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Thresholds and window-sills

ThomasK

Senior Member
Belgium, Dutch
In my Flemish dialect we often refer to "zullen". That is kind-of an equivalent of the German "Schwelle" - and of the English "window-sill" and but it refers to the threshold of a house: the drempel in Dutch, which one has to or can "cross", I guess.

1. Let op voor de drempel (opstapje) --- Mind the step?
1a. Een organisatie met lage drempel/ een laagdrempelige organisatie.-- een accessible organisation?
2. De bloemen staan op de vensterbank.
3. Let op de verkeersdrempel. --- mind the speed-bump, "traffic threshold"
4. Threshold/... for a sidewalk : drempel voor de stoeprand.

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In Russian, a threshold (in pretty much all the meanings) is порог (poróg).
A window-sill is подоконник (podokónnik - lit. ~"under-window-er").

For reference, a speed-bump is лежачий полицейский (lezháchiy politséyskiy "lying policeman").
How about easily accessible? No reference to thresholds?
It seems the default term here is бордюрный пандус (bordyúrnyi pándus, literally "curb ramp"). I don't think any references to thresholds will occur outside of random occasionalisms (and you rarely need to actually mention the thing in the first place).
In French:

un seuil /sœj/ (de porte).

Seuil (literally "threshold") comes from Latin solum (ground).

un rebord (de fenêtre).

Rebord literally means "raised edge".

un dos d'âne, when it's an unintentional road imperfection.
un ralentisseur, when it's deliberately placed there to slow down (ralentir) the traffic.

Dos d'âne is literally "donkey's back", traditionally used to carry heavy loads.
Ralentisseur is also sometimes metaphorically called "gendarme couché" ("lying gendarme").

une rampe d'accès.

Rampe comes from the verb ramper (to grovel/crawl), itself ultimately from Old Frankish krampo (hook/claw).
And by the way, the English noun ramp (same meaning) comes from French rampe.
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In Catalan:

1) llindar [ʎinˈda (Valencian: ʎinˈdaɾ)], from the Latin LĪMITĀRIS 'border, limit'

The word also may have the meaning of non-physical entry to something, or the limit in which a stage or level of something begins: llindar auditiu 'listening threshold', llindar dolorós 'threshold of pain', llindar de la pobresa 'threshold of poverty'...

2) ampit [əmˈpit], (Valencian: am'pit)], from the Latin ANTEPECTU (ante 'before' + pectu 'chest')

L'ampit de la finestra 'the window sill'

It can be called either ressalt, from the verb ressaltar, from the prefix re- + saltar 'to jump, leap, bounce'
or cavalló [kə.βəˈʎo, Valencian: ka.vaˈʎo, Balearic: kə.vəˈʎo], from cavall 'horse' + diminutive suffix -ó, probably from the meaning of 'ridge between furrows'.
In Greek threshold is «κατώφλι» [kaˈt̠o̞.fli] (n.) a Byzantine Greek word, the neuter diminutive «κατώφλι(ο)ν» /kɐˈtɔ.ɸli(o)n/ --> threshold, doorstep < Ancient Greek feminine noun «κατωφλῑά» /kɐtɔːphliːˈɐ/ & «κατωφλειά» /kɐtɔːphleːˈɐ/ --> lower support, pilaster a compound= prefix and adverb «κάτω» + feminine «φλῑά» /phliːˈɐ/.

Windowsill is «περβάζι» [pe̞ɾˈva.z̠i] (n.) < Persian پرواز /phæɹˈvɒːz/ via Ottoman Turkish پرواز /peɾˈvaz/.

Speed-bump is «σαμαράκι» [s̠amaˈɾa.ci] (n.) --> small-packsaddle diminutive of the neuter «σαμάρι» [saˈma.ɾi] --> packsaddle but also a special wooden kind of saddle made for pack animals

< Byzantine Greek «σαγμάρι(ο)ν» /sɐɣˈmɐ.ri(o)n/ --> packsaddle, neuter diminutive of the Ancient Greek neuter deverbal noun «σάγμα» /ˈsɐg.mɐ/ < verb «σάττω» /ˈsɐt.tɔː/.
In Catalan:


1) llindar [ʎinˈda (Valencian: ʎinˈdaɾ)], from the Latin LĪMITĀRIS 'border, limit'

The word also may have the meaning of non-physical entry to something, or the limit in which a stage or level of something begins: llindar auditiu 'listening threshold', llindar dolorós 'threshold of pain', llindar de la pobresa 'threshold of poverty'...
So that is really a broad meaning, it seems to me...
2) ampit [əmˈpit], (Valencian: am'pit)], from the Latin ANTEPECTU (ante 'before' + pectu 'chest')

L'ampit de la finestra 'the window sill'


3) It can be called either ressalt, from the verb ressaltar, from the prefix re- + saltar 'to jump, leap, bounce'
or cavalló [kə.βəˈʎo, Valencian: ka.vaˈʎo, Balearic: kə.vəˈʎo], from cavall 'horse' + diminutive suffix -ó, probably from the meaning of 'ridge between furrows'.
Nice!
In Greek threshold is «κατώφλι» [kaˈt̠o̞.fli] (n.) a Byzantine Greek word, the neuter diminutive «κατώφλι(ο)ν» /kɐˈtɔ.ɸli(o)n/ --> threshold, doorstep < Ancient Greek feminine noun «κατωφλῑά» /kɐtɔːphliːˈɐ/ & «κατωφλειά» /kɐtɔːphleːˈɐ/ --> lower support, pilaster a compound= prefix and adverb «κάτω» + feminine «φλῑά» /phliːˈɐ/.

Windowsill is «περβάζι» [pe̞ɾˈva.z̠i] (n.) < Persian پرواز /phæɹˈvɒːz/ via Ottoman Turkish پرواز /peɾˈvaz/.

Speed-bump is «σαμαράκι» [s̠amaˈɾa.ci] (n.) --> small-packsaddle diminutive of the neuter «σαμάρι» [saˈma.ɾi] --> packsaddle but also a special wooden kind of saddle made for pack animals

< Byzantine Greek «σαγμάρι(ο)ν» /sɐɣˈmɐ.ri(o)n/ --> packsaddle, neuter diminutive of the Ancient Greek neuter deverbal noun «σάγμα» /ˈsɐg.mɐ/ < verb «σάττω» /ˈsɐt.tɔː/.
How nice again...
Swedish:
1) tröskel - compare English threshold, they have the same origin
2) fönsterbräde - window board, usually the windowsills that are not a part of the windowframe; fönsterbänk - window bench, usually about those wide ones in houses (and old castles) built by stone where it's even possible to sit, or a windowsill that's part of the windowframe (the one in post #2 looks to be like this)
3) farthinder / fartgupp / vägbula - speed hinder / speed bump / road lump/bump
4) trottoarramp - curb ramp

Tröskel can be/is used as a metaphor in Swedish.
In Spanish:

1) Umbral (from Latin liminaris).
2) Alféizar (from Hispanic Arabic).
3) Banda reductora de velocidad.
4) Rampa (portátil).
A more modern one from Gotland, those limestone houses with thick walls are gorgeous, and still built sometimes, or renovated:
49NIH1AJIQ9SHLHG-1000x666.jpg
Swedish:
1) tröskel - compare English threshold, they have the same origin
2) fönsterbräde - window board, usually the windowsills that are not a part of the windowframe; fönsterbänk - window bench, usually about those wide ones in houses (and old castles) built by stone where it's even possible to sit, or a windowsill that's part of the windowframe (the one in post #2 looks to be like this) - @Yendred added coussiège for that in French!
Very interesting distinction in (2): had never thought of that. We could not make the distinction in Dutch: we do not associate our "bank" with a bench, only with flowers, decorative objects, etc.
3) farthinder / fartgupp / vägbula - speed hinder / speed bump / road lump/bump
4) trottoarramp - curb ramp

Tröskel can be/is used as a metaphor in Swedish.
So interesting to notice how various languages describe one object (based on function, material, etc.)! Like a threshold, or a boundary (lat. liminaris > SPA umbral, CATA llindar), or seuil (ground) in FRE.

We ought to add "ramp" to our list, I think, as #4, thanks for that addition. I would describe it like a slope, but of course a skateboard ramp, where it is curved.

@Yendred about French
un seuil /sœj/ (de porte). Seuil (literally "threshold") comes from Latin solum (ground).


un rebord (de fenêtre). Rebord literally means "raised edge".


un dos d'âne, when it's an unintentional road imperfection.
un ralentisseur, when it's deliberately placed there to slow down (ralentir) the traffic.

Dos d'âne is literally "donkey's back", traditionally used to carry heavy loads.
Ralentisseur is also sometimes metaphorically called "gendarme couché" ("lying gendarme").


une rampe d'accès.

Rampe comes from the verb ramper (to grovel/crawl), itself ultimately from Old Frankish krampo (hook/claw). And by the way, the English noun ramp (same meaning) comes from French rampe.
Funny thing is: a ramp in Dutch is a disaster. that seems based on the word "kramp" for cramp (etymologiebank.nl).

Tröskel, figurative, is like what I suggested in example 1a, I think, in #1, isn't it?
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Zullen as 'threshold' is a fine counterpart to 'sill', since a threshold is a kind of sill.
In English 'sill' is, in addition to its use in 'windowsill', "a horizontal piece (such as a timber) that forms the lowest member or one of the lowest members of a framework or supporting structure: such as the horizontal member at the base of a window or the threshold of a door." (Merriam-Webster, s.v. sill).

'Sill' is also used in English for the supporting timber, stone, or what have you at the base of a wall in general. For instance, a carpenter might look at the base of the wall of your house (built of wood) and say "You have a lot of termite damage in the sill here."

Incidentally, there's a nice discussion of the etymology of threshold at etymonline.com.
German:

1.) Türschwelle - Tür=door, Schwelle is the noun to the verb schwellen (to swell) and is defined as a horizontal beam made of wood or concrete. Schwelle also means threshold.

2.) Fensterbrett (window board) or Fensterbank (window bench)

3.) Bremsschwelle - Brems = braking

4.) (Auffahr-)Rampe = drive-on ramp
In Italian:

1) Soglia /ˈsɔʎʎa/, cognate with the French seuil (but feminine, unlike the French term).
As in Catalan (and French), it is also used to indicate non-physical access to something, or the limit at which a phase or level of something begins: soglia uditiva 'listening threshold', soglia di povertà 'threshold of poverty', etc.
I think that an accessible organisation can have a "soglia d'accesso bassa" (low entry threshold) as well.

2) Davanzale (della finestra), from "davanti" (in front) and "avanzare" (to move forward), because it protrudes forward.
Window sill, a covering element of the parapet of a window (in technical language also called soglia, by analogy with the similar element of a door).

3) Dosso (artificiale), from Latin *dŏssum, variant of dŏrsum (back).
In modern Italian, dosso is no longer used to mean "back," except for a few standard expressions like "togliersi qualcosa di dosso" (to take something off).
Nowadays, we call "dosso" a high point, a bump between two stretches of road, which prevents vehicles from seeing the next stretch. A dosso artificiale (artificial speed bump) is a raised area, usually a series of raised areas, placed on the roadway to force vehicles to slow down.

un dos d'âne, when it's an unintentional road imperfection.
In Italian, the cognate expression "a schiena d'asino" (lit. "donkey-backed") is used to describe not a dosso between two stretches of road, but the shape of a roadway that is raised in the center and slopes toward the sides; the same expression is also used for bridges that are significantly higher at the center than at the abutments.
Ancient Roman roads or bridges were often "a schiena d'asino".

4) Rampa (per marciapiede): ramp (for a sidewalk).
A rampa is a short stretch of road with a significant slope.
Special types of "rampe":
Rampa di scale: flight of stairs.
Rampa di lancio: launch pad, a metal structure used to support missiles and spacecraft during construction, development, and launch.
coussiège
In Catalan, those are called festejadors, meaning '(stone benches) where you woo', from the verb festejar 'woo, court, flirt'.

So interesting to notice how various languages describe one object (based on function, material, etc.)! Like a threshold, or a boundary (lat. liminaris > SPA umbral, CATA llindar), or seuil (ground) in FRE.
Well, Spanish umbral and Galician-Portuguese limiar come from LIMINARIS. Catalan llindar comes from LIMITARIS.
Both, in Latin, mean more or less the same, though, adjectives from LIMEN (LIMINIS) and LIMES (LIMITIS), for something belonging to the border, the limit, the threshold. Both ultimately from LIMUS.

It's interesting indeed because it includes the word for lintel too.

LIMINARIS
> (acc.) LIMINAREm
(West Iberian area)​
>> (-N- drop)​
Galician-Portuguese: limiar, lumiar (influence from lume)​
>> (-M'N- > -MBR-)​
Spanish: limbrar > lumbrar (influence from lumbre) > lumbral > umbral (L-drop due to confusion with the one of the article: el lumbral)​

LIMITARIS
> (acc.) LIMITAREm
(Franko-Romance area)​
>> (-M'T- > -MD- > -ND-)​
Old Navarro-Aragonese: limdar, lindar​
(In Modern Aragonese, though, limedar is the lintel, and the threshold is branquilera, the area of the branquil or threshold step/bench.)​
Old Catalan: llimdar, llindar​
(In Modern Catalan, llindar, stressed on -dar, and the lintel is called llinda, stress on llin-)​
Occitan: lindal (Gascon: lindau)​
But also solh, solhet, cognates to the French seuil.​
Old French: linter > lintel ** > linteau​
(In Modern French, linteau 'lintel' and seuil 'threshold'. From MFrench lintel come the English lintel and the Spanish lintel/lindel/dintel, with the same meaning.​
In Catalan, those are called festejadors, meaning '(stone benches) where you woo', from the verb festejar 'woo, court, flirt'.
In fact, those window benches were used in castles for two main purposes:
- watch the surroundings through the window while sitting.
- take advantage of natural light to read, write or do needlework.
From an architectural point of view, these stone blocks also had the advantage of reinforcing the window base.
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In Italian, the cognate expression "a schiena d'asino" (lit. "donkey-backed") is used to describe not a dosso between two stretches of road, but the shape of a roadway that is raised in the center and slopes toward the sides; the same expression is also used for bridges that are significantly higher at the center than at the abutments.
Ancient Roman roads or bridges were often "a schiena d'asino".
Very interesting information, thank you :thank you:
In French:

In Italian:

1) Soglia /ˈsɔʎʎa/, cognate with the French seuil (but feminine, unlike the French term).
As in Catalan (and French), it is also used to indicate non-physical access to something, or the limit at which a phase or level of something begins: soglia uditiva 'listening threshold', soglia di povertà 'threshold of poverty', etc.
I think that an accessible organisation can have a "soglia d'accesso bassa" (low entry threshold) as well.
Interesting comment on the use of soglia. I have been thinking of a link with niveau in French, which has to do with height and refers to flat, I believe, but I am not so sure seuil and niveau have something to do with one another...
2) Davanzale (della finestra), from "davanti" (in front) and "avanzare" (to move forward), because it protrudes forward.
Window sill, a covering element of the parapet of a window (in technical language also called soglia, by analogy with the similar element of a door).

3) Dosso (artificiale), from Latin *dŏssum, variant of dŏrsum (back).
In modern Italian, dosso is no longer used to mean "back," except for a few standard expressions like "togliersi qualcosa di dosso" (to take something off).
Nowadays, we call "dosso" a high point, a bump between two stretches of road, which prevents vehicles from seeing the next stretch. A dosso artificiale (artificial speed bump) is a raised area, usually a series of raised areas, placed on the roadway to force vehicles to slow down.

In Italian, the cognate expression "a schiena d'asino" (lit. "donkey-backed") is used to describe not a dosso between two stretches of road, but the shape of a roadway that is raised in the center and slopes toward the sides; the same expression is also used for bridges that are significantly higher at the center than at the abutments.
Ancient Roman roads or bridges were often "a schiena d'asino".
Interesting. We do refer to ezelsbrugjes (little donkeybridges) when talking about tricks making things simpler so that pupils can understand or remember. It is also a kind of roof element for the apex: looks like a schiena d'asino...
4) Rampa (per marciapiede): ramp (for a sidewalk).
A rampa is a short stretch of road with a significant slope.
Special types of "rampe":
Rampa di scale: flight of stairs.
Rampa di lancio: launch pad, a metal structure used to support missiles and spacecraft during construction, development, and launch.
Quite interesting information about rampe!
Zullen as 'threshold' is a fine counterpart to 'sill', since a threshold is a kind of sill.
In English 'sill' is, in addition to its use in 'windowsill', "a horizontal piece (such as a timber) that forms the lowest member (or one of the lowest members) of a framework or supporting structure: such as the horizontal member at the base of a window or the threshold of a door." (Merriam-Webster, s.v. sill).

'Sill' is also used in English for the supporting timber, stone, or what have you at the base of a wall in general. For instance, a carpenter might look at the base of the wall of your house (built of wood) and say "You have a lot of termite damage in the sill here."

Incidentally, there's a nice discussion of the etymology of threshold at etymonline.com.
Great!
I have been thinking of a link with niveau in French, which has to do with height and refers to flat, I believe, but I am not so sure seuil and niveau have something to do with one another...
They are more or less the same as the English equivalents threshold and level.
Niveau and level are cognate by the way, and both come from Latin libella, which referred to a tool used to check horizontality. A tool that is today actually called niveau in French, and level in English:


The older version rather resembled this:



The etymology of Latin libella itself is very interesting, but this would lead us too far.
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They are more or less the same as the English equivalents threshold and level.
Niveau and level are cognate by the way, and both come from Latin libella, which referred to a tool used to check horizontality. A tool that is today actually called niveau in French, and level in English:
Its name in Greek is the feminine «στάθμη» [ˈs̠t̠a.θmi] --> directive, carpenter's line, finish line, plumb line, rule, norm < Ancient Greek deverbal feminine noun «στάθμη» /ˈstɐ.thmɛː/ (idem) < athematic verb «ἵστημι» /ˈhi.stɛːmi/.
It has produced the verb «σταθμίζω» [s̠t̠aθˈmi.z̠o̞] --> to determine a horizontal or vertical reference line, measure, estimate, gauge. In everyday language it's called:
The older version rather resembled this:



The etymology of Latin libella itself is very interesting, but this would lead us too far.
That's an «αλφάδι» [alˈfa.ði] (n.) < Byzantine Greek «ἀλφάδι(ο)ν» /ɐlˈɸɐ.ði(o)n/ --> little alpha, diminutive of the Ancient Greek neuter indeclinable noun «ἄλφα» /ˈɐl.phɐ/ --> alpha, the first letter in the Greek alphabet (for obvious reasons, it resembles the letter).
It has produced the verb «αλφαδιάζω» [alfaˈðʝa.z̠o̞] --> to determine a horizontal or vertical reference line.
Perfect, Apmoy, but do you see any link between the Greek words and words in other (Indo-)European languages?

In fact, the various contributions on thresholds, levels, niveaux, ... made me wonder... If you think of your word for thresholds, seuils, umbral(s), Schwelle,..., what would be your key association as for the object we are discussing? I suggest we refer to those aspects of meaning using a letter - except if we can stick to one... ;-)

A a slightly higher stone at the entrance >>>> a hindrance
(therefore: low threshold (easily accessible), to help someone over the threshold<
B ... ?
OK, that will be meaning B, although closely linked with A. We shall adapt afterwards.
In fact, the various contributions on thresholds, levels, niveaux, ... made me wonder... If you think of your word for thresholds, seuils, umbral(s), Schwelle,..., what would be your key association as for the object we are discussing? I suggest we refer to those aspects of meaning using a letter - except if we can stick to one... ;-)

A a slightly higher stone at the entrance >>>> a hindrance
(therefore: low threshold (easily accessible), to help someone over the threshold<
B a boundary between two spaces (usually between outside and inside).... [Yendred]Therefore: to cross a threshold? In dutch, but fairly formal: een drempel overschrijden (to transgress, not pejorative though!).

Very interesting: you cross the threshold, whereas we tend to use we step over it. Maybe that is not an essential difference... But the collocations that are common with equivalents of "threshold" (or "zullen") may suggest something about the original meaning or the underlying (conventional) metaphor...
They are more or less the same as the English equivalents threshold and level.
Niveau and level are cognate by the way, and both come from Latin libella, which referred to a tool used to check horizontality.

"Libelle" (apart from the insect "dragonfly") is only the air bubble in German. The whole thing is called "Wasserwaage" (water balance). A bit misleading since you can't weigh water with it. :D


A tool that is today actually called niveau in French, and level in English:



The older version rather resembled this:


That would be a "Sitzwaage" (setting balance)
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you cross the threshold, whereas we tend to use we step over it.
In French, we usually say "franchir un seuil" (and also "franchir un obstacle"), which can both mean "cross" or "step over".

Franchir comes from Old French franc, which meant "free" (the two words are in fact cognate, from Old Frankish frank*), hence the modern meaning by extension of "to go beyond a boundary", i.e. to free oneself from a constraint or obstacle.

Other terms in the same lexical field are affranchir (= to emancipate) and s'affranchir (= to free oneself). Also, a "zone franche" is a geographical area that has a more favorable tax and regulatory regime than the rest of the country (there are a number of cities named "Villefranche", formed by people who had freed themselves from the feudal regime of a lord).

(*) and frank most likely gave the ethnonym Franks (@Frank78 might tell us more about that ;)), and then gave its name to France, and also to the French currency used before the Euro, the franc. It was primarily King John II of France, who in 1360 had a coin engraved, depicting him on horseback, which was called "Franc à cheval", because John II still bore the title of "Rex Francorum" (king of the Franks), hence the noun franc, used for the French currency until the year 2000 (it's still used as the name of the currency in some countries of Africa or the Pacific ocean).
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Speed-bump is «σαμαράκι» [s̠amaˈɾa.ci] (n.) --> small-packsaddle diminutive of the neuter «σαμάρι» [saˈma.ɾi] --> packsaddle but also a special wooden kind of saddle made for pack animals

< Byzantine Greek «σαγμάρι(ο)ν» /sɐɣˈmɐ.ri(o)n/ --> packsaddle, neuter diminutive of the Ancient Greek neuter deverbal noun «σάγμα» /ˈsɐg.mɐ/ < verb «σάττω» /ˈsɐt.tɔː/.
This is interesting because 'szamár' [ˈsɒmaːr] means 'donkey' in Hungarian. Apparently it's a borrowing of a northern dialectal form of Italian 'somaro', ultimately deriving from the same Greek noun.

@Tirrenico , is 'somaro' a dialectal/regional word, or is it really a synonym of 'asino'?
Edit: I've found that 'somaro' is usually used as an insult. :)
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In French, we usually say "franchir un seuil" (and also "franchir un obstacle"), which can both mean "cross" or "step over".
Thanks for reminding me, had not thought of that, especially not of stepping over...
(*) and frank most likely gave the ethnonym Franks (@Frank78 might tell us more about that ;)), and then gave its name to France, and also to the French currency used before the Euro, the franc. It was primarily King John II of France, who in 1360 had a coin engraved, depicting him on horseback, which was called "Franc à cheval", because John II still bore the title of "Rex Francorum" (king of the Franks), hence the noun franc, used for the French currency until the year 2000 (it's still used as the name of the currency in some countries of Africa or the Pacific ocean).
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@Tirrenico , is 'somaro' a dialectal/regional word, or is it really a synonym of 'asino'?
Yes, asino (/ˈazino/ or /ˈasino/) and somaro are synonyms, both are used to indicate either an animal (donkey) or an ignorant or unskilled person, especially in reference to children who refuse to study. :D

Asino is the scientific and generally accepted term for the species.
Somaro is a term derived from soma (Latin sauma/sagma), meaning "load", and is used to refer to a donkey, often in reference to its traditional role as a pack animal.
When used as an insult, somaro may be perceived as slightly stronger than asino, but you can hear both terms.
Other well-known terms with the very same meanings are ciuco (Tuscan) and ciuccio (Neapolitan), but these are considered regional and dialectal, respectively. :)

