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Dictionary of toponyms
The most ancient geographical names in Karelia - toponyms - are Sami. Common names are Finnish, in the west of Karelia, Vepsian, in the southeast, and Karelian.
There are three dialects in the Karelian language: Northern Karelians speak a dialect close to the Finnish language; South Karelians speak the Livvikov and Ludikov dialects, which are in many ways similar to the Vepsian language.
Toponyms of Russian origin most often refer to small objects - tributaries of rivers, small lakes, islands, capes, rapids, or to populated areas. They often include the dialect terms moss “swamp”, lip “bay”, cape “cape”, crevices “smooth rocky shore”.
Some Russian names arose as a result of rethinking the unclear meaning of the word based on sound similarity. Thus, the Sami Kuoss-yaure “Spruce Lake” can turn into Lake Kosoe, Karelian or Vepsian Soarikoski, Sarkosk “Island Threshold” - into Tsar Threshold, and Maselkäjärvi (for the meaning, see below) - into Lake Maselgekoe, Maselozero and, finally , Maslozero.
Most Sami, Karelian and Vepsian names are compound (with the main stress in them falling on the first syllable, and the secondary stress on other odd syllables). The first, descriptive, part gives the characteristics of the object, the second, terminological, indicates its essence: Musta-yoki - “Black River”, Hauta-vaara - “Grave Mountain”. Often there are semi-translations, where the first part is non-Russian, the second is a Russian translation: Myagostrov, Yukkoguba.
As for the name of Karelia itself (Finnish, Kar. Karjala), it is of Baltic origin - from burning"mountain". In this version, the Karelians, that is, the eastern, “upper” Finns, are contrasted with the western, “lower” Finns - häme - from the Baltic zhemee “land, lowland”.
Accepted abbreviations: Sami. - Sami, Veps. - Vepsian, Russian - Russian, Kar. - Karelian, terms given without specifying the language are also Karelian.
aita"hedge" aitta“barn”: Aitozero, Aytojoki, r. Aitta
ack(Saami) “woman; supreme female deity" acca"woman", Akan"woman": lake Akan, Akonyarvi, Akkajärvi, Akankoski, Aka-threshold.
ala“lower”: Alozero, Alayarvi, Ala-Taraisyarvi.
ahven“perch”: Agvenlampi, Ahvenlambi, Ahvenjärvi.
waaj(Sami) “female deer” (hence Russian important): r. Vazhinka, Vazhezero, Vachozero, village. Upper Vazhiny.
valkea, valgei“white”: Valgilampi, Valkealampi, Valgova Guba.
vaara, voara(kar.), warr(Saami) “mountain”, from where Russian. Varaka: Kobiwara, Shalgovaara, Logovarakka.
Vene, Venekh, Wenhe“boat”: Venehjärvi, Venozero, Vengigora, Venikhozero.
milestone, milestone“Vahta” (aquatic plant with an edible root): Vehkozero, Vehkusuo, Vehlampi, Vehruchey, Kodi-Vehkajärvi.
view(Veps.), viita, viida“thicket, young spruce forest”: Vidalampi, Vidany, Vidostrov, Vidporog, Viidrechka, Viitajoki
Viexa(Saami) “branch”, viixie, nikshi(kar.) “mustache”, in toponyms - “branch; outflow from a side lake; isolated bay": r. Viksha, Viksilakshi, Viksozero, Vikshezero, r. Viksenda, Viksalampi, Vieksjärvi m, Viiksinselka.
wyrm(Sami) “network”: Virma, Virmozero, Verman, Virmayarvi.
Vitsa, Vichcha, Sami. Vitska“twig (birch, willow)”: Vitchevara, Vitcheshuari, Vicesari, K Vichany, Vichcha, Vichangivaraka, Vitsakangas, Vychajoki, r. Vichka, Vitskozero.
viyare, viyaru“winding, oblique; false": Vyaraporoh, Viarakoshki, Varalaksha. Many other consonant names (river Vara, metro Varnavolok) come from other words: Sami. varra “forest”, varra “path, road”.
girvas“male deer” (Russification of Kar. hirvas, hirvash): Girvas, Hirvasyarvi, Hirvatsari.
garbalo(kar.), garbol, garbow(Veps.) “cranberry”: r. Garbala, Gorbokoshki, Garbalova Selga, Garbova Gora, about. Garbishchi.
youtsen, youchen, d "youtchen“swan”: Eutsoyarvi, Evchenoya, Evchenvara, Evchelampi, Euzhiyarvi, Evzhozero, Devchenshuo, Devchenoya.
yoki, yogi, d'ogi(kar.), yogk, mocha(Sami) “river”: Pistajoki, Kivijoki, Penega, Kozledegi, Pannokka, Kontokka.
I'll find it, kite“narrow”: Kaidozero, Kaidodegi, Kaidulampi, Kaitajärvi, Kaidunittu (niityu “meadow”)
kayeg, kayi, kaya"seagull": Kaivara, o. Kaigas, b. Big Kyai, Kaigozero.
kaizla, kazkla“reed, reed”: Kashalilamba, Kashalioya, Kozhala, Kozledegi.
feces(kar., Veps.), kull(Sami) “fish”: lake. Kalo, Kalajarvi, Kuloma, Kulezhma.
kalivo, kallio“rock”: Kalivo, Kalivokangas, Kalliojärvi, Kalvi.
Kalma"death; cemetery", Kalma - the deity of death: Kalmozero, Kalmosari, r. Kalma, Kalmoniemi.
kealg, kealgan(Saami) “resin moss; a place suitable for grazing deer": r. Kalga, Kalgozero, Kalkoy, Kalgyarvi, Kalkyanjoki, Kalgioya, Kalguvara, about. Kalgos, Kalgan Islands.
kangas"boron" dry, elevated place": lake. Kangas, Kangassari, Kangasyarvi, Kangashnavolok.
curry(kar.) “roll, shallow threshold”, from where Russian. Karezka: Akankari, Orinkari, Copper Karezhka, Tulema Karezhka.
karnas, karnes(Saami), koarne (kar.) “raven”: lake. Cornice, r. Karnizh, Karnizozero, Karnisvara, por. Roots.
helmets“cutting in a deciduous forest”, kaskez (Veps.) “young mixed forest”: Kaskeznavolok, Kaskesselga, Kaskesruchey, Kashkany, Kaskozero.
kiwi"stone": r. Kiva, lake Kiwi, Kivijoki, Kivijärvi, Kivikoski. The ancient form of this word ki(y) is present in the names of many islands on the White Sea and some lakes: Pelyaki, Rombaki, Kiy, Lotoki, Robyak.
kint(Sami) “kintishche, parking place”: p. Kindas, village Kindasovo, por. Kintezma, lake Kindozhskoe.
kovda, govde(Saami) “wide”: r. Kovda, Koitajoki, Hovdayarvi.
kondu, kontu(kar.) “peasant yard; repairs." The term is found both in the descriptive and terminological parts of the names: village. Kondoberezhskaya, Konda, st. Pogrankondushi (kar. Rayakondu), Mount Raidakonda, Kondopoga.
braids, cats(kar.), beds(Veps.), kuushk(Sami) “threshold”: Korbikoshki, Koshka, Pitkakoski, Porokushka.
carpets“crooked, curved”: lake. Carpet, village Carpet, Carpet lamp, Carpet threshold, por. Koversky, Koverjarvi.
koivu“birch”: Koivusilta (silta “bridge”), Koivuyoki, r. Koivu.
coccus in the Karelian language it means a number of concepts from “hook” to “penis”, in toponyms more often - “pointed hill, mountain”.
These names are sometimes reinterpreted through car. kokko “pie”, kokko “eagle”; festive fire": Kokkolampi, Kokkozero, Kokkoostrov, Kokkosalma, Kokonniemi.
kontio, kondi, kondy, Veps. CONDI“bear”: Kondiruchey, Kondylampi, Kontijoki, Kondyoja, Kontiolahti.
corby“thicket, difficult-to-pass damp forest”, from where Russian. korba: r. Korba, village Korba, numerous Korbozera, Korbikoshki rapids.
corppi“raven”: Korpijoki, numerous lakes of Korppijärvi. Koste, Koshte, Sami. kiest “backwater, shelter”, in toponyms usually “leeward shore”: Kostomuksha, Kostomuksha, o. Kostyan, district, village Kestenga, Kestoya.
code, cat, cat“house, housing; hut": Kodalampi, Kodanlampi, Kodarvi, Kodaselka, Kotajarvi, ; Kotijärvi, Kotioja.
Kuotska(Sami) quoteo(kar.) “interlake isthmus”: por. K-otska, Kotkalampi, Kotkozero Kotkajärvi. In form, these names are closer to kotka “eagle”, but geographical realities indicate, however, the meaning of “isthmus”. Perhaps this is the origin of the names of the three rivers of Kochkoma, although again, Sami can be assumed here. kuotskem "eagle". kuiva “dry”: Kuivasalma, Kuivashoya, Kuivajärvi.
kuikka"loon": Kuikkavara, Kuikkalaksi, lake. Kuikka-selka, r. Kuiko. kugk, kugkes, kukkam (Sami) “long”: lake. Kukas, O. Kukat, Kukkomozero, Kukozero. Kurgi, Kurki "crane": village. Kurgentsi, lake Kurgievo, Kurkijoki, Kurkijärvi.
kuusi, kuuzhi(kar.), body(Veps.), kuse, kuossa(Sami) “spruce”: p. Kuzha, Kuzharvi, Kuzhatoja, Kuzhenga Kuzaranda, Kuzikoski, Kuznavolok, Kuuzhjärvi, Kuusiniemi.
kule(kar.) “village”: village. Kurkuncula, lake Kylajarvi, about. Kyläniemisuari ("Island with a village on a cape").
kulma"cold": p. Kylmes, Kylmäpuro (puro "stream"), Kylmäjärvi.
kyaadkai(Sami) “rocky”: r. Kätka, Kätkajärvi, Kätkovára.
laaya, lavea, levea“wide”, often in the meaning of “transverse”: village. Laaja, lake Lajani, Lavalampi Lavijärvi.
-la/-la. In the Baltic-Finnish languages, this element is usually included in the names of settlements formed from personal names: Ignoilo, Kukkoila, Essoila, Lyaskela.
lackeys, laksa, lahti(kar.) “bay”, from where Russian. Lakhta: Lakhta, Kinelakhta, Rautalahti, Ovlunlaksi, Korelaksha.
lambi, lampi(kar.) “forest lake”, from where Russian. lamba“lake” and lambina “lake-like expansion of the river”: Surilambi, Yuvilampi, Dolgaya Lamba, Kuchelambina, Volina-lambina.
luodo, luoto(kar.) “shoal; rock, reef; small rocky island”, from where Russian. luda:
Kuikaluoto, Heinyaluoto, Ivanovy Luda, Krasnaya Luda.
lappi“Sami”, from where Russian. gorge: Lapinjoki, Lapino, Lapinjärvi, lake. Lopskoe.
Ladva, Latva, Veps. okay“upper, top”, Sami. lada "pass": village. Ladva, Ladvajärvi I Latvasurja, lake. Latvo, Latvajoki.
lahna"bream": r. Lagna, lake Lahno, r. Lakhna, Lagnojärvi, Lagnoja.
babble, Veps. lep, Sami. flatbread"alder": r. Lepista, por. Leppä, Lepenjärvi, Lepozero, Leppäniemi Leppäsyurja.
Linda"bird", linnun"bird": Lindozero, Lindolampi, Linnunvara.
suckers“block, rock”: por. Loukhi, lake Loukhskoe. In the Karelian epic, Louhi is the mistress of Pohjola, the country of the north.
suckers“salmon”: Logiguba, Logikoski, Lohguba, Lohijärvi.
may and(Sami) May(kar.) “beaver”: Mayguba, Mayozero, o. Mayan.
Marya"berry", but Sami. moarry"swamp": r. Marina, Marnavolok, Maryarvi, lake. Marjo-Selka
moaselgya, maaselkya, muashelgya“watershed” (maa, mua “land”, selga “ridge”): lake. Maselga village Mashelga, lake Oil, Maslozero. All objects with similar names lie on large or local watersheds.
uterus(kar.), uterus(Veps.) “path, road”, moatk, mootk(Sami) “drag, isthmus” I village. Matkaselka, Matkozero, por. Matkozhnya, r. Motko, b. Reel.
soft, soft"badger": r. Meghri, Megrozero, Megrega, Myagreka, lake. Magrino, Myagrosero.
rushing about, rushing about“forest” (but metso, sword “grouse”): Metchayarvi, Metchishari, r. Metchepuda1 Mechchalambina, Metchozero.
muurama, muura(kar.), Murm, goosebump(Veps.) “cloudberry”: Muramozero, Murmozero, r. Muromlya r. Murom, Murashkoski.
musta, musta“black”: Mustlampi, Mushtavara, Mushtalampi, lake. Musta.
soft, soft(car.) “mountain, hill”: Sarimagi, Hietamaki, Myagostrov.
myantyu, myandyu, myand“pine (young)”: Mändova, Mänduvara, Mänduselga, Mändujärvi, Mäntytunturi ( tunturi- high mountain), Mäntajärvi.
niemi(kar.), a little(Veps.) “cape”: Särkiniemi. Kuokkaniemi.
niska, nishka, nishka(kar.) has two meanings. The first is “the source of the river from the lake”: o. Niska, lake Niskajarvi, lake Low (obvious rethinking). The second is the “beginning of the rapids”: Kossaniski, Yumanishki, Oyanishko, Niskakoski, Vidanskaya Nishka, Nishkakoshki.
naali(kar.), noall(Sami) “Arctic fox”: r. Nalya, lake Nolya, Nolyozero.
Niva“rapidness” - from the Sami. nyavv “a section of the river between the rapids”: r. Nava, Nivakoski numerous short rivers Niva.
nyelm, nyalm(Sami) “throat, pharynx; river mouth": Nelmozero, Nilmozero, r. Nyalma, Nyalmozero.
nilosh, nilo“a rock along which water flows”: the rapids of the Nile, Nilosh, Nilaskoshki.
noarve(Sami) “ledge”: r. Narva, Narviyoki, r. Norva, Norvijärvi.
Nuotta“seine”: numerous Notozera.
nurmi"meadow": lake Nurmat, b. Nurmis, village Nurmoyla, village Nurmolitsy, Nurmezhguba, Nurmijärvi.
Neworra(Sami) “cliff, rock”
Nyura(kar.) “rocky shoal”: Nuorunen, Noruslampi, por. Nurus, Nyuronavolok.
oh(kar, veps.), wow, wow(Sami) “stream, river”: Korvenoya, Kalkoya, Kestui. In Russian usage, this element often turns into -va: Kerzheva, Olova, Petkuevo.
crowd(kar.), wow(Veps.), oarrev(Sami) “squirrel”: Oravruchey, Orovguba, Orovyarvi, Uravara.
payi(Saami) “top, upper” , piya, piya(kar.) “head, top”: m. Piyakko, Paezero, r. Pai, Payozero, Peijärvi, Pyajärvi, Pyaozero, Päävara, Piaoja, Pääoja. Note that the Sami Paiyaure “Upper Lake” often turns into a lake. Boyarskoe.
Names of South Karelia type lake. Payu, b. The Payudegi probably originate from the Vepsians. I drink willow.
fell“fire, burning, scorched undercut”: p. Pala, Palalahta, Palojärvi, Palakoski, Palaoja. pada, pato “fishing fence on the river”: Padaoya, Padozero, r. Padas.
Pawnee, Pawnee“puddle”, poann (Saami) “shallow lake”: Pannoka, Puanoloya, numerous Panozeros, vi, Panajarvi.
singing, singing“pine”: Pedaselga, Pedayashari, Petailampi, Petayavara, Petya-järvi. pedz, petch, set, pez (Sami) “pine”: Pezhozero, r. Pezega, Peshozero.
pert(t)i, pirtti"hut": lake Perti, Pertozero, lake. Pertti, Pertyarvi, Pirttivinta, Pirttilampi, Pirttipokhya.
pen“back, rear side, far side”: Peralampi, Perguba, Periajoki, Peryanavolok,
- lake Kayanperya.
drink, drink“long”, pizin “longest”: Pitkakoski, Pitkäranta, Pitkoya, lake. Pisanets, Pisansuo, Pisinnemi.
Pohja(car.) “corner, edge, end of the bay”: Kondopoga, Sopokha, Lakhdenpokhya.
poro, peura, pedro“deer”: Por-threshold, Peurujoki, Peurakoshki, Pedrolambina, Pedrayarvi.
pudas, pudas“river branch”: channels Pudas, Pudashiegi, Kervapudos, river. Pudos, Pudozh.
pool(Sami) “scorched”: Pulozero, r. Pulonga, r. Puloma.
empty"tree stand", but Russian. empty, wasteland “abandoned fields, fallow lands, meadows from arable land.” Therefore, it is not always easy to determine the origin of river names. Pusta, Pustinlahti, lake. Empty, Pustozero, Puustinlahti, por. Pustoshkin, b. Pushtos (in the last two cases, we must also take into account the car. pustös “dam”).
rauda, rauta“iron”, rauvan, rabbi “iron”: city Ravan, m. Rauvankoro, Rauvanlampi, and por. Raudoverya, lake Raut, Rautalahti.
randa, randa, randa(kar.) “shore”: Pitkäranta, Kuzaranda, Randu.
repo, reboy"fox": oh. Rebay, Repojärvi, creek. Reboy, village. Rebols (obviously - through a personal name).
risty“cross”: Ristiniemi, Ristilakshi, Ristisari, Ristioja, Ristijärvi. But the names of Ristanvar Lake. Rysto comes from Sami. rysta "prey", car. riista "game".
ruokho, ruohka, rogo“reed, reed, cattail”: r. Big Horn, Rogansari, Rogozero, Ruagjärvi, Ruogjärvi, por. Ruach, Ruokoguba.
hand, hand“resin, resin”: Rugozero, Rukajarvi.
fish(Sami) “partridge”: Rybreka, Ryboya, Rybozero.
ryam, ryema"moss swamp": village. Ramoe, village Rampole, Ramozero, Ram-mokh, Ryamenyarvi, r. Remaka, b. Rema, Remazh.
saari, soari, suari, shoari, shuari, plural suaret, suaret(kar.), sar(Veps.) “island”;
Rantasari, Mäntyšari, Neresšuret, Purutsharet, Sar.
salmi(kar.) “strait”, from where Russian. salma and other Russian straw: Kuivasalma, Suopasalmi, Oporovaya Salma, village. Straw.
selkya(kar.) “reach, lake”: lake. Kavnizselga. More often Selka, Selga means “ridge, ridge”, hence Russian. selga: village Selgi, st. Käppäselga. In South Karelia Russian. selga also meant “forest arable or hayland” and was included in the names of many villages: Eroshkina Selga, Matveeva Selga.
suo, shuo(kar.), with(Veps.) “swamp”: Deukhishuo, Syapsesuo.
Sava, Savvan(Sami) “reach on the river, lake bay”: Saavajoki, Savozero, Savoy, lake. Chavan
savi, shawi"clay": Savivara, village. Savilatchu (lachchu “puddle”), Savijarvi, Shaviranta village. Shavilosho.
salu, shalu"boron" forest wilderness": o. Salo, Saloostrov, Salnavolok, Salonjärvi, r. Shalitsa, Shalsari.
Sammal, Shammal, Veps. samau “moss”: Sammalvara, lake. Samulus, Samogora, Samozero, Samnavolok, r. Samina, lake Samaevskoe, Shamallaksi, Shamalvara.
suann, shuonn(Sami) “grassy swamp”, soen, shuon (kar.) “swampy”: p. Sona, Sonozero, Sonostrov, Shunozero, Shuonyarvi.
suuri, shuuri, suvri, Sami yo "big": Suvri-Saviyarvi, Suuriyarvi, Shurivara, por. Shuripaya, Shuurijärvi, lake. Shury-Reduni. Similar-looking names can also be derived from syurya “side, side, edge” (syuryajoki “tributary”): r. Suri, Suryoya, Surilampi, Suryapia, Suryaoya. But there is also suore “straight” and Sami. surr, suorr “fork, fork”, cf.: Shurozero, Shuorishuo. In most cases, a map will help us, telling us whether we are referring to the size, position or shape of an object. It is more difficult when the object is large and straight and lateral, like a lake. Surgubskoye is a separate bay of Ukshezera in the Shuya basin.
syuvya, syuvya“deep”: Syvä-Salmijärvi, Syväjärvi, Syväjärvi. Similar names, especially such as Syuvyad "arvi, Syuvyad" ogi, were often transformed among the Russians into names like Svyatozero, the Svyatlitsa/Svetlitsa channel, Svyatukha (Syuvya, Svyat-). So not all “holy” names of Karelia are truly holy.
syarki(kar.), syarg(Veps.), sirgge(Sami) “roach”: Sergozero, r. Särgezha, Särgozero, Särkiniemi, Särkijärvi.
drool“ide”: Syavnozero, Syavnyalampi, Syanozero, Syayunashari, Syavnyajarvi, r. Syavnega, Shavnegozero.
talvi(kar.), talv(Saami) “winter”: Talviesdegi, Talvishari, Talvesuo, Talvilampi, Talvuslampi, village. Tolvuya.
tedri“grouse”: Tedrioja, Tetrivara, Tetrozero, Tedriniemi (Teternavolok). terva “resin, tar”: Tervalampi, Tervajärvi, Tervukoshki, village. Terva.
Toarast, Tueres(Sami) “across, transverse”: lake. Tarazma, Taraisjärvi, Tarasjoki, o. Tarasikha, Teresinalambi, lake. Toros, Torosozero.
Uros(kar.), oares(Sami) “male”: oz Uras, oz. Uros, Urosyarvi, Urosozero, Arziyarvi, village. Orzega.
haapa, hoaba, Veps. Aspen hub: Gabozero, Gabselga, Haapalampi, Habozero, Hapavara, Hapayoki.
khangas(from where Russian gangas, Sami hankkas) “trap, trapping pen”: Hangasyarvi, Khankusyarvi, lake. Khankash, Gangaslampi, Gankashvara, Gangos town, lake. Gangas.
khanka, hanga"crotch", hanko“pitchforks”: Khangayarvi, Khangozero, Hangajoki, Khankovara, Khankasari, Khankozero, Gangozero.
hanhi"goose": oh. Hanhipasi (paasi "stone slab"), Hanhijärvi, Gangivara. haugi, hauki "pike": lake. Haugi, Haugijärvi, Haukioja, Haukijoki, Hauguya.
howda, hauta"grave": por. Hauda, Haudekangas, Hautovaara.
heyya“grass, hay”: Geinozero, Geynolampi, Heinalampi, Heinyayoki, o. Heinäsenmaa, Henna Navolok.
hieta“sand”: Hietajäki, Hietajärvi, Hetolambina, Khedostrov.
hiisi, hiishi, will give birth, case hiiden“goblin, evil spirit: remote bad place”: Kheizjärvi, Khizhozero, Gizhezero, Khizh, Khizjärvi, Khiiz-järvi (Hizijärvi), Khiisijärvi, Hidenselysya.
hirey"elk": Hirvisalmi, por. Hirvi, Hirvilampi.
honka, honga“dry tall pine”: Khonkasari, Khonkasalonselya Ave., Honkasuo, Gomselga, Gonginavolok, village. Gonginskaya.
chappad, chappes(Sami) “black”: r.Chapa, r. Chapari, lake Chopchem and R. Chapai, Chapozero, Chapanshari, Cape Chapin (and nearby are the Black Islands).
choalme(Sami) “strait”: village. Chalna, Chelmozero, Chelozero, village. Chelmuzhi, m. Cholma
chuppa"angle": lip and village. Chupa on the White Sea, village. Chupa on Konchezero and Sunozero, Chupa Bay
chuuru“pebble, small stone”: p. Chura, Churalampi, Churuzh river, Churlahta.
shivera comes from Sami chivrai, which means “pebble, cobblestone.”
julia“upper”: numerous Yulyajarvi, Yuleozera.
yurkkya, yurkkyu“steep”: rapids Yurki, Yurkka, Yurkonkoski, village. Yurgilitsa, Yurkinnavolok, Yurkostrov.
Janis, Janish, Janizh, Yanuo“hare”: Yanetsozero, r. Yani, lake Janis, lake Janisch, Art. Yanishpole, about. Yants, Yanchozero, Yanikumu.
yarvi, d'arvi(kar.), d "jarv(Veps.), Yaure, January(Sami) “lake”: Suoyarvi, Kodarvi, Väragyärv.
Yank(k)ya, d"angya"moss swamp": r. Yanga, Yangajoki, Yangajarvi, Yankajarvi, r. Money, Dangozero.
WHERE DO THE NAMES COME FROM.. The names of Karelian cities and villages, lakes, rivers and
hills can tell us a lot.
Some of them, such as Petrozavodsk, Zaonezhye,
Lososinka, Svyatozero, White Mountain, Sosnovy Bor, etc.
- understandable to everyone. To decipher those found in
many Baltic-Finnish place names
knowledge of Karelian, Finnish or
Vepsian languages.
In Karelia, more ancient names have also been preserved,
some of which come from the Sami language. Also
there are many toponyms, origin and meaning
which are unlikely to ever be installed.
RESIDENTS OF KARELIA
We do not know what language the first inhabitants of Karelia spoke,who came here in the post-glacial period (in the 10th – 9th millennium BC) with
Urals and Western Siberia, as well as tribes that came later, around 2500
years BC e., from the Volga-Oka basin. From them remained untranslatable
names such as Vyg, Ilexa, Sandal, Suna, Kestenga, Uzhma, Shizhma,
Shomba, Shoksha, Shonga, as well as some others with the endings -ga, ma, -sha, -ksa, -ta, -da. Similar toponyms are found not only in Karelia,
but also throughout the North-West of Russia.
SAAM
BALTIC-FINNISH TRIBES
The most significant layer of Karelian toponymy isBaltic-Finnish. Karelians and Vepsians (Korela and all) –
indigenous peoples of Karelia. By the end of the 1st - beginning of the 2nd millennium AD.
e. they already occupied the entire territory of our region. Russians
chronicles and Scandinavian sagas of the 9th – 11th centuries represent
the first written evidence about the population of Karelia
time. The word “Karelia” itself comes from the name
Karjala tribe (in Russian - Korela - Karelians). According to
famous Finno-Ugric scholar Professor D.V. Bubrikh, the word is
is of Baltic origin. In the 1st millennium BC. e.
Finnish-speaking population living near the Baltic Sea,
was in close contact with the ancient Balts (Lithuanian-Latvians).
The Karjala tribe, or “mountain (eastern)” Finns (from
Baltic garja - “mountain”, “forest”), was then contrasted
another Baltic-Finnish tribe - Häme (in the ancient
sources - “yam”, “eat”), or “grassroots (western)”
Finns (from the Baltic žemee - “land; lowland”). Suffix -la
at the end of a word, according to generally accepted opinion, serves to
place designations.
CONSTRUCTION OF TITLES
Construction of Karelian, Vepsian and Finnish namessubject to clear rules. Characteristic feature
Baltic-Finnish toponymy is that in
complex words often act as toponyms,
the first part of which is the definition of the second. The second one
part of the toponym is a common
geographical term: järvi (yarvi) - “lake”; joki, jogi,
d΄ogi (yoki) - “river”; koski, koški (koski) - “threshold”,
"waterfall"; lampi, lambi (lampi, lambi) - “small
forest lake, usually stagnant"; laksi, laksi, lahti
(lakshi, lahti) - “bay”; salmi (salmi) - “strait”; niemi
(niemi) - “peninsula, cape, cape”; selkä, selkä, selg
(selga) - “mountain, ridge, hill, ridge”; vaara
vuara, voara (vaara, vuara) - “mountain, hill, covered
forest"; mäki, magi (mellow, soft) - “mountain”; suo (suo “swamp”; suar΄i, suor΄i, saari (suri, saari) - “island”, etc. These geographical terms may be included in
the composition of the toponym not only as a second,
definable, part, but also as
definitions. For example, Suojärvi in
translated means “swamp-lake” or
"swampy lake"
Names of some lakes and settlements
(usually the ends of villages) include
definitions: upper (elevated) – ylä,
lower (low) – ala. Examples: Yläjärvi,
Yljalampi, Alalambi, Alanjärvi.
Toponyms may contain an indication of
the nature of the landscape, soil features,
for example, Maselga (maa – earth), Rautalahti
(rauta – iron), Kallio-järvi (kallio – “rock,
stone quarry"). Often the name refers to the size and shape of the object.
The following words are usually used as definitions:
big (suuri), small (pieni), long, long
(pitkä). Examples: Suuriyoki - “big river”, Pieniyoki -
“small river”, Surguba – “big lip (big
bay)", Pitkäranta - "long shore", Pitkäkoski -
"long threshold"
There are many names that characterize color
object. The most common definitions are “white”
(Carol. valgei, valgie, valged, Veps. vauged, Fin. valkea) and
black (musta). Examples: Valkeajarvi - “white lake”,
Mushtajarvi - “black lake”, Mustalamba - “black
lamba." Richly represented in Karelian toponyms
flora and fauna of our
the edges. Names are often repeated
trees: leppä – alder; haapa
(haapa) – aspen; kuzi (kuuzi, kuusi) – spruce;
koivu – birch; mänd, pedal (mänd,
pedäi) – pine. Examples: Myanduselga,
Pedaselga, Koivuselga, Kuzaranda,
Haapalampi, Leppäniemi.
THE ROLE OF ANIMALS IN THE ORIGIN OF NAMES
Animals played an important role in the lives of our ancestors- they were objects of fishing, and in addition,
objects of worship of pagan tribes (as well as
trees). It is not surprising that in Karelian place names
Every now and then the names of animals, birds and fish are heard: hare -
Janis (jänis), bear – konti, kondie (kondie), fox –
repo, rebo (rebo, reboi, repo), elk – girvi (hirvi),
crane - kurki, perch - aven, ahven (aven),
roach – särgi, bream – lahn, pike – haugi
(haugi). For example: Janisjärvi - “hare lake”,
Repojärvi – “fox lake”, Kontiolahti – “bear lake”
bay", Kurkijoki - "crane river", Ahvenlambi -
“perch lamb”, Syargilakhta – “raft bay”.
THE SAME NAMES CAN BE SPELLED DIFFERENTLY
Another characteristic feature of Karelian toponymy is thatthat the same names can be spelled differently. For example,
Kostomuksha (Kalevalsky district) and Kostomuksha (Suoyarvi district)
district), Koivuselga (Pryazhinsky district) and Koivuselka
(Pitkyaranta district). Terms sound and are written differently
included in the toponyms: “myagi” and “myaki”, “lahti” and “lakshi”,
“lampi” and “lamba”, “selga” and “selka”, etc.
This is explained by the fact that on the territory of Karelia live
Karelians, Finns and Vepsians, whose languages are related and similar, but not
are identical. In addition, in the Karelian language itself there are
three dialects - Livvikovskoe, Lyudikovskoe and Karelian proper,
which also differ in pronunciation.
Differences in spelling also arise when the same sounding
the name denotes different objects. For example, “Konchezero” is a settlement, but “Konchozero” is a body of water.
WHERE DO THE NAMES COME FROM. . The names of Karelian cities and villages, lakes, rivers and hills can tell us a lot. Some of them, such as Petrozavodsk, Zaonezhye, Lososinka, Svyatozero, White Mountain, Sosnovy Bor, etc., are understandable to everyone. To decipher the Baltic-Finnish toponyms found in many places, knowledge of the Karelian, Finnish or Vepsian languages is required. More ancient names have also been preserved in Karelia, some of which come from the Sami language. There are also many toponyms, the origin and meaning of which are unlikely to ever be established.
RESIDENTS OF KARELIA We do not know what language the first inhabitants of Karelia spoke, who came here in the post-glacial period (in the 10th – 9th millennium BC) from the Urals and Western Siberia, as well as the tribes who came later, about 2500 BC. e. , from the Volga-Oka basin. From them remained untranslatable names, such as Vyg, Ilexa, Sandal, Suna, Kestenga, Uzhma, Shizhma, Shomba, Shoksha, Shonga, as well as some others with the endings -ga, ma, -sha, -ksa, -ta , -Yes. Similar toponyms are found not only in Karelia, but throughout the North-West of Russia.
BALTIC-FINNISH TRIBES The most significant layer of Karelian toponymy is Baltic-Finnish. Karelians and Vepsians (Korela and Ves) are the indigenous peoples of Karelia. By the end of the 1st - beginning of the 2nd millennium AD. e. they already occupied the entire territory of our region. Russian chronicles and Scandinavian sagas of the 9th – 11th centuries provide the first written evidence of the population of Karelia at that time. The word “Karelia” itself comes from the name of the Karjala tribe (in Russian - Korela - Karelians). According to the famous Finno-Ugric scholar Professor D.V. Bubrikh, this word is of Baltic origin. In the 1st millennium BC. e. The Finnish-speaking population living near the Baltic Sea was in close contact with the ancient Balts (Lithuanian-Latvians). The Karjala tribe, or “mountain (eastern)” Finns (from the Baltic garja - “mountain”, “forest”), were then opposed to another Baltic-Finnish tribe - the Häma (in ancient sources - “yam”, “eat”), or “ to the lower (western) Finns (from the Baltic žemee - “land; lowland”). The suffix -la at the end of a word is generally accepted to indicate place.
CONSTRUCTION OF NAMES The construction of Karelian, Vepsian and Finnish names is subject to clear rules. A characteristic feature of Baltic-Finnish toponymy is that toponyms are often compound words, the first part of which is the definition of the second. The second part of the toponym is a common geographical term: järvi (yarvi) - “lake”; joki, jogi, d΄ogi (yoki) - “river”; koski, koški (koski) - “threshold”, “waterfall”; lampi, lambi (lampi, lambi) - “a small forest lake, usually stagnant”; lakši, laksi, lahti (lakshi, lahti) - “bay”; salmi (salmi) - “strait”; niemi (niemi) - “peninsula, cape, cape”; šelkä, selg (selga) - “mountain, ridge, hill, ridge”; vaara, vuara, voara (vaara, vuara) - “mountain, hill covered with forest”; mäki, magi (mellows, softies) - “mountain)”; suo (suo “swamp”; suar΄i, suor΄i, saari (suri, saari) - “island”, etc.
These geographical terms can be part of a toponym not only as a second, definable part, but also as a definition. For example, Suojärvi translated means “swamp-lake” or “swampy lake”. The names of some lakes and settlements (usually the ends of villages) include the following definitions: upper (elevated) - ylä, lower (low) - ala. Examples: Yläjärvi, Ylälampi, Alalambi, Alanjärvi. Toponyms may contain an indication of the nature of the landscape, soil features, for example, Maselga (maa - earth), Rautalahti (rauta - iron), Kallio-järvi (kallio - “rock, stone quarry”).
Often the name refers to the size and shape of the object. The words usually used as definitions are: big (suuri), small (pieni), long, long (pitkä). Examples: Suuriyoki - “big river”, Pieniyoki - “small river”, Surguba - “big lip (big bay)”, Pitkäranta - “long bank”, Pitkyakoski - “long rapids”. There are many names that characterize the color of an object. The most common definitions are “white” (Cartoon valgei, valgie, valged, Vepsian vauged, Finnish valkea) and black (musta). Examples: Valkeajarvi - “white lake”, Mushtajarvi - “black lake”, Mustalamba - “black lamba”.
The flora and fauna of our region are richly represented in Karelian toponyms. The names of trees are often repeated: leppä – alder; haapa – aspen; kuzi (kuuzi, kuusi) – spruce; koivu – birch; mänd, pedäi – pine. Examples: Myanduselga, Pedaselga, Koivuselga, Kuzaranda, Haapalampi, Leppäniemi.
THE ROLE OF ANIMALS IN THE ORIGIN OF NAMES Animals played an important role in the life of our ancestors - they were objects of hunting, and in addition, objects of worship of pagan tribes (just like trees). It is not surprising that in Karelian toponyms the names of animals, birds and fish are heard every now and then: hare - jänis, bear - konti, kondie, fox - repo, rebo (rebo, reboi, repo), elk - girvi (hirvi), crane - kurki, perch - aven, ahven (aven), roach - särgi, bream - lahn, pike - haugi. For example: Yanisjärvi – “hare lake”, Repojärvi – “fox lake”, Kontiolahti – “bear bay”, Kurkijoki – “crane river”, Ahvenlambi – “perch lamb”, Särgilakhta – “raft bay”.
THE SAME NAMES CAN BE SPELLED DIFFERENTLY Another characteristic feature of Karelian toponymy is that the same names can be spelled differently. For example, Kostomuksha (Kalevalsky district) and Kostomuksa (Suoyarvi district), Koivuselga (Pryazhinsky district) and Koivuselka (Pitkyaranta district). The terms that make up toponyms sound and are written differently: “myagi” and “myaki”, “lahti” and “lakshi”, “lampi” and “lamba”, “selga” and “selka”, etc. This is explained by the fact that that the territory of Karelia is inhabited by Karelians, Finns and Vepsians, whose languages are related and similar, but not identical. In addition, in the Karelian language itself there are three dialects - Livvikovskoe, Lyudikovskoe and Karelian proper, which also differ in pronunciation. Differences in spelling also arise when an identical-sounding name denotes different objects. For example, “Konchezero” is a settlement, but “Konchozero” is a body of water.
The toponymy of Karelia is complex both in terms of use and in terms of the origin of names. It raises many questions not only among tourists, but even among local residents. The republic's official atlases and road signs are full of errors, and the names of the settlements themselves are shrouded in legends and myths about their origin. The reason is simple ignorance.
Scientists from the Institute of Language, Literature and History of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences began to compile a toponymic dictionary of Karelia. Researcher at the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences Ekaterina Zakharova spoke about this a month ago at a meeting of the Russian Language Council under the Head of Karelia. The dictionary will include the names of settlements, lakes, rivers and tourist sites. It will contain information about the spelling and etymology of the geographical names of the republic.
Why this is important and how interesting it is, “Respublika” learned from Irma Mullonen, chief researcher of the linguistics sector of the IYALI KarRC RAS.
Irma Mullonen. Photo: “Republic” / Sergey Yudin
Errors on maps
There are many problems in the use of geographical names of Karelia, which are associated with the fact that there are no clearly established standards for declination, spelling and even pronunciation of toponyms - the names of settlements, rivers and lakes. Often, according to Irma Mullonen, different solutions are proposed for different territories of Russia, which in principle is not entirely correct, although understandable in the conditions of a multilingual country. Karelia is a special, national territory, and the problems of transferring names in Russian cause even more difficulties.
– One of the big problems of our toponymy rests on the State Catalog of Geographical Names of Russia, which is administered by Rosreestr. All structures that are in one way or another connected with toponyms should correlate with it: municipal authorities, publishers of maps and atlases, road workers who install road signs. However, the catalog contains a lot of errors. As a result, these errors can be found on almost any page of the geographical atlas of Karelia. Then the errors migrate, for example, to road signs,” says Irma Mullonen. – Quite recently, I was looking for the village of Shchekkila in the Pryazha region in the three-volume atlas of Karelia. And nothing worked out for me. In the atlas she is “Shchepkina”.
Irma Ivanovna told another story. Not long ago, road workers repaired the bridge over the Kollas River on the road leading to Sortavala. After the renovation, a new sign appeared - “Spike”. The scientists contacted the road department to find out how they allowed themselves to do this. They referred to Rosreestr, in the lists of which for some reason three spelling options are allowed. The road workers took the shortest one. The scientists were told that this could only be changed when the supports of the newly installed sign rotted and a new sign was installed.
Scientists are sure that all this causes outrage among local residents, because the name of a place is a kind of sign of local identity, a brand of a place. It is unacceptable to simply take it and change it.
– I wonder what would happen if one letter from the name “Moscow” suddenly disappeared on the sign?
So the first reason for creating a toponymic dictionary is to develop a norm. Secondly, local residents have a great interest in toponyms: both in their existence and in their etymology.
Demon without a demon
– Besovets is a very old settlement. The first mention of it appeared in the Scribe books of Obonezhskaya Pyatina in 1563. There is also an airport that had the same name. Several years ago, after a plane crash, the then head of the republic, Andrei Nelidov, at the suggestion of the patriarchate, proposed renaming both the village and the airport. Like, then the planes will stop falling. They even created a commission under the Legislative Assembly under the leadership of deputy Anatoly Grigoriev. Then I, and the director of the National Museum of Karelia, Mikhail Goldenberg, and other members of the commission argued that this should not be done, because Besovets is a historical toponym. There is a corresponding federal law protecting historical names. Local residents then collected several hundred signatures in defense of the name of their village. For them, Besovets is a symbol of their small homeland. The toponym was preserved.
Irma Mullonen then argued that the Besovets had nothing to do with the demon. This is a metaphor, a figurative name for the threshold at which the village arose: the Demon Threshold, that is, noisy, violent, restless, mischievous. This model of naming rapids using the suffix “ets” is widespread in the Russian North: Sosnovets, Medvedets, Igrimets.
– Toponyms function according to their own laws, which we gradually learn. Each territory is characterized by certain patterns of naming places. Each suffix has its own area of existence. There is a story behind it, says Irma Mullonen.
For example, in Karelia there are names of rivers that are suffixed with the suffix “ina” or “in” - Ivina, Vazhina, Marina, Chebina, Neglinka, Lososinka, and others with the suffix “itsa”. For example, Tambitsa, Shalitsa, Vozritsa, Padritsa. At the same time, names with “ina” are concentrated on the western shore of Lake Onega, and with “itsa” - on the eastern shore. Obviously, behind this there are two different streams of Novgorod development of Obonezhye.
Mashezero and Mashozero
There are settlements in Karelia - Mashezero and New Mashezero. And there is the Mashozero reservoir. According to Irma Mullonen, it would be more correct to write all three toponyms with an “o”.
Initially, it was not a Russian name, but a Karelian one - “Mashyarvi”. Here are similar examples - Sukkjärvi, Sämäjärvi, Ledmajärvi. All with emphasis on the first syllable. But with the influx of the Russian population, the translation part “yarvi” was replaced by “lake”. This is how Mashozero, Syamozero, Sukkozero, Ledmozero and others appeared.
According to scientists, Russian Pomeranian influence affected the pronunciation of these toponyms in the north.
Card file of toponyms of Karelia in the IYALI KarRC RAS. Photo: “Republic”/Sergey Yudin
– In White Sea Karelia, and throughout the entire north of the republic, a model has been established with an emphasis on the second part – New MashLake. But in the south, the pronunciation was affected by the traditional Baltic-Finnish, Karelian-Vepsian sound with an emphasis on the first syllable - MASHozero. And due to the fact that after a hissing consonant the sound “e” is pronounced here, the letter “e” migrated to paper – Mashezero,” says Irma Mullonen.
IYALI is not yet ready to say which model should be designated as the official one. Scientists accept both options. Perhaps, Irma Mullonen thinks, it is worth keeping the emphasis on “O” in the north, and on the first syllable for the south. There will be such regional specifics.
Why Kondopoga, but Sortavala
In the Russian language there is a norm: in a four-syllable word, the stress falls on the third syllable. Sortavala, Kalevala, Kostomuksha correspond to this norm, but Kondopoga does not: the stress in this toponym falls on the first syllable.
“It happened this way because of a long tradition. Kondopoga is an old village of Karelian people, which gradually became Russified. The people themselves adapted this name to the Russian language, retaining the emphasis on the first syllable, as is customary in the Karelian language. At the same time, the cities of Sortavala and Kostomuksha have a different history; due to historical circumstances, there was a complete change of the local population to the Russian population, which, of course, adopted these toponyms according to the norms of their language, that is, with the emphasis on the third syllable.
By the way, in recent years there has been a tendency among the local population not to decline the names of the cities Sortavala and Lakhdenpokhya by case, although not so long ago they were traveling “to Sortavala” and leaving “from Sortavala”.
– This is a phenomenon of local identity, a completely understandable desire to emphasize the originality, the former “Finnishness” of the territory and the city. But this desire is consistent with the norms of toponyms integrated into Russian use, in which a change in stress is accompanied by a declination, says Irma Mullonen.
Kizhi is not a game
– In my childhood we went to Kizhi, but now we go to Kizhi. The emphasis again began to fall on the first syllable, and rightly so. This is the Karelian norm, and the fact that it has returned is most likely the merit of the museum, says Irma Mullonen.
By the way, for many years it was believed that “kizhi” was a “game”. However, it has now become clear that this is just a beautiful legend that has spread thanks to the guides.
Kizhi Island. Photo: Kizhi Museum-Reserve
On the territory of southern Karelia there are more than a dozen names with the root “kizh”. They call it small, well-warmed bays of lakes, at the bottom of which algae grows - water moss. It is called “kiizhi” in Karelian. This moss was taken from the bottom with a special rake or spinner, dried and used as tow between the logs for tightness. Moss is still often used for the same purposes.
– In the northern part of Kizhi Island there is a large Moshguba, i.e. "moss lip" Kizhi moss grows right at the bottom of this Moshguba. Local residents have preserved memories of how it was mined from here and transported to the surrounding villages. It is clear that the island of Kizhi is named after this moss. No "game".
Irma Mullonen believes that there is no special romance in Karelian toponymy, which amateur toponymists are often inclined to see. It is very utilitarian, and that is its value.
– Hunters, fishermen, and farmers lived on our land. What is given a name? To what is used, to what is in demand in economic activity. And the object is named based on what makes it remarkable from the point of view of the daily life of the local population. There is, for example, the Syapsya River in Syamozerye. It is famous among fishermen for the fact that whitefish are caught there in the spring. In ancient Sami dialects you can find this reconstruction: [syaps] is a small whitefish. That is, already the ancient inhabitants of the region, the Sami, valued Syapsya as a whitefish river.
The solution to Lake Onega
Irma Mullonen admits that there are still a lot of mysteries in local toponymy. For example, scientists do not yet know the origin of the names Vedlozero and Kroshnozero. Nevertheless, philologists work constantly and rejoice at every solution.
The IYALI has been conducting a field collection of geographical names of Karelia for almost 50 years. Over the years, an extensive card index has been accumulated. There are about 300 thousand toponyms in it. This is the work of more than one generation of scientists. Philologists Nina Mamontova and Georgy Kert began collecting the card index in the 70s of the last century. They were the first to realize the importance of studying toponymy. Now the third generation of toponymic researchers is working at the institute.– Until now, a large array of names is difficult to interpret. Names live for a long time, pass from one language to another, each time adapting to the peculiarities of the new pronunciation. It is impossible to explain the element [onezh] in the name of Lake Onega using the Russian language. It was learned from the Vepsians, who in the past inhabited the shores of the lake. In Vepsian it is [änež]. But there is no such word in the Vepsian language either; the Vepsians adopted the name from their predecessors - a certain ancient population that later became part of the Sami ethnic group. In Old Sami there is a word "ene" which means "big". Later, the Vepsians, due to the peculiarities of their articulatory apparatus, adopted the sound “e” as “ä”, and the Novgorodians reproduced the Vepsian “ä” as “o”. That is, Lake Onega is a large lake in Sami language. And it’s hard to argue with that,” says Irma Mullonen. “But without establishing sound patterns, it is impossible to get to the origins of the name, to the main feature of the lake that was noted by the first settlers.
Hope for a dictionary
Scientists at the Institute of Language, Literature and History are confident that the new toponymic dictionary of Karelia will not only eliminate the accumulated errors of Rosreestr, but will also gain a wide range of readers. Researchers have been convinced more than once that the inhabitants of Karelia are not indifferent to toponymy. They often hold open lectures that attract large audiences of interested listeners. The lecture lasts for an hour and a half, and the scientist answers a large number of questions for another hour.
– Karelian toponymy is of great interest to people, but one must understand that its study requires in-depth knowledge of languages, including those that existed on our territory throughout the second millennium. Special knowledge in the field of toponymy, history, and geography is required. Since specialists are in short supply, there are often frankly incorrect interpretations of names on the Internet, in the media and even in scientific publications. Our dictionary is designed to respond to wide reader interest and increase “toponymic literacy” in our region.
Finland and Estonia already have toponymic dictionaries. They contain a detailed description of each toponym. Scientists from Karelian Research Center RAS want to create something similar in Karelia. Photo: “Republic” / Sergey Yudin
The most ancient geographical names in Karelia - toponyms - are Sami. Common names are Finnish, in the west of Karelia, Vepsian, in the southeast, and Karelian. There are three dialects in the Karelian language: Northern Karelians speak a dialect close to the Finnish language; South Karelians speak the Livvikov and Ludikov dialects, which are in many ways similar to the Vepsian language.
Toponyms of Russian origin most often refer to small objects - tributaries of rivers, small lakes, islands, capes, rapids, or to populated areas. They often include the dialect terms moss “swamp”, lip “bay”, cape “cape”, crevices “smooth rocky shore”.
Some Russian names arose as a result of rethinking the unclear meaning of the word based on sound similarity. Thus, the Sami Kuoss-yaure “Spruce Lake” can turn into Lake Kosoe, the Karelian or Vepsian Soarikoski, Sarkosk “Island Threshold” - into the Tsar Threshold, and Maselkäjärvi (for the meaning, see below) - into Lake Maselgekoe, Maselozero and, finally , Maslozero.
Most Sami, Karelian and Vepsian names are compound (with the main stress in them falling on the first syllable, and the secondary stress on other odd syllables). The first, descriptive, part gives the characteristics of the object, the second, terminological, indicates its essence: Musta-yoki - “Black River”, Hauta-vaara - “Grave Mountain”. Often there are semi-translations, where the first part is non-Russian, the second is a Russian translation: Myagostrov, Yukkoguba.
As for the name of Karelia itself (Finnish, Kar. Karjala, Karjala), it is of Baltic origin - from garya “mountain”. In this version, the Karelians, that is, the eastern, “upper” Finns, are contrasted with the western, “lower” Finns - häme - from the Baltic zhemee “land, lowland”.
Aita- hedge: Aitozero, Aitoyoki.
Aitta- barn: r. Aitta.
Akky(Sami) - woman; supreme female deity acca- grandma, Akan- womanish: oz. Akan, Akonyarvi, Akkajärvi, Akankoski, Aka-threshold
Ala- lower: Alozero, Alayarvi, Ala-Taraisyarvi.
Ahven(Karelian ahven) - perch: Agvenlampi, Ahvenlambi, Ahvenyarvi.
Vaazh(Saami) - female deer: Vazhinka River, Vazhezero, Verkhnie Vazhiny.
Vaara, vuaru, vuori- hill, mountain: Vottovaara, Shalgovaara, Kukoinvaara.
Valkea, Valgei- white: Valgilampi, Valkealampi, Valgova Guba..
Vene, weneh, wenhe- boat: Venehjärvi, Venozero, Vengigora, Venikhozero.
Milestone, milestone- vahta (an aquatic plant with an edible root): Vehkozero, Vehkusuo, Vehlampi, Vehruchey, Kodi-Vehkajärvi.
View(Veps.), viita, viida- thicket, young spruce forest: Vidalampi, Vidany, Vidostrov, Vidporog, Viidrechka, Viitajoki
Wyrm(Saami) - network: Virma, Virmozero, Verman, Virmayarvi.
Vitsa, viccha, vitska(Saami) - birch twig: Vitchevara, Vitcheshuari, Vichcha, Vichangivaraka, Vitsakangas, Vychajoki, Vichka.
Viexa(Saami), viiksi, viikshi (Karelian) - a branch, a drainage from a side lake, a separate bay: Viksha, Viksilakshi, Viksozero, Vikshezero, Vikshalampi.
Viyare, viyaru- tortuous, oblique; false: Vyarathreshold, Viaracats, Varalaksha. Many other consonant names (river Vara, m. Varnavolok) come from other words: varr - forest, varra - path, road.
Garbalo(kar.), garbol, garbow(Veps.) - cranberry: r. Garbala, Gorbokoshki, Garbalova Selga, Garbova Gora, about. Garbishchi.
Girvas, hirvas(Karelian) - male deer: Girvas, Hirvasyarvi, Hirvatsari.
Youtsen, youchen, d "youtchen- swan: Eutsoyarvi, Evchenoya, Evchenvara, Evchelampi, Euzhiyarvi, Evzhozero, Devchenshuo, Devchenoya.
Yoki, yoki, d'ogi(Karelian joki, d "ogi), yogk(Sami) - river: Pistajoki, Kivijoki, Penega, Kozledegi, Pannokka, Kontyokka.
Kayta, I'll find it- narrow: Kaidozero, Kaidodegi, Kaidulampi, Kaitajärvi, Kaidunittu.
Kaisha, kaizlya- reeds, reeds: Kashalilamba, Kashalioya, Kozhala, Kozledegi.
Kaya, kaya, kayeg- seagull: Kaivara, o. Kaigas, b. Big Kyai, Kaigozero.
Kala(Karelian, Vepsian), kull(Saami) - fish: lake. Kalo, Kalajarvi, Kuloma, Kulezhma.
Kalivo, Kallio- rock: Kalivo, Kalivokangas, Kalliojärvi, Kalvi.
Kalma- death; cemetery, Kalma- deity of death: Kalmozero, Kalmosari, r. Kalma, Kalmoniemi.
Kangas- boron; dry, elevated place: lake Kangas, Kangassari, Kangasyarvi, Kangashnavolok.
Kari(kar.) - roll, shallow threshold, from where Russian. Karezka: Akankari, Orinkari, Copper Karezhka, Tulema Karezhka.
Karnas, karnas(Sami) coarne(kar.) - raven: lake. Cornice, r. Karnizh, Karnizozero, Karnisvara, por. Roots.
Casquez(Veps.) - young mixed forest: Kaskeznavolok, Kaskesselga.
Helmets- cutting in deciduous forest: Kaskesselga, Kashkany, Kaskozero.
Kealg, kealgan(Saami) - reindeer moss; place suitable for grazing deer: r. Kalga, Kalgozero, Kalkoy, Kalgyarvi, Kalkyanjoki, Kalgioya, Kalguvara, about. Kalgos, Kalgan Islands.
Kesky(kar. keski) - middle, middle: Keskozero.
Kiwi- stone, stone: p. Kiva, lake Kiwi, Kivijoki, Kivijärvi, Kivikoski, Kiy.
Kint(Sami) - parking place: r. Kindas, village Kindasovo, por. Kintezma, lake Kindozhskoe.
Kovda, govde(Saami) - wide: r. Kovda, Koitajoki, Hovdayarvi.
Carpets- curved, curved: oz. Carpet, village Carpet, Carpet lamp, Carpet threshold, por. Koversky, Koverjarvi.
Koda, cat, cat- house, housing; hut: Kodalampi, Kodanlampi, Kodarvi, Kodaselka, Kotajarvi, ; Kotijärvi, Kotioja.
Koivu- birch: Koivusilta (silta - bridge), Koivuyoki, r. Koivu.
Cocca- in the Karelian language means a number of concepts from “hook” to “penis”, in toponyms more often - a pointed hill, a mountain. These names are sometimes reinterpreted through car. kokko - pie, kokko - eagle; festive bonfire: Kokkolampi, Kokkozero, Kokkoostrov, Kokkosalma, Kokonniemi.
Condu, contu(kar.) - peasant yard; repair. The term is found both in the descriptive and terminological parts of the names: village. Kondoberezhskaya, Konda, st. Pogrankondushi (kar. Rayakondu), Mount Raidakonda, Kondopoga.
Kontio, kondi, kondy, kondi(Veps.) - bear: Kondiruchey, Kondylampi, Kontijoki, Kondyoya, Kontiolahti.
Corby- thicket, impenetrable damp forest, from where the Russian. corba: R. Korba, village Korba, numerous Korbozera, Korbikoshki rapids.
Corppi- raven: Korpijoki, numerous lakes of Korppijärvi.
Coste, coste- backwater, shelter, in toponyms usually - leeward shore: Kostomuksha, Kostomuksha, o. Kostyan, district, village Kestenga, Kestoya.
Koski, cats(Karelian koski), beds(Veps.), kuushk(Sami) - waterfall, threshold: Korbikoshki, Koshka, Pitkakoski, Porokuska.
Kuikka- loon: Kuikkavara, Kuikkalaksi, lake. Kuikka-selka, r. Kuiko.
Kugk, kugkes, kukkam(Sami) - long: lake. Kukas, O. Kukat, Kukkomozero, Kukozero.
Kurgi, Kurki- crane: village Kurgentsi, lake Kurgievo, Kurkijoki, Kurkijärvi.
Kuotska(Sami) quoteo(kar.) - interlake isthmus: por. Kotska, Kotkalampi, Kotkozero Kotkajärvi. In form, these names are closer to kotka - eagle, but geographical realities nevertheless indicate the meaning - isthmus. Perhaps this is the origin of the names of the three rivers of Kochkoma, although again, Sami can be assumed here. Kuotskem- eagle. kuiva- dry: Kuivasalma, Kuivashoya, Kuivajärvi.
Kuusi, kuuzhi(kar.), body(Veps.), kuse, kuossa(Sami) - spruce: r. Kuzha, Kuzharvi, Kuzhatoja, Kuzhenga Kuzaranda, Kuzikoski, Kuznavolok, Kuuzhjärvi, Kuusiniemi.
Kulma- cold: p. Kylmes, Kylmäpuro (puro - stream), Kylmäjärvi.
Külya(kar.) - village: der. Kurkuncula, lake Kylajarvi, about. Kylaniemisuari (Island with a village on a cape).
Kyaadkai(Sami) - rocky: p. Kätka, Kätkajärvi, Kätkovára.
-la/-la. In the Baltic-Finnish languages, this element is usually included in the names of settlements formed from personal names: Ignoilo, Kukkoila, Essoila, Lyaskela.
Laaya, lavea, levea- wide, often meaning - transverse: village. Laaja, lake Lajani, Lavalampi Lavijärvi.
Ladva, Latva, Veps. okay- top, top, Sami. okay- pass: village. Ladva, Ladvajärvi, Latvasurja, lake. Latvo, Latvajoki.
Ladva, latva, lade(Veps.) - upper, peak, pass: village. Ladva, Ladvajärvi, Latvasurja, Latvo, Latvajoki.
Lambi, lampi(kar.) - forest drainless small lake, from where Russian. lamba- lake and lambina- lake-like expansion of the river: Surilambi, Yuvilampi, Dolgaya Lamba, Kuchelambina, Volina-lambina.
Lappi(Karelian, Finnish) - Karelian name for the Sami (Lop): Lapinjärvi, Lopskaya River.
Lakhna- bream: r. Lagna, lake Lahno, r. Lakhna, Lagnojärvi, Lagnoja.
Lahti, lakshi(Karelian, Finnish lahti, laksi) - bay: Lakhta, Kinelakhta, Rautalahti, Ovlunlaksi, Korelaksha.
Leppya (Karelian, Finnish leppa) - alder: r. Lepista, por. Leppä, Lepenjärvi, Lepozero, Leppäniemi Leppäsyurja.
Linda- bird, linnun- avian: Lindozero, Lindolampi, Linnunvara.
Lisma(Karelian, Finnish), lick(Sami) - silt, mud: Lizhmozero, Lizhemskoye, Lizhma.
Louhi- block, rock: pore. Loukhi, lake Loukhskoe. In the Karelian epic, Louhi is the mistress of Pohjola (the country of the north).
Suckers- salmon: Logiguba, Logikoski, Lohguba, Lohijärvi.
Luodo, luodot, luoto(kar.) - shallow; rock, reef; a small rocky island, from where the Russian. luda: Kuikaluoto, Heinyaluoto, Leukaluoto, Rayamunoluoto, Torlahdenluodot, Ivanovy Ludy, Krasnaya Luda.
Maa, mua(Karelian, Finnish mua) - land: lake. Maselga village Mashelga, Maselga, Sea Maselga.
May and(Sami) May(kar.) - beaver: Mayguba, Mayozero, o. Mayan.
Marya- a berry, but a Sami. moarry- swamp: r. Marina, Marnavolok, Maryarvi, lake. Marjo-Selka
Uterus(kar.), uterus(Veps.) - path, road, moatk, mootk(Sami) - portage, isthmus: village. Matkaselka, Matkozero, por. Matkozhnya, r. Motko, b. Reel.
Megryu, softly- badger: r. Meghri, Megrozero, Megrega, Myagreka, lake. Magrino, Myagrosero.
Metsya, mechcha- forest (but metso, sword- capercaillie): Metchajarvi, Metchishari, r. Metchepuda, Mechchalambina, Metchozero.
Moaselgya, maaselkya, muashelgya- watershed (maa, mua - land, selga - ridge): lake. Maselga village Mashelga, lake Oil, Maslozero. All objects with similar names lie on large or local watersheds.
Musta, musta- black: Mustlampi, Mushtavara, Mushtalampi, lake. Musta.
Muurama, muura(kar.), Murm, goosebump(Veps.) - cloudberry: Muramozero, Murmozero, r. Muromlya r. Murom, Murashkoski.
Soft, soft(Karelian, Finnish. maki, magi) - mountain, hill: Shotmägi, Sarimägi, Hietamäki, Myagostrov..
Myangdu(Karelian, Finnish mand), pedal(Veps.) - pine: Myanduselga, Pedaselga.
Mänty, mändü, mänd- pine (young): Mändova, Mänduvara, Mänduselga, Mändujärvi, Mäntytunturi (tunturi - high mountain), Mäntyäjärvi.
Naali(kar.), noall(Sami) - arctic fox: r. Nalya, lake Nolya, Nolyozero.
Niva- bystrina - from the Sami. nyavv- section of the river between the rapids: r. Nava, Nivakoski numerous short rivers Niva.
Nielm(Karelian, Finnish), nyalm(Sami) - throat, pharynx, mouth of the river: Nelmozero, Nilmozero, river. Nyalma, Nyalmozero.
Niemi(Karelian, Finnish niemi), a little(Veps.) - cape, cape: Särkiniemi, Kuokkaniemi.
Nilo, nilos, nilosh- a rock along which water flows: the rapids of the Nile, Nilosh, Nilaskoshki.
Niska, Niska, Niska(kar.) has two meanings. The first is the source of the river from the lake: o. Niska, lake Niskajarvi, lake Low (obvious rethinking). The second is the beginning of the rapids: Kossaniski, Yumanishki, Oyanishko, Niskakoski, Vidanskaya Nishka, Nishkakoshki.
Noarve, Norway(Sami) - ledge, ledge: r. Narva, Narviyoki, r. Norva, Norvijärvi.
Nuotta- seine: numerous Notozera.
Nurmi- meadow: lake Nurmat, b. Nurmis, village Nurmoyla, village Nurmolitsy, Nurmezhguba, Nurmijärvi.
Nyura(kar.), Neworra(Saami) - cliff, rock, rocky shoal: Nuorunen, Noruslampi, por. Nurus, Nyuronavolok.
Oya, oya(Karelian, Finnish oja Vepsk.), woah, woah(Sami) - river, stream: Korvenoya, Kalkoya, Kestui. Korvenoya, Kalkoya, Kestui. In Russian usage this element often turns into -va: Kerzheva, Olova, Petkuevo.
Orava(kar.), wow(Veps.), oarrev(Sami) - squirrel: Oravruchey, Orovguba, Orovyarvi, Uravara.
Paya, paya(Saami) - top, top, piya, piya(kar.) - head, peak: m. Piyakko, Paezero, river. Pai, Payozero, Peijärvi, Pyajärvi, Pyaozero, Päävara, Piaoja, Pääoja. Note that the Sami Paiyaure - Upper Lake often turns into a lake. Boyarskoe. Names of South Karelia type lake. Payu, b. The Payudegi probably originate from the Vepsians. I'm sold- willow.
Pada, pato- fishing fence on the river: Padaoya, Padozero, r. Padas.
Fall, fall- fire, burning, scorched undercut: r. Pala, Palalahta, Palojärvi, Palakoski, Palaoja.
Pana, pauna, pawnee, poann(Sami) - shallow lake, puddle: Pannoka, Puanoloya, Panozero, Panajarvi.
Farting, singing- pine: Pedaselga, Pedayashari, Petailampi, Petayavara, Petya-järvi.
Perth, perth(t)i, pirtti- hut, hunting and fishing hut: lake. Perti, Pertozero, lake. Pertti, Pertyarvi, Pirttivinta, Pirttilampi, Pirttipokhya.
Perya- back, rear side, far side: Peralampi, Perguba, Periajoki, Peryanavolok,
Pieni(Karelian, Finnish pieni) - small, small: Pienieki.
Peel, sang(Sami) - side, outskirts, ear: Pilmasozero.
Drink, drink- long, pizin- longest: Pitkakoski, Pitkäranta, Pitkoya, lake. Pisanets, Pisansuo, Pisinnemi.
Poro, peura, pedro- deer: Por-threshold, Peurujoki, Peurakoshki, Pedrolambina, Pedrayarvi.
Pohja(kar.) - corner, edge, end of the bay: Kondopoga, Sopokha, Lakhdenpokhya.
Pudas, pudas- branch of the river: channels Pudas, Pudashiegi, Kervapudos, river. Pudos, Pudozh.
Pula(Sami) - scorched: Pulozero, r. Pulonga, r. Puloma.
Puusto- tree stand, but Russian. empty, wasteland - abandoned fields, fallow land, meadows from arable land. Therefore, it is not always easy to determine the origin of river names. Pusta, Pustinlahti, lake. Empty, Pustozero, Puustinlahti, por. Pustoshkin, b. Pushtos (in the last two cases it is necessary to take into account the penalty. Pustes- dam).
Randa, randa, randa(Karelian, Finnish) - coast: Pitkäranta, Kuzaranda, Randu, Rantasari.
Rauta, rauda, raudu (Karelian raudu) - iron, iron: Ravduoja, Rautakangas, Rautalahti.
Reboy, repo(Karelian reboi) - fox: o. Rebay, Repojärvi, creek. Reboy, village. Rebols (obviously - through a personal name).
Risty- cross: Ristiniemi, Ristilakshi, Ristisari, Ristioja, Ristijärvi. But the names of Ristanvar Lake. Rysto comes from Sami. rysta - prey, punishment. riista - game.
Hand, hand- resin, resin: Rugozero, Rukajarvi.
Ruoho, ruohka, rogo- reed, reed, cattail: r. Big Horn, Rogansari, Rogozero, Ruagjärvi, Ruogjärvi, por. Ruach, Ruokoguba.
Pisces(Sami) - partridge: Rybreka, Ryboya, Rybozero.
Ryame, ryema- moss swamp: village. Ramoe, village Rampole, Ramozero, Ram-mokh, Ryamenyarvi, r. Remaka, b. Rema, Remazh.
Saari, suari(Karelian, Finnish saari) - island: Salonsaari, Rantasari, Mäntysari, Mustasaaret.
Sava, Savvan(Sami) - reach on the river, lake bay: Saavajoki, Savozero, Savoy, lake. Chavan
Savi, shavi- clay: Savivara, village. Savilatchu (lachchu - puddle), Savijarvi, Shaviranta village. Shavilosho.
Salmi(car.) - strait, from where Russian. salma and other Russian straw: Kuyvasalma, Suopasalmi, Oporovaya Salma, village. Straw.
Salu, shalu- boron; forest wilderness: o. Salo, Saloostrov, Salnavolok, Salonjärvi, r. Shalitsa, Shalsari.
Sammal, shammal, Veps. Samau- moss: Sammalvara, lake. Samulus, Samogora, Samozero, Samnavolok, r. Samina, lake Samaevskoe, Shamallaksi, Shamalvara.
Selga, selka - ridge, ridge: lake. Kavnizselga, village. Selgi, st. Kyappyaselga, Eroshkina Selga, Matveeva Selga.
Selka (Karelian, Finnish selka, selgu) - reach, lake: lake. Kavnizselga. More often than not, selkya means ridge, ridge, hence the Russian word. selga: village Selgi, st. Käppäselga. In South Karelia Russian. selga also meant forest arable or hay land and was included in the names of many villages: Eroshkina Selga, Matveeva Selga.
Saliva- ide: Syavnozero, Syavnyalampi, Syanozero, Syayunashari, Syavnyajarvi, r. Syavnega, Shavnegozero.
Xuann, Shuonn(Sami) - grass swamp, soen, shuon(kar.) - swampy: r. Sona, Sonozero, Sonostrov, Shunozero, Shuonyarvi.
Suo(Karelian, Finnish suo) - swamp: Suojoki, Suoyarvi, Deuhishuo, Syapsesuo.
Suuri, shuuri, suvri(Karelian, Finnish suuri), Sami. yo- large: Suvri-Saviyarvi, Suuriyarvi, Shurivara, por. Shuripaya, Shuurijärvi, lake. Shury-Reduni. Similar-looking names can also be derived from syurya - side, side, edge (syuryajoki - tributary): r. Suri, Suryoya, Surilampi, Suryapia, Suryaoya. But there is also suore - straight and Sami. surr, suorr - branching, fork, cf.: Shurozero, Shuorishuo. In most cases, a map will help us, telling us whether we are referring to the size, position or shape of an object. It is more difficult when the object is large and straight and lateral, like a lake. Surgubskoe is a separate bay of Ukshezera in the Shuya basin.
Syuvya, shuvya- deep: Syvä-Salmijärvi, Syväjärvi, Syväjärvi. Similar names, especially such as Syuvyad "arvi. Syuvyad"ogi, often turned into names like Svyatozero, Svyatlitsa/Svetlitsa channel, Svyatukha (Syuvya, Svyat-) among the Russians. So not all of the holy names of Karelia are truly holy.
Särki(kar.), sarg (Veps.), serge (Sami) - roach: Sergozero, r. Särgezha, Särgozero, Särkiniemi, Särkijärvi.
Talvi(kar.), talv(Saami) - winter: Talviesdegi, Talvishari, Talvesuo, Talvilampi, Talvuslampi, village. Tolvuya.
Tedry- black grouse: Tedrioja, Tetrivara, Tetrozero, Tedriniemi (Teternavolok).
Terva- resin, tar: Tervalampi, Tervajärvi, Tervukoshki, village. Terva.
Toarast, tueres(Sami) - across, transverse: lake. Tarazma, Taraisjärvi, Tarasjoki, o. Tarasikha, Teresinalambi, lake. Toros, Torosozero.
Uros(kar.), oares(Saami) - male: oz Uras, oz. Uros, Urosyarvi, Urosozero, Arziyarvi, village. Orzega.
Haapa, hoaba, Veps. hub- aspen: Gabozero, Gabselga, Haapalampi, Habozero, Hapavara, Hapayoki.
Khavd(Sami) - beast: Khavdozero.
Khangas(from where Russian gangas, Sami hankkas) - trap, trapping pen: Hangasyarvi, Hankusyarvi, lake. Khankash, Gangaslampi, Gankashvara, Gangos town, lake. Gangas.
Khanka, hanga- fork, hanko- pitchforks: Khangayarvi, Khangozero, Hangajoki, Khankovara, Khankasari, Khankozero, Gangozero.
Hanhi- goose: oh. Hanhipasi (paasi - stone slab), Hanhijärvi, Gangivara.
Haugi, hauki- pike: lake Haugi, Haugijärvi, Haukioja, Haukijoki, Hauguya.
Howda, hauta- grave: por. Hauda, Haudekangas, Hautovaara.
Heinya- grass, hay: Geinozero, Geynolampi, Heinalampi, Heinyayoki, o. Heinäsenmaa, Henna Navolok.
Hieta- sand: Hietajäki, Hietajärvi, Hetolambina, Khedostrov.
Hiisi, hiisi, will give birth, case Hiiden- goblin, evil spirit, remote bad place: Khiizjärvi, Khizhozero, Gizhezero, Khizh, Khizjärvi, Khiiz-järvi (Khiizjärvi), Khiisijärvi, Hidenselysya.
Hirey- elk: Hirvisalmi, por. Hirvi, Hirvilampi.
Honka, honga- dry tall pine: Khonkasari, Khonkasalonselya Ave., Honkasuo, Gomselga, Gonginavolok, village. Gonginskaya.
Chappad, chappes(Sami) - black: Chapa r., r. Chapari, lake Chopchem and R. Chapai, Chapozero, Chapanshari, Cape Chapin (and nearby are the Black Islands).
Choalme(Sami) - strait: village. Chalna, Chelmozero, Chelozero, village. Chelmuzhi, m. Cholma
Chuppu- angle: lip and pos. Chupa on the White Sea, village. Chupa on Konchezero and Sunozero, Chupa Bay
Chuuru- pebbles, small stones: r. Chura, Churalampi, Churuzh river, Churlahta. Shivera comes from the Sami chivrai, which means pebble, cobblestone.
Yulia, Yule(Karelian, Finnish yla) - upper: Yulyajarvi, Yuleozero.
Yurkkä, yurkkä- steep: rapids Yurki, Yurkka, Yurkonkoski, village. Yurgilitsa, Yurkinnavolok, Yurkostrov.
Janis, janish, yanizh, yanuo- hare: Yanetsozero, r. Yani, lake Janis, lake Janisch, Art. Yanishpole, about. Yants, Yanchozero, Yanikumu.
Yank(k)ya, dangya- moss swamp: r. Yanga, Yangajoki, Yangajarvi, Yankajarvi, r. Money, Dangozero.
Yarvi, arvi(Karelian, Finnish jarvi), Jarv(Veps.), January(Sami) - lake: Suoyarvi, Kodarvi, Väragyärvi, Rodinjärvi.