zanë
Albanian
Alternative forms
- zërë (Tosk)
Etymology
Identical to and derived from zë (“voice”), with a sense development motivated by the main characteristic of these mythological figures. The term might have been contaminated with Latin Diāna (compare Romanian zână, Aromanian dzãnã, Asturian xana, Sardinian giàna). Another hypothesis, given her characteristics of muse of heroes and warrior, is the relationship with Ἀθηνᾶ (Athēnâ) (Mycenean a-ta-na) which, according to Beekes, has a Pre-Greek origin.
Noun
zanë f (plural zana, definite zana, definite plural zanat)