Editing Scythian languages (section)

== Corpus ==

=== Inscriptions ===

Some scholars ascribe certain inscribed objects found in the [[Carpathian Basin]] and in [[Central Asia]] to the Scythians, but the interpretation of these inscriptions remains disputed (given that nobody has definitively identified the alphabet or translated the content).

===Issyk inscription===
The [[Issyk inscription]] is not yet certainly deciphered, and is probably in a Scythian dialect, constituting one of very few [[autochthonous language|autochthonous]] epigraphic traces of that language. [[János Harmatta]], using the [[Kharoṣṭhī]] script, identified the language as a [[Khotanese Saka]] dialect spoken by the [[Kushans]], tentatively translating:{{sfn|Harmatta|1992|p=412}}
{| class ="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Issyk inscription
|-
!Line
!Transliteration
!English translation
|- 
| '''1'''
| {{transliteration|xsc|za(ṃ)-ri ko-la(ṃ) mi(ṃ)-vaṃ vaṃ-va pa-zaṃ pa-na de-ka mi(ṃ)-ri-to}}
| {{lang|en|The vessel should hold wine of grapes, added cooked food, so much, to the mortal, }}
|-
| '''2'''
| {{transliteration|xsc|ña-ka mi pa-zaṃ vaṃ-va va-za(ṃ)-na vaṃ.}}
| {{lang|en|then added cooked fresh butter on}}
|-
|}

=== Personal names ===

The primary sources for Scythian words remain the Scythian toponyms, tribal names, and numerous personal names in the ancient Greek texts and in the Greek inscriptions found in the Greek colonies on the Northern [[Black Sea]] Coast. These names suggest that the Sarmatian language had close similarities to modern Ossetian.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lincoln |first1=Bruce |title=Once again 'the Scythian' myth of origins (Herodotus 4.5–10) |journal=Nordlit |date=2014 |volume=33 |issue=<!-- Citation bot no-->|pages=19–34 |doi=10.7557/13.3188|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Recorded Scythian personal names include:

{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Attested forms !! Notes 
|-
| [[Ariapeithes|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Ariyapaiϑah}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Αριαπειθης|translit=Ariapeithēs}}
|| Composed of:{{sfn|Hinz|1975|page=[https://archive.org/details/AltiranischesSprachgutDerNebenberlieferungen/page/n19/mode/2up 40]}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018a}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2011}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*Ariya-}}, meaning "[[Aryan]]" and "[[Iranian peoples|Iranic]]."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*paiϑah-}}, meaning "decoration" and "adornment." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬞𐬀𐬉𐬯𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|paēsa}}).
|-
| [[Idanthyrsus|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Hiϑāmϑrauša}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Ιδανθυρσος|translit=Idanthursos}}
|| Meaning "prospering the ally." Composed of:{{sfn|Schwartz|Manaster Ramer|2019|p=359-360}}
:a cognate of [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬵𐬌𐬚𐬄𐬨}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|hiϑąm}}), meaning "companion."
:a cognate of [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬚𐬭𐬀𐬊𐬱}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|ϑraoš-}}), meaning "to prosper."
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Hupāyā}}
|| {{langx|grc|Οποιη|translit=Opoiē}}
|| Composed of:{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*hu-}}, "good."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*pāyā-}}, "protection"; an abstraction of the root {{Transliteration|xsc|*pā-}}, "to protect."
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Pālaka}}
|| {{langx|grc|Παλακος|translit=Palakos}}
|| From an earlier form {{transliteration|xsc|*Pāδaka}} after the evolution of Proto-Iranic /d/ to Proto-Scythian /δ/ to Scythian /l/. Means "tall-legged" and "long-legged." Composed of:{{sfn|Kullanda|Raevskiy|2004|p=93}}{{sfn|Tokhtasyev|2005a|p=88}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*pāla-}}, "foot," from earlier {{Transliteration|xsc|*pāδa-}}.
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-ka}}, hypocoristic suffix.
|-
| [[Bartatua|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Pṛtatavah}}]]
| rowspan="2"| {{langx|akk|{{cuneiform|11|𒁹𒁇𒋫𒌅𒀀}}|translit=Bartatua}} or {{Transliteration|akk|Partatua}}<ref>{{harvnb|Ivantchik|1999b|pp=508–509}}: "Though Madyes himself is not mentioned in Akkadian texts, his father, the Scythian king {{Transliteration|akk|Par-ta-tu-a}}, whose identification with {{lang|grc|Προτοθύης}} of Herodotus is certain."</ref><br/> {{langx|grc|Προτοθυης|translit=Protothuēs}} 
|| Means "who is mighty in battle." Composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2011|p=63}}{{sfn|Kullanda|Raevskiy|2004|p=94}}{{sfn|Melikov|2016|p=78-80}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*pṛta-}} "battle." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬞𐬆𐬱𐬀𐬥𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|pəšana}}) and [[Vedic Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa|पृत्}} ({{Transliteration|sa|pṛt-}}), both meaning "battle."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-tavah-}} "strength, power." Compare with Avestan {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬙𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬵}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|-tauuah-}}).
|-
| [[Bartatua|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Pr̥ϑutavā}}]]
|Composed of:<ref>{{cite web |last=Schmitt |first=Rüdiger |author-link=Rüdiger Schmitt |date=2000 |title=PROTOTHYES |url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/protothyes |access-date=12 November 2021 |website=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |publisher=}}</ref>{{sfn|Bukharin|2011}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*pr̥ϑu-}} "wide, broad." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬞𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬚𐬎}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|pərᵊϑu-}}).
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-tavah-}} "strength, power." Compare with Avestan {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬙𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬵}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|-tauuah-}}).
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Šaitafarna}}
|| {{langx|grc|Σαιταφαρνος|translit=Saitapharnos}} or {{langx|grc|Σαιταφαρνης|translit=Saitapharnēs}}
|| From a sibilisation of Proto-Scythian {{Transliteration|xsc|*Xšaitafarna}},{{sfn|Kullanda|2014|p=81}} possibly meaning "with a bright [[khvarenah|{{Transliteration|xsc|farna}}]]," itself composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2013|p=273-274}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*xšaita-}}, "brilliant."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-farna}}, "[[khvarenah]]."
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Šaϑraka}}
|| {{langx|grc|Σατρακης|translit=Satrakēs}}
|| From a sibilisation of Proto-Scythian {{Transliteration|xsc|*Xšaϑraka}},{{sfn|Kullanda|2014|p=81}} itself composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2013|p=270-271}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*xšaϑra-}}, "power."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-ka}}, hypocoristic suffix.
Cognate with [[Ossetian language|Ossetian]] {{lang|os|Æхсæртæг}} ({{Transliteration|os|Æxsærtæg}}){{sfn|Alemany|2006|p=33}} and {{lang|os|Æхсæртæггатӕ}} ({{Transliteration|os|Æxsærtæggatæ}}).{{sfn|Ivantchik|2005|p=183}}
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Šīraka}}
|| {{langx|grc|Σιρακης|translit=Sirakēs}}
|| From a sibilisation of Proto-Scythian {{Transliteration|xsc|*Xšīraka}},{{sfn|Kullanda|2014|p=81}} possibly meaning "milk-consumer," itself composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2013|p=270-271}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*xšīra-}}, "milk."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-ka}}, hypocoristic suffix.
|-
| [[Scilurus|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Skilura}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Σκιλουρος|translit=Skilouros}}
|| From an earlier form {{transliteration|xsc|*Skiδura}} after the evolution of Proto-Iranic /d/ to Proto-Scythian /δ/ to Scythian /l/. Means "sharp" and "victorious."{{sfn|Kullanda|Raevskiy|2004|p=93}}
|-
| [[Scyles|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Skula}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Σκυλης|translit=Skulēs}}
|| From the Scythian [[Endonym and exonym|endonym]] {{Transliteration|xsc|*Skula}}, itself a later dialectal form of {{Transliteration|xsc|*Skuδa}} resulting from a sound change from /δ/ to /l/.{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}}
|-
| [[Išpakaia|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Spakāya}}]]
|| {{langx|akk|{{cuneiform|11|𒁹𒅖𒉺𒅗𒀀𒀀}}|translit=Išpakāya}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Išpakaia [CHIEFTAIN OF THE SCYTHIANS] (RN) |url=http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/cbd/qpn/x00033830.html |website=[[Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus]] |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania]] |access-date=2023-04-30 |archive-date=2023-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430004048/http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/cbd/qpn/x00033830.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|| Hypocoristic derivation from the word {{Transliteration|xsc|*spaka}}, meaning "dog."{{sfn|Ivantchik|2005|p=188}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2009|p=93–94}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018a}}
|-
| [[Spargapises|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Spargapis}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Σπαργαπισης|translit=Spargapisēs}}
|| Composed of:{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018a}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018b}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2011}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*sparga-}} "scion" and "descendant." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬆𐬖𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|sparᵊγa}}).
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*pis-}} "decoration" and "adornment." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬞𐬀𐬉𐬯𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|paēsa}}).
{{Transliteration|xsc|*Spargapis}} and {{Transliteration|xsc|*Spargapaiϑah}} are variants of the same name.{{sfn|Hinz|1975||page=[https://archive.org/details/AltiranischesSprachgutDerNebenberlieferungen/page/n111/mode/2up 226]}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018b}}
|-
| [[Spargapeithes (disambiguation)|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Spargapaiϑah}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Σπαργαπειθης|translit=Spargapeithēs}}
|| Composed of:{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018b}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018a}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2011}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*sparga-}} "scion" and "descendant." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬆𐬖𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|sparᵊγa}}).
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*paiϑah-}} "decoration" and "adornment." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬞𐬀𐬉𐬯𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|paēsa}}).
{{Transliteration|xsc|*Spargapaiϑah}} and {{Transliteration|xsc|*Spargapis}} are variants of the same name.{{sfn|Hinz|1975||page=[https://archive.org/details/AltiranischesSprachgutDerNebenberlieferungen/page/n111/mode/2up 226]}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2018b}}
|-
| [[Tirgatao|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Tigratavā}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Τιργαταω|translit=Tirgataō}}
|| Means "with the strength of an arrow." Composed of:<ref>{{cite book |last=Mayor |first=Adrienne |author-link=Adrienne Mayor |date=2014 |title=The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient World |url= |location=[[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], [[United States]] |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |pages=370–371 |isbn=978-0-691-14720-8 }}</ref>{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*tigra-}} "arrow." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬙𐬌𐬖𐬭𐬌}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|tiγri-}}), "arrow."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-tavah-}} "strength, power." Compare with Avestan {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬙𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬵}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|-tauuah-}}).
|-
| [[Tomyris|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Taumuriya}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Τομυρις|translit=Tomuris}}
|| Derived from a cognate of [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬙𐬀𐬊𐬑𐬨𐬀𐬥}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|taoxman}}) and [[Old Persian]] {{lang|peo|{{script|Xpeo|{{small|[[wikt:𐎫𐎢𐎶𐎠|𐎫𐎢𐎶𐎠]]}}}}}} ({{Transliteration|peo|taumā}}), meaning "seed," "germ," and "kinship."{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}
|-
| [[Octamasades|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Uxtamazatā}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Οκταμασαδης|translit=Oktamasadēs}}
|| Means "possessing greatness through his words." Composed of:{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*uxta-}}, "word." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬎𐬑𐬙𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|uxta}}), "spoken," and {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬎𐬑𐬜𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|uxδa}}), "word."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-mazatā-}}, "great."
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Varika}}
|| {{langx|grc|Ορικος|translit=Orikos}}
|| Hypocorostic derivation from the word {{Transliteration|xsc|*vari-}}, meaning "chest armour, armour." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬬𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|vaⁱri-}}), {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬭𐬌}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|uuari-}}) "chest armour."{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}
|}

