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Greetings.
What is the origin of the word "Немецкий"? I know that it means German, but why isn't there a more "obvious" word, like "Германский"? I also find it strange since the name of the country is still Германия...
So, if anyone knows the reason, please let me know. Thanks in advance!
This one is easy!
немец - a mute person. Originally all foreigners in Russia were немцы because they couldn't speak Russian (for generations)! And it just happened to be that most foreigners were german, so they got stuck with the notion!
That is a bit of trivia for you! :D
The word "германский" exists in Russian and means belonging to the state of Germany, like the word "российский" does. (You know the difference between "руссский"-"российский", you do?)
German embassy - германское посольство
P. S. kalinka_vinnie, интересный факт, я не знала! а ты не шутишь?
Yes, Indra, it's a fact. :)
Huh that's intesting! I've never contemplated about the origins of the word 'немец'. Good work, Vinnie!Quote:
Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie
See, even foreigners can teach Russians about their language 8)
Parfenov mentioned that fact in his program "The History of Russian Empire". He also told about origins of such nice words as "сволочь" and "негодяй". :)
Would you like to tell us? We are all interested!!! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
With pleasure. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie
"Негодяй" originaly meant "non-effective" ("негодный к военной службе").
"Сволочь"was garbage, collected together (from the verb "волочь" - to drag).
Origin of word "кокнуть" (slang. to kill) is interesting as well. At first it meant to strike an egg with another egg in order to break it (a traditional Easter game), cause "коко" meant an egg in some dialects (an imitation of chicken cluck - "ко-ко").
Распространенной казнью на Руси зимой было приволочь преступника голышом к позорному столбу, по ходу над ним всяко издеваясь, и затем поливать водичкой на морозе.
Те, кто волокли, назывались "сволочь", казнимый назывался "мерзавец"(потому что мерз). Те граждане, что добровольно подливали водички, назывались "подлецы".
Это я в какой-то популярной книжке читала, не положу голову на рельсы, что все так и было :)
I've only had one Easter Egg Fight... and I lost... I think she cheated! :lol:
wait a minute, upon closer inspection, I was using the wrong side of the egg! That was two years ago, I won't be fooled again!
<img src = "http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5dc27b3127cce9fb82b66c9c700000016108BYuG7Zu5b4" >
<img src = "http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5dc27b3127cce9fb82ad689ef00000016108BYuG7Zu5b4" >
Генерала Карбышева напоминает.Quote:
Originally Posted by Indra
Это конечно шутка.Quote:
Originally Posted by Indra
Эти слова древние общеславянские.
Подлец - от подлый (народ). То есть простой, низшего сословия.
Сволочь - это всякий мусор (сорняки и проч) сволакиваемый с пашни.
Мерзавец - да, это от мороз, мерзкий, вобщем что-то такое плохое аж кожа съеживается как от холода.