A few months ago, on the occasion of an error column that has found its way into the French language and our dictionaries, I mentioned the example of the turkey, so named because it was found on the American continent, during the time of the colonists, who thought they had arrived… in India. When they came face to face with this amazing bird in 1521, they christened it “Indian cock”, a name which was quickly simplified to “turkey” for short and without the apostrophe. The guinea pig suffers from the same compass error, as he too is not from India but from America. But the poor bird suffers from many other names of incorrect geographical origin. Look at this: while our languages ​​seem to believe this fowl is of Indian origin, the Anglo-Saxons call it turkey, a word that also means turkey in English, while the Brazilians and Portuguese call it peru (Peru). Really messy, right? Wait, it’s not over yet. In Turkey it is exactly called Hindi (“from India”, therefore, as in English), but in Hindi it is peru, as in Portuguese, while in Arabic it is “Greek chicken” and in Greek “French chicken” .

In Iceland and Lithuania, it is called the “Calcutta Bird”. (“the Indian bird” which is more appropriate), for short). However, this poor bird was indeed brought back to Europe by the Spaniards during the conquest of Mexico – so no more from Peru than from India! But here it is: the Portuguese believe the Spanish brought the bird back from this region they would later call “Peru,” and which at the time also included Ecuador, Bolivia, and parts of Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. All right, you said to me, But why do the Arabs call it “Greek chicken” and the Greeks “French chicken”? Well, the animal may have just arrived home by transiting through those countries. Also, when the English call turkeys turkeys, it is because they confuse them with guinea fowls, another exotic fowl, which they call guinea fowls or “turkey fowls”. Guinea fowls do come from Africa, not necessarily from Guinea, and often arrive in Europe via Turkey… hence the name turkey, which is confusingly named… turkey… from Mexico! Also note that, in English, a “guinea pig” is called a Guinea pig (“guinea pig”)… and these cute creatures are also from America! Really, all languages ​​are built on a web of mistakes… and you know what? I love it!

His most recent book, co-authored with Jean-Christophe Establet, is 99 mistakes everyone makes… except you, now!, ed. Vuibert208 pages, €14.90.