List of Dacian words
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This is a list of Romanian words believed to be of Dacian origin and thus representing the Eastern Romance substratum. In fact, it is not clear if they belonged to the Dacian language or the Thracian language (or both), as the relation between the two is uncertain. This list does not include the Dacian plant names, collected by Dioscorides and Pseudo-Apuleius.
The Sources column indicates the linguist(s) who suggested including the words in the list:
- "Hasdeu": B. P. Hasdeu, Etymologicum Magnum Romaniae;
- "Russu": I. I. Russu, Limba traco-dacilor;
- "Vraciu": A. Vraciu, Limba daco-geţilor.
The words that have been identified by I. I. Russu to have cognates in Albanian are marked with (Alb.).
The Notes column contains information found in various dictionaries. "Not in current use" indicates words not found in dictionaries of contemporary Romanian.
| Word / Name | English | Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| abeş | ? | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Not in current use. Dacian: *abhesya. |
| Abrud | Abrud | Hasdeu | Place name in Romania. |
| abur | steam, vapour | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian avull (steam). Dacian: *abhula. PIE: *h2ep-h3n.-lo |
| acăţa | to hang, to catch | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin accaptiāre, which also gave Italian cacciare, French chasser, etc. Current Romanian form: agăţa. |
| adămană | ? | Vraciu | Not in current use. |
| ademeni | to tempt, to lure | Hasdeu | Cf. Hungarian adomány (gift, grant). |
| adia | to breeze gently | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *adiliare. Current form: adia. |
| aghiuţă | devil | Hasdeu | Cf. Greek άγιοσ ágios (saint). |
| aidoma | alike, identical | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: from Slavic vidomŭ (visible). |
| alac | Einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum) |
Hasdeu | Cf. Hungarian alakor, which, however, has foreign origin, possibly Romanian. Alternative etymology: Latin alica, through an intermediate unknown form that also gave Spanish álaga. Other possible origins: Albanian akuë or Albanian lakër (greenery) of Greek origin. |
| ală | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| aldea | ? | Hasdeu | |
| ameţi | to make/get dizzy | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *ammatteāre (to bludgeon) or ammitĕre. |
| amurg | twilight, dusk | Russu | See murg below. |
| anina | to hang, to hook | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *annināre (to swing) or *allevinare. |
| aprig | fiery, hot-blooded | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin aprīcus (laid in the sun, hot) or *apricus from aper (wild boar). |
| argea | loom (or particular boards of a loom) | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | |
| Argeş | Argeş | Hasdeu | Place name, river name. |
| arunca | to throw, to cast | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin eruncare. |
| azugă | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| baci | (chief) shepherd | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Hungarian bácsi (big brother). |
| baier | ? | Russu | |
| baligă | dung, manure | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian bajgë (same meaning). |
| baltă | pool, puddle | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian baltë (mud, soil). |
| bară | bar (metal, usually with a round section) | Hasdeu | |
| Barba-cot | (fairy tale character?) | Hasdeu | |
| barză | stork (Ciconia ciconia) | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian bardhë (white). |
| bască | ? | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.) | |
| batal | wether (castrated ram) | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Turkish battal (useless) from Arabic batal (to mutilate), which also gave Spanish baldar (cripple). Also Cf. Albanian batal and Bulgarian батал (useless). |
| bălaur balaur |
dragon, monster | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian bollë (snake) and Serbian blavor (slowworm). |
| băga | to insert, to thrust | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin bīgāre, from bis iuga. |
| băiat | boy | Russu | |
| bălan | blond (person), white-haired (animal) | Hasdeu | |
| beregată | throat, larynx | Russu | Cf. Serbian berikat (?) |
| boare | breeze | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin boreas. |
| bordei | (buried or half-buried) hut | Hasdeu, Russu | |
