Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჟღალი žğali 'ginger, auburn, russet', late attested word likely descended from Kartvelian *žğ-al- ginger, calico, hazel. Used for hair and eye color, the root may also describe tortoiseshell cats and the rare ruby-colored Georgian wine varietal Žğia. 1102
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: მყრალა mq̇rala 'skunk', recent coinage derived from მყრალი mq̇rali stinking, foul, participle of ყარს q̇ars stinks, reeks, from Kartvelian *q̇ar-. Not native to the Caucasus, it is also called სკუნსი sḳunsi, ultimately from Algonquian *šeka·kwa skunk. 182
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლეღვი leğvi 'fig', from Old Georgian ႪႤႶႥႨ leğvi, from Georgian-Zan *lağw- fig, perhaps borrowed from Akkadian 𒆷𒀊𒁍𒌋 labbum 'inferior date fruit', via some other source lg such as Proto-Armenian or Hurrian. It semantically shifted from product quality to the product itself. 193
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: გვალვა gvalva 'drought', from Old Georgian ႢႥႠႪႥႠ gvalva heat, drought, from Proto-Kartvelian *gwal- drought. Possibly an ancient Wanderwort of the Eurasian Steppe: cf. Indo-European *gʷʰer- warm, Altaic *gUrV- burn, Uralic *korta singe, burn. 282
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ხანძარი xandzari 'fire, blaze', from late Middle Georgian, from Armenian խանձառ xanjaṙ spark, from Indo-European *(s)kend- shine. It is thus cognate with Greek κάνδαρος charcoal, Sanskrit चन्द्र candrá shining, Latin candeo shine and English candle. 181
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: დაბნელება dabneleba 'eclipse', from Old Georgian ႣႠႡႬႤႪႤႡႠ dabneleba, from ბნელი bneli dark, participle of Kartvelian *bun- dark. Used for both eclipses of the sun and the moon, the root specifically refers to the absence of light, and not color. 184
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: გარუჯული garujuli 'sun-tanned', from Middle Georgian რუჯვილი rujvili 'roasted', reanalysis of *brujvili, loan of a northwest Iranian root brej- roast, from Indo-European *bʰreǵ- roast. Cognate with Greek φρύγω roast, Latin frīgō roast, and English fry. 1111
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: სტუმარი sṭumari 'guest', from Old Georgian ႱႲႳႫႠႰႨ sṭumari, possibly an ancient compound-loan of Nakh *psṭu wife and *mar husband, itself a loan from Kartvelian *kmarʲ- husband. It reflects a semantic shift from a kinship term to one of social bonds. 1142
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ძლევა dzleva 'victory; overcoming', from Old Georgian ႻႪႤႥႠ dzleva, from Georgian-Zan *dzʲal- strong, perhaps an ancient loan from Hurrian 𒀀𒁕𒀠 adal- strong. Also found in the Georgian motto ძალა ერთობაშია Dzala ertobašia 'Strength is in unity'. 192
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: დარტყმა darṭq̇ma 'kick, strike, hit', derived from Old Georgian ႠႰႲႷႫႠ arṭq̇ma, gird, swipe from Kartvelian *raṭq̇-/*rṭq̇- gird, buckle, loan from or into Nakh-Daghestanian *jĕrƛ̣w- belt, girdle. Semantically shifted from a tool to a verb of motion. 141
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: მეკარე meḳare 'goalkeeper', from კარი ḳari gate, door, from Old Georgian ႩႠႰႨ ḳari, from Kartvelian *ḳar- open, ancient loan out of / into Nakh-Daghestanian *kɨrṭV- open: Avar karáṭ, Tindi karṭi, Karata karṭa, all 'hole'. Common semantic shift. 151
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: მზესუმზირა mzesumzira 'sunflower', lit. sun-watcher, compound from ႫႦႨႰႠ mzira gaze, from Georgian-Zan *medzʲir- watch, reanalysis of Akkadian 𒇽𒂗𒉣 maṣṣarum watchman, overseer, agentive form of 𒈾𒍝𒊒 naṣāru guard, from Semitic *NṢR protect. 1113
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 01/06/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: გებჟალია gebžalia, cheese roll filled with minty cheese curd, spicy green ajika or yogurt. From the participle of Megrelian გებჟალაფა gebžalapa to milk out, from Megrelian ბჟა bža milk, from Kartvelian *ɬdzʲe milk. A classic west Georgian dish. 160
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: თვითგამორკვევა tvitgamorḳveva 'self-determination', modern coinage from გამორკვევა gamorḳveva determine, research from Old Georgian ႢႠႰႩႥႤႥႠ garḳveva investigate, discern, clean, from Kartvelian *rḳw- clean, polish. Long part of political discourse. 162
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 18/05/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ჩიხირთმა čixirtma 'chicken soup with eggs, onions and spices', from Azerbaijani çığırtma, verbal noun of çığırt- cause to cry or shout, from çağırt-, from Turkic *čā- shout & *-kïr onomatopoetic suffix. Gets its name from the sizzling sound of its creation. 1132
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 04/05/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: გუბე gube 'puddle', from Old Georgian ႢႳႡႤ gube, from Georgian-Zan *gub- puddle, ancient loan from a Semitic source: cf. Aramaic ܓܘܒܐ gubba hole, pit, trench, and Akkadian 𒁺𒁍 gubbu cistern, reservoir. Synonyms include ტბორე ṭbore and ჭყაპი č̣q̇aṗi. 171
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 27/04/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: მშვიდობა mšvidoba 'peace', from Old Georgian ႫႸႥႨႣႨ mšvidi calm, quiet, reanalysis of Kartvelian *šˠwid- quiet. Despite its superficial similarity to შვიდი švidi seven, it likely has no connection to a weekly Sabbath day of rest. 191
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: სრუტე sruṭe 'nautical strait', from Middle Georgian *sruṭe strait, narrows, path, metathesis of Greek Σύρτις Gulf of Sidra, known for its treacherous sandbars and reefs, from συρτός swept, dragged, from PIE *twer- twirl, swirl. Originally dialectal. 152
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 13/04/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბრწყინვალე brc̣q̇invale 'brilliant, bright', from Old Georgian ႡႰႼႷႨႬႥႠႪႤႡႠ brc̣q̇invaleba, from Proto-Kartvelian *berc̣q̇-/*berc̣ʲq̇ spark, glow. Paschal Week is traditionally called ბრწყინვალე შვიდეული Brc̣q̇invale Švideuli, lit. 'Brilliant Septuple'. 193
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 06/04/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: შროშანი šrošani 'lily', from Old Georgian ႸႰႭႸႠႬႨ šrošani, corruption of older *šošani, from Hebrew שושן šošan, from Egyptian 𓊃𓈙𓈖𓆸 zešen lotus flower. It gets its form by analogy with შრეში šreši edible asphodel, itself from Parthian 𐭮𐭫𐭩𐭱 šriš. 2196
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 30/03/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ღრუბელი ğrubeli 'cloud', from Old Georgian ႶႰႳႡႤႪႨ ğrubeli, from Palaeo-Georgian *ğruebeli, participle of Georgian-Zan *ğru- rumble, growl. Many languages' words for atmospheric phenomena come from verbs of sensing; it originally meant 'thunder cloud'. 2124
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 23/03/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: დაკრძალვა daḳrdzalva 'burial, interment', from Old Georgian ႣႠႩႰႻႠႪႥႠ daḳrdzalva, derivation of კერძი ḳerdzi portion, share, from Middle Persian 𐭪𐭫𐭲 kard or 𐭪𐭫𐭲𐭪 kardag portion, from Indo-European *(s)ker- cut off. Ultimately a euphemism for fate. 170
Reposted by Thomas WierDavid Stifter 🍵📄🦊 @davidstifter.bsky.social · 17/03/2026For the day that's in it, I re-post a thread that I wrote a year ago about the etymology of the other word for "green" in Old Irish, namely 𝓊́𝒶𝒾𝓃𝑒; not its more famous brother 𝑔𝓁𝒶𝓈. The original thread was in response to a thread about Georgian by @trwier.bsky.social. #StPatrick #PatricksDay2026 0134
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 16/03/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ალბათ albat 'probably', from Middle Georgian, from Persian البته albatte of course, from Arabic الْبَتَّةَ al-batta decision, from Proto-Semitic *BTT cut off, sever, from Afro-Asiatic *bit/but cut off, break. The initial al- is a fossilized article. 182
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 09/03/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: კარადა ḳarada 'wardrobe', modern metathesis and reanalysis of *ḳardarebi wardrobes, from late Ottoman Turkish قاردروب gardırop or Russian гардероб, from French garde-robe, lit. protect-robe, from Frankish *wardōn protect and *rauba booty, robbery. 1185
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 02/03/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: მტერი mṭeri 'enemy', from Old Georgian ႫႲႤႰႨ mṭeri, from *m-ṭver-i, agentive participle of Kartvelian *ṭwr- break apart, destroy, possible ancient loan of Urartian 𒌅𒌨 tur- destroy. Many languages' words for enemy come from nouns of ill intent. 152
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 23/02/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: სარკე sarḳe 'mirror', from Old Georgian ႱႠႰႩႤ sarḳe, metathesis of earlier *saḳre, from Kartvelian *ḳr- bind, connect, possibly an ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: cf. Indo-European *ḱer- plait, weave; Altaic *kèra bind, wind; Uralic *kärV bind, knot. 181
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნაზი nazi 'tender, gentle, delicate', from late Old Georgian ႫႠႦႨ nazi, from Parthian 𐭭𐭠𐭦nāz pleasure, delight, from Proto-Iranian *nāz- take pleasure, exult, be mild. Perhaps a loan from Akkadian 𒈾𒀀𒄭𒍪 naḫsum thin, delicate, fine (of clothing). 150
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 10/02/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ორთქლი ortkli 'steam, vapor', from Old Georgian ႭႰႧႵႪႨ ortkli, an ancient loan from pre-literary Megrelian *wortkli, from Proto-Kartvelian *wartkl- steam, breath, from earlier *war-tkw-l-, perhaps noun incorporation of Indo-European *h₂weh₁-ro- wind, breath. 191
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 02/02/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ვახშამი vaxšami 'dinner, evening meal' from Old Georgian *vaxšami, metathesis of Avestan xšafniia dinner, supper, from PIE *kʷséps night. It thus may be also cognate with Latin vesper and Armenian գիշեր gišer, both from PIE *wek⁽ʷ⁾speros evening. 172
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 26/01/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქარბუქი karbuki 'snowstorm, blizzard', modern compound of Old Georgian ႵႠႰႨ kari wind and ႡႳႵႨ buki snowstorm, from Kartvelian *kar- wind and Old Armenian բուք buk snowstorm, from Indo-European *bʰuH- swell, blow, become. One of several words for blizzards. 1133
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 05/01/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: სუსხი susxi 'biting cold', reduplication of a late loan from/into late Middle Georgian and some Caucasian source: cf. Adyghe saχ frost, Abaza sǝχa snow-flake or sleet, Akusha Dargwa šaχ hoar-frost, Kubachi šaχʷ hoar-frost. A pan-Caucasian Wanderwort. 1102
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 01/01/2026Weekly Georgian Etymology: მეკვლეობა Meḳvleoba 'First-foot (tradition)', from Middle Georgian მეკვლე meḳvle hunter, tracker from Old Georgian ႩႳႠႪႨ ḳuali trace, step, from Georgian-Zan *ḳwal- step. It draws its name from superstitions surrounding the New Year's first visitor. 1125
Reposted by Thomas WierDr Danny Bate @dannybate.com · 29/12/2025Georgian has a pretty distinct word for 'Greek': berʒeni (ბერძენი). It's been explained as deriving from a word for 'wise', with Greece thought of as the land of wise people, but a more plausible explanation is that it comes from the city of Byzantium, centuries before it became Constantinople. 1426
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 27/12/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: დასი dasi 'group, troupe, choir, host', from Old Georgian ႣႠႱႨ dasi, via Old Armenian դաս das or directly from Indo-Iranian das- heap, arrange, perhaps from Indo-European dmH₂-sḱ- build. At Christmas time commonly used to refer to hosts of angels. 1103
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 16/12/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: ზღარბი zğarbi 'hedgehog', from Middle Georgian გძღარბი gdzğarbi, from Old Georgian ႢႰႻႶႠႡႨ grdzğabi, compound of Kartvelian *grdz- long and ğab- jowl, from Arabic غَبْغَب ğabğab- chin. The Southern White-Breasted species is endemic to the Caucasus. 1113
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 09/12/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: ტყვია ṭq̇via 'bullet', from Old Georgian ႲႷჃႥႨ ṭq̇wivi lead, from Kartvelian *ṭq̇wi- lead, poss. an ancient loan from a north Caucasian source: Lezgic *naIƛ̣:(ʷ)V blue, Abkhaz-Adyghean *ƛ̣ʷV blue, iron. Metals often get their names from their color. 1132
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 02/12/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: ქარი kari 'wind', from Old Georgian ႵႠႰႨ kari, from Proto-Kartvelian *kar- wind, to blow, poss. an ancient Steppe loanword: Altaic *găl- sky, wind, Dravidian *gāḷ- wind, air. Made famous in the poem by Galaktion Tabidze, ქარი ჰქრის 'The Wind Blows'. 1121
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 25/11/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: ბაჟე baže 'walnut sauce with garlic', from Megrelian ბაჟა baža, from Georgian ბაჟი baži toll, duty, tax, from Old Georgian ႡႠႯႨ baži, from Middle Persian bāǰ tax, from Old Persian 𐎲𐎠𐎪𐎶 tribute. It gets its name metaphorically from its enriched flavor. 1206
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: კეცი ḳeci 'ceramic pan', from Old Georgian ႩႤႺႨ ḳeci wine vessel, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳec- ceramic vessel, loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *kɨ̄ṭV- vessel: cf. Chechen kad pot, Tsez ḳoṭi cup, Udi kot:o-war pan. Ancient pan-Caucasian Wanderwort. 1143
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 10/11/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: ლეკვი leḳvi 'puppy', from Old Georgian ႪႤႩႥႨ leḳvi, from Georgian-Zan *leḳw-, an ancient loan from Indo-European *lúkʷos, metathesis of *wĺ̥kʷos 'wolf': cf. Greek λύκος, Proto-Italic *lukʷos. It is thus cognate to English wolf and Latin lupus. 1164
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: ფოცხი pocxi 'rake', from Old Georgian ႴႭႺႾႨ pocxi rake, harrow, from Georgian-Zan *porcx-/*porcʲx- rake, broom, compound of Kartvelian *purcʲ- leaf and *cx- comb. Thus also related to ცოცხი cocxi broom and dialect forms like ფორჩხი porčxi rake. 162
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 27/10/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაქცია makcia 'werewolf', from Old Georgian ႫႠႵႺႨႠ makcia shape-shifting monster, agent noun of Kartvelian *kecʲ- turn, behave, run, possible loan from/into Nakh-Daghestanian *ḳān[c̣]V- run, jump, or Altaic *kăči pass. An old part of Georgian folklore since the Middle Ages. 151
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 23/10/2025Short film now out by Sopho Chkheidze about the Tsova-Tush people and language: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTV...youtube.comDay of LoveYouTube video by Caucasus Cinema 020
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 20/10/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: საბანი sabani 'blanket', from Middle Georgian, from Greek σάβανον linen cloth or towel, from Coptic ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲛ sabon cloth, from Egyptian 𓋴𓃀𓈖 seben bandage for wrapping mummies, perhaps reflecting Afro-Asiatic *sVp- weave, sew. 1174
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 15/10/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნისლი nisli 'fog, mist', from Old Georgian ႬႨႱႪႨ nisli, from Georgian-Zan *nisɬ- fog, metathesis of Akkadian 𒈾𒀊𒋗 nalšum dew, deverbal noun of 𒈾𒆷𒀀𒋗 nalāšum fall as dew. Across languages, 'fog' words are often related to other weather phenomena. 2647
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 29/09/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: კალათა ḳalata 'basket', from late Old Georgian ႩႠႪႠႧႨ ḳalati, from Greek κάλαθος basket, probably from Akkadian 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum basket for transporting goods, from Sumerian 𒂁𒄬 hal pot, basket. 1122
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 24/09/2025For those who want to follow me in a more visual format, I now also make my weekly post about Georgian historical linguistics on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/georgian_ety... 021
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 22/09/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: თივა tiva 'hay', from Old Georgian ႧႨႡႠ tiba to mow, from Georgian-Zan *tib- mow, from Kartvelian *tib- mow. Ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Akkadian 𒊺𒅔𒉈 tibnum straw, chaff, Turkic *topon straw, Dravidian *taviḍ- chaff, Middle Korean 딥 tìp straw. 1211
Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 16/09/2025Weekly Georgian Etymology: მკვლელი mḳvleli 'murderer, assassin', from Old Georgian ႫႩႪႥႤႪႨ mḳlveli killer, participle of კვლა ḳvla kill, from Proto-Kartvelian *ḳal-. Possibly an ancient Eurasian Wanderwort: Indo-European *gʷelH- kill, Uralic *kola die, Dravidian *kol- kill. 1134