Etmologicon Quiz: Places

[AB Editor]

I've just finished The Etymologicon

Here: Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

It's a kind of rambling etymological version of word association. It's fairly funny and light hearted and entirely worth a read.

It also has a quiz in the back. Can you guess these capital cities by their name's original meaning?

1. Marchant Harbour
2. Place by an unfordable river
3. Wisdom
4. Smoky bay
5. Black pool

(please show your workings out!)

[sunny-dave]

5. Dublin - dubh = black linn=pool

[emeritus]

5 Black Pool -- Dubh Linn --- Dublin

[sunny-dave]

4. Reykjavik meaning “smoky bay” in Icelandic

[sunny-dave]

reykja = smoking vik = bay

[Marijn]

2. London?

[ladyalex]

1 I thought originally Hong Kong, but that means Fragrant Harbour.
I now think it's Copenhagen

[ladyalex]

3 Athens, maybe..it was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom...

[AB Editor]

Very good!

1. Marchant Harbour - Copenhagen
2. Place by an unfordable river - London
3. Wisdom - Sofia (although it gives honourable mention to Athens)
4. Smoky bay - Reykjavik
5. Black pool - Dublin

Efficiently dispensed with!