Words, preserved in the historical and archaeological monuments
from the VI-X cc. AD:
Old Bulgar word | Closest analogies | Cluster_user's ottoman parallels |
ALEM (first) – the name of the first month | Alein – frontal, first (Talish) | |
ALTEM (last, back) – the name of the twelfth month | Alt – back, lower (Celtic) | |
ALKHASI KUPE (an armament, most probably – a siege tower) | Alkhasi – a siege engine (Georgian) | alkha is probably from `ar. Halqa(t) with a semitic H. |
AN (or EN) – in two inscriptions from Murfatlar | An, en – a heaven (Sumerian)
Inish – God (Eastern Caucasian) |
|
AS (an ash, mortal remains) in the expression ZENTY ASO E | As – an ash (Kati, Pashto)
Ase (Sogdian) |
|
AULI – the Greek name of the palace of Krum | Auli – a building with a high wall (Pamirian) | < turkic ag~ul, ag~Il (an enclosure,
sheep or cattle pen, later village)
hung. o'l (cattle pen), chuvash yal |
BAGAIN – a military commander | Bakhoin – a military man (Eastern Caucasian) | |
BAGATUR – a heavily armed horseman | Bakhadur (North Indian)
Bagatur (Georgian) |
turko-mongol < asiatic hunnic (clauson) > pers. baha:dur > ott. turk. |
BAN – a military deputy of a region | Ban – a military commander (Eastern Caucasian), from BO – an army | |
BELEG - a sign | Belek – a sign, a mark (Georgian),
Belyeg (Hungarian) |
turkic belgu", mong. belge. "sign, mark" *bel
signifies "to be
manifest" bil= "to know" chuvash palla~ |
BIRI-BAGAIN – a commander of lightly armed horsemen | from Bir – a cavalry band (Pamirian) | |
BISER – precious beads for a necklace | Bisjer – a multityde, many small things (Tadzhik) | biser seems to be of arabic origin, meaning "bead" or "false pearl". Some qychaq languages seem to have it (in arabic it more commonly means unripe date(s) - busra(t), busr). I attribute it to either pecheneg turkic or the meditaranean trade. |
BO KOLAB![]() |
Kolob![]() |
|
BOILA – a noble, a lord | Bo’la – a master (Vejnakh)
Boul (Persian) |
|
BORU – a stronghold, a town | Boru – a stronghold (Pamirian, Persian) | |
VER – the year of the Dragon | Berka – a big snake (Eastern Caucasian)
Waran – a gigantic lizard, Warendak – long, snake-like [SRS, 186] Vaireni – a dragon (Prakrit), Vaira – dangerous, Varuna – the god-protector of the water, "The Encompasser of the World" Dobrev also had the Dardic Peren (dragon), Proto-indian (?) Peran (large, long), the Chuvash Verem (long), the Sumero-Accadian Ur, Jurnu (dragon), the wide spread of this and other calendar terms of the nominalia pointing to the ancient chartacter of the cyclic calendar. |
veren < turkic evren "dragon", "firmament
(i.e. sky, stars etc.), (also "oven") from evir= to turn around apparently
ewren/evren was latter found as a volgabulghar name.
either e/v reversal or evren > *o":ren > veren (o": > ve - found
iranian has avesta a*zh*i dahaka in a well known legend (later a half-serpent king, zohak, dahak in kurdish) for "dragon". new persian ejder, ejdeha (j=/zh/) |
VECHEM – the fifth month in the calendar | Wjuch – five (Dardic)
Wjuchem – fifth |
|
VESH – a month, a part of the year in the expression ELMA VESH | Wesh – a part, a share (Pamirian)
Vez (Va’z) – moon (Eastern Caucasian) |
|
VIKHTUN – to remove, to throw out (in the Nominalia) | Bikht – ‘thrown away’ in Al-Biruni’s "India" | |
GILS –a burial pot in the expression OKHSI TZIT MA GILS | Gilos – a burial pot (Pamirian) | |
DVAN – the year of the Hare | Dvand – fleet-footed (Pamirian) | |
DZHUDZHE – small, tiny | Dzhudzhe – a small animal, a birdie, a chick (Eastern Caucasian) | |
DILOM – the year of the Snake | Tilok – a big worm (Pamirian) | archaic turkic *dIlan > comm. turkic yIlan |
DOKHS – the year of the wild boar | Tokhs – bad, fierce (Persian) | |
EALKH – in the expression OKHSI YOVOK EALKH | Jalkho – a servant, a slave (Eastern Caucasian) | |
EVROPII MIZIJSK![]() |
Euri – a master (Urartian) | |
EPI – in the expression EPI ITIP BILO | Eb, emp – a wolf (Eastern Caicasian) | |
ESTEK – eighteen, in the expression ESTEK
KR![]() ![]() |
Astais – eighteen (Dardic)
Histdan – eighteen (Pamirian) |
|
ESTROGIN KUPE – a type of armour, most probably a mail armour | Jestrika – knitted (Pamirian) | |
ETKH – the year of the Dog | Jettu – a pack of dogs (Eastern Caucasian)
J |
|
EFE – an isolated word on the walls of the churches in Murfatlar | Efe – to excuse (Pamirian) | |
EN – a heaven | See AN | |
ZOAPAN – a court title | Zhoopan – an official (Eastern Caucasian)
Chupan (Sogdian) from fsu-pana (Sanskrit) |
|
Z![]() ![]() |
Zig – to rise, Zid – high (Sumerian),
Sida (Urartian) |
|
ZERA – in the expressions ANZI ZERA, ZERA TARKANOS | Dz![]() Zera – a courier (Pamirian) |
|
ITZI – in the expression ANZI ZERA ITZI AZO E | Ish – fair (Eastern Caucasian)
Is – a world, God (Sanskrit) |
|
ITZIGI – holy | See ITZI | |
ICHIRGU BAGAIN – a commander of the archer or of the palace guard | Ichirkho – an archer, a sentry (Eastern
Caucasian)
Isara – an arrow (Sanskrit) |
|
ICHURGU BOILA – the title of the commander of the garrison in the capital | See ICHURGU | |
KAVKHAN – the second most senior title in Bulgaria | Kavkh![]() |
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KAZNACHII – a treasurer | Khazna – a treasure (Persian, Pamirian) | |
KALU TARKAN – one of the participants in the wedding ceremony of Car Peter | Kalu – a type of priests (Accadian)
K Kalum – to swear (Pamirian) |
|
CAMPSIS – the title of one of the Bulgarian representatives on the VIII. Ecumenical council – in the expression ZISUNAS CAPMSIS | The original word must have been KABSI
Kabshi – an advisor (Georgian) |
|
KANA – the most senior Bulgar title.
In expressions such as KANA SUBIGI, KANA BOILA KOLOB![]() |
Kana – a chieftain (Eastern Caucasian)
Kana – major, big (Pamirian) |
|
KANASUBIGI, KANESUBIGI – the official title of the Bulgar khans; from KANA (leader) and SUBIGI (divine) | Similar to KANIZAUCI – the highest Avar title | |
KANARTIKIN – the title of the heir to the throne | Tikin – a heir (Eastern Caucasian) +
Kanar – ‘of the Kana’ |
|
KAPISHTE – a pagan Bulgar temple | Kap – a prayer (Eastern Caucasian)
Kapisha – a priest (Accadian) |
turkic ki:b - mould, model, later image, idol.
( -p ?)
chuvash pek < *kep, hung ke'p yakut kieb , mong. keb |
KNIN – a title at the time of Car Simeon, mentioned together with MAGOTIN and IMNIK | No correspondences found | |
KR![]() ![]() |
Kr![]() |
|
KOLOB![]() |
Kolobkhar – a cleric (Persian)
Kulb |
|
KORAB![]() |
From the Greek Korabos (ship) with the Bulgar suffix -CHII | |
KRAV![]() |
Kravi – to cut meat (Sanskrit)
Craf – to cut meat (Celtic) |
|
KR![]() ![]() |
Kherrch – a furnace (Eastern Caucasian) | |
KSISTON – a type of fish in Kubrat Bulgaria (in Southern Russia and the Caucasus) | Sischiani – a type of bream (Georgian) | |
KUVENTOS – the Bulgar people’s assembly ("The Bulgars gathered for a kuvent", in Theophanes) | Coveth – to gather (Celtic) | |
KUKUMIJ – a big metal vessel | Kukuba – a cauldron (Accadian)
Gumguma – a cauldron (Persian) Kumkum – a cauldron (Eastern Caucasian) |
byz. greek kukumi < lat. cucuma (nikos sarantakos) |
KUMIR – an idol | Kumirtu – holy (Accadian)
Gumiri – an idol (Alanian) |
|
KJUBE (written KUPE in Greek) – the general name for the metal armour | Kupa – metal (noun) (Sanskrit)
Kuba – an armour (Eastern Caucasian) Kubachi – the master of armour (Eastern Caucasian) |
|
K![]() |
See K![]() |
|
K![]() |
Kunukku – a royal inscription (Accadian)
Knik – a seal (Armenian) |
turkic * ku"ynig < chinese k`u"en "roll"
hung. ko"nyv < oghur * ku"niv. mordiv. ko*ny*ov < old chuvash * ka*ny*Iv chuvash ke~neke < russian old uyghur ku"in, ku"in bitig (bitig "book" < chinese also) + turkic c,i |
IMAET – a trustee, in the expression ZHUPAN I IMAET GEORGE | Imaet – a trustee, a guardian (Pamirian) | imaet (pamirian) sounds like `ar. 'ama:na(t)
(putting into trust)
if so, the old bulgarian word must be something else. |
IMENSHEGOR – a stallion. The other name for the year of the Horse | Imne – a horse (Mari)
Imikhu – a donkey (Eastern Caucasian) |
|
IMNIK – the senior overseer in the palace stables | Derived from IMEN (horse) | |
LUR – a part of the dressing of Car Simeon, mentioned by John Exarch | Lor – a knitted decoration, a necklace (Pamirian) | |
MAGOTIN – a title at the time of Car Simeon | Moguti – a title in the former Kubrat Bulgaria | |
MIR – a court title, in the expression ZITKOI MIR from the Madara fortress | Mir – a master, a ruler (Pamirian)
Mikhr – a noble (Persian) |
mi:r is short for `ar. 'ami:r (an amir, commander, prince). This was noticed by menges, byzantion vol. 28, p. 447-448. According to him, it is not a title at all, but the last' syllable of a slavic proper name. I don't know about persian "mikhr" (not in any persian or middle persian dictionary of mine), but I find it unlikely that *kh* would drop out. |
MURZULI – a type of fish, mentioned together with KSISTON by Theophanes (IX c. AD) | Murca – a barbel (Georgian)
Murculi – of barbel (Georgian) |
|
OLKH – a word from a grave inscription | Ol – to leave in peace (Pamirian) | |
OLGU TARKAN – a court title | Olka – a district (Georgian) | |
PECHAT – a seal | Bechedi – a seal (Georgian) | |
PILE ZOPAN – in the expression TORTUNA PILE ZOPAN | Pile – senior (Talish) | |
SAM![]() |
Samadzh – communication, association
(Sanskrit)
Samo – a truce-envoy (Pamiro-Dardic) Sabchi – a messenger (Georgian) |
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SAMPSIS – a part of the title of one of the Bulgarian representatives at the VIII. Ecumenical council | Probably the same as SAM![]() |
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SARAKT – a name of a border area at the time of Krum | Sarkh![]() Sarak – a guarded road |
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SOKACHII – a word, translated in Greek as MAGEIROS – cook | Szacacs – a cook (Hungarian) | |
SOMOR – the year of the Mouse (or the Rat) | Smor – a sable (Parthian)
Shupor – a flying mouse, a bat (Pamirian, Talish) |
|
SUKMAN – a Bulgarian woman’s dress (low-cut sleeveless dress) | Sukban – a dress, a gown (Eastern Caucasian)
Cokman – a dressing gown (Pamirian) |
|
TAGROGI – a word from Nagy Saint Miklos’ treasure, referring to the fraternization of two zhupans | Tagarog – a reapproachment; becoming related by marriage (Persian) | |
TAGGRAN – a word, which most probably referred to God Tangra. It would represen tthe only mentioning of Tangra in Bulgar inscriptions. | Tanra – holy (Assyrian)
Tandra – a thunder (Pamirian) Dingir – God (Sumerian) |
|
TARKAN – a judge, a supervisor | Similar to the Alanian Tarkan (Ash takran)
Tark – to judge (Sanskrit) |
|
TEKU (TAG) – the year of the Horse | Teky – a donkey (Caucasian)
Tajku – a foal (Pamirian) |
|
TVIREM – the fourth month in the calendar | Tuirea – four (Sanskrit)
Cfir, Twir – four (Pamirian) |
|
TES – a golden basin, a bowl, in the expression ‘BOILA ZOAPAN TEZI’ | Tesh – a basin, a bowl (Pamirian)
T’sh – a basin, a bowl (Talish, Persian) Compare also to Tesh – gold (Eastern Caucasian) |
|
TORTUNA – a guard of a ford | Tortu – a ford (Pamirian) | |
TOKH – the year of the Cock | Tukh – a hen (Pamirian)
Tokh – a hen (Ugric) |
hung. tyu'k < og~uric *tIvuq < turkic
taq:ag~u, taquq etc.
(chuvash studies) |
TUBA – ‘a vow’ or ‘a holy gift’. In the expression "Tongan iz polou tuba obasa" | Tuba – a vow, a pledge (Pamirian, Eastern
Caucasian)
Or from Tuva – a gift (See below) |
I would discard tuba. `ar. tawba(t) - vow (of regret) |
TUVIN – in the Omurtag's expression "And the tuvin is famous, fine." | Tuva – a gift (Talish, Eastern Caucasian)
TUVIN probably means ‘given as gift’ |
if tuva is taken to be from "pashto" tuhfa - gift - this etymology is impossible since tuhfa is a later day loan from arabic tuHfa(t) "gift", with a /H/ i.e. /h./ pharyngeal unvoiced fricative which is not native to pashto and is generally afro-asiatic. see aslanov pashto-russian p. 218 (2nd col. - "podarok") for confirmation. |
TURNESI – ‘golden coins’ in one three-lingual passage, containing the Greek, the Slav and the Bulgar name of the golden coins | Turanshi – yellow, golden (Persian) | probably turan*dj*i:, turun*dj*i
turun*dj*, turan*dj* means "an orange", turun*dj*i:, turan*dj*i: means "orange colored". the closest i found was a metaphorical name for the sun by steingass as turun*dj*i: zer (zar = gold, golden). asside from the fact that the -i: sufifx was i:k in middle persian, somehow I find this explanation as giving "too colloquial" a name for the coin. |
TUTOM – the second month of the year | Tutam – second (Persian)
Dutom – second (Pamiro-Dardic) |
|
KHLOBRIN – a type of armament. It was available in only one copy in the Preslav inscription. | Khulbure – a protective cover (Pamirian) | |
KHONSA – a thief. A word explained as being a Bulgar one in codex ‘Suidas’ (X c. AD), when speaking about the laws introduced by Krum. | Khonsa – a vicious person (Persian)
Khonc – a plunder (Eastern Caucasian) |
can't find the persian word. the closest in
new persian (in the
dictionary used by dobrev) is xu:n serd litt. "cold-blooded" in other places xu:nsa:z "murderer" - from xu:n = blood. |
KHUMSHI KJUBE – a type of armour, most probably made of a single piece of metal | Hunzu – moulded, cast in metal piece (Accadian) | |
CHIGOT – a swordsman | Chiko – a big knife (Pamirian) | |
CHITEM – the third month of the year | Citiya – three (Sanskrit) | |
CH![]() |
The only analog is the Dari Chawan | |
CH![]() |
From CHAVAN with the suffix -CHII | |
SHAR – a paint, a dye | Shir – a paint (Eastern Caucasian)
Sar – to paint (Sumerian) |
> tu"rku"t (?) sIr ("lacquer" - ka$gari) <
middle chinese *ts`i@t (> ch`i)
it is attributed to the tu"rku"t on the grounds of the phonetics of chinese. it appears that a middle chinese dialect in contact with tu"rku"t had -r < -t. there are some other examples in tu"rku"t to support this. in bulgarian it would be a bulghar word acquired from common turkic before the migration to the danube. uyghur sIrc,I (later "painter", with turkic suffix).
|
SHAR![]() |
Shirchi – a painter (Eastern Caucasian) | |
SHEGOR – the year of the Bull (Ox) | Sheg – a bull (Pamirian),
Ceg (Eastern Caucasian) Shegor – a deer-bull (zekhre) |
turkic sIg~Ir "cattle," large quadruped. |
SHEKHTEM – the sixth month | Shekh – six (Pamirian, Dardic) | |
SHILE – a (weaned) lamb | Sila – a lamb (Sumerian)
Shile – the child of an animal (Kabarda dialects) |
Words from the language of the Volga Bulgars:
Volga Bulgar word | Closest analogies | Cluster_user's ottoman parallels |
AVUS – bee's wax. The information is of Makhum Kashgari, 1065 AD. | Auz (wax) (Ossetian) | it is also found in qychaq balauz (honey wax,
i.e. bee's wax) and auz.
Clauson connects it with russian vosk (wax - now that I think of it probably cognate?). thus it is loanword in turkic and confined to the northwest. |
BELUVIK – a monument | Bel’wik – to know, to remember (Pamirian) | belu"wik, belu":k
later belu"yi, belwi, belu"wi (with possesive suffix -i) |
DALAT – the name of the valuable pelts, with which the Volga Bulgars paid their taxes. | Dalat – a leather (Eastern Caucasian)
Dala – a valuable pelt of marten or sable (Pamirian) |
|
KALANSUV – high caps (hats), exported by the Volga Bulgars. | Kalon – high (Pamirian) +
Shuv – a cap (Talish) |
|
KALI – a woman, a wife
the reference seems to be: Language and history : contributions to comparative Altaistics /Andrºas Rºona-Tas. Published: Szeged : Universitas Szegediensis de Attila Jºozsef Nominata, 1986. |
Kali – a woman, a wife (Georgian) | I haven't been able to obtain a copy of the
rona-tas reference that dobrev gives, but a study of the inscriptions gives
kiye:l (with alif hence written like kiya:l ) probably representing ke.l
or ke.:l (e. closed e, in c. turkic the vowel is short) for "wife". with
the possesive suffix it would become ke.li, this seems to be a short
form of kelin (turkish gelin), ke.lin, "bride" (properly "daughter in law")
from the verb kel-, ke.l- , gel- "to come" (i.e. into the family). in chuvash
it has been shortened to "kin" ( < * kil + en).
I don't know about the georgian word. turkic has qarI "old " (for a
|
KHADANK – a type of tree | Khadank – a poplar,
Khada – a lime-tree (Pamirian) |
fadlan xa*dh*ank, xa*dh*ang
turkic acc. to doerfer and rona-tas, chuvash studies p. 163) rona-tas argues on geography. kashgari: qa*dh*I*ng* > oghuz qa:yI*ng* > chuvash xura~n > xadIn (tuva), xazIn (xakas), xatIn (yakut) i.e. all regular sound changes. fadlan x- may be a development within volgabulghar. |
KHALANZH – a tree with a valuable wood | Khalandzh – a type of oak,
Khalandza – a chestnut-tree (Pamirian) |
|
KHALDZHA – the lakes near the summer palace of the king of the Volga Bulgars Almus in 921 AD. | Khalidzh – an inlet, a pool, a lake in some Pamirian languages | xali:*dj* is found in arabic (gulf, thus inlet). if that is the word, then xal*dj*a must come from somewhere else. |
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