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> what is Avon? Welsh for river.
by mootothemax 5mo ago
> what is Avon?
Welsh for river.
- tomxor 5mo agoHah TIL. So it's the river Welsh river on the English side of the Bristol channel. I often feel like I would understand a lot more names if I bothered learning Welsh. It's pretty popular for made up climbing route names too, because Wales is so good for it I guess. Allegedly some of the classics in the Avon gorge are Welsh derived but I could never figure them out to be sure.
- ndsipa_pomu 5mo agoThey're more likely Celtic words that live on in Welsh.
- mootothemax 5mo agoIt’s lovely isn’t it? There’re a good few of these things around: notably Torpenhow Hill (which killjoys dispute); and ones like Pendle Hill (which they don’t).
- ndsipa_pomu 5mo agoThe Welsh "afon" derives from the earlier Celtic "abona" meaning "river". Also related to the Celtic "afanc" which was some kind of aquatic monster.
- mootothemax 5mo agoMakes sense given Welsh’s evolution from Britannic. Much to my shame, I only started visiting Wales in later life, and there’s really something in the language that grabs me quite deeply. Once I’ve got my Polish down to pat, I tell myself.
- Intermernet 5mo agoYou avon a chwerthin?
- gerdesj 5mo agoThere is also a nebulous region within England that might be called Avon, depending on the moon's phase and the price of loons. There is a river Avon in England. Welsh at least (inst. celtae) has a noun for "river" which is "afon".
- mootothemax 4mo agoRecommend looking up the pronunciation of that there afon :)