Where does “syfer” come from?

syfer (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch cijfer, from Middle Dutch cifer, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic صِفْر, from Sanskrit शून्य, from Proto-Indo-European ḱówH-.

syfer (Afrikaans): digit, numeral

Definitions

  1. digit, numeral

Ancestry of “syfer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchcijferdigit; statistic; a grade given for an assignment...
2Middle Dutchcifer—
3Medieval Latincifrazero, numeral; numeral, cipher; zero
4Arabicصِفْرzero, nothing, empty, void; nothing, cipher;...
5Sanskritशून्यzero; cipher, cypher; blank, deserted
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱówH-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱówH- →Every word from Sanskrit शून्य →Every word from Arabic صِفْر →