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First Satellites (mander.xyz)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] 61 points 7 months ago (14 children)

Sputnik is a fun word in Russian. It comes from the prefix s- (with), the suffix -nik (one who), and the root -put- (path). A sputnik, then, is someone or something who travels a path with you, and it is also a model of train (because it travels with the tracks) and a word for spouse (because they travel your life's path with you).

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  • [–] 16 points 7 months ago (10 children)

    so, "pathfinder"?

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  • [–] 29 points 7 months ago (5 children)

    More like companion.

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  • [–] 10 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    If the "pa" part of "companion" comes from path it's basically exactly the same: "s" and "co" are both "with" and "nik" and "ion" are similar noun endings.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    If the “pa” part of “companion” comes from path

    It doesn't though, it comes from French compagnon/compaignon and then Latin com (with) + panis (bread). It probably originally meant "someone with whom you share bread (eat together)".

    And actually, looking at wiktionary, Old English had a word "ġefēra" (with the same meaning) which is constructed very similarly to "спутник": ge ('with', still the same prefix in german e.g. ‎Gebrüder) + fera ('to go'/'to fare', e.g. in seafaring)

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  • [–] 8 points 7 months ago (3 children)

    I might translate it that way in some contexts, but if you told me Lewis and Clark were "sputniks" I'd assume you meant they got married in secret, rather than that they were explorers.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    It's strange they called it a 'companion' of any sort since it was the sole first satellite in space

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    I'm pretty sure the model of train is a proper name and it's named after the satellite. I don't think I would describe any train as a literal "sputnik" of the rails.

    Also Russian is full of composite words like that. "Explorer" in russian would be "исследователь" (issledovatel') - ис (completely) + след (trace/footstep) + оват (make, imbue) + ель (he who). Literally it would be "he who makes (places) completely (covered in) footsteps"

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