Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bergie” come from?

bergie (English) comes from Afrikaans bergie, from Afrikaans berg, from Dutch berg, from Middle Dutch berch, from Old Dutch berg, from Proto-Germanic bergaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

bergie (English): A homeless person in Cape Town

Definitions

  1. A homeless person in Cape Town

Ancestry of “bergie”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Afrikaansbergiea homeless person in Cape Town; Diminutive of...
2Afrikaansbergmountain; To salvage, usually cargo from a ship;...
3Dutchbergmountain, hill; a large amount, a pile; a stock,...
4Middle Dutchberchmountain, hill
5Old Dutchbergmountain, hill
6Proto-Germanicbergazhill; mountain; refuge; shelter
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →