Where does “Herr” come from?
Herr (German) comes from Old High German hēriro, from Proto-Germanic hairaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱeh₃- — darkness, shadow.
Herr (German): man, gentleman; sir; Mr., mister, sir
Definitions
- man, gentleman; sir; Mr., mister, sir
Ancestry of “Herr”, step by step
Herr traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old High German hēriro
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old High German | hēriro | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | hairaz | grey; aged; old; lofty; distinguished |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ḱeh₃- | darkness, shadow |
via Old High German hērro
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old High German | hērro | master; grey, grey-haired |