmanazar ..."><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48842874146_acd13bcc01_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Jeroboam Mathusalem, Salmanazar ..."/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>The word <strong>Jeroboam</strong> can also refer to a 3 litre bottle of champagne or Burgundy wine (a.k.a. double magnum), or a 4.5 litre bottle of Bordeaux wine (a.k.a. Rehoboam) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jeroboam#English">source</a>].</p> <p>Other names for wine / champagne bottle sizes include: <strong>Piccolo</strong> (0.1875 litres), <strong>Chopine</strong> (0.25 litres), <strong>Demi</strong> (0.5 litres), <strong>Magnum</strong> (1.5 litres), <strong>Imperial / Methuselah</strong> (6 litres), <strong>Salmanazar</strong> (9 litres), <strong>Balthazar / Belshazzar</strong> (12 litres), <strong>Nebuchadnezzar</strong> (15 litres), and <strong>Melchizedek / Midas</strong> (30 litres) [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_bottle#Sizes">source</a>].</p> <p>Other ways to refer to confusion in Welsh include: <strong>dryswch</strong>, <strong>penbleth</strong> = confusion (of mind); <strong>anhrefn</strong>, <strong>tryblith</strong>, <strong>llanast(r)</strong>, <strong>cybolfa</strong>, <strong>annibendod</strong> = confusion (disorder).</p> <p>Other Welsh phrases that mean ‘(everything was) in confusion’, like <strong>(‘roedd popeth) fel tŷ Jeroboam</strong>, include:</p> <ul> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) blith draphlith</strong> = (everything was) topsy-turvy, higgledy-piggledy, mixed (up), in confusion, in a muddle</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) yn siop siafins</strong> = ‘(everything was) like a shop of (wood-)shavings’</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) yn draed moch</strong> = (everything was) was a mess, confusion, rack and ruin, disaster (‘like pigs feet’)</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) yn siang-di-fang</strong> = (everything was) higgledy-piggledy, topsy-turvy, extremely untidy, in confusion, mess, disorder.</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) ar gychwyn</strong> = ‘(everything was) about to start’</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) ar hyd y lle</strong> = ‘(everything was) all over the place’</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) yn garlibwns</strong> = ‘(everything was) a heap, an untidy mass, confusion, curd’</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) yn glamwri</strong> = ‘(everything was) grief, trouble, clamour’</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) yn gawdel</strong> = ‘(everything was) a caudle, hotchpotch, medley’</li> <li><strong>(‘roedd popeth) yn gabidwl/gabwdwl</strong> = ‘(everything was) chaos, confusion, disorder’</li> </ul> <p><em>Sources: <a href="https://geiriaduracademi.org/">Geiriadur yr Academi</a> and <a href="https://welsh-dictionary.ac.uk/gpc/gpc.html">Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru</a></em>.</p> <p>Coming across the phrase <strong>(‘roedd popeth) fel tŷ Jeroboam</strong> also inspired me to write this song in Welsh called ‘Tŷ Jeroboam’. Here are the words – I’m still working on the tune:</p> <p>Mae popeth yn garlibwns<br /> yn garlibwns, yn garlibwns<br /> Mae popeth yn garlibwns<br /> yn tŷ Jeroboam</p> <p>Mae popeth yn blith draphlith<br /> yn blith draphlith, yn blith draphlith<br /> Mae popeth yn blith draphlith<br /> yn siop hen siafins</p> <p>Mae popeth yn siang-di-fang<br /> yn siang-di-fang, yn siang-di-fang<br /> Mae popeth yn siang-di-fang<br /> ar hyd y lle</p> <p>Mae popeth yn gabwdwl<br /> yn gabwdwl, yn gabwdwl<br /> Mae popeth yn gabwdwl<br /> yn tŷ Jeroboam</p> <p>Are there interesting ways to talk about <strong>confusion</strong> in other languages?</p> <p>By the way, this blog features on a list of the <a href="https://bloggers.feedspot.com/language_learning_blogs/">100 Best Language Learning Blogs and Websites in 2025</a> compiled by FeedSpot.</p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23907" data-a2a-title="The House of Jeroboam"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23907&linkname=The%20House%20of%20Jeroboam" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23907&linkname=The%20House%20of%20Jeroboam" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_pinterest" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23907&linkname=The%20House%20of%20Jeroboam" title="Pinterest" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> <span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=104" rel="category">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=121" rel="category">Hebrew (עברית)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=10" rel="category">Language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=77" rel="category">Welsh (Cymraeg)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=78" rel="category">Words and phrases</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=chaos" rel="tag">chaos</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=confusion" rel="tag">confusion</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=jeroboam" rel="tag">Jeroboam</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=welsh" rel="tag">Welsh</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23907#respond">Leave a comment</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23890" class="post-23890 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-ancient-greek- category-bulgarian category-english category-etymology category-french category-hungarian category-language category-middle-french category-old-french category-proto-hellenic category-proto-indo-european category-romanian category-turkish category-vulgar-latin-sermo-vulgaris category-words-and-phrases tag-english tag-etymology tag-flat tag-french tag-language tag-omniglot tag-piazza tag-pizza tag-plate tag-plateau tag-plaza tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23890" rel="bookmark">Little Dishes</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23890" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-02-09T14:11:10+00:00">9 February 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-02-09T14:11:11+00:00">9 February 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>Is the word <strong>plateau</strong> related to <strong>plate</strong>, <strong>platypus</strong>, <strong>plaza</strong>, <strong>pizza</strong>, <strong>place</strong>, <strong>flat</strong> and <strong>fold</strong>? Or is one of these words an odd one out? Let’s investigate.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmenj/48969074008/in/photolist-2hBeiDs-2kxpRHR-cKKiAG-95p83N-ecnn3J-b5eBWi-3hsear-arWE5d-arWBj5-9FxTCP-9FxT9P-3w2yzC-9FAStf-2j3i7bS-2Tdggk-2Td6ua-2iuSwwr-6j7EBk-apEkvJ-2hDhva3-W49pRW-2Tcy28-2ThbfA-2atkoFj-2iuV29L-2TcAvg-2Th11L-2ThdFJ-2hDhv8z-2TgZkA-5wkN9J-2mk4Hkv-2Thpxu-2TcHmv-2Th7Sw-2ThCpS-2TcD4r-2qFtLm4-2kDBzD6-2ThrtW-2aefkk6-2ThNBA-2Th4X9-2ThyKw-DBkzUS-7ZNJVW-9xYddq-2ThbQu-naFjEe-2Th5mq" title="Vercors"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48969074008_a1eedb7c31_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Vercors"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Plateau</strong> [ˈplætəʊ / plæˈtoʊ] means:</p> <ul> <li>A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.</li> <li>A comparatively stable level after a period of increase.</li> <li>A notable level of attainment or achievement.</li> <li>To reach a stable level after a period of increase; to level off.</li> </ul> <p>It comes from French <strong>plateau</strong> (flat area, tray, plateau, stage, (TV) set, chain-ring), from <strong>plat</strong> (flat, flat area of ground, flat thing, a dish or course) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plateau#English">source</a>] and the diminutive ending <strong>-eau</strong>, which can also be added to words like <strong>éléphant</strong> and <strong>zèbre</strong> to make <strong>éléphanteau</strong> (a young [male] elephant, calf) and <strong>zébreau</strong> (young zebra) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-eau#French">source</a>]. </p> <p><strong>Plat</strong> comes from Middle French <em>plat</em> (flat), from Old French <em>plat</em> (flat, a footbridge), from Vulgar Latin <em>*plattus</em> (flattened), from Ancient Greek <em>πλατύς</em> (platús – broad, flat), from Proto-Hellenic <em>*plətús</em>, from Proto-Indo-European <em>*pléth₂us</em> (flat, broad), from <em>*pleth₂-</em> (to spread, to extend, flat) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plat#French">source</a>].</p> <p><strong>Plate</strong>, <strong>platypus</strong>, <strong>plaza</strong>, <strong>place</strong>, <strong>flat</strong> and <strong>fold</strong> all probably come from the same roots, as do <strong>pit(t)a (bread)</strong>, <strong>piazza</strong>, <strong>flan</strong>, <strong>field</strong>, <strong>plantain</strong>, and the name <strong>Plato</strong> [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:English_terms_derived_from_the_Proto-Indo-European_root_*pleth%E2%82%82-">source</a>].</p> <p>The odd one out is <strong>pizza</strong>, which was borrowed from Neapolitan <em>pizza</em>, which comes from Byzantine Greek <em>πίτα</em> (píta – cake, pie), the origins of which are uncertain. Words from the same roots include <strong>пита </strong> (pita – round loaf, cake, pie, honeycomb) in Bulgarian, <strong>pită</strong> (bread, sustenance) in Romanian, <strong>pite</strong> (pie, tart) in Hungarian, and <strong>pide</strong> (traditional Turkish flatbread, Turkish pizza) in Turkish [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pizza#English">source</a>].</p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23890" data-a2a-title="Little Dishes"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23890&linkname=Little%20Dishes" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23890&linkname=Little%20Dishes" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_pinterest" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23890&linkname=Little%20Dishes" title="Pinterest" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> <span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=179" rel="category">Ancient Greek (Ἑλληνική)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=93" rel="category">Bulgarian (български)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=104" rel="category">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=107" rel="category">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=111" rel="category">French (français)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=123" rel="category">Hungarian (magyar)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=10" rel="category">Language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=27" rel="category">Middle French (françois)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=34" rel="category">Old French (Franceis)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=301" rel="category">Proto-Hellenic</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=45" rel="category">Proto-Indo-European</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=51" rel="category">Romanian (limba română)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=74" rel="category">Turkish (Türkçe)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=216" rel="category">Vulgar Latin (sermo vulgaris)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=78" rel="category">Words and phrases</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=etymology" rel="tag">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=flat" rel="tag">flat</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=french" rel="tag">French</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=piazza" rel="tag">piazza</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=pizza" rel="tag">pizza</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=plate" rel="tag">plate</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=plateau" rel="tag">plateau</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=plaza" rel="tag">plaza</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23890#respond">Leave a comment</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23882" class="post-23882 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-ancient-greek- category-english category-etymology category-french category-german category-greek category-italian category-language category-latin category-polish category-proto-celtic category-spanish category-words-and-phrases tag-english tag-etymology tag-hydraulic tag-idraulico tag-italian tag-language tag-omniglot tag-plumber tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23882" rel="bookmark">Hydraulic Plumbers</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23882" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published updated" datetime="2025-01-30T17:08:09+00:00">30 January 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>A lot of the words in Italian are similar to words in Spanish, French or other Romance languages I know, but quite often I come across a word that doesn’t seem familiar at all. For example, <strong>idraulico</strong> (plumber) – a bit different from <strong>plombier</strong> in French, <strong>plomero</strong> in Spanish.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/165290475@N05/29764490768/in/photolist-QjNNQX-MmbN8j-BQhB5Y-cc2eph-4Hwd21-2oirUdg-h1F4wu-2pZDUmK-9phXPZ-DTN1ZP-28xogqb-6z8mHo-4Sfxbi-XV5hvT-262j3NE-dug8hp-DskAby-9eja1G-XjWMYE-dumJrb-8FPnBT-WEW6QW-ZHyfBy-7dSUy-9UTPdo-YxCvQA-2fQ9MLG-hjX93m-EWWWUG-2oVUL5B-BQeyob-4qpF69-djwAWJ-2eSLmdm-2aqFcgw-dumGrQ-YWgyVD-djwDaj-XZiEhr-XB1wEC-9UQBXB-c8HQwS-59NLyi-kNbttT-BQfrX3-GdcmAy-26YRSCF-73hhfU-66YN8h-djwDin" title="Idraulico Livorno"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/936/29764490768_fcffc1fc1e_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Idraulico Livorno"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Idraulico</strong> [iˈdraw.li.ko] means plumber, plumbing or hydraulic in Italian. It comes from Latin <em>hydraulicus</em>, from Ancient Greek <em>ὑδραυλικός</em> (hudraulikós – of a water organ), from <em>ὕδραυλις</em> (húdraulis – water organ), from <em>ὕδωρ</em> (húdōr – water) and‎ <em>αὐλός</em> (aulós – pipe) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/idraulico">source</a>].</p> <p>Words from the same roots include <strong>hydraulic</strong>, <strong>hydrate</strong> and <strong>hydrofoil</strong> in English, <strong>hydraulique</strong> (hydraulic) in French, and <strong>υδραυλικός</strong> (ydravlikós – plumber, hydraulic engineer, hydraulic) in Greek, <strong>hydraulik</strong> (plumber) in Polish [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BD%91%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%82#Ancient_Greek">source</a>].</p> <p>The French word <strong>plombier</strong> (plumber, plumbing), the Spanish word <strong>plomero</strong> (plumber, plumbing), and the English words <strong>plumber</strong> and <strong>plumbing</strong>, all come from Latin <em>plumbārius</em> (plumber, of or pertaining to lead), from <em>plumbum</em> (lead [metal], pipe of lead), possibly from Ancient Greek <em>μόλυβδος</em> (mólubdos – lead), or from Proto-Celtic <em>*ɸloudom</em> (lead) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plumbarius#Latin">source</a>].</p> <p>Related words from the same roots include <strong>piombo</strong> (lead, grey, bullet), <strong>piombino</strong> ([lead] seal, sinker [weight], plummet) in Italian, <strong>plomb</strong> (lead [metal], fuse, sinker [fishing weight]) in French, <strong>Plombe</strong> (seal, lead seal [dental] filling) in German, and <strong>plwm</strong> (lead, leaden) in Welsh [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plumbum#Latin">source</a>].</p> <p>The Spanish word <strong>plomero</strong> is used for plumber in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Uruguay. Other Spanish words for <strong>plumber</strong> include: <strong>fontanero</strong> in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, <strong>gásfiter</strong> in Chile, <strong>gasfitero</strong> in Ecuador and Peru, and <strong>tubero</strong> in the Philippines [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plumber">source</a>].</p> <p>Are there interesting words for <strong>plumber</strong> in other languages?</p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23882" data-a2a-title="Hydraulic Plumbers"><a 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href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=78" rel="category">Words and phrases</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=etymology" rel="tag">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=hydraulic" rel="tag">hydraulic</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=idraulico" rel="tag">idraulico</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=italian" rel="tag">Italian</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=plumber" rel="tag">plumber</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23882#comments">4 Comments</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23838" class="post-23838 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-ancient-greek- category-english category-etymology category-french category-greek category-italian category-language category-late-latin category-latin category-proto-indo-european category-proto-italic category-spanish category-words-and-phrases tag-english tag-etymology tag-italian tag-language tag-noodles tag-omniglot tag-pasta tag-paste tag-pasto tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23838" rel="bookmark">Pasting Meals</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23838" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-07T18:25:12+00:00">7 January 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-01-07T21:30:46+00:00">7 January 2025</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>The Italian words <strong>pasto</strong> and <strong>pasta</strong> look and sound similar, but are they related? Let’s find out.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/micurs/10411961135/in/photolist-gS52ii-L5cdM-Qjtfth-XQGMgh-S8gvnm-7h4GMp-jsfA63-6BTDxV-Znngr3-RRTpdf-YzKmaN-cNqEBh-SrGBQc-JTybdM-Wtj4dq-ZYtJue-Qztqa1-2dTxicb-2aGMcfa-ScRZWQ-Nux5V1-ZXRfpZ-8s8SCL-23PdJ2S-afTE8U-2aCnosy-e3d8Af-28aGWHz-R9ZaP9-SrGBNi-RRTpwb-TQSmBk-Q27y2w-S44UEy-DvPW7f-RRTptf-5urdtx-23ezKy4-YUgZAN-jT1Jh8-28TXycp-beP92v-dnzqZf-RRTpqj-doPNPh-7UKCTB-V2PZ9h-4GT3vh-afQUqt-ZdxGkQ/" title="ristorante italiano in NYC"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3766/10411961135_b9bd88cb71_z.jpg" width="640" height="424" alt="ristorante italiano in NYC"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Pasto</strong> [ˈpa.sto] means meal, and comes from Latin <em>pāstus</em> (fed, nourished, consumed, pastured, satiated, satisfied), from <em>pāscor</em> (to feed oneself, to eat, graze, feed, nourish, pasture, browse, from Proto-Italiac <em>*pāskōr</em> (I am fed, driven to pasture) from Proto-Indo-European <em>*peh₂-</em> (to protect, ward, shepherd) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pasto#Italian">source</a>]. </p> <p>Words from the same roots include <strong>feed</strong>, <strong>fodder</strong>, <strong>food</strong>, <strong>pasture</strong> and <strong>repast</strong> in English, <strong>paître</strong> (to graze), <strong>repas</strong> (meal), and possibly <strong>pain</strong> (bread) in French, <strong>pascere</strong> (to graze) in Italian, and <strong>pasto</strong> (pasture, lawn, grass) in Spanish [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ser%E1%B8%B1-">source</a>].</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/5thluna/4685345629/in/photolist-427cyB-8J6Qsp-di4eJ-7zmerA-6avgsY-7McqL8-d3Xxv3-225V4f-bW5Jq3-9c1Yp7-89kvDK-892C2c-aSW13e-8DMgCP-8hzbmJ-8dqXNd-pUZxaV-dDW8qB-7zhsEp-boCj8Q-9Y8rxw-8fNafG-Gdqr9o-9YPia9-65Sjde-6PHfPy-2KJHkL-6oZ7Za-kh2Av-6dbDKQ-reBgAb-bkfwpd-9HZ5p-gmcTX-44P2Q-h4gZKE-5o4jkB-4VewFV-du4quF-5dYiJT-bpssNS-Nfs3e-frZTU-5xNNpt-jegWp2-4jyUT4-5MdXYe-e5MrL1-boJsMv-6E2Pp3" title="Pasta"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4012/4685345629_7a672c1667_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Pasta"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Pasta</strong> [ˈpa.sta] in Italian means dough, pastry, pasta, cake or paste, and can also refer to the nature or mo(u)ld of a person, e.g. sone tutt’e due delle stessa pasta = they’re both cast from the same mo(u)ld [<a href="https://dictionary.reverso.net/italian-english/pasta">source</a>]. </p> <p>Here are some examples of how the word <strong>pasta</strong> is used in Italian:</p> <ul> <li><strong>pasta in brodo</strong> = noodle soup</li> <li><strong>pasta fatta in casa</strong> = home-made pasta</li> <li><strong>pasta frolla</strong> = shortcrust pastry</li> <li><strong>pasta sfoglia</strong> = puff pastry</li> <li><strong>pasta all’uovo</strong> = egg pasta</li> <li><strong>pasta dentifricia</strong> = toothpaste</li> <li><strong>pasta di mandorle</strong> = almond paste</li> </ul> <p>It comes from Late Latin <em>pasta</em> (paste, pasta), from Ancient Greek <em>παστά</em> (pastá – barley porridge), from <em>παστός</em> (pastós – sprinkled with salt), from <em>πάσσω</em> (pássō – to sprinkle), from Proto-Indo-European <em>*(s)kʷeh₁t-</em> (to shake). </p> <p>Words from the same roots include <strong>παστός</strong> (pastós – salted, preserved with salt, corned) in Greek, <strong>quash</strong> (to defeat decisively, suppress, void) in English, <strong>quassare</strong> (to shake, agitate) in Italian, <strong>casser</strong> (to break) in French, and , <strong>cascar</strong> (to crack, split) in Spanish [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pasta#Italian">source</a>].</p> <p>In British English, <strong>pasta</strong> refers to Italian pasta, that is, dough made from wheat and water and sometimes mixed with egg and formed into various shapes; often sold in dried form and typically boiled for eating [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pasta#Italian">source</a>]. Types of Italian pasta include <strong>calamarata</strong>, <strong>cannelloni</strong>, <strong>farfalle</strong>, <strong>fettuccine</strong>, <strong>fusilli</strong>, <strong>gnocchi</strong>, <strong>lasagne</strong>, <strong>linguine</strong>, <strong>macaroni</strong>, <strong>orecchie d’asini</strong>, <strong>orecchiette</strong>, <strong>penne</strong>, <strong>radiatori</strong>, <strong>spaghetti</strong>, <strong>tagliatelle</strong>, <strong>tortellini</strong>, <strong>vesuvio</strong>, <strong>and vermicelli</strong> [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pasta">source</a>].</p> <p>One of those types of pasta I made up. Do you know which one?</p> <p>In American English, the word <strong>noodle(s)</strong> apparently can refer both to Italian pasta, and Asia noodles, while in the UK, <strong>noodle(s)</strong> normally only refers to Asia noodles, such as Japanese ramen. What about in other varieties of English?</p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23838" data-a2a-title="Pasting Meals"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23838&linkname=Pasting%20Meals" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23838&linkname=Pasting%20Meals" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_pinterest" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23838&linkname=Pasting%20Meals" title="Pinterest" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> <span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=179" rel="category">Ancient Greek (Ἑλληνική)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=104" rel="category">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=107" rel="category">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=111" rel="category">French (français)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=118" rel="category">Greek (ελληνικά)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=128" rel="category">Italian (italiano)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=10" rel="category">Language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=302" rel="category">Late Latin</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=15" rel="category">Latin (Lingua Latina)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=45" rel="category">Proto-Indo-European</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=46" rel="category">Proto-Italic</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=64" rel="category">Spanish (español)</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?cat=78" rel="category">Words and phrases</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=english" rel="tag">English</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=etymology" rel="tag">Etymology</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=italian" rel="tag">Italian</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=noodles" rel="tag">noodles</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=pasta" rel="tag">pasta</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=paste" rel="tag">paste</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=pasto" rel="tag">pasto</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23838#comments">6 Comments</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23806" class="post-23806 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-dutch category-english category-etymology category-german category-language category-middle-english category-old-english-aenglisc category-proto-germanic category-proto-indo-european category-proto-west-germanic category-spanish category-swedish category-words-and-phrases tag-english tag-etymology tag-language tag-omniglot tag-overwhelmed tag-underwhelmed tag-whelmed tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23806" rel="bookmark">Feeling Whelmed</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23806" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-12-11T17:22:52+00:00">11 December 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-12-11T17:22:54+00:00">11 December 2024</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>You can be <strong>overwhelmed</strong> and <strong>underwhelmed</strong>, but can you just be <strong>whelmed</strong>?</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/4180839802/in/photolist-7nrU1S-p3G6m9-4boGpS-dE8qoB-hvUjT1-67kZnY-8r5huQ-2iq4dRh-wAwiD-2kVGnqu-3odSrP-89wpXR-aGRW7g-tVzmw-4wQnTP-jHLFb-N3p8N-9Gv1YL-F4jrs-dSXNkv-7PApxm-7xSiSN-8JzNGt-bX8hBY-cJHS2W-6V7vCS-524bU3-2npGZAx-2xsPr-bEAbqM-iC4GG-5ztawc-32emD7-6oQAqd-9np3qy-6P1W48-xF6Uys-A4LeK8-5VbYPM-7ivtzs-5Mafqc-8DBLew-6LhQY-8g5Lrs-WxxGEm-7JaARP-2upPv-2xQXKM-7qkXzd-2ai8fz" title="Overwhelmed"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4003/4180839802_a6752d8ac6_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Overwhelmed"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Overwhelmed</strong> comes from the verb <strong>to overwhelm</strong>, which means to engulf, surge over, submerge, overpower (emotionally), crush, cause to surround or to cover. So when you feel <strong>overwhelmed</strong>, you might feel crushed, overpowered or engulfed by everything [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/overwhelm#English">source</a>].</p> <p><strong>Underwhelmed</strong> comes from <strong>to underwhelm</strong>, which means to fail to impress or perform disappointingly. It was coined in the 1950s as a humorous negation of <strong>overwhelm</strong>. I hope you won’t be too <strong>underwhelmed</strong> by this blog post. [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/underwhelm#English">source</a>].</p> <p>Both <strong>to overwhelm</strong> and <strong>to underwhelm</strong> come from <strong>to whelm</strong>, an old word that means to bury, cover, engulf, submerge, ruin, destroy or overcome with emotion. As a noun, <strong>whelm</strong> means a surge of water or a wooden drainpipe. They come from Middle English <em>whelmen</em> (to turn over, capsize, invert, turn upside down), perhaps from Old English <em>*hwealmnian</em>, a variant of <em>*hwealfnian</em>, from <em>hwealf</em> (arched, concave, vaulted), from Proto-West Germanic <em>*hwalb</em>, from Proto-Germanic <em>*hwalbą</em> (arch, vault), from Proto-Indo-European <em>*kʷelp-</em> (to curve) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whelm#English">source</a>].</p> <p>Related words include <strong>unwhelm</strong> (to raise (sb) up from under something that has overwhelmed them), and <strong>whelming</strong> (something that covers or submerges).</p> <p>Words from the same roots include <strong>gulf</strong> in English, <strong>Walm</strong> (bevelled roof, particularly if triangular and in a gable) in German, <strong>welven</strong> (to arch, bend like an arch, be shaped like an arch) in Dutch, <strong>valv</strong> (vault, arch) in Swedish, and <strong>cupla</strong> (fault, guilt, blame) in Spanish [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/hwalb%C4%85">source</a>]. </p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23806" data-a2a-title="Feeling Whelmed"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omniglot.com%2Fbloggle%2F%3Fp%3D23806&linkname=Feeling%20Whelmed" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" 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<a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=language" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=omniglot" rel="tag">omniglot</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=overwhelmed" rel="tag">overwhelmed</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=underwhelmed" rel="tag">underwhelmed</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=whelmed" rel="tag">whelmed</a>, <a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?tag=words" rel="tag">Words</a></span><span class="comments-link"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23806#comments">3 Comments</a></span> </footer> </article> <article id="post-23778" class="post-23778 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-catalan category-english category-etymology category-french category-italian category-language category-latin category-romanian category-spanish category-welsh tag-english tag-etymology tag-footpath tag-italian tag-language tag-omniglot tag-pavement tag-pavimento tag-sidewalk tag-words"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23778" rel="bookmark">Paved Floors</a></h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23778" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-11-20T15:58:04+00:00">20 November 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-11-20T16:00:24+00:00">20 November 2024</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?author=1">Simon</a></span></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>The Italian word <strong>pavimento</strong> looks like the English word <strong>pavement</strong>, but actually means <strong>floor</strong>. Let’s find out more.</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125601701@N03/49876980026/in/photolist-7cXDoE-7cXDjb-7cXDmN-2VDU1B-2onXgiQ-8DJHUq-2jQ59ix-2iZsytu-s3oxi-5gX2Za-bwUasj-2aPn8PT-2mEC84V-adJ97P-q1mPQD-bjKetD-2q2MkbZ-6nJzmV-vNvxq-7gEC8g-2ixm2SY-4sHmM-NzryU-6Sqtyj-4wNsDk-2e6E1og-2n4abb8-2iy3MMB-5kUBFN-8RbFgf-amdyzP-acnEo-8R8xiH-6SmoNn-KXfqwY-dYNLxJ-7R9z11-2g3228K-62XHYt-Ku52Dx-ovCAU-5hTyYZ-522mVb-bomsgq-Nig47t-LhUNa7-5UczZY-CNva8P-vzwKDP" title="Regarde où tu marches !"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49876980026_eaf1a6c030_z.jpg" width="640" height="335" alt="Regarde où tu marches !"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Pavimento</strong> [pa.viˈmen.to] comes from Latin <em>pavīmentum</em> (a floor composed of small stones beaten down) from <em>paviō</em> (to beat, strike, ram, tread down), from Proto-Indo-European <em>*peh₂w-</em> (to strike, hit) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pavimento#Italian">source</a>].</p> <p>Related words in Latin include <em>pavīmentārius</em> (floor-maker, who makes the tiled ground), <em>pavīmentō</em> (to pave) and <em>pavīcula</em> (a rammer) [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pavimentum#Latin">source</a>]. </p> <p>Related words in Italian include <em>pavimentare</em> (to floor, to pave) and <em>pavimentazione</em> (flooring, paving).</p> <p>Words from the same Latin / PIE roots in other languages include <strong>paviment</strong> (flooring, pavement) in Catalan, <strong>pavement</strong> and <strong>to pave</strong> in English, <strong>palmant</strong> (pavement) in Welsh, <strong>pavement</strong> (paving, tiled floor) and <strong>paver</strong> (to cobble, pave [Canada]) in French, <strong>pământ</strong> (earth, ground, land) in Romanian, <strong>pavimento</strong> (road surface, paving) in Spanish, and <strong>pļaut</strong> (to mow, reap, shoot intensively) in Latvian [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pavio#Latin">source</a>].</p> <p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/omniglot/53915874567/in/album-72177720319461387" title="Amlwch"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53915874567_fd26663b2d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Amlwch"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>The English word <strong>pavement</strong> can refer to:</p> <ul> <li>A paved surface; a hard covering on the ground.</li> <li>A paved path, for the use of pedestrians, located at the side of a road (<em>mainly in the UK, Ireland and South Africa</em>) – known as a <strong>sidewalk</strong> in North America, a <strong>banquette</strong> in Louisiana and Texas in the USA, and as a <strong>footpath</strong> in Australia, New Zealand and India</li> <li>A paving (paved part) of a road or other thoroughfare; the roadway or road surface. (<em>mainly in North America</em>)</li> <li>The paved part of an area other than a road or sidewalk, such as a cobblestone plaza, asphalt schoolyard or playground, or parking lot. (<em>mainly in North America</em>)</li> <li>The interior flooring of a church sanctuary, between the communion rail and the altar. [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pavement#English">source</a>]. </li> </ul> <p><strong>Pavements</strong> / <strong>sidewalks</strong> have been around for a many thousands of years. There were pavements in Ancient Greece and Rome, for example, and the Romans called them <em>sēmite</em> (narrow way, footpath, path, pathway) [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidewalk">source</a>], which comes from PIE <em>*swé(d)</em> (by oneself, away, without) + <em>*mey-</em> ((ex)change). Words from the same roots include <strong>senda</strong> (footpath) in Catalan, <strong>sente</strong> (footpath, track, trail) in French, and <strong>senda</strong> (footpath) in Spanish [<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semita#Latin">source</a>]. </p> <p>Are there other words for <strong>pavement</strong> / <strong>sidewalk</strong> in English?</p> <p><a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.omniglot.com/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" width="630" height="83"></a></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/?p=23778" data-a2a-title="Paved Floors"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" 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