Where does “man” come from?

man (German Low German) comes from Middle Low German man, from Old Saxon mann, from Proto-West Germanic mann, from Proto-Germanic *mann-, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

man (German Low German): only; but

Definitions

  1. only; but

Ancestry of “man”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanmanbut, only
2Old Saxonmannhuman, person
3Proto-West Germanicmannperson, human
4Proto-Germanic*mann-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →Every word from Proto-Germanic *mann- →Every word from Proto-West Germanic mann →
man — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer