In English, the words for many animals (chicken, cow, sheep, deer, pig) are derived from proto-germanic, while the word for their meat (poultry, beef, mutton, venison, pork) is French derived.
Bonus: A good chunk of river names are just “River” in the local language. So many River Rivers from newcomers adopting the river names, not knowing it just means “river”
The reason for the difference is from the Norman invasion when the nobility were French. So they referred to the food only not the animal in their own tongue.
The kicker is that the peasants spoke the old proto-germanic language, and the nobles spoke the shiny new French derivation. So peasants raised the beasts and the nobles ate the beasts.
In English, the words for many animals (chicken, cow, sheep, deer, pig) are derived from proto-germanic, while the word for their meat (poultry, beef, mutton, venison, pork) is French derived.
Bonus: A good chunk of river names are just “River” in the local language. So many River Rivers from newcomers adopting the river names, not knowing it just means “river”
I just want to add that a great much of English is German and French.
For example “question” is Germanic rooted while “interrogate” is French.
The reason for the difference is from the Norman invasion when the nobility were French. So they referred to the food only not the animal in their own tongue.
The kicker is that the peasants spoke the old proto-germanic language, and the nobles spoke the shiny new French derivation. So peasants raised the beasts and the nobles ate the beasts.