Thread: утечка

Translating an exercise I find this word in "утечка нефти", a leak(age) of oil. I try to find where this word comes from in an etymological dictionary and there isn't. I have imagined that (however it seems rather funny) it is "a little stream that goes away" (from течение -> течка and "y"). I see that the word течка has a meaning of its own. Has a sense what I say? Thank you.

Originally Posted by radomir

I have imagined that (however it seems rather funny) it is "a little stream that goes away" (from течение -> течка and "y"). I see that the word течка has a meaning of its own. Has a sense what I say? Thank you.

You are ALMOST correct . At least you got the "away" part correctly. "Течь" means to flow. "Утекать" = flow away. "Утечка" is what happens when some liquid or gas (or, figuratively, information or resources) "flow away", or leak, from where they are supposed to be.

Well. Thank you. But течение comes also from течь, so they are двоюродные братья if not братья