Where does “man” come from?
Man comes from Middle English man and mon, from Proto-Germanic mann-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European men- and ḱóm, with roots meaning to think or remain.
man (English): An adult male human; All human males...
Definitions
- An adult male human; All human males...
Ancestry of “man”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | man | Typically singular, indefinite pronoun: one, you;... |
| 2 | Old English | mān | bad, criminal, false; shameful act; crime;... |
| 3 | Sanskrit | महादेव | the "great God" |
| 4 | Sanskrit | महा | combining form of महत्; buffalo; great, large,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | maźʰā́ | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | maȷ́ʰā́ | big, great |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | méǵh₂s | big, great |