ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Aber and Inver as place-name elements

Okay kiddo, so do you ever hear grown-ups talking about places with names like "Aberdeen" or "Inverness"? Well, sometimes when people name a place, they use certain words to describe the landscape or surroundings.

Two of those words are "aber" and "inver". When you hear those words in a place name, it usually means that the place is near a river. "Aber" comes from the Welsh language and means "mouth", as in the mouth of a river where it meets the sea. So, places with "aber" in their name are often found where a river meets the ocean.

"Inver" comes from the Gaelic language and means "confluence", which is a fancy word for where two rivers meet. So, places with "inver" in their name are usually located where two rivers join together.

So, to summarize, "aber" and "inver" are words used in place names to describe places that are near a river. "Aber" means the mouth where the river meets the sea, and "inver" means where two rivers come together. Cool, huh?