Where does “Herzegovina” come from?
Herzegovina derives from Serbo-Croatian Hercegovina, from German Herzog meaning duke, through Middle High German herzog and Old High German herizogo, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ker- via Proto-Germanic harjaz and Proto-West Germanic harjatogō and hari.
Ancestry of “Herzegovina”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serbo-Croatian | Hèrcegovina | — |
| 2 | Serbo-Croatian | herceg | duke |
| 3 | Hungarian | herceg | prince; duke |
| 4 | German | herzog | duke |
| 5 | Middle High German | herzog | — |
| 6 | Old High German | herizogo | duke |
| 7 | Proto-West Germanic | harjatogō | army leader, commander, general |
| 8 | Proto-West Germanic | hari | army |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | harjaz | army; army leader; commander; warrior |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | kóryos | war; troops; army; war, troops |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |