Why a bear was called a bear: where did this word come from

“Why is the bear called a bear?” – sometimes this question arises in both children and adults. Indeed, we are so accustomed to pronouncing certain words in everyday life that we do it mechanically. As a rule, we rarely think about what words mean. But it’s worth it, because the answer can be insanely exciting!

Why is the bear named bear: where did this word come from

So, let’s talk about all of us first familiar from childhood the word “bear”:

• Understanding why the bear was called a bear, one should plunge into Slavic beliefs. Our ancestors sincerely believed that animals hear when they are called by their real names. Therefore, it is impossible to voice them – it was what would now be called “taboo”. It was believed that if the beast is predatory, it will certainly come and deal with the person. If the beast is one of those that are hunted, then it will be frightened, run away and the future hunt will not be successful. Researchers believe that because of such beliefs, many animals have lost their original names over time. We can no longer know how this or that animal was originally called because superstitious ancestors came up with substitute words. These were a kind of code words that helped both convey information and at the same time not bring trouble. The word “bear”, for example, comes from a substitute for “honey badger”, which has been slightly transformed over time. It is assumed that the ancient name of this animal among the Slavs could be “orktos” – it comes from the Greek “arktos”. The Greeks just called bears “Arktos”. But whether the Slavs really took up such borrowing is unclear – this is just an assumption.
• Another theory is that “bear” is a symbiosis of words such as “honey” and “know”. The latter means “know” in modern terms. That is, literally, “bear” is “one who knows where the honey is.” Thus, human observation gave the name to the animal. It was noticed that the bears are able to guess the location of this delicacy even from afar. They have a very subtle sense of smell, which allows them to do this. And even then the bear is definitely unstoppable! Especially in the period from July to September, when the animal seeks to stock up on as many nutrients as possible. The bear is even ready to risk his life for the sake of honey, which allows you to accumulate subcutaneous fat as quickly as possible.

What is another name for a bear? why

Как also called this representative fauna?

• Umka is a name familiar to us from childhood. Therefore, many people think that they call the bear that way thanks to the cartoon character. In fact, the situation is somewhat different. Interestingly, for the northern peoples, the polar bear is “umka” – in connection with the Chukchi language. In Chukchi, “polar bear” sounds like “umke”.
• Clubfoot – the beast received such a nickname due to the fact that when walking, he puts his heel out, and his fingers step “inside”. As a result, the same clubfoot is formed, which is difficult not to notice.. The bear also rolls over because he takes a step with those paws that are on the same line. That is, first go, for example, the right front and back legs, and then the left ones.
• The bear is called a connecting rod, among other things, thanks to a similar waddling gait. It looks like he really wobbles. However, the concept of “staggering” also means “walking around, wandering around”. Instead of hibernating, these brown bears tend to explore the forest for something tasty. They simply do not have time to accumulate enough nutrients for wintering.
• The owner of the forest – the beast received this nickname due to the fact that he is one of the largest predators on the planet. It is believed that the bear has no enemies other than humans – so it can be placed at the top of the food chain. These animals are unusually strong and quick-witted, which also puts them a few steps above many forest dwellers. The bear is a real forest symbol – that’s why it is sometimes called “dense”.
• Grizzly – this term comes from the English “gray bear”. This is the name of the subspecies of the brown bear. And there is no contradiction here: despite the fact that this bear really belongs to the brown ones, its fur has a gray tint.
• Misha, as it seems at first, a bear can be called because of the association with the name. Misha, Mikhail is a fairly ancient name that our ancestors loved. And it looks so much like the name of a bear! However, not everything is so clear. The fact is that this formidable animal in the Old Russian language was called “bag, sword”. The most interesting thing is that this name has been preserved to this day among the Bulgarians – they call the bear “mechka”. And this is very consonant with “Misha”, isn’t it?

Learn the origin of a word always interesting – it expands perfectly horizon. Same thing with the word “bear”, which did not come out of nowhere. We hope that our readers philological the tour was interesting.