Donau

Meaning

Danube (a river in Europe; flowing 2850 kilometers from the confluence of the Breg and Brigach at Donaueschingen, Germany, into the Black Sea in Romania)

Concepts

Danube

Danube River

Danube Delta

Synonyms

Donaustrom

Translations

Danube

Donau

Danubio

Danubio

Danubi

Δούναβης

Danúbio

Danubius

دانوب

Danuvius

Tuna nehri

Tuna

Ister

Rio Danúbio

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdoːnaʊ̯/

Etymology

Cognate with Middle Low German: Dônouwe

In summary

Attested in this form at least since 1544. From earlier Donaw (since 1530s, D under Low German influence), from earlier Tonaw (since late 15th c., o possibly also under Low German influence), from Middle High German Tuonawe, perhaps under Slavic influence, from earlier Tuonowe, Tuonow, from Old High German Tuonouwa, from something like Proto-West Germanic *Dōnauwju (cf. Middle Low German Dônouwe, Dônouw), from Proto-Germanic *Dōnawjaz paretymologically attracted to *auwju (“floodplain, meadow”), from Proto-Celtic *Dānowyos, an extended form of the river-name *Dānu, from Proto-Indo-European *déh₂nu (“river, river goddess”), akin to *dʰenh₂- (“to set in motion; to flow”).