Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “fella” come from?

Fella is an informal English variant of fellow, which derives from Old Norse félag meaning "partner" or "associate," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peḱ- meaning "to pluck" or "to divide."

fella (English): Pronunciation spelling of fellow; 1997, Donald...

Definitions

  1. Pronunciation spelling of fellow; 1997, Donald...

Ancestry of “fella”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfellowA colleague or partner; A companion; a comrade; A...
2Middle EnglishfelaweA partner, friend, or colleague; one linked with...
3Old Englishfēolaga—
4Old Norsefélagione with whom one has joined one's property;...
5Old Norsefélagfellowship, partnership
6Old Norsefécattle; livestock; property, money
7Proto-Germanicfehulivestock, cattle; property; name of the F-rune
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpéḱulivestock
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpeḱ-to pluck; livestock; wealth

Words derived from “fella”

  • fellah
  • blackfella
  • whitefella
  • goodfella
  • gutpela
  • mitupela
  • sevenpela
  • yutupela
  • -pela
  • tripela
  • yumipela
  • mitripela
  • arapela
  • tupela
  • naispela
  • fopela
  • dispela
  • mipela
  • narapela
  • yumitripela
  • etpela
  • yutripela
  • sampela
  • grinpela
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peḱ- →