3 ms·
Kev / Chav makes me think about the difference betweeen the Scots word "kirk" versus English "church". Utterly unrelated, but one of those funny parallels.
by Gordonjcp 4y ago
Kev / Chav makes me think about the difference betweeen the Scots word "kirk" versus English "church". Utterly unrelated, but one of those funny parallels.
- troad 4y agoOn the contrary, kirk and church are very closely related. Both descend from Germanic kirikā, which was borrowed from the Greek κυριακόν (δῶμα) = the Lord’s (house). In fact, you’re correct to pick up on the fact that English often has ch where other Germanic languages have k (e.g. cheese = Dutch kaas, German Käse). This is because the original k changed to ch in English, in certain contexts.
- Gordonjcp 4y agoThat's what I'm saying, the words are from the same Germanic route. Contrast place names with "Kirk" prefixes or suffixes, with place names like Gleneagles - it's not from eagles like caw caw flap flap but from the ancient church nearby. Eaglais, in Gaelic, cognate with église in French.