Where does “gelach” come from?
gelach (Dutch) comes from Dutch lachen, from Middle Dutch lachen, from Old Dutch lahhan, from Proto-West Germanic hlahhjan, from Proto-Germanic hlahjaną, from Proto-Indo-European klek- — to laugh, cackle.
gelach (Dutch): laughter
Definitions
- laughter
Ancestry of “gelach”, step by step
gelach traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Dutch lachen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | lachen | to laugh |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | lachen | to laugh; to smile; to be happy |
| 3 | Old Dutch | lahhan | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hlahhjan | to laugh |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hlahjaną | to laugh |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | klek- | to laugh, cackle |
via Dutch ge
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | ge | "unstressed form of gij:" you |