Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tundra” come from?

Tundra comes from Russian ту́ндра, borrowed from Kildin Sami тӯннтрэ, which derives from Kildin Sami тӯнтар, ultimately from Proto-Samic tuontër.

tundra (English): A flat and treeless Arctic biome

Definitions

  1. A flat and treeless Arctic biome

Ancestry of “tundra”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianту́ндра—
2Kildin Samiтӯннтрэ—
3Kildin Samiтӯнтарfell; fjeld
4Proto-Samictuontërfell

Words derived from “tundra”

  • tundral
Every word from Proto-Samic tuontër →