Where does “al” come from?

al (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch al, from Middle Dutch al, from Old Dutch āl, from Proto-West Germanic all, from Proto-Germanic allaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.

al (Afrikaans): already; all; every; even though, although

Definitions

  1. already; all; every; even though, although

Ancestry of “al”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchalall, all of; already; yet
2Middle Dutchalall, all of; completely; even though, no matter...
3Old Dutchāl
4Proto-West Germanicallall
5Proto-Germanicallazall
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él-Every word from Proto-Germanic allazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic all
al — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer