/str/
in Several Languages
Margo's Magical Letter Page
by Margaret Magnus
copyright 1998
all rights reserved
Since the meanings of the phonemes derive from their pronunciation, we
would expect that a phoneme in another language that had a similar pronunciation
to that of English would have a similar meaning. This proves quite generally
to be the case. Comparing two entire phonemes in two different languages
is a big task, but you can get an indication of the expected results by
running an experiment on a smaller scale. I've chosen /str/, because I like
that combination, particularly in Russian. It lives in strangeness (stranno),
passion (strast'), exultation (vostorg), as well as building and construction
(stroit').
There is straightness in /str/. Let me compare all of the base words
in English starting with /s/ and containing /s//t//r/ in that order to the
base words containing /s//t//r/ in Norwegian and the roots in Russian containing
/s//t//r/. I do not include those in English with an iterative -er syllable
(batter, smatter, hammer, etc.). I can, for example, divide the English
base words into the following semantic classes.
English
Relevant /str/ Words
stair, star, starch, stare, stark, start, startle,
starve, steer, sterile, sterling, stern, stir, store, stork, storm, story,
straddle, straggle, straight, strain, strait, strand, strange, strangle,
strap, straw, stray, streak, stream, street, stress, stretch, strew, strict,
stride, strife, strike, string, strip, stripe, strive, strobe, stroke, stroll,
strong, structure, struggle, strum, strut, stubborn
/str/ Classes
- Straight - stair, steer,
stork, straight, strait, strand, strap, straw, streak, stream, street,
stretch, string, strip, stripe, strobe, stroke
- Strong/Stern - starch, star,
stark, steer (animal), sterling, stern, storm, strain, strangle, stress,
stretch, strict, strike, strive, strong, structure, struggle, stubborn
- Start - start, startle
- Struggle - stir, storm, strain,
strangle, stream, stress, stretch, strife, strike, strive, struggle, stubborn
- Stop - stare, stark, starve,
sterile, stern, store, strangle, strict, stubborn
- Strange/Distant - star, stark,
startle, storm, story, straggle, strange, strangle, stray
- Stroll - steer, stir, straggle,
stray, stride, stroll, strut
- Stretch/Spread - star, starch,
stork, straddle, straggle, strain, stretch, strew, stride, strive, struggle,
strum, strut
- Strike - stir, strangle,
strike, stroke, strum
- Exceptions - strip
The average word fits in 1.8 classes. If the word doesn't start with
the /s/, you don't get a match: pastry, sister, Mister, monster, etc.. Here
you can observe an interesting phenomenon.
Opposites
In this small set of words, notice that there are a large number of sets
of opposites. There are words for straightness, but also no small number
for straggling, straying and strewing. There are words for both stopping
and starting or strolling, for both strength and starvation/straggling.
There is both strangeness and strictness. This phenomenon of finding opposites
is very general when you build semantic classes based on sound structure.
The English words beginning with /v/ (to take an arbitrary class that's
not too big) don't fit neatly in these classes:
- Straight - valley?, vane?,
vein, vine
- Strong - very, vim, vigor,
verve
- Struggle - venge, vie, volley?
- Stop -
- Start -
- Strange -
- Stroll -
- Stretch/Spread -
- Strike -
- Exceptions - vale, valley,
van, vat, vase, vial, vault, vessel, vile, villain, viper, vamp, voice,
vote, vouch, vow, view, veer, veil
Those words beginning with unvoiced 'th' fit a little better if they
contain an /r/. 'th' is a very similar sound to /s/:
- Straight - thatch?, thin,
thistle, thorn, thread
- Strong - thick?, thorough,
thrive, throng, thunder?
- Struggle - throe
- Stop - thaw?, threat, thrift,
throttle
- Start -
- Strange - thrall, thrill
- Stroll -
- Stretch/Spread -
- Strike - thrash, thresh,
thrum, thump
- Exceptions - theft, thief,
thing, think, thirst, thought, throb, through, throw, thrust, thud, thug,
thumb, thwack
But consider the Norwegian /s//t//r/ words:
Norwegian
Relevant /str/ Words
start-start, starve-toil, staur-stake/stumble,
steril-sterile, sterk-strong, sterre-resist, sterte-toil/tighten reigns,
stirre-stare, stjerne-star, stjert-bird tail, something which sticks out,
stor-big, stork-stork, storm-strong wind, storme-rage, strabas-hardships,
straff-punishment, strak-straightened, straks-soon, stram-stretched/strict/strong(smell)/tight(budget),
strand-shore, strang-acrid, strange-thin tree stem, strant-long thin plant/person,
stratt-stalk/obstinant person, strebe-strive/stretch, strede-an narrow road/strait,
streif-touch lightly/ray, streife-roam/glance at/occur to, streik-strike(workers),
strek-line/unexpected action, strekke-stretch/be enough/extend, strende-wander/shove,
strene-hurry/scour(an area), streng-string/stern, stress-stress, stret-toil,
strev-effort, stri-struggle/fight, stri-strong (rain), strid-battle/rigorous,
strie-burlap, strigle-currycomb, strikk-rubber band/shoddy, strikke-rope/knit,
striks-exacting, strikt-strict, stril-person from the coast near Bergen
(works hard), strime-strip, strimmel-strip (paper/land), stripe-stripe/belt,
stripp-narrow band, strippe-strip(tease), strips-flogging, stritte-bristle,
strofe-stanza, stroke-rowing/crew(sport), stropp-strap, strosse-place in
a mine where they are exploding, struktur-structure, strunk-cask/oaf/erect,
strunt-cone/nonsense, strunten-cross, strupe-choke, strut-nozzle, struts-ostrich,
strutte-bulge, stryk-rapid/beating, stryke-stroke/iron/play(violin)/cancel/flunk/swish,
strø-scatter, strøk-stroke/district/vein(geol), strøm-stream,
strømper - stocking, strå-straw, stråle-shine/beam, styr-commotion/control,
styre-steer/govern, styrt-shower, styrte-dash/plunge
One thing that might strike one reading the translations from another
language is that it's a priori unclear why a Norwegian mind sees roaming,
glancing and occurring to (streife) or a stalk and an obstinant person (stratt)
as the same thing. Clearly Norwegians divide the world up differently than
we do. Still, the same classes apply for the Norwegian /s//t//r/ as for
the English.:
/str/ Classes
- Straight - staur, sterte,
stjert, stork, strak, stram, strand, strange, strant, strakk, strede, streif,
strek, strekke, streng, strigle, strikk, strime, strimmel, stripe, stripp,
stritte, strofe, stroke, stropp, strunk, strupe, strut, struts, stryke,
strøk, strøm, strå, stråle, styre, styrt
- Strong - sterk, sterre, sterte,
stor, storm, straff, stram, strang, strakk, streng, stret, strev, stri,
strid, striks, strikt, stroke, strosse, struktur, strunten, strupe, stryk,
styr, styre, styrt, styrte
- Start - start, straks, streife,
strek, strippe, styrte
- Struggle - starve, sterte,
storme, strabas, strebe, streik, strene, stress, stret, strev, stri, strid,
stroke
- Stop - steril, sterre, stirre,
straff, streik, strunk, stryke
- Strange - stirre, stjerne,
strek, strippe, strunt, styr
- Stroll - staur, strende
- Stretch/Spread - sterte,
stram, strebe, strekke, strikk, stroke, strutte, strø, strøk,
strømper
- Strike - streif, strende,
stri, strigle, strips, stroke, strupe, stryke
- Exceptions - strie, stril,
strunt(cone)
It may be thought that the primary reason for this correspondence is
etymological. I think the reason we may be inclined to think this way is
that the study of etymology is older and better established. When a word
has a history in two languages, both the sounds of that word and the meanings
of that word change. Etymology follows the path of these changes, and it
offers general principles whereby the sounds of a language change. But it
does not offer general principles whereby the meanings of a word change.
The study of sound symbolism can offer answers to this. Sound change affects
meaning and meaning, as we are showing, affects sound, so it's not possible
to say what is the chicken and what is the egg. What we can demonstrate
is that the correspondence between sound and meaning is far from arbitrary.
That is, even if we can demonstrate that all of these Norwegian /s//t//r/
words have cognates pronounced with /s//t//r/ in English, we have no reason
to expect that their meaning changes should be such that their meanings
still - millenia later - fit nicely in these classes. Since the senses of
a word can vary as much as is the case with 'stand' and thousands of other
words, we would expect that meaning change over time would move words outside
semantic classes such as these. The fact that they don't move outside these
classes implies that their pronunciation is keeping them in place. This
becomes even clearer when we consider more distant languages like Russian:
Russian
Relevant /str/ Words
vostorg - joy/rapture, vostro - be alert, vstretit'
- meet, starat'sya - try, staryj - old, start - start, stvor - alignment,
stereC' - watch for, sterZen' - rod, steril'nyj - steril, sterling - sterling,
sternya - stubble, storoZ - guard, storona - side, stravlivat' - set on
to fight, strada - hard work, stradat' - suffer, straZ - guard, strana -
country, stranitsa - page, strannik - wanderer, stranno - strange, stranstvovat'
- travel, strast' - passion/holiness/horror/love, straus - ostrich, strax
- fear, straxovat' - insure, streZen' - stream, strekoza - dragonfly, strekotat'
- buzz, strela - arrow, strelka - pointer, strel'ba - shooting, stremit'sya
- rush/aspire, stremya - stirrup, stremyanka - ladder, striC' - cut hair,
strogat' - to plane, strogij - stern, stroit' - build, stroj - order/line,
strojnyj - slender, stroka - line (writing), strop - sling, stropilo - rafter,
strofa - stanza, stroCit' - stitch/write, strug - plane/shave, struit'sya
- stream, struktura - structure, struna - string, stryapat' - cook/do
The Russian /s//t//r/ words fit just as nicely into the English /s//t//r/
classes as do the Norwegian ones:
/str/ Classes
- Straight - stvor, sterZen',
sternya, storona, straus, streZen', strela, strelka, strel'ba, stremyanka,
striC', strogat', stroit', stroi, stroinyj, stroka, strop, stropilo, strofa,
stroCit', strug, struit'sya, struna
- Strong/Strict - vostro, stereC',
sterling, storoZ, straZ, straxovat', stremya, strogij
- Start - vstretit', start,
stravlivat'
- Struggle - starat'sya, stravlivat',
strada, stradat', stremit'sya
- Stop - vostro, stereC', storoZ,
straZ
- Strange/Distant - vostorg,
staryj, storona, strana, strannik, stranno, stranstvovat', strast', strax,
straxovat', stryapat'
- Stroll - strannik, stranstvovat'
- Stretch/Spread - starat'sya,
stremit'sya
- Strike - vstretit', stravlivat',
strel'ba
- Exceptions - stranitsa, strekoza,
strekotat'
In this case we cannot possibly attribute the match to cognates. Russian
does not even belong to the same branch of Indo-European. The classes match,
but the meanings of the words are quite different from the set that appears
in Germanic languages. I particularly enjoy comparing the percentages of
words contained in the various classes in various languages. Russian has
relatively few words in the 'stretch/spread' class compared to English,
but more in the strange, distant and passionate class. English is also more
stopped up and strict in /str/ than Russian. When I first began these experiemts,
I didn't think that relative percentages of this type were particularly
significant, but now I do - you know, the by now proverbial Eskimo who has
100 words for snow. It's not just a matter of what she has to deal with,
but of national character, because this principle affects every aspect of
our vocabulary, not just its most practical and physically manifest members.
Now let me present what at present is a counterexample to the proposal
made here. In German, the sequence of sounds /st/ cannot occur at the beginning
of a word. Instead, we get 'shtr'. Still, the German words with /sh//t//r/
fit as neatly into these classes as the English, German and Russian /s//t//r/.
In fact, in Texas, the sequence /str/ in English is pronounced 'shtr'.
