Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. Of or relating to the Asian Peninsula comprising...

Ancestry of “Korean”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishKorea—
2DutchCore—
3Korean고려consideration; reflection
4Chinese高麗Korean ginseng; cabbage
5Dutchkoolcabbage; coal; carbon
6Middle Dutchcol—
7Old Dutchkōl—
8Latincaulisdative plural of caulae; ablative plural of...
9Ancient Greekκαυλόςstem, stalk; shaft
10Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂ulós—

Words derived from “Korean”

  • Koreanology
  • Koreanologist
  • Sino-Korean
  • कोरियन
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂ulós →