Where does “Fernweh” come from?

Fernweh (German) comes from German fern, from Middle High German verren, from Old High German ferrana, from Old High German ferro, from Proto-West Germanic *ferrō, from Proto-Germanic ferrai, from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy, from Proto-Indo-European per- — passed , crossed.

Fernweh (German): wanderlust

Definitions

  1. wanderlust

Ancestry of “Fernweh”, step by step

Fernweh traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German fern

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanfernremote; far away
2Middle High Germanverren
3Old High Germanferranafrom afar
4Old High Germanferroafar; skipper
5Proto-West Germanic*ferrō
6Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy
8Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via German weh

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanwehsore, painful; alas! woe!
2Middle High German
3Old High Germanwoe
4Proto-West Germanicwaiwoe!, alas!
5Proto-Germanicwaiwoe! alas!
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwaioh!; woe!
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy
Fernweh — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer