Name of months in your language

Dowly · 11-17-17, 06:48 AM

Where do the name of months in your native language come from?

Finland:

("kuu" means moon)

Starting from January.

Tammikuu:

Today, "tammi" means oak, but originally it had other meanings such as axel or the heart of a tree. In the month's name it means the center of the winter time.

Helmikuu:

The word "helmi" means pearl, in this case it means the ice pearls that form on tree branches when it has been warmer and the water droplets have then frozen again.

Maaliskuu:

This one is not quite clear, but often it is said that the name comes from the fact that especially in southern Finland, you might start to see some ground from beneath the melting snow. "Maa" = ground/Earth

Huhtikuu:

Comes from "huhtakaski", a farming technique of letting trees of a forest dry for several years before burning them to make fertile farming land. It was usually done at this time of year.

Toukokuu:

Simply comes from the word "touko" which means preparatory farming work done in the spring.

Kesäkuu:

Comes from "kesanto", meaning the first plough of the summer.

Heinäkuu:

"Heinä" = hay, first reaping of hay.

Elokuu:

"Elo" means harvest in this instance, but can also mean "livelihood".

Syyskuu:

"Syys" simply comes from "syksy" meaning autumn.

Lokakuu:

"Loka" means mud, usually the time when there's more rain.

Marraskuu:

"Marras" used to mean death, as in 'the ground is dead'. If someone at this time of year caught a big catch fishing, some might say he got a "Marrassaalis", a death's catch. The word "marras" is thought to be over 2,000 years old.

Joulukuu:

Originally this month was called "talvikuu" (Wintermonth), but in 1600s it was changed to Joulukuu. The word "Joulu" is a loan word from Swedish word "jul", meaning a feast/celebration*.

*Correct me on this one fellow, but slightly inferior than us mighty Finns, Swedes.

11-17-17, 06:48 AM	#1
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Name of months in your language Where do the name of months in your native language come from? Finland: ("kuu" means moon) Starting from January. Tammikuu: Today, "tammi" means oak, but originally it had other meanings such as axel or the heart of a tree. In the month's name it means the center of the winter time. Helmikuu: The word "helmi" means pearl, in this case it means the ice pearls that form on tree branches when it has been warmer and the water droplets have then frozen again. Maaliskuu: This one is not quite clear, but often it is said that the name comes from the fact that especially in southern Finland, you might start to see some ground from beneath the melting snow. "Maa" = ground/Earth Huhtikuu: Comes from "huhtakaski", a farming technique of letting trees of a forest dry for several years before burning them to make fertile farming land. It was usually done at this time of year. Toukokuu: Simply comes from the word "touko" which means preparatory farming work done in the spring. Kesäkuu: Comes from "kesanto", meaning the first plough of the summer. Heinäkuu: "Heinä" = hay, first reaping of hay. Elokuu: "Elo" means harvest in this instance, but can also mean "livelihood". Syyskuu: "Syys" simply comes from "syksy" meaning autumn. Lokakuu: "Loka" means mud, usually the time when there's more rain. Marraskuu: "Marras" used to mean death, as in 'the ground is dead'. If someone at this time of year caught a big catch fishing, some might say he got a "Marrassaalis", a death's catch. The word "marras" is thought to be over 2,000 years old. Joulukuu: Originally this month was called "talvikuu" (Wintermonth), but in 1600s it was changed to Joulukuu. The word "Joulu" is a loan word from Swedish word "jul", meaning a feast/celebration. Correct me on this one fellow, but slightly inferior than us mighty Finns, Swedes.