Where does “Bernie” come from?
Bernie derives from English Bernard plus the English diminutive suffix -y, which comes from Middle English -y, Middle French -ie, Latin -ia, Latin -ivus, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European bʰer-.
Bernie (English): A Bernese mountain dog
Definitions
- A Bernese mountain dog
Ancestry of “Bernie”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Bernese | Of, from, or pertaining to, Bern; A native or... |
| 2 | English | Bern | A placename |
| 3 | English | Bernice | — |
| 4 | English | Berenice | notably of ancient queens of Egypt |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Βερενίκη | a city in Lybia; bringer of victory |
| 6 | Ancient Macedonian | Βερενῑ́κη | — |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |