Where does “Yankee” come from?
Yankee derives from Dutch Janke, a diminutive form of the given name Jan, though the precise sense development remains unclear.
Yankee (English): A native or inhabitant of the United States; A...
Definitions
- A native or inhabitant of the United States; A...
Ancestry of “Yankee”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | Janke | Little John |
| 2 | Dutch | Jan | — |
| 3 | Norwegian Bokmål | Johannes | John; the name of several figures in the New Testament |
| 4 | Icelandic | Jóhannes | — |
| 5 | Latin | Iōhannēs | — |
| 6 | Latin | Iōannēs | John biblical persons |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Ἰωάννης | — |
| 8 | Hebrew | יוחנן | Yahweh is gracious |
| 9 | Hebrew | חנון | gracious, merciful, compassionate; passive... |
| 10 | Moroccan Arabic | خنونة | mucus, snot |
| 11 | Arabic | خُنَّة | — |