Where does “Austria” come from?
Austria derives from Old High German ostar through Latin Austria, though the ultimate meaning remains uncertain.
Ancestry of “Austria”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | Austria | — |
| 2 | Old High German | Ostarrîchi | — |
| 3 | Old High German | rīhhi | rich, mighty; power, might, empire; realm |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | rīkī | mighty, powerful; rich; kingdom, realm |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | rīkijaz | kingly, royal, noble; mighty, powerful; rich |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | rīks | king, ruler |
| 7 | Proto-Celtic | rīxs | king |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |