Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Thracian language

Thracian language

9.9
An extinct language once spoken by the ancient Thracian people in Southeast Europe until the early Middle Ages
  • noun
  • Specialized
: idioma tracio
  • The Thracian language vanished by the early Middle Ages, leaving few written records behind.

Examples

  • Scholars debate the relationship between the Thracian language and other Indo-European tongues.

  • The Thracian language is considered extinct.

  • Inscriptions in the Thracian language have provided valuable clues about ancient Balkan cultures.

  • Did the Thracian language have any written records?

  • Inscriptions in the Thracian language have provided valuable clues about ancient Balkan cultures.

  • Scholars debate the relationship between the Thracian language and other Indo-European tongues.

  • The Thracian language vanished by the early Middle Ages, leaving few written records behind.

Synonyms

Thracian
vsThracian language
  • Specialized
9.9

An old language once spoken by the people of Thrace

has identical meaning but is an alternative name form

Surface Forms

Thracian language singular
Thracian languages plural

Morphology

Thracian + language

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Thracian' identifies the people/place (Thrace/Thracians) and 'language' denotes a speech system, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to the language of the Thracians. Naming languages by place or people is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, making this easily predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Thracian language gets its name from the ancient people called the Thracians, who lived in an area known as Thrace in southeast Europe. Because this was the speech of that people long ago and later stopped being spoken, today Thracian language means the 'extinct' language they once used.