Where does “Bergen” come from?
Bergen (French) comes from Norwegian Bokmål Bergen, from Old Norse Bjǫrgvin, from Old Norse bjarg, from Proto-Germanic bergaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.
Ancestry of “Bergen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Norwegian Bokmål | Bergen | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | Bjǫrgvin | meadow between the mountains |
| 3 | Old Norse | bjarg | Alternative form of berg; cliff |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | bergaz | hill; mountain; refuge; shelter |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰerǵʰ- | to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain |