Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Umwelt” come from?

Umwelt derives from German um- combined with Middle High German werlt, from Old High German weralt, from Proto-Germanic weraldiz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots weraz and al- meaning "man" and "to grow."

Umwelt (English): One's surroundings or environment; the outer...

Definitions

  1. One's surroundings or environment; the outer...

Ancestry of “Umwelt”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanUmweltenvironment; milieu; surroundings; environment;...
2Germanwelt—
3Middle High Germanwerlt—
4Old High Germanweraltworld
5Proto-West Germanicweraldiworld
6Proto-Germanicweraldizlifetime, worldly existence; mankind; world
7Proto-Germanicwerazman; husband
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
9Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →