Etymology Explorer › Afrikaans

Where does “walvis” come from?

walvis (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch Walvis, from Middle Dutch walvisch, from Old Dutch walvisk, from Old Dutch wal, from Proto-Germanic Wahalaz, from Latin vacalus.

walvis (Afrikaans): whale

Definitions

  1. whale

Ancestry of “walvis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchWalvis—
2Middle Dutchwalvischwhale
3Old Dutchwalvisk—
4Old Dutchwalwhale
5Proto-GermanicWahalaz—
6Latinvacalus—
Every word from Latin vacalus →