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E 0271 DUAL

The word " dual " is of Latin origin

H 0333 ו ד

Concept of root : two

Hebrew word		pronunciation				English meanings
ו ד		du-				bi-

Related English words				dual

Comparison between European words and Hebrew
Languages	Words		Pronunciation		English meanings		Similarity in roots
Hebrew	ו ד		du-		bi-		d u
Greek	δυω		dϋo		two, bi-		d u
Latin	due, du-		due, du-		two, bi-		d u
English	dual				dual		d u (. l)

Hebrew, Aramaic DŪ- --- DÜ-O Greek < DŪ- Indo-European

This entry shows us in Hebrew the same prefix that exists in Latin and Greek. But in Hebrew it is not a numeral. Perhaps this prefix has been loaned.

In fact "du-" is considered as having been borrowed, by Aramaic speaking Jews, from Greek that had and has the word "duo" for "two" . This word has become a well-known prefix also in English. But Europeans started out loaning Greek words composed with the prefix "duo-", whereas in Hebrew the prefix was , and still is , used with classic Hebrew roots . An odd way of borrowing, but we have no proof of the contrary .

Besides this, Greek "duo" was pronounced "dűo", later becoming "dio". Upon borrowing it in those old Hellenistic times , why was the "o" abolished and why did the "ű" become an "u"? Simply, why did "dűo" become "du"? Some question marks remain around the borrowing thesis .

Note:

English has some more words that begin with "dual", such as "dualism" and "duality" . Other kins are " duet" ( from Italian ) and "duel" ( from Latin ).

Note:

Proto-Semitic. There is the fact that Aramaic uses the word "ד ו , du" as a numeral : "du = two ". So a common origin with Greek, instead of a loan, should not be excluded . And with that the presence of a similar root in Proto-Semitic.

Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: Monday 9 July 2012 at 15.56.51

du-

bi-

dual

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Hebrew, Aramaic *DŪ- --- *DÜ-O Greek < DŪ- Indo-European

Hebrew, Aramaic DŪ- --- DÜ-O Greek < DŪ- Indo-European