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Animals & plants

bear

Source:*medvědьProto-Slavic · “honey-eater”certain

A taboo name, 'honey-eater', used instead of the animal's real name, which was too dangerous to say.

English

bear

Polish

niedźwiedź
ˈɲɛdʑvjɛtɕ
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In all five languages

BCS script
  • Russian
    медве́дьmedvedʹ
    mʲɪdˈvʲetʲinherited
  • Ukrainian
    ведмі́дьvedmidʹ
    ʋɛdˈmʲidʲinherited

    m and v have swapped places.

  • Polish
    niedźwiedź
    ˈɲɛdʑvjɛtɕinherited

    The initial m turned into n.

  • Czech
    medvěd
    ˈmɛdvjɛtinherited
  • Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian
    medvjed / medvedмедвјед / медвед
    ˈmedvjedinherited
  • English
    bear

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