Where does “niks” come from?
niks (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch niks, from German Nix, from Middle High German nickes, from Old High German nichus, from Proto-Germanic nikwus, from Proto-Indo-European nigʷ-ō-s, from Proto-Indo-European neygʷ- — to wash.
niks (Afrikaans): nothing
Definitions
- nothing
Ancestry of “niks”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | niks | nothing; disagreeable, distasteful, not liking;... |
| 2 | German | Nix | nix water demon in human form that lures people into the water and drowns them |
| 3 | Middle High German | nickes | — |
| 4 | Old High German | nichus | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | nikwus | water-spirit; nix |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | nigʷ-ō-s | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | neygʷ- | to wash |