In French, we usually say "franchir un seuil" (and also "franchir un obstacle"), which can both mean "cross" or "step over".
In Italian, we say "varcare la soglia", akin to valicare ("to cross"), from Latin varĭcare. The meaning is the same as the French franchir, however we prefer to use different verbs with different objects:
- varcare la soglia (threshold)/il confine (border);
- valicare le Alpi (Alps);
- superare un ostacolo (obstacle);
- oltrepassare un limite (limit).
In Italian, we say "varcare la soglia", akin to valicare ("to cross"), from Latin varĭcare. The meaning is the same as the French franchir, however we prefer to use different verbs with different objects:
- varcare la soglia (threshold)/il confine (border);
- valicare le Alpi (Alps);
- superare un ostacolo (obstacle);
- oltrepassare un limite (limit).
Time and again we see something like over: super, oltre (...?). The other two might have the same root, but my command of Itaiian does not allow me to decipher the etymology at etymo.it... Could you enlighten me?
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In Italian, we say "varcare la soglia", akin to valicare ("to cross"), from Latin varĭcare. The meaning is the same as the French franchir, however we prefer to use different verbs with different objects:
- varcare la soglia (threshold)/il confine (border);
- valicare le Alpi (Alps);
- superare un ostacolo (obstacle);
- oltrepassare un limite (limit).
In Greek we say «περνάω το κατώφλι» [pe̞ɾˈna.o̞ ˌt̠o̞.kaˈt̠o̞.fli] --> to go beyond the threshold.
The verb is «περνάω» and contracted «περνώ» [pe̞ɾˈno̞] < Ancient Greek verb «περάω-περῶ» /peˈrɐ.ɔː/ (uncontracted)-/perɔ́.ɔ̀/ (contracted) --> to pass through, go beyond, reach the end < Ancient Greek adverb «πέρᾱ» /ˈpe.rɐː/ --> beyond, further, longer, more, past (PIE *per-).
The verb associated with overcoming an obstacle on the other hand, is «ξεπερνάω» [k͡s̠e̞pe̞ɾˈna.o̞] < Ancient Greek verb «ἐκπεράω» /ekpeˈrɐ.ɔː/ --> to go over, pass beyond, pass through, pierce, carry out/away.
The Modern Greek verb is formed with the Late Byzantine & MoGr prefix «ξε-» [k͡s̠e̞-] which is very productive, and is always a bound morpheme indicating the meanings of outwardness, removal, privativeness, intensiveness, movement forward or upward, and is the aphetism of the ancient augment «ἐξε-» /ek͡se-/ accompanying the past tense verbs < Ancient Gr. preposition & prefix «ἐκ-/ἐξ-» /ek-/ or /ek͡s-/ («ἐξ» when the next word begins with a vowel), past tense augment «ἐξε-» which with reanalysis in Late Byz & MoGr it was extended to the present tense + verb «περάω».
Time and again we see something like over: super, oltre (...?). The other two might have the same root, but my command of Itaiian does not allow me to decipher the etymology at etymo.it... Could you enlighten me?
Surely!
By the way, if by etymo.it you mean the "Dizionario Etimologico di Ottorino Pianigiani", I advise you not to trust its contents too much: it is an outdated and often unreliable work.

Valicare, like varcare, comes from Latin varĭcare ‘to spread the legs, to step over’, from varĭcus ‘having wide legs’, in turn from varus ‘crooked, bow-legged’.
They are synonymous in many ways: there are several things that we can both "valicare" and "varcare": mountains, a pass, a river, the sea. However, some standard collocations are preferred: usually, thresholds or borders are "varcati", while mountainous places are "valicati".

Superare comes straight from Latin, and is a derivative of super (above): it means "to be above" or, like in this case, "to pass over/above" (e.g., an obstacle).

Oltrepassare, on the other hand, literally means "passare oltre" ("to pass past/beyond", e.g., a limit).
Surely!
By the way, if by etymo.it you mean the "Dizionario Etimologico di Ottorino Pianigiani", I advise you not to trust its contents too much: it is an outdated and often unreliable work.
Be sure of that. I think there is another one!
Valicare, like varcare, comes from Latin varĭcare ‘to spread the legs, to step over’, from varĭcus ‘having wide legs’, in turn from varus ‘crooked, bow-legged’.
They are synonymous in many ways: there are several things that we can both "valicare" and "varcare": mountains, a pass, a river, the sea. However, some standard collocations are preferred: usually, thresholds or borders are "varcati", while mountainous places are "valicati".

Superare comes straight from Latin, and is a derivative of super (above): it means "to be above" or, like in this case, "to pass over/above" (e.g., an obstacle).

Oltrepassare, on the other hand, literally means "passare oltre" ("to pass past/beyond", e.g., a limit).
The idea of spreading one's legs had become clear, but nothing else. Thanks a lot!

I'll have a look at the two expressions "to pass over/ above" as opposed to "to pass past/ beyond".
Just bumped into this use of "threshold": standing at the threshold of adult life. Nothing special, but the threshold clearly marking a boundary indeed. (We can use it in Dutch too, but it is not very common: op [on] de drempel van de eeuwigheid, at the threshold of eternity...)
This is interesting because 'szamár' [ˈsɒmaːr] means 'donkey' in Hungarian. Apparently it's a borrowing of a northern dialectal form of Italian 'somaro', ultimately deriving from the same Greek noun.

@Tirrenico , is 'somaro' a dialectal/regional word, or is it really a synonym of 'asino'?
Edit: I've found that 'somaro' is usually used as an insult. :)
Yes, asino (/ˈazino/ or /ˈasino/) and somaro are synonyms,
Somaro is a term derived from soma (Latin sauma/sagma), meaning "load", and is used to refer to a donkey, often in reference to its traditional role as a pack animal.
In Catalan too. Ase, somer, ruc, burro. In fact, the four synonyms are used and can be heard, depending on the speaker or area. I never use somer, for instance, but I use somera for the female sometimes.

In Italian, we say "varcare la soglia", akin to valicare ("to cross"), from Latin varĭcare. The meaning is the same as the French franchir, however we prefer to use different verbs with different objects:
- varcare la soglia (threshold)/il confine (border);
- valicare le Alpi (Alps);
- superare un ostacolo (obstacle);
- oltrepassare un limite (limit).
In Catalan, travessar, creuar, traspassar, franquejar; superar, ultrapassar, sobrepassar.

While some are more typical with some words, most of them are synonymous. The first two mean from one point to the other, the first four are more usual for an access, and the last three are more usual for going beyond (a limit, etc.). There are still others which may be more literary, such as tramuntar (when it's about mountains), traspuar (about liquids), etc.
Just bumped into this use of "threshold": standing at the threshold of adult life. Nothing special, but the threshold clearly marking a boundary indeed. (We can use it in Dutch too, but it is not very common: op [on] de drempel van de eeuwigheid, at the threshold of eternity...)

Same in French:
au seuil de l'âge adulte
au seuil de l'éternité

It's quite common, although rather literary.
The use of 'på tröskeln till ...' (on the treshold to ...' is quite commonin Swedish, be it to adult life, a new year/new decennium, the summer, a paradigm shift, a healthcare shift, the unknown, and so on.
Polish

próg = treshold , progowy (adjective)

We've reached a threshold dose of the painkillers, we cannot give you more.
Osiągnęliśmy progową dawkę leków przeciwbólowych, nie możemy dać ci więcej.

liminal stimulus (treshold stimulus) = bodziec progowy

próg zwalniający (lit. slowing down treshold?) = speed bump

prożek = diminutive of próg (treshold) , or a small treshold.

prożek do gitary = guitar bridge
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parapet or podokiennik wewnętrzny = windowsill , from Italian parapetto. pod (under) + okno, okiennik (window)

podokiennik zewewnętrzny = window board

poziomica, poziomnica = level (poziom = level) from poziemny = terrestrial, horizontal)
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Polish

próg = treshold , progowy (adjective)

We've reached a threshold dose of the painkillers, we cannot give you more.
Osiągnęliśmy progową dawkę leków przeciwbólowych, nie możemy dać ci więcej.

liminal stimulus (threshold stimulus) = bodziec progowy
What kind of stimulus do you mean? in what context? (A minimal one?)
prożek do gitary = guitar bridge
View attachment 104430
Had not associated that with a threshold...
poziomica, poziomnica = level (poziom = level) from poziemny = terrestrial, horizontal)
This association has been mentioned in other languages too, it seems to me, but I think we cannot use drempel in that connection.
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