Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Ehrenamt” come from?

Ehrenamt (German) comes from German Ehre, from Middle High German ēre, from Old High German ēra, from Proto-West Germanic aiʀu, from Proto-Germanic aizō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂oys-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- — to wish; to request.

Ehrenamt (German): volunteer work

Definitions

  1. volunteer work

Ancestry of “Ehrenamt”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanEhrehonour; honor; credit; kudos
2Middle High Germanēre—
3Old High Germanērahonour, fame, sense of honour
4Proto-West Germanicaiʀuhonour; respect, reverence
5Proto-Germanicaizōfear; reverence; honour
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂oys-éh₂—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eys-to wish; to request

Words derived from “Ehrenamt”

  • ehrenamtlich
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- →