Etymology Explorer › Danish

Where does “Sten” come from?

Sten (Danish) comes from Swedish Sten, from Old Swedish sten, from Old Norse Steinn, from Proto-Norse ᛊᛏᚨᛁᚾᚨᛉ, from Proto-Germanic stainaz, from Proto-Indo-European steyh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- — to stand.

Ancestry of “Sten”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1SwedishSten—
2Old Swedishstenstone
3Old NorseSteinn—
4Proto-Norseᛊᛏᚨᛁᚾᚨᛉstone
5Proto-Germanicstainazstone
6Proto-Indo-Europeansteyh₂-to stiffen
7Proto-Indo-Europeansteh₂-to stand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- →