Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “German” come from?

German comes from Latin Germani, the name Romans applied to the Germanic peoples, of uncertain ultimate origin.

German (English): A native or inhabitant of Germany; a person of...

Definitions

  1. A native or inhabitant of Germany; a person of...

Ancestry of “German”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinGermānia—
2LatinGermānī—
3LatinGermānus—
4Latingermenshoot, sprout, bud; germ, seed, origin; embryo,...
5Proto-Italicgenamen—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵénh₁mn̥offspring, seed
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth

Words derived from “German”

  • Jerry
  • germ
  • Germ
  • germline
  • germicide
  • germinoma
  • dysgerminoma
  • jerrycan
  • germy
  • germless
  • germling
  • germing
  • germophobe
  • germband
  • germophobic
  • antigerm
  • germproof
  • degerm
  • multigerm
  • germlike
  • degermation
  • germule
  • Germans
  • Germanist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- →