merula (Latin)

Where does "merula" come from?

The Latin word "merula," meaning blackbird, likely stems from an ancient Proto-Indo-European root describing the bird's dark plumage. This term evolved from Proto-Italic and shares deep linguistic roots with various European languages, appearing in similar forms like the German "Amsel" and the English "ouzel." Through history, the word has connected diverse cultures by describing these familiar dark-feathered songbirds.

Full etymology tree

• merula (Latin), 'blackbird'
  • inherited *meselā (Proto-Italic)
    • inherited *h₂ems- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to give birth, beget'

Ancestors

• *h₂ems- (Proto-Indo-European)

Cognates and doublets

• ouzel (English)
• Amsel (German)
• mwyalch (Welsh)

Descendants and derived words

• merel (Dutch)
• merle (English)
• njerlã (Aromanian)
• njirlã (Aromanian)
• miâle (Bourguignon)
• merla (Catalan)
• marle (Champenois)
• miarla (Dalmatian)
• mêrel (Emilian)
• merle (English)
• merle (French)
• mierli (Friulian)

Updated June 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris