Bergomum

Latin

Etymology

Possibly of Celtic origin, from Proto-Celtic *berg (“fortification, protection”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰérǵʰos (“hill”), similar to Proto-Slavic *bergъ.

Tiraboschi argues that it is from the same root but via Germanic, from Proto-Germanic *bergaz + *haim (“home”), meaning "mountain home," but the establishment of the city appears to precede the settlement of Germanic populations in the area.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈbɛr.ɡɔ.mũː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈbɛr.ɡo.mum]

Proper noun

Bergomum n sg (genitive Bergomī); second declension

1. a city in Cisalpine Gaul, in modern Italy, situated between Brixia and the Larius lake; modern Bergamo
2. (New Latin) a province of Lombardy, Italy

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter), with locative, singular only.

	singular
nominative	Bergomum
genitive	Bergomī
dative	Bergomō
accusative	Bergomum
ablative	Bergomō
vocative	Bergomum
locative	Bergomī

Derived terms

• Bergomās

Descendants

• Italian: Bergamo

References

• “Bergomum”, in William Smith, editor (1854, 1857), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, volume 1 & 2, London: Walton and Maberly
• “Bergomum”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.