Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “super” come from?

Super comes from English supernumerary, which derives from Proto-Indo-European uperi and upo, meaning "over" or "above."

super (English): Of excellent quality, superfine; better than...

Definitions

  1. Of excellent quality, superfine; better than...

Ancestry of “super”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishsuper-egoAlternative spelling of superego
2GermanÜber-Ich—
3GermanIchego, the Ich; self, me, him, etc
4Middle High GermanichI
5Old High GermanihI
6Proto-West GermanicikI
7Proto-Germanic*ek—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanéǵh₂I

Words derived from “super”

  • superego
  • supe
  • superneutral
  • superly
  • superpenis
  • superprimate
  • superb owl
  • supercup
  • superdick
  • superbackground
  • superfight
  • minisuper
  • Super Bowl
  • supercomposite
  • super-duper
  • супер
  • Supergalaxienhaufen
  • Virgo-Superhaufen
  • Galaxiensuperhaufen
  • Superhaufen
  • super
  • スーパーボウル
  • スーパー
  • スーパーボール
Every word from Proto-Indo-European éǵh₂ →