Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Ireland” come from?

Ireland derives from Irish Éire, from Old Irish Ériu, from Proto-Celtic ɸīweryū, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peyH- and lendʰ-, though the precise semantic development remains uncertain.

Ancestry of “Ireland”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishIrlond—
2Old EnglishĪrland—
3Old EnglishĪrasIrishmen
4Old NorseÍrarIrishmen
5Old IrishÉriuIreland
6Primitive Irish*Īweriū—
7Proto-CelticΦīweryū—
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpiHweryon-—
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanpeyH-fat, milk

Words derived from “Ireland”

  • Irelander
  • Irlanda
  • irlandese
  • angloirlandese
  • nordirlandese
  • Irlande
  • irlandês
  • Irlanda
  • irlandez
  • アイルランド
  • ιρλανδικός
  • Ιρλανδία
  • Ai-len
  • ไอร์แลนด์เหนือ
  • ไอร์แลนด์
  • আয়াৰলেণ্ড
  • i-Ayilendi
  • Irlanda
  • Ailan
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peyH- →