Where does “hoofdstad” come from?
hoofdstad (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch hôvetstat, from Middle Dutch stat, from Old Dutch stad, from Proto-Germanic stadiz, from Proto-Indo-European stéh₂tis, from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.
hoofdstad (Dutch): capital city
Definitions
- capital city
Ancestry of “hoofdstad”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | hôvetstat | the most prominent town or city in a region |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | stat | place; position, station; rank, status |
| 3 | Old Dutch | stad | a site, place, location, standing |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | stadiz | place, location |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | stéh₂tis | standing, position |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | *steh₂- | — |