Episodes
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Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bujeba (Bisio), a Bantu language spoken in the Litoral Province in the west of Equatorial Guinea. Gyele (gyɛ̀lì), a Bantu language spoken in the Océan Department in the South Province of Cameroon. Kwasio, a Bantu language spoken along the coast of south western […]
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In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for cradle, crib and related things in Portuguese and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *bereti means to carry or bear, and comes from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti (to be carrying), from *bʰer- (to bear, carry) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: beir [bʲɛɾʲ] = […]
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Episodes manquant?
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Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Masalit (Masaraa / Masarak), a Maban language spoken in southeastern Chad and southwestern Sudan. Maba (buraa mabaŋ / بُرَا مَبَݝ), a Maban language spoken mainly in Ouaddaï Province in southwestern Chad. Guerrero Nahuatl (Mēxihcatlācatl), an Aztecan (Nahuan) language spoken in the state of […]
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In this Adventure in Etymology, we find out where the word spring springs from. Spring blossom on my apple tree As a verb, spring [spɹɪŋ] can mean: To appear. To grow, to sprout. To arise, come into existence. To enliven. To move with great speed and energy. To leap over. It comes from Middle English […]
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Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl, an Aztec / Nahuan language spoken in the state of Veracruz in southern Mexico. Ngwii (Engwíí), a Bantu language spoken in Kwilu Province in the Democratic Repubic of the Congo. Njebi (Yinzèbi), a Bantu language spoken in southern Gabon and […]
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In this episode we unearth the possible Celtic roots of words for field and related things in Galician and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *ɸlārom means floor and comes from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂ros (to be flat, from *pleh₂- (flat) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: lár [l̪ˠɑːɾˠ] = ground, floor, middle, centre in […]
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Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Tai Yo (ไทญ้อ), a Southwestern Tai language spoken in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Vili (Civili), a Bantu language spoken mainly in the Republic of the Congo, and also in Gabon and Angola. New adapted script: Vietnamese Arabic Script (چىٰٖ جاوي تيٛەٖڭ ۏیٔەٖط), a […]
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In this Adventure in Etymology, we find out what links the words theory and theatre. Theory [ˈθɪə.ɹi / ˈθɪ.ɹi] has a variety of meanings, including: A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate. (sciences) A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena and correctly predicts […]
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Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Yaka (Yiyáká), a Bantu language spoken mainly in Kwango Province in the southwest of the DRC. Yansi (kiBeembe), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the Republic of the Congo. Shatt (Caning), an Eastern Sudanic language spoken in South Kordofan Province in […]
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In this episode we unravel the Celtic roots of words for wheel, rim and related things in French, Spanish and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *kambitā means rim and comes from Proto-Celtic *kambos (twisted, crooked, bent), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₂embos (crooked), possibly from *(s)ḱamb- (bent, crooked) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: camedd […]
