La Manche

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If you speak a little French, you might know that the word “la manche” translates as “the sleeve”. However, did you know that the term “La Manche” is also the French name for the English Channel?

 

This is quite likely due to the channel resembling a shirtsleeve. Interestingly, most European countries (except Holland), also refer to the channel as “the sleeve” in their own language: 

    • French: La Manche
    • Italien: La Manica
    • Spanish: La Mancha
    • Portuguese: A Mancha
    • German: Ärmelkanal, etc...

The exception being a couple of traditional regional languages on both sides of the channel, which call it the "Brittany Sea":

    • Breton: Mor Breizh
    •  Cornique: Mor Bretannek

So why do the British (and English speaking countries) call it the English Channel? 

 

Some suggest that the name “the English Channel” refers to the fact that more of the sea belongs to England than France does. This is supported by the fact that the channel is the home of the Channel Islands, which are sovereign UK territory. I am not convinced however!

 

The channel is also informally known as the ‘Narrow Sea’ and until the 18th century, it had no fixed name in English or French. Interestingly, at this time, it was not defined as a political border either.

Since the 18th century, the name “The English Channel” has been widely used and the term possibly originated from the name Engelse Kanaal (English Channel) on old Dutch navigational maps. However, in modern Dutch, the expression “Het Kanaal” (The Channel) is used, leading to even more mystery as to why the term has remained in the English lexicon.

     Do you know where the name has come from? Please let me know in the comments!

 


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