Where does “Mehr” come from?
Mehr (English) comes from Persian مهر, from Arabic مَهْر, from Old Persian 𐎷𐎰𐎼, from Avestan 𐬨𐬌𐬚𐬭𐬀, from Proto-Iranian miθráh, from Proto-Indo-Iranian mitrás, from Proto-Indo-European mēy- — soft, tender, dear.
Ancestry of “Mehr”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Persian | مهر | Mahr, dowry, bride-price or gift; a... |
| 2 | Arabic | مَهْر | marriage portion; dowry |
| 3 | Old Persian | 𐎷𐎰𐎼 | — |
| 4 | Avestan | 𐬨𐬌𐬚𐬭𐬀 | contract; agreement; pact |
| 5 | Proto-Iranian | miθráh | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | mitrás | covenant; treaty; agreement |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |