Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “boven” come from?

boven (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch bōven, from Middle Dutch be, from Middle Dutch bi, from Old Dutch bī, from Proto-Germanic bi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂n̥tbʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts — on, onto.

boven (Dutch): above; upstairs

Definitions

  1. above; upstairs

Ancestry of “boven”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchbōven—
2Middle Dutchbe—
3Middle Dutchbiby, near, around; beside, alongside; at, with
4Old Dutchbī—
5Proto-Germanicbiby, at; near, around
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

Words derived from “boven”

  • bovennatuurlijk
  • ondersteboven
  • bovengemiddeld
  • boventoon
  • bovenbuur
  • bovennatuur
  • bovenhalen
  • bovengoed
  • bovenklasse
  • bovenstaand
  • bovenwaarts
  • bovenleiding
  • bovenbaas
  • bovenwerkelijk
  • bovenwerkelijkheid
  • bo
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →