Dniester River Stock Image

The name Dniester derives from Sarmatian dānu nazdya `the close river.`[2] The Dnieper, also of Sarmatian origin, derives from the opposite meaning, `the river on the far side`. Alternatively, according to V. Abaev Dniester would be a blend of Scythian dānu `river` and Thracian Ister, the previous name of the river, literally Dān-Ister River Ister.[3] The Ancient Greek name of Dniester, Tyras Τύρας, is from Scythian tūra, meaning `rapid.`[citation needed] The names of the Don and Danube are also from the same Proto Indo-European word *dānu - river.