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13. I think it is just a holdover from the German

Sun Oct 20, 2013, 01:37 PM

Oct 2013

In German, they never say "Thun," but rather "Thunfisch," and I think that's where our word for it came from.

It's pretty much the same in the Germanic and Latin languages, and it sounds like a linguistic hand-me-down.

Most fish names in German have two or three syllables, which may be why they say "Thunfisch." It could be for no other reason than keeping the cadence of the language going in conversation. "Cod," for example, is "kabeljau," which is similar to the French "Cabillaud." Curiously, the only widely eaten fish that the Germans are comfortable with using one syllable is one where English and the Frensh use a two-syllable word. "Salmon (saumon in French)" is "Lachs" in German (morphed into "lox" for New York Delis).

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Why do we say Tuna Fish? Is there a Tuna Beef? Tuna Chicken? Tuna Pork? [View all] RushIsRot Oct 2013 OP

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Two more... pipi_k Oct 2013 #7

Obviously required by the Department of Redundant Redundancies. RushIsRot Oct 2013 #8

I thought it was the Department of Redundancy Department... Wounded Bear Oct 2013 #15

Here's another: RPMs bluesbassman Oct 2013 #12

How about this: Marie Marie Oct 2013 #24

How about a "hot water heater"? Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #35

It should actually be mockmonkey Oct 2013 #9

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The net doesn't care! n/t mockmonkey Oct 2013 #14

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Showing my advanced age: I'd walk a mile for a Camel. RushIsRot Oct 2013 #19

The guy in those Camel commercials had pretty lousy shoes Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #36

I think it is just a holdover from the German DFW Oct 2013 #13

Tune a piano. n/t retread Oct 2013 #18

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Then you would have sole ownership. n/t retread Oct 2013 #30

Me and my loan shark pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #40

If you work for scale. retread Oct 2013 #44

I cod do that, though I'd like to Mako even Moray pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #45

I know! What's the deal with that? Arugula Latte Oct 2013 #20

When say "Tuna Fish" around the house when discussions are becoming too heated. Solly Mack Oct 2013 #21

We also always say, "cod fish". Graybeard Oct 2013 #22

You beat me to it n/t UTUSN Oct 2013 #23

well that could be azurnoir Oct 2013 #25

Because Mary Poppins used the term? Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #37

It's always a good idea to identify a Blow Fish by it's full name. Just saying "Blow"... bluesbassman Oct 2013 #27

I wonder why we don't say: Demoiselle Oct 2013 #28

There is actually the term "beef cow" Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #38

You're right, of course. But it doesn't show up in the meat case at the supermarket. Demoiselle Oct 2013 #43

Tuna fish is the chicken of the sea. alarimer Oct 2013 #29

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you can't tuna fish! warrprayer Oct 2013 #32

Well, that's what I say next time I'm not and somebody sez "Water ya waitin for?" struggle4progress Oct 2013 #33

lulz n/t warrprayer Oct 2013 #34

Like this ... JustABozoOnThisBus Oct 2013 #41

Why do people say "chai tea"? Or "ATM machine"? kentauros Oct 2013 #39

I always associated it with the German word "Thunfische" Recursion Oct 2013 #42