Question by henoser: What is the entymology of the Russian word мужчина ?
The word already known meaning “man”, a friend of mine once told me that the origin of the word had something to do with forehead. Anyone with Russian knowledge and a better explanation would be much appreciated!
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Answer by abrakadabra
It developed from a word “муж” (muzh), which appeared from the same Indo-European root as an English ‘man’ or German ‘Mann’ (and Latin homo, I believe, because inversion of order and change of h to zh is observed in development of languages). “муж” meant a male and a person. Differentiation passed later in some languages, e.g. German ‘der Mann’ or Russian ‘мужчина’ (a male) and ‘der Mensch’ and ‘человек’ (for a person).
I do not know how it relates with a forehead. I also do not think that it may be coded in a part of the word ‘-чина’, because it exists also in a word ‘woman’. So, if ‘forehead’ is somewhere in this word, it should be in an Indo-European precursor, from which different languages originated.
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djfox_2001 says
Mujzh = banana in some languages
China = a huge country in Eastern Asia.
combine the words and get the logical explanation.
Koken says
Can't even read it
alexandredz says
Muzhchina : first part "MUZH" – means a man, a husband.
second part "CHIN'a" – means a title, a rank, a position. Has nothing to do with the forehead.
Otherwise "muzhchina" means a someone who has "a title of being a man or a husband"….. The same is true for Russian word for woman – "zhenchina" – "zhen" means "feminine" or wife (wife in Russian sounds like "zhena"), "chin'a" means a title, a rank….. "zhenchina" means a someone who has "a title of being a woman or a wife"….. Both names have nothing to do with domination or opression.
Other clues: "muzhchina" in Russian is usually used for an adult man. It is assumed that he may be married, therefore he is "muzhchina" otherwise a someone carrying a title of a husband. A little boy or a teenager, in Russia is often called "malchik" which means a "someone small"….. The same for a woman…. "Zhenchina" is usually used for an adult woman since she is most likely married otherwise she "has a title of being a wife"… A little girl or teenage girl in Russia is called "devochka" otherwise " a small diva, virginThe first part of this word "devo…" means virginity. Many Russian words are pretty self-explanatory.. Another example of the word "devo…" – is a relative to that "divo" in Russian it means "a miracle to look at", " an amazing beauty"…. Therfore, a simple word "devochka" used for a girl reveals something like " a someone who is a virgin of an amazing beauty and purity"
Olga M says
мужчина = man
"муж" – man, husband. Long time ago they used to call senators "муж"
"чина" – "чин" is high ranking.
Therefore, the whole meaning user this word is that you have to obey the man, because he's male