German words from Proto-Germanic
445 German words with Proto-Germanic in their history, whether borrowed directly or passed on through other languages.
ab
It is inherited from Middle High German abe, inherited from Old High German aba, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ab, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ab (“away from, off”). The final vowel of the…
Abend
It is inherited from Middle High German ābent, inherited from Old High German āband, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ābanþ, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ēbanþs (“evening”). The same word is…
aber
It is inherited from Middle High German aber, inherited from Old High German avur, inherited from Proto-Germanic *aferą (“behind, later”). The Old High German forms in ⟨-ar⟩, such as afar, and those…
acht
It is inherited from Middle High German aht, inherited from Old High German ahto, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ahtō, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ahtōu (“eight”). The number is found in…
ähnlich
It is inherited from Middle High German anelich (also enlich), inherited from Old High German *analīh, found only in derivatives such as analīhhī (“likeness”), beside anagilīh (“similar, equal”)…
all
It is inherited from Middle High German al, inherited from Old High German al, inherited from Proto-Germanic *allaz (“all, whole”). The same word is Old Saxon al, Old English eall, Old Norse allr…
alt
It is inherited from Middle High German alt, inherited from Old High German alt, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ald, inherited from Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“grown up, old”). The same word is Old…
Alter
It is inherited from Middle High German alter, inherited from Old High German altar, inherited from Proto-Germanic *aldrą (“life, lifetime, age”). The same word is Old Saxon aldar, Old English…
Amt
It is inherited from Middle High German ambahte, inherited from Old High German ambahti (“service, office”), inherited from Proto-Germanic *ambahtiją (“service”). The same word is Old Saxon ambaht…
an
It is inherited from Middle High German ane, inherited from Old High German ana, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ana. The same word is Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰 (ana), Old Norse á, Old English on, Old Frisian on…
Anfang
It is inherited from Middle High German anevanc, inherited from Old High German anafang, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *anafangi (“grasp, embrace”). The noun belongs to the verb anfangen, Old…
Angriff
It is inherited from Middle High German anegrif, inherited from Old High German anagrif (“touch, embrace”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *anagripi (“seizure”), formed from an and the noun…
Angst
It is inherited from Middle High German angest, inherited from Old High German angust, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *angusti-. The word is limited to German, Dutch and Frisian: Middle Low…
Antwort
It is inherited from Middle High German antwürte, inherited from Old High German antwurti, inherited from Proto-Germanic *andawurdiją (“answer, counter-word”). It is a collective formation from the…
Arbeit
It is inherited from Middle High German arebeit, inherited from Old High German arabeit, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *arbaiþi, inherited from Proto-Germanic *arbaidiz (“toil, hardship”). The…
arbeiten
It is inherited from Middle High German arbeiten, inherited from Old High German arbeiten, inherited from Proto-Germanic *arbaidijaną, a verb formed from the noun Arbeit. The same verb is Gothic…
auch
It is inherited from Middle High German ouch, inherited from Old High German ouh, inherited from Proto-Germanic *auk. The same particle is Gothic 𐌰𐌿𐌺 (auk, “for, but, also”), Old Norse auk, Old…
auf
It is inherited from Middle High German ūf, inherited from Old High German ūf, inherited from Proto-Germanic *upp. The same word is Old Saxon up, Old English up, Old Frisian up and Old Norse upp…
Auge
It is inherited from Middle High German ouge, inherited from Old High German ouga, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *augā, inherited from Proto-Germanic *augô (“eye”). The same word is Gothic 𐌰𐌿𐌲𐍉…
aus
It is inherited from Middle High German ūz, inherited from Old High German ūz, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ūt, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ūt (“out”). The same word is Gothic 𐌿𐍄 (ut), Old…
außer
It is inherited from Middle High German ūzer, inherited from Old High German ūzar, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ūtar (“outside, out of”). The same word is Old Saxon ūtar, Old Norse útar, Old…
Bad
It is inherited from Middle High German bat, inherited from Old High German bad, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *baþ, inherited from Proto-Germanic *baþą (“bath”). The same word is Old Saxon…
Bahn
It is inherited from Middle High German ban(e) (“path, way”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *banu, inherited from Proto-Germanic *banō. The same word is Middle Low German bāne and Middle Dutch…
bald
It is inherited from Middle High German balde, inherited from Old High German baldo, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *balþ, inherited from Proto-Germanic *balþaz (“bold, strong”): an adverb of…
Ball
1. The round object is inherited from Middle High German bal, inherited from Old High German bal, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ballu, inherited from Proto-Germanic *balluz. The same word is…
Bau
It is inherited from Middle High German bū, inherited from Old High German bū (“dwelling”), inherited from Proto-Germanic *būą (“building, dwelling”). The same noun is Old Saxon bū, Old English bū…
bauen
It is inherited from Middle High German būwen, inherited from Old High German būan (also būwan), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *būan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *būaną (“to dwell”). The same…
Bauer
1. The birdcage is inherited from Middle High German būr, inherited from Old High German būr (“house, chamber”), inherited from Proto-Germanic *būrą (“dwelling, chamber”). The same word is Old Saxon…
Baum
It is inherited from Middle High German boum, inherited from Old High German boum, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *baum (“tree, beam”). It took the place of the old word for “tree” that survives…
befinden
It is inherited from Middle High German bevinden, inherited from Old High German bifindan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bifinþan, a prefixed form from German be- + finden. The same verb is…
