Where does “'n” come from?
'n (German) comes from German denn, from Middle High German denne, from Old High German tenni, from Proto-West Germanic dani, from Proto-Germanic daniz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰenh₂- — to set in motion; to flow.
Ancestry of “'n”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | denn | for; because; since; than; then; ever; but; "used... |
| 2 | Middle High German | denne | — |
| 3 | Old High German | tenni | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | dani | a flat area, floor; a small dale |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | daniz | a Dane |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰenh₂- | to set in motion; to flow |