Where does “woulda” come from?
woulda (English) comes from English would, from Old English wolde, from Old English willan, from Proto-West Germanic willjan, from Proto-Germanic wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European wélyoyt, from Proto-Indo-European wélyeti, from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- — to choose; to want.
Ancestry of “woulda”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | would | "As a past-tense form of will."; "As a modal... |
| 2 | Old English | wolde | inflection of willan: ## first/third-person... |
| 3 | Old English | willan | to want; to intend; to be willing |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | willjan | to want |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wiljaną | to want |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wélyoyt | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wélyeti | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | welh₁- | to choose; to want |