Where does “-man” come from?

-man (Dutch) comes from Dutch man, from Middle Dutch man, from Old Dutch man, from Proto-West Germanic mann, from Proto-Germanic *mann-, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

-man (Dutch): someone (implied male) who is an expert in an area

Definitions

  1. someone (implied male) who is an expert in an area

Ancestry of “-man”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchmanman, human male, either adult or...
2Middle Dutchmanhuman; person; man, male
3Old Dutchmanhuman, person; man, male
4Proto-West Germanicmannperson, human
5Proto-Germanic*mann-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →