Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “carnaval” come from?

carnaval (Dutch) comes from Italian carnivale, from Medieval Latin carnelevale, from Latin levare, from Latin levo, from Latin levis, from Proto-Italic leɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European h₁léngʰus, from Proto-Indo-European h₁lengʷʰ- — light.

carnaval (Dutch): The carnival, last festive occasion before Lent,...

Definitions

  1. The carnival, last festive occasion before Lent,...

Ancestry of “carnaval”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italiancarnivale—
2Medieval Latincarnelevale—
3Latinlevarepresent active infinitive of levō; second-person...
4LatinlevoI raise, elevate, lift up; I make light, lighten;...
5Latinlevislight; quick, swift; fickle
6Proto-Italicleɣʷis—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁léngʰuslightweight
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁lengʷʰ-light
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁lengʷʰ- →