Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hunger” come from?

Hunger comes from Old English hyngran, from Proto-Germanic hungrijaną and hunhruz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kenk-.

hunger (English): A need or compelling desire for food; Any strong...

Definitions

  1. A need or compelling desire for food; Any strong...

Ancestry of “hunger”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishhungerHungriness; the feeling of being hungry or...
2Old Englishhungorhunger; famine
3Proto-West Germanichungrhunger
4Proto-Germanichungruzhunger
5Proto-GermanichunhruzAlternative form of *hungruz
6Proto-Indo-Europeankenk-to burn, dry, pain, desire, hunger, thirst; to...

Words derived from “hunger”

  • antihunger
  • hungereth
  • hungerly
  • hungerless
  • hungerest
  • hungerer
  • anti-hunger
  • enhunger
  • hungersome
  • hungerful
  • hungro
  • hungrar
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kenk- →