German
Relevant /str/ Words
Star - glaucoma/star, Stär - ram, stark -
strong, starr - stiff/motionless, starren - stare, Start - start, sterben
- die, Stern - star, Sterz - plow handle/rump, Steuer - rudder/tax, stier
- fixed, Stier - bull, Stirn - forehead, Storch - stork, Store - curtain,
stören - interrupt/scratch, Storger - tramp, stornieren - annul, störrig
- stubborn, stracks - immediately, Strafe - punishment, straffe - stretched,
Strahl - beam, Strähl - comb, Strähn - lock, strakeln - stretch,
stramm - tight/strong, strampeln - kick about, Strand - shore, Strang -
rope, Strapaze - fatigue/toil, Straße - street, sträuben - bristle,
Strauch - bush, straucheln - stumble, Strauß - bunch/ostrich, Strazze
- scrapbook, Strebe - support, streben - struggle, strecken - extend, Streich
- stroke, streicheln - carress, streichen - wander/rush past/rub, Streif
- patrol, Streifen - stripe, Streik - strike, Streit - dispute, streng -
severe/stern, streuen - strew straw, Strich - streak, Strick - rope, stricken
- knit, Striegel - currycomb, Strieme - streaked, Striezel - rascal, striezen
- torment, strikt - strict, Strippe - string, strippen - striptease, Strobel
- mop of hair, Stroh - staw, Strolch - tramp/idler, Strom - stream, Strophe
- stanza, strotzen - puffed up, Strudel - eddy/pastry, Struktur - structure,
Strumpf - stocking, Strunk - trunk, struppiert - worn out, struppig - bristly,
Striwwelbart - bristly beard, stur - stubborn, sturm - storm, Sturz - plunge/fail,
Stürze - cover, Stürzel - stump, stürzen - hurl/ruin
/str/ Classes
- Straight - starr, Sterz,
Storch, straffe, Strahl, Strähl, Strähn, strakeln, stramm, Strand,
Strang, Straße, sträuben, Strauch, Strauß, strecken, Streich,
Streifen, streuen, Strich, Strick, stricken, Striegel, Strieme, Strippe,
Strobel, Stroh, Strom, Strophe, Strunk, struppig, Striwwelbart, Sturz,
Stürzel
- Strong/Strict - Star, Stär,
stark, stier, störrig, Strafe, stramm, sträuben, Strebe, Streif,
streng, strikt, Struktur, stur, sturm
- Start - Start, stracks, stürzen
- Struggle - Strapaze, streben,
Streik, Streit, striezen
- Stop - Star, starr, starren,
sterben, stier, stören, stornieren, störrig, straucheln, Streik,
struppiert, stur, Sturz, stürzen
- Strange/Distant - starren,
Stern, streuen
- Stroll - Storger, straucheln,
streichen, Strolch
- Stretch/Spread - straffe,
strakeln, stramm, strecken, stricken, strotzen, Strumpf
- Strike - stören, strampeln,
Streich, streicheln, streichen
- Exceptions - Steuer, Stirn,
Store, Strauß (flowers), Strazze, Striezel, strippen, Strudel, Stürze
The fact that these words fit so neatly into the /s//t//r/ pattern for
English shows that the picture I have outlined is not quite accurate. You
would expect that /s//t//r/ could not contribute the same meaning as /sh//t//r/,
and yet it does. In fact, probably the primary reason so little research
has been done on sound symbolism is due to phenomena like this, in which
a sound change occurs without affecting the meaning.
I am preparing Web pages about this. For now, let me just observe what
we do know for future reference:
- The 'sh'in place of /s/ in German and Texan is regular. There is no
contrasting /s//t//r/ in either case.
- The context in which the 'sh' appears is well defined, and since an
/s/ cannot appear there, the two different sounds are no longer allowable
in that position. That is, structurally, they have melded into a single
sound in that position.
- This implies that the notion of a phoneme is not adequate. That is,
it's not enough to say that a particular phoneme has a particular meaning.
You have to say that a particular phoneme has a particular meaning in a
particular (phonological) context. It is important which other phonemes
are allowed in that context. The dissolution of the phoneme is the foundation
on which lies modern generative phonology.
- This is consistent with the idea mentioned above that various aspects
of a phoneme are highlighted in various contexts. You might hypothesize
that two similar phonemes have various aspects of meaning in common and
in the contexts where one of them is changed to the other, we might guess
that only an aspect of meaning that is common to both would be allowable
there.
- The 'sh' sound is very similar to the /s/, so if the meaning of a phoneme
is based on how it is pronounced, we would expect that 'sh'would be more
similar to /s/ than is /m/, for example.
Just for fun, let me now compare /str/ in some other languages which
I do not speak, but based only on the dictionary. Native speakers of these,
please correct my misperceptions:
Albanian
/shtr/ Classes
- Straight - shtrat (bed),
stroj (lay, cover, coat)
- Strong - shtrëngat/
(gale, storm), shtrëngúes (coercive), strydh (press, squeeze)
- Start - shtróhem (get
down to)
- Struggle - shtrénjtë
(expensive), shtrëngat/ (gale, storm), shtrëngés/ (constraint),
shtrëngúes (coercive), strydh (press, squeeze)
- Stop - shtrëngés/
(constraint), shtrëng/ (tighten), strydh (press, squeeze)
- Strange/Distant - shtrémbër
(crooked, wrong, distorted)
- Stroll -
- Stretch/Spread - shtrat (bed),
shtrés/ (layer, stratum), shtríhem (lie), shtri/ (lie down,
expand, stretch), stroj (lay, cover, coat)
- Strike -
- Exceptions - struar (easy)
Catalan
/str/ Classes
- Straight - esteranyinador
(broom), estira (stretching), estret (narrow), estria (flute, groove),
estricada (long walk), estricador (pole), estricar (stretch), estríjol
(curry comb), estrip (tear), estripar (gut, draw), estrofa (verse, stanza),
estrompassar (stride over), estrop (strap), estruç (ostrich)
- Strong - esterlí (sterling),
estirada (pull, jerk, growth sprurt), estormia (cushion), estort (safe),
estrall (ruin, destruction), estrangulació (strangulation), estrenu
(vigorous, energetic), estrènyer (tighten up, clench), estrèpit
(racket, row), estrident (strident, harsh), estructura (structure)
- Start - estirada (pull, jerk,
growth sprurt), estrena (first use), estròbil (pinecone)
- Struggle - estira (stretching),
estiracabells (anar a _, have a tussel), estòrcer (escape from),
estrabisme (squinting), estrall (ruin, destruction), estrambot (burden),
estrangulació (strangulation), estraperlada (smuggling), estrateg
(strategy), estremiment (tremor), estrènyer (tighten up, clench),
estrèpit (racket, row), estret (narrow, tight), estricar (stretch)
- Stop - estar (be), estaria
(stay, sojourn), estergir (stencil), estèril (sterile), esterracar
(knock unconscious), estordir (stun, daze), estormia (cushion), estrangulació
(strangulation), estrènyer (tighten up, clench), estrep (stirrup),
estret (narrow, tight), estricte (strict), estringar (lock), estringuet
(brake), estritllar-se (clear up)
- Strange/Distant - estirabot
(absurdity), estordit (reckless), estornell (scatterbrain), estrafer (mimic,
ape), estrafet (disguised), estrafolari (outlandish), estrambòtic
(eccentric), estranger (foreign), estrany (extraneous, odd), estranyar
(exile), estrella (star), estremiment (tremor, shudder), estroncar (check