beginnen
It is inherited from Middle High German beginnen, inherited from Old High German biginnan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *biginnaną (“to begin”), formed…
bei
It is inherited from Middle High German bī, inherited from Old High German bī, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bī, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bi. The same word is Gothic 𐌱𐌹 (bi, “around…
bekommen
It is inherited from Middle High German bekomen, inherited from Old High German biqueman, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bikweman, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bikwemaną (“to come near, come…
Berg
It is inherited from Middle High German berc, inherited from Old High German berg, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bergaz (“mountain”). The same word is Old Saxon berg, Old Frisian berch, Old English…
beschließen
It is inherited from Middle High German besliezen, inherited from Old High German bisliozan (“to shut, enclose, conclude”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bisleutan, made of the prefix be- and…
besetzen
It is inherited from Middle High German besetzen, inherited from Old High German bisezzen, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bisattjan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bisatjaną (“to set around; to…
besitzen
It is inherited from Middle High German besitzen, inherited from Old High German bisizzen, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bisittjan (“to sit by, near”), inherited from Proto-Germanic…
besuchen
It is inherited from Middle High German besuochen, inherited from Old High German bisuohhen (“to examine, try, inquire”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bisōkijan, formed from German be- +…
beziehen
It is inherited from Middle High German beziehen, inherited from Old High German biziohan (“to tie up, cover over, take away”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *biteuhan, a prefixed form of…
bieten
It is inherited from Middle High German bieten, inherited from Old High German biotan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *beudan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *beudaną (“to offer, bid”). The same…
Bild
It is inherited from Middle High German bilde, inherited from Old High German bilidi, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *biliþi. Early Upper German also had biladi and bilodi; the form with -idi…
bilden
It is inherited from Middle High German bilden, inherited from Old High German bilidōn (“to copy a given shape”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *biliþōn, with which the older Old High German…
bitten
It is inherited from Middle High German bitten, inherited from Old High German bitten (“to ask, beg, pray”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *biddjan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bidjaną (“to…
bleiben
It is inherited from Middle High German belīben, inherited from Old High German bilīban, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bilībaną (“to remain”), a verb formed with the prefix *bi- on a simple strong…
Blick
It is inherited from Middle High German blic, inherited from Old High German blik, inherited from Proto-Germanic *blikaz (“shine, gleam”). The same word is Middle Low German blick, Middle Dutch…
Boden
It is inherited from Middle High German bodem, inherited from Old High German bodam, inherited from Proto-Germanic *butmaz (“bottom”). The same word is Old Saxon bodom, Old English botm, Old Frisian…
brauchen
It is inherited from Middle High German brūchen, inherited from Old High German brūhhan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *brūkan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *brūkaną (“to use, enjoy”). The…
brechen
It is inherited from Middle High German brëchen, inherited from Old High German brehhan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”). The same strong verb is Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (brikan), Old…
breit
It is inherited from Middle High German breit, inherited from Old High German breit, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *braid, inherited from Proto-Germanic *braidaz (“broad, wide”). The same word…
bringen
It is inherited from Middle High German bringen, inherited from Old High German bringan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *bringan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bringaną (“to bring”). The same…
Bruder
It is inherited from Middle High German bruoder, inherited from Old High German bruoder, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *brōþer, inherited from Proto-Germanic *brōþēr (“brother”). The same word…
Buch
It is inherited from Middle High German buoch, inherited from Old High German buoh, inherited from Proto-Germanic *bōks. The same word is Old Saxon bōk, Old English bōc, Old Frisian bōk, Old Norse…
da
The modern word continues a local adverb, inherited from Middle High German dā, also dār, inherited from Old High German dār, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *þǣr (“there”). The same adverb is…
dann
It is inherited from Middle High German danne, inherited from Old High German danna, inherited from Proto-Germanic *þan (“then”). Like Old Frisian thana and Old English þonne, it is the time adverb…
dass
It is inherited from Middle High German daz, inherited from Old High German daz, inherited from Proto-Germanic *þat (“that”), and is historically the same word as the neuter nominative singular of…
dein
It is inherited from Middle High German dīn, inherited from Old High German dīn, inherited from Proto-Germanic *þīnaz (“your”). The same word is Gothic 𐌸𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (þeins), Old Norse þinn, Old English…
denken
It is inherited from Middle High German denken, inherited from Old High German denken, also thenken, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *þankijan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *þankijaną (“to…
denn
It is inherited from Middle High German denne, inherited from Old High German denne, the umlauted variant of danne, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *þan. Until the 18th century it did not differ…
deutsch
It is inherited from Middle High German diutisch, inherited from Old High German diutisc, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *þiudisk, inherited from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz (“of the people”), an…
dienen
It is inherited from Middle High German dienen, inherited from Old High German thionōn, inherited from Proto-Germanic *þewanōną (“to serve”). The same verb is Old Saxon thionon, Old Frisian thiānia…