Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Moma (Mobaha), a Celebic language spoken in Central Sulawesi Province in northern Indonesia. Burum (Mindik), a Western Huon language spoken on the Huon Peninsula in Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea. Ternate (bhsua ternente), a West Papuan language spoken mainly on Ternate isl…

The Irish word leathar and the Welsh word lledr both mean leather, and various other things. You might think that they were borrowed from English, but in fact the English word leather might ultimately come from a Proto-Celtic word, via Middle and Old English and Proto-Germanic [source]. The Proto-Celtic word for leather or hide was *(ɸ)letros, whic…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Ngangam (miganganm), a Northern Gur language spoken in northeastern Togo and northwestern Benin. Mbukushu (thiMbukushu), a Bantu language spoken in Namibia, Angola, Botswana and Zambia. Belanda Viri, a Ubangian language spoken in the west and south of South Sudan. Glosa, an Inte…

In this Adventure in Etymology we find out whether the words sad and satisfied are connected. Sad [sæd] means various things, including: Feeling sorrow; sorrowful, mournful. Appearing sorrowful. Causing sorrow; lamentable. Poor in quality, bad; shameful, deplorable, regrettable, poor. It can mean unfashionable, socially inadequate or undesirable (i…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Nag Chiki, which was created by Dinesh Mudi from West Bengal in India to write Koda, a North Munda language spoken in India and Bangladesh. New language pages: Koda (কোড়া), a North Munda language spoken mainly in West Bengal in northwestern India Nateni (Naàteǹni), a Northern G…

In this episode we’re looking at Celtic words for furrow, trench, ditch and related things, and words in other languages that come from the same roots. The Proto-Celtic word *ɸrikā means furrow and comes from Proto-Indo-European *pr̥keh₂ (furrow), from *perḱ- (to open, rip up, dig) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: eit…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New fictional script and language: High Valyrian (Valyrio), a fictional language developed for the television series Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, and based on the few words of High Valyrian used in George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire. New constructed s…

In this Adventure in Etymology we find out whether the words grass, graze and green are connected. Grass [ɡɹɑːs/ɡɹas/ɡɹ̠æs] is: Any plant of the family Poaceae, characterized by leaves that arise from nodes in the stem and leaf bases that wrap around the stem, especially those grown as ground cover rather than for grain. It comes from Middle Englis…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Biatah bidayuh), a Land Dayak language spoken in Sarawak in Malaysia and West Kalimantan in Indonesia. Kembayan (Matéq), a Southern Land Dayak language spoken in West Kalimantan Province in Indonesia. Modang, a Kayanic language spoken in East Kalimantan Province in northern Indo…

In this episode, we’re looking into the Celtic roots of some Romance tins. The Proto-Celtic word *stagnos means tin and probably comes from the Proto-Indo-European *sth₂gʰ-nó-s (standing, firm), from *steh₂- (to stand) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: stán = tin, tin vessel in Irish staoin [sdɯːn̪ʲ] = tin, pewter in S…