The origin of an old word
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
June 26, 2020 1:26pm CST
When Danes drink and clink glasses they use the word "skaal" which is the Danish version of cheers. "Skaal" means bowl, and at first it doesn't really make sense - we use glasses not bowls.
I was surprised to read about the origin of the word. I am not sure exactly how old it is, but it is from the time when people drank from bowls instead of glasses. At that time people only had one bowl that everyone shared and when people wanted to drink they said "skaal" (bowl) and the word meant: "Please pass me the bowl, I want to drink now"
Now we use glasses instead of a bowl and we all have our own glass , but we still use the old word and we keep asking for a shared bowl that no longer exists. At that time people didn't mind sharing the same bowl, I am glad we don't do that anymore 
8 people like this
9 responses
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
28 Jun 20
I think it is interesting to learn about the origin of old words. Sometimes there is a surprising story behind the words that we use 
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
27 Jun 20
I didn't know that. We say "bowl" when we want to say cheers, what does your word mean?
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
26 Jun 20
Oh That`s a very nice information. Thank you for sharing
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
26 Jun 20
I like to learn about the origin of words. Sometimes there is an interesting story behind old words
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
26 Jun 20
In many cases the Scandinavian languages use the same words or words that are very similar, but we have to be a little careful sometimes. Sometimes the words are spelled the same way, but they mean different things. In Danish "rolig" means peaceful, in Swedish it means funny. In Danish "rar" means nice or kind, in Norwegian it means strange.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
26 Jun 20
@Porcospino The same phenomenon exists in German and Dutch. You think that you know a word because it looks like one in your language, but then it has a different meaning. Such words are called 'false friends'
An example for a 'false friend' in German/English: The German word 'sensibel' is NOT 'sensible' in English. It is 'sensitive'.
'sensible' is 'vernünftig' in German.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
27 Jun 20
I have heard that word once in an old movie. It was used instead of cheers. There might be a connection between that word and our word.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
27 Jun 20
Ancient danes were rather abrupt, weren't they? Just saying "bowl!"
I am jesting. I know that a lot was said in just that one little word.
I still drink after people.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
27 Jun 20
I guess one word was all they needed At that time it was normal to share one bowl. I think it is interesting that we still use the same word. It doesn't make much sense now. We use glasses instead of a bowl and we all have our own glass, but we still say it.
At that time it was normal to share one bowl. I think it is interesting that we still use the same word. It doesn't make much sense now. We use glasses instead of a bowl and we all have our own glass, but we still say it.1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
28 Jun 20
@Porcospino I am trying to think of any words like that for us here, but none come to mind. I am sure there are some though.
