Where does “twaalf” come from?
twaalf (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch twaalf, from Middle Dutch twelef, from Old Dutch twelif, from Proto-Germanic twalif, from Proto-Germanic -lif, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
twaalf (Afrikaans): twelve
Ancestry of “twaalf”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Dutch | twaalf | twelve |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | twelef | — |
| 3 | Old Dutch | twelif | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | twalif | twelve |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -lif | left over |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leyp- | to stick; fat or sticky substance |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lēy- | to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave... |