Where does “niks” come from?
niks (Danish) comes from German Nix, from Middle High German nickes, from Old High German nichus, from Proto-Germanic nikwus, from Proto-Indo-European nigʷ-ō-s, from Proto-Indo-European neygʷ- — to wash.
niks (Danish): no, no way; nothing
Ancestry of “niks”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | Nix | nix |
| 2 | Middle High German | nickes | — |
| 3 | Old High German | nichus | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nikwus | water-spirit; nix |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | nigʷ-ō-s | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | neygʷ- | to wash |