Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “her” come from?

Her derives from Middle English here, from Old English here and Old English hē, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots ḱeywo-, ker-, and kew-.

her (English): Belonging to her; The form of "she" used after a...

Definitions

  1. Belonging to her; The form of "she" used after a...

Ancestry of “her”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishherea military force; a troop, host, or army; a group...
2Old Englishhēre—
3Proto-West Germanichariarmy
4Proto-Germanicharjazarmy; army leader; commander; warrior
5Proto-Indo-Europeankóryoswar; troops; army; war, troops
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “her”

  • hers
  • whatshername
  • herness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →