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A word for watermelon?

de robinast, 23 janvier 2009

Messages : 23

Langue: English

robinast (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 12:35:34

The lernu! dictionary gives two synonyms: "akvomelono" and "citrolo", saying that "citrolo" also means pumpkin and gourd. I would use the "citrolo" as it resembles the latin name of watermelons (Citrullus) - but as this world also has another meanings, it could be confusing. At the same time, "akvomelono" seems to be nothing but a raw translation from English... Which word is in general use?
Harri.

mnlg (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 13:37:30

I've only ever heard of "akvomelono", and I seem to remember - but I never double-checked myself - that "watermelon" translates as such in other languages as well.

In Italian, however, it doesn't; we call that anguria. An Italian etymological dictionary explains that anguria might be traced to the byzantine aggourios, which seems to be related to greek ἄγγος, meaning "vase". Incidentally, this word was used to mean "gourd", which in Italian is cetriolo. So I think we closed the circle here ridulo.gif

robinast (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 14:12:17

mnlg: "watermelon" translates as such in other languages as well.
Yes, indeed - as I just discovered. I did know how the watermelon is in Estonian, Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish (where this rule does not apply). But watermelon seems to be the "watermelon" in addition to English also in French, German, Finnish and several other languages - in spite of the fact that it is a "watery melon" not more than Guinea pig is a pig from Guinea! okulumo.gif I wonder where the name came from...
Amike,
Harri.

lorenzolan (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 14:33:34

Saluton,

in fact, this "rule" doesn't apply to French: you say "pastèque" (not composed of "mélon" and "eau" as far as I can see). In German it's "Wassermelone", like in English; "akvomelono" seems to be taken from there, then.

robinast (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 15:06:38

lorenzolan:
in fact, this "rule" doesn't apply to French: you say "pastèque" (not composed of "mélon" and "eau" as far as I can see). In German it's "Wassermelone", like in English; "akvomelono" seems to be taken from there, then.
I do not speak French, so I have no idea actually... I just looked for "akvomelono" Eo-Français translation and got a pair of synonymes - "melon d'eau" and "pastèque"...
Amike,
Harri.

Ironchef (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 15:34:32

What I find useful and/or interesting when looking for translations or etymology is to look up the word in Wikipedia in your own language and then look down the left side where there is usually many links to the same article in other languages. That way you can get an idea of how a word translates across the world.

As to Watermelon, I encountered the Spanish word "Sandia" when I was in Mexico and I've wondered what the etymology of that word might be (I don't speak Spanish). Any Spanish linguists out there? Please enlighten me ridulo.gif

Senlando (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 19:17:05

Please look over there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrullus

SuperMarc92 (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 20:34:37

Here, in Quebec, we say "melon d'eau", which means watermelon. And we speak french.

Rogir (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 21:17:00

But you live in Quebec. Don't French and English influence each other a lot in Canada?

vejktoro (Voir le profil) 23 janvier 2009 22:12:57

Rogir:But you live in Quebec. Don't French and English influence each other a lot in Canada?
Doesn`t matter...
It`s still French.

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