Fun fact: the word "bear" actually originates from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "the brown one", not bear.
Proto-Indo-European, the language which most European and many Indian languages originated from, did have a word for bear, but it only survived in a few languages because they believed that if you said the real name of the bear, it would summon a bear. To prevent this, they made up euphemistic names like "the brown one" and "the honey eater"
So remember, every time you say "bear", you're actually saying a several thousand year old euphemism and I think that's really cool
Ancient person who carved this: "It's too bad this is just a mock up of my actual dream. One day, these little bears will be full of delicious honey. Mmmm.... 🤤"
7 Comments
aeronmelon@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 345d
Forbidden gummy bear.
Zwiebel@feddit.org · 6 pts · 345d
Cute
DiskCrasher@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 345d
And it was still chewy.
SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 345d
Prehistoric poland? They really did survive everything!
d00ery@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 345d
It really does look like a cute or friendly bear. But humans must have been weary of them.
KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 345d
Fun fact: the word "bear" actually originates from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "the brown one", not bear.
Proto-Indo-European, the language which most European and many Indian languages originated from, did have a word for bear, but it only survived in a few languages because they believed that if you said the real name of the bear, it would summon a bear. To prevent this, they made up euphemistic names like "the brown one" and "the honey eater"
So remember, every time you say "bear", you're actually saying a several thousand year old euphemism and I think that's really cool
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 2 pts · 345d
Ancient person who carved this: "It's too bad this is just a mock up of my actual dream. One day, these little bears will be full of delicious honey. Mmmm.... 🤤"