Talk:valtameri

Connection Weltmeer-valtameri

It was suggested in an anon user's edit of the Etymology section that the Finnish world valtameri might be derived from German Weltmeer (“ocean”), based on the apparent phonetic similarity of the two words. I find the connection unlikely because valta, while being of Germanic origin but from different root than "Welt", is used in many Finnish compounds to signify "main". Examples include valtakatu (“main Street”), valtatie (“main road”), valtavirta (“mainstream”). Thus "valtameri" simply means "main sea". Further, I couldn't find any documented proof that the suggested connection might exist and took the liberty of deleting the comment. Hekaheka (talk) 14:31, 24 April 2024 (UTC)

I agree that there is probably no link. A calque of Weltmeer would be maailma(n)meri (maailmanmeri does exist, but I'm not sure it's from the German). — SURJECTION ^{/ T / C / L /} 15:54, 24 April 2024 (UTC)