Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Vanir” come from?

Vanir (English) comes from Old Norse Vanir, from Old Norse vanr, from Proto-Germanic wanaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- — to leave, abandon, give out.

Ancestry of “Vanir”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseVanirone of two groups of gods in Norse mythology
2Old Norsevanrlacking, wanting; a member of the Vanir
3Proto-Germanicwanazlacking, deficient, absent; accustomed
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weh₂-to leave, abandon, give out
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- →