Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Kara” come from?

Kara derives from Italian cara, from Latin carus meaning "dear" or "beloved," traced through Proto-Indo-European kāro- to the root keh₂-.

Ancestry of “Kara”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCara—
2Italiancarafeminine singular of caro; female equivalent of...
3Italiancarodear , sweetheart; dear, precious, expensive;...
4Latincārus—
5Proto-Italickārosdear
6Proto-Indo-Europeankéh₂rosloved; dear
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂-to desire, wish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂- →