Where does “European” come from?
European derives from Latin europaeus, formed from the Latin suffix -eus added to Ancient Greek Εὐρώπη, itself derived from Ancient Greek εὐρύς meaning broad, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁wérus with the Proto-Indo-European suffix -us.
European (English): Related to Europe or the European Union; Of the...
Definitions
- Related to Europe or the European Union; Of the...
Ancestry of “European”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | europaeus | Alternative form of Eurōpaeus |
| 2 | Latin | Europa | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | Εὐρώπη | Europa; Europe |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ὤψ | to the eye; in the face; eye |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | ókʷs | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ókʷs | eye |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ekʷ- | to see; eye |
Words derived from “European”