Brno - Etymology

Etymology

The etymology of the name Brno is disputed. It perhaps comes from Old Czech brnie 'muddy, swampy.' Alternative explanations derive it from a Slavic verb brniti (to armor or to fortify) or a Celtic language spoken in the area before it was overrun by Germanic peoples and later Slavic peoples (this theory would make it cognate with other Celtic words for hill, such as the Welsh word bryn). Throughout its history, Brno's locals also used to refer to the town in other languages, including Brünn in German, ברין (Brin) in Yiddish and Bruna in Latin.

The Asteroid 2889 Brno was named after the city, as well as the Bren light machine gun (Brno + Enfield), a famous gun of World War II.

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