In Russian, being a “fan” of a team is the same word as “being sick”

The English word “fan” — in the sports context — of course comes from “fanatic.” But in Russian, the word is болельщик (bol’el’shchik); “to be a fan of” is “болеть за” (bol’et’ za). And “болеть” is the same word as “to be sick for”; “болезнь” means “illness,” and the related “боль” means “pain.” So if […]