The River Rhine derives its name from the ancient Celtic word “Rēnos,” which was later adopted by the Romans as “Rhenus.” This name is believed to have origins in the Proto-Indo-European root “rei-“, meaning “to move, flow, or run,” aptly describing the river’s continuous flow through Central Europe (hopefully predicting my cycling journey!)

The river holds immense economic significance for Central Europe. Spanning over 1,230 kilometers and passing through six countries, it acts as a natural transportation and trading route, facilitating the movement of goods between inland territories and the North Sea. Major cities like Basel, Strasbourg, Cologne, and Rotterdam lie along its banks, benefiting from the river’s navigability. The Rhine’s port of Rotterdam is one of the world’s largest, serving as Europe’s main maritime gateway.

However, if a Dubliner added a syllable in pronouncing the name, we’d have an im-media-te change in focus to more domestic matters?

One syllable is more than enough for me.