Starkey Comics
@starkeycomics.bsky.social
I mostly make images about language and interesting maps.
Jolly Yule Everyone!
Did you know the words 'jolly' and 'Yule' are (probably) related?
Yule is the original Germanic midwinter holiday, dating back to before the pagan holiday was absorbed into the Christian Christmas. It's still the most common name of Christmas in all the Nordic countries.
Did you know the words 'jolly' and 'Yule' are (probably) related?
Yule is the original Germanic midwinter holiday, dating back to before the pagan holiday was absorbed into the Christian Christmas. It's still the most common name of Christmas in all the Nordic countries.
December 12, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Jolly Yule Everyone!
Did you know the words 'jolly' and 'Yule' are (probably) related?
Yule is the original Germanic midwinter holiday, dating back to before the pagan holiday was absorbed into the Christian Christmas. It's still the most common name of Christmas in all the Nordic countries.
Did you know the words 'jolly' and 'Yule' are (probably) related?
Yule is the original Germanic midwinter holiday, dating back to before the pagan holiday was absorbed into the Christian Christmas. It's still the most common name of Christmas in all the Nordic countries.
I've made a map of who brings Christmas presents in different British regions!
Who brought your presents as a child?
Full post here with an explanation of each:
starkeycomics.com/2019/12/24/w...
#christmas #map #uk #british #gefthetalkingmongoose
Who brought your presents as a child?
Full post here with an explanation of each:
starkeycomics.com/2019/12/24/w...
#christmas #map #uk #british #gefthetalkingmongoose
December 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I've made a map of who brings Christmas presents in different British regions!
Who brought your presents as a child?
Full post here with an explanation of each:
starkeycomics.com/2019/12/24/w...
#christmas #map #uk #british #gefthetalkingmongoose
Who brought your presents as a child?
Full post here with an explanation of each:
starkeycomics.com/2019/12/24/w...
#christmas #map #uk #british #gefthetalkingmongoose
A new addition to my "Indo-European words for ___" series, this time showing the word for "ten" in over 100 Indo-European languages, both past and present.
For a short article on this image, and a HD version of it, click here:
starkeycomics.com/2025/06/23/i...
#etymology #linguistics #language
For a short article on this image, and a HD version of it, click here:
starkeycomics.com/2025/06/23/i...
#etymology #linguistics #language
June 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
A new addition to my "Indo-European words for ___" series, this time showing the word for "ten" in over 100 Indo-European languages, both past and present.
For a short article on this image, and a HD version of it, click here:
starkeycomics.com/2025/06/23/i...
#etymology #linguistics #language
For a short article on this image, and a HD version of it, click here:
starkeycomics.com/2025/06/23/i...
#etymology #linguistics #language
"Pride" is derived from the French "prod" (brave or valiant). This was from Latin "prosum" (to be useful, helpful, or good).
Prosum is composed of two words:
"pro-", which relates to moving forward, being prominent/in the open, and giving advantage;
and "sum" meaning "I am".
#pride #etymology
Prosum is composed of two words:
"pro-", which relates to moving forward, being prominent/in the open, and giving advantage;
and "sum" meaning "I am".
#pride #etymology
June 19, 2025 at 12:39 PM
"Pride" is derived from the French "prod" (brave or valiant). This was from Latin "prosum" (to be useful, helpful, or good).
Prosum is composed of two words:
"pro-", which relates to moving forward, being prominent/in the open, and giving advantage;
and "sum" meaning "I am".
#pride #etymology
Prosum is composed of two words:
"pro-", which relates to moving forward, being prominent/in the open, and giving advantage;
and "sum" meaning "I am".
#pride #etymology
Gandalf is a total prankster, so my headcanon is that when he brought a dragon firework to Bilbo's birthday, it was to prank Bilbo by triggering his traumatic memories of Smaug.
Maybe he later brought similarly traumatic fireworks to Frodo, Sam, and Pippin's birthday parties.
#lordoftherings
Maybe he later brought similarly traumatic fireworks to Frodo, Sam, and Pippin's birthday parties.
#lordoftherings
May 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Gandalf is a total prankster, so my headcanon is that when he brought a dragon firework to Bilbo's birthday, it was to prank Bilbo by triggering his traumatic memories of Smaug.
Maybe he later brought similarly traumatic fireworks to Frodo, Sam, and Pippin's birthday parties.
#lordoftherings
Maybe he later brought similarly traumatic fireworks to Frodo, Sam, and Pippin's birthday parties.
#lordoftherings
New post!
I collaborated with Danny at Linguistic Discovery to make a huge image about English words related to the word "one".
Danny wrote a detailed article on the topic that you can read here:
linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/one/
I collaborated with Danny at Linguistic Discovery to make a huge image about English words related to the word "one".
Danny wrote a detailed article on the topic that you can read here:
linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/one/
May 21, 2025 at 8:15 AM
New post!
I collaborated with Danny at Linguistic Discovery to make a huge image about English words related to the word "one".
Danny wrote a detailed article on the topic that you can read here:
linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/one/
I collaborated with Danny at Linguistic Discovery to make a huge image about English words related to the word "one".
Danny wrote a detailed article on the topic that you can read here:
linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/one/
In the UK and Ireland an enclosed piece of grassy land next to a house is called a "garden", whether or not any flowers or vegetables are being grown there.
In the USA and Canada, this would generally be called a "yard".
Interestingly both these words come from the same Germanic source!
#etymology
In the USA and Canada, this would generally be called a "yard".
Interestingly both these words come from the same Germanic source!
#etymology
May 5, 2025 at 7:49 AM
In the UK and Ireland an enclosed piece of grassy land next to a house is called a "garden", whether or not any flowers or vegetables are being grown there.
In the USA and Canada, this would generally be called a "yard".
Interestingly both these words come from the same Germanic source!
#etymology
In the USA and Canada, this would generally be called a "yard".
Interestingly both these words come from the same Germanic source!
#etymology
The etymology of colours in English
Full article with explanations here: starkeycomics.com/2024/12/31/t...
Full article with explanations here: starkeycomics.com/2024/12/31/t...
April 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The etymology of colours in English
Full article with explanations here: starkeycomics.com/2024/12/31/t...
Full article with explanations here: starkeycomics.com/2024/12/31/t...
'Grimm's Law' is the collective name for a series of sound changes that happened as Proto-Germanic evolved from Proto-Indo-European.
They explain some of the differences between related words in the Germanic languages, and other Indo-European languages.
#etymology
They explain some of the differences between related words in the Germanic languages, and other Indo-European languages.
#etymology
April 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
'Grimm's Law' is the collective name for a series of sound changes that happened as Proto-Germanic evolved from Proto-Indo-European.
They explain some of the differences between related words in the Germanic languages, and other Indo-European languages.
#etymology
They explain some of the differences between related words in the Germanic languages, and other Indo-European languages.
#etymology
Grime, Christ, and ghee share the same Indo-European root!
Greek Khristos is a calque of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšīaḥ), also meaning “anointed”. Māšīaḥ was also borrowed into Greek and Latin, eventually reaching English as the word “messiah”.
#etymology
Greek Khristos is a calque of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšīaḥ), also meaning “anointed”. Māšīaḥ was also borrowed into Greek and Latin, eventually reaching English as the word “messiah”.
#etymology
April 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Grime, Christ, and ghee share the same Indo-European root!
Greek Khristos is a calque of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšīaḥ), also meaning “anointed”. Māšīaḥ was also borrowed into Greek and Latin, eventually reaching English as the word “messiah”.
#etymology
Greek Khristos is a calque of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšīaḥ), also meaning “anointed”. Māšīaḥ was also borrowed into Greek and Latin, eventually reaching English as the word “messiah”.
#etymology
The words ‘avocado’, ‘guacamole’, and ‘mole’ (the Mexican sauce) all come to use from Classical Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec Empire, via Spanish.
April 15, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The words ‘avocado’, ‘guacamole’, and ‘mole’ (the Mexican sauce) all come to use from Classical Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec Empire, via Spanish.
"How every other organism is related to humans"
See the full image and article on my website for and explanation of what I'm showing here, and what we can learn from it:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/31/h...
See the full image and article on my website for and explanation of what I'm showing here, and what we can learn from it:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/31/h...
How every other organism is related to humans - Starkey Comics
The first cell, and you Some time roughly 4 billion years ago, while the Earth was young enough that club bouncers still asked it for ID, something very very strange happened. A random mixture of life...
starkeycomics.com
April 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
"How every other organism is related to humans"
See the full image and article on my website for and explanation of what I'm showing here, and what we can learn from it:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/31/h...
See the full image and article on my website for and explanation of what I'm showing here, and what we can learn from it:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/31/h...
The words "host" and "guest" are from the same source, with "host" reaching us via French, and "guest" reaching us via Old Norse.
#etymology
#etymology
April 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The words "host" and "guest" are from the same source, with "host" reaching us via French, and "guest" reaching us via Old Norse.
#etymology
#etymology
My biggest image yet: I made a graphic displaying the etymology of every word in an entire language!
See the image in HD here, and learn about the Toki Pona language:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/02/t...
#tokipona #etymology
See the image in HD here, and learn about the Toki Pona language:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/02/t...
#tokipona #etymology
The Etymology of Every Toki Pona Word - Starkey Comics
What is Toki Pona? Toki Pona is a constructed language (or ‘conlang’): a language that was invented for a specific purpose. The language’s creator, linguist Sonja Lang, constructed the language with m...
starkeycomics.com
March 2, 2025 at 10:56 AM
My biggest image yet: I made a graphic displaying the etymology of every word in an entire language!
See the image in HD here, and learn about the Toki Pona language:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/02/t...
#tokipona #etymology
See the image in HD here, and learn about the Toki Pona language:
starkeycomics.com/2025/03/02/t...
#tokipona #etymology
The words for "cat" in several different languages are onomatopoeic, coming directly from the noise a cat makes. We could say that in these languages cats named themselves, or that these languages borrowed their word for "cat" from the "cat language".
February 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The words for "cat" in several different languages are onomatopoeic, coming directly from the noise a cat makes. We could say that in these languages cats named themselves, or that these languages borrowed their word for "cat" from the "cat language".
Happy Valentine's day!
My gift to you a new image, showing 15 English words that are related to the name "Valentine".
#etymology #valentines #english
My gift to you a new image, showing 15 English words that are related to the name "Valentine".
#etymology #valentines #english
February 14, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Happy Valentine's day!
My gift to you a new image, showing 15 English words that are related to the name "Valentine".
#etymology #valentines #english
My gift to you a new image, showing 15 English words that are related to the name "Valentine".
#etymology #valentines #english
Here's an image I made showing where the names of the weekdays come from.
The 7 day week was introduced to Germanic people by the Romans, and so Germanic speakers mostly just replaced the Latin names of Germanic equivalents.
The 7 day week was introduced to Germanic people by the Romans, and so Germanic speakers mostly just replaced the Latin names of Germanic equivalents.
February 8, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Here's an image I made showing where the names of the weekdays come from.
The 7 day week was introduced to Germanic people by the Romans, and so Germanic speakers mostly just replaced the Latin names of Germanic equivalents.
The 7 day week was introduced to Germanic people by the Romans, and so Germanic speakers mostly just replaced the Latin names of Germanic equivalents.
The etymology of months in English.
Every English month was borrowed from a Latin month name, mostly being named for Roman gods and rulers.
I've missed out September to December because those are just from Latin numbers.
-🌟🗝️
#etymology #history #language
Every English month was borrowed from a Latin month name, mostly being named for Roman gods and rulers.
I've missed out September to December because those are just from Latin numbers.
-🌟🗝️
#etymology #history #language
January 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The etymology of months in English.
Every English month was borrowed from a Latin month name, mostly being named for Roman gods and rulers.
I've missed out September to December because those are just from Latin numbers.
-🌟🗝️
#etymology #history #language
Every English month was borrowed from a Latin month name, mostly being named for Roman gods and rulers.
I've missed out September to December because those are just from Latin numbers.
-🌟🗝️
#etymology #history #language
Tetracerus quadricornis, the four horned antelope, also called the chausingha, has four names, all of which mean "four-horns" on a different language.
All four of those names are built from words that trace back to the Proto-Indo-European words for "four" and "horn".
#etymology #linguistics
All four of those names are built from words that trace back to the Proto-Indo-European words for "four" and "horn".
#etymology #linguistics
January 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Tetracerus quadricornis, the four horned antelope, also called the chausingha, has four names, all of which mean "four-horns" on a different language.
All four of those names are built from words that trace back to the Proto-Indo-European words for "four" and "horn".
#etymology #linguistics
All four of those names are built from words that trace back to the Proto-Indo-European words for "four" and "horn".
#etymology #linguistics
This image started out as a simple graphic showing the relationship between "skirt", "shirt", and "shorts", but gradually grew until we have this:
How 21 different words in English evolved from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut".
#etymology #linguistics #language #english
How 21 different words in English evolved from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut".
#etymology #linguistics #language #english
January 12, 2025 at 12:40 PM
This image started out as a simple graphic showing the relationship between "skirt", "shirt", and "shorts", but gradually grew until we have this:
How 21 different words in English evolved from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut".
#etymology #linguistics #language #english
How 21 different words in English evolved from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut".
#etymology #linguistics #language #english
Long story short: In early Eurasian history, everyone passed "cannabis" around, but nobody wants to tell us where they got it from.
-🗝️🌟
#etymology #language #linguistics
January 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Long story short: In early Eurasian history, everyone passed "cannabis" around, but nobody wants to tell us where they got it from.
-🗝️🌟
#etymology #language #linguistics
New etymology image: "gun" is short for "Gunilda"
"Lady Gunilda" was a Middle English nickname for large siege weapons.
This was shortened to "gonnilde", and then to "gunne".
"Gunne" ultimately evolved into the modern English word "gun".
#etymology
#language
#linguistics
#english_language
"Lady Gunilda" was a Middle English nickname for large siege weapons.
This was shortened to "gonnilde", and then to "gunne".
"Gunne" ultimately evolved into the modern English word "gun".
#etymology
#language
#linguistics
#english_language
January 8, 2025 at 4:46 PM
New etymology image: "gun" is short for "Gunilda"
"Lady Gunilda" was a Middle English nickname for large siege weapons.
This was shortened to "gonnilde", and then to "gunne".
"Gunne" ultimately evolved into the modern English word "gun".
#etymology
#language
#linguistics
#english_language
"Lady Gunilda" was a Middle English nickname for large siege weapons.
This was shortened to "gonnilde", and then to "gunne".
"Gunne" ultimately evolved into the modern English word "gun".
#etymology
#language
#linguistics
#english_language
Etymology fact of the week:
"calque" is a loanword, while "loanword" is a calque.
#etymology #language #linguistics
"calque" is a loanword, while "loanword" is a calque.
#etymology #language #linguistics
January 6, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Etymology fact of the week:
"calque" is a loanword, while "loanword" is a calque.
#etymology #language #linguistics
"calque" is a loanword, while "loanword" is a calque.
#etymology #language #linguistics
As the wheel of the year turns us into another cycle of our calendars, it seems a good time to point out that the words "wheel" and "cycle" are related, as is the word "chakra" (a centre of spiritual energy within the body, in Hinduism).
May this new cycle bring you peace and happiness.
-⭐🗝️
May this new cycle bring you peace and happiness.
-⭐🗝️
January 1, 2025 at 6:50 PM
As the wheel of the year turns us into another cycle of our calendars, it seems a good time to point out that the words "wheel" and "cycle" are related, as is the word "chakra" (a centre of spiritual energy within the body, in Hinduism).
May this new cycle bring you peace and happiness.
-⭐🗝️
May this new cycle bring you peace and happiness.
-⭐🗝️