Etymology Map
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Kaval

3 stages from Turkish to English.

Today it means an end-blown shepherd's flute of Turkey and the Balkans

Where does the word "kaval" come from? It comes from Turkish kaval, passing through Bulgarian before entering English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
kaval
Turkish · medieval
"shepherd's flute"
an open-ended wooden flute played by shepherds
2
Stage 2 of 3
kaval
Bulgarian · 1600s
"folk flute"
became central to Bulgarian folk music; its breathy sound is heard in the Rhodope mountains
3
Stage 3 of 3
kaval
English · 1900s
"shepherd's flute"
entered English through writing on Balkan and Turkish folk music
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Read the full story

Kaval’s story begins in Turkish: kaval meant “shepherd's flute.” An open-ended wooden flute played by shepherds. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Bulgarian as kaval. Became central to Bulgarian folk music; its breathy sound is heard in the Rhodope mountains. It reached English by 1900s as kaval. Entered English through writing on Balkan and Turkish folk music. Today, kaval means an end-blown shepherd's flute of Turkey and the Balkans.