My favorite bit of bear lore is the etymology of the word “bear”
spoiler
The English word “bear” comes from Old English bera and belongs to a family of names for the bear in Germanic languages, such as Swedish björn, also used as a first name. This form is conventionally said to be related to a Proto-Indo-European word for “brown”, so that “bear” would mean “the brown one”.[1][2] However, Ringe notes that while this etymology is semantically plausible, a word meaning “brown” of this form cannot be found in Proto-Indo-European. He suggests instead that “bear” is from the Proto-Indo-European word *ǵʰwḗr- ~ *ǵʰwér “wild animal”.[3] This terminology for the animal originated as a taboo avoidance term: proto-Germanic tribes replaced their original word for bear—arkto—with this euphemistic expression out of fear that speaking the animal’s true name might cause it to appear.[4][5] According to author Ralph Keyes, this is the oldest known euphemis
Same thing in Slavic languages, but they replaced arkto with
“the one who knows where the honey is”, medved (med = honey, ved = knowledge)“honey eater”, thank you for correcting comrades!Huh, I thought it was more akin to “honey eater”
It literally means honey eater
Erm, ackshually Wiktionary says that’s a false etymology.
Thank for correcting bigbigchungus! I thought it’s honey-knower my whole life
No problem
This terminology for the animal originated as a taboo avoidance term: proto-Germanic tribes replaced their original word for bear—arkto—with this euphemistic expression out of fear that speaking the animal’s true name might cause it to appear
Omg seabear
What Arctotherium and Cave Bear encounters can do to mfs💀
Bears (Three Bears)
bro those weren’t villains, those were victims of a home invasion
Missing Hexbear smdh
Can’t believe they forgot literally 2 most famous and obvious ones💀
Death to America
deleted by creator
Man as in Man: Arkham Aslume?
That would be Jonkler, Bone, Two Face and Killer Croc.
The West has some sort of trauma with bears
And they’ll fear them again in due time, just you wait comrades.
Arctotherium delayed migration to North America, as for modern times, it should be obvious lmao.
Love that Paul Bearer is in here!
Ohhhhh yesssss
Literally me
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
