Some linguists have suggested that elements of Basque words can be detected in many East European names and words. In the following analysis of a number of Ukrainian, Russian and Polish names I searched for the Basque element and found that all Slavic names are agglutinated using Basque vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) roots with frequent use of VCCV endings and with the vowels interlocking. This form of word agglutination was done with what I called the "VCV vowel interlocking formula". For more information, see the Ogam page and my book "Linguistic Archaeology".
A large number of names end in -ski, so let us look at the suffix "-ski", an ending common to Polish, Ukrainian, Serbian and Russian family names. The suffix "-ski" can have many meanings in Basque. The reader must keep in mind that the English "s" in Basque is spelled as "z" while the letter "s" in Basque is pronounced as a soft "sh". This means that the Slavic suffix "-ski" may have originated from "-ski or -zki". These two suffixes have a number of meanings in Basque:
aski revenge, sufficient, frequently azki N.A. eski stairs, ladder, to offer ezki linden tree, irritable, small bell, belltower, bellringer iski pin, needlecase, weapon, joke, mockery izki shrimp, letter of alphabet, to write oski shoes, cobbler, coward, afraid ozki susceptible to the cold uski N.A. uzki anus, get lost!, remains, leftovers Some examples of -ski names:
The "v" in Slavic names is always represented by a "b" in Basque,
the "c" by a "k".
Bogolyubski, bog-oli-ub.-.ski,
bog bog
boga rower, boatman
oli oli oliodura
anointed, holy
ub. ubi ubil
whirlpool
.ski iski iskirio
mockery, joke
(They made) a mockery of the holy boatman in the whirlpool. This refers to
the annual voluntary
sacrifice of a young man in the whirlpool of Corryvreckan.
Gzovski, .g.-.zo-ob.-.ski, .g. ega egarri strong desire .zo azo -azo to bring about, to make happen ob. oba obakuntza improvement .ski aski askietsi sufficient, adequate He has a strong desire to bring about adequate improvements. Khmelnitsky, Bogdan, .bo-og.-.da.-an. .k.-.h.-.me-el.-.ni-it.-.ski, .bo abo aboskatu to proclaim og. oga ogasun property, land .da ada adarkadura ramification an. ana anaiguda civil war .k. ako akordio agreement .h. oho ohoragarri honorable .me ome omenaldi tribute el. ela ela talk, negotiation .ni ani anitz many it. itxi itxi to abandon, to lay down .ski iski iskilo weapon Proclaim our land at the outcome of the civil war. The honorable agreement is a tribute to the many negotiations (achieving) the laying down of weapons.
Orlovski, or.-.lo-ob.-.ski, or. ora oraindanik from now on .lo alo alokairu salary ob. oba obakuntza improvement .ski aski askiki adequately From now on my salary is adequately improved. Pavlovski, .pa-ab.-.lo-ob.-.ski, .pa opa opa izan longing for ab. aba abadune opportunity .lo alo alokairu salary, earn money ob. oba obakuntza betterment, improvement .ski aski aski sufficient, enough I am longing for an opportunity to earn a salary sufficient for improvement. Palubiski, .pa-alu-ubi-is.-.ki, .pa ipa ipartar northern alu alu alukeria repulsive action ubi ubi ubil whirlpool is. isu isuri to inspire .ki uki ukitu to touch, to move The repulsive action (i.e. sacrifice) in the northern whirlpool inspired and touched me.
Prezewalski, .p.-.re-eze-al.-.ski, (the "w" is usually meaningless) .p. ape apellaniz pasture .re ere erreka stream eze eze ezeizabarrena under the fir trees al. ale aleketa grain in abundance .ski eski eskindu to offer In the pasture by the stream under the firs we offered them grain in abundance.
Sekuterski .se-eku-ute-er.-.ski .se ase asezindako craving for eku eku ekurutasun peace of mind ute ute utea to encourage er. era erakuste education .ski aski aski adequate "Craving for peace of mind? Encourage adequate education!"
Starokadomski: .sta-aro-oka-ado-om.-.ski, .sta esta estali to shelter aro aro aro weather oka oka okaztagarri disgusting ado ado adoretasun courage om. ome omen egin to pay tribute .ski eski eskini offering, devotional Sheltered from the disgusting weather we paid tribute (to their) courage with a devotional.
Stravinski, .s.-.tra-abi-in.-.ski, .s. asa asarredun angered .tra atra atrapala noise, sound abi abi abiatsuki impulsively in. ina inarrosketa to shake .ski aski askitan frequently, often When angered by the sound, he often shook impulsively. Riasanovski, .ri-asa-ano-ob.-.ski, .ri iri irritsatu to yearn for asa asa asagotu to go far away ano ano ano food supply ob. oba oba better .ski aski askiki plentiful He yearned to go far away with a better and more plentiful food supply. Tchaikovski, txai-aiko-ob.-.ski, txai txai txairo graceful aiko aiko aiko maikoka making excuses ob. oba obakuntza improvement .ski aski aski enough, satisfactory Gracefully making excuses (and showing) satisfactory improvement. It is safe to assume that all -ski names have such sentences written in them, although not all yield their hidden sentence as readily as the ones above did.
The ending "-itch" can also have several meanings. In Basque the sharp
"sch" is
written as "x", which spelling will be used here:
itxa to await, to hope, to trust, expectation, sea itxe N.A. itxi to shut in, to close, to abandon, to denounce, to permit itxo to wait, waiting room itxu aspect, appearance, absurd, similar, to simulate, hypocrite, imposter, pretense, to transform Adamovitch, ada-amo-obi-itx., ada ada adatz long hair, long braids amo amo amona grandmother obi obi obi grave itx. itxi itxiarazi to enclose Grandmother's long braids were enclosed in her grave. Mostovitch, .mo-os.-.to-obi-itx., .mo amo amona grandmother os. oso oso simple .to oto otoi prayer obi obi obi grave itx. itxi itxi to close (After) grandmother's simple prayer the grave was closed. Rabinovitch, .ra-abi-ino-obi-itx., .ra era erauntsi violent storm abi abi abiatu to begin ino ino inon somewhere obi obi obiratu to bury itx. itxa itxaso sea A violent storm is beginning; bury (him) somewhere at sea.
Topalovitch, .to-opa-alo-obi-itx. .to ato ator Come! opa opa opari egin to give alo alo alorgizon farmer obi obi obiratze burial itx. itxu itxurazko decent Come, let's give the farmer a decent burial. 'alo' could also stand for alogereko (mercenary): Come let's give the mercenary a decent burial.
Another common ending is -ko which may come from:
ako: agreement, contract, tradition, memory
eko: to produce, fertile, ecology, economy, administrator
iko: lump, swelling, stonemason's hammer
oko: cattle stable, pasture next to the house, chin, dewlap
uko: refusal, negative, elbow
Atamanenko, ata-ama-ane-en-.-ko,
ata ata ataldu
to divide
ama ama ama
mother
ane ane anega
measure of grain
en. ena -ena plural
possessive suffix
.ko ako akordiozko
according to tradition, as usual
Mother divided our measure of grain according to tradition.
Bracco, .b.-.ra-ak.-.ko
.b. abe
abe
cross
.ra
era erakasle maisu
teacher
ak. aka
akatsbako
perfect
.ko ako
akorduan euki to
remember
"Remember our perfect teacher of the cross."
Macarenko, .ma-aka-are-en.-.ko,
.ma ama ama
mother
aka aka akabu
perfect
are are arrera
reception, welcome
en. ene enetan
always
.ko eko ekoizkor
productive, lavish, generous
Mother's perfect welcome was always generous.
SOME OTHER TYPICALLY SLAVIC NAMES
Baranof, .ba-ara-ano-ob.,
.ba aba abade
priest
ara ara arrapatu
mozkorra to get drunk
ano ano ano
wine
ob. oba obaez
of course
The priest got drunk on wine, of course.
Baryluk, .ba-ari-ilu-uk., .ba eba ebaskindegi hide-out ari ari arinari eman to escape ilu ilu iluntasun darkness uk. uka ukan to have He escaped from his hiding place during darkness. Boyar, .bo-oia-ar., .bo ebo eboluzionatu to develop, cultivate oia oia oian forest ar. ara arazo task Cultivating the forest (is their) task.
Cossack, ko-os.-.sa-ak., ko ko kontaezinbesteko innumerable/all the people os. osa osatu to unite .sa asa asaben ancestral ak. ako akordu tradition/memory Unite all the people in the ancestral tradition.
Dmitriev, .d.-.mi-it.-.ri-eb., .d. idu iduki to have .mi umi umiltasun humility it. ita itxaro to trust .ri ari -ari mission eb. eba ebanjelari evangelist Have humility, and trust in the evangelist's mission.
Dumala, .du-uma-ala, .du idu iduki to have uma uma uma child ala ala alaitu to fill with joy Having a child fills (me) with joy.
Dzogan, .d.-.zo-oga-an., .d. ida idatziz to record .zo azo azokalari merchant oga oga ogasun wealth an. ane anega grain measure, supply He records the wealthy merchant's grain supply.
Gorbachov, .go-orba-axo-ob., .go ego egoera manner of behaving orba orba orbaingabe pure axo axo axoladun careful, diligent ob. obe obengabe blameless His behaviour is pure, diligent and blameless.
Gulag .gu-ula-ag. .gu egu egur punishment, wood ula ula ulaka/uluka wailing/crying out ag. aga agaka hitting with a stick "He cried out after being hit with a stick in punishment."
Karasik, .ka-ara-asi-ik., .ka ika ikaserazi to teach ara ara arrai gentle asi asi asialdi beginning ik. ika ikasgale desire to learn Gentle teaching creates a desire to learn.
Korelus, .ko-ore-elu-us., .ko ako akorduan euki to remember ore ore orekan to keep your balance elu elu elurlera sled us. usa usatu to get used to Remember to keep your balance when getting used to your sled.
Korolef, .ko-oro-ole-eb., .ko ako akorduan euki to remember oro oro oroegile Creator ole ole oles egin to call upon eb. ebe ebertar Hebrew, Jesus Remember the Creator by calling upon Jesus.
Kowalchuk, .ko-al.-.txu-uk., .ko ako akorduan euki to remember al. ala alaitasun happiness .txu atxu atxuri newborn lamb uk. uki ukitu to touch Remember your happiness when you touched the newborn lamb?
Landau, .la-an.-.da-au .la ala alabeharreko unavoidable an. ana anarkia anarchy .da ada adarkadura ramification au au auhen lament, suffering The unavoidable ramification of anarchy is suffering. Ligachev, .li-iga-atxe-eb, .li ili ilinti fiery iga iga igartze prophesying atxe atxe atxeki to adhere to, to be determined eba eba ebanjelari evangelist Fiery, determined, prophesying evangelist.
Mazowsze (Mazovshe), .ma-azo-ob.-.xe, (Polish singing/dancing group) .ma ama amaikatxo many azo azo azoka market day ob. obe obeki good .xe exe exeri to sit down Many market days it is good to sit down (and listen).
Monomakh, .mo-ono-oma-ak.-.h., .mo amo amodiotsu loving ono ono onon wonderful oma oma oma grandmother, tribal mother ak. ako akorduan euki to remember .h. oha ohardun thoughtful Remember our wonderfully thoughtful tribal mother. Vladimir Monomakh was the grandson of Yaroslav the wise, the Great Lawgiver; from his name I deduct that Yaroslav the Wise must have been a woman. See Yaroslav below.
Pashnik, .pa-ax.-.ni-ik., .pa opa opa izan longing for ax. axo axolagabetsu carefree .ni oni onik safe ik. ike ikertaldi visit Longing for a carefree and safe visit.
Pecheneg, .pe-eche-ene-eg., pe pe pena ukan to suffer exe exe exeri to sit ene ene -enerako before eg. egu egur punishment (Let them) sit and suffer before punishment. Pierzchala, .pi-er.-.z.-.txa-ala, .pi ipi ipini to acquire er. era erakuste education .z. azi aziarazi to raise .txa itxa itxaro hope ala ala alaitasun happiness Acquiring an education raises the hope for happiness. Polovtsy, .bo-olo-ob.-.tsi, .bo ebo eboluzionatu to develop, process olo olo olo oats ob. oba oba better .tsi atsi atximurkari pincher, roller You process the oats better in a roller.
Prokopchuk, .p.-.ro-oko-op.-.txu-uk., .p. opo oporrak vacation .ro oro oroitu to remember oko oko okolu stable op. opa opa izan to long for .txu atxu atxuri newborn lamb uk. uki ukitu to touch Remember the stable on our vacation where you longed to touch the newborn lamb?
Ranogajek, .ra-ano-oga-aje-ek., .ra ara arrapatur mozkorra to get drunk ano ano ano wine oga oga ogasun homemade aje aie aiene grief, suffering ek. eka ekarrarazi to cause Getting drunk on home-made wine causes grief. Rasputin, .ra-as.-.pu-uti-in., .ra ara arakintza massacre as. asa asarrekeria shocking .pu apu apurtzaile destructive uti uti utikan go away, get out! in. ino inola in any way possible A shocking and destructive massacre! Get out in any way possible. Razin, .ra-azi-in., .ra ira iraultzatu to revolt azi azi azitoki birthplace in. ine inertzia downtrodden Revolt for our downtrodden birthplace.
Shatalin, xa-ata-ali-in. xa xa xalo open/frank ata ata atalgabeko uncomplicated ali ali alizan capable in. inu inuritze inspiring "Uncomplicated, capable and inspiring".
Slavoj Zizek, .s.-.la-abo-oi .s. osa osatu to unite .la ala alafede I swear abo abo abotskatu to proclaim oi oi oinlegedi constitution "I swear to unite us and proclaim the constitution."
.zi-ize-ek. .zi ezi eziketa education ize ize izendu famous ek. eka ekarri to bring "Famous for bringing education." Skorepa, .s.-.ko-ore-epa, .s. asa asagotu to go away .ko ako akorduan euki to remember ore ore oren hour epa epa epaialdi trial If you go away, remember the hour of the trial. Slutskaya, .s.-.lu-uts.-.ka-aia, .s. asa asaldagarri shocking .lu alu alukeria repulsive action uts. utsi utziezin unavoidable .ka ika ikara terror, horror aia aia aiaia grief, suffering The shockingly repulsive action caused unavoidable horror and suffering. Stalin, .sta-ali-in., .sta asta astapotro brutish, in a brutish way ali ali alienatu to kill a person in. ino inola in any way possible In a brutish way he kills people any way possible. Tarasof, .ta-ara-aso-ob., .ta ita itxaro to hope for ara ara araberatasun agreement aso azo -azo to bring about ob. oba obakuntza improvement We hope for agreement to bring about improvement. Volnitza, .bo-ol.-.ni-itza, .bo abo aboskatu to proclaim ol. ola oleazio destiny .ni eni eni to me, us itza itza izaldun honorable Proclaim an honorable destiny for us. Vsevolod and Mikhalko (brothers), .b.-.se-ebo-olo-od. .mi-ik.-.ha-al.-.ko, .b. oba obakuntza improvement .se ase aseguratu to insure ebo ebo eboluzionatu the develop, produce olo olo olo oats od. odi odi tube, drum, rolled The improvement insured the production of rolled oats. .mi ami amilura falling water ik. ika ikaserazi to teach .ha aha ahalizan to make possible al. ale aleketa abundance of grain .ko eko ekoiztu to produce, to process He teaches how falling water makes it possible to process grain in abundance. The translation of these names tell a very different story from that in the history books.
Yaroslav the Wise, .ja-aro-os.-.la-abe, .ja oja oian forest aro aro arroztu to exile os. osa osatu to unify, to unite .la ala alafede I swear to ab. abe aberkide fellow countrymen, patriots The forest exile swore to unify the patriots. From the name of her grandson, Monomakh, I deduct that Yaroslav was a wise tribal mother.The true meaning of Slav, .s.-.la-av., osa-ala-abe is here revealed. It has nothing to do with slavery, instead it means: "I swear to unite my fellow countrymen".
Zadaprushki, .za-ada-ap.-.ru-uxki, .za aza azaluts insincere ada ada adarra sartu to deceive ap. ape apeta tendency .ru eru errukigabe cruel, pitiless uxki uxki uxkia miazkatzera get lost! (You are) insincere and deceiving (and have) a tendency to be cruel; Get lost! (what a name!)
Zaporogian, .za-apo-oro-ogi-an., .za oza ozar arrogant apo apo apokeria insult oro oro orobatu to unify ogi ogi ogipuska easygoing an. ana anaitasun brotherhood Arrogant insults united the easygoing brotherhood.
Chernobil, txer.-.no-obi-il. txe txerri txerrizain swineherd .no ino inor no-one obi obi obi grave il. ile iletu to mourn No-one mourned at the grave of the swineherd. Dniepr, d.n-ie.p-.r d.n don donetsi to bless, the blessed one ie.p. ihesp ihespide means of escape .r ur ur water The blessed one's means of escape was by water. (Probably referring to the Priestess Medea who escaped with Jason up the Dniepr river after taking the golden fleece from King Aietus. See "The Voyage of Argo" by Apollonius of Rhodes).
Donetz, donetz donetzi to sanctify The sanctified one.
Irkutsk, ir.-.ku-utsik, ir. iri iri city .ku iku ikustatu to visit utsik utsik utsik deserted I visited the deserted city.
Kamchatka, .ka-am.-.txa-at.-.ka, .ka ika ikaragarri frightening am. amo amorro fury .txa otxa otxoa wolf at. ate aterbegabe unprotected, out in the open .ka eka ekantze to get used to. Out in the open, the frightening fury of the wolves takes getting used to.
Kiev, .ki-eb., .ki oki okitu totally, completely eb. eba ebanjeliotu to evangelize Completely evangelized. Okhotsk, ok.-.ho-otsk ok. oka okaztagarri disgusting .ho aho ahozagarri astonishing otsk otsok otsokeria brutality Astonishingly disgusting brutality. Taymyr, tai.-.mi-ir., tai. taiu taiuera size, appearance .mi umi umildu to humble ir. ira iraganaldi migration, migrating herd The size of the migrating herd is humbling.
Vladivostok, .b.-.la-adi bo-osto-ok., .b. aba abaroan egon to take refuge .la ala alabearreko necessary adi adi adi watch out! bo bo bortxakeria violence osto osto ostosketa rolling of the thunder ok. oki okildu to be frightened Watch out! It's necessary to take refuge. The violence of the thunder is frightening.
It is obvious that these names could not have been invented by the people themselves. The system of agglutination is exactly the same as was used by the Benedictines and their grammarians in western Europe. It is well-known that there was close cooperation between the eastern and western Christian churches in the 10th and 11th centuries, especially between the Pannonhalma Benedictines in Hungary and the monks from the Tyniec monastery in Poland and Kiev. The Kiev monastery of Pesherska Lavra was established in 1040, a few decades after these other two monasteries and the required linguists were apparently sent from there to Kiev to train the monks in the use of the Basque language.
Pesherska Lavra
.pe - es. - .he - er. - .ska .la - ab. - .ra
ope - esi - ihe - era - aska ila - abe - era
opetsi - eziketa - ihesleku - eraspen - askamen
ilarteko - abegion - erantzun
to offer - education - shelter - devotion - pardon
lifetime - hospitality - to fulfill
"We offer education, shelter, devotion and pardon.
Ours is a lifetime of hospitality and fulfillment."
The early cooperation is still remembered because in the summer of 1996 the head of the Russian church planned to attend, with the Pope, the 1000 year celebrations at Pannonhalma. Unfortunately, illness prevented the historic meeting from happening. There was probably no longer a source of educated Saharan/Basque speakers in Russia, so either these specialists were recruited in Liguria (northern Italy) and Euskadi (northern Spain) and sent east, or the linguists worked from Basque dictionaries, without being able to speak the language. Possibly some of both happened.