François Micheloud 1998- ©www.micheloud.com- ©www.micheloud.com

Archeology of the russian dictionary

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Russia has always been a westward looking country. Strong leaders imported new institutions and artefacts from European cultures, and the way the russian language assimilated them was to swallow the word. Other languages try to substitute it with an artificial new words instead of taking the word from the leading culture of the time (in french you say ordinateur for computer, but instead of walkman some people try to impose baladeur.

This page documents my personal efforts to shed some light on the huge number of russian words that come from languages I am familiar with, and to connect them with a period of russian history.

Under Alexis Mikhaïlovitch (1645-1676), many military and musical italian words were borrowed. Words I'm certain were borrowed during that time are written in the BLUE zone.

Under Peter the Great (1682-1725), a lot of german words, often with a latin origin, were adopted. More than a quarter described administrative structures.  Other came from french, especially military vocabulary. These words are in the Grey zone.

Under Kathrin II (1762-1796), many french words came from Versailles, often in indirect ways.

In the modern period, many international words came as in any other language.

As I'm neither a philologist by study nor by occupation, I am certain there are errors in this page and I'd welcome your comments if you happen to know more on some words.

Russian word English German   Italian French
Alexis Mikhaïlovitch (1645-1676)
ïèñòîëåòú handgun ? pistoletto pistolet
ãðàíàòà grenade ? ? grenade
èíãåíåðú engineer Ingenieur ingeniero ingénieur
Peter the Great (1682-1725)
èìïåðàòîðú emperor Imperator ? empereur
ãóáåðíàòîðú governor ? ? gouverneur
êàìåðãåðú ? ? ? chambellan
èíñïåêòîðú inspector Inspektor ? inspecteur
êàíöëåðú chancellor Kanzler ? chancelier
âåêñåëü letter of change Wechsel ? billet à ordre
àðåíäà ? ? ? bail
øòðàôëú fine Straf ? amende
àðõèâú archive Archiv ? archive
êîíâåðòú enveloppe ? ? enveloppe
êîíñòèòóöèÿ constitution ? ? constitution
äåìîíñòðàöèÿ demonstration ? ? démonstration
ëîçóíãú ? ? ? mot de ralliement
ëàãåðü camp Lager ? camp
þíêåðú low officer Junker ? junker
áàòàëüîíú batallion ? ? bataillon
ãàðíèçîíú garnison ? ? garnison
ïàðîëü orders ? ? parole
Time of borrowing unkown to me
àòàìàí chief of cossacks Hauptmann ? capitaine
ïîìèäîð tomato Tomato pommodoro tomate
ìàñøòàá scale Masstab ? échelle
áóõãàëòåð accountant Buchhalter ? comptable