What is the word for "Beard" in your language?

LAA   Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:00 pm GMT
The word for 'beard' in Spanish is "barba". And I could be wrong, but I naturally assume that this is somehow related to the grooming habits of the Romans. The Romans of course, were usually clean-shaven, while the Germans and the Celts would fashionably let their beards grow out. Perhaps, the Romans associated long beards with the Barbarians, and thus came to call 'beards' after them. Are the two words etymologically linked? What is the word for 'beard' in other Romance languages? Is this something unique to Spanish.
fab   Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:04 pm GMT
in french it's "Barbe"

Today if we say "barbu" (bearded), we think about fundamentalist islamists...
LAA   Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:31 pm GMT
Do you know what it is in Italian and Portuguese? I think I'm on to something here......lol
Tiffany   Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:36 pm GMT
It is also "barba" in Italian. You might be on to something.
Marina   Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:00 pm GMT
In Romanian is "barba" as well! (In Dacian - barbat = man)
Sander   Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:13 pm GMT
Let me give you the etymology of beard LAA to show you what you're on to.

They all originate with Proto Indo European *bhar-dha meaning "beard" (compare West Germanic *barthaz, Old Church Slavonic brada, Lithuanian barzda, and Latin barba)

The Roman men didn't always shave, nor did the Greeks as the Hellenic beard was curly. Originally the Roman was trimmed; but in the Roman Empire shaving became general about 450 B.C., partly for greater safety in close combat, not to be grasped by the beard.
Sigma   Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:16 pm GMT
En Español es "barba"
LAA   Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:31 pm GMT
Growing a beard became somewhat fashionable for Romans in the late imperial period. But in the days of Julius Caesar, it was extremely rare for a Roman man to grow a beard. The Romans were very particular about hair, and men along with women, would frequently get their hairs plucked out at the baths. That included body hair. And yes, there was really no Roman Empire in 450 B.C. Some ancient Greeks and Romans did grow beards yes, but it was still uncommon. The ancient Germans however were very fond of beards and long hair. They were a symbol of strength, so that a Thane or a chieftan always kept their hair long. Baldness was a sign of the gods' disfavor. So, they grew out long beards and mustaches, and kept their head hair long.
Aldvs   Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:54 pm GMT
<<Baldness was a sign of the gods' disfavor. So, they grew out long beards and mustaches, and kept their head hair long.>>

It's curious how there are Julius Caesar statues that show him still with hair in a time when he was bald.
Joey   Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:40 pm GMT
In Portuguese it's barba curiously enough though to shave is 'fazer a barba' or directly translated make the beard lol.
suomalainen   Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:55 am GMT
In Finnish it is 'parta' according to Russian 'boroda' (which is apparently from same origin as Romanic 'barba'). In Latvian it is 'baarda'. In Estonian it is 'habe' and in Livonian 'abbõnd' (Pl). That should be the original Balto-Finnic word, in Finnish there is a word 'haivenet' (Pl) which means (weak) beard hairs. In Swedish the word is 'skägg', in Norwegian 'skegg'. 'Moustaches' are in Norwegian 'bart'.
Romanophile   Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:23 pm GMT
<<What is the word for 'beard' in other Romance languages?>>

Asturian – barba
Bergamasco – bàrba
Bolognese – bèrba
Bresciano – barba
Calabrese – varva
Castilian – barba
Catalan – barba
Corsican – barba
Dzoratâi - bârba
French – barbe
Furlan – barbe
Galician – barba
Italian – barba
Ladin – berba
Leonese – barba
Lombardo – barba
Mantuan – barba
Modenes Orientale – bêrba
Mudnés – berba
Napulitano – varva
Occitan – barba
Parmigiano – bärba
Piemontese – barba
Portuguese – barba
Pugliese – varv
Reggiano – berba
Romagnolo – bèrba
Romanian – barbă
Romansh – barba
Sardinian (LSU) – barva
Sardinian Campidanesu – braba
Sardinian Logudoresu – barba
Sicilian – barba
Triestino – barba
Valencian – barba
Venetian – barba
Viestano – varv
Zeneize (Genoese) – barba
Flip   Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:36 pm GMT
In Tagalog, it's 'balbas'.
greg   Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:38 am GMT
fab : « Today if we say "barbu" (bearded), we think about fundamentalist islamists... »

Ou à des enseignants socialistes !...
Aldvs   Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:54 am GMT
Fakere su barba (Logudorese)
Hacer la barba (Spanish)
Fazer a barba (Portuguese)
Farsi la barba (Italian)
Faire la barbe (French)
Facere barbae/ barba facere (Latin)