the flow of, exhaust, run dry), estruç (ostrich)
- Stroll - estòrcer
(escape from), estranyar (exile), estraperlada (smuggling), estricada (long
walk), estrident (strident, harsh), estrompassar (stride over)
- Stretch/Spread - esternudar
(sneeze), estarrufar (bristle up, stand on end), esteranyinador (broom),
estira (stretching), estor (curtain), estorar (cover,carpet), estoret (fire
fan), estrada (platform), estramp (free verse), estrassa (rag), estratificar
(stratify), estrebar (pull out), estrènyer (tighten up, clench),
estricar (stretch), estrip (tear), estrompassar (stride over)
- Strike/Tear - esterracar
(knock unconscious), esterrajar (scarify), estrall (ruin, destruction),
estrangulació (strangulation), estrip (tear), estronxar (damage,
injure), estronyar (break, smash, shatter), estropellar (damage, spoil)
- Exceptions - estirp (stock,
lineage, race), estragó (tarragon), estri (gear, equipment), estripall
(scrap)
-
Greek
/str/ Classes
- Straight - sterope (flash
of lightning), sortheksi (deer horn), streblou (twist, strain tight), streptos
(flexible, twisted pastry), strefe (spin, twist a rope, torture, stick
close to something, be at large), strobeo (twist, whirl), sturax (fragrant
gum, spike)
- Strong - stereos (stiff,
stark, firm, solid), sternon (breast, chest), sterope (flash of lightning),
sterros (solid, strong, stiff, stubborn), straggalizo (strangle), straggeuomai
(squezze onself, loiter), stragx (that which is squeezed out), strateusimos
(servicable), strateuo (serve in the war), strategeo (be a general, command),
stratos (encamped army), streblou (twist, strain tight), strefe (spin,
twist a rope, torture, stick close to something, be at large), stronos
(hard, rough harsh), strofnos (astringent taste), sturax (fragrant gum,
spike)
- Start -
- Struggle - straggalizo (strangle),
straggeuomai (squezze onself, loiter), stragx (that which is squeezed out),
strateuo (serve in the war), stratos (encamped army), streblou (twist,
strain tight), strefe (spin, twist a rope, torture, stick close to something,
be at large), stronos (hard, rough harsh), stroniau (run a riot, wax wanton)
- Stop - stereos (stiff, stark,
firm, solid), stereo (deprive, bereave), steromai (to be wanting, to lack),
sterros (solid, strong, stiff, stubborn), storennomi (shortened, calm,
soothe), straggalizo (strangle), straggeuomai (squezze onself, loiter),
strapto (lighten), stratos (encamped army), streblou (twist, strain tight)
- Strange/Distant - strateia
(expedition, campaign), streblos (twisted, crooked), stroniau (run a riot,
wax wanton), strofnos (astringent taste), strofau (turn, wander about)
- Stroll - straggeuomai (squezze
onself, loiter), strateia (expedition, campaign), strefe (spin, twist a
rope, torture, stick close to something, be at large)
- Stretch/Spread - storennomi
(spread clothes on a bed, spread, strew, pave a road), streblou (twist,
strain tight), stroma (anything stretched out for lysing on)
- Strike/Tear - stereo (deprive,
bereave), sterope (flash of lightning), straggalizo (strangle), straggeuomai
(squezze onself, loiter), stragx (that which is squeezed out), strefe (spin,
twist a rope, torture, stick close to something, be at large), stroniau
(run a riot, wax wanton)
- Exceptions - strergo (love
between parent and child, be content with)
- There is an /str/ class of turning and whirling in Greek.
