Where does “huh” come from?

huh (Central Franconian) comes from Old High German hōh, from Proto-West Germanic hauh, from Proto-Germanic hauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱewk- — flare up, glow; white; to glow, burn, lighten.

huh (Central Franconian): high; tall

Definitions

  1. high; tall

Ancestry of “huh”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanhōhhigh, tall, elevated
2Proto-West Germanichauhhigh
3Proto-Germanichauhazhigh
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewk-flare up, glow; white; to glow, burn, lighten
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewk- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hauhaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic hauh →