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Language Question (1 Viewer)

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member
The Spanish word for sparrowhawk is Gavilán.

The Spanish for gull is Gaviota.

Both are predatory birds and I got to wondering if the 'Gavi..' suggested a common root (in Latin perhaps?).

Can anyone tell me?
 
Apparently (etymology is often confusing...) Gaviota comes from the latin gavia. The origin of Gavilán is uncertain, possibly from a germanic root gabella-gabel but there's no consensus about this.
 
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