Where does “مهر” come from?
مهر (Classical Persian) comes from Middle Persian mtr', from Old Persian 𐎷𐎰𐎼, from Avestan 𐬨𐬌𐬚𐬭𐬀, from Proto-Iranian miθráh, from Proto-Indo-Iranian mitrás, from Proto-Indo-European mēy- — soft, tender, dear.
Ancestry of “مهر”, step by step
مهر traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle Persian mtr'
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Persian | mtr' | sun; love, friendship |
| 2 | Old Persian | 𐎷𐎰𐎼 | Mithra, a Zoroastrian deity |
| 3 | Avestan | 𐬨𐬌𐬚𐬭𐬀 | contract; agreement; pact |
| 4 | Proto-Iranian | miθráh | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | mitrás | covenant; treaty; agreement |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |
via Middle Persian mwdl
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Persian | mwdl | — |