This is sometimes called the Indo-European Bear Taboo, because it’s observed in many IE languages, mostly northern and central ones.
In some areas without bears it looks like mountain lions get the same treatment. So it may stem from a common IE tradition of euphemizing the largest predator and that tradition changed as IE groups moved into new areas.
But it may just be a human tendency to avoid speaking the name of dangerous or hateful things - many use euphemisms instead of saying trump’s name.
This is sometimes called the Indo-European Bear Taboo, because it’s observed in many IE languages, mostly northern and central ones.
In some areas without bears it looks like mountain lions get the same treatment. So it may stem from a common IE tradition of euphemizing the largest predator and that tradition changed as IE groups moved into new areas.
But it may just be a human tendency to avoid speaking the name of dangerous or hateful things - many use euphemisms instead of saying trump’s name.
Also happened with “beaver” in at least Germanic, Celtic, and Balto-Slavic, so not just apex predators.
That certainly explains all of the “pet names” I’ve given myself over the years.
Can you supply a link re the mountain lions? Not bc I disagree, just want to read more
I can’t remember where i heard it, i think it was mentioned maybe in a video by stefan milo or crecganford?
All i could find in a few minutes of googling is this paper on polish etymologies of bear, lynx and wolf as possibly taboo zoonyms.