this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2025
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"And what's this? The 'Avon' River? Write that down, Gaius." (infosec.pub)
submitted 4 months ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/roughromanmemes@piefed.social
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[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)
  • Carthaginians found a city in Africa. They call it ⟨𐤒𐤓𐤕 𐤇𐤃𐤔𐤕⟩ Qart Hadašt. It's literally "New City".
  • They do the same in Iberia. And they call it... ⟨𐤒𐤓𐤕 𐤇𐤃𐤔𐤕⟩ Qart Hadašt. Again.
  • Romans conquer both. ⟨𐤒𐤓𐤕 𐤇𐤃𐤔𐤕⟩ ends as ⟨Carthago⟩. To avoid confusion the second city gets called ⟨Carthago Nova⟩. It's "New City New".
  • Latins in Iberia eventually univerbify ⟨Carthago Nova⟩ into ⟨Cartagena⟩.
  • Folks still live there. And they need a new neighbourhood. With blackjack and hookers. They call it... ⟨Nueva Cartagena⟩. New New City New.

Also any river in South America with the word "para" large river, sea in it.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Also any river in South America with the word “para” large river, sea in it.

are you fucking telling me that Paraguay, the landlocked country, is named for the sea

[looks up]

[that is indeed one of the possible etymologies]

goddammit

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 5 points 4 months ago

Kinda.

The catch here is, while the primary distinction in Indo-European languages is between "salty water" vs. "non-salty water" (e.g. "sea" vs. "river", or Spanish "mar" vs. "río"), in Tupian languages it's about the size: if it's big (like the sea or a big river) it's "para[nã]", if it's small it's simply "y" (lit. "water"). And the Paraguay doesn't lead directly into the sea, but another river (Rio Paraná - and yes, the name is simply "river", so... "River River").

So with all that context into account, if that etymology is correct, "Río Paraguay" is:

  • río - river, Spanish
  • para - large river or sea; in this case the Paraná river
  • gua - leading to
  • y - water or small river; in this case the Paraguay river itself

"River Small-River-Leading-to-Big-River". Yup, three times.

(Granted, nowadays Paraguayan Guaraní does have the word ysyry, but it means simply "flowing water". It might be due to Spanish interference, I don't recall toponyms using it.)

[–] Saapas@piefed.zip 2 points 4 months ago

Aspirational naming

[–] trollercoaster@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Latins in Iberia eventually univerbify ⟨Carthago Nova⟩ into ⟨Cartagena⟩.

Just wait until the old Cato hears about that...

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

DELENDA EST!