Where does “Europa” come from?
Europa (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch Europa, from Middle Dutch europa, from Latin Eurōpa, from Ancient Greek Εὐρώπη, from Ancient Greek ὤψ, from Proto-Hellenic ókʷs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ókʷs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ekʷ- — to see; eye.
Ancestry of “Europa”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Dutch | Europa | — |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | europa | — |
| 3 | Latin | Eurōpa | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Εὐρώπη | Europa; Europe |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ὤψ | to the eye; in the face; eye |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | ókʷs | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ókʷs | eye |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ekʷ- | to see; eye |