Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Gedankengang” come from?

Gedankengang (German) comes from German gang, from English gang, from Middle English gang, from Old English gang, from Proto-Germanic *gang, from Proto-Germanic gangaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰongʰ-o-s, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- — to walk; to step.

Gedankengang (German): reasoning; train of thought

Definitions

  1. reasoning; train of thought

Ancestry of “Gedankengang”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangangobsolete form of geh, second-person imperative...
2EnglishgangTo go; walk; proceed; A number going in company;...
3Middle Englishganggoing
4Old Englishganggoing, walking; path; gait
5Proto-Germanic*gang—
6Proto-Germanicgangazpace, step, gait; walk; way, course
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰongʰ-o-s—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰengʰ-to walk; to step
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- →