As a long-time fan of the Discworld books, I think I'm up on almost all the puns and references in them. However, one has never quite fit for me. Ever since I first read Mort these many years ago, I have wondered about the name Sto Helit.

Sto Lat, the theoretical capital of the Sto Plains, is named (I am told) for a Polish song that's somewhat equivalent to "Happy Birthday" or "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow". The duchy that's on the edge of Lancre, Sto Helit (also Susan's surname, as she's technically the duchess), doesn't seem to be an obvious joke or pun, but it's such an altogether odd name that I can't help thinking it means something. This is complicated by not being quite sure how to say it -- I'm not sure if it's Sto HELL-it or Sto heh-LEET. If the latter, then maybe it's meant to sound like "so elite"?

Does anyone know anything? Is this something that's well known and I've just missed it, or does it really not mean anything (as far as anyone knows)?

(GNU Terry Pratchett)

As a long-time fan of the Discworld books, I think I'm up on almost all the puns and references in them. However, one has never quite fit for me. Ever since I first read Mort lo these many years ago, I have wondered about the name Sto Helit.

Sto Lat, the theoretical capital of the Sto Plains, is named (I am told) for a Polish song that's somewhat equivalent to "Happy Birthday" or "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow". The duchy that's on the edge of Lancre, Sto Helit (also Susan's surname, as she's technically the duchess), doesn't seem to be an obvious joke or pun, but it's such an altogether odd name that I can't help thinking it means something. This is complicated by not being quite sure how to say it -- I'm not sure if it's Sto HELL-it or Sto heh-LEET. If the latter, then maybe it's meant to sound like "so elite"?

Does anyone know anything? Is this something that's well known and I've just missed it, or does it really not mean anything (as far as anyone knows)?

(GNU Terry Pratchett)