Saying amber in European Languages
The classical names for amber, Latin electrum and Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον (ēlektron), are connected to a term ἠλέκτωρ (ēlektōr) meaning “beaming Sun”. According to myth, when Phaëton son of Helios (the Sun) was killed, his mourning sisters became poplar trees, and their tears became elektron, amber. The word elektron gave rise to the words electric, electricity, and their relatives because of amber’s ability to bear a charge of static electricity. The standard Greek word for amber was elektron.
Baltic region languages:
- Lithuanian – Gintaras
- Latvian – Dzintars
- Estonian – Merevaik
- Polish – Bursztyn
- Russian – Yantar (янтарь)
- German – Bernstein
- Finnish – Meripihka
- Swedish – Bärnsten
- Norwegian and Danish – Rav
- Icelandic – Raf
English language
The English name for amber is derived from the Arabic word anbar, originally used to describe ambergris (Eng. ambra).
- American English: amber
- Brazilian Portuguese: âmbar
- Chinese: 琥珀
- Croatian: jantar
- Czech: jantar
- European Spanish: ámbar
- French: ambre
- Greek: κεχριμπάρι
- Italian: ambra
- Japanese: 琥珀色
- Korean: 호박(광물)
- European Portuguese: âmbar
- Romanian: chihlimbarambră
- Thai: อำพัน
- Turkish: kehribar
- Ukrainian: бурштин
- Vietnamese: hổ phách
Dzintars is a Latvian masculine given name borne by more than 4,000 men in Latvia. The name means “amber”. Its nameday is celebrated on 4th September.
Gintaras is a Lithuanian masculine given name. Name Gintaras is of Lithuanian origin. People with name Gintaras are usually Christians (Catholics) by religion.
