Kohinoor and Cnoc an Óir
A striking linguistic parallel between Urdu and Irish
Kohinoor (کوہ نور) means “Mountain of Light” in Urdu/Persian.
In Irish it closely resembles Cnoc an Óir — “Hill of Gold” or “Hill of Light”.
The Restaurant Story
Cúpla bliain ó shin (is mö na cúpla bliain é anois, dar nóigh) tháinigh mé ar teach táirne indiach i Münster sa Ghearmáin. Sé an t-ainm a bhí ar ná: "Kohinoor". Sin é "Berg des Lichtes" as Ghearmánach. Tá mé a cheapadh gur Cnoc an ór é sin as Ghaeilge! Tá an-chosúlacht idir na dhá teangacha anseo.
A few years ago (actually more than a few years ago now) I came across an Indian restaurant in Münster, Germany named “Kohinoor”. The German translation on the sign read “Berg des Lichtes” — Mountain of Light. I immediately thought: that sounds exactly like Cnoc an Óir in Irish!
Irish Place Names
There is a place in Ireland called Knockanore in County Waterford. The name Knockanore comes from the Irish Cnoc an Óir or Cnoc an Fhómhair, which translates as “The Hill of Gold” or “Hill of Autumn”.
There is also a place called Cnoc an Óir in County Galway.
Etymology
Koh-e-Noor comes from Persian Koh (mountain) + Arabic Noor (light).
In Irish: Cnoc = hill, Óir = of gold (often implying brightness or light).
The Famous Diamond
The Kohinoor is one of the world’s most famous diamonds. It originated in India and is now part of the British Crown Jewels.
References
Platts Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi and English (1884)
View Dictionary Online
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