Where does “vedenhaltija” come from?

vedenhaltija (Finnish) comes from Finnish vesi, from Proto-Finnic veci, from Arabic وعاء — vessel, container, bowl.

vedenhaltija (Finnish): merman, water spirit

Definitions

  1. merman, water spirit

Ancestry of “vedenhaltija”, step by step

vedenhaltija traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Finnish vesi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishvesiwater; lake; rheum
2Proto-Finnicveciwater
3Arabicوعاءvessel, container, bowl

via Finnish haltija

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishhaltijaholder, occupant; possessor, occupant; elf
2Proto-Norseᚺᚨᛚᛞᛁᛃᚨᛉholder
Every word from Arabic وعاء →Every word from Proto-Finnic veci →Every word from Finnish vesi →