Danube
/ˈdæn.juːb/noun
A major river in Central and Eastern Europe that flows southeast into the Black Sea.
Did you know?The Danube’s name is ultimately tied to an ancient Indo-European river-root seen in many old European water names, showing how rivers preserved language long after kingdoms vanished.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dānu-
“river, water”
Ancient Scythian / Iranian
Iranian
Dānu
“river, flowing water”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Iáster / Istros
“the Danube (Greek name for the river)”
Latin
Latin
Danubius
“the Danube River”
Modern English
English
Danube
“the Danube River”