===Tribal names===
Recorded Scythian tribal names include:

{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Attested forms !! Notes 
|-
| [[Agathyrsi|{{transliteration|xsc|*Haxāϑrauša}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Αγαϑυρσοι|translit=Agathursoi}}
|| Means "prospering the friend/socius." Composed of:{{sfn|Schwartz|Manaster Ramer|2019|p=359-360}}
:a cognate of [[Old Persian]] {{lang|peo|𐏃𐎧𐎠}} ({{Transliteration|ae|haxā-}}), meaning "friend."
:a cognate of [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬚𐬭𐬀𐬊𐬱}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|ϑraoš-}}), meaning "to prosper."
|-
| [[Siraces|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Šīraka}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Σιρακες|translit=Sirakes}}
|| From a sibilisation of Proto-Scythian {{Transliteration|xsc|*Xšīraka}},{{sfn|Kullanda|2014|p=81}} possibly meaning "milk-consumer," itself composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2013|p=270-271}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*xšīra-}}, "milk."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-ka}}, hypocoristic suffix.
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc-x-pontic|*Skuδa|}}{{sfn|Tokhtasyev|2005a|p=68-84}}{{sfn|Tokhtasyev|2005b|p=296}}
|| {{langx|akk|{{cuneiform|11|𒅖𒆪𒍝𒀀𒀀}}|translit=Iškuzaya}}
:::{{lang|akk|{{cuneiform|11|𒊍𒄖𒍝𒀀𒀀}}}} ({{Transliteration|akk|Asguzaya}})
:::{{lang|akk|{{cuneiform|11|𒊍𒆪𒍝𒀀𒀀}}}} ({{Transliteration|akk|Askuzaya}})
:::{{lang|akk|{{cuneiform|11|𒀾𒄖𒍝𒀀𒀀}}}} ({{Transliteration|akk|Ašguzaya}})
{{langx|grc|Σκυθαι|translit=Skuthai}}
|| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Skuδa}}, the Scythian endonym,{{sfn|Tokhtasyev|2005a|p=68-84}}{{sfn|Tokhtasyev|2005b|p=296}}

From the Proto-Indo-European root ''{{PIE|skewd-}}'', itself meaning {{lit|shooter, archer}}, whence also English "{{Transliteration|en|shoot}}".{{sfn|Szemerényi|1980|p=20-21}}
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Skula}}
|| {{langx|grc|Σκωλοτοι|translit=Skōlotoi}}{{sfn|Witczak|1999|p=52-53}}{{sfn|Novák|2013|p=10}}
|| Later form of {{Transliteration|xsc|*Skuδa}} resulting from the evolution of Proto-Scythian /δ/ into Scythian /l/.{{sfn|Tokhtasyev|2005a|p=68-84}}
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Paralāta}}
|| {{langx|grc|Παραλαται|translit=Paralatai}}{{sfn|Witczak|1999|p=52-53}}{{sfn|Novák|2013|p=10}}
|| Cognate with Young Avestan {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬀𐬜𐬁𐬙𐬀‎}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|Paraδāta}}), meaning "placed at the front."{{sfn|Schmitt|2018a}}
|}

===Place names===
Some scholars believe that many toponyms and hydronyms of the Russian and Ukrainian steppe have Scythian links. For example, [[Max Vasmer|Vasmer]] associates the name of the river [[Don River, Russia|Don]] with an assumed/reconstructed unattested Scythian word *''dānu'' "water, river", and with Avestan ''dānu-'', Pashto ''dand'' and Ossetian ''don''.<ref>[[Max Vasmer|M. Vasmer]], ''Untersuchungen über die ältesten Wohnsitze der Slaven. Die Iranier in Südrußland'', Leipzig 1923, 74.</ref>
The river names [[Don River (Russia)|Don]], [[Donets]], [[Dnieper]], [[Danube]], and [[Dniester]], and lake [[Donuzlav]] (the deepest one in [[Crimea]]) may also belong with the same word-group.<ref>{{cite journal|author1-link=Paul Kretschmer|first1=Paul|last1= Kretschmer|title= Zum Balkan-Skythischen|journal=Glotta|volume= 24 |date=1935|pages= 1–56 [7–56]|jstor=40265408|issue=1–2}}</ref>

Recorded Scythian place names include:

{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Attested forms !! Notes 
|-
| [[Dnieper|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Baurustāna}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Βορυσθενης|translit=Borusthenēs}}
|| Means "place of beavers." Composed of:{{sfn|Kullanda|2013|p=39-41}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*bauru-}} "beaver." Cognate of:
:* [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬠𐬀𐬡𐬭𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|baβra}}) and {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬠𐬀𐬡𐬭𐬌‎}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|baβri}}), meaning "beaver"
:* [[Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa|बभ्रु}} ({{Transliteration|sa|babhrú}}) and {{lang|sa|बभ्रुक}} ({{Transliteration|sa|bábhruka}}), meaning "mongoose"
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*stāna}} "space."
|-
| {{lang|xsc|*Dānu}}
|| {{langx|grc|Ταναις|translit=Tanais}}
|| Means "river."{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}
|-
| {{lang|xsc|*Pantikapa}}
|| {{langx|grc|Παντικαπαιον|translit=Pantikapaion}}
|| Means "fish-path." Composed of:<ref>{{cite book |last=Diakonoff |first=I. M. |author-link=Igor M. Diakonoff |editor-last=Gershevitch |editor-first=Ilya |editor-link=Ilya Gershevitch |date=1985 |title=The Cambridge History of Iran |volume=2 |chapter=Media |url= |location=[[Cambridge]] |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |pages=93 |isbn=978-0-521-20091-2 }}</ref>
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*panti-}}, "path." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬞𐬀𐬧‎𐬙𐬃‎}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|paṇ‎tā̊}}), "path."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*kapa-}}, "fish." Compare with Khotanese [[Saka language|Saka]] {{Transliteration|kho|kavā}}, [[Ossetian language|Ossetian]] {{lang|os|{{script|Cyrl|Кӕф}}}} {{Transliteration|os|kæf}}, and [[Pashto]] [[wiktionary:کب#Pashto|کب]] (Kab).
|-
| [[Volga|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Rahā}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Ρα|translit=Rha}}
|| Means "wetness." Compare with [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬭𐬀𐬢𐬵𐬁}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|raŋhā}}) and [[Vedic Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa|{{script|Deva|रसा}}}} ({{Transliteration|sa|rasā́}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arang-river |title=ARANG |last=Brunner |first=C. J. |date=1986 |website=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |publisher= |access-date=13 August 2022 |quote=Middle Persian {{Transliteration|pal|Arang|italics=no}}/{{Transliteration|pal|Arag|italics=no}} renders Avestan {{Transliteration|ae|Raŋhā|italics=no}}, which is cognate with the Scythian name {{Transliteration|grc|Rhâ|italics=no}} ({{Transliteration|xsc|*Rahā|italics=no}}) transmitted by Ptolemy }}</ref>
|-
| [[Don (river)|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Varu}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Οαρος|translit=Oaros}}
|| Means "broad."{{sfn|Harmatta|1999|p=129}}
|}

=== Herodotus' Scythian etymologies ===

The Greek historian [[Herodotus]] provides another source of Scythian; he reports that the Scythians called the [[Amazons]] ''Oiorpata'', and explains the name as a compound of ''oior'', meaning "man", and ''pata'', meaning "to kill" (''Hist''. 4,110).

* Most scholars associate ''oior'' "man" with Avestan ''vīra-'' "man, hero", Sanskrit ''vīra-'', Latin ''vir'' (gen. ''virī'') "man, hero, husband",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://latindictionary.wikidot.com/noun:vir|title = Vir – the Latin Dictionary}}</ref> PIE {{PIE|*''wiHrós''}}. Various explanations account for ''pata'' "kill":
*# Persian ''pat-'' "(to) kill", ''patxuste'' "killed";<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gharib|first1=B.|title=Sogdian Dictionary, Sogdian-Persian-English|date=1995|publisher=Farhangan Publications|location=Tehran, Iran|isbn=964-5558-06-9|page=376}}</ref>
*# Sogdian ''pt-'' "(to) kill", ''ptgawsty'' "killed";<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gharib|first1=B.|title=Sogdian Dictionary, Sogdian-Persian-English|date=1995|publisher=Farhangan Publications|location=Tehran, Iran|isbn=964-5558-06-9|page=376}}</ref>
*# Ossetian ''fædyn'' "cleave", Sanskrit ''pātayati'' "fell", PIE {{PIE|*''peth₂''-}} "fall".<ref>
[[Ladislav Zgusta|L. Zgusta]], "Skythisch {{lang|grc|οἰόρπατα «ἀνδροκτόνοι»}}", ''Annali dell’Istituto Universario Orientale di Napoli'' 1 (1959) pp. 151–156.
</ref>
*# Avestan ''paiti-'' "lord", Sanskrit ''páti'', PIE {{PIE|*''pótis''}}, cf. Lat. ''potestate'' (i.e. "man-ruler");<ref>
Vasmer, ''Die Iranier in Südrußland'', 1923, 15.
</ref>
*# Ossetian ''maryn'' "kill", Pashto ''mrəl'', Sanskrit ''mārayati'', PIE {{PIE|*''mer''-}} "die" (confusion of Greek [[Mu (letter)|Μ]] and [[Pi (letter)|Π]]);<ref>
[[Vasily Abaev|V.I. Abaev]], ''Osetinskij jazyk i fol’klor'', Moscow / Leningrad 1949, vol. 1, 172, 176, 188.
</ref>
* Alternatively, one scholar suggests Iranic ''aiwa-'' "one" + ''warah-'' "breast",<ref>{{harvnb|Hinge|2005|pp=94–98}}</ref> the Amazons believed to have removed a breast to aid drawing a bow, according to some ancient folklorists, and as reflected in Greek [[folk-etymology]]: ''[[privative a|a-]]'' (privative) + ''mazos'', "without [[breast]]".

Elsewhere Herodotus explains the name of the mythical one-eyed tribe [[Arimaspi|Arimaspoi]] as a compound of the Scythian words ''arima'', meaning "one", and ''spu'', meaning "eye" (''Hist''. 4,27).

* Some scholars connect ''arima'' "one" with Ossetian ''ærmæst'' "only", Avestic ''airime'' "quiet", Greek ''erēmos'' "empty", PIE {{PIE|*''h₁(e)rh₁mo''-}}?, and ''spu'' "eye" with Avestic ''spas-'' "foretell", Sanskrit ''spaś-'', PIE {{PIE|*''speḱ''-}} "see".<ref>
[[Josef Markwart|J. Marquart]]<!--name spelling changed in 1922-->, ''Untersuchungen zur Geschichte von Eran'', Göttingen 1905, 90–92;
Vasmer, ''Die Iranier in Südrußland'', 1923, 12;
[[H.H. Schaeder]], ''Iranica. I: Das Auge des Königs'', Berlin 1934, 16–19.
</ref>
* However, Iranic usually expresses "one" and "eye" with words like ''aiwa-'' and ''čašman-'' (Ossetian ''īw'' and ''cæst'').
* Other scholars reject Herodotus' etymology and derive the ethnonym [[Arimaspi|Arimaspoi]] from Iranic ''aspa-'' "horse" instead.<ref>
W. Tomaschek, "Kritik der ältesten Nachrichten über den skythischen Norden", ''Sitzungsberichte der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften'' 116 (1888), 715–780, here: 761; [[Karl Müllenhoff|K. Müllenhoff]], ''Deutsche Altertumskunde'', Berlin 1893, vol. 3, 305–306;
[[René Grousset|R. Grousset]], ''L’empire des steppes'', Paris 1941, 37 n. 3;
I. Lebedensky, ''Les Scythes. La civilisation des steppes (VII<sup>e</sup>-III<sup>e</sup> siècles av. J.-C.)'', Paris 2001, 93.
</ref>
* Or the first part of the name may reflect something like Iranic ''raiwant-'' "rich", cf. Ossetian ''riwæ'' "rich".<ref>{{harvnb|Hinge|2005|pp=89–94}}</ref>

=== Scythian theonyms ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Attested forms !! Notes 
|-
| [[Tabiti|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Tapatī́}}]] 
|| {{langx|grc|Ταβιτι|translit=Tabiti}} 
|| Means “the Burning One” or “the Flaming One.”<ref>{{cite book |last=West |first=Martin Litchfield |author-link=Martin Litchfield West |date=2007 |title=Indo-European Poetry and Myth |url= |location=[[Oxford]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |page=267 |isbn=978-0-199-28075-9 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Lindsay |author-link= |date=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of Religion |volume=12 |url= |location= |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Macmillan Reference USA]] |pages=8205–8208 |isbn= }}</ref>
Related to:<ref>{{cite book |last=Cheung |first=Johnny |author-link= |date=2007 |title=Etymological Dictionary of the Iranian Verb |url= |location=[[Leiden]] |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |pages=378–379 |isbn=978-9-004-15496-4 }}</ref>{{sfn|Ustinova|1999|p=67-128}}{{sfn|Raevskiy|1993|page=[https://archive.org/details/ScythianMythology/page/n15/mode/2up 17]-[https://archive.org/details/ScythianMythology/page/n17/mode/2up 18]}}
:[[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬙𐬁𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬌𐬈𐬌𐬙𐬌‎}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|tāpaiieⁱti}}), “to warm.”
:[[Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa|तापयति}} ({{Transliteration|sa|tapayati}}), “to heat” and “to warm”; theonym {{lang|sa|तपती}} ({{Transliteration|sa|Tapatī|italics=no}}); {{lang|sa|तपस्}} ({{Transliteration|sa|tápas}})
:[[Latin]] {{lang|la|tepeo}}.
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Api}} 
|| {{langx|grc|Απι|translit=Api}}
:::: and {{lang|grc|Απια}}, <small>[[Romanization of Greek|romanized]]:</small> {{Transliteration|grc|Apia}}
|| Related to [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬀𐬞𐬌}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|api}}), "water."{{sfn|Ustinova|1999|p=67-128}}
|-
| [[Targitaos|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Targī̆tavah}}]]
|| {{langx|grc|Ταργιταος|translit=Targitaos}}
|| Means "possessing the might of the goddess [[Scythian religion#Tarkā|Tarkā]]." Composed of:{{sfn|Tokhtasyev|2013}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*Targiya}}, "of the goddess {{Transliteration|xsc|Tarkā}}."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*-tavah-}} "strength, power." Compare with Avestan {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬙𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬵}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|-tauuah-}}).
|-
|
|| {{langx|grc|Αρτιμπασα|translit=Artimpasa}}
|| Composed of:{{sfn|Ustinova|1999|p=67-128}}
:Iranic theonym [[Ashi|{{Transliteration|xsc|*Arti}}]]
:a term related to {{Transliteration|xsc|*paya}}, "pasture" and {{Transliteration|xsc|*pati}}, "lord."
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Apatura}}
|| {{langx|grc|Απατουρος|translit=Apatouros}}
|| Means "swift water." Composed of:{{sfn|Ustinova|1999|p=29-66}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*ap-}}, "water." Related to [[Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬀𐬞}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|ap-}}), "water."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*tura-}}, "quick" or "mighty."
|-
| {{Transliteration|xsc|*Gaiϑāsūra}}
|| {{langx|grc|Γοιτοσυρος|translit=Goitosuros}}
|| Composed of:{{sfn|Schmitt|2018a}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*gaiϑā}}, "herd" and "possessions." Cognate of {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬔𐬀𐬊𐬌𐬌𐬀𐬊𐬌𐬙𐬌𐬱}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|gaoiiaoⁱtiš}}), "cow pasture."<ref>{{cite book |last=Herzfeld |first=Ernst |author-link=Ernst Herzfeld |date=1947 |title=Zoroaster and His World |volume=2 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.56772 |location= |publisher=Princeton University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.56772/page/n117/mode/2up 516] |isbn=}}</ref>
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*sūra}}, "strong" and "mighty."
|-
| 
|| {{langx|grc|Θαγιμασαδας|translit=Thagimasadas}}
:::: and {{lang|grc|Θαμιμασαδας}}, <small>[[Romanization of Greek|romanized]]:</small> {{Transliteration|grc|Thamimasadas}}
|| Composed of:
:a possible cognate of [[Avestan language|Avestan]] {{lang|ae|{{script|Avst|𐬚𐬡𐬁𐬴𐬀}}}} ({{Transliteration|ae|ϑβāṣ̌a}}), "firmament," and [[Vedic Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa|त्वक्ष्}} ({{Transliteration|sa|tvakṣ-}}) or {{lang|sa|तक्ष्}} ({{Transliteration|sa|takṣ-}}), "to create by putting into motion."
:{{Transliteration|xsc|mazatā}}, meaning "great."{{sfn|Schmitt|2003}}
|-
| {{transliteration|xsc|*Lipoxšaya}}
|| {{langx|grc|Λιποξαις|translit=Lipoxais}}
|| From an earlier form {{transliteration|xsc|*Δipoxšaya}} after the evolution of Proto-Iranic /d/ to Proto-Scythian /δ/ to Scythian /l/.<br/>
Means "king of radiance" and "king of heaven." Composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2013|p=29-31}}
:{{Transliteration|ira|*lipa}}, from earlier {{Transliteration|xsc|*δipa}}, "to be bright" as well as "sky" and "heaven."
:{{transliteration|xsc|*-xšaya}}, "ruler."
|-
| {{transliteration|xsc|*R̥buxšaya}}
|| {{langx|grc|Ἀρποξαις|translit=Arpoxais}}
|| Means "king of the airspace." Composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2013|p=31-32}}
:{{Transliteration|xsc|*r̥bu-}}, a cognate of [[Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa|ऋभु}} ({{Transliteration|sa|Ṛbhú}}), the name of a group of deities of the airspace.
:{{transliteration|xsc|*-xšaya}}, "ruler."
|-
| {{transliteration|xsc|*Kolaxšaya}}
|| {{langx|grc|Κολαξαις|translit=Kolaxais}}<br/>
{{langx|la|Colaxes}}
|| From an earlier form {{transliteration|xsc|*Koδaxšaya}} after the evolution of Proto-Iranic /d/ to Proto-Scythian /δ/ to Scythian /l/.<br/> Means "axe-wielding king," where the axe also has the meaning of "sceptre," as well as "blacksmith king," in the sense of "ruling king of the lower world." Composed of:{{sfn|Bukharin|2013|p=48-52}}
:{{transliteration|xsc|*kola}}, from earlier {{Transliteration|xsc|*koδa}}, "axe."
:{{transliteration|xsc|*-xšaya}}, "ruler."
|}

=== Pliny the Elder ===
[[Pliny the Elder]]'s ''Natural History'' (AD 77–79) derives the name of the [[Caucasus]] from the Scythian ''kroy-khasis'' = ice-shining, white with snow (cf. Greek ''cryos'' = ice-cold).

===Aristophanes===

In the comedy works of [[Aristophanes]], the dialects of various Greek people are accurately imitated. In his ''[[Thesmophoriazusae]]'', a [[Scythian archer]] (a member of a police force in Athens) speaks broken Greek, consistently omitting the final ''-s'' ({{lang|grc|-ς}}) and ''-n'' ({{lang|grc|ν}}), using the [[Fortis and lenis|lenis]] in place of the [[Aspirated consonant|aspirate]], and once using ''ks'' ({{lang|grc|ξ}}) in place of ''s'' ([[sigma]]); these may be used to elucidate the Scythian languages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Donaldson |first1=John William |author-link1=John William Donaldson |title=Varronianus: A Critical and Historical Introduction to the Philological Study of the Latin Language |url=https://archive.org/details/varronianusacri00donagoog |date=1844 |publisher=J. and J. J. Deighton |page=[https://archive.org/details/varronianusacri00donagoog/page/n54 32] |language=en}}</ref>