Hindi
/str/ Classes
- Straight - sitar (stringed
instrument), sutari (heavy needle), sutr (thread, origin, source, formula)
- Strong - astra (armed), satark
(alert), sthir (fixed, firm, unmoving)
- Start - sutr (thread, origin,
source, formula)
- Struggle - satrañj
(chess), satru (enemy), satr (angrily)
- Stop - sthir (fixed, firm,
unmoving)
- Strange/Distant - sitara
(star, fate)
- Stroll -
- Stretch/Spread - astar (lining,
petticoat), sitri (iron), satrañji (floor covering), sathri (small
mat), star (level, grade)
- Strike/Tear - ustra (razor,
cheat)
- Exceptions - sattar (70),
sutar (carpenter, craftsman), su-tar (good occasion), stri (woman)
Indonesian
/str/ Classes
- Straight - setrik (hair ribbon),
setrip (line, stripe, slash), setrum (electric current, induce), siter
(zither)
- Strong - satron (be hostile
toward), kesatria (noble, knight), kesturi (musk), setir (drive, wield
control over), setrap (punishment), setru (enemy), setrum (electric current,
induce), sitrun (citron), streng (strict), stromking (high pressure lantern)
- Start - setrum (electric
current, induce)
- Struggle - kesut ter (frightened),
seotri (quarrel, bicker), setoter (stutter), setru (enemy)
- Stop - setor (deposit), streng
(strict)
- Strange/Distant - setrip
(crazy)
- Stroll -
- Stretch/Spread - seterika
(iron, flatten, smash), strata (levels), strimin (fabric for lining), sutera
(silk)
- Strike/Tear - seterika (iron,
flatten, smash)
- Exceptions - satru (cookie),
setrop (fruit drink)
Irish
/str/ Classes
- Straight - starr (tooth,
tusk, jut, rough pull, fit of anger, round of boxing, sturdy), starran
(projection), steotar (sugar stick), storn (straddle pin), straibeir (lash),
straic (strip of cloth, stroke of a cane, state, level, pride), straille
(tall, lazy aimless person), straimead (tape, streamer, heavy stroke),
straip (strap), stran (prominent tooth), strapa (strap), strat (stay between
masts), streaclan (band, gaiter), strearac (tree creeper), strileaman (long,
nervous person), strioc (stripe, repentance), striocail (making tracks,
striving), striolla (girth, girdle), strior (impulse, gust, enthusiasm,
stripe), strioradan (anything hanging, limp), striopan (strip, streamer),
striopar (strip, tatter), stroc (iron keel band), stropa (strope), struic
(crest, ridge), strup (curved spout), strut (ostrich), sutrog (candle)
- Strong - feistear (regulation,
equipment), sataire (pusher, intruder), seitreac (strong, sturdy, braying,
sneeze), siotrail (bellowing), sotaire (strong fellow), starr (tooth, tusk,
jut, rough pull, fit of anger, round of boxing, sturdy), starramail (sturdy,
resolute), starranac (troublesome, stubborn), starrog (hill, summit, obstinant
female), stiuir (steering, guiding, attitude), storc (large animal or person),
storfath (snort), straic (strip of cloth, stroke of a cane, state, level,
pride), straimead (tape, streamer, heavy stroke), strairiun (audacity),
strapaire (vigorous, well-built person), streaclac (drag, pull), strior
(impulse, gust, enthusiasm, stripe), striorac (windy, rough), stro (stress,
excitement, dallying, tyrrany), stroinear (overbearing, uppish), sturraide
(impudent person), sturralac (sturdy)
- Start -
- Struggle - sataire (pusher,
intruder), siotram (tantrum), starr (tooth, tusk, jut, rough pull, fit
of anger, round of boxing, sturdy), starram (stutter), starramail (sturdy,
resolute), starranac (troublesome, stubborn), starrog (hill, summit, obstinant
female), stracail (trudging), stradain (fit of temper), straille (mat,
carpet, anything confused), straimp (displeasure, huff), strainnc (grimace),
strairiun (audacity), strangad (pulling, twitching), straoi (great effort),
streaclac (drag, pull), strearail (climbing), streill (crying expression),
strileaman (long, nervous person), strioc (stripe, repentance), striocail
(making tracks, striving), striorac (windy, rough), stro (stress, excitement,
dallying, tyrrany), strogadgail (struggling), stroigreamail (combative),
stroinear (overbearing, uppish), strucail (negotiating, huckstering), struirim
(stress, break), strus (stress, difficulty), sturraide (impudent person)
- Stop - feistear (regulation,
equipment), istir (in), ostar (food stores, inn-keeper), satarn (Saturday),
seatar (gland, library, bookcase), sotairealta (placid), starram (stutter),
starrogact (staring), startoir (historian), stioroip (stirrup), store (store,
treasure), stracail (trudging), straic (strip of cloth, stroke of a cane,
state, level, pride), straille (tall, lazy aimless person), strainin (colander),
stran (delay), strat (stay between masts), streara (stile), striolla (girth,
girdle), striomuigte (rigid, stiff in the legs), stro (stress, excitement,
dallying, tyrrany), stroigin (cement), stronncugad (stiffening), struirin
(weaver's glue)
- Strange/Distant - astranac
(wayfarer), astrolaide (soothsayer), straille (mat, carpet, anything confused),
straillin (untidy, awkward), straipleac (anything unkempt), strampalaide
(awkward person), strampalta (trampling, awkward), streabog (useless article),
streacla (trifle), straclanac (straggling, ragged), strodaire (good for
nothing), stroile (aimless person), stroiliur (careless), stroinre (stranger,
vagrant), stroinrearta (foreign), strullog (clumsy female), strut (ostrich)
- Stroll - astranac (wayfarer),
stracail (trudging), strae (wondering, stray), strearail (climbing), striocail
(making tracks, striving)
- Stretch/Spread - seitreac
(strong, sturdy, braying, sneeze), starrog (hill, summit, obstinant female),
strabaille (prodigality), strabar (big mouth, grin), straboid (prostitute),
straca (stratum, layer), straille (mat, carpet, anything confused), straoideac
(waster), streannc (splash), streanncan (tune, lilt, rush of fluid), striapac
(harlot), strioradan (anything hanging, limp), triorail (undressing), struic
(crest, ridge)
- Strike/Tear - starr (tooth,
tusk, jut, rough pull, fit of anger, round of boxing, sturdy), stiuraide
(hussy), straibeir (lash), straic (strip of cloth, stroke of a cane, state,
level, pride), straillead (act of rending), straimead (tape, streamer,
heavy stroke), strampail (stamping, striking), strampalta (trampling, awkward),
striopar (strip, tatter), striudai (parts), stro (stress, excitement, dallying,
tyrrany), stroc (stroke, sharp pang), stroic (tatter), struirim (stress,
break)
- Exceptions - iostar (entertainment,
lodging), stirean (sturgeon), striog (small drop), stur (dust), sutrall
(lamp)
Lithuanian
/str/ Classes
- Straight - stirta (stack),
straublys (trunk, probiscus), strele (arrow), strenos (loins), strigti
(stick), strykas (bow, fiddlestick), strofa (stanza), strutis (ostrich)
- Strong - stropumas (diligence,
industry), struktura (structure)
- Start -
- Struggle - striukas (short,
hard time), stropumas (diligence, industry)
- Stop - streikas (strike),
striukas (short, hard time)
- Strange/Distant - strutis
(ostrich)
- Stretch/Spread -
- Strike/Tear - strele (arrow)
- Exceptions - stirna (roe,
venison), strapsnis (article), strazdana (freckle), strazdas (thrush)
Welsh
/str/ Classes
- Straight - estrys (ostrich),
strap (strap), streip (stripe), stribed (strip), strimyn (belt), strip
(strip), stryd (street), sturmant (Jew's harp)
- Strong - storm (storm), strwytur
(structure)
- Start -
- Struggle - astrus (difficult),
straen (strain), strwr (noise, bustle, fuss)
- Stop - starts (starch), stor
(store, reserve), storfan (depot), streic (strike), stroc (stroke, seizure)
- Strange/Distant - estron
(foreigner), estrys (ostrich), stranc (trick), strim-stram-strellach (helter
skelter)
- Stretch/Spread - straegar
(gossiper), strata (strata), strim-stram-strellach (helter skelter)
- Strike/Tear - streic (strike)
- Exceptions - starn (stern)
Other languages and the sequence
/str/
Aramaic, Arabic, Armenian, Basque, Chinese, Georgian, Hawaiian,
Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese have almost no words containing /str/.
Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Polish, Serbian, Slovak work very much like
Russian
Danish, Icelandic, Swedish work like Norwegian.
Dutch works like German.
French, Italian, Latin, Spanish work like Catalan.
Words containing /str/ in Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Turkish are nearly
all loan words from Greek, Latin, Russian.
Margo's Magical Letter Page