I have always noticed the similarity between the words Guitar and Sitar. They are very similar instruments, part of the same larger family of Lute-like instruments with the Arabic Oud, the original Lute (al-Oud becomes Lute). Very similar words for similar instruments- but instruments halfway across the vast expanse of Eurasia, a third of the way across the world from each other.
It would be interesting to trace the linguistic origins, to see if there is a common root over all that distance!
After all, the Indo-European languages span all that distance too!
I have a CD of Iranian music by the great Shahram Nazeri, a famous Iranian singer. Look him up if you want to hear Persian music and Persian singing! And I love liner notes. In the liner notes they talk about the guitar-like instrument that, along with soft middle-eastern drums, accompanies Shahram Nazeri's powerful singing. It is called the Dotar, which is Persian for Two-Stringed.
There! Right there! Could that be the origin of the words Sitar and Guitar?
I look up Sitar and, sure enough, it comes from Persian- it is Persian for Three-stringed. (Apparently, there were originally three primary strings, not counting the resonator strings.)
It is from the same Persian root as Dotar!
So... what about Guitar?
I look it up.
Guitar is from the Greek Kithara, a Greek instrument from ancient times that is a form of lyre. I have heard of the Kithara! The word was picked up in the Latin-based languages and applied to different forms of lutes, which, like lyres, are plucked string instruments.
Could the ancient Greek word Kithara come from the same Indo-European roots as the Persian Dotar and Sitar?
I wonder.
I would not be surprised. I would not be surprised at all.
A very interesting linguistic journey, through the fascinating world of Greece and Persia in the past, with wonderful music as the theme!
I hope you enjoyed the journey!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson