Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-alia” come from?

-alia (English) comes from English paraphernalia, from Medieval Latin parapherna, from Ancient Greek παράφερνα, from Ancient Greek φερνή, from Ancient Greek φέρω, from Proto-Hellenic pʰérō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

Ancestry of “-alia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishparaphernaliaMiscellaneous items, especially the set of...
2Medieval Latinparapherna—
3Ancient Greekπαράφερναgoods which a wife brings over and above her...
4Ancient Greekφερνήdowry
5Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
6Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “-alia”

  • gardenalia
  • micronalia
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →