Where does “Gandalf” come from?
Gandalf is from Old Norse Gandálfr, from Old Norse alfr and Proto-Germanic gandaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots albʰós and bʰon-.
Ancestry of “Gandalf”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | Gandálfr | elf with a magic staff |
| 2 | Old Norse | gandr | magic wand; stick, staff; magic, monster; magic... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | gandaz | stick, staff |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷʰen- | to strike, slay, kill |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰon- | — |
Words derived from “Gandalf”