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Ur 𒌨 in Sumerian means “dog”, but it can also mean “carnivorous animal”.
Because "ur" forms the base of many other animal names, I find it enjoyable to translate it as "dog".
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[Image: Susa II. Late Uruk period (3300-2100 BCE)]
![Ur 𒌨 in Sumerian means “dog”, but it can also mean “carnivorous animal”. Because "ur" forms the base of many other animal names, I find it enjoyable to translate it as "dog".1/[Image: Susa II. Late Uruk period (3300-2100 BCE)]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgxXG6IUYAEaBJN.jpg "Ur 𒌨 in Sumerian means “dog”, but it can also mean “carnivorous animal”. Because \"ur\" forms the base of many other animal names, I find it enjoyable to translate it as \"dog\".1/[Image: Susa II. Late Uruk period (3300-2100 BCE)]")
Because "ur" forms the base of many other animal names, I find it enjoyable to translate it as "dog".
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[Image: Susa II. Late Uruk period (3300-2100 BCE)]
urbarra 𒌨𒁇𒊏 “wolf” (“outside dog”)
(Fun fact: The Egyptian "jackal" is actually not a jackal; it's an ancient wolf.)
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[Image: KV 14 tomb of Tausert and Setnakht, Egypt]
![urbarra 𒌨𒁇𒊏 “wolf” (“outside dog”)(Fun fact: The Egyptian "jackal" is actually not a jackal; it's an ancient wolf.) 2/[Image: KV 14 tomb of Tausert and Setnakht, Egypt]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgxXxuFUYAU-Sx_.jpg "urbarra 𒌨𒁇𒊏 “wolf” (“outside dog”)(Fun fact: The Egyptian \"jackal\" is actually not a jackal; it's an ancient wolf.) 2/[Image: KV 14 tomb of Tausert and Setnakht, Egypt]")
(Fun fact: The Egyptian "jackal" is actually not a jackal; it's an ancient wolf.)
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[Image: KV 14 tomb of Tausert and Setnakht, Egypt]
urmah 𒌨𒈤 or urgula 𒌨𒄖𒆷 “lion” (both meaning “great dog”)
What's a great dog? A cat.
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[Image: Tell Harmal, Old Babylonian]
![urmah 𒌨𒈤 or urgula 𒌨𒄖𒆷 “lion” (both meaning “great dog”)What's a great dog? A cat. 3/[Image: Tell Harmal, Old Babylonian]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgxYT45U4AAvvod.jpg "urmah 𒌨𒈤 or urgula 𒌨𒄖𒆷 “lion” (both meaning “great dog”)What's a great dog? A cat. 3/[Image: Tell Harmal, Old Babylonian]")
What's a great dog? A cat.
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[Image: Tell Harmal, Old Babylonian]
urdib 𒌨𒁳 or urnim 𒌨𒉏 “lion cub” ( “early dog”)
ura 𒌨𒀀 “otter” (“water dog”)
urki 𒌨𒆠 “badger” (“earth dog”)
uridim 𒌨𒅂 “wild dog, rabid dog” (“wild dog”)
urbigu 𒌨𒁉𒅥 “jackal” (“eating-everything dog”)
urbigu 𒌨𒁉𒅥𒄷 “vulture” (“jackal bird”)
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ura 𒌨𒀀 “otter” (“water dog”)
urki 𒌨𒆠 “badger” (“earth dog”)
uridim 𒌨𒅂 “wild dog, rabid dog” (“wild dog”)
urbigu 𒌨𒁉𒅥 “jackal” (“eating-everything dog”)
urbigu 𒌨𒁉𒅥𒄷 “vulture” (“jackal bird”)
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ursaga “pampered dog”
This Sumerian letter reads:
"To Ea-bani tell:
One Erra-gašir,
citizen of Nippur,
a pampered dog
he shall give him."
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[CDLI no.P134662]
![ursaga “pampered dog”This Sumerian letter reads:"To Ea-bani tell:One Erra-gašir,citizen of Nippur,a pampered doghe shall give him."5/[CDLI no.P134662]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgxdGBnUMAIeaca.jpg "ursaga “pampered dog”This Sumerian letter reads:\"To Ea-bani tell:One Erra-gašir,citizen of Nippur,a pampered doghe shall give him.\"5/[CDLI no.P134662]")
This Sumerian letter reads:
"To Ea-bani tell:
One Erra-gašir,
citizen of Nippur,
a pampered dog
he shall give him."
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[CDLI no.P134662]
Many languages use a familiar animal name as the base to create other animal names. Germanic animal names often used this convention, including Waschbär – wash bear (raccoon), Fledermaus – flutter mouse (bat), and Eichkätzchen – oak kitten (squirrel).
6/ https://twitter.com/cfthisfootnote/status/1223818230063456256
6/ https://twitter.com/cfthisfootnote/status/1223818230063456256
And before you laugh at the German animal names, know that English is no exception. :)
7/ https://twitter.com/cfthisfootnote/status/1223818232827502592
7/ https://twitter.com/cfthisfootnote/status/1223818232827502592