| bortă | hole, hollow, archway | Hasdeu | Cf. Ukrainean bort. |
| brad | fir (any tree of genus Abies) | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.) | Cf. bredh (same meaning) |
| brînduşă | crocus, primula (Crocus heuffelianus and other similar flowers) | Russu | Cf. Bulgarian brenduška and Serbian brnduša. |
| brînză | cheese | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | |
| brîu | belt, waist | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian bres or brezi |
| brusture | bur (large-leafed plant, Lappa) | Russu (Alb.) | |
| bucura (verb) bucuros (adj.) |
(to be) glad, to enjoy | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian bukurosh (handsome). |
| buiestru | pace (a horse gait) | Russu | |
| bunget | thick and dark forest | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian bunk. |
| burghiu | drilling bit | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Turkish burgu (gimlet, corkscrew). |
| burlan | spout, water pipe | Russu | Cf. Turkish burgu (pipe, trumpet). |
| burtă | belly, stomach | Russu | Cf. Albanian barku (same meaning). |
| burtucă | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| burtuş | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| butuc | log, stump | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *bottum (blunt and snout), Cuman butak (branch), or Turkish buduk (short-legged). Cf. Hungarian butuk. |
| butură | log, stump | Russu | Probably a similar etymology with butuc. |
| buză | lip | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian buzë (same meaning). |
| caier | tuft of wool, etc. to be spun | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *caiulus. |
| caţă | long stick ending with a hook, used by shepherds | Russu | See acăţa above. |
| căciulă | brimless hat | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kësul'ë. |
| căpuşă | tick | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian këpushë. |
| căpută | upper side of a foot; footwear covering it | Russu (Alb.) | |
| cătun | hamlet | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian katund (village), Serbian katun (summer pasture). |
| cioară | crow | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian sorrë (same meaning). |
| cioban | shepherd | Hasdeu | Cf. Turkish çoban (same meaning). |
| cioc | beak | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian çok (hammer, knuckle). |
| ciocîrlie | skylark | Hasdeu | Derived from cioc, see above. |
| ciomag | club, cudgel | Hasdeu | Cf. Turkish çomak (same meaning). |
| cîrlan | sheep or goat weanling | Russu | |
| cîrlig | hook | Russu | Cf. Bulgarian кърлик (?). |
| codru | wide old forest | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Latin *quodrum (from quadrum). |
| copac | tree | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kopaç (?). |
| copil | child | Russu | Cf. Albanian kopil (bastard), Serbian kopile (bastard). |
| creţ | curly; curly haired | Russu | |
| cruţa | to pardon, to spare | Russu (Alb.) | |
| cujbă | Y-shaped piece of wood used to hold the kettle over the fire | Hasdeu | |
| culbec | snail | Hasdeu | |
| curma | to tighten (a rope); to cut, stop | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kurmue. |
| curpăn | vine, twining stem | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kurpen (?). |
| cursă | trap, snare | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kurth (same meaning). |
| custură | blade, knife edge, knife | Russu | |
| darari | ? | Russu | Not in current use. |
| daş | ? | Russu (Alb.) | Not in current use. |
| dărîma | to demolish, to knock down | Russu (Alb.) | Alternative etymology: Latin *deramare. |
| deh | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| deretica | to tidy up | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin de-radicare. |
| descăţa | ? | Russu | Not in current use. |
| descurca | to disentangle | Russu | Antonym of încurca, see below. |
| desghina | ? | Russu | Not in current use. |
| dezbăra | to break from a bad habit, to rid | Russu | |
| dezgauc | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| doină | Romanian lyrical folk song | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Latvian and Lithuanian daina (song, traditional form of Baltic music and poetry). |
| don | ? | Hasdeu | |
| dop | cork, plug | Russu | Cf. Saxon dop. |
| droaie | crowd, large number (of people or animals) | Russu | Cf. Albanian droe or droje (?). |
| dulău | mastiff | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Polish dolow or dolaw. |
| fărîmă | crumb, fragment | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian thërrime (same meaning). |
| gard | fence | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gardh (same meaning) and old Slavic gradŭ. |
| gata | ready, done | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gati (same meaning). |
| gălbează | fascioliasis | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gëlbazë (phlegm). |
| genune | abyss | Hasdeu, Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin gyro, gyronis. |
| gheară | claw, talon | Russu | Alternative etymology: 1. Latin *ung(u)laris → *înghiare → în ghiare (in [its] claws); 2. Romanian unghioară (small fingernail) → înghiară. |
| ghes | a poke, a goad | Russu | |
| ghimpe | thorn | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gjëmp, gjemb (same meaning). |
| ghiob | cheese barrel | Hasdeu | Cf. Hungarian döböny (?). |
| ghionoaie | woodpecker | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gjon (night bird). |
| ghiont | a nudge, a poke | Russu | |
| ghiuj | old decrepit man | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian gjysh (grandfather). |
| gîde | executioner | Hasdeu | |
| gîdel | ? | Hasdeu | |
| gordin | Romanian kind of grapes used in winemaking | Hasdeu | |
| gorun | Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) | Russu | Alternative etymology: Bulgarian горун gorun (same meaning). |
| grapă | harrow | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian grep, gërepë (fishing rod, its hook). |
| gresie | sandstone, whetstone | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gëresë (?). |
| groapă | hole, pit | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gropë (same meaning). |
| grui | hilltop, hillock | Russu | |
| grumaz | neck | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gurmaz (throat). |
| grunz | a lump of stiff but brittle substance, such as a block of salt | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian grundë (?). |
| gudura | to fawn | Russu | Cf. Albanian gudulis (to cuddle, to tickle). |
| guşă | a bird's crop; double chin, goiter | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gushë (same meaning, plus Adam's apple). Alternative etymology: Latin geusiae. |
| hojma | repeatedly, continuously | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Ukrainian hožma. |
| iazmă | ugly and evil apparition, ghost | Hasdeu | |
| iele | mythological characters (white-clad beautiful girls, bewitching men with their song and dance) | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: from Romanian ele (feminine form of they). |
| încurca | to entangle, to mix up | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *incolicare (from colus: flock, thread). |
| înghina | ? | Russu | Not in current use |
| îngurzi | to wrinkle the edge of a fabric or the sole of a shoe with a thread | Russu | |
| înseila | to stitch, to sew temporarily | Russu | Currently preferred form: însăila. |
| întrema | to recover after illness or fatigue | Russu | |
| jilţ, jielţ | tall-backed (arm)chair | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Etymology given for current form jeţ: German Sitz. |
| leagăn | cradle, swing | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *liginare from ligare (to tie). |
| lepăda | to drop; to take off (clothes) | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin lapidare (to throw stones). |
| lespede | stone slab | Russu | |
| leşina | to faint | Russu | |
| mal | shore | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian mal (mountain). |
| maldac | a small load (of wood, hay, etc.) | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Greek mandakis. |
| mazăre | pea (Pisum sativum) | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian modhullë. |
| măceş | sweetbrier (Rosa eglanteria) | Russu | |
| mădări | to papmer, to spoil (a child) | Russu | |
| măgură | hill, knoll | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian magulë (same meaning). |
| mălai | millet flour | Hasdeu | After millet was largely replaced by corn, the word changed its meaning into "corn flour". |
| mămăligă | cornmeal mush (mămăligă) | Hasdeu | |
| mărcat | ? | Russu | Not in current use. |
| mătură | broom | Russu (Alb.) | |
| Mehadia | Mehadia | Hasdeu | |
| melc | snail | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | |
| mieru | bluish | Russu | |
| mire | bridegroom | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian mirë (good). |
| mistreţ | wild boar | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin mixticius. |
| mişca | to move, to stir | Russu | |
| mînz | foal, colt | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian mëz (same meaning). It is agreed that the Thracian inscription ΜΕΖΗΝΑΙ (mezēnai, in Greek alphabet) on the Duvanli gold ring means horseman. The PIE root *mend(i)- is thought to mean horse. |
| morman | pile, heap | Russu | |
| mosoc | large shepherd dog | Hasdeu | |
| moş | old man | Russu (Alb.) | Probably a backformation from moaşă (midwife); cf. Albanian moshë (age). |
| moţ | tuft, crest | Hasdeu | |
| mugure | bud | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian mugull (gemma). |
| munună | hilltop | Russu | |
| murg | dark brown (animal, horse) | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian murg (monk?). |
| muşat | handsome | Russu | |
| năpîrcă | limbless lizard (Anguis fragilis); viper | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian nepërkë, nëpërkë (viper). |
| năsărîmbă | prank, mischief | Hasdeu | |
| niţel | a little | Russu | |
| noian | multitude, heap | Russu | |
| ortoman | rich (of a shepherd); handsome (of an outlaw); quick (of a horse) | Hasdeu | |
| păstaie | pod, capsule, hull | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian pistaë, bishtajë (beans). |
| păstra | to keep | Russu | Alternative etymology: Bulgarian pastrja (?). |
| pînză | cloth, linen; tissue | Russu | |
| pîrîu | small river | Russu (Alb.) | |
| prunc | child | Russu | |
| pururea | eternal | Russu (Alb.) | |
| raţă | duck | Hasdeu, Vraciu | |
| ravac | . | Hasdeu | |
| răbda | to suffer | Russu | |
| reazem | support, hanger | Russu | |
| ridica | to lift | Russu | |
| rîmfă | . | Hasdeu | |
| rînză | . | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | |
| sarbăd - searbăd | insipid | Russu (Alb.) | |
| Sarmisegetuza | The fortress name of Sarmisegetuza | Hasdeu | |
| scăpăra | to spark | Russu (Alb.) | |
| scrum | ashes | Russu (Alb.) | |
| scula | get up | Russu (Alb.) | |
| scurma | to grout | Russu | |
| sîmbure | pit | Russu (Alb.) | |
| sîmvea | . | Hasdeu | |
| spînz | . | Russu (Alb.) | |
| stăpîn | master | Hasdeu, Vraciu | |
| strănut | sneeze | Russu | |
| stejar | oak | Hasdeu, Vraciu | |
| steregie | . | Russu | |
| sterp | steril | Russu (Alb.) | |
| stînă | run, sheepfold, sheep-run | Hasdeu, Vraciu | |
| străghiată | . | Russu | |
| strepede | . | Russu (Alb.) | |
| strugure | grape | Russu | |
| strungă | choke | Russu (Alb.) | |
| sugruma | strangle | Russu | |
| suguşa | . | Russu | |
| şale | hips | Russu (Alb.) | |
| şiră | spine | Hasdeu, Russu | |
| şopîrlă | lizard | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | |
| şoric | pig skin | Russu | |
| şut | hornless | Russu (Alb.) | |
| tare | hard | Russu | |
| traistă | bag | Hasdeu | |
| tulei | . | Hasdeu | |
| ţap | goat | Russu (Alb.) | |
| ţarc | pen (animal enclosure) | Russu (Alb.) | |
| ţarină | country | Russu | |
| ţăruş | pole, pale, picket | Russu | |
| ţundră | . | Hasdeu | |
| ţurcă | traditional Romanian game | Hasdeu | |
| (a se) uita | look | Russu | |
| undrea | . | Russu | |
| urca | climb | Russu | |
| urcior | eyesore | Russu | |
| urdă | cottage cheese | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | |
| urdina | . | Russu | |
| urdoare | . | Russu | |
| vatră | hearth | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | |
| vătăma | to hurt, to injure | Russu | |
| vătui | . | Russu (Alb.) | |
| viezure | badger | Russu (Alb.) | |
| viscol | blizzard | Russu | |
| zară | buttermilk | Russu | |
| zăr | whey | Russu | |
| zburda | jump around, prance | Russu | |
| zestre | wedding gift, or wealth | Russu | |
| zgardă | collar | Russu (Alb.) | |
| zgîria | scratch | Russu (Alb.?) | |
| zgîrma | scratch (searching for something) | Russu | |
| zimbru | buffalo | Hasdeu, Vraciu | |
| zîrnă | black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) | Hasdeu |
[edit] References
- B. P. Hasdeu, Etymologicum Magnum Romaniae, 1887-1895
- I. I. Russu, Limba traco-dacilor, Editura Ştiinţifică, Bucureşti, 1967
- I. I. Russu, Limba traco-dacilor, Editura Ştiinţifică, Bucureşti, 1967
- I. I. Russu, Elemente autohtone în limba română, Editura Academiei RSR, Bucureşti, 1970
- I. I. Russu, Etnogeneza românilor, Editura Ştiinţifică şi Enciclopedică, Bucureşti, 1981
- Ariton Vraciu, Limba daco-geţilor, Editura Facla, Timişoara, 1980
- Alexandru Ciorănescu, Dicţionarul etimologic român, Universidad de la Laguna, Tenerife, 1958-1966 (in part available online at DEX online)
- DEX online: a collection of Romanian dictionaries
