Where does “cher” come from?
cher (French) comes from Middle French cher, from Old French cher, from Latin cārus, from Proto-Italic kāros, from Proto-Indo-European kéh₂ros, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂- — to desire, wish.
cher (French): dear; expensive; dearly
Ancestry of “cher”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle French | cher | — |
| 2 | Old French | cher | Alternative form of chier |
| 3 | Latin | cārus | — |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | kāros | dear |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kéh₂ros | loved; dear |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂- | to desire, wish |
Words derived from “cher”