What is the importance of having etymological origin of terms?

Knowing the etymology of words gives you a great advantage in figuring out their most effective use. Understanding the original meaning of a word as well as how it’s been used in both the past and present can increase your comprehension of its nuances and connotation.

What is the origin of the word Mantequilla?

From what I searched through the internet, mantequilla comes from the word manteca as Rick Perez suggested but this word is related to the Indoeuropean prefix menth- (which means “to stir”), that also originated the Sanskrit word for butter (manthaja) and the Russian word for sour cream (Сметана – smetania); and that …

Which came first English or Spanish?

I’m not an expert on English, but for what it’s worth, Wikipedia dates Modern English to the 15th Century, with Shakespeare and the King James Bible being its literary markers. In sum, English is older than Spanish.

What does etymological mean in English?

etymology • \eh-tuh-MAH-luh-jee\ • noun. 1 : the history of a word or phrase shown by tracing its development and relationships 2 : a branch of linguistics dealing with etymologies.

What is the purpose of studying etymology?

With etymology, you start to understand the interconnectedness of language and culture, as well as the interconnectedness of history with language. You better understand the interconnectedness of words with each other and the way that words have brought people together and divided them over the centuries.

What is the difference between Manteca and Mantequilla?

In modern Spanish, ‘manteca’ is lard and ‘mantequilla’ is butter, but we now know not only that they are two very different things, but that the versions used then were completely unlike the ones we have today. In fact, the Canarians still refer to cooked butter or ghee with medicinal purposes as ‘manteca de ganado’.

Do they eat butter in Spain?

You think butter is perfect for cooking. Olive oil is a religion in Spain, and we are a bit intolerant when it comes to accepting butter as an alternative.