• Random_Character_A
    link
    English
    28
    edit-2
    17 hours ago

    An interesting factoid. In Finnish language “väkivalta” means violence. It is a combination word:

    väki = people, crowd, folk

    valta = power, reign

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      415 hours ago

      Väki also means (or at least used to) ‘power’ or ‘strong’ (väkivahva, väkijuoma…) and that’s also where the etymology for ‘väkivalta’ comes from. So it’s got nothing to do with people.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        2
        edit-2
        13 hours ago

        Valta also sounds like a Germanic loan just a second… yep. Same root as German “Gewalt”, violence, “walten”, to rule, preside, “verwalten”, to administer, also English wield.

        What’s it with Finnish. One third borrowed from Estonian, another third from the Swedes, the rest from the Sami.

        • Random_Character_A
          link
          English
          412 hours ago

          Yes. We are a mushroom people that suddenly popped in to existence and had to borrow some stuff.