Where does “Korean” come from?
Korean derives from English Korea, itself from Korean 고려 (Goryeo), with the English suffix -an corresponding to Spanish -ana, Latin -anus, and ultimately Proto-Italic -os, a masculine singular nominative ending.
Korean (English): Of or relating to the Asian Peninsula comprising...
Definitions
- Of or relating to the Asian Peninsula comprising...
Ancestry of “Korean”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Korea | — |
| 2 | Dutch | Core | — |
| 3 | Korean | 고려 | consideration; reflection |
| 4 | Chinese | 高麗 | Korean ginseng; cabbage |
| 5 | Dutch | kool | cabbage; coal; carbon |
| 6 | Middle Dutch | col | — |
| 7 | Old Dutch | kōl | — |
| 8 | Latin | caulis | dative plural of caulae; ablative plural of... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | καυλός | stem, stalk; shaft |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂ulós | — |