10 words that only pretend to be Russian

1. Bogatyr

Scientists are still debating the etymology of this word. But still, according to the official version, it is believed that the "hero" Bogatyr - the etymological dictionary of the Russian language of Krylov, a strong and mighty warrior, the hero of Russian fairy tales - is a word of Turkic origin. In the languages of this group, for example in Mongolian, baγatur just means "courageous warrior". And the heroes themselves were heroes not only of the Russian epic: there are batyrs and bayatirs in Turkic and Mongolian tales.

2. Cucumber

The ancient Greeks called this vegetable ἄωρος, that is, "unripe", and with some changes the same word stuck in the Russian language. There is a logic in this name: cucumbers Cucumbers - Etymological dictionary of the Russian language by Max Vasmer, unlike other pumpkin (pumpkin, melon, watermelon), are really eaten unripe.

3 and 4. Fur coat and skirt

We have grouped these two words for a reason. They both come from the same Arabic word ǰubba - "lightweight outerwear with long sleeves." True, we came to the Russian language in different ways: the “fur coat” The “fur coat” is the Etymological dictionary of the Russian language, we owe the German, and the “skirt” of the Skirt, the Etymological dictionary of the Russian language, is due to the Polish language. It may seem odd that the "skirt" worn on the lower torso is derived from a word for outerwear. But do not be confused by this: earlier, sweaters were also called skirts. This is also stated in the Skirt Dictionary - Dahl Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary.

5. Draw

This verb Draw - Krylov's etymological dictionary of the Russian language appeared in Russian only in the 18th century. We borrowed it from Polish: rysowac means "to draw." At the same time, the Polish word also has a foreign language ancestor: this is the German reißen, which has the same meaning.

6. Kitchen

Another Polish word: kuchnia - "food preparation room". In Polish it came from Old High German (kuchī̆na), and there - from Latin (coquere, "to cook"). Most researchers believe that the "kitchen" Kitchen - the Etymological Dictionary of the Russian language by Max Fasmer appeared in the Russian language at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century. Before that, the food preparation room was called very transparently: "cook", "cook" and "concoction".

7. Bully

The third and last borrowing from the Polish language on this list. In Polish zabijaka Zabiyaka - Etymological dictionary of the Russian language - “a person who loves to start fights, quarrels,” and the word got into the Russian language with the same meaning. Interestingly, the Polish noun is derived from the verb zabić - "to kill".

8. Hussar

A cavalryman in a high shako hat, short uniform and leggings is by no means a Russian invention. The word "hussar" Husar - Etymological dictionary of the Russian language of Krylov is borrowed from the Hungarian language: huszár - "twentieth". According to Hungarian traditions, only one out of twenty people who entered the military service became a cavalryman - a hussar.

9. Money

“Money” Money - Krylov's etymological dictionary of the Russian language, or rather “money”, entered the Russian language in the XIV century during the Mongol-Tatar yoke. The word tanga / tenge in Turkic languages means “coin”: silver coins were just the main currency in many parts of Russia.

10. Cutlet

Cutlet Cutlet - The etymological dictionary of the Russian language is so often found in the diet of Russians - both with pasta and mashed potatoes. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine that this word is not Russian. But this is true: côtelette is a French word with the same meaning, derived from côte - "rib".