NamesScriptureMyths & disputes

Ruth

Ruth the Moabite has a short name of uncertain meaning, perhaps 'female companion'. Byzantine Greek pronunciation made her Ruf' in Russian and Hṙutʿ in Armenian, Ashkenazi Yiddish made her Rus, and Protestant Bibles spread her as Ruth, Rut and Ruut across Germany and Scandinavia.

Weakest linkCertain

The story you may have heard

That Ruth means 'compassion': that is the unrelated English word ruth 'pity' (as in ruthless), which English speakers associated with the biblical name.

The road to English

From Koine Greek to Russian

From Koine Greek to Armenian

From Biblical Hebrew to Yiddish

From Late Latin to Polish

From Late Latin to Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese

From Biblical Hebrew to Modern Hebrew

From Late Latin to German

From Late Latin to French

From Late Latin to Swedish, Finnish

450 BCEBiblical Hebrew

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

Ruth

Weakest linkCertain

The road to English

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